NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34: chapter 34
(LATER...)
So they moved. And with them, one more person.
"Look. We and that fool are spending time in private"
Lessar nodded.
"As if, just the three of us"
Another nod.
"Which means without you. Explicitly without you here!"
Lessar shrugged.
"Is there something you don't want me to see?"
"..."
"..."
"TELESMA BOMBARDMENT!"
"Woah?!"
When the precisely timed attack ended and coughing Lessar recovered, a bus was carrying Touma, Birdway, and Amazora away.
The girl got the text on her phone.
'Sorry about that. I promise to get in touch with you later on'
Lessar chuckled, slowly getting to her feet.
"It is a date then. I honestly can't wait" she said, with more warmth and romantic sentiment than usual.
And then she felt a truly terrifying presence beside herself
"The only date you are getting..."
Lessar turned up very slowly to see a furious Bayloupe with a very, very pink hair, standing there menacingly. Or as much as she could, given that she looked like she came from the bubble gum commercial.
"... is the one with death!"
"B-Bayloupe! I-I must say, I don't if you realize, pink is rather popular this season!"
"No one touches my hair, Lessar! My amazing silver hair, he said I looked sexy with it!"
"If by him you mean Kamijou, you just missed him. And I will gladly miss you too, and wait till you calm down..."
"I am not waiting two days for that thing to wash off! Time to die~"
Needless to say, Lessar became rather occupied.
(MEANWHILE)
Finally, they settled on karaoke.
"Tch, we still didn't do the proper plan... but I guess we can relax a little bit here before going to that..."
It was late evening. Sun was still not setting, yet lowered significantly as they entered the bar with karaoke lounge.
As they entered the cabin, they ordered some drinks. Sitting down, Amazora took the song catalogue and browsed it. Birdway peeked behind her arm, until she noticed a certain song
"Hmm... this one can work"
"Can we sing this one?
Touma looked at the choice and smiled nervously
"It's a sweet choice, but... I am not really good at singing in English"
"Oh, come on, onii-chan, I won't judge you" Amazora patted him reassuringly on the back.
"I suppose I also won't do it... much" added Birdway.
Their drinks arrived. After rehydrating themselves, Touma nodded
"Alright then, little sisters. Time to do this!"
They played the song. It was a version meant to switch between male and female vocals.
And then they began.
"Hey brother..."
(LATER)
When the song was finished, they were all grinning to each other. Even Birdway had a sincere, warm smile and Amazora was practically beaming with happiness.
"You did great! Although pronunciation... pfft!"
"You said you won't judge!"
"I said 'a lot'. I am obliged to have a little fun at your expense"
That state of spirit was contagious and Touma felt incredibly happy as well. Being with those two was much more fun than he initially expected.
He felt so extatic that he could swear that the room started to swirl around, alongside his-
Wait... that wasn't just an expression. The room truly felt like it was spinning around.
Birdway blinked a few times. She also must have sensed that something is wrong.
She quickly pulled something out of her skirt and handed it to Touma.
"Take this and don't lose it..."
"What?!" he asked in confusion, hiding
"Just do...it... I can't believe I've been...fooled...like that..."
And then, she tumbled down to the floor.
"Hey, Birdway! What's going on?!"
"Onii-chan... why is everything... going..."
THUD!
"Amazora? You too? Hey, what's wrong with you? No, wait... dizziness... fainting... the..."
His eyes focused on the table despite rotating colours in his vision.
"The drinks... the drinks were... spiked? Shit, I have to get... them... out of... heeeeere..."
He lost sense of equilibrium and after one lost desperate attempt to reach for the girls, he as well tumbled down into the darkness.
(LATER...)
Touma awoke in the deserted alley, in the pile of trash.
"Ow... what the hell happ-"
Then his clarity of mind returned.
"Crap, that's right! Amazora and Birdway are in trouble! Were they kidnapped? Damn, we can't have another kidnapping fiasco. Then again, with those two, I am more inclined to pity the kidnapper than anyone else. Still, I need to hurry."
He searched into his pocket and put out the thing Birdway gave him before passing out.
"That little cunning... I thought magicians hated technology like this!"
It was a small broach that displayed a poor quality visual map of the alley he was in, alongside glowing red trail.
It was a tracking device. And if Kamijou was not mistaken, Birdway had the signal's transmitter.
He could only guess why Birdway had it on her. Was she expecting to put it on someone else? Or did she give it someone trusted when she headed to a truly dangerous mission?
Maybe even the most sassy and cunning magician of western hemisphere wanted someone to be by her side from time to time, to find her in need?
Whatever was the reason, Birdway sensed the danger and gave him the means to find it.
And so he took off running.
After following the trail for almost three minutes, he nearly collided with returning Kaibi and Index.
"Touma, what are you doing here?"
"We thought you were in the other district when we travelled for the ingredients?"
"I was elsewhere... but things happened and... look, there is no time to waste! Amazora and Birdway are in trouble"
"What sort of trouble?" Kaibi penetrated Touma with a look that caused him to avert his eyes.
"We were separated... and they were taken!"
"Taken?! What the hell?! You are supposed to be responsible one when I am away!"
Touma was almost visibly shrinking when Kaibi berated him in his angry wife mode.
However, Index interrupted them, putting them back on track with the most important issue at hand.
"Touma's right, there is no time to waste! We must help them"
"Human, do you have any indication where they can be?" Othinus asked from Index's shoulder.
"More than that, Birdway predicted this in last moment and gave me a tracking device"
Kaibi seized his hand and ran forward
"Let's go save our sister then! Lead the way!"
"W-Wait for me! I am coming too!" Index and Othinus also tried to follow after them.
(MEANWHILE)
When Amazora and Birdway woke up, they were in a rather unsavory place that looked like a abandoned supermarket of some sort. And of course, as they crouched down tied up, they weren't alone.
Dozens of teenage criminals were staring at them with a mocking grins. Behind that crowd, a conversation was going on.
"I told you that was a great catch!"
"Two foreigners! You can do so much with that? So what will we do now?!"
"Rob them? They must be rich! Ask for money? Maybe make them our... mascots?"
"The karaoke ruse was a great success. It's all thanks to you, boss"
The crowd parted, and an older guy, looking as if he was in his 20s, walked up to the girls. He wore a leather jacket, a hat resembling a fedora, and had couple of long scars across his face.
"Well, little misses, as you see, me and my friends decided to invite you over to our humble base. There are so many things we can do with nice little ladies from abroad that we simply can't decide. Based on what you do, we might make up your mind towards something that benefits both of us. Now, tell us where are your parents?"
"No parents for you" Amazora stated with a smile" I have 2 sisters and an older brother. And when he gets here, you will wish you were far, far away."
The thugs looked at each other... and started laughing.
"It's not a time for jokes. No one is coming for you!"
"I believe and love my onii-chan. But it would be bad if he came here and get hurt... so if you come close, I might tell you where you can find my sisters. They will surely pay you"
The boss looked at his companions. But as the tied girls didn't pose any actual danger, he leaned over Amazora.
Who smiled sweetly... before spitting the man straight into the eye.
With a surprised scream, the boss recoiled, as face of small girl turned into a fierce visage that would make her sister Kaibi proud.
"My name is Gokusai Amazora. I may be small and not as talented as my sisters. I can only shoot and do heavy lifting, but I also want to be the most lovely little sister in Academy City. When I grow up, I will make onii-chan crazy for me so no way in hell I am selling my family to ones who want to use them. If you hurt onee-chans and onii-chan, I will not rest until you all pay!"
"Wow... little dress has some guts. Although... you just sold your identity to the enemy, idiot"
"Oh... oopsie"
"You little brat! Do you even think straight? You are at our mercy, so stop tempting fate"
A quiet giggle was heard. Then it turned into snickering, chuckling, and then a full blown laughter. The stunned gang of kidnappers observed as Leivinia Birdway laughed on her spot.
"The fuck are you laughing at?!" roared the boss.
"Oh... I am sorry... it's just... you are too much... I knew you were stupid, but not that much. I mean, I can applaud you on kidnapping me, cause I am genuinely from abroad, but why bring that classless twat?"
"Maybe because I'm prettier than you. They clearly took you as a compensation prize" Amazora offered with no shame.
"Huh, yeah right. Because they think blond = foreign. Band of idiots"
The boss's eyes lit up dangerously, as he straighten up to the full height.
"Looks like you both have quite sharp tongues and need to be taught a small lesson about hierarchy around this place. Since you pissed me of first... let's begin with you..."
He took a swing with his arm. But before the slap reached Amazora...
It stopped. Or rather, it was halted by a girl's hand.
"Yeah, I must stop you there. As annoying as she is, she was also distracting enough for me to burn through ropes. And as unpleasant as it might be, she is my rival, so if anyone is going to kick her ass, it's going to be me"
"What? You are... but how... how long..."
With one arm free, Leivinia Birdway smiled at the shocked gang leader.
"For quite a while actually. I just wanted to have your full attention, dumbasses, when I do this!"
Her restrains turned into dust and smoke as she swung her wooden wand.
"You didn't consider this as something important, right? You needed to bind me tighter!"
With a swing, the wand turned into a sword, and the powerful gust of wind blew some of the thugs away... while also releasing Amazora.
"You, restraining me?" the english sorceress grinned sadistically" Don't make me laugh! I toppled enemies from beyond your realm of experience. In dreams of my dreams I don't consider you a threat! So you should all just be a good gravel and bow to my greatness. The only one I can allow to take control of me and make my heart a mess is also an utter fool, so I might do this right and blast you all to kingdom come!"
"W-What are you doing? There are just two small girls! GET THEM!"
The fight ensued.
Birdway was like a walking calamity, almost dancing around with her magic weapon changing shape. Some enemies were blasted by powerful jet of water, others tossed to the wall by wind, burnt by explosions of fire, or sucked into earth by quicksand.
Amazora, although less sophisticated, was also doing good. With open palms, she released bursts of unfocused telekinetic pressure, a trick that she learned from Maidono, repelling the opponents away and into each other. She also grabbed totally terrified enemies thanks to her invisible support and tossed them into the air. And the true hell was unleashed when she found a machine gun. Although it was not exactly a gattling gun, it didn't make all that much of a difference to her. Even if she wasn't going for the kill, the results were not pretty.
Overall, battle was going smoothly.
Except...
"OOOF!" A flying man collided with Leivinia Birdway, who glared furiously at Amazora after picking herself up.
"Watch it!"
"My arms felt tired!"
"SSSSSSSHH!" A stream of fire zoomed straight into the group of attackers... and eradicating the back of Amazora's dress.
"My hand slipped!"
"My butt is sticking out! Hmm... will, onii-chan like this?"
BOOM!
"My foot slipped too!
SMASH!
"I didn't see you there!"
WHAM!
"How clumsy of me!"
Rivals would be rivals, no matter what.
"Leave some for me!"
"When I am having that much fun?" Birdway laughed again, as condensed ball of fire exploded before her.
(FEW MINUTES EARLIER, SOME DISATANCE AWAY)
"Hmm... where did they go? I swear, I am not letting him run away from me..."
A rather frazzled Konori Mii was trying to locate a certain group of escapees. She searched quite a lot already and with extensive use of her ability, but to no avail.
"This is beyond of what I usually do... since my gang days, I never got so invested in particular individual's case." she mused out loud during her search "Come to think of it, why am I so interested?"
Like Misaka Mikoto, she ventured through the city to find a certain boy, trying to convince him to join forces. Like Shirai Kuroko, she had mixed opinions on him, with annoyance bordering with surprised fascination. Like Saten Ruiko, she got invested in mysteries of that seemingly normal boy because of benefits that he could bring to Judgement but also because he seemed like someone entirely different from the outside view. Like Uiharu Kazari, she felt like being left out of something much bigger than what she knew, that was going behind her back.
Pun or no pun, Konori had great eyes. The glasses could be misleading, but she had ability to gaze and reveal many things when confronted with someone.
Yet that boy, who seemed like a hero and troublemaker in one, who cared yet also didn't took credit, who fought for such idealistic reasons... Konori could not pinpoint any certainty.
Just like Measure Heart couldn't create proper emotional distance with Kamijou Touma's heart, or Move Point teleport him away, Clairvoyance did not reveal his secrets.
But that make Konori all the more determined. She didn't quite know what she would do if she found Touma. But what she did know is that her eyes didn't want to lose sight of that man.
In that moment, she heard explosion from some distance to the left.
"What? Explosion... that area is supposed to be abandoned and ready for demolition. It's better to check this out, even if it's not them... it's like a labyrynth but I am sure I will find the source eventually..."
(AT THE SAME TIME)
"Well, what does it feel like to be looked down upon by a small girl?"
Birdway grinned, as the gang boss slowly rose to his feet.
"Tch, are you some Gemstone from abroad? Well, that doesn't matter. Even if you defeated this group, the strength of weak levels is always in numbers! My reinforcements will be here any time-"
But at the same time, the main door's to abandoned market were kicked out of hinges with such a force that they flew through the air and slammed the boss to the ground again.
Kamijou Touma stepped through the doorway, followed shortly by Kaibi and Index.
"Holy shit, I actually managed to do this... Amazora! Birdway! Are you alright?" Touma shouted as he and Kaibi came to hug Amazora. Birdway was too pulled into the hug, despite her protests.
"More or less..." she fumed after being released" Well, less than that guy who kidnapped us. You interrupted his speech or something lame like that. Ekhm..."
She shifted from one foot to the other.
"It's not like I really care all that much given how strong I am... but you were in hurry to reach here, right?"
Touma smiled and put a hand on top of her head.
"Of course. I was very worried about you two."
"We are very happy you are alright" Index also voiced her relief as she tried to catch her breath in the corner of the room.
"Who... the hell are you?! Why are you interfering? Who are you to those girls?" grumbled the scarred man, once again picking himself up.
"Me?" Touma said, stepping protectively in front of Birdway "I am just a normal high school student. But today, I will be more than this. I don't fully understand their reasoning or anything like that... but from today, as long as they wish for it and not anything else, I am their older brother. And I came to take them home"
Beside Touma's back and outstretched arm, Leivinia Birdway blushed like she never did before in her life. Similarly, hearts appeared in Gokusai Amazora's eyes as she stared at Touma with her hands clasped together.
"Onii-chan..."
"I am her older sister and will kick your ass on the behalf of Gokusai family!" yelled Kaibi.
Meanwhile, Index tilted her head under her habit.
"I am just a nun, with no familial bonds... but I still won't tolerate such a violation against the law of God!"
"One freak after the other... and what is that on your arm? A stripping tooth fairy?"
"No, but I can kick few of your teeth for such a blasphemy against godhood..." spat out the aforementioned 'fairy' causing the man to actually get a step back.
"W-Whatever! I don't care if you are brother, sister, nun, or a unicorn! You are all going down, because they are here!"
The doors to the back of the abandoned shop opened and the stream of young men emerged. Similar group appeared from behind Index and Kaibi, forcing their way through the main entrance.
"We are surrounded." Touma muttered, scanning the area around them. "Let's stick together, everyone!"
"Don't worry, we can just repeat what we did before you-"
WHAM!
Using the moment of distraction, the gang leader pounced forward like a puma and slammed into Gokusai Kaibi who fell back. She managed to recover her balance and quickly point the gun...
... at the young man pointing his own gun at Amazora's head.
"Amazora!" Kaibi yelled, weapon trembling in her hands.
"Damn, he managed to snatch her!" Birdway clicked her tongue.
Touma clenched his fists.
"Okay, calm down everybody. Amazora, be brave for a moment..."
"I am sorry onii-chan, he surprised me..."
"That's not your fault. What do you want from us?"
"Here is the deal. I will take that little blondie there and swap her for this one. The ones from abroad are always the best when it comes to money their parents are willing to pay, so I will be benevolent and settle for her. Don't try anything funny, straight shot to the temple will always be faster"
Birdway waved her hand.
"I don't really mind what you do with her"
"You saved her before by stopping me from slapping her. And if not for you... what about them?"
Touma and Kaibi were pale, both tense and ready to attack, but unable to.
"Okay then. Take me hostage, swap me with her. I will just kick your asses first time I get a chance."
"Oh, which is why you won't get it. Everyone has a weak point, you know. I may be some unnamed guy from nowhere, but I did learn to watch people. I don't know if you care about your friends or family, but you clearly care about this so called brother of yours, even if you tried to deny it... and you also care about what he thinks of you. Wouldn't he hate you if you brought a death order on this cuite pie here"
"Birdway..." Touma whispered slowly. Kaibi also watched the girl with intense gaze.
The british magician said nothing, but she slowly hid her wand into the dress.
"Who is stupid now? It seems I was right after all. Now, for the grand finale. Now, heroic brother-san..." the scars seemed to stretch out as the man in a fedora spoke slowly " I want you, specifically you, to knock this little sister of yours out, to the point of unconsciousness"
"W-What?"
"That's right. Knock her out, you can even leave her in a slightly bad state, what's important is that she must be alive"
"You... you are sick" whispered Index, as Touma looked at Birdway with fear in his eyes.
Although she was still keeping her composure, he saw that she also felt uneasy.
"O-Okay, you fool. Make it good. You already hit me before. So come on, I am a big girl" Birdway tried to sound as nonchalant as ever, but tone of her voice betrayed her true emotions.
Touma's fist shook as he slowly raised it... but stopped, just before the punch.
"Hey? What are you-"
"I...I can't..."
"What's wrong?! Y-You punch people all the bloody time! So why are you hesitating now?! Hit me!"
"Touma, if you don't do it, Amazora will die!" Kaibi said, watching her sister at a gunpoint.
She didn't know if she could risk using Measure Heart in this situation. Every risky move seemed potentially lethal.
"Onii-chan, take Birdie-san and run away..." Amazora tried to say before the gun was pressed deeper onto her skin.
"You keep quiet, little brat, or I will pull the trigger regardless of everything!"
"If he can't do it, let me or some of your guys to do-"
"No. It must be him. He says he is average, but I think he is actually trouble. If he and little miss foreigner share any sort of bond of non-blood related siblinghood, like me and my gang brothers do, harming her will violate that bond. He will be broken, at least long enough to not interfere"
What Amazora and Birdway did was not because they cared for each other. Despite sense of comradery that started to develop, it wasn't nearly strong enough for them to protect one another in a situation like this.
Consciously or not, they wanted to avoid causing Kamijou Touma pain. Even Leivinia Birdway, who would betray, backstab, trample upon, and manipulate almost everyone, changed in that regard when it came to Kamijou Touma.
In their specific way, they developed feelings for him. Even though they were once enemies, they befriended him, had their ups and downs, and discovered their true love along the way.
Like the true siblings, no one truly wanted the hurt of another.
Birdway hoped that she could end the conflict and ease Touma pain by letting herself be struck down and Touma relishing Amazora's rescue.
Amazora wanted to sacrifice herself so Touma would not have to do something that clearly shredded his heart to pieces and escape with Birdway.
But they all knew, Kamijou Touma more than anyone.
Leaving any of the two was never an option for him.
And that's why he was in so much pain right now.
Amazora had Kaibi and Rikuri. Leivinia had Patricia and their parents. They both have lives, things they held dear and places to return to.
Speaking from purely logical point of view, saving Amazora was more profitable. After all, there was a chance that she will die while Birdway had to be kept alive.
Because it was a hollow delusion. He knew that they wanted Birdway to be incapacitated in a way she wouldn't be able to retaliate later on. That would require not one punch, but many severely heavy ones... as well as causing damage he would not like to even imagine. All for the sake of senseless violence born out of greed. He also didn't know what they will do with her later on. Maybe they would also cause Birdway harm and pretend they saved her from some imaginary accident to get money and escape before truth was revealed.
He couldn't leave her in their hands, he just couldn't...
But his time was running out...
"So, what will it be, heroic brother-san? One, harm to one sister and destruction of her love for you? Or two, death to the other and betrayal of her blood family? Pick one because if you don't... your punch won't be the only one that will follow..."
'Birdway... Amazora... I am sorry... I care too much, much more than I realized... but if both of you suffer because of my inability to act... what was the point of me being there for you...'
Index bit her lip. Kaibi looked at him with pleading eyes.
"Why do you care so much?! I actually hated you ever since we first met! You were annoying, amateurish, idiotic... stupid... fool... so why you don't want to do it?!" Birdway chocked out.
She tried to antagonize him. But even she knew that it sounded empty.
Amazora looked at him and Birdway. Othinus grit her teeth.
It seemed like the time slowed down as he opened his lips...
Wait... that wasn't merely a subjective feeling. Time really did slow down.
"Seems like you are in rather major trouble..." Niang-Niang whispered to him, floating nearby" And with the ethical dilemma too... I was watching for a while now, and it's truly a situation with no good ending"
"Niang-Niang!" Touma screamed, not even questioning why the Shijie-Xian decided to appear now" Please, can you help me? You can save them with your powers, right?"
"Well, I can do many things. All it takes is a thought. Being a benevolent goddess who happens to enjoy having you around and because my best friend would literally cry a river if someone happened to you, I will give you a solution. But there is a small thing to go with it. You will save them, not me"
"Niang-Niang..."
They both turned to see Othinus, who too was seemingly unaffected by the speed of time that didn't allow for proper cognitive functions, let alone movement.
"What are you planning? Do you intend to-"
"Of course! Kamijou, you have something in you that will help you save them and defeat the enemy. Use it now. Use the power of the dragon of darkness!"
Touma stood still for a moment, before straightening up.
"If that's the thing you ask in exchange for their salvation, I shall do it"
"Human, you are not aware what-"
"I know it is not something I usually do. But I chose to master this power. And even if this is not the intended enemy, I have no choice! Othinus, I don't know what will happen but take Index away!"
"But..."
"Splendid!" Niang-Niang clapped her hands" If you listen to the source of your power, everything should be fine... possibly. You will have a short moment of confusion from their side. And I will fix your hoodie later on!"
"My hood-"
Weapons extended from Niang-Niang's sleeve. And in the next moment, Touma's right arm was cut clean off.
Time resumed its flow.
Touma stumbled towards Kaibi, bleeding profusely.
"What..."
"Three: I am saving both of them!"
"Holy shit, his arm!" even the gang leader was stunned by the boy suddenly losing his limb with no apparent reason to be found.
"Kaibi-san, when it begins, I want you to take Amazora and Birdway and run away from here"
"What? But-"
"Just do it!"
Then, few things happened almost at once.
Using the confusion, Amazora twisted her head and bit strongly through the wrist of the arm holding a gun. The weapon was dropped and Kaibi, not letting Touma's words distract her, fired a shot at man's leg, which caused her sister to finally be released.
At the same time, a voice spoke in Touma's head. It was the voice of Obsidian, the eyeless black dragon.
'Human, focus on my voice. We have some time before others or him notice that the seal was broken. I can help you face the threat if you channel me through your body. My power is dangerous but only if you are unfocused. Feel the energy within your chest and imagine that you spread it around you...then when we unite, seize their emotions as I guide you...'
"Let's get out of here!" Kaibi grabbed Birdway and Amazora by the hand.
"Nun, out, now!"
"But Touma..."
"We have to trust him!"
And just when they managed to tumble out to the alley outside...
The abandoned market became covered in darkness. It was as if the pitch black starless night suddenly ascended on earth.
The group outside was shocked.
Both Index and Othinus gasped.
There were angry shouts from the darkness, as the men tried to find their way through the blackness.
But suddenly, said blackness started to swirl and suck itself into the center.
Othinus' skin crawled.
"We need to get out of here. Now!"
"What? But-"
"Don't look at him! If we look into what's coming... no mortal being can gaze into that and have their mind left intact. It's primordial fear older than stars and time. Flee, you fools!"
In that moment, a silhouette emerged from the dark mist. Or rather, it seemed that darkness within the abandoned market darkened even more with his presence.
Birdway and Amazora suddenly got their eyes covered by Index and Kaibi respectively.
Older Gokusai sister tried to use Measure Heart to increase her emotional distance from source of fear. Index could have used knowledge from her grimoires to shield herself from the influence that they were feeling.
It was futile.
In one moment, fear descended upon them.
Kaibi felt herself shaking. Index felt her throat go dry.
Then they ran away. Without pretense or hiding it, even Birdway and Amazora, who were not directly affected.
It was clear that Kamijou Touma was in control, because only after a moment, they felt better. The influence of dragon of darkness affected them only minimally.
Still, everyone felt it.
It was the feeling of being watched inside the seemingly empty space.
The feeling of dread that you experienced just before you discovered something terrible.
The tension when your blood ran cold and no one could move during horrifying accident.
The sensation that almost every sentient thing felt at least once in their life while fearing the dark.
The instinctive fears, older than human thought, making your heart race, and driving your mind into madness beyond any logic.
The sea of nightmares, whirlwind of horror, swarm of fear, breakdown of life, mirror of maddness.
All those instincts and fears were amplified by the power of dragon of darkness. Those were primordial emotions, strongly engraved into every being who cared about life and survival at least a little bit. Those were very simple feelings, but often, simplicity could be called ultimate sophistication.
And whatever group on the outside managed to glimpse, was nowhere near the full might of this power.
All the people inside the market went pale. Every single one trembled strongly. Some peed their pants, few vomited. Everyone frantically backed down, trying to ran away like a stampede of wild animals.
Kamijou Touma stood at the center of it all. He was in control of this power, united with the dragon of darkness. They were one and one could not differentiate between them in that moment.
His body was still roughly the same, but his right arm was made entirely out of shadows. Neither liquid nor gas, it seemed to emanate pressure in the same way black hole would. It drew people's attention even if they wanted desperately to flee the fears invading their minds.
But the most crucial and possibly terrifying difference were the eyes. They lacked sclera and were entirely black, as if the pupils engulfed the front of the eyeball in its entirety.
'Slowly, steadily... it's like a harmony... feel their hearts and push them forward...'
There was no place for error for Touma. According to obsidian dragon, each power that Touma had to master took risk of consuming the user, but used properly, it was a key to great wisdom and might. Now, each emotion and fear felt tangible to him. He was able to resonate with them as if he was performing musical piece.
'Now... gather just a bit of power... and release it!'
Wave of darkness washed over the area.
Every single man still present fainted.
Touma smiled widely while raising his shadowy limb.
"Oh right, I am getting good at this! I didn't kill them... did I?"
'No, they are just temporarily overloaded'
"This is Judgement! What's going on... here..."
Touma recognized that voice. And in one moment of confusion, and desire for the girl to avoid what was she about to see, he lost control.
It was only for a few seconds.
But unprepared Konori Mii took full force of it.
Rather than at Kamijou Touma, she looked at the shadow stretching beside him, at darkness that was true body of dragon that incarnated within the boy.
Ghostly in the darkness, beyond lone silhouette, shadows were taking form. Shapeless and static, they turned into myriad of monstrosities that didn't even form a comprehensible images. It was different for each person, it was subtle and beyond rationality.
Her heart sped up. Sweat covered her brow. She felt frozen in place, but when the shadow retracted, she took a step back. If she looked sideways, she would notice that single strands of her hair started to fall off.
Konori screamed as she frantically ran away from the shadowy alley.
'Human, the female... her mind was...'
"No... Konori, I am so sorry!"
The shadows dissipated, as Touma's eyes returned to normal alongside the light in the alley. He grabbed his head.
"I never... I never should have used this like I did! This wasn't like me at all! Konori, wait!"
He snatched his cut off right arm from the floor as he took off running after her.
(LATER...)
I took a little bit of time, but he found Konori in the abandoned building not so far away.
Touma didn't waste time. The girl collapsed and her breathing was erratic, just like her heartbeat. She was looking around but clearly not seeing him.
"Niang-Niang! If you are here, answer me!"
And with a flash, there she was.
"I... made a mistake. I saved everyone, but... she is someone unrelated to this. I got cocky and messed up, so I must save her. Is it possible to reverse this mental contamination thing?"
"Everybody makes mistakes. That's why you need to train. As for helping that girl..."
'Reverse is possible...but that's...' the voice of Obsidian seemed hesitant.
"You will not like it. It will be very hard. Some things may feel worse than death..." Niang-Niang mused, but Touma grabbed her by her oriental dress.
"Even if it was by total accident, I lost control and hurt her. I must fix this! Besides, this is the only reason why I wanted to master power of darkness to begin with. To purify the fears. So I swear I will bring Konori Mii back or die trying. Her mind will be broken if I won't do anything, right?"
Niang-Niang sighed.
"Be still, alongside her. Use the dragon of darkness to establish a link between your minds. I will slow down your bleeding. Later I will also reconnect Imagine Breaker and seal you there for a time being. Thus... either you succeed or die."
'I will hide the presence of the pathway from other beings in Imagine Breaker as long as I can... what you'll have to do will be this...' spoke the dragon within his mind.
(?)
Kamijou Touma materialized in dark space. There was a gleaming figure beside him, that was slowly consumed by the shadows. They enveloped her like scales or tendrils of pulsing darkness against fragments of pure white light emanating from her skin. He knew who that was. After all, his spirit bonded with hers to help her heal.
Kamijou Touma was looking at the spirit of corrupted Konori Mii.
"I was reckless." he said, his voice echoing slightly" I thought I already controlled it perfectly. But I was wrong and you suffered because of it. So I promise, I won't leave you until you are healed. And even then, I will atone for this by making it so you won't have to feel fear like this ever again."
Their spirits were connected. They managed to bypass Imagine Breaker to achieve this.
The healing was as simple and symbolic, as it was painful and daunting.
"That's why I want you to open up. Please let me in. And I will make sure that life will feel beautiful to you again. I will not reject your fears, I will share them for you!"
The method to heal the attack of darkness was...
"So lay all your pain on me! Give me all your fear! If it means that we will both be able to laugh together and return to normal life... I will stay with you and shoulder everything you feel insecure about... everything this darkness amplified, I will accept and relive!"
...taking other's fear and darkness, reliving them as one's own.
The small petal of darkness floated towards Kamijou, and exposing the glowing whiteness of Konori's spirit. When it touched him, he felt pain and sorrow causing through him like poison.
In physical world, his body convulsed. As confusing as it could seem, he was conscious back there and in the mysterious black void existing somewhere between the mind and the spirit.
Back in the spiritual plane, Touma floated closer to Konori and smiled.
"That's right. I will not leave you until it's done... let it go now..."
The swarm of dark petals, like a shadow sakura, rushed through him.
Through almost entire night, Kamijou Touma fought and endured pain, sharing emotional and psychological burden that was eroding Konori Mii.
Throughout all of this time, his hand never stopped reassuringly squeezing girl's own palm, until it finally stopped trembling.
(MANY HOURS LATER...)
The first thing Konori Mii realized was that she was alive.
Then, she started to feel various sensations. Firstly, she realized that she was laying down.
Then, that the surface she was laying on was cold.
Indeed, she awoke on the the cold, dirty floor.
She felt light hitting her eyelids. She couldn't tell from which direction it was coming from.
Slowly, she heard the distant sounds of the city waking up to live after the night.
As she laid with face pressed to the ground, she became aware of the mould, dust, amonia, and some other aroma tickling her nose.
"Hwah...hapshi!"
The smell proved a little too strong and Konori sneezed, finally clearing her head enough to try to move.
Slowly but steadily, she managed to rotate her body. Then rose up bit by bit until she was sitting and finally opened her eyes.
She was in some abandoned building.
Now that the initial grogginess passed, she actually felt... well rested, especially for sleeping on the cold floor. She felt as if she was fresh after rejuvenating bath and drank her usual portion of milk.
But why was she sleeping on the floor to begin with?
Then, slowly she started to notice additional details.
Firstly, her hand was grasped by another. Although her eyes widened in surprise and she wanted to break free, she stopped in the last moment.
Because secondly, she started to remember. She was searching for Kamijou Touma and others, got interested in the distant sound of explosion in the abandoned neighbourhood, and then upon arrival, she got scared. She didn't remember what was the source of her fright, didn't know if she should be ashamed of running away. But she was never so afraid in her life. Although right now it felt like bad dream, she felt that experience was real.
As her memories started to come back, she noticed something else.
Thirdly, there were red marks, dried in various degrees all around the hand. And not only the hand. As Konori followed her gaze up, she already knew what the red marks came from. She worked in peacemaking along enough to recognize it instantly. Additionally, she recognized the mysterious aroma that made her sneeze upon awakening.
The rusty smell of oxygenating iron.
It was blood. Blood of one person.
And as she finally took a full picture, she gasped. Her hand slipped out of the hold that the person laying next to her put it into, as it went to Konori's lips.
Kamijou Touma was laying next to her. He looked pale as death, which wasn't really all that shocking considering amount red dry splashes around. Particularly big spot was around the joint connecting his right arm to the rest of the body. Quantity was such as if someone took the arm away at some point. But it was now together with the rest of the body, so Konori didn't know what to think of that.
The boys eyes were opened. Upon hearing the girl's gasp, light entered his irises.
"Ugh... " he groaned, trying to get up" I... am glad..."
"Kamijou? W-What... what happened here, who did this..."
And then she remembered some more.
She didn't know what was that memory, but she remember crying and drowning. And that there was a presence that was there with her, holding her hand and hugging her, until the nightmare she saw became only that. A nightmare, an illusion that could be shattered with the first rays of daylight.
The person that was with her, even though he was clearly suffering, had the same gaze as the one penetrating her now.
"Kamijou... you are hurt... we must..."
"... glad that you are... fine..."
Konori's words got stuck in her throat. She finally noticed Kamijou Touma's face.
Dried blood marked ways from mouth, nose, even the eyes. The boy was pale, but still managed to smile. He was obviously not fine. And yet he was only focused on her.
"I am so happy... to see you again, Sexy Glasses..."
"You..." Konori whispered, feeling tears welling inside of her eyes" I don't know what really happened or how it all went through... but I was slipping away. I thought I will never wake up. And you saved me. You saved my life, didn't you?"
Touma slowly got up, before losing balance. Konori sprung up to her feet, catching him right in time.
"Idiot! What were you through? We must take you to the hospital!"
"I've been through worse when I died before... this is not... brokenness I didn't experience already... I just need to rest... don't frown like this, SG. Nothing happened here"
"Oh god, you are not making sense from all the blood loss. That's it, I am definitely getting you help. Don't you dare die here, I will chase you even to underworld if I have to, cause you can't just save me, and leave it like that, damn it!"
So she went to support him and managed to get him out of the building. But it seemed that either though night ended, it didn't want to release them quite yet.
When they were very close to exiting the narrow alley, Konori heard someone running.
She tried to turn around but was too slow with Touma on her shoulder.
She cried out after receiving a strong blow to the head, as she tumbled down to the ground alongside Touma.
"Well, well, well. After calming down to my senses and running around for hours, it seems my luck is back again" the scarred man in a fedora looked at the pair crazily, while holding up a gun" I don't know what sort of ability you use, you damn monster, but it seems that it took quite a toll on you. I will now make you pay for the wreckage you made my gang into"
"Fedora guy... you sure have... a talent for surprise attacks..." muttered Touma.
"I know you." Konori also spoke" We had our photo in the office. You are that notorious child and tourist kidnapper that even Anti-Skill could not find."
"Oh, don't make me blush, I am famous? Tch, as if I care about that now. It's just you, spiky haired bastard, and my gun. This does not concern you, city's lap dog. Move it! Or you will die with him!"
Konori could not do anything to truly attack. She was out of attack range, couldn't reach her weapon, and each move could still result in a shot. So instead...
She rolled over Touma, facing him and shielding him with his body.
"Hey... what are you doing..."
"It's hopeless... I won't stop the bullet... but maybe my body can slow it down enough to somewhat reduce the damage to you..."
"Oi, Judgement! My patience is running really damn low after tonight. Move it or I shoot. Three..."
"Konori... stop it... run..."
"As if I could. You saved my life. As both a girl, Konori Mii, and member of Judgement, I refuse to abandon you. I will protect you till the end"
"Two..."
"There is a chance you may survive, however slim! You always told me I looked like a sexy dorm manager material. Well, I didn't tell you but I was always glad for the compliment. Now, I can put that into a good use." Konori looked at her chest with a strained smile" After all, this bullet will have a lot of obstruction to pass through"
"Don't even dare to joke... Konori, please, get off! We are both getting out of here alive!"
"One..."
"I don't think that will be possible, Kamijou. Hmm... there are many things I still want to do. But tell you what, your face being the last thing I see in this life... it's not that bad at all..."
"SHIIIIIIT! STOOOOOOOP!"
"Zero..." uttered a merciless voice above their heads.
Konori hugged Touma and prepared for the upcoming strike of death.
But it never came.
"What's... what the hell is that smell..."
Konori blinked and sniffed the air. Initially, she felt only smell of Touma and blood, but later, she smelled something else.
"This is..."
"Methane... gas..." Touma smiled.
A moment later, concentrated explosion blasted fedora man straight into the wall.
"Come on, give people a break! You don't kill people in front of someone else's home, that was described as in 'calm and tranquil' neighborhood. What a load of crap! So I think I can do something about that now. Especially when you hurt my friend as well!"
"Another friend of that freakish group? Go to hell!"
Fedora man tried to shoot, but he missed. At the same time, his hand was grabbed by someone else. The beautiful young woman with black hair and blue eyes was towering above him.
"How dare you..." she hissed" point a gun at him!"
In the next moment she touched the wall beside her. It parted and she forcibly took the man inside of the building.
Meanwhile, the guy who first saved Konori and Touma approached them.
"Are you okay? Can you two stand up?"
"Enka..." Touma spoke the name of his rather unique friend, the outcast methane esper" Thank you... what are you doing here?"
"Well, we live nearby. Going to a morning shopping, we heard a commotion and saw this scene. I couldn't possibly leave my friend like this."
"Your companion... will she be okay?"
"Oh, yeah. When she is in a closed space, there is no chance for her to lose against someone like this. She also gets rather pissed when someone threatens me, so... that's that."
And in truth, few minutes later, the girl emerged from the building, holding a completely beat up and K.O-ed adversary.
She tossed him to the ground and sighed
"What a waste of time..."
"Are you Kamijou's friends?" Konori asked.
"Well, I am, she never met him directly..."
"Please, help me take him to the hospital!"
"As I said before, I am completely fi..."
And then, Touma lost consciousness.
"Shit! Umm... okay, I will call the ambulance!" the black haired girl pulled out the phone.
Konori grasped Touma's hand, just like he did when she experienced the living nightmare.
"Please be okay..."
(LATER...)
When Kamijou Touma awoke, it was late morning.
He was in his usual hospital room, and the first one to greet him was the relieved Konori Mii.
"You're awake... are you alright?"
"Yeah, I've been worse... and you?"
"Good. Surprisingly good, considering how pathetic I acted last night. It was like all of the pain I felt... lessened. The fears didn't disappear, but I feel more hopeful... and lighter."
"That's great, that's all I wanted to hear." Touma smiled at her. But the girl in the glasses shook her head.
"There is more to it. You did something, didn't you? I don't know what or how did you do it, but you saved me when I was terrified to the point of mental shutdown"
"How much do you remember?"
"Well, memories are slowly coming back. I know you were there with me this whole time and each time I felt better, you... looked like you were going through pain. Were you suffering?"
"This is not..."
"Be honest here. Did saving me hurt?"
Touma was silent, before nodding.
"Yes, it did. But that pain was worth it."
"Why?"
"Because you are safe. And because I was the one who harmed you in a first place"
Konori put a hand on his shoulder, smiling gently.
"I don't really remember what caused this terror in my heart, nor I wish to recall it. But even if it was your fault, the lengths you went to save me far outweighed now. Even if you made a mistake, I can smile and dream again because of you. I am supposed to be the one protecting you, but today, I can truly say that you were my hero, with or without your fault in all of this."
"Konori-san, you don't understand..."
"I understand enough, at least for me. Although, I do have some questions for you when we get better. Like how are you interfering with my ability or what is your involvement with the various incidents from the past. I hope there will be time for us to clear that out and more. At the same time..."
She slightly bowed her head, which took Touma by surprise.
"I understand if you wouldn't like to have me around. Thinking back at it, I was pretty intrusive and tried to push onto you something that you weren't fully comfortable with just because I envisioned something that could change my life. You take blame for my mental breakdown, but in truth, I feel that I meddled with something that was beyond my understanding and capabilities. I shouldn't have done that. But I still can't stop feeling that I would like to be around you. So if you allow me to be selfish and try to convince you with a thank you gift, it would be wonderful. Now, please close your eyes."
Touma stared for a moment with a bewildered look, before closing his eyes.
"Hmm? So what now, Ko-"
Konori Mii halted his speech.
After all, it was rather hard to speak properly while you were being kissed.
For a moment, nothing besides the birds from the outside and sound of the wind was heard.
Then, the girl backed away and wiped her lips, with small blush on her cheeks.
"I-I am sorry for being so arrogant and abrupt. But I would feel restless if I didn't do it and just carried on like nothing happened. I will never forget what you did for me in that darkness. I thank you, of the bottom of my heart"
She smiled brightly, before standing up, as the open mouthed Touma watched her.
"That's it for me, at least for the time being. I hope to see you around. I will speak with my superior about certain idea I have, so expect a text in the future."
She adjusted her glasses and chuckled at boy's expression.
"You can close your mouth now. You already drool a little in your sleep, you know"
And with that, she walked out of the room.
However, Touma had only a few minutes to recover, because of new guests.
"Hey, Kamijou! How are you feeling?"
"Enka-san? And miss..."
"Hanamiya Kaira. I am a level 4 user of Spaceshifter. So you are the Kamijou Touma I heard about from Enka and Hokaze-senpai? You don't look all that strong or impressive to me"
"HUUUUUH?! What is that supposed to mean?!" the two overlapping female voices sounded from behind.
Two girls entered the room and practically jumped on Touma.
"Kamijouuuuuu! I am so glad... so glad you are alright!"
"You idiot! You dummy! You stupid moron, making us worry like that!"
"Hasako? Maidono?" Touma asked in surprise" I didn't expect you to be the first ones here!"
"Others are coming too, they just stopped to ask a few question to that Judgement girl." said Maidono while touching Touma, as if trying to test if he was actually real.
"When we heard, Maidono flew with me all the way at maximum speed. I am so relieved..." Hasako sniffed, as tears were flowing freely from her eyes."
"Well, with that out of the way..." Maidono glared away from Touma.
With a motion of her index finger, a hospital tray cart jumped forward, pinning the girl named Hanamiya Kaira to the wall. Few other motions, and the cart break apart, with metal restraining the wrists, arms and torso of the girl.
"Hey! What are you-" Enka tried to protest, but was cut by the Kaira herself.
"What the hell? I never seen you before so what's your problem?!"
"Don't insult him in front of us. Just don't, if you value your health"
"Hoshimi..." Touma used the girl's given name (even if fake) to get her attention" Nothing happened. Drop her."
"But-"
"Please."
Maidono grumbled and released her hold.
Upon finding herself on the ground, Kaira walked to Enka's side and looked at Touma
"Jeez, you have some bodyguards"
"They are not bodyguards..." Kamijou smiled awkwardly" It's just they tend to get... emotional and overprotective"
"If he doesn't take offense, then I guess we are relatively in the clear. Just... don't say things like that. You were lucky that I was the one to act now. My friend is not so benevolent once something manages to finally get her to snap"
Kaira looked at Hasako, who was watching her with eyebrows knitted. Although she didn't do anything, Spaceshifter girl found herself sweating as if under intense pressure.
"Who are you then "the prideful girl said, with last burst of confidence" that you feel so confident in opposing high level esper like me?"
"Do me a favour." Hasako said softly, not breaking an eye contact" Your phone device... check Esper Power Databank, look for entry of Beginning Child, and see under Lethality Index."
In esper power database, Lethality Index was the measure of how much the esper power wielded by a particular individual was capable of causing death.
When Hasako returned to the regular life, she was added to the database, however her data remained classified and accessible only with set of passwords.
Hasako gave Kaira passwords to enter partially classified information on her topic. When the previously arrogant girl noticed the position of the scale of lethality, she got deathly pale.
"B-But how?... that's..."
"Are there anymore questions about your attitude towards Kamijou-sama?"
"M-My apologies... I only wished to say that he didn't seem impressive, but the truth is obviously different..."
Her ability allowed her to shift molecules in given volumes of matter and change their partial density to achieve various effects. She could have free herself earlier by changing shape of the metal from the cart and slipping through it.
But looking at both of those girls, she seemed as if she was facing two dangerous predators who just happened to be in a good enough mood to let her be. And also because the person they obviously cared about was watching.
Meanwhile...
"Why are the guess sassing the crap out of each other?" Enka asked Touma
"Beats me. Girls are often hard to understand"
After Touma thanked Enka and Kaira for the rescue, he asked them what happened since he last saw them.
"Well, I saved Kaira here and took care of her... and although I still can't believe it..."
Their hands slowly linked together.
"No!" Touma looked at Enka with a smile" Seriously?!"
"He took care of me and well, things happened... so I decided to give him a chance for dating" Kaira muttered, turning slightly around so slight blush on her cheeks wouldn't be visible.
"What things?"
"That's a longer story for another time! But I have to say it's a lot thanks to your advice. Also..." Enka leaned closer to Touma" Would you believe it? I am such a loser and managed to got myself a hot and cute girl who is turned on by failure. Win-win"
"Don't say such private things in front of our friends, damn it!"
Enka laughed and kissed Kaira on the cheeks, with the girl blushing deeper and trying to forcibly stay in the grumpy mood.
Touma was actually really curious what exactly happened to make such different people like Enka and Kaira into relatively well functioning couple.
But then, the entire group of familiar people arrived.
"Touma!" Index cried out, jumping into the air and hugging him tightly" We were so scared! We ran, then we felt bad that we ran..."
"We tried to find you, but you weren't there! We searched, but with no result" Amazora also chimed in, trying to get on Touma's knees.
"It's great that we got a call to you ended up here!" Othinus said, jumping from Index to Touma's shoulder.
"It's good to see you are alright after that night. I... I am actually not sure what we even experienced back there. Was that an illusion? Or something else entirely?" Kaibi mused out loud.
"Hmph, if you were to die, I would kick your ass so hard-"
"Heheh, Birdie-san actually was panicking a lot before we got here. She almost cried!"
"Shut it, as if you weren't ready to bawl any time during last few hours, you classless twat!"
"So you are telling me that I missed out all of those moments?!" Rikuri was visibly crushed and experiencing massive fear of missing out.
"Trust me, that wasn't experience one would be envious of" Touma tried to reassure the oldest sister.
"But onii-chan, I was so cool! I was like boom, and zoom, and wham! And Birdie-san was decent too."
"I defeated twice as more as you!"
"Then I defeated much stronger once then you!"
"YOU BOTH ALMOST DIED, I THINK THIS LITTLE DETAIL IS VERY IMPORTANT!"
There were few questions asked.
"Maidono, Hasako, what were you doing before coming here?"
"We were actually binge watching some series on TV. Maidono chose this chinese program and now she is super excited with possibility to control scissors with her telekinesis"
"You just don't get it, Hasacchi! I can rotate the scissors and make it look super imposing, or become a hair stylist!"
The telekinetical scissors were indeed rotating very quickly.
"I will be the strongest assassin and hairdresser in the world, no need for the blasted chopsticks!"
"She is cute while in character" Hasako giggled next to Touma's ear.
"Now, behold my mastery of haircutting!"
"Hoshimi, no-"
Moments later, Kamijou Touma gained asymmetric haircut and had to slightly shorten his hair to fix it.
Another short conversation was with Othinus.
"Konori-san kissed me!"
"And?"
"And? Is it normal to kiss someone who terrified you so much? She doesn't have Stockholm Syndrome, does she?"
"I think that was her emotional reaction to being saved like this. When adrenaline drops, she will probably be embarrassed. I know you will find some explanation that doesn't actually involve falling in love... also, I think you and I are the last people who should discuss Stockholm Syndrome"
(LATER)
The visitation for Touma took rather long amount of time, before everyone left, promising to come back soon.
Touma was grateful for letting him rest, as he didn't get almost any sleep last night.
But once again, he was up for a surprise.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Bayloupe, are you coming?"
"Of course I am. How can I miss my own daughter's big day?"
Touma blinked as he was standing in the hall of some sort of hall, with a corridor leading to a place that looked like arena of some sort.
'Is this the future phase again? Are Nephthys and Niang-Niang sending me bits of that from time to time or did they left it earlier on for me to see?'
"Rhain! Don't run away and come here right now!"
Touma first noticed the mature looking woman, that was without a doubt Bayloupe. Her silver hair was longer, but there was no mistaking it. She was dressed up in daring but elegant clothes that Touma could not help but blush upon looking onto.
Next to her was a vibrant and youthful woman with chestnut hair and elegantly trimmed eyebrows visible on the flawless brow. Lancis didn't change as much as Bayloupe, but as she was cute earlier, she reached far greater beauty in adulthood.
Finally, the woman with blond hair and moderate bosom had to be Floris. She also had much more additional charm, but she sported the same tired look of exasperation like when Touma first met her on the train. Although this time, it was caused by a small kid with dark blond hair and blue eyes running around the space around them.
"RHAIN! Get back here... no, don't you dare try to climb that statue!"
"Mom, you are it! If you don't catch me, you are a loser!"
"What did I just say?!" wailed Floris, messing up strands of her light blond hair in frustration" I swear, you are just like your father, you both make it your lives mission to get on my nerves. Well, little mister, don't mess up with your own mother! CHARGE!"
As mother and son zoomed around on a desperate chase, the brown haired infant in the arms of Lancis began to wince and cry.
"Tch, look of what you did, you woke up Étaín."
"Oh, it's alright, Bayloupe, I am sure she will calm down quickly. There, there, Éta, mommy is here" Lancis said softly, caressing the baby in her arms.
The girl stopped crying... only to scream after 10 seconds. Lancis smiled apologetically to Bayloupe, when someone tapped on her shoulder from behind.
"May I give it a try?"
It was a mature woman with a shoulder length dark hair, wearing glasses and an Anti-Skill uniform. Touma muffled a gasp of surprise, although no one around could hear him.