Mokushiroku Alice Vol 2 Chapter 3
Chapter 3 - Super Hero
0:30 AM
It has been 3 hours since the onset of the disease happened in Gunjou.
I am in the hotel that Im putting up at, alone, tinkering with and adjusting my 《Headphone Fuzz》.
It is a German 《Headphone Fuzz》 called 《Willer Corp. Manufactured Prototype 42》. Due to the fact that it places an overly large burden on the body and mind, it never entered production, but I went on to ask Liezel to further customize this device to a dangerous level that would immediately destroy the brain if it was not adjusted precisely.
I fiddle with it. Adjust it.
The news stream from the TV in the room, but it never touches on the disease onset that happened earlier in Kichijouji.
The information is being restricted.
Of course.
Since the onset of the labyrinth disease happened in a place that it should not, and at a time that it should not happen.
I finish adjusting my 《Headphone Fuzz》.
No one has contacted me yet.
But, so what if someone did? The labyrinth manifested by Gunjou is probably a hopeless one.
In the first place, in the event that a labyrinth is manifested by someone who is capable of using magic, then that labyrinth will be at an abnormally high level.
And Gunjou is a world-cla.s.s famous magician. In that case, the labyrinth will probably be at a rank that cant be cleared.
By the way, if its a rank 12 labyrinth, with sufficient preparation, a magician unit will be able to clear it without incurring any casualty but.
In the case of Asahi Momoka --- based on my experience, shes around rank 20. At such a tough level. People die relentlessly. As for the few of us who cleared that, we might even have become famous around the world.
The team which managed to clear a rank 20 labyrinth without sufficient investigation and within the limited amount of time.
Might even have been called the 『Hero Team』, I suppose.
"............"
However, in the past, I cleared a labyrinth of up to rank 40.
It was when I was fifteen.
Its a story in an unlawful, irregular, dark world.
A story of an organization managed by a military regime that thought nothing of human lives.
The name of that labyrinth was 《Holy Sword 40》 ---
It was the labyrinth from which I brought back the magic that formed the basis of 《Holy Sword switch》.
However, we are talking about an eternal labyrinth that had no time limit after all.
After a thorough investigation on the structure of the interior of the labyrinth, a team of 100 magicians was formed after meticulous levels of preparation, sent in, and the whole raid took a total of 1 month and 2 days, and to top it off, the only one who survived till the very end was me.
"............"
At that moment, my cellphone finally rang.
Its my homeroom teacher Honjou Tsukasa.
Shes alive huh.
"...... h.e.l.lo."
"Ah, you picked up. So youre alive. Then, come to school now."
"...... because Gunjou turned into a labyrinth?"
"Oh, you already caught wind of it despite skipping the raid? Who did you hear it from? Your cla.s.smates?"
I dont have the contacts of my cla.s.smates. In the first place,
"I heard that Gunjous disease broke out while she was on the returning chopper. In other words, the whole cla.s.s 5s wiped out?"
Meaning that Shiro, Himi, Yousuke, as well as Kiri, have all been swallowed by the labyrinth.
"Oh, you already knew that much. But fortunately, our cla.s.s 5 which has all the capable students are fine. And you skipped the raid as well."
"My, how did they survive?"
"At that time, Gunjou was riding the chopper which the relief squad was riding. Thats why, together with that chopper, both cla.s.s 1 and cla.s.s 2 didnt make it. Ah, that Sak.u.ma-sensei whom you tussle with during your interview got caught in it as well, you know?"
"Hmph. None of my business."
"Ah-haha, that goes the same for me. Hes useless anyway. At any rate, come to school. Once the results of the investigation from Taikou Pharmaceuticals are out, well begin cla.s.s right away."
But I smile at that.
"In the first place, is the school still there? The skies above Kichouji have been transformed into the labyrinth right?"
Honjou Tsukasa replies.
"That too is a lucky thing. Gunjous labyrinth is a vertically tall labyrinth and the surrounding area that was enveloped wasnt that wide."
"Its a tower right?"
"Furthermore, thanks to the fact that it largely expanded in the opposite direction of the school, it didnt reach the school. If Im not wrong, its about 8km in radius."
Thats a very wide area. An incredible number of people were annihilated.
"If the school had been destroyed, then it might be necessary to call in the labyrinth raid team from Kansai region. Rather, I heard that the students in the Kansai region are actually starting cla.s.s at the same time. But, dont let them b.u.t.t in. I dont care how good those Kansai brats are, but the ones who will clear the labyrinth is us."
I ask.
"Whats the raid level?"
"...... rank 15. We might have a few people dying on us but ~, if its you, Shinnosuke-kun --- 【Devil-Sword Devil】, the famous magician in the underworld, itd be fine right?"
My eyes narrow. Hearing my old lame and meaningless nickname ---
"In the end, you checked on me, didnt you?"
"Thats what I heard from the higher ups just now. And we still dont know anything about you save the nickname. Who on earth are you?"
"Just a timid high school student."
"Haha, whatever. But, youre probably the only one who can clear this labyrinth. So please do your best."
Thats easy for her to say. I stroke my 《Headphone Fuzz》 in which my demon sword is stored with my finger and attach it to my ear. I have finished adjusting it. I can employ it right away if I were to enter a labyrinth right now.
But,
"If you want me to do it, then please dont lie."
I say reproachingly.
"What do you mean by that?"
"With someone as powerful as Gunjou, it wont be just a rank 15 labyrinth right?"
Honjou Tsukasa then laughs.
"Ah-hahahahahahahahahaha...... Im hanging up."
"Dont screw with me. Answer me. Whats her rank?"
On hearing that, Honjou Tsukasa replies readily.
"42."
As I thought, its hopeless.
A time-limited labyrinth with hardly any time for preparation at a rank of 42.
Just the task of infiltration is impossible.
Its the end for Mizuiro Gunjou.
And if we leave her as she is, shell turn into an eternal labyrinth and her difficulty level will jump up by ten times.
Shell turn into an abnormally difficult labyrinth where entering or touching, let alone saving her, will be impossible.
The same fate as Saki.
No, it was already over for her when the disease manifested in her. Because a diseased girl does not have any options, except to either become an eternal labyrinth or get killed before she turns into one.
"Hey Sensei."
"What is it?"
"You dont really feel like raiding the labyrinth right?"
"But if we dont do it then tens of thousands of people will die."
"I cant really see you as such a person whos concerned about others though."
"Ah-haha, there are quite a number of important people living in that area, and Id feel really good if we could take care of this --- theres a really big reward for it after all."
An acknowledgeable explanation.
Betting on not her own life but the lives of others, if she succeeds, her fame will rise --- in that case, why not give it a shot?
"I thought that our team might just be able to accomplish it. But, if its impossible, its fine to Escape right away. You guys are important p.a.w.ns for me so I dont really want to lose you. Your value will go up just by entering such a difficult labyrinth."
"............"
"Well, thats how it is, so come over to school. And then, lets quickly kill the girl and save the......."
I cut her off and say coldly.
"Why dont you just tell me to kill Gunjou?"
On hearing that, Honjou Tsukasa laughs. With the sound of mocking laughter.
Then,
"Ill tell that to you as many times as you want if thatd make you do the work. Quickly kill Mizuiro Gunjou, and make me rich. Mr. Goody Hypocrite."
"............"
"Well then, see you at school ~"
She hangs up. I toss my cellphone onto my bed and lie down.
And look up at the ceiling.
"............"
The disease manifested in Gunjou.
Rank 42.
She probably cant be saved anymore. Those who got swallowed by the labyrinth as well.
I shouldnt bother going at all. Up till now, I have never heard of anyone raiding a time-limited rank 42 labyrinth. If anyone did that, it would be suicide. He would be a fool. He would have come down with the super-hero syndrome. That is not the place to play hypocrisy.
"...... I definitely wont go. Saving the world my a.s.s."
I said disgustedly.
"Im not a fool. Im not a fool."
I said the same thing twice.
But, if there were someone who could save Gunjou, it would be none other than me. If she becomes rank 420, no one will be able to save her anymore. Theres nothing that can be done if we dont take care of it at rank 42.
"............"
On top of that, I have the Holy Sword in my hands.
I have the Holy Sword wielded by the hypocrite, which just might be able to sever the labyrinth disease from a diseased girl.
I snap my fingers. A cursed song flows from the 《Headphone Fuzz》.
The song of the Holy Sword.
The holy cursed song.
"............"
The news program on TV ends and a variety show starts. Artistes whom I have never seen before are chattering merrily.
A peaceful world. A tranquil world. A safe world. But a world that would have already disappeared if Gunjou hadnt been working hard. A world that would have already disappeared if no one had sacrificed herself.
But no one is thankful. Thats because, no matter what kind of danger appears, or what kind of abnormal circ.u.mstances there are, a super-heroine like the amazing, foolish and frantic Gunjou would appear and risk her life to do something about it.
"............"
But thats not me. It should not be me. Because I have to save my little sister. Because I have to save my little sister. If thats the case, I shouldnt be using this Holy Sword, which may or may not be completed yet. I shouldnt show this to anyone. And I cant afford to die in the labyrinth as well.
I never can become a super hero.
Thus, I say.
"...... I shall abandon Gunjou."
Up till now, I have been doing that.
Up till now, I have been doing that.
Up till now, I have managed to survived this far from doing that.
Sounds of laughter ring out from the TV. Sounds of fun laughter ring out. I dont know whats so funny about that. Someone made fun of another and they seem to be enjoying themselves tremendously from that. I kick that box that has been projecting a crowd of smiling faces.
I pull its plug and the projection disappears.
The room returns to silence.
Only the sound of the clock can be heard.
The sound of Gunjous remaining time, ticking away one second at a time.
"...... d.a.m.n."
I stand up, for a reason that even I do not know.
♦
1:00 AM
《Kichijouji High School》
A dark, dark schoolyard.
A dark school premise.
The only places with their lights switched on are the staff room and the cla.s.sroom of Cla.s.s 5.
As I enter the cla.s.sroom,
"Shinnosuke-kun!"
Kiryuu Kiri stands up.
I look inside the cla.s.sroom.
Normally filled with twenty people, the cla.s.sroom of Cla.s.s 5 has only nine people in it.
Including me, itll be ten.
Furthermore, putting aside Shiro, Yousuke, Himi and Kiri, I have never seen the other five students. Meaning they arent students from cla.s.s 5.
Kiri draws close to me immediately.
"Shinnosuke-kun, did you hear? Gunjou......"
"I already know."
"Ah, ah...... I see. Did you hear it from Sensei?"
I nod. More importantly, how did Kiri and the rest get wind of this?
It was said that Gunjou was in a different chopper from cla.s.s 5 when her disease manifested. In that case, Kiri and the rest of the students should not have seen her during the onset of the disease. Those who saw would all have already been swallowed by the labyrinth.
And the news about Gunjou having the disease would have been concealed for a while even from the other surviving students.
A labyrinth becomes a highly difficult one when its diseased girl can employ magic. To top it off, Gunjou is the top of our grade. No fool would enter such a labyrinth. If they want to raid the labyrinth --- at the very least, a.s.semble students for the purpose of attending the cla.s.s, then they should have kept the new under cover.
But, Kiri knows.
From the looks of this turnout, the rest of the students probably know as well.
Thats why we have such a small turnout.
Among all the cla.s.ses, probably only the ten people here will be entering the labyrinth. For cla.s.s 5, aside from the Hero team, Shiro, Himi, Yousuke, and Kiri, the rest have been wiped out. Meaning that they have Escaped before even entering the labyrinth.
I ask.
"Hey Kiri."
"Hn?"
"How did you know about Gunjou coming down with the disease? Did you hear it from Honjou Tsukasa?"
But, she shakes her head.
"On the way from the labyrinth in Saitama...... I heard it over the radio message from the rescue chopper."
"............"
"They contacted the chopper of cla.s.s 5 and said that Gunjou looked strange."
"............"
"Then, the people around suddenly started yelling, its the labyrinth disease! --- and an evacuation order was then given to all the choppers."
"...... thats enough. I got it."
It means that Gunjous disease onset wasnt hidden from the other students.
Most of the students probably already bailed. Escaping before even entering the labyrinth.
And thats so right that its almost too right. Rather, Im surprised to find even ten people here. I should be going back too.
"............"
I look at the five people I dont know.
Three males.
Two females.
They are probably from cla.s.s 3 and cla.s.s 4. Cla.s.s 1 and cla.s.s 2 were probably swallowed up by the labyrinth.
Among them, a tall, well-featured young man speaks.
"...... oh, you must be the famous Arisu Shinnosuke-kun from the Hero Team! Im happy to meet you. Let me introduce myself. Im Santou Taisuke. I transferred here last month, and right now, Im the top of cla.s.s 3."
I look at him with half-opened eyes.
The guy called Santou approaches me and says.
"Even though the cowards ran off, the fate of the world rest on us. Lets save the world together!"
He extends his hand to me.
I look down at it in boredom,
"............"
Ignoring it, I return to my seat.
Santou smiles.
"What a shy guy. But anyway, lets give it our all together."
Is this guy saying that for real? Or did he catch the weird superhero syndrome in his head?
Another person, this time a girl, stands up.
"Erhm, everyone, please hear me. I, have a boyfriend whos in cla.s.s 2......"
I no longer need to hear any further. Since I already know her motive for coming here.
"Erhm, my ability ranks around middle of cla.s.s 4 so...... even though I might be a burden to the cla.s.s 5 thats filled with capable people...... Im willing to do anything! Im willing do anything I can for this labyrinth raid so please! Save Hiroki!"
Who the h.e.l.ls Hiroki?
Santou strokes her back trying to calm her down. She is trembling.
The other students look on as well. Well, each and every one of them probably has his or her own reason for raiding this absurd labyrinth I suppose.
Ignoring them, I return to my seat.
I look around the cla.s.sroom again. As usual, both Himi and Yousuke are sticking close to Shiro like goldfish droppings.
Slumped on his desk, Shiro is sleeping. Thats the right move. Right now, its 1 am, deep into the night. By the time we are done with our lesson and infiltrate the labyrinth within the next 6 hours, itd already be morning. Well be in no shape to raid the labyrinth if we are sleep-deprived.
However, if Shiros taking a nap now, then, it means that hes serious in entering Gunjous labyrinth.
Kiri takes the seat beside me, and peers into my face.
"...... what?"
She then says.
"Nothing, I just didnt expect you to come."
"Why?"
She merely smiles sadly, and says nothing.
But, from the look of her face, she understands.
That this labyrinth cant be raided.
Gunjou cant be killed.
But I ask,
"In that case, whyre you here?"
Kiri appears to ponder a little, and replies.
"...... to save the world, I suppose?"
"I wont ask you anymore."
"Ah-haha."
She smiles sadly again.
While I dont know the meaning behind that, she probably has her own reason as well. A reason whereby she has to enter the labyrinth. Which reminds me, during the Asahi Momoka incident, she never Escaped as well until the very end. Despite having been abandoned by her cla.s.smates.
I look at her.
Receiving my gaze with her large eyes,
"Ill feel embarra.s.sed if you stare at me like that ~"
She says and smiles again.
Unlike Gunjou, shes mentally strong. Really strong. Thus, she probably wont tell me whatever I ask. Not that I have any intention of asking though.
I turn my gaze in the direction of the window.
Its snowing again. I hate snow. As it chills my mood.
"Hey Shinnosuke-kun."
Says Kiri.
I did not answer. I just continue to stare into the night outside the window.
"Why did you come?"
"............"
"This raid is a foolhardy one, dont you think?"
"............"
"I think its better to give up on it...... and also, Ive always thought you would be the rational kind in something as precarious as this......"
"............"
"Or, could it be that you are in love with Gunjou-san?"
At that moment, I turn towards Kiri and say.
"Shut up. Then, lets go with that. Its because I love Gunjou so much that I cant help it. I really want to kill her. Thats a hobby of mine. A hobby in killing girls. Thats the reason why I came to this school. I mean, its legal to kill girls right?"
I grin foolishly.
But, as if she hasnt been listening to me, Kiri looks hard at me, pouts with a troubled look, and says.
"...... if you were to die at that kind of place, then you wouldnt be able to go on that Christmas date with me."
"Did you just hear what I said? ...That I have a hobby in killing girls. On Christmas, Ill kill you too."
"Ah-haha. All right. Kill me."
"You know......"
But, Kiri says with a serious face.
"Shinnosuke-kun. Its better to go back. This is really a labyrinth that you shouldnt be entering......"
But at that moment, the siren rings.
Biih biih biih.
"Paging all students of the Girl Killing Curriculum. Please head to your cla.s.srooms ASAP. In the Musashino area of Tokyo, a labyrinth disease victim has appeared. Well being the lesson in killing the girl."
It has been close to four hours since Gunjous disease manifested. The labyrinth investigation by the research inst.i.tution has probably ended. And that means we have six hours from now before Gunjou transforms into an eternal labyrinth.
Since it is standard to spend five hours to learn about the labyrinth and the labyrinth diseased girl, and the last hour to deal with it.
Shiros eyes open at the sound of the siren. He scratches his head, then looks in my direction.
Seeing me seated at my seat, he looks a little surprised, then smiles.
"Hey Shinnosuke. I knew youd come."
Completely opposite of Kiri.
I scowl and say.
"Ah? What the h.e.l.lre you talking about?"
"Youre the type who cant look away from a suffering cla.s.smate, arent you?"
"Dont joke with me."
"Then why did you come? Escaping should have been the no-brainer choice."
"I could ask the same of you. I thought you were on bad terms with Gunjou, werent you?"
But Shiro answers readily.
"Ive said this before, but once someone becomes my comrade even once, Ill never abandon him to the best of my ability. Thats my principle."
"I like how you mention that to the best of your ability part."
On hearing that, Shiro shrugs his shoulders.
"Its foolish to throw away my life pointlessly. However, as long as the possibility exists, I wont abandon anyone."
"So, are you going to kill Gunjou? Did she ask you to kill her if she contracts the labyrinth disease?"
Shiro smiles and looks at me.
"I dont see the point of this discussion --- Im here for the same reason as you, Shinnosuke. Gunjous the type who would burden herself with everything; shes definitely the good kid who wont want to drag others into the labyrinth disease along with her. Thats why Im going there to kill her. Since shes a comrade."
A good kid.
Comrade.
Friends.
Lovers.
Shiro could actually say all those disgusting, creepy-sounding words with a straight face. I wonder what kind of environment he was brought up in. When I get involved with him --- no, when I get involved with these people, I cant be myself.
"Im different from you. Im here for a different reason."
Thats right.
I have a reason.
Im here to test my newly obtained 《Holy Sword switch》. Its not because of a comrade, or friend, or things like friendship. Im here to perform human experimentation. Im not naive. Not weak. Theres no way Im that kind of good guy......
But, Shiro interrupts.
"Ohh I see. But I dont believe you. You really want to save Gunjou right?"
"............"
"Just admit it. Youre......"
"You really p.i.s.s me off. I really am......"
"A nice guy who just wont admit that."
"We really cant get along. The first person Im going to kill after entering the labyrinth is you."
"Hahaha."
On hearing our conversation, a girl who I dont know, probably from either cla.s.s 3 or 4, cant bear it any longer and speaks up.
"Hey! Arent you guys the Hero Team!? Whyre you guys fighting in such a situation!?"
Yousuke then smiles and says.
"No no, theyre always like that. But in the end, Shinnosuke went to karaoke with us."
I stand up and kick the desk. The desk flies toward Yousuke whos rattling away like a know-all.
Yousuke holds out his hand calmly.
His magic has already activated.
"Reverse Force switch ---"
He murmurs. Its a magic that Yousukes good at. And I know that magic.
An invisible abstract s.p.a.ce gets created before Yousukes hand, and within that s.p.a.ce, hes able to freely manipulate the strength and position of gravity to a certain extent.
The desk gets pulled violently by the strong gravity. And it flies towards the young man called Santou.
"Eh, ah, hey."
Santou dodges the desk. Just in the nick of time. Behind him, the girl who has a boyfriend in cla.s.s 2 is unable to dodge it.
"Ugh."
She cant even scream.
"Rebound."
Says Yousuke. The desk stops right in the middle of the air, and then, losing its momentum, it drops down to the floor. After ascertaining that, he says,
"...... ah ~, from their movements just now, they probably wont be of much use Shiro."
Shiro nods.
"Yeah. If you guys are coming along for this labyrinth raid, then fill up all your slots in your 《Headphone Fuzz》 with support-cla.s.s magic."
On hearing that, Santou says.
"Hey, wait a minute. Im the top of cla.s.s 3 after all ---"
But, cutting him off, Yousuke says.
"Himi, show him."
Himi looks surprised at suddenly being called, and with a fearful face,
"Eh? Erhm, me?"
"We have to make things clear to our comrades before cla.s.s starts, dont we?"
"Erhm but......"
"Just do it ~"
Looking fl.u.s.tered, Himi stands up hesitantly. Turning to face Santou. She stands before him.
As Santou is tall, and Himi has a slender body, there is quite a contrast between their builds.
Yousuke says.
"By the way, in our team, Himis physical prowess is not high, and offensive magic is not her forte either. But, as shes good at support magic, she wields only support magic."
Santou looks down at Himi. She still appears to be afraid.
"Haah...... and? Could it be that youre trying to tell me that Im weaker than her?"
On hearing Santous words, Himi replies.
"Erhm, well, then, Ill give you a slap, please dodge it."
"Thatll be a breeze......"
"Here I come."
Himi whips up her hand. Santou tries to dodge it, but immediately after that, pahn, the sound of an impact on his cheek resounds.
Santous eyes widen.
"Hey, wait a minute, I let my guard down just now."
"Then Ill do it again. Please dodge it."
Her hand flies up.
"Kuh."
Just as Santou gathers his energy, pahn, the sound of impact on his cheek rings out.
Even though Santou has a face showing that he is clueless as to what happened, nothing great really happened. Santou is just weak.
Himi says apologetically.
"...... Im sorry for hitting you twice."
Yousuke claps his hands twice and says.
"Well, this is it ~ so lets make things clear. Though Im stronger than Himi, compared to Shiro, Shinnosuke, and Kiri, my offensive magic is still far below theirs. But Im good at defensive magic, so I have all my slots filled with defensive magic. Ill do my utmost to protect my comrades in this cla.s.s, so lets do our best in our own roles."
Following that, the five new students seem to have decided to follow Shiro, Yousuke, and Himi.
But thats none of my business. To top that, Yousuke easily sidestepped my fury because of what he did.
Yousuke looks at me, grinning.
Himi smiles apologetically.
Shiro smirks.
I dont find anything funny.
"...... haah."
I sigh and Kiri says from beside me.
"Shinnosuke-kun, youre like an open book, really cute."
"Can you keep quiet?"
"But, your kindness will get you killed this time."
As if to stop me from going, she touches my hand. And looks up at me worriedly.
I look down at her with half-opened eyes.
"Whyre you so worried about me?"
She then smiles.
"...... I wonder why. Maybe I fell in love with you when you saved me?"
"How should I know?"
"Or, maybe its because I can see your brilliance, Shinnosuke-kun. Even though you live in the same world as me...... and even though youre so strong...... you still havent lost your kindness."
Live in the same world.
That means shes also living in the same world as Liezel.
A world where the words morals and ethics dont exist, where military corporations continuously conduct human experimentation daily.
A world where countries force teenage soldiers to put on 《Headphone Fuzz》s and compel them to enter labyrinths.
Furthermore, no Escape magic is loaded into those 《Headphone Fuzz》s.
If you lose, you die.
If you lose, you die.
If you lose, you die.
Thus, there is no other choice but to win. There is no other choice but to step on your comrades and win.
I have always been in such a place, and I could feel faintly that Kiri is also from that kind of world.
Different from Gunjou.
Different from Shiro.
Right from the beginning, she gave off the same smell of living in a dark, dirty world as me.
Her hand grip strengthens.
I look down at her and ask.
"I dont know where you got the impression from, but Im not kind at all."
"Ah-haha."
"Rather than that, what did you mean by the same world? Where on earth did you live?"
Kiri answers.
"...... in a world where I dream about going on a date with a guy I like on Christmas."
In the end, shes still not being honest about it.
She wont speak the truth.
She must have undergone some really grievous training.
Thus,
"Ive said this just now, but its meaningless to talk to you......"
Kiri says sadly.
"Those are my true feelings though."
"I dont believe you. Neither is there a need to believe you."
"I know...... I know, but well ~"
Her grip on my hand becomes even stronger. With a troubled look, she presses it against her chest. Whether it is an act or not, I do not know. I also do not know why she would do such a thing. Does she want something from me?
Dont tell me shes really in love with me?
Kiri pouts her lips and says.
"...... youre so worried about Gunjou-san, but yet dont believe a thing I said, its really unfair."
What is this woman saying?
"...... Im...... not as cute as Gunjou-san I guess."
Kiri is cute. At the very least, her looks are way above average, I suppose. She also has a good figure, and large b.r.e.a.s.t.s. If the pet.i.te, flat-chested Gunjou were to hear that, she would explode in fury.
But Kiri will never say all that.
Because she is not adorable.
Because she is too strong. Because she has received the worlds darkness. Because she smiles without saying a single word of truth.
Because she is able to abandon her comrades.
I sit on the chair. With her hand still grabbing mine, I say,
"Can you let go?"
But she looks at me mischievously,
"Dont wanna."
But, on hearing that, I brush her hand away.
"Oh my ~"
She smiles sadly again. That face of hers is certainly cute. But I dont get that cuteness of hers. Does she really like me? Or is she forcing a front and manipulating me?
I say.
"As I thought, theres nothing to talk to you about. I dont want to be manipulated."
"Im not manipula......"
But, her words stop. As if shes troubled, her face contorts for an instant, but she breaks into a smile abruptly, and her lips pout again.
"...... mm ~, no, I mean. Sorry. Maybe, Im manipulating you...... I have an ulterior motive of making you like me...... aah, what am I saying.... haah....... aaah......"
She sighs to herself and looks up at the ceiling. Drained.
Seems like she has own troubles to deal with, but its none of my business.
She isnt telling me her true intention.
That goes the same for me.
In that case, theres no need for us to talk.
And at that moment, the door to the cla.s.sroom finally opens.
"All right, Im late. Lets begin our cla.s.s ~!"
Our homeroom teacher Honjou Tsukasa walks in.
Carrying a stack of doc.u.ments.
Behind her, theres another male teacher whos around thirty, and another female teacher around forty.
They are probably the homeroom teachers for cla.s.s 3 and 4.
The male teacher says.
"All right, this time......"
But Honjou Tsukasa interrupts him.
"Who said you can take over somebody elses cla.s.s? Im the one in charge here so keep quiet."
"...... guh."
The male teacher goes silent.
The forty-year old female teacher starts while still remaining outside the cla.s.sroom,
"...... erhm, can I go? Honjou-sensei, you are the one responsible for this cla.s.s right?"
On hearing that, the female student who has a boyfriend in cla.s.s 2 stands up and says.
"Sensei! Please dont say something irresponsible."
However, the female teacher stares coldly at the girl and says,
"Well, please do your best. Honjou-sensei is a capable teacher, so you should be fine."
And she leaves.
"Sensei!"
The girl hollers but Honjou Tsukasa seems unbothered. She places the doc.u.ments on her desk and hits the blackboard with a hand.
"Now now, cla.s.s is starting! The time limit is six hours. Lets quickly kill the girl and save the world!"
And thus, the lesson on the labyrinth......
No, the lesson on Mizuiro Gunjou begins.