Chapter 8

During the ten minute break at the end of second period, Haruyuki changed out of his gym clothes into his school uniform and returned to the second-years class C.

Immediately after he pulled the door open and set foot into the classroom, he was showered in considerable applause and stood stock-still. However, now that he thought about it, if he were a somewhat anemic, willowy female, then maybe this would not have happened, but since he was a male who had tried too hard and collapsed in a class that was only gym class at most, he would be seen as a somewhat physical type of comedian. Shrinking his neck, while lowering his head obsequiously he dashed to his seat; exactly at the point where he sat down, the chime for third period rang, and he let out a long breath.

He lifted his head, and his eyes met with those of Chiyuri, who looking back at him in a worried manner from the seat diagonally right in front of him. Nodding as if to say Im fine, on that occasion he also made fleeting eye contact with Takumu, who was sitting at his back right.

Takumus facial expression seemed truly apologetic; in short, he was probably thinking that why Haruyuki had tried so hard to the point of collapsing was the fault of his own advice that image is important.

Its not your fault; on the other hand, thanks to you I was able to realize something important; I thank you for that.

Putting those thoughts into his gaze, he smiled widely, and Takumu also finally made his mouth grin widely.

During the classes of third, fourth period, lunch break, and afternoon classes as well, while studying with half his mind, with the other half Haruyuki continued to think single-mindedly.

What was the second stage Mind Power that he needed to find and nurture.

He understood that now there were other urgent duties on which he needed to concentrate more. Of course, it was the Imperial Palace escape strategy II, which was drawing close tonight at seven. He must dive together with Shinomiya Utai, also known as Ardor Maiden, into the Unlimited Neutral Field, meet again with the mysterious deep-blue young warrior Trilead Tetraoxide, receive his assistance, and return alive from the Imperial Palace as well as the territory of the Four Divine Beasts. If he considered the fact that they would fall into the terrifying state of Infinite EK if they were defeated by one of the warrior avatars prowling the interior of the Imperial Palace (not to mention also Suzaku, one of the Divine Beasts), no matter how much he concentrated it would not be too much.

However, Haruyuki could not help himself by any means from continuing to think about his own Mind Power.

As for why, at present another circumstance that he could not defer had arisen.

Namely, teaching the basics of the Incarnate system to his eternal rivalor the Burst Linker who had tentatively become that, the end-of-century bike rider Ash Roller.

At the end of their duel before going to school, when Ash had asked him straightaway Could you teach it to me? The Incarnate system, Haruyuki had been taken aback for close to a full five seconds.

After his ability to think somehow recovered, what he asked first of all was a question that he thought likely to be extremely obvious.

Whwhy, me?

In doing so, the end-of-century rider said,

Well you see, youre that, right? Master Rakers disciple, right? Which means youre mykouhai1, my brother disciple2, right?

In a further second, he understood that that strange word referred to a junior disciple; stopping himself from butting in But with that way of saying it you cant distinguish it from senior disciple, for the moment he asked back a practical question.

If, if so, wouldnt it be fine if you were properly taught by Raker-san? If its her, then regardless of differences in legion, I believe shed teach it scrupulously to her own child, Ash-sanand no doubt, thoroughly

Thats it. That thorough parts the problem.

The instant he caught the ring that seemed in some way frightened in the voice leaked from below his scarface, Haruyuki realized what Ash had a problem with. He did not seem to be frightened; hewasfrightened. Frightened of that fearsome spartan style of training, like that of two months before: when Kurasaki Fuuko alias Sky Raker had begun to teach Haruyuki the basics of the Incarnate system, she had pushed him off the apex of the Old Tokyo Tower.

Staring at Ash Roller for a while out of the corner of his eye, Haruyuki spoke.

Um, if I may dare to use a self-important manner of putting itthe Incarnate systems not such a lenient thing. A way of doing things like using a dubious Neuro Linker-use study kit to acquire it with ease without going through hard pains is kinda

Dont say everything! I got it, I too understand that!

Before Haruyukis eyes, Ash thrust his rider glove palms straight out and shouted.

But if youll let me say it, Masters lessons that you experienced were the mild version meant for guests!

Ehth, they were?

Thats right! well, generally speaking, I, how do you put itthis way of saying it might be unexpected, but I dont have the intention of firmly acquiring the Incarnate system and competing like mad with baddies in the Unlimited Neutral Field. Im fine with being able to use an Incarnate technique in just one fight; no, just one time. If I can give that guy Uu whos beginning to be swallowed up by the ISS Kit one hard knock and open his eyes, Im fine with that

At those unexpected words, Haruyuki looked back at the side of the skull face. Ash Roller, who had turned his face to the sky of the stage, murmured quietly in a voice tinged with uncharacteristic heaviness.

Because to me, Brain Burst is to the end a fighting game.

If he were spoken to like that, he could no longer refuse flatly.

As to why, the one who had conveyed to Ash Roller the information that nows our chance to deal Bush Utan a blow with Mind Power and destroy the ISS Kit was Haruyuki himself.

There, the duel time had ended; Haruyuki was unable to say either yes or no to Ashs request, but however it had undoubtedly been conveyed to him. The fact that Haruyuki had made up his mind to accept his request.

While he continued to think round and round with half his mind, the end-of-sixth-period chime rang, and the atmosphere in the classroom became bubbly and enlivened.

Switching places with the subject teacher, the homeroom teacher Sugeno appeared, and the short homeroom period began. At the end of the various messages, the incident of Aritas loss of consciousness was brought up; at the point where he was scolded with the welcome maxim of Its very good to try your best, but diligently maintaining your own physical condition is an athletes ironbound law and broke into a cold sweat, the after-school chime rang.

First, Haruyuki talked lightly about that nights plans with Chiyuri and Takumu, who were going to track and kendo practice respectively. After club and committee activities ended, they would change clothes, assemble at Haruyukis house, have a meeting with all legion members present, and thereafter commence the Imperial Palace escape strategythey confirmed that flow of events and for the time being parted.

While he changed into sneakers at the entranceway and headed alone to the backyard in order to do his committee activities, Haruyuki continued to ask himself a single question single-mindedly.

Whether he had the qualifications to teach someone the way of using Mind Power.

In the nurses office, when he had sought his initiation into Mind Power in an almost slightly impatient way from Kuroyukihime, that doubt might have also existed in the depths of his heart.

In terms of just technical knowledge regarding the Incarnate systemnamely, the sub-control system of the fighting game Brain Burst, a method of consciously using ones imagination circuitshe had self-confidence in having acquired some as such. However, Mind Power was not a mere technique. It displayed an overwhelming power outside the rules, but on the other hand the terrible risk of the player likely being pulled into his or her hearts own dark side existed. That was not just an analogy. Burst Linkers who unleashed negative Mind Power had even their real-world personalities distorted. Like the robber Dusk Taker. And then, like the Takumu of yesterday.

If he were to teach somebody the basics of Mind Power, he must devote himself to paying discreet attention such that his companion was not pulled to the dark side. It would probably not be enough just explaining the dangers in words. There was a need to show an illustration of how great a miracle Mind Power could produce at the very beginning. Like Sky Raker, who made her wheelchair dance back and forth, left and right without using her hands, or Black Lotus, who changed her sword into her hand.

If one considered that point of view, Haruyukis Laser Sword and Laser Lance were somewhat weak. The reason was that as phenomena they were only mere one-shot attack techniques. There were no few numbers of other Burst Linkers who had acquired special techniques that possessed about the same range and power.

If he really had the intention of lecturing Ash Roller about the Incarnate system, he would probably have to show him the power of the second stage that Kuroyukihime had mentioned, not just the elementary four types of techniques. If he could not do that, then he probably did not have the qualifications to teach people Mind Power.

Though, having said that

While going around the second school building from its east side and walking on the backyard covered in moss, with a sigh mixed in Haruyuki muttered that.

At the nurses office, Kuroyukihime had said that to acquire the second stage of Mind Power, one must face ones physical self head-on, reverse ones trauma, which had become ones avatars mold, and produce an image of hope. However, frankly Haruyuki himself did not understand well why he had been born as Silver Crowas a metal-color who possessed slender limbs, a smooth head, and ten metal fins.

Because he had grown fat, he yearned for a thin body. Because he had lived groveling on the ground, he yearned for wings to fly in the sky. It was simple to draw that conclusion. But for some reason, he had the feeling that was not all. Because with that explanation, he did not understand the reason why he was a metal-color

At that time, suddenly he heard a faint voice from somewhere.

And then, people who possess shells of trauma that cross a certain level of intensity will almost certainly become metal-colors-ya wa3

..?

He stopped still with fear and looked around at his surroundings.

It was the slightly husky voice of a girl. However, there was no ones figure in the dim backyard. Again, he strained his ears, but only the calls of the sports club members practicing on the faraway grounds and the sounds of the concert band club tuning instruments in the music room reached him.

However, he had not misheard it. Even if he did not know the word shell of trauma, there were no female acquaintances in his surroundings who used the Kansai dialect.

Throb.

All of a sudden, a point on his back between his shoulder blades hurt intensely. He unintentionally staggered and put his hand on the wall of the school building at his side. Throb, throb. The pain did not readily go away.

Muscle soreness from first periods gym classit wasnt that. Haruyuki already knew that this pain was not coming from an abnormality in his body.

hhwhy, is thathere now

While clenching his fists and bearing it, he muttered in a hoarse voice.

That was right.Thatthe Disaster Armor parasitizing Silver Crow, namely the sixth star of the Seven Arcs The Destiny that had mutated and had given birth to the Enhanced Armament The Disaster was being excited.

In the depths of his ears, the roar of a ferocious beast different from the voice before reverberated.

Destroy. Destroy. Those guystear them apartchew them to piecesdevour them..!

In response to the quantity of heated anger and hate contained in that voice to an alarming extent, Haruyuki gasped for breath while still leaning on the wall.

Two weeks before, in the final stretch of the Hermes Cord Traverse Race, being spurred on by rage toward Rust Jigsaw Haruyuki had summoned the Armor. Though his mind had begun to be nearly completely controlled for a while, due to Chiyuris special technique Citron Call Mode 2, time for his avatar had been rewound, and the Armor had again been restored to simple parasitic factorstheir entity was the hook wire fragments left by the fifth generation Disaster, Cherry Rook.

Since then he had never heard the Disasters voice, but yesterday evening he had fought with Takumu, who had begun to be swallowed up by the ISS Kit, and in order to pull him back Haruyuki had tried to summon the original form of the Armor, The Destiny. Although it was not the Disaster itself, through the summoning process the parasitic factors might have again slightly awoken.

However. Even while bearing the pulse of the lightning-like pain, Haruyuki felt some sort of sense of unease.

In some way, there wassomething different from the previous voice of the Disaster. He had that hunch. The brutal impulse to destroy was the same, but it was likely that behind it there was another emotion vaster than the wrath and hatred. Howling, raging, and thenthis emotion that seemed like wailing

Before he knew it Haruyuki was trying to tune his consciousness to the voice to which he had been blocking his eyes and ears in the expectations that it would go away.

That moment, the highest degree of dizzying, intense pain up until now ran from his back to the center of his head, and he fell to the ground on his knees, trembling. A savage howl completely filled his hearing.

Destroy. Destroy. Destroy destroy devour devour devour devour devour devour..!!

Is thissorrow..?

Are you, crying..?

The answer in response to Haruyukis question was a third merciless staggering blow. No longer even letting out a moaning voice, he tightly scrunched up his eyes and began to fall forward onto the moss-covered groundbut just beforehand.

Somebody supported Haruyukis shoulders from the front with her small hands.

In that state, a soft, tender feeling enveloped his upper body. Quicker than he understood somebody had caught him in her arms, with his two arms Haruyuki also embraced that somebody as if to cling to her.

She had a cool body temperature like that of lulling, soothing, and absorbing blazing crimson flames. Each time her small hands rubbed his back, the pulse of pain rapidly receded.

Letting out a thin breath, Haruyuki relaxed his stiffened body.

With his thinking process still over halfway at a stop, vacantly he raised his eyelids. Before his eyes was a deep red, thin radial line on a background of black like sparklers on a summer evening. It took some time for him to notice that that was an irisbasically, a human eye.

He pulled back his face just a little bit and expanded his field of vision.

Fifteen centimeters before his eyes existed the face of a youthful girl whose large pupils were opened wide as if worried.

Bangs cut neatly to the same length. The back was fastened with a thin ribbon. A neck so thin it made one surprised, and below that a white dress type of uniform. A brown leather satchel on her shoulder.

Shi, nomiyasan..?

Haruyuki whispered in a hoarse voice, and his companion nodded deeply.

It was Shinomiya Utai, the off-campus member of Umesato Middles caretaker committee on which Haruyuki served as chairman. A fourth grader of the affiliated Matsunogi Elementary Institute. And a level 7 Burst Linker who occupied a corner of the upper echelons of the first-generation Nega Nebulas Elements in the Accelerated World, Ardor Maiden.

At the appearance of a person on whom he could rely unconditionally, Haruyuki thinly exhaled a breath of relief and hastened to separate himself a bit more from her face, which had approached him far too closely.

However, he could not. As to why, it was because his own two arms were hugging her body, which was small and slender even for the norms for her age, tightly with all his might.

After looking down at the dress of Utai, who was in close proximity, and his round belly for two seconds, Haruyuki finally became aware of his deed that defied even the heavens and cried out.

Nohyaa!

Like a spring mechanism, he opened his two hands left and right and jumped fifty centimeters backward from his kneeling posture.

I, Im, Im shorry! Y-y-youve got it wrong, i-i-its not like that

As he waved his hands in a flapping way, there was a red system message in the center of his virtual desktop. Without recognizing whether it was an ad hoc connection request, he pressed the yes button. As soon as the chat window appeared in the bottom of his field of vision, Utais lovely ten fingers typed in the air with furious momentum.

UI> There is no need to worry, Arita-san. We are probably out of view of the social cameras.

Was, was that so? Speaking of which, wasnt that even worse?

For an instant, he had thought that but did not put it into words; Haruyuki tried to make a more logical justification.

Uh, um well, while I was walking I felt a little dizzy, and I thought it was undoubtedly because I had went all-out too much in gym class, but since Im fine now, Im sorry to have caused you to worr

However, his words were interrupted by Utais placid as well as heartbreaking smile, which seemed to see through everything. After she separated her knees, which were on the ground like Haruyukis, and got up, she slightly dropped her speed and began moving her fingers again.

UI> You dont need to be in such a flurry. Because I understand What had happened just now was probably the thing called Overflow.

Oover, flow?

He tilted his head at the word he had heard, no, seen for the first time. However, immediately after, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide at the line of words that continued to flow.

UI> Its a higher version of Zero Fill. If the act of ones heart being filled to the brim with an absence of Mind Power, basically resignation or a sense of helplessness, and becoming unable to move is Zero Fill, then overflow is the act of negative Mind Powerrage, hate, or despair overflowing and becoming unable to control oneself. Of course, originally it was a phenomenon that occurred to Burst Linkers in the Accelerated World, but I heard that even in the real world it happens rarely to Burst Linkers who are users of negative Mind Power.

Negative, Mind Power

He mumbled in a small voice and abruptly looked at Utais face. While shaking his head back and forth, he forced out some words.

Uh, um, Imdefinitely not doing anything like practicing negative Mind Power of my own accord

Whereupon Utai again smiled placidly, walked up right next to his side, and touched her left hand to Haruyukis cheek in a squishy way. At the same time, she typed with her right hand alone.

UI> I said it, didnt I; I understand. Earlier, that wasthe interference of the Armor, wasnt it?

..!

He sharply swallowed his breath, but if she had seen through him to that extent then it couldnt be helped even if he denied it.

Yes, thats correct By remembering somethingum, with the springboard of remembering somebodys words, suddenly it began to act violently

UI> Words? Of what kind?

Uh, I cant remember who it was. In fact, no matter how I think about it, it was the voice of someone I didnt knowif I remember correctly, the content was that if there was something about ones shell of trauma, then one would become a metal-color, something like that

What had trembled with a twitch was not Haruyuki but the left hand of Utai, who was touching his cheek.

The iris streaked with deep red lines opened completely wide. Her lips faintly quivered, but of course her voice did not come out; her right hand tapped the keyboard falteringly.

UI> Who was it? Who was the one who said that to you, Arita-san?

Sorry, Im trying as hard as I can to rememberbut its no use, I dont know. All I recall was that it was the voice of a female

UI> Is that so. Im sorry, please forget it. Is your physical condition fine now?

It seemed to be a sudden change of topic, but Haruyuki immediately forgot his sense of discomfort and nodded. Utais left hand left him; with a heave-ho, he stood up and brushed off his uniform at the knees.

Unh, Im fine now, thank you. It seems wholly as if you can use Mind Power even in the real world, Shinomiya-san.

While thanking her and saying that casually at the same time, Utai showed signs of acting bashfully in a way appropriate for her age, which was rare. Her cheeks slightly reddened, she cast her eyes down, and she let out a flow of words in the chat log in one go with the fastest typing speed up until now.

UI> Im glad it didnt turn into a serious matter. I believe theres no need to worry that much with regards to the interference of the Armor. If its an Enhanced Armament thats had that much of a history, rather itd be strange if overflow didnt occur. No matter what interference there is, unless you intone the equipping command in the Accelerated World, it should not exhibit a connection-like influence. Besides, either way, if tonights escape strategy succeeds, Ill be able to purify you of the parasitic factors on the spot.

Unh, thats true.

Why Haruyukis answer was a moment late was because he had felt an instant of vacillation about the presently most important topic, the purification of the Armor missioneverything was nothing more than laying the groundwork for the sake of both Ardor Maidens rescue and the escape from the Imperial Palace.

However, was there the need to hesitate about something? If he did not completely get rid of the Disaster Armor, at the imminent Seven Kings meeting in three days, Silver Crow would be designated with a bounty on his head by the joint signature of the six large legions. He absolutely had to avoid that.

Fortunately, it seemed Utai, whose head was lowered, had not noticed Haruyukis abnormal state; she continued to make her fingers flash.

UI> Now then, let us begin committee activities. Hou-san must be hungry.

She swiftly waved her hand, erasing the keyboard, and she lifted up her bag, which had been put in a place slightly separated from them. Haruyuki hastily chased after Utai, who had headed for the caretaker shed in the northwest corner of the backyard and had begun to walk briskly without trying to regard Haruyukis face.

The African Sunda Scops-owl Hou had moved from Matsunogi Institute to Umesato Middle a mere three days ago.

However, the small-class bird of prey nodding off on his perch established in the caretaker shed already seemed completely used to his new surroundings. Though he did not so much as open his eyelids even if Haruyuki approached the shed, as soon as he noticed the footsteps of Utai, who had put her bag and satchel at the side of the sink, he opened its round eyes perfectly wide and also incidentally moved his wings restlessly.

Really, what a self-interested guy, huh

Haruyuki muttered that with a bitter laugh mixed in and unlocked the electronic lock on the door. He nimbly entered and retrieved the water-resistant coated paper laid around the vicinity of the perch and the bathing-use vat. Swapping places with him, Utai lined up the paper washed and dried from yesterday and checked whether or not Hous weight and body temperature were at their normal values.

As Haruyuki, who had again went outside, washed the paper mat with a sloshing noise with the water supply established at the flank of the shed, a white cooling receptacle peeking out from the handbag at his side caught his eye.

The contents were Hous feed. Yesterday, the limits of what he had been shown were some kind of meat, but according to Utai it seemed to be neither chicken nor pork nor beef. Come to think of it, sure enough today she was supposed to show him starting from the point where she would dress the feed, but Utai had also added I predict youll suffer emotional damage, so prepare yourself. While again racking his brains on what on earth that meant, Haruyuki began to softly reach out his right hand. At that instant.

UI> It probably wouldnt be strange even if you ate it, Arita-san.

Those words flowed into his chat window that had been left displayed, and he froze his hand in fear. He looked back; Utai, who had come out from the shed without his knowing it, was smiling from ear to ear.

N, no, such a thing, I wouldnt snitch food, Im already a second-year in middle school.

Forgetting even the fact that he and Chiyuri had made a great fuss last night over the fried eggplant of the soup garnish and the chicken, Haruyuki shook his head minutely and hanged the coated paper, which he had finished washing, on some small hangers. With a handkerchief, he wiped his hands and then looked at Utai.

The grade schooler four years younger than he showed for an instant a facial expression as though she were considering something, but immediately she nodded deeply.

UI> Now then, Ill prepare Hou-sans food.

She moved to a place before the sink, inserted her hand into the handbag, and took out the cooling receptacle. She loosened the buckle fastening its four sides in place and opened the lid. Spurred on by curiosity, Haruyuki, who had thrust his face out and had peered inside the receptacle, stopped his breath short two seconds later with a start.

Lined up inside along with the ice packs were small pink animals of five centimeters lengthprobably mice before their fur had grown. Of course, they werent alive, but their shapes were the same. From the four there she took out one and typed with one hand while placing it on the lid of the receptacle, which had been put on the sink.

UI> Its a feed called frozen pink mouse. Basically, mice, chicks, or insects like crickets and mealworms are distributed to pet Ural owls or horned owls. However, its too large as it is now, so well need to dress it.

And then she put her hand into the bag again and took out a thing that surprised Haruyuki even more greatly.

It was quite small but without a doubt a knifeno, perhaps he should say a pocketknife. She removed the scabbard made of glossy, natural wood, and a six-centimeter blade glittering with a pale blue sheen appeared from inside.

UI> Of course, Ive obtained permission to carry as well as use this pocketknife. Despite that, if I take it out somewhere like on the public roads, in the blink of an eye Id be taken into protective custody.

Utais annotation was not an exaggeration at all. Now, in 2047, carrying any tool with a blade was a violation of regulations, regardless of size. If one had a reason as part of ones duties, it was possible to carry one by obtaining a permit from the public safety commission, but he recalled from the news he had seen that the screening was rather harsh.

Seemsseems like you were granted permission all right.

In spite of himself Haruyuki muttered that, but in response to that Utai only faintly smiled, not replying with anything. In return, with her left hand she steadied the pink mouse put on the receptacles lid, and with her right she applied the seemingly sharp tip of the penknife to it.

As the blade moved sharply, its target was split neatly in half. Despite that, there was not a sign of a cut on the plastic covering. The pocketknife moved a further two times, and the mouse quickly became four thin slices of meat. Sure enough, their hue was that of what Hou seemed to be eating in an appetizing way yesterday. Its internal organs seemed to be processed already, but some blood flowed out and moistened the blade.

Utai, in the midst of work, gave off an air so strained that even the changes in the surrounding air pressure were nearly visible; Haruyuki could no longer even speak out to her. Of course, though, he didnt have the courage to propose let me do it in the first place. The remaining mice were also prepared one after the other, and in less than a mere two minutes, the contents of the receptacle had changed into the same state as that of yesterday.

Utai finished her work, washed the pocketknife at the tap, wiped the blade well with a cloth resembling cotton, and returned it to its sheath. With that cloth, she wrapped the penknife, scabbard and all, put it in her bag, and raised her body. Without looking at Haruyuki, she typed on the holo keyboard.

UI> Normally, one would use scissors for this work. That ways easier.

If so, then why the pocketknife?

He interrogated her softly, and after looking down for a while as if in thought Utai answered.

UI> I thought it would be a memorial service at the bare minimum, but it might have been meaningless self-satisfaction after all. Now then, lets go feed these to Hou-san.

While chasing after Utai, who was holding the receptacle and her leather gloves and again heading for the shed, Haruyuki tried to ponder the meaning of the line of words still displayed in the chat window. However, no matter how he interpreted it, it felt slightly wrong.

The two entered the shed, and as if to say he couldnt wait any longer the Eurasian Scops-owl showed the behavior of flapping his wings from his perch. No later than Utai raised her left hand fitted into the leather glove did he move, flying round the shed in circles.

With both hands, Haruyuki held the receptacle in the same fashion of that as yesterday; from there Utai grabbed slices of meat one by one and gave them to Hou. The answer to his homework was in short rat meat, but now that he thought of it he had the feeling that owls in fiction for the most part caught mice. Well, there was no way they would eat pork, beef, and the like.

While staring fixedly at Hou, who was swallowing the meat one after another, Haruyuki thought absentmindedly about the obvious fact that that guys living too, huh.

Though he was of a species that did not inhabit Japan and was only sold with the intention of being a pet, he was not artificial protein synthesized in a factory, much less a polygon object. Within this four meter by four meter room, from day to day he was eating, sleeping, and then feeling something. Something that Haruyuki had no way of imagining

Possibly having caught wind of the sign that he had slightly bit his lip, Utai turned round and tilted her head. Haruyuki hurriedly tilted his head and spoke in a small voice.

Ah, I, Im sorry. Its not anything big. Its just that, um, I was watching him bathe yesterday and said What a lucky guy you are, maybe it was a little rude

There, he noticed that this time those remarks might have been rude not to Hou but to Utai, and he became flustered even further.

Uh, um, I-I-Im not particularly saying that its a misfortune for him to be taken care of by you, I think thats a blessing, if anything I want it toonooo, thats not what I meant, um.

Around there, Haruyukis wanting to escape running meter had risen quite a bit, but in a situation where he was holding meat with both hands that was not possible either; he joined words together with all his effort.

Uhmm, well, Hou was probably born from artificial breeding, so I think that from the beginning he didnt know what was outside his birdcage, buthowever, hes a bird. Birds want to fly in the skypossibly. Ah, of course Im not saying we should set him free. Im not saying either that this situations a misfortune for him. But, at the least, maybe its not good for us to arbitrarily decide what he should feel

The more he spoke, the less clear his meaning became, so there out of necessity Haruyuki shut his mouth.

However, it seemed that some extent of his intention had been conveyed to Utai. She nodded once and resumed feeding him with an expression of mulling over something on her face. The four pink mices worth of meat slices disappeared in succession inside his beak, and the Eurasian Scops-owl, who in the end had his head petted and seemed to be satisfied greatly, unfurled his wings and took off from Utais left hand. He flew leisurely inside the shed, tracing a counterclockwise arc.

No matter how many times he saw that figure, it was so beautiful as to make him let out a gasp. While becoming absentminded, he gazed on, enthralled, and with a discreet sound effect words flowed in the chat window.

UI> I believe the thing of which you wish to speak, Arita-san, is called respect.

The instant the emphasized word came into his view, Haruyuki nodded furiously several times. That was right; that was precisely the thing that Haruyuki was feeling a moment earlier.

Hou was; no, all pets, including him, were not existences just kept by humans. One could also say they were at the side of humans. That was why it was amiss to measure their happiness or unhappiness with a human scale. All they could do was approach them with respect.

No, it wasnt just pets. Earlier, Utai had used not scissors but a properly sharpened pocketknife and had dressed the pink mice with the utmost seriousness. In short, she had not forgotten to respect even the mice that were going to be the feed

While looking up at Hou, who had returned to his perch, Haruyuki was struck by that deep emotion, and in the chat window text was again composed in a slightly slow manner.

UI> I also believe that its very important to hold respect for all things. Respect is basically not disdaining. Even oneself is included as a target of that respect, no doubt.

Eh, respecting oneself..?

Haruyuki drew his gaze away from Hou and stared at the girl standing at the side.

Isnt oneselfdifferent..? Because isnt that, something like conceitsomething like narcissism, isnt it like tha

Haruyuki, who far from respecting himself frankly spared himself from even looking at himself in the mirror, only said that. However, still smiling gently, Utai paused slightly and then moved her fingers.

UI> If one overdoes it, it may become like that, but I believe that slighting oneself is also looking down upon the path one has walked until now, the time one has passed, and the people to whom one is related. Inside you, Arita-san, theres undoubtedly a flame that will not disappear by any means no matter how much water is poured on it or how much the wind blows.

The girl reached her right hand straight out and applied it precisely to the center of Haruyukis breastright above his heart.

UI> That flame burns with your experiences and memorieswith even your sins and errors as firewood. In the final analysis, peoples consciousness and thoughts cause neurons ignitefor both an instant and an eternity, that flame is the essence of all life. I hold the conviction that not forgetting respect toward others and yourself and continuing to let your flame burn the proper way will illuminate the path you should walk.

Without even looking at the holo keyboard, Shinomiya Utai had managed to type that difficult to decipher as well as lengthy text with her left hand alone. During that period, her pupils, which concealed deep crimson sparks, had been fixed continuously upon Haruyukis eyes. It seemed to Haruyuki as if from her small hand still touching his chest, surely some kind of energyperhaps real flames were being emitted and flowing into his heart.

My flamethe path I should walk

The heat in his blood vessels ran through his entire body and at last gathered at his backat his two shoulder blades.

In real life, Haruyuki of course did not have wings. Far from that, his body was round and his height low, and his physical ability was at the extent where if he tried a little bit in PE class, he would collapse.

However, he could advance forward. He could kindle the slight flame inside his heart, light his way, and take a step forward. Not facing backward, solely runningforward. Forward. Everything was the problem of his image. If he had possessed the image of moving his feet forward in this real world, without a doubt his pace would have become several times, several tens of times greater in the Accelerated World.

My imagemy, Mind Power.

After softly murmuring that, he deeply inhaled, and in a completely changed, clear voice, Haruyuki spoke.

Thank you, Shinomiya-san. Somehow, it seems like an answer for what Ive always been worrying about has come.

Upon which Utai softly separated her right hand from Haruyukis chest, gave a glimpse of her teeth like drops of pearls from her lips, and showed one of her rare articulate smiles.

Having left the caretaker shed, the two of them finished washing their hands at the water supply, signed the committee log file indicating they had completed their activities, and submitted it to the school local net.

The time was 4:15 in the afternoon. The time to assemble at Nega Nebulas temporary headquarters, aka Haruyukis house, was six in the afternoon, so they still had some leeway before they had to move.

For the moment, maybe today Ill go together with Shinomiya-san to the student council meeting room and wait for Takus and Chiyuris club activities to end while chatting with Senpai

While thinking in that manner, he tried to pick up his school-commuting bag put at the flank of the sinkbut just beforehand.

Utai, who was using a handkerchief at his immediate side, stiffened her body with a twitch. Immediately after, Haruyuki also sensed some kind of presence creeping in at his back.

A thirst for blood..!

Quickly, he tried to look back, but even quicker than that. Two arms extended across the shoulders of Utai, who was standing next to him, tightly seized her body. Simultaneously, a cheerful voice.

Ui-ui, Igotyou!

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UI> Stopm, itd paonful

The two hands of Utai, who had been hoisted into the air, tapped the keyboard in a struggling way, but the line of words flowing in the text box amounted to no meaning. All Haruyuki could do was catch the white handkerchief that had slipped out in midair.

The assailant who had succeeded in a splendid backstab whipped Utais small body around, wrapped her up super-tightly into her own chest, and raised a nasal voice.

Aah, Ui-ui, youre so cute as always! At this rate, would it be fine if I put you in my pocket and took you home! Or should I make you into a mascot and decorate my dashboard!

The one who fired in succession those questionable lines of which it was dubious whether they were expressions of love or not was a female student wearing a uniform not from a school in this area. She was quite taller than Haruyuki, clad in a blouse with a too-magnificent proportion of light blue and a checker-patterned skirt, and had thin overknee tights covering her legs up to an area fairly high above her knees. Her hair was naturally long hair that seemed fluffily soft.

Utais right hand, which was clawing even more at the air, came down with a sudden stop as if she were exhausted of strength.

The captor, who checked that her target had been suppressed, at that point finally looked at Haruyuki and smiled gently.

How do you do, Karasu-san. Good job with the caretaker committee work.

Ahththank you, how do you do, Master.

While making his face twitch, Haruyuki returned a greeting to his master, the vice chief of Nega Nebulas and level 8 Burst Linker Sky Raker, Kurasaki Fuuko. Following that, he inquired timidly.

Um, wellwh, why are you here at Umesato Middle, Master?

What I needed to have was a friend with power. Sacchan gladly issued me a one day visitors pass.

In this day and age, the security at K-12 schools kept getting stricter; even if the outsider were a child of the same generation, one could not come and go as one pleased. At the school gate, a certification test would be carried out through ones Neuro Linker; if one had not been issued a pass, in the wink of an eye a security guard would come flying.

I see.

After nodding deeply, Haruyuki immediately shook his head.

N, no, Im not talking about the systemthe meetup was at six at my place, right?

My, even if I dont have pressing business, is it not all right if I only wanted to meet Karasu-san more quickly?

If he were smiled at with those words, as a robust middle school boy his head couldnt help from goingpoof, but at a precarious point Haruyuki remembered the fact that his conversation partner was in fact a scary Raker-sensei. He tightened his cheeks, which seemed to be slackening, and shook his head minutely.

N-n-no, such a thing, of course it would be all right, I-I-I-Im pleased about that.

It was not the situation to be getting carried away here. As to why, currently Haruyuki was keeping an important secret from Fuuko. That he had to teach the basics of Mind Power secretly to her child, Ash Roller.

As he stood bolt upright and wore a stiff smile, Fuuko stretched her left hand straight out and lightly grabbed Haruyukis right cheek.

Hahahi?

Karasu-san. Is it perhaps a figment of my imagination? Somehow, I have a feeling as if youre keeping a secret from me.

Desperately restraining himself from jumping up in fright, again he shook his head sideways.

N, no, such a thing, theres no way I would hide a hecret from Mafter!

Is thatso? For the most part, my intuition about things like this isnt wrong.

While gently squishing Haruyukis grabbed cheek, Fuuko wore all over her face a smile that was as sweetly enchanting as the finest fresh cream. However, he could not forget it. The fact that a first victim was already buried limp in her chest.

Fuuko put both her hands right on her legs, stood up, and continued to shake her head slightly; her fingers moved from Haruyukis cheek to the area around his ear. This time, while her fingertips played with his earlobes, she drew her face closer and softly whispered.

Then, was that perhaps my misunderstanding?

Whwh-wh-what do you mean by that?

Its not anything of much consequence. Today, I left school and had a bit of time, so I thought about participating in the gallery of a duel. In doing so, by chance I found Ash in the gallery of the same duel and thought about talking with him, but

For some reason or another, his attitude was a little weird. Therefore, after I apprehended the real him and gently cross-examined him

Somehow, leaving aside me, his parent, didnt he make a promise to be taught something important by you, Karasu-san? Something whose name people even hesitate to utter in public spaces, somethingveerysecret, somethingveeee-ryimportant, the

There, Fuuko moved her lips without letting out her voice: In-car-nate.

systems way of use?

Ash Ro~llerrrrr~!!

You readily spilled the beans! Well, if youre going to spill the beans there, you might as well have been taught by Raker-san in the first place! What on earth will become of my day today that I spent worrying about and toiling over, and rather first what are you going to do about this situation!

Though he had shouted that inside his head, it was too late to rewind the situation. Haruyuki stopped his head, which he had been exercising up until now in the horizontal direction, resignedly moved it profoundly in the vertical direction, and spoke.

UmmuhI, Im sorryI, have been keepinga secret, from you, Master

Is that so?

What was terrifying was that without letting her smile fade away, which could not have been any kinder, Raker also nodded once.

Youve said it well. If you had played dumb even further there, I thought about putting both you, Karasu-san, and Ash together in a full course of special training, but Ill forgive you with half.

Ha, half..?

Thats right. Depending on whether todays Imperial Palace escape mission succeeds, well start the special training in the Unlimited Field in that state. I was just thinking that soon it would be a suitable time for you to progress to the next stage, Karasu-san.

To, today..?

After murmuring that with his mouth in a flabbergasted way while also sensing the dependability of Fuuko, who had readily put mission success into words, Haruyuki looked around restlessly at his surroundings. However, needless to say there was not the figure of anyone in the dim backyard other than Haruyuki, Fuuko, and Utai, who was slumped senselessly in Fuukos bosom.

B, but, how will Ash-san meet up with us? If we dont meet up at considerably close to the same time, wont the rendezvous in the Unlimited Field be difficult

In response to Haruyukis question, Fuuko replied exceedingly readily.

No problem, because Ive had Ash confinedno, stand by in my car, which Ive parked nearby. In that state, Ill take Ash to your apartment house, Karasu-san, and well dive together. Of course, not from your house but from a nearby parking space though.

Ehis Ash-san going to come there? In real life?

Momentarily forgetting even his punishment-like situation, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide. That meant basically, if Haruyuki desired it, he could meet with him in the real world. By his prediction, that end-of-century riders physical body would also be in riveted leather jeans, with mohawk hair.

However, regrettablyif that was the right word, Fuuko slightly shook her head.

Ash will come, but its probably better for now if you two dont meet each others real selves yet. Because that childs one way or another a member of one of the Six Kings legions, Great Wall.

Tha, thatstrue, I guess.

While exhaling his bated breath, Haruyuki nodded. Sure enough, no matter how much they were fellow brother disciples, he was a subordinate of the Green King, who was an opponent of Kuroyukihime. There existed a line he had to draw.

Lifting his head and finally looking at Fuuko head-on, Haruyuki nodded deeply. Before he had known it, Haruyuki was not teaching Ash Mind Power; the flow of things had become such that the two of them were being taught side-by-side by Fuuko, but rather than feeling regret his elation was greater.

Understood. I was also just having a feeling as if Ive found a new hint. Its my pleasure to be able to be taught once again by Master!

Youve said it well. Thats the spirit.

He saw the face of Raker, who was smiling widely as if enjoying herself, and thought, Maybe I was a little hasty; as he did so, the two hands of Utai, who was still seized in her chest, moved in a feeble manner and typed on the keyboard.

UI> I too will accompany you in your training.

After Fuuko, who had finally released Utai, greeted Hou in the caretaker shedit was their first time meeting, but the flying-class comrades seemed to get along quite wellHaruyuki along with the two of them headed for the student council meeting room.

Though there were few students remaining in the school buildings after school, walking with an elementary school girl on one side and with a female high school student on the other lined up was quite an ordeal for Haruyuki. While slipping his way through the stunned gazes that bombarded him one after another, he moved from the entryway to the end of the first floor of the first school building and let out a long breath the moment he passed through the door.

However, once he entered the locked room aka the student council meeting room, this time he could not help but feel yet another type of nervousness. In adding Kuroyukihime, who had received them with a smile, to their party, the situation of having one dull male in the midst of a gaggle of girls brewing an even more charming aura would inevitably show up. What was more, these three were the chief and highest executives of the former Nega Nebulas that had in the past occupied a seat of the Accelerated Worlds seven great legions; Haruyuki did not have a reason to be able to relax.

Now that he thought about it, even with Chiyu and Taku added the current Nega Nebulas had four females and two males. If the number of new male members didnt increase soon, then they wouldnt be able to balance it out. However, if possible itd be good if they werent that scary. Thats right, I wonder ifhewould joinif I meet him today, maybe Ill try inviting him

While thinking that, in a nook of the sofa set he sipped the black tea that Kuroyukihime had brewed for him, and before he knew it the clock on the wall was pointing to five in the afternoon.

Oh my, its already this time, isnt it.

Fuuko, who had stood up as if in a hurry, clapped her two hands together and spoke.

I cant keep ignoring Ash, whom Ive shut in the cawhom Ive had wait in the car, Ill move one step ahead. Ill park my car near your house, Karasu-san, and only I will intrude at six oclock.

Really, I have the feeling that youve been thoroughly neglecting Ash, though

In response to what Kuroyukihime had pointed out with a bitter laugh mixed in, Fuuko answered with a composed face.

I told Ash to earn ten points in free duels for the dive into the Unlimited Field while waiting, so that guy probably isnt bored. With that, everybody, see you later.

With timing almost as if replacing Fuuko, who had waved her hand lightly and had withdrawn from the student council meeting room, Chiyuri and Takumu, who had finished club activities, appeared. They met up with the two, who had probably hurried in using the showers, as their hair was still wet, and their company, which had become five in number, moved on foot toward the northern complex high-rise apartment building in Koenji.

Something for which they were both greatly apologetic and grateful was that things had become such that the day before yesterday, yesterday, and today successively, Chiyuris mama had prepared everyone a light supper, so they only stocked up on drinks at the shopping mall attached to the apartment building and rode the elevator. In order to transport the provisions, Chiyuri and Takumu got off at the twenty-first floor, and just Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime, and Utai proceeded ahead to the twenty-third floor.

While also dealing with those actions of preparation, Haruyuki felt his nervousness grow minute by minute with regards to the imminently coming time of seven in the afternoon.

Currently, Haruyukis other self, the duel avatar Silver Crow, was deserted in the depths of the Imperial Palace enshrined in the center of the Unlimited Neutral Field. If he did not escape from there, not only would the purification of the Disaster Armor be unable to be carried out, but also the question of whether he would continue to be a Burst Linker would become doubtful.

Takumu and the other had declared that they would continue to provide Haruyuki with the necessary points even if he were designated with a bounty in the name of the Six Kings and became unable to duel. That feeling made him happier than anything else, but he could not take advantage of that. He did not want to do something like clinging to acceleration to the point where he became the legions burden

Do not be seized by negative images now.

The moment he had entered his houses living room and had put down his bag, someone whispered in that manner at his ear; taken aback, Haruyuki raised his face.

The owner of the voice was Kuroyukihime, who stood immediately behind him. She placed her right hand on Haruyukis chest, and before he was aware of it, his body, which had developed the habit of facing downward, arched backward.

Its important to hypothesize about every possible situation. However, at times there are also scenes where one must single-mindedly look only forward and plunge on. Now is that very time.

UI> It is as Sacchan says. Now, let us only believe and advance forward.

If even Utai, who had popped her face out from behind Kuroyukihime, typed thus, then he could not look down any more. Haruyuki threw his chest out and answered with a single word.

Understood!

With just that, curiously enough even the cold sweat soaking his hands withdrew.

On the dining table for six people, at the point where thechirashizushi4andnorimaki5into which Chiyuris mama had put her heart and soul were lined up and tea was being served, with good timing Fuuko joined them. Haruyuki looked round at the legion members, who were lined up in the same rows as the day before yesterday, and inquired timidly.

Um, is it really okay? Leaving Ash-san behind in the car

Chiyuri and Takumu, to whom the details had already been explained, and Kuroyukihime laughed forcedly; as usual Fuuko wore a composed expression.

Ash was somewhat miffed, but I couldnt possibly invite that guy here, right?

Then, Nee-san, at least deliver this sushi to him afterward.

While laughing, Chiyuri proposed that, brought a plastic container from the kitchen, and quickly began apportioning thenorimaki. Imagining that end-of-century rider eatingkappamaki6, Haruyuki unintentionally let his mouth loosen, and with a serious face Kuroyukihime made an unexpected proposal.

How about it, Fuuko. Why dont we recruit him to our side?

Huheh, say what-!?

The one who had shouted that was naturally Haruyuki. However, the other members had not particularly shown signs of surprise. As for Taku, he was nodding calmly and saying something like Thats a possibility too.

As he opened his eyes wide, dumbfounded, Fuuko changed her expression and tilted her head slightly.

I too have thought of that, butthat child unexpectedly has a strong sense of duty in a unique way Will Ash be fine or not with lowering the once-hoisted flag of the green legion Great Wall? Moreover, of course theres also the fear of whether the Green King Green Grandee would use Judgment Blow without recognizing Ashs secession.

Uhmm To be honest, I also dont know well what that guy Grandees thinking, just him I believe Ive grasped the other Kings personalities to an extent, but just that shield-wielding male

Kuroyukihime folded her arms with a troubled look on her face.

At last weeks Seven Kings meeting, Haruyuki also had seen the Green King up close, but he didnt know a single thing other than that he seems super-hard. In the end he had not said a word from beginning to finish, and even on the occasion where the conclusion to grant Silver Crow a one-week postponement was reached, he had only nodded once.

Hes able to command his large legion of over a hundred members well in his own way, huhHaruyuki hurriedly returned his thoughts, which had begun to digress along those lines, to where they were before.

Ash Roller, coming to Nega Nebulas. Up until now, he had not thought about that event at all, but he didnt particularly dislike it either. He was an eternal rival with whom he had fought countless times from the first day he had become a Burst Linker, but when Haruyuki had lost his wings and had lost heart he was also the benefactor who had fervently chastised him and had introduced him to his parent, Sky Raker. From his habitual attitude, it was fairly hard to imagine, but he was in his own way a considerate man among men

And then, having thought that far, Haruyuki noticed something and abruptly raised his face.

Uh, um, Senpai, MasterI believe that at the least, for now Ash-san wont accept a legion transfer.

Whats the reason for you to state that positively?

Its Ash-sans younger blood brother, Bush Utan

There, Haruyuki temporarily cut his words short and proposed, Since its going to be long, why dont we discuss it while eating.

After Fuuko, who had parked her carthough it was not in her name but apparently her mothers possessionin the large-sized parking underground the apartment house, returned from delivering the improvisednorimakibento that Chiyuri had prepared, they chanted Itadakimasu anew with everybody there.

While Chiyuris mamas greatest forte was Italian cuisine such as pasta and lasagna, that skill was also amply flourished in Japanese food; Haruyuki, who normally had no opportunity to eatchirashizushi, shoved it into his mouth in a state of ecstasy. Everyone else also undauntedly moved their chopsticks, and at the point where the large plates contents had been reduced to half, conversation finally resumed.

An thenaout Fush Uhan

While chuckling, Takumu checked Haruyuki, who was trying to chat withnorimakiin his mouth.

Allow me to explain that matter. Since its something deeply related to me myself as well

Startled, Haruyuki opened his eyes wide and hurriedly tried to chew his sushi rice, but while he was still chewing Takumu had begun to explain, so reluctantly he switched to the role of listener. As expected of the legions finest intellectual, the briefing was easy to understand, but Haruyuki could not help but be kept on tenterhooks. As for why, true to his words from earlier Takumu explained to Kuroyukihime and the others what had happened to him without omitting any details.

How the day before yesterday, he had left on a solo investigation after hearing of the ISS Kit from Haruyuki. How he had made contact with the Burst Linker Magenta Scissor in the Setagaya area and how the Kit in its sealed state had been transferred to him.

And then yesterday, how he had been assaulted by the PK group Supernova Remnant in the Shinjuku area and had backlashed against and annihilated them in the Unlimited Neutral Field with the power of the ISS Kit. The subsequent direct connection duel with Haruyuki. And then the strange dream the three of them had shared during the wee hours of today.

Haruyuki had only let Kuroyukihime, Fuuko, and Utai know the general outline regarding this string of events by mail. The reason was that it seemed impossible to put why Takumu had yearned for power and how he had overcome that precisely into written words. Of course, it was imperative that they give an explanation sometime; in that sense