Chapter 3

Volume 18: Star-Spangled Martial Law– Trans-Am, Chapter 3: To the Center of the World ― East meets West

Chapter 3: To the Center of the World ―East meets West

[START TEXT]

Before Aria returned home, she went back to Butei High–

I stayed at my parent’s home and sent a report to Butei High about going to America. G-3 had a commission request from a company to work in America, so it was fine on paper.

Because it met the『3 day minimum』, it was treated differently than Caravan III which yielded a fixed number of academic credits, regardless of the duration–overseas assignments accrue a number of credits at a base rate.

This basic rate is based upon the average student’s achievement at Butei High.

What’s more, the evaluation, that is to say the audit of the credit is rarely performed. Doing so for overseas work would be hard.

As an extreme case, if you were going to receive a failing mark in a midterm or final examination in Japan…if you could come up with a fictitious overseas commission, the system allows you to scrape by with a barely passing grade. At least in Tokyo Butei High.

But speaking of this loophole, if used to shirk off coursework, will result in a bad, untrained Butei that would eventually be killed.If you stay abroad without working for a long time, your visa will expire and you’ll run out of money. So this isn’t something that is typical for a student to do.

Furthermore, by filing the report, everyone in the school network will know I’m in America.

It will happen without the need to talk to anyone, and since it would be a strange thing to do during the FEW cease-fire… it’s best to limit contact with other members of DEEN. I want to lower the level of risk as much as possible. Even if someone was curious about where I had gone, they could find out that I was overseas in a single search.
Then, without waiting a day to head to New York, the very next morning–

「Aniki, gimme this bear carving. It has artistic charm.」

「Onii-chan, I want this silver angel! Then I’ll have 4!」

My idiot younger brother and sister were picking through my stuff like they were some kind of Japanese souvenirs.

「The bear is 2,000 Yen, and the angle is 500.」

I declared, leaving the room with as many bullets as I could carry.

Exiting the washroom into the corridor, I told my grandfather:

「I’m leaving for a while. I’m going to America.」

I slid open the exterior screen…

「Wha…!」

「…」

Standing there in a sailor suit and not returning my shocked reaction–was Reki.

Having her right in front of me, and not giving off any sign of her presence, I was truly surprised.

I didn’t know how long she was there…but she had been there the whole time, waiting for me it seemed.

With a little girl standing with a Dragunov hanging from her shoulder in front of our door, there was no telling what kinds of rumours the neighbours would spin…

「Why are you here, Mint Yada.」

A bit petulantly, I used the embarrassing alias that Reki used last year when she free-loaded at my parent’s home. But, as usual, Reki answered as freely as the wind blew:

「I am accompanying you.」

She answered with her usual blank expression and uninflected voice.

I indicated the line of G-3’s subordinates with my hand.

「No matter what, you can guess what we are doing. We aren’t going to an arcade or convenience store. Even if you say you’re a rule-breaker, we’ll be defying the cease-fire and–」

Mid-sentence:

「–The Wind is disturbed.」

Reki interjected, interrupting me and looking at me with her almond shaped eyes.

…There it was,『The Wind』.

Since the shinkansen-jacking it had been relatively quiet, and I’d ignored it, but this was Reki’s god. If told to kill herself, she’d do it.

She and The Wind had fallen out last Autumn because of me, but it seems like they had recently re-established remote contact–

「Were you told to come with me?」

「Yes. The Wind wishes for me to go with all of you.」

「Tell The Wind to come themself.」

「…I am a single bullet. A bullet has no heart. Therefore, it does not think.」

Is she reciting that mantra again, after so long?

But no matter what, she will never change her mind. I learned that back in the first semester of High School.

What’s more–according to Shirayuki and Kazayuki–Reki is a miko for the ririirokane that we were going to take, although that is different from hihiirokane and ruruirokane.

Although I didn’t want to think much about it, Reki was someone related to irokane.

On the final day of summer vacation, she had warned me『You shouldn’t get too close to Aria』…I…can’t really say that I hadn’t ignored it. Aria and I had become friends, developed a bond, and become partners.

If I had heeded that warning–

It’s possible that this whole situation could have been avoided if I hadn’t recklessly ignored her.

I couldn’t prove it or not, but if so, I need to repay Reki

…

At a glance, the addition of an S-ranked Butei sniper to G-3’s team is a welcome one.

「…Reki, do you speak English?.」

I asked, trying to break down her argument, point by point–

「Yes. A little bit.」

She answered in English with less of an accent than I had, a result of her having spent her early teen working in China and Russia as a hit man.

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

Ultimately, both Aria and I are both flying this morning.

Aria, however, seems to have left Japan on a civilian flight ahead of me.

Last night, I received a message from Aria that she was leaving from terminal 2, gate 3F–and I left G-3, his crew, and Reki in the international lobby.

「I’m going to see Aria off.」

I announced, and for some reason though grinning, a vein throbbed on Kaname’s forehead as she followed me across the ridiculously large lobby.

The British Airways kiosk printer was located on the third floor at the south end of the building, and I quickly spotted Aria’s unusual pink hair…

…Huh? There was another girl in a Butei High sailor suit standing next to her?

She had twin-tails as well, but was even shorter than Aria–It was her Amica. Like Fuuma to me, this was the underclassman that Aria had adopted, Akari Mamiya. She was carrying Aria’s luggage.

There was also another unsolicited pipsqueak there as well. Wearing a loose trench coat and looking happy, it was Nori Zenigata. It looks like… she’s acting as Aria’s bodyguard. That makes me angry. Because she caught us yesterday, Aria had to give up, raise her hands, and meekly return home.

Mamiya shoved the luggage over the check-in counter, and Aria spotted me.

「Kinji.」

Her face lit up. Caught off-guard because of her cute smiling face, I was flustered for a moment–

「Good morning, Butei Offisher Kinji Tohyama. Did I hear it correctly from Butei High? Are you going to work in America today?」

The ebullient Zenigata interjected herself. She was happy to soon be relieved of the dangerous task of『taking care of Aria』. At least that was what her expression said.

「I was awfully rude yeshterday. Here. I have expresshed my shorrow in thish apology.」

Zenigata held out a manila envelope… and I started to refuse it.

But the look in Aria’s eye said『please accept it』and after a brief inspection–the paper inside had『This document is a request to relevant officials to allow the bearer free passage into the United States of America』written on it in English. It was also stamped with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs’ seal.

This… must be intended to prevent Aria and I from rejoining each other soon by making it easier for me to enter America. How considerate.

Well, if I rejected this, it would put me on decisively bad terms with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I don’t plan to use it, but I’ll pretend to accept it.

I put it into my pocket, and ignoring Zenigata–

「–Aria, you arrested 99 convicted criminals back in England. There must be some who are already released on bail or parole. Will you be alright without a bodyguard?」

I asked, worried about my partner’s safety. And the response was.

「I’m taking Akari with me.」

The mini-highschool girl Aria pointed a thumb toward the micro-highschool girl, Akari Mamiya.

「…Huh?」

I furrowed my eyebrows–

「Don’t worry. This girl is strong. She might even be able to beat you.」

「Nonsense. Even if I slacked off in INQUESTA, I wouldn’t lose to a first-year.」

「Well, let’s see. Akari, fight him.」

Grinning, Aria grabbed Akari’s twin-tails and placed her right in front of me.

「Wha! You want me to fight Kinji Tohyama… An upperclassman? H-here?」

The 139 cm tall Mamiya’s wide eyes flickered between me and Aria–

–In her first year, she must have been involved in quite a few violent encounters, I can sense a reasonable amount of ability.

But in the end, first-years are first-years. I’m not in Hysteria Mode, but I don’t feel like losing. At the orders of our common master Aria, we started some kind of bodyguard test.

Glancing at the older women behind the British Airways counter,

「I don’t want to pull out a gun for no reason in an airport… so I’ll just rest my hand lightly on it. Just resting my hand on it is a bit clumsy, but it might hurt if hands get in the eyes or hit the jaw.」

I said prefatorily, pointing at my face.

「Ah, right. That reminds me that I asked Saski from INQUESTA about you…」

Scratching the back of my head, I gave no indication of attacking–

–*Whoosh!* I aimed a leg sweep at Mamiya’s sneakers.

If this were an ordinary first year, this would be the place where she would kick up at an angle toward the base of my skull, but–

「Hyaa!」

While raising a cry of surprise, Mamiya kicked out her own leg to intercept mine and used my own strength to power her own jump. Then there was a rush of air.

With a flutter of her short skirt, she leapt up in a cat-like motion.

As soon as I heard her foot touch the ground behind me, I pulled the gun I had bluffed and said I wouldn’t draw in a quick-draw motion. Then as I turned to face Mamiya–

…?

Huh? It’s lighter.My gun, that is.

The magazine was missing.

「…Here you go.」

Bending forward, she took out the Beretta magazine from behind her back and returned it to me.

When she was airborne, she must have slipped it from my shoulder holster.

It was the same technique used by Watson and performed at the same skill level. It can’t be anything else.

As I returned the magazine and gun to it’s holster… I noticed that it had a scratch like something left by an animal on it. Left by Mamaiya’s claws. From that I could tell it was–

The Tohyama’s Family’s『Well Kerb Taking』…?

The technique of taking an enemy’s weapon that I used on the day I met Aria to steal her spare magazine as she tossed me away. The track of the finger marks are quite similar.

But when I learned Well Kerb Taking from my father, it was with both hands. There are only claw marks from one hand.

No, this is『Penetrating Pilfer』…!

Recalling its name, my eyes widened.

The technique that I had learned,『Well Kerb Taking』, is a technique inherited from Tohyama no Kin-san, also known as Kinshiro Tohyama– a degraded version of a technique his father Kagekuni Tohyama stole from another style. The genuine technique was『Penetrating Pilfer』.

Unlike Well Kerb Taking that can only take something on the surface of the body, Penetrating Pilfer can take something from inside. That is to say it is a brutal and unique killer technique meant to thrust the fingers into the navel or mouth and gouge out a vital organ or the brainstem.

And the user of Penetrating Pilfer was working under Kagekuni Tohyama as a secret agent of the Imperial Court, to crack down on illegal contraband–a ninja.

The name of that agent was Rinzou Mamiya. He and Akari Mamiya share the same family name. That can’t be a coincidence.

But that is… a flower that should not be named. 1

「…Understood. I’ll leave it to you.」

I said, while returning the extended Micro-UZI magazine I had taken from Mamiya using Well Kerb Taking.

Mamiya was Mamiya, and made a slightly relieved expression.

「I’ll have my Amica in London with me. She’s been about as hands-off with me as you’ve been with Fuuma, but when it comes down to it, she’s a reliable senpai. She’s also a certified S-Rank in fighting strength.」

Aria said, giving me a wink. With her senpai, Aira, and Mamiya, would that be the battle tri-sters?2 If that’s the case, then I guess I shouldn’t worry too much.

「Aria…」

「Kinji. I can’t say a lot with Zenigata here, but let me be clear. We’re leaving Japan, but we aren’t running away. We’re running to confront something.」

— To confront the Scarlet Goddess, is what she means.
I understand that. And I agree with you, Aria.

「So this isn’t『farewell』. It’s a see you latter」

「Right. Last year you chose me as your partner. I accepted it by going along with it. That means that I chose you as well. When Butei chooses partners, there is no『farewell』. Only when they die.」

「Thanks, Kinji. If something happens, I’ll call you.」

「I’ll hurry to your side, even if I have to dig a hole through the Earth.」

「Fufu! I think you just might.」

With this conversation, I wanted to check one last time on Aria–

Yeah, that’s right. She’ll be fine.

Just before we separated I got defiant. Well, if she’s on Earth, that’s practically the same place. Whether they are at the next station or the next country, the only difference is in the transport vehicle between them, but essentially they are the same.

「See you later, Kinji.」

「You too. Be careful.」

Alright, let’s go.

Getting ready to perform a right about-face, my leg… it hesitated.

But Aria. You and I–

There was a possibility that this would be a parting for a lifetime.

That was a fact.

I looked up at Aria, and she looked back at me…

There was only silence… with nothing but time passing between us.

「…」

「…」

「…Hurry up and go.」

Aria said suddenly, turning her camellia eyes away from me.

Her anime-like voice quivered slightly… and moisture welled in her eyes.

「If you don’t, I’ll cry…!」

With a soft *Thump!* she pushed lightly against my chest–

It was heartbreaking.

It was unfair. A woman’s tears.

Once they appear, no man can refuse. I should go. Right now.

But that goes against my own determination.

「Alright, that’s no good! Onii-chan! Don’t raise that flag.3 Let’s go!」

「Aria-senpai! There’s a free movie showing on the plane to watch! It’ll be fun, right!?」

Kaname and Mamiuya both tackled me and Aria, respectively.

With a *Squish!* there was an alarmingly supple feeling against my arm from Kaname’s breasts that had experienced some surprising growth. I felt them through her sailor suit uniform as she pushed my arm from shoulder to forearm between them! I thought it was probably Shirayuki or Riko, but someone must have taught her this drastic technique.

Witnessing that dangerous scene…!

「–Kinji! Wh-what are you doing leering at your sister!」

She did it!

「I’m not!」

「I-if you do strange things with you sister while I’m not watching, next time we meet, I’ll put so many wind holes in you, you’ll be Swiss cheese!」

「The human body it too thick to be Swiss cheese!」

I answered Aria back–

What had a short time ago been a moving farewell scene was now one where Aria and I were quarreling because of some strange alliance between Kaname and Mamiya.

「Onii-chan, from now on we’ll be spending a lot of time alone together, right?」

Despite the public setting, Kaname who had been raised in America planted a kiss on my cheek, seeing that…! *Ping!* I heard the sound of a vein popping out of Aria’s forehead.

「RAAAAAARGH! Wind hole knee dislocation!」

–*Whoooosh!* For some reason, Aria aimed a low kick at me like the one I had used against Mamiya, but about 2 trillion times more powerful–

Not only Kaname and Mamiya’s skirts, but also Zenigata’s coat were lifted by the air pressure created by her kick. *Crack!* Both my knees received a murderous blow.

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

Originally, only bending in one direction, my knee now moved more freely than everyone else’s, now moving up toward the thigh causing me to walk strangely…*Shuffle!* *Shuffle!* I hobbled as we dashed away to escape Aria.

「Oniii-chan! Buy me that!」

Pointing at caramel sweets in an airport kiosk while grinning, Kaname carried me under her arm like Goma-chan “The spotted Seal”. I was afraid that Aria might shoot me to death.

But what the heck, Aria! You should have kicked Kaname, not me! Pushing the back of the knee from behind, you should have called the cruel punishment that my knee received a knee cap breaker instead of a dislocation.The prefix of ‘wind hole’ had nothing to do with it at all!

With all those quips about my latest stint of abuse, I employed a Tohyama Family reduction technique to the reversed <-shaped knee joint to return it to its usual orientation…

I then passed through the priority international boarding gate with G-3’s party and Reki after the most ridiculously cursory security check ever. Why the preferential treatment? It’s even beyond that of first-class treatment.

Kaname handed over the passport she had taken from the Men’s Dormitory No. 3 and was allowed through the departure security check without incident–

「Who has the tickets?」

I asked, and wearing his gold thread embroidered bell bottom suit, G-3:

「Aniki, you don’t buy a ticket when you ride your own bike, do you?」

He added with a grin.

…Does he mean that we’re taking a private jet or something? That would explain why the security check was so lenient. You don’t hijack your own private plane.

「Are we taking the Galleon?」

「Aniki totally wrecked that one.」

We had these conversations as we passed by the jewellery and perfume of the duty-free shop…

G-3’s subordinates followed after us.

The large Caucasian Atlas was wearing a white school uniform-like set of clothes.

The black, effeminate man, Collins, was wearing bandages on his face and a rainbow coloured suit.

The one with her furry kitsune ears on full display and hiding her tail within a navy blue jumper and skirt that looked like something a middle school student would wear was probably the native Japanese Tsukumo.

Finally, there was the grandfatherly chauffeur-cum-butler, Angus.

There was also a woman with long, grey hair and differently coloured eyes, and a big man with bullet holes in his face who I remembered seeing in Shinagawa.

Including the leader, they were a pretty flashy group… rather, they were a very diverse group.

There were Caucasians, Black, Asians, Kitsune, able-bodies, disabled, sexual minorities, and men and women of all ages.

When I pointed that out to G-3, he said:

「As long as I can use them, I don’t ask about race, social position, age, gender, or their past. On the other hand, if I can’t, then they might serve as a general officer of field commander.」

He gave a thoroughly meritocratic answer. Now I see.

However, as we are making our way through the crowd of Japanese people, we stand out and are catching a lot of glances. Personally, I wanted to disappear using Metamaterial Ghillie.

When they see us, they think that I’m their friend and are giving me strange looks.

I hope we don’t come across anyone who knows me.

I thought that, despite the fact that I have few friends…but then…*Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!*

「–Huff! Huff!」

Running towards United Airlines boarding gate 65, a pipsqueak wearing a backpack and Butei High sailor suit ran past us.

Slightly smaller than Mamiya, that kid was Hiraga-san.Recently, there have been a lot of pipsqueaks around me.

「Huh? Toma-kn! Ayaa’s going to!」

Hiraga-san stood there, holding a piece of bread in her mouth as she said something to me. Because of how long we had known each other I could tell that she said『Tohyama-kun! Ayaya’s going there too!』What she had said before was just her being out of breath.

I watched her run through Narita Airport like a girl from a manga, just like I would expect from an inventor full of new ideas.

「I’m going to America too. If something happens, I’ll call.」

I said forcing a smile, while Hiraga-san flashed me a V-sign and dove headfirst through the gate after the final boarding call.The flight destination was–Washington D.C., Dulles International Airport.

Hiraga-san must be studying abroad in Washington D.C.’s AMDO department.

It looks like she’s going ahead to make preparations. Good luck.

「Aniki, over here!」

I stopped to see Hiraga-san off, and my annoying younger brother was tugging at my sleeve in jealousy.

Rejoining everyone else, we left the lounge and descended the escalator to the south side of the airport.

At the bottom waiting for us, there was the past middle-age Angus in a three-piece suit, giving us a respectful bow.

G-3’s followers.

「Third-sama. Kinji-sama. I have been awaiting you. Please allow me to take you to the X-19C.」

Angus urged, respectfully, ushering us from the lounge into a mini-bus…It seems we were not going to use the boarding bridge to embark into G-3’s private aircraft as we pulled off into the aircraft taxiway.

The impressive sight of a Boeing 747 taking off nearby stole my attention–

「We’re here, Onii-chan!」

Kaname said, poking my shoulder. Then when the bus stopped, G-3 led off and everyone else exited onto the aircraft parking area one by one. And there…

「–…A V-22…?」

Painted a dark sea grey, a craft that looked like something between a helicopter and conventional aircraft sat there.

The V-22–Also known as the Osprey, is a tilt rotor aircraft that is able to rotate its wings to VTOL before and after achieving level flight.

Like a helicopter, it doesn’t need a long runway, and like a fixed-wing craft, it has a long cruising range–a vehicle of dreams that is said to『Change how humans fly』.

But this one… is twice the size of the specifications I have seen. The total width, including rotors, is about 40 m. Instead of 2 propellers on the main wings, this one has 4. It’s a quad tilt-rotor craft. In terms of shape, it’s closer to the C-130 Hercules.

「This is the X-19 Sagittarius. Angus talked about it a little while ago. It’s a total X-plane, ya know?」

G-3 shouted as he boarded, and his followers followed him, boarding via the door on the side of the fuselage. Then Reki and Kaname boarded and she turned back at the door.

「It’s cold, so hurry up and get in!」

Waving me on in… from the outside, the craft looked like a normal passenger craft… it took a bit of nerve, at first, to get inside. It looks pretty interesting from the outside, though.

But it is cold, so I’ll get in.

Inside the Sagittarius, it looked like the fuselage was a repurposed A-130 gunship fuselage and the interior was decorated to G-3’s tastes like a high-class hotel suite.

The walls were panelled with rare carven mahogany wood and an oil painting of a short coliseum hung on one of them. Behind me, G-3 sat with crossed legs on a plush Versace sofa that had a wine red base and gold embroidery. The Persian carpet beneath my feet was very soft.

「We will conduct an aerial refueling above Alaska, then proceed directly to John F. Kennedy Airport.」

「Fine.」

G-3 gave a single word response to Angus who held his crooked arm against his chest while G-3 selected an LP record…

When Angus turned and went back to the cockpit, I followed and peeked my head inside.

「I’ve seen you operate a car and a helicopter, but can you fly this airplane too? I don’t mean to insult you, but… isn’t the range of motion of your arms less than the average person? Flying a tilt-rotor is difficult. And I’ve heard rumours of accidents–」

「Please rest assured. I have completed over 1,000 of flight time in the Sagittarius. Once we reach cruising altitude, I will alternate shifts with Atlas, and he has completed 350 hours flight time.」

Saying that… he put on the comm headset and sat on one side of the two-seater cockpit with a curiously happy expression on his face. Because his facial muscles were stiff, whether it was a friendly grin or a smirk, I couldn’t tell.

「…Why are you so happy?」

「It is nothing. Yesterday and today, I have seen a good thing happen.」

「Something good?」

I titled my head, and Angus turned his neck around to look at me.

「Third-sama, who usually does whatever he wants, in Kinji-sama– has found someone to rely on. That was something new.」

He replied in a slightly hushed tone. But, apparently having very sharp ears, G-3 bellowed:

「That’s not true! My Aniki was unemployed, and I used my connections to get him a job!」

With a *Thump!* *Thump!*, he stamped his feet angrily. He was turning bright red.

「Ah yes. He is just as kind to his allies as ever.」

It seems like Angus likes to bully G-3. How reckless.

「He isn’t kind. Didn’t he fight you a long time ago…? And do that to your body…」

Given what my younger brother was capable of, I was slightly worried for Angus.

「By no means. He was kind at that time as well.」

「How!」

「He did not kill me.I was ordered by CAG to conduct a lone assault, and I was meant to kill him.」

At this statement from Angus, my eyes widened.

Was this guy a former CAG member– a part of DELTA Force?

But now he’s G-3’s chauffeur

DELTA Force is supposed to be America’s special forces group and the best in the world. And the fact that he was selected and ordered to kill G-3 by himself must mean that he has some kind of Devil King level power.

But didn’t he know his enemy is a human weapon that boasted the power to overthrow a small country?

Even so…

Behind me wearing an unconcerned smiling face, Atlas was carrying a meat pie into the cabin, Collins was perusing the champagne cooler and humming a tune, and their origins can be easily guessed. Green beret and Navy SEAL, respectively. Singing a lackluster version of a Perfume song with Kaname on a portable karaoke machine with Tsukumo, who seemed to be a former member of the JGSDF Central Readiness Force.

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

Sagittarius took off from Narita Airport in helicopter mode, then a minute later transitioned to flight mode–

From there it became cruising an ordinary turboprop aircraft. Due to Angus’ top tier piloting skills, it didn’t so much as shake any more than the mini-bus had.

…I guess I was more worried than I needed to be about this tilt-rotor craft.

Reki sat on the floor, holding her knees like a life-size statue. Atlas pulled out a BlackBerry Curve 8530 chatting with his mother.

Collins, who seemed to be a Muslim prostrating himself on the floor, worshipfully chanting:

「Allahu Akbar…」

Kaname and Tsukumo had pulled out hagoita and were playing a game of in-flight hanetsuki.4 What a pain.

After eating a sealed mean and a few hours of flying–

「–Everyone except Angus and Atlas, get sleep. We’ll arrive in New York at 1445 Eastern.Upon arrival, move into position, arm, and resupply. That is all. Move out!」

G-3 ordered, despite the fact that no one was tired.

Crying「Ya!」in chorus, his followers pulled collapsible beds and futons from the back of the plane and spread them out.

I’ve already had experience with jet lag, so this must be a preventative measure to catch up on sleep.

Even with his usual laissez-faire​ attitude, he hasn’t forgotten to take care of his people.That’s G-3’s leadership.

…With just red night light illuminating the space, the plane’s interior took on a gloomy tone…

I borrowed a mat folded up 3 times and laid down on it on my side.

But… I couldn’t do anything except worry about Aria.

Right now, she’s probably flying over Russia to get back to England.

We’re on opposite sides of the globe.

…

What am I doing? Mamiya is there to help her, and she’ll be fine. She shouldn’t have another attack.

Even so… I couldn’t sleep with my thoughts racing…

The last one up, I heard Collins putting his suit into a closet. In the dim light, I saw that he was removing the bandages covering his face.

In his tank top, I could see that he was a thin black man, but well muscled–but on his body there was a scar from a knife… no, it looked like someone had torn flesh with their bare hands. It was on his face. He looked like Osamu Tezuka’s Black Jack.5

「…Collins, did G-3 do that?」

「Nooo, how lewd!」

He said, raising a feminine cry upon realising that I had seen his exposed skin.

「What? Don’t look at me like that, dearie. I hide it because I don’t want to shock people, but I love this scar. No matter what, it is a human record of my fight with my darling prince.」

While looking at G-3 who sat on the sofa, arms crossed like a Sengoku Era warlord, he knelt like a little girl on my mat.

Then while still looking at G-3–

「…You’re worried about Aria-chan.」

「…!」

Making a sudden remark that cut directly to the heart of my true feeling, I blushed slightly.

「It must be hard for you, huh? Being apart from someone you thought that you’d always be with, but now being apart. It’s happened to me too, dear.」

Collins closed his eyes and muttered「Ah yes, tis a blighted love…」to himself…

「But love does not mean that you are always clinging to each other. Sometimes when you are separated, you can love by withdrawing.」

Grinning broadly, his hands gently stroked my head.

I had been avoiding this subject for a while, so I didn’t know this because I had no interest in it… Huh.Is it really like that? I never thought I’d learn it from an effeminate man.

「…It’s not love. I don’t know what you’re talking about.」

Brushing his hand off, I turned away sullenly, and Collins said:「Yah! So cute!」.

「What’s more, Kinji-kun. It takes a bit of time, but this is a love technique. After being separated for a brief period of time, feelings swell and what were previously insurmountable hurdles to love are overcome.」

「Th-that’s not how Aria and I are…!」

「Hush now, love! Everyone else following G-3’s order to sleep, so…you…need…to…be…quiet.」

Collins seemed to be more skilled in the art of conversation than me…

In reality, reuniting after Aria’s confinement at the Institute for Medical Science, I felt that the bonds between us had strengthened

If we are able to get past the issue of the Scarlet Goddess, we’ll definitely be much better partners.

…Definitely.

If that happens, then the number of bullets Aria shoots at me in a day might decrease to 5…

While thinking of that my emotions became conflicted, and I was lulled to sleep by the sound of the X-19C rotors.

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

On a Mercator’s projection map, the shortest distance from Tokyo to New York is a straight line. But since the Earth is actually spherical, this is not true. It’s actually a more northerly route.

While I slept, we refueled over Alaska, and passed over Canada to reach America.

Tired of the view of the endless forest beneath us, I went into the washroom to brush my teeth, and Kaname called:「I see it! It’s Manhattan.」from by the window.

Like a child by the window of a train, she was kneeling by the window, and over her shoulder–

–I saw it for the first time, New York.

It was the largest city in the United States of America. Built up around Manhattan Island which was long and narrow from north to south on an island between 2 rivers. It’s centre was 81 km from the Hudson River estuary.

My first impression from viewing it from the sky from the north was… it’s a lot greener than I expected. There was a large park on Manhattan Island. From movies, I knew it was Central Park.

But on the south side, innumerable skyscrapers soared into the sky. Unlike Hong Kong, however, the closer you get to the centre, the taller the building, so that, at a glance, it looks like some kind of mountain. In all of those buildings, several hundred millions, or even trillions are created, tied up as instruments of the world’s strongest economy.

Manhattan was surrounded by a glittering golden river, and a slight fog or haze of exhaust rose up from it–

「We will be transitioning flight modes shortly. We will arrive at Kennedy airport in 5 minutes.」

Angus announced from the cockpit over the intercom without any warning.

The local time wiat 1530. We’re at a bit higher latitude than Tokyo, but the Sun doesn’t look too out of place. As a personal measure to prevent jet lag, I didn’t look at my watch when I synchronised it to local time. I meant to swap over my consciousness with the time. From Japan to America.

*****************************************************
Treated as a charter flight, the Sagittarius set down on a helipad at John F. Kennedy Airport on the southeast side of Manhattan. Surprisingly, there was a private hanger there, and we were bussed from there to Terminal 1.

With its high, broad ceiling, it was just as gloomy as Hong Kong Airport, Charles de Gaulle Airport, and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol​. The bright lights of Haneda and Narita Airport must be unusual in the world.

Tourists, both domestic and foreign, crowded the space, and… Reki and I, along with Kaname who had a forged Japanese passport queued up in different Immigration Check lines than G-3 and his group with American passports.

Because fingerprints and photographs needed to be taken, the line meandered its way forward slowly…

Passengers from other flights lined up behind us.

If you look at the crowd for a moment, you’d be able to see that these aren’t just tourists. There were business people in suits coming into the US. A group of black women further back are saying they came here to find work. An eccentric couple from Barcelona look to have come to New York for some kind of performance art.

Those who have come to a new land of opportunity are full of eagerness. I don’t know if things will work out for them or not, but… New York is a city of hopes and dreams.

15 minutes later, it was finally our turn–

Carrying her Zero Halliburton suitcase, Reki deliberately affected a Japanese accent into her English, and 30 seconds later, Kaname passed through as well. Then it was my turn.

I passed my passport to a fat, white woman who was eating a snack–When she entered my passport number into the computer, the screen colour changed, and she shot me a look. Stopping eating, she turned to me with a serious expression.

「–Purpose for travel?」

Ah… Am I on some kind of American list of dangerous Butei, just like in England?

Yeah, that’s got to be it. I’m not really a well-behaved person anyway.

As she scrutinised me carefully, I answered–

「Business.」

I then held out the『apology letter』from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that I got from Zenigata requesting free entry for me. In actuality, I just recalled it, but I pretended that I was going to use it the entire time.

Keeping her eyes on me, she took the letter to her superior.

「…」

I was sorry for all the people waiting behind me, but they were reading it very carefully… after a while, the yellow-green light above the counter flashed, and she held out the fingerprint reader to me and nodded her chin at it. Then they took my picture with a cheap digital camera.

At the same time, they asked about where I was staying and for how long, so I answered:「My younger brother’s house. I’ll be leaving when I am done with my job.」– Then she handed my passport and letter back, already looking away from me.

Then she called out:

「Next!」

to the person behind me.

Seems like I got into the country alright.

With a wry smile on my face, I headed out to catch up with everyone beyond the Immigration Check–

「Here, Onii-chan! It’s a welcome drink!」

Heart pounding and throat dry and crying out for moisture, I gratefully accepted the can of cola from Kaname.

「Thanks.」

In the Immigration Lobby full of kiosks and a post office, I downed a genuine Coca-Cola…

Huh. Tastes the same as in Japan. Well, I guess I should have expected that.

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

Outside, the temperature was cooler than Tokyo, but the sun was shining, so it was bearable.

However, Tsukumo who seemed sensitive to the cold was bundled up in a duffel coat, scarf, knitted wool mittens, and a hat. In order to prepare for the cold weather, myself, Reki, and Kaname had worn the Tokyo Butei High winter uniform, so we were fine, but the rest of G-3’ party were dressed for show and pretended it didn’t bother them.

Puffing white mist, we crossed the black asphalt parking lot…

「Which one you like, Aniki?」

Wh-wha? There were a bunch of G-3’s favourite supercars.

There were 5 of them with streamlined bodies like something out of an anime arranged in a row.

I barely understood it, but when I asked the motorhead Mutou about it, the Bugatti Veyron can reach up to 400 KPH with certain modifications. There was also a deep red Enzo Ferrari, a matching electric blue Pagani Zonda, a scaled up version of a mysterious black Mini 4WD batmobile-esque car, and a white Rolls-Royce Phantom at the head of the line that made me a bit nervous.

「Doesn’t matter which one.」

I answered, and G-3’s face became furious…

「…Riding in an expensive foriegn luxury car would make me nervous. Aren’t there any Japanese cars?」

I was desperately looking around at all the cars I didn’t want to ride in–

「 This one’s Japanese. It’s a Mitsuoka Orochi.」

He replied, dragging me over to the most chuunibyou-esqe scaled-up model car.

「…This is a Mitsuoka? I wouldn’t have guessed that because it’s base model has been so changed. What are these holes in the rear?」

I said while I buckled my seat belt in the passenger seat out of necessity.

「Rocket boosters. Using Nitro at the same time, it can make a steady Mach 0.5!」

Why would you equip such a thing…! Actually, this is the first time I’ve heard a car’s top speed expressed as a Mach number.

But even if we are separated by an ocean, we are still related as siblings.

I used the name of the serpent for my hand armour, but my brother used it for something else, it seems.

Sitting happily in the driver’s seat of the right-hand drive car–*Vrooom!* I heard the roar of what seemed to be an overhauled V-12 engine.

「Bad Orochi! You’re scaring our passenger.」

G-3 seemed to mutter to himself.

「Don’t mind me, Third.」

A level meter on the front panel of the car lit up from top to bottom, and we heard a synthesised male voice. I’ve heard rumours that you’ll be able to install a similar voice for Siri on IPhone in the near future.

「Can this car talk?」

「Yes, Kinji-sama. Third-sama had informed me of your visit. I am honoured that you are riding with me.」

I was shocked by the feature that was like K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider… Next to me, G-3 was wearing a self-satisfied smirk, and we followed Angus driving Reki and Kaname in the Rolls-Royce, while Tsukumo followed in the Bugatti, Atlas and Collins took the Ferrari onto the Van Wyck Expressway. It was like some kind of daimyo’s formal procession of supercars. It was embarrassing.

「This Mitsuoka Orochi was also originally sent to kill me. That’s the point of it’s AI. Haha!」

「My apologies for that.」

G-3’s was even able to use his charisma to convert a computer program into an ally–

I got the feeling the G-3 was relaxed being back in his home country of America.

It was like Jeanne in France, and I suppose it’s true for anyone coming home.

Even Aria… I wonder if she’s breathing a sigh of relief right about now?

Road signs and billboard clearly marked with Roman letters were interspersed on both side of the highway, and I gazed out at the cheap, dark brown brick condominiums we were passing–

Gradually, the condominiums became higher class, with new buildings crowded together. Road traffic also increased. Then–

「Right now, we are crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. It crosses the East River into Manhattan.」

The Orochi said as we passed over the large bridge with 3 lanes going either way.

The bridge was a tawny brown steel structure, disappearing off into the distance as it crossed the river, and as we crossed it, our field of view expanded–

–So this is Manhattan.

How many times had I seen this in a Hollywood film.

I’ve come to see the heart of America, the city within a city and world metropolis

As I thought that…. My heart began thumping inside my chest.

Looking down FDR Drive down the riverside, the buildings were less crowded than Hong Kong and many of them were new. The atmosphere… was different from Paris, Amsterdam, or Kowloon. If I had to say, it was like Tokyo. But all of the people on the sidewalks were American… and that made a definitive difference. What is it?

I tilted my head to the side, and G-3 contacted Angus over the Bluetooth link through the car to his Motorola mobile–

「–Oi, Angus! Take the road going the other way. Head north.」

『Oh. My mistake.』

He responded from the lead car.

「Do even New York locals get lost?」

「Angus didn’t get lost… this is an intentional detour to show my Aniki the sights. Look over there. It’s the Statue of Liberty.」

In response to my question, G-3 pointed with his thumb out the window and toward the south side of Manhattan and Liberty Island–

It was the world famous goddess holding aloft a golden torch that glimmered silently.

–The patina profile of the Statue of Liberty pointed our direction–

The Scarlet Goddess threatened Aria… and I’ve come to her country to find another goddess to fight her, so I want her to bless my fight. I’ll pray and ask for it.

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

After that, the G-3 motorcade went down to Wall Street, Ground Zero–the former site of the World Trade Towers–,and Times Square with its enormous display screen and dazzling lights.

At each point of interest, the electronic voice of the Orochi gave an explanation.

We then went down to see Broadway, and even though I had seen it in films, I couldn’t help but be moved by it–We heard the occasional cheers from Yankee Stadium then the cars turned back toward Midtown.

We then entered the deep valleys between the highrises…

Now I see. I know what it is.

I just figured out the difference between Tokyo and New York.

Tokyo has highrises. But there, they do not stretch out to the horizon. The way they reach up like mountains into the sky, they overwhelmingly surpass those in Tokyo in sheer『volume』. It’s like an entire city made up of the skyscrapers in Shinjuku.

That is… a testament to the economic power of America.

If you look down into the crack-like gaps between the buildings…

The world of New Yorkers is full of bustling energy.

The crowds were in constant motion, moving past glittering show windows and offices that were crammed together. I didn’t see many convenience stores, and instead there were tiny general purpose shops on every street corner and crossing integrated into the landscape.

From that–I could tell that there was a huge wealth disparity, and it had less sanitation than Japan. All along the main streets, there were unemployed men gathered at filthy pizzerias. What were called Internet Cafes, $1 internet shops were not very pretty from the outside.

A few were open to the air, and the scent of the HVAC’s exhaust and ketchup leaked out. Somehow, this was exactly as I imagined it.

「G-3, don’t get mad at Angus. I enjoyed the drive. Even though we didn’t come to sightsee. What do we do now?」

「I have a bunch of bases in New York, but my Aniki is a VIP. I’m going to show you my stronghold.」

「And then?」

「Then we’ll get our equipment together. Depending on the state or smaller administrative district, I have a patchwork of allies and enemies. New York is full of neutrals, and that’s why we came here. On our way to Area 51, I have to avoid being detained as a fugitive and above all, Mash. Before we fight him again, I need to be sure my subordinates are armed and in good condition. You too. I also need to put some Merbromin on these scratches on mine.」

–Mash Roosevelt of the NSA, the Transzendieren Ange monster.

Even the brash G-3 is being cautious–

He must definitely be someone to reckon with. From what I’ve been told… Transzendieren Ange must be like the power armour Atlas wore on the Omotesando, but even larger… Is it like a Gundam?

Or is my enemy a Macross or Evangelion? I’ll have to deal with it either way.

The enemy– they are at a US military base, and I have to get in to steal the ruruirokane.

[END TEXT]

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

1. Idiomatic Expression means ‘something better left unsaid’.

2. Amica is San-shimai, the word here uses the kanji for ‘3’ in place of the first part ‘san’ of this word.

3. To ‘raise a flag’ as in trigger a common trope in manga/anime. Like, you know, if someone talks about getting married after the war, you know they’re gonna die next.

4. Rackets for a Japanese version of badminton.

5. LINK