Chapter 2: Enable and Diamond Dust–Constellation
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On the morning of December 26th, I returned to a severely cold Japan–
Shirayuki left Haneda to perform the New Years Shinto Ceremony at the Hotogi Shrine in Aomori, Aria had made prior arrangement with her lawyer in Liancheng County to take her from Shimbashi to Toranomon, Riko had plans to attend a comic festival in Daiba, so everyone split off in their own direction
Everyone has a lot of stamina…
Only Reki and I stuck together and picked up Haimaki from the underclassman that Reki had left him with and headed back to our normal Butei High routine.
Afterwards, I was exhausted and collapsed on my bed and fell asleep.
The next morning– despite the fact that we didn’t have any regularly scheduled classes, I headed to MASTERS accompanied by Reki.
At the end of each term, all kinds of assorted important information is posted on the MASTERS’ bulletin board.
Especially a summary list of student notices and a summary list of those with insufficient academic credits that need to be addressed. Back during the first term, I got a insufficient credit notice, so I just wanted to check and make sure everything was okay… good. My name wasn’t on it. Most of my credits from East Ikebukuro High must have transferred.
Huh…?
I suddenly noticed something on the student notice list,『Jeanne D’Arc, 2nd year, Class B, Special Topic, (INFORMA)』… It was Jeanne’s name! She must have gotten a notice. What could have happened with her?
Well, I’m sure it will all work out.
Then I started looking at the rankings for the results of the General Studies final examination that we took back before Caravan II.
2nd year… Tohyama… Tohyama…
I looked for my name. 126th… just above average?
Resolving a hijacking incident, a one-on-one battle on a nuclear submarine, beating the heck out of an American human weapon, disbanding a Japanese and Hong Kong branch of the yakuza, and yet–my grades were barely above average.
But this is a stunning accomplishment. Until now, I have been firmly below average. When compared with Butei High, the classwork at East Ikebukuro was higher level. In particular, my Maths grade has increased.
And yet, my mood didn’t really improve. In terms of scholastic ability, Butei High is on the lower end, so I’m still below the general average. Especially in Health and Physical Education. I just barely avoided a failing grade. My usual bad habit was to read the question and twirl my pencil around to guess the answer, but this time I don’t think that I relied all that much on my pencil.
Afterwards…I looked to check who were in the top ranks in order to see who I could ask for help studying.
In the den of idiots that is Butei High, the majority of smart people are from CONNECT and MEDICA. However, I had few friends there, so I looked at the top of the ASSAULT rankings.
Ranked 11th overall was Ryou Shiranui. In the top 10 and ranked higher, I had a few acquaintances. Watson-kun-chan was 9th. A regular member of the best 3, Shirayuki Hotogi, was ranked 2nd this time.
Who was in 1st place this term–?
I checked the name, just out of curiosity.
『1st place, Moe Mochizuki』…!
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I didn’t see that, just now…!
To escape reality, I took Reki with me out the MASTERS door, intending to shut myself up in the gaming arcade.
Then we crossed the street to the plaza across the street–
There, some girls were playing two base baseball1with a fake hand grenade and a second-hand RPG-7 launcher.2
These idiots…
You shouldn’t be so physically active in Butei Highs short skirts! It’s a problem for people with my condition.
What’s more, doing that in front of MASTERS is pretty reckless. If a homerun breaks a window, you’ll get a bullet in exchange for your ball! At least a magnum bullet, at worst an anti-tank rocket.
Ever since I was born, the worst possible things have happened while I was watching…
*Fwack!* The stupid girls hit a foul ball that flew away from me.
–!
It’s… going to hit another girl who was standing by the front gate.
If it was a Butei High student– then due to the routinely grueling training that they undergo, they’d be able to dodge flying objects and other dangerous things, but this girl didn’t move out of the way. She didn’t even try to catch it, but held her hands close to her mouth, breathing on them to warm them. She didn’t even notice.
It was a fake hand grenade filled with sand, and it didn’t have that much power behind it… but it’s still made of metal. It has a pin too. If it hits at the wrong angle, it could stick her with it and cause a serious injury.
I– ran the short distance, and *Plop!* Caught the metal ball.
「Oh! So~rry!」
The idiot girl from the softball club apologised from a distance…
I should be mad at them, but I’m not. In the first place, they’re Butei, so they’re idiots, and these girls only prove that general rule. I’ll allow for the idiocy.
But this kind of carelessness is no good.
You’ll lose your life like this, as Butei.
Turning to the clueless girl,
「Oi! You! Butei should pay more attention!」
As I scolded her…*Twist!*
Seeming not to have understood my admonition, the girl with the bob cut turned, her fluffy hair flaring slightly.–and the girl–
「…Tohyama-kun!」
Her soft, double-lidded eyes spread wide… her face lit up.
The girl wore a well-fitted Butei High sailor suit–
「…M…Moe, Mochizuki…!」
In shock at the hard reality suddenly thrust before me, I spoke the girl’s full name.
「I’m so happy! You remembered!」
For some reason, I got the feeling that Reki was ignoring her…
Did you ambush me here? Is that what happened? That makes me the careless one.
Just then–*Screech!*…
Toyota Century ran up the street to the side entrance of MASTERS.
Splashing Moe with a bit of water from a puddle, from the car,
「–Apologies, Miss.」
The one who said that was a familiar skinhead man as he stepped out of the car. Wearing a purple round neck T-shirt and a thick 18 karat necklace, a black haori, and a tattoo at the base of his neck… A visible tattoo. He’s a yakuza.
This guy…!
He was one of the executives of the defunct Kagataka Family. The former pro-wrestler was not at the family mansion when the others executed their coup d’etat. Considering his fighting strength and his absence at that time, I thought that he must have been truly loyal to the former family head, Kikuyo Kagataka–
From the backseat of the Century,
「Thank-you for your effort, Tohyama…」
And… Kikuyo Kagataka… stepped out. She was once more clothed in a Butei High sailor suit.
Wha!? Kikuyo…!
「Shouldn’t you have a different reaction for me than Moe?」
She said while winding a Bulgari scarf around her neck, and leaned slightly to the side.
The other person standing directly in front of me and looking me in the eye, took my right hand in both of his and gave it a firm shake–
「Thank-you for taking care of that business in Hong Kong. Tohyama Nii-chan… what you did for Miss… what you did…」
『We were very fortunate to be able to count on you』, was what the yakuza seemed to say as he bowed his smooth head deeply.
Shaking off his hands, I turned, reluctantly, toward Kikuyo…
「… Special topics course.」
Again, I heard something I didn’t want to. I prayed it was not a part of INQUESTA.
Kikuyo addressed me, but then averted her gaze, looking very happy.
「– It’s a dual enrollment in LEZZAD and DAGULA. I’ll be around for a while. Call me if you have a job.」
Kikuyo… is becoming Tsuzuri’s student?
Wah! That’s just too scary!
It’s improbable that such a good girl as Moe and such a bad girl, who was a former yakuza family head, as Kikuyo would both be in Butei High. But Butei High is full of oddballs, and these are just some new oddballs. It’s probably because of me.
When I turned toward Kikuyo, Moe puffed out her soft cheeks–
「Tohyama-kun! I joined AMBULANCE! And the brass band club!」
She excitedly told me about how she had been reborn as a Butei.
「Well, Kikuyo originally attended a Butei High affiliated middle school.. But why in the world would such an ordinary person like you, Moe, come to such a trashy school…?」
Concerned about Moe’s position, I made a detesting face–
「That’s right! Even I said that such an immature woman has no place here.」
Turning a purely malicious glare toward Moe, Kikuyo put on the airs of a fellow Butei.
「B-but! If I left Kikuyo-chan alone with Tohyama-kun she might do indecent things, I wanted to stay with Tohyama-kun too, and Mama and Papa supported me, saying『Go after what you want, Moe.』, and Saki was happy too…」
After taking some time to list her personal justifications with upturned eyes,
「Then there’s Kikuyo-chan, who followed you here like a stalker! Like she likes you, or something!」
「I-idiot! It’s not like that! I came so that I wouldn’t lose to a respectable member of society like you!」
They were fighting about something.
Rather, Moe… Did you just call a former yakuza family head ‘chan’…?
Then, skillfully diverting the issue away from her own situation, she said something else that drew Kikuyo in. I get the feeling that this is well-suited to being a Butei.
「Hump! I even have Tohyama’s second button!」
With a voice one tone lower than that she used to speak to me, Moe took a provocative attitude toward Kikuyo…
「Hmm…」
*Rip!*
Without warning, Kikuyo plucked the second button off of my uniform.
「Oh look! I have one too!」
「Cheater! Kikuyo-chan, you’re a cheater!」
「In LEZZAD, that’s a compliment. Moe, it’s not too late for you to run back to your nest. Even Tohyama said so. Just so you know, whenever I set my eyes on my prey, I always get it. 」
「Heh! So do I.」
「… I thought we felt the same way.」
「It appears so.」
Sullenly glaring at each other, there was this strange feeling of mutuality that felt like something out a short comedy act.
What is this? Seriously, what is this…!?
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Immediately after returning to the country, I had spot of girl trouble that depressed me, and this was also followed up by a message from Watson.
It was an invitation to a rehabilitation session.
The message had a bomb and fork emoji.
The『bomb fork』is a threat that if I refuse, she’ll make me eat a hand grenade. I have to go.
It looks like the idiot has officially reserved ASSAULT training room Sigma. Training room Sigma is a mock-up of a cute female pop idols room.
Ever since we were caught in the Fine Arts room by Kaname and Shiranui, I don’t know how she has the nerve to reserve such an obviously feminine room. Even now, Watson is still pretending to be male.
Rather, what kind of training are 2 guys going to have in a training room mock-up of a girls room? What’s more you’re wearing a sailor suit.
Needless to say, it will look like we’re 2 perverts, going into a room that looks like something Kyary Pamyu Pamyu3 would use…
Taking the role of a cute girl with a bob cut (even though she is actually a girl) , Watson was sipping tea and perusing a guide to Asakusa romantic sights to pass the time.
「Tooyama. I’m sorry, but my room is… messy.」
Using her usual ‘boku’ pronoun, Watson still has been active very feminine lately.
From her expression, I got the feeling that I was being taken advantage of, as she blinked rapidly.
「You’re room isn’t messy is it? That’s not the reason you reserved this room.」
「You don’t know anything about rehabilitation, Tooyama. I don’t think that that is something you should say to a girl.」
Responding with some sharpness, Watson made a fist and spoke these few frightening words. Watson hold an amateur boxing certification.
「Well… I think you’ve had enough rehabilitation. I’m tired.」
「That’s alright. I’ll just have to have you meet me earlier then.」
She smiled broadly with her cute face…
Why are you so cute? Weren’t you raised as a boy?
Embarrassed I avoided sitting next to Watson on the sofa by taking a seat in the chair by the writing desk–
「Say…Watson, can I ask you something? Something about England?」
I asked something casually that I had been wondering since before we got back to Japan.
「About England? Sure, are you trying to expand your horizons?」
「It’s not something that grand. Just some gossip. What I mean to say… back on I.U., Sherlock had sword he call a Scramasax. He called it the『Treasure of the British Empire』… do you know what it was called?」
「I do. You took the blade from Sherlock, didn’t you? It’s called『Excaliburn』. In Japan it would be called『Excalibur』, it’s a sword that a national treasure.」
「…」
「Currently, I am working with MI6– Secret Intelligence Services, to determine Sherlocks location.」
「……」
「However, as for myself… I don’t care for the Intelligence Services. Particularly the 00 series, whose intelligence gathering methods are quite violent and will kill their enemies quite readily unless they are British.」
「……….」
「However, ever since the collapse of I.U, I have been ignoring their question concerning Excalibur’s whereabouts. They’ve been relentless about it. So you should be careful that they don’t find out that you’ve been using it. So don’t let it get broken or destroyed. It that were to get out, James Bond would come and kill you.」
…Crap…!
It’s been turned into a Christmas tree!
I just left the Scream that used to be Excalibur on the roof of Rampan Castle.
Or it got blown of and fell into the ocean.
It would be really bad for this to get out. The 00 series are the strongest agents in the world.
It’s rumoured that they’re even too much for Japan’s Public Division 0’s Armed Prosecutors to handle. Even Hysteria Mode might not be enough.
I have to make sure that doesn’t happen.
I’ll play dumb my entire life. You have to feign ignorance your whole life, Kinji.
「Why is your face grey, Tooyama?」
「It’s getting grey.」
「Huh?」
「I-I… should get going soon. It’s getting late. I shouldn’t be in a girl’s room so late.」
Trying to escape before words failed me, I burst out with this made-up excuse as I stood to my feet–
「Tooyama, before you go, there’s one thing I want to say.」
「If it’s about the Scramasax, I don’t know anything!」
「It’s not about that! It’s about Katze.」
With that name, Katze stopped me from leaving.
Katze Grasse.
She challenged us in Hong Kong, GRENEDA’s Witch– Katze Grasse, a remnant of Nazi Germany.
「I hear from Aria…Katze lost easily to Rampan quickly. However, I don’t think it was that simple. From the timing and scale of her attack, I can show that her plans were simply premature.」
「… What is it you’re trying to say?」
「It’s something I don’t want to say. Someone might have leaked our plans.」
Aria– she said something like that as well. Back on the Shima Hari.
So Holmes and Watson share the same suspicion, huh?
「Katze’s Regiment Hex, like the Vatican and Tamamo, are well versed in battle. They are also not fussy when it comes to doing whatever it takes to win. They may be attacking our weak point.」
「… I don’t like doubting my friends.」
「This isn’t about what you do or do not like. You’ve had a lot of victories. But those victories have made you conceited. Your enemies have taken advantage of the most simple, but effective means of employing a『spy』.」
The one who was also known as the Western Ninja, the highly decorated Liberty Mason operative awarded for their experience, Watson– gave me a sharp look.
「FEW is an armed conflict. In this conflict, we are at a dangerous point where the balance of power has been destroyed. Assassination, betrayal, spying, these are things we must be prepared for.」
「The one who employs such petty tactics will eventually lose in the end. That’s how the world works.」
As I made it clear that I would not doubt my friends, Watson looked at me, clearly annoyed.
Then, with a *Creak!*… she stood up from the sofa.
「Fine. So you’ll understand, I’ll explain it to you in terms of game.」
Then she walked over towards me and stood by the feminine writing desk.
There was a cinnamon scent, and as she stood next to me…Watson drew out a piece of stationary and made something that looked like game cards.
「These cards stands for fighting strength.」
Using scissors and felt tip pen, she drew Aria, Shirayuki and Riko… Katze and Patra’s faces on them and wrote a number on them, to represent their strength. They were quite a simply done caricatures, but I could easily tell who was who.
Watson, you have the knack for art.
She then took the deck and distributed all the members of DEEN and GRENEDA to their respective locations and strongholds…
「It’s quite advantageous for DEEN.」
「But what would happen if any of these cards changed sides? Riko, is a simple example.」
Taking Riko’s card, she placed in on GRENEDA’s side. That’d be bad!
However… by moving the cards, Watson illustrated the danger. If Riko double-crossed us, then the considerably powerful Hilda would go over as well. Aria and I would then have two very dangerous enemies on our hands. Then if Katze and Patra advanced again to flank us… No good!
「Aria and you are weak to magic.」
Our number of allies had dwindled. But she was not finished–
「And Riko knows Jeanne’s techniques from her time at I.U. too. How unfortunate.」
That number dropped further. And so with merely one betrayal, Tokyo was put to a full rout.
「A traitor will definitely start by destroying one of their enemies. It will be a surprise attack..」
Taking Riko’s card, she turned Shirayuki’s card over, perhaps signifying death or merely inability to fight.
「And so Tokyo is practically annihilated. In that case, the Koko sisters and Kou will have to come.」
And that means that Hong Kong’s fighting strength… will be practically nonexistent.
「What would you do if Habi, LOO, or some other enemy attacked? There is the possibility that there is someone unknown with a greater amount of power. Regiment Hex isn’t just one person. They are all『Battle Witches』.Witches specialising in fighting. There are an unspecified number of potential players in FEW, and there are other war witches besides Katze that we may come in contact with. What if the number of enemy cards increase?」
「…」
「I’m only using the worst case to point out your conceit, and that whether it happens next month or next week, this is the reality.」
Having a falling out, betrayal… how many times have those happened in the past?
With Riko, twice. Shirayuki, Aria, and Riko against Kaname. Even Aria and I had a real disagreement on I.U. Even Watson, originally, was an enemy. That’s to say nothing of Hilda and Rampan.
I thought that we were all unified… but that kind of thinking may have been too shallow.
As I remained silent, Watson’s fully feminine scent was fully noticeable–
「If someone does something strange, you have to be suspicious」
She whispered into my ear.
I couldn’t even nod my head– but in my heart, I agreed.
Someone does something strange…huh? But on the face of it, everyone is an eccentric. Especially Aria who will shoot for the offence of asking about Momoman「Aren’t they just Anmon4 in a different shape?」She is the number one danger in my daily life.
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–A traitor–
The thought nauseated me as the second semester wound to an end…
Headed out to my parents’ home in Sugamo for the New Year’s, my spirits lifted a little.
Everyone in Baskerville was busy, so I arrived at the JR Line Sugam station accompanied by the only one who was free, Reki, or Mint-chan Yada.
The reason I took Reki with me– it was because it was going to be cold during the New Year Holiday break. I guessed that she was going to spend the time in her empty concrete room, and my grandfather and grandmother had taken a liking to her. I told her「Come,」and she said「Ok」, agreeing readily.
As we walked through a residential area, we saw people had already put up holiday decorations, and looking toward the children chasing after a soccer ball in the alleyway…
「…?」
There was an impossible car parked in a spot with metered parking!
It had a futuristic, streamlined shape like a supercar.
Putting a 100 yen coin into the meter, wearing a biker jacket…
G-G-3…!
Running into my younger brother making his end of the year visit to our parents home and sporting a Demon Kogure5 hairstyle, I was struck dumb.
「Ooooniiiii-chaaaaan!」
With a *Thump!* and a *Squeeze!*, I was clung to from behind.
Pressed up against my back, I could feel firm and elastic breasts–
「Ka-! Kaname…?」
「It was soooo easy to sneak up behind you! That’s noooo good, you know!」
Kaname then turned a beaming face up toward me.
It appears the Tohyama house will be crowded for the holidays.
「Yo, Aniki! The other day…」
Noticing me, G-3 tramped over after finishing putting coins into the meter… he came over and slapped a hand on my shoulder. Then with a grin, he said,
「You beat Son to death for me, didn’t ya? Thanks!」
He gave this dangerous thanks. I’d just arrived in Sugamo, so I hadn’t told him…
「I didn’t… she’s actually harmless. I beat her laser, and she’s not your enemy anymore.」
I said slightly tired, and G-3 grinned broadly. He smiled, looking glad from the bottom of his heart. I wonder why my little brother seemed so happy.
I’m guessing that『something』was the fact that a Tohyama『defeated the real Son Goku』.
「Actually, Kinzou, is that your car?」
「It’s a Koenigsegg Agera. It’s going to be revealed as the Geneva Motor Show in March next year. I bought the prototype.」
「That car is… a 100 million yen? What if you hit a light post?」
「If that happens, then I’ll just buy another.」
Wha! You’re treating a luxury car like a bicycle.
Why did God give me a brother with such a disparity of wealth between us?
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In the Tohyama household, it’s customary to make preparations for New Year’s a little early, then do nothing and just pass the time on New Year’s Eve. It was a precaution started by the Tohyama Family founder Kenshirou Tohyama because incidents are apt to occur around the New Year’s.
Already having settled into my parent’s home, G-3 and Kaname were already making preparations under my grandfather’s direction.
Kaname made a whole bunch of trips back and forth on her bicycle to buy all kinds of high quality foodstuffs. She was able to tell good fish from the bad, and her high-level skills shone through.
In cleaning the toilets, bath, and other areas where water was involved, Kinzou proved surprisingly apt. He’s a tough guy who can just keep going if only he eats an infinite supply of tomatoes.
The freeloader Reki proved skilled at sweeping and vacuuming the tatami mats.
Even Haimaki weeded the garden. Using his mouth. He’s just a generally useful character.
…. And I took the easy jobs like feeding goldfish and beating out the futons, using my energy-saving technique to contribute to the spring cleaning. This year wasn’t so bad!
But it was almost as if divine punishment struck later that night–
My grandmother made steamed rice for mochi to eat during the New Year’s holiday… and G-3 pounded them with a mallet.
That muscular monster put then into a mould and hit them, utilising the multi-century time-honoured method of a mortar. That was his job.
And the only job left was that of the mortar tender kneading the mochi, which I did. These roles were written in the mouldy scroll containing the Tohyama Family Code, and I got stuck with that job.6
News of my Beretta scholarship had leaked to my family via Kaname, who heard it from Tamamo, and they outrageously forced me to buy a mortar. I don’t even know if I can resell it. To think so would be optimistic.
I bought it, of course, and it was expensive! There was no way I even dreamed that I would be using my Beretta scholarship to buy a mortar. Dammit!
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After spring cleaning was over,
「Paradise, sweet paradise…」
Breathing that out like an old man, I was soaking away my fatigue in the wooden tub that was pride of the Tohyama Family when–
…*Sl-lide!*…
I heard the sound of the bathhouse door opening.
That was one syllable too much.
There was someone on the other side of the frosted glass taking off a Butei High sailor suit uniform.
What’s happening… Is this some kind of girl intruder event?
It seems that my usual bad luck with girls is constantly in effect. However, due to that fact, I didn’t panic.
The main principle behind the 5th Butei Article is taking initiative to win. I accordance with that, I immediately tried to escape!
Then, I tried to open the window at the back of the bathhouse… H-huh? It won’t open!
On the outside of the window, an X-shaped, cloth-like object was stuck, blocking it.
Th-this is… P-Fiber, one of Kaname’s scientific blades…!
Oh no! Loss of initiative has led to defeat…!
*Slide!*
「Oniiichaaaan!」
She’s here! She came in! Kaname was smiling!
Despite that I am used to this sort of behaviour to some degree from Shirayuki and Reki, the fact that this person is my sister– there is a certain level of urgency that is not comparable.
What’s more, Kaname grew up in America.
Without hiding her chest with her arms, she completely exposed everything.
「–Wh-why did you come here!」
Her feet tap-tapping on the slatted wooden floor… it goes without saying, she was stark naked.
Despite the fact that she was young, she was in that crucial stage where a child’s body is becoming a woman’s.
Also, even though she was still developing, the roundness of her breasts and buttocks were clearly very feminine.
Her cherubic innocence was refreshing and pure, but she still distinctly possessed a woman’s body. What further corrupted that image was the fact she was my younger sister… That certainly had a huge influence on the morality of the situation…!
If the important bits hadn’t been covered by the steam, suicide by handgun in Hysteria Mode was definitely an option. But even if I had shot myself in the head, I wouldn’t have died. That was already demonstrated yesterday when Katze shot me.
「Say, is there a girl’s scent on your body?」
「H-huh?」
「So I’ll wash it off and replace it with my own scent.」
Ignoring all the objections I wanted to make to Kaname’s first and last statements–*Plop!*
Immediately acting to hide the important bits, I just barely made it in time… and I knelt on one knee in the bath to submerge my lower body.
「Besides, shouldn’t family members get along well together in the bath? Hmm?」
Kaname had already walked up right in front of me with the expert gait of a Kendo master. My sister was at the front gate, and a scientific blade at the back.7
Although my younger sister is really an beautiful girl, why does she have to have such an vexing thought process…!?
「That may be, but an older brother in high school and a younger sister in middle school shouldn’t be there together. It’s basic common sense!」
「This is beyond common sense. So, Onii-chan, will you hold me?」
Kaname entered the bath with both arms spread wide.
No!!! I won’t hug you!!! Hide your breasts!!!, is what I wanted to say, but there’s no way that a normal person can with against a Genion in a battle of persuasion… so before she would hug me,
「Waa!」
She cried as I clapped my hands in front of her face.8
With no room on her left or right, her one leg caught on the edge of the tub and as her feet slipped– in my slightly hysterised state, I was able to suss out the escape route,
–Hidden Forest!
I used the Tohyama Family secret technique to slither beneath the enemy and upset their footing and get behind Kaname.
『Twisting my body to creep over the edge of the bathtub and pass under my younger sister’s thigh』is how I would describe what I did.
Then I snatched up my clothes, and like a shinkansen– exiting the bath, I blitz through to the changing room, to the corridor, and reached my room.
For Kaname, in that instant she blinked, some sort of unknown technique would have occurred… and it would seem as if I had suddenly disappeared from before her eyes.
Kaname. At its root, the Tohyama Family techniques are not something that someone can take you by the hand and teach. They are something that you must learn by imitation. If you let this opportunity slip by–
Then you still have a long way to go and not aware enough to be a member of the Tohyama Family.
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And so, in accordance with the usual nonsense, I awoke on New Year’s Eve to the very unpleasant『Sister Alarm』of a bullet striking a frying pan in close proximity to my ear. Today’s a holiday.
Seeing as I hadn’t had to engage in close combat for quite a while, I planned to pass the day peacefully…
Reki and Grandma were sitting at a kotatsu drinking tea, Kinzou was in the greenhouse with Grandpa digging up tubers, and Kaname was giving Haimaki a ride on her P-Fiber and making him fly.
This was how the Tohyama family was going to end the year…
We’d watch the 60th NHK New Year’s singing contest9 while eating New Year’s soba.10
「This year’s New Year’s is lively.」
「Isn’t it, now?」
My grandparents remarked leisurely.
Even so… everyone gathered to eat together is quite a sight to behold.
A former presidential bodyguard, human weapon, and S-ranked sniper, all sat around a low table, eating soba and watching the singing contest–all on the living room tatami in this little bungalow in Sugamo.
I wonder what Nii-chan is doing…
I thought that as I blew on my soba to cool it.
「Oooh…!」
Looking at the television, G-3 was impressed by Yukiko Kobayashi giant robot-like costume.
He is capable of being stirred by the aesthetics of things, and he bears the singular trait that both the arts and Fine Arts can trigger his Hysteria Mode. Right now, I get the feeling that he is hysterising. Yukiko Kobayashi has you really worked up, Kinzou.
「Yum! Onii-chan, if you’re not going to eat your shrimp, then I will!」
「Hey now!」
Mercilessly stealing the shrimp tempura that I was saving for later, Kaname took my favourite homemade dish that my grandmother made. Reki ate in her usual endless manner, devouring bowl after bowl of soba.
After that the ‘Out with the old, in with the new’ program11 started… With too much free time on her hands, Kaname glommed on to me, causing all kinds of problems. Reki, meanwhile, glared at her somewhat sharply for some reason.
G-3, meanwhile was taking huge mouthfuls out of a tomato–
「Kaname, if you could you’d do the same things with your Onii-chan that his girlfriend would. Haha! 」
G-3 said, mixing in a lecherous grin.
Oh, now there’s a dangerous topic now, isn’t it… No sooner had I thought that, than Kaname was staring into my eyes a second later.
「Hm? Girlfriend? A little sister is all you need, isn’t that right?」
My spine froze at her all too serious reply.
「But Moe-san and Kikuyo-san have recently come back into Kinji-san’s life.」
Reki, you…!
Although you haven’t said much the entire time we’ve been here, why are you tattling on me now!?
「I knew it! Moe Mochizuki and Kikuyo Kagataka? I thought I smelled something the first day you got here. What do you have to say, Onii-chan?」
*Whoomph!*
Still smiling, Kaname elbowed me in the ribs, fracturing them.
What’s more, from the way she called out their full names, I get the feeling that she’s carried out a secret investigation on both of them.
「Tch! They’ve probably come to try and steal Onii-chan from me…」
「I’m sure I don’t know what you are talking about…」
Somewhat frightened by my little sister, I used a more respectful tone, and it was with such an unintentionally unfortunate feeling that the time came.
Farewell. To the good and the bad… rather the bad and the bad, of the previous year.
*******************************************************
We heard the 108 bell tolls at Kougan-ji Temple.12
At the beginning of the day, it’s our tradition to go around say『Happy New Year』to everyone at midnight before going to bed. However, it appeared that my grandfather intended to hold a one-man meeting of the gravure appreciation society now that my grandmother was headed to go to bed, so he left for a separate storage room, carrying the erotic book.
I changed into my pyjamas, and as I ran around trying to escape from Kaname who wanted to sleep together…
It was just after New Year’s, and I came across G-3 in the living room wearing BDU’s– he also wore a biker jacket and was putting on matte black body armour.
「…Kinzou, It’s the dead of night. Where are you going?」
「I was contacted by the CIA. I’ve got to go– I’m headed to Area 51—part of Edwards Air Force Base.」
「Where is that?」
「Southern Nevada state」
「Where is Nevada?」
G-3 answered me angrily.
「It’s one of the military bases in the 50 states! Don’t you know that! I learned about it in kindergarten!」
He roared, but kindergartens that teach such things don’t exist in this country. Probably.
「Unlike my Aniki, I’m a popular person who’s done all kinds of work here and there. This is something that might impact your near future. So I’m going to check it out first.」
「.. I don’t really understand, and I don’t know what the US military might do. Be careful.」
「You too, Aniki! You’re fighting against Nazi survivors, right?」
「Yeah. They’re called Regiment Hex. I have enemies all over too. After the surprise attack in Hong Kong, the enemy disappeared into hiding. But you don’t have to lend a hand this time, alright? This time, they’re my enemy.」
— I had difficulty lying to him, but…
Whenever G-3 and I tag-team, there’s always the risk that he’ll try to show something off to me, and make a mistake. Back with Son, he came this close to dying, and it’s an ironclad Butei rule that when a big mistake happens, the pair shouldn’t be so quick to work together shortly afterwards.
「.. Groups with Nazi heritage exists in Europe, naturally, but also in South America, the Middle East, Africa, and all over the world. However, their overall coordination is not great. The NSDP disbanded a long time ago, and Hitler is gone. So each group has a tendency to remain scattered.」
Likely bearing the same rule in mind, G-3 only briefly conveyed the intelligence.
Then while rubbing the back of his head in a gesture similar to my own…
「However, whichever Nazi survivor you fight, they may seem small and insignificant, but if you underestimate them–you’ll find your feet swept out from under you and the tables turned. It’s the same with Al-Qaeda. Falling into traps, even the US Special Forces survival rate is only about 50%.You’ll be careful, right?」
Urging me to vigilance, he clapped me on the shoulder with his artificial left arm.
*******************************************************
When I got up on New Years Day, G-3 was already gone…
Kaname was wearing a set of fine clothes apparently brought by the underlings that came to meet with G-3, and Grandmother had done up her hair. It was a kimono with a spring pattern of white and peach-coloured camellia flowers and cherry blossoms, giving an overall childish impression. In a nightingale in the snow pattern–which she had apparently prepared beforehand, Reki was wearing a smart outfit.
We had made plans for our first shrine visit at the end of the year… however, my grandfather had stayed up all night in the storage room and caught a cold, so my grandmother postponed her visit to got with him.
And so, I found myself taking Kaname and Reki. I was wearing a new uniform for the first time.
Hikawa Shrine is patronised by Butei, so we headed to Ueno on the Yamanote Line… at the station, Reki said that she had something to do and disappeared for a bit.
This was where I met Aria on the day of the Summer Festival near the giant panda, and Kaname and I waited a while for Reki.
On New Year’s Day, the morning air was bracing–and in her flashy new kimono, my younger sister no doubt stood out as very pretty. Giving off the aura of a beautiful girl to be admired, her attractive looks gave no hint of a single thorn. Her chestnut hair and deep-sea coloured eyes suited her kimono quite well. Kaname twirled beside me. Feeling my eyes resting on her, she turned to face me.
「Japanese winters are cold, aren’t they, Onii-chan?」
Then she clung to my arm with a smile.
I felt a *Squish!* on my arm, and the sensation of Kaname’s water pillow-like sensation on Kaname’s breasts–
It is a Hysteria Mode hazard unique to Kimonos that you do not have to wear underwear with them.
Crap!
「H-hey! Let go! It’s weird for brothers and sisters to interlock arms.」
The passersby were mistaking our relationship as brother and sister for that of a couple and grinning…and so, embarrassed, I shook Kaname off. Unperturbed, however Kaname kept smiling.
「Onii-cha~n, that’s illogical. Big brothers and little sisters are the smallest social unit. They share the same blood, and are a man and woman, so them being together is the most natural thing. After all, historically–」
–She babbled on such amazing nonsense.
Finally, with one finger extended, she arrived at the well-reasoned conclusion that『Older brothers and younger sisters should love each other』
After listening for some minutes… it seemed, to make some sense, it feels somewhat logical?
Should I go and put Kaname in my family register right now?13
Just then I noticed–I know what this is. It’s mentalism.
In short, brain-washing, mind control. This girl has the nerve to use it on her own brother. I can’t give this Genion any openings.
Shocked back to reality–
「Happy New Year, Kinji.」
「I wish you a Happy New Year, Kin-chan. Please have a good year.」
「Yahoo, Ki-kun! Happy Ne~w Year!」
「…」
Before I realised it, Aria, Shirayuki, Riko, and Reki has showed up.
Like Reki, they were each dressed in their best kimonos.
I seems Reki made plans in advance to meet up for the first shrine visit of the year.
「Shirayuki had to come from the Hotogi shrine a jet helicopter. Makieda-san was difficult.」
Shaking her head from side to side in exasperation, Aria’s kimono was red, white, and pink cherry patterned in a modern style.
The kimono was unexpectedly flattering to her Western figure, but this was a fact that was proven with Aria (who was 3/4 Japanese) at the summer festival. But at a glance, it looks like she is on her way to one of the 7-5-3 shrine visits.14
「So, Kin-chan, I’d be glad… to visit the shrine with you.」
Turning red as she stood beside me, Shirayuki’s kimono was patterned with snow crystals, cranes, the seven Buddhist treasures, small mallets, and cloves in a classical style. They were arranged in a lucky pattern.
As expected of a Classical Japanese beauty. In that kimono, she was extremely sexy… and I started turning red.
Between Aria and Shirayuki, they both present a problem.
Befitting the first visit of the year to a shrine, they were immaculately dressed.
「Hey! Look, look, Ki-kun! It’s the year of the tiger, so look! Tiger!」
But then there was Riko. That girl was just hopeless. She was wearing some kind of Lolita kimono.
Slapping her obi, there was some kind of tiger character embroidered on it. The bottom of her kimono ended at miniskirt length and was frilled. Moreover, she had side hoops the swelled the skirt, striped tights, and was wearing thick soled shoes.
However… as someone who is wearing a bulletproof uniform, I have no room to say anything about proper clothing. So I’ll let it pass. It suits her, anyway.
***************************************************************
Although Hikawa shrine was relatively out of the way, it was in a good location.
While lining up in front of the shrine for 5 minutes…
「You bow twice, clap twice, then bow once. What is more important than the etiquette, though is your heart.」
While being instructed by the teacher Shirayuki, the six people of Baskerville + Kaname followed along and began to pay their respects.
The girls rang the large bell and tosses coins into the large offertory box… with their eyes closed, they all made earnest requests. I don’t know what they were asking for, but it was cute to watch.
Well, should I make a request?
As a Butei, luck is important… Alright then. I’ll splurge on an offering.
I boldly took out a 500 Yen coin from my wallet.
But… the offertory box is a bit far. In the lineup, I had been pushed to the far right end due to the egoism of the Baskerville girls.
500 Yen is a lot to lose and, it cannot be recovered if it misses the box. At this angle, I feel like it would bounce off the slats. How inconvenient.
Thinking that, looking in front me to the right side of the main offertory box… there were loops of red and white cord and two smaller offering boxes. Then I’ll just put it in there.
Alright, I’ll just put it in.
Ring the bell at the end, put the offering in, and clap hands–
…Uh, please help with my girl problems. And if you are related to Tamamo the kitsune who is haunting me, please exorcise her.
I made my request from the bottom of my heart, as Shirayuki had said, then slightly off to the side of the shrine…
「So, I’ll take what you have for me now, Kinji」
「…?」
Aria held out both her empty hands. Shirayuki did so as well nervously, Riko gleefully, Reki unconsciously, and Kaname did so smilingly. They held out their hands out in a『I’ll take it now』pose.
「What do you mean?」
「It’s called a New Year’s gift, I think? In Japan, it’s customary to give a present for New Year’s, isn’t it?」
You girls…!
Now that I pay more attention to it, they must have conspired together, and in the sleeves of their fine kimonos I can see part of handguns and a sniper rifle peeking out.
They clearly demonstrated their intention to shoot first, and they pressed this arrogant scheme–
「Uh, well, about Kin-chan’s gift, I will also…. Ta…Tama…Tamamo-sama!?」
Shirayuki’s words were diverted mid-sentence.
Her eyes wide, everyone then turned around–dressed like a miko and raising the bamboo curtain, Tamamo exited the front of the shrine.
The fox girl’s tail was hidden under the red hakama, and she tried to hide her ears underneath ornate hairpiece jewellery..
「–I believed that it was thine voice I heard, milord Tohyama. Truly ‘it’s been too long since our last meeting.」
「Why are you here now…!? You, of all people…」
She showed up right after I just prayed for her exorcism. That’s not an answer to prayer at all!
「I heard from Reki that you all were making your first shrine visit. By the by, how is that part-time job? I do hope you have put aside enough for piety’s sake.」
And saying that…she took the small offertory box that I had just put my 500 Yen into…
With a clatter, she put her arms through the two read and white loops on the offertory box and hoisted it up like a backpack.
「Tamamo, I came to pay my respects at this shrine. I made a small contribution. Put it back!」
I rushed over to Tamamo, and caught her by the ankle as she attempted to turn the offertory box upside down–
「Ha!」
With a *Boing!*, Tamamo sprung up and hit me over the head with the box.
She scored a direct hit on the would left by Katze’s bullet, so it hurt quite a lot. It was also quite heavy.
It was quite a brazen thing she thought she could get away with, having the nerve to make a fortune by leeching off shrines.
Landing above my fallen body, her single toothed getas clacked.
「Everyone. I hath taken up residence in the portal to this shrine, therefore thou mayest consult me.」
She said.
***********************************************************
What do you mean by ‘taking up residence’, Tamamo? Do you think you’re some kind of VIP?
However, within her own shrine, Tamamo was quite influential, so we allowed her to borrow the shrine grounds.
Sitting at the head of the room and kneeling on a fancy cushion, we ranged ourselves in a circle facing Tamamo.
「–So, I gather that the subjugation of Rampan in Hong Kong was quite the ordeal.」
Who the hell do you think you are?
「From what I know, right now FEW…in Europe is proceeding quite well for GRENEDA. Patra and the witches led by Katze hath resorted to the contemptible measure of hiring two mercenaries to destroy the power balance. They hail from Asia, but from Rampan we learned that they are Japanese. Their true identity is still unclear.」
「The mercenaries–『Bewitching Blade』and『Demon Sword』?」
I had heard their names from Kaname’s phone call, and Tamamo nodded.
「They dost appear to be a man and woman who doth move according to their own fancies. Their fighting power is considerably high. They rarely show themselves in battle, but we hath been operating on the assumption that there are 2 of them… and they hath been able to keep the Vatican and Liberty Mason’s operations in check. That situation is what Patra and Katze hath taken advantage of.」
「What kind of people are they? I would like a bit more news.」
Aria asked, making a face like she had a bad feeling about this.
「Bewitching Blade is an ordinary soldier and Demon Blade is an ESP user. Bewitching Blade wields a katana and gun, and by all reports, is a man that is a skilled melee fighter similar to the Tohyama siblings. Demon Sword wields some unknown magical power and excels at long-range combat–she is a very dangerous witch.」
A normal fighter and ESP user. Short-range and long-range. It seems that they work together to cover for each other.
「That’s troublesome, isn’t it? I’ve never even seen or heard of these guys.」
Riko cocked her head out the side in puzzlement.
「Even so, their appearance is worrying. Their appearance is strange in the fact that DEEN was not aware of their existence. In short we doth not know where these 2 dark horses came from. These two should surely not be engaged lightly. Perhaps even Baskerville would be annihilated. We should aim to isolate them from the group and engage them separately as a group.」
Tamamo said… evaluating our respective fighting strength conservatively.
But could these two really annihilate Baskerville?
That’s a bit hard to imagine them doing.
「Now in regards to DEEN and GRENEDA’s struggle to capture bases, the situation doth proceed in much the same manner. In the southeast– there we have Germany and Egypt deploying their forces, while in the west-northwest DEEN’s forces in the Netherlands and UK are being driven off. In Italy, the Vatican hath been cut off and are suing for reinforcement.」
My grades in geography were poor, so I began to fidget, wondering where each country was located, but the general idea was that we were losing, and they were asking for help.
「But if we hurried and send a bunch of people– we will end up short of hands and Tokyo and Hong Kong will fall. That must be GRENEA’s aim. So we should send a few people and have a flashy battle. That way, we shall lure out GRENEDA’s champions.」
The tactic Tamamo mentioned… are similar to standard Butei tactics.
Rampage Decoy– or『Roughneck Decoy』as it is nicknamed.
Applied to this case, in essence, it calls for Baskerville in Tokyo and Rampan in Hong Kong to stay where they are and solidify their positions.
Then, to send a small number of reinforcements to the deadlocked Europe as『War Decoys』who will stand out.
Those decoys have the job of raising havoc on the frontlines, and while showing off their power, pretend to have actually come to their allies’ aid.
Firstly, DEEN’s troops in Europe will be grateful for the help. Moreover, GRENEDA will get the wrong impression that「We are running short of men」, and when they dispatch the remainder of their forces… the forces that have remained in Hong Kong and Tokyo will surround them and turn the tables.
「We must have a European attack party, and a Tokyo defense party, and our aim must be for their head: Katze, Patra, Bewitching Blade, and Demon Sword. It is also whispered that Bewitching Blade and Demon Sword love each other. If we could capture one party, it may make eliminating the other a simpler matter.」
Concluding that truly brutal strategy, Tamamo, on the whole… received general agreement.
Katze and Patra especially must be apprehended.
Right now, I have a lot of reasons to fight. First, there’s the tanker jacking where I was recently shot. Those 2 are also the criminals who falsified the charges against Kanae-san. Moreover– they hold pieces of Aria’s karagane. Of the remaining 3, they hold 2.
Speaking of karagane…
I haven’t given the one I have to Tamamo.
「I understand you strategy. But… there is one tiny thing I would like to add.」
I took out the karagane that Shokatsu had given me from my uniform pocket and gave it to Tamamo.
「Ah, so thou hast recovered one piece? Then Aria shall stay. I will replace it within her bosom.」
Saying that, Aria snapped alert and nodded earnestly–
「I want to say something to everyone… There’s no way Son was a Scarlet Goddess.」
Aria shook her head.
「To be precise she was『a defective Scarlet Goddess』. Her hair and eyes remained black.」
I said, glancing at Aria’s strawberry blonde twin-tails.
「Even if the original colour is dark, the change in colour due to the introduction of Irokane should be noticeable. Sherlock said as much.」
Tamamo explained.
Hearing that… I turned toward Reki.
「What was the original colour of your hair? Was it blonde?」
「It was silver grey.」
That was unexpected.
I tried to picture a silver haired Reki… and yeah, it was a good colour for her. She’s match Haimaki even more.
If I had to give it a name, It’s call it Normal Reki/ Snow Reki.
And if Aria’s hair was originally blonde, does that mean I should I call her Cherry Blossom Aria/ Gold Aria?
**********************************************************
On New Year’s Day– while it was still Butei High winter vacation, I returned for some independent target practice in ASSAULT.
That evening, I checked the『Weapons For Sale Bulletin Board』in front of the ASSAULT building.
With the loss of my Scramasax… I lost not only a longsword, but also a defensive item. I had always worn it on the back of my bulletproof uniform, and it had protected me from blows and attacks from the rear.
There were always those who were hurting for money around New Year’s, so I was hoping there’d be quite a few lucky finds…
As I stared at the boards– *Grab!*
I was grabbed by the scruff of my neck.
Craning my head around… ASSAULT’s PE teacher, Ranbyou frowned at me.
Standing next to her blinking and applauding was INQUESTA’s Yutori Takamagahara-sensei.
「Is this a reprimand, or praise?」
I asked the two female teachers,
「I wonder…?」
Takamagahara said with a smiling face.
「Come!」
Ranbyou barked, looking just about ready to blow her top.
What is with this new pattern of behaviour? For some reason, it’s making me nervous.
**********************************************************
As a light snow fell from the night sky, I was dragged by my neck– to the 5th floor office of the headmaster in the MASTERS building.
「Headmaster Midorimatsu. Pardon us, but it is Takamagahara. We’ve brought Kinji-kun.」
「Yes, yes, please come in.」
Hearing the male voice from inside, Takamagahara opened the door and stepped in.
「Yes, thank-you.」
Sitting behind the same mahogany desk where we had discussed the issue of me dropping out was Headmaster Midorimatsu… Or was it? I get the feeling that it was him, but something feels different. I can’t really remember that much about him–『The Real Invisible Man』Headmaster Midorimatsu
「First of all, let me congratulate you『Enable』. You have been given your second name. In the 5 years since this school’s official opening, the International Butei Federation has historically only recognised 14 of our students. You are the second in as many years to achieve that accomplishment. You have been assigned a non-standard Chinese kanji to go along with it. Please commit it to memory.」
Speaking briskly, he showed me the character『』written on a water soluble piece of paper.
Being assigned an official second name is an honour… but why the heck was it a non-standard kanji!?
Aria’s Quadra is made up of standard kanji, so why does the IADA have the taste of a middle schooler?
「Your track record of making what was until now impossible, possible– that essence is summed up nicely in this one character. Without being embarrassed by your second name, we expect you to do even greater things from now on. Moreover, Class A seems to be turning out quite a few second names, so I have approved a special bonus for Takamagahara-sensei. Afterwards, please take this seal down to accounting.」
Having said this, Takamagahara raised her hands in a bonzai! gesture. I guess that must have been why she looked so happy.
「Now then– from here on, there is less good news.」
Is this the reason for Ranbyou’s sullen behavior?
Glancing at the official papers that had been spread on the desk when we had entered the room… I saw that some of them were from America and China. One bulky folder bore the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.
「You are a particularly unusual student, aren’t you? The assessment of your abilities is undetermined. You have good points and bad points, and your good points are immensely good, but your bad points are immensely bad. Above all else– the worst is that you have attracted foreign eyes.」
Midorimatsu shuffled some papers on the desk.
「From Italy, it’s all positive, but from America and China… and especially England, it’s extremely negative. Just recently, you were added to the list of dangerous people, you know.」
Oh… they must have gotten a complaint from people that disagreed with me. I knew it would happen eventually.
While deep down I wanted to stand up to it defiantly, since I was in the headmaster’s office, I took on a contrite expression.
「That is all fine. I’ve dealt with 2 or 3 problem children in my time. Helping such interesting student’s grow is the real pleasure of being a teacher. However, your type make me want to give up teaching.」
Ouch!
My type. Are there that many like me?
「… As it is, formal complaints from foreign governments are hard to ignore. And, to be honest, it couldn’t come at a worse time. The Office of Butei is trying to strengthen its ties with the National Safety Commission we are like dogs and monkeys with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is a part of the Public Safety division. The enemy of my ally is the enemy, so in recent years the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declined to shield the Office of Butei.」
More or less… somehow… I understand what Midorimatsu is driving at.
He’s trying to explain Butei High fundamental policy of non-interference whenever a student gets in trouble too often It causes trouble for ASSAULT and INQUESTA as well… and it’s a bigger problem the stronger the Butei is.
Therefore there is some limit. Although I’ve kept a low profile at school, I’ve been dragged into all kinds of underworld dealings.
「… As it is, formal complaints from foreign governments are hard to ignore. And, to be honest, it couldn’t come at a worse time. The Office of Butei is trying to strengthen its ties with the National Safety Commission we are like dogs and monkeys with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is a part of the Public Safety division. The enemy of my ally is the enemy, so in recent years the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declined to shield the Office of Butei.」
「For those reasons, I am truly sorry– Kinji Tohyama-kun. Butei High must punish you.」
–Punishment. It’s become necessary due to external pressure.
「Am I being suspended?」
I asked about my punishment, but Midorimatsu shook his head from side to side.
「You are being removed from Team Baskerville. There has been a serious complaint lodged against you by England.」
…! –So that’s what it was!
I felt like I had been sniped from long range.
To quickly explain what was going in behind the scenes, Midorimatsu had added the word『England』– In order to bring their precious S-Ranked Butei back home, they took her away from me.
Ever since the April hijacking of flight ANA 600, the English Butei Office had tried to use politics to do so. The cowards.
The English Butei Office, the English Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Butei Office, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Tokyo Butei High… they had been talking, and it had taken them 9 months to land this long-range attack.
Just like G-3 and Son’s fight, they wanted me dead. On top of that, America had demonstrated their disapproval of G-3’s association with me, but I can’t do anything about that.
As for China– regardless of my relationship with Hong Kong Rampan, the area was administered from Shanghai.
Unsurprisingly, their complaints overlap… And as for Butei High, facing international pressure–especially from the sour England– had to issue some kind of『punishment』against me.
–So they are trying to separate Aria and I, huh…?
With this punishment they’d be able to claim to China and America『See, we have punished Kinji Tohyama.』It was fascinating, and thinking about it from the perspective of Butei High, quite a clever trick.
As I was thinking that, Midorimatsu continued… adding something surprising.
「However, Tohyama-kun, due to your anti-social tendencies, if you were alone in your studies you would become truly isolated. If that happened, you wouldn’t be able to grow, so how about we find you another Team?」
「… Another… Team?」
No way! I don’t want to be put with people I don’t know.
Seeing my eyebrows immediately furrow like the true unsociable person I am– Midorimatsu continued.
「I’ll explain this at length with you new Team Leader. It’s a Team of especially difficult problem children, and you’ll join them as an auditor. Ah, yes, here is the document. It explains everything.」
With a *Plop!* he passed an A4 envelope with the Butei High logo on it to me.
Then tidying up the other documents, he shuffled papers around and moved on to attend to other business.
「Uh.. Excuse me…」
Still holding the papers about my new Team in hand, I addressed Midorimatsu–
「– The headmaster said『It explains everything』, so everything is explained, Tohyama-kun. Now, let’s go.」
Takamagahara-sensei urged and immediately led me outside of the headmasters office.
Behind us, Ranbyou watching our backs us and keeping alert.
Behind– I’m already forgetting about him, but it seems that these two don’t want to disturb the temper of the most dangerous person in all Butei High–Headmaster Takeru Midorimatsu.
I’ve heard rumours in middle school that Takamagahara wandered Kosovo, Macedonia, and Afghanistan doing all kinds of jobs until her fateful meeting with the Precious Orchid– the Hong Kong yakuza’s Ranbyou who remained on guard. All this against the man who looked like an ordinary office worker you’d see on the train, Headmaster Midorimatsu.
It looks like… they don’t dare defy him. I should do the same.
Finally reaching the elevator with bulletproof doors, it appeared that the tension in the air evaporated, and Ranbyou said,
「If you’re getting money, then you need to treat me at the host club, Yutori!」
Grabbing Takamagahara-sensei’s large breasts, she tried to extort her– Meanwhile, turning my back on them, I cautiously opened the envelope,
I quickly ran my eyes over the document… trying to find the name of the troublesome Team where I was being placed…『Constellation』…?
I think I recall from somewhere that the Team Leader is Jeanne D’Arc. Jeanne, huh?
It was a small mercy that it was a Team I was acquainted with, but I wonder what they did?
Now that I think about it, I did get a call from her the other day.
On first impressions… I have a bad feeling about this year.
*********************************************************
Of course, I still fully intended to continue to take part in FEW as『a former member of Baskerville』.
However, I would take part in academic as『a member of Constellation』.
I wonder if this will hurt my ability to work with Aria and the rest…
But that’s not all there is to it.
Before Baskerville was formed, myself, Aria, Shirayuki, Riko, and Reki had each fought and moving past that, finally formed a cohesive Team.
Like rain helps to gather dirt, our bonds became stronger, and with each member’s high power except me, it really was a very good team.
Now when I’m removed from the roster, I wonder how much that will hurt Aria?
She was so fixated on the International Butei Federation listing, but my name will be scrubbed from even there.
It will be hard to tell them. Especially Aria.
If I don’t tell her though, it will be like pressing a switch to make her angry. She’ll say something like: I’ll open a wind hole in you for this new year!
I’m depressed… Since coming back to Japan, why have I only had problems?
*************************************************************
It was several hours after I had received the Headmasters notice of personnel change.
Jeanne and I had an emergency Team Constellation executive meeting.
For some reason, Jeanne chose the family restaurant『Roxy』, and as I entered the restaurant,
「Tohyama. Over here…」
In a truly apologetic manner, the dispirited Jeanne made a slight gesture to beckon me over.
She was wearing black stockings underneath her Butei High sailor suit uniform skirt.
So the Diamond Dust Witch was cold on this snowy day.
「What happened, Jeanne?」
I selected a drink from the drink bar, the moved to sit across the table from her…
「I lost my credits for Caravan II.」
Jeanne’s cheeks flushed as she averted her ice blue eyes.
She always looks me in the eyes when we talk, but this time she is embarrassed to look my way.
Seeing that I had walked into some kind of situation, I really felt bad for her.
Even so… she really is a beautiful girl. Just as always.
With a good face and a good figure, to all external appearances, she’s flawless. Like a film actress or a carved sculpture.
… Personally though, this beautiful girl is not right for me.
「As it is, we all have to repeat the class…」
「So you lost credit for the field trip. You just get to go again to get the credit, isn’t that like a bonus?」
「You were short on credits this term too and will have to repeat a classes, so don’t act so superior.」
Jeanne’s blue eyes stared daggers at me as she huffed.
Jeanne had made the switch from apologetic, to venting her anger.
And when a girl needs to vent her anger, she might use guns or swords.
I have plenty of experience of Aria in this situation, so with a sigh, I switched tacks. There’s not use in blaming Jeanne.
「Why did you lose credit for Caravan II?」
「I left something behind. In Japan.」
Jeanne bit her finger a bit as her eyes dropped to her coffee cup.
「What did you forget?.」
「Constellation Vice-Leader, Nakasorachi, and Members Shimaisago and Kyougoku.」
「Wai.. You forgot people? Hold on, I saw the roster in MASTERS… and it didn’t list everyone from Constellation, just you. W-what happened?」
「I’ll explain it with drawings, Tohyama.」
「No, that’s alright. Just tell me.」
「We were supposed to meet at Changi International Airport in Singapore. I arrived alone, and no matter how long I waited, then never showed up. Nakasorachi lost her luggage on the way to the airport, Shima missed the plane, and Kyougoku was absent for mental health reasons. Because of that, MASTERS gave me another test.」
Even with her explanation… I don’t understand. What the heck is this!?
According to the rules, the number of excusable absences is limited to one per Team.
With 3 absences, of course they’d be disqualified. But it’s unheard of for them to set a class trip as an additional exam.
「… Are you going to Singapore again?」
「No. The travel agency that’s partnered with Butei High can only get tickets to Singapore for December… However, there were extra tickets where the third-year’s trip, Caravan V, was going, so I was ordered to go along to Europe. Even though the curriculum is meant for third-years.」
「Europe, huh? That’s really dangerous for you. Especially as a member of DEEN.」
「– On the contrary, it’s the place where I can do the most good. The Vatican, Liberty Mason, and the other survivors of I.U. have been calling for help. I can turn this catastrophe to good purpose, Tohyama.」
Jeanne looked up, and there was a gleam in her eye.
She had embraced the order to take the higher level work of Caravan V.
「I already discussed this with Tamamo We will be pressing forward to the front lines in Europe, cutting our way into Pars. Don’t worry. France is my home country, so we’ll have the advantage of the land.」
For me… this has been one catastrophe turning into another catastrophe.
This is Tamamo’s strategy of Rampage Decoy– or『Roughneck Decoy』
And I’m the one stuck as the decoy. You’ve already decided that by yourself.
Well… I’ve already been abroad before, so you can’t say that I’m not use to it or don’t have the courage.
At any rate, it’s my duty to take charge of DEEN and I must get back Aria’s karagane. I can’t leave the job I should do to others.
So.. somewhat half-heartedly, I said:
「Alright, I’ll go with you.」
I said to Jeanne, who didn’t seem confident that she could perform the role of decoy by herself… and hearing my words, she answered
「Thank-you, Tohyama. I believe that we will meet Nazis in Paris, three generations in the Jeanne D’Arc family ago… My great-grandmother fought as a resistance fighter, so I think they are my fated enemies. You have my deepest thanks for your valour and willingness to go into battle.」
My grandfather was an ally of Germany back then, though.
But yesterday’s friends are today’s enemies.
Weren’t Shokatsu and I able to come to a clear resolution? Just to survive for that day?
*********************************************************
It was January 5th, but the feeling of the new year hadn’t passed.
The former Leader of Baskerville, now Auditor of Constellation– I took the through service from the Yokosuka Line to the Sobu Line and arrived at the 2nd passenger terminal of the Narita Airport.
As the Auditor, I arrived significantly earlier than the flight departure…
Our meeting place this time was a domestic location, in the international departure waiting area– the Narita International Airport Starbucks.
And upon arriving, I met with the dimwit Constellation’s heavyweight, Misaki Nakasorachi.
She had a huge suitcase sticking up from the seat opposite her and was earnestly reading a book titled『21 Habits for Highly Effective Conversation.』Her bangs are covering her glasses, so I have no idea how she can see.
With a coffee in one hand I walked up,
「Morning. So you’re wearing glasses today?」
As soon as I had said that, Nakasorachi jerked her head up and closed her book with *Clap!*, then looked as if she scares herself with the noise.
She was wearing a uniform skirt and, for some reason, she hid the book under her large buttocks. Then,
「Ah! G-g-g-m-m-m-ing, Mr. Auditor!」
That was probably supposed to be『Good morning, Mr. Auditor.』It looks like she didn’t take much away from that book.
Then her long black hair rustled as she gave a deep bow.
Then her glasses slipped off, and Nakasorachi panicked again.
This is Team Constellation’s Vice-Leader…
I had been anxious about this from the very beginning.
— Misaki Nakasorachi is a CONNECT operator. However, because of her crippling social anxiety, she is unable to face people. Despite that, she is able to use communications equipment and articulate like a professional announcer, so I have to call her a strange girl.
「Waaah waaah, a man, a guy, To-yma-kun! D# y$ n% h&e # %t???」
Standing at rigid attention, she looked at me, agitatedly mumbling something unintelligible.
「Huh?」
「N-n-n-n-othing! I-I-I w-w-w-was t-t-talking to m-m-m-myself, s-s-so p-p-p-please d-d-d-don’t mind m-m-me. S-s-s-s-sorry! Th-the b-b-b-bench is e-e-e-empty!」
Still fumbling for words, Nakasorachi removed her luggage from the seat across from her.
Then, *Chick!*
Her ridiculously large suitcase opened, and a whole bunch of clothes, books, headphones, and a gun! fell out.
H-h-how pathetic…!
「O-o-oi! These guns could be a problem!」
I said as I picked up a gun from beneath one of Nakasorachi’s nightshirts… H-hey! It’s heavy! What is this!?
…A C-Colt Anaconda…!
It’s a .44 magnum that looks like an oversized pistol meant to kill bears and water buffalo in a single shot. What’s more, this is the largest 8-inch barrel model!
It’s so heavy. So why are you carrying it, Nakasorachi.
「You… can shoot such an strange gun?」
Because we were in an airport, I wrapped it up in the shirt and handed it back to her.
「I-I-I’ve never shot it.」
Huh!?
「Then why do you have it…!?」
「W-w-well, I’m scared of guns… so I don’t know much about them, and when I tries to look them up, I got scared, so I ended up not knowing anything at all. But the school rules require me to carry one, and the man at the gun shop recommended th-this one. I bought it because it was 30% off and not expensive…」
Nakasorachi stammered as she clutched the bundle of her unfashionable underwear.
Ah! So it appears that they took advantage of her ignorance and weak will in order to clear out their inventory.
Now that I look more closely, it’s one of the early Anaconda models with one of those problematic barrels.15
But wait, you said you were afraid of guns. Did you never think that maybe you weren’t suited to being a Butei?
Even so… Nakasorachi has a full figure. As a girl, though, she probably doesn’t want to hear about her weight. She has the right build to shoot this large calibre gun, though.
There is a certain pipsqueak I know who uses two large guns though, so I shouldn’t be too critical…
I thought that, as I watched Nakasorachi unintentionally expose her plump thighs as she returned the avalanche of items back to her suitcase.
「Is that a pocket knife?」
「It’s a higonokmi16. I have it because we’re required to carry a knife.」
「That gun and blade combination don’t suit you… And what is this red string?」
「A hair tie, cat’s cradle is my hobby.」
… A high school student’s hobby is cat’s cradle…
Rather, with this conversation, no one nearby will look at us.
When I went to throw some rubbish in the bin, I felt eyes staring at my back, but when I turned around, they started and dropped their gaze. I guess we are pretty suspicious.
Nakasorachi had finished packing her luggage, but there was still time left until the meeting time…
「Let’s do something. How about cat’s cradle?」
Still having down time after finishing her coffee, Nakasorachi asked this question, pulling out a red string… Fitting action to the words, she carefully worked to make something.
「F-Five storey pagoda.」17
A five storey pagoda…! That’s amazing!
「You’re good at this.」
I said what I was thinking, and Nakasorachi blushed red…
…With a nervous laugh, she gave an awkward, crooked smile… I felt kind of guilty… but it was kind of cute. This girl is attractive.
As that happened–
「Tohyama, Nakasorachi, good morning.」
「Hello, Tooyama.」
Jeanne showed up with a bunch of suitcases that appeared to contain her armour, and standing next to her in a hand bra pose was… Watson?
Watson-kun-chan is here?
「Why are you here, Watson?」
「Well, that’s a fine way to say hello? I’m Kyougoku’s proxy…」
Watson grabbed my shoulder and tapped out a message to me with her finger.
What she said was『TAMAMO FEW』–So Tamamo sent her as reinforcements in FEW?
Tamamo… don’t you think that these aren’t enough people? One of them is me.
Watson is from England, so her in-depth knowledge of Europe should come in handy in this struggle. She’s well qualified.
「Proxy, you say? Kyougoku, huh…? From LEZZAD, right? What happened to her?」
I asked Constellation’s Leader, Jeanne.
「She has always taken correspondence courses, and when she tried to leave her house after half a year, she panicked, hyperventilated, and had to be hospitalised. This time we have a full number of people going.」
「…」
Now that we’re at the airport, I can’t drop out now…
I’m stuck having to go on the trip. Each of them bear part of the blame for having to repeat the course. So, none of the remaining members of Constellation were allowed to be in charge.
As the Auditor, I was the one responsible to make sure everyone was present prior to departure.
「Alright, let’s go. Be careful!」
As I gave that order, Jeanne snapped to her feet, Watson did the same beside her, and Nakasorachi fell down for some reason, her suitcase spilling open once more.
Even if it were only a shinai, I’d like to hit that undisciplined butt, but I don’t have one.
「Count off!」
I order to prevent disaster, I wanted to confirm the number of people.
「One.」
「Two.」
「Th-three!」
「Fo~ur!」
Huh?
I heard a voice that wasn’t Jeanne, Watson, or Nakasorachi. The extra speaker was a girl.
But I didn’t see anyone, so I titled my head in confusion…
Craning my neck, I saw a French girl’s face peek out from behind Watson.
「Toot~!」
Approximating a klaxon noise with her mouth, she appeared…
With light, fluffy mocha colour hair, the girl looked up at me with big, round eyes. I’d guess she’s about… 135 cm tall. Forget Aria, she was even shorter than Mamiya. On her back was a backpack that an elementary schooler might use. There was a huge bow about 20 cm large on her pink patent leather shoes.
Then… there were her clothes. It was a pile of pink and while frills. On her head was a huge bow bigger than her head,. More were attached to the cuffs of her sleeves and the hem of her skirt–which was covered by an apron–, and she also wore white knee-high socks covered with pink heart patterns.
And, connecting her apron straps was a sailor collar…
「Mr. Auditor-sama, this is the first time we’ve met. My name is Shimaisago-chan!
As I thought, she’s a Butei…and a member of Constellation too..!
I looked her over to make sure, but I could just make out the vestiges of a Butei High girl’s uniform from the clothes. Buried in the folds of her puffed, strawberry-like sleeves was the school insignia.
It must be some kind of reworked uniform, and it’s on the level of Riko’s. Almost nothing remains of the original pattern.
「Why do you look so shocked, Tohyama? She’s an A-Rank Butei from LOGI. Among the second-years, she’s widely seen as Gouki Mutou’s rival. The star of Constellation. 」
「You’re kidding me! Her legs are too short to reach the accelerator! Or is possible to be an A-Rank in LOGI with a tricycle? 」
I fell into an ASSAULT member’s manner of speech… but Shima… with tears already forming in her eyes… made a choked sob and looked ready to burst into tears. What a weakling.
Having made a girl cry, Jeanne huffed at me–
「It’s alright, don’t cry, don’t cry. I’m sorry. I… shouldn’t have said that. I apologise… Let’s get going. Nobody get lost! 」
As I did not want to become flaked potatoes, I humoured Shima until she stopped crying,
Then, everyone lined up, and we went through the departure gate…
The information screen said that flight JAL 405 to Paris was departing at gate 63, so I headed that way… *Tap!* *Ta-tap!*
Hearing footsteps behind me, I looked back and saw Jeanne, Watson, and Nakasorachi, but at the end where Shima should have been, there was no one.
Someone’s already deserted!
Paling, I looked around and spotted her.
Running in her patent leather shoes, she was running full speed towards a window next to an entirely different gate.
Then, climbing up onto the frame, she plastered herself against the glass. What is she doing?
「O-Oi, Shima! Didn’t I just say not to wander off!?」
Running over, I suppressed the urge to grab her by the shoulders and shake her to make her pay more attention…
「Mr. Auditor-sama, please look! It’s the biggest plane in the world, and Airbus A380! At full capacity is can carry 853 people, and it’s max take-off weight is 560 tonnes. It has two floor, like a flying hotel. Ah… it’s perfect! And so big…!」
Her eyes as big as an anime characters, her cheeks flushed. Speaking of manga, I got the impression that hearts were fluttering around her head.
「Ha ha ha! Shima loves busses, trains, aeroplanes, and any kind of large vehicle. I don’t know what she loves the most. Maybe an Aegis-class cruiser?」
The unruffled Team Leader Jeanne laughingly explained from beside me.
「That’s not true! It’s the nuclear powered aircraft carriers! Kyaa~!」
As if speaking of some unrequited love, Shima covered both her cheeks with her hands.
Her facial expression and actions perfectly matched those of a young girl in love.
So… although very small, Shima loves huge machines, huh? What a tragic hobby for a high school girl to have. Although, that must make her a very popular person in LOGI.
「Shi-Shima. We have the make-up test, keep that in mind! We have to get to gate 63, now! Do you want to repeat the class if we miss our flight?」
「Ah… What a beautiful high bypass ratio turbofan. It’s the only 4-engine, wide-body aircraft in the world… My heart won’t stop throbbing… I can smell the oil…!」
「–That’s it! You can write it a love letter later!」
Used to dealing with pipsqueaks, right then I grabbed the collar of her extremely heavily customised uniform.
「P-please let me go~! A picture, please at least let me take a picture!!!」
Using Ranbyou’s cat-grab technique, I then dragged her through the departure gate to Paris as she howled. On the way, Nakasorachi’s suitcase opened twice.
…Dammit!
Why did I have to be put on such a Team?
The airhead staff officer Jeanne, undisciplined Nakasorachi, the hikikomori Kyougoku, and the crybaby Shima.
The Baskerville girls were a troublesome lot, but when it came down to it, they took orders– I could count on them as Butei. I don’t feel an ounce of that with these guys.
I can’t trust anyone. Constellation might have fine team name, but it’s just full of good for nothing junk.
Working with people like this, you could lose your life…
***********************************************************
Upon reaching gate 63, Shima finally seemed to give up, and–
Why are Aria, Shirayuki, Riko and Reki were here…!?
The four Baskerville girls spotted us, and came over.
It looks like they got my painstakingly crafted message…
「We’re here… to see you off. That’s why we came.」
Aria said, not at all angry, but rather genuinely timidly. greeting me with a sigh.
「Riko wanted to make it a surprise, and the airport allowed us to come to boarding gate. We got the message you sent from MASTERS. You’ve really been removed from Baskerville, haven’t you?」
「Kin-chan… No matter if you’re fired or not, I’ll still work just as hard. I’ll prove it!」
「Surprise, Ki-kun! You work hard on your new Team, OK?」
They were each coming to grips with it in their own way, I felt. This was… heavy…!
It seems that they all sat around and talked to each other and decided not to get mad. That’s what it looks like.
As soon as I looked away, Shima made a dash for the window, and Nakasorachi chased after her…
Of all those involved with FEW, only Reki stepped forward…
「No matter what Team you are on, I will be your strength. We of the Ulus, no matter what, no matter how long, will always be on your side.」
Being close and looking up at me as she said that–
Aria and Riko had to hold Shirayuki back.
「Leave Tokyo to us! If Bewitching Blade or Demon Sword show up, we’ll show them what for! Fu fu!」
「You be sure and save Europe, alright? And Kinji… I’ll be working on your behalf to get you back on Baskerville.」
Aria said, pointing up slightly.
Up. She means the authorities… she’s going to try to negotiation with the Anglo-Sino Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
「… Thank-you. I owe you for that. I’m completely helpless in this case.」
「This is a favour. But I’ve lost track of how many favours we’ve done for each other.」
In response to my honest thanks, Aria grinned showing her canines.
「Jeanne, you work hard too! Here, Ayaya made this or you as a farewell gift! Be sure to spread the『cuteness』of Japan in Paris!」
Standing on tiptoe, Riko *Plopped!* something on her head.
She placed a white, fluffy haired nekomimi headband on her head.
It was thick and looked heavy, and appeared to be a directional listening device… but why make it that shape, Hiraga-san?
「Then, Meow! Meow! Meow!」
Jeanne’s former comrade from I.U. said as she arranged the directional nekomimi…
They must be good friends.
「Meow?」
Jeanne made a cat noise as she swatted playfully with her hands.
C-Cute…!
She made such a drastic change from her usually serious self. For me, that nekomimi is a dangerous thing. I hope she has enough discretion to use that dangerous carry-on item sparingly.
*****************************************************
Flight JAL 405 smoothly completed a turnover the same Tokyo Bay that I often divided down into–
I’m leaving Japan again so soon.
I thought as I sat in my window seat, but I couldn’t get too sentimental about it because Shima pushed herself up against my window. She excitedly watched the jet wing’s slight changes in shape, but the way her breathing became ragged was disturbing.
Next to Shima sat Nakasorachi who did not seem to like flying, who quickly had to reach for an airsick bag and would have to wait a bit before eating the in-flight meal. She looks like the kind of kid that couldn’t finish eating lunch during the lunch break.
This time, the jet was headed against the rotation of the Earth, so we kept flying on and on westward, chasing the Sun.
That means that the Sun outside the window had already set, bringing night to Japan, causing me to lose my innate sense of time. Night and day soon lost meaning–
「I’m sorry… for this, Tohyama. Tamamo said you weren’t used to being overseas.」
Laying a hand on my shoulder from the Economy seat beside me, Jeanne apologised. Even back at Roxy, she was apologetic. She must feel responsible.
The beautiful girl across from me, saying something so embarrassing, I averted my eyes…
「Don’t worry about it. You heard what Reki said, and with Mochizuki from AMBULANCE and Kagataka from LEZZAD chasing after me… being in Japan is a bit complicated.」
I said, trying to give her peace of mind.
In response, Jeanne giggled and gave a cute smile–
Then she narrowed her lashed eyes bewitchingly.
Then with Shima and Nakasorachi in front and Watson behind, she drew her rose coloured lips close to my ear.
「Then I guess you’re running away with me, huh? Eloping, even.」
She whispered something far more adult and seductive than her own age.
「What…?」
I spun towards her.
「Fu fu! Good night, Tohyama.」
Jeanne narrowed her eyes suggestively again, then drew up a blanket over herself.
Then, closing her ice blue eyes– she calmly fell asleep.
…She didn’t say『Just Kidding!』
The sleeping Jeanne wasn’t even slightly embarrassed, and I just stared at this beautiful girl straight out of a film.
Jeanne is beautiful, in any case…
Having someone who likes you is only natural, but I’m a bit worried knowing it’s a girl.
But this is the first time I’m going to my partner Aria’s birthplace of Europe. With Jeanne.
I always thought I’d be going there with Aria.
My life is just full of surprises. Actually, that might be true for everyone.
[END]
*********************************************************
1. Children’s game played like baseball but with 2 bases instead of 3.
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPG-7
3. Japanese idol, model, and blogger.
4. Sweet bun with Anko (sweet red bean paste) filling
5. Japanese musician, entertainer, journalist and sumo commentator. He is the front man of the heavy metal band Seikima-II, and is known for always working entirely in character. –Wikipedia
6. Google ‘traditional mochi making’ and you’ll see a video. Kinji is hey guy who has to stick his hand into the mortar bowl and constantly shift the mochi around without getting hit by the mallet wielder (Kinzou)
7. Reference to a Japanese proverb: ‘A Tiger at the Front Gate, a Wolf at the Back’, same meaning as ‘Between a rock and a hard place’.
8. Original word ‘nekodamashi’ refers to a purportedly unconventional sumo technique of clapping hands in front of an opponent’s face to make them blink and gain a slight advantage.
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dhaku_Uta_Gassen
10. Apparently there’s some special noodle dish they eat on New Years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshikoshi_soba
11. No direct translation for this, but it’s an annual NHK program airing on New Year’s. This part specifically airs the ceremonies at several prominent shrines around Japan with minimal news commentary and predictions for the new year in the lead up to midnight where an official greeting is made by the broadcasters to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
12. Tradition to ring a bell 108 times to welcome the new year to symbolize the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief, and to get rid of the 108 worldly desires regarding sense and feeling in every Japanese citizen. –Wikipedia
13. In Japan, couples are legally married when they update their koseki (a legal document registration cards listing family, births, deaths, adoptions, marriage, divorce, etc… required to be kept by Japanese law)
14. 7,5, and 3 are lucky numbers in Japan, so it’s important for parents to get their children to visit the shrine at these ages.
15. Early models of the Anaconda had problems with accuracy, and later modification were made to the barrel design to drastically improve accuracy
16. A Higonokami is a type of folding pocket knife native to Japan. The knife has no locking system, but is a friction folder, using the friction of the swivel and/or the pressure of the user’s hand on a protruding tang to prevent the knife from folding during use. –Wikipedia
17. Pattern in cat’s cradle. Fun how-to vid! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gogx_pE96P4
Chapter 2: Enable and Diamond Dust–Constellation
[START TEXT]
On the morning of December 26th, I returned to a severely cold Japan–
Shirayuki left Haneda to perform the New Years Shinto Ceremony at the Hotogi Shrine in Aomori, Aria had made prior arrangement with her lawyer in Liancheng County to take her from Shimbashi to Toranomon, Riko had plans to attend a comic festival in Daiba, so everyone split off in their own direction
Everyone has a lot of stamina…
Only Reki and I stuck together and picked up Haimaki from the underclassman that Reki had left him with and headed back to our normal Butei High routine.
Afterwards, I was exhausted and collapsed on my bed and fell asleep.
The next morning– despite the fact that we didn’t have any regularly scheduled classes, I headed to MASTERS accompanied by Reki.
At the end of each term, all kinds of assorted important information is posted on the MASTERS’ bulletin board.
Especially a summary list of student notices and a summary list of those with insufficient academic credits that need to be addressed. Back during the first term, I got a insufficient credit notice, so I just wanted to check and make sure everything was okay… good. My name wasn’t on it. Most of my credits from East Ikebukuro High must have transferred.
Huh…?
I suddenly noticed something on the student notice list,『Jeanne D’Arc, 2nd year, Class B, Special Topic, (INFORMA)』… It was Jeanne’s name! She must have gotten a notice. What could have happened with her?
Well, I’m sure it will all work out.
Then I started looking at the rankings for the results of the General Studies final examination that we took back before Caravan II.
2nd year… Tohyama… Tohyama…
I looked for my name. 126th… just above average?
Resolving a hijacking incident, a one-on-one battle on a nuclear submarine, beating the heck out of an American human weapon, disbanding a Japanese and Hong Kong branch of the yakuza, and yet–my grades were barely above average.
But this is a stunning accomplishment. Until now, I have been firmly below average. When compared with Butei High, the classwork at East Ikebukuro was higher level. In particular, my Maths grade has increased.
And yet, my mood didn’t really improve. In terms of scholastic ability, Butei High is on the lower end, so I’m still below the general average. Especially in Health and Physical Education. I just barely avoided a failing grade. My usual bad habit was to read the question and twirl my pencil around to guess the answer, but this time I don’t think that I relied all that much on my pencil.
Afterwards…I looked to check who were in the top ranks in order to see who I could ask for help studying.
In the den of idiots that is Butei High, the majority of smart people are from CONNECT and MEDICA. However, I had few friends there, so I looked at the top of the ASSAULT rankings.
Ranked 11th overall was Ryou Shiranui. In the top 10 and ranked higher, I had a few acquaintances. Watson-kun-chan was 9th. A regular member of the best 3, Shirayuki Hotogi, was ranked 2nd this time.
Who was in 1st place this term–?
I checked the name, just out of curiosity.
『1st place, Moe Mochizuki』…!
*************************************************************
I didn’t see that, just now…!
To escape reality, I took Reki with me out the MASTERS door, intending to shut myself up in the gaming arcade.
Then we crossed the street to the plaza across the street–
There, some girls were playing two base baseball1with a fake hand grenade and a second-hand RPG-7 launcher.2
These idiots…
You shouldn’t be so physically active in Butei Highs short skirts! It’s a problem for people with my condition.
What’s more, doing that in front of MASTERS is pretty reckless. If a homerun breaks a window, you’ll get a bullet in exchange for your ball! At least a magnum bullet, at worst an anti-tank rocket.
Ever since I was born, the worst possible things have happened while I was watching…
*Fwack!* The stupid girls hit a foul ball that flew away from me.
–!
It’s… going to hit another girl who was standing by the front gate.
If it was a Butei High student– then due to the routinely grueling training that they undergo, they’d be able to dodge flying objects and other dangerous things, but this girl didn’t move out of the way. She didn’t even try to catch it, but held her hands close to her mouth, breathing on them to warm them. She didn’t even notice.
It was a fake hand grenade filled with sand, and it didn’t have that much power behind it… but it’s still made of metal. It has a pin too. If it hits at the wrong angle, it could stick her with it and cause a serious injury.
I– ran the short distance, and *Plop!* Caught the metal ball.
「Oh! So~rry!」
The idiot girl from the softball club apologised from a distance…
I should be mad at them, but I’m not. In the first place, they’re Butei, so they’re idiots, and these girls only prove that general rule. I’ll allow for the idiocy.
But this kind of carelessness is no good.
You’ll lose your life like this, as Butei.
Turning to the clueless girl,
「Oi! You! Butei should pay more attention!」
As I scolded her…*Twist!*
Seeming not to have understood my admonition, the girl with the bob cut turned, her fluffy hair flaring slightly.–and the girl–
「…Tohyama-kun!」
Her soft, double-lidded eyes spread wide… her face lit up.
The girl wore a well-fitted Butei High sailor suit–
「…M…Moe, Mochizuki…!」
In shock at the hard reality suddenly thrust before me, I spoke the girl’s full name.
「I’m so happy! You remembered!」
For some reason, I got the feeling that Reki was ignoring her…
Did you ambush me here? Is that what happened? That makes me the careless one.
Just then–*Screech!*…
Toyota Century ran up the street to the side entrance of MASTERS.
Splashing Moe with a bit of water from a puddle, from the car,
「–Apologies, Miss.」
The one who said that was a familiar skinhead man as he stepped out of the car. Wearing a purple round neck T-shirt and a thick 18 karat necklace, a black haori, and a tattoo at the base of his neck… A visible tattoo. He’s a yakuza.
This guy…!
He was one of the executives of the defunct Kagataka Family. The former pro-wrestler was not at the family mansion when the others executed their coup d’etat. Considering his fighting strength and his absence at that time, I thought that he must have been truly loyal to the former family head, Kikuyo Kagataka–
From the backseat of the Century,
「Thank-you for your effort, Tohyama…」
And… Kikuyo Kagataka… stepped out. She was once more clothed in a Butei High sailor suit.
Wha!? Kikuyo…!
「Shouldn’t you have a different reaction for me than Moe?」
She said while winding a Bulgari scarf around her neck, and leaned slightly to the side.
The other person standing directly in front of me and looking me in the eye, took my right hand in both of his and gave it a firm shake–
「Thank-you for taking care of that business in Hong Kong. Tohyama Nii-chan… what you did for Miss… what you did…」
『We were very fortunate to be able to count on you』, was what the yakuza seemed to say as he bowed his smooth head deeply.
Shaking off his hands, I turned, reluctantly, toward Kikuyo…
「… Special topics course.」
Again, I heard something I didn’t want to. I prayed it was not a part of INQUESTA.
Kikuyo addressed me, but then averted her gaze, looking very happy.
「– It’s a dual enrollment in LEZZAD and DAGULA. I’ll be around for a while. Call me if you have a job.」
Kikuyo… is becoming Tsuzuri’s student?
Wah! That’s just too scary!
It’s improbable that such a good girl as Moe and such a bad girl, who was a former yakuza family head, as Kikuyo would both be in Butei High. But Butei High is full of oddballs, and these are just some new oddballs. It’s probably because of me.
When I turned toward Kikuyo, Moe puffed out her soft cheeks–
「Tohyama-kun! I joined AMBULANCE! And the brass band club!」
She excitedly told me about how she had been reborn as a Butei.
「Well, Kikuyo originally attended a Butei High affiliated middle school.. But why in the world would such an ordinary person like you, Moe, come to such a trashy school…?」
Concerned about Moe’s position, I made a detesting face–
「That’s right! Even I said that such an immature woman has no place here.」
Turning a purely malicious glare toward Moe, Kikuyo put on the airs of a fellow Butei.
「B-but! If I left Kikuyo-chan alone with Tohyama-kun she might do indecent things, I wanted to stay with Tohyama-kun too, and Mama and Papa supported me, saying『Go after what you want, Moe.』, and Saki was happy too…」
After taking some time to list her personal justifications with upturned eyes,
「Then there’s Kikuyo-chan, who followed you here like a stalker! Like she likes you, or something!」
「I-idiot! It’s not like that! I came so that I wouldn’t lose to a respectable member of society like you!」
They were fighting about something.
Rather, Moe… Did you just call a former yakuza family head ‘chan’…?
Then, skillfully diverting the issue away from her own situation, she said something else that drew Kikuyo in. I get the feeling that this is well-suited to being a Butei.
「Hump! I even have Tohyama’s second button!」
With a voice one tone lower than that she used to speak to me, Moe took a provocative attitude toward Kikuyo…
「Hmm…」
*Rip!*
Without warning, Kikuyo plucked the second button off of my uniform.
「Oh look! I have one too!」
「Cheater! Kikuyo-chan, you’re a cheater!」
「In LEZZAD, that’s a compliment. Moe, it’s not too late for you to run back to your nest. Even Tohyama said so. Just so you know, whenever I set my eyes on my prey, I always get it. 」
「Heh! So do I.」
「… I thought we felt the same way.」
「It appears so.」
Sullenly glaring at each other, there was this strange feeling of mutuality that felt like something out a short comedy act.
What is this? Seriously, what is this…!?
*****************************************************************
Immediately after returning to the country, I had spot of girl trouble that depressed me, and this was also followed up by a message from Watson.
It was an invitation to a rehabilitation session.
The message had a bomb and fork emoji.
The『bomb fork』is a threat that if I refuse, she’ll make me eat a hand grenade. I have to go.
It looks like the idiot has officially reserved ASSAULT training room Sigma. Training room Sigma is a mock-up of a cute female pop idols room.
Ever since we were caught in the Fine Arts room by Kaname and Shiranui, I don’t know how she has the nerve to reserve such an obviously feminine room. Even now, Watson is still pretending to be male.
Rather, what kind of training are 2 guys going to have in a training room mock-up of a girls room? What’s more you’re wearing a sailor suit.
Needless to say, it will look like we’re 2 perverts, going into a room that looks like something Kyary Pamyu Pamyu3 would use…
Taking the role of a cute girl with a bob cut (even though she is actually a girl) , Watson was sipping tea and perusing a guide to Asakusa romantic sights to pass the time.
「Tooyama. I’m sorry, but my room is… messy.」
Using her usual ‘boku’ pronoun, Watson still has been active very feminine lately.
From her expression, I got the feeling that I was being taken advantage of, as she blinked rapidly.
「You’re room isn’t messy is it? That’s not the reason you reserved this room.」
「You don’t know anything about rehabilitation, Tooyama. I don’t think that that is something you should say to a girl.」
Responding with some sharpness, Watson made a fist and spoke these few frightening words. Watson hold an amateur boxing certification.
「Well… I think you’ve had enough rehabilitation. I’m tired.」
「That’s alright. I’ll just have to have you meet me earlier then.」
She smiled broadly with her cute face…
Why are you so cute? Weren’t you raised as a boy?
Embarrassed I avoided sitting next to Watson on the sofa by taking a seat in the chair by the writing desk–
「Say…Watson, can I ask you something? Something about England?」
I asked something casually that I had been wondering since before we got back to Japan.
「About England? Sure, are you trying to expand your horizons?」
「It’s not something that grand. Just some gossip. What I mean to say… back on I.U., Sherlock had sword he call a Scramasax. He called it the『Treasure of the British Empire』… do you know what it was called?」
「I do. You took the blade from Sherlock, didn’t you? It’s called『Excaliburn』. In Japan it would be called『Excalibur』, it’s a sword that a national treasure.」
「…」
「Currently, I am working with MI6– Secret Intelligence Services, to determine Sherlocks location.」
「……」
「However, as for myself… I don’t care for the Intelligence Services. Particularly the 00 series, whose intelligence gathering methods are quite violent and will kill their enemies quite readily unless they are British.」
「……….」
「However, ever since the collapse of I.U, I have been ignoring their question concerning Excalibur’s whereabouts. They’ve been relentless about it. So you should be careful that they don’t find out that you’ve been using it. So don’t let it get broken or destroyed. It that were to get out, James Bond would come and kill you.」
…Crap…!
It’s been turned into a Christmas tree!
I just left the Scream that used to be Excalibur on the roof of Rampan Castle.
Or it got blown of and fell into the ocean.
It would be really bad for this to get out. The 00 series are the strongest agents in the world.
It’s rumoured that they’re even too much for Japan’s Public Division 0’s Armed Prosecutors to handle. Even Hysteria Mode might not be enough.
I have to make sure that doesn’t happen.
I’ll play dumb my entire life. You have to feign ignorance your whole life, Kinji.
「Why is your face grey, Tooyama?」
「It’s getting grey.」
「Huh?」
「I-I… should get going soon. It’s getting late. I shouldn’t be in a girl’s room so late.」
Trying to escape before words failed me, I burst out with this made-up excuse as I stood to my feet–
「Tooyama, before you go, there’s one thing I want to say.」
「If it’s about the Scramasax, I don’t know anything!」
「It’s not about that! It’s about Katze.」
With that name, Katze stopped me from leaving.
Katze Grasse.
She challenged us in Hong Kong, GRENEDA’s Witch– Katze Grasse, a remnant of Nazi Germany.
「I hear from Aria…Katze lost easily to Rampan quickly. However, I don’t think it was that simple. From the timing and scale of her attack, I can show that her plans were simply premature.」
「… What is it you’re trying to say?」
「It’s something I don’t want to say. Someone might have leaked our plans.」
Aria– she said something like that as well. Back on the Shima Hari.
So Holmes and Watson share the same suspicion, huh?
「Katze’s Regiment Hex, like the Vatican and Tamamo, are well versed in battle. They are also not fussy when it comes to doing whatever it takes to win. They may be attacking our weak point.」
「… I don’t like doubting my friends.」
「This isn’t about what you do or do not like. You’ve had a lot of victories. But those victories have made you conceited. Your enemies have taken advantage of the most simple, but effective means of employing a『spy』.」
The one who was also known as the Western Ninja, the highly decorated Liberty Mason operative awarded for their experience, Watson– gave me a sharp look.
「FEW is an armed conflict. In this conflict, we are at a dangerous point where the balance of power has been destroyed. Assassination, betrayal, spying, these are things we must be prepared for.」
「The one who employs such petty tactics will eventually lose in the end. That’s how the world works.」
As I made it clear that I would not doubt my friends, Watson looked at me, clearly annoyed.
Then, with a *Creak!*… she stood up from the sofa.
「Fine. So you’ll understand, I’ll explain it to you in terms of game.」
Then she walked over towards me and stood by the feminine writing desk.
There was a cinnamon scent, and as she stood next to me…Watson drew out a piece of stationary and made something that looked like game cards.
「These cards stands for fighting strength.」
Using scissors and felt tip pen, she drew Aria, Shirayuki and Riko… Katze and Patra’s faces on them and wrote a number on them, to represent their strength. They were quite a simply done caricatures, but I could easily tell who was who.
Watson, you have the knack for art.
She then took the deck and distributed all the members of DEEN and GRENEDA to their respective locations and strongholds…
「It’s quite advantageous for DEEN.」
「But what would happen if any of these cards changed sides? Riko, is a simple example.」
Taking Riko’s card, she placed in on GRENEDA’s side. That’d be bad!
However… by moving the cards, Watson illustrated the danger. If Riko double-crossed us, then the considerably powerful Hilda would go over as well. Aria and I would then have two very dangerous enemies on our hands. Then if Katze and Patra advanced again to flank us… No good!
「Aria and you are weak to magic.」
Our number of allies had dwindled. But she was not finished–
「And Riko knows Jeanne’s techniques from her time at I.U. too. How unfortunate.」
That number dropped further. And so with merely one betrayal, Tokyo was put to a full rout.
「A traitor will definitely start by destroying one of their enemies. It will be a surprise attack..」
Taking Riko’s card, she turned Shirayuki’s card over, perhaps signifying death or merely inability to fight.
「And so Tokyo is practically annihilated. In that case, the Koko sisters and Kou will have to come.」
And that means that Hong Kong’s fighting strength… will be practically nonexistent.
「What would you do if Habi, LOO, or some other enemy attacked? There is the possibility that there is someone unknown with a greater amount of power. Regiment Hex isn’t just one person. They are all『Battle Witches』.Witches specialising in fighting. There are an unspecified number of potential players in FEW, and there are other war witches besides Katze that we may come in contact with. What if the number of enemy cards increase?」
「…」
「I’m only using the worst case to point out your conceit, and that whether it happens next month or next week, this is the reality.」
Having a falling out, betrayal… how many times have those happened in the past?
With Riko, twice. Shirayuki, Aria, and Riko against Kaname. Even Aria and I had a real disagreement on I.U. Even Watson, originally, was an enemy. That’s to say nothing of Hilda and Rampan.
I thought that we were all unified… but that kind of thinking may have been too shallow.
As I remained silent, Watson’s fully feminine scent was fully noticeable–
「If someone does something strange, you have to be suspicious」
She whispered into my ear.
I couldn’t even nod my head– but in my heart, I agreed.
Someone does something strange…huh? But on the face of it, everyone is an eccentric. Especially Aria who will shoot for the offence of asking about Momoman「Aren’t they just Anmon4 in a different shape?」She is the number one danger in my daily life.
***************************************************************
–A traitor–
The thought nauseated me as the second semester wound to an end…
Headed out to my parents’ home in Sugamo for the New Year’s, my spirits lifted a little.
Everyone in Baskerville was busy, so I arrived at the JR Line Sugam station accompanied by the only one who was free, Reki, or Mint-chan Yada.
The reason I took Reki with me– it was because it was going to be cold during the New Year Holiday break. I guessed that she was going to spend the time in her empty concrete room, and my grandfather and grandmother had taken a liking to her. I told her「Come,」and she said「Ok」, agreeing readily.
As we walked through a residential area, we saw people had already put up holiday decorations, and looking toward the children chasing after a soccer ball in the alleyway…
「…?」
There was an impossible car parked in a spot with metered parking!
It had a futuristic, streamlined shape like a supercar.
Putting a 100 yen coin into the meter, wearing a biker jacket…
G-G-3…!
Running into my younger brother making his end of the year visit to our parents home and sporting a Demon Kogure5 hairstyle, I was struck dumb.
「Ooooniiiii-chaaaaan!」
With a *Thump!* and a *Squeeze!*, I was clung to from behind.
Pressed up against my back, I could feel firm and elastic breasts–
「Ka-! Kaname…?」
「It was soooo easy to sneak up behind you! That’s noooo good, you know!」
Kaname then turned a beaming face up toward me.
It appears the Tohyama house will be crowded for the holidays.
「Yo, Aniki! The other day…」
Noticing me, G-3 tramped over after finishing putting coins into the meter… he came over and slapped a hand on my shoulder. Then with a grin, he said,
「You beat Son to death for me, didn’t ya? Thanks!」
He gave this dangerous thanks. I’d just arrived in Sugamo, so I hadn’t told him…
「I didn’t… she’s actually harmless. I beat her laser, and she’s not your enemy anymore.」
I said slightly tired, and G-3 grinned broadly. He smiled, looking glad from the bottom of his heart. I wonder why my little brother seemed so happy.
I’m guessing that『something』was the fact that a Tohyama『defeated the real Son Goku』.
「Actually, Kinzou, is that your car?」
「It’s a Koenigsegg Agera. It’s going to be revealed as the Geneva Motor Show in March next year. I bought the prototype.」
「That car is… a 100 million yen? What if you hit a light post?」
「If that happens, then I’ll just buy another.」
Wha! You’re treating a luxury car like a bicycle.
Why did God give me a brother with such a disparity of wealth between us?
************************************************************
In the Tohyama household, it’s customary to make preparations for New Year’s a little early, then do nothing and just pass the time on New Year’s Eve. It was a precaution started by the Tohyama Family founder Kenshirou Tohyama because incidents are apt to occur around the New Year’s.
Already having settled into my parent’s home, G-3 and Kaname were already making preparations under my grandfather’s direction.
Kaname made a whole bunch of trips back and forth on her bicycle to buy all kinds of high quality foodstuffs. She was able to tell good fish from the bad, and her high-level skills shone through.
In cleaning the toilets, bath, and other areas where water was involved, Kinzou proved surprisingly apt. He’s a tough guy who can just keep going if only he eats an infinite supply of tomatoes.
The freeloader Reki proved skilled at sweeping and vacuuming the tatami mats.
Even Haimaki weeded the garden. Using his mouth. He’s just a generally useful character.
…. And I took the easy jobs like feeding goldfish and beating out the futons, using my energy-saving technique to contribute to the spring cleaning. This year wasn’t so bad!
But it was almost as if divine punishment struck later that night–
My grandmother made steamed rice for mochi to eat during the New Year’s holiday… and G-3 pounded them with a mallet.
That muscular monster put then into a mould and hit them, utilising the multi-century time-honoured method of a mortar. That was his job.
And the only job left was that of the mortar tender kneading the mochi, which I did. These roles were written in the mouldy scroll containing the Tohyama Family Code, and I got stuck with that job.6
News of my Beretta scholarship had leaked to my family via Kaname, who heard it from Tamamo, and they outrageously forced me to buy a mortar. I don’t even know if I can resell it. To think so would be optimistic.
I bought it, of course, and it was expensive! There was no way I even dreamed that I would be using my Beretta scholarship to buy a mortar. Dammit!
**************************************************
After spring cleaning was over,
「Paradise, sweet paradise…」
Breathing that out like an old man, I was soaking away my fatigue in the wooden tub that was pride of the Tohyama Family when–
…*Sl-lide!*…
I heard the sound of the bathhouse door opening.
That was one syllable too much.
There was someone on the other side of the frosted glass taking off a Butei High sailor suit uniform.
What’s happening… Is this some kind of girl intruder event?
It seems that my usual bad luck with girls is constantly in effect. However, due to that fact, I didn’t panic.
The main principle behind the 5th Butei Article is taking initiative to win. I accordance with that, I immediately tried to escape!
Then, I tried to open the window at the back of the bathhouse… H-huh? It won’t open!
On the outside of the window, an X-shaped, cloth-like object was stuck, blocking it.
Th-this is… P-Fiber, one of Kaname’s scientific blades…!
Oh no! Loss of initiative has led to defeat…!
*Slide!*
「Oniiichaaaan!」
She’s here! She came in! Kaname was smiling!
Despite that I am used to this sort of behaviour to some degree from Shirayuki and Reki, the fact that this person is my sister– there is a certain level of urgency that is not comparable.
What’s more, Kaname grew up in America.
Without hiding her chest with her arms, she completely exposed everything.
「–Wh-why did you come here!」
Her feet tap-tapping on the slatted wooden floor… it goes without saying, she was stark naked.
Despite the fact that she was young, she was in that crucial stage where a child’s body is becoming a woman’s.
Also, even though she was still developing, the roundness of her breasts and buttocks were clearly very feminine.
Her cherubic innocence was refreshing and pure, but she still distinctly possessed a woman’s body. What further corrupted that image was the fact she was my younger sister… That certainly had a huge influence on the morality of the situation…!
If the important bits hadn’t been covered by the steam, suicide by handgun in Hysteria Mode was definitely an option. But even if I had shot myself in the head, I wouldn’t have died. That was already demonstrated yesterday when Katze shot me.
「Say, is there a girl’s scent on your body?」
「H-huh?」
「So I’ll wash it off and replace it with my own scent.」
Ignoring all the objections I wanted to make to Kaname’s first and last statements–*Plop!*
Immediately acting to hide the important bits, I just barely made it in time… and I knelt on one knee in the bath to submerge my lower body.
「Besides, shouldn’t family members get along well together in the bath? Hmm?」
Kaname had already walked up right in front of me with the expert gait of a Kendo master. My sister was at the front gate, and a scientific blade at the back.7
Although my younger sister is really an beautiful girl, why does she have to have such an vexing thought process…!?
「That may be, but an older brother in high school and a younger sister in middle school shouldn’t be there together. It’s basic common sense!」
「This is beyond common sense. So, Onii-chan, will you hold me?」
Kaname entered the bath with both arms spread wide.
No!!! I won’t hug you!!! Hide your breasts!!!, is what I wanted to say, but there’s no way that a normal person can with against a Genion in a battle of persuasion… so before she would hug me,
「Waa!」
She cried as I clapped my hands in front of her face.8
With no room on her left or right, her one leg caught on the edge of the tub and as her feet slipped– in my slightly hysterised state, I was able to suss out the escape route,
–Hidden Forest!
I used the Tohyama Family secret technique to slither beneath the enemy and upset their footing and get behind Kaname.
『Twisting my body to creep over the edge of the bathtub and pass under my younger sister’s thigh』is how I would describe what I did.
Then I snatched up my clothes, and like a shinkansen– exiting the bath, I blitz through to the changing room, to the corridor, and reached my room.
For Kaname, in that instant she blinked, some sort of unknown technique would have occurred… and it would seem as if I had suddenly disappeared from before her eyes.
Kaname. At its root, the Tohyama Family techniques are not something that someone can take you by the hand and teach. They are something that you must learn by imitation. If you let this opportunity slip by–
Then you still have a long way to go and not aware enough to be a member of the Tohyama Family.
*********************************************************
And so, in accordance with the usual nonsense, I awoke on New Year’s Eve to the very unpleasant『Sister Alarm』of a bullet striking a frying pan in close proximity to my ear. Today’s a holiday.
Seeing as I hadn’t had to engage in close combat for quite a while, I planned to pass the day peacefully…
Reki and Grandma were sitting at a kotatsu drinking tea, Kinzou was in the greenhouse with Grandpa digging up tubers, and Kaname was giving Haimaki a ride on her P-Fiber and making him fly.
This was how the Tohyama family was going to end the year…
We’d watch the 60th NHK New Year’s singing contest9 while eating New Year’s soba.10
「This year’s New Year’s is lively.」
「Isn’t it, now?」
My grandparents remarked leisurely.
Even so… everyone gathered to eat together is quite a sight to behold.
A former presidential bodyguard, human weapon, and S-ranked sniper, all sat around a low table, eating soba and watching the singing contest–all on the living room tatami in this little bungalow in Sugamo.
I wonder what Nii-chan is doing…
I thought that as I blew on my soba to cool it.
「Oooh…!」
Looking at the television, G-3 was impressed by Yukiko Kobayashi giant robot-like costume.
He is capable of being stirred by the aesthetics of things, and he bears the singular trait that both the arts and Fine Arts can trigger his Hysteria Mode. Right now, I get the feeling that he is hysterising. Yukiko Kobayashi has you really worked up, Kinzou.
「Yum! Onii-chan, if you’re not going to eat your shrimp, then I will!」
「Hey now!」
Mercilessly stealing the shrimp tempura that I was saving for later, Kaname took my favourite homemade dish that my grandmother made. Reki ate in her usual endless manner, devouring bowl after bowl of soba.
After that the ‘Out with the old, in with the new’ program11 started… With too much free time on her hands, Kaname glommed on to me, causing all kinds of problems. Reki, meanwhile, glared at her somewhat sharply for some reason.
G-3, meanwhile was taking huge mouthfuls out of a tomato–
「Kaname, if you could you’d do the same things with your Onii-chan that his girlfriend would. Haha! 」
G-3 said, mixing in a lecherous grin.
Oh, now there’s a dangerous topic now, isn’t it… No sooner had I thought that, than Kaname was staring into my eyes a second later.
「Hm? Girlfriend? A little sister is all you need, isn’t that right?」
My spine froze at her all too serious reply.
「But Moe-san and Kikuyo-san have recently come back into Kinji-san’s life.」
Reki, you…!
Although you haven’t said much the entire time we’ve been here, why are you tattling on me now!?
「I knew it! Moe Mochizuki and Kikuyo Kagataka? I thought I smelled something the first day you got here. What do you have to say, Onii-chan?」
*Whoomph!*
Still smiling, Kaname elbowed me in the ribs, fracturing them.
What’s more, from the way she called out their full names, I get the feeling that she’s carried out a secret investigation on both of them.
「Tch! They’ve probably come to try and steal Onii-chan from me…」
「I’m sure I don’t know what you are talking about…」
Somewhat frightened by my little sister, I used a more respectful tone, and it was with such an unintentionally unfortunate feeling that the time came.
Farewell. To the good and the bad… rather the bad and the bad, of the previous year.
*******************************************************
We heard the 108 bell tolls at Kougan-ji Temple.12
At the beginning of the day, it’s our tradition to go around say『Happy New Year』to everyone at midnight before going to bed. However, it appeared that my grandfather intended to hold a one-man meeting of the gravure appreciation society now that my grandmother was headed to go to bed, so he left for a separate storage room, carrying the erotic book.
I changed into my pyjamas, and as I ran around trying to escape from Kaname who wanted to sleep together…
It was just after New Year’s, and I came across G-3 in the living room wearing BDU’s– he also wore a biker jacket and was putting on matte black body armour.
「…Kinzou, It’s the dead of night. Where are you going?」
「I was contacted by the CIA. I’ve got to go– I’m headed to Area 51—part of Edwards Air Force Base.」
「Where is that?」
「Southern Nevada state」
「Where is Nevada?」
G-3 answered me angrily.
「It’s one of the military bases in the 50 states! Don’t you know that! I learned about it in kindergarten!」
He roared, but kindergartens that teach such things don’t exist in this country. Probably.
「Unlike my Aniki, I’m a popular person who’s done all kinds of work here and there. This is something that might impact your near future. So I’m going to check it out first.」
「.. I don’t really understand, and I don’t know what the US military might do. Be careful.」
「You too, Aniki! You’re fighting against Nazi survivors, right?」
「Yeah. They’re called Regiment Hex. I have enemies all over too. After the surprise attack in Hong Kong, the enemy disappeared into hiding. But you don’t have to lend a hand this time, alright? This time, they’re my enemy.」
— I had difficulty lying to him, but…
Whenever G-3 and I tag-team, there’s always the risk that he’ll try to show something off to me, and make a mistake. Back with Son, he came this close to dying, and it’s an ironclad Butei rule that when a big mistake happens, the pair shouldn’t be so quick to work together shortly afterwards.
「.. Groups with Nazi heritage exists in Europe, naturally, but also in South America, the Middle East, Africa, and all over the world. However, their overall coordination is not great. The NSDP disbanded a long time ago, and Hitler is gone. So each group has a tendency to remain scattered.」
Likely bearing the same rule in mind, G-3 only briefly conveyed the intelligence.
Then while rubbing the back of his head in a gesture similar to my own…
「However, whichever Nazi survivor you fight, they may seem small and insignificant, but if you underestimate them–you’ll find your feet swept out from under you and the tables turned. It’s the same with Al-Qaeda. Falling into traps, even the US Special Forces survival rate is only about 50%.You’ll be careful, right?」
Urging me to vigilance, he clapped me on the shoulder with his artificial left arm.
*******************************************************
When I got up on New Years Day, G-3 was already gone…
Kaname was wearing a set of fine clothes apparently brought by the underlings that came to meet with G-3, and Grandmother had done up her hair. It was a kimono with a spring pattern of white and peach-coloured camellia flowers and cherry blossoms, giving an overall childish impression. In a nightingale in the snow pattern–which she had apparently prepared beforehand, Reki was wearing a smart outfit.
We had made plans for our first shrine visit at the end of the year… however, my grandfather had stayed up all night in the storage room and caught a cold, so my grandmother postponed her visit to got with him.
And so, I found myself taking Kaname and Reki. I was wearing a new uniform for the first time.
Hikawa Shrine is patronised by Butei, so we headed to Ueno on the Yamanote Line… at the station, Reki said that she had something to do and disappeared for a bit.
This was where I met Aria on the day of the Summer Festival near the giant panda, and Kaname and I waited a while for Reki.
On New Year’s Day, the morning air was bracing–and in her flashy new kimono, my younger sister no doubt stood out as very pretty. Giving off the aura of a beautiful girl to be admired, her attractive looks gave no hint of a single thorn. Her chestnut hair and deep-sea coloured eyes suited her kimono quite well. Kaname twirled beside me. Feeling my eyes resting on her, she turned to face me.
「Japanese winters are cold, aren’t they, Onii-chan?」
Then she clung to my arm with a smile.
I felt a *Squish!* on my arm, and the sensation of Kaname’s water pillow-like sensation on Kaname’s breasts–
It is a Hysteria Mode hazard unique to Kimonos that you do not have to wear underwear with them.
Crap!
「H-hey! Let go! It’s weird for brothers and sisters to interlock arms.」
The passersby were mistaking our relationship as brother and sister for that of a couple and grinning…and so, embarrassed, I shook Kaname off. Unperturbed, however Kaname kept smiling.
「Onii-cha~n, that’s illogical. Big brothers and little sisters are the smallest social unit. They share the same blood, and are a man and woman, so them being together is the most natural thing. After all, historically–」
–She babbled on such amazing nonsense.
Finally, with one finger extended, she arrived at the well-reasoned conclusion that『Older brothers and younger sisters should love each other』
After listening for some minutes… it seemed, to make some sense, it feels somewhat logical?
Should I go and put Kaname in my family register right now?13
Just then I noticed–I know what this is. It’s mentalism.
In short, brain-washing, mind control. This girl has the nerve to use it on her own brother. I can’t give this Genion any openings.
Shocked back to reality–
「Happy New Year, Kinji.」
「I wish you a Happy New Year, Kin-chan. Please have a good year.」
「Yahoo, Ki-kun! Happy Ne~w Year!」
「…」
Before I realised it, Aria, Shirayuki, Riko, and Reki has showed up.
Like Reki, they were each dressed in their best kimonos.
I seems Reki made plans in advance to meet up for the first shrine visit of the year.
「Shirayuki had to come from the Hotogi shrine a jet helicopter. Makieda-san was difficult.」
Shaking her head from side to side in exasperation, Aria’s kimono was red, white, and pink cherry patterned in a modern style.
The kimono was unexpectedly flattering to her Western figure, but this was a fact that was proven with Aria (who was 3/4 Japanese) at the summer festival. But at a glance, it looks like she is on her way to one of the 7-5-3 shrine visits.14
「So, Kin-chan, I’d be glad… to visit the shrine with you.」
Turning red as she stood beside me, Shirayuki’s kimono was patterned with snow crystals, cranes, the seven Buddhist treasures, small mallets, and cloves in a classical style. They were arranged in a lucky pattern.
As expected of a Classical Japanese beauty. In that kimono, she was extremely sexy… and I started turning red.
Between Aria and Shirayuki, they both present a problem.
Befitting the first visit of the year to a shrine, they were immaculately dressed.
「Hey! Look, look, Ki-kun! It’s the year of the tiger, so look! Tiger!」
But then there was Riko. That girl was just hopeless. She was wearing some kind of Lolita kimono.
Slapping her obi, there was some kind of tiger character embroidered on it. The bottom of her kimono ended at miniskirt length and was frilled. Moreover, she had side hoops the swelled the skirt, striped tights, and was wearing thick soled shoes.
However… as someone who is wearing a bulletproof uniform, I have no room to say anything about proper clothing. So I’ll let it pass. It suits her, anyway.
***************************************************************
Although Hikawa shrine was relatively out of the way, it was in a good location.
While lining up in front of the shrine for 5 minutes…
「You bow twice, clap twice, then bow once. What is more important than the etiquette, though is your heart.」
While being instructed by the teacher Shirayuki, the six people of Baskerville + Kaname followed along and began to pay their respects.
The girls rang the large bell and tosses coins into the large offertory box… with their eyes closed, they all made earnest requests. I don’t know what they were asking for, but it was cute to watch.
Well, should I make a request?
As a Butei, luck is important… Alright then. I’ll splurge on an offering.
I boldly took out a 500 Yen coin from my wallet.
But… the offertory box is a bit far. In the lineup, I had been pushed to the far right end due to the egoism of the Baskerville girls.
500 Yen is a lot to lose and, it cannot be recovered if it misses the box. At this angle, I feel like it would bounce off the slats. How inconvenient.
Thinking that, looking in front me to the right side of the main offertory box… there were loops of red and white cord and two smaller offering boxes. Then I’ll just put it in there.
Alright, I’ll just put it in.
Ring the bell at the end, put the offering in, and clap hands–
…Uh, please help with my girl problems. And if you are related to Tamamo the kitsune who is haunting me, please exorcise her.
I made my request from the bottom of my heart, as Shirayuki had said, then slightly off to the side of the shrine…
「So, I’ll take what you have for me now, Kinji」
「…?」
Aria held out both her empty hands. Shirayuki did so as well nervously, Riko gleefully, Reki unconsciously, and Kaname did so smilingly. They held out their hands out in a『I’ll take it now』pose.
「What do you mean?」
「It’s called a New Year’s gift, I think? In Japan, it’s customary to give a present for New Year’s, isn’t it?」
You girls…!
Now that I pay more attention to it, they must have conspired together, and in the sleeves of their fine kimonos I can see part of handguns and a sniper rifle peeking out.
They clearly demonstrated their intention to shoot first, and they pressed this arrogant scheme–
「Uh, well, about Kin-chan’s gift, I will also…. Ta…Tama…Tamamo-sama!?」
Shirayuki’s words were diverted mid-sentence.
Her eyes wide, everyone then turned around–dressed like a miko and raising the bamboo curtain, Tamamo exited the front of the shrine.
The fox girl’s tail was hidden under the red hakama, and she tried to hide her ears underneath ornate hairpiece jewellery..
「–I believed that it was thine voice I heard, milord Tohyama. Truly ‘it’s been too long since our last meeting.」
「Why are you here now…!? You, of all people…」
She showed up right after I just prayed for her exorcism. That’s not an answer to prayer at all!
「I heard from Reki that you all were making your first shrine visit. By the by, how is that part-time job? I do hope you have put aside enough for piety’s sake.」
And saying that…she took the small offertory box that I had just put my 500 Yen into…
With a clatter, she put her arms through the two read and white loops on the offertory box and hoisted it up like a backpack.
「Tamamo, I came to pay my respects at this shrine. I made a small contribution. Put it back!」
I rushed over to Tamamo, and caught her by the ankle as she attempted to turn the offertory box upside down–
「Ha!」
With a *Boing!*, Tamamo sprung up and hit me over the head with the box.
She scored a direct hit on the would left by Katze’s bullet, so it hurt quite a lot. It was also quite heavy.
It was quite a brazen thing she thought she could get away with, having the nerve to make a fortune by leeching off shrines.
Landing above my fallen body, her single toothed getas clacked.
「Everyone. I hath taken up residence in the portal to this shrine, therefore thou mayest consult me.」
She said.
***********************************************************
What do you mean by ‘taking up residence’, Tamamo? Do you think you’re some kind of VIP?
However, within her own shrine, Tamamo was quite influential, so we allowed her to borrow the shrine grounds.
Sitting at the head of the room and kneeling on a fancy cushion, we ranged ourselves in a circle facing Tamamo.
「–So, I gather that the subjugation of Rampan in Hong Kong was quite the ordeal.」
Who the hell do you think you are?
「From what I know, right now FEW…in Europe is proceeding quite well for GRENEDA. Patra and the witches led by Katze hath resorted to the contemptible measure of hiring two mercenaries to destroy the power balance. They hail from Asia, but from Rampan we learned that they are Japanese. Their true identity is still unclear.」
「The mercenaries–『Bewitching Blade』and『Demon Sword』?」
I had heard their names from Kaname’s phone call, and Tamamo nodded.
「They dost appear to be a man and woman who doth move according to their own fancies. Their fighting power is considerably high. They rarely show themselves in battle, but we hath been operating on the assumption that there are 2 of them… and they hath been able to keep the Vatican and Liberty Mason’s operations in check. That situation is what Patra and Katze hath taken advantage of.」
「What kind of people are they? I would like a bit more news.」
Aria asked, making a face like she had a bad feeling about this.
「Bewitching Blade is an ordinary soldier and Demon Blade is an ESP user. Bewitching Blade wields a katana and gun, and by all reports, is a man that is a skilled melee fighter similar to the Tohyama siblings. Demon Sword wields some unknown magical power and excels at long-range combat–she is a very dangerous witch.」
A normal fighter and ESP user. Short-range and long-range. It seems that they work together to cover for each other.
「That’s troublesome, isn’t it? I’ve never even seen or heard of these guys.」
Riko cocked her head out the side in puzzlement.
「Even so, their appearance is worrying. Their appearance is strange in the fact that DEEN was not aware of their existence. In short we doth not know where these 2 dark horses came from. These two should surely not be engaged lightly. Perhaps even Baskerville would be annihilated. We should aim to isolate them from the group and engage them separately as a group.」
Tamamo said… evaluating our respective fighting strength conservatively.
But could these two really annihilate Baskerville?
That’s a bit hard to imagine them doing.
「Now in regards to DEEN and GRENEDA’s struggle to capture bases, the situation doth proceed in much the same manner. In the southeast– there we have Germany and Egypt deploying their forces, while in the west-northwest DEEN’s forces in the Netherlands and UK are being driven off. In Italy, the Vatican hath been cut off and are suing for reinforcement.」
My grades in geography were poor, so I began to fidget, wondering where each country was located, but the general idea was that we were losing, and they were asking for help.
「But if we hurried and send a bunch of people– we will end up short of hands and Tokyo and Hong Kong will fall. That must be GRENEA’s aim. So we should send a few people and have a flashy battle. That way, we shall lure out GRENEDA’s champions.」
The tactic Tamamo mentioned… are similar to standard Butei tactics.
Rampage Decoy– or『Roughneck Decoy』as it is nicknamed.
Applied to this case, in essence, it calls for Baskerville in Tokyo and Rampan in Hong Kong to stay where they are and solidify their positions.
Then, to send a small number of reinforcements to the deadlocked Europe as『War Decoys』who will stand out.
Those decoys have the job of raising havoc on the frontlines, and while showing off their power, pretend to have actually come to their allies’ aid.
Firstly, DEEN’s troops in Europe will be grateful for the help. Moreover, GRENEDA will get the wrong impression that「We are running short of men」, and when they dispatch the remainder of their forces… the forces that have remained in Hong Kong and Tokyo will surround them and turn the tables.
「We must have a European attack party, and a Tokyo defense party, and our aim must be for their head: Katze, Patra, Bewitching Blade, and Demon Sword. It is also whispered that Bewitching Blade and Demon Sword love each other. If we could capture one party, it may make eliminating the other a simpler matter.」
Concluding that truly brutal strategy, Tamamo, on the whole… received general agreement.
Katze and Patra especially must be apprehended.
Right now, I have a lot of reasons to fight. First, there’s the tanker jacking where I was recently shot. Those 2 are also the criminals who falsified the charges against Kanae-san. Moreover– they hold pieces of Aria’s karagane. Of the remaining 3, they hold 2.
Speaking of karagane…
I haven’t given the one I have to Tamamo.
「I understand you strategy. But… there is one tiny thing I would like to add.」
I took out the karagane that Shokatsu had given me from my uniform pocket and gave it to Tamamo.
「Ah, so thou hast recovered one piece? Then Aria shall stay. I will replace it within her bosom.」
Saying that, Aria snapped alert and nodded earnestly–
「I want to say something to everyone… There’s no way Son was a Scarlet Goddess.」
Aria shook her head.
「To be precise she was『a defective Scarlet Goddess』. Her hair and eyes remained black.」
I said, glancing at Aria’s strawberry blonde twin-tails.
「Even if the original colour is dark, the change in colour due to the introduction of Irokane should be noticeable. Sherlock said as much.」
Tamamo explained.
Hearing that… I turned toward Reki.
「What was the original colour of your hair? Was it blonde?」
「It was silver grey.」
That was unexpected.
I tried to picture a silver haired Reki… and yeah, it was a good colour for her. She’s match Haimaki even more.
If I had to give it a name, It’s call it Normal Reki/ Snow Reki.
And if Aria’s hair was originally blonde, does that mean I should I call her Cherry Blossom Aria/ Gold Aria?
**********************************************************
On New Year’s Day– while it was still Butei High winter vacation, I returned for some independent target practice in ASSAULT.
That evening, I checked the『Weapons For Sale Bulletin Board』in front of the ASSAULT building.
With the loss of my Scramasax… I lost not only a longsword, but also a defensive item. I had always worn it on the back of my bulletproof uniform, and it had protected me from blows and attacks from the rear.
There were always those who were hurting for money around New Year’s, so I was hoping there’d be quite a few lucky finds…
As I stared at the boards– *Grab!*
I was grabbed by the scruff of my neck.
Craning my head around… ASSAULT’s PE teacher, Ranbyou frowned at me.
Standing next to her blinking and applauding was INQUESTA’s Yutori Takamagahara-sensei.
「Is this a reprimand, or praise?」
I asked the two female teachers,
「I wonder…?」
Takamagahara said with a smiling face.
「Come!」
Ranbyou barked, looking just about ready to blow her top.
What is with this new pattern of behaviour? For some reason, it’s making me nervous.
**********************************************************
As a light snow fell from the night sky, I was dragged by my neck– to the 5th floor office of the headmaster in the MASTERS building.
「Headmaster Midorimatsu. Pardon us, but it is Takamagahara. We’ve brought Kinji-kun.」
「Yes, yes, please come in.」
Hearing the male voice from inside, Takamagahara opened the door and stepped in.
「Yes, thank-you.」
Sitting behind the same mahogany desk where we had discussed the issue of me dropping out was Headmaster Midorimatsu… Or was it? I get the feeling that it was him, but something feels different. I can’t really remember that much about him–『The Real Invisible Man』Headmaster Midorimatsu
「First of all, let me congratulate you『Enable』. You have been given your second name. In the 5 years since this school’s official opening, the International Butei Federation has historically only recognised 14 of our students. You are the second in as many years to achieve that accomplishment. You have been assigned a non-standard Chinese kanji to go along with it. Please commit it to memory.」
Speaking briskly, he showed me the character『』written on a water soluble piece of paper.
Being assigned an official second name is an honour… but why the heck was it a non-standard kanji!?
Aria’s Quadra is made up of standard kanji, so why does the IADA have the taste of a middle schooler?
「Your track record of making what was until now impossible, possible– that essence is summed up nicely in this one character. Without being embarrassed by your second name, we expect you to do even greater things from now on. Moreover, Class A seems to be turning out quite a few second names, so I have approved a special bonus for Takamagahara-sensei. Afterwards, please take this seal down to accounting.」
Having said this, Takamagahara raised her hands in a bonzai! gesture. I guess that must have been why she looked so happy.
「Now then– from here on, there is less good news.」
Is this the reason for Ranbyou’s sullen behavior?
Glancing at the official papers that had been spread on the desk when we had entered the room… I saw that some of them were from America and China. One bulky folder bore the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.
「You are a particularly unusual student, aren’t you? The assessment of your abilities is undetermined. You have good points and bad points, and your good points are immensely good, but your bad points are immensely bad. Above all else– the worst is that you have attracted foreign eyes.」
Midorimatsu shuffled some papers on the desk.
「From Italy, it’s all positive, but from America and China… and especially England, it’s extremely negative. Just recently, you were added to the list of dangerous people, you know.」
Oh… they must have gotten a complaint from people that disagreed with me. I knew it would happen eventually.
While deep down I wanted to stand up to it defiantly, since I was in the headmaster’s office, I took on a contrite expression.
「That is all fine. I’ve dealt with 2 or 3 problem children in my time. Helping such interesting student’s grow is the real pleasure of being a teacher. However, your type make me want to give up teaching.」
Ouch!
My type. Are there that many like me?
「… As it is, formal complaints from foreign governments are hard to ignore. And, to be honest, it couldn’t come at a worse time. The Office of Butei is trying to strengthen its ties with the National Safety Commission we are like dogs and monkeys with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is a part of the Public Safety division. The enemy of my ally is the enemy, so in recent years the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declined to shield the Office of Butei.」
More or less… somehow… I understand what Midorimatsu is driving at.
He’s trying to explain Butei High fundamental policy of non-interference whenever a student gets in trouble too often It causes trouble for ASSAULT and INQUESTA as well… and it’s a bigger problem the stronger the Butei is.
Therefore there is some limit. Although I’ve kept a low profile at school, I’ve been dragged into all kinds of underworld dealings.
「… As it is, formal complaints from foreign governments are hard to ignore. And, to be honest, it couldn’t come at a worse time. The Office of Butei is trying to strengthen its ties with the National Safety Commission we are like dogs and monkeys with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is a part of the Public Safety division. The enemy of my ally is the enemy, so in recent years the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declined to shield the Office of Butei.」
「For those reasons, I am truly sorry– Kinji Tohyama-kun. Butei High must punish you.」
–Punishment. It’s become necessary due to external pressure.
「Am I being suspended?」
I asked about my punishment, but Midorimatsu shook his head from side to side.
「You are being removed from Team Baskerville. There has been a serious complaint lodged against you by England.」
…! –So that’s what it was!
I felt like I had been sniped from long range.
To quickly explain what was going in behind the scenes, Midorimatsu had added the word『England』– In order to bring their precious S-Ranked Butei back home, they took her away from me.
Ever since the April hijacking of flight ANA 600, the English Butei Office had tried to use politics to do so. The cowards.
The English Butei Office, the English Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Butei Office, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Tokyo Butei High… they had been talking, and it had taken them 9 months to land this long-range attack.
Just like G-3 and Son’s fight, they wanted me dead. On top of that, America had demonstrated their disapproval of G-3’s association with me, but I can’t do anything about that.
As for China– regardless of my relationship with Hong Kong Rampan, the area was administered from Shanghai.
Unsurprisingly, their complaints overlap… And as for Butei High, facing international pressure–especially from the sour England– had to issue some kind of『punishment』against me.
–So they are trying to separate Aria and I, huh…?
With this punishment they’d be able to claim to China and America『See, we have punished Kinji Tohyama.』It was fascinating, and thinking about it from the perspective of Butei High, quite a clever trick.
As I was thinking that, Midorimatsu continued… adding something surprising.
「However, Tohyama-kun, due to your anti-social tendencies, if you were alone in your studies you would become truly isolated. If that happened, you wouldn’t be able to grow, so how about we find you another Team?」
「… Another… Team?」
No way! I don’t want to be put with people I don’t know.
Seeing my eyebrows immediately furrow like the true unsociable person I am– Midorimatsu continued.
「I’ll explain this at length with you new Team Leader. It’s a Team of especially difficult problem children, and you’ll join them as an auditor. Ah, yes, here is the document. It explains everything.」
With a *Plop!* he passed an A4 envelope with the Butei High logo on it to me.
Then tidying up the other documents, he shuffled papers around and moved on to attend to other business.
「Uh.. Excuse me…」
Still holding the papers about my new Team in hand, I addressed Midorimatsu–
「– The headmaster said『It explains everything』, so everything is explained, Tohyama-kun. Now, let’s go.」
Takamagahara-sensei urged and immediately led me outside of the headmasters office.
Behind us, Ranbyou watching our backs us and keeping alert.
Behind– I’m already forgetting about him, but it seems that these two don’t want to disturb the temper of the most dangerous person in all Butei High–Headmaster Takeru Midorimatsu.
I’ve heard rumours in middle school that Takamagahara wandered Kosovo, Macedonia, and Afghanistan doing all kinds of jobs until her fateful meeting with the Precious Orchid– the Hong Kong yakuza’s Ranbyou who remained on guard. All this against the man who looked like an ordinary office worker you’d see on the train, Headmaster Midorimatsu.
It looks like… they don’t dare defy him. I should do the same.
Finally reaching the elevator with bulletproof doors, it appeared that the tension in the air evaporated, and Ranbyou said,
「If you’re getting money, then you need to treat me at the host club, Yutori!」
Grabbing Takamagahara-sensei’s large breasts, she tried to extort her– Meanwhile, turning my back on them, I cautiously opened the envelope,
I quickly ran my eyes over the document… trying to find the name of the troublesome Team where I was being placed…『Constellation』…?
I think I recall from somewhere that the Team Leader is Jeanne D’Arc. Jeanne, huh?
It was a small mercy that it was a Team I was acquainted with, but I wonder what they did?
Now that I think about it, I did get a call from her the other day.
On first impressions… I have a bad feeling about this year.
*********************************************************
Of course, I still fully intended to continue to take part in FEW as『a former member of Baskerville』.
However, I would take part in academic as『a member of Constellation』.
I wonder if this will hurt my ability to work with Aria and the rest…
But that’s not all there is to it.
Before Baskerville was formed, myself, Aria, Shirayuki, Riko, and Reki had each fought and moving past that, finally formed a cohesive Team.
Like rain helps to gather dirt, our bonds became stronger, and with each member’s high power except me, it really was a very good team.
Now when I’m removed from the roster, I wonder how much that will hurt Aria?
She was so fixated on the International Butei Federation listing, but my name will be scrubbed from even there.
It will be hard to tell them. Especially Aria.
If I don’t tell her though, it will be like pressing a switch to make her angry. She’ll say something like: I’ll open a wind hole in you for this new year!
I’m depressed… Since coming back to Japan, why have I only had problems?
*************************************************************
It was several hours after I had received the Headmasters notice of personnel change.
Jeanne and I had an emergency Team Constellation executive meeting.
For some reason, Jeanne chose the family restaurant『Roxy』, and as I entered the restaurant,
「Tohyama. Over here…」
In a truly apologetic manner, the dispirited Jeanne made a slight gesture to beckon me over.
She was wearing black stockings underneath her Butei High sailor suit uniform skirt.
So the Diamond Dust Witch was cold on this snowy day.
「What happened, Jeanne?」
I selected a drink from the drink bar, the moved to sit across the table from her…
「I lost my credits for Caravan II.」
Jeanne’s cheeks flushed as she averted her ice blue eyes.
She always looks me in the eyes when we talk, but this time she is embarrassed to look my way.
Seeing that I had walked into some kind of situation, I really felt bad for her.
Even so… she really is a beautiful girl. Just as always.
With a good face and a good figure, to all external appearances, she’s flawless. Like a film actress or a carved sculpture.
… Personally though, this beautiful girl is not right for me.
「As it is, we all have to repeat the class…」
「So you lost credit for the field trip. You just get to go again to get the credit, isn’t that like a bonus?」
「You were short on credits this term too and will have to repeat a classes, so don’t act so superior.」
Jeanne’s blue eyes stared daggers at me as she huffed.
Jeanne had made the switch from apologetic, to venting her anger.
And when a girl needs to vent her anger, she might use guns or swords.
I have plenty of experience of Aria in this situation, so with a sigh, I switched tacks. There’s not use in blaming Jeanne.
「Why did you lose credit for Caravan II?」
「I left something behind. In Japan.」
Jeanne bit her finger a bit as her eyes dropped to her coffee cup.
「What did you forget?.」
「Constellation Vice-Leader, Nakasorachi, and Members Shimaisago and Kyougoku.」
「Wai.. You forgot people? Hold on, I saw the roster in MASTERS… and it didn’t list everyone from Constellation, just you. W-what happened?」
「I’ll explain it with drawings, Tohyama.」
「No, that’s alright. Just tell me.」
「We were supposed to meet at Changi International Airport in Singapore. I arrived alone, and no matter how long I waited, then never showed up. Nakasorachi lost her luggage on the way to the airport, Shima missed the plane, and Kyougoku was absent for mental health reasons. Because of that, MASTERS gave me another test.」
Even with her explanation… I don’t understand. What the heck is this!?
According to the rules, the number of excusable absences is limited to one per Team.
With 3 absences, of course they’d be disqualified. But it’s unheard of for them to set a class trip as an additional exam.
「… Are you going to Singapore again?」
「No. The travel agency that’s partnered with Butei High can only get tickets to Singapore for December… However, there were extra tickets where the third-year’s trip, Caravan V, was going, so I was ordered to go along to Europe. Even though the curriculum is meant for third-years.」
「Europe, huh? That’s really dangerous for you. Especially as a member of DEEN.」
「– On the contrary, it’s the place where I can do the most good. The Vatican, Liberty Mason, and the other survivors of I.U. have been calling for help. I can turn this catastrophe to good purpose, Tohyama.」
Jeanne looked up, and there was a gleam in her eye.
She had embraced the order to take the higher level work of Caravan V.
「I already discussed this with Tamamo We will be pressing forward to the front lines in Europe, cutting our way into Pars. Don’t worry. France is my home country, so we’ll have the advantage of the land.」
For me… this has been one catastrophe turning into another catastrophe.
This is Tamamo’s strategy of Rampage Decoy– or『Roughneck Decoy』
And I’m the one stuck as the decoy. You’ve already decided that by yourself.
Well… I’ve already been abroad before, so you can’t say that I’m not use to it or don’t have the courage.
At any rate, it’s my duty to take charge of DEEN and I must get back Aria’s karagane. I can’t leave the job I should do to others.
So.. somewhat half-heartedly, I said:
「Alright, I’ll go with you.」
I said to Jeanne, who didn’t seem confident that she could perform the role of decoy by herself… and hearing my words, she answered
「Thank-you, Tohyama. I believe that we will meet Nazis in Paris, three generations in the Jeanne D’Arc family ago… My great-grandmother fought as a resistance fighter, so I think they are my fated enemies. You have my deepest thanks for your valour and willingness to go into battle.」
My grandfather was an ally of Germany back then, though.
But yesterday’s friends are today’s enemies.
Weren’t Shokatsu and I able to come to a clear resolution? Just to survive for that day?
*********************************************************
It was January 5th, but the feeling of the new year hadn’t passed.
The former Leader of Baskerville, now Auditor of Constellation– I took the through service from the Yokosuka Line to the Sobu Line and arrived at the 2nd passenger terminal of the Narita Airport.
As the Auditor, I arrived significantly earlier than the flight departure…
Our meeting place this time was a domestic location, in the international departure waiting area– the Narita International Airport Starbucks.
And upon arriving, I met with the dimwit Constellation’s heavyweight, Misaki Nakasorachi.
She had a huge suitcase sticking up from the seat opposite her and was earnestly reading a book titled『21 Habits for Highly Effective Conversation.』Her bangs are covering her glasses, so I have no idea how she can see.
With a coffee in one hand I walked up,
「Morning. So you’re wearing glasses today?」
As soon as I had said that, Nakasorachi jerked her head up and closed her book with *Clap!*, then looked as if she scares herself with the noise.
She was wearing a uniform skirt and, for some reason, she hid the book under her large buttocks. Then,
「Ah! G-g-g-m-m-m-ing, Mr. Auditor!」
That was probably supposed to be『Good morning, Mr. Auditor.』It looks like she didn’t take much away from that book.
Then her long black hair rustled as she gave a deep bow.
Then her glasses slipped off, and Nakasorachi panicked again.
This is Team Constellation’s Vice-Leader…
I had been anxious about this from the very beginning.
— Misaki Nakasorachi is a CONNECT operator. However, because of her crippling social anxiety, she is unable to face people. Despite that, she is able to use communications equipment and articulate like a professional announcer, so I have to call her a strange girl.
「Waaah waaah, a man, a guy, To-yma-kun! D# y$ n% h&e # %t???」
Standing at rigid attention, she looked at me, agitatedly mumbling something unintelligible.
「Huh?」
「N-n-n-n-othing! I-I-I w-w-w-was t-t-talking to m-m-m-myself, s-s-so p-p-p-please d-d-d-don’t mind m-m-me. S-s-s-s-sorry! Th-the b-b-b-bench is e-e-e-empty!」
Still fumbling for words, Nakasorachi removed her luggage from the seat across from her.
Then, *Chick!*
Her ridiculously large suitcase opened, and a whole bunch of clothes, books, headphones, and a gun! fell out.
H-h-how pathetic…!
「O-o-oi! These guns could be a problem!」
I said as I picked up a gun from beneath one of Nakasorachi’s nightshirts… H-hey! It’s heavy! What is this!?
…A C-Colt Anaconda…!
It’s a .44 magnum that looks like an oversized pistol meant to kill bears and water buffalo in a single shot. What’s more, this is the largest 8-inch barrel model!
It’s so heavy. So why are you carrying it, Nakasorachi.
「You… can shoot such an strange gun?」
Because we were in an airport, I wrapped it up in the shirt and handed it back to her.
「I-I-I’ve never shot it.」
Huh!?
「Then why do you have it…!?」
「W-w-well, I’m scared of guns… so I don’t know much about them, and when I tries to look them up, I got scared, so I ended up not knowing anything at all. But the school rules require me to carry one, and the man at the gun shop recommended th-this one. I bought it because it was 30% off and not expensive…」
Nakasorachi stammered as she clutched the bundle of her unfashionable underwear.
Ah! So it appears that they took advantage of her ignorance and weak will in order to clear out their inventory.
Now that I look more closely, it’s one of the early Anaconda models with one of those problematic barrels.15
But wait, you said you were afraid of guns. Did you never think that maybe you weren’t suited to being a Butei?
Even so… Nakasorachi has a full figure. As a girl, though, she probably doesn’t want to hear about her weight. She has the right build to shoot this large calibre gun, though.
There is a certain pipsqueak I know who uses two large guns though, so I shouldn’t be too critical…
I thought that, as I watched Nakasorachi unintentionally expose her plump thighs as she returned the avalanche of items back to her suitcase.
「Is that a pocket knife?」
「It’s a higonokmi16. I have it because we’re required to carry a knife.」
「That gun and blade combination don’t suit you… And what is this red string?」
「A hair tie, cat’s cradle is my hobby.」
… A high school student’s hobby is cat’s cradle…
Rather, with this conversation, no one nearby will look at us.
When I went to throw some rubbish in the bin, I felt eyes staring at my back, but when I turned around, they started and dropped their gaze. I guess we are pretty suspicious.
Nakasorachi had finished packing her luggage, but there was still time left until the meeting time…
「Let’s do something. How about cat’s cradle?」
Still having down time after finishing her coffee, Nakasorachi asked this question, pulling out a red string… Fitting action to the words, she carefully worked to make something.
「F-Five storey pagoda.」17
A five storey pagoda…! That’s amazing!
「You’re good at this.」
I said what I was thinking, and Nakasorachi blushed red…
…With a nervous laugh, she gave an awkward, crooked smile… I felt kind of guilty… but it was kind of cute. This girl is attractive.
As that happened–
「Tohyama, Nakasorachi, good morning.」
「Hello, Tooyama.」
Jeanne showed up with a bunch of suitcases that appeared to contain her armour, and standing next to her in a hand bra pose was… Watson?
Watson-kun-chan is here?
「Why are you here, Watson?」
「Well, that’s a fine way to say hello? I’m Kyougoku’s proxy…」
Watson grabbed my shoulder and tapped out a message to me with her finger.
What she said was『TAMAMO FEW』–So Tamamo sent her as reinforcements in FEW?
Tamamo… don’t you think that these aren’t enough people? One of them is me.
Watson is from England, so her in-depth knowledge of Europe should come in handy in this struggle. She’s well qualified.
「Proxy, you say? Kyougoku, huh…? From LEZZAD, right? What happened to her?」
I asked Constellation’s Leader, Jeanne.
「She has always taken correspondence courses, and when she tried to leave her house after half a year, she panicked, hyperventilated, and had to be hospitalised. This time we have a full number of people going.」
「…」
Now that we’re at the airport, I can’t drop out now…
I’m stuck having to go on the trip. Each of them bear part of the blame for having to repeat the course. So, none of the remaining members of Constellation were allowed to be in charge.
As the Auditor, I was the one responsible to make sure everyone was present prior to departure.
「Alright, let’s go. Be careful!」
As I gave that order, Jeanne snapped to her feet, Watson did the same beside her, and Nakasorachi fell down for some reason, her suitcase spilling open once more.
Even if it were only a shinai, I’d like to hit that undisciplined butt, but I don’t have one.
「Count off!」
I order to prevent disaster, I wanted to confirm the number of people.
「One.」
「Two.」
「Th-three!」
「Fo~ur!」
Huh?
I heard a voice that wasn’t Jeanne, Watson, or Nakasorachi. The extra speaker was a girl.
But I didn’t see anyone, so I titled my head in confusion…
Craning my neck, I saw a French girl’s face peek out from behind Watson.
「Toot~!」
Approximating a klaxon noise with her mouth, she appeared…
With light, fluffy mocha colour hair, the girl looked up at me with big, round eyes. I’d guess she’s about… 135 cm tall. Forget Aria, she was even shorter than Mamiya. On her back was a backpack that an elementary schooler might use. There was a huge bow about 20 cm large on her pink patent leather shoes.
Then… there were her clothes. It was a pile of pink and while frills. On her head was a huge bow bigger than her head,. More were attached to the cuffs of her sleeves and the hem of her skirt–which was covered by an apron–, and she also wore white knee-high socks covered with pink heart patterns.
And, connecting her apron straps was a sailor collar…
「Mr. Auditor-sama, this is the first time we’ve met. My name is Shimaisago-chan!
As I thought, she’s a Butei…and a member of Constellation too..!
I looked her over to make sure, but I could just make out the vestiges of a Butei High girl’s uniform from the clothes. Buried in the folds of her puffed, strawberry-like sleeves was the school insignia.
It must be some kind of reworked uniform, and it’s on the level of Riko’s. Almost nothing remains of the original pattern.
「Why do you look so shocked, Tohyama? She’s an A-Rank Butei from LOGI. Among the second-years, she’s widely seen as Gouki Mutou’s rival. The star of Constellation. 」
「You’re kidding me! Her legs are too short to reach the accelerator! Or is possible to be an A-Rank in LOGI with a tricycle? 」
I fell into an ASSAULT member’s manner of speech… but Shima… with tears already forming in her eyes… made a choked sob and looked ready to burst into tears. What a weakling.
Having made a girl cry, Jeanne huffed at me–
「It’s alright, don’t cry, don’t cry. I’m sorry. I… shouldn’t have said that. I apologise… Let’s get going. Nobody get lost! 」
As I did not want to become flaked potatoes, I humoured Shima until she stopped crying,
Then, everyone lined up, and we went through the departure gate…
The information screen said that flight JAL 405 to Paris was departing at gate 63, so I headed that way… *Tap!* *Ta-tap!*
Hearing footsteps behind me, I looked back and saw Jeanne, Watson, and Nakasorachi, but at the end where Shima should have been, there was no one.
Someone’s already deserted!
Paling, I looked around and spotted her.
Running in her patent leather shoes, she was running full speed towards a window next to an entirely different gate.
Then, climbing up onto the frame, she plastered herself against the glass. What is she doing?
「O-Oi, Shima! Didn’t I just say not to wander off!?」
Running over, I suppressed the urge to grab her by the shoulders and shake her to make her pay more attention…
「Mr. Auditor-sama, please look! It’s the biggest plane in the world, and Airbus A380! At full capacity is can carry 853 people, and it’s max take-off weight is 560 tonnes. It has two floor, like a flying hotel. Ah… it’s perfect! And so big…!」
Her eyes as big as an anime characters, her cheeks flushed. Speaking of manga, I got the impression that hearts were fluttering around her head.
「Ha ha ha! Shima loves busses, trains, aeroplanes, and any kind of large vehicle. I don’t know what she loves the most. Maybe an Aegis-class cruiser?」
The unruffled Team Leader Jeanne laughingly explained from beside me.
「That’s not true! It’s the nuclear powered aircraft carriers! Kyaa~!」
As if speaking of some unrequited love, Shima covered both her cheeks with her hands.
Her facial expression and actions perfectly matched those of a young girl in love.
So… although very small, Shima loves huge machines, huh? What a tragic hobby for a high school girl to have. Although, that must make her a very popular person in LOGI.
「Shi-Shima. We have the make-up test, keep that in mind! We have to get to gate 63, now! Do you want to repeat the class if we miss our flight?」
「Ah… What a beautiful high bypass ratio turbofan. It’s the only 4-engine, wide-body aircraft in the world… My heart won’t stop throbbing… I can smell the oil…!」
「–That’s it! You can write it a love letter later!」
Used to dealing with pipsqueaks, right then I grabbed the collar of her extremely heavily customised uniform.
「P-please let me go~! A picture, please at least let me take a picture!!!」
Using Ranbyou’s cat-grab technique, I then dragged her through the departure gate to Paris as she howled. On the way, Nakasorachi’s suitcase opened twice.
…Dammit!
Why did I have to be put on such a Team?
The airhead staff officer Jeanne, undisciplined Nakasorachi, the hikikomori Kyougoku, and the crybaby Shima.
The Baskerville girls were a troublesome lot, but when it came down to it, they took orders– I could count on them as Butei. I don’t feel an ounce of that with these guys.
I can’t trust anyone. Constellation might have fine team name, but it’s just full of good for nothing junk.
Working with people like this, you could lose your life…
***********************************************************
Upon reaching gate 63, Shima finally seemed to give up, and–
Why are Aria, Shirayuki, Riko and Reki were here…!?
The four Baskerville girls spotted us, and came over.
It looks like they got my painstakingly crafted message…
「We’re here… to see you off. That’s why we came.」
Aria said, not at all angry, but rather genuinely timidly. greeting me with a sigh.
「Riko wanted to make it a surprise, and the airport allowed us to come to boarding gate. We got the message you sent from MASTERS. You’ve really been removed from Baskerville, haven’t you?」
「Kin-chan… No matter if you’re fired or not, I’ll still work just as hard. I’ll prove it!」
「Surprise, Ki-kun! You work hard on your new Team, OK?」
They were each coming to grips with it in their own way, I felt. This was… heavy…!
It seems that they all sat around and talked to each other and decided not to get mad. That’s what it looks like.
As soon as I looked away, Shima made a dash for the window, and Nakasorachi chased after her…
Of all those involved with FEW, only Reki stepped forward…
「No matter what Team you are on, I will be your strength. We of the Ulus, no matter what, no matter how long, will always be on your side.」
Being close and looking up at me as she said that–
Aria and Riko had to hold Shirayuki back.
「Leave Tokyo to us! If Bewitching Blade or Demon Sword show up, we’ll show them what for! Fu fu!」
「You be sure and save Europe, alright? And Kinji… I’ll be working on your behalf to get you back on Baskerville.」
Aria said, pointing up slightly.
Up. She means the authorities… she’s going to try to negotiation with the Anglo-Sino Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
「… Thank-you. I owe you for that. I’m completely helpless in this case.」
「This is a favour. But I’ve lost track of how many favours we’ve done for each other.」
In response to my honest thanks, Aria grinned showing her canines.
「Jeanne, you work hard too! Here, Ayaya made this or you as a farewell gift! Be sure to spread the『cuteness』of Japan in Paris!」
Standing on tiptoe, Riko *Plopped!* something on her head.
She placed a white, fluffy haired nekomimi headband on her head.
It was thick and looked heavy, and appeared to be a directional listening device… but why make it that shape, Hiraga-san?
「Then, Meow! Meow! Meow!」
Jeanne’s former comrade from I.U. said as she arranged the directional nekomimi…
They must be good friends.
「Meow?」
Jeanne made a cat noise as she swatted playfully with her hands.
C-Cute…!
She made such a drastic change from her usually serious self. For me, that nekomimi is a dangerous thing. I hope she has enough discretion to use that dangerous carry-on item sparingly.
*****************************************************
Flight JAL 405 smoothly completed a turnover the same Tokyo Bay that I often divided down into–
I’m leaving Japan again so soon.
I thought as I sat in my window seat, but I couldn’t get too sentimental about it because Shima pushed herself up against my window. She excitedly watched the jet wing’s slight changes in shape, but the way her breathing became ragged was disturbing.
Next to Shima sat Nakasorachi who did not seem to like flying, who quickly had to reach for an airsick bag and would have to wait a bit before eating the in-flight meal. She looks like the kind of kid that couldn’t finish eating lunch during the lunch break.
This time, the jet was headed against the rotation of the Earth, so we kept flying on and on westward, chasing the Sun.
That means that the Sun outside the window had already set, bringing night to Japan, causing me to lose my innate sense of time. Night and day soon lost meaning–
「I’m sorry… for this, Tohyama. Tamamo said you weren’t used to being overseas.」
Laying a hand on my shoulder from the Economy seat beside me, Jeanne apologised. Even back at Roxy, she was apologetic. She must feel responsible.
The beautiful girl across from me, saying something so embarrassing, I averted my eyes…
「Don’t worry about it. You heard what Reki said, and with Mochizuki from AMBULANCE and Kagataka from LEZZAD chasing after me… being in Japan is a bit complicated.」
I said, trying to give her peace of mind.
In response, Jeanne giggled and gave a cute smile–
Then she narrowed her lashed eyes bewitchingly.
Then with Shima and Nakasorachi in front and Watson behind, she drew her rose coloured lips close to my ear.
「Then I guess you’re running away with me, huh? Eloping, even.」
She whispered something far more adult and seductive than her own age.
「What…?」
I spun towards her.
「Fu fu! Good night, Tohyama.」
Jeanne narrowed her eyes suggestively again, then drew up a blanket over herself.
Then, closing her ice blue eyes– she calmly fell asleep.
…She didn’t say『Just Kidding!』
The sleeping Jeanne wasn’t even slightly embarrassed, and I just stared at this beautiful girl straight out of a film.
Jeanne is beautiful, in any case…
Having someone who likes you is only natural, but I’m a bit worried knowing it’s a girl.
But this is the first time I’m going to my partner Aria’s birthplace of Europe. With Jeanne.
I always thought I’d be going there with Aria.
My life is just full of surprises. Actually, that might be true for everyone.
[END]
*********************************************************
1. Children’s game played like baseball but with 2 bases instead of 3.
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPG-7
3. Japanese idol, model, and blogger.
4. Sweet bun with Anko (sweet red bean paste) filling
5. Japanese musician, entertainer, journalist and sumo commentator. He is the front man of the heavy metal band Seikima-II, and is known for always working entirely in character. –Wikipedia
6. Google ‘traditional mochi making’ and you’ll see a video. Kinji is hey guy who has to stick his hand into the mortar bowl and constantly shift the mochi around without getting hit by the mallet wielder (Kinzou)
7. Reference to a Japanese proverb: ‘A Tiger at the Front Gate, a Wolf at the Back’, same meaning as ‘Between a rock and a hard place’.
8. Original word ‘nekodamashi’ refers to a purportedly unconventional sumo technique of clapping hands in front of an opponent’s face to make them blink and gain a slight advantage.
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dhaku_Uta_Gassen
10. Apparently there’s some special noodle dish they eat on New Years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshikoshi_soba
11. No direct translation for this, but it’s an annual NHK program airing on New Year’s. This part specifically airs the ceremonies at several prominent shrines around Japan with minimal news commentary and predictions for the new year in the lead up to midnight where an official greeting is made by the broadcasters to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
12. Tradition to ring a bell 108 times to welcome the new year to symbolize the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief, and to get rid of the 108 worldly desires regarding sense and feeling in every Japanese citizen. –Wikipedia
13. In Japan, couples are legally married when they update their koseki (a legal document registration cards listing family, births, deaths, adoptions, marriage, divorce, etc… required to be kept by Japanese law)
14. 7,5, and 3 are lucky numbers in Japan, so it’s important for parents to get their children to visit the shrine at these ages.
15. Early models of the Anaconda had problems with accuracy, and later modification were made to the barrel design to drastically improve accuracy
16. A Higonokami is a type of folding pocket knife native to Japan. The knife has no locking system, but is a friction folder, using the friction of the swivel and/or the pressure of the user’s hand on a protruding tang to prevent the knife from folding during use. –Wikipedia
17. Pattern in cat’s cradle. Fun how-to vid! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gogx_pE96P4
