Chapter 7
I’ve always thought human potential is like ice. No matter how high or grand you stack it, if you leave it alone, it melts away, losing its original shape. If you called me at my peak four years ago in terms of combat ability, then now I’m about half-melted, barely holding together.
So how do you keep that shape intact? In the end, it’s nothing but steady, honest effort.
“499… 500…”
Balancing on one hand in a handstand, I keep my body straight and do push-ups. Five hundred per arm, three sets. Without weapons training, all I can do now is build basic strength and endurance. I’ve been slacking on even this light workout since starting university.
“Ugh… Kinda tough. It used to be nothing.”
I should probably keep up at least this much daily. It’ll help prevent injuries, and I’m pretty sure I’m the type who can’t stand letting my body go soft with fat.
“Yo, makin’ some noise~ What’s up, Saigawa~? You’re drenched in sweat~”
“Gori-san. Just doing some training.”
“That ain’t ‘just’ with that much sweat… Whatever. I made pancakes, so dig in~”
“For real?! Thanks, I was craving something sweet!”
I dive into the pancakes Gori-san sets on the table, homemade and steaming.
Mmm… Delicious. I don’t know what makes them so good, but they’re sweet and amazing.
“Gori-san, you’re a genius. You could be a patissier.”
“HYAHAHAHA~! You’re talkin’ big~~~… Mwah♡”
“But maybe skip the customer service.”
“No kiddin’~ I’d rather make stuff than deal with people~”
(That’s not what I meant…)
I polish off the pancakes and take a breather. Meanwhile, Gori-san’s staring at me silently. Is there something else he wants?
“Saigawa~ How’s it goin’ with Yanagi~? No updates since you looked after her~”
“Yeah, well… She’s over her cold, so I’m thinking of asking her out this weekend. I’ll text her later. Sure, she rejected me, but we’re not on bad terms or anything.”
“...Got it~ Heh, what’s that~? Quit flashin’ that fresh-faced grin~”
“That’s a good face to have, isn’t it…?”
Whatever my face looks like, it’s true I’ve found some kind of answer inside myself.
That answer is exactly why I can move forward without hesitation.
Gori-san’s smirking, looking almost pleased. I can tell he genuinely cares about me and Yanagi. This guy… he’s really kind, despite his looks.
“Alright, next~ Seen Kuyama lately~?”
“Kuyama? Oh, yeah, come to think of it…”
I haven’t seen him since he came by when I was moping. He’s been absent from the lectures we share...unusual for him...and he hasn’t dropped by my place either. We don’t hang out every day, so going a few days without seeing him isn’t weird, but still.
Gori-san’s tone drops a notch, like something’s bothering him.
“…Saigawa~ How much do you know about Kuyama~?”
“How much? Like what?”
“Straight up...his past. We all met in college, right~? So we’ve all got pasts before that. Do you know anything about Kuyama’s~?”
“Hm. Sorry, not a clue.”
In our freshman spring, he tapped my shoulder while I was sitting alone in a lecture and plopped down next to me. Stupidly good-looking, I wondered why a guy like him would bother with me, but he didn’t give off bad vibes. Then he started fidgeting like a maniac, and I thought, What’s with this dude?
That’s how we met. Since then, we’ve sat together in every shared class, hung out sometimes, and now here we are, two years later.
But neither of us has ever talked about our pasts. I don’t share mine, so maybe he’s respecting that, or maybe I’m just not curious enough about other people’s histories.
“...Kuyama’s got a record. Not a conviction, but a rap sheet.”
“A… record? Kuyama?”
The difference between a conviction and a rap sheet is whether you’ve been found guilty. A conviction means jail time; a rap sheet means you were investigated but not charged. A rap sheet doesn’t prove guilt… but it often doesn’t mean innocence either. If Gori-san’s telling the truth, Kuyama’s definitely been in trouble with the cops before.
“No proof~ He spilled it when we were drinking, drunk off his ass. Could be a lie...hell, I hope it is~”
“I think it’s a lie too. Him, doing something like that…?”
“Of course, if it was just talk, I wouldn’t bring it up~ You know how Kuyama hangs with all sorts of people, right~? Some of ’em… they ain’t got good reps~”
We’re not glued at the hip. While I’m off doing my thing, Kuyama’s got his own life. To me, he and Gori-san are my closest friends, but to him, we’re just two among many.
That’s not strange. I’ve always known he’s got a wide circle.
But I never considered he might be mixed up with bad people. I didn’t think he was that kind of guy, and he’s not a bad person. But… if he really did something in the past…
It means I don’t know him at all. Even as a friend, I’m not someone who understands him.
“Cheap drugs, messing with girls they pick up...dumb, reckless stuff~ I happened to see Kuyama with those types recently~”
“…He wouldn’t do that. If we don’t trust him, who will?”
“Sorry, my bad~ Didn’t mean he’s doing it~ Just… if he’s not, I wish he’d stick around us~ Not seeing him for so long...it makes me worry~”
“Gori-san…”
He probably knows more than I do, so he’s been quietly watching over Kuyama in his own way. As long as Kuyama’s with us, he’d never do anything bad.
“I’ll text him. Tell him to come hang out. He’ll show up, right?”
“Yeah~ That’s all we can do~ But, Saigawa~”
“Yeah?”
“I know even less about your past~”
Gori-san’s eyes pierce through me like a gunshot. My past? Of course he doesn’t know. Only Yanagi and Kitsune-san do...I haven’t told anyone else. I went through middle school, high school, and ended up at university. That’s my story, and it’s not a lie. That’s all there is to me.
...Or so I claim. But maybe… some people can sense there’s more.
“Nah, it’s normal. No rap sheet, no convictions.”
“…Sorry~ Didn’t mean to pry~ If I upset you, my bad~ Having secrets exposed ain’t fun~”
“Yeah. Wait, that’s like saying I’m definitely hiding something.”
I toss it out jokingly, but Gori-san just gives a small laugh.
“Got stuff to do, so I’m headin’ back~ Hey… Saigawa.”
“Yeah?”
“Figure out the secret ingredient in those pancakes~?”
“Uh… condensed milk?”
“Wrong~ The answer is...nothing~ Later~”
He turns, raises a hand, and walks off. His back looks just a little lonely… It’s not my imagination. “Sorry,” I murmur under my breath.
*
The week drags on uneventfully until the weekend. I’ve got plans to meet Yanagi today. Until now, we’ve just traded random texts...“Saw a stray cat,” “Weird manhole,” “Funny graffiti”… She’s such a kid sometimes.
But that’s what makes her cute, and I can handle it now.
On the other hand, no word from Kuyama. My texts go unread, and when I called, his phone was off or out of service. He’s not showing up to lectures either...probably not even coming to campus. This is starting to feel… like something’s wrong. I’m getting anxious.
But Gori-san told me, “Focus on Yanagi today.” I can worry about Kuyama starting tomorrow. We’re not his babysitters, after all.
(At least give me some love advice, jerk. I’m a hopeless guy going to face a girl who rejected me...again. Help me out with a plan or something.)
I haven’t told Yanagi where we’re meeting yet, just that it’s tonight. I’ll call her soon to sort it out. It’s more reliable that way.
The sun’s setting. Time to get ready.
Not that I’ve got much to prepare. For now, I’ll open the closet...
“…Huh? Ugh, it won’t budge…! The frame’s… totally jammed…!!”
I haven’t opened it in ages, and now it’s stuck. Something’s caught inside, or the frame’s warped. Either way, this is unexpected.
“Crap, what do I do? If I break it… the landlord’ll kill me…”
Actually, a faulty frame’s their problem. But if I smash it, I’ll be on the hook. Money’s tight, so I can’t afford to mess around…
Time ticks by as I wrestle with it. The closet won’t give.
And then, as if to seal my fate, my phone rings. It’s… Yanagi.
“Hey, Yanagi? Sorry, I’m kinda tied up...”
“Sorry, Saigawa-kun. I can’t make it today.”
“…Huh?”
“I’m short on time, so I’m hanging up. I’ll make it up to you, promise. Bye.”
“Wait, hold...! …HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!?”
A hyper-ultra-miracle last-minute cancellation. I scream at the sheer unfairness.
Her voice was ice-cold. Don’t people usually sound apologetic when they bail? Was she trying to bulldoze through it with that cool attitude?
I’m done. All my energy’s gone. A baby could beat me at arm wrestling right now.
“Saigawa~ What’s with the yelling~? Disturbin’ the neighbors~”
As I melt onto the floor, Gori-san shows up.
“T’day… m’love life’s dead…”
“What, you a toothless grandpa~? Don’t look like ‘nothing’s wrong’~”
How’d he understand that? Impressive.
No point hiding it, so I tell him Yanagi just bailed on me.
“Chin up~ Girls got their monthly stuff~ Way more mysterious than us guys~”
“That so…? Whatever… A cancellation’s a cancellation…”
She said she’d make it up, so maybe it’s like Gori-san says...some personal issue. That’d explain why she didn’t tell me why. Probably that, yeah.
Guess I’ll grab food with Gori-san. As I think that, my phone rings again.
“...It’s Kuyama.”
“Oi, that’s a video call~ Answer it, Saigawa~”
The screen shows Kuyama Reiichi. A video call.
I tap to accept.
“Hey, Kuyama? Where’ve you been...”
“Yo~ Saigawa, right? Got a sec~?”
(Who’s this? Wait, more importantly...)
A dim, rundown room...like a ruin...fills the screen, with someone in the center.
The voice comes from off-screen, so the person in the middle...
“Kuyama? Oi, Kuyama!”
...It’s Kuyama, bound with plastic ties, slumped against a wall.
“This your buddy, yeah~? So, can you take joint responsibility? Actually, you will. Hang up, and he’s dead. Got it? Answer.”
“You...”
Gori-san starts to snap, furious, but I stop him with a hand.
My blood runs cold, but my mind sharpens. I’m becoming me again.
“Understood. I’ll comply.”
“Pfft, so obedient it’s hilarious~”
A group of rough-looking...no, straight-up bad...guys gathers around Kuyama. They’re silently signaling they’ve got numbers. Not completely stupid, then.
(…Huh? One of them looks familiar.)
I can’t place who right away. I’ll figure it out later.
“Anyway~ Bring fifty grand in cash to this spot. Oh, and your bankbook, credit card, and seal. Do that, and we’ll let Kuyama go. Cool?”
“Got it. I’ll bring them. You’ll guarantee Kuyama’s safety until then, right?”
“…Yo. You mocking us or what?”
His voice turns menacing. I don’t think I slipped up, though.
“Normal people’d freak out or hint at cops!! You think this is a joke or something!? Oi!! Wake that loser up!!”
At his order, several guys kick Kuyama carelessly. He groans, coming to, and lifts his head slowly. Bruises mark his face.
“Kuyama!! You’re dead!! All ‘cause of this Saigawa punk!!”
“…Saigawa, huh. Sorry, I screwed up. Don’t worry about me.”
THUD… A sickening sound echoes through the phone. Someone soccer-kicks Kuyama’s defenseless stomach. He writhes in agony, drooling.
“I’m not mocking you. I’m just… confused, mind blank. Please, don’t hurt Kuyama. I’ve got money, I’ll pay. I won’t tell the cops. Please.”
“Say that from the start, dumbass! Alright, I’m giving you the location. Once only, no notes...memorize it. Forget it, and Kuyama dies.”
“Yes.”
They’re avoiding physical evidence. Calling out of the blue means no time to record or jot down notes. Sending a message could leave a trail. They’re smarter than they look.
I commit the address to memory perfectly. The guy grunts, “Good.”
“One hour. You know what happens if you’re late. Bye.”
The call cuts off. I set the phone on the table silently and stand.
“Well, gotta get ready. Good thing Yanagi bailed.”
“Wait… Saigawa. You’re not seriously doing what they say…?”
“No way. I don’t have that kind of cash.”
“…Then why leave your phone…?”
“Huh?”
“You should call the cops right now, damn it!! Where you goin’!?”
Gori-san grabs my shoulders, shaking me. His face carries a desperation I’ve never seen.
His hands, his voice...they’re trembling.
“I don’t get what you’re thinking!! This ain’t normal!! I’m scared, I don’t understand...and why the hell are you so calm!?”
“…”
I’ll go to the location alone, take them all out, and save Kuyama.
I’ve played along, gathered what I need...now it’s enough.
To me, it’s as easy as yawning...but to Gori-san, it’s unthinkable. I finally realize that. And all I can do… is apologize.
“Sorry, Gori-san. I don’t… have much time.”
“…! Damn it!! I knew it!! You, Kuyama, Yanagi...none of you are normal!! But you’re all my precious underclassmen!!”
“Gori-san...”
He’s sharp… No, he sees people. His compassion, his kindness...that’s why he’s sensed something about me, Kuyama, and Yanagi.
Gori-san clutches his head, shoulders shaking… and then...
“...Saigawa~ You knew, right~? The way you handle my guns...it ain’t amateur~ You missed the target on purpose during test shots~ Talking about blowback wasn’t some poser act~ You’ve handled the real thing~ Am I wrong~?”
“…I’m just a university student, your underclassman. That’s the truth, no lie.”
“That so~? Happiest answer I could get...lonely, though~ Oi, Saigawa~”
“Yeah.”
“…Pick your guns~ I’ll lend you everything...just bring ’em back tomorrow~”
That’s the most he can bend, as an ordinary person. He can guess what I’m about to do, but he can’t understand it. Calling the cops and watching from the sidelines is all he can do. If he were normal.
He doesn’t want to let me go. So I give him my heartfelt thanks.
“Thanks, Gori-san. I’m gonna change, so wait in my room.”
“Got it~ Oh, one more thing about Kuyama~”
“What’s that?”
“When you first told us you liked a girl...Yanagi~ You hadn’t said much about her, but Kuyama said, ‘Jerk off to that underclassman chick’~ Probably… he knew you were into her from the start~”
He noticed that too? I had no clue.
Sure, Kuyama met Yanagi at the mixer, so he could’ve guessed.
But what does that...
“Not thrilled to say it~ But if you’re savin’ Kuyama, watch him too~ Like I’ve got my suspicions, he’s onto… whatever you guys got goin’~”
“Understood. Thanks for the heads-up.”
“Call when it’s done~ No word in three hours, I’m callin’ the cops~”
“That works. Should be… fine, probably.”
To keep him from worrying, I flash a bright smile.
“Hah… Everyone’s full of secret ingredients except me~…”
But smiling in a situation like this probably makes me look crazy. Gori-san’s dumbfounded.
*
The designated spot is an abandoned office building in the bay area, practically a ruin. The surrounding land’s empty...probably a scrapped development project.
I speed there on a big bike borrowed from Gori-san and park near the building.
“Now… what’s the plan? Looks like a decent crowd.”
Several modified cars are parked nearby. A perfect hangout for idiots like these...cops probably don’t bother patrolling out here.
I could charge in head-on, but I don’t want them hurting Kuyama in the chaos.
Maybe climb the wall and slip in through the second or third floor?
...Thud. Something silver drops from above, and I whip out a gun.
But I lower it instantly. The shimmering silver is...
“Huh…? Y-Yanagi…!?”
“Eh, eeeeh!? Saigawa-kun!?”
...It’s Yanagi. Her sword (Hibari, was it?) hangs at her waist, and she’s wearing…
“You… that’s the Organization’s…”
“Ah, w-wait, don’t look! It’s super tight, okay!? Really!!”
Yanagi’s in an Organization uniform. It fits her perfectly, clearly made for movement. Nostalgic, too. Even now… it suits her.
“Hold on, you’re wearing your old gear too, Saigawa-kun!”
“Yeah, well… Just in case there’s fighting.”
I’m in my Shishima Agency combat suit. It’s tight, but the special fibers offer bulletproof, slash-proof, fire-resistant, and water-repellent properties. For rough work, it’s the best choice. Not a design I’d show off, though...it’s kinda like cosplay.
We’re not here to critique outfits. There’s stuff to ask.
“Yanagi. Why are you here?”
“Oh, right. I got an SOS from Yoshino-san...she’s here. So I ditched our plans to come save her, jumping through the air. You?”
“Kitsune-san… I’m here ‘cause Kuyama got nabbed by some creeps.”
“Kuyama-senpai too…? So they’re both in this weirdo building?”
“Looks like it… (Weirdo building?)”
What’s going on? Kuyama and Kitsune-san only met at the mixer...no connection since, as far as I know. This feels… too convenient for a coincidence.
(Connection…? No way...)
“Yoshino-san’s hiding somewhere in the building. I gotta find her quick.”
“Do it. I’ll look for Kuyama.”
“Separate ways, then?”
“Nah...too slow. Yanagi, lend me a hand.”
I brought plenty of weapons, but my main gauntlet (forgot its name) is stuck in that jammed closet. I was thinking stealth, but things have changed.
If Yanagi and I are on the same page, hitting them head-on together’s faster and surer.
“Ehh…”
“What’s with the attitude?”
She gives me a sticky glare. What’s her deal?
“You said lend a hand, right? So you’re borrowing from me?”
“Oh, I get it. Picky… Alright, Yanagi, let’s team up.”
“Okay! Together!”
Given our current relationship, “teaming up” fits better than borrowing or lending.
When I rephrase, she beams. Damn, she’s cute… My fighting spirit’s wavering…
I avoid her face and turn to the building’s entrance.
“Need a detailed plan?”
“Nope! Straight in. Keep up, okay?”
“That’s my line. Let’s go.”
I’ve fought alongside Yanagi a few times before, mostly by chance. But this...both of us agreeing to battle together from the start...is a first.
...Yanagi’s the ally I trust most in the world. In skill and in heart.
“I’ll take left.”
“Got it!”
Two guys, likely lookouts, are slouched at the entrance, glued to their phones. They don’t notice us until it’s too late.
We knock them out in one hit each, and I kick the glass door to shards.
“Wha...”
“Seven targets. Three left.”
“Yep, yep! Four right!”
This is a stroll...not even a warm-up. The wide lobby’s littered with sofas and chairs where their crew’s lounging. The crash alerts them, but they’re miles too slow. We size up their numbers instantly.
Fist-sized ice pellets form around Yanagi, four firing at once. They hit the guys’ foreheads dead-on, dropping them to the floor. I draw Gori-san’s gas gun, modified to shoot reinforced rubber bullets...painful enough to stun or knock out with a good hit. I fire three times, dropping three guys. Easy.
First floor’s clear. Yanagi leaps, soaring through the stairwell in a flash.
I kick off, jumping from the bottom step to the landing in one bound, hitting the second floor.
...RIIIIING!
“Alarm...someone heard the noise.”
“Faster than I thought.”
“What the...”
I silence a guy opening his mouth with a shot and scan the second floor.
It’s quieter than the first. But a crowd’s rushing down from above. Their nest is higher up...Kuyama’s probably there.
“Saigawa-kun, those boots...they’re the old ones?”
“Yeah. Go for it.”
“Roger!”
Yanagi stomps, and the floor turns into an ice rink instantly. The goons slip and crash, but Yanagi glides like a figure skater...ice is her domain.
Freezing terrain’s her specialty, so my boots are modded for ice traction. Unlike her graceful slides, I sprint straight, shooting the stragglers she ignores. It’s yawn easy. They’re no match.
“About time?”
“Yup.”
We hit the third floor. The moment we step in...
“Die!!”
A nail bat swings at my face. I dodge lightly, sweep the guy’s legs, and stomp his face to silence him. Yanagi parries a pipe aimed at her with her scabbard, then cracks the guy’s temple, knocking him out. Two metallic clangs echo as weapons hit the floor.
“W-What the hell are you…!?”
“That voice… You’re the guy from the call. Kuyama’s unharmed, right?”
The man who probably called me stares, stunned.
The third floor’s their nest. Kuyama’s tied up, surrounded by a few guys. No sign of Kitsune-san...maybe higher up? Yanagi tilts her head and starts cleaning.
Kuyama’s beat up but alive. Guess they don’t have the guts for murder.
“F-Fifty gra...Shut it.”
No point talking. I shoot, dropping the apparent leader.
Yanagi’s done cleaning too. She steps beside me.
The alarm’s stopped, and the floor goes quiet.
“Oi, Kuyama. Hang in there. You okay?”
“Guh… ugh…”
“That’s awful… He’s been hit a lot…”
I rip the plastic ties off Kuyama and check his consciousness. He’s roughed up, but not ambulance-level yet. I brought meds...might as well patch him up.
I unbutton Kuyama’s shirt to check for injuries.
“I’ll treat Kuyama. Yanagi, find Kitsune-san. There shouldn’t be many enemies left.”
“Yeah. Hope Yoshino-san’s upstairs…”
“Saigawa… and Yanagi-chan… Yanagi-chan… HOOO!!”
Kuyama wakes, spots us, and does his usual freakout at Yanagi, jolting like he’s been shocked. Guess he doesn’t need first aid.
“Hey, Kuyama-senpai. You seem lively, so one question...”
Yanagi pauses her climb to ask something. “What’s up?” Kuyama replies, weirdly calm. Not that hurt, then…
“...Why didn’t you use your Blessing when you were in danger?”
“…Huh?”
“…”
I don’t get Yanagi’s question. She continues, matter-of-factly.
“Not combat-oriented? That’s fair, but…”
“Wait, Yanagi, what’re you...”
“What do you mean, what? Kuyama-senpai’s a Blessed, right? I don’t recognize him, so I was gonna ask if he’s ex-Shishima Agency, but…”
...No, it’s not that. That guy…...
Come to think of it, Yanagi once tried asking me something about Kuyama.
She dropped it, so I never got what it was, but...
“…Yanagi. There’s no proof. Nothing says Kuyama’s a Marked.”
“Blessed can kinda sense each other… But also, there’s a mark below his collarbone.”
“No!! I don’t see any mark!!”
A clear divide. All the time I’ve spent with Kuyama...his collarbone would’ve been visible sometimes, depending on his clothes. So when Yanagi first met him, she must’ve seen it.
Even now, I’ve got his shirt unbuttoned. If he’s a Marked, I’d notice a wing-shaped mark, no matter how dense I am.
“Maybe this mark’s special...superpowers are Blessings or Blessed? That’s what you call them? And your weird outfits… not cosplay, huh. Like uniforms? Are those guns and swords real? Replicas? Man, this is hyping me up!”
“Kuyama…!!”
Pieces are connecting, leading to a conclusion.
Kuyama’s a Marked, he’s onto our pasts, and...
“Ritsuka! Saigawa-san! That guy’s a Blessed!”
“Yoshino!?”
From the upper floor, Kitsune-san comes running, gasping for breath, shouting.
“He’s got a Blessing that controls people!!”
...If there’s one thing linking Kitsune-san and Kuyama, it’s this.
“The ‘client’ who had the detective agency dig into me… That was you, wasn’t it?”
“Haha! Nice one, Saigawa. You figured it out. Though that was a waste of effort.”
Kuyama snaps his fingers. Instantly, the goons we’d knocked out rise, despite being unconscious.
“Controlling people’s superpowers come in a few flavors. Let me show you one.”
“Stop it, Kuyama!! I don’t get it!! Why are you doing this!?”
“Because I don’t get it. Tell me, Saigawa… What are you guys?”
Kuyama flips the question back. One of the men swings his arm wide, slamming it toward me. I block with one arm, but the impact jolts through me like a hammer.
“Guh…! What… this strength…!?”
“This is ‘Autopilot.’ It’s limited to simple commands like ‘attack what’s in front of you,’ but I can control a bunch at once, conscious or not, and they’ll keep following that order even if I’m far away. Plus, on ‘Autopilot,’ their brain’s limiter seems to come off...they get stronger, faster. Downside? Their bodies’ll be wrecked when it’s done… Oh, maybe I shouldn’t blab so much about my power? Sorry, forget that. It’s my first time explaining it to someone, so I got carried away.”
Kuyama’s Blessing...controlling humans.
If his explanation’s true, these guys are now auto-locked on attacking their enemies...me and Yanagi...with their limiters off, going all-out.
I parry an attack, then slam a full-force kick into one’s side, knocking him out again. But he rises once more. They’re already unconscious yet controlled...knocking them out’s pointless. Physical restraint, like tying them up, might be the only way to stop them.
As I weigh my options, the remaining men turn toward Yanagi and Kitsune-san.
Bad news. These guys are way trickier than before.
“Eeeek!! Wait, they’re coming this way!!”
“It’s okay, Yoshino-san.”
The floor’s temperature plummets. In a blink, every man’s frozen from the neck down, toppling like frozen tuna onto the ground.
They can’t move now. Yanagi’s getting serious.
“Wow… Impressive, Yanagi-chan. Are you really human?”
Swaying unnaturally, Kuyama says it with a half-smile.
“…I am.”
“This guy wormed his way into some shady crew, acted like their pal, then let himself get caught. I’ve been tailing him, but I screwed up and got nabbed myself. Escaping’s my thing, so I broke out fast, but… point is, he’s plotting something! He’s scum!!”
“So the one chasing me lately was under Director Gen’u’s orders, huh?”
“Exactly! Our boss knows you’ve got a rap sheet! If a client turns to crime, it could come back on him, so he’s got his part-timer tailing you...what a real scumbag!!”
I don’t fully get it, but it seems Kitsune-san’s detective boss suspected his client, Kuyama, in a self-serving way…
“Kuyama. Explain yourself. What do you want?”
“Hmm… Want? More like know. First, I don’t know much about this power. It just showed up when I was a kid. Pretty unstable, though...caused a lot of tragedies. My parents started fighting out of nowhere, my whole class got into a brawl… And I was always at the center, so I ended up in police custody. Couldn’t prove superpowers, so it stayed a rap sheet. Follow me so far?”
“You don’t know about Blessings… So you’re an accidental Marked, huh.”
I don’t know how, but the Shishima Agency and Organization could detect new ability users and recruit them...scouting for their ranks.
There were other smaller groups too, with their own Marked.
So, 99% of ability users get tangled in the underworld one way or another.
“Um, aren’t there rare cases? People who know nothing about ‘this stuff’…”
“‘Leftovers,’ right? Rare, but they exist.”
“I’ll keep going. So, I grew up knowing how to use my power but not what it was. Still, I’m clearly different from others. If I wanted, this power could do anything. Got empty, though, so I stopped before college. Oh, my gynophobia? Got burned bad using my power on a girl once. You don’t control girls.”
“You say it so casually, but how many people have you…?”
Kitsune-san glares with contempt, but Kuyama presses on, unfazed.
“I thought this power was unique, just mine. But then, in college… I met a guy who clearly wasn’t normal.”
“That’s… me.”
Now I get why a guy like him approached a loner like me.
Even without knowledge, as a Marked, he sensed my strength instinctively.
…Damn it. If that’s true, I shouldn’t let him keep talking. It’s clicking.
“At first, you were chill, Saigawa...but the second you glimpsed my mark, you gave off this murderous vibe. That’s when I knew. This mark’s special, tied to my power, and you know more about it than I do.”
“So you...”
“Yup. Used my power on you.”
As expected. I’ve already been hit by Kuyama’s Blessing without realizing.
“But my power’s mainly physical control...can’t touch minds. I can force someone to speak, but not what they say. Unless you choose to talk, I’m stuck. So I had to get close… but that mark cranks your guard way up, right?”
“…Yeah. So you made it so I couldn’t see it.”
“Bingo. Vision’s physical, so I can tweak it.”
I caught a fleeting glimpse of his mark and instinctively radiated killing intent. But he used his power to hide it from my sight. With the mark gone, I chalked it up to a mistake.
So I treated him like a normal guy, and we became friends.
His miscalculation? No matter how close we got, I never spilled anything.
“Two years, nothing. I could’ve given up...but being around you paid off. Yanagi-chan, and maybe Kitsune-chan too? Clearly not normal girls, showing up at that mixer. A superpower-using girl, and she knows you?”
“That’s the mixer where I threw ice…”
“B-But…”
“You noticed the ice Yanagi threw was off. As a fellow ability user.”
“Yup. Though the mixer was just to recruit some pawns.”
“Pawns, huh.”
I glance at one of the frozen goons. When the video call came, I recognized him. Now I remember who.
“He’s the mixer’s organizer. Guys’ side.”
“Good memory. Just networking. Ended up using these lowlifes for this act...knew you’d come save me, Saigawa, probably with your superhuman skills. Then you couldn’t hide anything. I planned to show my power too. Didn’t expect Yanagi-chan, another ability user, or Kitsune-chan, with her sloppy tailing, to show up. But with you all here, nothing’s hidden anymore, right? Haha, thanks for coming!”
“Shut up, idiot!!”
“…All that just to get beat up for show?”
“Pervert…”
Calling me wasn’t enough. He set up a scenario to draw out my combat skills and lured me in. Kuyama’s… my friend. Of course I’d save him.
His plan wasn’t wrong...it worked perfectly.
I was gonna brush it off with some excuse...“Saigawa’s just crazy strong, cool, right?”
But that wouldn’t have worked.
Kuyama’s dead-set on digging into our secrets.
“All that for this? That’s sad. It’s a big deal to me. Plus, half wasn’t acting...it flowed naturally. I told them you’re loaded, Saigawa. Said they could extort cash through me, and these scumbags jumped at it...no powers needed.”
“You control people freely and call them scumbags!?”
“Haha! If I can control, what’s the issue? So, Saigawa, what’s my power? Am I really human? Will your world give me answers?”
“Hell if I know. But I’ll tell you everything you want. No blabbing, though…”
If knowing it all satisfies him, fine by me. It’s infuriating he caused this mess just to learn, but if it ends here, I’m good.
To my offer...Kuyama responds with a thin smile.
“Thanks, but no dice, Saigawa. That’s boring.”
“Boring…? Oi, enough already. What more do you want?”
“I’m a scumbag using you, wearing a friend’s mask. Being kind to someone like that’s just weird. Gotta ramp it up more, or you guys won’t have a reason to take me down. Don’t let it fizzle out. I… I love things getting interesting.”
As expected. He wants to go wild. That idiot blond said it before.
Marked are beasts; powerless guys like me are rabbits. Beasts are always caged.
I tried keeping Kuyama from feeling that way, but I failed.
“Yanagi!!”
“Eh?”
When facing a Marked, you first pull out intel on their Blessing. Ability details, range, duration, activation conditions, Cost. The more you know, the better you can counter.
I’d already analyzed about 80% of Kuyama’s Blessing.
Ability: Controlling humans...or rather, their bodies. He can tweak specific senses or force unconscious bodies to move like puppets. Versatile and tricky in the right hands.
Range: At least a whole floor of this building. From his tone, probably the entire structure, depending on use.
Duration: Unclear, but likely long. I didn’t notice his mark for two years...sustained, continuous power, even with re-ups.
And...activation likely requires direct physical contact with the target.
“Get ready!!”
I shout, spinning to land a roundhouse kick on Yanagi.
“Wha…! What’s that for, Saigawa-kun!! We teamed up! Liar!”
She instinctively blocks with her scabbard, leaping back to absorb the impact.
“You get it! It’s not my will! I’m under Kuyama’s control!!”
“Really!?”
No surprise there. He’s been messing with my vision all along. Switching to full-body control’s no stretch. This confirms it...Kuyama needs touch to activate. If he could control with a look or proximity, Yanagi and Kitsune-san would be puppets too. But they’re not...because he can’t touch women.
“Hahaha! You knew I could control you? Damn, Saigawa!”
“If there’s ‘Autopilot’… it’s natural to assume ‘Manual’ too. Not sure which you’re using on me.”
“Right. Tried hiding it, but no point. Yup, ‘Manual’ lets me move a target however I want. ‘Auto’ works out of sight, but ‘Manual’ needs you in my line of vision. Like I’m holding a remote control. I can make you do anything...like this.”
I draw my gun and fire at Yanagi. Her ice pellets intercept automatically.
“Hey, it’s not real, but that’s Gori-senpai’s gun, right? Blocking it like it’s nothing...Yanagi-chan, maybe you’re not human?”
“Sh-Shut up! I am!”
“Wait! If Saigawa-san’s controlled, does that mean we...?”
“It’s fine, Kitsune-san. He hasn’t met the conditions. You two can’t be controlled.”
“Hah! You caught that too, without me saying? How far does it go, Saigawa!?”
It’s not about when he touches...it’s when he wants to control. If he’s touched you before, he can activate it later. I haven’t been touched recently, but over time, he’s done it plenty, keeping the condition active.
He’s always been touchy...pats, nudges, all to maintain his power and hide his mark.
“What about the Cost!? If it’s harsh, he can’t keep using it…!”
Dodging my punches, Yanagi speaks. Every Blessing has a Cost.
“No big Cost...look at his body.”
Between attacks, Yanagi glances at Kuyama. My eyes move too.
Clatter-clatter. Leaning against the wall, Kuyama’s right hand twitches wildly.
Involuntary movement. That’s his Cost.
His weird antics stem from two things: gynophobia-driven freakouts and uncontrollable body twitches from his Cost.
“What’s a Cost? Dunno, but using this power always does this. Just a body part moving on its own...not a big deal.”
When we met, he tapped my shoulder, then fidgeted like crazy.
That wasn’t a quirk...it was the Cost of using his Blessing on me.
“Unlike you or Clay, it’s a Blessing suited for long-term use without much strain. Don’t bet on it wearing off. Whew… Lucky Kuyama’s an amateur.”
“You’re analyzing coolly, but stop attacking, Saigawa-kun!”
“Can’t. I’m not free.”
I’m relentlessly fighting Yanagi hand-to-hand. My thoughts and actions are so out of sync, it feels like a dream. She’s dodging well but hesitating to counter. I still don’t want to hurt her.
“I’ve controlled plenty of people, but Saigawa’s different. Sorry, Yanagi-chan, but keep fighting him! This isn’t something you see every day!”
“Saigawa-kun! If this keeps up, I’ll have to get serious...”
Yanagi’s unease mixes with rising battle spirit. I’ve got most answers I need, so I give the order.
“Kitsune-san! Spray perfume in Kuyama’s face!”
“Huh!? Why that...?”
“Just do it!”
“Roger! Filth gets deodorized, jerk!!”
Kitsune-san dashes to Kuyama, pulls perfume from her pocket, and spritzes his face.
“Ugh, cough, hack! What the...…?”
“Yanagi!”
“Yup!”
Crunch… Yanagi jabs her scabbard into Kuyama’s forehead.
“…!? The control…”
“You don’t know, but extreme disruption of focus can break some Blessings’ hold. Control-types are especially vulnerable.”
Like Clay...his clay manipulation falters when he’s attacked.
Kuyama’s coughing from the perfume, his control on me pauses, and he’s checkmated.
“No more controlling Saigawa-kun. I’ll smack you again, got it?”
“…Damn. Beaten in a split second.”
“Kuyama. Sorry, but we’ve got way more experience. Your power’s not frontline material. It doesn’t boost your own combat strength, so taking you out ends it. It’s a Blessing that shines in support, used strategically from the rear. Also, if you’re controlling someone’s body, why not mute them first? With multiple enemies around, they can give orders...like I just did. Your planning’s way too sloppy.”
“Haha! Like a pro. Or are you pros...whatever you guys are? Guess an amateur like me never stood a chance.”
“Duh! I’m a pro badass who’d crush cockroaches barehanded!”
“Yoshino-san’s reliable, but bare hands are gross, so don’t…”
Giving up, Kuyama throws his hands up dramatically. My body’s free now, and Yanagi and Kitsune-san finally breathe easy.
“So, what’s my fate? Boil me, roast me, whatever.”
“Huh? Nothing, like I said. Gori-san’s worried, so text him now. And treat me to something as an apology. That settles it.”
I pick up Kuyama’s phone from the floor and toss it back. He looks miffed.
“I told you...don’t let it fizzle out. For two years, I...”
“You’re still my friend. Deny it all you want, I believe it.”
“Saigawa-kun…”
Even if he had ulterior motives, was he forced to hang out with me?
No. I already know that. Not even mad.
His Blessing can’t control minds. Forcing friendship’s impossible...so these two years, our bond’s been real, no lies.
“You got close to dig out my secrets, right? Then you succeeded. We are close. So I’ll tell you everything now.”
“…Stop. Now I feel pathetic. I’ve been spinning my wheels alone.”
“Always were. By the way, from my experience, your power’s bottom-tier.”
“No way. What kind of world is that? I wanna know...but knowing now feels… pointless. Hey, Saigawa. What are people like me? This power’s not normal...not something humans should have. So am I… not human?”
That’s probably the core question Kuyama’s been carrying.
Blessings. Supernatural abilities. Powers most humans can’t wield, sparking miracles.
Can those who hold such power still be called human?
My answer’s already set.
“Of course you’re human. A Blessing’s just a tool. You Marked...ability users...just live with one extra, handy tool. That’s it. But a good tool can mess with people’s heads. Right...”
Slowly, I raise my gun. My ‘tool’ is a firearm.
“...White Sorcerer.”
A dry shot rings through the floor...and I return to my true purpose.
*
“…!?”
Saigawa-kun suddenly shoots at me. It’s not a real gun, and my Blessing would block any bullet anyway. No issue, but…
I glare at Kuyama-senpai. He’s still…!
“No, I swear! I’m not doing anything! It’s Saigawa’s will!”
“His will? Why would he...?”
“Ritsuka!! He’s got hostility!! Ready Hibari!!”
Yoshino-san’s the first to sense Saigawa-kun’s shift. I grip Hibari in its scabbard, barely parrying his kick. It’s heavy...not a joke or act.
“Saigawa-kun…! What’s your deal…!?”
“Your deal? Don’t talk nonsense, White Sorcerer.”
He fires a few shots. My ice pellets knock them down in response.
He steps back...one, two...and keeps his gun trained on me.
“Kuyama. Sorry, you’re just the opening act. Saved me some trouble...I planned this anyway.”
“Hey! We teamed up, remember!?”
“I saved Kuyama and Kitsune-san. No reason to team up anymore.”
“That doesn’t make sense! Why attack out of nowhere!?”
“Unfinished business.”
He states it flatly. That word...business...finally clicks.
Something we let slip into ambiguity. The real reason we were meeting.
Yanagi Ritsuka and Saigawa Rouji. Who’s above whom. A fight to settle it.
“You’re still on about...”
“White Sorcerer. Forgot to mention...you’re my nemesis. The only one, for life.”
“Nemesis…”
I can answer now. What you are to me, clear as day. Yanagi, you’re my...
The words he didn’t finish back then. Our original connection.
“Yoshino-san said it! The battle-game days are over!”
“Games are.”
Saigawa-kun swings his leg high, kicking one of the frozen goons at me.
Like passing a ball, a human arcs through the air. With his insane strength, it’s possible...but too heavy to shoot down. I have to dodge.
I leap sideways. A huge shadow looms...Saigawa-kun’s coming…!
“...No! Another guy…!?”
I swing Hibari’s scabbard, knocking another unconscious man away.
So where’s Saigawa-kun...?
“Ritsuka!! Behind!!”
“Eh...…”
Yoshino-san’s warning’s a beat late. Something hard slams into my back.
A blow piercing my Blessing’s defense...Saigawa-kun’s elbow strike. He follows with a boot, sending me crashing into the wall.
“…Ow…! You…!”
Good thing I’m in the uniform. Normal clothes, and I’d have broken bones.
“Get it. This isn’t a game. It’s combat.”
Four dry shots. He fires mercilessly as I reel.
All blocked by ice pellets. Guns don’t work on me...he knows that.
The more I use my Blessing, the more my Cost chills my body. I’ll keep cooling, hit hypothermia, and drop. He’s whittling me down slowly.
“Why…? This is wrong… We don’t need to fight anymore…”
“I’m a Feather Hunter...I hunt Marked.”
That’s his reason… The Feather Hunter’s decree.
His eyes say it all. He’s not joking.
He’s dead serious, giving his all to crush his nemesis...me. To settle this.
And I have to answer. Seriously...all-out?
(No way I can...)
“…”
His gun shifts, slowly sideways...toward Yoshino-san.
That instant, I stomp the floor to bits, leap, and slam Hibari’s scabbard at the Feather Hunter’s face. It’s blocked...by his gun. I land, spin, and drive a kick into his side. As he’s flung back, I shout.
“What were you doing just now!?”
“If she helps you, she’s out.”
He knows how to make me mad. If he pulls that, I’ve got no choice but to go all-out. It’s what he wants. He’s so good at manipulating me.
If Yoshino-san’s a target, I need to end this fast. I reach for Hibari to draw it...but white smoke fills the floor.
“…!? Smoke grenade…!!”
“...Kitsune Yoshino. Has a detection-type Blessing.”
Smoke blinds me. The Feather Hunter’s voice echoes. Yoshino-san’s in danger...I have to protect her.
But in this smoke…!
“Ritsuka, no!! Not me!! Right rear!!”
“...Kuh!”
Yoshino-san can sense through smoke. Following her call, I duck, dodging the Feather Hunter’s ambush. He faked targeting her to hit me.
His attacks are too precise in this smoke. Probably has goggles or something.
“He’s circling! Ritsuka, next...”
Bang. Crash.
“...Eek!!”
A gunshot, glass shattering, and Yoshino-san’s cry.
She’s hit. Not one or the other...he aimed for both. Glass, glass...…
“Outta my way!!”
I fire ice pellets at every glass surface on the floor, shattering them to let the smoke escape. I freeze the grenade itself too.
The haze clears. Ahead...Yoshino-san, doused in perfume, and the Feather Hunter beside her.
“Her Blessing is ‘Hyper Olfaction.’ That perfume was marking me.”
“Sorry, Ritsuka…! My power’s totally exposed… I can’t sense anymore…!!”
Got it. At the park after the mixer, Yoshino-san sprayed us with perfume. Her custom blend...she can track it from miles away.
She could pinpoint where he was...even his address.
The Feather Hunter saw through it and neutralized Yoshino-san first, who was backing me up.
He shot the perfume bottle she used on Kuyama-senpai, dousing her to overload her sense of smell.
(Unbelievable…! He made Yoshino-san use the perfume on Kuyama-senpai for this… To check if she still had it…!!)
“Relax. I won’t target her anymore. She’s useless now.”
“Ugh… Regret…!”
Yoshino-san raises both hands, as if saying, I can’t do anything more.
His target’s still me. Yoshino-san got in the way, so he neutralized her. Perfectly, without a scratch on her. The only one he’s allowed to hurt is me...honest to a laughable degree.
From sparse clues, he deduces a Blessing’s details and crafts a strategy to take it down.
Without a Blessing of his own. Just physical prowess, gear, and tactics, he always defeats any Blessed he faces. You might beat him once or twice, but from the third time on, no Blessed ever wins.
That’s what a Feather Hunter is...the Shishima Agency’s ultimate warrior.
The only one who’s ever stood against him time and again… is me, called the White Sorcerer.
“...I’m getting serious. No forgiving you, even if you apologize.”
I draw Hibari from its scabbard and take my stance. The Feather Hunter points his gun at me.
“Should’ve done that from the start, idiot.”
“…! Don’t you get I was going easy on someone beneath me?”
“Your mercy’s bringing tears to my eyes. Seems Marked are pretty arrogant.”
“That name… I hate it! We’re Blessed! Different from you!”
It feels like déjà vu. Have I traded barbs with him like this before, somewhere, sometime?
Right, that’s it. He’s beneath me, the Feather Hunter. With my Blessing and Hibari, I’m absolutely stronger than him. The one above is me...only me.
I’ll make him understand. So he’ll never look at me with those eyes again.
“Hey, Kitsune-chan. This isn’t gonna end with corpses, is it? Their eyes are way too serious.”
“Maybe~”
“Maybe, huh… Oi, oi. I don’t wanna see a girl die in front of me.”
“Nah, it’s Saigawa who’d...wait, you just called her a girl? Die first, seriously.”
I hear their voices faintly in the distance. I close in, trying to shorten the gap with the Feather Hunter.
But he retreats, firing bullets. I intercept them, launching ice pellets at him as he ducks behind a pillar. He darts out from the crumbling cover...then slips away again.
“Come on…! Face me!”
“No thanks.”
The Feather Hunter heads for… the stairs up. He’s changing floors.
“Wait...”
Something rolls at my feet as I start to chase. Avocado-shaped...
“A grenade…!?”
I focus, cranking my Blessing’s output, shifting to full defense.
A sound like a bursting bag...countless BB pellets scatter. My ice pellets shoot down any headed my way. But these are just airsoft BBs...hurt a bit, maybe, but no need to block with my power.
Too late. After meticulously shooting them all down… I feel my body tremble.
(The strain… It’s heavy. I haven’t fought in ages, so my combat time’s shorter…)
My body should warm up in a fight, but the Cost keeps cooling it down. I was probably at my strongest four years ago. Now, I’m much weaker than then.
(...But I’m still plenty strong. Stronger than the Feather Hunter… definitely.)
I race up the stairs. He’s not on the next floor, or the one after.
Finally, I reach...a door to the rooftop.
(The rooftop’s better. I can use my Blessing freely.)
I slice the door with Hibari and leap onto the rooftop in one bound. He’s probably set a trap, going up first. Predictable, in a way.
“…! He’s not here...”
But the Feather Hunter isn’t on the rooftop. What? Is he still on a lower floor...
Clang! Metal clashes against metal, ringing out.
“From above…! And that weapon…!”
The Feather Hunter was above the door. He swings a nail bat down at me with full force. I barely notice in time, blocking with Hibari.
That bat...one of the weirdos here had it. He must’ve picked it up. The Feather Hunter really uses everything to win…!
“But! In close combat with weapons!”
A nail bat’s like a twig against Hibari. With a swift slash, I cleave it in half.
He steps back, throwing the broken bat at me.
I slice that too with Hibari, closing in on his guard.
(Got him…! I’ll cut him down…!!)
My slash is way faster. His athleticism can’t dodge this.
Victory assured, he...vanishes from my sight.
“!? …Guh…!”
A fist sinks into my stomach. Impossible. He’s faster?
No way. But this strength, piercing my Blessing...stronger than ever. Why?
“…!! Kuyama…-senpai…!?”
...This is ‘Autopilot.’ Limited to simple commands like ‘attack what’s in front of you,’ but I can control many at once, conscious or not, and they’ll keep following that order even if I’m far away. Plus, on ‘Autopilot,’ their brain’s limiter seems to come off...they get stronger, faster.
Kuyama-senpai said that. And the Feather Hunter meets the conditions to be controlled by him. So he chose to let Kuyama-senpai control him now.
To land a blow beyond my expectations.
“Cancel the ability, Kuyama.”
‘Sure, sure. Unbelievable...I’m practically a lady-killer here.’
I freeze the surroundings, thrusting ice pillars from the ground toward him.
Reading my counter, the Feather Hunter backs off instead of pressing, giving orders.
He’s got a phone somewhere, linked to Kuyama-senpai.
He didn’t flee to the rooftop for a bat ambush.
...It doesn’t boost your own combat strength, so taking you out ends it. It’s a Blessing that shines in support, used strategically from the rear.
He separated me from Kuyama-senpai to hide this plan…!
(How much is he calculating mid-fight…!?)
My teeth chatter. My breath clouds. My body temperature keeps dropping. But it’s not just that. I’m genuinely terrified...and thrilled...by the man called the Feather Hunter.
“Amazing… person…”
“Kuyama. Stand by till my next order.”
‘Your voice is dead serious… Got it.’
Those eyes...they lock onto me. Glaring like a beast.
‘You won’t beat me.’ ‘I’m above you.’ ‘Get it already.’
He’s the only one in the world who looks at me like that.
The only one who’ll truly challenge me, no matter the means.
“...Your breath’s white. Near your limit, White Sorcerer?”
“Shut… up. Don’t… decide my limits…!”
I turn the entire rooftop into a sheet of ice. His boots don’t slip, so it’s no hindrance. But I move better on ice. Plus…!
“Ice walls!”
If he keeps distancing, I’ll stop him. I raise ice walls behind and beside him, then glide straight in. He fires...my pellets neutralize every shot.
“Now...”
Just before I reach Hibari’s range, he throws something.
A small bomb? I’ll freeze it...then he shoots it midair.
BOOM!!
“...~~~~!?”
Not a bomb...a firecracker-like noisemaker. The blast hits, dizzying me with nausea. I lose balance.
The Feather Hunter’s unfazed. Probably wearing earplugs. He charges, landing a kick. I block with my arms but get flung back.
His gun’s aimed. I can’t hear, but he’s likely shooting. My Blessing blocks the bullets. He’s mercilessly shaving my combat time.
Sound and light...my Blessing can’t block those. He knows they’re effective and uses them at critical moments.
“~~~Ugh!”
My ears are still out. I feel sick. But my eyes work...I form ice pillars above, dropping them on him. At the same time, I rapid-fire ice pellets like a machine gun.
The Feather Hunter focuses on dodging. My temperature drops more, but my hearing’s returning.
The rooftop’s transformed...pocked with my ice pillars and walls. Dodging my attacks, he fires...wildly off-target.
“Why...…Ow!!”
A sting hits my shoulder blade. I’m shot. A ricochet.
The more ice I make, the more I should dominate. But with obstacles piling up, he instantly uses them, aiming ricochets with superhuman skill and judgment.
Truly, truly, truly… he’s strong. An ability-less guy like this? Impossible.
“White Sorcerer. Is that all you’ve got?”
“…”
“If so, this fight’s pointless. You can’t beat me. Surrender before you get seriously hurt.”
“What… Who do you think… you’re talking to…?”
“If you’re still going, come at me full force. I’ll crush that too.”
“…Try it.”
He’s baiting me. Obvious. He knows Blessed have a trump card and hasn’t forced mine yet. He wants to draw it out… and crush it.
Cocky. I’m the strong one. Absolutely. Anything else is wrong.
No regrets now. Freeze solid and get found in a century, see if I care.
“...Kuyama.”
‘What? Use my power?’
“You ability users always name your abilities.”
‘Yeah, for some reason I resist saying it. So?’
“Call its name and put me on ‘Autopilot.’ Ten seconds.”
‘Dunno what’s up, but got it.’
I focus, touching the pure white and pitch-black thing inside me.
Inhale. Exhale slowly. Tiny ice flecks mix with my breath.
As you wish...I’ll throw everything at you.
“...Falling snowflakes.”
‘...Waterfish Edict.’
Calling our Blessings’ names...full power unleashed. No turning back. My temperature plummets; I’ve got maybe ten seconds. Beyond that, the Cost becomes Forced Collection.
My Forced Collection takes my heart...strong feelings, emotions. The more I push, the more I’ll become like a doll. Don’t want to think about it.
(I’ll end it before then...)
The Feather Hunter’s eye is bloodshot red. His trump card...having Kuyama-senpai fully unleash his Blessing to control him. A reckless tactic, ignoring bodily backlash. But to beat me, he uses it without hesitation. That’s his resolve.
“...AHHHHHHHHHH!!”
He vanishes from my sight...or seems to, moving so fast, closing in with a scream, thrusting a fist. My ice wall catches it, shattering, but I try to freeze his arm...too late, he pulls back.
“The air…!”
The ice floor rumbles...no, I’m making it rumble.
Ice pillars erupt, engulfing us both, launching us skyward like a catapult. Aerial combat.
“Feather Hunter!!”
“White Sorcerer!!”
I adjust, forming thin ice midair to step on. I can dance freely in the sky.
But you can’t. Enhanced physicality or not, you’re limited in the air.
This one slash will end it all…!!
“It’s over!!”
Clang… A dull sound echoes. He throws his gun; Hibari slices it but hits his torso...blocked by something hard, landing only a shallow cut.
“Iron pipe…!?”
Another weapon from the building. He’d hidden it, besides the bat?
Letting me cut the gun first, then using the pipe and his uniform’s fibers to dull my strike.
...He was prepared for my all-out attack from the start.
“Got you…!!”
He grabs Hibari’s blade with his hand, heedless of the cuts.
Whether he’s pain-resistant or it’s Kuyama-senpai’s Blessing, I can’t tell.
“Let go…!!”
We’ll both fall like this. To break free, I fire an ice chunk at his face.
It hits, shattering… No, he headbutts it. What’s with that? So barbaric.
I can’t shake him. I can’t let go of Hibari. I layer thin ice sheets at my landing spot. Like breaking tiles, they cushion our fall, easing the impact, and we crash back onto the icy rooftop.
He’s still gripping Hibari. His hand’s bloody, but he won’t let go.
“You…!!”
I form an ice fist and slam it into his cheek. That lands...he releases, flying back into an ice wall. Time to pursue. I glide in.
“Enough...…!”
“Fall already…!!”
Right before my follow-up, red fills my vision. Blood. He flings blood from his hand at me...I instinctively freeze and shatter it.
The Feather Hunter’s gone. Before I can react, a shock hits my hand.
“Hibari…!”
He kicks my grip. Hibari slides across the icy rooftop, far out of reach. No time to retrieve her.
No matter what I do, he counters. Worsens my situation. He charges, uncaring of his wounds. He’s a beast. A fearless beast. A powerless beast. A lone beast.
Time’s up. Forced Collection’s coming. Next move has to end it.
“Freeze!!”
“Guh…! AHHHH!!”
I thrust my arm, unleashing raw cold straight at him.
Freeze solid, and he’s done. Become an ice statue. Clothes, shoes, hair, skin...everything frozen. No living thing survives absolute zero.
Yet...he closes in, step by step.
“Why…! Still…! You!!”
His body shouldn’t move. No… it does. Forcibly. That’s the Blessing.
I’m out of time. But if I assume Forced Collection, I can still act.
Take whatever heart you want from me. Anything…!
‘Saigawa!! Ten seconds are up...I canceled it! You sure about this!? That scream’s not normal...’
Kuyama-senpai’s voice cuts off. The phone probably fried from the cold.
No Blessing’s force remains. Yet...he doesn’t stop.
“Ghaaaaaaaa!!”
One step. His body crumbles. Another. Blood spurts, freezing. Another. He’s unstoppable.
Not by Blessing...by something words can’t capture, moving a body that shouldn’t.
I’m dizzy. Lost too much heat. But I won’t stop my Blessing. It shifts to Forced Collection.
That’s fine. I can’t lose. Won’t lose. Not to him. Not to the Feather Hunter.
‘...I respect and thank your unwavering resolve. It’s all thanks to you.’
…Ah.
‘Wanna hang out again, everyone? I had fun.’
‘Then I’ll trust your gut. More reliable than my guesses.’
‘Guess I’m used to handling your Blessing. So it’s never a bother, no matter what you do.’
‘Wasn’t just watching, huh, this guy.’
‘…Pretty cute, right? Suits you… though.’
...I know what heart’s being taken now.
Not the Feather Hunter’s, but Saigawa-kun’s.
Kind, funny, cool, brave...my nemesis’s… memories.
‘I love Yanagi!! No matter what anyone says!!’
They’ll vanish. Frozen over, becoming irrelevant.
“…No…”
But I can’t stop the power myself anymore.
I chose to use it, so the Blessing follows its rules, exacting Forced Collection.
To beat him. Just for that. Trading away a precious heart.
“Yanagiaaaa......!! I!! You!!”
Tattered, he screams, nearly upon me.
One more moment, and it’s over. I’ll win. I’m stronger, above, so I…
“I love youuuuuuuuu......!!”
“…Huh…?”
His shout blanks my mind. A pure, untainted white.
Time stops...or so it feels, because I can’t do anything.
The Feather Hunter… Saigawa-kun, pulls me tightly into his arms.
We collapse onto the ice, him below, me above.
Thump, thump, thump. A gentle yet fierce sound flows into me.
Why? I’ve never heard his heartbeat, yet...it’s so familiar.
Something hard touches my back. A gun barrel. He still had one hidden.
“My… win, Yanagi…”
I can’t resist. Don’t want to.
I just nod silently...
*
I’ll use anything to win. That’s what combat is. Achieving victory matters; pride or aesthetics don’t.
Still, it was a gamble. To stop Yanagi, pushing her Blessing past its limit, disrupting her focus meant hitting her head-on with my feelings… Or not.
“Win or lose… I wanted to tell you directly. How I feel.”
“…”
On my chest, Yanagi’s trembling. So am I. Both our temperatures have crashed.
“…Why do this? Wrecking yourself… just for victory?”
“...Yanagi. I said a Blessing’s just a tool, right? And I don’t have one.”
“You… did.”
“But I can still beat you. Know what that means?”
I ask, but she can’t quite answer. That’s fine.
“You’re...not a big deal.”
I state it. Yanagi squirms in my arms, peering at my face.
Her long hair drapes over me like a curtain.
Feels like it’s just us in the world. Though her expression’s kinda pissed.
“Winning doesn’t...”
“To me, you’re… a girl with pretty hair, a bright laugh, kind, wonderful...just a girl who happens to have a Blessing.”
“No way! I’m not like everyone…!”
“Maybe. But even if so, I...only I...will deny it. A powerless guy who can corner you, push you to the edge, and make you lose...there’s just one in the world, right? That’s me… So, Yanagi.”
...If there’s not a single male or female beside her in that cage, it’s eternal loneliness boring a hole in her heart, yeah?
Clay said that. So Yanagi separates. There’s a divide.
Then what I had to do was clear from the start. Clay gave a hint...or the answer. Twisted genius or oblivious idiot, who knows.
I gently cup Yanagi’s cheeks, look into her eyes, and say clearly.
“You’re not alone. I’m right beside you. That’s what I mean by not a big deal.”
The fact that I, without a Blessing, can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her.
So only I can diminish her value...turn the White Sorcerer into just a girl.
This fight proves it. That’s why I didn’t care how much I got hurt.
To fill Yanagi’s divide, I’d shave my life to the brink.
Winning or losing didn’t really matter. Though winning sells the point better.
“That’s… what you wanted to say? To me… Me, of all…?”
“Yeah. That’s it. To you...only you.”
Plip, plip. Warm rain hits my cheeks. Yanagi’s quiet tears, gazing down at me.
“You cry a lot, don’t you?”
“No…! Don’t look…!”
“Nah. Your crying face is cute too.”
Not teasing...honest truth. But Yanagi buries her face in my chest, sobbing loudly. Happy tears… I’ll believe that.
I hold her gently, patting her back. More like soothing a kid than embracing a crush, but it makes her cry even harder.
Warmth. Despite our frozen bodies. Touching might be what truly dispels our loneliness.
“Ritsuka! Saigawa-san!”
Kitsune-san appears on the rooftop, looking worried.
“You okay!? The rooftop’s practically an ice age!”
“Injuries aren’t too bad… I think.”
“Good… Ritsuka cries long, so take care of her.”
“Yeah. Leave it to me.”
“Saigawaaaaaa!!”
Now Kuyama’s voice. I look...near the rooftop entrance, a pervert flails like a hooked carp, thrashing idiotically on the ground.
“What’s going onnnn!? The backlash is worse than everrrr!!”
“Sorry. Using your ability by name amps the recoil. Keep flopping for a bit.”
“Tell me firstttt!! Uwaaaa!!”
“What a mood-killer, this scumbag… Oi, pervert! Get lost!”
“Don’t come near me, womaaan......!!”
Flopping wildly, Kuyama and Kitsune-san leave the rooftop. Reading the room, maybe. Kuyama’s screams echo...probably fell down the stairs…
The rooftop’s quiet again. Night wind howls. A silver world, cold.
Eventually, Yanagi in my arms stops sobbing, her sniffles fading.
“…Thanks, Saigawa-kun. Saying that… it makes me happy…”
Bit by bit, she speaks from my chest.
“When I got my Blessing, my hair turned this color. At school, I was teased, bullied… I couldn’t make friends.”
“…That so?”
People are harsh to anything different. Yanagi’s faced that since childhood.
“Yoshino-san always protected me, and Aniki… well, he caused a ruckus… But I could hurt people with this power. That’s unforgivable… so I changed my thinking. I’m strong, so I just choose not to hurt others. After that, nothing fazed me. Looking down on people kept me secure. Always… probably still do.”
“…”
“Pretty awful, right? I’m… definitely not normal.”
“Is being not normal so bad?”
“Huh…?”
“I can shoot people with a gun. Could kill easily if I wanted. That’s not normal. But it’s not all I can do. I usually pick normal choices, sometimes not-normal ones. We just have more options than most.”
If you only do not-normal stuff, yeah, that’s bad.
But Yanagi and I can choose either way. That’s it.
“More… options…”
“Right. Hey, Yanagi. Can I say something?”
I don’t want her to keep putting herself down. I shift gears cleanly.
“What?”
“...Give me your answer.”
No need to say to what. That’d be tactless. She knows.
She pulls back slightly, eyes wide. Her face flushes red instantly.
My body tenses. Her reply will shape our next moment...better or worse. Honestly, I don’t know which.
I’ve done all I can. Dumb face and all. Now it’s fate’s call.
“…Saigawa-kun. It’s embarrassing, so… close your eyes?”
“Uh? Oh… Sure.”
Embarrassing how? My face? Whatever. I close my eyes.
...Something soft and warm touches my lips.
“ ”
No words. My brain lags, struggling to process.
I open my eyes. There’s… Yanagi, redder than ever, looking away.
“O-Onii-chan… said, right?”
“Did he… say something…?”
“If I’m gonna answer… um, a hug or a kiss would do it. We’ve been hugging forever, so… I had to kiss.”
Hiding her lips with a finger, she forces the words out.
I’ve got no romantic experience. Neither does Yanagi.
No matter our combat skills, in love, we’re probably the weakest of the weak.
So, how to answer a confession? Yanagi… followed her brother’s advice.
Coincidence, but somehow, that blond idiot’s antics ended up tying us together. Doesn’t sit right… I’ll thank him later.
“Yanagi...…”
“I’ve… got a request. Say it again, that you like me? This time… with my name…”
I nod once, take a small breath.
As many times as it takes, forever if I can.
I look into her eyes. She looks into mine. Our hearts align.
To confirm. To never let go. Pouring in all my feelings.
“...I love you, Ritsuka.”
“I love you too, Rouji-kun.”
We step closer and kiss again.
Yanagi...Ritsuka...is strong, yet fragile, and that’s what makes her wonderful.
I’ll never let her feel alone again. In this wide world, I’m the only one who can do that. It’s my lifelong pride.
We hold hands, gazing vaguely at the night sky on the silver rooftop.
“Rouji-kun. There’s something I haven’t told you.”
“Huh? Was there? Oh, maybe...your shoe size?”
“No way… I’ll tell you that later… Hey...…”
Ritsuka grips my hand tighter. Not strong, but firm.
She steps closer. No one can come between us now.
“To me, you’re… my one and only, for life...”
Couples are born every day, all over the world...yesterday, today, tomorrow.
Ritsuka and I are just one ordinary pair. And that’s perfectly fine.
But one thing exists only for us, unique in all the world.
“...beloved nemesis.”
When you realize your nemesis is your fated one.
This story...our little romance...can end right here.
So, what do you call the story of two people that continues on?
It’s obvious. History makes it clear.
...When love ends, what begins next is only devotion.
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