Angel Beats! – Track Zero Chapter 5

Angel Beats Track Zero Chapter 5: Man-like Creatures

 

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CLAP!

The ball dropped in front of me as I lay sprawled on the ground. 

"Ouch! Sc.r.a.ped again!"

"You idiot! Try harder will you? That was a simple shot!"

Yurippe was fuming. She obviously thinks that a bleeding elbow's not as half as important as getting the ball.

"You had full confidence in your skills right? We're losing here! What's this? That was just a bluff? To humiliate me?"

"Yurippe, listen up. I've been trying to hold back from saying anything, but I'll tell you all in one breath now."

I stood up slowly.

"What."

"Why must we have a game of volleyball before we start the meeting?"

"To exercise, of course."

"And why must you be the attacker while I be the defender and setter? Come, I'll be attacker. I'll show you what I can do. And the worst of all, why must we play volleyball in swimwear?! This is not the beach, it's the volleyball court! Look, I've already bruised my knees and elbows!"

"There're only four of us. So this is obviously beach volleyball, no?"

"I can say the same for mah-jong," Chaa said nonchalantly. Just a minute ago he was mercilessly spiking at me.

"That's not healthy! I can't release my anger and stress then."

"Ah, so you've finally said it huh? I thought it was for health reasons?"

"Well, it's to let you guys use up your energy instead of keeping them for your third basic need of life! If not who knows what will you guys may do to me."

"Speaking of which, what are you trying to do, dressing up like that?"

"I found it, that's all. Unbelievable. I wonder why this was in Tens.h.i.+'s closet..."

What Yurippe was wearing was the only thing we gained from scouring her closet. A skirted bikini.

"That's why I said I don't understand why you're wearing that!"

"This is Tens.h.i.+'s swimsuit. Maybe I'll get superpowers when I wear this. That's what I'm trying to get, anyway."

No, I bet my life that she just wanted to wear it! Pun intended.

"Quickly, let's try again! I wanna test it out."

"If it's only to verify that this is your everyday nothing-out-of-the-ordinary bikini, I think we've had plenty of chances. You've been spiked so many times already!"

"Sigh... I only wanted to have this on a bit longer."

Oi. Are you only thinking about playing?

"Well, that's about it I suppose. Let's move on."

"Now what, you want to have a dip in the swimming pool?"

"Are you stupid? We're not here to play all day, you know!"

G.o.d forbid you are male. Otherwise I'd have punched you right now.

"Hey Chaa," she called out, arms folded with her usual smile of confidence.

"What's up?"

"It's about time you tell us. How did you get a gun into this realm?"

 

 

After changing into our uniforms, we climbed the mountain.

"Here."

Chaa stopped right in front of a huge tree. Clearing the dense, thick gra.s.s, we arrived at a cave. It looked as though a giant mole lived in it.

"Don't tell me... We've got to go in?"

"Yes. Are you unwilling?"

"No. Ah, at least let me change into sportswear."

"Then follow me."

Chaa poked his head into the cave and slowly went in.

Yurippe signalled to us to go in first by pointing to the cave with her chin.

Ooyama and I crawled in after Chaa.

In the depths of the cave, there was a board.

It looks something like a door… Chaa head-b.u.t.ted the board and knocked it down. In front of us was a small room.

We entered the room and stood up one by one.

“There's electricity in here...”

There was a light bulb illuminating the whole room on the ceiling.

Below, there was a wooden table and chair, almost like it was made during carpentry cla.s.s.

“Did you make those?”

“I decorated the room, but this room was here to begin with.”

Chaa answered Yurippe with a low voice.

“Who lived here in the past?”

“This is just a sentry post.”

“Huh?”

“The road still extends downwards, though I haven't checked where it leads to.”

“What is that…… It’s amazing that you can stay in such a gloomy place.”

“If there were people living underground, that'd be gloomy indeed. But, are we here to discuss this matter?”

I gave her a reminder because she digressed.

“Nope. Then, let’s go take a look.”

“Mmm.”

Chaa pulled the seat over and sat down.

Then, he took one of the clay blocks which were piled up on the table.

“Where'd you get the clay?”

“As long as it’s clayey anywhere is fine.”

After Chaa moistened his hand using tea-green water from a bucket at his foot, he started moulding the clay.

It looked like something that needed a lot of patience. We waited tens of minutes.

"It's done."

In between his fingers, he was clamping something thin and slender, like a needle.

"ah, this was the clay block just now?"

"Yes."

"Yurippe took over the item, examining it with an interested look."

"It turned into iron...... This is alchemy? When'd you learn it?"

"At first, I wanted to build a house. If my wife ever came here, we could live in it together. There's clearly enough wood around here, but there aren't enough nails at all.”

"After that?"

"Initially I only used wood, but there were gaps. Afterwards, I decided to use clayey mud to fill the gaps."

“And after you did that?”

“I realised I was holding on to a nail.”

“The clay became a nail?”

“Uh-huh.”

Yurippe went into deep thought for a moment.

"Who knows, maybe we can do it too. Let’s have a challenge and try."

After that, it was a time for handiwork.

After 2 hours of battle, only Yurippe succeeded.

"That’s amazing, Yurippe!"

"It’s just that you two are useless......"

Ooyama and I looked on with shocked faces. It was too humiliating.

"But, even after so long we could only make a nail. Chaa, how'd you make the gun?"

"Form all the separate parts and then a.s.semble them."

"The one just now was also a part?"

“Mmm. It’s the firing pin's core.”

“That means…… You remember perfectly the structure of a gun?”

“Yes.”

“Of course, you were forced by your lover's family to have a divorce.”

“There's no relations.h.i.+p between that and guns right?”

“He's indeed linked to the yakuza!”

Ooyama said loudly.

"You said that too lightly, as though it happened in the realm of some television drama."

"Wah, sorry!"

You're too timid.

“So Yurippe, what do you think of this alchemy?”, I continued.

“I'm not too sure……just like we won't die physically, this is a spiritual world, isn't it? Maybe there's some sort of link. With distinct memories and strong belief, something like this may be possible to realize in this world. Though if it isn't something simple, then it wouldn't be possible. Just like this nail. That’s why you can't form a gun at one go, but it’s possible to do so for the smallest components. In this case, it’s more like rearranging atoms than alchemy.”

“Sensei, I totally don't understand.”

“Let’s leave you aside and continue. Chaa, how long does it take for you to make all the components and a.s.semble them into a gun?”

“I need a week. Counting by hours, I need around 170.”

“Without rest eh…… That’s a hard task.”

“If everyone splits the workload?”

“I may ask you guys for help in the future, but for now let’s leave it. What's in front is more important.” Yurippe said while looking at the door heading inwards.

“No opinions?”

n.o.body shared the same sentiments as her.

“Let’s go”

“Hey! This is going to be a real dungeon crawl now!”

“Yeah, Yurippe, I don't think we're fully equipped yet.”
I didn't try to dissuade her, but instead asked Chaa, “How deep does it go?”
“I got to the 22nd level but gave up because I didn't have any food.”
“22 levels!!  You're lucky you made it back alive!!”
You can't ignore something like that.
“So, Yurippe?”
“I understand.  Then, I'll leave the water and food to you.  And bring flashlights!”

  

 

I returned to the cave at the foot of the tree with mineral water, bread and two flashlights in a sports bag. An ecstatic Yurippe was making so much noise that I could hear it from outside.

She totally didn't try to hide it.

I went through the gra.s.s and into the cave.

After I entered the room, Yurippe leaned over, grinning from ear to ear. Totally disgusting.

“Hinata-kun, take a look at this. Do you know what it is?"

She gave it a blow, and the folded portion started turning.

Before I could give a reply, she continuously blew at it, so much so that she was blowing into my face now.

“It’s a pinwheel. What about it?”

“I made it!”

Er, why are you so excited?

“Ah, I see.”

“Using the clay.”

“Wow, you sure are nimble. With a bit more effort, you'll be able to make a gun."

“I don't do such boring things. A pinwheel is nice isn't it?”

“Then, give it to me.”

“No way.”

This girl…… Starting a conversation like she was trying to get me excited, and I still made it a point to complement her.....……

“We still have to make two more.”

I did a headcount. There was me, Ooyama and Chaa.

Three people.

Did she count me in?

“I'll be expecting them. Leaving that aside, it seems that preparation is complete.”

I put down the sports bag and took out the two flashlights.

“Well then, let’s go in while it’s not too late.”

After Yurippe carefully inserted the pinwheel into her pocket, she stood at the door leading inwards and kicked it open.

“It looks as though the roof will collapse any time……” said a terrified Ooyama, who was tasked with carrying the baggage.

I followed behind him, illuminating the path with a flashlight.

"It looks like it's been reinforced."

Yurippe, who was in front, shone her torch at the walls, showing that they were supported by wooden planks.

"Chaa, you never thought of luring Tens.h.i.+ in here and burying her alive?"

"It would be a waste to bury her in such a curious place."

 

“My sentiments exactly. I'm really antic.i.p.ating what lies ahead...”

“I think, we should just picnic here and then turn back……”

Do you think this is a test of courage?

“A dead end?”

Yurippe stopped walking.

“Nope.”

Chaa walked in front of Yurippe, kneeled down and clawed at the ground.

And with that, a stairway leading downwards appeared.

  

How deep did we go exactly...

Getting here was not easy, and the thought that we still had to go all the way back up made me shudder.

“h.e.l.lo.”

Yurippe just did something totally weird.

“What 'h.e.l.lo'.”

“I was thinking that people who lived underground would probably not understand j.a.panese.”

“And you think if you used English they'd be more likely to understand?”

“Well, according to how the Earth's population is distributed, that is the case.”

“Hey wait. What did you find?”

“I told you, underground dwellers.”

“WAAAAAAAARRRRGHHH ————!!”

A roar suddenly resonated from below.

Thunk!

The earth started to shake.

What did that thing use to pound the ground just now?!

In a flash I suddenly recalled Tens.h.i.+'s hand sonic, but it definitely isn't something that simple. It was probably something larger, more terrifying, and more malicious.

“Nice to meet you～”

Why the heck are you acting so leisurely!

“WAAAAAAAARRRRGHHH————!!

Thunk!

That thing pounded the ground again. This time, even our bodies shook from the tremor waves. What great brute force!

“I'm fine thank you～！My hands are full, you guys, do something！”

“Roger, I'll try to do something.”

Chaa stepped up to the task.

A short moment later……

“AHHHHHHHHHH————!!” Came Ooyama's dying cries.

“Hey.”

“What! Let go of me!!”

The underground dweller illuminated by Yurippe's torchlight had his hands bound behind his back by Chaa.

The sound of bubbling blood spurting out continued…… I seriously didn't want to s.h.i.+ne light at it……

“Hinata-kun, join his body parts together quickly,if they're split up like that, he might not be able to heal.”

What?!

“His flesh has been severed, and his bones are broken as well.”

“You seem to treat other people's injury lightly!”

“Uuu……Yes.”

With my eyes closed, I pieced together the body parts. Initially the healed Ooyama looked pale,and couldn't stop trembling.We'd better add scotophobia to Ooyama's record afterward.

“Are you listening? Mr. Underground Man. Can you understand me?”

After handing Ooyama over to me, Yurippe began to cross-examine the man.

“What is your relation with that guy……?”

“We're the ones asking questions here!”

Thunk! Chaa kicked the wall.

“Forget it. Who was that guy you're referring to?”

When did you guys become such a ferocious team?

“This dungeon's Boss……”

“Is there such a thing?”

“That guy said to end this game I'd have to beat him……”

“A game eh……?”

“So I have to use my bare hands to end it all……”

“It won't end.”

“Huh……?”

“There will be no end in this world. It will only continue. That’s why we've got to rely on ourselves to bring about change. Relax; we're on your side. Join us.”

How would that irascible man agree so easily?

“……”

The man stared at Yurippe's face.

“……Okay.”

The record for the fastest recruitment has been born!

Why? What part of her do you see as credible?

“Release him.”

Chaa acknowledged Yurippe's command and released the man.

“I'm the leader, Yuri. Everyone calls me Yurippe. What about you?”

“Noda.”

“Well then, Noda-kun, here's the first instruction. Let’s go beat that underground Boss.”

“Leave that to me. Just watch your backs. As long as I have this, I'm unbeatable.”

With that, he picked up his weapon. But that "unbeatable" guy was restrained by Chaa.

“Noda-kun. We're a team. We’re not going to let you go alone.”

“Only I can beat him”

He had already broken off from the team.

“Let’s go.”

Hugging his long weapon Noda led the way.

*Sigh*…… What lay ahead sure is worrying.

  

 

Our five-man strong team continued venturing deeper. 

"H-h-h-he-he-hey!! It's scary, scary I tell you! Let's go back!"

Just as predicted, Ooyama is now scotophobic.

"Hey, why do we have a coward in our team?"

It's your fault, d.a.m.n it.

"BOO!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!"

Ooyama shouted. Apparently Yurippe decided to turn around with her torchlight s.h.i.+ning at herself, leaving him sh.e.l.l-shocked.

"Hey, hey, don't do something so meaningless. When did we make Ooyama our clown-c.u.m-emotional-punch bag? Stop bullying him.

"It's just shock therapy..."

"Don't try and do that again. What kind of a leader are you, huh?"

"One that cares for the group! It's a bit cruel, but you felt compa.s.sion running through your veins when I did it, right Ooyama?"

"Yeah, I got it I got it! So let's go back..."

"No way. Let's go!"

The world's most unreasonable leader. Ever.

We continued walking down the absurdly long staircase.

"How many floors have we descended?" Yurippe asked when everyone came down.

"27th."

I could only shrug, but Chaa had meticulously kept track of it.

"Whoa. Already at 27th... For what purpose, exactly?"

"Why not ask the boss when we see him?"

"If this is really a game, what will we do if we really defeat the boss?"

"What's so bad about it? It's our current mission," Noda replied.

"So you're accepting this? Just like that?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I'm saying this is the afterlife. Our main task here is to take revenge on G.o.d."

While we're at it, why isn't Yurippe clarifying on what the group's goal is? Why me?

"Afterlife? Revenge on G.o.d? What kind of a setting is this...?"

"I don't know either, but that's how it is."

"This is a game, right?"

"Sad to say, it's reality."

"Reality...? How can this kind of weapon exist in reality?"

The one YOU are holding on to? Why not you answer that yourself?

"Then what are you...? Aren't you the female protagonist?"

"Female protagonist? What's that? I'm the group leader, can you understand that?"

"She's my wife, too."

I can't believe Chaa decided to crack a joke at this one heck of a bad time.

Noda just stood there staring, ghostlike. Then again, we're all ghosts anyway.

"So... I'm not a protagonist..."

"If you really want to cla.s.sify things, then you're probably a secondary character, I suppose. You're already on our team, so stop your yapping and listen to me."

"Huh... what secondary character... I don't want that!"

"Argh!"

Noda pushed Ooyama away and ran like the wind.

"He ran away..."

"Ran away, huh..."

"Wanna chase him?" I asked, flas.h.i.+ng my torchlight in that direction. I can't even see his silhouette now.

"We're already here and you want to go back? Not me."

"So you're leaving our group mate behind?"

"He's just in charge of telling us that a boss is at the lowest floor of the dungeon! He's just an NPC, I suppose."

"Is this some superbly new and original way of splitting the responsibility?"

"He's just that kind of guy," Chaa said.

Hey, don't you have the slightest bit of guilt?

"Well then, let's go."

"Are we really moving on? What a leader."

"Wait a second, Hinata-kun."

Yurippe walked up to me all of a sudden.

"It seems like you have not made a decision. Any grievances you want to share?"

I've never seen her this scary for a long time now.

"Am I different from before?"

"After Chaa joined the team you've become very gloomy. Complaints, complaints, complaints. I can read your mind!"

"Huh..."

"Are you jealous? You must be!"

"How am I jealous? Who am I jealous of? Don't make empty accusations!"

"You must be jealous of Chaa, cause he said I'm just like his wife."

"Hmm, so this guy thinks I'm in the way or something? Sorry, didn't notice. I'll take note of that."

THUMP! He slapped my back hard.

"Wait, you don't have to be so sensitive!"

The way the group is responding... it's not right...

... Hmm? Am I really jealous of Chaa?

To be honest, he's not a bad-looking guy at all. Also, we all just saw how he managed to easily overpowered that violent runaway. (Let's not go into how he did it, shall we?)

So...

It's alright even if I'm not around?

Yurippe, the one who always makes me worry the most, now has a dependable partner.

Might as well just call me the extra character.

So now I'm nothing but Ooyama's bodyguard?

I kept pondering while we continued to move on.

"Let's eat."

We had our meal when we found a room comfortable enough for the four of us.

Yurippe was laughing and chatting with Chaa at the same time.

Ah, it didn't make me feel good.

Ha! This IS jealousy!

But why?

Isn't this a good thing? This completely unwanted person is now best friends with someone whose dead girlfriend looks exactly the same.

I have nothing to worry about. No more responsibilities to shoulder.

Casting my personal feelings aside, this group is perfectly alright.

Somehow, this doesn't feel right.

Give me a second. Hmm... Is it really alright?

I have a feeling. A very bad feeling.

AH! I remembered.

Our group mate just ran off!

After Chaa joined our group, I kept my mouth quiet, and Yurippe's dictators.h.i.+p has gone so far that it would've made Caesar proud. As a team, we're at the worst possible scenario!

"Hey Yurippe, I've a suggestion to make."

"Hahaha, your wife's really dumb!"

She's not even listening.

"Yurippe, listen!"

She turned around and looked at me after I resorted to shouting.

"What."

She looks extremely unhappy. Not like it matters.

"Let's go look for Noda."

"No... duh...?"

"Don't tell me you've forgotten about him?"

"Oh, that guy. What's up with him?"

"Let's go look for him."

"What're you saying? We're already here. Where do you think this is?"

"I know I should've mentioned this earlier. It's my fault. Now let's go look for him."

"Don't even try and get me to do something so unproductive."

"Well, it may be unproductive, but a teammate's a teammate. Someone alone this far down will feel lonely. We should go look for him."

"I have an idea," Chaa said.

"What?"

"Let's split into two groups. Yurippe and I will go further down, and you and Ooyama can go look for Noda."

"... what?"

"Whoops. Sorry. You can go further down with Yurippe then. I'll go look for Noda with Ooyama."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I wasn't sensitive enough."

"Hmph... so, what do you want?" Yurippe asked.

HA! I get to choose again!

 

- Look for Noda with Ooyama.

- Venture down deeper with Yurippe.

- Ask Yurippe to change: School uniform -> Bikini!

 

What choice should I make...

Hey. What the... why is the third choice there?!

After arguing with the Socratic me...

"Chaa and I will continue going down. Yurippe and Ooyama will look for Noda and bring him back here."

"HUH? Why?! I don't understand!"

"At the bottom of this cave is the boss. If what Noda said was true then fighting is inevitable. So if that's the case, Chaa and I will fight it since we're the fittest. If we fight it together and all of us fail to beat it, then we will never ever reach the surface anymore. Also, bringing Noda back is your job as leader, Yurippe."

"No way! As leader, I should beat the boss."

What are you, some 5-year-old kid?

"It's extremely dangerous!"

"Duh. That's why."

"I'll leave the last hit for you."

"That kind of a small thing? This guy won't be able to do it," she said, while pointing at Chaa.

"Indeed."

Don't agree with her, darn it!

"Then this guy and myself will go look for Noda. Let's go," Chaa said, patting Ooyama's shoulder.

"So it's come to this... hey Ooyama. I gotta tell you this. If you really want to be an author, you'll fail immediately if you don't drop your silent att.i.tude!"

"Okay, okay, I get it, stop repeating yourself..."

"Excellent."

Hmm. I feel like Yurippe is slowly invading my personality.

"Well then, since we've decided on what to do, let's quickly finish up and move!"

After the meal, we split into two groups, and pray for each others' safety.

"Hinata-kun, this is my parting gift. I call on thee, detoxify! Now you'll have nothing to worry about!"

"WHAT?! So all this while I've been poisoned?"

"Well then, let's go."

"When I find that fella, I'll tie a rope to his neck and drag him all the way back here."

"I'm counting on you!"

"See you!"

And the two groups parted.

"Hmm, now that you mention it..."

Just seconds after moving apart, Yurippe remembered something.

"What's up?"

"The two of us haven't been alone like this for a long time now..."

Yep. Stop lagging. Have you only just noticed? I realised long ago. Er, wait, Maybe it's just me being too sensitive.

"It feels like our fight was ages ago."

"My apologies, I don't recall ever fighting with you. The only thing I have etched in my mind is a one-sided fight and you trying to kill me."

"I'm just a female! Are you that weak? I was the one who defeated Chaa as well. The only thing you're good at is jumping off the top floor of the school building. I'm actually a bit worried for your battle against the boss."

"That's just cause I haven't been serious."

"And when are you going to start being serious?"

"Hmm, that'd be the time when you're in danger."

"I think you'd be finished even before I will be. So you can't treat things seriously even when you're in danger?"

"It's my nature, apparently."

"Sigh... Hinata-kun, you really make worry."

Excuse me? Who's talking now?

"Hinata, take this."

"Hmm?"

Yurippe handed me the pinwheel.

"What for?"

"I'll lend this to you. Don't spoil it, alright?"

"Then hold on to it yourself."

"I'll let you use it as a talisman for now. I prayed that you won't die."

"Oh..."

I stared at the pinwheel.

You can't die here anyway...

Well, at least she cares about me.

"Thank you."

I put the pinwheel in my pocket.

 

 

This staircase is absurdly long.

"What a wide s.p.a.ce..."

Yurippe aimed her torchlight down, but all we could see was absolute darkness.

"Seems like the last floor, no?"

"I feel the same thing too. For some reason, it feels like the final boss is down there, waiting for us..."

"I wonder what the final boss is. Maybe it's the ant.i.thesis to someone like Tens.h.i.+."

"Or maybe it's a fire-spewing dragon!"

"We can't beat it without magic if it is, don't you think?"

"I thought you received Ooyama's magic blessing?"

"Yeah. All thanks to him I'm still standing here alive."

"I can see the ground now..."

"Yeah."

The ground was lit up by the torchlight in Yurippe's hand.

All I could see was mud on the ground. It looks like an unpaved road, as if signifying there's nothing else ahead.

"AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Yurippe wasted no time in shouting out the moment she reached the ground. Echoes came back not long after.

"Mmm... this place is so broad. Why don't you try too? You'll get this very nice feeling."

"How charming... however, I get the feeling we're merely announcing our grand arrival to the final boss."

"Let me tell you something."

"What?"

"The final boss... won't move."

"Why?"

"Well, the boss has to sit on the throne and give some prologue! It won't just attack us immediately."

Speaking of which.

It was your idea to address this... thing as the "final boss", huh, Yurippe?

Don't tell me you don't know anything about the danger that lurks ahead?

Looking at her walking ahead and s.h.i.+ning her torchlight everywhere absent-mindedly, I wonder why in the world I did not ask her about it.

Whatever it is, I have no choice but to follow her in order to have the slightest chance of surviving.

 

 

"Take a look."

"You can NOT be serious..."

The boss was sitting on the throne after all.

Well, not exactly; just something that looks like it. It's strikingly similar to the one used by the headmaster...

It was a girl. She was sitting on that throne of hers, cloak wrapped around her. I couldn't tell whether she was a student from school as well.

"This is only her first form."

"What do you mean?"

"Once her HP bar is half empty, she'll turn into some other form."

When you put it like that, it seems like it really is going to happen.

"Well then, let's hear your prologue."

Yurippe pointed at the girl, waving the torchlight at her like how a professional would use a sword.

Yes, yes, but please be reminded that we're empty handed! What if it really becomes a monster?!

"... How shallow-minded," she said.

Come on, continue.

"... Let's start."

"So short!"

We don't even know what to say now.

"Hey wait a second, so we have to fight you now? You're not going to say anything fancy? Or give us an introduction? There’s too many mysteries left! If we beat you I'd feel so much less accomplished. Gah."

"What are you?"

Come on. I'll wait. Just say something.

Guess not. She's just keeping her lips sealed.

"She must be partially mute."

The girl stood up.

As the cloak fell off her, we could see a sword. Not again...

"Darn, she might be another angel of this dimension... and it looks like she's fond of fighting too."

"The fight's about to start."

"How do we fight?"

"I'm thinking..."

"Thinking?! We don't have that much time!"

In the blink of an eye, she moved in front of us like some teleportation skill.

She's THIS fast?!

"Uh oh."

"If this is some shounen manga, there would be a "TO BE CONTINUED" tag underneath this to save us..."

Tough luck...