Published at 17th of August 2019 7:59 am

Volume 12, Chapter 5: Contract and Descent

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Part 1

Saturday, April 24

Koutarou and Maki's names were displayed on a screen showing today's top ten high scores by the exit of an attraction. The attraction was similar to a game where groups of two get on a ride and compete over who can kill the most monsters. Koutarou and Maki had gone together and managed to get the top score by a large margin.

“...Hey, Kou. Don't you feel anything after seeing this result?”

Looking up on the screen that was brilliantly displaying 'Koutarou & Maki' at the top of the leaderboard, Kenji dropped his shoulders in amazement.

“Feel anything? What do you mean?”

“This is what I'm talking about... you're always like this...”

Kenji put his hand on the confused Koutarou's shoulder and lost all will to speak. To Kenji, having a feminine girl like Maki go all out on an attraction like this, it looked like Maki was sending special signals. However, Koutarou couldn't feel that, or he could have been intentionally ignoring it.

“Satomi-kun and Aika-san should just stop beating around the bush and date already. Having two people this synced up is very rare.”

“I think so too. It feels like fate.”

Kenji and a group of girls all shared the same opinion that since Koutarou and Maki were so compatible, they should just start dating. The group of girls had gossiped about the special atmosphere between Koutarou and Maki several times in the past as well. And with their score on the attraction only fueling the flames, they decided that now was the time to match up the two.

“What do you think about that, Maki-chan?”

“Even if you ask me... uhm... I'm just always after money, so...”

Maki's face turned red as she blushed. Her feelings were already clear to herself.

“Oh? She doesn't seem to be against it? Oh you...”

“...”

Having her sides nudged by classmate's elbow, Maki instinctively looked at Koutarou. As she did, her eyes met with Koutarou's.

“...Uhm... I...”

“Y-Yeah...”

Koutarou had a perplexed expression at first, but when he saw Maki's eyes, his expression was replaced with a smile.

She's certainly a girl that has a different feel to her compared to the other girls...

Whenever Koutarou would look at Maki, he felt a mysterious feeling. He felt a sense of duty that demanded that he protect her. At the same time, he felt a sense of trust that she would value the same things he did. Koutarou didn't know what made him feel that way, but the feeling was far from unpleasant. It might be the same thing that Koutarou feels for the invader girls. And the fact that he felt this about just a classmate confused Koutarou.

She's just a normal classmate, but could it be because we share a secret...?

The only reason Koutarou could think off was when he had saved her life at the mountain. He vaguely felt that might be the reason.

“I won't accept this! Aika-san can't go out with Satomi!”

“Yeah! The guy who betrayed the unpopular boys alliance can't find happiness!”

But that was as long as Koutarou and Maki could look at each other. The dissatisfaction amongst the boys of the group exploded and they blew away the sweet atmosphere between the two.

“I am Maki-chan's fated person! Stop spewing your selfish crap, women!”

“Are you guys stupid?! Just accept that score as reality!”

“No, it's a mistake! As if something digital like that could measure bonds and fate!”

“What you're saying is a sound argument, but you only look like an idiot right now!”

The quarrel grew more intense, leaving out the two in question entirely. Koutarou felt like he had been left behind. He found that funnier and funnier, until he started laughing.

“Haha.”

“Fufufu.”

As he laughed, a quiet laugh came from next to him. When Koutarou looked in that direction, he saw Maki laughing. Their eyes met and Maki's eyes narrowed. That was when Koutarou was convinced that she was feeling the same thing as he was.

What is this, really..

It was a mysterious feeling. And the fact was Maki made him feel comfortable. That's why Koutarou could accept that to him, Maki is an important existence.

A muffled buzzing sound could be heard. Maki had received a mail on her phone.

Part 2

The mail Maki had gotten was very short. The subject said 'Commencing action' and there was no text. The mail had been sent according to a prior decision, which is why Maki knew what was happening just by reading the subject.

So it's starting...

The mail indicated that Maki's allies were on the move. Maki's job was to keep Koutarou here until her allies were done with their jobs. Keeping Koutarou, who was considered their strongest foe here, and away from the action, was Maki's job. And Maki felt a significant meaning in this. She didn't want Koutarou to fight with anyone. It wasn't just that she was worried he might lose his life, but she also didn't want him to be dirtied by being exposed to his enemy's malice.

But... is this really alright...

However, Maki didn't feel satisfied by that. She felt like she was betraying Koutarou in a way. If Koutarou learned of what was going on, he would surely try to resolve it. And despite knowing that, Maki couldn't tell Koutarou the truth. That was to protect Koutarou, but it went against his wishes. That's why she couldn't quite accept what she was doing.

I don't know what's right and what's wrong... Is this because of the contract too?

What disturbed Maki even more was the contract between her and Koutarou. Since they had a mental connection because of the contract, Maki tended to give priority to Koutarou's intentions. That's why although she herself prioritized Koutarou's safety, there was a chance that the contract prioritized Koutarou's intentions and imprinted those onto Maki.

Such various circumstances confused Maki. That's why she blankly stared at her cellphone's screen.

And as she did, she could hear the sound of a cell phone vibrating again. But that cellphone didn't belong to Maki, but to Koutarou.

What was actually vibrating wasn't a cellphone, but the bracelet on Koutarou's right wrist. Koutarou put his cellphone by his ear and ordered his bracelet to answer the call at the same time. By doing this, he could use his bracelet without his surroundings suspecting anything.

“What's up, Clan.”

Since Koutarou had gotten the bracelet from Clan, she was the only one who could contact him with it. Everyone else would just normally call him on his cellphone. That's why Koutarou didn't even need to check who was calling him.

“Are you safe, Bertorion?!”

As Koutarou expected, the voice belonged to Clan. But the voice coming from the bracelet was strung up and louder than normal. That surprised Koutarou and he almost dropped his cellphone.

“W-What now, all of a sudden?!”

“Just answer!! Are you safe?!”

“Y-Yeah... I'm safe. There is nothing but peace here.”

Koutarou looked at his surroundings before answering Clan. The amusement park was a peaceful place. If there was any kind of noteworthy incident, it would be his classmates who were still quarreling.

“Which means that the problem is somewhere else?!”

“What do you mean? What's happened?”

“I just received an emergency rescue signal from Pardomshiha using gravitational waves! I just assumed she was with you which is why I called!”

“So that's why!”

Sensing what might have happened, Koutarou turned his back to his classmates and whispered instructions to Clan.

“...Clan, please confirm everyone's whereabouts and the situation at once. Ruth-san wouldn’t send you a rescue signal unless something serious had happened.”

Ruth believed in Clan and had forgiven her, but Theia and Clan hadn't reconciled yet. Because of that, Ruth wouldn't frequently contact Clan. And if Ruth was now asking for help from Clan, something serious must have happened.

“I think so too, I've already sent an unmanned fighter. I will let you know what's going on once I find out.”

“...Thank you, Clan.”

“There's no need for thanks. Master and servant help each other out, right?”

“...Maybe so.”

Koutarou nodded at Clan's words and realized a change in how he felt.

I'm thinking that it might not be so bad to be Clan's vassal...

Master and servant helped each other out. Being told that, Koutarou didn't feel anything out of place. He no longer felt any resistance to what Clan was saying. Clan was starting to properly display her nature as a princess.

“W-Well, enough of that! Bertorion, please move to this position. I will send your armor there!”

As Clan gave Koutarou instructions, a hologram of the amusement park's map appeared in front of him. There was a red marker blinking in an alley by a warehouse a few blocks away from the amusement park.

Right now, Clan had the authority to use the Blue Knight's systems. Using that, she would send Koutarou his armor. And the closest place that didn't attract any attention was that alley.

“...Got it, I'll go right away.”

Koutarou drilled the location of the marker into his head before ending the communication. He then took swift action.

He imagined that it was an emergency, so sadly, this was the end of his fun weekend.

Part 3

Koutarou explained to his friends that an urgent situation had come up and that he had to go. After making humble apologies, he dashed out of the amusement park and headed towards the alley Clan had marked out. Since it was in the opposite direction of the station where he had come from, it looked like he was taking a roundabout way at first glance, but this was actually the fastest way back to Kitsushouharukaze city.

Returning using the train would take several tens of minutes, including the time it would take to get to the station. But since this might be an emergency, he couldn't take his time. That's why Koutarou was going to go pick up the Blue Knight's armor and fly back. Using the full power of his armor, he should be able to reach the city in a few minutes.

“Bertorion, there are two places in Harukaze city where I can't observe any electromagnetic radiation!”

“Where?!”

“Your residence and a redevelopment zone in the suburbs!”

“Examine those areas some more!”

While running through the unpopulated warehouse area, Koutarou continued his call with Clan. Clan was sending him information the moment she got it. Thanks to that, Koutarou was able to get an understanding of what situation the invader girls was in.

Only Yurika and I went out today. So is Yurika in the redevelopment zone? It's close to the hospital too... The other five are probably in Corona House... Did someone attack Corona House, waiting for me and Yurika to clear out? Do they know about us? But why go after Yurika? She's just a cosplayer. No, could it be that they know that Yurika can use magic now?

As information started coming in, Koutarou began to think of a lot of questions, his anxiety growing for each one formed. Koutarou felt that he needed to hurry, knowing that the invader girls were in a dangerous situation, even though he knew that they wouldn't go down easily. They had become very important to him.

“I will send the armor to you now! Once it's been transferred, forcibly activate it! Omit the startup system check! Activate using individual setting, Reios Fatra Bertorion, version 38 revised!”

As Koutarou ran into the alley by the warehouse he saw a two meter tall space-time hole. From it, a blue armor standing upright slowly appeared. As the armor was appearing, it blew away a ton of dust that had gathered in the alley. The armor's blue color seemed to be glowing as it waited in the dark alley.

Having been successfully transferred, the armor sensed Koutarou's approach and opened up its front. In contrast to its classical look, it was filled to the brim with technology. It was a masterpiece of advanced science that had saved Koutarou's life many times in the past.

“Alright!”

Seeing the armor waiting for him, Koutarou started running faster. He was rushing as he thought that he would now be able to head to the girls.

There was just a few meters left to the armor now.

And that was when something abnormal happened.

“...Activate Engage. Activate Safeguard, using the exception article to preserve life. Make Satomi-kun unable to run.”

“W-What?!”

The familiar voice of a girl echoed through the alley. And at the same time, Koutarou's lower body stopped moving. As a result, Koutarou stopped just in front of the armor.

“I can't move my legs?! What is going on?!”

Koutarou did his best to try and move his legs. However, they didn't budge at all. It was as if they had taken root into the ground. It was different from being forcibly stopped by someone else. It felt like the orders Koutarou sent to his lower body weren't being conveyed.

“...I activated the contract between us, Satomi-kun. If it's to protect you, the contract will unrestrictedly restrain you.”

A lone girl appeared in front of Koutarou. It was one his classmates, wearing an indigo outfit. It was Aika Maki, whom he had been playing with at the amusement park just a while ago.

“Aika-san?! Are you the one doing this?!”

Koutarou didn't know what was going on. He didn't know why his legs wouldn't move or why Maki was in front of him. Based on her tone, he could guess that she was responsible, but he couldn't imagine a normal classmate to be able to do something like this. Confused, Koutarou pressed Maki for an answer.

“No. You're the one who did it.”

“What?!”

But Maki's answer only made Koutarou even more confused.

“To be precise, your sword did.”

“My sword― Signaltin?!”

When Maki said that, he started focusing on himself. He looked for the source of what was restraining him.

This is certainly Signaltin's magical power... Her majesty's power is at work!!

Doing that, Koutarou could feel Signaltin's magic power. It was the white magical power that had Alaia's presence. Even Koutarou, who had no talent for magic could tell.

“But why?! Why is Signaltin restraining me?!”

Koutarou couldn't believe the situation he was in. The power that Alaia had given to him was depriving him of his freedom. He had always believed that Alaia would always be on his side no matter what, so this was a very shocking event.

“...It's because you tried to save me...”

Maki quietly spoke to Koutarou. Her eyes were even more settled down than her voice, and felt very calming.

“That's why the sword fulfilled your wish, and created a magical bond between you and me.”

“A magical bond...?”

“Yes... don't you remember? Back in the snowy mountain, when you were trying to heal my wounds, you should have seen something in that white light.”

“In the snowy mountain... Ah...”

Koutarou could clearly remember it, even now. Inside of a lodge covered with snow, he desperately tried to save Maki using Signaltin's powers. And in the white light, he had seen the appearance of a young girl hurt all over, trembling from solitude and from the cold.

“I saw it... a hurt and trembling girl...”

“I see... at that time, I saw a boy. A boy embracing a half-knit sweater and crying...”

Maki clearly remembered as well. In the light, she had seen a young boy covered in someone else’s blood embracing a sweater and sitting down with a look of blank surprise.

“...Back then I had given up on everything. I had lost the will to live. I probably wouldn't have been saved if just my wounds were healed. That's why the sword tried to give me hope. The hope that I wasn't alone.”

“So that girl... was you...”

That girl, the dying Maki, didn't just need her wounds healed, but also a will to live. And the source of that will was a bond with someone else. That's why Signaltin had showed Maki's true appearance to Koutarou. It was to tell Koutarou what was needed to save Maki.

“And you... saw me...”

“You needed it too, right? Hope that you weren't alone...”

“I, think so... Somewhere deep inside me, I was rejecting others...”

Having lost his mother, Koutarou stopped trying to develop any deep connections with others. That's why he needed a bond as well. A powerful bond that would never be torn apart. That's why he showed Maki his true self. It was to tell Maki what was needed to save Koutarou.

“Just wait, I'll save you right now!”

“It's okay, I'll always be with you...”

The two of them had wanted to embrace each other. To warm their chilled minds and bodies. To hold their small hand and tell them that they are not alone.

They wanted to protect that weak existence in front of them.

“That's why your sword created a magic bond between us. In order to save both you and I.”

The two's common desire called forth a new spell from Signaltin.

A contract to connect their hearts, a contract, a bond that would never be cut.

At that time, the two of them needed that no matter what.

“A magical bond... But... can that really be...”

“You should have felt it before. Haven't you ever known what I was going to do? Haven't I ever known what you were going to do? When I take an unnatural action, why do you not doubt it?”

“That's...”

Koutarou had indeed felt it before.

He had felt like Maki had read his mind in the past, both during everyday life and in battle. And he had also known what Maki had wanted him to do.

And... why don't I doubt Aika-san...? What was Aika-san doing on that snowy mountain? Why was she able to freely use the magical cane? Even now... why am I believing her wild story?

Koutarou could come up with a lot of questions, but he didn't doubt Maki. Somewhere deep in his heart, he trusted her. That's why he accepted what she was saying.

“A magical bond... a contract... Using that, you're sealing off my legs, right?”

“That's right. That's why you would never be able to break free. Please stay with me here for a while.”

Signaltin was the source of the contract's power. And if it was Signaltin's doing, then calling for it wouldn't resolve the situation. In other words, Koutarou had no means to break free from this situation.

“Bertorion! I've got footage! Theiamillis-san and the others are currently fighting against someone!”

That was when two holograms appeared alongside Clan's cornered voice. One of the holograms showed Theia's group and the other showed Yurika's group. Both groups could be seen fighting against someone.

“Everyone?! It really is the enemy― Wait, that's the woman from ten years ago?!”

Koutarou started to panic as he saw the girls fighting. Both groups were at a disadvantage, and it looked like they would be defeated. What made Koutarou worry the most was when he spotted the woman, Maya, whom he had fought against eleven years ago. He was well aware of how strong and dangerous she was. If he didn't rush over there right now, Yurika and the others would be in danger.

“Aika-san, please let me go right now! I have to go to help everyone!”

The girls of room 106 were in danger. Koutarou desperately pleaded with Maki, but she simply shook her head.

“I can't. Not letting you do that is my job.”

“What?! What does that mean?!”

“It means just what I said. Because, I...”

Maki paused for a moment and showed an adamant expression before continuing.

“I am your enemy! I am a member of Darkness Rainbow, the group targeting room 106!”

“You're lying! I don't believe you! There's no way you would be my enemy!”

Koutarou instantly denied what Maki had said.

To him, Maki was a classmate he got along well with. She couldn't be an enemy, and he didn't want to believe it.

“I don't want to believe it either! I don't want to fight against you! That's why I can't let you go! Because if I do, I would have to fight you!”

“There's no need to fight even if you let me go, right?! We could just stop!! You're not the kind of girl that would fight!!”

There was no need for the girl trembling alone to fight. What was needed wasn't to fight and win, but to gently stay by someone's side.

“I can't! We would definitely become enemies! Letting you go would mean to annul the contract! If I do, you won't think of me as important! And I won't think of you as important! We'll only be able to see each other as enemies!”

The existence of the contract was driving Maki into a corner.

Clan who could break free from the magical girls' barrier had been able to inform Koutarou about the battle sooner than expected. Because of that, Maki had to forcibly stop Koutarou. But Maki's magic couldn't break through Signaltin's powers that were protecting Koutarou. That's why the only method she could stop him was by activating the contract.

After activating the contract, it wouldn't return to ordinary for a while. In order to free Koutarou in this situation, the contract would have be annulled with both parties' consent.

But Maki wouldn't choose to annul the contract. Doing that would mean that the magical bond would disappear, along with Maki's feelings for Koutarou, and Koutarou's feelings for Maki. In other words, they would return to when they were enemies.

“I don't want that! I love you, Satomi-kun! I want to have these feelings forever! I don't want to return to the me that tried to kill you!”

Maki was crying.

She didn't want to lose who she was now. Being saved by Koutarou, she had learned the joys of living for the first time in her life. Even if that was an illusion created by magic, having spent all of her live alone, it was an illusion she was ready to cling onto. She couldn't stand that if she returned to normal, she might try to kill Koutarou.

“And if everyone dies during this, I will forever hate you!!”

“I'm even okay with that!! Because, because, I will be able to keep you from fighting!! I can keep loving you!!”

To Maki, annulling the contract would be the same as her dying.

Annulling the contract would mean that she would return to her lone self living in the darkness. It would mean she would be letting go of the light she had slowly been gathering ever since Koutarou had saved her.

That's why even if Koutarou hated her, even if she was just living inside of an illusion, she couldn't annul the contract.

“If everyone dies, I will hate you!! And after that, how would I even continue living?! I just finally learned the meaning of living with others!!”

At this rate, Koutarou would lose everything.

Having lost a loved family member, Koutarou had started rejecting others, and at this rate, the girls that had taught him that he can't stay like that were going to lose their lives. Koutarou would surely start hating Maki who wouldn't let him go save them, and that hate would drive them apart. In effect Koutarou would lose all those close to him.

He would lose the bright future he had finally found.

“I don't care if you hate me! You can curse me if you want! But even then, I will stay by your side! I will forever protect you so you will never be alone!”

Maki was prepared to endure Koutarou's abhorrence and stay by his side. Maki would rather be in the flames of hatred than return to the dark coldness of solitude.

“So please, Satomi-kun!! Let me stay as your Maki!!”

In the past, Koutarou might not have been able to say anything to Maki who had been trembling in the coldness of solitude, searching for love but never finding it, and now that she was cornered, she would try to warm herself by the flames of his hatred. Koutarou knew just how scary it was to lose that warmth. That's why he had been rejecting others.

“Is that what you want?! Do you really want that kind of future?!”

But the Koutarou of now was different. He couldn't stay quiet. He knew that she couldn't stay like that.

“What else can I do?! We were enemies before we even met!! But I love you!! I don't want to lose this warmth!!”

“Believe!!”

These had been words he had spoken for Maki's sake. But as he was shouting them, he realized the path he needed to travel.

That's right... I have to believe... I have to believe in the same things Aika-san has to...

Koutarou had to believe, in order to save Maki, to save himself, and to save the kind people that he wanted to rescue. That was―

“Our future is not as dark as we believe!!”

―that their future would surely be bright.

That obvious and natural thing was what Koutarou and Maki had to believe in.

“There's no way that our relationship is all just a product of magic! We are the ones that make our own future!”

“Do you really believe that?! Won't you be all alone, crying, in that future?! And won't I be frozen in a dungeon?!”

Truth be told, Maki wanted to believe as well. But she didn't want to lose something she believed in. She had been betrayed so many times in her life already. That's why when she was dying in the snowy mountain, she had given up.

“Of course!! If you believe, you will never be alone again!! Believe!! Don't try to isolate yourself!!”

To Koutarou, Maki was like another version of himself. That's why he knew what she needed. It was what he had been taught by the invader girls. If she didn't reject others herself, she would surely feel warmth by her side. He wanted to teach her that, and continued to pour warmth into her. He wanted to affirm her future.

“Even if the spell disappears, it's not like our everyday up until today will too! Our relationship isn't something made just out of magic!”

“Satomi-kun...”

True, magic might have been the start. But after that, Koutarou and Maki had spent so much time together. Koutarou couldn't believe that all of that would just vanish. And there was a reason why he was thinking like that.

“Don't you think so?! Remember!! What do you think of the people you went out to play with today?! Do you not feel anything at all?! Or are they your enemies?! That's not right, is it?!”

“Ah...”

Those words left Maki astonished.

There shouldn't be a change in how Maki felt towards her classmates before and after being saved by Koutarou. The contract only existed between her and him. That's why she shouldn't think of her classmates as nothing but clueless people who had no idea of the truth.

“...I-I... think... of everyone... as... as my... friends...”

Intensely shaken up, Maki spoke out how she felt.

She thought of her classmates as friends. In the months since Maki had come to Harukaze high school, her feelings had changed without her even realizing it.

“Even if the magic disappears, we won't become enemies again! As if something like that would ever happen! And if it's like you said, you have friends now! You won't be alone!”

Koutarou was convinced.

Even if they had been hostile in the past, there should have been a change in Maki's feelings for Koutarou and they shouldn't be enemies anymore. But even if they weren't enemies, they might start feeling more distant towards one another. But Maki now had friends. Even if she was to become estranged with Koutarou, she wouldn't be alone.

That's right... I'm hopeful... I am hoping everyone in class has a bright future...

The words Koutarou spoke to Maki were also words to himself. What Maki needed to believe in was the same he needed to believe in. By trying to save Maki, he could see that he was changing himself little by little.

“Even if our relationship gets a little worse, we can just rebuild it! You're not alone. We have all the time we need to do that!”

“Do you really, really think so? Am I not alone?!”

Maki unconsciously approached Koutarou, one step at a time.

She already knew that she wasn't alone, that even if she annulled the contract she wouldn't return to her cold self. But she was still anxious about one thing, and she wanted courage to be able to proceed.

“Believe! Open your eyes and look around! Don't give up and close your heart!”

“Will you stay as my friend too, Satomi-kun?! Even if I change, would you be able to endure for a while?!”

Maki felt anxious that if she annulled the contract her feelings towards Koutarou would start to sway. That's why she wanted the courage to be able to believe that wouldn't happen.

“I will probably do something terrible! I might say cruel things and hurt you! But would you still be my friend?!”

And she believed that Koutarou would give her that courage.

While loudly appealing, she stood right in front of Koutarou, peering into his eyes.

“Don't worry! You're our classmate, Aika Maki!!”

“...”

Maki saw Koutarou's strong will in his eyes. Catching that somewhere deep inside her, Maki turned her face down. From her face, several drops of water spilled onto the ground, forming a spotted pattern. Maki then stepped forward step by step until her forehead was pressed against Koutarou's chest.

“...Satomi-kun... please... even if it's just for now... could you please hold me...”

“Aika-san...”

Koutarou still couldn't move his lower body, but his arms moved. That's why he adhered to her request and embraced the girl crying right in front of him.

I have to protect her... I did swear to after all...

With a strong urge to protect her, Koutarou held Maki's body. As he did, Maki clinged onto his body as if trying to get as close to him as possible.

“...Satomi-kun, I... I...”

“It's okay, Aika-san. There's no way that anxiety and sadness is a product of magic. Those tears of yours are without a doubt your own.”

“...Satomi-kun...”

With her tears still flowing, Maki strongly embraced Koutarou. And Koutarou embraced her right back.

It definitely will be okay... these no way that all of these feelings are just created by magic... As if magic could create so much sadness... It's just as Satomi-kun said...

While feeling Koutarou's warmth, Maki finally made up her mind.

“...Satomi-kun... I understand... I will... believe... in these feelings that I've felt up until today...”

Maki believed in the feelings that she had for Koutarou, that her feelings wouldn't all vanish just because she annulled the contract.

“In return... can I ask you for one thing...?”

“Yeah.”

“...I want to stay like this until the contract is annulled...”

“I understand... I'll stay like this...”

“...Thank you. Satomi-kun...”

While shedding tears, Maki pressed her body against Koutarou. But there was no fear or sadness on her face. She believed in her own feelings. She had believed to take a step forward towards her own future.

That's why she was able to declare without any hesitation.

“...Disengage, Koutarou and Maki...”

They were words that reported the end of a bond, but at the same time they were words that formed a new eternal bond.

Part 4

As Maki annulled the contract, a pure-white light enveloped them as it had before. The two were then torn apart from each other, leaving them alone in the light.

But in the next moment, a young girl appeared in front of Koutarou, and a young boy appeared in front of Maki. The boy and girl rapidly grew into the current Koutarou and Maki. And then the two found themselves facing each other in the pure-white light.

“...Why...?”

Maki pressed her hands against her chest as she looked at Koutarou with a surprised expression.

“What do you mean?”

Koutarou smiled at Maki. In contrast to her, he was calm. That might have been because he could feel Alaia's presence from the white light surrounding them.

“This is strange, Satomi-kun... I annulled the contract, but nothing is changing...”

“There's no change?”

“Yes...”

Maki tilted her head and continued speaking.

“...I still love you as much as I did a moment ago... and I don't have even an inkling of an urge to kill you... I thought my feelings would change because of the annulment...”

The contract was already annulled, and Koutarou had regained his freedom as proof of that. That's why there should have been a change within Maki. But that hadn't happened, and that confused Maki.

Maki hadn't expected all of her love for Koutarou to vanish once she annulled the contract, but she still expected some kind of change.

But now with the contract gone, it turned out that that worry was for nothing. Maki's feelings remained the same.

“Fu, fufufufu, ahahaha!”

That was when Koutarou suddenly started laughing. He had an idea why that was the case.

“I see, so that's it! It's obvious once you think about it!! Ahahahaha!!”

Koutarou realized that Maki was thinking too hard about and couldn't stop laughing.

“Satomi-kun?”

Seeing Koutarou laughing like that, Maki looked at him with suspicion. Koutarou desperately tried to hold the laughter in while giving her an explanation.

“...Kukuku, I was just thinking that I had forgotten who had given me this power.”

Koutarou looked at the light enveloping them.

“That person is wise, virtuous and overflowing with benevolence... and there's no way that this sword that holds her feelings and oath would selfishly rewrite your feelings, Aika-san. I think it returned you to normal after it was no longer needed.”

Alaia's feelings and oath were embodied in Signaltin. So the sword brainwashing Maki would be the same as Alaia brainwashing her, and Koutarou couldn't imagine her doing something as twisted as that. In that case, its effects should have gradually waned after Maki was able to live on her own. In other words, the sword was only borrowing its effect from the bond that would eventually form between Maki and Koutarou naturally.

“Then... there was never any fear of brainwashing?”

“Yeah. I can't think of any reason for why there hasn't been any change in you.”

“No, that's not true.”

Having understood the truth, Maki showed a delighted smile.

Her feelings had been her own. She loved Koutarou out of her own volition.

“My feelings of love towards you are hundreds of times larger than my feelings of hostility towards you, so I just might not be feeling the change.”

She didn't know what was the truth, and because of that, she believed that her feelings were stronger. That was the more romantic option.

“H-Hey...”

Koutarou instinctively blushed at Maki's sudden declaration of love. Even though the contract was supposed to have been annulled, her feelings were seemingly transmitted directly to Koutarou. The annulment of the contract had almost no effect on their compatibility.

“Fufufu, sorry.”

Maki was showing a refreshing smile since she had been freed from a lot of suffering. Her smile was as innocent as a child, but at the same time it was filled with affection.

“To be honest, I wanted to tease you a little more, but... please go. There are no more people you need to save here.”

Maki felt like she shouldn't keep Koutarou here anymore. He had something he had to do. So she was going to see him off here.

“You idiot.”

A dull sound rang out.

“Ow?! What are you doing?! I was being serious!!”

Maki puffed up her cheeks and put her hands on her reddened forehead. Koutarou's fist had struck her at about 70% strength of what he used on Yurika. So it might have been a bit too much for a normal girl.

“You just don't get it, Aika-san.”

“Eh...?”

But Koutarou wasn't apologizing, instead he scolded her.

“Don't give me that 'Eh?'! Here!”

Koutarou presented his right hand to Maki.

“Satomi-kun...?”

Maki didn't understand what Koutarou was doing, so she simply alternated looking at Koutarou's hand and his face.

“I told you didn't I?! Don't try to isolate yourself!”

That was when Maki understood that Koutarou had no intention of leaving her alone.

“Aika-san, you don't have to fight anymore! But come with me and pray that I will win from nearby!”

As the words reached Maki's ears, Koutarou grasped onto Maki's left hand.

“Ah...”

In that moment, Maki's heart started throbbing at an explosive pace. That heartbeat sent boiling blood throughout all of Maki's body.

I was... born for this person... To love him, and to be loved... Definitely, I'm sure of it...

Maki's feelings elevated and she showed no signs of calming down. She felt like she had to do something, but she didn't know what. She couldn't think of anything because she was in a daze and couldn't gather her thoughts. No matter how many deep breaths she took, she couldn't get rid of that stifling feeling.

Normally one would feel unhappy when in such a bad condition. But Maki felt an overwhelming happiness.

“...I understand, Satomi-kun.”

Maki nodded.

“I will pray. But it won't be for your victory. I will pray that your future will be bright, forever and ever...”

Maki held Koutarou's hand. That was her everything for now.

Part 5

Wrapped in the flames produced by Maya, Harumi fell to the ground unable to so much as even scream. Without any protection against the high temperatures, Harumi's body was being severely burned in several places. They were injuries so severe that even people without any kind of medical knowledge could tell they were fatal.

“Sakuraba-senpai, Sakuraba-senpai!”

Of course, even Yurika knew that as she ran towards Harumi. The moment she had seen Harumi, she knew that her life was in danger.

With these burns, not even my strongest healing spell would be good enough!! Sakuraba-senpai will die!!

Yurika had knowledge of healing spells, and its effect far exceeded modern medical science. But Harumi's injuries were so grave that not even that would be enough. It was a miracle that she was even still breathing.

How can I save her?!

Yurika desperately racked her brain. She went through all of the spells she had learned and examined her possibilities of saving Harumi, but she couldn't think of a spell that could save her. With Harumi dying in front of her, Yurika was panicking.

It won't work using ordinary means! I need to think of a combination of spells that would keep her alive... No, maybe I could anchor her soul and turn her into a ghost like with Sanae-chan?!

Next she considered using a combination of spells. But even then she couldn't think of a way to keep Harumi alive. Cornered, Yurika began considering anchoring Harumi's soul to the land of living while she would heal her body.

Wait, Sanae-chan?! That's right, if I do what Sanae-chan does then it might be possible!

However that was when Yurika had an epiphany. It was an idea that had arisen when she started thinking about Sanae. She was confident that her idea would work. With a determined expression she firmly grasped her cane.

If I merge with Sakuraba-senpai like Sanae does, then there's a chance I can heal her!!

Yurika was going to use a merging spell.

When merging with living creatures, both minds merged into one while their body entered a state in between the two bodies. In other words, if the gravely injured Harumi and uninjured Yurika merged, then once merged, their body would have half the burns. And in that state, Yurika's healing magic might have an effect. Then, after treating her, she simply needed to separate again.

However, this was an incredibly dangerous bet. There was no guarantee that healing magic would have an effect even after they merged, not to mention it wasn't certain that they could use magic once Yurika and Harumi merged. On top of that, if healing magic failed after they merged, Yurika might die as well. But Yurika put her hopes on this faint possibility. She wanted to save Harumi, regardless of the risk.

“Temporary Fusion! Modifier — Stabilize, Effective Time Half!”

Yurika held her cane overhead and chanted her spell. She had put in two additional modifications to its normal spell. Since she just needed enough time to cast her healing spell, she shortened the effective time and used that magic power for greater stability instead. All she could do now was pray that she would be conscious after the merge and that she would be able to cast her healing spell.

Please, go well! Please, let me save Sakuraba-senpai!

The orange light that had gathered at the tip of her cane enveloped her and Harumi's bodies. Yurika’s and Harumi's outlines gradually began to fade and melted into the orange light. The orange light started glowing brighter and eventually turned into two large masses of light.

While Yurika was trying to save Harumi, Kanae and Maya continued fighting.

“...How foolish. Just what could come out of that?”

But when she sensed Yurika's spell activating, she stopped moving for a moment and showed an amazed expression as she looked at the two girls wrapped in light. Not missing that large opening, Kanae swung her cane down to attack Maya.

“I won't let you interfere!”

“I wouldn't interfere. If I just let her be, Rainbow will use up her magical power. And once she's unable to use magic, she is useless.”

The cane sensed Kanae's urge to rush and cast a spell that sped her up. Moreover, there was a large opening now that Maya was distracted by Yurika and Harumi. But even then Maya was one step ahead. She began moving once more and easily dodged Kanae's cane while attacking with the blade on the right hand.

“And you won't beat me on your own... I win, Kanae.”

“Kuh!!”

Kanae was barely able to block the attack. That's why she had been unable to dodge Maya's follow up kick and took it straight on. The attack sent her flying and she slammed into the ground. Their difference in power was obvious. It was just like Maya said, Kanae couldn't beat Maya on her own.

“It looks like your disciple will take the same path you did, Nana...”

Leaving Kanae alone as she was no longer able to move, Maya stared at Yurika and Harumi. She could see the two masses of lights around Yurika and Harumi merging into one large mass of light. Yurika and Harumi's merging was almost complete, but Maya had no intention of intervening. Because she knew that she would have the advantage if she didn't.

Maya figured that even if Yurika managed to heal Harumi, she would have severely depleted her magical power from the healing spell and merging spell. Merging was already a highly advanced spell, and one of the strongest possible healing spells would be needed as well. Maya couldn't imagine that Yurika would have much magical power left considering she had used several spells in their fight just before this. She would probably reach her limit after casting a few more spells. That's why letting Yurika do as she pleased should allow things to develop more favorably for Maya.

“I guess that just means she was a good disciple...”

In the past, Nana had thrown away her life as a magician in order to save the powerless Yurika. And now, Yurika was about to throw herself into a situation where she would be unable to win in order to save Harumi. In the end, Nana and Yurika were very similar, as they walked down the same path. That was what Maya was thinking as the orange light started taking the form a person.

However, the future developed in a direction that Maya hadn't foreseen.

“...?! What?!”

Suddenly, other colors began mixing in with the orange light. They were blue and white. The new colors enveloped the orange light and changed into a three-colored stripe. The orange light began dying down and instead the blue and white light grew stronger.

“It wasn't just a normal merging?! Is it a transformation?! Or is it a summon?! No, that doesn't matter!! I won't let you, Rainbow Yurika!!”

Maya thrust her arms forward and began incanting a spell.

“Multiple Energy Bolt! Target Option — Sidewinder!!”

With most of her body now mechanical, Maya had lost a majority of her magical power. But it wasn't like she was completely unable to use spells. The usage was limited, but she was able to use spells in the moments she had to. Now was one of those moments.

It doesn't matter what that is, I won't let it go the way Yurika wants!

Maya's intuition as a warrior told her that what was about to appear in front of her was very dangerous. That's why she didn't hesitate to use magic.

She focused on the miniature cane built into her right arm and several red lights started to surround her arm. At the same time, Maya started aiming with the gun in her left arm. She was going to attack with both her gun and her spell.

“Take this!!”

Maya's attack was slightly faster than Yurika and Harumi's merging. The magical arrows created by magic, and the bullets fired from her left arm assaulted the two. Both attacks were deadly, and should be fatal to Yurika and Harumi who were defenseless.

“The attacks disappeared?! How?!”

The arrows and bullets disappeared just before reaching Yurika and Harumi. It was like the attacks had just been an illusion. They hadn't been blocked or repelled; they had simply, in the literal meaning of the word, disappeared.

“That's not possible! Just the aftereffect of them emerging erased my attacks! Just what is going to appear?!”

“Yurika-chan... Sakuraba-san...”

Both Maya and Kanae, who had finally managed to get up, were unable to take their eyes of the spectacle taking place in front of them. The two continued to stand and blankly stare at the blue and white light.

The blue and white light grew stronger as the ground and air started trembling alongside a roaring sound. And with that, the light that had just swelled up shrank in an instant, and a lone girl appeared. It was a girl unfamiliar to both Maya and Kanae.

“That's... Yurika-chan and Sakuraba-san's merged form...?”

“No! That's not something easy as that!”

The girl was supposed to share Yurika's and Harumi's traits. But her face had no traces of either of them. She had long and beautiful white hair, and sometimes a hint of blue could be found in it. Moreover, the clothes she was wearing was neither Yurika's nor Harumi's, but a distinct looking shrine maiden’s outfit based on blue and white.

But what stood out the most were the two globes floating around her. They were about the size of a volleyball and made from a translucent material like glass. The globes glowed in a distinct color each, blue and white.

She didn't look like the merged form of Yurika and Harumi at all. Moreover, her body had no signs of any burns. It was as if Yurika and Harumi had been replaced by someone else.

“...That is without a doubt a being of higher existence... Just what did you do, Nijino Yurika?!”

Maya seemed mortified as she ground her teeth. She could tell from experience that she stood no chance against the girl in front of her. That was how much power the girl was radiating.

“...What was I... I think I tried to save myself and me and me merged...?”

But the girl that had appeared was puzzled as well. Her memories were clouded and she couldn't even tell who she was herself. She didn't know the people around her, where she was or what was even happening.

“Take this, you monster!”

Seeing the girl standing still in a blank surprise, Maya saw her chance and attacked. She attacked the same way she had before.

If this doesn't beat her, I don't stand a chance!

Maya figured that this was her first and last chance of winning.

“Kyaa?!”

However, the moment the girl sensed danger and let out a scream, Maya's attacks disappeared just like they had before. The girl hadn't done anything but let out a scream.

“Impossible! That wasn't magic or spiritual energy, and she didn't use any kind of tool either! She simply erased my attack without any motion! To think such power existed in the world! The difference in power is like light and day!!”

Maya was astonished. This was no longer even a fight. Maya gave up and accepted her defeat. Like an elephant crushing an ant, she would probably be defeated without her opponent even realizing she was an enemy.

“...What is happening...? I don't know... anything...”

But the girl didn't attack Maya. The attack only confused the girl even more, and not understanding anything made her even more scared. But in the next moment, she suddenly looked up.

“...But I can tell... that person is approaching...”

The girl was supposedly looking at a wall, but she seemed to be looking at something far, far away, as if the wall wasn't even there. There, she saw something, which brightened her expression as she mumbled.

“...Everything will be fine... That person will save me...”

That was when the two globes around the girl suddenly disappeared without a sound. At the same time, her outline faded, and she was surrounded by an orange light once more. Eventually, the mass of light split into two and the two masses gradually took the shape of a person each. One was Harumi and the other was Yurika. Having merged into one, the two girls now returned to their original forms.

“Hah, hahaha, what, was that all?! What a bluff!”

Having accepted her own defeat after the appearance of an unknown enemy, Maya instinctively found herself laughing as the enemy suddenly disappeared.

Sustaining something like that would take a vast amount of energy. It's only obvious that they would be unable to sustain it for long! There was no need for me to panic!

Maya found her own fear incredibly amusing. Because of the relief she felt from escaping her crisis and her realization of how ridiculous the situation really was, her laughter continued for a while longer.

Yurika, who had regained her form, was surprised by the same thing Maya had been.

W-We just transformed into something! I think it's probably because of surplus of power in the merging... but the transformation was so powerful that I couldn't sustain it for long! That's why we returned to ourselves!

Yurika didn't have a clear understanding of what had happened either. She still couldn't tell what she had transformed into or what she had been thinking at the time. All she knew was that something unexpected had happened.

“Ah?! T-That's right, Sakuraba-senpai!!”

That was when Yurika remembered Harumi. Yurika forcibly moved her exhausted body and crawled up to Harumi who was lying next to her.

“...Thank god, her wounds are healed...”

Having crawled up to Harumi, Yurika closely examined her body and found that all of the burns on her body had vanished without a trace. Yurika figured that it was likely to be an aftereffect of their transformation.

“...I don't know what happened, but I was able to save Sakuraba-senpai...”

Relieved that Harumi had been able to recover her beautiful body, tears formed in her eyes. At that time, Harumi opened her eyes.

“...Nijino-san.”

Harumi looked at Yurika's face and tried to get up. Yurika hurriedly reached out with her hands and supported Harumi.

“Sakuraba-senpai!! Are you okay?!”

“Yes. Thanks to Nijino-san.”

Harumi smiled and nodded.

“You can tell?!”

“Yes. Maybe it's because we merged... but I still have some of your memories.”

“Now that you mention it, I also have...”

When Yurika focused on her memories, she could sometimes remember memories that completely ignored the flow. Because they were memories of knitting and taking examinations in the hospital, she could tell they belonged to Harumi right away.

And because they had shared memories, Harumi had reached a certain truth.

“Nijino-san, you really were a real magical girl...”

“That's... yes, I'm sorry for not telling you...”

Yurika had been about to deny what Harumi was saying, but she quickly changed her mind.

Harumi now had some memories of Yurika being a magical girl, excuses wouldn't work anymore.

“It's okay, you don't have to worry. I can understand why you wanted to hide it. Because... it's for that person...”

“Sakuraba-senpai...”

Yurika blushed at Harumi's words. Harumi started blushing as well. The two had fallen in love with the same person. And now that they had shared memories, they knew the reason for why the other loved that person.

Pretend wrestling with Satomi-kun... It hurts, but it's a warm and happy feeling... Maybe I should have Satomi-kun try some techniques on me too... If he did it to Nijino-san he might be willing to do it on me too... Submission, huh...

So this is how Sakuraba-senpai and Satomi-san met... He had appeared out of nowhere and saved her while she was surrounded by enemies... It's like from a shoujo manga... Ah, that's her memories from the play. They first met during the club recruitment... But this is like from a shoujo manga too... I'm jealous... As for me, our meeting was...

Yurika saw a different side to the person she loved. Their memories elevated their feelings and their romantic feelings grew greater than ever before.

But that was as long as the two could continue smiling.

“Sorry to interrupt after your successful treatment, but it's about time for you all to die.”

Maya approached with weapons in both hands. She was making it her top priority to kill the two. Having seen Yurika and Harumi's merge and transformation, she couldn't guess what else they had in store even if Yurika runs out of magical power. Even if there were no more tricks up their sleeves, they would become problematic if she let them escape now.

“Sakuraba-senpai, get behind me! I will protect you!”

“Nijino-san, no! You don't have enough magical power left to fight against her!”

Yurika was about to step forward and defend Harumi when she was stopped. Since Harumi had Yurika's memories, she knew Yurika didn't have enough power left to fight.

“Run away, both of you!!”

But before Maya could attack, Kanae squeezed out what remaining strength she had left and stood in Maya's path.

“Higashihongan-san?!”

“But, Kanae-san!!”

“There's no need for all three of us to die!! Now go!!”

Kanae turned her cane into a bow and fired arrow after arrow towards Maya. However, Maya shot the arrows down with her gun, dodged them or repelled them with her blade. Kanae couldn't hit Maya with her injuries and without Yurika backing her up. Moreover, Maya was completely unharmed.

“At least your spirit is the same as it was back then, Kanae.”

“I won't let you kill those two! They're my daughter's friends!”

“Just stay down, Kanae. There's no need for you to die as well.”

Maya's attacks could easily hit their mark though. Kanae tried protecting herself with her cane, but was unable to fully block Maya's attacks.

“Guh, Aaahh!”

Kanae received a direct hit from Maya's knee and fell down on the spot. Kanae still tried getting up, but she had reached her limit. Not even she could muster enough strength to stand up again.

“Good bye you two. You did try hard though.”

“Sakuraba-senpai!”

“Nijino-san!”

Maya gave the two her parting words and turned the barrel of the gun on her left arm on them and at the same time she started concentrating on her right arm again. Seeing that, Yurika and Harumi strongly embraced one another as if trying to protect the other. They knew they were about die.

“Energy Javelin — Modifier — Area Effect.”

Alongside Maya's indifferent voice, several bullets and spears of red light assaulted Yurika and Harumi.

“...I'm sorry for getting you involved, Sakuraba-senpai...”

“Don't worry. You are my best friend...”

Having used up all of their power, the two were helpless. Tightly holding on to one another, they closed their eyes. The two of them could at least take comfort that their last moments hadn't been alone.

However, neither attack reached Yurika and Harumi. The only thing that reached them was the sound of consecutive impact sounds, similar to a jackhammer used on a street.

“H-Huh...?”

Confused by this, Yurika opened her eyes. In front of her was a wide back wrapped in a blue armor.

“Clan, the bullets weren't properly blocked. Are you sure you didn't break the barrier when you were messing with it?”

“Of course not! The distortion field is operating normally! The enemy's attack is what's unusual!”

Next, hearing that voice, Harumi opened her eyes wide in shock and found the same thing Yurika did.

“I'd think so. She's a magician.”

“Even taking that into consideration, the bullet's power is abnormal! Take care not to use any brute force approaches until I can gather all the data! Not even your armor can take too many hits of that!”

“I'll take as much care as you care for dinner.”

“Bertorion, you're being awfully mean today!”

A vivid blue armor. A reliable and wide back. A powerful voice that gives you courage just from hearing it. But at the same time, a very casual atmosphere. That appearance and behavior was something that Harumi could never forget, and driven by a deep relief and overflowing with nostalgia, Harumi instinctively shouted out their names.

“Koutarou-sama! Clan-sama!”

“Satomi-san?!”

Hearing Harumi's and Yurika's surprised voices, that person, Koutarou, turned around.

“Are you okay, Sakuraba-senpai? Yurika?”

“Yes! Nijino-san saved me!”

Harumi was in tears, but she had regained her smile.

As long as this person is with me, I will be okay... No, that's not it... I will accept any future that this person brings!

Harumi felt like the last piece of the puzzle fell into place, and that her world was now complete. Her place in the world was here. Feeling like she was being led by destiny, Harumi was wrapped in a deep sense of joy.

“Is that so... Good job, Yurika.”

Learning that Yurika had done her best again, Koutarou showed a small smile. Hearing that Yurika had given it her all made Koutarou happy. He felt similar to what a brother would feel towards his normally useless younger sister.

“Y-Yes!”

And that younger sister was the same. Happy, Yurika nodded her head repeatedly with tears in her eyes.

“But, but, Satomi-san, why are you here?!”

Koutarou's appearance came as a surprise to Yurika. She hadn't been able to contact him, and Sanae who could follow the traces of auras wasn't with him either. It should be impossible for the outside world to peek inside of Yurika's barrier.

“...Yurika, apparently the barrier you magicians make cut off electromagnetic radiation and sound too well.”

Because the barrier to ward off people completely isolated the area, it actually made it easier for Clan to detect with her sensors. If the barrier had also released dummy electromagnetic radiation and sounds, Clan would have struggled to find it.

“You magicians... Satomi-san, d-did you...”

Koutarou's answer came as a big surprise, and Yurika's face turned pale. Anxiety, fear and panic filled her chest. Yurika hadn't been surprised by the method to find her barrier, she was surprised by what Koutarou had said first.

He knows... Satomi-san knows the one thing I didn't want him to know...

The words 'you magicians' affirmed that Yurika wasn't just a freeloading cosplayer in a very roundabout way. But that she was indeed a real magical girl.

“Y-You're wrong! I-I'm not a magician! Uhm... I'm just cosplaying with the cane you gave me!!”

In the past she might have confirmed that he was right, but now Yurika was desperately denying it. She rapidly shook her head, causing her hair to sway and her tears to scatter.

There was no way Yurika could affirm it since it would be the same as throwing away the days they had spent together. For the first time in her life, she had found a person that needed her. And Yurika needed that person as well. Because of that, she had to conceal the fact that she was a magical girl no matter what. This wasn't just for his sake; Yurika also wanted him to think of her as very normal, and if possible, cute girl.

“I'm a bad girl! I' m just a useless girl! It's not like that! I'm not a real magician!”

She wanted him to scold her when she was sloppy. She wanted him to hit her when she was up to no good. She wanted to be his practice partner for wrestling techniques whenever she had free time. And she wanted him to praise her if she raised her grades a little. She wanted him to pat her on the head if she didn't place last in a race at school. She wanted the two of them to read manga and discuss it together. She wanted to fight over snacks. Yurika simply wanted to live a normal life and get excited and depressed over normal things.

But she was about to lose that. If Koutarou found out that she was a magical girl, he would definitely look at her in a different way. Yurika was desperate to save her everyday life. She was unsightly and giving it her all. Yurika cried out like an infant being pulled apart from its family.

“Calm down, Yurika.”

“You're wrong, you're―”

A dull sound rang out.

“Auu?!”

Yurika ignored Koutarou's attempt calm her down and continued arguing vehemently. But she finally stopped speaking when she felt a familiar pain strike her head.

“Yurika, I only want to know one thing.”

Holding her forehead, Yurika looked up and saw Koutarou staring right at her. He had a powerful gentle and a very trustful expression.

“What are you going to do after you graduate?”

“Ah...”

Koutarou's words pierced Yurika's heart and easily swept away all the anxiety, fear and panic that Yurika was feeling. Instead, she was filled with relief, hope and happiness.

This person really is... my... my...!!

Tears spilled from Yurika's eyes, but she responded with a large smile.

“I will go to Kitsushou U! Together with Satomi-san and Sakuraba-senpai!”

There was a mountain of things that Yurika wanted to say, but simply saying that she wanted to go to Kitsushou University was enough to convey all of it. Yurika knew just what Koutarou had meant with his question. That was all they needed for now.

“...Got it. Leave the rest to me. Just do your multiplications or something and wait.”

“Yes... I don't want to do anymore multiplication, but I'll try...”

After nodding, Yurika felt her strength leaving her and slumped to the floor. And like Koutarou had said, she started doing multiplication in her head.

Part 6

Turning his back towards Yurika and the others, Koutarou closed in on Maya one step at a time. Meanwhile, Maya put her hands on her hips and calmly waited on him.

“I've kept you waiting.”

“That's not quite true. Well... if this was a date that we have decided on beforehand, I might have given you a slap though.”

Surprise wasn't the only reason as to why Maya hadn't attacked Koutarou all this time. Since she knew how powerful Koutarou was, she had to make adjustments to her mechanical body to best oppose him.

In exchange for this power up, the amount of time I can continue fighting will drop considerably... But I guess it can't be helped if it's a date with this boy...

There were limiters on Maya's body to keep it from breaking itself by going too fast or too strong. And Maya had released those in order to fight Koutarou. As a result, Maya wouldn't be able to fight for as long, but she had gotten even stronger than before.

“Well, I was on a date with your disciple.”

“If you're here... does that mean that Maki is dead?”

Maya slightly narrowed her eyes. It was a minor change, but her expression turned much sharper. But Koutarou shook his head towards her.

“No. I have her captured. There's a lot of things I want to ask her after all.”

“I see. Then take good care of her. You should get some good use out of her.”

Maya smiled, her sharp expression from before softened up.

“And those are the words from her master?”

“Since she was captured, she's only a risk now.”

“I'll just pretend I didn't hear that. I feel bad for your disciple.”

“How kind as always...”

Maya said nostalgically and showed a small smile.

“But still... I had wondered after hearing Maki's report, but to think it really was you. What a surprise.”

“It's been around eleven years, hasn't it?”

“You shouldn't keep a girl waiting for her date that long.”

“Are you at the age to be called a girl?”

“I feel bad for Kanae if you put it like that.”

Maya indicated the place where Kanae laid collapsed and laughed. In fact, Maya and Kanae were the same age.

“As for me, just like you can see, both my mind and body are young enough for girl to fit.”

Maya took a pose to show off her good looks. And she did indeed have the charm to pass of as a girl.

“That said, in the short time since we last met, your atmosphere has changed quite a bit. You've turned into a strange girl.”

Koutarou observed Maya's body with a serious expression.

Maya's body was indeed that of a beautiful girl’s, but there were markings and mechanical parts all over her body, and by her shoulders and legs, her body had split apart and machines stuck out. Even Koutarou could tell that her body was mostly artificial.

She has artificial legs and arms... and her torso too? She's practically a robot...

Despite her charming appearance, Koutarou wasn't going to fall for her, though his heart might beat a little faster because of the tension and fear.

“Boy, a good man doesn't stare a girl's body like that. And strange goes both ways.”

Maya showed a soft smile, but she was carefully observing Koutarou's body.

He was a special boy to begin with, but... he doesn't seem to have aged a day in eleven years? And that armor is suspicious too. It wasn't in Maki's report.... and it seems to be hiding a few tricks up its sleeves... It also nullified the energy javelins... Either its the boy's power or the armor's... And since he's here after dealing with Maki, he might be using magic too...

Maya had witnessed Koutarou break through the wall and ceiling of the abandoned building to protect Yurika and Harumi. That's why she could get a hunch of what kind of power the armor had. And adding that power onto Koutarou's own, Maya imagined she was in for a problematic fight.

“I guess so. I've become quite a strange boy myself.”

Koutarou said as he laughed, though his eyes were not.

“So here's a proposal... What if instead of just having this date, we start dating seriously?”

“What?”

“I think we both want to avoid a war of attrition against an opponent with unknown powers, no?”

“...Are you asking me to join you?”

“My, we'd be real lovers. I don't hate children like you, boy. If we team up, we could defeat any enemy.”

Maya was serious. Ever since she figured that the boy that Maki was fighting against might be the same person that she had fought eleven years ago, she had wanted to recruit him to her side. However, her reason was different from Maki's. She only wanted Koutarou's power. This was another reason as to why Maya hadn't attacked.

“It's not like we want to kill you. We're just after the vast magical power in that room. And we'll do anything we have to, whether that's fighting or becoming lovers.”

“Magical power...”

Koutarou recalled what Yurika had said in the past.

Now that I think about it, she was talking about evil magical girls targeting the magical power in my room... Since she's a real magical girl, I guess it makes sense for her to have been telling the truth...

As a result, Koutarou understood that there was at least some truth to Maya's words.

“If you become my lover, I will spare the others. Even Yurika over there. Of course, you would have to persuade them...”

Maya knew that Koutarou could control the magical power in room 106 to a certain degree. In other words, stealing the magical power from the room and making Koutarou her ally was essentially the same thing. Moreover, if she could make Koutarou her pawn, she could regain a leading role in Darkness Rainbow. On the other, deciphering and controlling the power wouldn't help Maya. That was why pulling Koutarou over to her side was nothing but positive.

“I see, so that's how it is...”

While he didn't know Maya's private circumstances, he understood that she was seriously trying to make him her ally.

“How about it? It shouldn't be such a bad deal for you. You'll be able to protect your friends after all...”

Maya whispered to Koutarou in a flirtatious and sweet voice. It was an alluring voice that would sway any man's heart.

“I refuse.”

However, Koutarou rejected Maya's proposal without any hesitation. Unable to accept that, Maya questioned him.

“Why?! What don't you like about it?!”

“Honestly, it's not a bad deal. And you're beautiful.”

“Then why—?!”

“It's simple. It's because there's someone that wants to protect that room from you guys.”

“Yurika?! You're saying you prefer her over me?!”

Maya, who was full of pride, erupted. She would have been able to easily ignore any other reason and choose to fight. But Koutarou's reason had been Yurika of all things. Maya was convinced that she was superior to Yurika in all ways possible, in both her strength and her femininity. That's why she couldn't accept it, her pride didn't let her, both as a warrior and as a woman.

“You would probably never understand just how amazing Yurika is.”

“There's no way I'd understand! She is a complete failure!”

Maya took a stance while rejecting Koutarou's words. The weapons installed on her body pointed towards Koutarou, one after another.

“That's right. We're all failures. Unlike you...”

Yurika's wish was enough of a reason for Koutarou to fight. What lead him to feel that way was because they were both failures and because of all the time they had spent together.

And so, Koutarou chose to fight.

What he was protecting was something hard to put into words. Power, talent, price or status didn't matter. That was because Koutarou and the invader girls had been able to find peace despite that.

“...Cradle, give me my sword.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

“Come, Signaltin!”

Therefore, the sword will shine.

To realize the oath and wish put into it.

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