NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8 - Call Me 'Big Sister.’
Mikoyuki, having removed all his clothes, glanced at the nearby mirror. His body was impressively sculpted—years of intense muscle training had paid off, with six-pack abs. Mikoyuki’s appearance in clothes seemed slender, giving the impression of minimal muscle mass. However, the reality was different. He possessed the strength akin to a bodybuilder.
In other words, he was impressive once he undressed. He opened the bathroom door and entered.
While taking a shower, Mikoyuki thought about the current issue—Collad Bomb.
“…A bomb threat on the radio tower, huh.”
The Third City boasted an immensely tall tower. Originally a tower, it had been renovated into a radio tower and had become a sort of tourist spot, accessible to the top.
The threat to blow it up—this information had been posted on an anonymous board on an underground website a few days ago. The next day, a statement was made. A short audio-only video was found on an underground video site.
Given the precedent, the police were moving to secure the area around the radio tower strictly.
This duty had also reached public security. The job given to public security was to intercept Collad Bomb at the radio tower. Additionally, the Special Abilities Division had the task of locating Collad Bomb’s headquarters.
‘Even though it’s an extremist organization, they shouldn’t have the firepower for a gunfight. The fact that they are amassing weapons suggests this. Therefore, it’s faster to strike their headquarters, and that suits us better.’
This was Reese’s view.
“…Nine days left.”
Mikoyuki had been told by Reese to find the address once used as Collad Bomb’s base.
Thus, Mikoyuki had visited her for the first time in months. Considering her prowess with the internet, she might provide useful information.
—At that moment, there was a faint noise outside.
“…What are you doing, Mio?”
Through the frosted glass partition in the bathroom, Mio’s silhouette was visible. Mikoyuki turned off the shower and spoke to Mio, who was rustling around.
“Uh, I thought I’d join you.”
“…Wait, really, wait.”
Mikoyuki pressed his head, whispering in a pleading tone at her casual reply. She was lowering herself and trying to remove her skirt.
“Hey, stop it. And what’s with that statement!?”
“Geez. You used to take baths with me before…”
“That was when we were kids!”
“You can call me ‘big sister’ like before, you know?”
“I’m not calling you that!”
Mikoyuki yelled, accelerating his thoughts. He was completely naked, and beyond the partition, a girl was about to undress. Why, why had it come to this?
“…Just kidding. It was a joke. A big sister joke.”
“M-my heart can’t take this…”
Mikoyuki was on the verge of using his ability. He lowered his right hand from the air and sighed in relief. It seemed Mio had left, as there was a sound of the door closing with a thud.
Taking advantage of the moment, Mikoyuki hurriedly got out of the bath and dressed. He had used his ability to dry his body earlier.
Mikoyuki exited the bathroom and directed his gaze toward Mio, who was sitting on the living room sofa. Mio was relaxing while watching TV. The news program was showing the weather forecast for tomorrow.
Ignoring it, Mio fiddled with her laptop and looked toward Mikoyuki, speaking.
“The real reason you came to see me is to ask about Alicia Edelhart, right?”
Mikoyuki’s eyes widened at her words. The truth was, that was his real purpose. Mikoyuki smiled faintly.
“Mio sees right through me.”
“Hehe, big sister sees through everything.”
Mio smiled brightly and then wore a slightly more serious expression. Sensing this, Mikoyuki revealed his inner worries.
“She’s been unusually restless. Ever since we raided Collad Bomb’s base… she seems anxious about something.”
The last time Mikoyuki saw Alicia was just yesterday. It was in the hospital room where only Mikoyuki was present after the surgery.
“…? What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Recalling the events of that night, Mikoyuki blushed slightly. But at the same time, his expression became determined. He had made up his mind that night.
“Alicia might have been involved in an incident related to Collad Bomb in the past. Ideally, I should ask her directly, but the timing isn’t right.”
Mikoyuki headed to the neatly organized kitchen and opened the fridge. However, all that was there was water and carbonated water.
Mikoyuki was dumbfounded. Looking down, he saw boxes filled with cup noodles and rations.
(What kind of life does she usually lead…?)
He had heard she lived off a massive inheritance. Mikoyuki looked at Mio with astonished eyes. Mio, seemingly unaware, spoke after a brief silence.
“Alicia was an orphan, wasn’t she?”
“Yeah… same as me.”
Mikoyuki knew that. Rather, Alicia and Mikoyuki were in the same orphanage.
However, the orphanage burned down due to an accident. Mikoyuki was taken in by Mio’s father, Kosaku Takayashiki, who had doted on him. He didn’t know what happened to Alicia afterward.
However, according to the story, she was entrusted to a research institute or something.
Mikoyuki put his hand on his chin, thinking as he spoke. He was thinking about tonight’s menu. Mio was a picky eater.
Something nutritious that Mio would also enjoy—
“Alicia had her parents and sister killed… The house was completely burned down in a fire. The bodies were gone without a trace, and only Alicia survived. It was a very tragic event.”
“Eh…”
Mio’s statement caused Mikoyuki’s thoughts to halt. The orphanage had many children, including Mikoyuki, who were abandoned by their parents.
Among them, Alicia, who always read books alone, was an outlier. Her abilities also created a line that should not be crossed around her. But to think her family was killed…
“Judging by your reaction, Alicia hasn’t told you yet. Everyone, including me, knows about it.”
Mio then told Mikoyuki about the girl named Alicia Edelhart.