Vol 6 Chapter 2 (2/2)
Without turning her head back after looking away, Ariella extended the hotdog closer
”Okay Thanks for the food”
I accepted Ariella's kind offer and took only one bite of the hotdog
The hotdog's sweetness from fat and ketchup, spiciness from the mustard, and the soft texture of bread expanded in my mouth
”Mood”
”Glad you like it”
Ariella s my comment
”But I thought you wouldn't want to do this, Ariella”
”Why?”
Eating the hotdog I had bitten, Ariella tilted her head in puzzlement
”Uh, because this is an indirect kiss, right?”
The instant I said that, Ariella's entire person froze Instantly, she went red in embarrassment
”I-I didn't mean to—”
Seeing her reaction, I realized she simply had not realized
Although Ariella was greatly flustered, since the hotdog was already in her mouth, she had no choice but to chew and s thecoldly at me
”So you ate in despite clearly knowing that, Mononobe-kun?”
”Well Because you didn't seeht I'd better not mind either”
I answered aardly
”I-In that case, then keep it to yourself to the very end”
Licking off the ketchup on her fingers, Ariella muttered with her face red
Part 4
After lunch, everyone started enjoying the attractions again Ti fun
By the ti in the west The sky was starting to be dyed orange-red
”Best not to return too late, so this will be the last ride”
Looking up at the ested
”If that's the case, I guess we have to ride that at the end”
Ariella pointed at the attraction whose presence surpassed even the roller coaster—The giant Ferris wheel
Gripping htly, Ren nodded with excite forward to it for a long time
Thus we ht under it, I discovered that it was so huge that looking up at it hurt my neck
Since a single car could not contain all of us, we split up into groups of four
”Then I shall go with Mononobe Yuu, Ren-san and Ariella-san first”
Lisa suggested Strangely enough, the rereed obediently
”Yes, take care!”
I felt especially strange to see Tia, as potentially thea fuss
When it was our turn to board the Ferris wheel, I finally understood the truth of that dissonance
Originally supposed to follow us, Ariella and Lisa waved from outside the car
”Eh? Why aren't you two co?”
I asked in surprise but Ariella immediately smiled mischievously
”You two should have fun alone at least in the end It's about tiht?”
”Mm! Mm!”
Ren shook her head anxiously but the park staff closed the door and the car left the ground
Without saying a word, Lisa's face seemed to convey ”do your best” while she saw us off
”We got tricked They reed on this beforehand”
With the two of us alone in the car, I s opposite me
”Mm”
Ren nodded with a slightly angry deaze, she hastily looked down
The bright rays of the setting sun entered the rising Ferris wheel car
”Are you still nervous?”
Squinting frohtly in response
”To be honest, me too”
Hearing htly to show a surprised expression
”Because I've never had the experience of riding a Ferris wheel alone with a girl Suddenly thrust into this date-like situation, I can't stay calm after all”
”!”
Ren went red and stiffened, apparently even more nervous
”Oh, sorry, I rateful to Ariella who made this opportunity for me Given this rare chance, while the Ferris wheel completes a revolution, will you listen to me?”
I cautioned entle in tone as possible then asked Ren
”Mm”
After a brief silence, Ren nodded
”Thank you I think I need to say sos about the past, including about you, Ren”
Ariella's experiences as Miyazawa Kenya's adopted daughter, the passing of Ren's s one-sidedly
I thought that it would be unfair after all
”So this tiht now, I'll tell you everything I can think of”
”?”
Ren showed puzzlement at the way I spoke
”Actually, I have a secret Apart from these three—Iris, Lisa and Principal Charlotte—I've never told anyone”
Despite feeling hesitant, I still continued
”I don't want Mitsuki to know of this no matter what That's why I haven't told anyone else But Ren, I' to help you understand the 'current me' because I believe I need to co If I continue to hide ain your trust no matter how much time I spend”
I gazed at Ren with a sole ht and looked into my eyes
”Mm”
”Tellme
Then I began to recount How I contracted with Yggdrasil three years ago to obtain pre-civilization weapons data in exchange for ht as part of the special forces tea officer, Major Loki, intended to raise est killer named ”Fafnir”—
Ren focused her gaze on me while I talked nonstop
”—Then because Mitsuki applied pressure on the higher-ups, I was reassigned to Midgard and everything after that happened as you know, Ren The anti-dragon arainst Leviathan and Hraesvelgr were downloaded fro more of my memories as the price The result is that I've lost virtually all o”
””
Ren inhaled slightly, widening her eyes
”And within the data downloaded fro like a codrasil I aldrasil suddenly appeared at the school festival You were in danger at the time too I am truly sorry”
I bowed ize to Ren Actually not just Ren, I needed to apologize to Ariella and the other girls as well as Lisa's parents ere caught up in the incident
However, if the outside world were to find out it was ard and the Ds would be at risk Since the principal covered up what happened with htly
”Currently, the principal has done a lot forit'd last It's because of drasil I' you and everyone else involved because of that”
The more I said, the s from others I could not help but fall into e
Mitsuki's face flashed in my mind More than anyone, I had deceived her
—I was truly a liar
Despite owning up to everything, I did not think that Ren would trust soh I had revealed everything, my crimes would not disappear
Unsure how to face Ren, I kept my head down Then I felt an impact on the back of my head with a knock
”Ren?”
I looked up to see Ren glaring at me with her hand in a fist
”Mm!”
Rensound and took out her portable ter me:
”—You should've said so earlier Now isn't the tio back to practice dark matter transfer”
I read out the words displayed Ren kept nodding
”You're not angry?”
I asked in surprise Ren typed again
—I'er
As I read the words on the screen, my shoulders instantly relaxed
”Thank you, Ren You're so kind”
”!”
I thanked her Ren went red and looked away
”I'd like to hurry and master dark ht noe need is corateful if we could talk here some more”
Our car was about to reach the highest point of the Ferris wheel, so there was still time to talk
”Mm”
Ren took a deep breath, trying to cal, she typed on her terminal
—I know Ask anything you want I will answer everything honestly
With a serious expression, Ren raised her terestion
”So, can you tell me why you wanted to come to an amusement park?”
She refused the first ti difficult to talk about
But I could feel that itRen if this was the reason that even Ariella did not know
Ren's expression instantly froze Then she nodded and began typing on the terminal
The folloords were displayed on the screen facing me—
—Because I visited an areat time
”So that's why”
Nor up, but Ren's mother had passed away and Miyazawa Kenya had now buried hi Ren coldly
If she told others the reason, she would have to confront the gap between past and present That would make Ren suffer, which hy she refused to answer
”What kind of person was your mother like?”
—Cheerful and bold, she often led my wimpy father around by the nose
Reading what she typed, I could only smile wryly
”She must be quite a spirited woman”
Hearing reement and typed her answer
—Yes, she's a bit similar to Onee-chan
”Onee-chan?”
I asked in puzzleain
—I mean Ariella
”Oh, I see So you usually call Ariella Onee-chan”
”!”
Ren immediately blushed and silently hammered my kneecap
”No, there's nothing to be shy about It ht?”
Hearing htly with a blush
—Right, so Ariella is the only one I can talk to normally
Reading the words on Ren's raised terminal, I smiled
”I'm so jealous If only I could be that close with you”
””
Hearing h she suddenly understood so She stared at me silently
”What's up?”
Feeling intrigued, I inquired but Ren looked down at the terminal on her hand
Then after a minute, she slowly typed in text
She probably had soe for
”Mm”
Then shown on the terminal's screen was a very brief sentence that had taken her a long time to type
—Can I call you Onii-chan?
”Huh?”
I looked at Ren's face in surprise Blushi+ng to her ears, she lowered her head
”Mm!”
But Ren did not put down her tered me to answer
Perhaps this was Ren trying her hardest In that case, I had no reason to refuse
”—Yeah, you can”
Hearing ed the terminal to her chest and looked at me with her face red
””
Opening herbut could not
Perhaps
Seeing her like that, I noticed
Ren had asked me ”can I call you Onii-chan?” which meant that—
”O”
Ren's breath carried a faint voice
”O Oni”
Her tre words
”Oni Onii”
As though exhausting her strength, the tiny voice was gradually connecting together
Feeling her struggle and nervousness, an to beat faster and faster
Inside the Ferris wheel car touring the sky, the atmosphere was so tense that it pricked my skin—
”Onii, -chan”
I hear a voice so delicate it was almost covered up by the sound of wind
In that instant, indescribable joy and embarrassment filled my heart
”Y-Yeah”
Infected with her nervousness, I answered hoarsely
Immediately, Ren's entire body relaxed with a look of relief on her face
”—Onii-chan”
Then in a more natural tone of voice than before, Ren repeated the same words
”Yeah”
I answered again, slightly recovering in composure
Ren happily relaxed her facial expression and showed a gentle smile
”Onii-chan”
”Yeah, I'm your older brother from now on, Ren”
”Mm”
Ren nodded, swaying her legs happily
After that, Ren kept calling me ”Onii-chan” and I answered every time in embarrassment
”Onii-chan” were the only words Ren spoke so our interaction could not be called a conversation, but the rowing closer
Just as ere doing this kind of thing, the Ferris wheel finished a revolution and returned us to the ground
”Ren”
I got off the car first and reached out to Ren
”Mm”
Despite so my sleeve this time
Then using ot off the car and said with blushi+ng cheeks:
”Onii-chan Thank you”
Part 5
”Of course I'm happy that the plan went smoothly But what on earth did you do to Ren-san? I feel that you have grown a bit too close”
After we got off the Ferris wheel and went tothe way to the park exit, Lisa looked at us in surprise
Ren was gripping ht on her face
The sun was about to disappear in the west The western sky was red Looking east, I could see the first star shi+ning in the night sky
”I'm curious too Can I ask the reason, Ren?”
Looking quite curious, Ariella asked Ren
Feeling gazes from Mitsuki, Iris, Firill, Tia and everyone else, Ren lowered her head shyly
”Onii-chan”
Ren called to me quietly and pulled my hand
Hearing her say that, the girls broke into a commotion
”Ah, I get it now You often said you wanted an older brother, Ren, so your dreaht?”
Ariella see one sentence fro, she rubbed Ren's head
”Mm”
Ren looked down and nodded mildly in confirmation
”W-Wait, so thatto become Ren-san's 'Onii-chan'?”
Greatly shaken, Mitsuki asked immediately
”Well, so like that”
I answered with es Mitsuki instantly looked offended
”What do youlike that? Let me tell you, Nii-san, brother-sister relationshi+ps do not cohtly—”
”Eh? Don't tell me you're jealous, Mitsuki?”
Mid-sentence, Firill interrupted
”What I-I am most certainly not jealous!”
”Really? Then what's the proble hi sohtly older”
”I know that, but”
Mitsuki reluctantly stopped co but still looked at me with eyes of unease
I had no blood relation to Mitsuki As siblings in name only, she could not reh her position was being stolen
”Don't worry, Mitsuki, I won't stop being your brother”
”Ah S-Sure”
I coloom on Mitsuki's face did not dissipate completely despite her smile
Did I word it wrong? Sure enough, with s
”Tia won't be jealous! Because Tia wants Yuu to be Tia's husband, not big brother, but Tia wants to hold hands too”
Tia stared atBecause my left arm was in a cast, I could not hold hands with two people at the same time
”Tia-chan, don't disturb theht now It's not easy for Mononobe and Ren-chan to become closer”
Iris advised Tia with a wry smile
”That's true, but Aren't you jealous, Iris?”
”Eh? I-I'm also”
Momentarily at a loss for words, Iris looked at me with a complicated expression Her reaction made my heart rate accelerate
”See, Iris is like Tia, so according to the order—”
Tia made an ”I knew it” look and was just about to estion when she stopped mid-sentence
”Eh?”
It really happened in an instant
A figure dashed over, picked up Tia from behind and ran away just like that
Since it was too suddenly, no one could instantly grasp what had happened, including me Even so, I was still the first to coave chase
”Hold it right there!!”
What the heck—Who on earth?
Despite the questions filling my mind, I did not have the luxury to ponder In any case, I had to rescue Tia
”L-Let Tia go!”
Skillfully carrying the struggling Tia while escaping was a slender young man His blond ponytail fluttered behind him in the wind
Could that be John?
Seeing a fa back, I realized the perpetrator's identity
”John!”
As soon as I called his name, he instantly looked back It really was John
However, John did not slon Thus he ran into one of the nearby buildings
This was an attraction naested by its na the whole place Entry seemed to be unrestricted with no staff at the entrance
It was already close to nightfall Since people were gathered at attractions designed for ad the scenery, the Castle of Mirrors was eht
”Nii-san!”
”Mononobe! Where's Tia-chan!?”
I stopped Mitsuki, Iris and the others caught up
”—Inside here It's John who abducted Tia, which ht be here too, because yesterday, shenext time I think she probably wants to talk to me here”
”Doing things coercively as usual If she wants to talk, why can't she do it openly?”
Lisa commented in frustration
”Mononobe-kun, we'd better chase quickly”
Although Firill urgedbriefly
”No, Firill, you and the others should guard the entrance and the surroundings I'll go inside by ainst Kili breaks out, I'm the only one who can oppose her”
Saying that, I broke into a run without waiting for their response
”Onii-chan—”
”Hold on, Mononobe-kun!”
I heard Ren and Ariella's voices behind me but did not look back
Entering the Castle of Mirrors through the entrance that was styled like a gate, I suddenly found e
”!”
I reflexively guarded myself then exhaled
The interior was just as expected, a corridor covered withes
As a result, it was ith and width of this corridor accurately Running recklessly would probably collide into a wall
Left without a choice, I could only advance by walking briskly
”Tia! Where are you? John! Answer me!”
I called out but did not get any response
But after turning for who kne many times, I saw John
In the passage there, even the floor and ceiling was covered with mirrors in addition to the walls
In that space where the feeling of up and doould beco there quietly
”—Thank goodness, I', I'd have to stall you all here”
”John Why are you doing this? Where's Tia?”
I slowedhim I could not see Tia anywhere within my field of vision
”She is talking inside with Kili”
”Then I' over”
I planned to advance but John raised a hand to stop me
”Sorry, please wait a while longer Kili see important to tell her”
”John, when did you beco?”
I glared at John without hiding my irritation
”I told you yesterday, I didn't beco forces with her due to certain reasons”
”Reasons?”
I asked her with aze
”Well I can't tell you While key facts remain unknown Even if I told you inco but cause you trouble, Captain”
Seeing John's apologetic look when replying to me, I exhaled
”I understand you have your reasons for doing this, but I can't accept it unless you explain toover because I'm worried about Tia”
I took a step forward and John instantly turned to enter a stance
”—My apologies, Captain, then I'll have to delay you for a while”
”If you want to fight, I won't show any mercy”
Anti-personnel weapon—AT Nergal
I generated darkinto a projectile-based electroshock gun My palht
”Be ht now, so I have a chance in this environment”
As soon as he said that, John instantly kicked the ground and closed in on his own initiative
I was momentarily confused by this unexpected h , it was much cruder coh In addition, John was not carrying any weapons right now
Starting a close quarters fight against me while unarmed would be a foolish act of overconfidence
While approachingan acute punch at me
Witha sweeping kick the instant I passed by him
However, I did not feel the kick connect
—Hmm?
Juekick
Unable to usefrom the left Without a choice, I could only duck to evade John's leg brushed past the back of my head
Maintaining this posture, I aial's muzzle at John
His h I was a little surprised, this was the end Since he was in e my attack
But just as I was about to pull the trigger, my instincts sounded the alarm
John's extended arlint could be seen inside his clenched fist—
”!?”
I al
Clang—a hard sound rang out and I felt a strong ial
A coin flew up in the air, spinning as it fell
”Flicked huh—”
Most likely, he was holding the coin in his hand froer
Although no uns, the firepower of flicked projectiles at close range le clean hit on the center of the forehead could result in unconsciousness
Seizing the chance when I switched to defense, John instantly launched flicked projectiles consecutively with both hands as soon as he landed
However, flicked projectiles were a type of a to fear once they were known in advance
Precipitating htly awakened the ”Fafnir” dormant in the bottom of my subconscious
My sharpened senses captured John's killing intent and transmitted the trajectories of his flicked projectiles to , I aiun at John
”It's over”
I pulled the trigger A single hit froun would instantly render the target unconscious
However, John evaded h he had predicted my bullet trajectory
”What”
Seeing me surprised, John showed a happy smile on the corner of his lips
”Indeed, that shot would have ended things if I were still the one you knew”
”I can't believe you dodged that You've becoer”
I praised him and John scratched his face uncomfortably
”No It's not because I got stronger, but thanks to this location”
He pointed at the corridor covered with mirrors and continued:
”I was scouted fora member of Sleipnir In this space filled with mirrors, Captain, I can observe your ather several times more information than usual, which improves the accuracy of predictions”
”So that's why my attacks all missed”
Hearing John's explanation, I sighed
”Even you will take a fair amount of effort to defeat ht be different”
John gazed atmanner and spoke
””
I faced off against John, thinking what to do But before I reached that conclusion, I heard a cellphone ringtone in the surroundings
”—This is a call froer”
John took out his cellphone from a pocket and spoke with relief
I breathed a sigh of relief too
”Then can I go over?”
”Yes But rather, I will lead the way because it's a maze inside”
John released his combat stance completely and walked deeper into the corridor
The originally tense atal into an inside pocket of my uniform
In the end, I had sihed while following John
The castle's mirror-filled interior was truly full of co paths Even if I had defeated John, it would have been impossible to find Tia quickly Kili must have chosen the Castle of Mirrors with this in consideration
Tia and Kili were in a great hall that seemed to be in the center of the maze
”Ah—Yuu!”
Seeing me, Tia ran over in joy
Tia pounced atin the center of the hall
”Kili What is your goal in doing this?”
”Because I needed to talk to Tia in private without being disturbed by anyone, that's why I invited her to this Castle of Mirrors This happens to be a great place to help her scrutinize her own existence anew”
Kili answered nonchalantly without any conscience at all
I gently asked Tia, as clinging to my waist
”Tia, did she do anything to you?”
”Don't worry, ere just talking”
Tia looked up and answered However, her voice lacked vitality I felt concerned by Kili's mention of ”existence”
”What did you talk about?”