Chapter 12

1.

“By the way, why don’t you use a gun?”

Hibiki suddenly asked me this while we were consulting together about new equipment.

It seemed like she wanted to take the opportunity, when Utaha was preoccupied with planning, to ask about something she had been curious about.

‘Hmm.’

Why fight with only fists instead of a gun?

As everyone knows, the basic armament of Kiburatos is the ‘gun.’ In the game, the use of fists is almost unheard of, as the gun is a nearly universal weapon and considered common sense in Kiburatos.

Which is why my style must have caught people’s attention.

I maintain order by only using my fists and techniques, without ever using a gun, while defeating countless enemies.

But there was a clear reason for this.

I told this to Hibiki.

“I can’t protect the citizens that way.”

“…Why?”

Hibiki’s “Why” was probably a question that arose from a clear understanding of the difference between guns and fists.

Logically, a gun is stronger at long range and can more reliably knock down enemies than fists.

But…

To me, a gun was simply a weapon that ‘takes away choices.’

“I always have to be ready to act next to the citizens. If I have to suddenly move toward a citizen or reach out my hand to them, I can’t be holding a gun, right?”

“Oh… That does make sense…”

“Moreover, fists are a way to reliably break down the opponents’ bodies unlike guns. When enemies point their guns at the citizens, I can grab their hands to twist or break the guns. Furthermore, I can even read the direction of the bullets and block them with my hands.”

“True. You did have reasons.”

Hibiki, who is very interested in my hero activities, had a spark in her eyes after hearing my actions. She even started wagging her tail and gazing at me with admiration. This was rather cute.

To which I jokingly added,

“Of course, it’s also because it’s cooler that way.”

“Ah, it certainly looks cool…”

Hibiki nodded while playing along with my joke. To be honest, there were various other reasons as well, but the biggest ones were those.

“So that’s why I’ve asked Utaha-senpai and Hibiki for a favor.”

“This weapon order from earlier?”

“Yes. Since I always fight with my fists, I need to strengthen that aspect. The enemies we will fight this time aren’t ordinary, so please bear with me.”

“Got it. Don’t worry. I’ll make something that can defeat tough opponents.”

Perhaps because she saw my troubled expression, Hibiki suddenly ruffled my hair and raised her thumb to assure me. Laughing, I gave her a small smile and placed a snack in her mouth as a token of gratitude.

“I’ll come back victorious. Thanks.”

“Uh-huh. You must win.”

With Hibiki’s encouragement, I felt determined that I absolutely could not lose in this upcoming fight.

—

2.

“That’s Wakamo’s current hideout right there.”

As soon as the meeting started after arriving at the room, Himari projected a hologram into the air, indicating a certain point on the outskirts of D.U. with an arrow.

Wakamo’s hideout, huh.

According to Himari’s explanation, Wakamo would be stationed there for a few days while laying out plans as she had before and was preparing to orchestrate another terrorist act.

“…Are you sure?”

“Ho ho, of course we are! After all, this is something our very own Amy personally confirmed, right, Amy?”

“Uh-huh. Sure thing. I even confirmed her presence directly with a telescope from a distance.”

The definitive answers from both of them were given.

However, I couldn’t help but show a subtle reaction. Whenever we had tried to trace her before, Wakamo had been fleeing. And now, she suddenly reveals her hideout like this?

As if reading my thoughts, Himari smirked and nudged my shoulder.

“Ho ho. Are you thinking it’s a trap, Nanashi-kun?”

“…Yeah. Isn’t it kind of suspicious?”

“That’s right. Of course it’s a trap.”

“Eh?”

Certainly a trap?

Confident in her tone, Himari made me instinctively glance at Amy. You said you confirmed it, Amy.

“I just said I confirmed it.”

“…”

“Wakamo knows we’ve been tracing her. And yet, she openly revealed her hideout like this. This action means only one thing.”

Wakamo is the type who even sets fire to escape tracking.

And now, all of a sudden, instead of avoiding detection, she’s calmly staying in one place?

Thus-

“Are you waiting for me?”

“Yes. That’s exactly it. There’s a possibility that she simply gave up on evading, but Wakamo isn’t the type to do so.”

There must be a motive behind this.

That’s how Himari explained the situation.

“Hmpf, then why didn’t you say that from the start?”

“Ho ho, this is my revenge, Nanashi. How dare you wake me up from my peaceful slumber! That’s a huge sin against me, the greatest genius sickly schoolgirl hacker of Millennium?”

“That was… my fault. I’m sorry.”

“Because I am broad-minded and the top schoolgirl hacker, I will accept your apology this time. But please don’t do that in the future.”

As I nodded, Himari giggled and was happy.

Then, Amy, who had been watching Himari’s expression, suddenly threw out a comment.

“Himari-senpai. Despite saying this, you seemed to like it before.”

“Sh, shut up, Amy! When did I ever smile foolishly and get happy?! I solemnly swear, on the honor of the genius hacker that I am, that such thing never happened!”

“But I didn’t say anything to that degree.”

“Shut up!”

“…Let’s continue this meeting, all of us.”

It was getting unnecessarily embarrassing.

Thus, Himari cleared her throat and nudged her wheelchair to regain focus.

Thereafter, Himari-senpai also began to talk about Wakamo’s real purpose.

“Based on my analysis, Kosaka Wakamo suffers from extreme distrust towards humans. I found during the investigation that she experienced a significant betrayal in her past, after which she turned into a delinquent who instigated various crimes and calamities.”

“…”

“This part is merely speculation and profiling from me. I think that Wakamo has a strong aversion to your hero activities, Nanashi-kun. Since she fundamentally cannot trust humans, she came to negatively perceive your rescues of people out of pure goodwill.”

Wakamo’s distrust of people and her character were also revealed in the game, especially in the teacher’s story.

Betrayal by someone and the subsequent descent and change.

This transformed Kosaka Wakamo into the ‘Disaster Fox’ and led her to live in endless destructive impulses and instincts for battle.

‘That was revealed even in her skill names.’

However, why did those traits of Wakamo manifest as resentment and trials against my hero activities?

“Perhaps, she instinctively sensed it, similar to how you have an extraordinary gut feeling.”

“…Instinct?”

“Her actions, from your point of view, are nothing but those of a villain, right? So, Wakamo instinctively recognized you as her adversary and, in the process of investigating you, felt deep interest and resentment… That’s the hypothesis.”

Indeed, it was a logical argument.

Even I had thought that there would eventually come a day when I would clash with Wakamo directly due to my tendencies.

It was simply hastened by a certain trigger.

“Well, then, Wakamo’s real purpose is…?”

“Disclosing your limits, revealing the true face behind your heroism. Bringing down you, who have been everyone’s hope and symbol of virtue. That, I believe, is Wakamo’s purpose.”

“…Hmm.”

What an amusing and unfortunate situation.

A girl who fell due to human malice and now cannot trust in goodness.

And me, who was unable to forgive such human malice and thus chose to give others goodwill.

Perhaps fundamentally, we are incompatible.

‘I don’t know. Who could have known?’

That even our relationship would deteriorate to this extent. Even the teacher might not have known.

But, my duty was already determined.

“Are we going, junior?”

“We have to go.”

In response to my answer, Himari chuckled and grabbed my hand.

As if suddenly fidgeting with my hand, she then tapped it and gave a confident smile.

“I knew you would. Then, see you later.”

“Take care.”

“Yes. I’ll be back.”

With my familiar fox mask on my face, I left the room with the ‘weapon’ I had prepared.

Now, it was time to bring to a close my battle with the fox.

Just one thing.

I didn’t intend to simply end it with this incident.

“Hello?”

I placed a call outside the room to someone.

—

3.

“You’ve arrived. The city’s hero, Silk.”

“…Wakamo.”

When I arrived at the location Himari had informed me of, there was Wakamo, in the same game-like appearance I remembered, waiting for me.

Our masks are alike but hers is a little more vibrant.

I wonder what expression Wakamo has beneath that mask.

Contempt? Or perhaps hatred or anger?

I can’t know.

I only understand the situation laid out before me at this moment.

As I clenched my fists with a look of resignation, Wakamo tilted her head while observing me, and then asked.

“Wouldn’t you, the hero, normally start by saying something about my ethical flaws?”

“There’s no need since we both know it already.”

“Ha! What do you think you know about me?”

Wakamo asked me, her voice slightly agitated, showing annoyance.

What do I know about Wakamo?

I know many things.

Her likes, her past and future…

And even the person she will fall in love with.

But.

“Isn’t it enough to know that we are enemies now? Is there anything more important to discuss here?”

That story wasn’t necessary now.

“Hahahaha! Of course, there wouldn’t be!”

<Bang-!>

Wakamo stomped on the ground forcefully, taking a stance as if ready to pounce at any moment like a wild animal.

Then she began to radiate a menacing aura towards me. Feeling the chilling hostility, my expression stiffened behind my mask.

“You continue to insist on portraying yourself as a hero until the end, pure, virtuous, the hope of everyone…”

“…”

“How commendable you are. A hero…”

Her voice escalated with intensity,

But quickly, she reverted to a cold and disrespectful tone.

“…A person like that doesn’t exist in this world.”

So, the person in front of me.

Likewise would be just another calamity like everyone else.

That is the tear streaming from a girl betrayed by humans,

And at once, the sadness of a student who ultimately crumbles.

“Is that…”

The reason you were drawn to the teacher.

The appearance of a ‘man’ who doesn’t exist in this world.

The infinite affection towards students evident in his voice.

And an instructor’s conviction pure enough to cleanse her past self.

To Wakamo, the teacher wasn’t ‘human.’

Not the kind who betrayed her, but a new savior.

I understood what the teacher meant to Wakamo.

Why she became so fixated on him, why she fell in love with him.

But.

“Then, beg that person for forgiveness.”

That wasn’t the reason for me to forgive her.

I don’t teach someone but punish them.

Hero. That is my role after all.

“I’ll hear the story after everything is over.”

That was the decision I made.

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