BlazBlue:Bloodedge Experience Part 1 Chapter 4

Illustrations

Prologue:Rebirth

Chapter 1: Contact

Chapter 2: Immortal

Chapter 3: Mitsurugi

Chapter 4: Secret

Chapter 5: Encounter

Chapter 6: Interlude

Epilogue

Afterword

BBBE Chapter 4: Secret

Part 1

Perhaps I should have realized when I woke up.

It was a lovely sunny Monday morning. The temperature still had a hint of summer, but the occasional breeze was quite pleasantly cool.

I blended into the usual classroom scenery with my usual level of enthusiasm, and as always, I killed time between the bell and the arrival of the homeroom teacher, feeling a bit sleepy.

I thought about reading some trivial news uploaded to my phone, but with the school’s ban on mobile usage, Shinkawahama High School had no signal anywhere. As a result, I had nothing to do and was just thinking about killing a little time when, as always, the homeroom teacher appeared.

It was just another morning like any other. However, I was utterly taken aback, doubting my own eyes.

I'll say it again. I should have noticed when I woke up. I should have been able to.

I had slept over at Haruka's house for the first time in a while and woke up. At the dining table where I was urged to sit down for breakfast, Haruka was in a strangely good mood. It was also strange that Yuki, who had already left when I woke up, had taken Raquel with her.

During homeroom before the start of classes, a new student stood beside the homeroom teacher who had come to the class.

She was a small girl wearing the same Shinkawahama First High School uniform as us, with hair as beautiful as gold that made you want to stare at it. Her large, upturned eyes were also golden, and her translucent white skin gave her a mysterious aura. The name written on the whiteboard at the front of the classroom was 'Raquel Alucard'. There, as a new classmate, was none other than the Raquel I knew.

Hiding deep in the library, crouched behind a bookshelf filled with texts on religion and psychology, I kept my head down. It was now the middle of the first class of the afternoon. The subject was earth science, but since the teacher in charge, Isa, was absent, my class was instructed to study on our own in the library.

That said, only a handful of students were actually reading textbooks on Earth Science. Most of the students spread out manga and hobby books that had nothing to do with earth science on their desks and chatted with their friends without even looking at them.

However, being in the library, they seemed hesitant to raise their voices too much. The sound of chatter was muted, as if everyone were trying to maintain a semblance of decorum in this space. The voices were all low and muffled, blending together into a constant murmur.

Listening to the voices of his classmates over the bookshelves, Naoto sighed weakly. He was depressed. He was tired. Mentally. The cause was the blonde transfer student, Raquel, who was right beside him.

She herself said that she had only been alive for two years and four days... or maybe five. With such a meager life experience, and the fact that she had never worn clothes before, it was no wonder that she was so unconventional. And yet, it was unthinkable that she would suddenly enroll in high school without causing any problems.

During class, she would bring up theories that no one knew about and ask the teacher questions about magical perspectives, and if she was bored, she would try to leave the classroom. She would ask Naoto to prepare tea in the classroom, and then, when she said she was going to change for physical education class, she would start undressing in the classroom. Naturally, it was Naoto's job to jump in and stop Raquel every time she did something like that. As he did so, people around him began to question their relationship, and Raquel replied that he was her "servant."

In just one day, Naoto had been labeled as the servant of a beautiful blonde girl.

"You've been sighing since a while ago. It's really unsightly, so stop it," Raquel said in that same tone. "Whose fault do you think that is?"

Well, no wonder he was sighing.

Taking a deep breath, this time upward to try and change his mood, Naoto looked up at Raquel, who was staring curiously at the bookshelf in front of him.

"So? What's up?" As soon as they entered the library, she had asked to speak to him alone. Naoto had chosen this place to avoid prying eyes, as he didn't want to suddenly bring up the topic of vampires in front of his classmates. Raquel turned around and looked around. It was more like she was searching for a faint sound than checking to see if anyone was listening.

“I can sense remnants of something.” Naoto, who had been feeling listless until then, was jolted by the whispered words.

"What do you mean?" He sat up straight and frowned. "Are you saying that there's someone related to the Spinners in this school?"

"Not necessarily. But..." Raquel's golden eyes stared intently at Naoto. "It's certain that there are at least eight people in this school with Drive abilities," Raquel's reply etched deeper wrinkles between Naoto's brows.

"Drive abilities?" Another unfamiliar term had been thrown at him, and Naoto scratched his head. It sounded familiar. Hadn’t Kiiro said something about that?

"Naoto-kun, what kind of 'Drive' do you have?" she had asked.

"So, what is this 'Drive'?"

Raquel looked a little surprised, then put her hand to her mouth and thought for a moment. It was clear that it was a very normal, common word for her. Naoto couldn't help but feel that they lived in completely different worlds.

"A Drive is... 'the embodiment of the power of the soul,'" she said, gently opening her hand as if holding something in her white palm. “It’s a special ability that each person possesses, a unique power. It resides in everyone’s soul, and anyone has the potential to activate it.” As if cradling an empty soul in her palm, Raquel gently curled her fingers.

"It's like... a superpower?"

"Yes, I suppose you could say that," Raquel nodded lightly in response to Naoto's question and lowered her hand. "A Drive is activated when the soul comes even slightly closer to the Azure. There are mainly two triggers for this. One is when a soul that is stronger than usual is drawn to the Azure. Occasionally, there are those with exceptionally strong souls in this world. Such souls tend to be drawn to the Azure much more easily than others. Therefore, those with strong souls tend to be more likely to activate their Drives.”

“Of course, there are cases where people with strong souls don't activate their Drives, and conversely, there are cases where people with ordinary souls awaken to their Drives due to some accident. Those ‘Immortal Breakers... Valkenhayn Helsing and Relius Clover fit this description. Their souls are incredibly strong.”

"And the other one?"

“The other way is to bring oneself closer to the Azure. Spinner Superior did just that. Through his pursuit of magic, he drew his soul nearer to the Azure, activating his Drive ability.”

"Is that even possible...? We don't even know where the Azure is, do we?" Approaching a soul to something as uncertain and invisible as the Azure was a world away from Naoto's imagination. As if understanding Naoto, Raquel nodded once more.

"Normally, it's impossible. And the magical society that Spinner used to belong to forbids approaching the Azure. ...In other words, the fact that he was able to do it means he's anything but ordinary."

Not ordinary. Abnormal. Was it referring to his skills or his sinful desires? Naoto, who didn't know Spinner, and Raquel didn't know either.

"The closer a soul gets to the Azure, the more powerful the Drive becomes. That said, even Valkenhayn and Relius haven't even come close to a glimpse of it. If you could get close to a fragment of the Azure, the power you would possess wouldn't be something as simple as that." Naoto sensed from Raquel's words just how vast and distant the Azure was. At the same time, he felt a bit of despair. Spinner, who was aware of the existence of the Azure to such an extent that he could approach it himself, had yet to obtain it, and even Valkenhain and Relius were far too distant from its existence. How could someone like him possibly obtain something like that?

(I can't see a bright future...)

He didn't want to find out if he couldn't, but the more he understood, the more dazzling the situation seemed.

"So, are you and your father Drive users too? Because your souls have approached the Azure or something?" When Naoto asked out of curiosity, Raquel shook her head slightly, her expression slightly strained.

"My father is a bit different. He's a very special existence... a special case among special cases, an exception among exceptions." She repeated the words as if to convey how extraordinary and unusual it was. Unconsciously, she hugged her other arm with her hand. It looked a bit like a frightened gesture. "I don't know who it was, but a long time ago, there was someone in the world who was the only one to touch a fragment of the Azure. My father was created by that person using the power of the Azure."

"That sounds... incredibly amazing, doesn't it?" Although he couldn't say that he fully understood everything so far, he thought so even with his limited knowledge. Raquel looked at Naoto with a stern gaze as he hesitantly raised his hand and spoke. What lay in her gaze was not anger, but awe—specifically towards her own father.

"It's incredibly amazing. He's fundamentally on a different level from other living beings. He's a 'Fantasy Creature' born from the Azure, from human desires, resentment, and awe.”

These are beings that are closer to the Azure than any other creature, transcending all others by nature. If the manifestation of the power of the soul is the Drive, then Clavis could be seen as the manifestation of various aberrations born from many souls. The existence itself is the Drive.

But if Clavis is such a formidable existence, then a question arises for Naoto.

"Isn't Raquel a 'Fantasy Creature' too?" Raquel is also a vampire, just like Clavis. But Raquel lowered her gaze weakly.

"No. I was created by my father, who is a 'Fantasy Creature'. I'm probably closer to the Valkenhayns, a race created magically by humans."

The Valkenhayns are werewolves. But Raquel says that they are not a race that has grown up in the natural order of things, but one that has been created intentionally by powerful beings.

"That's why I'm a Drive user, just like Valkenhayn and Relius. My ability is called 'Tempest'. My soul is skilled at manipulating the wind." Leaning against the bookshelf with her small back, Raquel reached out towards the front. A gentle breeze swirled at her outstretched fingertips. Carrying the scent of dust sucked up by the books, the wind passed in front of Naoto and disappeared somewhere.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" Looking sideways at the wind, Naoto asked softly. "Is my eye... a Drive?" Raquel already knew about the 'Hunter's Eye' that could see people's life force as numbers. He had always wondered why he could see these numbers. What was the reason and meaning behind it? Naoto looked at Raquel. Above her head, as usual, was an extraordinary eight-digit number.

"......I don't know," she said, hesitating for a moment, furrowing her brow. She moved away from the bookshelf and crouched in front of Naoto. She put her hands on the floor and leaned forward as if to bring her face closer.

“W-wait…?” The distance between them suddenly closed, and Raquel's large eyes and well-shaped nose were right in front of Naoto's. He involuntarily held his breath. Even so, he couldn't completely stifle his breath, and it slipped out, brushing against Raquel's bangs. Her hair had a beautiful color, entirely unlike anything Naoto had seen in his daily life, and her piercing gaze stirred something in his chest. If she got any closer, their breaths would almost touch... Raquel made a difficult face again.

"I can't feel its power unless I get this close. I think that this power wasn't originally in your soul, but was transplanted from somewhere else." With a sigh of exasperation, Raquel stood up abruptly. As if she had gotten dust on her, she lightly brushed her hand.

Naoto felt a bit deflated. He leaned his head against the bookshelf behind him with a thud and shook his shoulders at the involuntary smile that welled up. He didn't want to be surprised.

It was as if Raquel's presence still lingered right in front of his nose.

“Transplant... is it?” With a wry smile, Naoto looked up at the ceiling. He had mixed feelings about Raquel's words. But... that didn't matter right now. Naoto turned to Raquel and changed the subject. "So, there are eight Drive users, right? Is that... a bad thing?"

They were after Spinner. Spinner was also a Drive user, but it was hard to believe that he was in school.

Raquel looked at him with a bored expression. Her eyes, which seemed to say, "Can't you even figure that out?", were filled with a haughtiness that was so typical of her.

"Using a Drive means using a tiny bit of the power of the Azure. That burnt residue is the remnant of the Azure. ...I said earlier that I felt the remnant of the Azure in the school, didn't I?" Raquel's words at the end of her sentence urged him to answer.

Was she telling him to think instead of just listening? It was impossible for him to come up with anything when he didn't even know about the existence of Drives. Muttering curses under his breath, Naoto rested his elbow on his knee and propped his cheek on his hand.

"So, it means someone used a Drive?"

"Or they're closely associated with someone who used a Drive..." In other words, there might be someone who had something to do with Spinner or Spinner's followers.

Raquel's gaze was unwavering. For a makeshift strategy meeting in the back of a high school library, it was a bit too serious.

"Either way, I want to investigate those eight people. Because as long as they have Drives, we don't know when they might become a hindrance."

"A hindrance?"

"Those who have activated their Drives naturally begin to feel the power of the Azure and gradually begin to seek it out. If that happens, they could become our enemies." Both Raquel and Naoto were seeking the Azure. Spinner was also seeking the same thing. It meant that there was a possibility that another person would get involved.

(If that happens, it'll be a complete mess...)

He wanted to avoid such a situation if possible. If it was a preparation for that, then Raquel's proposal to investigate was something Naoto could work with.

"Alright. Let's do that investigation then. What should I do?" With a small cheer, Naoto stood up. He glanced at the classmates in the bookshelves behind him.

"Maybe there are other Drive users there too." The thought made the familiar scenery seem to change color, and Naoto felt uneasy.

Raquel folded her arms. Her thoughtful golden eyes fixed on Naoto.

“Lead the way. We need a spot near the center of the school that’s out of sight.”

“Got it.” He had just the place in mind. Running his fingers through his hair, Naoto led Raquel back into the light. For now, he had to get through the classes without drawing attention until after school.

Worrying about whether Raquel would stand out, Naoto randomly pulled out a book he had no interest in. It looked like it would serve as a decent pillow for a nap until class ended.

Part 2

Shinkawahama First High School had a rough “H” shape, with the main school building in the center surrounded by gymnasiums and special classrooms on either side. In front of the main school building, there was an open approach with flower beds and benches, and a large ground spread out in front of that. Since the entrances to both the gymnasium and the special classroom building faced the ground, students mainly used the front side of the main school building for their school life. Conversely, the back of the school building had little sunlight and was in the shade all day, making it not a very popular spot. However, it was a favorite place for students who preferred quiet and secluded places, although the number of users was limited.

It was the first place that came to Naoto's mind when Raquel asked for a place near the center of the school but out of sight. He went around from the special classroom building and entered the shadow of the protruding part of the stairs. It wasn't completely out of sight, but for now, there was no one around, so it was enough.

After looking around, he stepped back to make room for Raquel, who had followed him. Raquel crouched down and began to draw the same magic circle she had drawn in the unmanned apartment complex before. As her fingertips glided across the ground, red blood-like letters unfolded at her feet. Staring at it, Naoto realized that he was no longer as shocked as he would have been before by this sight.

(Humans really are adaptable creatures...) He mused to himself while keeping an eye out for anyone approaching. Just a few days ago, magic had been a word that existed only in fairy tales and games for Naoto. Yet now, he no longer questioned Raquel using magic.

Raquel quickly finished drawing the magic circle and stood in the center, spreading her arms and closing her eyes. It was slightly smaller than the one she used in the deserted housing complex, probably because she only needed to search within the school grounds.

The wind gathered around Raquel. At first, it was weak and thin, but gradually it grew larger and softer, enveloping Raquel and gently lifting her small body. Her long hair, still tied back, swayed gracefully in the wind along with the large ribbon. Her pleated skirt fluttered lightly, blown by the wind. Then, Naoto saw it…

It's her arms. It was only for a moment, but Naoto's eyes caught it.

A well-toned, small, white, round butt.

"W-wait a minute, Raquel!?" Swallowing a strangled scream that was about to escape, Naoto rushed to Raquel, grabbed her shoulder, and pulled her floating body back to the ground. Instantly, the wind stopped as if a string had been cut.

“What are you doing? I’m concentrating. Don’t interrupt me.” Raquel shot him a disgruntled glare, clearly annoyed. But for Naoto, there was no time for that.

“Why... why aren’t you wearing anything...?!” He almost yelled, but quickly suppressed his voice, speaking in an urgent whisper. His grip tightened on her shoulders.

Raquel tilted her head, looking puzzled. "Wearing? What?"

“I mean! I mean... Why are you not wearing anything under your skirt? Underwear, pants, why...?"

“Oh, well, they feel uncomfortable.”

"No, no, no! What are you saying? That's way worse than being completely naked!" Naoto's gaze involuntarily fell on Raquel's skirt. As he reached out to touch her skirt, Raquel spoke as if she were dealing with a fussy child.

"Isn't it fine if it can't be seen?"

"No, it's not! Ugh, don't lift it up!"

“How silly. Human society is so complicated.”

“You’re the complicated one!” Naoto swatted her hand away as she tried to lift the hem of her skirt, finally expressing his frustration.

Raquel glanced at him as if he were something strange, then turned back to the magic circle. "Anyway, don't interrupt me. I'm starting." Once again, Raquel lightly spread her arms and focused her mind. As if responding to her call, the wind that had once dispersed began to gather again.

Naoto quickly turned his back to Raquel. A moment ago, he had only caught a glimpse of the roundness of her buttocks, which was bad enough but not entirely terrible. If he had seen her completely exposed, he felt like he would have died. Not at the hands of anyone in particular, but rather at the hands of the concept of morality itself.

Behind him, he could hear Raquel muttering incomprehensibly. A sound like the wind blowing through a tunnel was faintly audible, followed by a deep light that was neither red nor pink, rushing past Naoto's feet. The light spread throughout the school in an instant and disappeared as quickly as the wind had passed. Waiting for the wind behind him to stop, Naoto turned around just in time to see the magic circle at Raquel's feet dissipating like flower petals scattered by the wind.

Raquel, who had performed the ritual, let out a soft breath, looking beautiful amidst the rising and disappearing petals of light. For a moment, Naoto was captivated, but then he shook his head, realizing that this was not the time for such things.

"How was it?" he asked Raquel, who was emerging from the spot where the magic circle had been, his voice slightly mocking. Raquel came up to Naoto, smoothing her slightly disheveled bangs with her fingers. "I've found a few people. But all the drives I could sense were immature and weak, so they shouldn't pose a threat anytime soon."

"I see. That's good." Relieved by Raquel's casual tone, Naoto sighed. He didn't want a situation where Drive users were causing trouble in a school that Haruka and Shinnosuke also attended.

"However... there is one person who interests me," Raquel said, crossing her arms and her voice darkening ominously. Naoto frowned in response.

"Someone who interests you? Who is it?"

"I don't know. Their power is very weak, and they're certainly not a combat-ready Drive user. But there's something... that bothers me. I think I'll know more if I get closer." The magic that had scanned the entire school at once to sense the Drive users within could not investigate detailed information about each individual. Naoto looked up at the school building where Raquel's magic had just passed through.

"Let's try to find that person. If possible, let's find them before they leave school..."

"O-oh, Naoto!" Shinnosuke's cheerful voice interrupted Naoto. Turning around, Naoto saw Shinnosuke running towards them from the middle of the corridor connecting the main school building to the special classroom building, waving his hand vigorously.

"Oh, it's Raquel, the transfer student. What's with you, first Hayami and now Raquel? What a ladies' man you are!"

"I told you to stop calling me that..." Naoto glared at Shinnosuke, who grinned mischievously and nudged him in the ribs. But of course, Shinnosuke, who was used to Naoto's expressions, didn't care and…

Shinnosuke sidled up to Naoto, grinning. "Don't get too lovey-dovey at school, okay? Oh, I know, I have a game where you can have lovey-dovey moments with a hundred and eight different sisters. Should I bring it over?"

"What kind of Suikoden game is this? The main character's dad is awesome!"

"Dating sim... lovey-dovey?"

"Never mind, Raquel-san, don't worry about it!" Naoto let out a sigh of exhaustion, shouting at his mischievous friend while making a desperate plea to the bewildered Raquel. Whenever Shinnosuke was around, the atmosphere would always lighten up, no matter how serious things had been. That was both his greatest strength and his weakness.

A third person, with a more composed gait, approached the group that had been so disrupted.

With her long black hair flowing in the cool evening breeze, she was a tall, slender female student. Despite her casual posture, she exuded a regal aura, and even her slightest movements seemed to draw one in. Almost everyone at Shinkawahama High School knew who she was.

Kirishima Kana.

A year older than Naoto and Shinnosuke, she was the vice president of the student council. She was also the daughter of a major company president, and her perfect combination of wealth, beauty, academic excellence, and artistic talent had earned her the nickname "Queen".

"Excuse me for interrupting. Fukuda-kun, can I have a word?" She gave a considerate glance at Naoto and Raquel before turning her slit-eyed gaze to Shinnosuke. It was intimidating, to say the least.

Shinnosuke's broad shoulders jumped at the unexpected summons from the queen.

"Y-yes! What is it?"

Kana gave a small, amused smile at Shinnosuke's almost military-like response and handed him a stack of papers.

"It's about the committee..." As it happened, Shinnosuke was a member of the beautification committee. With the cultural festival approaching as autumn deepened, various committees were becoming increasingly busy before other students.

"Oh, I see. Sorry, I'll take care of it right away!" As if there had been some kind of trouble, Shinnosuke bowed his head while looking at the stack of papers he had been handed. "Sorry, Naoto. I have to go!"

"Alright, see you later!"

It seemed to be an urgent matter, and with a quick wave of the hand holding the papers, Shinnosuke hurried back to the school building. Watching him go, Naoto was secretly impressed that Shinnosuke could put on such a serious face.

As soon as Shinnosuke was out of sight, Kana, who had seemed about to leave, turned back to Naoto, running her fingers through her long hair.

"Hello. Are you Naoto Kurogane?"

"Yes, I am, but..." Kana's deep black eyes gazed coolly at Naoto. Returning her gaze, Naoto tilted his head slightly. Kirishima Kana was a famous person in the school, and even Naoto knew her name. But Naoto was by no means a conspicuous student, and he had never interacted with Kana before. So why did she know his name?

(Am I getting recognized by strangers too often lately?)

Naoto's question was clearly evident on his face, and Kana chuckled softly, giving him a brief smile.

"Haruka often tells me about you." That made sense. Naoto mentally clapped his hands.

(Oh, I see. Haruka is also a student council member...)

Because of their completely different atmospheres, he hadn't been able to imagine the two of them working together on the student council.

Running her fingers through her straight hair like a Japanese doll, Kana tilted her head slightly and looked at Naoto with a probing gaze.

"Haruka is your girlfriend, isn't she?"

"Huh?" It was a sudden question. Not knowing why she was asking, Naoto shook his head. "No, I don't think so."

"Hmm, I see." Kana replied indifferently, neither surprised nor suspicious, and then scanned Naoto with her gaze. It felt like he was being observed. Her eyes made him feel uneasy. He had been scrutinized by Kiiro in a similar way, but he felt that Kana's gaze was different.

To make an unintentional comparison, Kiiro's gaze was a masochistic one that incited his aggression, while Kana's gaze was a sadistic one that provoked a defensive reaction in him. It was a quiet, intimidating presence that seemed to crush his resistance and naturally arouse him.

"What do you think of Haruka?" Kana smiled thinly, raising one corner of her lip.

It felt like an interrogation. Perhaps it was because of the sharpness in the deep eyes of this beautiful vice president, whether it was intentional or not. It was a look that seemed to say, 'I don't suppose you intend to answer back?'

"What do I think... well, we're childhood friends."

"That's all?"

"Well, I guess you could say that's all. I think of her like family." Naoto replied bluntly. He felt a bit annoyed at himself for answering so readily as he was asked.

"I see. Family... huh." He wondered what she meant by that. Kana murmured softly, along with a shallow breath. She gathered her long hair and tucked it behind her ear. "I'm sorry for suddenly calling out to you. I just wanted to talk to you for a bit. Well, excuse me." Leaving a smile and a glance as a farewell, Kana flipped her long black hair and walked away from Naoto with a brisk gait.

Even her back, as she walked the short distance to the school building, exuded a sense of elegance that only a teenage girl could possess. Given her daily demeanor, it was no wonder that her name was so well-known.

What he couldn't understand was why that queen would talk to someone like Naoto. He didn't doubt that she genuinely wanted to talk, but was that all there was to it?

(I don't know what she's thinking.)

If you wanted to put a positive spin on it, you could say she was a mysterious woman who lived up to her appearance, but if you were being negative, you could say she was untrustworthy, as if she had something up her sleeve.

"Huh? Raquel?" He realized that while Kana had spoken to him, she hadn't said a word to Raquel. Wondering what was going on, he looked around, and there she was, stuck right behind Naoto, hiding herself as small as possible. “Hey, social awkwardness. What are you doing?”

“I-I’m not doing anything! I’m definitely not hiding because I didn’t want that girl to talk to me!”

(So that’s what it was…)

Naoto couldn’t help but admire her spirit, even as she gripped his uniform with both hands, her face pale and eyes wide with tension.

"More importantly, Naoto. Just now... just now..."

"Just now? Senior Kirishima?"

"Yes! That girl..." Raquel peered cautiously from behind Naoto, trying to catch a glimpse of Kana, who had already disappeared behind the school building. Once she realized this, Raquel quickly regained her composure and stepped out from behind Naoto. She turned around and looked up at Naoto defiantly, as if to deny that she had been hiding. But despite this playful demeanor, the words Raquel spoke shocked Naoto.

"I sensed the same Azure residue from her as Spinner Superior."

"What?" Naoto looked up, startled. He hadn't expected that at all. A feeling of anxiety, like a slow burn, formed at his temples. That meant Kana had come into contact with Spinner in some way.

Kana had already left. He couldn't imagine how a senior who seemed so perfect and flawless could have come into contact with Spinner. But with this new revelation, it made him question whether her earlier interactions—first with Shinnosuke and then with him—were merely coincidental or something more suspicious.

Part 3

A light brown dining table was set with a placemat embroidered with vegetables, and a colorful dinner was laid out on it.

Tonight's menu was hamburgers. An oval-shaped hamburger with a lightly browned crust was topped with homemade sauce, and it was served with warm vegetables like potatoes and carrots. In addition, there was corn cream soup in a soup mug, a small bowl of marinated mushrooms, and a Caesar salad in the center of the table, all of which were Western-style dishes. It was a menu that Haruka had prepared for Raquel, who had only recently come to Japan. Haruka usually cooked Japanese food, but even her occasional Western dishes were undeniably delicious. Impressed, Naoto sat down at the Sawaki household's dinner table and began eating with gusto.

It was a peaceful and warm moment, thanks to Haruka.

"Speaking of which, Haruka, weren't you a student council member?" As he stabbed his fork into the hamburger and cut it into bite-sized pieces, Naoto asked, remembering something. The hamburger, filled with sautéed onions, was soft and easy to cut. The meat juice that oozed out mixed with the sauce on the plate.

Haruka, who had been drinking from her soup mug, nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"What's Kirishima-senpai like?"

"Eh!?" As soon as he asked, Haruka jumped in surprise. She almost spilled her soup and quickly put her hand over her mouth as she put the cup back on the table.

"Wh-what do you mean, what's she like? Why are you so surprised?"

"Why are you so flustered? Did I say something wrong?"

"N-no, not at all! It's just, I was a little surprised. You know, it's rare for you to be interested in a girl, Nao-kun..."

"Why are you raising your voice?" And her eyes were darting around. Naoto scratched his head with the fork he was still holding, tilting his head.

"I just happened to meet her today. She's the vice president, right? But I didn't know her at all. I was just wondering what she was like."

"Oh, I see... um..." Having calmed down, Haruka looked up at the ceiling and thought for a moment. "She's strict, but she's a good person. She's beautiful, and everyone looks up to her." Haruka must have been included in that 'everyone'. Her tone was soft, and there was a hint of pride in her voice.

"Hmm. A popular vice president. She's so accomplished."

"But I don't think she's very interested in younger guys, is she? Yeah, I don't think so. Definitely not."

"Yeah?"

"Well... I'm not really interested in stuff like that anyway."

In fact, when it comes to a person’s kindness, preferences for older or younger people shouldn’t matter.

Haruka gave a nervous laugh, as if trying to avoid the subject, and placed her hamburger on top of the rice in her bowl.

Doing the same, Naoto opened his mouth again. "Do you know anything else about her?"

"She's from a wealthy family, she's academically excellent... I don't know much else besides what everyone already knows. I only talk to her about student council stuff, and she doesn't seem like the type to talk about her personal life."

"I see." Nodding in agreement, Naoto stuffed a mouthful of hamburger and rice. He thought it was quite like Kana to keep her private life to herself. He didn't know much about her personality, but based on her appearance, it seemed fitting. Just then, Raquel, who had been quietly eating while listening to their conversation, put down her fork and knife.

"Isn't she involved in magic?"

"Magic?" Haruka looked puzzled at the sharp question, and Naoto was startled.

(Wait a minute...)

He was about to retort, "Why are you asking so directly?", but he managed to swallow his words at the last moment. It would only make Raquel's question sound more meaningful. Fortunately, Haruka came to his rescue.

"Magic, like tarot cards or black magic? Things like that?"

"Y-yeah, exactly!" Tarot was a safe enough word. Naoto jumped on Haruka's remark. He silenced Raquel with a look and a brief gesture, trying to stop her from correcting him. Seeing their exchange, Haruka smiled amusedly.

"I don't know. I've never heard of it, but since Senior Kirishima has a bit of a mysterious air about her, she might be into tarot cards."

"Yeah, I think she could do fortune-telling." He tried to imagine it, and it was so fitting that it was almost creepy. Even if she couldn't actually do fortune-telling, if she looked at you with those piercing eyes and that appearance, she could probably make you believe any future she described.

(Well... in that sense, Raquel might be even better.)

Raquel was more mystical than mysterious. Her eyes, which felt like they were exposing everything, made you feel like she could predict the future rather than just tell it. Naoto thought about how the weight of those words might be felt. Chewing on his salad, he glanced over at Raquel, who was holding her mug with both hands, trying hard to blow on its contents to cool it down.

(Not that it matters.)

At least while they were sitting at the table together, she was like an awkward kitten.

“Oh, by the way, I’ve heard something about Kirishima-senpai!” Haruka suddenly raised her hand to the level of her face, as if she were in class. Naoto nodded, encouraging her to continue. "There's this alleyway behind the station. Someone saw her going in there. And it's been happening a lot lately."

"An alleyway... you mean the one with that really old arcade?"

"I'm not sure about the exact location of the game center. It's a bit dark and scary at night, and there are shady people hanging around. It's deep inside that alley. It's not a place where someone like Kirishima-senpai would go, is it?"

Naoto hummed in thought. From what Haruka had said, it was probably near the alleyway where he had been attacked by Valkenhayn.

"Thanks. That's helpful."

“Anytime.” Haruka shrugged slightly, sounding a little bitter. She didn't seem to think she had provided very useful information. But for Naoto, it was much more helpful than knowing her birthday or hobbies. Naoto glanced at Raquel. She seemed to have been listening to Haruka's information as well, and her golden eyes were serious as she nodded slightly. He needed to investigate as soon as possible.

"...What's wrong, Haruka? Did you get some sauce on you?" As he reached for his chopsticks to focus on his meal again, Naoto noticed that Haruka had put down her chopsticks and was fiddling with her hair. Snapped back to reality by Naoto’s comment, Haruka let go of her hair.

"No, it's just... I was wondering if you like girls with long black hair, Nao."

“What? Where did that come from?”

"It's not sudden at all... no, nothing. Don't mind me!" Laughing it off, Haruka picked up her chopsticks again and put a piece of marinated mushroom in her mouth. It was a side dish that went surprisingly well with rice, with a strong flavor of garlic and olive oil.

While eating some of the mushrooms, Naoto glanced at Haruka’s hair. Her bright brown hair, not dyed but slightly wavy and soft, reminded him a lot of Yuki. In moments like this, he could feel the strong familial resemblance.

(Long black hair, huh? Is she thinking of getting a hairstyle like Kirishima-senpai’s...?)

That kind of hair texture seems like it would be a strong point of admiration among girls. However, even imagining it, Haruka with a hairstyle like Kirishima-senpai’s just didn’t seem right.

“It’s fine as it is. I actually prefer the vibe you have now, Haruka. It’s more composed.”

“Really!?”

“Yeah.”

Haruka leaned forward, slapping both hands on the table, and Naoto nodded, slightly taken aback. Was it really such a surprise? He didn’t think there was anyone around Haruka, including himself, who thought she should change her hairstyle.

“Come on, eat up! You don’t want it to get cold! There’s a second helping of soup too!” With her cheeks completely relaxed in an overwhelmingly happy smile, Haruka encouraged Naoto and Raquel to eat. Naoto, a bit bewildered by her exuberance, decided to ask for a second helping of the soup. Her unusually high “Yes!” response made him tilt his head in confusion. What was going on?

Above Haruka’s head, the number “8” seemed to bounce up.

She walked through the dimly lit alley, making herself as small as possible, wary of the surrounding eyes. The time was approaching dinner, and the area was... The neighborhood, lined with old apartment buildings and office buildings, was completely shrouded in darkness, despite the fact that there was a residential area nearby. Several of the streetlights that should have illuminated the night path were left broken and unmaintained, far from their intended brightness.

Carrying a large Boston bag that seemed to hold something she wished to hide, she walked through the darkness and finally stopped in front of a single apartment building. It was an old, eerie-looking apartment building that blended into the surrounding darkness. Perhaps it would have looked a little better in the bright sunlight, but when looking up at night, the dirt caked on the exterior walls gave it a dirty impression, and its gloom seemed to weigh down on her.

None of the rooms were lit, making it look abandoned. But there was still a resident, and that resident was the reason she was here. With her lips tightly pursed, she entered the apartment building.

'She' was still a girl. She was wearing a red coat that was a bit early for the season, and with her hood pulled deep over her eyes, her body shape and facial features were not clearly visible, but she was still a high school student. The legs that extended from the hem of her coat were long and slender, and the fine texture of the skin visible around her knees suggested a well-proportioned figure. Glossy black hair peeked out from under her deep hood.

She climbed the stairs in her black loafers. The apartment building had an elevator, but she knew it was broken and unusable.

Slowly and carefully, she climbed the stairs, trying not to make a sound. She reached the fifth floor, the top floor of the apartment building. She stopped in front of one of the rooms and hugged the Boston bag she was carrying tightly. Only one room had a faint light coming from under the door. It was where the only resident lived.

The girl pressed the doorbell with a trembling hand. The broken, raspy sound was distorted and unpleasant, perfectly suited to the eerie apartment building. After a brief silence, a small sound of a key turning could be heard, followed by the creaking sound of a door opening.

A man greeted the girl. He was of medium height with a sturdy build, wearing a worn-out shirt and worn-out chino pants. He had a square-framed pair of black glasses on his sagging face. He did not have a friendly, gentle face. Rather, he had a stern expression that seemed to severely criticize others, but as soon as he saw the girl, he smiled wryly.

"You're late... Kana-kun."

"... Mr. Isa. I'm sorry, I was late because of the student council." The man who greeted her was Tadayuki Isa, a geophysics teacher at Shinkawahama First High School. The female high school student who had come was Kana Kirishima. Peeking out of the half-open door to check the outside, Isa stepped aside and motioned for Kana to enter.

"Come in."

Without resisting, Kana slipped into Isa's room. The room was a chaotic mess, and it didn't look like the room of a man who was supposed to be educating students. It was filled with a suffocating atmosphere of neglect. Standing there, waiting for the door to close, Kana, with her coat hood cautiously removed, presented a morally ambiguous contrast.

"I was surprised when you called me so suddenly..." Holding the Boston bag to her chest, Kana looked at Isa inquiringly. There was none of the sharp, intimidating look that she had when she stared at Naoto and Shinnosuke at school.

"You were the one who said I could come anytime, weren't you?" Isa turned around, his face slack with lasciviousness, and closed the door. The sound of the lock clicking shut echoed heavily. Kana bowed her head at Isa's words. Isa reached out and touched the shoulder of her red coat, leading her into the depths of the room. There was no hesitation in Isa, and no hesitation in Kana. The room had the smell of lazy familiarity.

"So, are you ready?" Isa's voice asked lecherously. Kana clenched the Boston bag she was holding, her fingers digging into it. She averted her gaze from Isa and lowered her chin gracefully.

"If I go buy it... someone might see me, and that would be a problem." Her voice was weak and thin, as if she were asking for permission. Her weakness only added to the perversity of Isa's voice.

"I can prepare it here, but... then the 'size' will be up to me. Is that okay with you?" With a knowing smirk, he taunted her, delighting in the humiliation that would follow. Kana bowed her head deeply. A hand with square nails ran along her shoulder like a snake. "Besides, isn't it you, Kana, who would quickly make it 'unusable'?"

His voice, smooth and seductive, sent shivers down her spine. She squeezed her eyes shut, but it was no use. His lips were almost touching her ear. "Now, about Hayami-kun..." A hand rested on her shoulder, but Kana quickly swatted it away.

“P-Please don’t talk about Haruka right now!” With a sudden outburst that belied her previous meekness, Kana shook off the hand on her shoulder and pleaded accusingly. Her eyes immediately flinched. “Ah... I-I'm sorry, sensei. But I...”

"No, it was my fault. This was supposed to be our time together." Again, Isa placed both of his hands on Kana's shoulders, as if to confine and capture her in his grasp. "And it's not 'sensei'. You know how to address me when it’s just the two of us.”

“Y-yes.” Kana lowered her head, her expression glistening with suppressed shame. Her face, different from usual, seemed to entice the man. Isa’s hand slid down Kana’s shoulder, unbuttoning her jacket one by one. Once all of the buttons were undone, Kana took the coat off. She folded it and placed it in the corner of the room. While watching Kana turn back around, Isa reached for Ko’s clothes.

"Well then... let's begin." As Isa spoke in a husky voice, his words tainted by lust, a strange, insect-like sound seemed to writhe from deep within his throat.

Part 4

It was a cloudy day. After school, with the sky obscured by thin, grayish clouds, Naoto staked out a bench beside the special classroom building and sipped on a packet of coffee milk he'd bought from the school store for eighty yen.

Today, Naoto and Raquel had spent the entire day walking around the school, gathering information about a person named "Kana Kirishima." Though the "information" mostly involved catching people who had some degree of interaction with her and asking them various questions. The conclusions drawn from this were as follows:

“A strict but kind woman,” “a true young lady,” “wealthy,” “beautiful,” and “Her breasts are bigger than you would expect from her clothes”- Except for that last item, Naoto had only spoken to her once.

Even Naoto knew that, and he had already guessed that even from looking at her clothes, Kana's breasts were above average. While the idea that they were even larger than that was intriguing, it was definitely unrelated to the current situation. In other words...

“No luck.”

The investigation was a complete waste of time.

“Haruka said that she doesn't show her private side much at school. Is that the case for everyone?” Raquel said, not seeming too disheartened, leaning beside Naoto and drinking a strawberry milk from the same eighty-yen pack series. She must be used to dealing with cases where there are no clues. Or perhaps half her mind was on the contents of the paper pack she was gently holding in both hands.

“Nah. Not everything can be completely open, but it's rare to meet someone who's so completely guarded, isn't it?” Even if someone tries to hide it, a little bit of their personality or private life can slip out. But Kana Kirishima doesn't have that. Naoto thought maybe she was so perfect that she was consciously trying to hide everything perfectly.

Naoto leaned back against the bench and looked up at the sky. The weather wasn't clear. It didn't seem like it would rain, but would it clear up a little at night? Thinking about that, he suddenly looked at Raquel next to him and remembered.

“Hey... are you... wearing them today?”

“What?” Her pure, innocent expression and voice indicated that she genuinely didn't understand what he was referring to. Naoto understood just from that.

(She's not wearing them...)

His eyes went to Raquel's bare knees. And then he caught himself imagining what was under her skirt, and scolded himself for doing so, shaking his head vigorously. Before him, the tip of a black loafer advanced.

“Hello, Kurogane Naoto-kun.” He looked up at the voice. There, standing before him, was Kana Kirishima.

“H-hello.” His heart raced. Had word gotten around about him asking questions about her? But Kana didn't seem to be offended at all. Instead, she gave a faint smile.

"We ran into each other around here yesterday, didn't we? Do you come here often?"

"Uh, not really, it's just a coincidence... What about you, senpai?"

"I just finished some business over there." She said, and looked at the special classroom building behind Naoto. Many clubs use the special classrooms as clubrooms. Looking away into the distance, Naoto furrowed his brow for a moment.

"9006"—the number above Kana's head. It was low. Not as low as Isa's was the other day, but she must be tired. Now that he thought about it, the number he had seen yesterday was also much lower than average.

“Is something wrong?”

“Oh, no.” He realized that she had caught him staring. Naoto quickly shifted his gaze from her number back to her face. He didn't want to give the impression of being a man who only stared at people's heads.

"I just thought you were beautiful, senpai."

Kana laughed it off coolly. "If you keep saying things like that, Haruka might get jealous, you know?"

"She's not like that." As he dodged the question, Naoto felt a bitterness in his throat. Haruka again. He felt like Kana was strangely concerned about Haruka. If she was originally the kind of person who cared about others like this, he thought he would have gotten a slightly different impression from the information he gathered.

Just as he was thinking that, Raquel, who had been observing Kana with a wary aura, stood up.

“Kana Kirishima. Do you know a man named Spinner Superior?” She threw out her usual straightforward question without hesitation. A mysterious blonde beauty and a black-haired girl exuding an air of mystery—together, they were quite a sight. But now was not the time to think about such things.

(What the hell is she talking about all of a sudden?)

Naoto's eyes darted back and forth, flustered and not knowing how to stop her, while Kana simply tilted her head in confusion. He could hear the sound of her long hair slipping smoothly past his shoulder.

"Spinner... what?" It was clear she had never heard that name before. Probably because she was being stared at, Raquel's body tensed visibly, and she looked away as if to escape. She opened her mouth again.

"Spinner Superior." Her voice lacked any conviction, almost as if it was a pity to hear her say it. She had only recently become able to endure being in the same space as Haruka. And with someone like Kana, who she was meeting for only the second time, the damage would be even greater.

Mistaking Raquel's lowered gaze for shyness, Kana leaned in with an expression as if she were looking at something adorable. She bent slightly, searching for Raquel's small gaze. They locked eyes. Raquel flinched slightly.

"I'm sorry. I don't know. Is he a foreign actor?"

"I-I see... If you don't know, that's fine..." Facing Kana's relaxed demeanor, Raquel no longer had the strength to argue back.

"You're Raquel Alucard, right? I heard you're staying at Haruka's house." Kana straightened her previously hunched posture and directed her question at Naoto. Her flawless smile was as if…

It was as if she wanted to say, "It's sad to tease her any further."

(Raquel... she's completely outmatched.)

Naoto chuckled inwardly, seeing how severe Raquel's dislike of other girls was. He turned to Kana.

"Do you know her?"

"I'm the vice president of the student council, after all. And she's already quite famous throughout the school. They say there's a very beautiful foreign exchange student. The boys in my class were all excited about it."

"Really? I didn't know that."

It's not a surprising story, though. If Naoto were an outsider, he would have been surprised by Raquel's transfer too, and he probably would have turned around if he passed her in the hallway. If he didn't know her foolish nature behind her arrogant facade, he might have imagined her to be a noble and perfect person.

A sudden chime rang out, interrupting their conversation. Naoto remembered his homeroom teacher saying it was a signal for students without any after-school activities to go home early.

"Oh no, it's already this late..." Startled by the chime, Kana checked her watch and her expression clouded over. The relaxed demeanor she had earlier vanished, replaced by a sudden look of urgency.

"Do you have somewhere to be?"

"Yes... I'm so sorry. I have to go, Kurogane-kun, Alucard-san." She really seemed to be in a hurry. With a forced smile on her lips, her expression not exactly bright as if she had an unpleasant task ahead, Kana turned on her heel and quickly headed back to the main school building. Watching her retreating figure, Naoto let out a deep sigh of exasperation.

"Hey, Raquel... if you're going to dig for information, you could at least ask in a better way. What if Kirishima-senpai really is connected to Spinner...?" As he droned on with his scolding, he suddenly noticed Raquel completely frozen in place, her chin lowered and eyes wide open, not moving at all.

(Oh, this is bad.)

Instantly realizing what had happened, Naoto grabbed Raquel's stiff shoulder and shook her vigorously.

"Hey, snap out of it! Breathe, breathe!!"

"Ugh!" Raquel's consciousness returned with the force of a popped balloon. How long had she forgotten to breathe? Her thin chest rose and fell rapidly, her face pale as if she had just experienced something horrifying.

"To... to put pressure on me like this... Kirishima Kana, she's no ordinary person."

"It's your fault!" While quickly retorting, Naoto couldn't help but think, So even vampires can have trouble breathing.

"Anyway, from the way you reacted just now, it seems like you don’t know anything about Spinner." Naoto took another sip of his coffee milk before continuing. If Kana had been a skilled actress, he would have been stumped, but her immediate reaction…

It was definitely not the kind of name that an ordinary person would recognize. Raquel nodded in agreement.

"But today, I can feel a slightly stronger remnant of the Azure than yesterday," she said.

"Is it related to Spinner?"

"Yes." Raquel stated firmly. She must be able to perceive it that clearly. Raquel looked up at Naoto and said strongly, "I'm going to follow her. She might contact someone related to Spinner today."

Or maybe even Spinner himself. Either way, it's certain that Kana is an important clue to getting closer to Spinner. Naoto didn’t want Kana to be wandering near such a dangerous person. He wasn't personally close to her, but knowing the risks and doing nothing would sit uncomfortably with him. But Naoto grimaced bitterly and sucked down the rest of his coffee milk. He inhaled some air along with the remaining liquid, making an awkward sound in the pack.

"But, I promised to go shopping with Haruka today..." Crushing the empty paper pack carefully, Naoto sighed in resignation. Although it was a promise, he couldn't put Kana off. While thinking about how to decline, he stood up to head towards the trash can a little further away.

He saw Haruka running from the school building. He was about to wave and call out to her, but then stopped. As they passed each other, Haruka was being called by Kana. It seemed like Kana was apologizing for something, and Haruka was hurriedly agreeing. Although that's what it looked like from Naoto's position, he couldn't hear their conversation. The conversation seemed to end quickly, and Kana left with a brief greeting, walking towards the school building. Haruka bowed several times to see her off, then turned to Naoto and Raquel and perked up.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Nao-kun!" she said, breathless, clasping her hands in front of her face as she approached. Naoto stared back blankly, still clutching the discarded paper pack in his hand.

"Huh? What's up all of a sudden?"

"I can't go shopping with you today like we promised. The cultural festival is coming up soon, and there's something I have to do today that can't be put off."

"Oh, is it student council stuff?"

"Yeah. I was supposed to get help from Kirishima-senpai, but she just told me she has something important she can't miss..." Haruka glanced over her shoulder, referring to the brief encounter they just had moments before. Her brows furrowed in apology. "So, I'm really sorry, Nao-kun, Raquel-chan. Please head home without me. I think I'll be late. And if you get hungry before dinner, go ahead and eat something.”

“Alright, got it. Don’t stay too late either.”

“Okay, see you later!” With a cheerful wave to both Naoto and Raquel, Haruka hurried back to the school building. She was a hard worker, always running around doing club activities at school and helping out with chores at home. Thinking to himself, “I could never do that,” Naoto tossed the empty paper pack into the nearby trash can.

"Looks like we have some free time now," he said, glancing back at Raquel. She had also finished her pink drink and dropped the empty carton into the trash can.

“Perfect. Let’s go. I hate doing things twice. I don’t want to lose sight of her.”

"Fair enough, but... I can't believe you're the same person who was nearly fainting just a moment ago," Naoto replied.

With Kana and Haruka gone, Raquel regained her usual confident demeanor, brushing her bangs aside with her fingers. Now that Kana and Haruka were gone, Raquel regained her usual assertive and arrogant attitude, brushing her bangs aside with her fingers. Following Raquel as she walked ahead, Naoto gathered his courage inwardly, though he didn’t say anything. If Kana was in contact with Spinner, it meant that following her might bring them much closer to Spinner.

Even if he could obtain the Azure, it was undoubtedly more dangerous than Naoto had anticipated. He needed to prepare himself. He wasn’t sure what kind of resolve he needed to make, but he couldn’t help but wear a serious expression.

Part 5

The evening downtown area was overflowing with a diverse array of people and voices, mainly students returning from school. Most of the voices were cheerful and excited. There were groups of people laughing loudly at silly jokes, and groups of girls screaming excitedly about idols. Every day around this time, until after the sun had completely set and it was time for dinner, this area was like this.

However, Naoto and Raquel were not walking through the lively main street, but rather a quiet back alley lined with closed shutters. After leaving school, it wasn’t difficult to follow Kirishima Kana. Perhaps to hide her uniform, Kana ducked into the shadows as they approached the shopping district. From her Boston bag, she pulled out a bright red coat and wrapped it around herself. Once they entered the dimly lit back alley, she pulled the hood low over her head, concealing her striking appearance.

Indeed, if she dressed like that, even if she happened to pass by someone she knew, it was unlikely anyone would recognize her as Kirishima Kana. Nobody would think she would walk in such a conspicuous manner in a place like this. However, for Naoto and Raquel, who had followed her from school and witnessed her putting on the red coat, that eye-catching appearance served as a perfect marker.

Two blocks in from the main street, the back alley was quite far from the hustle and bustle, even near the station, and there were few people around at this time of day. Kana walked through it at an uncertain, hesitant pace.

(Where is she going...?)

By now, the initial guilt they felt about following her had faded. Naoto hid behind building entrances and parked cars, focusing all his attention on Kana's every move. Kana suddenly slowed her pace at the entrance to an alley. She must be getting close to her destination. She wandered around, waiting for the street to clear, then quickly turned and entered the alley. Naoto and Raquel immediately followed. The end of the alley Kana chose was a dead end. At the end was an old three-story building, and the figure in the red coat was going up the narrow stairs.

"Second floor," Raquel whispered, peering into the gap between the building Kana had entered and the neighboring building. It was a narrow building. There would probably be only one room per floor, whether it was a shop or a residence. If they followed her now, they would meet up halfway.

"What could she be doing in a place like this... Could Spinner be there?" Naoto asked, leaning against the wall in the cramped hiding spot.

Raquel shook her head while looking up at the building. "I don't sense any remnants of the Azure from this building. But... it's suspicious."

"I agree." Naoto wholeheartedly agreed with Raquel's suspicious tone. It was entirely based on preconceived notions and biases, but he couldn’t imagine the vice president of the student council stopping by a place like this after school. It was very different from a bookstore or a general goods shop. He could predict that there were circumstances in that second floor that were far removed from Kana's known image at school.

"Thanks to the stronger remnants compared to yesterday, I can track Kirishima Kana even if she's a bit further away. When she comes out, I’ll investigate that building first." It wasn't a suggestion but a command. Raquel clearly didn’t expect Naoto to voice any objections.

However, Naoto had no objections. After about ten minutes, Kana reappeared on the stairs. She hurriedly descended the steps and quickly left the alley. After waiting for the figure in the red coat to turn the corner and disappear, Naoto and Raquel slipped out through a narrow gap and looked up at the building where Kana had just exited. It didn't look like anyone lived there. There were three mailboxes on the side of the stairs, but none of them had nameplates. Instead, they were covered in suspicious-looking phone numbers.

Pink flyers were plastered on it. Naoto frowned involuntarily. It was an even more unlikely building for Kana.

(Come on... cut me some slack. I don't want to witness anything shady.) He sincerely hoped so as he stepped onto the stairs. They were headed to the second floor. Or rather, it seemed that only the second floor was being used. As far as he could see, there was no one around. It was an unpleasant silence. The sound of his footsteps on the stairs echoed.

He reached the second floor and stood in front of the only door. It was a very ordinary door. It was a heavy metal door like the ones you would find in old apartment buildings or old-fashioned public housing complexes. But when he saw the small sign that had been hung up in place of a nameplate, Naoto was momentarily disoriented, as if he had lost his sense of left and right.

His thoughts stopped. Written on the horizontal plate in rounded characters was probably the name of the shop.

It said, “Department of Sexual Desire.”

(...Wait, what? I don't understand.)

Naoto's mind refused to comprehend. A strange sweat began to bead on his back. A sense of crisis ran down his spine. He probably saw something he shouldn't have. If everything he saw wasn't a mistake, it meant that Kirishima Kana had come out of this place not too long ago.

"What are you doing? Move aside." While Naoto was sweating bullets, Raquel brushed past him and opened the door to enter.

"Wait—!" Naoto called out, but he was too late. The door closed behind Raquel. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Naoto grabbed the door as it was about to close and jumped in. And he was stunned.

It was a shop about twelve tatami mats in size. Long, white, tubular lights were regularly attached to the ceiling, making the interior surprisingly bright. But the items illuminated by that light were…

"Naoto, what is this?" Raquel, who had entered the shop first, looked at the shelves with a curious expression, picked up one of the items, and showed it to him. Naoto could only open and close his mouth, unable to speak. It was in a transparent package that allowed you to see the contents, and it was impressively larger than Raquel's arm. It was a thick, fleshy, arrow-shaped object, dark in color. "What is it used for...?" While turning it over and over, Raquel held a thin plastic package…

He stared intently through the cage. He couldn't bear to look any longer. Just as Naoto took a step forward to try to stop it, a male employee slowly emerged from the back of the store.

"Welcome. What are you looking for, boys?" The man who appeared made Naoto flinch involuntarily. He was a tall, muscular man with a shaved head. He had a mustache under his nose, dark sunglasses that obscured his eyes, and a black leather jacket. He clearly wasn't a law-abiding citizen. But the pale pink apron with the shop name written on it, worn over his tough leather jacket, strangely softened his tough, unusual appearance. Or perhaps it ruined it.

"What's this?" Without hesitation, Raquel turned to the male employee and, without being intimidated by his appearance, held out the product she had in her hand. The male employee looked Raquel up and down and then grinned wryly, lifting the corner of his mouth.

"This is 'Super Thick'... I don’t think she can handle this yet, right?" He turned his gaze to Naoto, seeking agreement through his dark sunglasses.

"N-no..." Approaching Naoto as he awkwardly searched for words to explain himself, the clerk took a product from the shelf and casually handed it to Naoto.

"You guys must be newbies, right? Well, why don't you start with something like this?" Since he had been handed it, Naoto had to look. He moved only his eyes and looked down at the object he was holding. A smaller version of the same object, clearly smaller than the previous one, was enshrined in a plastic package. The label with the product name politely stated "For Beginners."

"There are different sizes," Raquel remarked as she leaned over to peek at Naoto's item, comparing it to what she was holding before returning the glossy black "Super Thick" to the shelf. She then shifted her interest to another shelf, picking up something and starting to examine it. The enthusiastic employee quickly joined her, standing next to the petite girl in uniform to explain the products to new customers.

"Oh, you have a good eye! That one's the latest model!"

"What do you use it for?"

"Well, that depends on your boyfriend, I guess." The clerk winked at Naoto with a suggestive look. It was kind of vague, since he couldn't see his eyes through the sunglasses, but Naoto could feel that atmosphere strongly.

(Ugh, what are they talking about? I'm curious but don't want to know... And I'm not her boyfriend! Even if I was, don't look at me like that!)

At that moment, Naoto fully experienced what it meant to feel utterly uncomfortable.

"Wait, that's not what I mean!" Snapping back to reality, Naoto looked up. In his shock, he had forgotten his original purpose for coming here. He casually returned the "Beginner" item to the shelf and went over to the clerk.

"Hey, did a woman in a red coat come in here a little while ago? I need to know what she was doing."

"Sorry, kid. I can't tell you about a customer's privacy," came a low, slightly mocking reply. That was a fair point. Especially in a place like this, revealing secrets would jeopardize their business.

(I didn’t expect the employee to be this professional...)

He had thought he would be more careless. Pushing past Naoto, Raquel directed her gaze at the employee, her eyes suddenly sparkling bright red.

"Answer the question." She gave a simple order. As soon as he heard it, the clerk, as if drawn to her, trembled and then relaxed unnecessarily.

"...A woman in a red coat did come in." The employee casually shared what had previously been a guarded secret, as if it were nothing. Naoto could sense a strange, dazed look about him.

(The 'Slave Red'...)

A magic that forces a person to accept one statement, but only once. When it had been used on Haruka, it had been to make her swallow a ridiculous explanation, but now he realized it could be used this way too. Under the spell of the obedient eye, Raquel pressed on with her questioning.

"What did she come here for?"

"She came to pick up an item she had ordered... here it is." With unsteady, floating steps, the clerk went to the counter and opened a catalog that was placed there. A stunning array of products were lined up with photos. The clerk pointed one by one at some of the products labeled "latest" with his thick silver ringed finger. "This one, and this one... and this one too." With each item the employee indicated, deep furrows formed in Naoto's brow. Silk lingerie, hand mirrors, bondage costumes... among others. He didn't have extensive knowledge about such a world, but even Naoto could understand the special sexual preferences these items catered to.

"What kind of magic are these used for?"

"Magic? No, these are used for 'pray.'"

(Translator's note: The clerk is using the word "プレイ" which is pronounced "Pray." Translated to English, it would be rendered as "Play," but then Raquel's confused response wouldn't make sense)

"Pray? Are they ritual tools?"

"Rituals, huh? That's a deep way to put it. 'Pray' is..."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Stop! That’s enough! I can’t take any more of this!" Feeling mentally overwhelmed, Naoto stepped between the clerk and Raquel, shouting to interrupt them. Grabbing Raquel's arm, he urged her towards the exit. "Thank you, Mr. Employee! This was really educational!"

"Wait, Naoto, what are you doing? Let go of me!" Raquel exclaimed, her eyes narrowing in indignation as she thought they were still in the middle of gathering information. But he couldn’t go into every detail, nor did he want to. Besides, he had a bad feeling, a premonition. He wanted to get back to tracking down Kana as soon as possible.

"I'll explain everything later, so just come on! If we keep wasting time here, we’ll lose track of her!" Hurriedly and angrily, Naoto dragged Raquel out of the "Department of Sexual Desire." As the heavy metal door closed, a low voice seemed to echo from inside, saying, "Come again," but he had no time to respond and ran down the stairs two at a time.

Once they reached the first floor, he jumped out of the narrow entrance into the alleyway and finally released Raquel, whom he had been carrying under his arm. As always, Raquel was light. So light that he could carry her down the stairs. Her lightness was abnormal, as if indicating that she wasn't human.

"You’re such an anxious servant. Don’t worry, I can track Kirishima Kana in no time," Raquel sighed, carefully smoothing her disheveled bangs while looking down at him.

"That's not the point..." Panting for breath, Naoto said resentfully.

(Damn it, I don't know exactly how you were created, but if he’s her father, he should have taught her more, that damn old man!)

With no one else to blame for the situation, Naoto directed his anger and frustration at Raquel’s father. However, he would never say that to the man's face.

While Naoto was catching his breath and cursing at someone who wasn't there, Raquel quickly finished drawing a small magic circle on the ground.

"It's much smaller this time." It was even more simplified than the one he had seen behind the school building. "I already know my target this time. This is enough." Saying so, Raquel reached out as if to embrace something in the center of the magic circle. The wind gathered, lifting her where she stood. The magic circle was enveloped in a city-colored light. It was a familiar, usual magic. The light soon subsided, and Raquel's toes touched the ground. She dispersed the wind by lifting her eyelids and shook her head as if to shake off her hair.

"I found her."

"That was fast!"

"I told you, didn’t I? It can be done quickly." With a hint of pride in her voice, Raquel entwined her arm with Naoto’s, pulling him close to her chest.

"W-wait?"

"I'm going to fly us closer. Don't struggle. I might drop you."

"W-what the..." Naoto's words were cut off. Suddenly, a wind incomparably stronger than before enveloped Naoto and Raquel, swirling thickly. Then, with tremendous force, it lifted their bodies into the air. The surprise left Naoto speechless.

With Naoto in tow, Raquel stood in midair, guiding the winds with her fingertips. Following her lead, the wind picked up strength, propelling both her and her companion away at breakneck speed.

Part 6

"Look, over there." Raquel's sharp voice cut through the swirling wind, signaling the end of Naoto's aerial journey. The wind, which had been roughly but obediently carrying Naoto and Raquel, softened its force as it determined their landing point and gently lowered them to the ground. But when the weight that had been supported by the wind suddenly returned, Naoto was unable to brace himself and collapsed to the side.

"Oof!"

"Pathetic." Raquel, who had been carrying him a moment ago, casually released her arm and looked down at Naoto, who was sprawled on the ground.

"You..." Naoto glared up at Raquel, his temples twitching in annoyance, fully aware of how awkward he looked. But despite his anger, Naoto felt a slight sense of exhilaration inside. It had been less than a minute. But the experience of soaring high on the wings of the wind, flying over the rooftops of the apartment buildings, had thrilled Naoto. It was as if his youthful heart had been stirred. Compared to the dream of flying he had had as a child, the reality was much more exhilarating, and much more terrifying. His hands, which were planted on the ground, trembled slightly.

"Naoto, don’t space out. We might lose her." Raquel urged.

"R-right..." Naoto shook off the lingering sensation of flight, slapping his cheeks lightly to regain focus and stood up.

"This way."

With a clear sense of Kana's location guided by the residual energy, Raquel led the way, and Naoto followed closely behind. Resuming their tail, Naoto immediately felt a sense of unease about the surrounding area. They were in an old residential district within walking distance of the station. Its antiquity was far deeper than that of the surrounding neighborhoods, as if the passage of time had cast a gloomy shadow over this particular block.

If the unmanned apartment complex project had progressed smoothly, this would have been the next area to be developed. As a result, many residents had moved away, and few remained. Those who still lived there were either reluctant to move ahead of the development plan or had missed the opportunity. Or perhaps they were attracted to the cheap rent of the properties, which were considered spooky due to their age and dimness. It was highly unlikely that Kana would live in a place like this. Some part of this residential area must be her destination. With that in mind, Naoto tightened his grip.

Kana was just around the corner. Her bright red coat stood out against the gray world like a single drop of color, both vivid and precarious. She passed by a dilapidated house that looked like it could collapse at any moment, and then an apartment building of an old design that was rarely seen these days. Finally, she entered a certain apartment building.

Looking up, Naoto couldn't help but exclaim, "Whoa."

It was evening, and the sun must have begun to set beyond the clouds. The cloudy sky was dim. A gloomy atmosphere seemed to creep into the area as if night had come early, and the temperature had dropped significantly. The apartment building Kana had entered was five stories tall and long. It must have been a dazzling building with white tiles pasted all over it. But now it was dirty and grimy everywhere, and in some places, the tiles had fallen off. It had probably been years, or even more than a decade, since it had been cleaned. The accumulated dust clearly marked where people walked and where they didn't, and the thick glass door at the entrance was completely clouded, making it impossible to see clearly what was on the other side.

"Here...?" Naoto murmured, stopping in front of the entrance. He could hear Kana's footsteps ascending the stairs. There was something that looked like an elevator in front of him, but she wasn't using it, perhaps because it was broken. Considering the state of the building, it was entirely possible.

"No doubt about it. I can faintly sense the remnants of the Azure from various parts of this building," Raquel said, her gaze fixed on the apartment building, her eyes narrowed. A sense of tension began to spread slowly.

Naoto took a shallow breath and turned to look at her.

"So, is Spinner in there?"

"No... The Azure residue is still too weak to belong to Spinner. Besides, a magician of his caliber wouldn’t leave such obvious traces behind. Most likely, what remains is the residue of his Apostle."

"Apostle..." Naoto muttered bitterly, following Raquel's gaze as she stared up at the apartment building. The image of the bug-like creature he had encountered in the unmanned apartment complex flashed through his mind. The disgusting way the bugs had burst out of its head still sent a shiver down his spine.

"So, Kirishima-senpai got involved with that Apostle, which is why I can sense the remnants of the Azure... I can't get Senpai caught up in this. For now, I’ll just keep an eye on things..." If he was going to make a move, it would have to be after ensuring Kana's safety. As he thought this and formulated his plan, he turned around again—but Raquel was nowhere to be found.

"Hey... what?" He frantically looked around. Then, a shocking sight caught his eye. Raquel had somehow already gone inside and was chasing after Kana up the stairs.

"What the hell is she thinking?!" If Kana noticed her, how would she explain it? Or worse, what if Spinner's Apostle spotted Raquel and attacked? She could put Kana in danger. And most importantly, was she not considering the possibility that this could be a trap, with Kana as bait?

"Damn it!" he cursed, and dashed towards the heavy glass door at the entrance of the apartment building. He had to hurry, but he also had to be careful not to make too much noise and alert Kana. He quietly climbed the stairs, two at a time.

As he passed the fourth floor and headed towards the fifth, he heard Raquel's voice. "What are you doing here?" she demanded in a sharp tone.

"That idiot..." Naoto hissed under his breath as he ran up the remaining steps.

Raquel stood elegantly in the fifth-floor hallway. Her unwavering golden gaze was fixed on Kirishima Kana, who was wearing a red coat with the hood pulled up over her head. Through the triangular opening of the red fabric, her surprised and frightened expression was clearly visible. Kana was standing in front of the room at the very end of the fifth floor. She was about to press the intercom button. Her white fingertips trembled slightly as she hovered over the small button.

"Alucard-san... Kurogane-kun... w-why..." Kana's voice, which Naoto had never heard before, was weak and trembling as she looked up at them with wide eyes. The large Boston bag she was carrying slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. "Oh..." With a heavy thud, the Boston bag bounced once on the floor before coming to a stop. The contents spilled out of the bag, caught on the partially open zipper, which had been forcibly jammed shut.

Naoto frowned at the items scattered across the hallway. There were ropes, handcuffs, strange leather bands he didn't recognize, and even red candles - all items he had seen in the catalog from the store they had visited earlier.

"No... no, no, no!"

Finally realizing what was scattered at her feet, Kana looked up at Raquel and Naoto with wide, tear-filled eyes. She crawled on the floor, gathering the scattered "tools" with trembling hands.

"No... no, don't look! It's not what it looks like...!" Where was the perfect, elegant young lady? The "queen" of Shinkawahama First High School, the dignified and beautiful vice president of the student council? She was nowhere to be found. Ignoring the dirt on her clothes, she knelt on the grimy hallway floor, desperately trying to gather the scattered items. Her cheeks were wet with tears, like a scolded child. She curled up into a ball, using her body to hide the items she had gathered. Her usually flowing black hair was now plastered to her tear-stained cheeks, dragged along the dusty floor.

"What were you doing here? Answer me." Standing in front of Kana, Raquel asked again in a stern voice. Naoto grimaced slightly and scratched his head.

(Man, as soon as she gets the upper hand, she immediately reverts to her usual self...)

Just a few hours ago, when she'd run into Kana at school, she'd been so out of breath. Raquel's domineering gaze made Kana look even weaker and more pathetic.

"I'll ask her," he said, and then, somewhat forcefully, he crouched down in front of Kana. "Senpai..."

"Please..." Kana lifted her tear-streaked face and clung to Naoto's feet, pushing various items further into her skirt in a desperate attempt to hide them. "Please, I'll do anything... I'll do anything, just don't say...!"

"Anything...?" Naoto furrowed his brow, his voice filled with disgust. "Anything" was a big word. Especially coming from Kana. He couldn't believe she would say something like that so easily. The thought made a heavy, unpleasant feeling settle in his chest.

"Kirishima-senpai, I won't tell anyone about this. So, can you please tell me what happened?" Perhaps he should have spoken more gently. Even as he thought that, his voice sounded harsh and interrogative. Nevertheless, Kana, between sobs and gasps for air, managed to speak in a barely audible voice.

"Well, it started with an online post. I was just curious, you know? Wondering what kind of store it was... But when I went out, my teacher saw me. He asked me what I was buying at a place like this and said that if I didn't want everyone to know, it would have to be our little secret. So, I promised him just once, and I came here... But then I found out that he'd been filming it!" And from there, it was the usual pattern. Blackmailed with the videos he'd taken, she was forced to do things she didn't want to do, over and over again. The more she did, the more he had on her, and the harder it became to refuse his demands.

"This is disgusting..." Naoto muttered under his breath. The teacher probably used the store himself. Otherwise, why would he call it a "place like this" without even knowing what was inside?

"But lately, he seems to be getting bored of me... He keeps talking about Haruka, Haruka, Haruka..." Kana's words, delivered through sniffles, felt like a bucket of cold water to Naoto.

"Haruka...? Wait, what do you mean!?" Grabbing Kana by the shoulders, Naoto forced her to look up. A bad feeling was creeping up his spine, the same chill he'd felt when he'd left the back alley store.

Kana clutched at Naoto's sleeve with trembling hands, but couldn't meet his gaze. "Lately, my teacher has been acting strange. Today, he ordered me to bring Haruka. But I couldn't let anything happen to her, I couldn't let her go through this... so I thought I'd have to satisfy him, so I bought new things..." She couldn't finish her sentence and hung her head low. Naoto pulled his hand away from Kana's shoulder. If he hadn't, he might have squeezed it in anger. He looked up at the intercom button Kana had been about to press. His gaze slid upward as he searched for the nameplate. The name read... "Isa."

(Isa...?)

Naoto couldn't believe his eyes. But his disbelief was quickly replaced by anger.

"...What the hell." Naoto stood up, his throat vibrating with restrained rage. He didn't have any particular feelings for Kana. Nor did he respect or rely on Isa. So he didn't feel betrayed by either of them. But this was going too far. The idea of him trying to get his hands on Haruka was unforgivable.

"You're messing with the wrong person, Isa!" Yelling out in frustration, Naoto grabbed the doorknob and pulled. It was locked, of course. But undeterred, he pulled again, this time with all his might. With a sickening crack, the door swung open. The lock had broken, its shattered pieces clinking to the floor. Stepping over them, Naoto entered the room.

The kitchen was the first thing he saw, followed by two connected Japanese-style rooms. The back room was long, with a futon laid out in the far corner. A three-legged stool stood at the foot of the bed. But there was no camera.

"How disgusting," Raquel muttered, following Naoto into the room and wrinkling her nose. She covered her mouth with her hand.

The apartment was dirty and cluttered, typical of a single man who didn't clean up after himself. Empty beer cans were scattered around the kitchen, and a used lunchbox was tossed onto a low table in the middle room. Clothes were strewn everywhere, including underwear.

"No one's here," Raquel said calmly, passing Naoto as he surveyed the room. She walked to the far room and gently touched the thin futon. She muttered a short incantation, and light emanated from her fingertips, spreading throughout the room. “Just as I thought. The master of this room is a Spinner's Apostle.”

"Damn it..." Naoto grimaced. If Isa was a minion of Spinner’s, that meant they were after Haruka.

"Raquel, can you find Isa's location!?"

"Don't order me around. I'm your master."

Though she sounded annoyed, Raquel quickly drew a magic circle on the floor. Naoto was momentarily relieved; despite her grumbling, she was always willing to help. He watched in awe as the magic circle formed beneath her white fingers. After a short incantation, the air swirled and light flashed. When Raquel opened her eyes, she blinked in surprise. "Oh... the school?"

A cold sensation pierced Naoto. He remembered the uneasy feeling he'd had when he'd left the back alley store. A bad feeling. This must have been what it meant.

Thinking it would be worse... Haruka's words echoed in Naoto's mind.

"Damn it!" Naoto bolted from Isa's apartment, brushing past Kana who was still weeping. He raced down the stairs.

(This is such a pain!)

Without a second thought, Naoto placed his hand on the wall of the landing and launched himself outside. He wasn't thinking at all. The only thing on his mind was getting to the school as quickly as possible. Naoto jumped down from a height that would normally be dangerous, but he landed without any damage and immediately took off running at breakneck speed. He thought he heard Raquel calling after him, but he didn't have time to look back. He took out his phone and called Haruka. Instead of a ringtone, a recorded message informed him that the person he was trying to reach was out of service. Annoyingly, there was no cell phone reception in any of the classrooms at Shinkawahama First High.

"Damn it... damn it, damn it!" He realized that the sun had set and the sky was growing dark, the streetlights casting a pale glow. How much time had passed? The wind had picked up, and the clouds that had covered the sky all day were beginning to break up. He pushed against the wind that was blowing directly into his face. His stomach was churning with a mixture of anger and anxiety. His body was burning with passion.

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