Chapter 57
[The Flow’s Judgement]
“Thank you for saving me last time . ”
I and Rin were walking along the river bank opposite the elementary school we used to go to .
Sunlight is pouring from above .
“Yup . ”
I continued walking silently for a while .
A nostalgic landscape, I often ran along this river bank with Rin and Tsurugi .
“When I was saved by Kazato, I remembered our childhood somehow . ”
“…why?”
“Do you remember that Tsurugi was bullied?”
Rin kicked a rock under her feet and said .
“…Oh . ”
Speaking of which, that was the case .
“It was you who always protect the bullied Tsurugi . ”
I can’t think of him being bullied now though .
“When I became the target of bullying too, it was you who protected me .
That’s why at that time, the little Kazato was injured . ”
“Was there such a thing?”
“There was .
But Kazato has changed . In the past, you were more energetic, and how do I say it…you were amazing . ”
“Well, that’s how everyone was like when they were little right . Or rather, I was like that huh . ”
“Yup . …After all, the reason that Kazato changed was because your ability did not manifested right .
You might get angry if I say it like this though . ”
“…”
Certainly I’m angry .
ーHe wasn’t even aware that he changed that muchーshe selfishly thought like that after all .
“Kazato, have a strong sense of justice, and wasn’t you longing for the Self-Defense Forces all this time . ”
It’s normal for a child to longed for various things right .
Moreover, if I really don’t have ability, I wouldn’t have wanted to join the Self-Defense Forces now after such a long time .
No, I’m not sure .
The only feeling I have for the Self Defense Force right now is “hostility,” so it may seem like that .
“Tsurugi has been waiting the whole time . ”
Rin continues .
I ask back .
“For whom?”
“Isn’t it obviously for you, Kazato . ”
Rin’s tone got a little stronger .
“Leaving you who have have a strong admiration for ability, I and Tsurugi manifested ahead . ”
Catching up with the rock she kicked, Rin kicks it again .
“But, when we were children, we hid our ability because we knew that Kazato would be shocked .
Then, it just continues on since then…”
“Is that so . ”
“A long time ago, Tsurugi had said it right . “I want to join the Self Defense Force with Kazato . I want us to protect the city together . ”
“Is that so…”
“Even now, he still thinks like that the whole time . ”
“…so what?”
What do you mean to say after telling me that at this point of time .
You want me to know Tsurugi’s feeling?
That kind of thing…won’t come true anymore right…
“…Did Rin come to persuade me?
To make me take that skill development . ”
I said something unnecessary again .
“No…! It’s not like that, I…”
“I’m sorry… You just don’t want me to think badly of Tsurugi right .
I know . I also didn’t mean to say that . ”
“Yeah… I don’t want Kazato and Tsurugi to break up their friendship…”
It became silent again for a while .
Rin seems desperately looking for something to say .
I was staring at the end of the road along the river bank
Some long bangs come into my view .
Going straight after climbing the stairs, then we’ll arrive at my house .
I saw Rin walking a little behind and said,
“I’m going home . Well, yours is this way too, but you’re going back to where Tsurugi is, right?”
“…Yeah . ”
“Well then . ”
When I tried to climb the stairs on the bank, I was stopped by Rin .
“Wait . ”
“What?”
“Sorry…it’s nothing after all . ”
“What is it…”
I was curious, but without continuing to listen, I started climbing the stairs .
Then, I suddenly remembered something and stopped my legs again .
Rin was looking up at me from below .
“By the way, I was hiding something from you too . ”
“…?”
“I, used to love you until middle school y’know . ”
Since Rin liked Tsurugi, so I quickly gave up .
“Then, see you at school . And please tell Tsurugi and co that I’m sorry . ”
I climb the stairs again .
Rin stood stunned .
Why did I bother telling her that I liked her huh?
I don’t know, but maybe I was just getting a little payback .
Anonymous headquarters .
I was heading to Roll’s room .
First, I wanted to report to Roll about what happened before .
Thinking carefully, I was moving emotionally a while ago, but that was a chance to infiltrate the Self Defense Force .
However, I don’t want to participate in that skill development and it is too dangerous to infiltrate the Self Defense Force .
…Yeah .
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Since Boss may tell me to just go, so maybe it’ll better if I keep it quiet from Roll as well .
Even if it’s for mission, my pride won’t allow me to ask them to let me accept that ability development at this late after all .
My legs were stopped .
“Should I return after all?”
I have no plans with Roll anymore today .
It’s better to go home and relax .
When I thought so,
“Ahー! It’s Shion-kun!”
In the corridor, I was suddenly called from behind, then I looked back .
It was Shikkou-san[1] who was there .
“Shikkou-san . It’s been a while . ”
When Shikkou-san walked here, he taps on my shoulder .
“It’s been a while! I heard from Roll that Shion-kun is going out to play, but what are you doing here?”
“There’s a bit of change to our plan, so my appointment with my friend was cancelled . ”
“Ahー, I see! That means you are free now, aren’t you?”
“Hmm . Well, that’s right . ”
I said so, then Shikkou-san flipped through the documents he had in his hand, stopped his eyes at a certain place, and then returned his gaze to me again .
“Then…, can you help me a bit?
A lot of work was accumulated in the previous case see~ . I want to process it, but there are not enough help~ . ”
“Eh~”
I’m on vacation right now .
Even though it was called a vacation, I was so busy taking care of Renga that I couldn’t rest properly, so I was thinking of going home and relaxing .
I haven’t even healed my shoulder injury .
“Mm . It seems you don’t want to . Come to think of it, Shion-kun is on vacation now huh .
Ah~, I’m in trouble~ . This is Boss’ fault for giving the vacation arbitrarily . I really want him to process the mission himself .
It’ll easy if Kemuri is here, but he’s also on vacation riight~ . I don’t really want to depend on the people at the branch as much as possible, haa~…”
Shikkou-san sighed again and again .
Every time he sigh, his bitter face approaches me .
“Aah~, it can’t be helped . ”
Let’s ask Roll .
If she said yes, there’ll be one less mission for me to handle, right .
“I’m going to Roll’s place for a sec . ”
“Ah, sorry . Roll was dragged by Desuko to do another mission .
That’s why Shion-kun will partner up with other people in this mission . Let’s see who is available now…”
“Eeh…”
“You don’t want to if it’s not with Roll? Then, I’ll increase the reward . How about plus B?”
“No, it’s not about money…”
No matter how much reward I get, I can’t use it anyway .
If I have to go, then it’ll better if it’s with Roll .
Tameiki-san isn’t available .
Shikkou-san . It’ll be impossible if I decline now, right .
He’s already eager to give me a mission .
“Haa~, who’s available now?”
“Riight~ . Only the members on vacation are here now, so umm~, wait a minute, okaay~ . ”
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Shikkou-san takes out his mobile device and scrolls the screen .
“Hikisaki, Inshi, Muhannou, Lily… Hmm, I don’t think there is a person who seems to fit with Shion-kun .
Well, the people who were left are the people who I can’t ask though . ”
Only people who don’t really want to work together, huh .
I met them only once or twice, but everyone left a bad first impression .
“How about Hakunetsu-san and Kuroinu-san?”
“The white and black combination, huh . Those people are probably already going on a mission…hm? But now that you mention it, I haven’t seen them…”
“What happened?”
“Please wait a moment…”
Shikkou-san operates his device for a while, then flipped over the documents in his hand, and quickly read it .
Wrinkles gradually formed between his eyebrows, and after reading all the documents, he shouted, “Ahhーーー!”
“What happened…?”
“T-H-O-S-E G-U-Y-S! They switched the mission log and skipping again!
Shion-kun, let’s go!”
Shikkou-san grab my hand and pull it strongly .
Turning down the hallway and moving up two levels through the elevator, I was taken to a certain room .
“Here…”
It’s the room of Hakunetsu-san and Kuroinu-san .
Shikkou-san leaned on the door and tried to hear the sound inside .
Unfortunately, I don’t think Shikkou-san can hear the sound from this room .
Since the Hakunetsu-san and co did the interior work on their own, this room is soundproof .
I turned on my ability for a moment and listened to the sound inside .
From the inside, I can hear some noisy sounds…
I wonder if they’re playing music with a roaring sound .
“I can’t hear anything . Shion-kun, how about you?”
Excuse me, Hakunetsu-san and Kuroinu-san . This is not a betrayal .
“…I do . ”
Listening to my words, Shikkou-san twisted the doorknob without hesitation .
However, it does not open .
“Looks like the door is locked, right . ”
“Fufufu, Shion-kun . What do you think this is?”
Saying that, the thing that Shikkou-san took out of his pocket was the one that he showed off when he quarreled with Roll before .
Yes, it is a master key .
I see, it can be opened with this, huh .
Shikkou-san inserted the master key into the lock and opened the door .
“Yes!”
I also followed Shikkou-san who was barging into the room .
Shikkou-san then opened the heavy-looking door in the living room .
At that moment, the roaring sounds was released .
In the room, there were Hakunetsu-san who strummed the guitar connected to the amplifier and Kuroinu-san, the bass player .
Dripping sweat, fervently .
They are completely in their own world .
I looked at Shikkou-san who stood still, then I silently erased the music of Hakunetsu-san and co .
The sound doesn’t resonate due to my ability .
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Finally, Hakunetsu-san and co became taken aback .
They stopped and looked at Shikkou-san next to me .
“Geー, Shikkou!”
Kuroinu-san took a step back after seeing Shikkou-san .
“You guys…, I wonder what are you doing?”
Shikkou-san said .
“S-Shikkou-kun . No, this is… That’s right, this is like something to raise our morale before mission, right?”
“Then, what’s with the switched mission log?”
“That is…”
“Guilty . You are going to work on a mission with Shion-kun from now on, so be prepared . Your limit 5 minutes . ”
“Oh…”(TN : They said it in english here, like Oh)
This is the room of Hakunetsu-san and co .
I, Hakunetsu-san, and Kuroinu-san are sitting around the round table in the middle of the room .
“The mission this time is a transaction . We will go to Moon Road to sell equipments to our frequent customer, the Mafia .
Apparently the appointment was at 11:00 pm .
Honestly, I don’t feel like driving, but I’ll just hold on . Even though they are frequent customer, they have a strong temper . They are hard . They’ve been through enough fighting after all . ”
Kuroinu-san said, looking over the documents .
Hakunetsu-san exhaled smoke of cigarette . Kuroinu-san is wearing a suit, but Hakunetsu-san is only wearing a plain clothes .
I was told that I don’t need to change clothes as well .
“Now I understand how thankful we should to Kemuri for always doing this kind of work . ”
Hakunetsu-san said earnestly .
“Do we have to carry the equipment in this mission?”
I ask Kuroinu-san a question .
“No, that’s not our job . Our job is to make the transaction . I think the Shimichi’s side will do the delivery of money and goods . ”
“Is that so . ”
“Then let’s end the meeting . Let’s gather at 5 pm . The secret word is “Live” . ”
Saying that, Kuroinu-san stood up .
I watch the time on the device . It’s still 2 pm, but if it’s Moon Road, won’t we barely be able to make it even if we leave at 5 pm?
“Why don’t we go now?”
I asked Hakunetsu-san who is next to me .
“I would like to go now if I can, but it’s time for me to study . ”
“What about studying?”
“If we don’t have knowledge of what we sell, we wouldn’t be able to make the transaction successful, right?”
“Aah, I see . ”
“During that time, Kuroinu will organize the information . Shion-kun…well, you can just hang around . ”
I can just hang around, huh .
Somehow, I’m sorry . Having said that, there is no work I can do anyway, right…
Huh? Then why am I going?
“…am I necessary for this mission?”
I asked frankly .
Then, Hakunetsu-san said with good grace .
“Of course! You can’t be slacking alone y’know . ”
Well said .