is floating above the island right now. In a worst case scenario, they probably wouldn"t get lost if s.h.i.+dou were to contact them with the In-com."Nu………….?"
Then, he heard Tohka"s suspicious voice coming from his back, s.h.i.+dou stopped his legs.
When he turned back, Tohka was again looking at the sky.
"Oi, stop playing around. No matter how many times you look——"
"No, it"s different. Don"t you feel something is weird?"
"Huh………….?"
He said that and turned his eyes to the sky——s.h.i.+dou lost his words.
"Wha,what the heck…………….is that."
In the sky, that was pretty and refres.h.i.+ng just a moment ago, were grey clouds starting to whirl around.
Gradually, at a frightening speed, the surroundings changed completely.
The clear sky was filled with dark clouds. The calm wind turned into violent gales. The calm water surface turned into raging huge waves.
In terms of time, probably only a minute pa.s.sed.
Within that time, the world around s.h.i.+dou and the others drastically changed.
The sound of wind rumbling the ground could be heard echoing in the surroundings. *Rustle**Rustle* The trees that were growing near the area shook about. The storm could be said to be on the same level as a large-scale hurricane. A garbage bin probably got rolled over nearby, because newspaper and empty tin cans crossed by his sights.
s.h.i.+dou immediately grabbed Tohka"s shoulder, and lowered her stance. If he didn"t do that, they might have gotten blown away by the wind.
"What on earth——is this…………!"
He frowned while using his arms to cover his face.
According to the Weather Report, the weather should be clear for the entire duration of the school trip. Of course s.h.i.+dou didn"t take it as a 100% prediction but, no matter how you look at the situation, this is too weird.
"Tohka, are you okay!? It"s dangerous so let"s hurry to the museum——"
"s.h.i.+dou! Look out!"
And, right in the middle of talking, Tohka thrust away s.h.i.+dou"s body.
"Wha…………."
The next moment, a garbage bin made of metal flew towards them, and made a critical hit towards Tohka"s head.
"Gyapfuu!?"
She let out such a comical voice and Tohka fell down on the spot.
"Oi ,oi Tohka! Tohka!"
He shouted in panic, and shook her shoulders, but Tohka"s eyes were completely spinning.
"Kuh…………..I got no choice."
s.h.i.+dou, in an exhausted state, somehow managed to carry Tohka on his back, and walked towards the direction of the museum.
Slowly, but with certainty, he advanced one leg at a time.
"We"re almost there, Tohka…………!"
——and, wondering how long had pa.s.sed since he started walking.
"Ah………?"
s.h.i.+dou, unintentionally raised his eyebrows.
In the middle of the raging sky.
——Over there, he saw 2 human-like shadows in it.
"That is…………"
s.h.i.+dou suddenly gasped.
For human shadows to be flying in the sky, there were only 2 possibilities that came into s.h.i.+dou"s mind.
It would either be Spirits, or AST Wizards.
"Don"t tell me……….."
A bad feeling appeared in his mind.
It was a sudden outbreak of a big storm which was normally unthinkable under normal circ.u.mstances. If by any chance, this is something brought out by the power of a Spirit then——
"No, but…………….the s.p.a.ce Quake alarm didn"t ring at all. Then what on earth…………………"
After s.h.i.+dou encircled himself with thoughts for a few moments, he continued moving onwards on the route he planned out.
If by any chance the human shadows really belong to Spirits then, he could not just leave it alone. But it"s not like he has any proof for his claims and the most important matter right now is to move Tohka to a much safer place as he had planned before. He fixed the fainted Tohka properly on his back, before heading towards the museum.
But.
"——!"
s.h.i.+dou gasped. The shadows that were clas.h.i.+ng with each other many times up in the sky, in that moment when both of the noticeable big shock waves clashed together, an extremely violent wind which could not be compared with the others blew towards him.
"U, Uwah………..!"
To avoid getting blown away he stood firmly, and took a stance that curled his body.
And thus, the two shadows that were clas.h.i.+ng up in the sky, blew each other away and both of them fell towards the ground.
——both shadows fell just exactly to the left and right of s.h.i.+dou.
"Wha…………"
Sweat was oozing out of s.h.i.+dou"s forehead. The nervous feeling made his heart contract to its limits, and his throat rapidly turned dry.
The instant he did that, the big storm that was blowing hard around his area grew weaker.
"Eh………?"
He unintentionally raised his eyebrows, and looked around his surroundings.
The storm calmed down………………, To say that was a faulty expressive remark. Arubi Island is still, having strong winds blowing at it.
Only s.h.i.+dou and Tohka"s surroundings were, no——It is more correct to say that only the surroundings of the two shadows that fell to the ground had a Calm Windless Condition like one in the eye of a hurricane.
"Ku,kukukukuku…………………….."
And, from his right, a girl that had her long hair braided up, was walking out with a fearless smile.
Her age was no different from s.h.i.+dou and the others. From her orange colored hair, to her mercury colored irises. Right now on the surface of her well-featured facial structure, was a shape distorted to a scornful smile.
And the most characteristic part of her was the outfit she was wearing. Covered by a dark colored coat, various parts of her body were tightened with something that looked like belts. In addition to that, locks were placed onto her neck, right hand and right leg, coming out from the locks were torn off chains. She looked like a criminal that had committed an outrageous crime——otherwise, it would be an outfit that looked like a curiosity-seeking m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t.
"——Looks like you can put up a good fight, Yuzuru. Or should I say, one would expect from my other half. It should be expected from someone who has a battle record of 25 victories, 25 losses and 49 draws from me. But——that will also end today."
Whether to say it"s exaggerated, or a little too dramatic, she was a girl that used strange words.
And this time, responding to those words, coming from his left side, the other shadow was progressing outwards.
"Objection. The one with the right to control the count for this 100th battle, does not belong to Kaguya but to Yuzuru."
Coming from there, she was a girl that had her hair braided into 3. Although she had the same face as the girl called Kaguya, her expression was painted with half opened eyes that somehow made her seem listless.
The girl that was called Yuzuru was also, wearing the same weirdly designed outfit, she was wearing the same restraining clothes, the same as Kaguya.
But, the position of the locks were placed on her neck, left hand and left leg. They were placed on the opposite side compared to Kaguya.
"Fu, you babble a lot. How about giving up, and admit that I am the Spirit suitable to be the real Yamai?"
"Denial. The one that will live on will be Yuzuru. Kaguya is not suitable to have the name Yamai."
"Fuu………what a useless struggle. My future predicting magic eye has already seen what would happen a long time ago. In the next attack, I saw a vision of your body being pierced through by my Sturm Lanze!"
"Pointing out. There are no examples of Kaguya"s magic eye"s. .h.i.tting its prediction."
When Yuzuru said that, Kaguya hesitated, and shouted as if she had forgotten the exaggerated state she was in just now.
"Shu, Shut up! My predictions came true before! Don"t make fun of me!"
"Demand. Yuzuru demands an exhibition of a specific example of her claims from Kaguya."
"Kuku………that is, about that. Look…………..I got the weather of the next day right."
"Sneer. The results of a magic eye that is no different to a wrong side of a Geta[5B 1] Ridicule laugh(Laugh) Yuzuru can"t suppress her sn.i.g.g.e.r"
Yuzuru placed her hands on her mouth, Fusu——and leaked out a breath. It seemed that she was laughing.
"Si, silence! I will sentence you to death, for ridiculing my devil eye techniques! I will have your body be payment for making me angruee!"
It seemed that that was quite insulting coming from Kaguya eyes. She made her stance while shouting. But, since she failed to end the sentence correctly, there was no coolness following her.
However Yuzuru did not bother and continued asking questions.
"Demand. Yuzuru demands another explanation regarding Sturm Lanze from Kaguya."
"Fu……..there is no vessels bound by logic that exists, on my Sturm Lanze. It is tangible yet intangible. It is visible yet invisible. But it has the power and general concept that only specializes in when it comes to piercing."
"Summary. Which means it does not really have any special reason to it."
"Wr,wrong! There is a reason! Yuzuru is the idiot for not understanding it!"
"Appeal. Then provide an explanation that can make Yuzuru understand. It should be possible for the smart Kaguya."
"That is……….su, sudden. But don"t be sad, for my black brain cells have ascended to a higher level, where your understandings will never reach. Yes, it is like no lion would tell its intentions to an ant——"
"Understood. This means you are saying you can"t do it."
"Kuku, you…………better not make me angry."
"Sneer. Sturm Lanze (Laugh)."
"Do, don"t laughhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Kaguya shouted with her face beet red, and immediately spread both her hands. The chains from her neck and right hand *Clank**clank* rang and the surrounding violent winds turned even stronger.
This time Yuzuru too, took a stance as if she were responding to that.
And then, both of them mixed their sights together without lowering their guard.
"Sink into the darkness! Haaaaa!"
"Charge. Eiyaaa——"
Together with the loud shout of fighting spirit and the flat voice, both of them kicked the ground exactly at the same time.
"Kuh…………"
s.h.i.+dou gasped. They would probably be helpless if they were to be dragged into a clash of 2 spirits in such a close distance. Although s.h.i.+dou might be able to heal his wounds from the Reiryoku he took from Kotori, but it was not difficult to imagine what would happen to Tohka that had lost her consciousness.
Even when he was in a hurry, the both of them were approaching closer to s.h.i.+dou"s eye range at a tremendous speed.
There was no time to casually think of anything. s.h.i.+dou took a good and big breath. And then——
"STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPPP"
""……….!?""
Because of s.h.i.+dou"s loud shout, both of them halted on the spot.
"What, was that voice just now……………eeerrrr, yes, it is somewhat similar to the grief of the dead echoing down from the bottom of the Cocytus……………"
"Report. Kaguya, please look at that."
Yuzuru pointed at s.h.i.+dou, and Kaguya distorted her eyebrows. It would seem that, they really did not realize s.h.i.+dou and Tohka‘s existence until just now.
"A human……….you say? Impossible. For someone to be stepping foot into our battlefield, who are you?"
"Admiration. Yuzuru can"t suppress her surprise."
She said that, and poured her suspicious sights towards s.h.i.+dou.
"Ah, No……….."
s.h.i.+dou turned fl.u.s.tered and moved one step back.
Nonetheless he did manage to stop the two of them from clas.h.i.+ng but, as compensation, he had gained their attention.
He swallowed down his saliva while, getting glared at with 2 pairs of sharp eyes.
Although he had no other choice, it was a careless action. That"s because, he had purposely just called for the attention of (What"s more, there are two of them) Spirits while he had no idea what their character and personality were like. If the case turns out that they are war-liking Spirits, then the situation had taken an incredibly bad turn.
And, at that moment a static-like noise shook his right eardrum and following that, he heard a sleepy voice coming from it.
"…………….s.h.i.+n, can you hear me, s.h.i.+n."
"! Reine-san!"
"…………..aah, looks like it finally connected. Where are you right now."
"Tha, that is——"
s.h.i.+dou lowered his voice while, explaining the situation in simple terms. ——He told her that, there are 2 Spirits, in front of him now.
"…………what did you say? Inside the wind there are——Don"t tell me."
"I,is there something you know about……..?"
And, as if to interrupt s.h.i.+dou and Reine"s conversation, Kaguya that was giving him a sharp look opened her mouth.
"——To enter and interfere with our sacred duel, you, what intentions do you have? Based on your answer I will…………errrr, use Schatten Lanze and pierce through you."
"Pointing out. The name is different from just now."
"Wha, whatever! Yuzuru you just keep quiet!"
"Question. Yuzuru does not understand why she has to keep quiet."
When Yuzuru said it with a refres.h.i.+ng face, *Growl* Like a flesh-eating animal Kaguya…………made that sound with her throat.
s.h.i.+dou had a lot of things that were bothering him but, he repeated the improper word that was bothering him the most.
"Du,duel………..?"
He asked, and Kaguya eyes turned sharp.
"That is correct. How dare you just interrupt our scared duel that will determine our fate. What are you going to do to take responsibility for this?"
"Restraint. Kaguya, it is a threat if you put it that way."
"Shut up! And when I thought it would go well this time……………….."
"Confirmation. Did you say something."
"No,nothing!"
Kaguya *Fuun* exhaled her breath, and looked away from Yuzuru.
"Anyway, if this keeps up I can"t settle my mind down. What am I going to do with this unhap——"
But, as if Kaguya thought of something good, she opened her eyes wide.
"! Aah I see, if it"s like that then………….."
She then once again faced towards Yuzuru, as if she were slowly evaluating her, she crawled her sights from the top of Yuzuru"s head to the tip of her toes.
"Question. Is there something, Kaguya?"
"Kuku………….I thought of a good method, Oh Yuzuru. Both of us have done many types of battles. That is to the extent, where I could no longer think of any other events we can compete with."
And it was as if she were performing in an opera show, Kaguya made exaggerated gestures while continuing talking.
"But………….don"t you think we have one more match that we have not decided who the victor of it is?"
"Question. What is the match that we have not determined who the victor is yet?"
Yuzuru tilted her head, and Kaguya *kukuku*leaked out a chuckle before looking at s.h.i.+dou.
"Heh…………?"
Wondering why——s.h.i.+dou felt a rather cold feeling, coming from that expression.
Part 4In the middle of moving, suddenly a violently strong wind blew, in an instant the scale of it increased, and it turned into a storm.
Since it had come to that condition, they no longer had the leisure to walk around nonchalantly. Every student from the Raizen 2nd years, following the teacher"s instructions, they were evacuated to the museum which was the nearest place from the airport. ——but.
"s.h.i.+dou………."
Towards the strong storm that was creaking the bulky gla.s.s window, Origami was clenching her fist while letting out her voice.
Inside, the number of students that were evacuated inside of the building, s.h.i.+dou"s (and one ground beetle) figure was not in it. They must have gotten separated along the way, and unmistakably were left outside.
Naturally she tried to rush outside to search for s.h.i.+dou, but at the very last minute she was stopped by the teachers.
No——if by any chance she had gone outside, she could not even advance forward inside this storm.
"Kuh……………"
Right now, the only thing Origami could do was to pray for s.h.i.+dou"s safety. The feeling of being powerless turned into the sense of impatience and was circling inside her body.
"……………oi, doesn"t the sky somehow, look clear now?"
And, a male student that was close to a window, unexpectedly let out those words. The bustling students then gathered towards the window, and started looking at the sky.
When Origami raised her face as if she were flicked awake from that voice, she weaved through the crowd of students and ran towards the museum entrance.
"Ah………! To,Tob.i.+.c.hi-san! It"s still dangerous!"
Origami shook of Tamae"s restraint, and opened the door. And just like that, when she was about——to go outside.
"……………..?"
Origami unexpectedly stopped her legs.
In front of the museum, the figure of the person Origami wanted to search for was already there.
"O, ou…………Origami."
Seeming to have realized that Origami was there, s.h.i.+dou opened his mouth. Probably because of the wind, his hair and clothes were in disorder but, luckily, there were no places injured.
But Origami, instead of being relieved she frowned her eyebrows, and sharpened her sights.
s.h.i.+dou"s condition is weird…………..rather than that, it was more to s.h.i.+dou having weird options following him.
The first one was Tohka that s.h.i.+dou was carrying on his back. It would seem that she had lost consciousness.
Well, this was okay. No, it wasn"t okay but, it was not a situation where Origami couldn"t predict the reason behind it.
The problem was——
"How about it s.h.i.+dou. Instead of that Yuzuru I am more charming right? If you were to choose me, I would not mind letting you make the kiss of contract on any parts on my body?"
"Seducing. Please choose Yuzuru. I will do something good for you. It is a very amazing thing. Kaguya"s is not even close to it."
On his left and right, there were two uniform wearing girls with the same face standing there, for some reason they were over-familiarly touching s.h.i.+dou"s body, and were excessively trying to seduce him.
When s.h.i.+dou was feeling despair, his body was then bathed with stares from the other students; he then remembered the incident that happened around 10 minutes ago.
Inside the area covered with a hurricane, the thing that Kaguya said out with a fearless smile was——was this.
"——The thing that we have yet to determine the victor of. Namely that is……….[Charm]!"
While suddenly making a cool pose, Kaguya declared that loudly.
"Yamai, the real Spirit and the child of hurricanes, does not only have power and intelligence but also has, loveliness and beauty enough to make the creator of the universe jealous, don"t you think that is necessary?"
"Pondering. ………………………………"
After a few seconds of keeping silent, Yuzuru also, crawled her sights at Kaguya. From the top of her head to the tips of her toes, as if she were evaluating her, she slowly looked.
And after doing that, Fumu, she nodded.
"Reply. I see, is what I would answer. It is certain, that we have not competed with each other regarding this yet."
"Kuku…………am I right. But that is only normal. The number of people that have force their way into our conflict is non-existent——that"s because there wasn"t supposed to be an appearance of a 3rd person that we have to entrust the decisions of the conflict to. ——but, right now."
While leaking out a low chuckle *Point*! ,Kaguya pointed her finger towards s.h.i.+dou.
"——You, what"s your name."
"Eh? I-Itsuka………s.h.i.+dou."
"s.h.i.+dou. Fumu. A frail name suitable for the sacrifice. Very well then. Right now you, will be left with the role of being the judge."
"Huh……………? Eh, no………………."
He could not grasp the meaning of what she said, his eyes turned to dots.
But Kaguya did not seem to care about s.h.i.+dou"s will on this matter. She raised her chin as if to laugh it off and continued on with a provocative tone.
"How about it Yuzuru. This match, do you have the courage to accept it? Kuku, well, I can already see who the victor is, if I were to use my charms that are able to force the creator of the universe into submission. If you were to coil your tails now, you will not receive the vilifications of a coward."
"Negative. That kind of thing is impossible. There is no reason Kaguya can win. Yuzuru was always the one more charming. All men would easily be beaten hands down."
"Kuku, only your high spirits are full-fledged."
"Declaration. Yuzuru is the one cuter. Honestly speaking, Kaguya"s worth is only the upper part of her lower half."
"Wha, WHAT THE h.e.l.l DID YOU SAY, YOU BASTAARRDDDDDDDDDDDD?!"
In that moment Kaguya threw her winning state into the lapse of her memory, and shouted with a seriously threatening att.i.tude.
Incidentally although s.h.i.+dou had his own opinions but, Kaguya was quite beautiful. If she is worth only the upper part of her lower half, then it would probably mean that the females of this world are compelled to enter a tough fight.
"Isn"t your face the same as mine! Why are our evaluations so different?!"
"Pity. Only facial features are not enough to determine a person"s charm. Even if the materials are the same, the ambiance seeping out from us is too different. But do not worry. In the ugly world you are quite high-ranked."
"What ugly world?! Isn"t your att.i.tude the ugly one for saying that with a calm manner?!"
"Reconsideration. I have forgotten that reality does not necessarily become the truth for the person in concern."
"THAT ISN"T THE TRUUUUUUUTTTTHHHHHHH!"
When Kaguya was about to scratch her head in a mess, she remembered s.h.i.+dou"s existence. She immediately swung her shoulders and *Kohon* coughed.
"An,anyways! If you were able to say that much then I have no objections!"
Kaguya pointed her finger at Yuzuru.
"——this is the last duel! The one, who wins this match, will absorb the opponent and become the real Yamai! The rule for the match is simple and clear! This man——s.h.i.+dou, the first one that makes him fall wins!"
"Agreement. ——that match, I will gladly accept it."
"Wai, WAIT A MINUUUUTTEEEEE!"
………and thus, coming to the present.
He consulted Reine at that spot, since it was dangerous to flat out refuse their demands it turned into the reason where he had to bring them here, but…………….the stares coming from his school friends hurt as expected.
"I,Itsuka-kun? Who are those girls on your left and right? I have not seen them before……………"
"Eh? Hitting on the local girls and cosplaying? Itsuka were you walking around while holding onto girl uniforms?"
"I thought of a good part-time job Itsuka. Marching in the school while holding a signboard with [1 minute 1000 yen Punch all you want] written on it. We definitely will get enough people to build a house."
*Noisy**noisy**noisy*. The students were making a commotion. That was probably normal. That"s because, the supposedly lost s.h.i.+dou, came with two unfamiliar girls with him while they were serving him.
Incidentally by following Reine"s instructions, he made both of them release their AstralDress, and had them both wear Raizen high school"s Summer uniform. Just like that time with Tohka, he had them create the clothes by gathering the information from sight.
Even though he was in an emergency situation but, if he were to continue to let them wear the AstralDress that looked like a restrainment outfit, there might be a chance for s.h.i.+dou to be misunderstood as someone who holds a special fetish.
And, Origami that was standing in front of everyone else from the cla.s.s, after looking at Kaguya and Yuzuru, she quietly opened her mouth.
"s.h.i.+dou, who are they?"
"Errrrrr, about that……………"
While averting his line of sight away, s.h.i.+dou let out his voice awkwardly. He was able to self-consciously admit that there was cold sweat floating closely on his face.
But, at that moment as if to take control of the commotion, coming from behind a sleepy voice echoed across.
"…………..aah, I was waiting. It"s the transfer students Yamai Kaguya and Yamai Yuzuru……………..right?"
Over there was the vice homeroom teacher of 2nd year group 4, Murasame Reine, she was standing there while wobbling her head.
"Transfer students?"
When Origami asked a question, Reine [ahh] consented.
"…………….originally they were supposed to transfer in at the end of the holidays but………….since they said they wanted to attend the school trip, it was planned for them to join up with us when we reached the area. I contacted them when we reached the airport just now, so I had him go pick them up."
From hearing Reine words, standing beside her Tamae blankly stared into wonder.
"Eh? Tra,transfer student? Murasame-sensei, I didn"t hear any of that…………."
"……………..since it was on short notice, they were probably too late to contact you about this case."
"Ha, haaa…………."
While making a bewildered face, Tamae withdrew. Well, if Reine, the vice homeroom teacher, was informed about the transfer student instead of the homeroom teacher herself, then such a face was not strange.
After Origami looked at Reine with doubtful eyes, she returned her sights back towards s.h.i.+dou.
"Is that true?"
"I, It"s true…………."
He replied back with a nervous voice. And, as if to match with that, Kaguya and Yuzuru that were sticking onto both of s.h.i.+dou"s sides nodded.
"Kuku………….it"s exactly true. Human, think of it as a privilege to welcome the child of the hurricanes, which is I."
"Affirmative. There is no mistake of what he said."
Just in case, as long as they are here, with the condition that s.h.i.+dou would be the judge for their duel, he told them to match their speech together when it was needed.
"…………………….."
Origami was still in a state of incomprehension but, since both the teacher and the people in concern were agreeing, she probably decided that it was no use to say anything. She made a small sigh and [I see] said that.
But once again, Origami sharpened her sights while opening her mouth.
"…………then, why are both of you sticking yourself onto s.h.i.+dou?"
"Ahh, it"s that."
"Reply. That."
"Lo, look! Since there was a strong wind, they did it so they would not get blown away!"
As if to cover Kaguya and Yuzuru"s answers towards Origami"s question, s.h.i.+dou raised a loud voice.
If they were to say something untactful here, the false information they gave with great trouble would lose its meaning. In order for the answer to successfully work, he continued to talk.
"In,instead of that, Sensei, Tohka got hit on the head by a flying garbage bin and is now stretched out. Is there a place where I can let her sleep?"
"……………..ooh I see, that is a big problem. Come over here. The transfer students too, there are some important things I have to explain to both of you. Please follow us."
Reine said that like she were reading in monotone and as if to call s.h.i.+dou and the others to her, she beckoned them to come over.
s.h.i.+dou was gathering stares from the surroundings while, walking into the deeper part of the museum following Reine.
Guided by Reine, s.h.i.+dou that had entered the office located deeper in the museum, after laying Tohka down on the sofa he lowered his heads towards Reine.
"I"m sorry, having you help me like that."
"……………no, don"t worry about it. Instead——"
She said that, Reine looked at s.h.i.+dou——to be accurate, she brought her eyes towards the two girls that were coiling themselves onto both of his arms.
They separated themselves once when s.h.i.+dou was dropping Tohka off, but they stuck themselves onto him once again.
And in the state where they did not bother about the change of the environment they were in, they started whispering to s.h.i.+dou.
"Well s.h.i.+dou. All you have to do is to choose me. Swearing your loyalty to this Yamai Kaguya, this body, and even this heart, it will even be okay if you say that you want me to give you all of the above."
"Negative. Nothing good will come if you choose Kaguya. By all means give Yuzuru a clear vote."
As if Reine and Tohka didn"t exist in their eyes, both of them were blowing their breaths at s.h.i.+dou"s ears. And each time, cold sweat would flow down s.h.i.+dou"s face and he would twist his body.
"……………….looks like it turned into something troublesome."
"……………….yes."
He said it with a heavy voice and nodded. Reine then scratched her cheeks.
"Kuku……………rather this is beneficial to you, right? A human like you, although it is only for a while, but you are getting affection from me. Go ahead and cry at your good fortune, there is necessity to weep."
"Skeptical. If it"s Yuzuru I can still understand but, are there guys that would be happy if they are advanced from Kaguya?"
"Fu, fun…………… it"s useless no matter how many times you try to provoke me like this. All of it will be clear when you see the conclusion of the duel. Well s.h.i.+dou, its okay to say it. Me or Yuzuru, which one of us is more charming as a woman?"
"Question. Yuzuru or the spoiled Kaguya. Which one of us is cuter?"
"Wait, what is up with that weird sense of insult!"
"Ignore. Instead of the cry-baby Kaguya, Yuzuru is much better."
"Are you somehow making it worse!?"
While quarreling, Kaguya and Yuzuru were getting closer to s.h.i.+dou. As if trying to calm both of them down, s.h.i.+dou *MaaMaa* sw.a.n.g his hands while saying that.
"Wai,wait for a second. The two of you have been saying "duel, duel" for awhile now………………..why are both of you fighting in the first place anyway?"
"…………hmm? Aah——"
When s.h.i.+dou asked, Kaguya exaggeratedly raised her chin up.
"Didn"t I tell you? ——both of us were originally one Spirit called Yamai."
"Consent. However, coming to this worlds several times, made Yamai split into two."
"Into two…………so, how did something like that…………."
He raised his eyebrows while looking at the both of them alternately. Other than the difference of hairstyle and facial expression, both of them had very similar features. They were so similar that, rather than calling them twins, calling them clones might also sound believable.
"Wh, why did something like that happen?"
"The only one that knows about this is the G.o.ddess of fate that sits in the heavens. Fuun, that ill-natured G.o.ddess probably tormented us because of her boredom and fatigue. Occasionally, there are times she uses unsystematic dices to make decisions and ignores following truth and reasons."
"Heh……………..?"
"Summary. I"m not exactly sure, is what Kaguya is saying."
"Aah……….I see."
"There are no feelings in that."
When s.h.i.+dou nodded from hearing Yuzuru"s explanation which finally led him to an understanding, Kaguya raised her voice in dissatisfaction.
To return back to her normal state she *Kohon* coughed, and continued on with the explanation.
"And thus both of us, that were separated into two, came to seeing each other"s face, and in our body, we came to a realization that our mission and fate was carved into our blood. Yes——we came to the understanding that there could only be one true Spirit, the Yamai!"
"Explanation. We understood that Yuzuru and Kaguya that were separated into two, would eventually join back into one."
"I understand, so…………."
"Supplement. [We knew it] is probably the better way to put it. Yuzuru and Kaguya, the instant our existence was split into two, we came to understand what will happen to our own body."
After Yuzuru pointed her finger at her head, she continued.
"Explanation. However, the original Yamai has already lost her personality. Which means when the occasion comes, either one of us will become the main personality for Yamai."
"Uh, so that"s why………….the duel."
Both of them nodded at the same time. s.h.i.+dou let sweat ooze down his cheek while letting out his voice.
"In other words, that storm was caused by you two fighting…………….?"
When he asked, Kaguya proudly folded her arms.
"That would be the case. ——Our compet.i.tion has been going on for a long time. Yes, on the current stage 99 battles have pa.s.sed."
"99 battles……………Were you two fighting that many times!?"
"Correction. Even if we said battles, it does not actually mean that we are doing fist fights all the time. Sprinting, Gendama, eating contest, etc, there were many-types of method for our matches."
"……………………"
They were somehow, peaceful matches.
No, if these two were to do a sprinting contest, serious damage might appear in the surroundings.
"By the way, the battle results are 25 wins 25 lose and 49 draws. The winner for this 100th duel was supposed to become the real Yamai.——although that was the case."
Kaguya gave a glare, and s.h.i.+dou shorten his words. "I see", s.h.i.+dou seemed to have interrupted their important final duel.
But, he had no other choice even if he was told about something like that. If s.h.i.+dou had not stopped the both of them at that time, he had no idea what would happen to Tohka.
When s.h.i.+dou kept silent, Kaguya and Yuzuru entwine their arms onto s.h.i.+dou"s once more.
"Fu…………it"s okay to no longer bother about that. I should be thankful to you instead. Because of you, we were able to do a battle that we have not done before."
"Positive. It"s true that Yuzuru thinks that our final battle to be a fist fight which always ends with a draw is a problem. Yuzuru has no objections if this is the match."
They said that, and as if to seduce s.h.i.+dou, both of them continued entwining their arms with s.h.i.+dou"s.
"N,no, even if you tell me something like that………….."
s.h.i.+dou felt his face getting hotter while, as if wanting help, he sent his sights towards Reine.
But the requested Reine was sitting on a chair while operating a small terminal, she made a difficult *Fumu* and groaned.
"……………….as expected, it is no use."
"Wha, what is no use?"
When s.h.i.+dou asked, Reine made a small nod before turning her face to him.
"………………..aah, communications from has been stopped.""Eh? Wh,why again………………."
"………….the current reason is unidentified. I will try investigating a bit."
After saying that, Reine closed the terminal and stood up from the chair.
And after giving a good glance at Kaguya and Yuzuru who were attached to s.h.i.+dou, she quietly moved her lips.
"…………………you said you were, Kaguya and Yuzuru right. Both of you, in order to become the real Spirit Yamai, are now competing for s.h.i.+n as a match. …………..there is no mistake in that?"
When Reine said that, Kaguya and Yuzuru turned their eyes towards Reine for the first time.
"Aah, that is exactly right. I don"t mind if you"re sightseeing but, if you try to be a hindrance then I will not hold back, you know?"
"Question. You are?"
"………………A school teacher."
After Reine replied with a random lie, *Turn around* she turned to her back.
"……………….s.h.i.+n, you take care of Tohka. ——Kaguya, Yuzuru. There is a little talk I want to have with you two. Please follow me."
"Uh, Reine-san."
It"s dangerous,