The street was chaotic.
Voices were shouting all around, someone was getting hit, and others were hitting.
Yuka felt every part of her body ached. Honestly, she thought she had fared pretty well to survive this far.
Of course, she had no intention of giving up just because she had made it this far.
Not until Koto Ne opened her eyes again.
A sound of whooshing was heard from the side, and a beanbag that was flying towards Yuka splattered in midair.
As she turned her gaze, Koko was right next to her.
There was a strange distance between them. Koko was merely swinging her hair around, providing minimal protection for Yuka.
It felt like she was sulking, as if she still hadn’t been forgiven.
“…….”
That’s how it was.
There was still no assurance that Koto Ne would return, and honestly, Yuka wasn’t even sure if what was happening was okay.
But still, Yuka couldn’t help but smile faintly.
At least, with Koko—good Koko—there seemed to be hope that their relationship could carry on properly.
Whack!
Yuka smacked the beanbag flying at Koko, causing it to fall. Koko perhaps didn’t need that action at all. Once she regained her strength, she was someone who could fight even better than anyone else.
But still.
Koko shot Yuka a brief glare.
That was enough.
Yuka turned her gaze again—
“Yuka!”
—And then, she heard that voice.
“……Grandfather.”
It was her Grandfather’s voice from beyond the crowd.
“Yuka, stop it!”
Which side was he coming from? Well, this was a residential area, so there were many ways to come. Just picking one of the tangled alleys would suffice.
That loud voice could be heard clearly even from a distance. It was undoubtedly a Grandfather-like voice.
“There’s no way I can stop!”
Yuka muttered. She knew this voice wouldn’t reach her grandfather. Her faint murmurs were far from being quiet enough to reach him.
“…….”
Then, Koko stepped slightly in front of Yuka.
She wasn’t even looking at Yuka, nor was she going to say anything.
But the intent behind her action was clear.
Koko meant to block their grandfather.
Yuka didn’t go out of her way to thank Koko.
For now, they were simply fighting for a shared objective.
Yuka turned and ran.
In the direction where she could no longer hear her grandfather’s voice.
Her heart was racing like mad, and her head was spinning. Perhaps the lack of food and sleep over the past few days had finally taken its toll.
But still.
It was fine. Yuka didn’t feel even a hint of wanting to give up.
Only, she worried that seeing her grandfather’s face might weaken that resolve. She was afraid that she might just collapse.
*
“Sota, right there…!”
“…….”
Sota stood in front silently, blocking Hagiwara’s path.
In truth, he didn’t pose much of a threat.
Sota was just an ordinary high school student. By some twist of fate, divine intervention, or perhaps everyone just forgetting that there was a unique power within him, his fighting skills were nothing out of the ordinary compared to other high school students.
Beside him, Shii stood blocking the path too. Although she maintained a good diet and exercised to cultivate her body, she was younger than Hagiwara.
And—
“……Nanami.”
Hagiwara called out the name of Nanami, who was holding firm beside Sota.
“Hana-senpai.”
Somehow, they had begun to call each other by name.
It must have been after last Christmas. Competing beside Sota on that special day, Sota had left to seek out his younger sister, inadvertently creating a bond between the two.
Though too young to drink, they couldn’t get drunk at a pub like the adults, but they could still get tipsy off the atmosphere.
Left behind in the karaoke room after Sota slipped away, the two had sung their hearts out. It was likely after that that they began calling each other by name.
Not long ago—
“What are you doing in a place like this?”
“…….”
Upon hearing the question, Nanami momentarily showed a confused expression.
But she didn’t seem like she was considering moving or running away.
“I… came looking for Shii because I was worried.”
“…….”
Hagiwara squinted. She thought she understood how things had come to be.
“You shouldn’t be in a place like this—”
“Really? What about you, senpai?”
“I’m a related party—”
“A related party, so you treated Shii like an outsider? Knowing how close she is to that person?”
“I…”
Hagiwara tried to rebut that statement but had nothing else to say.
“You said you liked Sota, but it seems you only liked her looks? You knew who was most important to Sota.”
“Nana-mi.”
Upon hearing Nanami’s provocation, Sota called her name, but Nanami continued to look directly at Hagiwara.
“If Shii had known the truth, she would have certainly stood in the way. So, why are you over there?”
There are more important things than that in this world.
…Was a statement that was stuck in her throat.
“Above all, that person saved our lives at least once.”
No, it could be more than that.
When they went to find Satori through information obtained from another side.
If it wasn’t for Koto Ne’s sacrifice back then, no one there would have survived.
Not to mention, all the ordinary people living nearby might have been killed too.
“Senpai.”
Sota’s voice opened up towards Hagiwara.
“……I’ve heard the general story. You must have your own reasons as well, senpai.”
Without glaring like Nanami, Sota continued in a calm tone.
“But… either way, that person is still a friend.”
Sota said.
“Besides, we owe her.”
His gaze landed on Shii.
“…….”
That’s right.
For Sota, the most precious family was Shii. And that relationship was entirely separate from romantic feelings.
If there was anyone who had taken the utmost care of Shii for the whole year, it would surely be Koto Ne, lying over there.
In a different way than Sota, the brother.
Looking at Shii, her face was pale. Even in fear, Shii was holding her ground.
“…….”
But.
Still, this was something that couldn’t be helped—
“……Senpai.”
Sota pleaded one last time, but Hagiwara did not lower her weapon.
“Sister.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
A voice prompted Hagiwara from behind.
Hagiwara lunged forward.
“Senpai!”
Nanami turned abruptly towards Sota. But her movements were far slower than Hagiwara’s. Naturally, it was because she’s just an ordinary high school girl with no training whatsoever.
Shii was almost the same.
Hagiwara charged Sota, knocking him over.
And then.
Thwack!
Something collided with Hagiwara’s sword, bursting in midair.
Thud, thud, small bean-sized bits fell scattered all over.
“……Okay, I got it.”
Hagiwara said, looking down at Sota.
“Certainly, it’s not a Christian thing to press a debtor for their life.”
“Senpai!”
A smile returned to Sota’s face.
In a way, this might be betraying his own beliefs.
Anyone familiar with the significance of “Resurrection” would know.
But—
“……Don’t include me among those who owe collateral or guarantees.”
If that’s the case, isn’t it already written in the scriptures?
“When you have no way to repay, should you not try to take away the bed beneath you?”
If you were to place the sins of the world on a single girl, how would that debt be repaid? If someday someone called for that debt to be forgiven, how could the worth of the world be valued to repay it?
It might even be a misinterpretation.
Someone might twist the words to hear what they want.
However, she already knew well the story of that sacrifice for humanity’s original sin.
“……It’s not something that can be forced on others, you know.”
“Senpai?”
After hearing Hagiwara’s words, Sota asked, and only then did Hagiwara smile, ruffling Sota’s hair with her free hand.
“Ah—!?”
Nanami, finally realizing the situation, tried to shove Hagiwara away.
“What are you doing right now!? In a situation like this, taking advantage of the opportunity!?”
Seeing Hagiwara rise with an exultant expression, Nanami shouted.
“Well, let’s leave the follow-up for later.”
“There’s no follow-up!”
“…….”
Hagiwara looked towards Shii.
Shii was wide-eyed in surprise, her face still pale.
How shocked must she have been?
“……I’m sorry. I’ll apologize properly later since I’m busy now.”
“Wait? No, I—”
Hagiwara turned around.
“Well, thinking about it, it did feel a bit strange.”
Hagiwara said, slowly looking at the others with her.
“If everything in this world is created according to God’s will, there’s no reason to persecute a child who just wants to live. What did that child do?”
Perhaps it’s something that humanity just can’t seem to learn.
After all, it was the same thing humanity had been doing for 2000 years.
“……You all stay back.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Nanami said, sounding incredulous.
“Are you trying to score points alone? I don’t think that will work.”
“No, you all can’t—”
“So that’s what’s important.”
Nanami pointed her finger at Hagiwara, saying.
“No matter how illegal a violent organization is, if they’re sane, they can’t harm an innocent citizen like me, right? Surely they wouldn’t go as far as to kill someone?”
Actually, it seemed they would be subdued in an instant.
More importantly, calling them an illegal violent organization was quite right.
“……Do as you wish.”
Hagiwara sighed.
“I can’t be responsible if you get hurt.”
“Why should I do anything if Sota is standing boldly?”
Nanami stuck out her tongue.
Hagiwara shrugged.
“……I’ll do my best to be of help.”
“Don’t get hurt. Shii too.”
“Excuse me. The temperature difference in how people are treated is far too much.”
Nanami said as she pulled something out of her pocket.
……It was self-defense spray.
Seeing that, Hagiwara couldn’t hold back her laughter, much to Nanami’s annoyance.
*
The fight wasn’t ended by ‘either side.’
“No!”
A mournful scream sounded from inside the house.
At first, there weren’t many who heard that scream.
Only some of Koto Ne’s friends, who were right next to the house.
Something had gone seriously wrong.
Just that thought made Shii’s heart sink.
Shii fell first.
As she was hooked and her arm twisted, Nanami charged towards her but was also subdued. Perhaps it was because she was covered with self-defense spray, her arm was twisted quite hard, resulting in a scream.
Hagiwara and Sota tried to help, but in the end, facing the sheer number of attackers proved too much.
Fukuda and Yohei were also overpowered.
All the bullets in the gun had been used as threats, and Fukuda had only swung the steel pipe in a way that wouldn’t cause ‘permanent disability,’ making it inevitable that they would be subdued. They had held out long enough to be commended for facing well-trained anti-terror units.
The last ones still standing were Koko and Yuka.
And Yuka thought that this was entirely thanks to Koko.
“No, no, no!”
……It was Kagami’s voice.
Koko turned her head.
With wide-open eyes—she looked like she was about to burst into tears, staring at the direction where Koto Ne, Kagami, and Yu were.
The moment Yuka heard that sound, she was already running.
She dropping the sword she was holding, she kicked open the door that she had been told to never open until her consciousness faded, and what Yuka saw was—
“……Ah.”
On the floor, she knelt.
Koto Ne lay there. Just as Yuka had seen her last, she looked peacefully asleep.
The wound on her chest had not been treated. It seemed Koto Ne would never open her eyes again, lying there just as she was.
If there was anything different from before she left, it was the ‘chunk of meat’ next to her.
The ‘chunk of meat’ that resembled Koto Ne… now seemed to have the form of a person that could be called for help.
Limbs protruded from all over.
It looked like it had been struggling to escape its painful situation.
“Ugh.”
Was that Koto Ne?
Because of Yuka’s selfishness, had she met a miserable end in a body that didn’t match her soul?
She didn’t know.
One thing was certain: the hope that Kagami had spoken of had come to an end.
“Ah, aaah!!”
Kagami was on the floor, crying out in pain.
Yu had a dazed expression. Bits of meat and grease clung to his face.
He had an expression like he had just witnessed a horrific scene right before his eyes.
Someone grabbed Yuka’s shoulder and pulled her outside.
“Wait!”
With a blank expression, Yuka was shoved roughly to the ground, her arms twisted behind her back. Just as a heavy weight like a block of lead was lifted off her, someone carefully helped Yuka up.
“……Grandfather.”
“Yuka.”
“I….”
“It’s okay.”
Her grandfather said that as he embraced Yuka.
Yuka felt a hand on her back.
“It’s alright, Yuka. It’s all over.”
All over? What’s over…?
Yuka muttered, but there was no answer.
Her grandfather repeated that everything was okay.
People began to crowd through the open door.
The commotion inside followed, and soon several people in black suits came out, holding something white.
It was still Koto Ne, whose body was not stiff at any one place.
“No!”
“Yuka!”
“No! No! Not yet…!”
Yuka shouted, but Koto Ne’s body was moved far too easily.
“……Please understand that this incident is not over yet.”
One of the men in black suits said.
“For now, securing the specimen is the priority, so we’ll be leaving, but soon someone will come. Please do not leave this building. If you are not in sight when a new person arrives—”
“……They will consider it as having fled. Understood. I see.”
Her grandfather said.
“……Yuka? Where’s Koto Ne?”
Koko asked dully.
As if she couldn’t comprehend the situation, Koko just alternated her gaze between Yuka and the far-moving Koto Ne.
“Uuuh?”
Koko tilted her head.
At least Koko seemed to have sensed that they shouldn’t mess with this.
“Please return the sword and follow us. We will take care of your granddaughter. If anyone else gets involved in this story from now on—”
As her grandfather looked up, the man in black briefly paused.
“……I believe you understand.”
Then he turned and quickly left.
“Yuka. You must stay alert.”
Her grandfather said.
“Don’t worry too much.”
“……What if I don’t worry?”
Yuka muttered listlessly.
“……Koto Ne….”
“That child has left.”
Her grandfather said.
“…….”
Her father merely tightly held Yuka’s shoulder.
*
“Miss Hagiwara.”
A white-haired man in priest’s clothing spoke to Hagiwara.
“……Are you contemplating excommunication?”
“If I’m to be excommunicated simply for following my faith, then so be it.”
In truth, to marry someone, you had to either be excommunicated or resign, either one. And neither was a pleasant topic in terms of religious standing.
Well, Hagiwara wasn’t in her position simply because she believed in religion but—
“Following us—”
“No.”
Hagiwara turned and looked at the group gathered in the corner of the apartment, Sota and Shii and Nanami, all in handcuffs.
“I’ll stay here. There seems to be still a lot to be done here.”
“…….”
The man simply looked at Hagiwara.
“What have you gained by collaborating with the government? Did you agree to receive part of Koto Ne’s corpse?”
“……That’s something I cannot discuss.”
“Yes, I thought as much.”
Still, Hagiwara, while wearing the nun attire, had acted somewhat decently, so his change in attitude must have left a bit of a shock.
Hagiwara turned away and walked off decisively.
Her hands still bound by the handcuffs.
With handcuffs and a slightly torn nun’s outfit, it made for a rather unkempt appearance. So no one would complain about her looking a bit less orderly as per her attire.
She walked towards the place where the children had gathered.
……There was a smell of blood coming from inside the open door.
In the end, was this… a failure?
Hagiwara thought it felt a bit calmer inside her.
*
“……Um.”
Yu spoke softly.
“……How long do we have to keep pretending?”
“Until people definitely leave.”
Cautiously, Kagami whispered.
There was a slight tremor in her voice.
“Only once people are far enough for Koto Ne to come out.”
Kagami shook slightly as she spoke.
Yu couldn’t help but feel a chill from that sight.
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