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Hidan no Aria - Volume 13 - Chapter 3




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Volume 13: Kowloon Counter-Attack–Kowloon Reverse

Chapter 3: Kou and Son– Double Cast

Chapter Title note: ‘Kou’ and ‘Son’ are two Kanji in the title. This becomes important later.
(BEGIN  TEXT)

The next morning–

Intending to repay the debt for last night’s meal, I wanted to get up early to do something for all of the people who lived in this Hong Kong tenement that reached up into the sky. But with all of that wonderfully smelling food inside of me, I overslept. –It seems they have already left the building, getting an early start on work.

Since I didn’t know who exactly had given me food… I lent a hand to anyone who needed help with something. Doing things like helping a grandfather load bags of rice onto a hand truck, drawing water and carrying the bucket for a grandmother, washing dishes, running around catching runaway chickens, and, whatever I could.

We couldn’t hold a conversation, but I realised… all of their aloofness had evaporated, and they smiled back at me.

At some point, as I was running around, the seeming patriarch of this community with broken sunglasses– Chin-san had shown up… This time, he led me around the other side, to the front of the shop.

The tables and chairs from inside were sprawled across the road, with the under construction highway overhead serving as a roof.

I wanted to call it an open air cafe… but it wasn’t as fancy as that, and it was closer to a food stall.

It was filled with locals, and Yuan was there in her white school uniform, eating rice porridge.

「You’ve become the talk of the whole building, you know. The boy who can’t talk, but is a hard worker.」

A Chinese spoon in hand, she addressed me with a note of surprise.

But I didn’t even give her a half-hearted reply; my eyes were fixed on something else.

Past the edge of the highway under construction, fleetingly appearing as it rose above the sea–

–I saw it across the straits of Victoria Bay.

Emerging from the haze of the distant shore,

…the ICC building….!

「That’s where your friends are at, isn’t it?」

It looks like Yuan explained my situation to Chin-san.

Did you bring me here because you can see the ICC building?

I had the feeling that Chin-san was giving me a look that said:『How’s this?』as he narrowed his eyes behind his sunglasses.

Then, as he said something to me, he handed me a Chinese newspaper.

「…?」

「He says:『Pretend to read this as you are walking along so your things don’t get stolen again.』」

I see! Carrying a Hong Kong newspaper, they’ll think I’m a local, so I won’t have a problem with the pickpockets who target tourists, right?

After I took the paper from him, Chin-san walked away whistling…

Immediately afterwards, I noticed a 20 HKD bill stuck between the newspaper sheets.

This is about 200 Yen.

With this… I can take the tram and use the ferry to cross the channel.

「Chin-san is as soft-hearted as ever.」

Yuan started in with a snort.

「Well, I have to get to school. Once you’re done eating, you can head back to the ICC. You can see it from here, so it should only take you about half a day to get back on foot. Oh… By the way, the owner of Just Rice Porridge asked me to translate. He’s giving you authentic fish rice porridge as thanks.」

Just then, the grandmother I had helped draw water brought over a bowl of rice porridge.

************************************************************************

After thanking her many times, Yuan said:「Your porridge is going to get cold, so hurry up and eat it」seeming slightly embarrassed as she left…

Even as I regretted not giving her my name–

At any rate, since I have to walk, I won’t make it to the ICC if I haven’t eaten.

So in the bustling shop with bits of Chinese conversation being tossed back and forth, I ate the breakfast porridge I had been given.

It seems like this is a popular porridge place, and one by one, more customers are arriving. Without a word my tablemates left as soon as they finished eating. In such an overcrowded city as Hong Kong, sharing a table with strangers is only natural.

Taking the authentic what’s-it porridge–rice porridge in a wooden bowl with freshwater fish balls added to it– my first impression was that the flavour was a bit plain.

But copying those around me, adding shredded ginger and soy sauce while eating… it was very delicious!

I’ve never eaten such delicious porridge before…!

Raising my bowl, I eagerly drank the porridge, slurping it up and…

Setting the bowl down on the table with a *Thunk!*

Just then, sitting in front of me and sharing my table, was a girl slurping her porridge just like I had.

At the exact same time, she sat her own bowl on the table with a *Thunk!*

Then our eyes met.

「–!」

My eyes bulged.

「…!」

Her eyes opened wide in shock as well.

W-with long black hair that reached the ground, this girl who looks like a 5th year primary school student–

–Kou…!

Because of the sheer absurdity of the coincidence, at first I thought I was mistaken, but it’s definitely her.

Her– the one from the Kagataka Family’s roof who attacked my younger brother, Rampan’s soldier.

It’s Kou. We stared at each other, frozen, as 1.. then 2 seconds passed–

「–Kou!」

「No, no, that’s not me! Kyaaaa!」

*Ka-thump!*

It seems she tried to run away, immediately falling off the shop stool.

Her cut-off Naga-jo1 sailor suit exposed her navel, and her super mini-skirt flipped up–Her tail was wrapped around her waist like a belt and I saw it twitch slightly.

Not you, you say? If it’s not you, then who the hell is it?

She only looks slightly different from that night, so this has to be Kou.

Besides, how many girls in the world have tails? The other one besides you would be Tamamo.

–*Whoosh!*

Like a Hong Kong action film, I made a flying leap across the table, and twisting her body away, Kou dodged.

Then with a *Swish!* and superb timing, she swept my feet with her tail as I landed.

「–Ugh!」

U-using her tail. That was something completely unexpected, and as I fell–

「Hiyaaaa!」

Letting out a strange cry and brushing aside the other guests, she ran out from underneath the highway.

What agility…! It was truly monkey-like!

Mounting a bicycle with training wheels that was parked against the shop, she pulled off in a squeal of rubber! The chain itself began to screech under the force! Then, about 10m later, colliding with a street sign in a one-person traffic accident, she discarded the bicycle and broke into a run on foot.

Why did she even get on it in the first place?

Taking advantage of the time gained, I ran out of the porridge shop–

As the pouch slung crossways across her chest flapped in the air, she dashed quickly away. She’s fast. She was making her best effort to escape, but an all-out sprint was not conducive to making a getaway.

However, my opponent has the advantage of knowing the area. Rapidly weaving her way through the complex maze of cramped buildings and turning at one corner after another, even with my best efforts I was constantly losing sight of her. But Kou’s many tricks were obvious, and I began closing the distance. It was an ebbing sort of chase, now closer, now farther.

–While running along the road, Kou looked back over her shoulder, and surprised that I had closed some distance, her eyes went wide and she gave another strange cry of: 『Pikyaaaa!』 and turned up a hill to run toward a park.

******************************************************

The park had a lot of trees and walls– it was the kind of place where Hong Kong bird-lovers liked to gather.

The songbirds were giving their most beautiful performances, and bell-shaped bird houses hung everywhere. In order to further disrupt my field of vision, once inside the park, Kou ran into a bird market.

–As if I’d let you escape!

I ran into you, and it is here that your luck runs out.

We flew these many thousands of kilometres for your sake.

Besides that, her complete lack of desire to attack me here certainly means that she hasn’t recovered yet. If I catch her here, I’ll be able to wipe away that stain of getting lost like a child. But as soon as I entered the cramped bird market…

「…Ugh…!」

I lost her.

But I shouldn’t panic. We’re up on a hill.

If she tries to run from here, she runs the risk of being spotted from up here.

So Kou is probably hiding somewhere close by–

She is most likely waiting for me to move off.

「…」

I reached into my jacket with my hand and stealthily drew my Beretta… and keeping my eyes out for Kou, entered the bird market. All around me were all kinds of birds in hanging baskets; tens, no, hundreds of them. The entire area reeked of them.

A gaudy cockatoo craned its neck at me. A magpie with panda-like colouration called.

In one basket a multitude of feathers shifted as a few parrots danced when a stray sparrow flew through the market.

…*Tweet!* *Tweet!* *Tweet!* *Flap!* *Flap!* *Flap!*…

From every direction there was the endless sound of bird calls.

The sounds of our mutual footsteps were lost and couldn’t be heard.

And, in a place with low visibility…

A fresh bird food shop, that is to say, a place where they sell live caterpillars, frogs and such, where she thought I would not see her…

「…Ugh…!」

It’s Kou.

Her long black hair spread itself on the ground as she crouched behind a counter with her head a third of the way above the counter–just high enough so that her eyes could steal a glance out.

Pretending that I hadn’t seen her, I slowly closed the distance between us…

「–Kou!」

*Whipsh!* I pointed my Beretta toward her at a 7m range, but *Whoosh!*

Kou threw a clear plastic bag of live grasshoppers at me. Yuck!

「Wai..!」

Dodging the bag of grasshoppers, I looked up, and Kou was already breaking for the market’s exit–

She planned to hide behind a temple, but before she could「Woof!」a stray dog barked.

「Eekyaaa!」

Kou gave a high pitched scream, and there was a *Crunch!*

The dog snapped at the pouch she was holding, so she fell.

「Stop! Stop! S-t-o-p!」

Caught completely off-balance, she ended up face-down, and forgetting that she was running away, she lay on the ground, covering her head with both hands. That idiot in that short skirt even ended up with her butt toward me.

Ahhh…

She was so completely petrified that her tail rolled up in between her thighs.

Really… it seems she is terribly afraid of dogs.

Well, they do say that ‘They’re at it like monkeys and dogs’, but in this case, it seems the monkey has unconditionally lost.

Even though she was able to take out G-3 in one shot, she was defeated by a stray dog. I don’t know if she’s strong or weak…

「–Alright, don’t move.」

I said, walking around front of her and pointing my gun at her head.

Not liking the smell of gunpowder, the dog ran away–

Slowly, Kou lifted her tear-stained face. Looking up as she stayed on all fours.

「Don’t look this way. If I decide that you’re getting ready to fire a laser, I’ll shoot. Butei Law prohibits killing. But you’re not human, are you. Raise both of your hands slowly–」

I had no intentions of killing her, but since it would be a problem if she escaped again, I threatened her with an exaggeration…

–*Bam!*

I was hit in the head from behind with something rod-shaped.

「Ow!」

I looked back and, Whoa! What is this glare?

A shiny headed, bald monk was coming out from behind the temple and, cane in hand, he was yelling something. Because it was in Chinese, I couldn’t understand him at all, but he was angry. What did I do now?

「Oh…」

I get it now.

The monk is pointing at my gun. It’s because I’ve drawn my gun on the temple grounds.

Temples, shrines, and churches are all sacred places.

No matter what kind of villain takes refuge there, it’s not the place for a shoot-out. It’s something that we should protect as human beings; an unwritten, universal rule.

Even when I went to Kyoto and the Sanjusangen-do Temple with Reki, our weapons were turned in for safe-keeping.

That’s the reason you ran this way, isn’t it? You sly, sneaky monkey.

「Oi, Kou. I’ve got a grudge against you about what happened earlier… but I won’t fight here at a temple. You’ve been spared.」

I… de-cocked the firing hammer on my Beretta and returned it to its holster. It can’t be helped.

If I shot Kou here, I’d only be paying for it later.

Glaring, I looked down at Kou and:

「Uh.. Mmmnn…」

Giving off a terribly pathetic sound, she hugged the pouch that the dog had snapped at close to her.

And from her face, *Drip!* *Drip!*

Tears were falling.

What?

…It’s not some kind of explosive is it?

And out of Butei habit, I checked the contents of the bag…

Inside were crumbling, broken, dried noodles. Originally, they had been rolled into a ball, but now they were a yellow mass. I wonder if they’re egg noodles?

As I was thinking about that,

「Bo-bohoohoohooooo……Waaaaaaah…..!」

She began to cry, letting out a wail.

Then, the monk started eyeing me warily with a look that said: 『What did you do to make this girl cry?』

It’s not my fault! Well… half of it isn’t.

********************************************************

Kou was sobbing so much that she began to shudder, and she truly looked miserable. So, together with the monk, we soothed her with a blend of Chinese and Japanese, and we led her into the temple.

It was the first time I’d been in a Chinese temple, but it was different from Japanese temples in a few ways.

The first thing to catch my eye was the ceiling packed full with hanging incense cords that spiraled down. I’d seen pictures of them in Shirayuki’s guidebook, and it said that when one burnt out, a wish would be granted.

Deeper in the temple, enshrined was a statue of… Kanu2?

In front of him was a plastic bag with fruit and imitation rolls of paper bank notes that had been left as offerings.

「*Sniff!*…*Sniff!*…」

Sitting in a corner of the temple, Kou was hugging her knees, bag in hand, with her arms covering her face.

Uhmm…. What should I do? I’m stumped.

According to our plan, I’ve encountered Rampan, or more properly Kou, but…

This development goes so far beyond anything I expected, that I can’t handle it.

Besides that, it’s getting dark, and *Grrrr!*… My stomach and Kou’s growled at the same time.

I’m hungry again. Kou must be the same. Both of us have been running around since our breakfasts were interrupted.

Wearily, I sat down as well next to Kou… trying to sort out the situation in my head.

「…」

But before long, I was frustrated.

Of course I was. This mystery is too much.

First of all, back when Kou shot G-3, she left a totally different impression. The mystery of why she didn’t understand Japanese then, but now she does. The mystery of why she was carrying egg noodles… Okay, that’s relatively less important, but without an investigation, there are a lot of things I don’t understand.

So… my stomach growling along with Kou’s as we sat together…

The monk from earlier collected the offerings. Then, rustling and rummaging through the plastic bag, he took out and held a bunch of bananas and a box of sweets in his hands.

Then, as he gave them to me, he mumbled something into my ear. But it was lost on me since it was in Chinese.

But as he handed them to me, he wanted to say something. He moved as if he was patting something.

It’s as if her he was saying:『Don’t let the young girl cry, comfort her.』

The monk left, and I…

「…Oi, have a banana.」

I said, showing her the bunch.

Kou glanced up from between her bangs.

…Alright. It looks like she stopped crying. The power of food is amazing.

I thought that bananas would interest a monkey more than the sweets, and it looks like I was right.

「You’re hungry, aren’t you? Me too. Have some of this.」

「…Yup.」

Oh! She answered.

Pulling off a banana from the bunch, I handed it to her, and Kou began to peel the skin meekly… Aaaaaa, *Chomp!* *Chew!* *Chew!*

Placing it in her small mouth, she began eating it as if it were a delicacy.

As I thought, bananas seem to be her favourite. Kou quickly finished it, and now started eating another on her own.

This is dangerous, I have to eat some before Kou eats them all…

I took one from the bunch for myself,

I don’t particularly like or dislike them, but… bananas are easy to digest and are quickly converted into energy. We were taught this in ASSAULT. That’s why professional wrestlers eat a lot of them, and even in nature, gorillas eat them for superhuman strength.

As the strange picture of Kou and I sitting side by side in the temple eating bananas unfolded… I couldn’t help but draw a comparison, recalling the delicious porridge I had eaten this morning, and I…

「What were you doing there?」

I asked something I didn’t totally understand, bringing up a topic and starting the conversation.

「What were you doing there, Tohyama?」

She said, suddenly addressing me without honorifics.

「I was… well, doing something, is all.」

I came triumphantly from Japan to invade, but had my money stolen and ended up lost in the streets– as if I could tell my enemy that! I’m too cool for that.

***********************************************

Aria13_155

***********************************************

「Don’t answer a question with a question! I am asking the questions.」

「K-Kou was…on an errand for Koko to buy golden egg noodles from a shop in North Point. If they’re not from that shop, Koko says: ‘no way’, so I came on a bicycle.」

Her manner of speaking is a little strange, but… at the core of it, she answered properly in a meek, girlish way.

It seems like she had been used as a gofer to buy the egg noodles.

(Is Rampan using her as a gofer?)

Despite the fact that she carries the fate of the entire organisation on her back, she’s being used as a gofer.

Even though it seems illogical, Aria uses me a lot as a gofer, so there might be some logic behind it. Kaname might say something like that.

…No matter the organisation, it seems that all the ‘fighters’ share the same fate.

On top of that, it’s not like I don’t understand why they used her as a gofer. Kou’s seems weak-willed. Even Nakasorachi isn’t this bad.

Koko is the pushy type, and with Kou’s timid personality, she would have a hard time saying no if Koko gave her an order.

However, the thing that bothered me the most about that was…

「All that aside, your vibe is a lot different from when you attacked my younger brother. And you can speak Japanese too.」

I said bluntly, and Kou…

「Kou… Kou can’t do anything except die in order to apologise.」

With a banana in her hand, she covered her face again.

「As soon as we leave the temple, you should shoot me. Japanese never give up, even at the very end, but if the time comes Chinese are capable of doing so. Since you caught me, it must be Kou’s time」

Kou’s voice became choked with tears, and from deeper inside the temple, the monk scowled at me again.

「No, that… it was only a threat… I’m mad, but I won’t go as far as killing you. Don’t cry. Please don’t.」

「But that night, I killed your younger brother. Son killed him, but Kou is responsible for not stopping her. Son enjoyed feeling his fighting spirit, it excited her… and she attacked. Kou couldn’t stop Son. Now… Kou can’t stop Son. Son is a terrifying woman… Kou, is afraid of Son.」

Son… Kou…? I don’t understand what she is talking about…

She mistakenly thinks that she killed G-3, so,

「Uh… actually he’s alive. My brother that is.」

I felt like I should tell her that.

「Wha? How did he survive? Even though he was hit by the Nyoibou!」

Kou was so startled that her eyes bulged as they opened wide.

With a *Boing!* her orange tail went rigid.

Because of that, the back of her mini-skirt rolled up completely, so I averted my eyes.

「Trade secret. You and I are enemies after all. But what’s all this about『Son』? Son, as in Son Goku? Don’t tell me you pull the same trick as Koko… and there are several of you.」

I asked because it’d be a problem if I was swarmed by a bunch of these rug rats–

But Kou shook her head.

Shaking her head side to side, she made the negative gesture.

「Kou and Son are two distinct consciousnesses in the same body. They are very different, but the two inhabit the same body. Usually, Kou is in control. But when it’s time to fight, I use Son. How do you say it in Japanese…?」

Split personalities… huh?

「…That could be so. Back when I fought Vlad, he was that way too, and it seems that when you human-form youkai want to infiltrate human society, you create an alter ego.」

I spoke what little I understood, but Kou was shaking her head again. Her long, glossy black hair swaying as her neck moved side to side.

「Kou didn’t create Son. An ancient emperor of Wa– Japan, came and taught the mikos a secret art. They locked Kou in a cave-prison for 3 years and inserted a war god’s consciousness into her. That’s who Son is.」

…So the persona was added artificially… that’s what they did?

If I had heard something like that a long time ago, I would have laughed it off as『a psychological issue』. But now things are different.

In the last 6 months, how many times in my personal experience have I encountered things that fly in the face of textbooks and laugh at scientific knowledge?.

–It’s no joke.

With that consideration in mind, I have to give her all due consideration as I hear her out.

「…Why would they do something like that?」

「The emperor wanted to become a god. Kou was an experiment.」

「Experiment… So, did the emperor become like you?」

Kou was shaking her head. Her long black hair swaying as her neck moved from side to side.

「From the experiment they discovered the flaws in the secret art. Son shouldn’t be able to express herself unless Kou allows it… but there was a way to effect the change from the outside. Rampan learned that technique. They call it『Patra’s key』, and it was created by an Egyptian.」

Summarising what she said…

・Kou is an artificially created split personality.

・Son is the persona inserted into Kou.

・Kou is a timid girl, but Son is a laser-shooting superwoman.

・Rampan has the ability to control the Kou/Son crossover. I suppose that as a member of Grenada, Patra provided this technique.

That’s it.

「The last human able to manage the exchange was 1,400 years ago– the monk Xuanzang. Xuanzang-sama was a good friend, but Rampan wants to use Son for their own selfish reasons. So Kou… Kou…」

The name Xuanzang that Kou mentioned is the monk from the Journey to the West.

So she is Son Goku after all!

But hearing the story from the person in question, the story is a bit more complicated than the fairy tale… Son Goku was the contemporary government’s attempt at creating a superhuman.

Thousands of years ago, did China try to do something similar to what the US military is trying to do with its Genion program? But they used a Kou as a base for human-form youkai.

Just how old is Kou? She looks like a child, after all.

Is she like Tamamo’s incarnation–and do all human-form yokai’s bodies not grow up? Are they the same as a certain someone?

But… this…

The original problem I had to deal with was solved.

The eye that shot G-3. It seems that it won’t shoot at me.

But even with this split personality disorder, Kou hasn’t done anything wrong. A court of law would pronounce her innocent. Saying ‘you’re doomed’ and flashing a victory sign doesn’t feel right to me.

「If–it makes you cry, then why do you follow the orders of someone like Rampan?」

Troubled, I asked the simple question.

「Kou… doesn’t have any family, doesn’t have any money, and I’ll always be a little girl. Nowadays, I didn’t know how I would live. Rampan saved me. Rampan gives its rich members position and prestige in exchange for money– with that money, they help those without any family, get them a family register, an education, and a place to work. Because of Rampan’s help, Kou is able to live in modern society.」

The issue became more complicated.

The Koko’s stirred up mischief in Japan, and from that I formed a strong impression that Rampan was a simply heinous organisation… but what’s this?

Even as a group of outlaws, their morals aren’t totally corrupt.

Money buys rank within their system, but it looks like they use it to help the less fortunate.

「…」

So that’s how it is.

Finished eating my banana, I rubbed the back of my head as I considered things.

As an enemy in FEW, the answer seems clearly to be that I should capture Kou and bring her back with me…

But what if Kou lets Son out?

Or Rampan releases her remotely with Patra’s key again?

–I’ll probably be defeated.

G-3 in Hysteria Mode couldn’t win. And the normal ‘me’ certainly couldn’t.

Keeping this ticking time-bomb of a girl around is risky.

So my original plan to capture Kou here is out for the time being.

Augh! I came here pumped up for a fight, now what should I do?

「…What are we going to do?」

Like me, Kou couldn’t think of what to do next…so she asked me as she hugged her knees.

「Hmm… If that’s the case…」

Starting there, I continued…

「Well how about this? Ask our leaders!」

I made the exceptionally Japanese suggestion of:『We will pass along your concerns to the company for review.』

「Our leaders?」

「While you are in Kou-Mode, I have no reason to fight you. So for the time being, I want us to consider a peace proposal.」

「You and I have to report to our organisations the facts of our meeting– and our fellow members will listen to our thoughts and opinions. Then we can gather our terms for reconciliation and meet.」

「Meet. Like a discussion? But if things breakdown…」

「Then it’ll be war. But that’s our job. Peace talks still might go well, and if given a chance it might not all come to nothing. I think it’s the same for you, but I don’t really like fighting.」

「Eeeeeh!」

「By your reaction, you must know of my career, but don’t make that genuinely surprised face. It’s rude.」

「Kay…」

「That said, there remains the possibility that you and I… rather, Son and I might have to fight. So I won’t tell you anything about where our base and forces are, or where they are going. And you won’t tell me anything about where Rampan’s hideout is or how their forces are moving, sound good? I won’t follow you, and you don’t follow me. Our relationship is neither hostile nor friendly. 」

「G-got it.」

Saying that, Kou nodded meekly, and because of that,

「Alright. Now then… come with me for a minute.」

I said as I finally stood.

Since making my proposal, for some reason Kou has looked at me with admiration, and suddenly getting to her feet, she followed beside me.

Deeper inside the temple, the monk must be thinking that I had calmed her down (It was practically true) and was giving me a thumbs-up that said:『Well done!』

******************************************************

I led Kou briefly back to North Point’s downtown–

To the noodle shop where Kou had been shopping, the golden egg noodles were dried and rolled into a ball. I bought them and put them into her pouch.

「To-Tohyama, why are you… giving this to Kou?」

「If you didn’t come back and buy it, Koko would be angry.」

It was an additional expense, but it was because she was being chased by me that she lost the ones in her pouch.

Besides…

Kou was pretty miserable.

I felt compassion for her.

Originally, she had been a meek Chinese youkai, until a human had forcibly inserted another personality… and he used that personality to force her into uncharacteristic battles.

My Hysteria Mode, as well– is like an alter ego that I have to live with every day, and I have sympathy for her.

Ugh…

There’s just enough of the 20 HKD tiger cub bill that Chin-san gave me to pay for the passage across the bay. Since I can’t take the tram, I’ll have to walk to the ferry platform.

But I guess that’s fine. I’ll use the energy from the bananas I ate.

「… Tohyama. You’re a strong, wise, and kind person.」

Just because I had bought her dried noodles, she was tearing up as she looked up at me…

「Don’t make such a big deal over it.. Hong Kong has made me realise my own limitations.」

Feeling embarrassed, I turned away.

Then–Kou… *Swish!*

「The noodles you have given me have confirmed my resolve…」

Right there, she knelt on one knee. Despite the fact that she was in a mini-skirt. People can see, People can see!

Despite the fact that she looks like a fifth year primary school student, I hastily took precautions to avoid Hysteria Mode.

While crouching in front of me, Kou raised one of her hands as if she was going to pray, and with the other in the form of a fist, used it to wrap around the other while bowing her head.

This– I’ve seen it in Three Kingdoms Period Dramas.

The salute used by Chinese military commanders to demonstrate deep respect for each other.

「What I will now say is separate from our previous understanding, but these words are out of respect. If negotiations do not go well, and Kou becomes Son… If you and I end up fighting, at that point I beg you to please kill me. As a war god, Son likes love and war. Someone as strong as you are, she will fall in love with you, and at the start you should flirt with her. If you seize that initiative, you will be able to kill her. That is your only chance to kill her.」

「No, it’s not a question of killing or not… I told you my plan is–」

「『Patra’s Key』invokes Son strongly. I’m saying: Kou will not be able to stop Son.」

「Don’t you understand that you’re talking about yourself? If I kill Son, Kou– you will die.」

「It’s fine. Kou has lived proudly, and wants to die the same way. Although I owe them a debt, I do not want to live to be used by humans. Most of all…」

Coming to the end, Kou’s voice became softer.

In a more serious tone than before, as Kou turned to face me and our eyes met–

「– I don’t want to kill you.」

In the last moment of our parting, I shuddered.

Kou had given me a clear warning.

—If you do not kill me, you will die—

Kou…

The world is large.

There are strong enemies and there are weak enemies.

–and there are enemies like her.

*******************************************************************

Just past noon, I boarded the ferry for the 5 minute boat ride, crossing Victoria bay to Tsim Sha Tsui3—

Shirayuki and I had toured here, and I was back on the bustling Kowloon peninsula.

The sweets I just got from the temple were some kind of Toppo from Lotte. I endured, however, and did not eat them. If I was going to meet with all the girls of Baskerville, I needed to bring at least some kind of apology.

On the box the somewhat strange name『Peppero Nude』was written, it’s sure to go over well.

I want to do this especially for Aria. Since I stood her up for our dinner plans.

Weaving my way through a development area under construction… finally after 24 hours, I had arrived at the ICC’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel’s ground floor lobby.

The Rolls-Royces were still parked in the carriage port.

Although they are both considered ‘vehicles’ the difference between these and the toy-like cars coming and going around North Point is abysmal.

As I was thinking that, the power windows of one of the luxury cars rolled down–

「–Kin-chan!」

Shirayuki stuck out of the window in a Sadako-esque4 manner.


She leaned out so vigorously that *Bam!*, as she sprang up, both of her breasts collided with the outside of the car. I-it’s an amazing sight to watch. I’ve just gotten back.

But just opening the door would have been fine.

「Thank goodness! Thank goodness! Thank goodness…! Everyone’s been out looking for you ever since yesterday!」

Shirayuki had crawled out of the window, and with a *Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!* and a *Grip!*

She rushed over and hugged me.

「–We took shifts at the hotel in case you came back, and I was just coming back to swap places. Us meeting like this… must be fate!」

「Uh, well… Sorry for that. My mobile and wallet were stolen…」

Even as I made my apologies, Shirayuki unleashed her devastating breast attack trying to force them both against me, and it was hard to avoid.

「Normally I cooperate with Kaname-chan to monitor your movements and messages, but since arriving here, we’ve slacked off on our surveillance. I’m sorry, sorry, sorry!」

「Uh… hmm…?」

I feel like I should have a problem with some parts of what you just said–

Before I had realised…

「…!?」

Shirayuki was snuffling at me.

She sniffed my scent like a dog. What is this about?

「Who–What girl were you with Kin-chan…!?」

W-what’s this…!

Except for me, her sense of smell far exceeds anyone’s in Baskerville.

A girl’s scent you say? I wonder if it was Kou? Maybe Yuan?

Well, I won’t say anything. Besides, I did nothing to feel guilty about, after all.

I’ll tell Kou’s story to them all at once. I have an intuition that doing so now would be dangerous.

「I-I met a lot of people. More importantly, I want to give everyone a report.」

Throwing up a smoke screen, I steered Shirayuki into the Ritz-Carlton.

*********************************************************

During our ride in the elevator, Shirayuki was overwhelmed by the achievement of finding me.

「The other day, Aria was bragging about how she helped you fight a bunch of criminals. She also seemed to have some wild delusion about being invited to your home, and I got a mail telling us not to interfere with your dinner plans– My patience was really pushed to the limit– but what a shame for Aria. You didn’t show up. Fufufu! Misfortune really does follow mistresses.」

Holding my right arm in both of hers, Shirayuki embraced it tightly, giving off a dark smile… The elevator reached the 103rd floor hotel lobby without further incident.

Yikes, this is scary! It takes almost a minute to reach the top of this skyscraper, and while the two of us are alone, there are flickers of Kuroyuki.

Normal Shirayuki is fine, but in this confined space, and if her mood darkens… I don’t know what kind of demon spells she might unleash. Kuwabara, Kuwabara.5

While still in Haiyuki-mode6, we reach the 118th floor, OZONE–

Entering the secret room that was our headquarters,

「–Huh? Ki-kun!」

Lounging back in what was originally Aria’s seat, completely making herself at home with her feet up on the table, Riko rushed over to me like a puppy.

Then just as she got ready to leap toward me, 「Agh!」she was intercepted by Shirayuki.

She did it casually, extending her thumb and index fingers, and with the space between them, blinded Riko with an ancient martial arts technique called Kokouken7. Why did you do something like that, Shirayuki?

「Whaaaaa! My eyes, my eyeeees!」

This martial arts technique simultaneously strikes the eye and the brow above the eyelids and is a technique that good children should never try.

Riko covered her face in agony, but if she has the leeway to imitate Col. Muska’s voice, she must be fine.

「What you just tried to do, embracing him passionately, is the exclusive right of the first wife! There’s no room for a thieving cat in Kin-chan’s and my relationship! Butt out!」

Shirayuki clamped down on my right arm! Not only using her arm, but making full use of the cleavage between her breasts to hold on tightly!

「Wait a minute…!」

At the unexpected stimulus of my arm putting me in danger of Hysteria Mode, I paled.

*S-Squeeze!*

How soft these two orbs pushing up from her sailor suit are…!

It’s like freshly pounded mochi wrapping around my arm.

If I were to name them in the style of Chinese dishes, something like『Giant soft, seductive flesh』,『Pair of large mochi orbs』, or『Yukimi Daifuku​ a la Shirayuki』would be appropriate. Thinking about it, that last one is a Japanese ice cream. My brain is so frazzled, I can’t think straight!

As I fearfully edged closer toward hysterisation–

「Of course there is! At the molecular level, there’s lots of space!」

Riko made a comeback, and *Grip!* She gripped both of Shirayuki’s breasts firmly in either hand. Spreading that large pair of mochi orbs, forcing herself into the space between my arm and Shirayuki.

Coming face to face with her with an「Uoooo!」, Shirayuki pushed on her own breasts from the outside, using them like a vise and moving to crush Riko.

Thanks to her, I was able to extricate my right arm and escape from the Yukimi Daifuku.

Now Shirayuki was simply trying to crush Riko’s head. All that could be seen of Riko’s head was her mouth, and she made a twisted expression of pleasure. Damn pervert!

As the boisterous, casual brawl played out… I…

Took time to catch my breath.

Relief at escaping my own misfortune seems to be moving me to tears, but the real reason is that I’m back with my old friends.

From this stance(?) Shirayuki shifted to a four quarter pin pressing down, and turning my eyes away as Riko flailed in this heartwarming Baskerville production–

I plopped myself down in a chair to rest.

At the flawless high-class table, I picked over the left-over mini-cakes and the Dalloyau macaroons spread over the table.

They were scattered all over, one after another. They must have spent many thousand Yen on just sweets.

If I bring out the Toppos, they’ll probably laugh at me… Well, they are rich. Even the water they’re drinking is Evian. I had to drink the questionable water from a roadside fountain as I was walking!

As I was thinking these thoughts…

Having come to a truce, Shirayuki and Riko plopped down on either side of me. Both of them smiling.

「Have some Zuigaifei–Tieguanyin tea, it will ease your fatigue. I made it because I thought you would prefer Chinese tea over black tea.」

After making the tea, Shirayuki reported her achievement to Aria by mobile.

「Heeeey! Kiiii-Kuuuun! Listen, listen! Guess what, guess what!? Riko was exploring the ICC building earlier, and there’s a pool on top of the building! I want you to take me there! We can go together before Aria gets back!」

Riko said, looking like an idiot with a huge carnival lollipop in her mouth as she narrowed her double-lidded eyelids and grinned at me.

Hold on. You left your post here to go look for a pool? So you weren’t really trying to find me at all.

*********************************************************

And so, as I was relaxing with Shirayuki and Riko pampering me…

「–!?」

A sudden chill ran down my spine.

…Th-that bloodlust…!

It’s Aria!

*Throb!* *Throb!* *Throb!* *Throb!* … I picked up on her raging fury by instinct.

Right now, we’re on the 118th floor, but this strong aura is at the 70th and rising.

80–90–It’s here… It’s on this floor…!

It’s started moving horizontally instead of vertically. *Stomp!* *Stomp!* *Stomp!* It’s walking. I know this feeling well. It’s because I have an unmatched anti-Aria Danger Alert System. But there’s nowhere to run.

Then–with a *WHOOOSH!*

「–Stuuuuuuuupiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii–!」

Throwing open the secret door with both hands, I heard Aria shout, and the air electrified.

Her shout shook everything inside the room.

And right then, Shirayuki was massaging my back and shoulders (even though I hadn’t asked) and Riko (of her own accord) was resting my head in her arms atop her lap.

I had been worried about hysterising, but there stood Aria-sama in full meltdown mode, perfectly balanced on the edge of the breaking point of blind rage.

Also, because she gave off no sign of her presence, I finally noticed Reki standing next to Aria… fixing me with a frigid glare.

Then Reki– made a boxing referee『FIGHT!』hand gesture.

Then Aria in her executioner mode began menacing me.

Her sailor suit skirt whipping wildly, her dual guns, far from being fleetingly exposed, were fully visible.

*Snatch!*

Grasping me by my hair, she dragged me away from Shirayuki and Riko.

Reki, I don’t think you’re being very humane: don’t encourage Aria!

I know that you’re angry too, but come on…!

Then pulling me even higher to eye level,

「–Where the hell were you–!」

*Whoosh!* *Bam!*

Because it was interesting to the designer, the wall was constructed with uneven pieces of wood, and I was hurled against it.

–O-ouch…! Right now I hate that designer.

「Well, you see… My mobile and wallet were stolen, then I got lost…!」

Slumped against the wall, I began making excuses like a deadbeat husband…

「Lost, you say! How! 」

D-shaped vein popping on her forehead, Aria took a confrontational stance, and

「Kowloon is in the North, Hong Kong Island in the South. Between them is the narrow channel, Victoria Harbor! It’s simple, so how don’t you get it? Even though you get along just fine in Tokyo, the largest, most complex city in the world, you got lost in this small town! You’re an idiot! Complete idiot! Stupid!」

*Scowl!*

「And as soon as you got back, you did these… i-i-indecent, perverted things with Shirayuki and Riko! Good for nothing!」

*Scowl!*

「Kinji…you stupidstupidstupidstupidstupidstupidstupidstupid–!」

*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Blam!* *Blam!* *Blam!*

Aria was hammering the top of my head with hammer punches, and kicking my temples with football kicks,

「Ow-wow-ow! Oi, stop it!」

It was like she was using me for a wooden dummy at a shaolin temple for training.

But I’m not made of wood, I’m human.

*Whoom!* *Whoom!*

Now as she was playing whack-a-mole with my head and a large seat cushion– rage suddenly built up inside of me.

What’s with her…!?

You’re supposed to say:『I was so worried!』You don’t have to fuss over me to the extent that Shirayuki does.

「–You’re supposed to have a brain inside of here!」

Grabbing and picking me up by the head in some kind of professional wrestling move–

She jumped up and climbed on to my back. Like a piggy-backing obake.8

「In your case, it must be hollow; take a map and compass with you!」

Aria further pulled my arms behind my back, twined her legs with mine, and *Twist!*

Falling backwards, she executed a Romero Special9 and hoisted me up to the ceiling.

「Ah! Aria, your panties are showing!」

「Only girls can see them so it’s okaaaaaaaaay!」

Riko and Aria quipped.

They’ve made this celebrity-hotel bar look like a Butei High classroom…!

「And having your money stolen, how stupid are you? The king of stupid!」

「Hey, shut up!」

I finally managed to turn that anger around.

With that explosion and Shirayuki’s help, I escaped Aria’s infernal Baritsu.

Then with rolling ukemi I learned in Assault, I stood.

「As for the money–I exchanged most of it and put it in that bag. Sure it’s a pain, but… Like my grandmother says: ‘It’s better to be the person stolen from than to steal. If a person goes as far as stealing, they must be in trouble, and they should be pitied.’」

「You’re thinking like a Japanese person! This isn’t Japan. In the world there are a lot of people who make a living but are still thieves.」

Sensing that things would turn into an argument any moment, the thief and great-granddaughter of the phantom thief Lupin, Riko said:

「Hmm… Ahem-hem-hem…! A moment of your tiiiime… If I maaay….?」

Riko started talking in a fake voice, her pig tails swaying with the nod of her head.

「May Rikoriiin…. ask youuu… a feeew questions…? Hmm…Ahem-hem!」

Ah….That was a Furuhata Ninzaborou10 impression, wasn’t it?

She’s very good at reading the situation. But why Furuhata? That’s so random!

I saw it because it was popular at INQUESTA, but everyone else has a look of「???」on their faces.

But that was probably Riko’s plan, and thanks to that, the quarrelsome mood has been disrupted.

That saved us a lot of trouble, but…

「Ki-kuun?」

She furrowed her brow and put her hand on her forehead as she turned toward me.

「…Yes?」

「Yoooou…. haven’t touched a single sweet from the table. So you’ve at least eaten something, right? Also, you must have stayed somewhere last night. You didn’t fall asleep in that chair, and you don’t smell of sweat. On the contrary, there is a girl’s scent on youuuuu.」

「You smelled it too! I knew it!」

The impromptu great detective Riko’s impromptu assistant Shirayuki chimed in.

C-crap! The situation became one where I might be strung up.

「Well, about that…」

I couldn’t deny it, and like a criminal on a crime drama, beads of sweat broke out on my forehead–

「As I suspected! I did not smell it; it was a leading question! A trick question! And Yuki-chan is a dowsing rod to gather testimony! Ki-kun, you spent an enjoyable night in the home of a Hong Kong beauty, didn’t you! As expected of a gigolo!」

Riko patted me on the back approvingly, and…

「…Ugh…!」

In front of my eyes, Aria’s temper built up to a roar!

「There really is no cure for idiocy, is there…? You sullen lecher…!」

Her murderous aura intensified.

It soared upward like the ICC building…!

「Now, now closet lechers will be closet lechers. He must have felt more liberated on a trip. You come into contact with a lot of people when traveling. Noooow then, how many girls did you have contact with?」

I felt Aria’s anger, Reki’s frigid glare, and white turning to black in Shirayuki’s case–

「Neither one, I didn’t touch either of them…!」

Due to Riko’s smooth talk, I ended up admitting I had spent the day with a『girl』. What’s more, I let it slip that there had been at least two. I had set myself up for a perfect self-destruction..

「Yahoo! Tell me, tell me! Tell Riko! The Tale of Ki-kun’s Adventures! Were they older!? Younger!? Two at a time!? Big chested!? Flat chested!? Cosplay or not!? Kyaaaa!」

Riko pestered me for the details of a racy story that never happened as she jumped up and down around the room–

Y-You…

Don’t you know that your perverted mind only feeds the demons!?

「You… When she crosses that bridge, a woman has to live with what you’ve done…!」

The demon Aria-sama pronounced my death sentence with a vague phrase I’ve heard before.

「R-r-re-really, you find girls wherever you go! Y-y-y-yo-you’re really popular aren’t you? Girls aren’t a problem for you, right!? Why don’t you go out with Riko or Shirayuki!?」

Uhhh… You’re spouting nonsense, Aria. Even your smile is breaking.

「I came up with Operation Barley–and you disappeared yesterday… how do you think I felt, how did I feel…!?」

Continuing, she seemed to be swallowing her words, and she tried to suppress the tears that welled up on her face.

「And all that time, You! You were!」

Imagining me, in her mind, excited and surrounded by beautiful Chinese girls, Aria began her signature stamping of the feet–

「You’re fired! Because all you’ll do is go out and fool around with girls! So you’re no longer a part of the operation! You’ll sit here in seiza until we go back hooooooome!」

–*Click!* *Click!* I thought she would draw them.

Her silver and black pair of Governments.

「–Kyaa!!」

「–Hyaa!」

Shirayuki and Riko dove underneath the table, and Reki, with her usual skill in detecting danger, sought refuge outside.

「A-Aria…!」

I thought to bring out the Toppo, to calm her down– but when I took it out, the box was crushed.

It must have gotten crushed when Aria flipped me on my ass.

In stark contrast to my shabby, crumbling box, there were beautiful Western sweets arranged on the table.

Seeing them, I suddenly felt a miserable feeling…

And after that, I felt myself getting angry again.

I felt the emotion that passed coming back. Why, when it comes to Aria alone, can I never stay calm?

「This–」

Then in exasperation, I shot a sudden glare towards Aria.

「This is my first time overseas! I didn’t study abroad like you!」

Raising a defiant voice, I cast aside the box of Toppos and… Aria looked slightly taken aback.

Aria beats me to a pulp every day, and each time– I’ve made the choice to either run away or to take the beating. Like we were a wolf and sheep.

I did that because Aria is strong enough to pay me back twice over, a man should never raise a hand against a woman, Aria is cute when she is angry, or some other reason I gave myself…

I never fought back. Not even a little.

The last time I really got angry like this was probably back in May when I was Shirayuki’s bodyguard when we fought about a disagreement in planning.

And Aria–

「Huh… What is this!」

–was bewildered by the change from my normal state.

Her shout at me was meant to urge me to explain my anger and break the silence… but I can’t.

That would mean I’m miserable. And pathetic.

–Aria is an outstanding person.

Being a good fighter is not all she can do. She’s also a good student. To anyone in their right mind, she’s beautiful. She’s good with languages and is familiar with places all over the world, a true global citizen. As a real aristocrat, she’s never had to worry about money like me.

On the other hand, besides the acrobatics I can pull off in Hysteria Mode, I don’t have any other redeeming qualities.

I can’t do anything else. I’m well aware of that. I’m forced to say that I’m not smart or handsome, and outside Japan, I don’t know my right from my left. I’m so poor that I had to borrow money to leave the country.

Ever since Haneda, I’ve known on a very deep level…

The『gap』between us–

I can’t do anything about this anger I feel.

Aria and I are different. And the difference is too great.

Even if I tried all my life, it’s too great to make up.

It’s…not quite frustration.

I don’t want to accentuate this feeling, but… to me… Aria is…She’s actually…

No, even thinking about it is difficult. If I wanted to say it in other words, I feel like I want to become a worthy partner for her. Somewhere in my mind. Deep in my subconscious.

But I can’t do that. I have fully realised that. Because of the one step I took out in the world here.

The Ritz-Carlton here in North Point illustrates the difference between us.

And it’s painful.

But I can’t do anything about it.

Aria has everything and can do anything, while I have nothing and can’t do anything.

And Aria–

She’s oblivious of that disparity.

Ever since she was born, she’s been a part of the ‘winners’.

She has the mistaken impression common among outstanding people, believing:『If I can do it, of course everyone else can too.』

She doesn’t understand that people like me are poor, weak, and hopeless.

But I can’t just come out and say that. That would make me even more pathetic.

So I–

「You’re the one that’s fired! I’ll defeat Rampan by myself.」

I blew off any explanation of my feelings by throwing provocative words back at her.

I pulled a cliché move to turn the anger around and grabbed my bag–

Snatching it, I went to leave the VIP room.

「What…? Fine, do whatever you want! You won’t accomplish anything anyway! Despite all our careful plans, because of you we’ll end up heading back to Japan with nothing to show for it! Is that what you want!?」

Aria hurled a follow-up attack toward my back.

And as I kept walking–

「–Is that what you want!?」

Aria repeated her last sentence.

From a glimpse of a reflection I caught in the window, her expression said:『Huh? Is he really planning on doing it alone? Is he really leaving?』and a mix of other anxious emotions.

But I knew that.

I passed through the door to VIP room, leaving without looking back inside.

…Aria, you don’t understand.

I’ve already conducted negotiations with Kou to a certain extent.

So now all I have to do is walk around where there is a lot of foot traffic.

I should get Rampan’s terms of reconciliation from Kou.

I just need to wait until I am contacted by Rampan, act as if things have been settled with Baskerville, and negotiate.

Then go back and forth to hammer out the exact terms, and in the meeting come to an arrangement with Rampan.

Then Aria will have a better opinion of me.

–Just you watch.

I’ll turn that stubborn face into one of tears.

***********************************************Aria13_187

***********************************************

Passing the bar seats on the observation deck, heading to the elevator–

「Ki-kun! Riko is staying at the Peninsula Hong Kong! It looks like a very pretty castle, and you can stay in my room!」

Riko said, completely unapologetic about the fact that she had just poured oil onto the fire of the situation.

「Kin-chan-sama! Forget about that mischievously minded returnee who’s thought of everything and come with me! I’m staying at the Hotel Nikko. It’s a perfect Japanese establishment with Japanese staff and newspapers.」

Shirayuki, who gets angry if I am angry, pursued me spouting nationalistic talk.

For some reason, the two of them telling me where they were staying gives me a premonition of danger, so letting what they had said pass–

「– Yesterday I delegated command to Aria, but that ends now. This is an order from the Baskerville’s leader. You will keep wandering around the city looking for Rampan and make contact. We might be able to negotiate a final settlement with them. If Aria was in charge, things would turn into a fight, so it might just be for the best that we parted ways. If Rampan makes contact, get in touch with me immediately… 」

I said 『get in touch』, but I don’t have my mobile… I remembered that just then.

「Kinji-san」

Reki was behind me.

Waaah! You surprised me! You truly give no sign of your presence.

Whirling around in shock, Reki was holding out my supposedly stolen mobile.

「…! Where did you get that!?」

「It was offered for sale in one of the Cat Street11 stolen goods market shops. Aria bought it back last night.」

Aria did that…?

「You found it…I didn’t think I’d get it back again.」

「She recognised it was yours by the ringtone.」

–Checking the outgoing activity log, it doesn’t look like anyone has used it.

But in the incoming activity log there were notifications from Shirayuki and Riko and… a lot from Aria.

There were a lot, so they must have been worried. They were all about a minute apart, and there were even more missed calls from Aria than Shirayuki.

「Kinji-san. I will be working with Aria. Now would not be a good time for her to be alone.」

From what she said, I could tell her powers of communication had improved, and she was the most level-headed one in Baskerville.

「You should do as you said and keep searching for Rampan. Aria and I will continue to monitor Kowloon. I will let her know. I suggest that the rest of you should investigate Hong Kong Island. Kinji isn’t familiar with the Kowloon area, but all of yesterday and today, I believe that you walked across the island. So it should be easier for you to search for our opponent.」

It’s at times like these… Reki is really reliable.

She doesn’t flaunt her feelings like the rest of us. We are fortunate to have her.

I dare say that Reki might be better suited to be the leader of Baskerville.

********************************************************************

This time we took the subway to get to Hong Kong Island, and once more carried out independent actions–

First, I thought to take a late lunch.

Twice already, I have been immobilised by hunger.

They say things come in threes, but if that happened, it would be a problem. So this time…

Incidentally, I hadn’t eaten anything except for the porridge and bananas I had binged on. I haven’t even had the authentic ramen I wanted.

Because of that…

Going a little way from the station, spotting a sign that only had the character for『noodles』on it, I entered a cheap looking restaurant.

… Inside, the restaurant was messy, but it was almost packed.

You couldn’t call the interior pretty, but it had the looks of an eating house.

This is fine. It’s good enough.

Aria and Reki are probably both binging on high-class Ritz-Carlton cuisine, but I’m fine with this kind of cheap place.

As I was looking for a place to sit inside–

「Wellllll, if it isn’t Kinji! Over here!」

A loud voice called out to me from across the noisy room: a Butei High classmate, Mutou. Because his spiky haircut makes him look even taller when seated, I picked him out quickly.

I found the circular table where Mutou was seated with the rest of the members of the logistical support team that he leads,『Carrier GA』.

Carrier GA is made up of Mutou Gouki from LOGI, Katori Kazumi from AMDO, Anzai Suguru and Hiraga Aya.

There were 2 boys and 2 girls, and as far as that goes, the team was balanced, but 3 of them were disproportionally giant in size, while 1 was a pipsqueak, making the team seem unfortunately uneven.

A while ago I asked Mutou:「I get ‘Carrier’ as in ‘transportation’, but what’s the『GA』?」and got the depressing answer that ‘G’ was for Gouki and ‘A’ for Aya. Having a unique name is fine. But put some more effort into it!

「–So you guys chose Hong Kong for Caravan II as well, huh?」

I ended up sharing a table with them… as they slurped up their food. From the mess the 4 of them left behind, it looked like 20 had eaten.

Well, while visiting Hong Kong, they had probably spent their money like proper tourists.

Blowing it all on food is one way to enjoy it.

But still…

Anzai, that’s way too much food.

Based on the amount, it looked like he couldn’t possibly eat more than half of what was in front of him.

「Eat as much as you want, Tohyama! If you have any leftovers, just give them to me!」

The chair creaking under his weight, Anzai is one of the amazing people at Butei High, a giant weighing almost 200 kilos.

He walks slowly due to his obese physique, but his expertise in equipment procurement is well-known.

In contrast to Hiraga-san’s『It’ll be expensive and take time, but I can get you that superweapon』, Anzai’s『I can get you well-used equipment, fast, cheap, and reliably』makes him a popular arms dealer everyone trusts.

He also happens to be a sniper. Because of his figure, though, he has to shoot from a cross-legged position.

I have my own theory about gluttonous snipers (If fed, Reki can always eat)…

「–You’re here with Aria, right?」

Mutou brought up the unpleasant topic.

「What about her? We fought and split up.」

I remarked offhandedly as I looked at the menu.

Then,

「Another lover’s quarrel? Ka-chan, scold him.」

Hiraga-san leaned over as far as possible in her seat and whispered in her neighbor Katori’s ear.

And what do you mean by ‘lover’s quarrel’? Honestly…

As I blushed slightly and twisted away, Katori said–

「Naughty Tohyama! You made a girl cry. Fix it.」

As far as girls go, my reputation is pretty bad, and she scolded me in a stern tone.

Katori Kazumi is a large African woman with distinctive tightly woven dreadlocks that is an expert in driving over-sized vehicles. She is taller and more muscular than I am, and with both her family and given name starting with ‘ka’, she got the nickname ‘Ka-chan’ that sounds a lot like『Mum』.

I hear that during breaks, she makes a killing making long distance truck hauls part-time.

「Shuddup. If Aria and I fight, it has nothing to do with any of you.」

Craving some authentic ramen, I pointed out a dish on the menu to one of the shop assistants that only had the character for『noodles』to order it… as I grumbled to the members of Carrier GA.

Then Mutou said:

「Late last night I met Aria wandering around a shady part of Wan Chai. She was worried and asked me『Do you know where Kinji is!?』」

「……」

She came all the way from the ICC in Kowloon…

After I had disappeared, she went all the way to Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island to look for me?

Mutou revealed that she had gone to such a shady place that late in order to look for news of me, and Hiraga-san and Anzai interjected their own two cents…

「Of course it has something to do with me! I might not like the sailor suit, but I am a woman, and I heard you made a girl cry」

「Well… I…」

「And I met Kanzaki-san near the Hong Kong Police station last night, as well. That girl was in tears as she tried to call you over and over. In tears, she begged me:『If you see Kinji, call me right away!』」

Ka-chan was angry…and I…

I had to learn how worried Aria had been for me from someone else.

And when we met back up at the ICC, I had gotten angry and assumed she hadn’t been worried about me at all…

Aria was worried about me the whole time.

Walking around for hours.

Trying to call me.

Crying pitifully the whole time.

Is this what they call… heartbreak…?

I’ve done something horrible…

I feel awful.

……

………Should I go and apologise?

I thought about it for a moment, but after saying nothing but horrible things and storming out, I can’t do that.

–What she had done was exactly the opposite of her feelings of worry for me–

Aria who hit and kicked me more than usual is also in the wrong.

How much more of such poor communication can my body take? As long as she won’t apologise, neither will I. There’s also the unfortunate fate of the Toppos to consider.

Then, as if it were divine punishment for my stubbornness, my『noodles』arrived, but it still wasn’t ramen–

It was like Sara Udon, Zhajiangmian12

(END OF CHAPTER)

**********************************************

1. Short for Nagoya Joshi Butei-kou ‘Nagoya Girl’s Butei High School’.

2. In Japan he is a historical figure and a general from the Three Kingdoms era.

3. Famous shopping district with both regular and niche interest shops.

4. Sadako is a fictional vengeful ghost in a Japanese horror series later adapted into the “Ring” series.

5. These are words muttered to ward of misfortune, specifically lightning, but in a more general sense, any bad thing. Closest thing I can think of in English superstition is ‘Knock on wood’.

6. ‘Hai’ means ‘ash’ so it’s a grey between Shira (white) and Kuro (black).

7. I just have to say: Holy crap, this hurts! It pushes on your eyes, temporarily blinds and disorients you. Can lead to massive headaches. Savage!

8. There’s this kind of monster that attaches to your back and rides you giving you back pain.

9. https://www.google.com/search?q=romero+special&client=firefox-b-1-ab&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=95Rl3QfF8aNlLM%253A%252Codu7VkYueB4lvM%252C_&usg=__6CtkmiJm77Hnn-yD-CILwFpvrnA%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiFmtLu0MTYAhUsY98KHbquCdoQ9QEIQDAG#imgrc=95Rl3QfF8aNlLM:

10. A lead detective in a Japanese detective series of the same name. The series is often compared to the American series Columbo with whom he shares a penchant for obnoxiously hanging around his chief suspect, mumbling to himself, thinking aloud, and other strange mannerisms.

11. Called Cat Street because ‘stolen goods’ in Cantonese is written ‘rat goods’. Cats catch rats, so the buyers of stolen goods are called ‘cats’. Cat Street is also the home of legitimately sourced antiques, but it is well-known that many stolen goods end up there.

12. Noodles typically served on a plate with some kind of meat and sauce or vegetables mixed in.





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