Chapter: 28. The Beginning of Everything
Although the Artificial Academy Island is a school city managed by the Special Circle SEMA, it is not entirely under SEMA’s control.
In other words, there are areas on this island that cannot be monitored by the Ark Academy and Special Circle SEMA.
At sunset.
Having completed today’s student council duties, Seiryu made his way as usual to the shopping street on the easternmost side of the island.
Students who knew Seiryu would know that he has a special fondness for the ramen shop on the shopping street.
He went out of his way every week to enjoy it.
However, this was merely an excuse for Seiryu to evade the surveillance of Ark Academy, as most of the shops in the shopping street were run by external individuals or businesses. Thus, it was one of the hardest areas to monitor on the Artificial Academy Island.
“How did the investigation go?” Seiryu took his usual seat at the innermost corner of the ramen shop.
He then opened the drawer where the utensils were kept, revealing a neatly organized investigation document.
Seiryu took the materials nonchalantly, skimming through them quickly as if reading a menu, while casually asking, “Has Ark Academy begun to suspect you, Young Master?”
The response came from a seat behind him, a crisp and clear female voice that evoked thoughts of “a glimmering blade.”
“I see, that’s why I was so hastily reassigned away from Noah Hall. Such cautious fellows…” Seiryu flipped through the document a few more times, ensuring he remembered its contents before a flicker of flame, nearly imperceptible to others, flashed from his fingertip and ignited the completely handwritten document.
To his surprise, no thick smoke rose from the combustion.
The paper seemed to erode rapidly, as if devoured by some kind of arc of light, ultimately turning into a thin layer of char.
Seiryu skillfully tossed the charred remnants into the nearby trash can and poured some hot water meant for washing cups over it, ensuring all traces were covered up.
“So, the people reassigned to Shiki Hall yesterday were all individuals suspected by Ark Academy?”
“Yes, although we don’t know what their intention is in gathering these people together.”
“Could it be… If something goes wrong, they intend to blow up the entire dorm?” Seiryu attempted to joke, but the girl behind him did not laugh.
If it were Ark Academy, they might very well do just that.
This understanding was deeply etched in both of their minds.
“However, I really didn’t expect even you to be suspected… Could it be that everything has been exposed to Ark Academy?”
“… I don’t think that’s the case, Young Master.”
“Who do you think is the most suspicious to the academy right now?”
“The one with the most special identity in Shiki Hall…”
“… Nagi Miyazuki…?”
“Yes, as the only elite student in Shiki Hall, not only does she have permission to enter Noah Hall as an exception, she even coincidentally entered the special department once due to a malfunction in the access control system. It is perfectly normal for her to be the first suspect.”
“Is she… the first one to be investigated?” Seiryu pondered for a moment.
The conversation resumed after the ramen shop owner kindly served a steaming bowl of ramen to Seiryu before leaving.
“If it’s her, she should be able to withstand the investigation.”
“Mm, I’ll try to put the investigation on you last. So please complete your mission as soon as possible before that, Young Master.”
“Don’t worry. I have already… found it.”
“Young Master, the target… has finally been identified?”
“Ah, although I had some leads years ago, the events of the last couple of days have confirmed it for me…” As Seiryu spoke, he snapped open a pair of disposable chopsticks —
The crisp sound of bamboo echoed clearly in the noisy environment.
“Mizuki Kanade.” Seiryu said in a monotone:
“There’s no doubt that it’s because of her existence that—”
“—you’ve come to Ark Academy, right?” The girl took over Seiryu’s words.
“Ah, just like back then.” After Seiryu finished speaking, he heard the sound of someone getting up behind him.
“Are you leaving so soon?”
“Mm, after all, I am currently a student of Ark Academy. I need to make contact with Nagi Miyazuki first.”
“… Hey, are you still on my side?”
“Young Master, what are you saying at this point?”
“No, I’m sorry. I said something strange.” Seiryu admitted openly: “After all, we’ve been childhood friends since we were little… If I can’t trust my childhood friend, who else can I trust?”
The girl didn’t respond to Seiryu’s last comments and silently walked toward the back door of the shop.
Her figure vanished into the noisy ramen shop, accompanied by a whisper no one else could hear —
“No, rather, it’s more accurate to say that childhood friends… are the least trustworthy beings…”
And just half a minute after the girl left.
Seiryu heard a steady set of footsteps approaching.
He initially thought the person intended to sit in the seat behind him, but saw that figure simply pass by the seat behind him.
Instead, they walked directly to the seat opposite him and sat down leisurely.
“Long time no see, Lord Seiryu.” The newcomer spoke with an indelible confidence and ease; if heard by others, they would assume the two were good friends.
In reality, Seiryu had lost count of how many times he had gazed at the girl from afar. Only today did they sit face to face like this.
“That should be my line…” Seiryu slowly put down his chopsticks.
“With Lord Tenjouin here, is there anything I can assist you with?”
“I just wanted to chat with you about a small matter.”
As Tenjouin spoke from across the table, he snapped his fingers crisply.
Instantly, everyone else in the ramen shop stopped what they were doing.
Whether it was the working-class man who was eagerly eating or the chef behind the counter, everyone turned and left the shop in unison.
In less than ten seconds.
The once noisy ramen shop became incredibly quiet, leaving only Seiryu and Tenjouin.
“What a big scene, Lord Tenjouin… But if all you’re doing is chatting, is it really necessary to drive the customers away?”
“Let me clarify, those weren’t customers. They were just our staff tasting the food.”
“… Your shop?”
“I just purchased this whole shopping street, right when your childhood friend entered this shop.” Tenjouin replied blandly: “By the way, your childhood friend was the first customer, so she got a free meal and a photo opportunity with the manager.”
“But since she left in such a hurry, that prize will have to go to you instead. Want to take a picture?” As Tenjouin spoke, he pulled out Seiryu’s phone.
“… Truly living up to the Tenjouin family.” Seiryu raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
“To go through such trouble to seek me out, Lord Tenjouin. I am quite flattered; I wonder what it is you wish to know?”
“Shall we get straight to the point?”
“If possible… Otherwise, the delicious ramen will get soggy.” Seiryu shrugged. Although he bore a face of helplessness, he did not reveal even a hint of fear in front of Tenjouin.
“Well then, I apologize for being abrupt.” Tenjouin nodded.
“Let’s start with a lie you recently told.”
“May I ask which part you specifically mean…”
“Yesterday you seemed to have a ‘first meeting’ with a second-year transfer student you fell in love with at first sight and confessed to her?”
“You, Lord Tenjouin, are concerned about this kind of gossip too? And what lie are you referring to?”
“You two are not meeting for the first time, right? Ever since she applied to join Ark Academy, you’ve been investigating her using your power as student council president.”
“…” Seiryu’s expression slowly became serious upon hearing that.
“If we delve into it, it seems you had someone close to you… Ah, no, sorry, I mean your childhood friend, keep an eye on him and the people around him before Tsukimi Kanade enrolled.” Tenjouin’s crimson eyes stared unwaveringly at Seiryu, “May I ask why you did that?”
“… If you’ve managed to investigate this much, shouldn’t you have known the answer by now, Lord Tenjouin?”
—————–
“Fuko-chan? What are you doing here…?”
Under the sunset.
Nagi looked curiously at the silhouette ahead on the road.
The other party seemed to have been waiting there for a long time, her short hair fluttering in the breeze, revealing a serious expression on her face.
“Hello, Miyazuki-san.” Fuko politely bent slightly to greet her.
“I have something to discuss with you, can we talk for a moment?”
Although they were separated by a fair distance and Fuko’s words were very polite, Nagi felt an undeniable sense of pressure that couldn’t be refused.
Unable to find a reason to decline, Nagi merely nodded.
If one were to pinpoint the last moment they met, it would have been this morning after that embarrassing incident in her room.
—Could she have come to talk about that?
However, this thought quickly faded from Nagi’s mind.
Because from Fuko’s demeanor, it didn’t seem like a relaxed visit.
If she had to say it.
Nagi could only feel a distinct “hostile” gaze from Fuko.
The two walked together along the campus illuminated by the sunset.
Due to the tense atmosphere emanating from Fuko, neither of them spoke, just silently continuing forward.
Nagi observed Fuko trying to stop several times, but she seemed to hesitate and continued to stride forward.
For this, Nagi could only silently follow behind, waiting for the moment she found the courage to speak.
In the vague distance, she began to understand what this situation was about.
Unconsciously.
They were getting closer to Shiki Hall.
Was it that she realized that if she didn’t speak, she would miss her chance? Fuko stopped at the last intersection before Shiki Hall and turned around.
The twilight glow shone upon the two girls.
With only the two of them around, their long shadows intertwined.
“I have something that I absolutely must say to you, Miyazuki-san—”
With her back facing the setting sun, the golden light outlined her figure.
She raised her hands to her chest, as if summoning her final courage.
If this were a gal game, this scene would likely be the protagonist’s confession CG.
Nagi couldn’t help but think.
But unfortunately, this time she wasn’t the protagonist.
This moment was less a sweet and ambiguous confession, and more filled with tension—
“I—like you, Tsukimi-san!” Fuko shouted, as if she could no longer contain her feelings and was venting them out.
Indeed, this was the moment of turmoil between the girl protagonists.
Every aspect of Fuko, from her expression and posture to her words, was flawless.
“Although you’ve helped me, and I know you’re a kind and gentle person, I… I won’t back down. I like Tsukimi-san more than anyone else—”
Proclaiming her feelings to the girl who suddenly appeared beside the boy she admired.
At this moment, Fuko’s pose perfectly illustrated this sentiment.
—So that’s how it is.
Watching this scene unfold, Nagi couldn’t help but smile slightly in her heart.
—So you stayed by Kanade-kun’s side for so long, but he still didn’t notice your feelings for him?
—So this is the kind of impression I give others?
“Nishikawa-san.” Nagi’s voice was incredibly calm.
She could have used her acting skills, which she excelled at, to lighten the atmosphere and prevent anyone from witnessing this scene.
But for some reason, she lost the will to do so.
Facing the girl who had a “one-sided affection” for Kanade, Nagi slowly opened her mouth and said deliberately:
“Do you really like Kanade-kun?”
“Eh? Of course, if it weren’t for you suddenly showing up—”
“—Nishikawa Fuko.” Nagi precisely captured the rhythm of the other’s speech using her performing skills from her days as a child star, interrupting her calmly and decisively.
“I’d like to ask you again, do you truly like Kanade-kun?”
“I…” Fuko, who wanted to speak again, inexplicably faltered.
She had rehearsed everything, simulated Nagi’s responses, and envisioned hundreds of lines to respond.
But when she truly stood in front of Nagi, facing her deep, dark eyes, she inexplicably felt as though her innermost thoughts were being scrutinized.
Do I… really like Tsukimi Kanade? Fuko repeated the question in her mind like a parrot.
No, this—
—doesn’t matter.
“I—”
“Goodbye, traitor.” A low voice came from afar, rendering her momentarily speechless.
“Watch out—”
In the next moment, the shockwave and light of an explosion overwhelmed her senses.
The last sight she had was that of Nagi abruptly lunging toward her.
The massive explosion echoed across the entire Artificial Academy Island.
—————–
“Kanade, you seem strange today?”
After school.
Fuko left the classroom earlier than usual compared to other days.
Uemon, as usual, walked over to Kanade’s seat.
He noticed Kanade appearing absent-minded, subtly sensing that something had happened, and couldn’t help but ask.
Kanade’s mind returned to reality due to Uemon’s question.
“Ah, Uemon? Has school ended already?”
“Are you planning to ask for leave for after-school training?” Uemon asked with some concern.
“… Do I look that bad today?”
Ever since that incident this morning, Kanade had been lost in thought.
Though he had learned from the discipline committee member that Nagi seemed unconcerned about it — no, rather, the innocently naïve her didn’t know what had happened.
But did that mean that if Nagi found out what his childhood friend had done while she was asleep…
Just thinking about that possibility made Kanade’s legs feel weak.
He could indeed sense that his childhood friend had feelings for him that went beyond friendship, but there was a significant difference between having feelings and being willing to be viewed that way.
Especially someone like Nagi, who had no sense of distance or wariness towards the opposite sex. If she knew her childhood friend had taken such actions without her consent…
If it was an accident.
But he, at that moment, had succumbed to his own desires, taking advantage of the situation was also a fact.
From any angle, there was no doubt it was his fault.
“Sigh~” Kanade couldn’t help but let out a long sigh again.
It was all because of this incident that he declined Nagi’s invitation to walk back to the dorm together after school.
He still hadn’t figured out how to face Nagi, so he had been troubled.
It would be normal for Uemon to worry upon seeing him in this state, right?
“How to put this… Rather than today, recently, you’ve been acting strangely.”
Uemon tilted his head, pondering for a moment, and then seemed to come to a decision as he spoke up.
“The Kanade I once knew wasn’t like this.”
“What do you mean?”
Kanade couldn’t help but lift his head curiously in response to Uemon’s unforeseen statement.
“Hey, Kanade, do you dislike your childhood friend?”
“Huh? Why do you ask that?” There was no way he could dislike little Nagi.
“But you’ve been looking troubled lately.” Uemon casually grabbed a chair and sat across from Kanade.
“I… have I really been frowning all the time?” If it was just yesterday or today, Kanade could accept that.
After all, their reunion had been marred by that embarrassing incident, certainly not a situation worth smiling about.
But if it was “lately”…
“You should really like your childhood friend, right? After all, many works are themed around that.” Uemon seemed to be trying to explain from another perspective.
However, his words made Kanade nervously glance around at their classmates.
Seeing that they did not react at all, he finally relaxed slightly and replied, “W-What does that have to do with the subject?”
“Tsk tsk~” Uemon shook his finger, “Kanade, interests do not lie.”
“But… What I don’t understand is… why hasn’t your face shown much joy since Miyazuki-san’s arrival, and instead, you’ve been looking worried?”
“Am I… really expressing that kind of emotion?”
“Perhaps you don’t realize it yourself, but it’s very obvious to others.” Seeing Kanade’s reaction, Uemon couldn’t help but sigh, “I don’t know much about Miyazuki-san, but if it were any other girl, she might misunderstand that you dislike her…”
At Uemon’s words, Kanade fell silent and began to reflect on himself over the past two days.
Especially each time he wanted to confess to Nagi, he not only always halted abruptly but his expression at that moment surely wasn’t great.
Kanade had thought everything was quite normal.
But after Uemon’s reminder, he gradually realized that there was something wrong.
If he were in Nagi’s shoes, how would he feel seeing the boy he cared about always wearing that expression at such moments?
—Damn it, I’m such an idiot.
The more he thought, the angrier he felt at himself.
—Didn’t that end up harming little Nagi again? What on earth am I thinking, what am I doing?
—Clearly little Nagi had dropped hints to him numerous times, yet he had failed to recall any positive memories.
—He had repeatedly taken advantage of little Nagi’s fondness for him without restraint…
—So that’s how it is…
—I…
“Looks like you’ve figured it out~” Uemon nodded slowly, observing Kanade’s reaction.
“… Ah, I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“Not just that, but your entire demeanor has changed~”
“There’s more?!” Kanade exclaimed in surprise.
“Clearly, the previous Kanade, despite lacking powers, was brimming with confidence in whatever he did… But now, it feels like you’ve become hesitant… second-guessing everything you do…”
Uemon crossed his arms over his chest, seemingly reminiscing about Kanade’s actions of late.
In response, Kanade fell silent.
Before he even knew Nagi was coming to Ark Academy.
The only thought that had continuously occupied his mind was to leave Ark Academy and return to Nagi.
But once Nagi came to Ark Academy, had he changed?
“After all, you’re just an arrogant fool.”
An unexpected voice came through.
Kanade turned his head in the direction of the voice.
The speaker was none other than his classmate, Ryuuzaki Takayuki.
The previous day, he had confronted Kanade, but the encounter had fizzled out due to Nagi’s intervention.
However, today he wasn’t followed by his minions.
“What do you want?” Uemon didn’t seem welcoming of his arrival.
“Kanade, what did you mean by what you just said?” Kanade, unusually, countered.
“You don’t need to listen to this guy’s words—”
“—Sorry, but that is one thing I can’t pretend I didn’t hear.” Kanade interrupted Uemon.
In the moment he came to consciousness, he found himself grabbing Ryuuzaki by the collar.
But there was no anger in his gaze.
Rather, this impulsive action did not stem from being provoked by Ryuuzaki.
Instead, he had caught onto a possibility from Ryuuzaki’s recent words that he had never considered before.
“Eh? What do you plan to do?!” Ryuuzaki was initially delighted by Kanade’s reaction, thinking he had finally responded directly, but then he noticed Kanade’s eyes still lacked anger.
“I said, are you arrogant? Do you have a problem with that?” Ryuuzaki grabbed Kanade’s arms.
“Arrogant…?”
“Ah! You worthless fool, stop acting like you’re the protagonist all the time!”
Ryuuzaki yanked Kanade’s hands apart forcefully while continuing his verbal assault:
“For someone like you, stop pretending to be the protagonist! You’re simply a nameless extra, a passerby, a supporting character!”
Ryuuzaki’s words struck Kanade at his very core like a thunderbolt.
“Is that so…?”
“Ha?” Ryuuzaki watched as Kanade’s face shifted from anger to joy, deepening his dissatisfaction.
“Thank you, Ryuuzaki.” It was as if Kanade had comprehended something, and he gratefully squeezed Ryuuzaki’s hands.
The latter, unable to decipher what Kanade meant, hesitated to act, losing the chance to stop Kanade from leaving the classroom.
“Hey, Kanade, where are you going?” Uemon was equally astonished, watching Kanade grab his bag and rush out of the classroom.
After waiting a while, once Kanade’s footsteps faded into the distance.
Uemon and Ryuuzaki shared a knowing glance.
“If Kanade ends up developing a mental illness because of this, Ryuuzaki, you’ll have to take care of that kid for the rest of her life, alright?”
“That has nothing to do with me!?”
…
“Little Nagi, where are you?” As Kanade sprinted through the school building, he anxiously pulled out his phone to try to contact Nagi.
After several attempts, he realized no one was answering.
Just now, Ryuuzaki’s words had awakened Kanade from his stubborn mindset.
He had always worried that Nagi would get caught up in extraordinary disasters because of him.
So he felt that he shouldn’t be with Nagi until he ensured he could leave Ark Academy and return to a normal life.
But just like Ryuuzaki said, that was a foolish notion.
Due to his past experiences, he had always regarded himself as the protagonist.
Because he was the protagonist.
Therefore, he took himself too seriously.
If all of this was merely his one-sided wish.
If he was just a nameless passerby.
“Damn it, I’m such an idiot.”
As Kanade rushed out of the school building.
He collided head-on with someone who happened to be coming out.
However, for some reason, possibly due to the fact that the other party was a boy, Kanade’s luck of a color wolf did not activate.
“Ah, ow, ow… Huh? Kanade-senpai?”
“You are…. Onitori-kun?”
Kanade was surprised to run into an unexpected person at this moment.
However, before he could apologize, he noticed a red line trickling down from Onitori’s forehead—
“Onitori-kun, blood, blood—!” Kanade exclaimed in shock.
“Eh?”
“Wait, don’t move! I’ll call an ambulance right now—!”
“Ah? You’re being overly dramatic, Kanade-senpai; I’m completely—”
“No, this is from your head… Anyway, just lie down and do nothing—”
Kanade decisively dialed the hospital’s emergency number.
And it all seemed to happen by pure coincidence.
Kanade’s plan to find Nagi was delayed due to this unexpected incident.
—————–
“I’m sorry, it’s all because I wasn’t paying attention…”
“No, it’s not your fault, Kanade-senpai; I’ve just had a string of bad luck, haha…”
At the entrance of the private hospital of Ark Academy.
Kanade was helping Onitori, who had a layer of white bandages wrapped around his head, walk out.
The sudden turn of events made Kanade worry for Onitori and he had to put aside his thoughts of apologizing to Nagi and instead followed the ambulance and Onitori to the hospital on Artificial Academy Island.
Since it is a city sized especially for those with powers, there were many private hospitals on this small island.
This allowed the hospital’s ambulance to reach the school building entrance in just a few minutes.
After learning the circumstances from Kanade, the ambulance rushed to take Onitori in for examination.
As the individual involved, Kanade naturally was also invited to ride along.
While sitting in the ambulance, Kanade couldn’t help but reminisce about his situation with Nagi from years ago.
That was probably his first time in an ambulance, right?
But fortunately, everything was fine.
After thorough examination, Onitori was found to be physically unharmed.
Perhaps as he said, his long streak of bad luck had somehow built up a very solid body.
When Kanade and Onitori exited the hospital,
unbeknownst to them, evening had crept up on them.
In the distance, the setting sun was casting golden rays over the entire Artificial Academy Island.
“Sorry about today, Kanade-senpai, for bothering you to come with me…” Onitori looked apologetic throughout, making Kanade feel a bit bashful.
After all, this was indeed his doing. If he hadn’t rushed through the school building, such a thing wouldn’t have occurred.
“Was there something urgent that Kanade-senpai was rushing for back there?” Onitori curiously asked.
“Ah, no, it wasn’t anything urgent…” At this time, Kanade finally thought about why he had been so hasty. There was no need to rush to apologize to little Nagi…
An uneasy thought inexplicably coiled around Kanade’s mind.
He vaguely felt that something was off.
Yet he couldn’t pinpoint why he had such an idea.
“By the way, aren’t we in the same dorm? Let’s return together, shall we?” Onitori suggested, seemingly inviting Kanade to share a taxi as a thank you for his help.
Since Ark Academy was a city-like school.
The campus area almost resembled that of a city.
As a result, taxis were occasionally seen within the campus itself.
To Onitori’s friendly suggestion.
Kanade felt something was off.
It was simply returning to Shiki Hall with him.
But a thought continuously swirled in Kanade’s mind—
“Mustn’t get on that car.”
“What’s the matter, Kanade-senpai?” Onitori had already called for a taxi with his phone.
And at that moment.
A dazzling firelight suddenly erupted from the distance.
Followed by a violent shockwave and vibrations—
“What is—?!”
“Hey, hey, what’s happening?”
“An explosion?”
“Is it an attack? Any response?”
“…”
As the shock of the explosion waned, many students from the special department raised their heads anxiously to look towards the direction of the explosion.
Trained as they were, they remained vigilant, observing the situation and waiting for further action from Ark Academy.
Only Kanade wore an unusual expression.
“No… Little Nagi…”
He felt he sensed something.
His eyes flashed with a golden light.
By the time he realized it.
He had already started to sprint in the direction of the explosion.
