Ch.167Chapter 24. Flesh (12)

“I……”

“Yes.”

Kuro spoke with an amused smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Who was it that followed Nirlas’s words, wandering here and there, dealing with all sorts of monsters?”

It was me.

“And who was the one who served as an apostle, allowing the foreign god’s body to descend?”

That too was me.

“Then, who do you think that entity might be? The crawling chaos that throws the world into confusion by its mere existence. Well, if we apply that to you, the ‘crawling’ part is just a metaphor.”

Kuro stood up and approached me one step at a time.

“Even if you’re thrown to the bottom, you’re the type who would dig your fingernails into the ground and desperately crawl your way back up.”

“I was just trying to survive—”

“Yes, exactly. Trying to survive. Most people would have given up, and that would be understandable. It’s easier that way, isn’t it? But even after the shock that made you cut ties with everyone around you, you wanted to live, and you wanted others to live too. Perhaps it was because of your family who died that way.”

Kuro’s gaze turned toward the sky.

I looked up at the sky too.

Once again, a constellation of memories was forming.

“Well, whether the outcome is good or evil, I don’t think it matters much. The entity that chose you probably isn’t the type to care about such things.”

The constellation was depicting my family.

And other people I had met as well.

“Without any particular principles or order. Your head always boiling with thoughts, stirring up all sorts of contradictory ideas.”

Kuro’s tail swished back and forth.

“Wanting to die yet wanting to live, wanting to give up because it’s troublesome yet still saving people. Being incredibly fickle, causing all sorts of random incidents, and eventually dragging everyone else in.”

Kuro’s eyes looked up at me. Despite having a cat’s face, his eyes curved in a way that made him look genuinely amused.

He looked like one of those Maneki-neko cats often placed in front of Japanese shops, waving their front paws back and forth to attract customers.

“So, maybe it was you?”

“Why would it be me?”

“Just because.”

Kuro said with a smile.

“It seemed like it would be interesting to put you in a place like this. Whatever the outcome might be, some entity dreaming of this world while asleep simply rolled the dice hoping for an interesting story.”

“What—”

I tried to respond but staggered.

I fell to one knee on the ground. Despite sitting down so abruptly that it made a thud, there was no pain.

“Looks like time’s up. Your ‘mother’ seems to be calling you.”

Kuro said while stretching his front paws forward in a typical four-legged animal stretch.

“Wait, just a moment!”

I called out, extending one hand toward Kuro.

“There’s still so much I don’t know!? Isn’t there a mountain of things you haven’t told me!?”

“Well, yes, but I can’t teach you everything about the world. Sometimes you have to learn properly by experiencing things firsthand.”

What kind of answer is that!?

“At least something like how to use my abilities—”

“I don’t think we have time to explain each and every one of those.”

Kuro’s tail swayed.

It moved as if waving goodbye.

“Well then, see you later. I don’t know when, but time will continue to flow leisurely here. Take good care of Kuro.”

“No—”

I tried to continue speaking but—

—before I could finish, my consciousness abruptly cut off.

*

…Is it always like this with these matters?

Yuu thought with a very uncomfortable expression as he looked at “Kotone.”

There were two Kotones before his eyes.

One was the original Kotone that Yuu had known. The original Kotone that Koko had protected and Yuka had brought.

The other was the Kotone that had just been “created.”

The only difference between them was the wound on the chest. Since it was made based on Kotone’s naked body, they probably looked identical.

Normally, he wouldn’t have looked closely at a friend’s naked body. Even when they went to hot springs together. After all, staring at each other that way would be impolite.

So, Yuu only realized it now as he helped with this task.

Kotone was quite thin.

Had she not been eating properly? Come to think of it, Kotone always ate deliciously whenever she was given food. Perhaps that wasn’t just because she had a good appetite. She was probably always hungry.

“You don’t need to worry too much.”

Kagami said as if to reassure Yuu.

Just as the current Koko couldn’t be compared in appearance to Kotone, this body would be the same.

“……”

Yuu stared blankly at Kagami in her shrine maiden outfit before finally opening his mouth.

“What if the Kotone who wakes up isn’t the Kotone we knew?”

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

Kagami smiled as if to reassure him. It wasn’t very successful, as if she had never done such a thing in her life. When Kagami smiled, she only looked like she was plotting something.

“You believe in the existence of souls, right? If the soul inside is the person, then the outward appearance doesn’t matter.”

“……”

Perhaps it matters, and that’s why we’re going to such lengths?

Yuu had that thought but shook his head to dismiss it.

Yes, it was the right thing to say.

After all, this was about bringing Kotone back to life.

“What we need to do is send Kotone’s soul elsewhere and then call it back.”

Kagami said, holding up a mirror in front of her stomach.

The mirror was still covered with cloth.

“I’ll open the path, and you’ll guide her.”

“……”

Yuu carefully lifted the bell in his hand.

The bell, which should have been attached to a rod with several others, was now barely hanging by a thin thread at the end.

“Koko.”

“Woo?”

Koko, who had created Kotone’s body at Kagami’s request, tilted her head as she looked up at Kagami in response to her call.

“Could you step outside for a moment?”

“…Waa?”

Koko’s expression frowned slightly.

“It shouldn’t take too long.”

“……”

Koko stared at Kagami for a while.

“Outside, please help Yuuki-san.”

“…Okay.”

And only then did she finally move at Kagami’s words.

As Koko rose from her seat, she looked back once with a hint of anxiety.

With her gaze full of Kotone’s image, Koko slowly moved.

Had she heard something too?

Car sounds had been coming from outside for a while now.

“Let me say this once more.”

Kagami spoke after waiting for Koko to leave.

“This is a dangerous ritual. For a moment, we’ll be connected to the afterlife, and we need to open that connection point. If we make a mistake, we could lose our lives.”

“But only I can do this, right?”

“…That’s right. Your mother would never help.”

“Then I’ll do it.”

Yuu said, looking down at the two Kotones.

“There’s still a mountain of stories I haven’t heard yet.”

“……”

After watching Yuu for a while, Kagami smiled.

“Good. Like this… the ‘flesh’ is ready.”

Kagami paused for a moment, then said,

“Let’s begin.”

Her voice was a little stiff.

*

Yuka was afraid.

It had been a long time since she’d faced people. And of course, she had never faced them with a real sword. Her job was exorcism, not murder.

She didn’t draw the sword from its scabbard.

Instead, she tied the scabbard and sword together with a string she found in Kotone’s house to prevent the scabbard from slipping while she swung it.

“Phew.”

She closed her eyes and exhaled.

There were still more children inside the apartment.

She couldn’t tell what Kagami was thinking, but Kagami must have thought those kids would be useful.

…She could guess the immediate reason. Because that person called Kosuzu hadn’t appeared yet.

As Yuka relaxed her tension, cars appeared.

One, two, three… all large black vans.

“Huh……”

One of the yakuza men standing around let out a sigh. He seemed intimidated by their numbers.

Click.

The door of the first car to arrive opened, and the person who got out was Mr. Miura.

“…Yuuki-san.”

“We meet again here.”

Yuka said calmly.

She hadn’t even thought that old man would come. Usually, such people just sit far away and give orders. It was already unusual that she had met him directly this time.

“…Are you planning to fight with that sword?”

“I have no intention of killing or seriously injuring anyone.”

“……”

“Mr. Miura.”

Yuka said.

“Miura… I mean, Mako-san is very sad.”

“I know.”

“Then—”

“But, Yuuki-san.”

Mr. Miura said slowly.

“The dead must be let go. That’s how one grows.”

“……”

“All memories gradually become less intense with time. It might still hurt when you think about them again. They might remain as sad memories, tragic memories. But eventually, all of that will be okay.”

I know.

Yuka knew that too.

After all, she had already lost her mother.

But.

“I don’t want to let go just thinking it will be okay.”

Yes, she didn’t want that.

Because Kotone was her first friend.

The fact that she could have so many friends now was thanks to Kotone.

So— she didn’t want things to be okay.

“Do you think the world will be safe if Kotone dies?”

Yuka said.

“Are you hoping that the world will be safe through Kotone’s sacrifice?”

“…In a way, perhaps.”

Mr. Miura said.

“But that’s different from killing her. We… plan to preserve Kotone’s body. And maintain its condition for as long as possible. Until another solution emerges.”

Yuka’s mouth opened slightly.

“We’ve heard about the prophecy too. We also have your testimony when you were in panic. We don’t know how her death might threaten the world. But if it serves as some kind of trigger, preventing it altogether would be the most desirable course.”

“…So in the end, you’re saying the world will be saved by one child suffering eternally.”

“……”

“Even if that child doesn’t want it.”

“It’s a necessary sacrifice.”

“What meaning does a world have if someone must make an unwanted sacrifice? What meaning does a world have if even one child must suffer eternally? Do you plan to do the same thing if the same situation happens again?”

“Yuuki-san.”

“If you’re adults— you should have found a way.”

Yuuki said.

She knew this might be unreasonable.

But even so.

“It’s strange.”

Yes, it’s strange.

To be born only to suffer. A child living to prevent a tragedy in the world. It’s strange.

“…It seems further dialogue won’t be productive.”

As Mr. Miura stepped back slightly, the people who had lined up behind him stepped forward.

What they held in their hands were firearms.

Probably what are called shotguns.

“There are no live rounds. However… it will hurt if you’re hit, Yuka.”

“……”

Yuka gripped her sword tightly.

Bang—!

One shot was fired.

Yuka simultaneously sprang forward and swung her sword.

Thud!

She felt something hard hit the scabbard. Pop! And that “pouch” burst—

Bean.

What was inside were small beans.

I see.

Non-lethal ammunition. What’s inside isn’t lead but bean bags. Whether they’re real beans or something else, she didn’t know.

If that’s the case—

Ta-tang!

“Hey, what are you doing!”

Someone shouted from behind.

“A young lady not even half your age is standing up to you!”

And then came the sound of running.

The gunshots began to sound continuously again, but Yuka didn’t stop.

Thud!

“Ugh.”

Even though her clothes could block swords and bullets, they weren’t completely immune to the impact on joints.

Especially with a scabbard containing a long piece of metal inside.

“Hey, what are you doing! Do it properly!”

This time shields approached. Riot shields that looked like they had been stored in a warehouse for quite some time.

“……”

At first, she had just been scared.

No.

Thinking about it again, Yuka didn’t necessarily need to win this fight.

What mattered was to rampage as long as possible to buy time.

To prevent others from entering through that door.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Yuka felt a dull pain in her back. Even when she swung her sword behind her, there was nothing there. What had hit her back was probably one of those “bean bags.”

She swung her sword. She blocked the incoming bean bags.

Screams and shouts began to mix from the other side. It seemed the yakuza group and the police group had clashed.

Clack, clack, the sound of windows opening came from here and there. Were they watching this?

…Would she be suspended? Or expelled? For a moment such thoughts crossed her mind, and Yuka couldn’t help but snort.

In the past, she wouldn’t have had such thoughts.

She wouldn’t have been attending this school in the first place. She probably would have moved to a more distant school to infiltrate again.

…This too was thanks to Kotone.

Whenever Kotone saw Yuka, she always acted as if she owed Yuka something. Sometimes she would say directly that Yuka didn’t need to do more, that she felt she had received too much.

But Yuka had received just as much, if not more.

She hadn’t even repaid half of it yet.

So—

Thud!

“Kuh!”

When she struck down on a bulletproof helmet from above, the officer made such a sound and staggered to the ground.

Besides her shoulder, other parts of her body were starting to hurt too. Yuka gritted her teeth and endured.

One more person.

As Yuka raised her head with determination in her eyes, several people who met her gaze stepped back. Gun barrels turned toward her. Yuka didn’t bother to dodge and rushed in, swinging her sword. A gun barrel was knocked aside as it fired, hitting another officer, who reflexively pulled the trigger and shot yet another officer.

Even a few more minutes.

So that her friend Kotone could return.

She didn’t know what Kotone would say when she came back.

Would she blame Yuka?

Would she say it would have been better for her to die than for the world to perish? Would she choose to suffer eternally?

Well.

If it’s about that, Yuka wanted to hear it directly from Kotone.

Not from someone else’s mouth, but from Kotone who truly had the right to decide her future.

Not from a world that had left Kotone in such a situation— but from Kotone who had endured all that suffering.

From Kotone who had said she wanted to live.

Directly.

After hearing it directly, if Kotone still said it was okay.

Then it wouldn’t be too late to grant her friend’s true request.

So, Yuka ran.

*

“……”

“……”

“Are you planning not to say anything until we arrive?”

“What should I say?”

“Well, how about saying ‘thank you’ to an old friend who helped you?”

“…I’m not sure if something done for money deserves a ‘thank you.'”

“You’re the type who doesn’t even thank the owner at a ramen shop after eating, aren’t you?”

Fukuda said, looking at Yamashita in the passenger seat.

He had always disliked him since 20 years ago. Was it some kind of pride about being an orthodox yakuza or something?

“……”

The car fell silent again.

“Seriously, are you not going to say anything?”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Well, like about your daughter.”

“Don’t we know each other too well already?”

“Well, yes, but still.”

After all, Yuu and Harumi were extremely close.

“…For someone who asked me to ram police cars, you’re being awfully quiet.”

“You’re the one who accepted it.”

“…Let’s drop it.”

After driving for a while longer—

“Ah, there it is. Whew~ That’s a lot of them.”

Fukuda slightly reduced his speed.

“You tell me to ram them but not actually kill them—isn’t that a complicated order for someone who cares about his daughter?”

“That’s rich coming from someone who left his only daughter at home to do this kind of work.”

“Kagami-san is there, right? I want to show her my cool side.”

Fukuda said with a grin.

“…You’ve really fallen for her.”

“Why do you look so surprised? Wouldn’t you fall for those breasts too?”

“……”

“Besides, I like women with a story.”

Yamashita Ryohei decided not to bring up how Fukuda’s previous marriage had ended in disaster after meeting such a woman.

“Shall we go then?”

Baaang—!

Fukuda honked the truck’s horn loudly while stepping on the brake.

Screech—!

Making a somewhat dangerous sound, the truck charged toward the police officers cornered at the end of the narrow alley.

Crash!

The car scraped against the wall, and well, it seemed like a few people were hit and sent flying, but it was quite effective as the police officers’ attention turned toward them.

“…What is that girl doing? Filming a movie?”

“Don’t try to understand too deeply.”

Yamashita said, pulling out a “chaka” from his suit’s inner pocket.

“Hey, wait—”

While Fukuda was staring in shock with wide eyes,

Bang! Bang bang!

A sound too loud to be simply called a “chaka” was heard.

Breaking the truck’s front window, Yamashita moved his large frame nimbly and went outside.

“…Huh.”

Watching him point a silver-plated Tokarev forward and push back the police officers, Fukuda blinked.

Is he crazy?

“…Should I turn back now?”

Despite being blinded by love, Fukuda thought about his daughter for a moment.

Then he scratched his head.

“Well, I already got paid upfront.”

Fukuda turned and grabbed an iron pipe placed behind the seat.

“Let’s say this is for Harumi’s tuition.”

And like Yamashita, he moved swiftly and jumped out through the car window.

*

“It’s the boss! The boss is here!”

Someone shouted, and the morale of Yamashita’s people soared.

“Keep pushing!”

“Don’t let them get to the building!”

Of course, in the long run, the defending side was hopelessly outnumbered. After all, they were facing armed opponents, and several people were already rolling on the ground.

Moreover, the government side could simply be replenished.

But from behind, the sound of cars was heard again.

This time it was from a different alley.

People who had turned their heads wondering if they were coming around were now horrified for a different reason.

“……”

The first to get out was a girl about the same age as Yuuki Yuka, dressed in a nun’s outfit.

And behind her were people in priestly attire who clearly didn’t belong in a place like this.

They all held ominous swords in their hands.

We’re doomed.

More than one person must have had that thought.

But—

“Hagiwara-senpai!”

A voice came from the apartment.

The face of the girl at the front looked up.

“…Souta.”

The girl’s face hardened.

…Things seemed to be unfolding in a much more complicated way than expected.