After leaving the school gates, Leo silently followed behind Erika.
Even so, he didn't intend to walk home with her.
There was only one route from the school to the bus station.
It was only he had no pressing business that forced him to move ahead of her.
Leo believed that Erika was the same way.
It was pure coincidence that they were walking in the same direction at the same pace.
"Leo."
Hence he came to a surprised stop when she called out his name.
Erika also halted her footsteps.
"Do you have some time today?"
For a moment, Leo was unable to comprehend the meaning behind those words as he stood there in blank surprise.
At this, Erika suddenly whirled around.
Owing to her physical action, her skirt was raised slightly, but Leo's eyes were glued to Erika's own.
There was no trace of innocence.
There was no trace of mischievousness.
That was a steely gaze that would have cut him in two whenever she pleased.
"Do you have time or not?"
Erika asked once more in a cursory manner.
Finally, Leo removed his shackles.
"......I have nothing important."
"Then spare some time for me."
Turning around once again, Erika slowly plodded forward.
On the other hand, Leo adopted the same pace and silently followed behind.
They looked to be the same as before.
But now, the meaning was entirely different.
The moment Kanon entered the infirmary, Doctor Yasuyado sent her an amiable greeting. However, when she saw Chiaki tied down to the bed, that "amiable" impression fled from Kanon's brain.
"Sensei...... I thought 'you had no combat ability'?"
This wasn't the first time she unconsciously asked a question regarding something she simply didn't understand.
"Oh, you. This is 'nursing', not 'combat', OK?"
"............" "............"
Kanon was not the only one who silently exchanged a gaze with someone else, nor was she the only one to resist a retort.
"Then...... I would like to ask that child a few questions, so can you please let her go and allow her to sit down?"
"Sure."
As if expressing she knew when to change the topic, Yasuyado smiled pleasantly and released Chiaki. —What would have happened if the conversation kept going, Kanon thought with a chill.
In order to dispel that notion, Kanon gently shook her head and redirected her gaze to Chiaki.
"You OK from two days ago?"
Hearing Kanon ask, Chiaki's eyes widened in shock and she hurriedly tried to hide this by ducking her head. She had only just realized that Kanon was the one chasing her two days ago in front of the station.
"Regardless of whether it was the day before or today, you were really pushing it. Any mistake would have led to a serious injury."
Kanon's words were kind and gentle rather than scolding.
"Still, I can't just stand by and watch things advance to the next level. Precisely because nothing has happened yet, I had to stop you now."
This was the farthest Kanon could step back. As the Chief of the Public Moral Committee, it was because of this position that she felt that there was a special duty towards reclaiming underclassmen. If not for that, based on her personality, she would have long since forgotten this.
"According to what you said to Mibu earlier, your words were that you didn't want to receive anything. So why did you want to steal the research data?"
Even though she was personally searching for the most appropriate words, her opponent was not moved by this.
"......My goal wasn't to steal the research data. I just wanted to change the activation systems for the magic device used for the demonstration so that it wouldn't function. I borrowed the password decoder for this purpose."
"So you wanted our school's demonstration to fail?"
Kanon barely managed to suppress her emotions, but beneath her concerned expression, the flames of fury were building. She dared to choose Isori's performance stage — Kanon's primary motivation — to tamper with. She looked to be especially patient today.
"No! I never wanted it to be just a simple failure! ......Even though I don't want to admit it, that guy could probably repair this kind of damage. That man has that kind of ability. But if he noticed that the device was inoperable just before the match began, surely he would panic. All I wanted was for him to stew over this for a few nights. I just wanted to see his troubled expression!"
"Doesn't that constitute as harassment? ......Fortunately nothing happened, otherwise you might face expulsion."
"That doesn't matter! As long as I can totally surprise that guy! Because I refuse to allow that guy to have things go his way......!"
Chiaki screamed as she started sobbing on the bed.
Kanon helplessly glanced towards Isori.
Isori nodded at Kanon from his position near the bed where he was listening to the conversation and sat on the stool near the bedside.
"Hirakawa Chiaki-san...... You are Hirakawa Koharu-senpai's younger sister, right?"
Her head bowed in tears, Chiaki's shoulders shook from an altogether different reason.
As a member of the Technician Team for the Nine Schools Competition, Isori once met Koharu when serving on the same team.
"You believe it's Shiba-kun's fault that your older sister turned out that way?"
Isori had been present during the incident and knew the real reason why Koharu withdrew from school, so he immediately knew who Chiaki was referring to with "that guy", "that man".
"......What other reason could there be......."
Hearing Isori's question, Chiaki spoke in a low voice like a curse.
"That guy didn't protect Kobayakawa-senpai from her accident. Precisely because that man sat there and watched Kobayakawa-senpai fall, my sister had to bear the responsibility......!"
Isori wanted to put a hand on Chiaki's shoulder, but Chiaki violently shook him off.
Looking at his rejected hand, Isori replied with a bitter voice.
"If that incident was Shiba-kun's responsibility, then I share the blame as well. I did not detect that trap, so including me, the entire team would be to blame and not just Shiba-kun alone."
Isori did not say this to defend Tatsuya. During the Mirage Bat event for the Nine Schools Competition, Year 3 student Kobayakawa suffered an accident and still hadn't recovered her ability to use magic. On this point, Isori felt especially guilty for being one of the Technicians present at the time.
"Don't be ridiculous......"
However, Chiaki kept her head bowed as she ridiculed Isori.
Kanon sprang to her feet, but Isori raised a hand to stop her.
"Even my sister didn't know, so it's not Isori-senpai's fault that he didn't know. But that guy has the ability to detect this. 'That man' said so. But that guy wouldn't lift a finger to help if it does not pertain to himself or his sister!"
This time, Kanon turned a confused expression towards Isori, who mirrored the expression. The two of them were completely unable to comprehend Chiaki's words and attitude. Based on her words, Chiaki was almost praising Tatsuya's ability, almost to the point of adoration or obsession. The two of them were so befuddled that the two of them didn't even notice the words "That man" in her words.
"Even though he can do anything he chooses to do nothing...... That must be it, he must be laughing at the fallacy of others."
Seeing Kanon's eyes that hesitated to speak up, Isori wordlessly shook his head in reply. Isori more or less got Chiaki's meaning. When betrayed by someone whom one had complete faith in, human beings would develop a deeper hatred towards them than to their enemies. Especially like this sort of blind faith.
"In reality, he must be able to freely wield magic, but intentionally tanked his scores to be a Course 2 student, so he could trample the pride of Course 1 and 2 students and ridicule them. That must be it! That guy is just like that!"
"Yes, yes, that's enough."
Kanon and Isori were both struck speechless by these hateful and delusional accusations when a completely carefree voice covered Chiaki's speech.
"I said that's enough. Chiyoda, let's continue tomorrow."
"Yasuyoda-sensei......"
"She'll spend the night at the university hospital. I'll explain to the parents, so you two can go home. There's not much time left today, right?"
Kanon wanted to say something in regards to Yasuyoda's suggestion, but Isori stopped her in time. Instead, the two of them left the infirmary.
In the twin seat bus compartment, Leo sat next to Erika.
The feeling of sitting in such a cramped situation next to a female peer, even someone like Leo who favored food over female company and action over stillness, wasn't entirely immune to this.
Even knowing the other person was Erika, he still felt a little uncomfortable.
No, he was uncomfortable precisely because this was Erika.
Objectively speaking, Erika was also a rare beauty. Maybe it was her natural figure or the result of martial training, but her rough sitting posture with one elbow braced on the window sill had a beauty all of its own.
Additionally, he could smell the faint, sweet smell unique to young maidens that came wafting over.
She was sitting right there looking outwards, but he couldn't just ignore her, so Leo found his gaze periodically drifting back to Erika.
Leo was starting to regret climbing on board without asking for the destination.
Fortunately, this awkward silence didn't last for much longer.
"......Don't you think it's too simple?"
"What do you mean?"
Leo privately sighed in relief when he was able to respond normally to this sudden question.
"Yesterday, we received intel from an unidentified foreigner claiming we were infiltrated by spies. Today, we found a student holding spying equipment. A student engaged in blatant, clumsy antics that just screamed 'come and find me'."
"Clumsy...... I think we spent a lot of time and effort."
"Idiot. We spent that catching her. Normally speaking, she was simply too reckless walking around with that kind of hacking tool in broad daylight."
"She is an amateur after all."
"Really......"
In regards to the words Leo spoke without thinking through, Erika vaguely nodded her head but didn't look entirely convinced.
"So what is it."
Leo finally noticed that Erika's strangely obsessive attitude wasn't something that could simply be treated as a joke.
"It's not over yet...... That child is only the sacrificial pawn."
"So she was a decoy to put us off our guard while the real culprit is someone else?"
This time, silence was assent.
"......Then, you wanted me to come along so I could hunt down the real culprit like a detective?"
"That's ludicrous."
After throwing out these shocking words, Erika finally returned to her usual self, which was why Leo relaxed rather than becoming angry. If they were to continue as they were in this cramped compartment, Leo would undoubtedly suffer a mental breakdown.
"I never had that kind of expectation for your cognitive ability."
"What did you say?"
Regardless, he wasn't going to just endure those rude words.
"Neither of us are think tanks. Leave that kind of stuff to Tatsuya."
But she was even referring to herself as the "knucklehead", so there was no rejoinder for that.
"Compared to things we're not suited for, there are other missions that we're more suitable for."
They both thought of it with a "Ping!" as both of them appeared to have the same logic pattern. —No matter how much they wanted to deny it.
"Bodyguards, eh."
—Since their opponents have already taken aim at the Thesis Competition, there's no need to chase after them. When the competition is about to take place, their opponents will naturally reveal themselves.
"Rather than playing defense, this is more like counterattacking."
—We just have to wait for an opportunity.
"Terrifying woman...... You're using Tatsuya as bait."
—So long as nothing major happens.
"Tatsuya can't be killed even if they tried."
—No matter what they try, Tatsuya won't go down that easily.
"Hah, that's true."
—We just have to focus on catching the spies.
Leo and Erika reached an accord through the unspoken words between the lines.
Evil laughter emitted from the cramped compartment.
If Tatsuya heard this he would undoubtedly cut off all relations with them, but fortunately (?) the man of the hour wasn't present.
Still, the laughter quickly faded.
"However, there's still something missing."
In an instant, Erika's expression grew solemn as she spoke.
"Something missing?"
Noticing the serious nature of the topic, Leo honestly parroted back.
"Leo, you're first class material for infantry. If equipped with a short spear or blade in combat, you may surpass even Hattori-senpai and Kirihara-senpai."
Rather than being pleased by such high praise, Leo was more shocked or even flabbergasted.
"You possess superior innate quality, so you would probably triumph in close quarters combat within sight range."
Yet, there was only a few seconds paused for consideration.
"......Then? Since you said innate qualities, then you must be talking about ability now."
At Leo's piercing answer, Erika nodded without betraying a hint of surprise.
"I said there's something missing, right? You lack the ability to take out your opponent in one blow."
"An ability to take out my opponent?"
"Attacks that can knock out an opponent in one attack, also known as finishing blows. A technique that will definitely defeat an opponent and which your enemy fears above all others. A technique that gives you a decisive advantage even if you don't use it. Currently, you don't have one."
"......Do you?"
"Of course. I have a secret sword technique that does not rely on specific tools and can be used to take out an opponent so long as I still have my hands."
"Eh~......"
"You don't have a technique that can definitely kill your opponent, right? The 'Mini-Communicator' Tatsuya made could be turned into a lethal weapon after a few modifications, but even then that's not a finishing blow."
The vehicle turned into a slow lane, which meant they were approaching their destination.
"......That's true. I don't have the ability to kill my opponent outright."
During the incident in April, Leo was only providing support in the back and didn't actually clash with Blanche's members. He didn't have Kirihara and Erika's experiences in violently rending flesh and bone.
"Do you have the will to learn such a technique?"
Erika's firm gaze seemed to see right through Leo.
"Do you have the resolution to stain your hands with human blood? This time, our enemy will be just like that. If we don't have to do anything, then all is well and good. Regardless of whether it's the teachers or our senpais, even Tatsuya would be on hand to take care of this. If you don't plan on being a bystander and want to partake in the danger, then you need to be ready to kill our enemy."
"What a ridiculous question."
Leo didn't even attempt to avoid Erika's gaze and gave a simple, concise answer.
The vehicle decelerated and slid to a stop at the bus station.
Erika opened the doors and stepped onto the platform.
Next came Leo, only to be greeted by the scent of the tides.
Kanagawa is very close to the sea, Leo thought before he could verify the station name.
Before him, Erika came to halt and turned around.
"Then, allow me to teach you."
Behind her, the sun's rays passed over Erika's shoulders.
"Secret Technique - Usuba Kagerou...... I guarantee that this will fit you perfectly."
Erika declared.
The sun had already set on the road home leading to the bus station that was illuminated by streetlights.
Today, instead of Leo and Erika, it was Kanon and Isori who walked with them.
"......So that's the motive."
After hearing the details from the hesitant Kanon, Tatsuya nodded in comprehension.
"What is that! That's completely trampling over your good intentions!"
"Strictly speaking, she was projecting her rage onto you?"
Next to the enraged Honoka was Shizuku, who was tilting her head in confusion. For the two of them, Chiaki's words were utterly nonsensical.
"She couldn't live with herself if she didn't do that......"
"She must dearly love her sister...... Even though I cannot condone what Hirakawa-san did, I can somewhat understand her feelings."
On the other hand, Mikihiko and Mizuki responded with almost compassionate words.
Tatsuya observed the interesting dichotomy between the opinions from the Course 1 and 2 students, but naturally he couldn't let anyone know he found this fascinating.
"Even if that's the case, there shouldn't be a problem if we just let her be, right?"
Tatsuya's words weren't directed at this particular incident, but what to do afterwards.
Hearing Tatsuya's opinion, Kanon and Isori both nodded.
"Even though you were the target?"
Kanon's question was intermixed with concern and amazement.
For some reason, Tatsuya looked apologetic as he shook his head.
"Correct...... Everyone was pulled into this because I was the target. Still, this won't constitute a problem since my safeguards can't be broken by the password decoder's brute force methods."
"No, I'm not talking about the operational safety of the device since I also asked the Technical Research Club to look it over, so I'm not worried on that account...... But once they know they can't break through, they'll take more desperate options. Since Hirakawa-senpai is the root cause, if she can persuade her sister then I think that would be for the best......"
With his brows knit — most people would be struck speechless at this (charming?) expression that mushroomed needless worries — Isori provided the most effective countermeasure, but Tatsuya still shook his head.
"Let's end Hirakawa-senpai's involvement right here. Even though they are siblings, she has no direct connection or responsibility for what occurred."
Strictly speaking, the older Hirakawa wasn't entirely unrelated to the reason why her sister went off the deep end.
That's why Isori was so moved by Tatsuya's words to "let the issue drop".
"Eh~, so you are a gentle person."
This wasn't a joke on Kanon's part. She was sincerely astonished.
Seeing the slightly miffed Miyuki duck off where the upperclassmen couldn't see her without a word, Tatsuya shook his head for the third time.
"I just feel that this could become even more troublesome. Also, our recent lurkers are not restricted to only the younger sister of the Hirakawa siblings."
Although they didn't detect any suspicious individuals, Isori and Mikihiko both felt a slight energy fluctuation — an unexpected psion wave.
"......Shouldn't you take bodyguards after all?"
He wasn't shaking because of the dilation in the air but because Isori's face let slip his faltering, which gave proof to the fact that Tatsuya's hint wasn't directed to the obtuse Kanon, as he asked back.
"There's no use. Without someone with Saegusa-senpai's sensory abilities, it will be very difficult to catch the one shadowing us."
Tatsuya shook his head for the fourth time to subtly hint that there was no one they could call on for assistance.
In a certain Japanese restaurant located in the Shinagawa District that was neither in the city outskirts nor a high class restaurant in Yokohama, a certain man in his forties and a youth in his mid-twenties met up with another young man in his early twenties.
"My apologies, have you been waiting long?"
The young man seemed to have just arrived. Based on his earlier words, he appeared to be quite embarrassed. Even so, there was no sign he was kowtowing to his guests and was more like a dignified heir of a well-to-do family exchanging polite greetings.
"Ah, no, we've just arrived as well."
The older man replied back. Regardless of whether his words were appropriate, his attitude was arrogant in the extreme. Even if this wasn't entirely coarse, this would still qualify as incredibly rude, but the man in question would have taken any accusations of boorishness or impetuosity in stride. Just like that, the last and highly capable young man in his mid twenties also sat down without a word.
"Let's keep this short, Mr. Zhou."
The older man spoke to the younger man.
"Is that young lady reliable?"
"I can perfectly understand Master Chen's concerns."
Zhou smoothly defused the man's forceful question.
"However, that girl is entirely ignorant of us, so there's no danger of any leaks."
"Oh?"
At Zhou's unexpectedly confident answer, Chen watched him with judicious eyes.
"In that case, then that collaborator did quite well."
"That's the age when they are ruled by passion. They are in a sensitive phase where they wish to display their own value, so in order to make themselves more conspicuous, they rather tell others than be told and wish others to understand them rather than the other way around."
And that was why they taught her this and that, but Zhou didn't mention this as he smiled thinly with a hint of self loathing in his expression. However, his voice never gave a hint of this.
"Since Mr. Zhou said so, then there shouldn't be any problems. Still, I'm still concerned that something should happen on the off chance."
"I understand. I will personally examine the situation soon."
Zhou respectfully bowed, an attitude that pleased Chen very much. Following that, Chen pressed the ringtone button to make his order.
Zhou had long since noticed the sharp gaze from the young man to his side, Lu Gonghu, but the only thing that appeared on his face was a slight smile while his countenance never slipped for a moment.
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