Chapter: 27. Thoughts in the Heart
“Ah, thank you…”
“You’re welcome. If the young lady has any other requests, just call for me.”
Inside the café.
A clean and tidy girl with a ponytail, dressed in a uniform reminiscent of a butler or servant, adeptly brought the coffee that Nagi and Amari ordered to the two of them.
After Nagi thanked her softly, the girl politely bowed her head.
She then turned to face Amari and bent her waist in the same manner, and after saying those words, she flowed away silently like a retreating tide.
“Who is she?” Nagi asked curiously as he picked up the freshly brewed coffee, still fragrant and steaming.
“My personal attendant,” Amari succinctly replied.
“But isn’t Arcadia Academy not allowing unrelated personnel to accompany us on the island?”
“Indeed, that’s the rule. So, Koharu is just a regular employee assigned by the Tenjouin family to operate a café on the artificial island, and it just happens that she is by my side.”
“…..That’s really typical of the Tenjouin.”
“Every major family’s next head will have personal attendants like Koharu by their side…” Amari explained, “Often they are trained in this field from a young age and grow up alongside the next head of the family.”
“It sounds just like childhood sweethearts.”
“Childhood sweethearts, huh? Perhaps that’s really the case.” Amari seemed to recall something, a hint of a bitter smile appearing on her pretty face. “Koharu is trustworthy.”
What Amari referred to is naturally the close relationship between Nagi and herself.
—Even if there comes a day when she is no longer around, Koharu will likely take good care of this troublesome ‘brother’ before her, right?
“Mm, I believe in Amari.” Nagi smiled and nodded.
“……Believe, huh?”
“Because you are my sister.”
“…..Brother, that line is a bit sly—” Amari managed to control the sourness rising in her nose and pouted slightly in mock anger.
“R-Really?”
Seeing Nagi’s oblivious attitude towards her statement, Amari sighed helplessly.
Time flew by amidst the delicious desserts and rich coffee prepared by Koharu.
Unconsciously, evening fell.
Noticing this, Amari announced the dismissal for the day.
“Eh? We’re ending it just like that? Didn’t you say something about a female power training….”
Nagi expressed surprise at this.
“Let’s leave it for today. Looking at you, brother, with your head full of pink thoughts, you can’t possibly focus on the training, right?”
“Hah, huh? I-I’m not—”
“—You clearly resisted earlier, but now you actively want to accept training. Could it be that you actually want to become more feminine in front of Tsukiomi-senpai?”
“I’m not, I didn’t, don’t say such things! And besides, what does this have to do with Kanade-kun?”
“Well, brother, there’s a question I’ve always wanted to ask you—”
“—Do you really like Tsukiomi-senpai?”
“Why are you suddenly asking this?”
“Since I’ve tainted you, you must pay the price—”
“I haven’t been tainted! And we are not members of a yakuza family, okay?!”
“Well, the first half of that was just a joke.”
“Wait, so the second half was serious?!”
“However, I still hope you can answer my question.”
Amari stared at Nagi’s dark eyes with a serious expression, as if she wanted to capture her true feelings.
Nagi, who originally wanted to play the lovesick girl as usual and dodge the question, sensed something unusual in Amari’s inquiry and felt a need to be sincere.
After taking a deep breath, Nagi leaned back on the sofa and relaxed:
“I… don’t know—”
“I’ve… already forgotten what it feels like to like someone.” Nagi slowly raised her head, gazing at the pristine white ceiling of the café, as if it reflected her innermost answer.
“So I don’t know if I like Kanade—”
“But—”
“When I’m beside Kanade-kun, I feel at ease.”
“Whenever I recall the time spent with him, I only feel happiness and joy.”
“My feelings for Kanade-kun are probably—”
“—If possible, I hope he can continue to be in my life moving forward…” Nagi said, a bit shyly scratching her slightly flushed cheeks.
“I’m sorry for saying so many strange things…”
“……No, thank you for being willing to share these with me.” Amari, who witnessed it all, gently shook her head: “I already understand your thoughts.”
After the conversation, Amari saw Nagi out of the café.
She slowly closed the door and carefully locked it.
“Koharu.”
“Yes, young lady.” Koharu’s figure appeared behind Amari.
“Even if it means utilizing the Tenjouin family’s power… ensure that Tsukiomi Kanade’s life is protected in this investigation of the academy.” Amari issued the order with the authority of the head of the Tenjouin family.
“Is it on the same level as Miss Hoshimiya?”
“Exactly. If anything happens, even if it means confronting the academy directly, we must ensure Kanade and brother leave safely.” After saying this, Amari briskly turned around, her crimson eyes glimmering in the golden afterglow outside, casting a glaring light, and the shadows around her writhed like they had a life of their own.
“I understand.”
—The Moon Academy has lost something very important in Arcadia Academy.
—The chairman and that guy would go to any lengths to reclaim it…
One of the Tenjouin family’s teachings.
Always keep the initiative in your own hands.
Before entering Arcadia Academy, Amari had already begun to deploy the forces she could utilize.
In places the Special Circumstances’ SEMA could not see.
The Tenjouin family had already established a presence on this artificial island through various means.
Although Amari couldn’t leave here now, the power and information she held were not inferior to what she had back then.
With the power bestowed by her ability, the Shadow of End, she could establish an entire underground intelligence network for the Arcadia Academy.
Arcadia Academy clearly underestimated both Amari and her ability.
After the pinnacle masterpiece, Mana, showcased her power, the academy’s focus shifted to Mana, which allowed Amari to gradually regain more power under the surface.
—Now, brother and Tsukiomi Kanade are highly suspected.
—If they can’t find the real intruder before the academy takes action…
Amari wasn’t worried about her brother’s past as a savior. Even though the current opponent was no ordinary foe, she believed Nagi could overcome them.
But she feared the worst; if End possessed her body and her memories of fighting alongside Nagi, Amari had never forgotten.
She knew that her brother wasn’t as strong as he appeared.
—I will not let any family member suffer harm again.
Amari silently recited her “final promise” with her mother.
—Even if it means risking the Tenjouin family.
—I will ensure my brother leads a happy life.
—————–
As the sun set.
Nagi’s solitary figure cast a long shadow on the road.
“Garuda.” Nagi spoke softly.
“Yes, Master.” Garuda’s response echoed in Nagi’s ears with a gentle breeze.
“That silly girl Amari seems to be thinking about something strange; if anything happens, I’ll leave it to you.”
“…..Are we really sisters?”
“What do you mean?”
“No, I was just wondering if something does happen, should I fight or run away?”
“It’s best not to engage; if that egg is really at Arcadia Academy right now—” even Garuda wouldn’t be a match…
Nagi stopped halfway through her sentence, not saying the rest.
To avoid worrying Garuda.
An existence capable of devouring End.
The boss that only appears later in the original work of “Star Pull 2.”
After figuring out the truth of being corrupted by End from Kage Nagi, this existence became one of the keys to whether she could free herself from End.
—Time is running out.
Nagi lifted her left hand to her chest and gently grasped her wrist adorned with a bracelet.
The key to whether she would really “die” before Kanade.
Under the golden afterglow of the sunset, a silver-white star hung in the sky, shining with brightness that rivaled the sunlight.
Nagi walked home with her back to this star.
She saw a figure blocking her path ahead.
