Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

Kaze no Stigma:Volume4 Chapter 3

2013-09-07T23:41:32Z

90.60.49.74: /* Shinjuku RPG */

== Shinjuku RPG ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Kazuma! I heard you made some serious blunder, huh?"

Meeting Kazuma face to face, Ayano said so, extremely enjoyed.

"Aah."

But Kazuma's response was an indifferent nod and without giving any reply he entrusted his back to the wall, his limbs idle.

"Kazuma.....?"

In front of that attitude she couldn't sport with, Ayano forgot the next attack she already prepared and called out to him in doubt.

Kazuma didn't answer. Not like he was ignoring her, more like he didn't even hear.

"What's this?"

She involuntarily asked Kirika but of course, she doesn't have the answer.

"I don't know - By the way Isurugi-kun, how long are you going to stand there, come sit!"

That was the first time Ayano realized she had another visitor.

If this man came together with Kazuma, it means it must be the ''promising newcomer''. From what she heart, he was definitely twenty three years old. But he seemed at least five years younger.

He had an extreme child-face. Because he came here while running, his cheeks were red. He stood stand still outside the room until he was permitted to come in.

But even so, why doesn't he move even after being called in.

"Good grief......"

Kirika stood up with a sigh, briskly walked to Daiki and brought him in by the ear.

"Isurugi policeman! Open your eyes!"

"Y- yes!"

The intense pain and scolding voice, brought Daiki's consciousness back to reality. His muscles extended as if an electric current run through them and stood vertically in front of Kirika.

"Th- this is Isurugi Daiki, I have just arrived!"

"I appreciate your efforts but first of all come sit down"

Responding in a worn-out voice, Kirika seized Daiki's hand. And then pulled him down as if he was a child who lost his composure, making him sit behind her.

He was acting like a suspect in a crime - Kirika thought so seeing him stand on the balls of the feet .

But then, Kirika quickly realized that was a misunderstanding.

While fleetingly stealing glances at Ayano, sitting down, Daiki asked:

"Ah, errr...this miss is....."

"........."

Feeling the approaching headache at the too easy to understand attitude, Kirika pressed her temples.

Even if she said he was a promising newcomer, she couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.

Throwing a sidelong glance at Kirika, Ayano bowed with a graceful gesture.

"I was late in introducing myself. I am the daughter of Kannagi Juugo, my name is Ayano."

Her bow was polite and her salute very friendly.

All her gestures were, each and everyone, unimaginably refined and hugely different from the time she was with Kazuma.

"Y- you are?"

As expected, it seemed even he knew that name, his flushed face becoming nervous.

But, as the the face of the girl he was looking at smiled softly just now, his consciousness flew up to heaven.

"My- my name is Isurugi Daiki! I work as a policeman, I'm twenty three years old and single!"

Daiki returned the greeting in a much too excited voice, with a slightly different focus.

Maybe he was really planning for a formal marriage interview.

But Ayano didn't attack that happy idiot and bowed her head with a serious face.

"I heard about you from Inspector Tachibana. You are a newcomer that she has great hopes for in the future."

"N- no, how unthinkable! My power is almost like nonexistent when comparing it with the Kannagi Clan."

"It has nothing to do with the size of power. It's important what you can do and what you should do with your power. You can protect people with that power, right? I think that's something you can be proud of."

"Is- is that so?"

"Yes, of course."

Although clumsy, he talked freely for the first time.

''"Appearing in disguise, huh?"''

Kirika stared in admiration at Ayano's graceful attitude, so different from normal.

But in reality, this was how Kannagi Ayano appeared to the majority of people.

Without need of using the <<as if>> figurative expression she was the child of a genuine good family and it is obvious that she had a thorough instruction on etiquette.

As for Kirika, if their first meeting would have been different, they would have come in contact in a similar manner. As for Ayano, she's not aware of any sort of pretense. This is also the girl's true appearance.

But, in the middle of the pleasant talk, the flawless behavior made a slight crack. While nodding at Daiki's words, her glance seemed turned elsewhere, her lips sharp with dissatisfaction.

It was just for one moment so Daiki didn't notice. But Kirika didn't miss it. Turning in the direction Ayano's eyes just did, Kirika made a small, wry smile.

In one of the room's corners, in a posture with one knee up, Kazuma sits in silence without minding Ayano talking so cheerful with another man. Or perhaps, not even recognizing it.

"........."

Looking at Kazuma in such a state, Kirika's conviction that ''something did happened'' only deepened.

He wasn't a man with such an innocent charm as to behave jealously but normally he would at least make a few sarcastic comments on Ayano's elegant attitude and difference of standard for another.

But before she was able to investigate it, the conversation moved forward.

Kirika lightly clapped her hands and pulled back Daiki's consciousness, floating higher than the clouds.

"Well, it's about time we got to the main point. First Isurugi Daiki, report."

Saying that, Kirika stared coldly at Daiki, now coming to his senses and started speaking about the full particulars of his own error.

"What the fuck was that? Who was she or ''what'' was she?"

On the other side, Kazuma was completely ignoring the noisy surroundings, and was thinking about the girl he met.

She couldn't possibly Tsoi Rin. Even if that was a ghost, it wasn't Tsoi Rin's ghost.

But for some reason, he naturally accepted her as Tsoi Rin.

But, something was odd.

The fact is the girl supposed to be dead four years ago appeared unchanged was very abnormal in itself, what's more, she felt a somewhat uncomfortable feeling from her.

''".........What was it.........?"''

He compared the four years old memory and what he saw an hour before. The girl's smile he remembered in a long time.

Yes, she was a girl smiling with a carefree face.

Her cherry blossoms lips smiling broadly, making her pupils full of vitality sparkle -

"Aah, I see..."

Realizing the source of that uncomfortable feeling, Kazuma slapped his palms. And then spoke loudly without realizing.

"Tsoi Rin's were green, huh..."

That girl's eyes were lapis lazuli blue. Feeling good for finally settling the question, he finally became aware of the outside world.

And then realized that he became the center of attention.

A stunned Kirika. An absolutely bewildered Daiki. And then, because he uttered Tsuo Rin's name aloud, glaring at him with angered eyes was Ayano.

All three's glance, in different ways, pierced into Kazuma.

"Kazuma -" Kirika spoke together with a sigh.

"Did you hear what we were saying?"

"No, not at all," Kazuma responded honestly but the atmosphere couldn't be calmed down just because of that.

Kirika got the better of Ayano, whose eyes emitted a much more dangerous atmosphere and urged Kazuma.

"Just at the right time. Please explain today's fact from your point of view. It seems Isurugi-kun didn't understand anything."

"........I'm sorry"

Daiki made himself small. Everyone ignored him.

"Fine. But I'm telling you, I have yet to get to the bottom of this."

With that introduction, Kazuma started speaking about the circumstances of the fight with <<The Hell Hound>>. The meaningful words he spoke became the focus of the room.

"A class change at Pandemonium, huh? This seems more and more like a game."

After Kazuma's story was finished, Ayano whispered so in an amazed tone. But diagonally from her, Kirika kept quiet with a difficult facial expression.

"Did you thought of something?"

"There's also the site Shinomiya-san told us about. Something similar was written there"

"What you are trying to say is that this is not just <<The Hell Hound>>'s wild delusion?"

"There's also a possibility the people who wrote that think the same way"

Kirika replied so but she wasn't honest about that. The fact that she believes Kazuma's report and, the things written on the bulletin board as true, can be read between the lines from her speech.

But, that ''truth'' was not compatible with Ayano's common sense.

Piling up a great quantity of experience, that after exceeding a fixed number gave a level-up. If one were to raise their level even more, a class chance will happen and acquire a furthermore greater power.

''"That sort of convenient power, where on earth can you find it?"''

Finding a problem, Kirika opened her eyes wide in surprise.

"Ah, I didn't explain that incident. I'm sorry. Because I didn't hear from Shinomiya-san since, I didn't told you about that. Simply put -"

"Ayano-sama"

As if covering Kirika's voice, someone called Ayano from the hallway.

"What?"

At Ayano's short question, the servant replied with courtesy.

"You're wanted on the telephone."

".......Come in"

"Sorry to bother you"

The fusuma was soundlessly opened. Carrying a wooden tray the telephone was placed on, the yet young servant quietly entered.

"Who is it?"

"Someone called Suzuhara."

"Suzuhara?"

Without having any idea who that is, Ayano was puzzled.

"She said she was Ren-sama's classmate."

"Ah, Kanon-chan? - And you -"

While remembering the girl with adorable looks and lively character, Ayano looked at the servant frowning.

The ones serving the Kannagi family obviously know the Clan's occupation and the importance of that duty.

Even if he was a servant, a blockhead that interrupts a meeting for a personal call has no qualifications to work in this household.

But, not realizing he was on the verge of unemployment, the servant continued his words blandly.

"It seems an emergency. She said Ren-sama is missing."

"- Tch! Father?"

"Of course. As well with Genma-sama."
'''(!)'''

While answering frankly, the servant held out the tray. Ayano gripped the phone as if tearing it off.

"Hello?"

Coincident with Ayano's word, an upset voice flew in like a torrent.

"J- just calm down. Tell me what happened since the beginn - he disappeared? Suddenly, in front of your eyes? At Tokyo's Government Office? Why were you - Pandemonium?"

That last word frozen the already strained atmosphere of the room.

In the still as death space, only Ayano's voice resounded for a long time.

=== Part 2 ===

Seiryou Private Academy - this campus built not far of from the Imperial Palace, is a private prestigious school from middle school to senior high school.

With a tradition exceeding a hundred years, it's valued highly for yearly producing successful applicants to national universities with achievements in various fields, a school where a large number of ''children from respectable families'' attend.

And then, on the list of names of freshmen from that Seiryou Gakuen Middle School division, there are Kannagi Ren and the name of that ''friend''.

After school.

One boy approached the girl stuffing textbooks in her bag.

"Kanon -"

Being addressed with overly familiarity, the girl, Suzuhara Kanon turned over her shoulder with a sharp look.

"Do you have some business with me, Takamatsu-kun?"

Her tone was by no standard in a good mood but the boy called Takamatsu didn't notice and drew closer with a smile.

"Don't talk to me in such a reserved manner, call me Takashi. I'll also call you Kanon."

It seems that this boy, although a junior high school student, didn't learn any kind of etiquette until now. After not using honorifics and calling her ''you'', Kanon raised her eyebrows.

"Let's stop somewhere on the way home. The UFO catcher is my specialty. I'll catch whatever you fancy."

While saying so, he casually touched her shoulder. In Kanon's mind Takashi's death punishment was decided.

With a light breath she softly brushed Takashi's hand, the one touching her shoulder, and then -

"Aghyaaah!?"

She sized his middle finger and bent it backwards with all her strength.

Falling to his knees with an unsightly scream, he received a kick on top of his shoulders and rolled on the ground.

"Hey, ''Takamatsu-kun''?"

Kanon overlooked with a cold-hearted gaze Takashi, laying down with his face up.

"As it seems you don't know much about the manners of the world, I'll teach you but don't you think it's very rude to address a person you're not intimate with without using an honorific title?"

Sweeping the shoulder Takashi touched, whipping her hands with a handkerchief and even going as far as throwing that handkerchief in the garbage can - that three layered combo pointed out her real intent: ''I don't want to be touched by the likes of you'' and relentlessly delivered the final blow.

"If you want to chase after girls, you'd better improve your character. Because your face cannot compensate for your vulgar nature."

It was a blunt way of talking but from the classroom there could be heard snickers from here and there. It seems Kanon was not the only one who thought this boy was pushy.

"Y- you...."

"Ah, Ren-kun!"

Kanon looked at the moaning Takashi as if he was filth but the instant she recognized the boy at the entrance of the classroom she transformed to a girl in love.

Immediately forgetting about Takashi's existence, she rushed over with a light manner of walking.

"Re - n -kun!"

"Ah, Suzuhara-san. Did something happen?"

Without showing signs of faltering at the approaching beautiful girl, Ren grinned. Kanon, that seemed about to embrace him, stopped in her tracks, her face changed.

"Ren, kun......?"

"What?"

Intently watching Ren, softly smiling, Kanon thought:

''"As I thought, he changed."''

At almost the same time the new school term started, Ren took a long break. And then when he returned after half a month, he was exhausted, like a different person.

He almost never answered when she accosted him. He wouldn't laugh.

His eyes were dead.

In order to recover his smiling face, Kanon exerted herself greatly. It was annoying but she called her bitter enemy and joined hands with that homo bastard.

But it was useless.

Eventually, the graduation ceremony came and without laughing Ren left school. She knew they were going to the same junior high school but she remembers thinking that she will never see him again.

It seemed that was needless anxiety because when they occasionally met during the spring break Ren was laughing almost normally.

''"But still, something is different."''

She recognized it every time she saw him. He seemed recovered but something changed inside Ren. Although he was only five centimeters taller than her, he seemed big for some reason.

He was still gentle but she couldn't drag him along anymore. Although he drifted away, he would definitely not cross over a certain line - she felt that sort of flexible power.

Just like now. Although she would have simply hugged him before, right now he wouldn't tolerate it.

Something happened. Something related to the unique occupation of the Kannagi Family. A situation she couldn't comprehend deeply injured Ren's delicate heart. And by overcoming it, Ren became stronger.

She thought that side of Ren was cool too. But at times he seemed in a faraway place. ''Was it possible she can't reach him anymore?'' - she had those kinds of thoughts.

''"That's not true, right?"''

She fleetingly looked up at Ren with upturned eyes. Realizing the serious light dwelling in her gaze, Ren directly stared back at Kanon.

"Suzuhara-san, did something happen?"

"- No, it's nothing."

Kanon replied as bright as possible and boldly clung to Ren's arm.

"Su- Suzuhara-san?"

"I told you to call me Kanon."

Embracing Ren by pushing her chest against his arm, Kanon drew closer.

"Eh, well, but......"

Exasperated by Ren's bright red face, Kanon puffed out her cheeks.

''"Ugh, if I don't do something nothing will change!"''

Without shying away from the public gaze, she was thinking of forcing herself on him right on the spot. No, if she were to bring him like this to a deserted place -

"- Hey"

But that anticipation, unimaginable on a twelve year old girl, was obstructed by an impolite intruder. Looking over her shoulder without bothering to hide her displeasure, Kanon demanded an explanation in a thorny tone.

"Ara, Takamatsu-kun, do you still have some business with me?"

Takashi only looked at Kanon without answering and came near Ren. While their noses were almost touching he stared intensely at Ren's features and sneered with open disdain.

"That's what you like, Kanon? A man without redeeming features but his face?"

"What are you trying to say, Ren-kun is very smart. Or did you forget his speech as the freshman's representative?"

"Sh- shut it!"

Having his best effort at sarcasm easily retorted, Takashi was enraged. His eyes, red with anger, seized the surprised Ren who had not understood the situation.

He thought of targeting the short boy that seemed unrelated to fighting, a target fit for a diversion.

He quickly seized the nape of his neck and yanks it up, attacking him with a brutal countenance.
'''(!)''

"You're so composed! Why, there's no value in dealing with the likes of me, huh? Do you want me to hit that pretty face of yours, ahhh?"

"......Huh......."

Blinking at the sudden incident, Ren earnestly tried to communicate.

"It's Takamatsu-kun, right? I'm sorry but I don't understand why you are so upset? Could you please explain the situation before resorting to violence?"

"I can't, you idiot!"

While shouting close to his ears, Takashi hardened his fist and struck.

But that fist was returned next to Takashi's torso, before reaching Ren.

"Wha -"

"Stop right there. If Ren was serious the likes of you are nothing but a pushover."

The man that appeared unexpectedly in the background wrung Takashi's neck. Seeing that man, Kanon murmured unpleasant from the bottom of her heart.

"You came although I didn't call you, huh..."

"Humph, if it's for Ren I'll rush over from the end of the earth!"

Retorting a slightly complicated answer, the man threw out his robust chest. While looking over that dialogue that will never reach a common point with a tired face, Ren said.

"Serisawa-kun...please let him go. It must be painful, right?"

"Ah? Ah - sorry, sorry."

With an awkward smile the man released Takashi, who was about to stop breathing.

While coughing, Takashi scowled at the man who asked for trouble.

"Y- you.......ah?"

But, even by turning his face, he cannot see the man's face. A black wall, completely blocking his field of vision - after realizing it was the chest of the man wearing the high school uniform, he looked upward.

He was huge.

Taller than him by at least twenty centimeters. Meaning that although he was a first year student he was taller than a hundred and eighty centimeters.

In the entire class - no, the entire school there wasn't another one like this kind of guy.

"Se- Serisawa......"

"Yo."

With a broad grin the man - Ren's friend since middle school, Serisawa Tatsuya tightly held Takashi's head.

Gripping his small head with one hand, his huge arm as if ready to crush his skull as it is.

"Uugii.......gaah, ahh......."

Drawing near to Takashi's face, who was groaning in pain, Serisawa showed a ferocious smile.

"Listen! If you have a bone to pick with Ren, I'll be your opponent first. Try remembering that!"

While saying that he shook Takashi's head and heaved him. And then, without sparing a look for the boy flowing in the air, smiling with the whole face, he turned to Ren.

"Hey, Ren. You're not hurt right? I mean, that's impossible. Wahahahahaha"

With a lively laugh, Serisawa approached Ren. But Kanon stood in his way.

Looking up at Serisawa with a cold gaze, Kanon informed him.

"Thank you very much. Now that the nuisance is out of the way you can go back to the zoo. Your wife, the female gorilla, must wait for your return."

"Wh- who's a gorilla you stupid bitch!"

"You, of course it's you! Don't you think anything about being so big at only twelve? If it's not a gorilla, your ancestor must be some sort of anthropoid so please let some research institute have you!"

While looking over the quarrel he had no place in, Ren let out a small breath trying not to attract attention.

Although this kind of thing happened frequently during middle school, all the same he didn't predict it would continue even now. Leaving Kanon aside, nobody imagined Serisawa would be able to enter Seiryou Gakuen.

Since Serisawa was a really poor student except athletics, just how much effort he put to pass the entrance examination.

That noble endeavor and the conclusion that seemed the favor of gods was rumored to be some ''miracle of love''.

Though honestly, Ren would rather have that part forgotten.

But even so, not satisfied by only passing the exam and also being in the same, maybe Serisawa really had some divine protection.

What's more, since Kanon was also in the same class, that goddess of love must have had a black tail hidden underneath her white robes.

"Ren is hanging out with me!"

"Don't be stupid! He's coming with me!"

While Ren was trying to escape from reality their quarrel continued. And at that point they were contesting who is taking Ren on an after school date - without even asking for the feelings of the person himself.

''"Will I be able to stop then, I wonder....still......"'' Ren thought in a glum mood.

If he were to ignore it, it seems their dispute would really turn violent. As expected, he cannot ignore the damage to their surroundings.

Beside, different from the arguments between Nee-sama and Nii-sama, these two's argument wass not so high a level that he cannot stop it.

Ren tried to console himself that maybe practicing here will become useful in the future.

"Hey, listen..." he called out to them with as light a voice as possible.

Both turned their heads simultaneously. Controlling his urge to run away, Ren preserved his smiling face with great effort.

"It - it would be better if we all went. Instead of only two, isn't it more fun if it's all three of us, right?"

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

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

A heavy silence that hurt his stomach fell. Unable to put up with the sense of urgency, the fortunate students closer to the door plotted a speedy escape.

Compared to them, Ren was splendid. The cold sweat breaking out on his back didn't change his smiling face and he boldly received their glare.

After a long, long silence, Kanon and Serizawa lowered their pressuring gaze at the same time.

"- Well, if Ren-kun says so..."

"- There's no helping it."

Extremely unwillingly, they came to an agreement. Leading both of them, Ren tried to leave the classroom.

But a rough sound from the background stopped them in their tracks.

"Hey, hey, please stop it!"

"Shut it!"

A thoroughly angry voice. Without the need to turn around, the development excessively easy to understand made the trio exchange glances with wearily faces.

"Hey, just stop it already, you."

"Shut your trap, you enormity!"

Takashi shouted at Serisawa in a disgusted voice and glared at Ren standing next to him.

But Ren, who at twelve passed through numerous scenes of carnage, didn't feel threatened by only a violent boy.

On the contrary, not even recognizing he was being glared at, he tilted his head as is asking ''"Why on earth is he angry about?"''

And then, there was Kanon.

She received head on Takashi's hateful glare and returned a scornful laugh. Her folded arms and raised chin and her facial expression that haughtiness itself didn't hide her contempt for Takashi.

"......You're making fun of me......" he squeezed out from the gap between his clenched teeth, grasping his fists tightly.

"Don't get conceited you bitch!!"

And then, he leaped at her while screaming. As expected Kanon wasn't ready for this degree of violence, so she was unable to respond.

Takashi grabbed Kanon’s shoulder and swung his fist. A second later, everyone was convinced the girl was cruelly hit. But -

"- Gaah?"

As abruptly as a spinning top launched in the middle of the way, Takashi was torn off from Kanon and pressed to the blackboard.

Because of that enormous power, the blackboard and Takashi's back started creaked ominously. With eyes growing hazy because of the pain, Takashi looked at the figure of the person who pressed him down.

''"Ka - Kannagi........? No way.......!"''

He couldn't believe it. That a boy much smaller than him could hide this much power. Because he was pushed up, he tilted his body was slowly forced up. Both his feet were floating in the air.

"Guu......Ha.....s - stop......"

Pressured by the fist grabbing him on the collar, his ribs were hurting. Trying to somehow raise a protesting voice, Takashi's tongue was frozen.

Ren was looking straight at him.

He was sharp, like a different person but despite that his gaze was carrying an intense anger.

His whole body tied by the power loaded in that pupil, Takashi shivered in fear at his wit's end.

''"I'll be killed!"''

He felt ''death'' closer than ever before. The fear of having a knife trusted at him seemed insignificant when compared to this.

It was the first time in his life his body was basking in the real thirst for blood. A precise, definite ''intent to slaughter''.

There was no escape.

Calmly, composedly and certainly -

''"This guy...will kill me!"''

"Hi - hiii......"

But, contrary to his expectation Takashi was suddenly released from the restraints. The body that lost its support slipped off, rubbing the wall with a dragging sound and feebly sunk down to the floor.

"Eh......ah.....?"

Looking up in a daze, he saw Ren looking at his own hand with an air of bewilderment. And several seconds after, he showed a minor bitter smile while looking down at Takashi cowering at his feet.

"Hey...."

"Hiiiii!"

"You can't be violent toward girls."

The persuasion Ren made in a gentle tone, while Takashi was greatly perplexed, didn't add up.

"Hey, eh........"

While thinking what to do about that, from beneath Takashi's feet, squatting down, a strange liquid poured out.

An offensive smell.

"......Eh?"

"What have you done?"

Serisawa forcibly drew out Ren, standing rock still dumbfounded. And then he put his arm around his neck as if trying to strangle him and forced him along to a place where the liquid that kept on flowing.

"Your indoor slippers will get dirty! Instead of cleaning this guy's piss from my slippers I'd rather throw them away!"

"Th- then that really was..."

Finally comprehending the nature of the smelling liquid, Ren's face became pale.

Looking at Takashi he saw that his body was still curled up. The reason why he was trembling was probably not only fear.

Incontinence - a boy that was already a junior high school student never felt so much shame. And, realizing all this Ren started speaking very upset.

"I'm, I'm sorry! I, didn't mean to.....I'll call Sensei immediately so - "

"- Ren"

Striking Ren's shoulder, Serisawa feebly shook his head.

"If you feel even a little pity for this guy, don't say anymore. Just leave him alone"

"Eh, but - if it stays like this it will seem I bullied him. And people who torment others are the worst."

Ren didn't say it with malice. He didn't but the consequence of those words was to break into small pieces the already wounded pride of Takashi.

As if whipping the dead or salt was rubbed into his wounds Takashi's body shivers worsened.

"Are - are you ok?"

Perceiving that reaction, Ren flustering rushed over to Takashi. He touched the trembling body.

".........!?"

That extended hand was flung off as far as possible. Ren's eyes blinking in shock were pierced by eyes full of murder.

"Son of a bitch..."

Raising a face full of tears and snot Takahashi glared at Ren with as much hatred as he could muster.

"Remember this, son of a bitch! My brother is really strong! He can kill the likes of you with one attack."

"Waah, how lame," Kanon commented scornfully.

"If you can't, will you run to your Onii-chan, huh? I wonder just what sort of person that is?"

"Shut up!" screamed Takashi with a voice turned inside out.

"Now it's the time to pull back you know! My Aniki has supernatural powers! He'll turn the likes of you into ash!!"

For a second the class was enveloped in silence. And then -

"Bahahahahahahahahahaha!!"

The classroom was shook by a maelstrom of very loud laughter.

"Were - were you serious just now, Takamatsu-kun? Are you saying that seriously?"

"And on top of that you are one of those who believe crop circles are made by aliens too, right?"

While striking desks and walls, and stamping their feet, the students unanimously ridicule Takashi.

But without bothering with their reaction Takashi only glared at Ren.

"Just go ahead and laugh. Make fun of me. Get cocky just because you're somewhat good at fighting...because I'll teach you that such things are helpless in front of absolute power!"

"You're the one who you cocky, stupid," spit out Serisawa tiresomely, throwing the black board eraser at Takashi who talked on and on in ecstasy.

His right hand was already loaded with the next eraser.
'''(!)''

"Se - Serisawa! You'll do it, too? My Aniki will - "

"Shut the fuck up!"

Without hesitation Serisawa threw the other blackboard eraser with all his strength. The chalk powder sticking to the blackboard eraser hit Takashi in the face and the angry face already flushed deep red was dyed pure white.

Simultaneously, white smoke spreads like an explosion, and the boy who inhaled the dust convulsed with all his strength.

"I'm telling you to bring your brother! Because I don't have all day, you know!"

"You - you bastard....."

Spontaneously, ignoring Takashi trying to spit out the words while having a coughing fit, Serisawa pulled Ren and started walking.

"Well, this is boring. Forget about this and let's hang out. Where do you want to go?"

"Ehh, well..."

"I - I want to go to Shinjuku. I want to buy some clothes."

"Waah, do you think we want to go buy women's clothes?"

"I wasn't talking to you."

"What did you say?"

"Well, well, calm down both of you."

With a delicately stiff smiling face, Ren tried mediating the glaring pair.

"We should go to where you both want to go in turns. We have time."

The trio started deciding their after school activities enjoyed. It seems that inside their heads not a particle of Takashi's words remains.

"Then, Shinjuku is our first stop right?"

"Yeah."

"Right."

Gaining both their agreement, Ren started walking with a visibly relieved expression.

Behind him, as if his existence itself was thoroughly forgotten, there was the solitary figure of Takashi, crouching. His gaze, carrying the dark flame of hate saw off Ren's distant back without even blinking.

=== Part 3 ===

The game center the trio left was illuminated by the red sunlight of the evening. Feeling relief when released from the noisy environment, Kanon let out a small breath. And then she snuggled up to Ren like it was usual.

"Which reminds me, Ren-kun was really cool back then."

While clinging to Ren's arm, Kanon recalled the gallant figure of the boy that overwhelmed that failure of an idiot.

"Wasn't it the first time you acted like that in school?"

Kanon was familiar with Ren's strength. She understood that even a juvenile delinquent that took pride in fights couldn't go against him.

But Ren didn't try to display his own strength. Rather, he was actively trying to avoid that kind of situation.

Unrelated to his ability, he hated conflict. That's why before it could turn into a fight he tried to express his opinion and while taking the hit he would only counterattack to defend his body.

Although ''protecting Kanon'' was a just cause, Ren honestly thought it was inconceivable of exerting violence on boys his age.

"Ahh, yeah......."

Ren also thought his behaviour was strange and spontaneously expressed a bitter smile.

"I must definitely apologize to Takamatsu-kun later."

"I don't really care about that idiot but did you change your policy?"

"Policy huh, I didn't have such an exaggerated thing from the beginning. I just hate unreasonable violence, that's all. But when I thought Kanon-san was about to be hurt, I couldn’t control myself - is what you call ''to snap'', right?"

"Ehh....."

At those unanticipated words, Kanon’s cheeks were dyed red.

"Th- th- that means, I'm important enough for Ren-kun to spontaneously lose his temper for me?"

"Yes."

As if talking about an obvious thing, Ren smoothly agreed.

"You are important. I wish Suzuhara-san were happy. I want you to smile. That's why, I'll protect you - I don't want to lose anything anymore."

"Ren-kun -"

Overcome with emotion, Kanon embraced Ren. But just before she could, a huge hand like a glove covered Kanon’s face. And then, forcefully tore her off.

"What are you doing, you -"

"No, well, Ren said it was for a friend."

Interrupting Kanon who was about to swear, Serisawa praised Ren with an unnaturally bright expression.

"Of course, if I were in a pinch Ren would help me too, right? Because we're friends."

"Ehh...? Y- Yeah. But I cannot imagine Serisawa-san getting in a tough spot."

"That may be true. But, at that time I will trust in you when the time comes, ''friend''."

Striking Ren's shoulder Serisawa shifted his focus to Kanon. And then, raised his lips extremely enjoyed.

"I'm so glad for you, Kanon. Ren protected you ''as a friend''. You are mutually good friends. I'm sure your friendship will last ''all your life''. We'll ''alwaaaaays'' be friends, right?"

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

Kanon glared at Serisawa with an extremely angry expression. Most likely, she was butchering him inside her head in hundreds of different ways.

She grasped her slender white fingers strongly as if trying to choke something.

"..........Just bring it on!"

"Ke ke ke ke ke ke."

Serisawa responded at the groaning Kanon with a loud laughter. In the space between them, invisible sparks were scattering.

"He- hey, calm down both of you!!"

Becoming aware they were attracting attention from the surroundings, Ren tried to mediate the duo. But, his gaze went around as if making sure of something.

"- Be quiet, both of you."

Sensing the alteration in Ren's tone, both his friends quickly became silent. At almost the same time, a single man drew closer.

Wearing an LL sized T-shirt that reached the middle of his tights and loose half pants - the person himself probably thought he was cool but the people who didn't have the same values could only call him untidy.

"Kannagi Ren?" the man asked shortly after, looking down on Ren.

"And you are?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. There's someone who has business with you. Follow me."

"I refuse."

"Aaah!?"

When Ren flatly rejected him the man tried to overpower him from right overhead.

"Who the fuck asked for your opinions!? Shut up and follow me or I'll kill you, damn brat!"

"I have no intention of obeying the likes of you, no matter what you say. Let's go."

Replying in a resolute manner, Ren urged Kanon and Serisawa on and started walking.

"...You bastard......."

Treated trivially by a middle school kid with feminine features, the man was quickly enraged. Drawing near the trio he seized Kanon’s neck.

"Don't underestimate me, damn brats! What happens to this woman- !?"

Unable to finish his speech, the man fainted in agony. The fist trusted into the pit of his stomach made him unconscious and he crumbled down before understanding what happened and who did this to him.

"Are you OK?" asked Ren pulling out the fist that was buried up to the wrist.

Kanon nodded without showing any disturbance.

"Yes. But, who is this guy?"

"Well, I don't know. But I don't remember becoming enemy to this kind of people -"

Closing his eyes partly Ren searched for presence in the surroundings.

They were surrounded.

Their clothes were different but they were approximately the same age and above all the boys had in common a wild presence while surrounding them.

They thought they weren’t yet detected so they slowly reduced the encircling net.

Ren informed Kanon in a small voice.

"For now we had better escape. Can you run?"

"Yeah. I'll do my best," Kanon nodded.

Next he made an eye signal at Serisawa, synchronizing their timing.

Just before the men moved, forestalling their movement by a second, Ren grabbed Kanon and started running.

"Move! Move! Move! "

Serisawa sent the men standing still, and taken by surprise, flying spendidly. Ren and Kannon nimbly ran through the hole that opened in the net.

"Shit! Don't let them escape!"

While being chased by harsh voices and more than ten footsteps the trio started running at high speed.

"Shit! Just how many are there?" cursed Serisawa while moving his legs determinedly.

From that point on, the trio weren't able to run from the men's pursuit for more than ten minutes.

They didn't understand why such a group of people were pursuing Ren, but it seemed there were more of them than those who surrounded Ren's group the first time.

The number of the men who ambushed them at their destination was already reaching thirty.

"Suzuhara-san, keep at it a bit longer," Ren murmured as if cheering up the girl who was short of breath.

Kanon was almost at her limit. By nature, her stamina was quite like that of a normal girl. When chased after by men with full grown bodies she couldn't possibly get away.

''"This is bad.........."'' thought Ren, when he remembered the distance so far.

They were being herded. He didn't know the final destination but the men were clearly leading them somewhere.

But, even if he knew that, there was nothing he could do about it. Even though the opponent is an amateur, their numbers were too large. He didn't have the confidence he could defeat all of them while defending Kanon and Serisawa without using En-jutsu.

Gradually they were being cornered to a desolate place with a bad atmosphere. While thinking he should start preparing himself they reached the corner.

As expected, they were ambushed.

In the space ten men were lying in wait, Ren's group naturally plunged into it. From behind several other people were approaching.

They were completely driven to the wall.

"Ren-kun......"

"It's OK."

Grasping the hand of the girl who leaned close to him uneasily, Ren smiled.

"If I have too, I'll use my power. I won't let them even touch both of you. Don't worry."

It was strictly prohibited using Jutsu when dealing with an ordinary person. But he didn't feel like complying with such regulations if his body and the bodies of his friends were in danger.

Ren was determined that more than hurting others, he couldn't tolerate if he himself were to get hurt.

"Ku ku ku ku ku."

Unnatural chuckles drifted in the air and the crowd of people in Ren's front parted left and right. From inside it, a boy with a pompous attitude stepped forward.

"Ku ku ku ku ku ku ku - ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

The supressed laugh gradually raised its tension and turned into a laughing scream.

It was a face they recognized.

The face they parted from only a few hours earlier laughed, arrogant and proud.

"You can't run anymore, Kannagi!" ''he'' declared with an already triumphant air.

Before he came out, it was possible that Ren's group was scared. Maybe they had a vision of asking for forgiveness with a menial attitude. But that completely backfired.

A strange unknown ''something'' sometimes intimidates the human heart much more than a tangible, physical threat could.

For Kanon and Serisawa, who were not used to being involved in serious fights, the strange men that chased them without pretext were very scary.

But the moment ''he'' showed himself the trio understood everything. The enemy's true character, his purpose and the conclusion.

"Aaa - aahhhh, my hair is so messy -"

Completely disregarding ''his'' existence Kanon started arranging her dishevelled hair. And then, the moment ''he'' tried opening his mouth a second time irritated, she beat him to it.

"The peeing boy, huh? Did you change your soiled pants?"

"Wha - wha - ....!"

He - Takamatsu Takashi, while trying to say something to make him look better, his face was dyed bright red with anger and opened and shut his mouth to no purpose.

Serisawa sunk the boot in him even more.

"Which means, these guys are your brother's henchmen? I didn't really think you would call your Aniki. You’re such a looser, it's kind of cool."

"Sh - shut up! It's too late to apologize now! For the likes of you, in one shot, Aniki will -"

"Ahh - yes, yes. Just call your brother already - Where are you, Onii-chan with super powers?"

"Mo - mother fucker....." Takashi began losing it at the speech looking down on him from the bottom of the heart.

"That's enough, Takashi. Leave the rest to me."

"A - Aniki."

Hearing the voice that reached from the back, Takashi regained his confidence.

"I trust you, Aniki! Turn them all to ash in one go!"

"All right"

Replying with a reassuring nod, one man appeared. That silhouette stared at the trio - a pitiless stare.

He was most likely in the latter half of his teens. His hair was bright orange and was standing up. He was wearing black leather pants and a deep crimson leather coat.

Coupled together with the orange hair, his appearance was really standing out. So much that you couldn't mistake him for another even at a distance of a hundred meters.

Sneakily, Serisawa and Kanon started speaking but in such a way that the opponent could clearly hear.

"Hey, what kind of cosplay do you think that is?"

"I don't know but I saw that pose, when facing the camera, appear at O-Bon and the last year International Exhibition Hall. He doesn't seem embarrassed, huh?"

".....Hey, damn brats," the man growled, deviating from the plan, his temple veins showing.

After all, since he was Takashi's brother, his capacity wasn't all that great.

Seeing through that, the duo got carried away even more.

"Hey, orange head Onii-chan, who do you cosplay? A game character? Or maybe anime?"

"Is that bad taste coat your casual wear? Are you really walking around dressed like that? No way - I can't believe it!"

Serisawa laughed like a horse while Kanon covered her sneer with her hand. For a man with a pretty low boiling point that was more than enough stimulation.

"You sons of bitches! I won't forgive you!"

Raising an angry roar, the man released his ''power''. The flame spirits drawn to him with brute force screamed in agony.

But as if not hearing that, the man kneaded the spirits being scrapped together.

In the man's surroundings, the air started flickering like a heat haze - and then, a deep crimson flame appeared.

"Se - seriously?" Serisawa murmured with a nervous face. Almost at the same time, as if trying to drown down his voice, from every direction cheers erupted.

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah"~

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Roast them! Colour them black! Turn them to ash!"

"Show us something flashy today too!"

Responding to the shouts of joy intoxicated in bloodlust, the man yelled.

"Yeaah, leave it to me!"

As if acting in concert with that scream, the fire gathered in both his palms. That curling flame raised its density, adjusted its shape and turned to high speed rotation fire bullets.

"Eat them, ''Fiiiiiiire Buuuuuleeeet''!"

The man spread his arms on a grand scale and threw the two softball-sized fireballs with a sidearm pitch.

The moment they were separated from his hand, the bullets accelerated as if repelled. The fireballs that left a flight afterimage headed to Kanon and Serisawa with a speed impossible to evade.

"It's dangerous!"

But, Ren reacted instantly and thrust both of them away, removing them from the fireball trajectory. Ren evaded them by slipping through the space between the fireballs and survived without problems.

"Hooo, aren't you good! Being able to dodge the <<Fire bullet>>!"

"What the heck are you thinking!!"

Ren scowled with an intense expression the man who raised his voice in compliment.

"Openly using Jutsu in public - and even attacking children! If you're also a Practitioner, understand how moderation works!"

"Ahhh? What's a Practitioner?"

At the unexpected retort, Ren unintentionally became speechless.

Laughing scornfully at the petrified Ren, the man introduced himself loudly.

"I am <<The Fire Leader>>! The supreme monarch that controls fire! You have no right to complain, no matter who I burn! Because there's no one in this world who can order the King!"

Looking dumbfounded at <<The Fire Leader>> laughing loudly, Ren was voluntarily greatly perplexed.

"Waaaah, he's the worst.........this man is ''dokkaku''...."

Dokkaku is a term derived from Buddhism and represents the people that made ascetic practices and reached Enlightment without the guidance of a teacher.

Of course, the truth that they barely managed to reach through that kind of process doesn't go beyond the impression of selfishness.

The same way, in the world of magic, the people who reached the manifestation of their power without any kind of instruction are also called this.

These kind of people, because they don't have anyone around them to compare to, have a tendency to think about their power as the greatest thing ever.

And then, they start a new religion by calling themselves ''The son of God'' and intend to exterminate mankind while under the impression they are ''the pioneers of progress''' and tend heavily to behave like a tyrant.

The man that stood before him was a stereotypical example of that.

"Well, are you ready?"

Punctuating the moment with a wild laugh, the man lifts his power a second time.

"Thanks for tormenting my little brother! I'll burn all three of you! Eat this, ''Phoenix Wing''!!"

<<The Fire Leader>> raised his hands to the sky. The fire spirits that were gathered beyond that point, embodied a bird in flames.

It was big. Its wing length exceeds three meters.

The phoenix moulded with delicate details like a living thing - and the heat loaded inside - Ren immediately saw through the fact that in was capable of perfectly burning three people to nothing.

"Get down!"

Covering up for Kanon and Serisawa, Ren confronted the fire bird. A huge quantity of heat that approached flapping its large wings. If a normal human were to take a direct hit from it would be turned to cinders. But -

"Disappear!"

At Ren's one command the fire bird scattered and vanished

"Whaaaat!?"

"Please don't get carried away. That sort of bluff jutsu doesn't even pass as the real Enjutsu."

"E - Enjutsu, you say..."

With a backward glance at <<The Fire Leader>> who murmured so with shock, Ren seized the broken fragments of the fire bird.

A slight pain travelled in his palm. ''Something'' mixed with the flame burned his skin.

Ren knew that feeling first-hand. A counterfeit pain that burned a regular human, the white hot sensation that polluted even the soul.

''"Youki !? What is happening?"''

Youki, the essence given by demonic beings - that is, the <<Ki>> of nonhuman life. It was something fundamentally different from simple evil concept like hatred, grudge and such.

It alternated the body of those with piles of experience, but different from the case of a black Jutsushi in the process of shedding his humanity, an amateur Jutsushi that only barely woken his powers was not supposed to be clad in it.

"- Let's go."

Finding it difficult to wait and see, Ren started a light attack. More than ten fireballs manifested instantly, leaving an afterimage.

The Jutsu composition and the shooting speed were both in a different league from <<The Fire Leader>>.

Unable to even recognise the fireballs, the man stood rock still simply dumbfounded.

"Waah!?"

But in spite of the fact that he clearly had not noticed it, from the body of <<The Fire Leader>>, a great number of flames were generated and intercepted Ren's Jutsu with unmatched accuracy.

Faced with the point blank explosion, the man finally noticed he was being attacked. For a little while his line of sight loitered around, not understanding what happened but abruptly he declared triumphantly, throwing out his chest.

"How naïve! Did you think that degree of offensive could knock down ''Me''?"

The convenient explanation that his power was invocated by an unconscious defensive instinct seemed self-sufficient.

"........."

Ren ignored the man's words and reflected on the phenomenon that just happened.

That power was obviously invoked without the intent of the person itself. A Youki coiling around. There was only one deduction he could make.

''"He's possessed by a Youma?"''

The man who called himself <<The Fire Leader>> seemed only to borrow the power of the Youma that lived off him like a parasite. But as he was proudly boasting of ''his own power'' he clearly didn't realise that.

"That's nasty..."

It was not something that was possible to occur by chance. Without a doubt, someone deceived this man and turned him into the object the Youma occupies, ready to be eaten in the near future.

He couldn't let that be.

He was bothered by the fact he let his power rampage but this man was unmistakeably a victim.

But, in front of Ren who decided to save him no matter what -

"Still, you're pretty good. It's been a long time since I met someone who could defend against my power."

The man got excited by himself. Expressing a smile that was supposed to be daring, he spoke dramatic words.

"Your power has the same attribute as mine - <<Fire>> - but you're also a senior class? Enjutsu-shi, you said?"

"- Senior class?"

"Isn't that right? That Vesalius mother fucker hid the fact there were other classes. What about you? Were you selected? Is <<Enjutsushi>> a higher class than <<The Fire Leader>>?"

''"Vesalius"''

Ren bore in mind that name. It seems he was the one who made this man be possessed by a Youma and the name of the man he absolutely had to bring down.

"Just what kind of person he is........that man?"

"Are you playing dumb? Whatever. I'll make you talk soon enough. Don't get cocky just because you're a senior class like me! It had nothing to do with class and level - because I, '''I''' am the most powerful!"

"No, I don't care about that, about that person named Vesalius......it's impossible?"

Observing the man endlessly excited, Ren understood persuasion was meaningless. Reluctantly, he took a posture preparing for offensive.

<<The Fire Leader>> shouted.

"Gooo! The ultimate secret, ''Flame Vortex''!!"

A crimson flame, coiling in swirls attacked Ren. Without shaming its mane, the ultimate mystery, its caloric value was fairly high - meaning, compared to the ones until now.

"- Really"

While letting out a sigh, Ren stopped the ''Flame Vortex'' with one hand.

"Wh - Whaaaaaaaaat!?"

In front of the flame pushed back at him, <<The Fire Leader>> opened his eyes wide in surprise. As Ren's own power was added to it, that seemed to change into a golden helix.

"Wa - waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

At the fire torrent that filled his vision, <<The Flame Leader>> prepared himself to death.

Piercing even through his tightly closed eyes, the golden flame burned his retina. The feeling of scorching heat pierced through something in his body.

But the pain he expected to come didn't hurt him in the end. Timidly, he half opened his eyes and the golden flame was already gone without trace.

"Wh -wha - ahh."

Confused for a short while, he realised the unsightly shape of his body, curled down like a turtle, and stood up.

"You - you son of a bitch! Don't make fun of me! You speak so proudly, but your technique is nothing more but a bluff."

"This wasn't a bluff."

Intended to cool down the indignant man or maybe to provoke him even more, Ren replied with a serene expression.

"It played out just as it supposed to. Because from the start, I didn't intend to be your opponent."

"Whaat?"

"More important, answer my questions. What kind of person is Vesalius? From the process used to give you power, to the features of his appearance, tell me in detail -"

"....Mother fucker......." squeezed the man out through the gap between his teeth.

Finally he reached the conclusion that until now he was the only one excited and recognised that Ren didn't even consider him a worthy opponent.

"Did you think I was out and over!? Don't fuck with me! I am <<The Fire Leader>>! Don't put me together with some small fish!"

His body trembling in anger as his inflated pride took a critical hit, the man released his power.

"''Shining Toooooooooorrent'' - ahh?"

But, the white light tornado that was supposed to come out couldn’t be even glimpsed.

"Wh - what? I don't have enough MP? Then, ''Fire Bullet''!"

It had the same result. The flame couldn't be brought forth. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't feel the response of collected power.

"It's useless," Ren informed the confused man.

"You have already lost your ability to manipulate fire. I got rid of it"

The essence of the Kannagi's power is the secret capacity of purifying and destroying all evil.

The flame Ren released before didn't affect <<The Fire Leader>> at all and only burned to nothing the demonic presence. Of course, the ability to manipulate the flame didn't remain.

"Im - Impossible! How on earth.......a seal? Or you neutralised it?"

"It makes no sense to play around with game terminology. It's time you face reality."

Those cold words were the sentence that ended the dream.

The letters <<Game Over>> flickered in his brain and the virtual character called <<The Flame leader>> vanished.

After that, only the human, Takamatsu Kyoshi, was left behind.

Ordinary and powerlessness, he was nothing but one of those many faces in the crowd.

"No......it's impossible......"

As Kyoshi trembled with the shock of loss, Ren slowly approached. Around him a golden flame flickered playfully.

"Hi....hiii...!"

Before the vibrant clarity, there was the sudden change of composition. Degraded to powerlessness spoils Kyoshi let out a wretched voice and looked up at Ren.

Ren was what he yesterday was. If he felt inclined to kill, he could easily kill him. Like trampling on an ant, just like he did before, very easily -

He looked around him. All the gathered underlings have fled, already disappearing without a trace. Nearby there was the silhouette of his brother, fallen on his back but it was clear he was useless.

"Do - Don't kill me........"

Without shame or honour, Kyoshi got down on his hands and knees, begging for forgiveness. For him, the man who lost all his power, there was no other way to survive.

"Anything.......I'll do anything..........so please........"

"Ah - Well......."

Confused by Kyoshi's sudden change of attitude, Ren unintentionally stepped back. Turning his way a gaze as if looking at an unstable man, he said.

"You have no power anymore, so I don't intend to hurt you further."

"Re - Really?" Kyoshi suddenly raised his face and shouted in a voice overflowing delight.

"Ye - Yeah. But I have some questions for you and I would be glad if you could answer them honestly."

"Ask me anything!!" nodded Kyoshi bracing himself.

Although the bizarre atmosphere increased a notch, Ren fired his question.

"Then, first of all about that Vesalius person. He's the one who gave you this power, right? Tell me everything about that."

".....Why, ask such a thing?"

When he heard Ren's question, Kyoshi asked back in wonder.

"Aren't you the same ～ Didn't Vesalius gave you your power at Pandemonium? And then you class changed after increasing your level?"

"Aah - I'm the one asking questions ～ "

Ren expressed an unsuitable ''cynical smile'' and gave a clumsy warning.

It was clear from his attitude that he wasn't used to this kind of interrogation but to Kyoshi who regarded him like his previous self, the effect was tremendous.

"Hiii - I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Inside Ren he (involuntary) labelled Kyoshi's menial apology as foul play.

".........So, what is ''Pandemonium''?"

"Pa - Pandemonium is......an internet site.......sir."

"No need for honorifics - Internet?"

"Y - Yes.......I found it by chance. And then I was asked: ''Do you want power?'' I answered with YES. I thought it was a joke. I thought it was a peculiar formality. And then an odd pattern appeared on the screen and when I looked at it I fell asleep. And then when I woke up I had this power. It's true. It's not a lie, believe me..."

"........."

Ignoring the tedious talk that seemed to continue forever, Ren looked at the man's facial expression. He did not seem to lie.

Meaning, if that was the truth -

''"The Youma was converted to digital data and summoned through the internet?"''

It seemed to resemble more and more a game, so maybe it was like that. That must be the truth.

In a word, this man wasn't used as a Youma sacrifice but summoned the Youma from his own volition and contracted with it. It appears that was the form it took.

'''Do you want power?'''

The moment he answered that question with '''Yes''' Kyoshi made the past to hand over his soul.

Of course, it was a defective contract. Using this coercive method, even the soul of a normal person without any kind of protection from the spirits cannot be taken immediately.

But that applies only once.

The allurement continues.

Even if a person is not influenced by the devilishness, a human being that owns a convenient power desires even more power.

Without deeply thinking what sort of compensation will be taken from them.

Until the time everything will be taken from them, they will continue requesting power.

"I see......that was done skilfully."

Ren let out a murmur of admiration.

A trap set at random on the network. Kyoshi can't be the only victim.

Just how many people have offered their soul for an hour of pleasure -

"Wh - what........"

Suddenly calming down, finding fault with his ears, Kyoshi looked up with an uneasy gaze at Ren.

"Ahh, that's no concern of yours. Don't worry about it."

Ren casually waved his hand, obstructing the investigation.

"So, let's go back to the story. Let me see........first, tell me the address of this Pandemonium."

"I don't know it."

"........."

Ren stared very long at Takamatsu, who answered immediately. Overpowered by his glance, Takamatsu talked on and on, losing his head.

"I - I really don't know! While I was unconscious back then the connection was cut and when I looked at the history log there was nothing........everyone says the same, it's true!"

"Everyone?"

"There's an information exchange bulletin board for those like me, who received power from Pandemonium. That's what I heard there. There's no one who accessed Pandemonium a second time. We arrived at it by chance."

"What you say is that that site has no direct connection with Pandemonium?"

"Yes. The admin is the same as us."

Although experiencing some discomfort when hearing the word ''us'' as if it was said they were the same kind of thing, Ren asked again:

"The address?"

"It's in my phone."

"Give it to me."

After one glance at the phone presented to him, Ren tossed it into the pocket of his high school uniform.

"I'll keep this. I think that's all I wanted to ask but -"

Inaudible, Kyoshi let out a breath.

"As you wish."

"By the way, what else is on that bulletin board?"

"Nothing really important. After all, it's a gathering of guys like me who don't know much. So, stuff like reasoning about this power's true colours, boasts about level or ability, battle appointments and -"

"Battle? Do you fight between yourselves?"

"Yeah, because it has a lot of XP."

"XP?", Ren asked in return.

"We receive e-mails about how to use our power. Like ''You received X experience points''"

"The sender?"

"It's Pandemonium. Of course there's no mail address."

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

"So, when we collect enough experience points, we level up. When we level up enough, we class change."

"........Are you one of the senior classes?"

"Yes. I changed class from the basic <<Ignition Man>> to the <<Fire Leader>>. It was very hard accumulating so many experience points."

"..........Is that so?"

At the excessively game-like setting, Ren was unintentionally perplexed. But, although the setting was clichéd, that's not an usual way a Jutsushi is represented in reality.

''"But - What purpose does this -"''

Ren can't guess the objective of this Jutsushi called Vesalius. What meaning does it have to mass-produce people with special power in those like Kyoshi, people without discernment?

Is he just a criminal who takes pleasure in people's reaction to his crimes?

Although he knew it was meaningless, Ren asked his only source of information.

"What sort of person is Vesalius? Tell me everything you know."

"Uh huh."

As if sorting his memory, Kyoshi cast his eyes down in silence. Patiently Ren waited until the man opened his mouth.

""He was a posing son of a bitch. All his speech and gestures were theatrical."

And then Kyoshi started narrating. In more detail than Ren expected.

"Something like platinum blonde? He had long silver hair practically colourless and a red mask on his face. Because he was disguised I couldn’t see his face."

"That's very specific. You didn't meet him personally, right?"

"No, I met him."

"Where?"

"At Pandemonium."

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

From the story until now Pandemonium was supposed to be an internet site.

"Please don't tell me your spirit navigated in the Internet world ～"

Normally he would laugh at this but in the present Shinjuku the common sense of the game world is overlooked. He couldn't affirm that it wasn't true.

But Kyoshi shook his head at that question.

"It's not like that. For a class change we had no choice but to go to Pandemonium. That's where I met him."

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

Ren stared very long at the man who concealed such an important piece of information until now. Pressed by that eloquent gaze, Kyoshi waved his hand in confusion.

"Ahh, I didn't particularly want to hide it. The order of the story, its logic, we still haven't -"

"Excuses don't matter. In other words, Pandemonium doesn't exist only on the Internet but also in reality, right?"

"Aaah. But I don't know where it is."

" - You still say that?" Ren groaned with a fed-up voice.

He imagined this would happen but still felt considerably depressed unable to track this down.

"N - No, hear me out! It couldn't be helped, you know?"

Turning a flattering gaze to him, Kyoshi defended himself desperately.

"I walked around instructed by mail, and before I knew I was lost and then I realised a residence with a Pandemonium written sign was in front of my eyes."

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

Letting out his irritation together with an exhalation, Ren regained his calm.

He understood getting angry right now was pointless. This clearly went exactly as Vesalius wanted it to.

Kyoshi's perception and cognisance, or possibly the space itself was warped so he wouldn't find out Pandemonium's real location.

It was impossible for an amateur like Kyoshi to go against such a practitioner who could exercise such large scale magic tricks.

"Have you seen something around Pandemonium? Or better, have you seen the outside scenery from inside Pandemonium?"

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

With a face that seemed to have some clue, Kyoshi shut his mouth. With a smile Ren said:

"Keeping secrets won't help you."

"..............It's not a lie."

After a few more seconds of silence passed, Kyoshi spoke in a sulky voice. At that ''he won't believe me either way '' tone, Ren returned a bitter smile.

"The story until now is plenty absurd already. At this point I don't worry about common sense anymore so please tell me what you saw exactly."

"......After leaving Pandemonium's terrace, I saw the outside scenery."

While still hesitating, Kyoshi started speaking slowly.

"It was Shinjuku, I think. But it was extremely high. I looked from the terrace of the second floor but I could see the rooftop of all building standing in a row."

"....So it was on the rooftop of some skyscraper."

"That's impossible. I don't remember using stairs or an elevator, besides -"

"Yes?"

"On both sides of the mansion, identical towers were built."

"Towers?"

Hearing such unexpected words, Ren asked back starring in puzzlement.

"Yeah. Those buildings were slender, towers of twenty stores at most. With entirely the same shape, left and right, they were erected as if to hold Pandemonium in between"

"Hmmmm......."

Without saying anything, Ren gave a half-hearted answer. Was there in Shinjuku such a building, one from where one could see the rooftops of the other buildings?

"H - hey....."

Absorbed for a short while in meditation, Kyoshi called out to him in a flattering voice.

"It's fine, right? I told you everything I know. Please let me go."

Looking down at the pitiful man with sober eyes, Ren quickly made his decision.

He asked him everything he wanted. He could be identified through his brother, so letting him go now wasn't a big problem. Besides -

"That's right. I'm sorry for taking your time. You can go now."

With a smiling face that didn't reveal his true intentions, Ren permitted his departure.

At that moment, Kyoshi ran away at high speed. Without hesitation he abandoned his brother and didn't turn around even for a second, that sort of commendable escape.

"Wa - wait for me, Aniki!"

After a few seconds, Takashi calmed down and ran after his brother. Of course, nobody was actually chasing them.

=== Part 4 ===

"Was it OK to let them go?"

When the silhouettes of the brothers disappeared from view, Kanon and Serisawa approached from the little farther away spot they were watching the show from.

At Kanon's question, implying it may be dangerous to let them be, Ren replied with a smile.

"It's fine. They'll probably be arrested quickly anyway."

"Arrested? By who?"

"By the police."

"Wasn't the police unable to deal with magic stuff?"

"That's not true anymore. There is a department that deals with black magic and spiritual disaster. I'll report them today so they will probably be caught before the day is over."

Replying with a smiling face to Serisawa, who also joined the conversation, for some reason their faces became stiff.

"- What's up?"

"W - What, you ask..."

"Because Ren-kun wasn't so determined before,"

"Really? Then I'm glad. Because I can't continue being a spoiled brat forever."

Seeming glad from the bottom of his heart, Ren smiled with all his face.

Although faltering in front of Ren's unexpected growth and bearing, Kanon and Serisawa weren't mesmerized by that smile.

"So, what to do from now on?"

"Eeh, what do you mean?"

At Kanon's question, who already pulled herself together, Ren didn't have a smile.

Even if something must be done about this, he can't do anything about it today. For now he will return to the household and report this, and by using Tokyo MPD's Special Investigation Unit there's no choice but to investigate it.

While thinking that, Kanon looked up at Ren and showed a proud smile.

"You know, from what that guy said I know where to find that place."

"- Really? Where is it?"

But, as if dodging the question Kanon turned her back to Ren.

"What to do? - If Ren-kun will kiss me I may as well tell him........"

"Eeh........."

"Wait a second!"

Kanon's daring request was attacked by a threatening voice and an excessively huge leg. Kanon promptly prepared her body and escaped the huge foot sole, drawing near.

"......Hey, you're in the way"

Kanon glared up at Serisawa's large build, who blocked her way as if trying to protect Ren, with a penetrating cold gaze.

A glare that did not see a fellow human but an obstacle that must be eliminated. Her eyes were still.

But even so, Serisawa didn’t flinch. Fired up by the decision to protect his precious friend, he boldly opposed the evil witch.

"There's neither negligence nor chance. Because of this, you won't be alone with Ren anymore. You're too dangerous."

"It's not like I asked for your permission."

"Shut up, you harlot!"

Using random old-fashioned disparaging words that God knows where he learned them from, Serisawa abused Kanon.

"If you really think so highly of Ren, then I'll teach you not to use bargaining points with him. That's why I say women are dishonest!"

"Humph," Kanon faltered as he touched a nerve.

It was a fair argument. Even though there was lip service involved, it was still a fair argument so she couldn't refute it.

"Won't you tell me, Suzuhara-san ~"

What's more, Kanon had no way to resist to Ren's ''request''.

"If you were to at least call me Kanon, I'll give yu both my body and my heart."

"Aah......ahahahahahahahaha....maybe at a different time. All right?"

Disciplining his smiling face that already became stiff as Kanon drew near with a peevish expression, Ren smoothly recovered his serious look.

"- So?"

"It's just as Ren-kun was about to guess."

"Being on top of a building, you mean?"

"Oi, oi, don't spout such stupidity. In what world there's a building with raised from the rooftop."

Serisawa didn't notice yet. But taking advantage of those words, Ren arrived at the right answer.

A building with two towers raised from the rooftop - there was definitely such a building in Shinjuku.

"The Tokyo Government Office!"

At the involuntarily shouting Ren, Kanon clapped her hands giving praise to him.

"What? Aah, I see."

Late by several seconds, Serisawa finally noticed.

Towering over the Shinjuku's governmental district, the most important governmental office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area - to put it simply this building had the form of the ''Ou'' (concave) character.

Having forty eight floors above ground, from the thirty third floor upward tho neighbouring towers reached the heaven.

Between the south and north tower there was a huge emplty space. If they were to stand there they would definitely see the scenery Kyoshi described.

"But, there's nothing there...."

"How stupid! It can be concealed with magic. Right?"

"Yeah. Maybe."

"I know, right? Then -"

"No."

Kanon's delighted words, Ren interrupted them softly but clearly.

"From here on, I'll go alone."

"Ehh - But....."

"Suzuhara-san."

With a slightly troubled expression Ren called attention to the whining Kanon.

Sensing the solid determination inside that soft word, reluctantly, Kanon gave up following him.

"Take care, all right."

"It's fine. I won't do something so rash as going by myself. I'll just scout out a bit. Well then, see you tomorrow."

Assuring them he won't behave recklessly, Ren started running aiming at the Tokyo Government Office. Because he was in a hurry, after that trivial farewell, he never looked back.

That's why he didn't notice. Although seeing Ren off, without even looking at each other the duo exchanged accomplice smiles.

When arriving at the Tokyo Government Office, Ren asked the lady at the reception about his purpose - the space between the north and south tower.

But, the answer was ruthless.

As she said: ''"There's nothing there, you can't go there"''

Of course, there is an entrance for work but right now he has no time to forcibly or maybe through political power push in. Ren left the reception desk and took the elevator.

Of course, the place of destination was the thirty third floor. The level separated in two was the lowest one.

If he were to go there, he thought he could peek at that place through the window but there was no window. When looking at the information board, he saw that one section of the opening turned into a conference room. As expected, he cannot enter it without permission.

''"What am I supposed to do ? If it's the outside window will I be able to see it?"''

The forty fifth floors of the Tokyo Government Office - both North and South, had a general opened window.

If it's there, it may be possible to see. After thoroughly investigating the thirtieth floor, Ren abandoned that method.

For one moment Ren returned to the first floor. It was impossible to go to the viewing room without taking a direct elevator.

Lightly greeting the elevator girl with a smile plastered on her face, he boarded the elevator going for the north tower. The elevator rose nonstop until the forty fifth floor, opened its doors again and let out the passenger.

When exiting the elevator, he met three people. One was another elevator girl and the other two were -

"Yo, Ren."

"You are late, what are you doing?"

As Ren involuntarily staggered, he hit his head on one side of the elevator wall. At that the elevator girl came rushing.

"Dear customer? How are you feeling?"

"Th - this is nothing. Don't worry about it."

Sending away the elevator girl by waving is hand, Ren looked at his wto friends, that were supposedly prohibited from coming.

"Why are you here?"

As Ren pressed her for an answer, Kanon feigned thorough ignorance.

"Eeeh, Shinjuku sightseeing of something?"

"It's not ''or something'', right?"

As expected she couldn't deceive him. Holding Kanon's glaze he glared at her with a stern expression.

"It's dangerous, you know!?"

"But I saw Ren-kun's gallant figure. And then you said there's no danger if it's only scouting."

"That may be true but...."

There is a discrepancy between what is dangerous for Kanon and what is dangerous for Ren. Understanding it was useless trying to explain such things, Ren shut his mouth. As they chased after him while pretending to go home it seems pointless to send them away now.

Accepting the reality with a sigh, Ren asked the question that suddenly came to his mind.

"By the way, how did you know I will be here?"

"There's no other place from where one is able to see, right?"

Kanon's answer was clear.

"You didn't discuss how to enter the place didn't ask and because it's Ren-kun, you wouldn't forcibly try to enter, right? That's why there was no place to go but the sightseeing room."

"But there's also a sightseeing room in the south tower."

"The other one is opened until five."

As expected, Kanon concluded with clarity.

"Although there's no question there's more than thirty minutes, isn't that what a person would normally choose? That's why we came to the north tower who is opened until nine."

Giving the impression ''It's a simple thing, Watson-kun'', Kanon displayed her reasoning. Ren gave up raising both his hands.

"You caught me, Holmes."

"Fu fu fu....come here then."

Kanon started walking in order to catch Ren's hands. Serisawa waited on her path.

"I don't see from here. It's somewhat obscure."

Serisawa pointed at the window he occupied until now. Ren bent over overlooking that place.

Surely, it was hard to see. Although the north and south towers had an octagon shape, there was no window on the walls facing each other.

Inevitably, they had a forty five degree viewing angle.

But even so, when looking out clinging to the window, they could perceive all of the place in question. There were some bling spots but they could compensate for those from the window on the opposite side.

"...It's not there."

"It's not."

Already having confirmed it, Serisawa and Kanon separated from the window after a fleeting glance. Ren persevered a bit longer but unable to perceive any abnormality, he turned around as expected.

"Did you found something?"

"Nothing."

Ren lightly shrugged his shoulders. From the beginning he didn't expect to find out something only by looking.

As Ren is an Enjutsushi, he doesn't have the ability to see through a high grade concealment that can warp space.

"Then, what are we going to do?"

"Right. There's no point having come here just to go back like this. Maybe I'll push a little bit."

Surprised by the confident speech, Kanon unexpectedly opened her eyes wide. But Ren was sticking to the window again so she immediately pulled herself together and stood next to him. Serisawa followed naturally.

Overlooking the scenery underneath him, Ren concentrated his mind.

Is Pandemonium really there? And if it's there, by what means did it concealed its appearance? - Ren has no ability to smell it out. But still.

''"There no need to see it. It doesn't matter if I can't grasp it"''

The phenomenon induced by the Spirit Magic is not a simple natural phenomenon.

Kazuma's wind can tear open dimensions, and when Ayano battled with a gravitation user she managed to pull of the stunt of burning the warped space itself.

A strongly sharpened will can undermine the laws of physics. That is the quintessence of the magic foundation.

Even if he can't see anything, even if he can't feel anything -

''"As long as there is something there - no matter what it is, I can <<burn it>>!"''

A golden fireball was born in the air. Although it happened somewhat farther from the building, it was pulled from east to west leaving an afterimage and pierced the opening between the north and south towers.

Together with a faint response, a soundless noise reached back and the space trembled. And then -

"Ah!"

Spontaneously Kanon screamed.

For a second - only for a second, inside the flickering space an old western style house could be seen in the gap.

"Ren-kun, just now - !"

Ren nodded carefully, and separated his body from the window.

''"Bingo !"''

He had no doubt. The enemy's headquarters, Pandemonium, was here.

He cannot be involved with this game of slapping cards any longer. It was when he was thinking about returning home as quickly as possible and report it.

"Wasn't your knock a bit too rude, boy?"

From behind, a low and composed voice reached his ears.

Ren's field of vision, promptly turning around, was instantly enveloped in darkness. Just before his consciousness was engulfed in darkness together with his vision - Ren's shape disappeared from the sightseeing room.

Kaze no Stigma:Volume4 Chapter 1

2013-09-07T22:03:25Z

90.60.49.74: /* Part 2 */

== Chapter 1 - A certain cameraman's day ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Uugh, why are you always like that?"

"Don't say vague words such as ''like that''. Was there a problem?"

"A big one, you baka! You're always, always forcing everything on me! To think that just by standing there you get paid, don't you think of apologizing to the diligent working people?"

"Not at all."

"You low-life scoundreeeeeell!"

The girl's angry roar, rumbled in a big way.

It happened during the evening, in front of the Shinjuku Station. The lovely girl's scream, became the focal point for the people passing through.

"Ah."

Belatedly realizing the became the target of attention, the girl's face became colored with shame.

"You're the center of attention."

The man who seemed to accompany her, nonchalantly informed her. For a second time the girl frowned but being careful of the surroundings this time, she said in a whisper.

"Who- whose fault is it?"

"It's yours, yours, yours. Don't shift the responsibility."

"Uuu.......a- anyway, we're changing the place."

The girl took the man's hand and left that place behind as if running.

Without being particularly unusual, a commonplace act found anywhere.

But this was the beginning of everything.

"Go- good grief......I was so embarrassed."

While out of breath because of the powerful sprint, the girl glared at the man standing next to her.

The man, while running the same distance at the same speed, with no indication of heavy breath, he replied calmly.

"I already told you it was your fault. Don't complain to me."

"A- aren't you in the wrong for not working seriously?"

In short, it was like that.

The girl's name was Kannagi Ayano. The man's name was Yagami Kazuma.

Their occupation is to exorcise evil and protect the world from harm.

As the man's motto was ''earn money with ease'', for people that possess first class battle abilities like Ayano, whom he met during work, he doesn't hesitate to bear the stigma of a salary thief.

That's what happened this time. Without literally raising a finger Kazuma watched over Ayano like a sightseer frivolously ridiculing the seriously fighting Ayano.

Being too serious and having pride towards herself as a practitioner, Ayano couldn't forgive Kazuma's attitude.

"J- just stop it already you you low-life scoundrel!!!"

Which means her anger exploded in the in the already familiar way.

What happened until now can be called an ordinary scene. But -

"That's no good, making your woman work while you have it easy, such a windward man is no good."

"Eh?"

Called out from an unexpected direction, Ayano frowned with a twitch. Turning her face around, a strange man before his twenties, with a sloppy smile, approached grinning.

"ForgeT about that useless man and come with me. I'll make you happy."

''.....What, a flirt.....''

Ayano instantly lost her interest for the man. Ignoring him, she turned to where Kazuma was. But - no one was there.

Watching around even more, the ''useless man'' was putting a coin into a vending machine.

"Hey", said Ayano in a crushed to death tone.

But even so, without changing his facial expression Kazuma took a sip of the Oolong tea, enjoyed the cold liquid reaching his neck, sampled its flavor in full and finally answered.

"......What?"

"It's not ''.......what?'' is it!? Why, when I'm being involved with a left-over inferior man, are you ignoring it without taking any sort of position!?"

"Don't say that. The job is already finished, so I don't think I have any obligation to protect you."

In spite on absolutely not protecting her during the job, Kazuma said so, shamelessly.

Of course, Ayano can't be deceived with those words.

"This has nothing to do with work. Every man had the duty to protect the girl he's with at the same time!"

"I think that sort of sexual discrimination has no logic. To begin with, one or two dozen of skirt-chasers makes no difference for you right?"

"That's why I told you that's not it! With the technique of escorting a young woman - any man of caliber should care about that!"

"That caliber should be fine even without asking."

While arguing noisily both of them naturally took their leave.

The skirt chaser saw them off dumbfounded, but after finally noticing something he shouted with grim eyes.

"W- wait you!!"

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

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

Stopping at the same time, both turned around with bored expressions.

"Why couldn't he watch us off quietly?"

"He's really an idiot that can't read the atmosphere."

"You....you!!"

Completely made fun of, the man's face flushed bright red. Of course, not being ashamed because he doesn't know his standing.

Gripping his fists, the man drew closer with a rough gait. No matter who you look at it, he wasn't in the disposition to flirt with Ayano anymore.

"Really......"

Letting out a bothersome sigh, Kazuma took a step forward. It seems he intended to become the man's opponent but from that figure, standing there with one Oolong tea can in his hand, no tension can be felt.

"You should pick your partner a little better. It's impossible to get this woman through flirting you know?"

".........What does that mean?"

At his tone that was definitely not praising her, while her temples were twitching, Ayano pressed a question.

Kazuma answered with nonchalantly.

"It means that your behavior is firm, that you're a very level-headed Ojou-sama."

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

With a pure white look, Ayano stared at Kazuma very long.

"Say that again while looking into my eyes."

"Sorry, that's impossible."

An immediate reply. Furthermore, he adverted his eyes making an unnatural face.

''"Kazuma?"''

With a sweet smile but while her temple veins were pulsing Ayano grabbed Kazuma's collar.

She pulled Kazuma closer with a superhuman strength her slender arms didn't seem capable of and glared at him point blank, their faces very close.

No matter how those two think about it, that was from the start nothing more but a lover's quarrel.

What's more, they didn't even pay attention to the existence of the man drawing closer.

His very small pride stepped over, the skirt chaser's face was warped with anger.

"Yooooooooouuuuu!!"

Glaring at the two huddling closer preparing to kiss, the man struck.

But, just before the attack reached, Kazuma gently pushed Ayano aside and retreated himself, using that recoil.

The man's fist and then his body slipped through the space between those two.

First his fist and then his upper body and then his lower half of the body went through.

Nonchalantly, with his foot left in place, Kazuma swiped the man's feet.

"Gee!?"

Unable to defend, the man lively fell down. And soundlessly meeting him half-way, using the pointed end of his tiptoe, Kazuma kicked the man's jaw.

" - gh!"

Raising a voiceless shriek, he fell flat, the white of his eyes showing.

Without even making sure of the conclusion, Kazuma turned back to Ayano.

"Well, let's go."

"Yeah."

Heartless, the two started walking leaving the fainted man as it is. But, after advancing a few steps, Kazuma suddenly stopped.

"What happened?"

Without answering Ayano, Kazuma turned back unusually slow. Ayano too, followed his gaze, and looked at the same thing he was.

''" - Why?"''

Ayano inclined her head a little. There's no mistake about it, Kazuma's kick shot the lights out of the man's jaw.

That man's cranium and his brain were violently shaken inside and he wouldn't be conscious for at least an hour.

"Hmmm - "

Icily looking at the man that was recovering with an unusual speed, Kazuma pushed out his Oolong tea to Ayano.

"Hold it."

"Ah, yeah," nodding obediently Ayano took the can.

Fleetingly looking t the can in her hand, for some reason her cheeks were dyed red.

"Y- You....u...."

Looking at Ayano, although staggering, the man got up. Admirably, his sturdiness is clearly exceeding his intellect.

"You made me so angry.......I won't go easy on you - I'll kill you!"

While spouting words with no ingenuity, the man was rapidly recovering. The unfocused pupil, was glaring at Kazuma now.

" - Raah!"

Raising a strange voice, the man started running towards Kazuma. He was fast.

The movement excluding any technique based only on force and the explosive power was closer to that of a beast.

Reaching top speed in just three steps, he brandished his hardened fists.

"Dieeee!"

The fist pushed out in a straight line. Kazuma handled that with a empty handed movement, parrying by rotating. Simultaneously seizing the opponent's arm, making sure to catch his fingertips, he lightly overturned the opponent's wrist.

Only by that movement, the man's body flew in mid-air. And then, with no sign of effort put into it, he was blown off with extreme force.

By seizing a linear motion thrust with a circular one it's swallowed up and the center of gravity crumbles.

This is a technique that is called Aiki in Japan and Kakei(???) in China.

By utilizing the opponent's power, a larger amount of power can be controlled with a smaller one - that is the advantage of this power but -

<nowiki> - bekiii! -</nowiki>

But even so how much power did that man's attack have, to be flung away with enough force to break the roadside trees he crashed into.

Kazuma looked down in silence at the man that tumbled from the nearby crashed trees. There is no negligence in those eyes. It was an expression convinced that he will definitely get up.

"Heh......hehehehehehe.....there's no use......"

As he thought, the man showed no sign of damage.

"On the me right now, human attacks don't work!"

While screaming the man took off his jumper. That body dressed in a T-shirt is skinny. But -

"Koooo......"

Together with the exhalation, the thin body rapidly grew thicker.

The over-sized T-shirt was pushed and stretched by the inflating body.

"Ooaaaa!!"

It was torn off when its limit crossed-over.

".....Is this what you call ''pump up''?," asked Ayano, lacking a sense of reality.

By repeating muscle contraction, by means of pumping large quantities of blood containing oxygen, the muscles will dramatically expand - there certainly is such a technique. But still -

"Well - did the human muscle fiber extend this much?" Kazuma returned with a bitter smile.

Practically, when seeing this you have no choice but to laugh. The man's transformation reached the limit of metamorphosis.

The thickness of his arms, the width of his chest, all his muscles, without exaggerating, swelled up more than three times.

The body, neglected because of laziness, suddenly evolved to the utmost limits of a well trained bodybuilder.

"Ku ku ku ku ....."

Expressing a full smile, the man inserted power in his muscles. The body that increased its thickness to the limit became even wider.

"You'll die you know? There's no one who survived after seeing this body!"

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

With sober eyes Kazuma inspected the surroundings. It was obvious but they became the target of attention for many pedestrians crossing in front of the Shijuku station.

"This is a rough estimate but a hundred people are watching you. Do you intend to kill them all?"

"Shut- shut-up!"

Since his cool line was calmly retorted, the man shouted with a red face.

"Don't talk down on me! Let's go!!"

Together with his voice, the man's figure disappeared. That's what it must have looked like through the eyes of ordinary men.

Much faster than the first charge, with a speed that obviously exceeds what a man can achieve, he dashed.

The fist pushed out a second time and Kazuma dealt with it using the same circular motion.

But, whether Aiki or Kakei, although it appears like a supernatural movement for the untrained eyes, the principle is still the same.

Even using the principle of leverage, if the opponent's power is bigger, there won't be any effect.

The man's physical strength, drastically transcended the human limits. Although Kazuma had a far better posture, even using his whole energy, he couldn't change the thrust's trajectory.

As soon as he noticed that, he moved. Diagonally stepping ahead, he moved his body from the trajectory and going even further, he went around the man's back.

The powerful fist was dodged and his slovenly stance was destroyed, leaving his back defenseless. Placing his foot on the back of the knee, Kazuma stepped on it with all his strength.

With a crumbling sound, the knee's ligament broke. But still he mercilessly stepped on it, beating the man's knee to the ground. The white tiles spread on the ground broke at the same time with the kneecap.

"Hikyaaa!"

His knee completely destroyed, the man screamed with intense pain. Maybe because of the dull sound made by the knee, his upper body arched with force to watch for Kazuma behind him.

Using the foot he broke the knee with as a pivot, Kazuma raised his elbow overhead.

The cranium that was approaching from the opposite side was attacked by Kazuma's elbow that seemed to bore a hole in it.

The <<Ki>> pumped into the cranium via that extremely violent power blow penetrated his brain and came out through the forehead.

The man's body convulsed, then fell down like a doll with broken strings and was silent.

As expected, he didn't get up this time.

"Many thanks."

"Ah, I pointlessly used my physical strength."

At Ayano's thankful words, Kazuma made a sluggish reply.

Although it was minor, because he exercised he felt thirsty and extended his hand to Ayano.

"Oolong tea."

Kazuma carelessly stretched his hand but the next second he turned his entire body around.

He noticed that Ayano's hand was empty.

"My Oolong tea?"

Cross-examined by Kazuma, Ayano's cheeks lightly colored and smiled while showing her tongue.

"I drank it."

"Aah!?"

Extremely childish, Kazuma's eyes peeled openly angry.

"You, don't behave selfishly with the social standing of a rich woman! Return my Oolong tea!"

".....Still, I don't you think it's that unsightly......" Ayano murmured, dejected by the excessive cheapness.

Rare nowadays, she was full of disappointment.

"Shut up. I can't stand when other people take my stuff."

"Well, leaving that aside...."

Considerably displeased, Ayano forcefully changed the topic.

"What do we do with this?"

In front of her eyes, the fallen flirty man became a mere shadow of its former self.

His flesh deflated and his body returned to the modest former self.

No, it didn't just return. Even after returning to the same shape, the muscles' atrophy didn't stop.

Thoroughly endless, as if air slipped out of it, the man's body shrunk until it turned into a creature of only skin and bone.

"Is this...the backlash of power? But he doesn't seem dead."

"Well then."

"Who on earth was this guy?"

Kazuma shrugs his shoulders but doesn't answer. Different from Ayano, tilting her head in wonder, he does not seem to have any sort of interest towards it.

Taking an attitude with no sense of responsibility, Ayano stares at Kazuma including blame.

"You'll just ignore it?"

"It doesn't concern me. Well, as for the obligation I have as a citizen, shall I inform the police?"

Taking out his cellphone, he pressed the buttons. But, contrary to his words he didn't press 911.

"Kirika? There is knocked down half naked suspicious person at the south entrance of Shinjuku. If you catch it, you may hear something interesting. Bye."

Without waiting for the other side to reply, he one-sidedly informed her about the business and closed the phone.

Ayano looked up at Kazuma with a stunned expression.

"How to say this, you can't be kind no matter the circumstance?"

She knew who he contacted. That's someone she definitely didn't like but she couldn't help but feel pity for Kirika.

But, Kazuma replied very naturally.

"It's fine because it's Kirika."

A casual tone full of trust. That careless contact, unkind but without omitting crucial steps, recognizing the signs of Kazuma's confidence in ''if it's Kirika, that's enough'', for some reason Ayano felt discomfort.

"Hmmm, is Tachibana such a capable police officer?"

''Not in other areas'' - without using words just by placing accent, Ayano spit out the thorny words.

Tachibana Kirika is the name of the person Kazuma called. Her rank is police superintendent. She serves as the Chief of the Special Investigation Unit, the institution dealing with expelling evil spirits.

It would be better not saying this but, as a matter of fact, this organization is made of only puny abilities.

Especially their battle capabilities were really meager. So after discovering the devilishness to be defeated, they leave the actual ''defeating'' to the big guns - the Kannagi Clan.

And so, the trust Kazuma was placing on Kirika seemed to be related to police business but -

"Aa, ahhh, Kirika is really capable ''even'' as a government worker."

It appears that Kazuma was trusting Kirika as a practitioner. Answering her question that was supposed to be mean earnestly made Ayano's face become even more grim.

"You meant very capable as a practitioner?"

"Yes, isn't she a top class Onmyoji?"

"But isn't that person from one of Tachibana's branch families?"

Even if it is an Onmyoji name, it belongs after all to one of the branch families. To say nothing of the do-nothing-job as a police chief.

In front of Ayano who was having such warped thoughts, Kazuma shamelessly praised another woman.

"Because she was more capable than the branch family, she was gotten rid of to Tokyo MPD's Special Investigation Unit as some sort of exile."

".............Really?"

"Especially for her, because she adopted fairly unprincipled different style techniques, they had various reasons for punishment. But, at the very least now there isn't a single person from the Tachibana more capable than her."

"Hmm, really?"

Seeming really displeased, Ayano made agreeable responses in short sentences with no intonation.

Incompletely understanding her obvious ''I'm angry'' attitude, Kazuma looked into Ayano's face.

"What happened?"

"Nothing!"

Shouting angrily, Ayano turned her face away. Watching her reaction, Kazuma's lips curved as if finally noticing something.

"What's up with you, don't tell you have a sense of rivalry towards Kirika?"

"I- it's not like that!"

That was an almost reflex answer but it was definitely not a lie. The one Ayano was fussing over was not Kirika.

''More than that woman, I was, by far...''

She looked up to Kazuma peevishly.

As for Ayano, she was conceited about the fact that Kazuma was her partner. More than Kirika, she was far more helpful. She fought for the sake of Kazuma.

''"It's fine because it's Ayano"''

He never told her such words, not even once.

He doesn't trust in her. Perhaps he doesn't even have confidence in her.

''Am I that useless?''

It seems she'll forever be nothing more but an unskilled half-share. Thinking like that, she becomes unbearably anxious.

Even so, this man never says what she wants to hear and only spouts worthless bullshit with a frivolous laugh.

"It's fine. In other areas it's out of the question but as a practitioner you won't loose. When exchanging blows you're absolutely stronger." - Like that.

At the expressively well timed reply, Ayano is helplessly enraged.

"That's not a follow-up! You baka! Just die!"

Kazuma stares at Ayano's fit of anger really, really happy.

Since before the trust comment, for the sake of enjoying himself with Ayano's reactions, Kazuma takes careful aim with his words and before she will realize it, many of these incidents will happen.

=== Part 2 ===

One ordinary day after school.

One section of the practice ground was filled with a silence full of tension. Everyone was neglecting their practice and while holding a hand to their mouths, their gazes were concentrating to one point.

Before their eyes...was that girl's figure. Elatedly reacting to the gaze that was already turned into physical pressure, she was standing there with a clear facial expression.

Someone gulped - strangely that sound clearly reached her ears. As if that was a signal, the girl lightly kicked the earth's surface and started running. Her route drew a light arc, a forward obliqueness, aiming at the bar the same height as her stature.

Stepping on her left foot, the girl was released from the restraints of gravity. Her bent chest aiming the sky, her slender limbs danced in midair.

"Oooh...."

While watching over the excited onlookers, the girl's head, then her beautiful arched body and her long stretched legs, passed above the bar.

The posture of a perfect jump. The body that jumped over the bar was once more caught by gravity but that one moment was beautiful.

With a light sound, the girl's body was buried in the mattress. Her limbs spread in abandon, overhead the bar was still, expressing the high success of the jump.

"........."

A moment of silence. And then - an explosion of applause and cheers.

"Veeeery goood! A new record!"

"Kudo-senpai is great!"

"Nanase, I love you!"

In the middle of the bursting cheers, the girl - Kudo Nanase slowly got up.

Not really exposing her emotions, it didn't look as if she sympathized with the uproar.

Looking up at the bar overhead, her lips faintly raised. That was all the joy she displayed for breaking a new record.

Nanase Kudo - a beautiful girl with androgynous features and straight short-cut hair.

Always calm, with quick movements and not an easy going tone like most girls and yet not boyish, she was enjoying an overwhelming popularity between girls her age - that's why, this kind of scene was a daily occurrence.

"Senpai, please use this!"

A first year, winning through a violent competition presented Nanase, descending from the mattress a towel.

"Ah, thank you."

Nanase accepted it with a small smile. She returned it after lightly whipping off her sweat.

"Haa..."

Inhaling with yearning her senpai's perspiration, the girl embraced the towel with an ecstatic expression. The others in the big crowd, having been outwitted, glared at the girl with murder in their eyes.

Somewhere close to the development of the all-girl's school-like act -

"........"

Clearly separating herself from that naive society, with a severe facial expression, Nanase looked in the way of the tennis court.

She glared at the blackish shadow clinging to the fence with a violent repugnance.

"Is he here again?"

"Senpai?"

A girl's voice asked a question in a surprised tone. Noticing that, Nanase looked at the girl and showed a harmless smile.

"Nothing important. Just, you know?"

While answering, she gently brushed the girl's head in a casual manner. It as an action with no significance in particular but -

".........uu?"

With a scream that didn't seem to reach the surroundings, the girl in question fell to the ground with a swoon face.

".....What happened?"

"No- no......nothing....."

With a red face and clouded eyes, as if fever made her delirious, the girl slowly shook her head.

"I see. Then, take car.e"

Not really thinking about it, Nanase started walking - aiming at the tennis court.

The moment she turned to it, she had already forgotten the conversation with the girl. She was concentrating on the suspicious figure clinging to the tennis court's fence.

With a cool expression, totally different from the one pointed at the girl before, unforgiving, as if giving a sentence.

"Hey, he's still coming?"

A second year in the tennis club, Sughino Mie murmured so, not pleased from the bottom of her heart. Before her eyes, sticking to the tennis court's fence, a short and fat shadow was peeking.

Just by looking, he was a suspicious man.

Setting up his digital camera, that figure taking snapshots of the girls' appearance, no other word described him better than ''degenerate''.

If this man wasn't a pupil of Seiryou Academy, they would definitely call the police. Or perhaps, there are a lot of people who think they should call the police nevertheless.

Utsumi Kousuke.

That is this man's name. He is a second year but his results were so poor it was a miracle he managed to promote.

His facial features resemble a frog. His whole face is full of pimples, and he had a greasy sweat regardless of the season so his frog image is spot-on.

He belonged to the photography club but the subjects of his photos are just a step away from criminal or maybe already crossing over that line, only that kind of crap.

But even so, the perpetrator is claiming that this is art, although nobody believed him.

It's only natural. If one were to see the expression on his while taking pictures, there can be no place for misunderstanding.

The feeling of various dangers emitted from his blood-shot eyes gave the impression of a real sex-offender.

"As I thought, he's dangerous. Shouldn't we do something?"

"That's right, he's also scaring the first years....."

Weirdly stared at by Utsumi, pressing his shutter as if possessed, the girls were murmuring between themselves.

As if hiding behind her back the first years that have just joined the club, revealed their thought when looking for the firs time at the ominous living creature.

"Se- senpai......what is ''that''? "

"That's a pervert"

Mie immediately replied with no hesitation. That answer was something the first years, who didn't know the circumstance, could't comprehend but just because of that, their disgust and dread didn't soften.

"Can't you do something? Maybe calling the teacher..."

"Ah, yes.....he won't come...."

Staring at her kouhais, supplication clearly in their eyes, Mie's gaze wandered around, her face troubled.

No matter how suspicious he was, Utsumi was a pupil of this school. Moreover he had the pretext of being a member of the photography club.

That means, photographing as a club activity was for him very reasonable. They can't stop him from photographing just because his vulgar smile was eerie.

"No way..."

At that explanation, based on last year's events, the first year's crying faces were pitiable but nothing could be done at the present. Just when she was instructing them to give up, it happened -

"Huh....Kudo-san...?" murmured Mie, recognizing the girl walking behind Utsumi.

Simultaneously Utsumi also realized this and turned around, separating his eyes from the fence.

At that moment -

"Bukyaa!?"

A foot sole with no leniency stroke Utsumi's back of the head. The blow, more like stepping on him than trying to kick, forced Utsumi to strongly kiss the fence.

"Gyaa.....Gyaabii.....?"

To Utsumi's ears, as he was wordlessly screaming, reached a cold notice of conviction:

"How long did you think I would overlook your vulgar molestation, low-life?"

"Guugyaaa....bebii...."

Although Utsumi was trying to escape the restraint, his lazy, neglected body couldn't overcome the force of the foot trampling his head.

Vainly resisting, he was pressed down by the already doubled force. The flesh of his loosen face was squeezed through the mesh of the fence.

"Uuu......"

Because his already ugly face was distorted even more, all the girls in the tennis club simultaneously adverted their eyes.

A dozen seconds after - at the time everyone was starting to see his face really getting cut in the mesh, the girl - Nanase removed her leg.

The released Utsumi crouched holding his face. Crawling unsightly, from the gaps between his fingers he raised his eyes to Nanase.

"Hiii......please....stop the violence...."

A high shriek escaped. He tried to escape, stepping back as if crawling on his ass, but in the crowded place the fence blocked his escape route.

Fleetingly watching behind him, Utsumi's face became even more grim. On the other side of the fence, the girls belonging to the tennis club were watching him with grim eyes.

Being encouraged by Nanase's strong entrance, their eyes lost their fear for the ominous thing. Their looks filled with anger and flared up while their restraints towards the punishment of the insolent peeping demon broke.

In confusion, Utsumi started an explanation,

"Please, please wait. As a member of the photography club, for the sake of the year book photos, I - "

"Don't joke around!"

"Hiii -"

In a fit of rage the women kicked the fence and Utsumi fled that place as if tumbling.

But of course, Nanase is in that direction. This time his face, receiving a Yakuza Kick, was once again dragged in front of the girls.

"N- no, hey, listen....."

"Only lies, huh?" one of the girls shouted.

"How can you take such low angle photos for the year album? Everyone knows that you take dirty photos for the sake of your hobby!"

"That's true! That's true!"

"You rotten fat otaku shit! Diee!"

"It stinks! Don't get closer than a hundred meters!" several girls unanimously shouted.

Obviously there were some unjust accusations mixed in between but Utsumi was quiet.

Originally, except for taking pictures of girl's lower parts he is a timid person. While being surrounded by female students, it's impossible for him to object coherently.

No matter how unreasonable the verbal attacks he received, there was nothing to do but to put up with it in silence.

"Uuu, uuuu....."

"This should be fine, right?"

But a helping hand appeared from an unexpected place.

That was Nanase.

Naturally, she had the character of someone feeling refreshed after <<splitting the bamboo>>. She doesn't like the act of a large group ganging up on someone.

To say nothing of the girls' words which had already entered into a state of wild excitement and began to drift from the original point, changing into nothing but slander and ridicule.

Nanase disliked that development so she got back to the point.

It was just that, but -

"Ku- Kudo-san!"

With a face as if seeing Buddha from the depths of hell, Utsumi's eyes sparkled. It seems that he was convinced that Nanase became his ally.

"I - I knew you would understand! That's right, my photos are art. These women can't understand that!"

Bracing himself he stood up while talking non-stop. He didn't notice the cold anger filling Nanase's eyes.

"Aah, I understand! That's why you were angry. Because I didn't look at you and was taking pictures of this bunch. You don't have to worry, you're my most important subject. From now on, always - "

Perhaps Utsumi's character wasn't vulgar but simply stupid. If a neutral person were to stand there, he or she could only think that.

In the tennis girl's expressions, there was already no anger. What dwelt there was pity and dread. As if looking at a bomb timer decreasing each moment, they nervously observed Utsumi and Nanase.

And then -

GASyAN!

An ominous sound interrupted Utsumi's triumphant speech. His camera, rolling on the ground, was trampled upon with all her strength by Nanase.

"Aah, aaaaaaaaaa!?"

The expensive lens turned into shards of glass. Utsumi cried in a bitter voice.

"Wh- what are you doing!?"

Without answering, Nanase kicked the camera with her foot. Placing the camera with a crooked frame on the top of her foot, she used a half rotation to volley-kick and sent it flying.

The camera that flew with power crashed into the school building and smashed.

"Hiiiiii!"

With a pose similar to Munch's Scream, Utsumi shouted.

"Ah, ah, a"

Leaking out as murmurs, as if his soul escaped his body, he looked up at Nanase in blank amazement.

A frozen gaze looked down on Utsumi.

"Hi, hiii......"

Nanase ordered the pale Utsumi with indifference.

"Get out of my sight!"

"Ah, waaa........waaaaa...."

Revealing a meaningless cry, Utsumi started running on all fours.

"Fucking trash! Just die!!"

"Don't ever come back!"

Showering his back with the tennis girls' boos, Utsumi ran away faster.

Nanase stared at that retreating figure thoroughly indifferent.

=== Part 3 ===

''Shit, just watch you bitches....''

While placing desks one on top of the other behind the tennis club's room - in a perfectly blind spot from the front, Utsumi boiled in anger when thinking of those bitches that didn't understand his art.

''After shooting them at great pains, they falsely accuse me of peeping and taking peeping films...then it's fine to answer your expectations right?''

The insistence of repeating the failed argument over and over is filling his mind. That was nothing more than a pretext, but for him it didn't matter.

Even if someone were to deny it, for him that was the absolute truth and he found no reason to hesitate to respond to the ''undeserved'' persecution with ''rightful'' retribution.

"Yes, it got trough!"

Utsumi, standing on top of the desks, reached the ventilation fan's frame. His body trembling in dark joy, he raised a small sound of joy.

He quietly inserted the small CCD camera in the small gap opened in the corner of the ventilation fan. On the monitor he was holding, silhouettes of girls in their underwear appeared clearly.

"How about this, did you realize.......?"

Without realizing, while smiling simple-mindedly watching the girls changing clothes, a naturally scornful smile appeared on his face.

While video recording the defenseless silhouettes of the people that insulted him, he was intoxicated by his own sense on superiority as if he could decide their fates.

"I won't be satisfied by just this. I'll leak your pictures on the net. With no censorship. Hyahahahaha!"

Of course, he will spread the video address inside the school. Intoxicated with sleazy delusions, in a sense, Utsumi was getting the hang of being a man.

Making the gap and plunging the camera to the extent of warping the secret ventilation fan's frame, bringing the old, discarded desks for support- even if it was for the sake of peeking, maybe he deserves some praise for putting so much effort into it.

At present, Utsumi's effort was greatly rewarded. Moment by moment, the camera's memory is filled with undressed girls.

It's understandable for them not to notice. The back of the club room had no windows, the fan is three meters high so nobody paid attention to it.

Not one person noticed the fact that the fan's frame was subtly warped. Therefore, Utsumi's plan against the tennis club could be called perfect.

If there was a miscalculation, it could only be that he didn't notice the gloomy path weaving its way through the groove of trees was used as a shortcut.

And so, when ''she'' called out to him asking for his identity, her character was not simple enough to make it a prior warning.

"Uhii!?"

Suddenly something shook underfoot. Realizing that someone kicked the desks serving as scaffolding, his plump relaxed body fell, aiming for the ground.

" - uu!"

He fell on his back. For an instant, his breathing stopped. Without really being able to scream in pain, extremely nervous and convulsing, Utsumi fainted.

"Good grief - "

A murmur reached his ear. For some reason he could clearly understand that voice even in the middle of roaring noise made by the falling bricks.

He slowly opened his eyelids, tightly closed in pain. The first thing in his field of vision were two slender, long legs.

Ankles closed tightly. Calves covered with knee socks. Firm tights - extremely healthy, the beautiful legs of an active person.

Legs he recognized. Without having to look at her face, Utsumi knew who those legs belonged to. Track club, second year, Kudo Nanase.

They were without doubt the legs of that girl, his main target.

Forgetting the situation he was in, Utsumi was fascinated by those legs soaring before his eyes.

The one he captured on hundred of pictures but as expected looking at them so close, the intensity was different.

Furthermore, because of the extremely low angle he was looking from, he could see almost to her crotch. Those essentials were covered by her skirt but they were very suggestive.

This was a chance. Forgetting the pain in his body Utsumi shuffled his feet remaining in the same position, approaching Nanase.

''More, just a bit more...''

He stretched his neck to the limit, trying to peek behind the mystery veil but -

Together with a crash resounding all around his cranium, his field of vision was plunged into darkness.

"Guu......Gyaa....?"

While not understanding that his face was stepped on, Utsumi tried to brush away the thing covering his eyes. But he was powerless against the unforgiving trampling that didn't hesitate to rub dirt into his eyes.

"You really don't learn, do you?" Nanase spit out disgusted, while stepping on and grinding Utsumi's face.

"Don't techniques like reflection and regret suit your body, bizarre frog man?"

"Fuu....Fuguu...Gyaaah....!"

Although her manner of speaking was excessive, Utsumi had no strength to object, his face being ground and all, so he clenched his teeth.

That was the moment when the girls from the tennis club rushed out, hearing noise.

" - Nanase-san?"

"Yo."

Nanase replied to Mie's reflexive cry, lightly raising her hand. Of course, she didn't stop stomping and treading on the piece of meat beneath her feet.

Noticing that movement, Mie shifted her gaze to Nanase's feet. And then, to the surroundings.

First of all to the source of the noise, the scattered desks. And then on the CCD camera thrust into a crack made in the ventilation fan. The small monitor connected to the camera was swinging like a pendulum.

It was a very clear scene. After looking at Utsumi with a penetrating cold glance, she exchanged looks with her colleagues that followed her.

There was no need for words. Reading Mie's intent just by eye contact, they rushed back to the club-room.

Ten seconds after, the club's door was opened for a second time and all the girls in the club rushed out with rough steps. They speedily encircled Utsumi and glared at him with eyes burning in anger.

A bit later the first years came out of the club-room. The reason they were late could be clearly seen. They collected the lynching tools. As expected they avoided the rackets, the emphasis was on the mop. But one person was holding a bettered metal bat taken from somewhere.

".....Thank you, Nanase-san. That's enough," Mie said in a restrained voice.

"Yeah."

Nanase nodded, knocking down Utsumi's head with a thick sound. While his body was faced up, she turned his head. Again, his head twisted.

"Oo...Okekereba..."

Bearing a pain intense enough to break his neck-bones, Utsumi rolled his body the same way his neck did.

Nanase chose that moment, when he was lying with his face on the ground, to retreat in a slippery manner of walking. That was only for the sake of not having the insides of her skirt exposed while removing her leg but of course, nobody complained that it was overkill.

The girls were rather impressed by that brilliant movement.

"Uuu.....Uuuuu....."

The released Utsumi tried to get up. And then he saw the expression of the girls surrounding him.

"Uu....aaah...."

Revitalized by fear, Utsumi revealed a sight of agony and death. Realizing he could not escape, he started to explain in a trembling voice.

"Th- this is art..."

"Shut up, you're annoying."

His thoughtless words rejected, Mie thrust her hand out to the first years, waiting behind her.

"Demolishing bat!"

"Yes!"

Without a moment's delay, the first years presented her the scratched metal bat. Strongly gripping the overused bat, Mie shouted.

"Heavenly punishment!!"

''"Oooooooooooooo!"''

Rising their voices, the girls raised their tools. And then like birds of prey swarming around a dead body, they jumped on the petrified Utsumi.

"Uu, Waaaaaahhh!"

A torrent of high pitched shrieks - and then silence.

"........"

Nanase meaninglessly raised her eyes to the sky and then, shifted her attention to the place where the gruesome lynching was performed. The target was silenced but still, the ''sword of justice'' was continuously swinging downward. The girl's faces were radiating great joy.

''"Should I stop it?"''

"It's fine"

As if reading Nanase's thoughts, a smiling voice could be heard from her side. Turning her face around, before she knew, the one that commanded the punishment, Mie stood beside her.

"Are you satisfied, Sugino?"

"Yeah, as you can see -"

Mie was holding the metal bat, stroking gently the ''sword blade'' stained in new blood.

"The demolishing bat has the power to wound and kill and beside it could turn bad so I had to stop."

"Must be hard being the vice-president."

"We are of equal status in this regard."

Both exchanged a bitter smile, bonding for being in the same place and having the same troubles.

Unrelated to the disastrous scene happening a few meters before them, there was a gentle atmosphere around these two.

"By the way, I didn't properly thank you. Thank you very much for today. You helped us twice."

"That's fine. The track club was also at a loss when it came to Utsumi so it wasn't just your business."

"Maybe it would have been better to do something like this quicker, huh?" Mie said while looking at the girls beating the hell out of Utsumi.

"True. This kind of idiot will only be spoiled if left alone. Because he doesn't understand when talking to him, there's no way but to painfully teach it to him."

"True. That's so true!"

Grasping tightly the metal bat, Mie nodded awfully forceful.

"Now that we inherited the ''Demolishing Bat'', we can't permit perverted acts towards the members!"

".......No, I don't think that has anything to do with it..."

"Is that so? Anyway, it would be fine if the idiot learned something from that experience."

They both had the same opinion on this point so Nanase nodded.

"Certainly. But don't overdo it. It's not worth it to be charged with a crime because of such a guy."

"I know. Leave it to me."

Leaving it to the girl that declared so pulling out her chest, Nanase said her parting words.

"Then, I leave the rest to you. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

A commonplace greeting. Smiling at each other. Without foundation, both believed that the tomorrow that will come will be the same as today. At that hour, they still thought so.

=== Part 4 ===

"Hmm, did something like that happened yesterday?"

The next day's lunch break.

While eating her lunch, Nanase told her friends - Kannagi Ayano and Shinomiya Yukari yesterday's incident.

"Ha ha, he got what he deserved," Ayano replied delightedly from the bottom of her heart.

She also thinks Utsumi's deeds are unpleasant so she doesn't have a particle of sympathy for him.

"So, is he still alive?"

At Ayano's question Nanase simply shrugged her shoulders as if saying ''I wonder''. Substituting her friend who really didn't care from the bottom of her heart, Yukari answered.

"Of course he's alive. Because luckily Ayano-chan wasn't at that place."

Yukari was wearing her shoulder length hair wavy, and seemed like a very gentle girl. Although speaking slowly, quite a number of people noticed at times her irony.

"I see, that was unlucky - wait a second!"

But, because they were friends for a long time Ayano couldn't be deceived. On the verge of noticing, she glared with half open eyes at her friend, grinning at her with a happy smiling face.

"Didn't you just say something inexcusable with a straight face just now?"

"I wonder...I only spoke the truth."

"That's even worse!"

"Kya- Nanase-chan help!"

Pretending to be scared of the roaring Ayano, whose face was blazing, Yukari hid behind Nanase.

"Wait!"

"Kyaa-"

The moving around Ayano. Yukari escaping again. Gradually increasing their speed, both started running round and round around Nanase.

"You guys, I'm in the middle of eating-"

Amazed, Nanase warned them but without seeming to hear both continued to run around.

After fixedly staring at them, Nanase closed the bentou lid and casually pushed out her leg forward. With superb timing, that leg caught Ayano running in front of her.

"Waahyaa!"

Ayano fell forward with all her strength. As expected, she avoided falling down but Yukari crashed into her back half a second later.

"Waaa!"

"Kyaaa!"

Entangled, Ayano and Yukari tumbled on the floor of the rooftop. Disregarding those two, Nanase calmly resumed her meal.

"Ow...uch..."

Several seconds after, Ayano got up raising a grazed moan. Tearing off Yukari's body tangled with hers as in a judo locking technique, she stood up while arranging her hair.

"Na - na - se."

Being spoken to in such a harsh voice, Nanase didn't show any sign of being perturbed. While steadily chewing her the fries she just put in her mouth, she declared as a matter of course.

"I told you I'm in the middle of eating. You were raising dust."

"But still suddenly tripping me up-"

"It's fine, I carefully chose the opponent. I wouldn't do it to anyone except you."

"Don't do it to me either!"

"By the way-"

Ignoring Ayano's outcry, Nanase turned her eyes to Yukari. Finally getting up while cleaning the dust off her clothes Yukari tilted her head as if asking ''What is it?''

"Do you know?"

Yukari accurately read the aim of the untitled question.

"About Utsumi-kun? Of course he didn't die, nor is he hospitalized. You see, people don't generally use tools and seriously strike at someone, right?" said Yukari while fleetingly glancing at Ayano.

Sensing that, Ayano frowned.

"Why were you looking at me?"

Yukari nonchalantly turned away. As if she didn't hear anything, she continued her conversation with Nanase.

"That's why, the injury he received from those blows is pretty much to the level of mouth cuts. They said his bones are whole."

"Just that...."

"Yes, just that. As expected, he will stay in bed today but compared to the damage he would have suffered from Ayano-chan, that's just like a gentle brush."

"Why are you using me as an example?" Ayano raised her voice again.

Sensing she had reached a critical section, Yukari didn't ignore her this time and faced her with an honest face.

"Listen to me, Ayano-chan."

"Wh- what?"

The atmosphere suddenly changed and as if pressured by Yukari closing in, Ayano retreated a little.

"I think of Ayano-chan as an important friend."

"I see.....thanks."

That was a pretty common thing to say but not in this context.

She nodded frankly.

"That's why, please-"

The light of sincerity dwelling in her eyes, like a prayer, like a request, Yukari continued.

"So please, don't say such mean things to me."

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

Ayano's temple had a cramp. Staring at Yukari with a dark glare, she let out a voice that must have crawled from the bottom of hell.

"Yu - ka - ri...."

"Wh - a - t?"

Contrary to Ayano's dark tone, Yukari's reply didn't have an atom of darkness. The song-like tone felt like the elegance of a bright spring.

There's no need to say it but this only had the opposite effect.

Ayano slightly moved forward her center of gravity, the muscles all over her body poised. An attitude that gave the impression of a feline hunter on the verge of leaping on her pray.

"Yukari....it seems necessary. We need to have a lengthy discussion one of these days......"

Ayano let out a low, small whisper. It seems it was lost in wind but it was the kind of sentence that would definitely reach the other party.

The tiptoes of Ayano's fingers placed on the floor, lightly scratched the concrete.

When the few moments before the strife began expanding over and over - at that time -

"Oh, it's open!"

Several boy came to the rooftop with a basket ball. It seems they wanted to exercise some after eating.

The minute that the door was opened Ayano and Yukari returned to their former positions so fast it didn't even leave an afterimage.

Sitting straight, those figures smiling elegantly didn't show any sign a cat fight was about to happen seconds before.

"Hurry up. The lunch break will end - huh?"

The boy in the front - apparently a first year - finally perceived Ayano's group. His eyes opened wide in surprise.

"Shi- shinomiya-san? Kudo-san and- and even Kannagi-san?"

The good fortune of being able to see the Academy's top three beautiful girls in the same place made the boy's face become loose. On the faces of the boys following him, an expression of supreme bliss floated.

"I'm sorry, we're in the middle of lunch. Can you restrain yourselves?" asked Yukari, while showing an brutally cute smile.

As there were no boys who could go against that face, they immediately replied with a straight posture.

"Of- of course! We're apologizing for causing you trouble!"

"We're sorry."

Moreover, Ayano's smile increased the tension. The boys' consciousness flew higher than the sky, their thinking ability all evaporated.

Nanase saw off the departing boys, their faces intoxicated.

The door closed, the sound of footsteps died out and waiting a few more seconds just to make sure, Nanase spoke with a sigh.

"How to put this - both of you have a tremendous skill in hiding your true selves."

"Isn't it fine? There're all happy," Yukari replied with a nonchalant face.

Ayano didn't reply, on account of resuming her lunch.

Understanding she said something completely pointless, Nanase feebly shook her head, resuming her thoughts. She once again looked at Yukari who knew all the gossip.

"So, Yukari. Was his punishment decided?"

"Three days of house arrest," Yukari quickly replied to Nanase's question.

Unintentionally Ayano shouted when hearing the too indulgent punishment.

"Just that?"

"Just that. He was a first offender."

Also dissatisfied, Nanase frowned.

"It could have been so peaceful had he been expelled......."

"That's impossible. If it's Utsumi-kun, they won't expel him before raping someone."

"<<If it's Utsumi-kun>>? What do you mean by that?"

"He's from a rich family in hospital administration. The amount of his donations is top class."

"Ah, I see."

At the tough reality, Nanase kept silent with a sullen face.

Seiryou Academy was a private school but it wasn't unaffected by the declining birth rates. The period when only the best pupils were selected had passed and because its name was famous, noted families pursued it.

The management was definitely not difficult but the funds were never enough.

To put it in simple words, it was hard to part from valuable gold.

"I heard rumors he entered the school through the back door, that guy."

"Yeah, but those rumors were false."

"Were they?"

"Yes," Yukari declared with no doubt.

That was an information unavailable to a simple student but neither Ayano nor Nanase were suspicious about it. Frankly this girl, without changing her gentle exterior appearance, or maybe in accordance with her image was randomly well connected.

Currently she is occupying the position of secretary in the Student Council but except for that she belongs to different committees and influential clubs. On top of that she has connections among the teaching staff.

That vast and subtle information network had an unparalleled accuracy. No school event escapes her eyes.

"That's why, he'll probably come back to school after three days with a calm face. Maybe he will be quiet for some time and reflect upon his actions."

".....I wonder."

Remembering his persistent gaze trying to look under her skirt even after he was caught during the crime, Nanase breathed a sigh, fed up with it.

"It can't be helped, even if it's a makeshift solution. If he will continue with this crap day after day, no matter how stupid he is, he will come to care about his well being."

"Like yesterday? Ah, about that-"

"What?"

"Wasn't Sugino-san the one that organized yesterday's beating? It seems she suddenly fell into a coma."

"Ehh? Is that true?"

Unintentionally Nanase asked again so Yukari's lips became sharp seeming displeased.

"I never tell false information."

"Well, that's true - that's just so strange, she looked so well yesterday," said Nanase doubtfully.

Yukari raised her finger and said to her.

"Maybe she was cursed by Utsumi-kun, huh?"

" - Yukari, that's not funny."

"Eh, that was an indiscretion. I'm sorry."

Gazing at Yukari, putting out her tongue, Nanase anxiously frowned with a light reprimand.

She told herself she was thinking too much. But she instinctively knew. That this is just the beginning. That something bad, something really bad is just about to happen.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume4_Illustrations|Illustrations]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume4_Chapter_2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}