Hidan no Aria - Volume 17 - Chapter 5

Volume 17: Hidan’s Recitative–Recitativo

Chapter Five: The Nogizaka Incident ― Disclosure

[START]

It struck midnight, turning into February 3rd–

I took a taxi back to Butei High, planning to charge the cab fare back to Aria.

In the first place, however, Aria and I were not supposed to meet up again.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had probably bugged her mobile, and my Hysteria Mode had dissipated…

And so I headed to a place where she was likely to show up.

After all, she had escaped from the hospital by herself, so she wasn’t likely to be caught by anyone chasing her.

In all likelihood, she probably was already there waiting for me to catch up.

I made a brief stop by Men’s Dormitory No. 3 at Butei High… I stole quietly into my own room to replenish my stock of bullets.

Doing so, I did not wake Lisa who was sleeping in the lower bunk–

Kneeling on the bed beside her, I looked at her beautiful sleeping face.
Then I spoke to her in my mind.

…Lisa.

I am sorry for bringing you to Japan so recently, for this might just be our goodbye.

I’ve been told that I will come back to life, even if I die, but that overstates the matter. If my brains are blown out or my heart is eaten, then I will naturally not come back.

This time, my opponent might just do that. That oni. The chief of the oni clan, Habi, is extremely strong. I may be strong enough to bring things barely to a stalemate.

What is more, this is a battle in Far East Warfare. It is in defiance of the cease-fire. I cannot even call upon the friendly powers in DEEN.

But I cannot let this go.

Aria’s hidan– I could not protect her from Sherlock firing it.

The entire reason that Aria is so close to transforming into the Blazing Scarlet Goddess is because of my own failure and inadequacy back on I.U.

So I must take responsibility for it.

Recovering Aria’s karagane will stop the advent of the Blazing Scarlet Goddess. At some point, the hidan itself will have to be managed.

That is what I am going to do. Shirayuki isn’t here right now… but I will entrust this matter to her family.

Bequeathing my intentions, I left the bedroom, then the apartment.

I set the roughly sketched-out last will that I had written in the taxi cab beside Lisa’s pillow.

At Butei High, in the case of sudden death, they provide some small insurance and bereavement payment, and in the case that this were to occur, I set aside the money to repay my Beretta scholarship… among other mundane provisions.

On the cold winter’s night, I walked toward the old, dusty bicycle storage racks where I had previously been bicycle-jacked.

Glancing across to the area lit by cheap, fluorescent lights, a small smile crept on to my face.

This wretched place was where everything had started. Somehow, it seemed appropriate for someone like me.

That morning, Riko’s Segways had chased me down the street, but now as I walked down the street…

I entered the greenhouse below Women’s Dormitory No, 1.

Within, there was an illuminated rose garden–

We had met here… it was where Aria had revealed to me her second family name of『Holmes』. The pink twin-tailed girl.

「…」

I stood next to her without saying anything–

「I thought you’d come here.」

She said, arms folded as she gazed at a rose.

「Well, we’ve known each other for a while. It must be what they call ‘mutual understanding’.1」

With Hysteria Mode gone, my usually brusque, unappealing tone manifested in my answer.

「Here is where I– This is where I decided that you would be my partner.」
Aria said, still looking at the flower…

「That is why I decided to part here.」

She announced clearly.

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Aria_17_120

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「Part…?」

My eyebrows furrowed at the surprising statement…

From her trademark pink twin-tails– Aria removed her horn-like hair ornaments with a rustle.

Despite being a glamorous high school girl, I had always thought that she had hidden spare bullets or some other dangerous object stowed inside… but now I was proven wrong.

Beneath each of them was a smaller horn nestled inside like a matroyska doll.

「Only you would understand how important this is. I haven’t shown them to anyone else.」

「…?」

Taking up both of my hands, Aria slipped her hair ornaments into them… and this led my thoughts in a particular direction.

They… can’t be removed, can they!?

「…!…」

They were attached to Aria’s head. No, it was something else. They had grown on her head.

Just like those oni… they were horns…!

At a loss for words, my eyes widened, and a sigh escaped Aria.

「It wasn’t just because of the attacks… the reason I fought with all the adults. I don’t really understand it, but it looks terrible. These horns. Fufu! You’re scared of me too, right? You think it’s awful and you hate me, don’t you…?」

With a forced smile, Aria looked up at me– tiny tears standing out in her eyes.

Why did these small horns grown on Aria’s head, and what does it mean?

I… don’t understand. It was definitely a shock. Rather–

When Aria said adults, she meant the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the British Embassy.

This must be the reason for her isolation.

It was shocking. This slightly supernatural phenomenon.

「I just had a thought… When you sleep, doesn’t the pillow get in the way?」

Although it was evening, I answered with a dim-witted expression on my face. 2

「Huh?」

「If the fact that I noticed surprises you, I can’t go on as your partner! You… haven’t been sleeping well.」

If Aria suffers from a lack of sleep, it has the side-effect of increasing the amount of bullets she sends my way, so I pressed the point.

「I… I usually sleep with my pillow beneath me, face-down.」

The conversation having taken a surprising turn, Aria answered somewhat disjointedly.

Now that I think about it, that’s right. I’ve seen it myself a few times.

Because Aria has no breasts to speak of, she can sleep quite comfortably face-down.

However, one time Riko had noticed this and teased Aria about it, then was on the receiving end of a brain buster out of the 5th story window into Tokyo Bay,

I then answered with a「Really!!?」, pretending not to know.

「So… anyway, Kinji. This is a problem with my body. I don’t really know what it is, how it happened, or what to do, but I’ll deal with it myself. If you… want to step back, that’s fine. I won’t complain.」

Replacing her hair ornaments, Aria turned back to face me in the rose garden, tears in her eyes.

Standing sideways; saying nothing.

…Seeing Aria take this uncharacteristic attitude made me angry.

「You… This isn’t you. If I said something like that, you’d be squaring up to face me down, wouldn’t you?」

I said somewhat belligerently.

But Aria– eyes still moist, said nothing.

Although she usually telling me what to do, she didn’t even issue a single order…

「…」

「…」

The silence lingered on.

And so, I stood next to Aria, observing the rose garden…

In order to allow her to express her true feelings more freely, I spoke in English.

「Aria, be honest.」

Taking it from a film, I utilised the correct pronunciation–

With tears still in her eyes, Aria trembled slightly.

Then when I saw her look up at me as I stood beside her, she said:

「–Help me…」

Tears accompanied her words.

「Kinji, I need you…!」

With a cry, she buried herself into my chest–

It was cute. As expected, Aria was upfront about her feelings.

Back on I.U., I remember her telling me『I need you』that summer too–

「Alright. I’ll take that as an official contract. As such, I will naturally collect payment. However, because we are acquainted, I will do it at a discount.」

Aria said something like that when she helped me in the dispute with the yakuza this winter.

Head bobbing, Aria’s pink twin-tails rubbed against my chest as she nodded…

「…But you… It’s embarrassing to ask now, but why… why would you get wrapped up in this for me…?」

Face still red as she embraced me, Aria looked up at me.

「…I’m unlikable, selfish, and have a childish figure…」

Self-aware, isn’t she?

「It can’t be helped. I’m your–」

「…?」

「Uh, I, er… that is… I decided back in April on top of the women’s dormitory. It’s a bit embarrassing to say now, but…」

Having said something I didn’t completely understand myself, I fumbled with my words–but still spoke the truth.

「As an ally of justice, I cannot allow such injustice. Also… as your friend, how can I let something like this happen?」

I said this, and Aria…

Her beautiful camellia eyes–still tear-streaked and sparkling–she looked up at me. But still remained silent.

S…say something! This is embarrassing!

「Oh, and as for that… for such an unlikable, selfish, and childishly figured person with a twisted sense of casual violence, there isn’t anyone in the world suited to deal with you. At least… except for me.」

Unable to stand the silence, I continued speaking, and despite her shift to a murderous expression in the middle of my statement, by the end she looked moved.

「Thank-you…. thank-you, Kinji… I don’t know if I can do anything… but I will do anything I can do to show my gratitude…」

「Ah… well, you could register with the Asian SDA rankings. I would be grateful if my ranking decreased by one.」

Thinking about the words『I will do anything』for any length of time was dangerous–and I pulled myself away from her.

「In any case.. don’t worry, Aria. Actually, you probably aren’t able to relax… but I’m with you. I’ll always be with you.」

After saying that, I turned my back toward her, but she clung to my back, and I smiled slightly.

However, Aria.

You’ve been a bit careless.

「..Now then. As a Butei, I’m not that good at spying. Until now, I’ve pretended not to notice, but tell me all you know about this. —Tamamo!」

Ever since leaving the men’s dormitory, I’ve had a tail tagging along, now hidden within a hyacinth flower pot– the random appearance of a kemari3 was the tip-off.

Having been discovered by me… in a puff of white smoke, her true form manifested– it was Tamamo, as I expected.

In Far East Warfare, the kitsune that looked like a young girl had served as an advisor to DEEN.

She appeared to be a primary-schooler and her brown, fur covered ears stood up as she wore a short-skirted kimono, single-toothed getas, and carried a brilliant scarlet parasol.

I also failed to miss the blade in the red lacquered sheath at her back–matched to her size, it was a short katana that she wore. In her role as a commanding general, she had never gone armed.

「…!…」

As if entirely flustered at not noticing the kemari spying upon us, Aria separated from me… As for myself, I deactivated the safety on my gun.

With the ceasefire in Far East Warfare in place, there was no 100% guarantee that Tamamo was an ally.

What’s more, her expression was grim. It held an unprecedented sharpness.

「–We must subjugate the threat, Tohyama. Hasten hither! When the karagane from Katze and Patra wast returned, I harboured mine doubts… Even now, the link to the Blazing Scarlet Goddess is complete.」

She said, breaking the silence–

「These horns art evidence that the union of Aria and the Hihiirokane is concluded. As for its speed– replacing the karagane when in an unprotected state doth naught but hasten the advent of the Scarlet Goddess. Such wast not known to me. It would also not be well to have Hilda strip them again. If stripped twice or thrice, the shells wouldst break. If even one was destroyed, the conclusion would be upon us at once.」

The kitsune’s gaze toward Aria was sorrowful.

「Aria is already lost.」

The very next moment, Tamamo looked toward me, as if to call me to her side–

Then resettling her gaze on Aria again, she drew her sword with a hiss of steel.

「–Tohyama. The Hotogi miko is not present, yet thou and I must subdue Aria. Before the Blazing Scarlet Goddess appears.」

「Wait, Tamamo…!」

I took half a step to shield Aria.

I rested my hand on my gun so that Tamamo would see it.

「I cannot halt. This matter requires haste. With that hair, to say nothing of horns, I was much too inattentive.」

「Hair? Horns? What do you mean? Do you think Aria… will turn into an oni?」

「Nay. The red oni are the ancient progeny of the Scarlet Goddess. Due to the fact that the traits of Hihiirokane are acquired after the transformation of the body, they art not hereditary– They art a long-lived race, yet the only thing that seems to be inherited is their colour. That is the reason for their red hair.」

Then Tamamo–

Began gauging the distance between us.

But until I stop defending Aria, I do not think that she will take action.

「As for the hair–When Kou transformed into Son, similar such horns appeared within her hair. When the Hihiirokane’s conditions art fulfilled and formest a connection with a maiden’s heart, a mysterious and invisible power is emitted from two places upon her head. If the Hihiirokane is compatible with the heart, then horns materialise. If their disposition doth not match, then naught but the hair is transformed. It would appear that the Hihiirokane has a predilection for Aria’s heart.」

Those words… are somewhat like those spoken on I.U. by Sherlock.

In order to awaken the hidan– to form a connection with the heart, their personality must be passionate and prideful, and, for some reason, childish.

That describes Aria to a tee.

But what does this mean? My mind is already made up.

–I am on Aria’s side.

I’m not even in Hysteria Mode, but I’ve made my own determination.

Even if Tamamo tries to kill me along with Aria, my answer is one and the same.

「–Tamamo. I’ll only say it one more time. Wait. This issue is my fault. So I will do whatever is necessary. I will definitely recover the karagane from Habi–rescuing Aria.」

Restricting Aria from saying anything herself, I made this declaration to Tamamo.

The light in her eyes showing the true deep bestial character of her soul, Tamamo met my eyes…

「I… shalt not slay thee, warrior Tohyama. I shall stay mine hand. I can but wait until late springtime. In terms of calendar reckoning, that is the last day of the third month. Until March 31st– then the advent of the Scarlet Goddess wilt surely occur.」

*Grip*… She released her grip on the haft of her blade.

「Until that time hath elapsed, I shall grant respite. Once the Hotogi miko and I hath assembled, we shalt strike thee together.」

With these dangerous words, for the time being at least…
I have been granted a postponement. Thank goodness my opponent was willing to stop and communicate in good faith.

「Tohyama. Habi is a member of GRENEDA for the purposes of Far East Warfare. Challenging her as a member of DEEN–in accordance with the terms of the『ceasefire』is forbidden as it wouldst be perceived as a transgression by the members of DEEN. I am able to turn a blind eye, but I cannot render thee aid. It is the same with the rest of DEEN. Art those terms acceptable?」

「…Yes, that was my intention from the beginning.」

I nodded and Tamamo… puffed out a sigh… and all the tension in her expression faded.

「Truly, the Tohyama warriors of old have always said such things. Is not the sanction of the members of GRENEDA in defiance of the terms of the ceasefire sufficient? Goodness!」

「That… I am sorry for. I’ve caused you trouble.」

「You may render your penance later. Understood? Mere monetary offering will not suffice, an aburaage enough to cover a tatami is required.」

With a *Ka-ching!*, Tamamo shook the offertory box she wore on her back at me… with her back facing me, she seemed hesitant to speak–

「Ah… Thou hast a Hotogi miko of similar age, and the Rimiko, so bearing that in mind… I do not believe you shouldst do the same with the childishly bodied Aria…」

Having heard that, no doubt conscious of her own body, I had to restrain Aria once more as a vein on her forehead bulged.

「Perhaps it wouldst be better to say it the opposite way because thou art curiously unmindful… It wouldst be a grave error were such a thing to occur. Nay. I shalt be more clear to avoid any confusion. Thou shouldst not share a bedchamber with Aria.」

Leaving us with those incomprehensible words, Tamamo shouted「Kyaa」–

Leaping up… she disappeared into the smoke rising into the sky.

「…?」

「…?」

Due to Tamamo’s archaic phrasing, neither Aria nor I understood Tamamo’s warning very well.

It was something about us being together, but… well, it should be fine. It wouldn’t do to get too worked up over it.

「–I didn’t think it could be dealt with using just the right words, Kinji. I thought it would come to a fight.」

Behind me, Aria had drawn one of her pistols and now re-holstered it beneath her skirt.

「But in the end… it’s just the two of us going to fight.」

「Wasn’t it like that in the beginning? We’re just going back to where we started.」

I said, indicating the place where we stood–

With a giggle, Aria laughed.

「That’s right, isn’t it? Let’s go then. The 2 of us exterminating oni.」

「Yeah. Two people going alone. We’re like Momotaro!」

「You should know that old story, Kinji! Momotaro had a dog, monkey, and pheasant for companions, didn’t he?」

Aria said, confidently ticking them off on her fingers, and I gave a short laugh.

「I guess I don’t know it that well, huh? Well, I guess you’re Momotaro this time because of the pink colour4… That makes Lisa the dog and Kou the monkey, huh? I don’t know what I am.」

「Kinji! Your name has ‘ki’ and ‘ji’ in it!5」

With such idle chatter passing between us, we exited the greenhouse.

Led by Momotaro, the pheasant and the rest of the odd band troop together to exterminate the ogres–in the unknown land of Kinokuni. In any case, it seems we had taken our first step.

Slightly past Sports Arena 2 was the place I had been bicycle-jacked… I could see the cherry tree that Aria and I had grazed as she used a para-glider to pluck me off of the bicycle.

Despite the fact that is was February, the heat emitted from the nearby cafeteria caused it to blossom.

It was an unseasonal evening flowering of cherry blossoms…

By the time I’ve saved Aria and the real time of cherry blossoms comes–

I hope that my crazy life takes a turn for the somewhat normal.

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At 1 AM late that night… we came to another place full of memories but off-limits to Butei, Akihabara.

From the outside, it would look like Aria had escaped from house arrest. Retrieving the karagane from the oni while being hunted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was bound to be difficult.

As a countermeasure that both Aria and I were unfamiliar with… we entered the maid cafe known as the Cozy Cafeteria…

「Soooo cuuute! Soooo cuuute!」

Having been rented out privately and its hours of operation drastically extended, all sorts of hijinks were occurring inside the shop.

In the middle of the shop another Aria stood in addition to the one with me wearing a sailor suit uniform and with her– Embarrassingly, there was a half-naked maid on top of the table playing a strip version of rock-paper-scissors.

Around them were a bunch of drunk maids and amidst the bustling crowd was Hilda, wearing her usual Gothic Lolita dress.

「Hohoho! Soon you will not have even your socks left, Maid!」

Sipping honey wine, it was the nocturnal Hilda… thoroughly enjoying the maid cafe.

She was munching on some kind of snack. Those aren’t button cell batteries, are they? What kind of digestive tract does this electric woman have?

Being uninformed, I came to the conclusion that a maid cafe was really some kind of shady cabaret.

I was trying to suppress a headache, and Aria was shocked…

「Welcome back, Tohyama. Aria appears to have arrived safely as well.」

Wearing her own Cozy Cafe uniform and a heart-shaped name tag that read:『Jeanne』in katakana, Jeanne made her own appearance.

Carrying a snowflake shaped tray under one arm, it looked like she was enjoying the admiration of the other waitresses.

「Yeah, let’s start by dragging that idiot Riko down here…」

I said, pointing to the fake Aria who was stripping the skirt off a maid.

「Oh! Ki-kun, c’mere! C’mere! Fufufu!」

With a *Spriong!*, the fake Aria with braided hair, Riko, took a dive off the table.

She landed in front of me and the real Aria like a gymnast, arms spread out in a Y-shape.

Clapping both hands together and taking a bow she said:

「I, Riko Mine, have received a request from Ki-kun! He and Aria are going on some kind of oni hunting mission, right? In the meantime, Riko will take Aria’s place in the hospital.」

「Ri-Riko…?」

Aria seemed to have finally understood why Riko had perfectly imitated her appearance, and Riko chuckled and laughed.

「Conversely,『disguised as Riko, Aria will be free to move about』, see? Give me about 9 hours, and I can make the Ministry of Foreign Affairs buy the deception. In the meantime, don’t do anything to attract attention, alright? Afterwards, with Riko in place at the hospital, Aria will be free to come and go.」

Such was the true nature of the phantom intelligence thief–as she spoke in a perfect imitation of Aria’s voice.

This body double mission… it was well-suited for Riko who had been inactive to avoid Rampan’s canvass. With that in mind, I asked Riko to do it– but this was amazing! Taking on the form of Aria, she would fool even a pro.

What’s more, Riko has Hilda. With Dracuria as back-up, I can rest at ease.

「I see. In return– Kinji claimed I was paying, didn’t he? However, given my circumstances, I will pay the asking price.」

A sharp tone in her voice, Aria pulled out her wallet in a matter-of-fact manner…

「I will not accept payment. This will pay back the debt of saving me at the Sky Tree.」

The fake Aria balled her fists. Then crossed her arms in a perfect imitation of Aria’s mannerisms as she declared this.

「Is this what you call thief’s honour? If you want something, tell me. I’d regret it later if I didn’t pay you fairly.」

「Owing a debt to a member of the Holmes Family is a disgrace. It is the Lupin Family custom to avoid such and to return something stolen to its owner later.」

Seeing how proud Riko is, there is no room to bring such a matter up.

However… Aria didn’t bring it up, and seemed like the kind of person to understand.

「Buuuut Aria could pay for this place, right? I mean, it’s not a reward; it’s an expense!」

She thrust the clipboard with the bill receipt for reserving the entire cafe for the night toward Aria. In actuality, it was a reward though.

At the sight of a 1 followed by 6 zeros, I paled.

「…Goodness. You lack all restraint.」

Merely raising one eyebrow slightly, Aria took out her black Amex Centurion Card– a card above Gold and even higher than Platinum, and turned the black card over to Riko.

「I understand. I will accept the repayment of that loan respectfully. You and I have exchanged genuine favours. As Holmes and Lupin, we have both returned to the starting line. I will engrave the memory within my chest.」

Aria placed her hand on her hip, and Riko spread her hands as she bowed.

「Ooooh! How will you engrave it on your chest if you can’t find it?」

No sooner had she said that, than 0.1 seconds later Aria drew her blades clear of their sheaths. *Hiss!* *Whomp!* *Thump!* *Thump!*

Leaping onto Riko’s back, she began pummeling her.

「Wai-! Aria! You’ll mess up the make-up! Aria!!!」

Observing this surreal Aria-on-Aria fight… I turned my back on them–no telling how long they would be at it–and exchanged amused smiles with Jeanne. Well, perhaps that just means that they get along. Even those on the closest of terms quarrel.

Afterwards, Aria and Riko retreated to the kitchen to perfect the disguise by swapping underwear, and once they could no longer hear us, I said:

「So, Jeanne. Have you seen the video?」

By changing the topic, I was able to divert my brain’s imagination.

On the Fugaku–

The『Reflex Camera』I had bought from Hiraga-san, commonly known as a peep cam, had been running.

What’s more, in the fight with Yen, I had discarded it and left it on the plane.

The button camera video was being uploaded to the internet via satellite connection, and I had called Jeanne in INFORMA to ask her to analyse it–

「Yes, I have just finished downloading it. Your hobby of peeping has proved useful in this case. Thanks to that, I have been able to confirm something very interesting.」

Although it contained a slight misunderstanding, Jeanne’s answers are typically reliable.

「It appears someone found your camera, but it is still active. It is currently in someone’s pocket but pitch black.」

Jeanne walked over, the skirts of the waitress uniform meant to show off her beautiful long legs in knee socks fluttering– withdrawing an Archos netbook from her school bag and opening it.

Placing the mini-PC on the table, the image on the screen appeared to be almost from my point-of-view… and the playback began from the point when my face was pressed against Yen’s breasts. Why did you start there?

「Here. That oni. I recognise this one. By picture and report only, however.」

Pausing the video and using a pretty finger to indicate, Jeanne pointed to an oni with only the top half of their head protruding from an earthenware bowl… one with glasses.

「In the pictures I’ve seen, she’s only been in the pot, so I don’t know what she looks like entirely, but… the name is Kon.6 In medieval Japanese times, she was a sword and gunsmith, as well as one of I.U.’s formative members.」

「One of I.U.’s first members….?」

「Immediately at the end of the war, during the tenure of the second generation captain of I.U., Gilbert Stach, she enrolled as a weapons technician. Kon’s weapons engineering was literal wizardry. I.U. had many blueprints for unfinished weapons as a legacy, and she decided to develop them by herself. The Shinden7 fighter plane she created became the contemporary vice-captain’s favourite, and there are still pictures of it.」

Shinden–

The rear-winged interceptor developed by the former Japanese Imperial Army to counter the B-29?

That oni in the bowl probably was the one who constructed the Fugaku. What a pain!

But what I had learned was no great aid to our efforts at oni extermination–

Slightly sobered, I turned to face Jeanne who wore a stern expression as she continued explaining.

「In recent years, Kon has been supplanted by the Koko, but continued to make long stays at I.U. Because of that, there are many records left behind… As is common with the genius type, it is in her personality to ignore social status and class. She drew up incredible plans, one after another, and when drawing would refuse the summons of colleagues, captain, and royalty, sleeping for years at a time. It is said that she would rouse herself for but one person.」

「One person…? Who?」

「–Sherlock Holmes.」

…That name came up here?

It takes genius to know genius–it might have been some kind of shared empathy. Between Kon and Sherlock.

But Sherlock… that is the name of a man who has disappeared.

Right now, I’m seeing what Habi, the leader of the oni, said would happen. In all likelihood.

「I will continue to monitor the video feed, and if I find out anything, I will contact you. May the fortunes of war go with you, Tohyama.」

Jeanne announced in a slightly brooding tone–then she handed over two fresh mobiles on clean contracts, purchased by a shell corporation for my and Aria’s use.

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

Afterwards, Aria emerged from the restroom–

「Oi, Riko!」

I called, beckoning the imitation Aria over.

「Fu! Ki-kun, you can finally tell the difference between Aria and Ariko, huh?」

Ariko…? Is Aria + Riko = Ariko?

「Well, you tricked me a whole bunch of times. Besides, you just gave me a reason to. Just now, you and Aria began a give-and-take relationship, I might want to take advantage of that myself.」

「Huh!? I see. Stealing a favour from Ki-kun would be a worthwhile pursuit.」

「Then we’ll have to figure out the repayment right now.. How much is it? I have to see what I’m indebted for.」

Before she could try to jack up the price, I started to negotiate with a sharp expression.

「Eh, when Ki-kun gets back you’ll start going out with Riko.」

It was Aria’s face, but Riko’s voice that spoke a delivered the condition.

She didn’t ask for money, so I made a mental thumbs-up.

「Alright, I understand.」

I agreed, whereupon Riko:

「Huh?」

Riko’s usually relaxed expression hardened.

Then… droplets of sweat broke out with a forced smile.

「Uh, Ki-kun, you get what this means? Instead of Aria or Yuki-chan, you’ll be going out with Riko? For real.」

Like a certain LDP Party chairman and a war correspondent, she carefully inquired to make sure it was not a slip of the tongue.

「Yeah. I understand what you meant. What’s more, it’s a promise. A man cannot go back on his word.」

After all, if it’s going out with her like we did at Comiket, it’s no big deal.

Compared to paying 1 million Yen, this is no problem.

Upon my acceptance of the contract, Riko’s eyes sparkled–

「Oh, uh… uh, well, Riko will do her best! And do my best tomorrow get caught on purpose! Taking Aria’s place! Heave-ho!」

Both fists clenched tightly, she seemed ready to go. Even if her face was completely red. She must have mastered Aria’s rapid blush technique.

「Do your best, okay? –I’m looking forward to it. I’ll always come back.」

Paying such lip-service, I then greeted Aria who emerged from the restroom and came to stand by my seat.

–What Aria and I are trying to do is to exterminate oni in defiance of the ceasefire.

As part of DEEN, direct aid from Riko, Jeanne, and Hilda may be forbidden… but if they provide backup support, Tamamo would be able to make a case to GRENEDA even if it were discovered.

Even nowadays, with the boring JSDF, the collective right to self-defence is recognised.

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

It was the dead of night when even the plants were sleeping–

Aria and I walked along the entirely deserted main street of Akihabara.

「This is good for us to prevent anyone following us. But now what should we do?」

Aria addressed me as her breath puffed white.

「I’ve thought about it, and back in Baskerville, I realised something– Friends are important. After all, I have to rely on someone first.」

「Who will you rely on?」

「Anyone involved with FEW is out, and I don’t want to drag the people at school into this. So I’ll go to my family first. Tomorrow we’ll go together to my parent’s home.」

「Eh!?」

「What’s that?」

「Uh, er…. Kinji’s… parent’s home?」

「Why are you making such a scared expression? Don’t worry, it’s not as far as your parents’. It’s in Sugamo. Riko’s deception will take about a day to complete, so we can hide there until then. It’s already late today, rather, it’s already tomorrow. The date is… Ugh! So confusing. What I mean is, on the 14th, at noon, we should meet back up at the south entrance to Sugamo station. That gives you enough time to make whatever arrangements you have to, and we would stick out together–so we should split up for the night.」

「R-right!」

Aria said in a strangely polite tone as she left–

Afterwards, she hailed a taxi and headed down the main street.

According to a message I received later, she headed to Toranomon to her lawyer’s condominium– spending the time discussing her mother, Kanae Kanzaki’s trial. I see, then if that’s the case, she’s safe. She’s an armed lawyer and ex-Butei. Like Sarah, Bewitching Blade, or Demon Sword, if you’re paying them, you can trust them.

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

February 14th was a clear day, without a single cloud in the sky.

I didn’t really want my family to be seen by strangers, but… well, what about Aria?

I spent the night in a capsule hotel, and at noon went to the south entrance of Sugamo station– she was there.

Seemingly bored, Aria was fidgeting and playing with her twin-tails.

She looked like a proper miss8, wearing a long-sleeved dress and wearing a pochette that looked both childish and expensive… for some reason looking formally dressed. The skirts of the dress were even longer than usual.

「We’re only going to my house, but you’re pretty dressed up.」

I said, as Aria turned her head to face me–

「You’re late! I’ve been waiting 30 minutes, and I should put a wind-hole in you!」

With a growl, she bared her canines in a fine sort of aggressive greeting.

With the sunlight and being from the United Kingdom, she was resistant to the cold and did not wear a coat… but did you really wait 30 minutes?

「I tried to choose the correct clothes. I had my Amica lend them to me and drop them off. What’s with that look? It’s an evil look. Do you want to say you don’t like them?」

「I inherited the look. No, it’s cute. The look of a proper miss suits you especially well. In the first place, you are a proper miss.」

So saying, Aria turned red–

「What? Between my uniform and casual clothes, which one do you prefer?」

She asked a tiresome question.

「Both are fine. You’re still you.」

I gave a half-hearted response.

「Actually, Aria, did you sleep well? You have dark circles under your eyes.」

「Oh… N-not really, we stayed up late talking about mama’s trial. We were preparing something, and my chest swelled so much with hope that I didn’t sleep, that’s all it was!」

So that’s it. But if Aria’s chest swells, won’t the shops selling padding be in trouble?

I thought this, but did not say it, my anti-Aria crisis management skill coming into play and warning me.

「Hey, the other day at the yakuza mansion–You promised to take me to your parent’s home. You’re keeping that promise. That’s admirable, Kinji. That speaks well of you.」

Standing on her tiptoes and smiling, Aria patted my shoulder, but…

Speaking of that, I did make that promise. At the Kagataka Family mansion.

But why is Aria so delighted by the prospect? I have no idea.

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

Accompanied by Aria, we passed through the downtown area, past a dilapidated tobacconist and a lumber dealer– walking through a residential area built in the Showa Era, we saw a sign『Magane Tohyama』–reaching the Japanese-style house my grandfather lived in.

We went to enter at the side, and I slid open the sliding screen door on the Sazae-san-like house9, but… Aria was hesitating to enter, playing with her twin-tails. She didn’t want to go inside.

「What is it? We’re here.」

「Uh, well…」

With an uncharacteristically uncertain expression on her face, Aria hesitated upon entering.

「What are you doing!? My grandfather is classified as a dangerous person of interest by the US, but he is a reasonably safe man. Don’t worry.」

「Th-that’s not it! Hyaaa!」

Seizing Aria’s hand in mine, I dragged her along, her double-lidded eyes going wide in panic.

What is with you? Did you eat some momoman you picked up off the floor that made you act strangely?

Hearing my voice– *Whoosh!*

My white-haired crew-cut grandfather opened the door, wearing the traditional clothes of a kimono and short coat.

「Oh. You’re back Kinji.」

「Ah, yes. I’m back.」

My grandfather and I exchanged these short greetings, while beside me–
— Aria… *Rustle!*

Pinching and spreading the pale pink skirts of her dress, tucking her right leg slightly behind her left leg and planting the toes. Wearing an unusually mature expression, she closed her eyes and bowed her head.

The gesture displayed a deep respect for my grandfather–no explanation was necessary. It seems that an English Lady knows all sorts of official greetings appropriate for a first meeting.

「Greetings. It is an honour to meet you. I am Aria Kanzaki-Holmes.」

Aria introduced herself in a lovely anime-like voice, but… It is extremely unusual for her to introduce herself to someone as『Holmes』. This is the first time I’ve seen her do it.

「Oh, what a cute little doll-like girl, she is. Cold, isn’t it? Hurry inside, please.」

Grandfather ushered her in gently—glancing briefly into her pochette. I already knew, but he probably noticed that there was a gun magazine inside. As expected, not much gets past ex-military personnel.

After that, he showed Aria into the living room–

Despite the fact that Aria would usually bark:「My usual espresso! You have 30 seconds!」, she was now helping my grandmother brew tea. She was acting like a teacher’s pet. What the heck… Why is she doing this? Did someone set up some kind of magical barrier in Sugamo to make Aria act meekly?

Then my grandfather and grandmother brought out a kotatsu to have a literal teatime chat–

「I am in the same class at Tokyo Butei High as Kin… Tohyama-kun, and we are classmates. Kin… Tohyama-kun always treats me well.」

Introducing herself and giving all the appropriate responses, Aria carried on polite conversation, even going so far as to call me『Tohyama-kun』. But a rash began to break out.

Then…

Aria desperately tried to gain my grandfather and grandmothers favour, but as soon as they stood up and left–*Whish!* she withdrew her legs from underneath the kotatsu. For some reason, sweat broke out on her forehead and began to run down her face.

「What is it? Is the room too warm?」

「…Ungh… Agh…」

A groan was the only response to my inquiry that I received, and I saw the legs inside Aria’s knee-socks trembling… She shifted from kneeling to sitting with her knees tucked up.

「Are you sick? You were just acting very oddly.」

「…N-numb… they’re just numb….!」

Hearing Aria’s bitter reply, the answer hit me.

Caucasians’ legs have slightly different skeletal structure than Asians, so they do not do well in squatting or kneeling postures.

Aria is quarter Asian and looks Japanese, but in the end she is English.

After a long period of time kneeling, the legs become numb.

She should have relaxed and shifted her legs while sitting. Why didn’t she do that?

「A Butei must not lose mobility. This is a blunder, Aria.」

This is the Tohyama Family residence; that is my home. The men’s dormitory is also my home, but there I can’t do anything to Aria, and this is the one-in-a-thousand chance for me to release my normally pent up frustration.

And so I stood… my shadow looming over Aria. How scary!

「Wh-what? What are you doing?」

Beads of sweat trickling down her face, Aria looked up at me–

Sure enough, she picked up a negative vibe, but she could not move. My victory is assured.

「I’ll massage them to restore circulation.」

Stooping over Aria, I gripped her calves.

「Hrng~~~~!」

As a guest in someone else’s house, she did not want to raise her voice, or was not able to do so, with not only her legs being numb, but her whole body trembling in agony. Both eyes squeezed tightly closed, she clawed at the air, unable to do anything with any kind of strength.

Then I gripped the other calf above the sock.

「~~~~Urg~~~~!」

Incredible! Incredible, Mr. Muska!10 I am winning against Aria!

「Stop, stop, stop, Kinji…! I-I’ll die…!」

「No one ever died from kneeling and their legs going numb. It’s what you get for not paying attention as a Butei, let your body learn this lesson well.」

Enjoying myself all too much, I laughed at Aria’s panic. Being able to overcome the cruel superwoman that usually oppresses me is an incredible feeling. Even if you tell me to, I can’t stop.

As I massaged her toes and ankles, Aria kicked me in the forehead reactively whilst making quiet, high-pitched whines of agony. Then she crawled across the tatami, as if to escape, ha ha ha! Where are you going? This is an 8 tatami room.

「Take that!」

When I tried to grab Aria’s right foot again–*Whoosh!*

「…I am better now. Thank-you for the massage, Tohyama-kun. As thanks, I’ll show you this Baritsu technique.」

Ah… my… fingers…!

With her socked feet, she skillfully entwined them with her toes…!

Using her toes to apply some kind of a joint-lock on my fingers….!? Just how versatile are these Baritsu techniques!?

「Wai..!」

Turning pale, there was a *Creak!* from my right hand. Using her other leg, she applied more pressure.

Using both her right and left feet, she held the fingers of my right hand in a vise-like hold… *Crack!* *Pop!* *Creak!*

「Wai..! Aria! Owowowowow! You’re killing me…!」

「No one ever died from broken fingers! Hmph! Ha!」

With a yelp, my fingers were bent in different directions, each of them in an unnatural direction.

Her earlier subservience had thrown me off-guard! Aria is still Aria after all!

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

…Because it was my own home, I couldn’t start shooting or grappling, even if I wanted to. So, I reset each of them using a passed-down Tohyama Family technique.

Some of them still looked strange to me, but that could just be me, so I’ll let it go.

Opening the sliding screen with my NSFW viewing hand–

「Don’t do anything to attract attention for the rest of the day. I’m just going to laze about, myself.」

I told Aria who was looking curiously at the hanging scrolls and painted screens, heading toward my 6-tatami room.

In this battle, I might actually die…

Then I opened my cluttered storage closet full of my personal effects–

I separated out the pennant and carved wooden bear that G-3 wanted and the shogi board and 3 silver angels that Kaname wanted into a cardboard box.

「What are you doing, Kinji?」

With my grandparents not present, she had gone back to addressing me casually as she came inside from the verandah.

「Dividing up mementos between my siblings. I don’t want my idiot younger brother and younger sister fighting over my junk if I die. So in order to prevent that, I’ve initiated this peacekeeping operation.」

And if I live to come back, I won’t give it to them.

「Hmph… Wow, that’s a mess! You really should organise your closet.」

「Shut up. This isn’t even a closet. It’s a storage closet.」11

「Well, there’s no helping it. I’ll give you a hand tidying up.」

It happened again. Aria became docile inside the Tohyama Family Home. She took on the role that Shirayuki and Kaname usually took, despite the fact that she left the『tidying up』of her own room to her Amica, Mamiya. Even doing so with a wink.

As a matter of practicality, my storage closet had accumulated all kinds of junk since primary school.

It will probably take a long while to tidy, so I probably should accept the help.

「Oh, thanks.」

With Aria’s help… everything was organised in under a half hour.

Passing the time, I thought that Aria was fairly peaceful…

「Hey? So you like this, Kinij? Huh… I thought so…」

Grumbling something strange, I turned to look her way–

…!…!….!

I saw her placing a book on a pile on the floor, furrowing her eyebrows into a frown…!

G-Grandfather must have hidden his own Hysteria Mode fuel『Spring Water Wheel』, that is, his swimsuit gravure photography magazines! That’s it!

「N-n-n-no! That’s not mine! It’s my grandfather’s–」

Ignoring my objection with a snort, she tied up the stack of magazines with a vinyl cord.

Oddly enough, there was a magazine woman with a kimono held closed by a straw rope at the top.

「Come on, blaming other people is terrible, isn’t it?」

Aria regarded me like a caterpillar.

「No, that’s really not how it is at all…!」

I said–

「…?」

I heard the sound of my grandparents’ footsteps in the corridor. It seems like they are going out somewhere.

Seeming to realise that we were going to be left alone in the house, that must have been why Aria got excited about the photographic magazines… I went out into the hall.

「Grandfather, where are you going?」

I asked my grandfather as my grandmother helped him put on an old leather jacket.

「Kinichi’s house. After waiting such a long time, that idiot calls and says he has something important to tell us.」

「…Nii-san is in Japan? I heard he was dead, but he’s alive… Could that be what he has to say?」

「Dying and coming back to life is a normal thing for Tohyama men. It has to be something else.」

Stop it! You’re treating life and death like a snack. What the heck am I saying?

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

Aria was strangely panicked, and I knew that I would become a domestic violence victim if we were left alone in the house together.

That being the case, we went together with my grandparents to Nogizaka.

We took my grandfather’s old, rattling, first-generation Daruma Celica that I had no idea how it still ran, going through Gokokuji, Edogawabashi… We took Tokyo Municipal Highway 413, arriving at my Nii-san’s apartment near the Nogi Kaiken 12

This was where my Nii-san had lived before he had died in the line of duty.

My grandfather and grandmother said that they wanted to visit the Nogi shrine, so Aria and I went ahead together.

Speaking of my Nii-san, there are a few things I want to talk to him about. He was a phantom, so I had to catch him… I didn’t know the next time we’d be able to talk.

The price of real estate in the area was pretty high, and my brother’s condominium was tastefully retro, but… the travel agency on the first floor had gone out of business… In its place there was a precious metal dealer with a pyramid logo and banner that read『Gold and Platinum Bought and Sold Here』. Rather than spend his money, it seems he has invested it–it must be due to the changing times.

I smelled some kind of cooking spice in the corridor, and ringing the first floor intercom for room 101…

*Ching!* *Ching!* *Ching!*…

Some kind of small cymbals sounded from inside? What was that?

–*Click!* The door opened, and we were greeted.

「Ki~n~i~chi~!」

Holding a ladle in one hand, wearing an apron, and spreading her arms wide with a smile covering her entire face–

「…P-Patra…!?」

It was the beautiful Egyptian woman, the member of I.U. and representative soldier for GRENEDA that we had fought.

At her feet, a band of several small golden dust figures stood striking cymbals in what seemed to be a welcome.

What the hell!?

Patra caught me in an embrace full of happiness, but then with a sudden jolt, stopped…

「You art Kinji Tohyama? I mistook your similar aura. I was in error. Correct it.」

Her expression becoming angry, and wearing a platinum ring on her fourth finger, *Whomp!*. Struck me in the head.

One of the last people we expected to see, both Aria and I were at a total loss.

「We’re siblings, so I can’t fix it.」

I said, to which she replied:

「Correct your birth!」

Whoa! She’s in a bad mood.

Her black bobbed hair whipped through the air as she spun around to the right.

Then her tight miniskirt on her high waist swayed as she went back inside.

「W-why are you in Kin-, Nii-san’s home, Patra?」

Aria and I followed her inside his apartment–

「We live together.」

「…!」

The shocking announcement caused me to lose my balance as I entered the room.

Aria, as well, flushed a bright red and steam began rising from the top of her head.

「Thine timing, at the least, is convenient. Will thou assist me in preparing the table, Aria and Kinji?」

This time she narrowed her eyes as she smiled, while tilting her head slightly in a coaxing manner… it was a manipulative action but essentially friendly.

Still half in shock, she passed us expensive plates and silver spoons that did not appear to see much use from a cupboard. Enough for 6 people.

「…Did you cook a meal? You do know you don’t have to use this kind of fancy tableware? It seems like you already know, but I came with my grandfather and grandmother.」

「The elderly are worthy of respect. They harbour the wisdom of a greater life experience.」

Speaking in a manner much more appropriate for the elderly, herself, it didn’t look like Patra had just gotten here.

In any case, it seemed she had been living here with my Nii-san for some time.

That means… after meeting her on I.U. and all the twists and turns that followed… does that mean that ever since we stopped fighting, they have lived here together?

Katze had said that Patra had liked my Nii-san for quite a while.

Aria pointed toward Patra who was humming to herself in the kitchen as she peeked into the oven.

「…The gold dealer’s shop below us is probably Patra’s shop, Kinji. Did you really not know? Was it really a surprise?」

Aria asked in a whisper as we arranged the plates on the table.

「No, I didn’t know at all, but… It really looks so…」

「Doesn’t Patra over there seem a bit friendlier? Love must really have changed her. Or maybe it was your brother.」

Acting more or less like a girl in this case, Aria said with a smile.

Even though I was only the sibling here, I was embarrassed.

「I don’t really know.」

I answered, turning back to set out the spoons.

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

With dinner preparations almost complete, the former enemies, Aria and Patra, headed out onto the balcony overlooking the garden. They may be talking about the trial.

Having taken off the apron, Patra is just the right height to be able to accomplish the troublesome act of resting her breasts on the railing– Aria attempted to imitate her, but she is not tall enough, and slipped off, knocking her chin on the hand rail. The force of the impact scattered the contents of her pochette over the ground a half-storey below. People shouldn’t attempt to put on airs.

After that happened–

The door opened, and my Nii-san returned.

「Nii-san.」

Turning to look at him, he hung his long, bulletproof coat on a coat hanger…

「Kinji, you’ve come. It’s been a while.」

Still taking his own time, he took out his Butei Handbook from his vest and laid in a desk.

I noticed that he wore a ring on the fourth finger of his left hand to match Patra’s.

「Nii-san, rings get in the way when you shoot a gun. Don’t forget to take it off the next time you become Kana.」

I meant to make small talk, but–

The very next instant *Wham!* He punched me as his face erupted in anger.

「–Kana’s name!」

Crap…! It slipped…!

「To me!? You say that!? Here!? Just blurting it out!?」

Straddling me in a fit of rage, he pummeled me over and over.

I hadn’t seen him for a while, so I’d forgotten! When my brother enters Hysteria Mode, he transforms into Kana, and it is extremely embarrassing for him. So whenever he hears her name, he flies into a rage…!

Flushed a bright red, my Nii-san rained blow after blow upon me, looking for all the world like a red oni. 3 times scarier than Yen and 10 times more than Aria, this is bad! Nii-san, turn back into Kana! Spend your whole life like that, if possible!

Rescuing my life:

「Welcome home, Kinichi!」

Patra hugged him from the side.

I crawled away to hide beneath the table.

「I do so love Kana. Be her once more.」

Clinging tightly to his side, Patra rubbed her cheek against his in a catlike motion.

It would appear… that in order to soften the effect of her own misandry, Patra has used Kana to overcome her dislike and become closer to men.

But my Nii-san, not meeting Patra’s gaze said:

「Kinji, you bastard! You talked to the Vatican!!」

He was angry that while I ran from Kaiser and his men in Brussels, I had exposed the fact that『Kana is a man』and he drew his Colt SAA revolver. *Click!*

「Last week I received a letter from the nuns! They were anxious about my health…! Kinji!!」

As it was the norm that my brother would shoot me, I used the evasive skills pounded into me by Aria to run away.

–Then, coming upon this chaotic scene…

My grandfather and grandmother entered the room.

My Nii-san fired one of his cylindrical bullets at me, and smelling the gunpowder, my grandfather had rushed in… with a quick motion, he grabbed him by the vest–

With a *Whomp!* he struck him quickly across the face with a closed fist.

「You stupid grandchild! Last year about this time we heard that you had died in a marine accident… You caused us no end of grief! It would have been better if you had died, you ungrateful child!」

Releasing his hold of his vest, my grandfather turned his back on my brother and folded his arms…

「…Grandfather. I’m sorry.」

Wiping away the blood from his nose with the back of his hand, my Nii-san apologised.

「G-Grandfather, you can’t say that!」

Despite it having been a long time since last seeing him, he said such a cruel thing, and when I turned to face him… my grandfather was… crying.

The number of lines on his face multiplying, he cried tears of joy as his face contorted.

Aria, Patra, and my grandmother understood the situation… and gave slight smiles.

「….」

That’s right. Thinking his grandchild was dead, then finding out he was alive, he couldn’t help be anything but happy.

Seeing his tear-stained face, he quickly turned away from me…

「So what is this important thing you have to tell us? I didn’t even get to watch the Diamond S horse race today of all days!」

He asked, thundering angrily..

To which the response was:

「… I-I got engaged. I was married abroad.」

–!

「Eh!?」

I was shocked.

「What? You hadn’t figured that out?」

Aria said to me.

「W-what?」

「Goodness, were you truly unaware?」

Looking back, a similar exchange was occurring between my grandfather and grandmother.

Running a hand through her black, bobbed hair, Patra shifted nervously to stand close beside my Nii-san… and once more, tears of joy welled up in my grandfather’s eyes.

「Kinichi. You… In addition to being alive, suddenly appear with a beautiful bride…! And I came here in this old, worn-out jacket, today of all days!」

With a smiling face, he thundered angrily again.

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

Creamy pea soup, and baked fish in herb oil, and fried rice in macaroni–

Patra’s Egyptian cuisine was well received by everyone, and since it was the first time I had eaten it, it was new and exciting.

Grandfather seemed especially taken with the date liquor, and in a good mood he set himself to drink it… I liked it somewhat myself.

After eating, my grandparents called a driving service and left…

Aria and Patra were washing up–I said to my Nii-san:「Let’s talk for a bit.」and led him on to the balcony.

There were a lot of things that I wanted to talk about.

My Nii-san and I, siblings that hadn’t seen each other for a long time, put on our coats and headed out to be alone on the balcony.

「….Congratulations on your marriage. I’m sure she’ll make you happy.」

「Thanks. Ever since I.U. we’ve been together on and off.」

A little embarrassed, he let his masque slip a bit.

Last summer in Daiba must have been a bit of a lover’s quarrel. Between Nii-san and Patra.

「The Daiba Pyramidion sun boat– Do you remember that, Nii-san?」

I asked probing, skirting the topic of Kana, but my Nii-san nodded his head calmly.

「Back then you said『Hidan no Aria』– I finally understand what you meant. Well, G-3 taught me a lot about it.」

「… I also learned of Sherlock’s『A Study in Scarlet』. Using the Hidan no Aria but stopping the take-over of the heart by the Blazing Scarlet Goddess via Hihiirokane– and allowing Aria to use the power of the hidan freely.」

My Nii-san–

Deeming me a fellow Butei, he gave me a brief biographical sketch.

「The『Hidan no Aria』is a hyper-stealth power far surpassing the traditional powers of stealth with the ability to change the world. The one unlocking that power could defeat anyone, gain immortality, transcend time and space, as well as raise the dead. Sherlock Holmes was only able to partially do so. That man was able to gain immortality without the Hihiirokane taking over his heart.」

My Nii-san’s words added to what my Hysteria Mode had already surmised.

「Hong Kong’s Son in a different matter. The Nyoibou and Somersault Cloud are but a few of the powers of Hihiirokane, as Son’s heart is but half taken over. She became a Blazing Scarlet Goddess due to someone else’s meddling, so as you say, her powers are incomplete.」

Nii-san showed that he knew about Son with a nod–

「Whenever a god appears, there will always be someone who tries to control it. Rampan used Patra’s Key to force the compatibility between her heart and the Hihiirokane so that she would be overcome by the Blazing Scarlet Goddess. However, it’s ability to restore her original mind was flawed.」

「Shirayuki’s Irokaneayame was another tool to control the Hihiirokane, wasn’t it?」

「Correct. It has the power to render Hihiirokane completely inert, like a nuclear control rod. The cursed bullet that Patra shot at Aria in Daiba was gilt in metal taken from Irokaneayame. Back then, Aria was not only cursed into a state of suspended animation, but it also halted the action of her irokane.」

「But… It started working again. The technique Aria used after waking up on the Annabelle was one of the Blazing Scarlet Goddess’, wasn’t it? She blasted the top of the pyramid on top of Patra’s ship away, sending it into the past… That doesn’t seem like something any ordinary stealth user could do. On top of the Kagataka Family’s mansion… Well, when they used Patra’s key to summon the Blazing Scarlet Goddess, her『awakened』form looked a lot like Aria back then.」

「Correct. Back then– When you touched Aria, you stirred the Blazing Scarlet Goddess greatly. It even temporarily overcame the power of Irokaneayame and the karagane.」

「I did…?」

I tried to fathom the meaning of these words.

Much about the『Hidan no Aria』had been clarified, but there were still some points I didn’t fully comprehend.

「Do I need to explain the kiss of a prince awakening a princess?」

My Nii-san said with a snort and a cool expression–

「Stop messing about. Honestly…. It might go against Article 6, and it’s embarrassing to ask, but… please just tell me. I’ve thought about this in Hysteria Mode, but I haven’t been able to make heads or tails of this point. What do I have to do with Aria being taken over by the Blazing Scarlet Goddess?」

「…Youth.」

In response to my plea, he only gave me a slight smile.

There is something in Aria’s and my relationship that affects Hihiirokane, but… everyone involved with it is so cryptic. Even Sherlock said:『For the sake of your future relationship, I will omit the details』. Tamamo said something similar, and seemed to be holding something back.

「…How is Shirayuki?」

Ultimately, he didn’t tell me anything, but asked this suddenly–
「Huh? Oh, she went home to the Hotogi shrine to visit her family.」

I replied, and Nii-san’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Then, although there wasn’t anyone else on the balcony with us, he continued in a whisper.

「I’ll answer half of your question. We are fated to be caught up with Hihiirokane because of our connection to the Hotogi mikos. In ancient times, the Hotogi researched the control of Hihiirokane. You are likely aware, but the one in ancient China who oversaw the operation that transformed Kou into Son was a Hotogi miko. The Himiko recorded in history textbooks was able to wield a great amount of the power of irokane.13」

「The Hotogi…」

「3 years ago, the same『premonition』– regarding the future came to several Hotogi miko. 『To save their mother from a crisis, someone compatible with Hihiirokane and who may bring about a great calamity will come to Japan』. With frequent divinations, the Hotogi miko were able to determine with high accuracy that the compatible one would appear in Tokyo Butei High.」

「…!」

「The Hotogi predicted Aria’s arrival. I cannot say much, but the Hotogi Shrine is closely allied to the Imperial Household. Using the influence of the government agency, they were able to effect the dispatch of a Hotogi miko to monitor the situation via a seemingly legitimate entrance to Butei High. That person was Shirayuki. The eldest daughter of the Hotogi would not ordinarily take on such a dangerous role without proper training– but she was worried for her sisters, and so volunteered herself.」

The Hotogi’s protected miko, the『caged bird』that was Shirayuki… Was that why she came to Tokyo unlike the other Hotogi miko?

「Although they had their suspicions that Aria was that compatible person, I believe it took a while to confirm. In any case, with the Tohayam Family’s role as the guardians of the Hotogi Shrine–when you reunited with Shirayuki, there was no way that you were not fated to become involved with Aria.」

Fate–

My Nii-san is a fatalist, but I do feel as if what he says is correct.

「Concerning the『Hidan no Aria』– that is all I know.」

「Thanks… It’s plenty. You’ve helped.」

「Now then, Kinji. I have something to say about myself. I’m going to start easing into retirement. The chief warrior of the Tohyama Family– from now on, that’s you.」

「Retirement…?」

「The Tohyama Family’s HSS is triggered by sexual excitation, and the alteration of personality comes with the strengthened nerve function. It’s only my personal theory, but I believe that love is inseparable from sex.」

Love… sex…

My flight instincts began to kick in, but I couldn’t because I wanted to hear about my Nii-san’s retirement.

「In what are called loved-based marriages, the couple’s emotions will eventually go beyond love. In the beginning, the taste of love is sweet like nectar, then it becomes bitter like lemonade, sooner or later, like water, fundamentally changing its essence. Love is something cool and calm, unlike what triggers Hysteria Mode.」

Lemonade… It’s incredible that he’s able to say something like that with a straight face.

「Marriage is a milestone of retirement for Hysteria Mode. As a man, I have scruples about being aroused by many different women. I’ve devised a way to stimulate myself at will, but that is a bit of a grey zone.」

「Power… That’s what it’s about, isn’t it? So you’ve decided on Patra.」

「That isn’t all of it. As a man gains more experience in life, his power to become aroused weakens. Aging is another factor that inhibits arousal. That is to say, with each passing year, we become weaker.」

My Nii-san said this with a smiling face, but his message was grave. Arousal was arousal.

However… his theory was not one without some intuitive sense. Kissing scenes in a movie that would set me off in a panic a short while ago, I can now calmly fast forward.

Marriage would probably be the peak at which our strength as warriors would begin to decline.

My Nii-san said:『ease into retirement』due to his decline in sexual excitement–

Whether I like it or not, sooner or later, it will happen to me as well.

「I understand. But Nii-san, don’t just give up. Grandfather and Father must have been able to find some way, and G-3 uses art and music.」

Responding with a forced smile, Nii-san laughed in reply–

Then, without a word, he went back inside.

Left alone on the balcony, I considered my Nii-san’s words…

*Crunch!*

Dead leaves crunched.

There was just under 1 meter of space below the balcony.

「…?」

Absorbed in our previous conversation, neither I nor my Nii-san had noticed, but there must have been some kind of stray cat.

That thought in mind, I leaned my body out over the balcony to look–

—!

Strawberry blonde twin-tails — that’s what I saw.

「…A-Aria…!?」

Startled by my voice, the figure I suddenly darted out from under the balcony.
Running out into the darkness of the garden, I saw their back… and my blood froze.

It was Aria.

Aria heard us.

What we had been talking about.

…!

Aria had dropped the contents of her pochette in the garden. After washing up, she must have gone to collect them.

Added to the fact that she ran… this is bad…!

Now Aria has found out my secret!

…About Hysteria Mode!

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

Without a moment’s delay, I leapt of the balcony into the condominium’s garden–in pursuit of Aria.

What am I going to do?

What should I do?

Aria knows. The quirk that my Hysteria Mode is triggered before a fight by sexual arousal.

And how many times did it happen because of Aria…!

With nothing but confusion in my head, my whole body was covered in an unpleasant sweat.

My vision of the world warped. I felt sick.

「…!」

A bit of snow had fallen a little while ago, and some still remained in this shaded courtyard–

The footsteps left by Aria’s escape were easily seen.

Nii-san’s condominium was next to the Nogi Shrine…

And they led onto its grounds. To the Chouzuya.

To the far side of the large stone basin collecting water for visitors to cleanse their hands and mouths.

Hidden alongside the basin was Aria.

Aria…!

Out of breath and having caught up, I saw her face look up at me from the other side of the water basin–

Her eyes meeting mine.

They said:『…I’m embarrassed…!』

Her usually brave expression… was flushed red and becoming redder and redder in even more embarrassing than usual.

Ah, what should I do?

What should I say?

I didn’t even know.

「…What are you doing over there?」

Pale-faced, I couldn’t do anything but ask this naive question.

「…I remembered. Inside the vaulting box.」

That…

It was the first time I entered Hysteria Mode due to Aria, wasn’t it?

Riko’s self-driven UZIs had chased us there, and I had been saved by Aria– I had indecently touched Aria’s breasts and gone into Hysteria Mode.

Immediately afterwards, I shot bullets down the muzzles of the UZIs. What’s more, I had done it 7 times in full-auto.

Seeing that superhuman technique, Aria supposed that there was『some kind of power』laying dormant in my body… And after a long time of searching, she chose me to be her partner.

Up until now, she had never imagined that the power was triggered by sexual arousal.

「…」

「…」

After the two of us remained quiet for a moment…

I took the ladle from the stone basin and washed my hands and mouth with a bit of water.

However, I didn’t imagine that I could purify myself with such an act.

「…」

Finally, Aria stood and did the same. As you would expect of a noble, her manners are impeccable upon visiting a shrine.

With the basin between us, she hung her head in disappointment, then… I raised mine once more.

「…Should we go?」

「…Y-yeah.」

Even if we couldn’t exchange glances, we could exchange words.
And embarrassed by even that…

We walked through the shrine together at night.

But it was uneasy.

「…All things considered, you’re a pervert. Over such a childish figure like mine…」

Augh…

She heard everything.

I had already prepared myself for this, but the reality of the situation being thrust upon me caused me to pale once more.

But it’s time to respond. There is nothing else to do.

「…Figure had nothing to do with it.」

「Eh! Then why!?」

「Well, it’s because it was y-you.」

「…!」

The two of us were walking side by side, but we didn’t exactly know where we were going.

Both of us were looking somewhat downwards… so we couldn’t see each other’s faces. We were still embarrassed.

「You’re cute.」

「…!…」

「Oh, uh, I mean, that’s what everyone says…」

I said this deception, but–

I changed my mind

No, that’s not it. I had said what I really thought.

「I think so too. Since the first time we met.」

It was cold, but then it wasn’t.

When embarrassed, humans begin giving off heat. Aria began radiating heat like an electric heater.

In the sparsely lit shrine, the starlight illuminated the path before our feet.

It was awfully quiet.

「…Cold?」

「…Yeah.」

「Want to go back?」

「Let’s walk a bit further. Let’s give your brother and Patra some time together.」

Aria said something sensible.

Can you share even 1/1000th of the trouble your little brother is in?

No… this may be Aria’s way of making time to talk with me.

If it weren’t just the two of us, we wouldn’t be able to talk about it.

Perhaps trying to escape reality, I thought about what Aria and I might find my Nii-san and Patra doing if we headed back… The instant I thought about it, a strange tension and set of circumstances came to mind. There was no escaping it.
My stomach clenched.

Leaving Aria now would be no use. It was a fact that I been aroused by her.

「Aria.」

「…」

I stopped myself, and Aria took one more step then looked back at me.

Although she had spoken calmly, her eyes told me as much as her mouth did– her heart was actually pounding in her chest in excitement. I saw her tighten and clench her right hand over her chest, seeming want to hold it in.

「How much did you hear?」

「From the point about your brother’s retirement. I was there to pick up what I dropped… I wasn’t meaning to eavesdrop, but…」

So she heard everything about Hysteria Mode then?

「Back at the end of summer vacation– On top of the INFORMA building, I meant to tell you everything about Hysteria Mode. I was interrupted by Reki, and after that I just kept putting it off. It’s not right to so now, but… please let me apologise. I’m sorry.」

In response to my sincerely bowed head…Aria said:

「…I didn’t notice. Never. Maybe my intuition just isn’t that good.」

I took out my hands and turned the backs of them toward her to show I wouldn’t shoot.

「…Are you disgusted?」

「Just a bit surprised.」

Aria raised her head to look at me–

Her face said she had accepted it.

「I don’t even know what it’s like for a boy. It isn’t a bad feeling is it?」

In fact, it was an altogether uncharacteristic expression on her face.

I don’t think it was a happy one, but…

Perhaps realising her face had gone a little slack, she raised a slanted pink eyebrow.

「B-but! I won’t let you do that in order to use it! If it’s an accident, then I’ll let you off with a few bullets.」

「…I would prefer no『bullets』…」

「After this, if you become ‘that’ you, I’ll know you’re thinking about that. If it’s an inappropriate situation, I won’t hold back any bullets!」

You’re going to shoot me either way, aren’t you?

「Please don’t shoot me. This… is a problem for me too.」

I said with a miserable expression on my face.

「S-sorry. You’re right. You probably don’t want to be like this either.」

To face this serious matter, Aria adopted a serious and humble tone.

「So, from here on– Do you want to be partners? Having this condition as a Butei carries more than a little risk.」

「That’s right, Kinji. You’re stupid, have a strange fighting style, a dunce, and to top it all off, you’re a peerless womaniser, aren’t you? You really are a disgusting Butei.」

「Y-you didn’t have to say all of that.」

「–There isn’t anyone in the entire world that could be your partner. That is… except me. So… I have to thank you. I’ll drive you hard.」

In return for what I had said when I left Butei High… I get the feeling that was why she said that.

「You’re my Watson. Even if my Watson is strange… we’re the 21st century Holmes and Watson. I’ve decided, and once decided it cannot change for life. So don’t make such a glum face!」

Aria ordered, taking the role of master and jabbing her finger under my nose. Though small in body, she had a large presence.

「…Can I ask one more thing about that?」

「What?」

「You… Between ‘that’ me and ‘this’ me, which do you like better?」

「I like both. You are you, after all.」

She said, repeating the words I had said in Sugamo.

Always repeating back what has been said is something a child does.

「Well then, let’s pinky-swear. Sealing our contract as partners again. Kinji is Aria’s partner, no matter what. Aria is Kinji’s partner, no matter what. Alright?」

Aria stuck her finger out–

I was so relieved that I had to turn away to hide the tears of joy that welled up in my eyes.

「Isn’t that a bit childish? Twined fingers are unlucky.」

I said, sniffing my nose… in order to cover up my tears.

「But, well, I can deal with a child. Even though I’m an adult.」

I said, wrapping my pinky around hers.

「I worked with others without you in Europe. But I trust you 100% with my back–Aria. Only you.」

「Me too. I worry when you aren’t here. I trust you 100% with my back–Kinji. Only you.」

Saying that, several seconds passed that felt like an eternity, and our pinky promise ended–

Then Aria fished something out of her pochette.

「Now, as a symbol of our partnership, here’s a present.」

In my hand that still floated in the air from the pinky promise, something was crammed.

I was handed something in a girlish wrapping that looked like sweets.

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

Aria_17_151

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

「Today is Valentine’s Day. Here are some chocolate momoman. It wasn’t that I stayed up all night to make them. I’m short on sleep for another reason entirely.」

Aria made that non-confession…

As an international student, there is no way she knows. This is a violation of Butei High rules.

「…You made this?」

「What’s with the weird face?」

「Oh! Uh, i-it’s not weird. It’s happy! Thanks!」

「Yes, yes. An honest Kinji is the best Kinji.」

Aria looked up at me with a grinning face…

I never expected her to give me something. It’s surprising.

But eating it is taking my life into my hands. Aria’s cooking is terrible–

「Eat up!」

「…!…」

「What’s with the troubled face? If you don’t eat it, I will.」

–Because I couldn’t endanger the life of my partner… Like a bomb disposal technician, I carefully extracted some of the contents.

It really is chocolate momoman…!

It did look to be chocolate covered, and it had the shape of a momoman, but it was impossible to say exactly what it was by just looking at it–

With a quivering hand, I carried it to my mouth… The outside was smooth, but the inside had a gritty texture… the bean paste inside also contained chocolate.

The source of the chocolate seemed to be chocolate bars. From the taste, I think she mixed in aluminium foil when she made it.

–Terrible!

「Is it good?」

「Well.. I have to say the taste is so-so.」

I concealed my true thoughts with a contrived response, but apparently that wasn’t good enough–

*Grip!* With a smile plastered on her face, Aria grabbed my lower jaw.

「Is it good? By the way, I can crush billiard balls in my hands.」

「It’s delicious! I knew that right away!」

「Why the tears?」

「I’ve never tasted something so delicious in my life, and my life has been lacking all this time…!」

「Ehehe!」

I summoned up this favourite desperate reply, and with a *Whoosh!* Aria released and did not crush my jaw–her face slackening into a dreamy expression.

Then, while the thought『I wonder if it’s okay to eat this much aluminium foil?』passed through my head as I ate the chocolate momoman:

「I’m glad. It’s against the school rules, so I thought you wouldn’t accept it. But you did!」

…She knew. About the Butei High ban on Valentine’s Day.

「Next month… I’ll break the rule, so wait another month.」

I said while covering my mouth with my hand–and Aria’s face lit up like a star. Dammit, she’s adorable. She can get away with just about anything.

「…Now, let’s go back soon.」

Thinking my Nii-can’s apartment had to have some kind of gastrointestinal medicine, I subtly urged Aria–

「Yeah. We left without any explanation. Hey, speaking of which, yesterday you spoke English. You had a very strong Southern American accent.」

Aria said as we continued walking across the shrine’s grounds.

「Uh, oh! I learned in Europe.」

Despite using my Hysteria Mode cheat to do so, I answered honestly as we continued along.

「Well, then you can come to England. I’ve been to your parent’s home, so next time you can visit London.」

「You want me to visit the Holmes Family’s home?」

「…Well. You did give me a ring for my birthday.」

Why did she say this now?

「Well… I did get some experience in Europe. Let’s go.」

「Then it’s settled. Hey, I… think I made a good impression at your house.」

「I think so. It was a good act. On the other hand, I made quite the unfavourable impression.」

「Yeah. I was able to fully relax.」

Aria saw me beaten by my Nii-san and my Nii-san beaten by my grandfather, so of course she was the favourite.

「Aria, aren’t you able to relax in your own home?」

「…My home is not very comfortable. I haven’t talked about it, but I– have a younger sister, Minuet. She’s a pure-bred Englishwoman, unlike me.」

I knew that she had a younger sister from the wiretap I had on the communications between Watson and Aria…

They must have different mothers.

「Minuet inherited my great-grandfather’s deductive abilities. Even the Queen has sought this prodigy’s counsel… She’s cute, but she has a warped personality.」

From Aria’s words and the complicated expression on her face, I got the sense that she loved her sister but was somewhat envious.

「Because of that, I think that Minuet will be the official heir of the Holmes Family. I won’t be stripped of my noble peerage, but for the rest of my life, the rest of the family will treat me like『I don’t exist』. Sorry, I… don’t like talking about it.」

「It’s fine. It was a secret, after all. Don’t worry about it. I don’t even care.」

To be honest, I didn’t really care about Aria’s position in the Holmes Family. So I was able to answer calmly.

「…Thanks, Kinji. But I don’t think this is something you can understand without seeing it for yourself. So I want you to come to England. I want you to understand. Everything about me…」

Aria said, somewhat unsteadily–

Saying something that she couldn’t until now, Aria’s face cleared.

Then with a *Tap!* *Tap!*

She took a few steps, then came to stand a short ways ahead of me.

「Today was a happy day. I’m happy that I got to meet Kinji’s family. I’m happy that you revealed your secret. I’m happy that you made that promise with me. I’m happy that you ate my chocolates. Today… was the happiest day of my life so far.」

Speaking with her back turned to me, her words were like those from a fairy tale–

Having come to a stop with her back toward me, she looked up for a moment into the sky.

It was like she was… giving me the time to do something…

But, I–

Didn’t know what Aria wanted me to do.

「…」

「…」

The silence wrapped around us–

With a *Whoosh!* a shooting star fell through the Winter’s sky.

As if that were some kind of signal, Aria looked at her watch–

「Let’s go back.」

We began walking down the deserted path once more.

Aria.

I–

Because of my condition, I’ve always avoided girls… but honestly… I don’t know what I should do.

But.

But I regret it.

But I will not run.

I have to do this for you now…!

Unable to control this feeling, I chased after Aria–

–Embracing her as soon as I got close.

「Aria.」

「Wait. Let me say something.」

Because of the 28 cm height difference, as I continued to hold her from behind…

「Until now, I’ve used violence, but now I want to change. I want you to believe me.」

…Hanging her head, she continued…

「It’s about you and me.」

Turning around in my arms to face me.

「–I like–」

…No.

…It can be…!

「……you, Tohyama.」

This isn’t Aria!

Before I knew it, Aria’s eyes were drained of light and glassy like a doll’s–
These signs reached a familiar peak intensity.

「–Hahahahahaha! You are surprising! I expected to be awakened in war, but I was awakened in love!」

Until now, it has been Aria.

But this was–

「–Blazing Scarlet Goddess…!」

The same soul living within Son–now possessed Aria.

After slipping out of my arms, her expression and motions were those of an entirely different person.

…She had been possessed. Aria’s heart has been taken over by the Blazing Scarlet Goddess!

Why! What should I do…!

This happened even though Tamamo said it would likely take longer.

With a rustle, Aria shook her head and twin-tails from side to side–No, it was the Blazing Scarlet Goddess–regaining corporeal form again, she looked up into the sky.

「It’s been a while, Tohyama. I had to try several times, but it was hard to overtake this heart without breaking it. You’ve seen Aria blurt out the truth during some of her attacks, right? Those were my failed attempts to ignite the smoulder of love, but now the results of my efforts have manifested.」

With a grin on her face, it was the purest form– of unadulterated evil in that smile.

Stop it…! Stop it! Aria doesn’t smile like that…!

「This is good. Good. Love is good. Awakening love summons me to consciousness. Especially when someone loses the one they love… Back on the Annabelle, Aria was entirely convinced that you had died, and that moment of admitted love was the greatest awakening! I must thank you for that, Tohyama!」

The Blazing Scarlet Goddess stood in front of me as I quivered with rage–*Whoosh!*

Kicking off the ground with a *Whoomph!* She kicked off into the empty air and flew upwards.

Then–she landed in a squatting position on the shrine’s large stone torii.
With the new moon behind her, the Blazing Scarlet Goddess wore Aria’s form…

「Hahahaha! This woman’s body is the perfect manifestation of me. Absolutely perfect. Oi, Tohyama, prostrate yourself and worship. I can use aaaaall of them now! The Nyoibou, the Koyomi Kagami, and as many others as I like!」

Perhaps to ease her movements, she split Aria’s skirt, and her voice– It was Aria’s anime-like voice, but it was the same speech pattern as that Son had stolen from me. My mind was reeling.

Irokane is like nuclear fuel for magic.

The Blazing Scarlet Goddess’ declaration was that she had an inexhaustible stock of magical techniques at her disposal.

「Ah! It seems that I have to explain it to you carefully because you’re an idiot. Aria likes you. She wants you.」

In this way…

That is not how I wanted to hear it.

It was the Blazing Scarlet Goddess who had said it. It wasn’t Aria.

「Hihiirokane is one for everything. It is also everything in one. That being the case, this is my ideal…!」

Calling that out, all around her–

The branches on the trees reaching out on both sides of the torii rustled.

With a *Crack!* *Crack!* the branches and leaves burst without anything touching them.

With a *Whipsh!*, Aria’s tattered skirt fluttered

As if in zero-G space, the gravel within the torii beneath her began to rattle. Then it began to float. It all started with a slight earthquake. The Goddess’ body filling with fighting power, even the stars began to waver in my sight.

「Let’s start! The war! Love and War– Love is the flipside of War. This world is dull and uninteresting. Dullness is evil. War destroys this evil in a divine feat of justice. You are an ally of justice, Tohyama. Follow me. Awakened, I will spread War throughout the world–! I am very good at starting wars. In terms of diplomacy, let’s make it Japan against the world. If I start killing all the weak humans like the The War of the Three Kingdoms China, the Sengoku Period of Japan, and the Dark Ages of Europe– I will gather all the superhumans from around the world. Then you and I will fight all of those bright stars of superhumans! They will burn! It will be fun! We will open wind-holes of War in the dull world! Hahahahahaha!」

A scarlet aura gathering around her, the Blazing Scarlet Goddess bared Aria’s canines in her laughter–

Her pink twintails spread out wide on both sides of her.

They looked like wings.

The overall figure was non-humanoid.

I thought back to when Son had done it, and it was awfully beautiful.
Gods bear that name for a reason.

Facing that I–

–*Ka-thump!*–

I felt the gradual rush of blood to my core.

I was transforming.

Into another person.

「–It’s normal for girls to have different expressions.」

I started in Hysteria Mode– looking up into the Blazing Scarlet Goddess’ face.

「I don’t think that will happen. The way you treat war is outrageous. On top of that– there has been some misunderstanding. I am not an ally of justice.」

「Oh, then whose ally are you?」

Right now… It is unusually clear.

My position, that is.

「Aria’s.」

It was familiar. The form of Hysteria Mode, that is–

Aria– The Blazing Scarlet Goddess has stolen her away, so it was Hysteria Berserk. Then because Aria had been stolen away yet again, I entered Hysteria Regalamento– Hysteria King Mode. Hybridising them. Making it stronger. The blood flow.

If that’s a god, then I am a king.

God versus King– It will not be enough for this opponent. The Blazing Scarlet Goddess.

「Give Aria back!」

Then– In the evening air, I stood up to face her.

Go For The Next!!!

[END]

Atogaki:(Afterword)

Hello! I cut my hair but no one in my family noticed! It’s Akamatsu!

In the 17th volume quite a lot has happened to Kinji– In the course of the story, Kinji has used all kinds of techniques like『Zetsurou』,『Clear Fall Water』,『Kotou』, and『Hidden Forest』that were passed down through the Tohyama Family.

However, the techniques used by Kinishi and Kinji are not the same, and Clear Fall Water was not taught to him by his father because the transmission of techniques to members of subsequent generations is somewhat irregular.
The reason for this is that the Tohyama Family has imposed a limit such that parents may only pass down a maximum of 100 techniques to their children. For his part, Kinji is an inventor and collector of incredible techniques, so if he exceeds 100 techniques– in that case, he would have to seal or discard the excess when passing them on to the next generation. What’s more, Kinji’s father only taught about half of his 100 techniques to Kinichi and Kinji, respectively.
This method of passing down techniques is a regressive Tohyama Family practice… It is meant to curb those with the peculiar condition of Hysteria Mode from becoming altogether too strong. This ensures a diversity and disparity of skills between each member of each generation, such that in the case of any one of them turning to evil, they would be able to be subjugated by an technique unknown to them.

Kinji himself is disgusted by this, but his family adheres to the principles of an ally of justice– In accordance with that philosophy, the mandate that blood must stand ready to purge blood has been handed down. I don’t know what else to write about it, but it’s scary!

Now then, changing topics–

In this journey『Hidan no Aria』has reached a total sales number of 5 million copies!

The comic and anime adaptations『Hidan no Aria AA』and『Hidan no Aria-chan』spin-offs have been made, translated, and reached several places in Asia, including Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and China. Countless figurines have been made and sold, and the game『Super Heroine Chronicle』has been released in gaming machines…

When I first started writing the story, I could never have imagined how far Aria would reach into the world.

I wonder how much further we can go!

The previous volume’s wrap-around band teased a『New Project』…!

All this has been thanks to the everyone in the editorial staff and above all to the reader.

I want to bring this volume to an end with a sincere thanks from the bottom of my heart. Thank-you very much.

Next time– There will be a flash of dazzling light like the sun when Kinji and Yen meet.

A certain day in April, 2014

Akamatsu Chuugaku

ILLUS NOTES:

Aria_17_159

Well, it’s been a while since I had to draw so much of Aria, and it was great!
It was also fun to draw characters we haven’t seen in a while!
See you in the next volume!

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

1. Ishin-denshin

2. Original expression is ‘lamp post in the daytime’ to refer to a slow-witted person. This is a pun.

3. This is the ‘ball’ from the ancient Japanese courtier game that Tamamo sometimes transforms into.

4. Momotaro is a Japanese folk tale adventure often translated ‘Peach Boy’. Peaches are pink-ish.

5. Pheasant in Japanese is ‘kiji’

6. Literally *pot’. Oni in Japanese folklore have descriptive names like that. ‘Sloth’, ‘Drunkard’, ‘Coward’, and so on are also common and indicative of character traits.

7. Shinden

8. Ojou-sama in the original. Thought, I’d try a new way of TLing it.

Basically means a well-to-do and proper lady, usually with some money. Expected to be polite and graceful. Like a proper ‘lady’ but specifically young.

9. Popular comic strip character. Apparently lives in a classical Japanese house.

10. Ghibli reference to Laputa: Castle in the Sky.

11. Apparently a ‘closet’ is a tall, shallow storage space primarily for clothes and ‘storage closet’ is a deeper storage space with shelves meant for storing other objects, especially larger ones.

12. Famous Venue and Meeting Hall in Roppongi LINK

13. This ‘Himiko’ is not the same ‘Hi-‘ prefix to miko as Hihiirokane that is used to refer to Shirayuki. This is a reference to an obscure, legendary shaman queen in ancient Japanese history.