Mokushiroku Alice Vol 1 Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - About the Story of the Last Four Minutes

4 minutes remaining ---

With the map that Himi showed us called up into my mind, I run. In order not to fall into any of the holes. In order not to set off any of the traps.

The diseased girl is running amok. She is unleas.h.i.+ng her lightning magic, which possesses an abnormal amount of destructive power, all over the place, endlessly. Making the fall-through holes meaningless. Most of the trap-ridden areas of the floor have been destroyed, leaving gaping holes.

A high ceiling. With supporting pillars. The width of the remaining grid-like floor is about two meters.

The diseased girl is standing on that floor.

With a crying, vacant face.

Tears flowing.

Yes.

The girl has tears flowing.

The color of her tears from her right eye are red.

Blue from her left eye.

Both her left and right eyes are also blue and red respectively.

Just like my little sister.

It's the exact same thing as Saki when she came down with the disease.

Seeing that, I waver a little. I remember Saki. At that time, Saki was clearly conscious of what was happening. Even when she was consumed by the disease, she let me escape. She called me Onii-chan.

And it is our job to kill that diseased girl who is conscious of what is happening. I narrow my eyes and murmur to myself.

"........................ a stranger."

I murmur softly.

"She's a stranger. A stranger a stranger a stranger a stranger."

I slid a step to the side to dodge the unleashed lightning. Letting my finger dance in the air, and the cursed song flowing from my 《Headphone Fuzz》 jolting my brain.

【Sliced, shredded light ♪

Shredded, ripped-up light ♪

Abnormal, ruthless, extraordinary light ———】

"Demon Sword switch ---"

I take a knife out from my pocket. From the center of the knife, a sword with the color of darkness starts extending. And I then activate the special power that lurks inside the sword.

"...... a.s.sa.s.sination property."

A red target point appears before my eyes. The diseased girl is captured in that target point. The weakness is the girl. It is not the hand of the devil that is controlling the girl, but the entire body of the girl is the weakness.

With half-opened eyes, I look hard at the fourteen-year old girl who has black hair and a demure face, Asahi Momoka.

A girl who was still attending school normally yesterday. A girl who had been smiling everyday in a tranquil, uneventful world made up of her parents, her friends, and a warm school life.

If that girl's body is destroyed, the world will be saved.

"Ha, haha...... as usual, what a disgusting sickness, hey."

As the sound of dry laughter escapes me, I switch my grip on the sword of darkness to a backhand grip.

3 minutes 30 seconds remaining ---

s.h.i.+ro runs. Sundering the lightning with his giant knife. Slicing it apart. Slicing it apart. As he is slicing at them endlessly, a streak of lightning springs up from the ground towards s.h.i.+ro's head.

"Uwah, d.a.m.n......"

"Are you an idiot! Move aside!"

Gunjou kicks s.h.i.+ro from behind.

"Guah."

While rolling on the ground, s.h.i.+ro dodges the lightning. As his knife is disappearing, he starts preparing his next magic.

Gunjou spreads both her hands.

"--- Sea Moon Wheel switch!"

She summons multiple jellyfish.

However, as they are appearing, this time, it is Gunjou who gets a.s.saulted by the lightning.

Kiri stands before Gunjou. And sunders the lightning into nothingness with her j.a.panese sword.

"I can perfectly defend you just eight more times so, use that opportunity to attack!"

"Naturally! And this time, I shall once again save the world with my power! Sea Moon Wheel switch!"

Seven circular discs of jellyfish attack the diseased girl.

The diseased girl tilts her vacant face a little, and raises both her hands. A curtain of lightning rises before the girl. The jellyfish of Gunjou strike the curtain and disappear.

"What! Didn't they say that she's weak against water!"

That kind of intel should have lost its credibility when we found out that this labyrinth is not a school based on the reports from the scouting corps.

Lightning flies.

Lightning flies.

Kiri swings her j.a.panese sword, defending Gunjou.

"Hn, kuh. Six more times!"

The diseased girl then smiles faintly.

"...... six times? Then how's this?"

About twenty ma.s.ses of lightning appear before the girl at the same time.

"...... you're kidding you're kidding, sorry! I'm taking back my words! I can't defend against this. Help ---"

At that moment, I step in front of Kiri.

"s.h.i.+nnosuke-kun!"

"Acceleration switch!"

My body accelerates. Accelerates. Accelerates. In a flash. In an instant. For just a second. My speed is even faster than that of G.o.d.

The girl unleashes her twenty lumps of lightning.

As if they were convulsing from an illness, my eyeb.a.l.l.s are vibrating. My eyes are capturing the weak points indicated by the red targets displayed before them, that show where I should cut for each cl.u.s.ter of lightning.

Then, I cut those weaknesses with my sword of darkness. Cut. Cut. Cut, cut, cut cut cut cut cut cut.

"Uwaoooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaah!"

In one second, I sundered seventeen ma.s.ses of lightning and my acceleration comes to an end.

"d.a.m.n."

"Duck s.h.i.+nnosuke!"

s.h.i.+ro shouts from behind. I roll my body to the front. s.h.i.+ro says from behind.

"--- Thousand Deities Flash Of Light switch."

It was the magic that gave birth to the spear that has a drill-like tip from before. The spear pa.s.ses over my head. It tangles up with the three lightning ma.s.ses and pierces through them. It might just reach the girl --- I thought, but before the spear, the girl is no where to be seen.

The girl is right beside me. Electricity runs through her body. She is so fast that I could not see her move. She grabs the chest of s.h.i.+ro with her right arm. And pierces through his chest with her finger. Tosses over s.h.i.+ro's body. And it flies to the ceiling and crashes into it.

"Gahah."

He falls down, with half of his body falling through one of the trap holes. He clings to the floor with one hand, but after receiving so much damage, he cannot pull himself up.

"Guh...... uuh......"

1 minute 40 seconds remaining ---

No good.

It's over.

It's not just a matter of insufficient time. The opponent is someone we should not have trifled with.

"Everyone, Escape!"

I holler.

From behind me, s.h.i.+ro activates his 《Headphone Fuzz》.

I can also see Kiri and Gunjou behind her activating their 《Headphone Fuzz》 Everyone understood from those movements just now. It's impossible to clear this. It's a hopeless situation.

I start preparing my Escape as well.

1 minute 15 seconds remaining ---

The girl looks at Kiri who is facing her.

"Ah-haa, I won't let you escape."

She unleashes her lightning. Unleashes. Unleashes.

"d.a.m.n......"

Kiri receives them with her j.a.panese sword. Receives. Receives. She can only receive two more attacks.

Taking action, I swing my sword towards the girl. As if she had eyes behind her, the girl dodges it easily. The girl then turns around.

"s.h.i.+nnosuke-kun!"

Kiri cries out in alarm, and as she is about to come help me, I yell out.

"Don't come Kiri! Stand back!"

The girl's lightning-coated fist approaches me. If that hits me, I might just die. However, it does not hit me.

"--- Acceleration switch!"

I kick the chest of the girl and accelerate backwards, retreating.

A little faster than the girl, I put some distance away from her.

Kiri looks at me and makes a surprised face.

"What, don't tell me you haven't started using Escape magic!?"

Of course I was going to use it. However, in case of emergency, I was going to finish listening to the Acceleration switch, then start listening to the cursed song of Escape switch. Therefore, I will be leaving this area slightly later than the rest, I suppose.

But it's not a problem. If I retreat backwards while accelerating --- I will make enough time for me to escape.

The cursed song fills up my brain. The curse for the purpose of getting away. The curse for the purpose of escaping.

If my Escape magic is already proceeding at this rate, the other three should have completed theirs by now.

"I'll be done in a moment! Let's leave this place!"

I yell.

s.h.i.+ro then says in a pained voice.

"...... Escape switch."

Kiri looks at me worriedly and says.

"It's a promise s.h.i.+nnosuke-kun! You must escape no matter what! Escape switch."

42 seconds remaining ---

Gunjou shouts.

"Escape ---"

But her words stopped there. The girl has fired a bolt of lightning. This bolt of lightning strikes Gunjou's 《Headphone Fuzz》. Her headphone breaks.

"Ah......"

Was what Gunjou could only utter.

Since without a 《Headphone Fuzz》, she will not be able to escape from this labyrinth.

Of course, anyone else who uses the 《Headphone Fuzz》 can bring another person out together at the same time but --- for that to happen, in order to bring another person out, one has to restart the cursed song. And in our current situation, there is no time for that. To top that, Gunjou and my relative positions are in the worst possible places.

With the diseased girl in between us, we are directly opposite of each other.

And in the meantime, my Escape magic has also been completed.

33 seconds remaining ---

"This must be...... a joke."

Said Gunjou with a dazed look. With a jerk, her knees give way and she falls to the ground. Her face contorts with fear and tears fill her eyes.

"N-No way...... I...... I......"

I look hard at Gunjou with half-opened eyes. The usually arrogant, high-and-mighty, domineering Gunjou has a face filled with fear.

The diseased girl closes in on Gunjou. Slowly, slowly, as if cornering an injured, immobilized prey, she closes in.

I have no obligation to save her. Nor is it my duty to do so. More like, in this situation, the choice of helping her does not exist. In a place like this, anyone who talks about helping a girl or saving the world is just a fool. A hypocrite. A fake Mother Theresa. A piece of trash that has no purpose, no reason to live, and one who does not think about the future.

Thus, the only choice is to Escape.

I activate my magic.

Gunjou notices me.

She notices my smirking face.

With her contorted face, Gunjou says.

"...... d.a.m.n transfer student...... what're you laughing about!"

With her face contorted in chagrin, Gunjou says.

"You're p.i.s.sing me off! Even till the end, you're smirking, that foolish grin of yours...... mocking me, mocking everyone!"

With her face on the verge of tears, Gunjou says.

"Don't screw with me! You're laughing at my failure right! You must be thinking, 'this is all you've got after always acting like you're better than everyone else!?'. You must be celebrating at the prospect of one less rival, piece of trash of a guy!"

And finally, with a quavering voice, a voice that seems to indicate a resigned realization that everything is over for her, Gunjou says,

"...... hurry up and disappear from here! It's all...... over for me, so! So, at the very least...... I'll bear the rest of it here, so, hurry up and escap......"

But, I interrupt her and say.

"Shut up, vomit-girl."

And I smile again.

Smirking.

Smirking, smirking, while laughing at my own foolishness with a feeling of being vexed with myself,

"--- Holy Sword switch."

I murmur the name of an offensive magic. A silver sword appears in my right hand. A s.h.i.+ning sword clad in light. As if it were something wielded by a hero or a knight, a sword of hypocrisy.

"...... what."

Gunjou's words stop. As if she has just seen something unbelievable, her eyes widen.

"Y-You idiot! What're you doing!? What about your Escape!?"

I have already dispelled my Escape magic. I can no longer escape. In order to escape now, I have to save Gunjou, and kill the diseased girl.

Perhaps, as a result of comprehending what is going on, Gunjou looks at me with a red face.

"I-Idiot! Dummy dummy dummy dummy! Why're you doing this!? Y-You ---"

The tears of fear and despair that have been acc.u.mulating in her large eyes --- now overflow from them. Gunjou is sobbing like a frail, lovely girl,

"...... Y-you're such a big idiot, aren't you!?"

While getting berated by her, I smirk.

"Yeah, you're right. I won't deny it. This is the lowest and worst form of hypocrisy. I'm well aware of that."

I raise my sword, and dash towards the diseased girl like a fool.

8 seconds remaining ---

The diseased girl turns towards me. And looks at me in wonder. Then waves her hand. Lightning springs out. I dodge the first one. Somehow, I manage to dodge the second one as well, with my shoulder grazed.

A silver sword appears in my right hand. A s.h.i.+ning sword clad in light.

"Guh-ah."

I can tell that a gash has been made in my flesh.

And that I will not be able to deal with the next attack. Besides, there is no time for me to set up my Acceleration magic, and also in the first place,Holy Sword switch consumes too much resources from the brain, and I cannot activate another magic at the same time. That was why I did not really want to use this magic. In the first place, I will not be able to hit the opponent with such a sluggish sword and to top that, this magic is incomplete.

But, for me to be able to somehow do something to the diseased girl, this is my only option.

Thus, I swing my sword with all my might. Aiming at the diseased girl who has monster-like strength and is standing clearly on the grid, I swing my brilliantly s.h.i.+ning sword at her.

However, obviously, the diseased girl's movement is faster. With a hand-chop, the diseased girl aim for my heart.

"s.h.i.+-s.h.i.+nnosuke!?"

Gunjou clings to the girl from behind. The girl's movement slows down a little. No, her aim deviates a little. Her hand-chop pierces into my side. Gouging into my organs. I do not know how much damage I have taken from that.

Gunjou looks at me,

"Nnnoooooooooooooooooooooo!"

She shrieks, but unconcerned, I ignore her, and unleash my sword of light.

"Sun-ddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrr!"

The sword touches the back of the neck of the girl. It stops right there. It did not cut through her skin. With her other hand, the girl has stopped the sword.

The girl laughs.

"Haha, it's over for you ---"

3 seconds remaining ---

But, I too laugh.

"No, it's over for YOU. Since what you stopped was just my hypocrisy."

The blade of the Holy Sword that the girl has blocked with her hand s.h.i.+nes with an excessive brilliance and disappears. The blade, which is a fake portion of the sword that holds no power at all vanished.

What remains is the real form of the sword.

Something shorter than the blade of a knife, the part that resembles a paper knife pierces through the chest of the girl.

"Huh......"

The girl says, but it is already too late.

After that, my consciousness enters the diseased girl. The power of the Holy Sword switch is to show an illusion to the opponent who is stabbed by it, and performs brainwas.h.i.+ng on the opponent.

It is a magic that is specially made to deal with diseased girls, developed for the sake of saving my little sister, Saki.

It is a magic that forcibly brainwashes the diseased girl. To cut her heart away from the illness and save the girl as a result.

"...... ah."

I forcibly enter with my consciousness.

"...... ah, ah."

Forcibly, forcibly, entering the girl.

"...... ah, ah, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh."

With the power of the Holy Sword, the power of hypocrisy, the power of deceit, in order to forcibly violate the heart of the girl, I force my way into the girl.

"............"

What's inside is darkness.

It is darkness.

In the corner of the darkness, a girl sits by herself. Hugging her knees to herself, a fourteen year old girl sits alone.

I call out to her.

"...... are you, Asahi Momoka?"

"............"

The girl looks up at me. She has a lovely face. Her expression ever changing, she looks like a gentle kid.

"Who are you, Onii-chan?"

"I'm just a pa.s.serby, a hypocrite."

"Hmmmh. So, why're you here?"

"...... to kill you."

On hearing that, the girl smiles.

"Aah, I see. It's because I came down with the disease."

"That's right."

"Thank goodness. It was really painful. I was suddenly hijacked by something that looked like a devil, and could no longer control myself."

"Yeah."

"My family was also swallowed by the labyrinth...... so I've been waiting for someone to come save me. I really don't want to kill everyone."

"I understand."

"I really love Papa, Mama, and my little sister Sakura......"

"Yeah."

"So, I really don't want to kill everyone."

"Yeah."

"So...... please kill me, Onii-chan. There's no more time."

Asahi Momoka stands up and spreads both her hands. Facing her, I raise my hand. In my hand, I hold a knife. A black knife. A knife for killing the girl.

She smiles and says.

"Hey Onii-chan. It's really great that I get to meet a kind person like you at the end, Onii-chan."

I smile.

"Hah, what's with that? How am I a kind person?"

The girl smiles again. Smiling at me gently, she looks up at me,

"How, you say...... Onii-chan, since just now, haven't you been crying for my sake?"

"............"

With tears flowing, I look down at the girl. I look down at the girl who has not done anything wrong, but, was just unlucky enough to contract the sickness. Just like my little sister. I look down at the girl who, up until yesterday, has been smiling innocently, quietly, peacefully, gently.

"...... sorry."

In a quavering voice, I said.

"...... my magic is still incomplete...... it's because I'm useless...... it's because I'm powerless...... I'm still yet...... unable to save you."

In a hoa.r.s.e voice, I said.

The girl says.

"Onii-chan, it's not your fault."

"...... sorry."

"But Onii-chan, you're saving me from this pain."

"...... sorry."

"Onii-chan, you're saving my family."

"...... sorry."

"Onii-chan, the time's already......"

At that moment, I swung my knife.

And with that, it was over.

Everything was over.

The girl said in the end.

"Thank you, Onii-chan."

She had a smile on her face.

But she had disappeared.

Her life had disappeared.

'Thank you' my a.s.s. In the end, I am just a piece of trash who cannot save anyone. A piece of trash. Just someone who is powerless, useless,

"...... and a hypocrite, am I not?"

The darkness disappears.

The darkness of the girl disappears.

The labyrinth that has extended from the girl as its center, speedily turns back to the real world.

"Ugh."

Driven out of the darkness inside the girl, I return to reality. With tears flowing, my eyes widen.

The bright light dazzle my eyes for an instant.

The smell of reality.

The feeling of being alive.

"............"

This is no longer the labyrinth.

I can see the blue sky.

The hustle and bustle of the street.

The sounds of zooming cars.

The voices of people.

The girl died, the labyrinth disappeared, and time has returned to Kanagawa Prefecture. I am right now in the center of some scramble intersection. Maybe it is because of me that the cars are unable to move, causing horns to blare.

Someone is hugging to my chest.

"s.h.i.+nnosuke! s.h.i.+nnosuke!"

It's Gunjou.

The girl who usually has a strong-willed look is clinging on to me now, her face wretched from crying.

"S-Someone! Someone quickly call the ambulance! Please! All of you! All of you have your lives saved by this guy!!"

With tears in her eyes, she screams desperately.

She is really noisy. My stomach is hurting. Which reminds me, my organs have been gouged. I might just die.

"...... haha...... I, can't laugh, at Yousuke."

"s.h.i.+nnosuke!?"

Gunjou looks at me. Her face is a complete mess from crying. Her strong-willed eyes, and fair skin, have turned red.

"Are you, awake!? s.h.i.+nnosuke!"

"............"

"We did it! We...... no, you saved the 3 million people of Kanagawa......"

Interrupting her, I say.

"I'm not interested. I killed a person."

"Eh......"

"And I'm tired. My stomach hurts, so I'm taking a break from school today."

"Huuh? Hey, you......"

Ignoring her, I look up at the sky.

I look up at the sky over Gunjou's disheveled blond hair.

Even though the girl is dead, as I look up at the calm, tranquil sky, I find it to be vexingly endless.

I gaze at the boisterous street, busying itself as if nothing had happened, unbothered by the death of the girl.

Then, I say.

"...... hey Gunjou. I have a request to make of you...... is that okay?"

"...... w-what?"

She looks at me with a nervous face.

Smirking, I open my mouth.

"............"

I made several requests of her. Why are you asking me to do all that?, her face asks me, but I no longer have any energy to explain them to her.

This is my limit.

I lost too much blood.

I look down at my stomach. Blood is flowing out from the gaping hole there.

"...... aah, d.a.m.n. I'm a fool."

Murmuring that, I lost consciousness.

♦

♦

♦

I killed the girl.

But the world has not changed.

I killed the girl.

But the world has not changed.

I killed the girl.

That is why the world has not changed.

We kill girls day after day, just to create such an unchanging world.

And then ---

♦

♦

♦

Before I knew it, summer has ended.

"............"

Half a month has pa.s.sed since then, I think.

I have been pa.s.sing my days in boredom, in an uninteresting hospital ward.

It is a private ward.

It is a high-cla.s.s ward specially prepared by 《Metropolitan Kichijouji High》. It seems like s.h.i.+ro, Kiri, Gunjou, Himi, and myself who stuck around the high-level diseased girl till the very end and somehow managed to deal with her, were awarded a special bonus and special privileges. We are somewhat treated like heroes.

The corporations that are based in Kanagawa Prefecture and Yokohama city also rewarded the school. But that money will not go into my account. d.a.m.n f**king school.

"............"

The door to the ward swings open.

"Yoh, s.h.i.+nnosuke. I'm here."

It is s.h.i.+ro. Himi is just right behind him.

I scowl and say.

"I didn't call for you though."

"I thought that the hospital food probably sucks, so I bought some hamburgers."

"I never asked for that."

"Then, you don't need any?"

s.h.i.+ro is holding two fast-food bags. The smell coming from them clearly belongs to that of potatoes that have been instantly cooked, are cheap and bad for the body, and something that should not be brought to a hospital.

I reply.

"...... I could use some."

"Haha. Make sure you eat them secretly. Otherwise the doctor's going to get mad at you. Yousuke, who's warded at the floor below, got yelled at earlier."

Yes.

That four-eyes who slipped past death, is still alive. On top of that, his wounds appeared to be less serious than mine and it seems like he will soon be discharged. That four-eyes is a tough one.

I look at s.h.i.+ro with half-opened eyes.

"How did you smuggle them in with this smell?"

"Haha."

s.h.i.+ro puts down the fast-food at the side of my bed.

Himi asks worriedly.

"How are your wounds?"

I answer in exasparation.

"You asked that yesterday. Do I look like someone who can instantly heal up like an amoeba?"

"Ah, ermmh, I don't mean that......"

"Then, don't ask that anymore."

"S-Sorry......"

"And also, don't come here anymore."

"Ermm...... then, I'll come again tomorrow."

Himi appears to be fearful, but it seems like she is someone who will not listen to what is told to her. In the first place, there should have been a sign hanging outside that says 'No Visitors'. I made a request for that, and besides, it has only been three days since I completely regained consciousness. But yet, what is up with these visits that seem to hold no regard for the patient's well-being, I wonder.

Himi smiles.

s.h.i.+ro also smiles.

"I can't smile at all."

My face contorts, but paying no heed to that, s.h.i.+ro says.

"I heard from the doctor. It'd be a while before you can be discharged?"

"Don't ask such things without my permission."

"Let's work together again when you return."

"No thanks. If you want me to join you ---."

"I have to pay you? You are a piece of trash as always."

s.h.i.+ro smiles. For some reason, he has a somewhat sad look on his face.

Then, he looks down at me,

"...... I'll come again tomorrow."

"Like I said, I never asked you to come."

"See you tomorrow."

"Shut up."

Together with Himi, s.h.i.+ro leaves the ward. The door closes.

With half-opened eyes, I continue looking in the direction they left.

"............"

From s.h.i.+ro's expression, he might have heard the condition of my wounds from the doctor. That f**king doctor. Isn't it against the law to leak out a patient's condition to outsiders? If I sue him, maybe I can get some money off him.

Now that s.h.i.+ro and Himi have left, the room is quiet. Snap, snap, I snap my fingers alone in the room.

The sound of boredom and peace.

The sound of idleness and quiet.

"............"

After some time has pa.s.sed, the door opens again.

When I turn my eyes toward it, there stood Kiri. She is carrying some fruits. Today sure is a gloomy day.

I look at Kiri and say.

"I have no business with big b.r.e.a.s.t.s."

Kiri grins and says.

"I heard you've awakened. Shall I peel an apple for you?"

"What's attached to your chest are melons though."

"Fufuh, can you keep quiet already ~?"

Smiling, Kiri enters. And sits in the chair beside my bed without my acknowledgement.

"Yah, are you feeling okay?"

"Of course. I was so energetic that I ended up in the hospital because of that."

"Ah-haha. If you're that well, then you should be fine. By the way, what's this smell?"

Kiri says as she looks around the ward.

I reply.

"Potatoes."

"Whoeh?"

"s.h.i.+ro brought them."

"Ah ~, s.h.i.+nnosuke-kun, do you prefer those to fruits?"

"Not really."

"Then......"

Said Kiri. And she gazes at me. Her eyes are slightly teary. With a face that seems a little feverish but yet filled with sadness and pity, she gazes at me,

"...... then, what kind of thing will make you happy, s.h.i.+nnosuke-kun?"

Kiri says to me. Then, she extends a hand in my direction.

I grab that hand of hers strongly.

"............ ah."

Glaring at her with half-opened eyes, I then say.

"...... like I said the other time, what's with you?"

Kiri's face is close. She is so close that I can feel her breath on me. She is so beautiful that it seems like she can steal one's eyes away, and her b.r.e.a.s.t.s are annoyingly huge.

Kiri receives my stare and says.

"...... there was a circular at school today."

"What is it about?"

"...... that s.h.i.+nnosuke-kun...... that you can no longer fight because of your injuries and will thus be dropping out of school."

I narrow my eyes and say.

"...... aah, I see. That explains s.h.i.+ro's reaction."

"Hey s.h.i.+nnosuke-kun. What in the world happened after that? After I got out --- how did you ---"

Dohn, I grab the shoulders of Kiri.

"Don't get so close to me."

"Ah."

She makes that kind of sound again. She gazes at me with a look of surprise, thereafter, she lowers her voice to a whisper and says.

"...... at school, Mizuiro Gunjou-san has become a star for killing the diseased girl. They said that you were attacked by the diseased girl and failed to escape --- and then, Gunjou-san saved you."

"............"

"And, her corporate sponsors increased again. Right now, they number twenty."

"Ohh. That's amazing."

On saying that, Kiri backs off a little and narrows her eyes.

"Yeah. That's amazing...... but is that true?"

"............"

"From what I saw of Gunjou-san's ability, she shouldn't be able to do anything in that kind of situation. What if, the truth is that your positions were reversed...... and that you were the one who saved her...... and got seriously injured because of that, then......"

Cutting her off, I say.

"Then, what'll you do?"

"...... then, I won't forgive her."

"Huuh? What's with that? We aren't in that kind of relations.h.i.+p right?"

But, Kiri's face contorts slightly in sadness, pouts her lips, and puts her hands to her chest.

"...... e-ermm."

"Ah?"

"...... the truth is, I'm not really good at this, so it's kind of difficult for me to say this but."

Her face becomes a little red. Biting her lip, she says hesitantly.

"I, I, erm."

"...... what is it?"

"I, am, erm...... i-in l-love with you...... I think."

She says to me.

I stare at that red-faced Kiri with half-opened eyes and say.

"...... huuh? What kind of trap is this?"

"It's not a trap!"

"I'm not interested."

"Hey, I, really plucked out my courage to confess to you, and to hear that kind of reply ---"

"It won't work. You might have won over your cla.s.smates with that but --- the outcome should already be clear right? Every one of them abandoned you and escaped, didn't they?"

I smirk.

On hearing that, Kiri's face becomes slightly on the verge of tears.

"...... erm...... even I won't use such an unscrupulous method...... and I never felt the need to anyway......"

"So?"

"...... aah, but the timing is really bad, I guess. Sorry. I take that back."

"Haven't you always be doing that?"

"Ah-haha...... right. You're right. I'm sorry. But, those feelings are......"

"Shut up. Even if they were real, I can't accept them. Frankly, I have no interest in meaningless stuff like love and romance. Neither do I have the time for it."

For an instant, Kiri's face contorted into one that was on the verge of tears. But it disappeared immediately. She is a person who is capable of such a thing. That is probably why she is no good in expressing herself. She has probably received some kind of training to help her control her feelings. Which organization is she really from?

Kiri grins and says.

"I was kidding ~. Were you surprised?"

"Not really."

"Everything was a joke ~."

"Hmmmh."

"Though the truth is, it's not a joke."

"Whatever."

"Yeah. You're right. Sorry. Well then ~, see you tomorrow."

"Don't come again, you're irritating."

"Ah-haha...... then, see you."

She stands up.

And leaves the ward.

I stared after her absentmindedly for a while,

"...... ha...... romance, love, friends.h.i.+p, youth, and stuff like these...... this place is just full of idle people."

I smile.

In the first place, I have no right to have all those things. And they are also worthless to me. And I have not even saved my own little sister. And I have been killing girls. What would such a person like me, do with things like love, romance, and friends.h.i.+p?

Besides.

"............"

I pull over my comforter. Turn over the stomach area of my patient s.h.i.+rt. A cicatrix-like line where the wound was sewed up on my stomach can be seen. But that wound is not the problem. Fortunately, my organs were successfully fixed up. The problem lies in the fact that, as a result of the injury, some nerve has been damaged and consequently, I can no longer move my right foot.

"...... hn."

I sit up and start coming down from my bed. I attempt to extend my leg to outside of the bed. But the leg did not respond. It was as if it belonged to someone else. It is like a heavy, iron lump. Bam, I slip out of the bed and fall to the ground in an unsightly way. Hitting my head.

"............"

This is the price of hypocrisy. The price of acting righteously, futilely. I knew it, one who risks one's life to save the life of another, is just a piece trash who fails to think ahead.

"...... ha, haha."

I laugh foolishly.

"Hahahahaha."

I laugh smirkingly with half-opened eyes.

I sit myself up, lean my back against the wall, and laugh to myself, absentmindedly.

Then, at that moment, I felt a slight presence. Again, outside the door. Seems like someone has come.

"Ha, how popular can I be?"

I mutter in exasperation. The door should open soon. I do not have any time to get back to the bed. At any rate, this ward should be rejecting visitors by right, and I have not yet recovered from my injuries. There is no way I can move that agilely.

Despite all that, the door that has a 'No Visitors' sign slowly opens.

A short, fair-skinned, blond-haired girl is standing there.

It is Mizuiro Gunjou.

She is just standing there.

"............"

Casting her eyes downwards, with a pained and anguished face, she looks at me sitting on the floor.

"...... s.h.i.+-s.h.i.+nnosuke."

"Vomit-girl huh. What did you come here for?"

I called her vomit-girl. But she did not get angry. She merely looks at me with a troubled look, and in a quavering voice,

"...... I, I......"

She says.

"What?"

"...... I...... I've come to see you."

"Ah, okay. Thanks. But I don't need that, so can you go back?"

On hearing that, with a slightly fearful face, she says.

"...... e-erm...... if you wish for that, then...... I'll do just that, but."

"Then please go. See you. Farewell and bye-bye."

I wave my hand.

"............"

But, she did not move. With a brooding face, she remains standing rooted to the spot.

"What the h.e.l.l? You aren't done yet?"

"Erm......"

"Hurry up with it."

"I did as you told and took credit in the extermination of the diseased girl in my report."

"I see."

"I also got the largest share of the reward."

"That's great isn't it? Did your Dad and Mom praise you as well?"

I ask smirkingly but, Gunjou gazes at me without replying. And proceeds to bombard me with her doubt.

"...... but, why did you do that? Under those circ.u.mstances...... under those terrible circ.u.mstances, you didn't need to save......"

"Before that, answer my question first."

But, ignoring me, she continues.

"And also, I don't get the reason behind letting me take the credit......"

"I don't want to talk. In the first place, I'm not obligated to answer you."

"B-But."

As Gunjou enters the ward, I say to her.

"Hey, don't just enter on your own. You will make the ward stink with your puke."

"............"

Gunjou's face becomes teary. But it probably was not due to all the excreta talk I labeled on her. She is looking at my leg.

My immovable leg.

Seems like she already knew about my leg.

In a quavering voice, she says.

"...... I heard about you leaving school."

"Ohhhh."

"...... just now, I heard...... from the doctor that your leg won't be able to move again. That's why, that's why you have to drop out of school."

"Hmmmh. So?"

At that moment, Gunjou's face contorts. Contorting to the verge of tears. Tears start piling up in her strong-willed, almond-shaped eyes. The tears flow out readily. Seems like this girl is really a crybaby.

With tears flowing, she looks at me intently, then says.

"I-It's...... because of me, that you......"

But, interrupting her, I say.

"Don't be over-conceited about yourself. I made that decision with my own free will. It isn't your fault."

"But."

"Besides, when you enroll into that school, you too signed an oath of self-responsibility right? One's injury in the labyrinth is one's responsibility. It's one's own responsibility even if one dies. So why're you are crying so much? It's really unsightly."

"But!"

She starts to approach me.

"Don't come!"

I holler.

Gunjou's small body trembles with a start. She stops. With fearful eyes like those of a cat, she looks at me.

I receive her gaze with half-opened, smirking eyes.

"I don't have any business with you. So don't come any closer."

"............"

Crying, Gunjou looks at me with a face that says she does not know what she should do.

Strong-willed eyes.

Weak-willed eyes.

Lovely but yet depressing, pitying eyes.

"Can you leave?"

"...... s.h.i.+-s.h.i.+nnosuke."

"Hurry up."

"...... I-I'll be back...... again tomorrow......"

"No. More like, I'll be discharged by then."

"Eh...... t-that can't be possible. It's not possible in your current wounded state, was what the doctor......"

But, cutting her off, I say.

"There are too many uncalled visitors, so I'll be transferring to another hospital."

"...... ah."

"Yeah, but that too isn't your fault. It's all because of my good personality that I have many friends, you see ~"

Gunjou is not smiling.

I am unconcerned.

I reach out for the bed, and prop my upper body up. Standing with my left leg. My right leg did not move.

Gunjou's expression contorts again.

"I, I can understand that you don't want to see my face but......"

"I don't have that much interest in you to the point of not wanting to see your face."

"B-But, erm...... you were the one who saved me."

"Yeah ~, that's right. Then, pay me. Pay me the fee for saving you. That'd be enough. And you can forget all that hypocritical guilt."

"...... I, I."

"Then, I'll send you my account number later, so it's about time for you to go right?"

"s.h.i.+nnosuke."

"See you, bye bye."

"s.h.i.+nnosuke!"

Gunjou shouts angrily.

I look at her intently with half-opened eyes.

"...... what?"

"...... don't, transfer to another hospital...... I...... I won't come here again."

"............"

"I'll make the rest stop coming here as well, so don't transfer to another hospital."

"............"

"And also......"

"There's still more?"

With a imploring, pained look on her face, Gunjou says.

"...... you should blame me more. If you continue to act kindly towards me after all that, I'll...... I'll......"

I laugh at that.

"Ha, haha, what the h.e.l.l. If I don't blame you, you will be stricken with guilt?"

"T-That's not......"

"All right. It's your fault. So pay me. Then we'll call it......"

"That's not it! It's not about that...... if you keep treating me like this...... then, I'll......"

However, ignoring her, I press the b.u.t.ton to call for a nurse. This ward is a private ward meant specially for politicians, and a nurse comes over right away.

"Erm......"

The nurse is poking her face into the room, looking at the crying Gunjou, and feeling a little disconcerted.

"How can I help you?"

Gunjou frantically wipes her tears off with her hand. And makes her strong-willed face. In front of others, she is desperate not to let her weakness show and puts up a bluff. However, unlike Kiri, she cannot erase her emotions right away. She cannot control her emotions. Her lovely face is filled with a mix of self-a.s.surance and uncertainty. Her long lashes are wet.

"...... i-it's nothing! I accidentally pressed the b.u.t.ton. We are busy right now, so you can leave......"

"No need to leave. I was the one who called. I'll be discharging from the hospital. Make the arrangements."

Gunjou looks at me.

"W-Wait. We aren't done......"

"We're done. Frankly, it's vexing to have a stalker like you following me around."

"Can I ask for a crutch?"

"...... at any rate, we have to get the permission of the doctor first......"

"Aah, then, I'll just bear with this hospital for now, so just get me a crutch."

The nurse nods and leaves.

Gunjou then says with a tinge of happiness.

"You're not leaving?"

"No, I am. Who cares about getting permission."

"Ah......"

"More like, you should be going home too. Don't tell me you want to stay by side and provide for me for the rest of my life?"

I smile while saying that, but, Gunjou gazes at me and says.

"...... if...... that's what you wish for."

She is serious.　That is how hung-up she is on what happened in the labyrinth the other day.

"You are getting too worked-up, duuummyy."

"............"

"Besides, you'll get over it after a while."

"............"

"Or, is it because that you managed to become the hero even after getting many of your comrades --- your cla.s.smates --- killed, and causing me to get an injury that can't be healed...... and you want to at least do one good thing to compensate for all that?"

"............"

Gunjou's face contorts again into one that is on the verge of tears. Bull's eye. She is the strong-willed, arrogant type who feels a strong sense of responsibility; a foolishly kind girl.

But,

"That kind of thinking of yours is a needless favor. Your cla.s.smates died because they were weak. My injury was a consequence of my own decision. You have not the slightest responsibility in it."

"B-But......"

Tears fill her eyes again.

Vexed, I touch her white cheek that seems almost transparent enough to see the blood vessels beneath it, and say.

"Don't make such a weak-looking face, Mizuiro Gunjou. Aren't you the superstar who has twenty corporate sponsors? You should smile, and take in with self-a.s.surance all the money, fame, and power. Don't look back. Once you look back in that school, you'll die, you know?"

"...... s.h.i.+-s.h.i.+nnosuke."

"...... hey, ah ~, what the h.e.l.l am I saying? I told you to go back, jeez."

Gunjou looks up at me. With her teary face. Her cheeks are slightly red. She seems about to open her mouth but, I interrupt her by pinching her cheek.

"Ah ouch!? Wh-What are you......"

"...... I'm a little tired. Even though my wound's not better yet, I'm seeing too many visitors today. Can I sleep?"

"Ah, ah......"

"And also, even if you go back, I'll still be in hospital tomorrow."

Instantly, her eyes widen.

"R-Really!?"

"Yeah. So go back. Quickly go."

"Eh, ah, erm...... o-okay. I'll go. I'll come back again tomorrow...... so."

I sit on the bed. It is true that I am tired. I wave my hand to signal Gunjou to leave.

"Quickly go."

She leaves the ward,

"I'll come back tomorrow......!"

After saying that, she closes the door.

She said the same thing as s.h.i.+ro, Himi and Kiri.

Jeez, I don't get it. I don't get their purpose behind saying that.

What the h.e.l.l's wrong with them?

Who the h.e.l.l are they?

"How free can those people be......"

Once again, I sigh out tiredly.

The ward has returned to silence.

The machinery sound of the air-conditioner. The soft sound of my breathing. That's all I can hear.

And the faint smell of hope remains in the room.

Is it the scent of Gunjou? Or the scent of Kiri, or s.h.i.+ro, or Himi?

Love, romance, friends.h.i.+p, lover, friend, youth, peace, justice, dream, girls, friends --- a sweet fragrance.

A halting, seductive fragrance that seems to ensnare the legs of the weak, seventeen year-old me.

Telling me that there's no need to work so hard.

That I can live more freely.

Excuses, reasons not to do, reasons not to go on, appear in my weak heart.

"...... ha, hahaha."

My legs had always been ensnared.

My chest had always felt like it was going to get crushed.

Whenever I see the young men and women of my age having fun and laughing amongst themselves, a worthless temptation will be born from the depths of my heart for an instant, and I will be on the verge of losing to it.

"............"

No, surely, without a doubt, all of those who have dived into labyrinths probably have had their legs ensnared before.

s.h.i.+ro is definitely carrying some kind of darkness.

Kiri too, for sure, has some kind of a big secret.

That goes for the same with Gunjou. Otherwise, they could not have gotten that strong.

But yet, they all talk about pointless friends.h.i.+p. About love, about romance. Crying and laughing over worthless things. Taking a meaningless detour to come talk to me.

But, what's all that for?

What are they thinking of?

"...... even though reality...... the world, is such a terrible place."

Or don't tell me that, at that time, they all have another kind of strength that should exist only in fairy-tales?

"...... there seems to be no end to their company."

I smile again.

With half-opened eyes, smirkingly...... I smile, with a tinge of sadness.

♦

Once I got my crutch, I immediately went outside the hospital.

Evening.

The sun is already rather low, with its rays slanting.

The sky is red like blood.

The carpark is huge and seems like it can accommodate two hundred cars. However, not one car is in sight. What I can hear is the faint sound of the engine of an approaching motorbike.

I have heard that engine sound before. Its speed slows, followed by the sound of changing gears. A motorbike with a girl riding on it appears at the entrance of the carpark.

It is a strange-looking girl, who is wearing a white coat over her school uniform.

Sanae Yayoi.

Fifteen years old.

My cousin who is in charge of a research lab of Taikou Pharmaceuticals. Yayoi stops her bike before me, and takes off her helmet. Her long, black hair falls out.

Yayoi smiles, and says.

"...... Onii-sama...... I saw your medical report. Your leg is injured, it seems."

"Ha, you've come to make fun of your cousin's injury? You really have a horrible personality."

"...... I'm not happy about it at all. However, I thought that you can finally rely on me with this, Onii-sama."

"I won't."

"But, that leg of yours, if it's Taikou Pharmaceuticals --- if it's us, we'll be able to fix it right away."

"............"

"Since our corporation has lots of unpublicised magic technology that are exclusive to us."

"............"

"Now, let's go. Please hop on. I've already prepared your room in the research lab, Onii-sama......"

I cut her off and say.

"Hey Yayoi. Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"You know."

"Yes."

"...... about the incident this time, how much do you know about it?"

After saying that, I glare at her.

But Yayoi's expression remains unchanged.

I continue.

"...... the one who investigated the labyrinth was you guys, Taikou Pharmaceuticals. The scouting corps made a mistake in their scans. The report saying that it was a rank 0.4 labyrinth was a mistake. That was probably a rank 20 labyrinth right?"

"I'm sorry. With regards to the labyrinth raid this time, I'm not too sure of the details...... why don't you follow me back to the corporation to ask them about it?"

However, ignoring her, I continue.

"But can a rank 20 diseased girl deceive Taikou Pharmaceuticals? The truth is, you guys already knew what kind of labyrinth that was right?"

"Erm, Onii-sama......"

"You knew that but yet made us raid it. But, what kind of experiment is that? What were you guys doing there?"

"Onii-sama!"

"I'm not your big brother."

But, unconcerned with my remark,

"Onii-sama, please hear me out. It was a necessary experiment."

Yayoi readily admitted to it.

I am reminded of the dead bodies of several cla.s.smates for an instant. I am reminded of the dead Asahi Momoka, who thanked me.

And all that was for a necessary experiment, she said.

I narrow my eyes, and smile.

"...... you guys killed that many people just because of an experiment?"

"It couldn't be helped."

"Haha."

"It's also a necessary experiment for the sake of saving your little sister Saki, Onii-sama."

"............"

I stare at Yayoi.

Flas.h.i.+ng me a smile, Yayoi says.

"But, I'll tell you about everything when you come back to the lab with me. So please come along with me."

She extends a hand towards me.

I look at that hand.

"...... if I say no?"

Yayoi answers.

"You don't need to be so wary. Onii-sama, you are an important person to me...... and also the corporation has a high opinion of you now."

"............"

"As the labyrinth this time was a man-made one --- we were the ones who forced the disease onset in Asahi Momoka, so we were able to monitor everything that happened inside."

"Whatt!?"

Man-made labyrinth?

Force the disease onset?

What the h.e.l.l is this girl talking about?

"Thus, after knowing how excellent you are, how you managed to deal with a rank 20 labyrinth and came out of it alive......"

If all that has been seen by the trash, then, letting Gunjou take all the credit became meaningless.

Yayoi continues happily.

"The corporation definitely wants you, Onii-sama. They are saying that they want you as an in-house magician or researcher. Of course, I already knew something like this would happen --- after all, I already knew how amazing you are since a long time ago!"

I look at her face.

Her face that is beaming from knowing that her cousin is recognized by the organization she belongs to.

Her face that is helplessly jubilant from the fact that her cousin managed to survive and killed the diseased girl, Asahi Momoka.

It's a 'natural' face. Such things are probably natural to the world she has been brought up in, Taikou Pharmaceuticals.

No, it is the same everywhere. It is the same for any country, any company. Human experiment is a natural thing. Thrusting anyone out of the way, for the sake of personal gains, is a natural thing.

Love, romance, justice, silly, childish words like these are meaningless.

"...... haah."

I sigh out in exasperation. Following that,

"But, what if, I still tell you that I can't go with you?"

On hearing that, Yayoi answers with a smile.

"That's not possible. You can no longer escape from us. I was the one who fiddled around and blocked the nerves of your leg."

"...... aah, so this is your doing too huh."

"Besides, you don't have your 《Headphone Fuzz》 right? When you were wheeled into the hospital, I secretly took it from you."

Yayoi slowly takes out my 《Headphone Fuzz》 from the pocket of her white coat, and smiles.

"It'd surely be dangerous to fight a first rate magician who could clear a rank 20 labyrinth but --- even if it's you, Onii-sama, you're just an ordinary person without your 《Headphone Fuzz》."

"............"

"But, even so, just in case, I've brought along the special forces magicians from the corporation."

Suddenly, at that moment, murderous intent fills my surroundings. Seems like some kind of magic had been employed to hide their presence. Eight men, clad in military uniforms, appear around Yayoi. Each of them is wearing a 《Taikou Pharmaceuticals' Specialized Type 2》 《Headphone Fuzz》.

They are not any extraordinary magicians. If only I have my 《Headphone Fuzz》, then no matter how many they have, I could take them on.

But right now, I am unarmed. Useless. Trash. I do not have a single 《Headphone Fuzz》 to use against my well-prepared opponents.

"d.a.m.n."

I take a large step forward with my crutch. And start to reach out to grab the 《Headphone Fuzz》 in Yayoi's left hand.

However, with a delighted smiling face,

"In an instant, in a flash, in the time of a flash ♪ --- Acceleration switch."

Yayoi murmurs. It's slower than mine. It's probably another magic that's simpler than mine. But, with a speed that's overwhelmingly faster than the human me, she takes a step backward. Staying away from me. Even though I'm unarmed, she's perfectly, and completely on her guard against me.

I can no longer hope to win against her.

With my target gone in an instant, I readily fall to the ground. Unable to do anything.

Vexed, I look up at the sky with half-opened eyes.

The sky that enters my vision is red.

With the sun rays slanted, red like blood.

I knew it, a worthless thing like hope doesn't exist. Things like love, romance, friends.h.i.+p, justice, all these indulgent illusions don't exist in this world.

"...... ha, haha, hahahaha."

I should have known. It's all over the instant I let my guard down.

The only one who's trying to save my little sister is me. The rest are just self-centered, arrogant hypocrites who have no interest in others.

I have no comrades. I have no friends. If I don't shoulder everything myself and fight on, I definitely won't be able to save my little sister --- I should already have known that, but yet, I ended up erring easily in making my choice.

Saving Gunjou.

Saving the world.

And consequently, I can't save what's important to me.

"...... jeez, what the h.e.l.l have I been doing?"

I say in a tired voice. I thrust my hand up towards the sky. The hand that couldn't catch hold of anything.

Upon doing that, something resembling chains wrap around it.

"Restrain him!"

The special forces magicians of Taikou Pharmaceuticals say. One after another, chains that have been born from magic wrap around my arms, legs, and neck.

Yayoi says.

"Don't be rough. He's my cousin."

Shut up, I wanted to say but could no longer talk.

It's over.

With that, it's over ---

That's right, I thought.

However, a strange voice rings out.

"...... Penitence Severance switch."

The low voice of a man.

And suddenly, right before my eyes, a large knife appears. It easily cuts apart my restraining chains.

"W-What happened!?"

Before the shouting magicians, a man with gray hair and red eyes appears.

It's s.h.i.+ro.

"What the f**k are you guys doing huh?"

Yayoi looks at s.h.i.+ro and scowls. She orders her subordinates.

"Hey, What're y'all doing!? Hurry up and restrain my big brother!"

The magicians activate their 《Headphone Fuzz》. They seem to be activating some kind of offensive magic.

However, before those magicians, one after another, young men and women wearing the uniform of 《Metropolitan Kichijouji High》 appear.

Kiryuu Kiri.

Yuuyami Himi.

Endou Yousuke.

Mizuiro Gunjou.

All of them are wearing special 《Headphone Fuzz》 that normal magicians are unable to use. Even if the opponents have thirty special forces magicians of Taikou Pharmaceuticals with them, they probably still won't be able to do anything to s.h.i.+ro and the rest. Since the people on my side are all made up of extraordinary idiots who have actually risked their lives to raid the labyrinths filled with all sorts of h.e.l.lish and monstrous menaces.

But, I have no clue why they are here. I have no idea why these idiots would take the trouble to come save me.

Even though they are strangers.

Even though they are all strangers.

"...... what in the world...... what in the world is up with you guys?"

I ask.

I really don't get it.

The actions of these fellows are too much of a contrast to the dark, cold world that I knew and lived in.

But yet, with faces asking, why are you asking that?, Kiri, Himi, Yousuke, and Gunjou turn around towards me.

And lastly, wth a face saying, that's a given,

"Ah? Why, you asked...... obviously it's because we're your comrades."

s.h.i.+ro said some stupid stuff to me.

"............"

Comrades.

Comrades.

Comrades......

For an instant, I'm at a loss for words. Replying to those baffling, incomprehensible, childish, silly words,

"...... don't, screw with me...... you guys are giving me gooseb.u.mps."

My voice...... quivered.

All of them smile back happily. Beaming in delight. d.a.m.n. They are really p.i.s.sing me off.

Maybe it's because she has realized that her situation has become unfavorable, Yayoi starts backward.

Kiri asks.

"...... hey, s.h.i.+nnosuke-kun. Do we need to go after her?"

She is already wielding her magically conjured j.a.panese sword. It's a purple sword, different form the one she used in the labyrinth. It's a different magic. From her tone, it seems like she's saying that she can catch her opponent even if she takes her time in giving chase.

I say. With a slightly raised voice.

"Yayoi. Put down my 《Headphone Fuzz》! Otherwise, we'll go af