Editing City Series:Volume4a Chapter 8 (section)

===Part 4===

'''11:16 AM

By the time the sun reached its late morning height, Osaka 1st Special Duty Officer Saki Seiji was in Nagoya.

He was not sightseeing.

He was visiting Nagoya’s student hospital with Nagoya Chancellor Yamashita Taeko.

Specifically, they were visiting a room on the top floor of the four story building.

The label on the door gave the names Ichiyama Yuusei and Kasumi Ryuuichi.

Both were weighty names to Saki because he had heard they were powerful individuals.

“We’re comin’ in.”

Taeko’s carefree voice completely erased Saki’s tension as he stepped into the hospital room.

The room was unexpectedly small.

It was utterly colorless except for the blue sky and the boxy Nagoya Tower visible out the window.

It was all white walls, white ceiling, white curtains, white beds, white blankets, and white bandages.

Ichiyama Yuusei’s large body was covered in bandages on the closer bed and he sat up to look at the two visitors.

He had swapped out his combat false arms for thinner ones meant for daily life.

He had bandages around his face at forehead, nose, and chin height.

The wrinkles in the bandages moved a little and a voice came out.

“I must apologize for my shameful appearance.”

“Don’t worry about it. Where’s Kasumi?”

“In that bed.”

A blanket was wrapped around a human form on the other bed.

It did not move in the slightest even though Nagoya 1st Special Duty Officer Kasumi Ryuuichi was inside.

“After losing, he’s too embarrassed to look you in the eye,” explained Ichiyama as he looked over at Kasumi. “Who is that?”

“Oh, he’s…”

“I am Osaka 1st Special Duty Officer Saki Seiji. On my Chancellor’s orders, I am here to gather some information.”

“Oh?”

—''Saki – Mind Tech – Take – Decode Expression – Hit.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of doing anything to Nagoya.”

“How can you prove that?”

Taeko answered that one.

“Because most of Osaka’s Chancellor’s Officers were beaten down too. By a single boy.”

“Silence filled the room and Ichiyama’s expression stiffened.

“But the news this morning didn’t say anything had happened in Osaka.”

“We’re just keeping it quiet. We have some influence over the media. …The incident was contained to the school after all.”

After saying that, Saki asked a question.

“Now, I’ve given you some information, so how about you return the favor?”

“Ichiyama, tell him.”

“Well…” Ichiyama thought for a moment and asked a question. “I’d like to ask one thing. After this boy attacked you, what did he do?”

“He fought for a bit and left once our security system was back up and running. We did get him on video and my men are analyzing the footage.”

“He left, did he? I guess machines wouldn’t be easy for him since they don’t have a will of their own.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Have you ever heard the term White Noise?”

Saki did not answer, so Taeko asked about it.

“What’s that?”

“Occasionally, there are people who have no Words of their own. No matter what Rhythm they listen to, it doesn’t affect them.”

“Like Shoui?”

“Hizaka is different,” replied Saki. “He doesn’t have any Words, but he can use pretty much any Rhythm, can’t he?”

“A White Noise master can’t even use Techs properly.”

“So like the ancients?”

“It’s just like how you can’t cook, boss. …Gwoh!”

“…I’m impressed. Not many people could throw a wall clock at their badly injured subordinate.”

“Shut up. A moron isn’t the same as a subordinate.” She glared at the boy as she continued. “In other words, it’s someone who’s senses aren’t suited toward learnin’ Rhythms or Techs?”

“It used to be that everyone was like that.”

“Why were those ancients so strong?”

“Since they didn’t know about Rhythms and Techs, they could attack and defend from outside those things,” explained Ichiyama while holding his head after being clocked with a clock.

Saki then told him what had happened the night before.

“Zenon’s paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise. And he is from Zenon City – Tokyo. I guess that’s how he came up with his theory to reach White Noise.”

“Can you defeat him?”

“I don’t know. Besides, we don’t even know what he’s…”

Saki trailed off, but Ichiyama continued for him with a serious expression.

“I can only imagine he’s after Ixolde. Nakamura Hisahide mentioned a bond with his sister.”

“His sister? Seriously?”

“He also said he would become king. …Sadly, that’s all the information I have.”

“I see,” said Saki.

“Have ya figured somethin’ out?” asked Taeko with a puzzled look.

“Well, the Chancellor’s Officers HQ acts as a second security building and, but the computers there were left a complete mess after he attacked last night. …It’s possible he hacked in to get some information on Ixolde.”

“Oh, in that case, he probably did. This could be trouble.”

Taeko nodded and Ichiyama asked her a question.

“But…you mentioned Hizaka Shoui just now, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, the moron’s come down from the Mountain. I was plannin’ to bring him to see ya too, but he was beat up during that attack last night.”

“I managed to reboot the security system while he was being taken out,” emotionlessly said Saki.

—''Ichiyama – Mind Tech – Take – Decode Expression – Hit.

—''Saki – Mind Tech – Take – Decode Expression – Hit.

Ichiyama smiled bitterly.

“And what happened to him?”

“Seven blunt blows across his body, two cracked ribs, and plenty of abrasions. He’s probably sleeping at the hospital right now.”

“I see… So did he get serious?”

“Serious?”

Taeko nodded at Saki’s question.

“I doubt he did. He was probably on the receivin’ end the whole time.”

“…? What’s this about Hizaka getting serious?”

Ichiyama looked to Saki.

“I was in the West Japan Middle School Karate Championship three years ago. During the final round, I got the first hit in on my opponent’s side…and broke their ribs.”

“…I see.”

“But that opponent made a miraculous comeback. Both of my false arms were destroyed and I was lying unconscious on the floor just a few minutes later.”

“Are you saying Hizaka did that?”

“He passed out and was taken to the hospital afterwards, though. …I haven’t met him since.”

“The calmer they seem, the scarier they are when they snap,” said Taeko as she stroked the Dragon Emperor’s shoulder. “But…”

“?”

“Shoui is probably weaker than he was then. On a fundamental level, both in strength and skill.”

“And so you don’t know if he would’ve won that battle yesterday?”

“He couldn’t have won!”

The blanket on the other bed gave a shout.

It was Kasumi.

“No matter how strong he is and even if he snaps, he can’t win as long as he’s using a Rhythm and Techs! Everything he does will be dodged and copied…so he’ll lose!”

“Ryuuichi…”

“Boss, you wouldn’t be able to think of it like a normal fight if you’d fought them! Ichiyama! You lost to them too, so face reality! No one stands a chance!”

“Ryuuichi.”

“Answer me, Ichiyama. Tell them he can’t win!”

Ichiyama said nothing and Kasumi roared back.

“Are you afraid to admit you lost!?”

“Ryuuichi!”

Taeko’s sharp voice rang out.

—''Taeko – Intimidation Tech – Take – Stop – Hit!

Kasumi’s voice stopped and silence fell.

The Dragon Emperor moved slowly so as not to interrupt that silence.

The giant metal hand lightly struck the blanket wrapped around Kasumi.

“Don’t worry. As long as I haven’t lost, Nagoya’s Chancellor’s Officers haven’t lost.”

“B-but the Student Council…is discussing whether Nagoya should surrender to Tokyo…”

“That is one way to respond, but what matters is that we survive, right?”

“…”

“Turbulent City – Nagoya is a city that desires to survive whether that means winnin’ or not. …I came here to find a method of survivin’. Not to fight and lose.”

“But if we’re going to survive, how are you going to fight, boss!?”

“Our opponent might be more powerful than me, but I have somethin’ that no one in Osaka or Tokyo has.”

“What’s that?”

“This left arm, the Eighth Dragon Emperor, and the information I can get here.”

“…”

“Work with me, Ryuuichi.”

The Dragon Emperor’s hand once more tapped the blanket surrounding Kasumi.

Soon, suppressed sobs escaped the blanket.

No one said a thing.

Saki Seiji scratched his head with the attaché case he held.

Time slowly moved toward noon.