Kanata and Hotaru, harboring ill feelings, engage in direct conversation…
The day after the welcome party, today is also packed with appointments. I’ll tackle them one by one.
First, I finished my own training, and then I drilled Usura and Tonkachi at the training grounds.
It was a gain that they were more capable than I expected, but it’s a problem that their flaws are the same as Rick’s.
No matter how much stronger they are than regular soldiers, they can’t be Asura Unit soldiers by relying on raw talent without thinking.
After making the greenhorns vomit blood, I had lunch. In the afternoon, it’s my turn to vomit blood.
The blonde teacher taught me extensively about what aerial combat is, leaving me exhausted both mentally and physically.
My swordsmanship has improved surprisingly well on my own, but my shooting still needs work.
Starting tomorrow, I’ll increase the proportion of shooting practice in my training menu.
If there’s a clear weakness, those who can do it will definitely exploit it.
Overcome weaknesses and develop strengths. It’s difficult, but I’ve reached that level.
“It’s about time. Warrant Officer, are you going alone?”
Lilith, don’t look so worried. Did you catch Shion’s worrying nature?
“I’m not going to some duel; I’ll be fine.”
“… I see. But I’m worried because I can’t tell how Hotaru will react.”
“Wing it as always. Well then, I’m off.”
“Wait, you forgot something!”
As I was about to leave my room to avoid being late for our appointment, Lilith called out to me.
“Forgot something?”
When I turned around, Lilith gently pressed her lips to my cheek.
“A charm for good luck. Its effectiveness is guaranteed.”
“I have gratefully received the safe and secure Lilith brand. I’ll be going now.”
I saluted Lilith and headed towards the park in the cemetery.
Hotaru was waiting for me in the park located within the communal cemetery.
The setting sun, about to hide behind the horizon, cast Hotaru’s shadow long on the ground.
The way the shadows on her face, like a Terukyo Doll, appeared dark wasn’t just due to the setting sun…
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
I leaned my back against a tree near where Hotaru was standing and waited for her reaction.
“It’s not time for our appointment yet.”
Hotaru said only that and fell silent.
A moment of silence… and then the bell announcing 6 PM echoed through the Garden.
“… It’s time, you know?”
“… Yes. … How much do you know?”
“I don’t know the details. But I know Agito is the worst kind of scumbag and beast.”
Hearing my answer, Hotaru looked up at the sky.
“… I see. You heard from Shigure-san…”
“No! Shigure-san didn’t say a word. I had various pieces of information, so I’m pretty good at that kind of deduction.”
“… So the Natto Bacteria did their job, then. I admit they’re capable, even though they’re detestable.”
Hotaru muttered hatefully, turned her face towards me for the first time, and glared at me with eyes whose emotion I couldn’t discern – whether it was hatred or anger.
“Thanks. So, what are you going to do?”
“That’s my line. What are you going to do?”
“It’s up to you, Hotaru. I understand it hurts every time you see my face because the scabs on your heart are torn open. If you can’t bear the pain, I’ll disappear from the Garden.”
“R-really!?”
She really finds me that much of an eyesore. That kinda hurts.
“However, there’s a condition. I can’t tell you the specifics, but I have my own circumstances, and I can’t just leave the Garden. To get permission from the Commander, I need to explain the situation. Will you do that for me?”
“You want me to tell the Commander about my secret?”
“If you don’t want me to, I can tell him. But you know that a casual reason won’t get the Commander’s permission, right?”
“… I suppose so. But is that okay?”
“It’s not okay. But if there’s no other way, then it can’t be helped.”
Hotaru averted her gaze from me, lowered her eyes, and asked.
“You like the Garden, so why are you going this far for me? Is it pity?”
“Hotaru, you really don’t understand me at all. I hate both pitying others and being pitied.”
“Then why? If it’s not pity, you have no reason to care about me.”
“Care about you? That’s ridiculous. It’s for Shuri.”
“Shuri has nothing to do with this!”
“Nothing to do with it? Of course it does! If Hotaru Akari wasn’t the most important woman to one of my best friends, I’d leave her be! Shuri really landed herself a troublesome woman!”
I don’t want to yell at a girl, but my stress is through the roof and I can’t control my emotions.
After lecturing Rick so harshly, here I am.
“… What about Natsume, Shion-san, and Lilith?”
“That’s not something you should be worrying about, Hotaru! Worry about yourself first! You’re swamped with your own problems, so this isn’t the time to worry about others!”
“…………”
… She’s biting her lower lip, trying desperately to hold back tears. This is as far as I can go.
I feel bad for not being able to meet Gen-san’s expectations, but it seems expecting anything from Hotaru was a long shot.
“Hotaru, I’ll talk to the Commander and disappear from the Garden. But there’s one thing I want to say. Even if I disappear from the Garden, I can’t erase past events. If you think you can keep hiding it forever, you’re dead wrong. Besides, it’s an insult to my best friend. If you intend to keep silent, I’ll look down on you, Hotaru.”
I admit to myself that this is a hasty and inconsiderate conclusion, but it seems I have no choice but to leave the Garden.
If Hotaru can overcome her past, I might be able to return.
I can’t think of any other way but to bet on that possibility.
“… You’re not alike.”
As I was about to leave, Hotaru muttered absently.
“Not alike?”
When I stopped, Hotaru strode up to me and met my eyes squarely.
“… Kanata, you’re not like Agito at all! Because Agito never had *that* kind of look in his eyes! That’s right! Come to think of it, he wasn’t that kind of goofy-looking simpleton, he didn’t get all mushy surrounded by girls, and he didn’t tell stupid jokes and laugh foolishly! There’s no way a hopelessly perverted man who chants ‘boobs, boobs’ like a mantra could have the same face as a cruel, merciless, cold-blooded man!”
I was taken aback by the torrent of words.
… But am I not being told some pretty terrible things here?
“… I appreciate you saying I’m not alike, but you didn’t have to go that far, did you?”
“I have plenty more to say! Your military uniform is always sloppy! At least fasten the top button properly! I’ll praise you for showering frequently, but what kind of adult makes Lilith do all their laundry! And then you teamed up with Axel to form a lewd organization, which was troubling Shigure-san! And also…”
“Wait, wait. Was this a trial by the people to judge me?”
It’s useless to plead innocence. I admit to all of it.
“Anyway, I just wanted to say that Kanata is not like Agito at all! Do you understand?”
Exhausted from speaking so rapidly, Hotaru, breathing heavily, then smiled at me.
Natsume’s smile also moved me, but this is the same level of emotion.
This is the first time Hotaru has smiled at me.
“I understand. Along with my own uselessness. So, what are you going to do now?”
“… I’ll tell Shuri. This time, absolutely. She might hate me, she might despise me, but I can’t move forward without telling her. And if Shuri leaves me because of it… I’ll accept it.”
“If she hates or despises you because of that, I’ll punch Shuri for you.”
“If that happens, please do. Aim for the jaw with a direct blow, okay?”
“Leave it to me. I’ll give him a good punch to the jaw, directly from the hip, taught by ‘Goken’ Ikkaku.”
Kanata and Hotaru laughed together for the first time.
“It seems our conversation is over. Then, could you tell me? What is your secret, Hotaru?”
Hotaru’s smile froze, and I heard her gasp. What her gaze was fixed on was…
Standing in the shade of a giant tree, with fallen leaves scattering, was my best friend, Uzurakurama Shurinousuke.
