Editing Masou Gakuen HxH:Volume 8 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 3===

The large tourist bus was traveling across the Ataraxia that was continuing its reconstruction work.

“E― what you can see on your right is Ataraxia’s international exhibition hall. Fortunately even in the battle against Hokuto the other day it avoided destruction from battle. Its total floor space is about 230,000 square meters. It is divided into the east and west exhibition halls and the conference tower, making it able to hold every kind of event.”

The young girl in the costume of a bus guide showed the building with one hand and explained smilingly.

“……What kind of joke is this?”

Kizuna asked at the bus guide Nayuta with a threatening tone.

“Just as you see, this is the sightseeing tour of Ataraxia. By looking around the Ataraxia that is in the middle of reconstruction, the message asking you to cooperate in the reconstruction with your best effort will be conveyed, this is a plan for the sake of enhancing one’s desire to work diligently. I chartered it for Kizuna’s sake this time.”

“No, perhaps that’s important but! Rather than that what’s going to happen with the Core’s re-installation?”

The one riding the bus was Kizuna and Nayuta, then there was only the bus driver. The interior was remodeled like a parlor, it had the presence really like an exclusive vehicle for VIPs. All the chairs were removed, relaxing sofa and table, also bar counter and refrigerator. At the back even toilet and shower were also fully installed.

“This is not just a mere tour. This is an important plan to power up the Heart Hybrid Gear.”

“How much it’s okay to believe that……”

“Aah, let me give you this.”

Nayuta took out a small metallic piece from her breast pocket. Its length was eight centimeter and thickness around three centimeters with the shape of a capsule.

“Heart Hybrid Gear’s Core……the adjustment is finished already?”

“Yes. It’s only still this one though.”

Kizuna stared fixedly at the Core handed over to him.




――Two weeks ago.

The proposal suggested by Nayuta to cooperate and defeat the Deus ex Machina. Even while harboring a lot of anxiety and dissatisfaction, Kizuna and the others swallowed that proposal.

And then――,

“Understood. We will listen to what Kaa-san is saying within limitations. That’s why, teach us the way to defeat the Deus ex Machina.”

Kizuna asked the question like so.

The central control room of Nayuta Lab. Those gathered there, Kizuna and Reiri, Kei and Himekawa, they were waiting for Nayuta’s answer with held breath.

“The way to defeat the Deus ex Machina……that is by reinstalling the Core.”

“Wha……what did you say!?”

That proposal struck dumb everyone in that place.

“That’s no good. Taking out a Core will kill the holder. Kaa-san should be the one who understands that the best.”

Once Nayuta ordered the imperial guard Valdy to take out a Core from Brigit of Masters. The result, Brigit’s life was lost.

Nayuta smiled sweetly without any remorse.

“Certainly, humans don’t have the ability to extract out a Core. However, while I’m imperfect, I too am the same race of organism as the Deus ex Machina. If it’s with the power of the current me, taking out a Core without risking the life to danger is possible.”

Nayuta walked until in front of Himekawa and raised her right arm quickly.

――!?

Without even any time to think ‘ah’, Nayuta’s arm sunk into Himekawa’s breast.

“Himekawa!”

Kizuna screamed and reached out his hand. However it was already too late. The arm stabbing Himekawa’s chest was moving as if to search around for something.

“Eh……?”

Himekawa was looking down on her own chest in a daze. It didn’t hurt. But the sensation of a small hand searching inside her body was eerie, causing dread to run inside Himekawa.

“N, NOOOOO-!”

Her hand that was trying to push away Nayuta hit empty air. In an instant, Nayuta had jumped back several meters behind.

And then, her hand was holding a metallic capsule that was shining silver.

Kizuna’s heart jumped greatly.

“Himekawa! You okay!?”

He grasped Himekawa’s arm and peered into her eyes. Himekawa nodded with a scared face and dropped her eyes on the bulge of her breast where Nayuta’s arm was sinking in just now.

There was no hole opened there or even bleeding. It was just like magic.

“I’m fine……I think, though.”

“Really!? Is there anything hurt, or painful, anywhere!?”

Himekawa shook her head tremblingly.

“Yes, nowhere……say, is it really true that my Core is taken out?”

‘haaaaaa’, Kizuna sighed in a big way.

“……I thought my heart got stopped there.”

Nayuta proudly rolled around the Core in her hand.

“How is it? Now do you feel like trusting me a little?”

Reiri went in front of Nayuta and glared in despise.

“But even Sylvia who had her Core installed using the new method couldn’t match the Deus ex Machina. With just that there is no meani――”

Nayuta raised her index finger and waved it left and right.

“Of course. Just reinstalling the Core won’t make you a match for the Deus ex Machina. There is a need to improve the taken out Core.”

{Core’s……impro}

Kei’s opened her eyes wide in shock. Her hand that was typing the keyboard stopped in the middle.

“That’s right. The Core has a limiter fixed in it. That is so that the organism using the Core won’t become a threat to themselves, the Deus ex Machina set the Core with something like a safety device.”

Nayuta held up the Core of Neros in her hand towards the lighting.

“But, if it’s Ros-series, then it’s possible to remove that limiter.”

――!!

Kizuna and Himekawa looked at each other in reflex.

“I will carry out optimized improvements, by attempting to increase the performance as high as possible while maintaining the magic power’s consumption so that it will stay the same like before. After finishing that we will reinstall it with the most effective way, surely we will obtain the power that can possibly oppose the Deus ex Machina with that.”

Kei pulled herself together and ran her fingers on the keyboard once more.

{Is something like that possible for you Professor Nayuta?}

Nayuta looked up at Kei and smiled.

“With my current power, I am able to substantiate even theory that is impossible to realize because of humanity’s left behind technology. I’ll show you that I can make you all reach the level where it’s possible to fight the Deus ex Machina.”




――There was such conversation.

The mission assigned to Kizuna right now was the Core reinstallation of the Heart Hybrid Gear pilots as well as the magic knights in possession of magic armor. The method itself wasn’t any different with that time he installed a Core into Sylvia.

The bus that stopped at the traffic light suddenly took off. That impact shook Kizuna’s body greatly.

“……So, aren’t we going to do the reinstall?”

“In the place we are heading at right now, the reinstall partner Himekawa Hayuru is waiting. Ah, driver-san, don’t park at the parking lot but please go to the rotary’s direction.”

The driver wordlessly turned the steering wheel. The car roughly turned and Kizuna’s body was pushed down on the sofa by the side G force. The driving was just too rough.

“In that case explain it a little bit more. If there is no information beforehand, even I will feel troubled.”

“My, Kizuna is the one setting up the plan today you know?”

Kizuna twisted his head. He didn’t have any recollection at all about what Nayuta was saying.

“What is the meaning of――”

The bus stopped suddenly as if it was going to pitch forward.

“We have arrived here. Is your preparation finished Kizuna?”

“Yeah. I’m fine……but, are we going to do the reinstall here?”

What could be seen outside the window was the entrance of the exhibition hall explained to him just now.

“That’s right. Then let’s go.”

Nayuta climbed down the steps while holding a flag with words ‘Group Travel’ written on it. Kizuna followed behind her reluctantly.

“――Wait, this place!?”

When he got down the bus, the scenery there looked like a Halloween party. The courtyard of the exhibition hall was teeming with people in various costumes.

Girls in cute magical girl costumes. Boys wearing army uniforms of the past military. Cartoon character costumes of robots made from cardboard. Woman in risqué outfits with high exposure rate. If he remembered correctly, that should be the character of the anime that was popular last year.

It was a rush hour of people with various costumes. And then everywhere around them were photo taking sessions being carried out.

“This is……a cosplay event?”

A girl with a costume of a school uniform was hitting the sides of her head with her two hands in a strange pose. Most likely that was the signature pose of the character she was cosplaying. That girl was surrounded by several rows of males holding cameras while clicking their shutters.

Even though just before this they were just getting attacked by an unknown enemy and received a devastating blow.

“I’m really impressed by the mental strength of Ataraixa’s fellows. Good grief……”

“Aah, the people here aren’t real humans.”

“Whattt?”

“When I regenerated Ataraxia I investigated all the students’ data, so recycling that data I created these extras.”

Kizuna once again looked around at the cosplayers taking poses and the people swarming around them readying their cameras.

“Ah, this cosplay is aweso―me, it’s cuteee~”

“How about calling out to that group and do a combination?”

“Please look over here―”

Every single one of them was enjoying their hobby happily. That realness could only be seen as the real thing.

“These are fakes……is the theory the same like the Love Room?”

“No, they really exist in reality here. They are existences I copied from the students who actually have this kind of hobby. Their memories and thought circuits are also the same, but at best they will only remain for an hour before vanishing.”

The Love Room only tricked one’s brain and gave them mock experiences, but this was something Nayuta really created with her power, it seemed that was how it was.

“If I have the original data, I can reproduce things and people like this. However, this is consuming my energy, so honestly I want to erase them as quickly as possible.”

“Then should we go”, told that by Nayuta, Kizuna followed behind her and entered into the exhibition hall. Behind Nayuta who was walking forward holding a flag, Kizuna was following while looking around restlessly. Nayuta weaved through the crowd and moved forward with surety. They passed through the hall and went above using an elevator. At the floor they arrived there was a hall with doors lined up in a row. Walking on the carpeted corridor, their steps stopped in front of a door. Thereupon Nayuta suddenly opened the door and entered.

“Thank you for waiting. Here is the main event.”

“Kyah! ……Don’t open the door so suddenly――wait!?”

The width of the room was around ten tatami, it was like a parlor used for business discussions. There was one girl wearing cosplay inside that room.

“You’re……Himekawa!?”

“Ki, Kizuna-kun!”

What Himekawa was wearing was a costume of a cat eared girl. The costume had a lot of frill and gather, fluttery clothes that looked girly. A hole was opened on the skirt and there was a tail from there moving flexibly like a real thing.

“Wai……don’t look! Please don’t look!”

It was cute, but the skirt was excessively short. Also the shoulder and chest were opened, the guard in the unusual places were thin.

He had the feeling it was an anime character intended for primary schoolgirl that was popular two or three years ago if he remembered right. Nayuta smiled sweetly and nodded in satisfaction.

“This is the character of [Magical Girl Nyan Colosseum] that Hayuru liked, the black cat Shanowal.”

“You really know it well don’t you.”

“I won’t tolerate anything that I don’t know.”

“No, it’s just a knowledge that is fine to not know no matter how you think about it.”

Even while they were having that conversation, Kizuna was unable to take off his eyes from Himekawa’s black cat Shanowal cosplay.

“It’s fine already! I told you already to not see!”

Himekawa’s lips were trembling with a bright red face.

“Even if you told me to not look, but if you show me a cosplay filled with that much spirit then……Himekawa, did you like that anime?”

“Yo, you’re wro……no, I don’t hate it but……that, we, wearing costumes like this-, is not my real intention!”

[[Image:Masou Gakuen HxH V08 145.jpg|thumb]]

“Then why?”

“Because of the mission!”

Silence ruled inside the room.

Kizuna made a cramped smile and opened his mouth while feeling perplexed.

“Himekawa……no, I think it’s a good hobby you know? It’s unexpected for that serious and strict Himekawa, but something like this gives balance――”

“That’s why if I told you it’s mission then it’s really because of the mission-! Please don’t speak in a supporting way like that! In the first place isn’t this Kizuna’s instruction-!”

‘――What?’

“No, I’m not really――”

Just when he was about to say that, he shut his mouth. Suddenly there was a line of thought that came inside his mind.

‘――By any chance……?’

Cold sweat trickled down Kizuna’s forehead.

“Kaa-san……this is, don’t tell me.”

“Yes. I peeked inside Kizuna’s mind. Kizuna has been thinking all this time, about how to do Heart Hybrid in even more effective ways haven’t you? This time I gave shape to that research result.”

Himekawa’s face turned bright red and her shoulders trembled.

“Yo-, yo, you, just what kind of research, have you been doing-!”

“I’m not-! I’m not doing research or anything! I was only thinking it!”

Nayuta’s face looked really delighted.

“It’s because Kizuna was a serious child since a long time ago. There is no saving you from the theme and level that you choose, but perhaps your inquiring mind took after me. Ufufu”

“Don’t ufufu me! Besides, you said the thing that I was thinking……”

Kizuna suddenly lowered his voice and asked with a whisper.

“……To what degree, Kaa-san read my thoughts?”

Nayuta answered with a full smile.

“Everything. I read everything.”

“DON’T SCREW WITH MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!”

Ignoring Kizuna’s fury, Nayuta whispered into Kizuna’s ear.

“Also, I didn’t tell Hayuru that the people in this venue were temporary existences. That way is more exciting after all.”

Certainly, that way would be effective for the sake of the reinstall that they would do after this. However, having the preparation taken care of by this much, it felt like he was being manipulated in a manner of speaking. In that case, he didn’t feel really enthralled.

Nayuta opened the door and nimbly exited outside.

“I’ll leave the rest to you two youngsters. Do your best.”

Leaving those words behind, Nayuta’s figure vanished. The two left inside the room were oppressed by an awkward atmosphere.

Before long Himekawa took out something like a box from her skirt pocket.

“……Here.”

She presented it to Kizuna with a trembling hand. What she was holding was something like a communication device at a glance. It had a small monitor and slider switch on it.

“This is?”

Even when he asked that, Himekawa was only looking down with a red face.

“I was told to hand it over to you so……but, you won’t really……use it right?”

When he took it, it had the size that settled just right in his palm.

“What, is this a remote?”

Saying that, Kizuna pushed the switch without any further thought.

“Hyau!”

Himekawa screamed and crouched down.

“Oi Himekawa!? What’s the matter!”

Kizuna rushed at her in panic, then Himekawa answered him with a gasping voice.

“I, it’s fine, the switch……ple, please turn it off!”

“Eh?”

When he looked carefully, Himekawa was pressing her crotch and she knitted her eyebrows as if to endure something.

“Himekawa……this is, don’t tell me”

“I, it doesn’t matter, quickly!”

When Kizuna turned off the remote control’s switch in panic, Himekawa leaked out a sigh of relief. Kizuna took her hand and helped Himekawa whose legs were unsteady.

“A―……this is, it’s, that thing isn’t it? The so called――”

“A, aren’t you the one telling me to enter it? That was why I entered it!”

Her cheeks reddened and she yelled with a voice that was going to cry.

“Is, is that so, sorry――eh?”

He had no recollection saying something like that, but surely it was Nayuta who gave the instruction based on Kizuna’s thinking. He wanted to yell that it was a false accusation, but he was in a complicated situation that he couldn’t really assert that.

Certainly it was a fact that he investigate ways to make the members of Amaterasu excited so that the Heart Hybrid would be even more effective. He was thinking out several plans based on his experiences until now. Regarding Himekawa……there was no doubt that this cosplay convention was an ideal situation.

“You worked really hard, Himekawa.”

Kizuna caressed Himekawa’s cheek kindly. Himekawa narrowed her eyes pleasantly and buried her face onto Kizuna’s chest.

“Because…..it’s for the sake of reinstalling the Core……I received the explanation that the performance of Heart Hybrid Gear is decided on the condition of the install time……that’s why, I need to bear with it even if it’s embarrassing, that’s it.”

‘――I see. Himekawa is also desperate.’

Kizuna hugged Himekawa tightly. Her shoulders were slightly trembling.

“Besides, Sylvia-chan is still not healed yet……Aine-san and also Yurishia-san are not here……Amaterasu, is only Kizuna-kun and me right now……if I don’t do this, even saving the two of them……there is no one but me. If I don’t obtain a strong power, everyone……”

Kizuna separated his body from Himekawa and took out a Core from his jacket’s pocket.

“This is Neros’s Core.”

Kizuna stared at Himekawa with a serious gaze.

“With this thing outside of Himekawa, the fate of dying when your Hybrid Count run out……Himekawa, you are now free from that fate.”

“……That’s right isn’t it.”

“That’s why think about it one more time. I’m going to bind Himekawa once again, with the fate of death. But if Himekawa is――”

“Please don’t make fun of me.”

The unexpectedly strong tone made Kizuna felt like his cheek was just slapped.

“In the first place I offered this life in order to protect the people. Even far before I knew of the fact that the Core is shaving off my life, I was fighting with that intention. After this far, are you thinking that I will shrink back? Is Kizuna-kun thinking that I’m someone like that!?”

Kizuna was overwhelmed by the sudden threatening look. The Himekawa who was trembling until just now was nowhere to be found.

“Please don’t look down on Himekawa Hayuru!”

Surely she was really vexed. Tears were floating at the corner of her eyes. Kizuna noticed that he had hurt Himekawa.

“Sorry. Himekawa. I didn’t have such intention. It’s just about you I’m……no”

“Kizuna-kun?”

‘――It’s the same like when with Sylvia. My resolve is lacking.’

“I wanted excuse to install the Core into Himekawa. I wanted to escape the responsibility, of giving the fate of death to Himekawa once again. That’s why, I wanted to get Himekawa’s permission.”

Himekawa’s expression softened. Her anger just now vanished and her face changed into an affectionate face towards him.

“Sorry. I――”

Himekawa pressed on Kizuna’s lips with her index finger.

“Okay, that’s it.”

“Himekawa?”

“If you understand, then I won’t mind it anymore. Really Kizuna-kun, you are just――”

‘――too kind.’

She swallowed back those words. And then she showed a smile on her lips.

“……That’s right. This is a good chance, so if you make a single improvement about the matter that I am displeasured with since long ago, I’ll forgive you with that. Is it fine?”

Kizuna faced Himekawa with an attitude so serious that it even looked exaggerated.

“Yeah, say anything you want. I’ll work hard to change it.”

“Then from now on, please call me Hayuru.”

“……Eh?”

Himekawa put her hand on her hips and glared at Kizuna.

“Hayuru I say, Hayuru! Why are you calling only me with my family name all this time until now! Even Aine-san, even Yurishia-san, even Sylvia-chan, you are calling everyone with their name, yet it’s only me who you keeeeeeep calling as Himekawa! Just when are you going to call me Hayuru!?”

“N-, no, there is really no particular meaning about that……strangely it’s easier to call Himekawa with your family name or something. For some reason calling you with your name, makes me feel shy or something.”

“Are you saying that my name is embarrassing!”

“That’s not it! Look, it’s like I missed the timing……changing the way I call you now might make someone think of me as strange won’t it?”

However, Himekawa brought her face close and glared at Kizuna fixedly.

That silent pressure subdued Kizuna.

“I, I got it already. From now on, I’ll call you that.”

“Please try to call me that.”

“Eh!?”

Himekawa’s glare was approaching him. There was already no more place to escape.

Kizuna opened his trembling lips and said out that name.

“Hime……Hayuru, san.”

“I don’t mind you calling me without honorific.”

“Eh……Ha, Hayuru?”

“Why is it like a question……”

Together with a sigh, Himekawa separated from Kizuna.

“Well fine. Then, should we go?”

“Wait……where?”

Himekawa pulled a wry face.

“Where you say……this is the plan you created right? We will obtain the strongest new type, that won’t lose to Sylvia-chan! It’s great isn’t it!”

Her tension was excessively high beyond the usual Himekawa. But, perhaps it was better like this for the reinstall. Kizuna was also pulled by Himekawa’s vigor and his feelings brightened.

“That’s right isn’t it! Let’s go Hayuru!”

Called in the way she was unfamiliar with, Himekawa’s face flared red.

“Wh……when I’m called like that again, it’s unexpectedly……ba, bashful isn’t it.”

Himekawa took out one more remote control from her skirt’s pocket similar to the one before.

“Here, actually I didn’t plan to hand this over but……”

Receiving that remote control, Kizuna tilted his head.

“This is? Isn’t this the same like the one before?”

Himekawa looked down and fidgeted around with her fingers entangled at each other.

“This is, that……the tail’s……”

‘――Aah……so it’s something like that.’

Kizuna guessed it and put away the remote control in his breast pocket, then he took Himekawa’s hand.

“Let’s go.”

The two of them left the room with their hands holding each other.