Chapter 1 – EncounterMTL: uniquegasuki
Editor/ Proofreader: (not proofread)
2025 A.D. the world completely changed.
Enormous crystal 『pillar(s)』 appeared everywhere on the surface of the Earth. Afterwards, mysterious crystal bodies referred to as the 『C.E. (crystal・enemy)』 began their a.s.sault on the world.
When humans were hit by the mysterious beam fired from the C.E. even if they did not sustain any injuries, they would fall into an untreatable coma.
It is as if their very soul had been extracted.
Although each country had utilized all of their power into exterminating the C.E. they made no progress.
The C.E.’s invisible membrane had prevented any attack from coming through.
Although the barrier wasn’t invincible; breaking it with artillery fire, missiles, or gunfire was a matter of luck.
At the cost of countless deaths; with the a.s.sistance of tanks, battleships, and fighter jets they relentlessly threw themselves at the C.E. As a result, they were able to destroy thousands of the C.E. and force the enemy back.
However, humanity’s steady advance was put to a halt.
Their stockpile of ammunition and reserve supplies had run low. Humankind was overwhelmed by the C.E. that seemed to endlessly sp.a.w.n.
Against the C.E.’s high defensive strength and great propagation ability, humankind’s high offensive strength had been chipped away. The war fell into a stalemate.
Half a year after the start of the war, on an orient island, a weapon that could overturn the war was born.
The weapon is in the hands of a lone young girl that is running through the battlefield.
However, the war against the C.E. had yet to reach a conclusion. The war will continue.
2031 A.D. 6 years later, once again war will break out.
He exited the train station in Maebashi city (前橋市) located in the Gunma prefecture (群馬県). When Sorachi Souji (空知宗次, そらち そうじ) saw the scene before him, he only had one impression.
「Is this the city?」
Souji is deeply moved and he didn’t notice the woman beside him giggling at him.
Because he came from a mountain village that had a population of about 1,000 people; it can’t be helped that Souji is surprised when he saw the city.
「I should hurry if I’m going to take the bus.」
For a while, he is fascinated by the Gunma prefecture’s town landscape. Souji observes his surrounds, but he found it was a lot to take in.
「There sure are a lot of bus stops……!?」
In the countryside there was only one bus stop; it ran two times a day, once in the morning and once at dusk. But, the traffic rotary here is like a maze.
「In its own way, this thing is quite intimidating……」
For the first time in his life, Souji is nervous. He is trying to use an automatic ticket gate machine but is afraid he will make a mistake and buy a ticket for the wrong bus route. To him, this is an excessively high hurdle.
However out of the entire world, he was one of those chosen by G.o.d.
「Phew, how embarra.s.sing.」
From behind him, Souji hears a suspicious kansaiben dialect. A hand is placed on Souji’s shoulder――the person is tossed into the air.
「Eh……?」
「Who are you?」
Before the person realized what had happened, Souji had quickly thrust his hand (shaped into a knife) at the person’s neck. (T/N: no his hand didn’t become a knife)
The person is a young boy much like himself; although, the boy is a soft country b.u.mpkin lacking in vigilance.
「Are you a pickpocket? For me to already have an encounter, a city sure is a frightening place.」
「W-wait, wait, I’m no pickpocket!」
The kanseiben boy can feel the bloodl.u.s.t coming from Souji as the hand that is mimicking a knife seems ready to behead the boy. While being fl.u.s.tered the kanseiben boy tries to explain the situation. (T/N: again there is no knife, no English equivalent)
「My name is Endou Eisuke (遠藤映助, えんどう えいすけ), I’m a student from the same school as you!」
The kansaiben boy points to the black collar of his school uniform.
Certainly, Souji is wearing the same uniform.
「I see.」
「Now do you understand?」
「Are you a pickpocketing student?」
「Say what!」
Eisuke instinctively tries to tsukkomi him, but Souji easily avoids it.
「Tsk, you’re no fun. I was planning on telling you which bus to take to get to the school.」
「You were? Oh, I’m sorry for my rude behavior.」
Eisuke grumbled as he explained himself. Souji regrets that he came to the wrong conclusion and he silently bows.
「Maybe you’re not so bad…… afterall」
Eisuke opens his mouth wide and gives a loud laugh. They walk to the bus stop.
「By the way, Endou, where are you from?」
「Just call me Eisuke. Do you really want to know?」
The bus arrives at their destination; Eisuke raises his hand onto his chest and makes a declaration.
「Me, I’m a genuine breed and born―― person of the Ehime prefecture (愛媛県)!」
“You’re not from Osaka!“―― In their minds, all the pa.s.sengers on the bus retort with a tsukkon. Souji shows little interest as he merely nods.
「Ehime, huh…… which city?」
“Say what!“―― Needless to say, the pa.s.sengers retort with a tsukkon.
This person will eventually become Souji’s best friend. And thus, this is how he meet Endou Eisuke.
In the distant future, Souji will come to think it was fortunate to have met Eisuke. Although the historians who read about this event would probably mutter a sigh.
In this foreign land, the first encounter is not a stunningly beautiful girl. As expected this guy 『is a have not』. (T/N: my guess, referring to mojo “those who have it, and those who don’t”)