Kaze no Stigma

As if during a wake, heavy silence was looming over cla.s.s 2-B waiting for the morning opening.

Three days have pa.s.sed since then. Utsumi"s house arrest finished yesterday. Already there wasn"t a single person who didn"t know why was that man punished.

Maybe he won"t come. That thought, accompanied by a feeling of oppression that could crush their hearts was darkly dyeing the cla.s.s and the Academy.

From that moment three days ago, yes only three days pa.s.sed. During that time seven girls from the tennis club have been a.s.saulted. Some had traffic accidents. Others lost their consciousness, continuing to look at something invisible.

They were victims of an unknown illness and still unconscious even after so long.

There were plenty of reasons. There wasn"t anything common between them.

There was a lot of suffering in a small period of time but looking at it logically, there is no other explanation except accident.

But.

There wasn"t a single person in this cla.s.s that believed they happened by chance.

There was a connection. One that exceeded both logic and common sense.

The man named Utsumi Kousuke.

The ones that brought down the punishment for the locker room peeking incident, the ones that took the initiative, the seven that had unexpected accidents.

In a sense, Utsumi became a school celebrity. His gloomy personality was well known and the locker room peeking incident was known around the school the next morning.

Ant then immediately following that, the chain of accidents clearly exceeding chance. The fact that a lot of people connected those two was the natural outcome.

When the first person collapsed some jokingly said it.

"It"s him."

"Because of Utsumi"s extreme resentment, she was cursed."

At that time, it was still a joke. But as the number of victims increased the number of people who took it as a joke decreased and then disappeared.

A curse.

They started talking about such an unscientific word as if it was real.

Various rumors appeared.

That Utsumi was hiding close by when the traffic accidents happened -

That one girl staring into empty s.p.a.ce screamed "Utsumi is there!"

That late at night a transparent Utsumi appeared by the bedside of a girl in a comma.

Everything was a rumor. It had no foundation.

But the mystery of the occurring accidents were coupled with Utsumi"s weirdness and the unscientific occult stories had a strange sense of reality.

Especially for his colleagues in 2-B this wasn"t a joking matter. If only Utsumi wasn"t in this cla.s.s -

"Good morning!"

".....!!"

The entire cla.s.s" eyes concentrated on the girl that casually entered.

That was the girl that started the Utsumi"s punishment in the first place - Kudo Nanase.

If Utsumi was the one that cursed the girls from the tennis club, then she should have been first on his list.

But Nanase has yet to meet with misfortune. That being the case, everything must be a coincidence. Or maybe she was being reserved for the best feast - most of the people thought so.

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

Reacting with a frown to their gazes full of fear and pity, Nanase stared at them one by one.

Overpowered by the unflinching gaze, the entire cla.s.s turned their eyes away.

"Good grief...."

Sighing from the bottom of her heart and as if pushing her way through the gloomy atmosphere, Nanase went to her spot.

Sitting down somewhat roughly, this time she really let out a small breath.

"The situation is so awkward..."

It seems most people believe the rumors. Fearing the paranormal abilities of Utsumi - no, being influenced by the fearful atmosphere.

Maybe there are people among these who were joining in Utsumi"s cajolery. Together with such unpleasant thoughts, Nanase remembered yesterday"s situation.

"What did you say?"

Hearing such words that didn"t seem likely to be true, Nanase involuntarily asked back in a loud noise.

As if not wanting to meet her eyes the tennis club girls hid their faces en ma.s.s.

Seeing that no matter how long she waited they wouldn"t speak, Nanase repeated her question in a somewhat stiff manner.

"I"m sorry but can you repeat it once more?"

"Th- that....I mean......"

As a representative, the second-year manager - Tanaka Yui, timidly started speaking.

"Don"t you want us all......to apologize.....to Utsumi-kun?"

"What for?", replied Nanase immediately.

She continued, as if trying to press for an answer the girls keeping silent.

"What kind of reason is there to apologize to that guy? We"re sorry for not letting you peek or something?"

The solid argument silenced the girls". But decidedly they didn"t agree.

"Keep your cool", Nanase persuaded them in a calm voice staring at those faces with the same expression.

"There"s only one way to make that sort of man behave himself. If we take a resolute att.i.tude then - "

"But - But - !", Yui shouted, interrupting Nanase"s words, unable to hold it in any longer.

"We"ll be cursed! There"s no other way! Mie-san won"t wake up, even Madoka - "

"Madoka? Did something happen to Shina?"

Shina Madoka is a second year in the tennis club and perhaps the most beautiful girl in the club. Wearing her somewhat quirky hair in a ponytail, she was an lively girl but -

"She suddenly collapsed when she was talking with me over the phone yesterday - She was attacked by Utsumi"s vengeful spirit!", Yui shouted as hard as she could. A scream full of fear and horror.

All the girls listened to her with pale faces. It"s not like they heard the story the first time. They knew the details in advance. But they couldn"t grow accustomed to it, no matter how many times they heard it. It was understandable. It wasn"t a simple ghost story. Because anyone could be next.

"I heard Utsumi"s voice over the phone. Even if Madoka was in her room! She desperately said: Please, stop, I"ll do whatever you say But - But!"

The first years plugged their ears. Squatting down while strongly closing their eyes, their faces full of bitterness.

"No......no more....."

Bursting into tears Yui stared at Nanase with a rough breath, cornered, her pupils swaying between sanity and madness.

"That"s why it can"t be helped. Before she was attacked Madoka said so. That Utsumi threatened her. That he told her to do as he said if she didn"t want to be cursed."

"Did he want s.e.x?"

If possible, she wanted to hear a denial but the Yui hanged her head in shame, her body trembling. She hit the bull"s eye.

"He"s a thorough sleazebag, that b.a.s.t.a.r.d....."

As one would expect she was shocked. But, right now there was another problem.

Staring at the frightened, anxious girls, Nanase asked frankly, so that there won"t be any misunderstanding.

"What you are trying to say is that instead of getting cursed it"s better to give him your bodies, right?"

"......!"

Having the reality thrust before their averted eyes, their faces warped with pain.

If they were to calmly think about, it was impossible to permit such a thing. Regardless of them being experienced or not, to permit that thing to play with their bodies.

But if doing so would buy their safety, there is no reason to stop.

"If you want to do such a thing, it would be better to do it. I have no particular reason to stop you. But I"m out. I choose death."

As if showing there"s no room for argument, Nanase turned her back to the girls. And then walked away.

"Wait - "

Nanase didn"t stop. She didn"t want to waste her time on something useless.

"Why are you talking as if it doesn"t concern you? Isn"t it your fault? Take responsibility!"

Unintentionally Nanase turned her head around when hearing the accusing words.

"Responsibility?"

What do you mean? was her face saying but then she saw the girls" faces. She understood it all.

"Ah, I see.", she replied emotionless.

"What you try to sell it"s not your bodies but mine. Then just say so."

"Wr- wrong!"

Being looked at like a stone on the roadside, with a glance full of disdain, Yui"s complexion changed and she objected.

"I"m not thinking about pushing this on Kudo-san. It"s just that Utsumi-kun likes Kudo-san so you should come together with us - "

"I refuse."

Without reserve, Nanase bisected that reason and threw it away.

"My fault? Responsibility? Don"t be naive. I stopped him at that place but you were the ones who decided to lynch him. Take responsibility for your own actions."

"I - I didn"t decide it! I was just dragged into this by Mie and the others, that was all...."

A bitter cry. Hearing Yui"s words, trying to dodge responsibility so late in the game, Nanase replied somewhat indifferent.

"Just tell Utsumi that."

"Uuu...waaaaaaaaaaaahh!"

Yui broke down crying. The other girls consoled her while looking at Nanase with reproach. But Nanase didn"t even flinch.

Feeling attacked by Nanase"s severe glint in the eye, all the girls cast their eyes down.

"Why....why did it turned out like this? Were we doing something wrong? Would it have been better to keep quiet and let him do as he pleased!? ...Hey, answer!"

Raising up her tearful face, Yui shouted. But there was no one there to answer. Nanase too, didn"t know what was the best thing those girls could have done.

But it was obvious what she should do.

"Tomorrow - "

Nanase informed the other girls, who started crying too as if Yui"s cry was contagious.

"Tomorrow, if Utsumi comes to school I"ll talk to him."

"T- talk?"

It doesn"t seem that there is any place for discussion at this point. Nanase continued disinterestedly seeing the surprised girls, not understanding her intention.

"If it doesn"t get through to him and if he really can use something like magic, perhaps I can do something. I know someone who can. That"s why, don"t be rash."

"........"

Finishing what she had to say, Nanase turned her back to the surprised girls and started walking.

"Is she still there?"

While regretting she got such a late start, first Nanase went toward the student council.

If Utsumi can use magic, he may be too much for her. But, she had friends. Friends who, in various ways, were very reliable.

"......thc!"

The opening door made a rough sound and then, a large number of people simultaneously suppressing the indication of a shudder, called Nanase back from the depth of her thoughts.

Following the others, she looked at the door. She frowned at the expected scene.

He, was there.

A short body that seemed pressed from above. The loosen body without any training. His amphibian neglected face covered in pimples and his cold sweat, oozing out regardless of season, glistening.

"Utsumi.....", someone whispered in a grazed voice.

That"s right, the one standing there was without mistake Utsumi Kousuke.

But -

An extremely uncomfortable feeling spread out in waves.

His outside appearance didn"t change in the slightest. But he was a totally different person.

His facial expression, his eyes were different. The servility-like complexion and his upturned eyes that sneakily peeked at other people disappeared without a trace.

Instead his eyes were lodging with an arrogance that scorned everything else beside him. On his ugly warped mouth scorn was clearly expressed.

"Move.", Utsumi ordered proudly. Unexpectedly the pupil standing in front of him jumped as if he came across garbage. That action came more from disgust rather than fear but Utsumi smiled with his whole face comfortably.

"Ku ke ke."

He started walking laughing loud enough to hurt their ears and the students around opened the way in hot haste. The people standing down at their desks that were in his way took distance.

Utsumi walked on, literally on a straight line. The one at the arriving point was -

"Nanase."

Having been addressed so friendly Nanase raised her eyebrows in discomfort. She looked up at Utsumi standing in front of her in silence.

"........what"s up with that expression?"

Utsumi was visibly irritated seeing that Nanase wasn"t scared of him. The dangerous situation was filing the air.

Feeling the electrifying atmosphere the students held their breath and stood rock still.

"Nanase!"

"H- hey, wait - "

When Utsumi called out for the second time Nanase"s name, one cla.s.smate readied himself and seized Utsumi"s shoulder. Turning back, before the boy was able to say something, Utsumi exploded in a shrill voice.

"Don"t touch me!"

At the same time his arm struck the young man"s chest. With no technique, just a blow with all his strength.

"Gaaah!?"

But that power was tremendous. Seeming to make a thick sound the boy"s body was blown off a few meters and after falling on top of a bench he crashed into the wall.

His limbs fell on the floor with a heavy sound and the exhausted body was motionless.

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

In the still as death cla.s.sroom, the turned inside out angry voice propagated.

"Don"t talk to me so over-familiarly! I"m different from you! I was chosen, I"m a n.o.ble person granted power! Know your place, filth!"

Saying so while rough breathing, Utsumi looked down on Nanase again.

"We need to talk. Follow me Nanase."

Without waiting for a reply he turned back and started walking. But after making a few steps and noticing Nanase didn"t move, he turned around with force.

"I told you to follow me!"

His eyes became bloodshot.

While sitting Nanase gazed at Utsumi quietly. Her eyes turned up but there wasn"t a particle of flattery in them. While phisically looking up her eyes were psychologically looking down.

"Listen to me Nanase!"

At Utsumi"s shout Nanase showed a cold smile. And then she slowly opened her mouth.

"It"s Nanase-san for you.....frog a.s.shole."

".................tch!"

His boiling anger dyeing the frog face red, Utsumi ground his teeth. The sound of it reached the pupil"s ears.

"Humph."

Laughing at the depth of Utsumi"s self-importance, Nanase calmly stood up.

"Well, I"ll go with you. Lead the way."

Permitting it with the voice of a clearly superior person, she ordered his guidance.

"C- come with me!"

At the scream with no composure, Nanase coolly nodded and followed after. It was said after that situation seemed like the one between a paid-for slave and his lady proprietress.

Utsumi slowly stopped after reaching the rear garden - a place that should also be called the delinquents" spot.

Putting two meters of distance between them, Nanase confronted him.

Clearly led on, Utsumi couldn"t clearly open him mouth to talk. It seems he wanted to look composed but his eyes and fingertips moved nervously. It was obvious he was getting impatient.

On the other hand while Nanase"s eyes were fixed on Utsumi"s, she was still. Although she wanted to urge the conversation, she didn"t break the ice and with a chilly look she observed the other party.

"Y- you know why I called you right?"

Finally approaching the limit of patience, Utsumi restlessly started the conversation.

With an indifferent bearing Nanase shrugged her shoulders.

"Who knows..."

" - tch, d- do you want the same fate as the tennis club women? Your fate is in my hand!"

"How terrible."

Answering in a quiet tone, uninterested, she looked down on Utsumi.

"So, when are you going to ask the main question?"

"Y- you...!"

Seeing that Nanase doesn"t respond the right way Utsumi"s originally limited reasoning was on the verge of snapping apart.

His temple blood vessels pulsated with a fairly dangerous impression.

"Look at this!"

As if a transparent ball was held between his hands, he straightened his bad posture. To one that resembled the firing > technique from games and manga.

"KURARARARARA - Ahhhhhhh!"

Letting out a ten odd seconds scream, together with his spineless yell he pushed out both hands. Doing so, something invisible gushed out from between his palms and ran past Nanase"s side.

Bakiii!

Behind her the sound of something breaking could be heard.

Looking over her shoulder, a tree trunk larger than her waist had just been broken from inside.

It seems it was smashed by Utsumi"s Kame Hame Ha just now.

" - wow."

Nanase let out a whisper of admiration. Feeling empowered from it, Utsumi shouted triumphantly.

"What do you think of my power? This is not all, my real power is >! I can make you ill from far away and even kill you! Did you know? The laws of this country can"t punish spell curses. Even if they catch me at the crime scenes the police won"t find any proof!"

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

Nanase didn"t say anything. She wasn"t particularly surprised. She knew about it from yesterday"s lecture.

"Wa hya hya hya hya hya hya hya hya hya!"

Perceived that silence in some way, Utsumi laughed with a clearly aberrant voice. He laughed and laughed and rolled about with laughter and glared at Nanase with a crazed expression.

"That"s why you can"t but feel brittle in front of me! You cannot help but become self-conscious about your own pettiness and pitifully beg for forgiveness! Right?"

Around Utsumi small explosions resounded one after another. His hair fluttered with no wind and the gra.s.s beneath his feet was tore off and fluttered in s.p.a.ce.

His > was running wild. That was a phenomenon produced by the disorderly emission of > that he couldn"t control but Nanase doesn"t know that.

With a cold, transparent look she quietly gazed at Utsumi"s disgraceful behavior as if it was an interesting but meaningless exhibition.

"So, I"ll ask of you once! But even without asking the answer is obvious! Be my slave Nanase!"

"I refuse."

The timing of her answer gave a cross-counter feeling as if hitting the side of his face at the peak of pride.

Not understanding what she said, Utsumi"s eyes became round with an idiotic expression.

"Wh- what?"

"I said I refuse.", Nanase repeated most indifferent.

"Don"t be conceited. Even if you obtained a somewhat useful power, your own value doesn"t change. You weren"t an a.s.shole because you had no power. Because your character is vile you"re still an a.s.shole. Come again after you start thinking about that."

"Y- yo- youu..."

His small body shaking, Utsumi stood rock-still. Because of too much anger he couldn"t speak. Because he obtained a great power, a power greater that anyone else"s he was a great being.

That"s why, because of her own powerlessness, Nanase wouldn"t refuse him. She couldn"t help but accept the honor of being his slave with tears of happiness.

That - That -

"Did you finished talking? Then we"re done here. Cla.s.s is starting."

Without even thinking how much disrespect she was committing, Nanase spoke carelessly.

He couldn"t forgive her.

He must punish her.

He must put her in her place.

"Wait!", Utsumi called out in a low tone the back facing the cla.s.sroom. He showed killing intent for that face, bothersome turning around.

For the second time he took the > throwing position.

He had absolute confidence in the wave of power swelling in the s.p.a.ce between his palms. A ma.s.s of > was growing between them.

An invisible destructive energy, whose existence could only be recognized by the small distortion in the s.p.a.ce around it.

n.o.body can oppose that power. It cannot be judged by the law.

- Therefore, no matter what he does it is fine

- if it cannot be imprisoned in the frame of law and common sense, anything is fine

"...a somewhat useful power...? - wrong, that"s so wrong! This power makes me different from the mediocrity you belong to, it"s the proof I am a chosen one!"

Nanase was silent. But it was clear from her unfeeling eyes that she didn"t admit not even a part of Utsumi"s reasoning.

"This is your last chance! Obey me Nanase! Or else - "

"Just try it."

".....................tch!!"

That one word made Utsumi loose the last part of his reason. Raising a voiceless scream, he pulled his hands to his right, one leg bent in front, the other extended behind and took a step forward -

"Too slow."

While following his standard movement, Nanase finished her preparation.

She picked the aim of the things she was holding and pressed the b.u.t.ton. The electrical terminal sent out by the spring recoil instantly touched Utsumi"s shoulder and the ten thousand volt current poured into newbie magician"s body via wires.

"GAAH!?"

His large body quivering, Utsumi fell down like a puppet whose strings have been cut.

"Wa- wa- wa- what are you - ?"

Looking down on Utsumi who was unable to articulate his words, Nanase showed him what was in her hand.

"It"s called electric gun. It"s like a stun gun with long range capabilities."

But because it can be concealed in the hand it"s something for either self protection or surprise attacks. A disposable, one shot weapon. And illegal.

Yesterday when they planned it all Yukari handed it to her but didn"t ask how she got it. Too scared.

"Guu.....uuu....un...unfair...."

"It only means that modern science is more helpful than mud-smelling witchcraft"

Lightly retorting to Utsumi"s feeble grunt she took out another one from the pocket of her blazer. Without hesitation she aimed for his head and shot.

"........Uu!"

The obese body fell heavily and then it was silent. It seem he lost consciousness from this round.

She stared fixedly at the inert body for another ten seconds. And after another ten seconds, confident he won"t move Nanase let out a long breath or relief.

"....It went unexpectedly well."

"Huh, was it unexpected?"

At her unconscious murmur she heard a reply full of smiles.

Confused, Nanase slowly turned her head.

"Did you come?"

"Well of course, if by any chance..."

With brusque words, the girl appearing from the shade of the school building nodded while smiling.

It was Nanase"s close friend, Kannagi Ayano. Yukari too was standing next to her.

"Good job."

" - Ah, I"m worn out.", Nanase replied tiredly at the rewarding remark.

It was a match not quite good for the heart, she had a.s.sumed a poker face in front of Utsumi but in her heart she was coldly sweating.

No matter how well thought the plan was, an ordinary person shouldn"t pick a fight with a magician. Something like that is a job for a sword or hand-to-hand fighting household and has nothing to do with a member of the track and field club.

"Was there really no danger? I felt like walking on tightrope."

"Some degree of danger is unavoidable, right? Because it wasn"t me there."

Ayano had absolutely nothing to do with this incident.

So no matter how foolish ecstasy made him, if she were to suddenly cross-examine him, he would have gotten suspicions.

So Nanase - the girl he was aiming for was the only one who could contact him with no suspicions, have him confess his crime and be able to make him ostentatiously display his power.

"Beside, I told you yesterday right? Sorcery in general is not such an absolute thing. Such a freshly made magician can be defeated by an amateur if taken by surprise."

To say it frankly sorcery was a craft that changed reality according to one"s will. So to force out of the body such a will nothing else could be done except the magic.

In short, the great majority of people could adapt to such a thing.

Just by remembering the score, music doesn"t burst out. The way of turning knowledge into craft needs more than learning by rote[1].

No matter how mighty a power you acquired, an amateur couldn"t all of a sudden become a top-cla.s.s magician.

The composition of a technique, its development, its activation - without separately validating such acts, to turn an a.s.sembly line product into mastery - a three days s.p.a.ce was excessively short.

"You can aim for than gap. It"s simple.", Ayano declared simply yesterday, when she was requested for magic counter-measures.

"It has nothing to do with the strength or type of one"s power. For example, except Utsumi"s magic, even if he has the capability of a direct attack, there"s no need to be afraid. If he"s attack range is less than three meters, you are absolutely faster."

Magic was not absolute. Nor almighty. If you fought against it without fear, it could be opposed with intelligence and effort.

"Well, it went good so it"s fine. It all turned out well in the end or something."

As if she earned it, Yukari forced her way between them. But then, she was the one who outlined the plan.

How to calmly make Utsumi lose it? - Lecturing her even on the most insignificant details on how to effectively provoke him, going as far as to give her dangerous self-protection tools it"s unknown if this girl had capabilities of mediation or maybe the natural virtue of not raising antipathy.

".......true.", releasing her discomfort together with the long breath, Nanase bowed her head to them.

"It"s all your merit I was able to catch Utsumi without getting hurt. Thank you."

"You"re welcome.", Yukari smiled sweetly receiving Nanase"s thanks.

"Well, this is what I do.", Ayano lightly shrugged her shoulders.

"Leave the rest to me. I"ll do something about the cursed girls."

Ayano herself couldn"t do anything to remove the curse directly. The Kannagi technique was specialized to fight directly with Youma and was not suited for such sensitive work.

If it were Ayano"s father or her uncle Genma they could burn only the curse without hurting the body but she didn"t want to make such a big deal of it and request something like that from them, who were retired.

There was, yet, no need to do it.

Because she knew a more user-friendly pract.i.tioner.

I think a public servant should extensively work for the sake of civilians.

Thinking that if she were to say such a thing in front of that person she would get cursed, she walked to the school building.

The helper she called had already arrived.

Followed behind by two subordinates, the person waiting in front of the school building noticed Ayano and called out to her, waiving her hand cheerfully.

"Hi, Ayano-chan!"

Tachibana Kirika the Chief of the Special Investigation Unit greeted Ayano, smiling with all her face.

"Did it go well?", Kirika inquired about the result point-blank.

Not completely understanding why was she so awfully proactive compared to when she forced the job on her, Ayano replied.

"Yes, he fell asleep after receiving the electric shock. He fell down in the back yard."

"I see - "

Nodding Kirika turned her eyes to her subordinates. To the muscular almost two meter tall man with an unsophisticated face and the beautiful but very severe short woman. Kirika ordered the huge height difference duo.

"Secure him!"

"Yes!"

The woman energetically saluted, the man bowed and bowed started running to the rear garden. But the speed difference was quite big and while the woman took three steps the man took only one.

Looking at him from the corner of her eyes, the woman screamed.

"Run faster!"

"Y- yes!"

The man"s body shook as if hit by lightning and started to run with all his strength.

"Officer k.u.magai!"

"Yees!"

Taking action hurriedly, the man - k.u.magai started running once again.

For some reason or another the people left behind looked at his silhouette until it disappeared.

"Detective Tachibana?"

With a rare look filled with compa.s.sion, Ayano turned to Kirika.

"Are these the best in your force?"

"..........don"t say it.", Kirika whispered closing her eyes with a sorrowful expression.

"That man, well.....he"s not totally useless should time and circ.u.mstance permit."

That reply was delicately phrased but didn"t have too much persuasive power.

As if trying to resist the subdued atmosphere Kirika slightly cleared her throat once. And then spoke in a formal tone.

"Well, at any rate we, the Special Investigation Unit will take Utsumi under custody. Leave the rest to us. So, Ayano-chan, can you explain it to me in detail?"

Ayano nodded. But - the cla.s.s already started. It will be troublesome if she"s seen loitering around school.

"Let"s go out."

"It"s fine. We"ll borrow the reception office."

It seem there was no need for concern. Kirika was thoroughly prepared.

Or maybe it seemed like an excessive service.

Frowning, Ayano examined Kirika"s facial expression.

"It seems you"re considerably interested in this case."

"Ehh? Yes, I want to talk to you about that too. Let"s go."

Admitting it quickly, she started walking ahead. Ayano followed after. And then -

"Why are you coming too?"

Suddenly turning her head around, Ayano glared at Yukari who followed them like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Eh, I can"t? It"s unfair if its only Ayano-chan!"

"That"s the problem!?"

"Oh well, let"s put that jest behind us."

Yukari suddenly put on a serious face.

"No, I wasn"t joking..."

Smoothly ignoring Ayano"s protest, she looked at Kirika.

"If you want to hear a detailed story it would be bad if I was missing. Ayano-chan doesn"t know much about it."

Kirika looked at Ayano. It seemed she trusted Ayano"s judgement on this.

Reluctantly Ayano nodded.

"It"s true I"m pretty much an outsider when it comes to this particular case. I think it would be easier to understand it if Yukari were to explain."

"As expected of Ayano-chan. You understood, huh?♥"

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

Ayano carelessly shook her head and called out to Nanase resignedly.

"Do you want to come too?"

"No."

Her answer was clear and simple.

"All I know Yukari knows too. I leave the rest to you."

And then Nanase turned her back on them and started walking away with no reluctance. That gallant walking figure disappeared inside the school building without looking over her shoulder once.

After Nanase"s figure disappeared, Kirika let out an admiring mutter.

"That girl.....she"s kind of cool, huh?"

"Right, Nanase-chan is really popular."

"Even among girls?"

"Ehh, that"s where she"s more than popular."

Yukari and Kirika exchanged a teasing smile. For some reason, they got along perfectly.

Sensing something chilling from the future these two would be intimate in, she forcibly urged them on.

"Oi, let"s get going. Even if you have permission, I"ll be yelled at if we"re found!"

Why was she getting chills...?

"Please take your time."

The female clerk brought tea cakes - three of them - in a courteous manner.

"Yum, it"s delicious - "

Quickly sipping tea, Yukari raised her voice in admiration. That was unavoidable. They knew by scent. This was Gyokuro, a top quality green tea.

Their treatment was excellent. Even if it seemed the school was not happy about the police intervention.

"Detective Tachibana, what did you tell them when borrowing this place?"

"Nothing much in particular.", said Kirika in the middle of elegantly sipping from her cup.

"Just, I told them all I knew and made small talk like It would be very serious if this were to be spread, right?"

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

That was a clear threat, no subterfuge involved.

"As expected of Kirika-san. Lovely!"

Moreover, the final blow came from her neighbor. Looking at her, Yukari"s eyes sparkled and looked up to Kirika with an expression of aspiration.

"As expected as long as the goal is reached the methods don"t matter, huh?"

"Yes, I think so too."

The duo reaching an inhuman agreement. Looking at those smiles in opposition to what they just said, Ayano was intentionally perplexed.

"Why are the people around me all like this.....?"

But this was not the place to grieve over her personal misfortune.

"So, Ayano-chan please start."

As Kirika resumed the conversation like nothing happened and demanded an explanation, Ayano spoke in a worn-out voice.

"Yukari, please."

"Ok, leave it to me."

Nodding energetically, Yukari started talking about the details of the mystery cases that happened in the last few days.

"Hey...."

As it was all explained, Ayano"s face became pale.

She heard only detestable things.

A very accurate description on the hospitalized victims, impossible to have without actually reading the clinical records. Information enumeration that only relatives could possibly know. At the time she started quoting from the police reports of the traffic accidents, Ayano unintentionally hugged her body to keep herself quiet.

On the other hand Kirika listened to it with a straight face but she could barely manage to hold it in.

"I see.....that"s stereotypical."

After finishing listening to the report, Kirika murmured letting out a long breath.

"Stereotypical....?"

"You asked me before, right?"

At Ayano"s question, Kirika started speaking with that introduction.

"Ayano-chan"s request was like a G.o.dsend to me. Lately, this kind of incident is frequent."

"You mean, killing curses?"

"No, there are some but I don"t know how to say it. Children from the middle to the second half of their teens suddenly started to manifest special powers. Ayano-chan was supposed to have come across something like that once, no?"

Surprised, Ayano raised her eyebrows. Without even thinking, she answered.

"The one in Ikebukuro - "

The flirty man who demonstrated a bizarre amplification of physical strength.

"Yes. Lately there are more and more of those kind of people. Not belonging to any special lineage nor there is evidence of learning it."

The same kind like Utsumi, who had nothing special to him except his peeping photos mania but suddenly obtained the power of magic.

"How about ability types and their strength?", Ayano asked, a freezing light dwelling in her eyes.

The face of a Jutsu-shi.

"It varies. Fire and wind, people who can manipulate electricity, enhance their bodies by magic power, use the Evil Eye. As for their ability, the Special Investigation Unit personnel has no choice but to deal with that degree of power."

It was the result of controlling power for the first time. As if Utsumi was defeated by Nanase, a civilian, no matter how large your power is, it"s meaningless if you can"t control it.

Even an incompetent but genuine Jutsu-shi who can perfectly control his ability has no reason to lose to an amateur who only has power.

But, to a civilian who doesn"t know such things, it becomes an overwhelming advantage. The power to kill people without weapons and one that can"t be judged by law, few will abstain from using it for personal gains.

"It"s pretty much how Ayano-chan imagines it. They do whatever they like."

With good timing, Kirika supported Ayano"s conjecture.

"Using their power for blackmail, for a.s.sault. On top of that fighting with others like them. Good grief, at least if they would be more cautions of public notice."

Ayano agreed with a hard facial expression. It"s bothersome displaying their power in public. If ma.s.s-media would get wind of it, it would get very troublesome just to hush it up.

"Ah - I heard about that."

Without thinking of the serious atmosphere a simple-minded voice was heard.

Ayano and Kirika, both looked at the girl glad looking like a sweet bean jelly.

"Shinomya-san, can you tell us in more detail?"

"On an Internet bulletin board, there was that kind of post. Saying that in Shinjuku there are people who psychic battle."

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

This time the girls looked at Kirika.

"Certainly, the incidents are concentrated in the Shinjuku. Was there something else."

Urging for a continuation, Yukari smiled apologetically.

"After that I skimmed it so I don"t know a lot. It felt like some mysterious-less story so I didn"t care."

"Mysterious-less, what do you mean?"

"It looked like some game talk. Such as special move or invincible combo, how many to defeat for level-up among other things."

"......what"s up with that? Wasn"t is really just game talk?"

"Yeah, I thought so too so I left it alone but - "

"But it"s also true those kind of incidents happen."

Taking over Yukari"s words, Kirika continued.

"Shinomiya-san, can you tell me after the address of that bulletin board?"

"Ah, yes, I understand."

Bringing that topic to a close, Yukari lightly agreed and changed her focus once more to Ayano.

"I don"t think I need to say, a natural outbreak of people with special abilities at such a large scale is impossible. Someone or something hides at the bottom of this."

"I agree."

"That"s why, I want you to cooperate with our investigation. The majority of people who obtained power are middle and high school students. It"s possible incidents that happened in schools didn"t reach out ears."

The s.p.a.ce called school is organized like a society. Those inside are distrustful of the external world so outsiders - especially adults are equivalent with a different species. Kids hate adults. The teachers dislike scandal. If those two parties were to collide, nothing can be concealed.

Just like when a murder happens, the society settles as an unfortunate accident, the school is a miniature society.

"I"m asking you so can you help...and then - "

She winked significantly to Yukari. Ayano realized her intention but before she could object, Yukari nodded without reserve.

"All right, if you"re fine with me I"ll be glad to help."

"Yukari, you"re promising without thinking again!", shouted Ayano, her complexion changed.

But even so Yukari wasn"t perturbed. Her smiling face carried the firmness of her decision and clearly declared.

"This is not an empty promise. I know it could be dangerous but if it can be helpful to Ayano-chan I"ll do it. You"re always helping me, I need to reciprocate."

"Yukari......"

It"s not like Ayano was hanging out with Yukari for so long just for show. She understood that at such times Yukari couldn"t be persuaded.

However -

"Yukari, did your danger screw became loose or something? It"s the same for the discussions we were having, shouldn"t you think a little more before hanging out with people like me?"

"I think I told Ayano-chan before that there"s nothing to be nervous about."

"That"s something for me to decide, right? Even if we normally hang out, when such thing happen you should take your distance!"

"......those, aren"t friends!"

Defeated by Yukari"s expression who whispered so in a stunned expression, Ayano was at a loss for words. She looked at Kirika as if asking for a.s.sistance but she drank her tea pretending not to see her.

"Hey, this is tasty."

Sampling the green tea with each sip, she tried a different method. Regaining her composure she dealt with Yukari"s persuasion.

"This time you understood right? Those like me hold an absolute superiority in regard for people like you. Don"t you feel even a little fear?"

"As of today Utsumi-kun lost to Nanase, a civilian, so I"m not really scared."

"Don"t joke around."

Ayano quickly rejected Yukari"s attempt to joke. Feeling her friend"s seriousness, Yukari slightly changed her expression.

And then, she said.

"Ayano-chan is different from Utsumi-kun."

Those obvious words said in an obvious way - included an unconditional trust.

"The weight of Ayano-chan"s power, even if it"s a little, I understand it. You have a strong heart that holds your power in check. That"s why I love Ayano-chan."

Yukari clearly remembered even now the first time she saw Ayano"s power.

She was scared.

Thoroughly burning to nothing a monster without even touching it, taking out a sword made of flames from an empty s.p.a.ce and just by waving it once changing the surroundings in a sea of flames.

Even calling it overwhelming seems stupid, an immense power. When she found herself in front of that power, she had no choice but to see herself as a helpless petty existence.

She was scared.

More than the unfamiliar strange monster, the girl she thought of as a friend was much, much more scarier.

But - Ayano protected her.

Although hurt by her inconsiderate att.i.tude, Ayano protected her. Although understanding their relationship would never be the same, that she was hated, Ayano still protected her.

She wouldn"t forget her determined eyes.

She wouldn"t forget her determined appearance from behind, her iron will.

"No matter what people like Utsumi-kun who only think about themselves do, there"s no need to be afraid of Ayano-chan. It doesn"t matter if all magicians except Ayano-chan are like Utsumi-kun. Because I believe in Ayano-chan."

Why did it seem so? That people only seeking pleasure, without knowing the responsibility privilege brings, were similar to Ayano.

Even imagining that was similar to an insult.

"Ehhh......Ah-,...ugh........", blushing in an embarra.s.sed way, Ayano mumbled.

After being praised so much so earnestly, she couldn"t find comeback words.

In front of Ayano, at a loss for words, Yukari expressed the same soft smile, as if understanding everything.

"So, please. Let me help you, please?"

Sweetly pestered by Yukari, Ayano put up resistance with all her strength by prolonging the silence,

But - Ayano was not strong nor heartless enough to refuse her now.

"Then, it"s like that."

The moment Ayano, reluctantly, extremely reluctantly agreed, Kirika settled it.

Even though she feigned ignorance until now - Ayano glared at her with eyes full of resentment, Kirika was unconcerned.

"I"ll be relying on you two. Because Kazuma is also on this so please get in touch if necessary."

"Is Kazuma doing this too?"

"Yeah, he"s searching together with our newcomer."

At those unexpected word, Ayano"s eyes opened wider.

"Do you have a pract.i.tioner capable enough to be Kazuma"s partner?"

"No, that person"s ability is unbearably burdensome but in the future it may become one of our main force. That"s why, I think that person should acc.u.mulate as much experience as possible - what"s the matter?", asked Kirika surprised, seeing Ayano frown.

In a strangely tight tone, Ayano asked:

"Is that person a beautiful woman?"

As one would expect, Kirika opened her eyes wide in surprise. But that face immediately expressed a Cheshire Cat smile.

"That"s person is cute, for a man. He won"t become Ayano-chan"s rival in love so you can relax."

"Oh, Ayano-chan is so jealous.", said Yukari imitating Kirika.

But, although Ayano would get angry at such things, this time she didn"t react.

Staring at Kirika doubtfully, Ayano asked her in a depressed tone.

"Detective Tachibana, do you think that Kazuma will cover for some burdensome man?"

"......Eh?"

"It"s not even about neglecting him in a pinch. If Kazuma even believes that man will get in his way it"s not unlikely he will behead him."

"Eh? No, but, to go that far......"

As if something suddenly came to her mind, Kirika"s face became stiff.

And then, Ayano gave her the finishing blow.

"This is none of my business, but will he survive long enough to prove himself useful, that newcomer?"

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

This time, Kirika became completely speechless.

"Waaaaaaaaahh!?"

Isurugi Daiki screamed from the bottom of his lungs.

Shinjuku third city block - that was one of the places public order was hard to maintain in this neighborhood.

Around here a scream was nothing more but one variety of background music.

Except if it was the case of a young beautiful girl, n.o.body listened to them anymore.

"Waaaaaaa!!", the man screamed again.

He had fairly capable lungs. If we considered the fact that he was sprinting with all his power, it was worth praise.

While running for his life, Daiki looked over his shoulder. Only two meters behind him, that was soundlessly drawing near.

A deep red dog. It wasn"t a normal dog. The height of his head reached Daiki"s stomach, and his body weight was without mistake larger. His deep crimson fur flickered as if the dog was clad in flames and his breath was spitting fire.

That silhouette, as coercive as a nightmare was appropriately called a h.e.l.l dog.

"Gyahahahahaha! Die! Die! Die already!"

"Heeeeelp meeeeeeee!!"

Receiving from the back the death sentence, mixed with scorn, Daichi moved his legs very determined.

Isurugi Daiki, twenty three years old.

For the present time it was enough to say the Wisdom Eye he possessed, allowed him to live to this age.

His height was 163 centimeters, his physique counterbalanced by his baby-face, coupled together with fluffy hair resembling a cat"s fur, he seemed bizarrely immature.

His over-sized costume didn"t suit him. He had such a youthful look that although exaggerated, one may wonder if it he was allowed to watch PG-13 movies.

"Hii......Hiii....."

As expected, Daiki became tired, his feet unsteady while the crimson h.e.l.l dog drove him away.

The man that seemed to manipulate the the dog shouted in an elated voice.

"Just die already, piggy!"

That"s right, his occupation, totally unsuitable, was that of a policeman. And in addition to that, despite not having any sort of experience, he didn"t work at some local police station.

He had a fairly special job.

"Gauu!"

In accordance with his master command, the crimson dog kicked the ground and jumped. It"s sharp teeth aimed at Daiki"s head.

"Hyaa!?"

That moment, Daiki"s feet tangled and he fell down. It was only by chance. He didn"t noticed the dog"s attack.

But as a result, the dog jumped over Daiki"s head and landed three meters forward.

The only damage Daiki received was a graze on the tip of his nose.

"Hoo..."

From a place separated a little from those two, Yagami Kazuma let out a murmur of admiration mingled with a smile.

"This is the abnormal good luck of getting out of critical situations, huh? I see, that"s why he was a.s.signed to the Special Investigation Unit."

Remembering the special mention written on the report, Kazuma made a somewhat wry smile.

From that figure, leaning on the building"s wall, smoking tobacco, couldn"t be felt even a shred of intent to rescue Daiki, found now in a desperate situation.

Getting up, neglecting Daiki, once again caught in the deathly game of tag, Kazuma looked at the other man.

He seemed older than Daiki but he was probably a minor. His long, dyed brown hair was messy. He wore a black leather jacket and black jeans, his knees visible. Instead of bra.s.s knuckles he wore rough rings on all his fingers and hard boots.

He was very much a Yankee-like man. His name was apparently h.e.l.l Hound.

">, huh? It"s manifesting nature is >. Does that mean its form is >?"

While thinking about various things by himself, he restored his gaze on the game of tag.

It seems the game was about to end. Daiki"s physical strength was almost at its limit and his legs moved staggeringly, unable to run.

"Ku ku ku ku! I wonder how many points is the piggy"s head worth?", shouted >.

And then, he ordered the h.e.l.l dog to finally attack.

"Go, Garum!"

"!!"

The moment the h.e.l.l dog, Garum, leaped, Daiki took out his gun.

A roaring gun shot.

The lead bullet was shot inside Garum"s open mouth. The red large body flew as if hit by a car.

But, in the brief moment he let out a long breath of relief, Garum spun his body in midair and landed neatly on his legs.

Those pitch black pupils looked sharply at Daiki and raising a howl, the dog spit out a smashed bullet.

"Huh, how stupid! Bullets do not work on Garum!"

"Sh- s.h.i.t!"

The cornered Daiki, pointed his gun to >.

Of course, it was only meant as a threat but -

"Hey, hey, you"ll be discharged if you shoot at a minor without a warning shot, you know?"

Because of the spectator that gave unnecessary advice, the atmosphere was spoiled.

>"s face instantly became stiff with fear and was dyed red, his anger rising.

"Fe- Feel my threat! Do it, Garum!"

The red h.e.l.l dog approached fast.

While resuming his flight Daiki glared at Kazuma but Kazuma received it with a nonchalant air.

"Ah, and then - ", he continued as if chatting.

"When you"re facing someone with a > attribute, you had better not carry any combustibles. Using gunpowder is absurd!"

"Gaaah!"

As if matching their timing, Garm spit out flames from his mouth. The sphere of fire, big as a soccer ball hit the gun Daiki threw at once.

Kaboooom!

"Dowaaaahh!?"

Fragments from the gun that exploded in the air made holes in the wall, grazing his cheek.

"Hee....."

Except for his back, whether it was the wall or the ground, small holes were made here and there in his surroundings.

Kazuma stared at Daiki, trembling in fear, and let out a sight looking up at the sky. He blew up a large smoke ring and said:

"You suddenly destroyed your handgun after just being a.s.signed. You should consider yourself lucky if you"re let off the hook with a written apology."

"Are you a demon!?"

Daiki"s scream bounced off Kazuma"s tough skin and disappeared, vainly melting in the air.

And then, as if following that scream"s reverberation, the deep crimson h.e.l.l dog howled.

"Hey! Now it"s not the time to look away piggy!"

Unable to stand up, Daiki dodged Garum"s pursuit by rolling on the ground. Of course by doing so he wasn"t able to continue protecting himself and gradually his small gashes multiplied.

"Gyahahahahaha! Kill him Garum! I"ll bring the piglet"s head to Pandemonium and level-up to a High Cla.s.s!"

> laughed loudly. Kazuma made a wry smile, committing all the words to memory.

"Point. Pandemonium. High Cla.s.s. Geez, what sort of game is this?"

But, this was done very cleverly. Concepts one would flinch from if told directly, by replacing them with game terminology, the sense of reality was lost, just like the sense of impeding crisis.

Even this > evidently didn"t understand what he was doing. Because of the game-like sensations he wielded his power, hurt people, destroyed things and as a compensation his soul was reaped.

"Will you die first?"

Looking at Garum, leaping for the finishing blow, Kazuma let out a dry whisper.

Did he think he won with this.........?

"Hiii!"

Garum bared his long fangs at Daiki"s throat, curled in terror. But the moment he tried to tear up the tender flesh, darkness was born before the h.e.l.l dog"s eyes.

"Gaaah!?"

A complete darkness, without a ray of light. It seemed as if it suddenly corroded the s.p.a.ce and instantly wrapped around Garum and disappeared without notice.

Together with the crimson h.e.l.l dog inside.

"Buph......Gaaahh..!?"

He heard a damp pained cry. Without showing the slightest surprise, Kazuma looked over his shoulder in a calm manner.

There, an obvious spectacle was playing out.

"Guugh.....Guuu..."

> - that name was already obsolete, crouched down and mewling in pain. From the s.p.a.ce between his fingers, covering his mouth, fresh blood was dripping out.

"Guhh....Garum....Garum!"

"Just stop that already."

Stepping up to the man calling for the vanished dog, Kazuma informed him coldly.

"You were completely devoured by that boy."

"E-eaten, you say.....My Garum was..."

"That"s why, you"re just a normal human until you"ll manage to call another one. So come with us quietly because we want to hear everything you have to say."

"Sh- s.h.i.t!"

The man immediately tried to run but after running a few steps, his feet gave out and he fell down. Unable to fall safely, his face crashed into the asphalt.

The fact that after a Jutsu is defeated the pract.i.tioner experiences a back-lash is one of the fundamental laws of magic. That"s why pract.i.tioners constantly prepare on how to elude that reaction but it seemed this half-baked pract.i.tioner didn"t know of that law. Which means he received that recoil flat and square.

But still, because his power was a sham, it seems he escaped the same fate as the dog.

"Where are you going?"

As the man was obstinately crawling trying to escape, Kazuma mercilessly kicked him.

Two kicks, three kick - only after confirming that the silenced man was not dead, he searched for Daichi.

Dragging along his exhausted short body, the child-faced beginner policeman was approaching.

Not saying any encouraging words, Kazuma heartlessly rebuked that unsightly appearance.

"Why are you dawdling? It"s not like you were hurt enough not to be able to walk."

".....ou,gh"

" - Ah?"

"I"ve had enough! This job has no common sense!"

"No common sense? - are you saying that?", Kazuma retorted stunned but Daiki didn"t listen, his eyes full of tears.

"Why are you looking at me like that? I took the police exam! Not the one to become apprentice to a magician nor to enlist in some army protecting the earth!", he screamed from the bottom of his soul.

"I just wanted to become a normal policeman! And someday become a detective, to partic.i.p.ate actively in investigations and such...."

Finally unable to endure it any longer, his tears overflowed. While looking at that pitiful circ.u.mstance, using his power of imagination Kazuma recollected Daiki"s figure after becoming a policeman.

Having been a.s.signed one search case, the capable detective that bravely argueed with the brutal criminal.

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

Thinking of the limits of the human body, he feebly shook his head. No matter how much he thought about it, that scene only reminded him of some cheap school festival play.

It was as if a middle school student was pretending to be a policeman.

"Well, dreaming is free..."

The reality was that Kirika, after having set her eyes on him, would never accept his application to change a.s.signments. Same for a letter of resignation.

Even if he was an individual or a public figure, Kirika had that amount of power.

The Special Investigation Unit - it can be said it was already decided that Daiki would die in that place.

Isurugi Daiki was not a person born out of what was called a Jutsu-sha family lineage.

His father was an ordinary office worker. His mother was a housewife. He had an older brother but he too, was a normal salary man.

Daiki himself, didn"t have any special personal history. He graduated from a reasonable private university with reasonable results and pa.s.sed the police examination test normally.

During the interview, he spoke about his desire to someday become a detective.

But, that modest dream, or maybe his ambition resulted from not knowing his own place made him brilliantly flunk the test given before the police academy graduation.

The result that miraculous response gave was that he had the ability to sense the supernatural, to put it simply.

Without being asked about his opinion, he was a.s.signed to the Special Investigation Unit, where he spent all his days as a human experiment, an activity called training.

And finally they found the manifestation of his special power.

> - the power to make a hole in this plane and expel all devilishness to a different dimension.

He wasn"t particularly eating them but, the blunt result of his power was commented on with It"s as if he"s chewing meatb.a.l.l.s so the name stuck.

This power was conjectured to be the height of his abnormal good fortune discovered during the training, nicknamed >.

Although it was repeatedly called good luck, Daiki was not a lucky person. Rather, his usual luck was very bad.

When walking on the street dogs would try to bit him and bird c.r.a.p always fell on his head. He has also a lot of experience with hitting his car.

But, when the bad luck that had befallen him reached a lethal level, that vector was reversed.

If a truck were to hit him, the wheel will suddenly turn and avoid his car. When he fell down, stepping on his shoe laces, a steel frame falling from a construction site hit the ground in front of him - those kind of things.

Well then...the question is what will happen if he were to encounter misfortunes that exceed his level of manipulation.

Just like what happened.

The way he expelled Garum, its fangs about to tear his throat, to a different dimension without doing so to the unlucky ringleader. That was perfect.

Although unstable, his power was as rare as a jewel. Regardless of what he thought, Kirika would never let such a talented man escape.

"Waaaa....how long will I continue to do this.....?"

It seemed he continued to cry. His words mingled with tears made Kazuma the tiniest bit aware.

"Isn"t it until you die?"

He kept those direct words with no delicacy inside.

Although it"s true he didn"t do it out of compa.s.sion, it"s just that he tried to avoid even more depressed cries.

Trampling down > under his feet, Kazuma ordered.

"Take out your handcuffs and restrain him. If this guy were to escape, the lovely Room Monitor lady will electrocute you."

"Hiiii!!"

Raising a turned inside out scream, Daiki arrested the man. It seems he had the experience of making Kirika mad.

Giving Daiki, who although slow tied the man"s hands behind, a sidelong glance, Kazuma turned his eyes to the surroundings.

There were spectators. But, it didn"t appear the man"s a