043.1 – Human.

As far as my knowledge, and am concerned, the definition of being or not being human is not restricted to one. There is what it means to be an actual human with human emotions, there's also being technically a human but not being one in title. That, they are the Exiles. Lastly, there are some that are human in title, but with no humanity or humane emotions. Basically, if one is not human in conduct, then there is the probability that you are not one in a sense.

But at least, I believe that losing your humanity is not an eternal thing. One could consider me: an empty and emotionless person, as someone not human. However, I am a proof that I can come back to being one.

But this is not about taking back that old treasure. Rather, finding in yourself if you actually have that treasure, perhaps… like a ring that you hold dear for the rest of your life? Maybe a ring that binds you to a person?

Sorry, for I am getting distracted.

▪ ▪ ▪

032219.

At the tenth hour of the day, an unmasked Ryota entered the hospital for a visit to her mother at an unusual time.

"Ryota? Why are you visiting at this time? How about school?"

"My head was spinning that it was hard for me to walk when I woke up. But I'm fine now as you can see.

How about you, then?"

"I'm also doing fine since I'm not on my own."

"I understand that, but the hospital is awfully quiet and empty today…"

"But really… are high school students really fond of skipping classes?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Just now, Ringo, your classmate left before you visited. But in any case, she's a wonderful girl. She always keeps me company for a few days now."

"Ringo…? W-Why… is she here?"

"What's with the reaction? Surely you know about this. But wait, she never mentioned anything about you knowing that she is visiting."

"Mom… she supposedly doesn't know about your condition. How come…

When you said she left, you mean just right before I came here?"

"Yes…?"

"I'll be right back, Mom!"

If that is truly the case—that they happen to miss each other, Ryota should have seen her walk by the hallway as they are simply walking the same path towards the hospital room. And yet, he did not see Rin, nor her shadow.

In desperation of still trying to find her, he climbed the stairs to the hospital's rooftop and found a young woman leaning on the safety railings.

She turned her head, revealing that it was Rin which hasn't yet left the hospital itself. She however pulled her head back and continued gazing at the view.

"We haven't even talked a lot in school, so it is probably a surprise to you that I know about your mother."

"The only one who should know about this is Gin."

"No, even the principal knows.

Gin indeed told me, but he doesn't have any bad intentions for telling me. In fact, I am doing this on my own."

"Why… Why are you doing this, Ringo?"

"There ought to be nothing wrong with visiting a classmate's mother in the hospital, right?"

Rin thought that Ryota will raise his voice on her, but it did not happen.

"Don't joke around…"

"Really, I don't have any ulterior motives. When I learned about that, I really just wanted to visit her and have idle chats with her. Your mom is very nice and caring.

And I'm not so preposterous to tell her that you are Teardrop."

"Tsk…"

"I can't see a point in lying if someone heard you two talking on the open grounds. But one of my reasons to do this is because you are Gin's friend. Even if you try to reject it, Gin is trying to pull you out of your situation.

Even I know… that you're beating the red light."

"Even you… Ringo? What do you understand… You don't even understand anything…"

Finally finding out that her words were just passing through from Ryota's ear to another, Rin's blood, in rare cases, began to heat up.

"Yes. I don't understand a thing. But I at least got to know that it hurts that time and time again there is a feeling and sense of guilt.

Part of loving Gin is not just trying to understand him, but also to feel his pain. You say that we don't understand, even when Gin felt what it was like to end someone's life? He himself knows that he is not to blame for doing that in his situation… but it was still his hands that got stained.

Then I'm going to ask you too. Do you understand how much it hurts to know that he thinks that it is still his fault for killing someone… so much that Gin wanted to kill himself? Do you understand how much it hurts me to know that all of that happened because of me? Even I know that I wasn't to be blamed… but there is still the feeling that it was my fault that it happened to him!!"

Ryota was in awe, or rather, petrified to hear those words coming from a maiden that she never expected to know a piece of the reality of the world. Thus, he gradually stepped back.

"Then what did you feel when you killed those who tried to harm you and your mother when you were twelve? Did you not feel any guilt for doing that…? Don't tell me you're becoming like a cold-blooded killer just like your father?

If so…! What will you do now?! Are you going to stab me if you really have become one?"

Unable to process his emotions that suddenly turned to fear after hearing all of those, Ryota quickly ran back inside the hospital in dismay.

However, it was not Rin's intention to provoke Ryota. He knows to herself that she is not like Gin, and so she doesn't have the kind of mentality he has. Rin was caught up with her anger and said those things.

What was revolving in her mind was the thought that Ryota could only be thinking about himself, which was disguised by his reasons for his mother. Rin questioned Ryota's conviction as in his words earlier tells—"you don't even understand anything," it was as if he does not put others into consideration and selfishly voiced out the sufferings that he thinks that he is the only one in this world which is experiencing that.

However, she admits to herself that it was a naive approach of reality and calmed herself.

In the second half of the day, she attended school and the club.

▪ ▪ ▪

‹Gin›

To the very end, Rin and I decided to also tell Nagi, Shiro and Jean about everything in a secure place.

"Well… it doesn't even surprise me that we will surely know those things at a later time." uttered Nagi.

"But to be honest, I do think that it was best if we just keep silent about it. Being targeted isn't very far-fetched… since I, the target is the one going to his radar."

Jean gave a hard slap on my back and said, "There's nothing we can do about that. All we can do is hope that you will come home again just like the time on the Square."

Then, a thought came to Shiro, "If you're telling me that he's Joseph Horach's son… it has been a year but you're still stuck with that family."

"Ahahahaha. I guess you're right.

Rin and I will be going home now." I then whispered, "There will be undercover police that will watch over you guys until you come home, just to be sure."

"Ahaha… I don't know what to think about that…"

▪ ▪ ▪

Somehow the time flew fast as it is already the nineteenth hour, but I have a feeling that time will feel like staggering from this point forward.

"Potato… Are you sure he still doesn't know about you being that Exile?"

"I can't say for sure, but I'll get to see his looks again."

While I was wearing my "armor", Rin noticed something on my mask.

"Is it just me or your mask feel a bit flimsy?"

"Does it? But well, I'm always ready so I prepared a spare one."

"As if your masks will ever crack with a punch… You won't even get to use your spare, to be honest."

But aside from the mask talk, I'm actually not wearing the… let's just call it the 'anti-material fabric' or AMF? Anyways, I was talking about the usual AMF that the hundred Exiles used, but I won't be using that since what I am wearing is not a long suit but I guess something that looks like a blazer. It's just that the collar is that of a jacket which also covers my neck. It absorbs shock and the outfit is still all black.

"It's about time, so I should also be going too."

"You're going somewhere, Rin?"

"I haven't told you, but I'm actually visiting Ryota's mother for a few days now."

"Ehhh? I really didn't know. How is she?"

"She's getting better and more cheerful in my observation. Anyone would enjoy talking to her."

"Hmmm. I guess I'll also visit some time.

Well…! I guess we should go now and do our own things."

"Yep. This doesn't really do much… but can I ask, Gin?"

"You're already asking."

"Then, is it okay if I give you a kiss? I really wish for your safety, and for this," she nonchalantly asked me.

"Woah, Rin… I don't even think I can say that straight…"

"You know that I have a forehead-"

She wasn't even looking at me, and she still had that straight face. But I somehow got what she was thinking.

I then squatted very slightly and tilted my head a bit closer to her.

"Rin, just admit it. You just wanted to do this."

"Well, a little."

Her nonchalance scares me sometimes.

Nonetheless, she kissed me on my right cheek. Just so you know, we know for a fact that no doki doki or kyun kyun happened.

"Let's do our best with this, Gin. Really… please be safe."

"I will. I will, Rin. Since I have a place to come home to.

And please take care of her mother for the time being."

Thus, we parted ways under the nigh full moon.

~ ~ ~

With what I have heard both from Rin and Detective Artecus, this could most likely be Teardrop's last job as an assassin. From Rin's story, Ryota's mother does not know about her son's identity and only knew about quitting his current job in this day.

And from Juno, he arrested someone from the underworld and confirmed that Teardrop is indeed working there. It was rumored that he will never come back down below after this.

Considering that he has some history with me as my Exile persona, I am also a target. But it is not me this time as it is probably because I wasn't traced.

Nevertheless, the location of his target is in a construction site, without the need of leaving Ginga. There seems to be no one in the site and it was dark. If there is someone here, I should have already heard it. We have come rather early, and so we were on standby.

By we, I mean myself, Makoto on a mask, the detective and his personal aide. It was a rare circumstance that we had to lend the two officers an AMF. Aside from me, they are wearing the usual long suits.

A few minutes after, sound of the footsteps was heard. The mask with a white teardrop illuminated from the far streetlights and left open lights on the site. He was quietly looking around in the dark, but saw none.

Standing still, he took out a knife and tossed it up, spinning in the air. He repeatedly made the same actions while still looking around.

He tossed it up again, but not in an upright throw but in a projectile angle. As the knife reached the apex in the air, he immediately took out another knife and this time, he threw the knife towards the other one in the air with force.

"…!"

The second knife bounced away and to my surprise, it directed towards me precisely. Nearly being hit, I had to jump down from where I was and he found me.

"Don't get me wrong, Teardrop… I never intended to fight in the first place. Actually, I have no purpose to do that. I just don't want to hear the slow trickle again.

But then again… I can't see your face but I can feel your animosity."

In between his fingers came several knives that he pitched directly towards where I am. It was a total of eight knives that I had to evade in the dark. After getting up from crouching, I saw him gesture a pulling action from the air, but it was too late for me to notice that the knives are actually connected to strings.

The knives that passed through me came back from behind. If I was not wearing an AMF, I would have been slashed several times on my limbs. Before it came back to him, I managed to catch a knife and thankfully cut the strands amidst the invisibility.

But it was a decoy.

He disappeared from where he was and sneaked above me with two blades on both hands.

He had figured out a weakness from the defense system of Exiles. Our head is a weak point. I was not fast enough to block from above.

But suddenly, he had to dodge a speeding pole that nearly hit him.

"I owe you one, detective."

He whispered, "Makoto and my assistant is collecting the knives. I plan to disarm him.

But seriously, you should have prepared for that. Of all people, you were the one that almost got done in by that."

"At least, Teardrop learned the lesson. 'You should have gone for the head.'"

"Heh. Are you going to watch the movie next month?"

"You bet."

From the back of my collar, the fabric expanded and covered my head with a hood.

"I just haven't had a warm-up so I was a bit too slow.

Watch out!"

Dozens of knives flew up with another wave bouncing down to us. I then pushed Juno away from the knives and caught another one and snapped the string of it while parrying the many other blades. I tossed it to Juno and caught it without fail while he was down on his back.

"Now help me cut those."

I don't know what was going on in Ryota's head, but it looks like he already exposed his cards. But I would be lying if I said that I wasn't surprised. Back in the rooftop, his approach was very direct. Had he used that back then, my uniform would surely turn red.

Makoto then regrouped with the two of us, leaving Juno's aide to the collection alone.

"Just how much does he have?"

"Let's watch each other's backs but don't stick too close. He can tie us if we're in close proximity," I suggested.

Another wave of knives flew up. It's just… to say that over fifty of them is few is an understatement. The blades lined up in a circle that covers all the directions, surrounding us.

"No, seriously. Just how much knives does this guy have?!"

"Can you settle down, (Makoto)?!"

"For now, try and nab a knife for you to cut the strings while I try to block the knives."

A knife technique like that is actually very effective, just with the catch that you are going to make a huge mess. If he is going to use over fifty knives at first, then it will total up to more than a hundred for the second wave. It is not a waste of materials if he fully utilizes the use of strings, but there is a problem that he may or may not have foreseen.

After the knives rose to the apex, the omnidirectional barrage of knives rained down. With the AMF, I am least confident to say that there will most likely be no casualties on us. With that in mind, I tried to keep up, or overtake the speed of the falling knives. I shouldn't be, but I'm actually amazed with the scene of the knives in slow motion while parrying them one by one.

Regarding the problem that Ryota might not have seen, I'm not good at physics but I will try to explain. While I am blocking the knives, the velocity is interfered which could make it hard to control the back and forth one-directional movement. Moreover, the force is disturbed which will make it difficult to pull. And lastly, there is the possibility of the strings tangling up.

※ This is a work of fiction.

After coming back to real time, the other two caught on with what just happened. As if following a rhythm, they somehow gracefully cut the visible cords, leaving a pair of it that they then took grasp and pulled which got Ryota caught on the force.

I had to step really far back since I don't want anything to happen to him, although I really want to apologize for this. With my open palm, I strongly pushed the air and made a gust of wind, just like how I did before. It was not as strong as before, though. The proof is that Juno and Makoto weren't blown away by it, but Ryota was caught. Weird as it is, a weaker gust somehow nearly ripped his mask… or it may just be because he was hit on the head.

"Teardrop. I've heard that this is your final job, which then failed. I don't know where your original target is, but surely you are also targeting me.

But why? Why do you have to kill me? At this point… taking my life has no merit or gain anymore."

"I don't care… Just shut up for good!!!"

Fueled by baseless anger, he screamed down to his throat. He then took out something on his pocket. It was not visible since it was still very dark. But a single clicking sound passed through our ears.

And just like that…

BOOM————

A light suddenly shone behind us and a deafening sound of explosion came. We turned around, seeing the support and the foot of the crane flying out and about everywhere. In no time, the crane itself began to gravitate down.

"Good grief… If that falls it will also take down the houses near here."

"Aaaggghhh… This is a problem. Gin, Juno, what do we do nex-

Ack—!!"

Without notice, I kicked Makoto just below his rib cage and sent him away to the street.

"What's the big idea, Gin?!" Juno exclaimed angrily.

"I'll be honest, you will just be a burden if I see you guys get caught up with the destruction! I'm sorry but I have to do this…!"

"Guu…!"

After doing the same thing to Juno, I quickly ran towards his aide to grab his arm and threw him to where the other two are. The street where I sent them was far enough to the site if ever the crane fell down.

I was however too slow in taking them away. The crane was nearly going to hit the ground level in approximately 12 meters.

"Crap… I don't know how long before it falls down. Agh, screw it!"

I didn't even care on how fast I had to cover my distance to the falling crane. My heart thumped hard while my cold sweat poured down to my cheek. I was thinking… maybe I can't make it in time? If so, then the crane will fall to the roofs of the houses, leaving destruction as the flames engulf the area. It was hard to stay optimistic in even a split second. I was in panic as I ran… and I then became really scared of what could happen. But… it was more like I was scared of it happening.

(!)

"Ahh.

This feeling… it's just like the time with the C4…"

…

A loud explosion-like sound echoed as the crane fell horizontal, leaving a tall cloud of dust.

In front of the flames, Teardrop stood gasping while holding to his arm that got caught from the debris. Right as he stood, a metal shrapnel is still stuck on his left arm.

He slowly walked in the dark while pulling out his phone from his pocket and made a call after catching his breath.

"H-Hello, Mom…?"

"Oh, son? Are you finished with work?"

"…I think so."

"Hmm? Are going to visit here after you're done there?"

"Mom… There's something that I want to… that I have to tell you…"

"What is it?"

"I… I don't think I can ever show myself in front of you. Mom, I'm sorry… I'm sorry for not telling you… But my job is actually assassination…

Mom, I am actually Teardrop…"

A sound came from the line, like the phone suddenly fell off. A panicking voice of Rin was then suddenly heard.

"Mom?! Mom, what happened?! Are you still there?! Mom…!"

"M-Ma'am?! Ma'am, are you okay?! Hang in there…

Nurse! Doctor! A patient-"

*beep beep beep*

"N-No… Please don't… No… No…

…!"

His attention was immediately caught not just by the sound, but also by the sight. In front of the illuminated smoke, he could see the silhouette of the crane slowly bending upwards, as though forming an angle. And just beside the "vertex" was a man standing still who was wearing a cracked white mask.

…

I was too scared, but even I did underestimate my own abilities. I took the hundred times of gravity too easily and disregarded it. I was surprised to see myself catch the crane itself on my hands, but I was more surprised to see myself under the crane when what I remembered last was still when I was a little far from here.

"Ahh. I closed my eyes…"

However, I noticed a crack from my mask.

"Hmm. Of course this would happen."

Most of the construction site was not damaged, and most of it is still engulfed in darkness, which made it easy to find an emphasis of light coming from a phone. I found myself standing on rubble after securing that the crane will not fall anymore. In the distance, I saw the other three running back to the site, while there is also the view of houses… that are still untouched.

"Safe…!!"

However, the noise already caught attention and residents from the neighborhood started coming out.

I jumped down from the mess, but when I was about to land, I saw Ryota charging forward with not a gaze of rage, but sadness and terror. He held a knife on his left hand, while his right only contained its fist. He followed with attacks that lost its quality, and seemed to be just out of desperation.

"Why… Just die already… Just disappear already!!"

None of his attacks connected, but his pained expression had become clear.

"So you're running out of time."

I dropped my arms and opened all of my guard. He saw it as an opportunity, and lifted his right fist that then collided to my face, breaking my mask.

I just remembered something…

"Rin may not be the kindest person in the world, but she was plenty kind anyway.

But I know to myself that I am not as kind as her."

The mask indeed broke. But it was not something that could make me shocked. Originally, the mask has the same properties as the AMF. Heck, it can even ricochet a bullet at point blank.

But… I'm only wearing an ordinary glass mask all this time. That is why Ryota easily broke it…

…while his will also breaks in agony.

In front of him, he saw not an Exile, but Gin Sakato. The moment my face caught his eyes, his strength dropped.

"You know… I was about to climb on the metal bars since you're scared of heights…" from an inside pocket, I took out a spare mask and wore it. This time, it was a real one.

Behind me came Juno and Makoto walking towards where Ryota and I are at, while I am looking at him as he slowly fell to his knees.

Even before seeing myself as Gin, he was already in pain. But more pain was inflicted after. It might have struck him that he himself did not follow his principle, as he himself told me that he considered me as a friend, and that he said that he would not kill me.

I am honest that this was not a very kind way of opening to him, but there was nothing that I can do if he did not have any intention to listen.

"I was the one that you encountered in the rooftop. The Exile you saw in our classroom was an Exile that I asked to disguise to look like me. But this time, I really am the Exile that you encountered, and encountered your father last year.

I had to do this since you were starting to become like Horach. If the crane that you bombed really fell, it would cost the lives of innocents."

As I was talking, his phone rang with the number of his mother.

"Hello, Mom?! Are you okay?!"

"Ryota, is this you?! You need to come here quickly! Your mother is still unconscious!"

"What?! What really happened?! Hello? Hello?!"

The called ended.

"Was that Rin on the line?

…

Please calm down, Ryota. I asked for an overview of your mother's condition from Doctor Kagetora. He said that he successfully eliminated all the virus in her constitution. Perhaps you finally told her about Teardrop, and may be in state of shock.

I will accompany you to the hospital once all of this is over. But please… hear me out for a bit.

There is a simple reason as to why I came here. I wanted to save you from this hell. I have already felt it, even if once. I was five years old… I was out of my mind when I killed someone. Repeatedly, people have said that it wasn't my fault, but how can I accept that when I myself saw what I did? That is why… I wanted to save you from what became of me and your father—a monster.

And the other reason for me to save you is because of a foreseen possibility. You should know. The underworld is a very dangerous… place…"

Right in front of my face, a bomb fell from above. In the nick of time while it was still on the height of my head, I kicked away Ryota before the bomb exploded. I managed to distance myself by at least a meter, and the bomb exploded.

However, the AMF is truly serving its good purpose. The least that the impact did was blow me slightly and stopped just beside Juno and Makoto.

"Oi, Gin… You took that impact directly. You okay there?" asked Juno.

"Not a dent."

"Juno, Gin… This is it. People from underworld finally surfaced…"

From everywhere, people armed with heavy artillery suddenly popped out. To my count, there are at least thirteen.

"Makoto… I hope that you didn't forget the spare mask I had to make for us."

"I should be asking you that. But I do."

"Better change then. And lend me a spare long suit."

"Huh? For what?"

"Just hurry up!"

…

"Oi… kid. Do you really think your client will really just let you go like that? Of course not."

"Look at you now! Like a bird that got his wings wounded… now you can't fly! Hahahahaha…!!"

In no time, the underworlders surrounded Ryota who Gin sent flying. When the bandits pointed the noses of their firearms…

Ryota had accepted his pending death.

"Mom… I'm sorry… But this is where it will all end…"

In a split second that the gunfire had begun, Gin suddenly appeared in front of Ryota, holding a long suit upwards, making the bullets bounce up.

"Thank goodness even those bandits weren't hit."

In his vision what he saw as I turned around was a jet black mask that reflected the fright on his face. I then placed the long suit on Ryota's shoulders and took his arm to my shoulder.

"Hang in there, Ryota. This will be a little shaky but keep up with it."

In another split second, my vision was directed towards the underworlders before, and now in a different spot after, not just with my sight, but with my feet.

"We have to run for it!"

"You and (Makoto) can go ahead! I'll take care of these guys!

And I'll be sure to return the long suits!"

As per an authority's instruction, we fled from the area and ran with Ryota.

"What in the world was that, Gin?! You weren't moving like that earlier!"

"That… I finally did it after trying to figure it out. YEAH…!"

Actually, I have already done it two times. The first was just before Ryota got shot, and the second was when we had to escape being surrounded.

What I did was grasping the earth and kicking it while imagining a flicker. I have finally executed a Step that I learned from the ninja from that time in Kyoto, and it worked well.

No, not two times… I'm just realizing that I did it to get under the crane. But my eyes were closed. I was still astonished, however. Literally in one blink, I changed positions but my range was still not very far. But I figured that if I repeatedly did it right…

"Sorry, Makoto. But I really have to go ahead of you. I'll be going to the hospital now!"

"Alright, see you!

So fast!"

~ ~ ~

Meanwhile on the construction site, it was beyond help to recover all of Teardrop's weapons. The bandits were confused that Teardrop suddenly vanished with what they thought to be Exiles, but two people with black masks instead of white.

"Detective, backup is on their way," Juno's aide oriented him.

"That's good, then. How many do you have of that?"

"I think… I have three."

"I have seven. That's more than enough."

"Wait, detective?! What are you going to do with them?!"

"Alright. Let's split five and five. Make sure you don't miss."

"W-W-What?!"

After taking a deep breath, Juno let out a loud scream.

"This is Cotona PD! You are all under arrest!"

Thereafter, the detective and his assistant released ten stun grenades, as the bandits originally grouped in one when they were about to shoot Ryota. In a matter of three seconds, the smoke cleared leaving the armed ones falling flat to the ground.

"I think we overdid it, detective…"

"Well… At least the Exiles won't scold me since we didn't really injure them."

The echoing sirens then became louder, and the armed policemen finally made their entrance.

"Detective Artecus, how's the situation?"

"We're about to clean up. I'll have my detailed statement with the president because I took the liberty and permitted the Exiles to have Teardrop."

"Hahh… Please stop making more problems, detective…

By the way, I saw something hanging on the metal bars. Have you seen that already?"

On the supporting bars, a subtle red light continued to dangle in the dark. It was not long until something fell… and a beeping sound was heard.

"I-I think that's a bomb…" Juno's aide stepped back upon seeing what had fallen. He however tripped on something on the floor, which looked like a gas bomb.

It was released, leaving Juno and the other policemen affected with a vertiginous feeling.

The detective attempted to distance himself along with his men away from the site and shouted while swaying around.

"B-Bail out…! This place is about to go down!"

It was a race of time, but the police managed to get away from the area. Thankfully enough, the site itself is still far from the residential areas, thought Juno.

Starting from below the skeleton of the building to the top, bombs exploded one by one demolishing the whole place.

The bent crane however survived.

~ ~ ~

"Doc, what's Ms. Miharu's condition?!"

"Thank goodness it wasn't anything serious. Say, Ms. Ringo, what made her come to a state of shock?"

"That's…"

"Anyway, you can enter the room now."

The tension in the hospital room has finally disappeared. There were still nurses inside, but Miharu was sleeping on the hospital bed. Doctor Kagetora then instructed the nurses to leave while he remained watching over the patient.

Fifteen second later…

The people appeared out of nowhere in the room. Gin and Ryota landed badly on the floor while the former rolled over and hit his back on the wall. He was careful enough to remove his mask in time before being seen.

"Gin?! H-Hey, are you alright?!"

"Ah… Hi, Rin… Hah… Hah… Hah… This has been… Hah… The most exhausted I have been…!"

"And my back hit a wall for the second time in my life, for crying out loud!"

"What happened to your face?"

"Ahh… Life is hard. I got punched by that guy that broke my mask."

"Wait, your mask broke?!"

"The one that you called flimsy was actually just ordinary glass… I got cut by the shards. Well, I'm in a hospital so there's no problem with that.

Anyway… we should be worrying about Ryota."

Ryota regained his consciousness and found himself in a hospital room. His whole body jerked up and suddenly found her unconscious mother.

"Mom…?! A-Are… Is she okay?!"

"She just collapsed from shock, Mr. Mizuno. This has nothing relating to her illness. She's fully cured from it."

"Heh. He's not one of the best doctors of this country for nothing."

From her slumber, Miharu finally awakened and opened her eyes with his son bawling out over her.

"I'm sorry…! I'm sorry for everything…! I was wrong with everything… I was just selfish!!"

"…

Ryota… No… You are not like him… You're never like your father…"

…

"Doc, Rin. Let's leave those two alone for the time being."

"Ah- yeah. Let me treat those wounds too."

The three of us then relocated to his office after Kagetora had taken a look on Ryota's condition.

"How did you and Mr. Mizuno got this wounded, 027? He was bleeding on his arm from a deep wound."

"That…

When things went 'Boom!' and 'Kablam!' a metal shrapnel got on his arm. When I was on the way here, I think the shrapnel flew off. He probably lost a bit of blood."

My stupid explanation was intentional.

"…

What in the world really happened, 027?!"

"Hmm… You may honestly not understand if I try to tell you so let's just leave it like that."

Suddenly, the television of his office caught our attention.

"Breaking news. A huge explosion just happened in a construction site in Ginga, Cotona a few minutes ago. We'll be transferring to the reporter who is currently on the area. Hugo?”

"Yes, Mike. I'm currently with Detective Juno Artecus with his statement regarding the situation."

"Good evening to everyone who is watching. My team was actually having an encounter with thirteen bandits that came from the so-called 'Underworld.' We managed to immobilize them, but what we believed to be bombs that they planted exploded which they got caught into."

"Another question, detective. How did the crane bent, or folded like that?"

"The crane fell due to a prior explosion but I actually do not know how it bent like that. We had to distance ourselves or we would have gotten caught with the impact.

I did not see how the crane bent, but if it fell flat, it would take down the houses. We are very thankful that it did not."

"Then thank you, detective."

He was omitting, but was telling the truth.

"You did that, didn't you, Potato? Was it heavy?"

"A bit. But it's a good thing that I didn't need a leverage to bend it. I honestly didn't believe that I carried it."

"Seriously, 027! What did you do?!"

Dr. Kagetora was ignored.

"And what's you with earlier?! How did you appear like that?" Rin exclaimed.

I whispered, "I did a Step. The one that the ninja thought me."

"You seriously did it?! Wow…

…

How did you suddenly perform that? Was that because of the kiss?" Rin snickered.

"Hahh… I don't even know anymore."

Finally, Rishou Kagetora realized that 027 is not the 027 that he knew before.

"Do you want to join me, Potato? I'll go visit Ryota.

I have something to say to him."

"You heard him, Doc. We'll visit him."

"Let me come with-"

The tone of Rin's voice was angry, and she was smiling scarily.

"Doc, it's better if you don't see this."

"…! A-Alright…?"

Inside the room, Rin and Ryota were standing face to face while he can't even see Rin directly. His face was painted with guilt.

But I have witnessed a rare event. The first time it happened, I didn't know how it looked like since it was from my perspective. But seeing this now made my skin crawl endlessly.

No, what happened to me was not as strong as this… How did Rin knock Ryota down with a slap?!

Jokes aside, Ryota maintained the pained expression and sorry eyes. Still, he wasn't able to see us on our eyes.

"Gin nearly died last year… but I did not abandon him just to satisfy my selfishness."

"…

I understand now, Ringo… I am very sorry…"

"Rin, what just… happened…?"

"I just gave him what he deserved."

"Eh?"

Eh?

Rin?

Rin-san?!

Rin-san?!


Chapter Message:

You've finished the first part of 043!

It's another long one, but it is a parallel to chapter 31 of NoFutsuu. At least it did the manuscript didn't go as far as 30 pages.

Thank you for reading!

Next

043.2: Why yes, I'm proud that my sister is graduating.