Editing Kaze no Stigma:Volume4 Chapter 2 (section)

=== Part 3 ===



"Did it go well?", Kirika inquired about the result point-blank.

Not completely understanding why was she so awfully proactive compared to when she forced the job on her, Ayano replied.

"Yes, he fell asleep after receiving the electric shock. He fell down in the back yard."

"I see - "

Nodding Kirika turned her eyes to her subordinates. To the muscular almost two meter tall man with an unsophisticated face and the beautiful but very severe short woman. Kirika ordered the huge height difference duo.

"Secure him!"

"Yes!"

The woman energetically saluted, the man bowed and bowed started running to the rear garden. But the speed difference was quite big and while the woman took three steps the man took only one.

Looking at him from the corner of her eyes, the woman screamed.

"Run faster!"

"Y- yes!"

The man's body shook as if hit by lightning and started to run with all his strength.

"Officer Kumagai!"

"Yees!"

Taking action hurriedly, the man - Kumagai started running once again.

For some reason or another the people left behind looked at his silhouette until it disappeared.

"Detective Tachibana?"

With a rare look filled with compassion, Ayano turned to Kirika.

"Are these the best in your force?"

"..........don't say it.", Kirika whispered closing her eyes with a sorrowful expression.

"That man, well.....he's not totally useless should time and circumstance permit."

That reply was delicately phrased but didn't have too much persuasive power. 

As if trying to resist the subdued atmosphere Kirika slightly cleared her throat once. And then spoke in a formal tone.

"Well, at any rate we, the Special Investigation Unit will take Utsumi under custody. Leave the rest to us. So, Ayano-chan, can you explain it to me in detail?"

Ayano nodded. But - the class already started. It will be troublesome if she's seen loitering around school.

"Let's go out."

"It's fine. We'll borrow the reception office."

It seem there was no need for concern. Kirika was thoroughly prepared.

Or maybe it seemed like an excessive service.

Frowning, Ayano examined Kirika's facial expression.

"It seems you're considerably interested in this case."

"Ehh? Yes, I want to talk to you about that too. Let's go."

Admitting it quickly, she started walking ahead. Ayano followed after. And then -

"Why are you coming too?"

Suddenly turning her head around, Ayano glared at Yukari who followed them like it was the most natural thing in the world. 

"Eh, I can't? It's unfair if its only Ayano-chan!"

"That's the problem!?"

"Oh well, let's put that jest behind us."

Yukari suddenly put on a serious face.

"No, I wasn't joking..."

Smoothly ignoring Ayano's protest, she looked at Kirika.

"If you want to hear a detailed story it would be bad if I was missing. Ayano-chan doesn't know much about it."

Kirika looked at Ayano. It seemed she trusted Ayano's judgement on this.

Reluctantly Ayano nodded.

"It's true I'm pretty much an outsider when it comes to this particular case. I think it would be easier to understand it if Yukari were to explain."

"As expected of Ayano-chan. You understood, huh?♥"

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

Ayano carelessly shook her head and called out to Nanase resignedly.

"Do you want to come too?"

"No."

Her answer was clear and simple.

"All I know Yukari knows too. I leave the rest to you."

And then Nanase turned her back on them and started walking away with no reluctance. That gallant walking figure disappeared inside the school building without looking over her shoulder once.

After Nanase's figure disappeared, Kirika let out an admiring mutter.

"That girl.....she's kind of cool, huh?"

"Right, Nanase-chan is really popular."

"Even among girls?"

"Ehh, that's where she's more than popular."

Yukari and Kirika exchanged a teasing smile. For some reason, they got along perfectly.

Sensing something chilling from the future these two would be intimate in, she forcibly urged them on.

"Oi, let's get going. Even if you have permission, I'll be yelled at if we're found!"

Why was she getting chills...?





"Please take your time."

The female clerk brought tea cakes - three of them - in a courteous manner.

"Yum, it's delicious - "

Quickly sipping tea, Yukari raised her voice in admiration. That was unavoidable. They knew by scent. This was Gyokuro, a top quality green tea.

Their treatment was excellent. Even if it seemed the school was not happy about the police intervention.

"Detective Tachibana, ''what'' did you tell them when borrowing this place?"

"Nothing much in particular.", said Kirika in the middle of elegantly sipping from her cup.

"Just, I told them all I knew and made small talk like ''It would be very serious if this were to be spread, right?''"

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

That was a clear threat, no subterfuge involved.

"As expected of Kirika-san. Lovely!"

Moreover, the final blow came from her neighbor. Looking at her, Yukari's eyes sparkled and looked up to Kirika with an expression of aspiration.

"As expected as long as the goal is reached the methods don't matter, huh?"

"Yes, I think so too."

The duo reaching an inhuman agreement. Looking at those smiles in opposition to what they just said, Ayano was intentionally perplexed.

''"Why are the people around me all like this.....?"''

But this was not the place to grieve over her personal misfortune.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 097.jpg|thumb|]]




"So, Ayano-chan please start."

As Kirika resumed the conversation like nothing happened and demanded an explanation, Ayano spoke in a worn-out voice.

"Yukari, please."

"Ok, leave it to me."

Nodding energetically, Yukari started talking about the details of the mystery cases that happened in the last few days.

''"Hey...."''

As it was all explained, Ayano's face became pale.

She heard only detestable things.

A very accurate description on the hospitalized victims, impossible to have without actually reading the clinical records. Information enumeration that only relatives could possibly know. At the time she started quoting from the police reports of the traffic accidents, Ayano unintentionally hugged her body to keep herself quiet.

On the other hand Kirika listened to it with a straight face but she could barely manage to hold it in.

"I see.....that's stereotypical."

After finishing listening to the report, Kirika murmured letting out a long breath.

"Stereotypical....?"

"You asked me before, right?"

At Ayano's question, Kirika started speaking with that introduction.

"Ayano-chan's request was like a godsend to me. Lately, this kind of incident is frequent."

"You mean, killing curses?"

"No, there are some but I don't know how to say it. Children from the middle to the second half of their teens suddenly started to manifest special powers. Ayano-chan was supposed to have come across something like that once, no?"

Surprised, Ayano raised her eyebrows. Without even thinking, she answered.

"The one in Ikebukuro - "

The flirty man who demonstrated a bizarre amplification of physical strength.

"Yes. Lately there are more and more of those kind of people. Not belonging to any special lineage nor there is evidence of learning it."

The same kind like Utsumi, who had nothing special to him except his peeping photos mania but suddenly obtained the power of magic.

"How about ability types and their strength?", Ayano asked, a freezing light dwelling in her eyes. 

The face of a Jutsu-shi.

"It varies. Fire and wind, people who can manipulate electricity, enhance their bodies by magic power, use the Evil Eye. As for their ability, the Special Investigation Unit personnel has no choice but to deal with that degree of power."

It was the result of controlling power for the first time. As if Utsumi was defeated by Nanase, a civilian, no matter how large your power is, it's meaningless if you can't control it.

Even an incompetent but genuine Jutsu-shi who can perfectly control his ability has no reason to lose to an amateur who only has power.

But, to a civilian who doesn't know such things, it becomes an overwhelming advantage. The power to kill people without weapons and one that can't be judged by law, few will abstain from using it for personal gains.

"It's pretty much how Ayano-chan imagines it. They do whatever they like."

With good timing, Kirika supported Ayano's conjecture.

"Using their power for blackmail, for assault. On top of that fighting with others like them. Good grief, at least if they would be more cautions of public notice."

Ayano agreed with a hard facial expression. It's bothersome displaying their power in public. If mass-media would get wind of it, it would get very troublesome just to hush it up.

"Ah - I heard about that."

Without thinking of the serious atmosphere a simple-minded voice was heard. 

Ayano and Kirika, both looked at the girl glad looking like a sweet bean jelly.

"Shinomya-san, can you tell us in more detail?"

"On an Internet bulletin board, there was that kind of post. Saying that in Shinjuku there are people who ''psychic battle''."

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

This time the girls looked at Kirika.

"Certainly, the incidents are concentrated in the Shinjuku. Was there something else."

Urging for a continuation, Yukari smiled apologetically.

"After that I skimmed it so I don't know a lot. It felt like some mysterious-less story so I didn't care."

"Mysterious-less, what do you mean?"

"It looked like some game talk. Such as special move or invincible combo, how many to defeat for level-up among other things."

"......what's up with that? Wasn't is really just game talk?"

"Yeah, I thought so too so I left it alone but - "

"But it's also true those kind of incidents happen."

Taking over Yukari's words, Kirika continued.

"Shinomiya-san, can you tell me after the address of that bulletin board?"

"Ah, yes, I understand."

Bringing that topic to a close, Yukari lightly agreed and changed her focus once more to Ayano.

"I don't think I need to say, a natural outbreak of people with special abilities at such a large scale is impossible. Someone or something hides at the bottom of this."

"I agree."

"That's why, I want you to cooperate with our investigation. The majority of people who obtained power are middle and high school students. It's possible incidents that happened in schools didn't reach out ears."

The space called school is organized like a society. Those inside are distrustful of the external world so outsiders - especially adults are equivalent with a different species. Kids hate adults. The teachers dislike scandal. If those two parties were to collide, nothing can be concealed. 

Just like when a murder happens, the society settles as ''an unfortunate accident'', the school is a miniature society.  

"I'm asking you so can you help...and then - "

She winked significantly to Yukari. Ayano realized her intention but before she could object, Yukari nodded without reserve.

"All right, if you're fine with me I'll be glad to help."

"Yukari, you're promising without thinking again!", shouted Ayano, her complexion changed.

But even so Yukari wasn't perturbed. Her smiling face carried the firmness of her decision and clearly declared.

"This is not an empty promise. I know it could be dangerous but if it can be helpful to Ayano-chan I'll do it. You're always helping me, I need to reciprocate."

"Yukari......"

It's not like Ayano was hanging out with Yukari for so long just for show. She understood that at such times Yukari couldn't be persuaded.

However -

"Yukari, did your danger screw became loose or something? It's the same for the discussions we were having, shouldn't you think a little more before hanging out with people like me?"

"I think I told Ayano-chan before that there's nothing to be nervous about."

"That's something for me to decide, right? Even if we normally hang out, when such thing happen you should take your distance!"

"......those, aren't friends!"

Defeated by Yukari's expression who whispered so in a stunned expression, Ayano was at a loss for words. She looked at Kirika as if asking for assistance but she drank her tea pretending not to see her.

"Hey, this is tasty."

Sampling the green tea with each sip, she tried a different method. Regaining her composure she dealt with Yukari's persuasion. 

"This time you understood right? Those like me hold an absolute superiority in regard for people like you. Don't you feel even a little fear?"

"As of today Utsumi-kun lost to Nanase, a civilian, so I'm not really scared."

"Don't joke around."

Ayano quickly rejected Yukari's attempt to joke. Feeling her friend's seriousness, Yukari slightly changed her expression. 

And then, she said.

"Ayano-chan is different from Utsumi-kun."

Those obvious words said in an obvious way - included an unconditional trust.

"The weight of Ayano-chan's power, even if it's a little, I understand it. You have a strong heart that holds your power in check. That's why I love Ayano-chan."

Yukari clearly remembered even now the first time she saw Ayano's power.

She was scared.  

Thoroughly burning to nothing a monster without even touching it, taking out a sword made of flames from an empty space and just by waving it once changing the surroundings in a sea of flames.

Even calling it overwhelming seems stupid, an immense power. When she found herself in front of that power, she had no choice but to see herself as a helpless petty existence. 

She was scared.

More than the unfamiliar strange monster, the girl she thought of as a friend was much, much more scarier.

But - Ayano protected her.

Although hurt by her inconsiderate attitude, Ayano protected her. Although understanding their relationship would never be the same, that she was hated, Ayano still protected her.

She wouldn't forget her determined eyes.

She wouldn't forget her determined appearance from behind, her iron will.

"No matter what people like Utsumi-kun who only think about themselves do, there's no need to be afraid of Ayano-chan. It doesn't matter if all magicians except Ayano-chan are like Utsumi-kun. Because I believe in Ayano-chan."

Why did it seem so? That people only seeking pleasure, without knowing the responsibility privilege brings, were similar to Ayano. 

Even imagining that was similar to an insult.

"Ehhh......Ah-,...ugh........", blushing in an embarrassed way, Ayano mumbled.

After being praised so much so earnestly, she couldn't find comeback words.

In front of Ayano, at a loss for words, Yukari expressed the same soft smile, as if understanding everything.

"So, please. Let me help you, please?"

Sweetly pestered by Yukari, Ayano put up resistance with all her strength by prolonging the silence,

But - Ayano was not strong nor heartless enough to refuse her now.

"Then, it's like that."

The moment Ayano, reluctantly, extremely reluctantly agreed, Kirika settled it.

Even though she feigned ignorance until now - Ayano glared at her with eyes full of resentment, Kirika was unconcerned.

"I'll be relying on you two. Because Kazuma is also on this so please get in touch if necessary."

"Is Kazuma doing this too?"

"Yeah, he's searching together with our newcomer."

At those unexpected word, Ayano's eyes opened wider.

"Do you have a practitioner capable enough to be Kazuma's partner?"

"No, that person's ability is unbearably burdensome but in the future it may become one of our main force. That's why, I think that person should accumulate as much experience as possible - what's the matter?", asked Kirika surprised, seeing Ayano frown.

In a strangely tight tone, Ayano asked:

"Is that person a beautiful woman?"

As one would expect, Kirika opened her eyes wide in surprise. But that face immediately expressed a Cheshire Cat smile.

"That's person is cute, for a man. He won't become Ayano-chan's rival in love so you can relax."

"Oh, Ayano-chan is so jealous.", said Yukari imitating Kirika.

But, although Ayano would get angry at such things, this time she didn't react.

Staring at Kirika doubtfully, Ayano asked her in a depressed tone.

"Detective Tachibana, do you think ''that'' Kazuma will cover for some burdensome man?"

"......Eh?"

"It's not even about neglecting him in a pinch. If Kazuma even believes that man will get in his way it's not unlikely he will behead him."

"Eh? No, but, to go that far......"

As if something suddenly came to her mind, Kirika's face became stiff.

And then, Ayano gave her the finishing blow.

"This is none of my business, but will he survive long enough to prove himself useful, that newcomer?"

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

This time, Kirika became completely speechless.