(...I did it again...)
After the entrance ceremony which I ended up missing, I reported the incident to the administrative office in a gloomy mood, and trudged off to my new classes.
《Hysteria》・《Savant》・《Syndrome》.
Or Hysteria Mode as I call it. For people with this syndrome, when β endorphins secreted in the brain increase beyond a certain level in romantic situations, it leads to a 30-fold increase in the neurotransmitters being released in the cerebrum, cerebellum and the spinal column causing the central nervous system and movement to accelerate.
The result being that while in hysteria mode the ability to think logically and make decisions, in addition to reflexes, rapidly increase and so forth.
Well, to put it simply:
When people with this special trait are sexually aroused, they temporarily enter a super mode, where they behave like a different person.
However, now that I had returned to normal, I was extremely depressed by the fact that I had changed into Hysteria Mode in front of Aria, a girl.
This ability should essentially be kept a secret.
Especially from women.
(That's because girls are...terrifying creatures...)
Men have the natural ability to power up when protecting women in order to be able to have children with them. It seems that hysteria mode is a highly evolved form of that instinct.
Because of that when I'm in Hysteria Mode, my weakness is that I will display a weird mentality towards girls.
First is that I will protect girls no matter what. Whenever a girl has problems or is in a pinch, I find myself wanting to use this power to help her.
Secondly, the one part of Hysteria Mode I can't stand is---
The fact that I start speaking and acting really melodramatically towards women.
The true ability of Hysteria Mode, which makes me act like an attractive guy, in order to [leave children behind]....... The me in Hysteria Mode will be very nice to women, praising them, comforting them, gently caressing them, turning me into a terrifying gigolo character. Argh, whenever I remember it afterward I want to die.
(But then again, the more terrifying beings are......women after all.)
When I think about it, the time I was in middle school, Kanagawa Butei High, was the worst.
A bunch of girls found out about my condition and used me.
They made me touch them here and there, activating Hysteria Mode, then forced me to do stuff. One who was bullied used me for revenge. Another wanted me to punish pervy teachers.
In short I was......their personal [Friend of Justice].
(Shirayuki-like patterns also trouble me.)
The morning of my entrance exam in Tokyo Butei High, which I took to escape girls from my town---
Due to my bad luck, Shirayuki, who was being chased by some delinquents, bumped into me and I fell on top of her like what would happen in a manga....there and then I transformed into Hysteria Mode.
Then, I beat up the delinquents who were chasing her, and as she cried, I said some sweet lines while gently comforting her until she stopped.
Since then, her natural burning meddling attribute started to be mysteriously spurred.
(I want to go live in a place far away from here where there are no girls...)
These DVD's from the book store are particularly good. First of all, I have no interest in these DVD's. Most importantly, I am saying that I can watch them without fear of transforming. In relation to real girls they do not quite compare, because real women have deadly weapons in their blouses and under their skirts, and they are freely walking around.
(Damn... Really, I've inherited a really troublesome disease...)
While scratching the back of my head, I went to my new class: 2nd year class A.
My family, the Touyamas, have passed on this power from generation to generation.
This power that's so terribly burdensome, troublesome, embarrassing and even more than that....
---It is an abominable power that destroyed my older brother.
"Instructor, I would like to sit next to that person over there."
I was inside my class, 2-A, and at the beginning of homeroom-
I was stunned by my own misfortune: I was in the same class as the twin-tailed girl from this morning. She suddenly pointed at me and started saying some troublesome things.
As she said those words the whole class was rendered speechless, and at the same time, they all turned to look at me.
Waaaaa! They all started cheering.
I-
Bam, I fell from my chair.
I was speechless. Just... speechless, really.
The teacher said "ufufu, then first of all for this transfer student who transferred in this semester. Let's have her do a self introduction."
At this point, right before she even started, I had this bad premonition.
She stood up from the seat behind me, and proceeded to stand at the podium. That chibi stated with precision/sharpness that her name was Kanzaki H. Aria, and that she was nobility...
What should I do? I thought as I started to shiver, I'm already out of hysteria mode, and only my other half is able to fight her.
And that's when she suddenly said that she wanted to sit next to me.
"W-Why?!"
I finally managed to ask.
"Ally of justice." Although I do not intend to be used as one, I still am regardless. Could it be that she does not realize that I have this special power?
Her actions seem to indicate she doesn't know... Though that might not be the case. After all, she did attack me at the end of our last meeting.
Then she deliberately sat next to me very slowly. I felt as though she wanted to kill me.
"Yo... Kinji isn't that great! The spring of your youth has finally come! Teacher! Can I request a seat change between Irio-san and Seki!"
It was as if I was meeting the elected deputy secretary of the elective counsel of congress and shaking hands with him; I could feel my hands buzzing. Then right next to him was the president who stood from his seat with a smile on his face.
Standing at 190cm with his pointy hair was Mutou Gouki.
Once, during the time I was in the assault class, we were heading towards the scene of a crime, and luckily for us, we had an honor student from Logi. He drove around in what could only be called a scooter, but it drove like a rocket. Only people with a certain aptitude or skill could drive it.
"My my. The girls seem to be more assertive nowadays. Anyways Mutou-kun, please switch seats."
The teacher looked between Aria and I somewhat happily, while Mutou, understanding the circumstance, immediately replied with an OK.
Waa--Waa--. Papapapa. Finally the whole class room began to applaud.
You guys are completely wrong! I don't know this person at all. Not long ago, this girl pulled out her guns and shot at me; she's really a ferocious girl. She tried to erase me!
When I began to try and protest to the teacher, Aria interrupted me by saying,
"Kinji, this is your belt from before."
And calling me all of a sudden without any honorifics, she threw my belt at me that I had lent to her before. Looking at Aria's uniform carefully, it seemed that she was wearing a fresh uniform.
After I had caught the belt she tossed at me-
"Riko understands! Totally understands! ---This is them raising a flag!"
The person sitting to my left, Mine Riko, suddenly pushed out her chair and stood up.
"Ki-kun isn't wearing a belt right now! That belt was being kept by that twin tails! This is a mystery? This mystery was solved through inference by Riko! She did it!"
Riko, who was as short as Aria, was part of the Inquesta class, and was the biggest idiot.
Proof of this was that her Butei High School uniform was filled with fluttery frills, and she made it so that it was a sweet Lolita fashioned dress.
Incidentally, Ki-kun was a strange nickname that she called me because she was just strange herself.
"Ki-kun had to have done something that would make him take his belt off in front of her. To leave her room, and a belt, between two people it has to be a hot hot steamy romance, where he forgot it in the midst of making love!"
Riko said that idiotic deduction while taking off the two ribbons on her hair.
Making love? You can't seriously be thinking that.
But that's the idiots' center, the Butei High.
And this deduction made my classmates go crazy.
"Ki, Kinji, when did you get such a cute girl!?" "I thought that you had no presence whatsoever!" "Normally you act like you aren't good with girls, and that you aren't interested in others, but you're actually like this secretly!?" "How shameless!"
The students of Butei High, except for those in general studies, aren't separated by classes, nor are they divided by age. Therefore, joining any special studies is just like joining a club. Because of this, there's a very high percentage of classmates that know each other...
But ganging up on a common enemy at the beginning of a new semester...isn't that abnormal?
"Yo-you people..."
While I was crouching over my desk, holding my head--
Bang Bang!
In a mere moment, the appearance of the two rapid gunshots rendered the lively and chaotic atmosphere ice cold.
--Those were the gunshots fired by the blushing Aria, who had drawn her guns.
"Yo-you dare say that we are lovers...shut up!"
On the walls that her arms were outstretched towards, holes appeared on the left and right.
Clink Clank...
The casings that were ejected from her gun clattered to the floor, focusing the attention of everyone in the silent classroom.
That idiot Riko was rocking her body back and forth like she was doing an avant-guard dance, and she slowly, slowly, sat back down.
......In Butei High, there is a rule concerning gunfire. The rule is "Don't fire more than you need to," which means, you can shoot as much as you like. However, most of the students here are Butei that are desensitized to gunfire, since it is part of their daily routine. But, although it's like that...
Firing a gun during the introductions of the new semester, she's got to be the first one.
"Remember this! If anyone dares to talk rubbish like that again..."
That was the first sentence that Kanzaki H. Aria said to us Butei High students.
"I'll make a hole in him!"
Once lunch break came, everyone approached me and started to ask me questions, but I managed to escape to the roof of the Science building, away from all the idiots in my class.
Anyways, even if they ask me about Aria, I can't answer them. After all, I had just met her this morning, and all she did was save me from the bikejacking incident, which means that I knew absolutely nothing about her.
As I listlessly sighed...I heard a few girls chatting while approaching the roof.
Their voices sounded familiar. It didn't seem like our class, rather, they were girls from Assault.
I quickly stood up and hid in the shadows, just like a criminal.
"From the note that I received from the Masters just now, it seems like a 2nd year's bike exploded. That couldn't be Kinji, could it?"
"Well, that's what I think. He was the only one who didn't make it to the opening ceremony, after all."
"Woah, Kinji's pretty unlucky today. Not only did his bike blow up, but Aria too?"
The 3 girls that were sitting side by side next to the iron fence were talking about me.
This made me so uncomfortable that it felt like there were insects crawling all over my face, but I quietly stayed where I was.
"Kinji was pretty pitiful just now."
"I think so too. Aria's been looking for Kinji everywhere."
"Ah. I was asked by Aria too. She was asking what kind of Butei Kinji was, and what kind of record he had. So I just said "He was amazing back in Assault."
"I saw Aria just now at the entrance to Masters. I bet she was trying to find Kinji's records."
"Woah. Looks like she really loves Kinji."
As the relevant party, I was inadvertently listening to them talk about me.
So she was looking for me since morning...which is to say, she's been asking after me ever since the bikejacking incident?
"I feel really bad for Kinji. He doesn't like girls, but now he's being pestered by Aria. I'm not sure what kind of education she had back in Europe, but she's completely tactless."
"But, isn't Aria pretty popular among the boys?"
"Ah, that's right. She just switched schools in the 3rd semester, and yet the whole school is her's already. I also heard that the Photography Club managed to take a picture of her during PE, and they're making a lot of money."
"I heard that too. They took a picture of her while she was figure skating with the cheerleaders, and they've already sold out. The photos from the new gym class too."
What kind of class is that? Is this school really normal?
"From what I've heard, she doesn't have any friends. She also constantly excuses herself."
"During lunch she was alone, just sitting in the corner of the classroom."
"Wow, how disgusting."
The words of these girls made my heart heavier and heavier.
I, who isn't interested in others, didn't even know about her existence...
But this Aria, who attends Butei High, where weird people congregate, appears to be a special existence as well.
If one wants to switch from Butei High to a normal High school, there's a time restriction.
Because, according to the Butei rules, all the guns and swords that the students own are part of the school uniform, and therefore must be registered with the Public Safety Commission. Therefore, until the reregistration period in April, one is not allowed to leave school.
If there are students who wish to switch schools, they have to submit an application to the Masters 6 months in advance. However -- I've already prepared the application. I decided to wait 2 days before I submitted it, and then April next year, I can finally leave the world of Butei.
(Although I say this...I'll feel sad about leaving this room behind.)
--It's the evening.
I, who finally managed to get away from those idiots in my class, sat on the sofa by myself, looking at the red stained Tokyo sunset outside my window.
From January of this year, I will be the only one staying in this dormitory.
This dormitory was originally meant for 4 people. However, because I switched to Inquesta, and since there were no other applications for rooms from anybody in Inquesta, I have no roommates.
But for me, that strange coincidence is great fortune.
I can freely relax in a place where none of those weirdos from Butei High will disturb my peaceful life. It's great to live by myself.
(Ahh, so clean...)
The bike-jacking incident from this morning seems as if it had never happened.
About that incident, Repier has already recovered the wreckage of the Segways, and Inquesta has started its investigation.
...However, in Butei High, where daily life is full of danger, attempted murder cases like these usually go unsolved. This is an unchangeable reality. Maybe I'm already desensitized to this from when I was in Assault, or maybe it's because Aria's been bothering me all day, but right now, as the victim, I really don't care.
But, who...would do this? This is too vicious for a mere prank.
The imitator of the "Butei Killer" must be a bombing maniac.
Bombing maniacs are one of the most despicable types of criminals in the world, because they don't choose their targets. Normally, the reason for bombing is to attract the attention of society, so that one can make demands.
Ding - Dong.
So, from that perspective, it was just bad luck that it was my bike that was targeted?
Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding - Dong!
Or is it someone specifically targeting me? Why would anyone hate me so much?
Ding Ding Dong DIng Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding - Dong! Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding - Dong!
Argh! Annoying!
Somebody's been ringing the doorbell of the dormitory since a second ago. I was pretending that no one was home, but it appears that it didn't work.
What are they trying to do. I've already been annoyed enough today. At least let me get some peace and quiet after school.
"Who is it......?"
I open the door impatiently.
"You're too slow! When I ring your doorbell, you should open it within 5 seconds!"
Woah!
A girl was standing there, her hands on her hips. She was staring at me with her pink irises--
"Kan-Kanzaki!?"
Standing in the doorway, was Kanzaki H. Aria, still wearing her uniform.
I rubbed my eyes like in manga, to make sure that I wasn't hallucinating, but there she was.
Why is she here!?
"You can call me Aria."
Without even giving me time to respond, Aria had already taken off her shoes, and entered my dormitory.
"Ah, hey!"
I reached out to try and grab her, but I didn't manage to, because her height was like that of a child, so she just ducked under my grasp
*brush*
only leaving the feeling of her twin tails brushing through my hands.
"Wait, don't just come in!"
"Bring my luggage in! Hey, where's the bathroom?"
Aria completely ignored my presence, and continued to look around inside the rooms. She quickly discovered the location of the bathroom, and quickly strode in.
...This isn't good.
This is Butei High.
And the origin of the word "Butei" is "Armed Detectives."
It looks like I was followed.
"Anyways, your luggage..."
I looked around in a daze, and I saw what appeared to be her luggage in front of the door. It had a very well known brand name engraved on it, and there were some tiny, yet beautiful patterns on the handle.
Ugh, this is too dangerous.
If I let the neighboring students find out that there's a girl's luggage in front of my door, who knows what kind of hell will break loose.
Also, this morning, I told Shirayuki that this apartment block housed the Male dormitories.
"Is it just you living here?"
Aria walked out of the bathroom, having washed her hands and brought her luggage, which held some abnormally heavy stuff, in without so much as looking at me. Having done that, she started investigating the state of my rooms.
She had already reached the innermost part of the living room, where the windows were.
"Well, this is fine, I guess."
What's that supposed to mean?
Aria spun around, illuminated by the glow of the sunset.
*stare* Those long twin tails followed her movements, drawing a beautiful arc in the air.
"--Kinji. Be my slave!"
......
............
.................I don't believe it.
Hey you. You're completely unbelievable.
When I thought you were about to save me, you drew your swords and guns. Not only do you sit beside me in class, but you invade my house, and then you say something like "Be my slave!"?
"Hey! Why aren't you getting me anything to drink! You uneducated piece of trash!"
Fu!
Aria's skirt flew upwards as she plopped her hips down on the sofa I was sitting on not too long ago. She wiggled a bit and tilted her legs, allowing me to see the pair of guns strapped to her thighs. She's still carrying guns after school? Is she paranoid?
"Coffee! Espresso rungo doppio! Italian sugar! I'm giving you 1 minute!"
You're the uneducated one...
And anyways, what's with that coffee? It sounds like a magic spell.
I, who couldn't think of a way to get her out of my house, reluctantly made her a cup of instant coffee,
"?"
Aria used both her hands to bring the cup to her nose and took a sniff.
"Is this really coffee?"
It looks like she doesn't know about the existence of instant coffee.
"I don't have anything else; you'll have to make do with it."
"...It tastes weird. It tastes kind of like Greek coffee...actually..."
"Stop talking about the flavor. There's something else we need to discuss."
I sat at a chair by the table, took a sip of coffee, and pointed at the girl who had intruded into my house.
"Thanks for saving me this morning. Also...I'm sorry for saying things to make you angry. But, why did you chase me to my house?"
I said, pursing my lips.
Aria, holding her cup, turned her camellia eyes to face me.
"Don't you understand?"
"How could I understand?"
"I didn't think it would take you this long... Mmm...however, when the time comes, you'll understand. We'll just leave it at that."
Just leave it at that?
"I'm hungry."
Aria suddenly changed the subject, and daintily adjusted her position on the sofa.
This womanly act made my cheeks redden, and I looked away.
"Is there nothing to eat?"
"Nothing."
"There can't be nothing. What do you normally eat?"
"When I want to eat, I just get something from the convenience store downstairs."
"Convenience store? Oh, that mini supermarket. OK, go ahead."
"What are you talking about?"
"You really are stupid... Go get me something to eat, of course. It's already dinner time, right?"
This isn't good. She isn't listening to me at all.
And anyways, you've decided to eat dinner here?
I really wish you would leave.
I massaged my head, hoping to get rid of my headache. Suddenly, Aria jumped off the sofa as if she was spring-loaded, and slowly approached me, step by step.
Hey, this is too close. While I was thinking this, she had already approached so close that all I could see was her chin.
"Hey, does the convenience store sell Matsumoto's 'Peach Buns'? I want to eat those."
A Butei needs to constantly stay alert of three things: darkness, poison, and women.
And I had just bought seven peach buns for the third reason, Aria.
Peach buns were popular some time ago, but now, these were all the convenience store had in stock. A moment ago, I had thought that Aria wasn't thinking of eating them all in one go, but now, as I sat next to the table, I watched Aria demolish the fifth peach bun.
As usual, I ate a pork cutlet, but this time I continually glared at Aria while I ate, trying to convey "Get out." with my eyes. However, Aria completely ignored me and patted her cheeks while devouring her sixth peach bun. Are those really that good?
"...Anyways, what's this about me being a slave? What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm letting you join my Assault squadron. To do Butei missions with me."
"What are you talking about. The reason I switched to Inquesta, the most normal Butei agency, was because I hated how troublesome Assault was. Also, I've already prepared to switch to a normal school. I'm already tired of being a Butei, and you still want to bring me back to that crazy place?--No way."
"I hate 3 things about what you said."
"Listen to what I'm saying..."
"'No way,' 'Tired,' and 'Troublesome.' Those 3 points are the only things restricting the possibilities for humans. Don't ever say anything like that in front of me again. Understand?"
With that, Aria finished her seventh and last peach bun, and twiddled her fingers, as if she had something else to say.
"As for Kinji's position, you can be my 'Front'."
'Front' is short for 'Front Man'. The task of the front man is to take point for the main maneuvers of the Butei squadron.
It's an extremely risky and dangerous position.
"No. Why me?"
"Why does the sun rise? Why does the moon shine?"
Once again she says something completely out of the blue.
"Kinji's questions are just like a child's questions. Since you're a Butei, go find out my reasoning for yourself."
I don't want to hear that from you, who really looks like a kid. I wanted to say that there and then, but thought back to how I was nearly killed this morning, so I swallowed my words.
--Anyways,
I'm starting to understand.
Talking to her is like talking to a brick wall.
If I want to argue against Aria, who only knows how to make demands, I have to come straight to the point about my own demands.
Deciding this, I hardened my resolve.
"Anyways, please go back. I want to stay here by myself. So get out."
"Well, when the time comes, I shall do so of my own accord."
"When is that time, exactly?"
"Not until you agree to join my Assault squadron."
"It's already evening, you know?"
"I'll go through anything to get you to join. I don't have much time left. If you don't agree--"
"How can I accept? What if I don't agree? What will you do if I don't? Do your worst."
Hearing my abrupt refusal, Aria stared at me with those big eyes, and said,
"If you don't agree, I'll stay here."
--Ha!?
My face started twitching.
"You... Wait a moment! Stop kidding around! I'm not going to let you stay here! Get out!"
I was so surprised by what she said, that I had trouble keeping my pork cutlet from flying off my lap.
"Shut up! If I say I'm going to stay, then I'll stay! I knew this would turn into a siege!"
*point*! Aria pointed at her luggage while screaming.
So those were all of the things she needed to stay--!
Why is she going so far? What's she trying to do?
Why would me returning to Assault help her at all?
"--Get out!"
I wasn't the one who said that.
What should have come from my mouth came instead from Aria's.
"Wh-why should I get out! Is this your house!?"
"This is a punishment for you not opening the door earlier! Get out and calm yourself down! You can't come back in for a while!"
Aria held up her fists while baring her canines at me.
So...I somehow managed to get kicked out of my own house.
I stood for a while inside the convenient store, looking at manga. But I felt that it would be too impolite just to read it, so I bought it to bring upstairs to my room.
And like a thief...I softly opened the door. This is my house, after all.
Hmm?
I couldn't sense Aria's presence inside.
I peeked into the kitchen and living room: she wasn't there.
This is great. Looks like God answered my pleas. She finally went home.
I sighed with relief, and since I had just gone outside, I went towards the bathroom to wash my hands--when.
I noticed some sounds coming from the shower.
The light was on, and the glass door leading into the shower was misty.
A blurry outline was visible inside, extending her leg while whistling a song.
Ahh, so she was taking a bath after all.
--Huh!?
---A bath!?
*tap tap*
I quickly retreated back to the main part of the bathroom.
So she kicked me out because she wanted to take a bath.
I gingerly looked down, but all I saw was Aria's school uniform in the laundry basket. In the basket I could see the gun strap she used under her skirt, and sticking out were her guns. Digging deeper, I could see two wakizashis sticking out of her blouse.
*Crash*
From the door came the noise of Aria splashing around in the bath, and my heart nearly skipped a beat.
This is too weird.
This is far too absurd.
And now, a new sound came out of the blue, even though I was already panicking.
....Ding, Dong....
a very politely pressed doorbell!
Thi-this method of pressing the doorbell...
(Co-could it be Shirayuki!?)
"Wo-woah!?"
Dong!
In this dangerous situation, I tripped on something and fell heavily to the floor, while rushing to the corridor.
"Kin.....Kin-chan? Are you OK?"
came Shirayuki's voice from the door.
Thi-this isn't good. She heard me.
Now I can't even pretend that no one's in.
"Ah, I'm fine, I'm fine."
Pretending to be calm, I walked towards the door...
A red hakama along with white sleeves-- Shirayuki stood there in her Miko outfit with a mysterious bag in her hands.
"Wh-what's wrong with you? Why are you wearing this while going out?"
I tried to keep an eye on the bathroom, while rudely addressing her.
"Ah...th-this is. I-it's because my classes went very late...once I finished making dinner I immediately came over to give it to Kin-chan, so I didn't have time to change... If that isn't OK, then I'll go back and change immediately."
"N-no, that's OK."
I quickly stopped Shirayuki, who really seemed as if she was going to return home.
The classes she's talking about are probably the SSR.
SSR, that amazingly strange special class, is short for Supernatural Searching Research, a class focused upon research on ability users. I don't understand much of it, but apparently, Shirayuki is a top student there as well.
Ah, this isn't the time to talk about this! Right now, paranormal activities are happening in my house!
"Hey, Kin-chan. The notice this morning about the exploding bicycle...could it be the 2nd year they were talking about was you..."
"Ah, yeah. It was me."
The reason I answered so cheerfully, was because...this is not an exaggeration...Shirayuki charged me and only stopped when she had thrust her face within 10 cm of mine.
"Ar-are you OK!?... Are you hurt anywhere!? I-I'll treat any wounds for you!"
"I'm OK, don't touch me."
"Ah, OK...but it's great that you're safe. But attacking Kin-chan...I can't forgive whoever did it! I will definitely hunt him down and tear him apa...I mean take him into custody!"
Just now did she...say what I think she said? No, I probably heard wrong.
Yeah, I heard wrong.
"I-it's OK. This is just a regular occurrence in Butei High. Alright, let's not talk about this anymore!"
"Uh, right. But...OK."
Looking at Shirayuki, it seemed as if she had something else to say, but in the end, she lightly nodded.
Ahh, she's so obedient. I wish that twin-tailed girl would learn from Shirayuki.
"...But...there's something. Kin-chan seems a little...strange, tonight."
"Strange? Me?"
"You're more cold than usual..."
Woah, your senses are way too acute!
"N-no I'm not! You were looking for me, right? What is it?"
Anyways, I need to get Shirayuki out of here now!
Because, if Aria comes out into the corridor now, just wearing a towel, I'm finished!
"Ah...about that. I have this."
Shirayuki jerkily handed the bag in her hands to me.
"I made bamboo shoots for you tonight, since...I have to go to Mount Osore tomorrow for training, since it's spring. I won't be able to make dinner for Kin-chan for a while..."
"Ah, OK. Thanks, thanks a lot. If that's all, then you should start heading back now, OK?"
Seeing me accept the bag, Shirayuki's face lit up. Also, her cheeks reddened slightly.
"I-I made two meals for you in one day! I-I'm almost like your wi-wife... Ah, what am I saying. Aha, Ahaha. Isn't that weird? Yeah, I'm weird! ...Ki-Kin-chan, do you...think I'm weird?"
"I got it, I got it! I understand, so please go back, Shirayuki!"
"You're saying 'I got it!'...wh-which means that Kin-chan also thinks I'm..."
For some reason, Shirayuki raised her head to face me, who just said whatever I could to try and get her to go home, with a face full of emotion.
--Splash.
The noise of water came from the bathroom.
Splash! My heart jumped into my throat.
"? Is someone in there?"
"There is nobody inside!"
I myself didn't know why I started speaking politely, but I fiercely pushed Shirayuki out the door like a Sumo wrestler.
"...Kin-chan, you aren't hiding anything from me, are you?"
Shirayuki's eyes suddenly lost all expression, and in a mere moment, became a blank slate.
"No. No, no, no. How could I? I can't hide anything from you!"
"...Is that so? That's fine then."
Hearing my denial, Shirayuki flashed a smile as fresh as a spring breeze, and finally turned away.
Th....thank God.
The Tiger at the gate has been taken care of.
Closing the door, I threw the bamboo shoots to one side and rushed to the bathroom.
I felt that if I didn't do this, I'd be ambushed by the Wolf at the back door.
And, knowing Aria's ferocious personality, if she ever found out that I came back while she was bathing, she would immediately fire upon me without warning. So, to protect my life, I have to hide those guns and swords.
Thinking that way, I crouched in front of the laundry basket, and while I gingerly stretched my hand inside--
*Click*
The door to the bath was opened by Aria.
"[--!]"
Killing intent filled up the silence.
We stared at each other, locking eyes.
Fu~, the smell of Gardenia wafted out of the bath.
"......per...PERVERT!"
Aria had loosened her hair, and she was not wearing even one thread of cloth. She used her right hand to cover her chest, and her left hand to cover...that...place below the stomach.
Seeing both my hands stretched inside her school uniform, Aria's hair stood on end.
"You....You've got it wrong...!"
I hurriedly grabbed her weapons and put my hands up, wanting to prove my innocence.
--but I failed completely.
Because I was so panicked, I didn't notice that there was something hanging on the blades.
There was something fluttering on the wakizashi on the right.
And there was something fluttering on the wakizashi on the left.
Hanging on the wakizashi, were Aria's bra and panties, raised like a flag.
The childish cotton underwear was dotted with polka suits, and it found itself fluttering on the blade I was holding.
"~~~~~~~~~~DIE!!"
Thud!
"Huh!?"
Aria assaulted me so quickly, I was unable to even go into Hysteria Mode.
An unavoidable kick slammed into me, turning my body into a [く] character.
"Go to hell! You big pervert!!"
Bong!
Aria leaped and violently brought her knee to my face, while snatching back her underwear. I was still hanging on to her wakizashi for dear life.
That knee came to a stop a full 10 centimeters from my face.
Oh God.
I'd like to ask you something.
Why must I endure this punishment?
Also. What eroge is this from?
Hey you, is this the time to think about that?
I looked straight at the line that Aria drew on the ground while lying on my bed. She said, "If you dare approach this line, I will kill you."
She had obviously used marker to draw it, not only that, but an oil-based one.
I looked at the other bunk bed, full of resentment, only to see one of her twin-tails drooping off the bed. Damn it. I really want to yank on it right now.
"......Fuuu.....Peach bun pyramid..."
*drip*
Aria was sound asleep. Not only was she sleep talking, I could also hear her drooling in her sleep. Ah, this really pisses me off. Also, do peach buns have anything to do with pyramids?
This is my room, I shouldn't need to worry about these kinds of evil intruders.
But, wearing pink pajamas reminiscent of a jumpsuit, Aria had brought both her guns into the bedroom.
Although I had gone to bed immediately after Aria, I wasn't sleepy at all, so all I could do was lie on my bed, watching her sleep.
This bedroom was originally for four people, so there were two bunk beds. Well, as expected, Aria took the top bunk of the bed, as far away from me as she could get. Also, I thought that I saw a tripwire on the ground, leading to an anti-personnel landmine. It's probably just me. Yeah, there's no way she'd put something like that down.
But really, she's so troublesome.
Not only does she barge into my life and put restrictions on my movements, she also inconsiderately said--
--Come back to Assault to do Butei missions with me?
I don't have anything that I want to do.
I can be anything. I don't care if I don't do anything amazing.
As long as I don't have to be a Butei.
The only work I hate, is that of a Butei.
While thinking about this, I...slipped into an uneasy sleep.
"Idiot Kinji! Wake up!"
Bang!
An iron fist pounded into my abdomen,
Bash!
and a foot stomped onto my exhausted face.
Aria, wearing black knee socks, continued to grind my face into the bed.
It was bright outside. Looks like it's morning already.
"What are you doing!"
"Breakfast! Make me breakfast!"
"Who...cares...about...you!"
I pushed Aria's foot off my face with all my strength.
"I'm hungry!"
"Then stay that way, idiot!"
"A mere Kinji dares to call me an idiot!?"
What is "a mere" supposed to mean?
I rolled around left and right, avoiding her punches. Seeing an opening, I jumped off my bed and made my way out of the bedroom.
Why do I have to use these kinds of 007 moves, just to wake up in my own house?
"I'm hungry! Hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry!"
"You should be fine if you're able to shout so loudly!"
I changed into my uniform, got my cellphone, strapped on my gun, and grabbed my bag, all the while dodging, parrying, and slipping around Aria's punches and kicks.
This feels exactly like battle training back in Assault.
*whoosh*! I stopped in front of the door to put on my shoes, and dodged the flurry of kicks that Aria fired off at me. I put on my shoes, and stood there.
"Aria."
I put my hand on Aria's creamy white forehead, while she was still trying to punch me.
I straightened my arm, leaving her unable to do anything but flail at me ineffectively.
Alright. It seems that I've grasped the method of keeping her at bay.
But, I shouldn't have to get used to this kind of thing...
"What?"
Since she couldn't hit me anymore, Aria calmed down a little and looked up at me.
"We're going to school separately. You go first."
"Why?"
"Why? If you're seen coming out of here with me, all hell will break loose. This is the boy's dormitory, you know."
"You're trying to trick me and escape, right!?"
"Not only are we in the same class, we sit side by side! Where am I supposed to escape to!?"
Aria puffed out her cheeks unhappily.
"It doesn't matter what you do. We're leaving separately."
"No way! Don't even think about running away! Remember Kinji, you're my slave!"
Aria grabbed onto my arm, with a stance that said "I'm not letting go!"
"Get...off...me...! Hey!"
"Uwaah!"
Baring her canines, she bit down on my hand!
"OWWWWW---!"
Are you a lion??
I extracted my hand from Aria's mouth, and glanced at my watch. It was 7:54 right now.
This isn't good. We won't be able to make it to the bus at 7:58.
This isn't the time to fight with her.
From today onwards, I can't miss that bus.
Because my bicycle was blown into pieces...
"You little...germ...!"
Unable to do anything else, I dragged Aria, who was clinging to my arm, with me.
She's so annoying! She's really so annoying! How troublesome can she be!? But, dammit! She smells so nice! ...What am I thinking about.
I'm finished.
I'm totally done.
My daily routine has been completely annihilated by that random intruder, Aria.
And a prerequisite of my current goal-- "Be a normal person." is to have a normal daily routine.
So, I decided to use the time after 5th period to research a method of combating Aria.
In Butei High, periods 1-4 are just like a normal high school, learning normal subjects. However, from period 5 onwards, we split up into our special classes to practice.
Aria should be doing combat training in Assault right now.
So I'll use this opening to find a place she won't be able to find me, and stealthily prepare my counter plan.
Thinking this way, I did something I hadn't done for a long while. I accepted an Inquesta mission, just so I could leave the school naturally.
"Kinji."
But immediately after walking out of the Butei special class building, I saw Aria lying in ambush. I sank to the floor, my hopes shattered.
"Why...are you here...?"
"Because you're here."
"That isn't an answer! What about your Assault classes? Is it really fine if you skip them?"
"I already have enough credits to graduate."
Aria stared at me with her camellia eyes, not even letting me work up the spirit to get angry.
A girl, not only that, but an amazingly beautiful girl, waiting for you at the door of the school. Isn't that the dream of all High school boys? However, this girl gets trigger happy without the slightest provocation. I believe that that kind of vicious girl doesn't really fit the scene.
"What kind of commissions do you normally accept?"
"It has nothing to do with you. The commissions I accept are easy missions befitting an E rank Butei like me. Go away."
The students in Butei High, after receiving a small amount of training, are able to accept paid commissions from the general populace. If a Butei runs into an incident on the street, they're allowed to take care of it too. The results of these commissions, along with the results of tests, determines the [rank] of a student. The ranks go from A~E. Above this, there's also the special S rank. During the entrance exam, I was ranked S.
However, that's the result...of Shirayuki, who managed to get me into Hysteria Mode for the exam.
"You're E rank right now?"
"That's right. Because I didn't take part in the test at the end of the 3rd week, in my first year. Anyways, I don't really care what rank I am."
"Well, ranks don't mean anything anyway. Forget about that, tell me your commission for today."
"I don't need to tell you anything."
"How would you like some extra holes?"
Aria drew her guns angrily.
"Today...I'm looking for a cat."
"...A cat?"
"We're going to Omi to find a lost kitten. The reward is 10000 yen, and .1 credits."
This was the commission with the lowest reward and danger that I could find on the Inquesta board.
However, she still persisted in keeping up with me, to the point where she was almost sprinting.
"Don't follow me."
"Don't mind me, just go on with your Butei activities."
"Denied. Don't follow me."
"Do you hate me that much?"
"I hate you more than you know. Don't follow me."
"If you dare say "Don't follow me" again, I'll help you make some new holes."
I had no wish for any new holes and I had no way to resist her, so all I could do was take the subway to Omi with Aria following me every step of the way.
Omi used to be a street for warehouses, however, the place had been renovated and now, it's full of high grade apartment blocks and shops.
"Since we're looking for a cat, what method are you going to use to find it?"
"I don't have a method. I'm just going to look everywhere for it. Anyways...why don't you tell me what you think? Since you asked me, you should have thought of something, right?"
"I don't have one either. I'm not good at plans. I didn't inherit that most important of traits,"
said Aria without a trace of emotion, looking up at me.
"Hey, I'm hungry."
"It's just past lunch... Did you not have anything during the break?"
"I did, but I'm hungry again."
...You digest things way too fast.
"Buy me something, OK?"
"Must you weigh me down everywhere I go..."
But...
I spent all my time looking for a fitting commission, so I didn't have lunch as well.
Well, whatever. I'd prefer to have my body hole-free, so let's just go to McDonalds to get something to eat.
As a slave, I followed my queen's orders, and got her the huge hamburger meal that she wanted...
Waiting outside, Aria seemed to be in a reverie as she stared at the displays of the boutiques.
She was staring at a shimmery dress on a mannequin, all the while looking back at her own body.
......Fu.
That expression... So that's how it is. That's the appearance she would like to have.
Forget about it, there's no use in wanting it. Your elementary school figure will never ever develop.
"Hey."
"--Ah."
Aria turned around, and seemed to notice that I was secretly laughing at her.
Her cheeks reddened, and she waved both her hands around.
"--Th-that isn't it! I-I just have a slender body! This is called slender!"
"I didn't say anything..."
Saying that, I strode into the opposing park. I found a random bench, and sat down, placing my McDonalds bag next to me. Aria, as if she had something to say, sat down next to me.
Fuah. Her Butei High skirt fluttered, allowing me a sight of her guns for a moment. Mutou from Logi changed the name of that area from "Panchira" to "Gunchira"... Now that I think about it, that guy is a complete idiot.
All the skirts of the girls at Butei High are very short. The reason for this is, if an emergency arises, they need to be able to draw their guns quickly. Of course, Aria's skirt was no exception.
However, that sight from just now doesn't excite me at all. Probably because she looks just like an elementary school student.
"Hariha (Aria). Let's split up while looking in the park."
"Fwy? (Why?)"
We were trying to eat our hamburgers while talking.
"Look around, and you'll see."
I took a sip of my coke, and placed it on the bench while indicating around with my eyes.
In this park--there are a lot of young couples.
This place is near the seashore, and is both new and beautiful, so it's a famous dating site.
The whole reason I came here is, although it's possible that the cat might be here, since it's one of the parks in Omi, the real reason is that, with this sight, I thought that Aria would stay away from me.
This plan seems to be working, Aria is...
"Ah..."
Once she saw a college couple stuck together like wood carvings sitting on the opposite bench, she froze, with a french fry still stuck in her mouth.
Afterward, she looked at me, then looked back at the couple, then back at me. All at once, she started blushing furiously.
"...uh. Uun!"
At that moment, Aria saw a couple holding hands while walking by. She hurriedly hugged her own hands to herself. Looks like she wouldn't hold hands with me under the pain of death.
"Right? It'd be better if you went back, Aria. If we're seen walking together like this, people will say we're going out again. I don't like to attract attention, and you would hate it if the person you liked had this kind of misunderstanding, right?"
"Somebody I like!"
Aria's red ruby-like eyes opened wide, and she refuted me with that voice worthy of a Seiyuu.
"I-I-I don't like anyone! Also, ro-romance is a waste of time, there's no need for it! It-it really is useless!"
...You aren't a kid...there's no need to have such a reaction.
Looks like she can't stand anything related to love.
A weakness!
"Anyways, you wouldn't like your friends to misunderstand, right?"
"Friends... I don't have any friends, nor do I need them. People can say whatever they like. I don't care what others say."
Slurp----
I'm not sure if it was because she wanted to hide her embarrassment, but Aria sucked noisily at her straw.
"I applaud the fact that you don't care what others think. However, there's something I'd like to say."
"What is it?"
"That's my coke."
Pffftt!
Aria sprayed out the coke that was in her mouth.
No way. Is that really something a beautiful high school girl like you would do?
Seeing that I was staring straight at her, Aria's cheeks reddened once again--
"You pervert!"
She suddenly charged at me, with the intention of beating me up.
Hey... You're way too unreasonable.
It's evening. We've finally tracked down the lost cat.
It was in...something like a gutter...or a stream...inside the park.
The meowing weak little kitten matched the features inside the notice, and it also had the same bell as in the photo. This should be the right one.
"OK. Good kitty..."
The kitten, which had somehow made its way into a trash can floating in the stream, used the last of its strength to howl, trying to scare me away. Hey now, I'm not your enemy, you know... I'm trying to save you.
I gingerly stretched my hand into the scraps of paper and empty cans, and grabbed the kitten, whose hair was standing on end.
"Good kitty, good kitty. Alright, you'll be OK now."
......This smile...I haven't smiled for so long, it isn't too stiff, right?
Once it saw my face, the kitten yelped, and started struggling in my hand.
"Ah, Hey...oh, ku!"
Splash!
Holding the cat, I heavily fell into the shallow water by the stream.
Just in case, I had put aside my gun and cell phone before trying to get the cat. Looks like it was a piece of luck amidst my misfortune.
"...that's weird..."
Sitting on top of the block preventing water from overflowing, Aria, who was looking at me, let out a sigh.
The following day after finding the cat and receiving my 0.1 credits.
"Riko."
Riko, as per her note, was idling in the greenhouse by the girl's dormitory. The greenhouse I'm talking about is just a huge but simple plastic shed, and it's hardly used, so it's a good place to conduct secret meetings.
"Ki-kun!"
Hearing my voice, Riko, who was deep inside the roses, turned around.
Like Aria, she's a small but beautiful girl. She has sparkling eyelids and big bright eyes, and her silky hair is tied up with two ribbons. Two strands of hair extend from the sides of her head, and her soft, long hair went down her back.
"So you're still wearing your special uniform...What's this long white wavy thing?"
"This is the Butei High girls' uniform - White Wind Lolita version! Ki-kun, you should at least remember the different types of Lolita."
"Denied. I can't stand it, how many uniforms do you have?"
Hearing me say this, Riko dipped her head and began counting the types of uniforms she had on her fingers. Once I figured out what she was doing, I quickly fished out the games, which were bound extremely tightly in a paper bag, out of my backpack.
"Riko, I have it. You must keep this a secret from Aria, understand?"
"Un! I got it!"
Riko suddenly stood to attention, and adopted a stance with both hands by her head, as if she was saluting me.
With a pained face, I handed over the paper bag, and Riko ripped it open immediately. Also she started breathing heavily, in and out, 'Fufufufufufu', just like a wild animal.
"Uwaah--! It's 'White and Black!', 'Story of White Grass!" and "Gothic Lolita Cosplay Imouto!"
Riko started jumping around excitedly, while waving around the R15, which means it can only be bought by those 15 and up, Galge.
I think that everyone can tell from her clothes already, but Riko is an Otaku.
However, she's different from normal Otaku girls. She also has a strange obsession with Galge. She absolutely loves the heroines that wear the same frilly dresses as her.
Of course, Riko is already above 15, and she can buy these games herself. However, two days before, when she went to Academy Island's game store, the saleswoman refused to sell her the games, because she thought that, judging from her height, Riko was still a middle schooler.
So she contracted me to buy it for her.
Normally, I would rather die than buy these...things. Also, I've left an impression on the saleswoman that I will not ever be rid of. Despite all this, I am willing to do this for Riko, all for the sake of getting rid of Aria.
Why does Aria want me to be her slave?
The first step to getting her out of my house, is to understand this.
If there is really a solid reason, I will do all in my power to eradicate it.
So, if she's unwilling to tell me herself, I have no choice but to use other methods to investigate, and oppose her with my own power. After all, clashes between Butei are often won by the side with the most information.
"Ah...this, I don't want this. Riko hates these types of games."
Huh? The ones I picked should all fit Riko's descriptions, right?
Fuu. With her cheeks puffed out, Riko returned "Gothic Lolita Cosplay Imouto! 2 & 3", the sequels to "Gothic Lolita Cosplay Imouto!".
"Why? Isn't this exactly the same as the other games?"
"Wrong. '2' and '3', the sequels, are always in contempt of the original game. They are a shame to all games! A name that all people hate!"
...really, what kind of messed up reasoning is that?
"Whatever...anyways, outside of these sequels, the rest are for you. In exchange, as promised, you have to tell me everything you know about Aria."
"--Alright!"
Riko is an idiot. She's a complete idiot. But, after I entered Inquesta, I began to understand. This idiot, exactly because of her idiocy, has a specialty. Not only is she an excellent cracker, but she's also a very proficient spy, eavesdropper, and hacker. Riko, who has an interest in these things, is abnormally good at gathering information. It could be said that she is an information thief of the current generation. Because of this, her Butei rank is A.
"Alright, then spit it out. I had to pretend to go to the bathroom, and then escape using my belt as a rope. It won't be long before Aria notices and catches me."
I looked around, and sat down on a railing that came up to my knee.
Riko seemed to think about something, stuck the games in her dress, and with a hop and a leap, she bounded over to where I was and sat down next to me. But since her feet couldn't reach the floor, she dangled there.
"Ahh--, Ki-kun, you're already groveling at the hem of Aria's skirt, huh? Since she's your girlfriend, why can't you just ask her about this kind of simple thing?"
"She isn't my girlfriend."
"Huh? I heard that you two are already a couple. Also some people are saying that they saw Kinji and Aria holding hands while walking out of the boy's dormitory this morning. Aria's fanclub flew into a rage, and started running around the school shouting "Kill Kinji!" Even with that--"
"There's no need to use your finger to drill your head." (?)
Holding hands...Are they talking about what happened this morning?
I was just dragging Aria along, while she refused to let go of my hand.
"So, what base have you guys progressed to!?"
"There's no progression."
"Have you reached the H-scene?"
"Idiot! No way in hell!"
"Don't try to trick me! You guys are teenagers in the prime of life, after all!"
Riko, with a huge smile on her face, used her elbow to nudge my arm.
"...Everything I say, you have a way to twist it so it means something else entirely. You should go see a psychologist."
"Ki-"
"Alright, let's move on to the main topic. About Aria...Mmm, tell me about her evaluation in Assault."
"Alright-. Hmm...first, about her rank, she's S. And I'm able to count on one hand those that were able to reach S by their 2nd year."
But what Riko said didn't surprise me at all.
Because the maneuvers that Aria exhibited during the bike-jacking incident, can't be said to be anything like what a normal person could do.
"Although she's even smaller than Riko, her unarmed combat is very good too. Her style of fighting is... You know, that one with the mixed styles...that, Vale-Vale...baritsu...?"
"You mean Valetudo?"
"Right, right, that's her fighting style. In England it's called baritsu." (T/L: This is something that the author made up. It's relevant to the plot.)
I remember how Aria savagely kicked me out of the sports storage room.
That was really impressive. Even the me in Hysteria Mode could hardly defend myself.
"She's a prodigy in both marksmanship and swordsmanship. Also, she always uses her guns and swords in pairs, she's completely ambidextrous."
"I know that."
"Then, do you know her title?"
A title--those elite Butei that excel in the field will naturally acquire a title from others.
You mean the mere 16 year old Aria already has a title?
Riko, seeing my puzzled face, chuckled and said
"Aria the Quadra. Isn't it funny?"
"I don't understand how that's funny at all...whatever. I also want to know...right, I want to know about her movements as a Butei. What's her battle record?"
"Ah, this piece of news is impressive. Although it seems that's she's taking a break right now, Aria's been working for the London Butei department and has been accepting commissions all around Europe ever since she was 14."
Riko looked up at me with those big eyes, and her voice grew more rigid as she said,
"...and in that time, she hasn't let a single target get away."
"Not even one?"
"Everyone that she's targeted has been captured without exception. A consecutive 99 times, and with only 1 raid each time."
"How...is that possible..."
Unbelievable.
Normally, Butei commissions dealing with capture are too difficult to be left to the normal police. It usually takes several raids for Butei to be able to force a target into submission, (In the Butei world, this process is called Assault,) so they can successfully capture the target. But Aria managed to successfully capture 99 targets with just one raid each...
...So, I'm being targeted by such a monstrous girl.
"Ah-...is there anything else? What about her lineage?"
"Mmm--. Aria's father is half English."
"Ah, so she has mixed blood."
So that's why she has camellia eyes, as well as the Japanese double-fold eyelids.
And...That's why her name is [Kanzaki H. Aria] right?
"Oh yeah, her English lineage is a family whose middle name is [H]. And it seems to be extremely well known. I hear that her grandmother even holds the title 'Dame?'"
"It's a title bestowed by the English royal family. Those men favored by the royal family are named 'knights', while the women are given the title 'Dame'.
"Hey now. If what you say is true, doesn't that mean she's nobility?"
"That's right. She really is nobility. However, there seems to be some friction between Aria and the [H] family. So she doesn't like to give out the full name. Riko knows why...but that family, I don't really want to talk about it."
"Come on, tell me. I gave you all those games, right?"
"Riko hates to talk about people who allow their family names to give them higher status. Why don't you just use Google to look up some English websites?"
"My English sucks."
"Then work hard!"
Riko said it while swinging her hand with the intent of patting my back--
*whoosh*-.
But she missed me completely.
And with a smack, she hit my wrist-
"Ah?"
Crack.
-and slapped my watch to the ground.
... I reached out to pick it up, and saw that the clasp of the wristband was broken.
"Uwaah! I-I'm sorry!"
"It's OK, it was really cheap. I just bought it for 1980 yen at Odaiba."
"No way! I'll fix it for you! Riko will fix it for you properly! If I break my client's possessions, Riko's reputation will be stained!"
Riko snatched the watch from my hands, and stretched the neckline of her sailor uniform outwards. She then stashed my watch within her chest.
Hey...Hey now.., I quickly turned my head away.
Th-that sight is amazing.
"Kinji? Is there anything else?"
"...ah, not really, this should be it."
I'm not willing to go into Hysteria Mode in front of a girl, and if she notices that I was looking at her chest, there'll be trouble. So with those hurried words, I quickly made my way out of the greenhouse.
Gold, huh? In this world, bras sure come in a variety of colors.
I returned to my apartment, and stared out at the view outside the window. [Academy Island] had been stained a deep gold by the sunset.
This place that held Butei High, the dormitories, as well as shops for the students are on an artificial island. It was originally a piece of coastline of Tokyo Bay, but the plans for it failed, and it was sold off as a piece of land.
And the proof is, a little north of Rainbow Bridge, is an artificial island exactly like this one, except it's completely empty. Because of that, it's nicknamed [Empty Island].
On the south tip of that bare island, are the wind turbines that the developer built as a last resort. The blades of the turbine turned lazily. It was a really quiet scene; I don't hate these kinds of scenes at all.
From the LCD TV came the news report: "Typhoon No. 1, which appeared in the Pacific, is maintaining its wind pressure while moving over Okinawa," but it only served to emphasize the silence that I loved so much.
Ahh, this place is really nice.
But of course, this excludes that girl lying in here.
"You're so slow."
Aria, sitting on the sofa, turned her head around to face me.
In her hand was a mirror, and it appears she was looking for split hairs, in an attempt to pass the time.
Aria was using a hairclip to keep her hair up, exposing her forehead.
Although the hairclip was quite childish, the slightly cute look really suited her.
That dainty forehead is her most attractive point, and I think she herself knew that.
"How did you get in?"
I myself thought that what I had said was really stupid, but I needed to maintain my appearance of protest.
"I'm a Butei, you know."
See? My question really was extremely stupid.
She must have made a copy of the keycard. After all, opening locks is the basics of the basics for Butei.
"Did you really wish to leave a lady standing outside? How impolite."
"I don't accept that unreasonable people like you have any right to be called lady, fivehead."
"Fivehead?"
"Those with wide foreheads are called 'fiveheads'"
"--You don't understand the attractiveness of my forehead! You've finally lost the right to be called a human!"
Exaggerated Aria, sticking her tongue out at me.
Aah. I get it. Actually, I really do get it.
You're very cute.
Judging by your appearance only.
"This forehead is my main attraction. It said so in a lot of hair magazines back in England."
Aria turned her back on me, and seemed to be happily examining her forehead in the mirror.
♪Hmm,Hmm-mm♪
She even started humming a song.
I converted my unhappiness into anger and dumped my backpack beside Aria. However, it seemed that Aria had gotten used to my rebellious behaviour, and continued to happily examine her forehead in the mirror.
"As expected of an ojou-sama of a noble family, you take a lot of pride in your appearance."
I strode into the bathroom, and threw a random insult at her.
However, against my expectations, Aria happily said,
"...you investigated me?"
"That's right. I even heard that you never let even one target escape."
"Ooh~~, you even found out about that? You're becoming more and more like a Butei. However,"
Aria said this, and leaned back, tapping one foot against the wall.
"--a while before, I let a target escape. That was the first time ever."
"Oh? So there was someone as amazing as that. Who was it?"
Wait a moment. Could it be that Riko left something out?
"It was you."
Pfft!
Water sprayed out of my mouth.
Me? Ah, she's talking about what happened after the bike-jacking!
"I-I'm not a criminal! Why am I on that list!?"
"You molested me! Are you going to pretend that never happened? You're a beast! A worm!"
So from a slave, I became a beast. And now a worm? My standing with her really did plummet.
"I told you, that was unavoidable! And I didn't even do anything to you!"
"Stop talking rubbish! Anyway!"
Aria blushed and pointed her finger straight at me.
"You might be capable of being my slave! Come back to Assault, and let me see the power that allowed you to escape from me!"
"Tha-that...I was just lucky that I managed to escape. I'm an E rank, a useless guy. I'm sorry to disappoint you. So get out of here."
"Don't think you can trick me! You were ranked S at the entrance exam!"
--Ku.
So she's going to use that?
So, it appears that Butei still put their faith in records. She's got me cornered, it'll be hard to argue with her.
"That proves that it wasn't a coincidence that you were able to escape from me! My intuition is never wrong!"
"N-no matter what you say...I can't do it right now! So get out!"
"Right now? Is there a trigger? Tell me. I'll help you."
How could I--say it!!!
My face reddened.
She wants to help me?
Of course, she's only saying this because she doesn't know the conditions necessary for me to enter Hysteria Mode--But those words are like explosives! Because my trigger for entering Hysteria Mode is, "You have to turn me on!"
"Come on, spit it out! In exchange for being my slave, I'll help you!"
"...!"
--Inadvertently,
My brain went through several scenarios of Aria [helping out].
Now that I think about it, Aria and I are alone in this apartment.
Without me noticing, the sun had sunk down below the horizon, and none of the lights were turned on, leaving the room dark.
Arrghh. Stop it. Kinji, stop fantasizing!
"I'll do anything! Tell me...please tell me! Kinji...!"
Aria approached me. That womanly Gardenia scent once again teased my senses.
I--
"Ku..."
This isn't good.
Because my fantasies have already put me on the verge of going into Hysteria Mode.
This could be said to be...the power of her eyes, right?
I thought that Aria's luscious camellia eyes were so beautiful, so lovable--
That feeling...flared out from my body. I couldn't resist the feeling of my blood pumping through my veins, assaulting my senses.
--I can't.
I can't change.
I don't want to...go into that mode!
Thud!
I, unable to think, pushed Aria away.
Aria, screamed "Kyaa!" in a voice worthy of a Seiyuu, and fell down on the sofa.
Fuu. Her short skirt fluttered up, and I quickly turned my head away.
Things have reached this stage, I have to...
surrender to Aria.
"...Only once."
"Once?"
But, by no means will this be an unconditional surrender.
There will be conditions.
"Assault--I'll go back. However, I'll only join you on one mission. The first mission from when I return, that one case, I will solve it with you. This is my condition."
"..."
"I will not budge. Also, I will take Assault as an elective. That should be fine."
I turned back to Aria, who had fixed her skirt.., seeing that beautiful forehead directed at me, it seems as if she's pondering something.
In Butei High, students can choose an extra course at their leisure.
This is called an elective. Although the marks you earn in the elective will not be reflected on your total credits, but to be able to be a [Butei], one needs to have a variety of skills. A lot of students will move between classes, in an attempt to improve themselves.
Aria, as an elite Butei, wants a slave for herself...more like an assistant. And that desire is extremely strong.
And, she has met me, who managed to escape from her under Hysteria Mode.
She then thought "He should have the skills to be my slave."
But, there's one thing she doesn't know about me.
Which is, Hysteria Mode.
Before this is exposed to her, I have to let Aria see my skills in normal mode.
This way, she will probably lose faith in me and leave, right?
"...alright. Then I'll move out."
...Unexpectedly, my surrender has caused this nuisance to move out.
"I don't have much time left, either. So for this one mission, you have to show your full power."
"...Don't mind these small things, it's just one mission."
"OK. But bear in mind that, no matter how colossal the mission is, it only counts for one."
"I understand."
"However, if you dare slack off, I will be sure to make holes in you."
"Alright. I promise you. I will do everything I can."
However, that's everything I can do...in my normal mode.
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