Volume 14 Chapter 7 (1/2)

Chapter 7 - Surely We Will be Able to Meet Again Part 1

「Just what is going on?」

Reiri was sitting beside Kizuna in Nayuta Lab's sickbay.

Kizuna was laid down on the bed. He was continuously breathing painfully in an unconscious state. He was thoroughly examined and the data was sent to Ataraxia's medical AI, but they couldn't obtain any answer.

Kei's perplexed face was projected in the window floating in front of Reiri.

『Our conjecture is that a powerful magic power impairment is occurring due to the explosion of the remodeled Tri-Head. Most likely a considerable number of cores were loaded inside that magic weapon. Our conjecture is that forceful remodeling was for loading even more core inside it.』

Reiri looked at Kizuna's suffering sleeping face and gritted her teeth.

『By exploding those cores simultaneously, a colossal magic power burst occurred. It caused a wide range magic power abnormality. Its area of influence is practically the whole earth. The gears within that range all become unusable. In other words, it's something similar with EMP pulse attack caused by high alt.i.tude nuclear explosion.』

「Something like that doesn't matter!」

Reiri glared at Kei with a terrifying look.

「Why is Kizuna the only one who ended up like this!?」

Kizuna was moaning painfully even now. He was sweating heavily, and his breathing was also rough.

「Aine and others also become unable to wear their gear, but they don't collapse. Why is it only Kizuna!?」

『That's……』

Kei looked down and bit her lower lip. Seeing her expression Reiri told herself to calm down.

「……Sorry. Kei, I……」

『I don't mind. More importantly, battles.h.i.+ps and aircraft carriers from many countries are starting to move toward Ataraxia.』

「……Annoucn the first cla.s.s emergency alert. Ataraxia can fight well enough even in battle of conventional weapons.」

『Also we have confirmed a Heart Hybrid Gear force at the other side of earth at Austalia. They're in the middle of haeding to Ataraxia with transport aircraft.』

「What!? Why can they use Heart Hybrid Gear!?」

『Most likely the other side of the earth is just barely outside the explosion's effect range.』

「So this is going as they planned……」

Reiri gritted her teeth and squeezed out her voice.

『I will report again as soon as the information come.』

Kei said that and cut the communication.

Silence returned to the sickbay and only Kizuna's pained breathing could be heard.

「s.h.i.+t……」

Reiri held her head and looked down.

They had no hand to play.

They could fight against the landing force, but if they were pushed back with quant.i.ty, it was only a matter of time until they fell. Even before that, the match would be decided when the enemy's Heart Hybrid Gear force arrived.

Would it end like this?

What's wrong Hida Reiri. Show that you'll manage somehow.

Are you only someone of this level in the end?

Your name as second generation devil is crying here.

But she couldn't think of any breakthrough solution.

Would Kizuna die like this?

Would Ataraxia get taken over?

Everyone would be captured and become subject for experiment and torture.

She wouldn't let such thing to happen.

But, it was pointless to just think that.

Was there some kind of concrete──,

Tears were blurring her eyes.

「……Kasan.」

She muttered that for some reason.

Tears trickled down Reiri's cheeks and her lips smiled in irony.

Pathetic.

For her to cry and asked for help from her mother.

Even though that person wasn't anywhere anymore.

At that time, her breast pocket vibrated.

A mail arrived in her communication terminal.

The sender's name was──,

nayuta

Reiri stared on that name in a daze. And then, her eyes immediately changed into a sad one.

「The timing is too good even for a joke……」

A chuckle unconsciously slipped out.

The mail's t.i.tle was 『Regarding the method to restore Genesis』.

「Why is……something like this, at this time……」

Reiri's hollow eyes chased after the mail's letters.

And then,

Those eyes were gradually opening wide.

When she finished reading.

Light had returned to Reiri's eyes.

Part 2

「Nn……」

Kizuna recovered his consciousness.

「So you're away, Kizuna!」

「Nee-chan……muguh!?」

Something soft was pushed on his face forcefully.

An object that was like a huge skin colored manju. The transcendental pleasantness and elasticity clung on his face closely. The damp and smooth skin texture. Kizuna knew this sensation very well. There was no way he would mistake it.

──Ne, Nee-chan's breast!?

Kizuna turned his head and slipped out from below his sister's breast.

When he looked around, it seemed he was in the sickbay. And then he was lying on the bed, his head on his big sister's lap where she was making him sucking her breast. Reiri had unb.u.t.toned the front of her uniform and exposed both her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

「Wait, Nee-chan. What is this situation──」

She didn't let him say anything and placed her breast on his face.

「Be quiet, just drink more.」

He didn't understand but, Reiri's voice and gaze were serious. Kizuna obeyed and put his mouth on Reiri's nipple before sucking.

The next moment, a sweet taste spread inside Kizuna's mouth.

His mouth spontaneously let go and stared at the tip of his big sister's breast.

White liquid was dripping from there.

「Ne, Nee-chan? This is……」

「A, aa……it might be the effect of core's installation. Don't mind it.」

「I mind! Just what in──nnuh!?」

His mouth was blocked by her breast once more.

Reluctantly, Kizuna continued sucking Reiri's breast just like he was told.

Even Aine, Hayuru, and Yuris.h.i.+a who were installed with core longer than Reiri didn't produce breast milk.

However Kizuna couldn't win against the temptation of the white liquid that overflowed copiously from his big sister's breast. Sweet and gentle taste spread inside his mouth. It pa.s.sed his throat and fell into his stomach. This taste and scent mysteriously calmed him. He felt peaceful.

He rolled the stiff nipple inside his mouth with his tongue.

「an♥」

Sweet voice spontaneously flowed out from Reiri's mouth.

「Oi, don't play any prank. Suck seriously.」

Sucking his big sister's breast seriously──Kizuna thought it funny. He sucked the breast strongly in the place of answer and ma.s.saged the other breast with his hand.

Then something warm touched his palm.

Several white lines were drawn from the tip of Reiri's breast and trickled on Kizuna's body.

When he sucked the breast strongly again, milk came out with even more amount than before.

Reiri gently caressed Kizuna's head as though to comfort a child.

「Fufu……right now it belong to only you. Drink as much as you like.」

Kizuna still couldn't understand why he was drinking Reiri's milk. However, he was enveloped in tranquility that made him didn't care of such thing. And then the more he drank, the more his body felt better. He felt like that.

He didn't know why but, it felt like the milk he drank spread until every corner of his body and healed every bad spot.

It was just his impression, and Kizuna also understood in his head that there was no way such thing was going on. But he was feeling like that.

He remembered collapsing right after the explosion of the remodeled Tri-Head. At that time, he felt like his body was breaking.

Now he felt invigorated, as though those broken parts were recovering.

His crotch was getting constricted the more his energy was coming back. Reiri sharply discovered that change.

「Nn……Kizuna, you」

Kizuna let go of Reiri's breast and spoke in panic.

「No, I don't know why but it's turning like that on its own! Perhaps it's the same like waking up at the morning──wapuh!?」

「It's fine just suck. It's fine even if you play around.」

The permission had been given, so Kizuna playfully bit his big sister's nipple.

「ahn!?♥ O, oi, I said it's fine for you to play around but……aan♥」

Kizuna gently licked the place he bit to comfort it. Reiri's face quickly changed into an intoxicated look.

Reiri also reached toward Kizuna's lower body and lowered his trouser. And then Kizuna's thing bounced up energetically.

The thing that had hardened completely like a pillar made Reiri gulped.

「So your function has returned……I need to confirm it.」

She said that while her moistened eyes and expression looked very obscene.

Her thin and slender fingers entwined around Kizuna's thing.

Kizuna spontaneously sucked Reiri's breast strongly.

「Nh♥」

Milk spurted out once more.

「Kizuna, you should us this side too soon……」

Reiri brought her opposite breast toward Kizuna's mouth. When stuck his mouth at the stiff tip and started to suck again loudly.

「Aahn♥ Haa……that's right. Stronger……uuhn♥」

Reiri's chest grew hotter when she was looking at the face of his little brother who was sucking her milk intently. And then she felt like the flow of the milk became better.

The sense on her palm also became sharper, the sensation of the hard thing in her grasp was conveyed to her whether she wanted it or not.

「Fufu♥ This sensation has been a long time……」

Kizuna was also feeling unbearable pleasure from the sensation of Reiri's fingers and palm after so long. The hand that was holding with superb strength control that wasn't too weak or too strong moved up and down. The transparent liquid that oozed out from the tip increased the smoothness and accelerated the pleasure further.

Kizuna's pleasure increased in explosive power. His attack to Reiri's breast also turning more intense in proportion to that. Inside his mouth he rolled the nipple, pecked it with his tongue to tease it, he tested every kind of method to learn how much he could make Reiri felt it while making milk came out.

「Nhkufuuh♥ Ki, Kizun, you're sucking, that desperately……♥AaAAAAH!!」

He felt unbearably happy when Reiri raised such voice of pleasure. He put even more strength into his sucking.

「Hah♥ Aah, i, if you want to let it out…..a♥ anytime is fine okay……」

Reiri too was completely feeling it from getting her breast teased persistently. Her face blushed and she kept letting out a heated sigh with gasping breath.

Looking from her erotic expression that was totally feeling it, he understood that it was Reiri instead who was closer to the climax.

──To think, that it will feel this good, when feeding Kizuna my milk……I, I'm going to come just from my breast…….

But, Kizuna was also rapidly ascending to the climax as though to chase behind Reiri. Perhaps he was excessively excited by his big sister's hand after so long, he was really close to his limit.

──Ne, Nee-chan!

He unconsciously lifted up his waist.

Reiri guessed his state from there and leaned above Kizuna's crotch. His mouth quickly caught Kizuna's thing that was standing hard.

Suddenly Kizuna felt he was enveloped by something hot and sticky. His brain and body reflexively misunderstood, wondering whether he had inserted into Reiri's femininity itself──in that instant, Kizuna reached the climax in the blink of eye.

Kizuna's pillar shot out something white hard.

Reiri made a shocked expression with it still inside her mouth.

──A, amazing spurt……besides, the amount too……♥

A great amount of liquid moved into Reiri's mouth with shocking speed and it flowed into her throat directly. The sensation of it pa.s.sing through her throat created unbearable pleasure inside Reiri.

──A, aa, no, co, coming, me too──!!

Reiri's waist shook.

She was drinking her little brother's thing while her body reached the climax.

Reiri's body was convulsing while she continued to drink the liquid that was let out inside her mouth.

Before long Kizuna finished letting it out. Reiri's mouth let go and she hovered over Kizuna.

「You let out too much……good grief♥」

The two of them entrusted their body to the pleasant relaxation for a while. Kizuna's hand took the hair of his big sister who was hanging over him and enjoyed the silky texture.

「……Nee-chan. What in the world happened? Besides, this is……」

It was a magic power impairment attack by exploding a great amount of cores. The effect of that caused dysfunction in you. I made you drank milk because that was the method to revive Genesis.]

「Eh?」

──The method to revive Genesis?

「Wait, I don't get it at all.」

Then Reiri lifted her upper body and looked down on Kizuna with a gentle gaze.

「Eros's core is the equivalent of Genesis in Lemuria.」

「……Wh」

──Eros is?

Kizuna lifted his body and fixed his attire.

「Sorry, it's a bit……what does that mean……I don't get it at all.」

Reiri also fixed her appearance and sat down beside Kizuna. They stared at each other. And then, she gently placed her hand on Kizuna's cheek.

「The core of Heart Hybrid Gera came from Atlantis. Especially when the first AU Collision happened, we recovered the cores that were scattered in this world and used them. However Eros's core had been in this world over here all this time even before AU Collision.」

──Come to think of it,

Kizuna recalled what he heard from Nayuta before.

『It's thought that the other cores fell into our world when AU Collision occurred. However, Eros is the only one different. It's a mysterious object discovered in an island at Mediterranean Sea approximately a hundred years ago. But to all appearances it only looks like modern industrial good or a toy. There wasn't even any commotion of OOParts discovery and it had been sleeping all that time inside a collector's warehouse.』

Nayuta at that time overlapped with Reiri in front of him.

「This is just my conjecture but……Thanatos must be intending to experiment with Atlantis and Lemuria as different case. That was why she changed the condition. And then she wanted to see how each world would evolve……surely she never thought that AU Collision would occur and the OOParts of the two worlds would get mixed up.」

「I and Eros are……the Genesis that we were searching……?」

Various thoughts were jumbled up inside Kizuna.

「Eros, isn't a……Heart Hybrid Gear?」

He couldn't accept that fact right away.

「No, it's a Heart Hybrid Gear. But, it uses the power of Genesis. It's something that you created.」

「……I did?」

「Thinking back, there was many strange things. The first time I felt a question was when you first did Climax Hybrid with Neros.」

In order to defeat Tri-Head, Kizuna did Climax Hybrid with Hayuru for the first time. And then Hayuru obtained Corruption Armament while Kizuna created the sword and fought Aldia.

「I thought it was strange when I saw Eros created the sword at that time. Corruption Armament was loaded inside the gear since the beginning. The only problem was whether the user can pull it out or not. But, Eros is different. It created the weapon of its Climax Hybrid partner one after another.」

「Certainly……but, that is Eros's power……」

「Yeah. It's Eros's ability. But that power clearly surpa.s.sed a gear's limit.」

Kizuna stared at his palm.

──Certainly, Eros inside my body is clearly different from other core. But, if that's the case,

「……Nee-chan. In the first place it's strange that Eros can do Heart Hybrid isn't it?」

「Exactly. Thinking back, it produce life energy, produce material, and improving and altering other gears. That is truly Genesis's ability. From the beginning we were fighting with its blessing behind us.」

They didn't notice that at all──Reiri made a self-depreciating smile.

Kizuna put his palm on his face.

「Good grief.」

Strangely a smile came to the surface.

「Even though I thought it was useless, in reality it was a gear with special power……and now from the beginning it actually wasn't a gear. Then, a man like me can install it is also because of that?」

「That's right.」

Kizuna suddenly noticed something.

「But how does Nee-chan know about it?」

「Someone taught me.」

「……Someone?」

Reiri took out her communication terminal from her jacket's breast pocket and showed the screen to Kizuna.

──nayuta

「Kasan……」

「Yeah. That computer sent me a mail. There, the information regarding Genesis I mentioned just now and the maintenance method were written. I breast feed you just now was merely following the maintenance procedure.」

「That was……maintenance?」

「That's right. It seems woman who is installed with core will go through change physically. The liquid that is produced by that body will have the effect to repair Genesis. Breast milk is the liquid with the highest effect even among all of them.」

After that Reiri added looking a bit embarra.s.sed.

「Well, this is a second hand knowledge from that person though.」

「Is that so……Kasan was」

Kizuna stood up and fixed his clothes.

「As I thought, she is watching over us even now, surely.」

「You're right……but it doesn't mean that all of our problem is resolved.」

Reiri expression returned into a sharp one and she stood up.

「The multinational army's regular force and heart Hybrid Gear force are approaching Ataraxia. We can deal with the regular force, but it will be the end when the gear force arrives. We have to think of how to deal with them before that.」

「It's fine.」

「What?」

「No, it's not like I have a good idea.」

Kizuna scratched his head with an awkward look.

「But, we have gotten through even worse situations many times until now. Each time Ataraxia, we caused a miracle. That's why surely this time we'll also manage somehow.」

Kizuna's eyes were straightforward. Reiri also grinned seeing that.

「Yeah. I also think so. G.o.d and demon both sided with us here. There's no way we'll lose.」

Kei's face suddenly appeared between the two siblings who were staring at each other.

『A, a disaster! Reiri! Come here quickly!!』

Kei's face that was projected in the floating window was a cornered one. It was rare she was making such expression, but her yell with her actual voice was even rarer. Even for Reiri this was her first time hearing her yelling like that.

The two of them rushed out of the sickbay and got down one floor. They ran into the command room.

「What's the matter!?」

No one there answered that yell of Reiri.

『Headmaster!? Is that headmaster!?』

For a moment Reiri couldn't closed her opened mouth.

「Wha……what was that just now? Kei! Did you replay Landred's voice?」

『No! I'm right here!! You can't see me though!』

Surprise and confusion filled Reiri's face.

「What's going on……」

When she turned her gaze, Aine was reaching out with her hands as though to touch someone unseen.

「Grace! You're there aren't you Grace!」

『Nee-sama! Aa……this is like a dream. To think I can hear Nee-sama's voice again!』

Their figure couldn't be seen. However Grace's familiar voice certainly came from the spot where Aine's hand reached out.

Hayuru was also talking toward empty air like Aine.

「Hyakurath-san!? This is Hayuru! Himekawa Hayuru!」

『Himekawsan! This is really Himekawsan's voice. Are you well?』

「Yes, Hyakurath-san too……are you well?」

『Eh? E, err……well』

Hayuru made a worried expression hearing that inarticulate reply.

「Did something happen?」

『That's……I was appointed as captain of the royal guard……』

「Tha, that's……congratulations for your promotion……?」

Kizuna looked around inside the command room.

Inside there was Reiri and Kei, then Aine, Hayuru, Yuris.h.i.+a, Sylvia, and Ragrus. No one else.

However, the voices of Grace, Landred, and Hyakurath were clearly audible. And then, they could also converse properly.

「Kizuna……is that, really……Kizuna?」

「That voice, is that Gravel?」

「Ye, yeah……what a miracle……Kizuna, there is something that I want to tell──no」

「Gravel?」

「……It's nothing. Zelcyone, do you also want to say something……」

「Yeah, it's me……this is Zelcyone. We are……it's truly great to be able to hear your voice──」

「Ye, yeah……? I'm also happy.」

「I also want that child, to hear this voice……n, no! It's good if you're safe.」

「Zel?」

While each of them was renewing old friends.h.i.+p, Reiri wracked her brain in order to sort out the situation.

──Is Lemuria and Atlantis getting closer because of some reason?

「Landred. Just what in the world is going on? Is this the work on your side?」

『We are temporarily stopping the function of Genesis over here in order to perform maintenance. However, something like this shouldn't occur but……perhaps, some kind of abnormal situation related to magic power also happened over there?』

The image of the remodeled Tri-Head exploding revived at the back of Reiri's head.

「Yeah. An abnormality was caused to magic power due to a great number of cores getting exploded. The effect caused us to fall into a situation where magic armor over here cannot be used.」

『Is that so……most likely due to the timing overlapped coincidentally, it caused both worlds to get closer. At Lemuria's side it become a situation that is similar to shortage of magic power, while here Genesis's operation is halted. I think both worlds are being pulled toward each other because of that.』

「Furthermore the Genesis over here is also stopped. What coincidence……」

Reiri pressed her forehead.

『But, there is no need to worry. The Genesis here is starting to restart, and the magic power abnormality over there will surely recover within several hours at best.』

「However, Ataraxia will be attacked by the enemy before that.」

Reiri briefly explained about Ataraxia's situation.

While she was talking, even though her figure couldn't be seen, they could feel Grace's killing intent welling up.

『d.a.m.n them! If I can go over there, I will hand down judgment to all of those scoundrels!!』

「Ca, calm down Grace. I'm happy that you feel like that though.」

Aine desperately soothed down the enraged Grace.

The uproarious atmosphere from the Atlantis side was transmitted to this side.

『But……if I remember correctly, a similar accident also occurred in Baldin……』

Her figure couldn't be seen, but Landred's worried feeling was conveyed. And then Landred suddenly spoke brightly.

『That's right! There was a similar precedent before. Please prepare a spare core. If it's a core in dormant state that hasn't been installed, it shouldn't receive the effect of magic power abnormality. If the little brother install it to someone, it should work without problem!』

A ray of hope.

And then despair.

There wasn't a single usable core in Ataraxia currently.

The cores that they collected from the Dragre were all damaged and couldn't endure being used.

Kizuna gritted his teeth and endured his frustration.

──Is there no way left?

An air of defeatism was ruling over the command room. It was then.

「No──there is one.」

Reiri said.

「If it's core then we have one.」

Kizuna's eyes opened wide.

Everyone present there stiffened with their mouth staying open.

「What did you say!? Is that true, Nee-chan!?」

「Yeah.」

Aine seemed unable to trust that so suddenly. She stared at Reiri doubtfully.

「I never heard anything like that until now! Why wasn't it used until now?」

「Aine-san! Right now we should prioritize using that core rather than questioning that!! Commander! Where is that core right now?」

「Uu……tha, that's, you see」

Yuris.h.i.+a also frowned in suspicion.

「What's the matter? Also what kind of core is that?」

「Could it be, it's a core that isn't really strong desu?」

Reiri averted her gaze from Sylvia's worried expression.

Her face looked more ashamed rather than troubled. Her cheeks blushed and her gaze was downcast while wandering around.

The hesitant att.i.tude that was unlike his big sister caused Kizuna to be impatient too.

「Nee-chan! Right now we're in a race against time. Just what is──」

When he pressed her with question like that, Reiri took out a small metal capsule from her pocket.

──The core of Heart Hybrid Gear or its alternate name magic armor.

Reiri handed that core to Kizuna.

「This is……?」

Kizuna was familiar with that core.

The detailed and cute decoration applied on its surface.

It was the order made magic armor that a mother made for her daughter's sake.

Kizuna showed a shocked expression.

「Nee-chan……this is……」

Several questions inside Kizuna connected to each other at that time.

Recently, she didn't spend the night with him,

She was paying attention so her body wouldn't get cold,

Valdy was really nervous about Reiri's safety,

Reiri proclaimed with a small voice and red face.

「…..It's, Zecros's core.」

The command room fell silent.

「Ne……」

Kizuna approached Reiri and grabbed her arm.

「Nee-chan. Why, didn't you say that sooner?」

Reiri couldn't look directly at Kizuna's face and averted her gaze.

「That's……before, if I manage to get pregnant first……I intended to boast but……that, when it actually happened, somehow it got embarra.s.sing……besides──」

Reiri looked up at Kizuna with an anxious gaze.

「When I thought of how you will think……I got worried……」

Kizuna unconsciously held his breath. He had never seen his big sister making that kind of frail face.

She continued shouldering the heavy position as commander while holding such insecure feeling.

He wanted to comfort Reiri.

He wanted to rea.s.sure her.

He wanted to convey his grat.i.tude and happiness.

But, he couldn't find any word that he should say.

All words wouldn't match Reiri's feeling──he got such feeling.

He lost his words and couldn't say anything.

That was why Kizuna,

Hugged Reiri's body.

「Kizuna……」

He conveyed his feeling of being unable to find any good words through the embrace. He wanted his feeling to be directly transmitted through his arms that were hugging her, from their chests that were pressed on each other.

Kizuna put his pa.s.sionate feeling, his grat.i.tude, his love, all his feelings into that hug.

Strongly, but gently.

To answer that feeling of her little brother, Reiri also put her hands around Kizuna's back.

「Yeah……I understand, Kizuna.」

Reiri was the one rea.s.suring Kizuna instead by lightly patting her little brother's back.

Kizuna let go of Reiri's body and they stared at each other.

「Nee-chan. There're a lot of thing that I want to discuss. But right now──」

「I know.」

Reiri answered strongly like that. Her face returned to the face of a commander.

Confident and self a.s.sured. The commander of Ataraxia who was feared by countries all over the world as devil.

Kizuna turned toward the members of Amaterasu.

「Everyone! We can still fight!」

Kizuna's voice that was filled with joy and motivation slid over Aine and others.

「? What's wrong everyone?」

Aine's face distorted from the shock she received. She was muttering something incoherently.

「No……no way. The commander beaten me to the punch……this me……even though I'm the first wife……even though I'm the emperor……even though I'm the galaxy ace……」

Aine began to run her mouth incomprehensibly in confusion. It caused Hayuru's face to twitch.

「A, Aine-san? Please get a hold of yourself.」

「Aren't you frustrated Hayuru!?」

It made her lashed out.

「O, obviously it's frustrating! Well……but, if it's the commander, in a sense……it's not unreasonable, or rather I can accept it.」

「I can't accept it here-!!」

Yuris.h.i.+a interrupted the conversation that was running wild.

「Wa, wait a second! There're various things that I can't accept but, that core is exclusive for the commander right?」

Aine and Hayuru said 'ah' in realization only now.

Yuris.h.i.+a turned her eyes questioningly toward Kizuna.

「In addition, who should be the one installed with that core?」

That question was only natural.

「That's……」

Certainly, it couldn't be installed into Reiri at her current state.

Kizuna fell into thought. Hayuru also looked downcast seeing him.

「Even though the strongest core managed to be spared……this is like pearls thrown before swine.」

Aine also switched her feeling and yelled toward the unseen Landred.

「Landred! Is there something that can be done!?」

『That's……we don't know……forgive us……』

Cold sweat trickled from Kizuna while he desperately thought.

Just one more step.

They could win if they could overcome this.

Landred seemed to be unable to endure the atmosphere that fell silent and muttered.

『E, err……that's something that Nayutsan created so……』

──Kasan?

A girl's figure flashed inside Kizuna's mind.

That's right.

There is one.

Just one person.

A girl who could possibly succeed this core.

Part 3

「Err……do you need me for something?」

Setsuna said that while getting off the car.

This was the entrance of Nayuta Lab. Setsuna turned a bewildered expression toward Kizuna who was waiting for her there.

──Just several minutes ago.

There was an announcement for Setsuna who was evacuated to the underground shelter of the primary grade school so that she departed to Nayuta Lab in an emergency. When she followed the teacher who came to call her and went to the entrance, a car from the lab was parked there. The car that came to pick her up ran with normally unthinkable speed and ignored all the traffic lights.

「To forcefully bring me here like this……」

「It's emergency situation. Ataraxia's fate is hanging on the line. Come with me.」

Kizuna only said that and turned around to enter inside the lab.

「Eh? Please wait!」

Setsuna didn't understand what was going on. She chased Kizuna's back with a face that looked angry.

「I, I'm asking you to wait!」

She followed behind Kizuna and entered an elevator.

When the door closed, it moved to underground.

「Setsuna, Ataraxia is in a pinch.」

「Eh?」

「The multinational army is sending a large force to attack Ataraxia. They'll arrive in two more hours.」

Setsuna gulped. Her widely opened eyes were shakened up.

「The enemy won't just use conventional weapons. There is also the Heart Hybrid Gear force of Europe. It will be the end of us if they arrive.」

「Bu, but, with Amaterasu and Masters here……」

「Due to the enemy's strategy, all of Ataraxia's Heart Hybrid Gear cannot be used. At this rate there will be a lot of victims and Ataraxia will fall.」

「No way……」

The elevator's door opened with an electronic sound.

They arrived at what seemed like an experiment room. The ceiling was high and the s.p.a.ce was so wide it felt like a car could drive around here. A white container was placed there alone.

Setsuna got out of the elevator hesitantly and stared at that container.

「What is……that?」

「That's Love Room.」

Setsuna still didn't understand even if she was told that. She tilted her head slightly.

「Love, Room? It's a cute name but……this isn't the time to do something like──」

The thick hatch that was like a safe opened and Kizuna entered inside.

Setsuna pa.s.sed through the hatch warily.

「The inside isn't too cute……」

It was an empty room that was completely white with only a single bed.

「This is the mid-range mobile tactical supply room that was developed at the beginning. Its nickname is Love Room.」

Kizuna touched the wall in nostalgia.

「This is the only one that can be used right away. The more modern version it is, the more time it will take to activate it and it will also take effort to adjust it.」

「Stop s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around! Right now Ataraxia is in a pinch isn't it!? We should intercept the enemy quickly or something……」

Setsuna was anxious.

The talk that she heard from Kizuna was too terrifying. She thought that they had to do something, but she couldn't think of anything concrete. What she could think of was only something like wearing technical gear and pulling the gun's trigger.

「There is a way.」

「The, then, there isn't any time to talk with me! Please do that right away! Please save everyone, save my friends!」

Kizuna took out a small metal capsule from his pocket.

「That is?」

「This is a Heart Hybrid Gear's core.」

Setsuna opened her eyes wide.

「That's……」

The silver core was reflected on the golden eyes that s.h.i.+ned in curiosity.

「It's my first time seeing it……it's pretty……」

「This is the core that Nee-chan used until now.」

'Eh', Setsuna raised her voice.

「Then, this is Zecros's……? But, why is it here……」

「I'll install it into you.」

Setsuna stared at Kizuna with a puzzled face──m

A scream gushed out of her three seconds later.

「EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!?」

「It's natural that you're surprised. But, there isn't any other way.」

「Wh, wh, why why is that!? I, I'm still in primary school, I don't have such qualification at all──」

Kizuna was calm in contrast with the fl.u.s.tered Setsuna.

「This is an exclusive core that Kasan created for Nee-chan's sake. It won't be able to display its actual capability even if it's installed at anyone other than Nee-chan.」

「Exclusive……then, that's even more……」

「But, Setsuna. It's different if it's you.」

「Why……」

「Setsuna's body is something inherited from our Kasan. Kasan and Nee-chan's Heart Hybrid Gear apt.i.tude and biological a.n.a.lysis are very close. The one with the best apt.i.tude for Zecros's core is you Setsuna.」

「Bu, but……there is Onee-chan herself here.」

「Nee-chan is……there is a reason why it can't be installed in here right now.」

「But……」

「Besides the drop in att.i.tude will be amended by your special power. With your power that turn even technical gear into magic armor, Zecros should be adjusted to match your body.」

「That's……」

Setsuna's expression clouded.

「I……don't want that.」

「Why?」

「I'm human. A human, can't do something like that. That's why I mustn't do that.」

Setsuna looked down and her shoulders shrunk. She curled into herself as though she wanted to vanish.

──Setsuna.

Kizuna put his hand on Setsuna's shoulder to pep her up.

「Setsuna, you're piling up your worry inside yourself too much.」

「Because……it's not something to talk with other people……」

「It's fine if it's with family right?」

「Family……」

Setsuna lifted her face like a withered flower that recovered its vitality.

Kizuna put his hands around Setsuna's back and gently hugged her.

「That's why say it without reservation. What does Setsuna want to do? What do you want?」

「I……I……」

Tears gathered on Setsuna's eyes.

「I, want to be a normal human. The same like, Onii-chan, and Onee-chan. Then, I'm not, G.o.d or anything, but a normal……」

「I see……is there anything else?」

「I want to be useful to everyone. I don't want to be told that I'm unneeded.」

「Aah. And?」

「I don't want to be given special treatment, just because I'm not normal.」

「Got it. Is there other?」

「I want……to be treated, specially……」

「Hm?」

Setsuna pressed her forehead on Kizuna's chest.

「Because……I'm your little sister. I'm different, from other children, I'm special……」

Kizuna gently patted Setsuna's back to rea.s.sure her.

「I want to be your true little sister……」

He kept embracing Setsuna like that for a while. They both felt each other's warmth and ascertained the feel of each other's body once more.

「Hey, Setsuna. If there is a human who can lift up one ton, is that person not a human?」

Setsuna looked up at Kizuna with a puzzled face, wondering what he was saying so suddenly.

「That's……if I have to say which then that person is superhuman……perhaps?」

「Right. But, that person might be called monster if he killed someone with that strength.」

Setsuna's body jerked.

「Setsuna's power is also something like that. You're superhuman for those who sought that power. Perhaps it's even the power of G.o.d. But for people who are opposing you, you're monster with the power of demon.」

「……Will I become, demon to people outside Ataraxia?」

「However, if you use that power than you can save Ataraxia, and even the world outside it.」

「Eh?」

「The whole world is targeting the technology in Ataraxia's possession. Because if they have the other world knowledge and technology that we have, they will be able to get ahead of other countries. They will be able to use that technology to create even better ma.s.s murder weapon. That's the path of ruin that was once reached by Thanatos's world. We're also going to walk toward such future.」

Setsuna imagined that future and trembled in fear.

「That's why our battle is not just to protect Ataraxia. We fight in order to protect this world's future. And now we're leaning toward that future of destruction.」

Kizuna let go of her body and crouched in front Setsuna.

「Onii-chan……」

「Right now we don't have any way to fight. You're our last hope.」

Setsuna stared at the face of her big brother in front of her.

Did she ever stare straight into her brother's eyes like this before?

They were eyes that were really pretty, unclouded, and without any lies.

「Does that mean……I am being needed?」

「Everyone in Ataraxia need you.」

「……Onii-chan too?」

「Of course.」

「Then……can I, ask for one thing?」