Seiken Tsukai no Kinju Eishou

The next day.

Shizuno was enjoying a morning coffee on the terrace of her older brother’s mansion where they lived together.

Together with that, she was having a friendly conversation.

She entrusted her body on the back of the comfortable chair and while she sometimes inclined the cup towards her, she put the smartphone on her ear in a refined manner.

『Hey. Aren’t you rather back in a good mood, Angela?』

What she was using wasn’t j.a.panese, but English. It was on equal levels to a native person, due to the fruits of Urushibara family’s strict discipline.

『Don’t mess with me, you stupid brat!』

An angry voice was heard from the phone.

She had apologized many times since then, and yet, there were no signs of getting on good terms at all.

The name of the other party on the phone was Angela Johnson.

Nicknamed “AJ”.

She was a master of a remarkable double-headed sword and a young beautiful woman considered the right arm of Sir Edward.

『However, I never expected that a beautiful person like you would use a violent speech of that level? I think that’s disrespectful even if I’m not Moroha』

『If you don’t put and en to this, I’ll beat you to death, you know!?』

『What are you so angry about? May I have an explanation of what I’m doing overboard?』

『If I don’t explain it, then you b.i.t.c.h won’t understand it!?』

『That’s right. Since you’re very hard to please, it’s rather difficult to be guessed in the heart of a young girl like me, you know?』

『Okay then, I’ll tell you…』

AJ said with a crush-to-death voice as if thirst for blood reached her from the distant London.

『It’s two in the morning here, you idiot…』

『Oh, I’m sorry. How did I totally forgot about the time difference?』

Shizuno apologized.

The other party on the phone couldn’t see the small dimple that emerged there, and even if she could see it, n.o.body would understand its meaning except Moroha.

『Die! Die right now! Vomit blood out and die gruesomely!』

Nothing but a voice full of deeply held resentment of the angered AJ returned.

Shizuno placed the smartphone away from her ear for a moment and turned the cup, enjoying the aroma.

She took a sip, rolling fully the sweetness of the milk and the bittersweet of the coffee in her mouth,

『Hey, Angela. There’s something I want to ask you』

She put the smartphone once again on her ear and asked behaving like a spoiled child.

『Shut up! In the first place, why are you always calling me 24/7!?』

AJ shouted at her, completely unaffected by fatigue.

『Wanna hear something sad? Moroha also often complains that「Edward calls me quite often, it’s annoying」. Then like fellow a.s.sistants, why don’t we get along well with each other?』

『I’ll end the phone call right now, throw you into the trash can and end your career!』

『That’s cruel, how can you say that? Aren’t we friends?』

『When did you b.a.s.t.a.r.d and I become friends!?』

『Maybe when I presented you the dress you wore when you had a dinner with “Sir” Edward?』

On the other end of the phone, there was a sign that the other party gasped powerfully.

『For how many hours was I giving advice to the worried you because Sir Edward went to a new pub guided by a kanbanmusume the other day? *』

*TN: Pretty girl who attracts customers to come inside a shop.

On the other end of the phone, there was a sign that the other party made her mouth open and close repeatedly.

『Moreover, didn’t you even hire a detective using the influence of the Urushibara family to investigate him? It’s not an easy thing to say how much Europe has erected the foundation in its own way, is it?』

On the other side of the phone, there was a sign that the other party raised both hands.

『Say, Angela? You’re not going to abandon your friends, yes?』

『………………………the h.e.l.l you want?』

『Aren’t you happy that there’s a person that think of you as a friend? There’s a small thing I want to ask about, you see──』

Shizuno raised the cup and started talking while toasting for the pure friendship of the two.

First was the sudden arrival of a foreign student from Russia.

Next, a detailed information of Leshya based on what Shizuno saw and noticed directly.

And then, if AJ happened to know anything.

『You said that her age is fifteen years old or so, she has silver hair that resembles steel and is a beautiful woman?』

AJ confirmed with a clear and yet fully tensed voice.

Shizuno also had her eyes tinged with seriousness.

She raised her body from the back of the chair and corrected her seated posture.

『Yes, that’s correct. Do you have an idea of who she is?』

『That girl, she might be “man-eater”』

This time, it was Shizuno who had her breath taken away.

Cold sweat slowly slipped off along her spine.

『”Man-eater”? The one… that rivals the one called “Invisible?”』

What finally came out from her mouth was practically a monologue rather than a question.

Dismay ended up oozing in her voice.

『Yes, that one. Originally, they are part of a group of Saviors that murders Saviorsthat shouldn’t exist. You knew that Russia was raising them, right?』

『That’s… correct. Wait a second, you’re telling me that it’s that thing? That “Man-eater” is the trump card among the trump cards of Lightning Empress? But then why did she sent her from there to a distant country like this?』

『Will your good person, that worthless guy, cut the trump card down?』

AJ snorted as if being ill humored.

Since she was caused to go through a bitter experience by Moroha more than once, it would be regrettable for her to make a statement like recognizing his ability.

『Well… it’s as you say. It’s very true when I say that I don’t want to believe it, but I should definitely a.s.sume so』

『Yes. At least the physical appearance of “Man-eater” and the one of the foreign student are consistent. The other thing is──』

『──You should take into account the possibility that Elensan is a decoy and that the real thing is hiding somewhere』

『Hmm. It seems that your head could finally settle, huh』

Certainly, she was able to recover from the shock somehow.

『I was wondering, can you tell me all that you know about “Man-eater”?』

『I would like to talk if I had my master’s permission… but there is not』

『Not that Moroha is Sir Edward’s favorite?』

When Shizuno regained her beat time to mock the other party, she heard the hateful clicking tongue of AJ.

『Fine. It’s also ridiculous to trouble my busy master to request permission for everything. I’ll tell you──however, may I get something in exchange?』

『What would that be?』

Shizuno got cautious, she put herself on guard.

『It’s nothing that great. Don’t call me, ever again. Deal?』

『I see, that’s what it was』

Shizuno threw an interjection with an admirable voice to show she was paying attention.

『Got it? It’s regrettable, but you can’t solve a problem without making some sacrifice. You promised it』

She insincerely agreed to it after that.

AJ, who showed impulsivity and frankness since the first time they met, quickly believed in her, her tongue loosened as if to get her satisfied.

All the stories she heard from her were series of surprises, but this time she had prepared herself beforehand, so she wouldn’t be shaken up. Shizuno silently listened and recorded everything in her mental notepad.

『I think that a well-behaved person like you know this already, but don’t spread anything, alright?』

『Of course. Thank you, Angela. See you later』

Shizuno gave her thanks with an obedient tone and hung up.

She did a heavy sigh, closed her eyes and meditated for a while.

She unconsciously played with the unruly hair that usually stood alone and paid undue amount of attention to it.

She organized in her mind the shocking information of “Man-eater” she learned from AJ and explored for a means to make the best use of that information.

It would take time, but that was fine. She had to do it.

And then, when she succeed in drawing a conclusion.

She sighed deeply one more time, opened her eyes and turned her eyes to her back.

– How long have you been there, Nii-san?

Next to the terrace table, there was the figure of her older brother Tadanori who gulped coffee as if he was drowning his cares in it and with a face like he was chewing a bug.

– You were having an enjoyable-looking talk with someone, weren’t you?

Her older brother said, irritated, as the servant was made to pour who knows how many coffees already.

– With a friend that is a bit far away, perhaps?

– Aren’t you supposed to talk about love and how to get closer to your lover?

Her older brother spoke with sarcasm while drinking the freshly poured coffee.

Shizuno thought that he sometimes held the region of his stomach but not because of stress, but because he drank too much.

– I’m proud of my good hearing. Do you know that Haimurkun is having a date with another girl today?

– Ara? Even though I’m taking my time at home, Nii-san is all grumpy?

Shizuno said nonchalantly as if she had realized the reason just now.

This person obsessed with political power was this kind of desperate, he couldn’t help but wanting to make Shizuno and Moroha who became an S-Rank Savior to be engaged as soon as possible.

– Aren’t you worried!?

– No, not at all.

Moreover, and related to that, it wasn’t a bluff or anything of the sort. Shizuno tried the cup with elegance.

She abstained from joining the date because she had to study, and Satsuki was there, but it was a complete lie.

– Because I don’t think that Elensan can persuade Moroha that easily, and also won’t this incite Ranjou-san to not lose? She will certainly compete shoulder to shoulder against Elensan, don’t you think? Also, when the mood becomes something like a quarrel of love, he’s the type that ends up drawing back. Frankly speaking, today’s date is going to be a failure, isn’t it?

– Hou… a sound argument. Truly a sound argument. Even you have competed with each other with jealousy laid bare, but if they’re disgraceful women, then they will likely get Haimurkun annoyed.

Her older brother left, the reason was that he could understand the tactic of his younger sister.

He was a sharp man. If one explained the reason properly, he would understand everything from one part.

– There’s a thing more worrisome than that.

It was hard to weigh what Leshya was thinking and why she wanted a date, however she wasn’t going to attack Moroha all of a sudden. Or more precisely, if she was willing to do that, she wouldn’t be having a date leisurely or studying abroad, if it was appearing a certain day without warning and stabbing him abruptly, then that should do it.

The absolute success rate of it should be higher rather than doing it after showing herself up and making him cautious about her. It was evident that Russia had some sort of motives that wanted to attack him carefully.

However, in addition to that, it wasn’t about attacking him「out of nowhere」, but about attacking him「sooner or later」.

Shizuno was convinced, even if Moroha didn’t try to suspect Leshya.

She wanted to carry out preparations for that moment.

Everything that she could do. For Moroha.

– There’s something I want Nii-san to cooperate with. Can I have your help?

– Then this will become a benefit of mine, isn’t that right?

Shizuno deeply shrugged her shoulders because of the manner of speaking typical of her older brother and a.s.sented generously.

Anyway. When she disclosed the plan she was able to derive not long ago, he clung to it immediately.

Shizuno, who had never thought nicely about her older brother, not even once, quickly thought that he would be useful for Moroha. She smiled wryly in her heart; for her, to do such a self-interested thing, it meant that affinity welled up even to such older brother a little.

They arranged to meet in front of the station at 11:00.

Moroha was walking from the dormitories, he was about to arrive at an adequate hour.

During his walk, he answered the phone that began to make a sound. He talked without stopping his feet.

『I can’t join the date…』

It was Satsuki who burst into tears abruptly.

– Did something happen?

Moroha asked while thinking it was a bit unexpected.

If it was the everyday Satsuki, then she would definitely come even if spears fell out of the sky.

『I was requested by Sophie-senpai for urgent help via phone just now』

*Sniff sniff*, Satsuki kept weeping.

『Did you know that Senpai sometimes goes to the church to worship? So, she went there this morning, but when she arrived there, it seems that a Sister had broken her dominant arm yesterday and looked very troubled. The church there seems to do soup kitchen after the worship every Sunday, but the Sister wasn’t able to do that, she said that help with enough cooking ability was needed urgently…』

– So it means that you were selected from among many people?

Moroha, who knew that Satsuki’s hidden cooking skills were high, understood so.

『I’m really, really sorry, Moroha. You were looking forward to have a date with me, right?』

– Well, yeah.

『I was looking forward to it too. But I can’t leave the troubled Sophie-senpai alone』

Satsuki cried on the telephone.

Moroha charmingly slipped out a smile.

– You had such feelings towards Senpai, I guess I like that?

『Fueh?』

Satsuki raised a voice in disarray and stopped crying in an instant.

『Y-you really mean tha〜〜〜t?』

Then, a bashful indication was transmitted from the other side of the phone.

– Yeah, I mean it.

Moroha nodded.

The words were light but the feelings loaded in them weren’t.

-『E-ehehe, then I’ll do my best to help her!』

– Yeah. If it’s a date, we can always do it again, I’ll especially not run away from it.

『Y-yup! See you later, ehehehe』

Satsuki ended the call while laughing shyly.

Moroha tried to put back the cell phone――and started ringing again.

– h.e.l.lo? Satsuki?

『I forgot to mention!!』

The loud voice that was raised with dreadful energy felt like an impact that pierced the tympanic membrane. Moroha involuntarily frowned.

– What did you forget?

『Even if it’s just you and Leshya, you can’t do strange things and hide them from me!』

– You don’t trust me…

Moroha was sad.

– There’s no reason for me to act like that, you know? We’ll just have normal fun, then I’ll just show her around the town.

『Is that true〜〜〜? I’m worried because that girl is strangely aggressive!』

– That’s fine, I’m pa.s.sive, no?

Since he wanted to get along with her, he thought of wanting to be friends with her, but any more than that was a separate thing.

Many friends from the past said『Anyone is fine, but I want a girlfriend at least!』as their favorite phrase, but the fact was that they really didn’t want one. It was a way of having fun between friends, the funny lot. He ended up understanding that meaning instead.

『I guess that’s fine, but. There’s the curfew of our dormitory, so go moderately!』

– Sir yes sir, you do your best.

『Yup! Well, see you tomorrow at school』

This time he ended the call and put back the cell phone.

While he was talking, he arrived at the north exit of the station which was the meeting place.

Exactly 10 minutes earlier.

The figure of Leshya wasn’t there yet. Moroha killed time while looking at the crowded streets.

This was the shopping district area, the appearances of young people that dropped in with their friends and lovers stood out; it was inevitable since today was Sunday.  There weren’t too many families.

Everyone seemed to be equally looking forward to it.

Even if the others were strangers, Moroha liked to see the smiling faces of the people.

His father, a cook and his mother, a server, were that kind of people.

He undoubtedly inherited that from them, it was a painful and yet a happy thing to be able to feel the connection with his parents who died in such casual event.

– Well… it’s 11:00 AM now huh.

Moroha muttered as he checked the time with his cell phone.

He thought about trying to call Leshya who didn’t come when five minutes had pa.s.sed. Since anything could happen, they exchanged their telephone numbers when they were coming home from school yesterday.

He was looking for the name of Leshya in the directory of his cell phone ―― and right there,

– I have kept you waiting, Haimura Moroha.

He heard the natural voice of the person in question.

Then again. Although his awareness was going to the manipulation of his cell phone, he couldn’t sense the approach of Leshya.

– The people are at fault.

He knew she had erased her presence and that her stealthy steps were skilled, but he wanted her to not use them in her everyday life.

Moroha raised his face from the cell phone as he gave a strained laugh──

He shifted his attention to Leshya’s direction──

– Eh, What’s with that appearance!?

He completely ended up questioning her sharply.

– Is there something wrong with my appearance?

Leshya had the most completely wary eyes so far, they were even more impregnable.

Since she didn’t understand the meaning of Moroha’s attack, she only extended her hand above her head and touched the cat ears there were there.

– Because those are strange.

Moroha pointed at the cat ears with all his strength.

There was a huge cat ears headband put on the head of Leshya.

It wasn’t because she attracted the attention. But because it had a bad meaning.

– What is that? j.a.panese use way too much demonstrative p.r.o.nouns. Sometimes I am unable to understand them.

– Cat ears!

Moroha was shocked, he didn’t know what to say.

The hand of Leshya that was interfering with the product suddenly stopped.

As if it hardened.

When he looked closely at her, her whole body was trembling, it was shivering with short and repeated movements.

– Actually… I was also feeling… a bit of… discomfort…. Like I thought, this appearance is a bit weird… from the perspective of the j.a.panese, yes?

– I’m sorry. For speaking frankly.

When he looked closely at her, in addition to the cat ears, the frilly dress that wanted to take her age a bit more into consideration and the evident handmade ribbons attached in some way on the clothes were colorfully decorated, and while certainly there was a thing called freedom of garments in j.a.pan, if one had the intention to wear what one wanted to wear no matter what, n.o.body could deny one that, but if possible… could you read the situation or rather, the place a bit more? Hmm? Leshya went with a cringy (Oh, I said it) fashion like that.

The only thing that didn’t float was the black gem pendant that she was wearing all the day yesterday.

– Is that so…? Like I thought…

Leshya’s face became gloomy.

She made her eyes cast downward, and slowly turned them away to a different side.

And, she murmured.

– I’m depressed… I want to d…

With a tensed tone of voice to the point it was not a laughing matter.

– Hold on.

The fl.u.s.tered one was Moroha.

This was the case when he rejected her sudden confession yesterday, but he could feel that the wanting-to-die declaration of Leshya was something that didn’t sound like a joke, it made him feel strangely anxious, and something that was true.

– Certainly! Wait! I also have praises for you! But (If we don’t care about the eyes around us) you’re definitely cute. (If you do something about that stern look) then it really suits you.

Moroha drew near her side, gently grabbed her arm and tried to encourage her with utmost effort.

There were a lot of ( ), but no lies where there. Not in the least.

– … your sympathy, I don’t need it.

– No, it’s true! You’re so cute that my heart may cease functioning. This is true!

It had been a while since he had made such a loud voice.

Was the enthusiasm of Moroha transmitted to her? ――After Leshya glanced at him,

– In that case, then I am relieved.

She returned to her original mood.

Well, though she just returned from「A face that seemed to hang even at the neck at any moment now」to「A stern expression that said “What are you so serious about?”」, Moroha couldn’t feel at ease from the bottom of his heart.

– I’m also relieved because you can’t die leaving your little brother behind, right?

– You remembered it?

That stern look relaxed for the first time.

Leshya turned surprised eyes. That was a little cute.

– That was impressive.

Because it was immediately after he was told she would die and die. Moroha scratched his head.

– Aanyways, I’m not the kind of guy who has someone that can attain balance with such clothes, so it would be helpful if you come with your very usual appearance from next time. Even uniform is a pa.s.s if you like.

– I understand. And I apologize. I neglected the consideration about the person I am in love with.

– Well, well.

Moroha calmed Leshya who had an overly serious way of speaking while spilling cold sweat.

– Aren’t you hungry? Shouldn’t we go and have lunch somewhere?

He proposed to stop the conversation as it was.

Leshya a.s.sented in silence――however, she got suddenly taken aback,

– Did I ended up keeping you waiting, Haimura Moroha?

She began to say at this late hour what one would normally say at the very beginning.

As if she thoughtlessly forgot about it, like she remembered the stipulated pa.s.sword in panic.

– No, not really.

Moroha replied adequately while strangely wondering about it.

Then, Leshya caused her staring eyes to be br.i.m.m.i.n.g with something that had the appearance of bloodl.u.s.t,

– That is a relief. But, I am sorry. I couldn’t wear my pants by myself and it ended up being late. I am a clumsy girl.

– Huh…?

– I am a clumsy girl.

– …………

He didn’t know how to react.

He didn’t know whether it was a Russian joke or not.

When he got stiffened while appearing to have his eyes wide, Leshya also got suspicious,

– Do you hate clumsy girls?

– Rather than that, this is the first time hearing you having an ordinary conversation.

When he answered frankly, Leshya began to tremble once again.

– I am depressed. I want to d――

– Whoa, wait.

Moroha tried to calm her down by grabbing both hands of Leshya.

– Let me ask you this, where on earth did you learn the term “clumsy girl”?

Although her way of speaking was formal, her j.a.panese was quite proficient, it shouldn’t be strange to know it, but still.

– I learned it from a certain trustworthy intelligence. “j.a.pan’s young men like clumsy girls”. At the dates, the woman is purposely delayed, and it would be effective to use words like the ones used just now.

– I wonder, who is the guy that blew such a false rumor into you…?

– I must say that my information source is reliable. It is a j.a.panese site. You can see that the level of such credibility comes from an unbelievable number of users every day.

– Hey, what’s the name of that site…?

– That site is named『5ch』 .

– I knew it.

Moroha was troubled because Leshya said deadly serious the name of j.a.pan’s largest anonymous internet bulletin board.

In fact, Moroha was able to start surfing on the net after he was in high school, but it didn’t take him much time to find his way to「5ch」.

He was puzzled at first. There were many false statements among the posts. Really too many. There were so many slanders that would make you feel sick afterwards. He didn’t know if there was a good use for it. However, as Leshya said, there was a large number of users.

Moroha immediately inquired Shizuno aka his computer teacher and she taught him while showing a small dimple on her face.

According to her:「This site is either medicine or poison depending on how you use it, but certainly I can’t recommend it to beginners. If you’re a person that don’t see through flattery and lies, then you must absolutely not use it. But I also use it from time to time, so it’s not that I like the way of thinking of not using a knife because it’s dangerous, you get me? Be a ROMつ for half a year as a test」

*TN: ROMつ = Lurker on a forum; read-only member.

Leshya also ended up stepping into that cavern of malice, huh…

She continued deadly serious.

-『5ch』is wonderful. As soon as I created a thread t.i.tled『I would like to have a date with my loved man but I don’t know how to succeed』, dozens of people gave me advice in the blink of an eye. The fact that j.a.panese people are kind is well known in Russia, but they gave me a deep impression for sure, so I just wrote words of thanks to all those people. More kind people came up later and got entangled in a heated discussion among them, the numbers of threads swelled up, I was able to receive useful advices.

– Such amazing trolling skills…. I mean, weren’t you lured in? Rather, weren’t you trolled?

Moroha endured the headache.

– Then you followed that “cat ears advice”?

He asked with an even more trembling voice.

– Almost every j.a.panese boy told me that he would like『A headband shaped like cat ears』and『Toddler-like garments』. And『The more ribbons you wear, more effective they’ll be』. This headband almost n.o.body sold it, it was extremely difficult to get, but in reality it was worth it because you liked it. I want to thank them, the guys of 5ch.

– Don’t tell me that yesterday’s love letter too?

– Of course. I was taught about it when I set up another thread. It is an essential custom when j.a.panese students start dating.

It didn’t teach a good thing. That 5ch.

– Got it. I understood everything…. anyway, do we go somewhere? Let’s have some food.

Moroha put a hand on his face and brought the matter to a finish.

He followed the motto of his PC teacher and didn’t say that he won’t look into it anymore.

Leshya a.s.sented in silence and this time they started moving.

As soon as that happened――

*Sudden movement*! Leshya linked their arms.

It was a way of constructing, like taking a criminal to the police… the exactly opposite of the very natural way like the one of a pair of lovers.

Moroha got nervous in the different meaning of the word.

Not only that, Leshya was the owner of an abundant chest, as it should be expected of a Caucasian. When she walked with that appearance, *Boing*, *Boing*, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were pushed against him with every step.

Moroha got nervous in the right meaning of the word.

It was impossible for his heart to not race.

And, the eyes of his surroundings were painful.

They were seen by pairs of lovers. The boyfriend was a bad couple for making the girlfriend have a weird appearance.

Moroha got nervous in the displeased meaning of the word.

(Shouldn’t we walk a bit more separated?)

He couldn’t say that.

The eyes of Leshya that were turned straight ahead were extremely serious.

Like a soldier who went to the battlefield with a heroic resolution.

It wasn’t an atmosphere where he could start talking to her.

(Well, it’s not a big deal to being pointed at our backs, is it?)

Moroha resigned with one sigh.

It was transmitted from the linked arms that Leshya was also nervous.

Maybe she wasn’t used to walking and linking arms with a man.

Moroha decided to settle this in his mind.

– What does Leshya want to eat?

– Anything is fine for me, so if there is anything you want.

– You’re leaving it to me? Then, what will it be?

He wanted to soothe the tension of the other party, so he kept deliberately talking to her amiably.

However, even when it was a date that didn’t seem to follow the ordinary methods, it was a win if they enjoyed it the way it was.

If so, they had to have fun. He was going to make her have fun. More than she deserved.

When his purpose became clear, he immediately felt in high spirits.

Moroha raised his face and walked down the shopping district with Leshya.

They walked for a short while with their arms linked――

Moroha noticed that the gaze of Leshya was particularly staying at a single point.

Their pace remained perfectly constant, they almost missed the sign.

What was she paying attention to?

His interest swelled up all of a sudden and followed the gaze of Leshya.

Beyond that was a McDermott. It was the world’s largest hamburger chain store.

– You like Macs?

Even so, Moroha stopped and asked, he wanted to say that.

– I have never eaten one.

Leshya answered immediately.

No way, there’s people who have never eaten a Mac!? Is this what they call “culture gap”?  Moroha put questions on top of another while being shocked.

– But there are McDermott’s in Russia… right? I remember that I saw it being popular in the news in the past.

– Yes. McDermott’s is very prosperous in Russia, there is always a big line.

– Heeee.

Russians liked Macs so much. Moroha learned that.

– And yet, Leshya has never eaten one? Are they a luxury item in Russia?

– No, it used to be a high cla.s.s store in the past, but now I have heard that Macs are at convenient prices. I have never eaten one because I don’t have time to stand in a line.

Her interest was stirred up because she had no experience of entering a store that was popular.

– So, we’re having Macs for lunch then?

– If you are fine with that.

As for his personal preference, he liked better the MUS Burger* chain, which feature was using fried rice b.a.l.l.s instead of buns, but he wanted to satisfy her curiosity.

*TN: MAS Burger is the original burger chain store.

Did the doubtful Leshya really think so, even if I say so when acting as her boyfriend?

But now, when he looked at her eyes fixedly staring at McDermott’s, he felt that he had touched her「raw feelings」for the first time.

– Let’s enter.

Moroha invited Leshya to enter the store.

Because it was Sunday midday, there was a crowd before the cashier, but it appeared that it would end without waiting.

– Choose in advance what you want to eat while we’re standing in line.

He told her and pointed at the menu──displayed on top of the cashier counter.

– What is your recommendation?

– Everything is surprisingly good, so you should decide based on the ingredients you like.

Thoroughly pursuing the taste that everyone liked, that was the selling point of the chain.

– But, I always go crazy when it comes to potatoes…. I like them, but I feel it’s a waste of money to order them unless something good comes with them.

– I also like potatoes. Or rather, Russians like it.

– Is that so? Then should both of us go for L ones?

That being the case, he should economize another day in the future.

This was the first experience of Leshya. A kindness that he wanted her to enjoy with all her heart without acting miserly.

Moroha fully realized. Like I thought, food is wonderful!

The fundamental desires of the human being weren’t sophisticated. Even Leshya who had been clumsy ever since they met, talked naturally when it became a talk of food. She quickly opened her heart.

Moroha ordered a set of a jumbo Mac, iced coffee and potatoes and Leshya copied him.

Since it was a large store, they could secure seats immediately and sat down, facing each other.

Moroha just opened the wrapping paper, he didn’t put it into his mouth.

He fixedly stared at Leshya eating.

He felt like the pilot of Apollo 11, watching attentively to etch into his mind the first steps of mankind on the moon’s surface.

However, Leshya rapidly took a bite. Typical of her personality that had no cowardice.

She chew it while precipitously bringing near the part of the eyebrows closest to the nose.

– Your impression?

– The taste is very flashy. I think this deserves my admiration.

The taste is flashy! Leshya had an interesting expression.

That meant that her own expression about taste could be made, and that there was a rich sensitivity in regard to Leshya’s roots.

Moroha was delighted to know that rather than mechanical or way too functional, such image that Leshya was cladded in didn’t represent her essence at all.

Well, she may feel mechanical but because she was trained well and acquired so.

While Moroha felt such hunch,

– In the end, are you saying that it’s tasty? Or saying that it’s bad?

– Certainly, I would like to eat another menu or something next time.

– It came to be of your liking, huh? Then why don’t we come again?

– Is that perhaps an invitation for a next date already?

– Err. Yeah, that’s what it is, no?

– Is that so? That is to say that my charm had caused a certain effect on you already.

The eyes of Leshya were still grim, but her mouth was a bit elated.

2 bites, 3 bites, she opened her mouth wide and ate heartily. She showed surprising voracious manners.

Moroha was enticed by her and sunk his teeth into it.

If you eat with someone and the mood is good, then it will feel more delicious than usual.

– What does the Russians… Leshya always eat?

– I bought and ate what caught my attention at the store. There are shops all over the town that one doesn’t happen to see in j.a.pan but are normal in Russia.

– That sounds fun. What do those sell?

– I think that piroshkis, crepes, hot dogs and various baked potatoes*.

*TN: Piroshki = Russian pierogi; meat and eggs, etc. baked in bread).

That country was probably like a dream for the potato-lover Moroha.

– Do you cook on your own?

– I don’t have time to do it.

– You said something like that before, but why were you so busy?

– You know it already. We are Saviors.

I see, Moroha put a face as if he was chewing a bitter bug.

In other words, she was busy to death refining her fighting techniques.

He remembered. The warning given by Shizuno. The story where there were no Savior training schools in Russia, but instead they were trained in inhuman ways.

Moroha turned his head to the left and right and shook off those sad feelings,

– There are plenty of delicious things to eat without reserve in j.a.pan too and Leshya can try them now that she’s finally studying abroad. Would you like to go to other places as well? If you like, can I guide you there?

– Is that also perhaps an invitation to a date?

– Yeah. If Leshya is fine with it, the next week, the week after next and the following ones, and next time let’s invite Satsuki and Shizuno again. There are lots of other people who are nice, so let’s have fun with everyone after I introduce them to you.

– This is too convenient for me that I end up being suspicious, thinking: won’t there be a catch in all this?

– Haha, you’re cautious. But I really mean it that way.

– If so, then I would like to ask you. Do you think well of me, or are you like Urushibara Shizuno, suspecting that I am an a.s.sa.s.sin from Russia?

– Has Leshya thought of trying to kill me?

– … Not at all.

– That’s fine, isn’t it? There’s nothing wrong.

Moroha smiled cheerfully and finished eating with a last bite.

Leshya pinched the potatoes and fixedly stared at them.

Until she finished gnawing them like a squirrel.

The look in her eyes changed more and more to a dangerous one. She casted her eyes down and said with a sorrowful face.

It wasn’t in j.a.panese, but probably in Russian.

『How manly…!』

She whispered to herself.

The meaning of it couldn’t be grasped by Moroha. He heard「beesese trashani」but was that correct?

What did she say? He raised his eyebrows and asked with a gesture.

Leshya raised her face and――probably again――ignored the question and started another topic.

– When I look at you, I remember a person I met before.

– Is there anyone who looks like me?

– The Head of the English Division.

– Don’t continue please.

Moroha grumbled without bearing it.

If he had a cup of coffee now, he would surely spurt it out. It was dangerous.

– Seriously, pardon me. It’s unbearable to be confused with such walking nuisance.

The completely confused Moroha.

The person in question had no awareness that he would likely end up having this kind of att.i.tude.

– I’ll buy another cup of coffee. Does Leshya want another too?

Moroha left his seat with a clatter and hurriedly headed to the cashier.

He had the feeling of wanting to ask when Leshya and Edward met, but more than that, the feeling of not wanting to continue with this upsetting topic was stronger.

(This mood won’t be washed away with a super bitter black coffee, I can’t do it)

He grumbled in his mind.

It would be natural to not see that Leshya on his back was having a too worried expression.

He naturally couldn’t notice that she had a face similar to a working, self-supporting student who faced difficult exam questions.

After they left McDermott, Leshya invited Moroha to a movie.

She extremely agreed to the advice she got, which said「It’s safe for the beginners to have a date on a standard course」.

Even Leshya, when a beginner offered a suggestion all of a sudden that said「I want to a.s.sa.s.sinate a detestable boy, but I don’t know how I should carry it over」, recommended using a gun which was a safer choice rather than a knife that required skill.

Either way, was there a communicating thing in the roots among professionals of that line of business?

He didn’t know what program to watch, but 5ch, which was a gathering of gentlemen, had no blunder in escorting a lamb that wavered in that respect.

They told her that the animation「Magical Chuuni* Ange Sweetsdekosuke-chan*」was very popular among the j.a.panese boys now.

*TN: Chuuni means Second-year of Middle School. I’m not sure if this is a reference to something, but dekosuke means big forehead.

She suggested Moroha to try watching it.

– S-seriously? Are you okay with it? That’s an anime that little girls watch, no? Well… if Leshya wants to watch it, then I’m fine with it, but…

Although Moroha didn’t show interest, Leshya persisted in with resolution.

Because that dialogue was hypothesized beforehand.

According to the thoughtful and discrete 5ch, 「All j.a.panese men are shy, they by no means want to affirm their own desires in front of others. That’s a YES if the j.a.panese comes up with the pretense of aiding another or something for the sake of a girl」

Leshya guessed the real intention of Moroha, it was easy for her to deal with it since she knew him beforehand, and so she went together with him to watch「Magical Chuuni Ange Sweetsdekosuke-chan」

While they were doing the entrance procedure at the movie theater, Moroha made his face stiffen the whole time.

How complicated and mysterious were the feelings of the j.a.panese men.

She kept holding the hand of Moroha sitting next to her during all the movie.

One of 5ch’s guys taught her「You, cut it out! How is this girl so pathetic? You should just hold the hand of your boyfriend all the time during the movie.  That’s my recommendation since I’m pleased」

Leshya followed what >>746-san had particularly transmitted with tender care.

Then Moroha firmly grasped her hand back.

The strange feeling when she linked arms with him increased, but the man she held with normality for the first time was… very warm.

It was a very fresh feeling for Leshya who have never had the chance of touching other people directly, she had only come in contact with them through the cold steel blade….

The movie ended, now she was walking outside along with Moroha.

At first she didn’t realize her way of doing things because she was clumsy. Now she was able to link arms with him without putting herself on guard.

A small desire ended up being born inside her chest.

The feeling wishing for someone’s warmth.

It seemed as if that taught Leshya how to link arms with someone quite naturally. She strolled with her arms linked with Moroha, walking aimlessly in the shopping district.

The topic was entirely about the movie just now.

Moroha looked delighted, talking about his impressions.

– Well, I didn’t think that I’d be moved to tears despite this anime being oriented towards children. Toko, who cooperated with everyone, got incredibly fired up, it was fascinating. Thank you for making me know about it.

That was evidently a juvenile-ish, carefree smile.

Along with her grat.i.tude to 5ch’s information network, Leshya also looked up from the intracerebral memory for advice on what to do in such cases.

The correct answer was「At any rate, he’ll agree in advance. Men are delighted with it because they are idiots」

Nevertheless――

– The story was so hectic that I couldn’t keep up with it.

Leshya’s honest impression ended up saying something like she was against Moroha.

She got close to the arm of Moroha and entrusted herself to his warmth, but for some reason, she didn’t feel like saying an insincere thing.

(The relationship building with Haimura Moroha is becoming a drawn-out war and that is fine, I was told to concentrate all my energy on it. Is it fine… even if he is not being pleased with this much…?)

After she ended up saying so, she started making excuses regarding her own impulsive failure.

– What kind of movies does Leshya usually watch?

Moroha didn’t feel hurt by such a small thing.

He continued the conversation with a calm voice.

He felt his arm got warmer, Leshya embraced him more and more.

– It was my first time watching a movie.

– Eh? For real? There’s no way… not even in Russia? Because you didn’t have time either?

Leshya a.s.sented.

Ever since I was discovered as a Savior, I either escorted Lightning Empress, carried a.s.sa.s.sinations of people that weren’t to the liking of Lightning Empress’s mind, and outside that, I just trained myself. I wasn’t allowed anything but that. To say nothing of entertainment, movies, etc.

– Haha, it can’t be helped if you couldn’t keep up with it. You’re like a grandma suddenly watching an anime.

Moroha made a crack about it along with a face like the one of a mischievous child.

Even when she was called a grandma, Leshya didn’t get angry. It was the everyday scene of the

Compared to that violence, Moroha’s joke was easy to understand.

However, it would be great if she could stylishly return the joke with a joke.

Unfortunately, such conversational skills weren’t granted the chance to be learned.

Instead, she kept talking about the movie in an overly serious way.

– The one supposed to be antagonizing Dekosuke was Eiji, but before I became aware of it, they became allies, I really didn’t understand that.

– Gotcha. I certainly felt that the explanation was poor.

– I didn’t get the reason either why Dekosuke and Eiji were bound to be the persons waiting for the return of the dark Maris nebula that suddenly appeared and were able to charge at it without fearing anything. Furthermore, they were safe, but there was no foundation for that.

– I agree. On the whole, if he were my uncle, then it would have been a good talk about stopping opportunism.

– What is opportunism?

– It’s difficult to explain, but the producers abandoned the consistence of the story to make it easier, I guess…

Moroha, who wasn’t a story building expert, explained with utmost effort though he became confused, but Leshya managed to understand him.

– Anyways, I felt it was interesting──

Moroha indicated as if defending it to sum to the total while scratching his head.

– Although it’s opportunism, it’s more like a helpless story, like the ones where enemies and allies fight each other until the end, but I like the type of stories where everyone holds their hands and are saved in the end.

I see.

Leshya, who listened to him, nodded in her mind.

She really and honestly thought “I see” from the bottom of her heart.

(In reality, I couldn’t help it. I forget about it while watching the story)

Her heart suddenly felt chilly and hugged the arm of Moroha as if clinging to it.

Since Leshya kept silent, Moroha showed a pondering att.i.tude as he made his eyes loiter for a brief moment. Maybe he was looking for the next topic.

The shopping district was being left behind while their awareness was stolen by the conversation of the movie.

A large park covered in green was visible in the front.

The two of them headed to the park, neither of them had prearranged it.

There was a fresh, green lawn and pure-white benches,

– As for the movie theater, rigidness is a weakness of it, isn’t it? Would you like to take a small break?

Moroha proposed while extending his free hand.

Leshya a.s.sented and sat down on the bench.

However, Moroha kept standing up.

– Is there something wrong?

– I’ll go and buy a drink, so please wait here. Anything is fine?

– The same that you pick is fine.

– Haha, if you say so, then I am going to make you drink a sweet red-bean soup drink.

Moroha went to that place while laughing jokingly.

Leshya stood alone on the bench.

She was bored, but for the sake of a.s.sa.s.sination missions, she had to lie in wait for a long time. She was used to it.

She emptied her mind and observed the people coming and going to the avenue.

Friends, lovers, parents and children and people of various races pa.s.sed in front of Leshya.

Everyone looked happy, the people that weren’t smiling were a few.

She unexpectedly ended up remembering her motherland.

She heard an existing prejudice in various foreign countries where the history of a b.l.o.o.d.y purge, the image of the former Eastern Bloc countries and the extreme cold climate made of Russia an unpromising and terrible country.

But the current Russia was wealthy and open-minded.

When she sat on a bench in a park of Moscow and observed the faces of the people who came and go in the same way, she was able to find lots of smiles.

Every time Leshya saw such happy-looking people, lovers and families in her motherland, her heart became irritable.

Her feelings were made to grow wild.

Because Leshya didn’t forget.

Only ten-odd years ago, Russia still couldn’t break free from the disturbances of the Soviet collapse, it was a period of tremendous poverty.

Leshya was born at such time, she was an orphan that didn’t know the face of her parents.

Love wasn’t given to her. A childhood in which she was hungry.

At the age of nine, when she was discovered as a Savior, she was coerced to a way of life smeared with blood by Lightning Empress, the compensation she got was proper food, clothing and shelter.

Every time she saw happy people, she was reminded of her sorrow together with piercing cold thoughts.

But now it was different.

She came to a country that had peace, to the real richness called j.a.pan, she also saw the happy faces of the people, but her heart didn’t hurt at all. She didn’t become sad.

She realized about the reason.

(It is the same as the movie of minutes ago…)

This was too distant from her, the actual feeling was too much, it ended up seeming like the world of a tale.

The country of her dreams where she could temporarily forget about her helpless self.

(It’s lifeless. But warm in the same degree here)

Even when she intended to empty her heart. When she realized her mood was satisfied, she looked at the strangers.

– I kept you waiting.

She heard the voice of Moroha.

Coincident with that, something rolled over at the feet of Leshya.

It was a soccer ball.

– It fell over there. Did someone forget it and went back home? If they threw it away, then it’s a waste. It’s badly damaged, but it can still be used properly.

For an instant, Moroha put a sour look on his face.

He didn’t have the drinks.

He probably found it on the way to buy them and just came back with the ball.

– Hey! Pa.s.s it! Pa.s.s it here!

Moroha went to the lawn and innocently demanded her to send the ball by kicking it.

Leshya stood up, controlled her strength and sent a weak pa.s.s.

It was her first time kicking it, but it was rolling fairly well. It returned at the feet of Moroha.

This time, Moroha sent a pa.s.s gently and Leshya stopped it with one foot. Then kicked it back again. Moroha also returned it. That iteration continued on and on.

– When I was a kid, my uncle often played catch with me. Our family was poor, so they couldn’t get to buy other toys, but I had fun.

It was surprising for Leshya that Moroha spent a poor boyhood.

In fact, Leshya didn’t know much about Moroha.

She wasn’t an intelligence operative nor a professional who snared people with skillful words.

That’s why rather than poorly come in contact with him, the decision of the Russian Division was to be able to lower the alertness of Haimura Moroha and for her to not be aware of the detailed profile of the target.

If she strangely were to know more, the risks of ending up having her faults exposed would be higher.

Moroha kept kicking the ball without knowing such thought of Leshya.

– But soccer is more popular in Europe, right? Then wouldn’t Leshya be delighted if you were to play with your little brother?

– Did you pick up this ball because of me?

– Well, it just accidentally fell down, but you hit the mark. Because Leshya didn’t have time to play soccer either, am I right?

Bull’s eye. She didn’t have the feeling that this side of Moroha would make it true.

She had heard that j.a.panese were considerate. She came to this country and thought that consideration was the contrary of richness.

She was content because it was a national characteristic to be able to share a portion of your profit with others.

Above all things, Moroha was a very kind man, she got that with just today’s date.

In that case, then he was probably a very happy man.

He said a thing about being poor, but he probably was raised with plenty of familial love.

That was the thing that Leshya wanted desperately.

– You said you played catch with your uncle. Then what about your father? Did you play something with him?

She sent a pa.s.s by strongly kicking the ball as if resenting it.

Moroha easily trapped it under his feet and returned it with a touch.

– I don’t remember him much. My father was a busy person, I think he died when I was very small.

– Eh…?

Leshya failed to catch the return pa.s.s.

The ball slipped through her feet and bounced behind her.

– Your father died?

– With my mother. My parents are gone, just like Leshya’s. But I have an aunt and an uncle. And Leshya has a little brother, no?

Leshya a.s.sented nervously.

– If I say that I’m not sad, then I’ll be lying. Not everything is dark, as we both have relatives. Still, there are people who gave me emotional support and I appreciate them for that.

Leshya a.s.sented.

She threw in interjections many, many times to every word of Moroha, she continued a.s.senting like reflecting upon that even when he ended.

In the meantime, Moroha pa.s.sed right next of Leshya and went to pick up the ball.

– Someday… right? Once we become adults, will you let me meet your younger brother? At that time, I believe that the relationship between the j.a.panese Division and the Russian Division will be improved.

It didn’t seem that such day would come for Leshya.

She had no help and that was a hard fact.

Despite this, Leshya answered immediately.

Words arbitrarily came out from her mouth.

– Understood. At that time, I want you to introduce me to your uncle and aunt.

A dream-like conversation.

It wasn’t a lie to connect and to gain the good will of Moroha.

Such a thing was impossible, such a future wasn’t going to come, we are mutual enemies──while I get this is not a lie, I wish we could introduce each other’s family, such thought was true.

The date was over.

Moroha escorted Leshya until her apartment.

They walked with their arms linked to the end of the dusked road.

Moroha got embarra.s.sed sometimes, but he never pulled her away.

A stained concrete-block wall surrounded the apartment building grounds.

They parted before that.

He had been decided to give the ball to Leshya.

Just in case, they notified the small neighborhood police station where a police officer told them「In other words, it fell into a place, right? Then it was thrown away. That happens often. If you want, you can bring it back home」

Moroha waved his hand,

– Well then, see you tomorrow. At the practical lesson.

He went home while smiling.

Did she get him to enjoy today’s date?

She was terribly worried about it.

The worrying feeling boiled up almost spontaneously, she didn’t know where it came from.

In the end, Leshya followed the back of Moroha with her eyes until it wasn’t in sight.

As she attempted to go back to her apartment──she heard a loud sound of flapping wings above her head.

A crow went down and stood on the concrete-block wall.

While it broadly laughed with a human-looking expression,

『Hihihihi, isn’t that amazing!?』

It praised highly in Russian.

『What is amazing, Kondrat?』

Leshya, without moving, also returned in Russian.

『I wondered what would happen, but it was a flawless date! Hihi, I could perceive that Haimura trusted Leshya considerably. If that’s the case, then you might not be far from the day when you’ll be in an intimate relationship with him, don’t you agree? Hihihihihihi』

Is… that so?

She didn’t understand well. At any rate, she had never been close with other people.

She had never made a friend, to say nothing of having a date.

『I don’t have confidence in myself』

『Hihihi, it’s fine! Don’t I have something for that reason? I’ll immediately point something out if I think it’s bad. But don’t worry for now, keep staying next to Haimura with that rhythm』

Since he said so, there should be no need for Leshya to be at a loss.

Kondrat was one of the major executives of the Russian Division, a close aide of Lightning Empress and the responsible for the realization of the current “Moroha a.s.sa.s.sination Plan”.

(But──)

Even when she knew that in her head, an ill feeling remained in the chest of Leshya.

(I, ended up enjoying today’s date so much. … Even when it was a mission. Despite the other party being the a.s.sa.s.sination target)

Is that the right thing to do? Is that alright?

She couldn’t confirm so while being anxious.

She couldn’t report, she wasn’t going to say anything no matter what.

If she did so, he would absolutely be suspicious of her.

Kondrat and Russia acted with that thinking.

If they considered that such was the level of treachery from Leshya, then the situation of her younger brother who was left behind in her homeland would be at risk.

(… Things depend on how you look at them. When it comes to the Russian Division, it is full of helpless people that enjoy slaughtering Metaphysicals. It is fine if I think I am the same as them. I have fun accomplishing objectives… This is also my first time saying that I do that. It is not that I am going to betray them)

Leshya repeated that excuse many times in her chest as if persuading herself.

While she was lost in deep thoughts, the crow that burst into laughter became something like a husk for a short while.

『Hihihi, it’s going to be an extreme pleasure to report that Leshya easily got the target in her pocket to her Majesty Lightning Empress! In the event of mission accomplished, I received a command where Leshya and her younger brother would get a more-than-enough reward. Will you please make an effort to not fail?』

『Understood. My thanks to Vasilisa Yurievna as well』

『Hihi, I’m off to report!』

The crow shouted and flew away.

Hearing just the sound of flapping wings, Leshya returned to her apartment without looking back.