ch41-ch60 · 046-ch46

Chapter 46: Kido Mizuki

"One-two! Put your voice into it! One-two! More!"

"One-two! One-two!"

It was during the midday holiday, when we were playing Captain Sword's video after sparring.

Maybe because I've been building up stamina, I can now handle the exercises after sparring without trouble.

So this is an Awakener's physical fitness, even if I'm G-Rank.

"Alright, lock up for me."

I glanced over at my sister, and she was already changed out of her sportswear and into normal clothes.

"Aww, one more round!"

"No way. I've got stuff to do."

My sister having plans, that's rare.

And aren't those some really nice clothes?

She said goodbye to Lumiel, who was sitting blankly by the door, and quickly left the training ground.

I figured she didn't have to push herself to stick with me if she had things to do, but still, I felt grateful for her kindness.

I want to repay this by passing the exam.

"Guess I'll head home too..."

I was about to stop the video to get ready to leave — when I noticed it.

"That's a good pace! One-two! More! One-two!"

"Wait, this is Sis's phone."

She said she had things to do... isn't it bad if she forgot this?

When I closed the video, the screen showed a picture of my sister and me as little kids.

"Lumiel, let's go after Sis."

"Fly?"

"Nah, my body probably couldn't take that..."

Saying that, we locked up and hurried out of the training ground.

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"That's weird..."

Surprisingly, I found my sister pretty close by.

Found her, yeah — but something was off about where she was going.

"Where's she going buying flowers?"

After stopping at a flower shop, my sister started walking again.

Part of me wanted to call out to her, but the atmosphere made it hard to approach. I couldn't read her expression well, but it didn't look like she was going on a date or anything.

"Akira's acquaintance died?"

"Hey, don't say stuff like that..."

"But this is a cemetery."

"Ah."

Where she'd arrived was a large cemetery.

In an open grassy area, a big monument stood.

The names of Hunters who'd fallen in the battles surrounding the World Clock were engraved small on the stone tablet. Their remains are probably interred with their ancestors, so it's more of a memorial monument carved with proof of their lives than a grave.

"Sis..."

As I watched from the shade of a tree, my sister placed flowers there and offered a silent prayer.

Whether it was aimed at a specific individual or dedicated to all Hunters — I couldn't tell from her expression.

'Hunters live carrying the weight of lives they couldn't save. Sometimes your comrades die right in front of you. Even then, will you do it?'

My sister's words echoed in my head.

My sister quit being a Hunter because of something. If the reason was here, then maybe those words were directed at herself too.

"I really don't know anything about my sister, do I?"

My sister, who protected me with everything she had when I was being chased by the government and the Association over Descent Arts. My sister, who spars with me for the Hunter Exam.

Meanwhile, I'd never done anything for her as family while she was struggling as a Hunter.

I don't know if this is why, but she must've been pushed to the point of quitting being a Hunter, and yet she stayed quiet so I wouldn't worry.

I'm always receiving and never giving anything back.

"Akira left, you know."

"..."

"Koh."

I need to properly learn why my sister quit being a Hunter. And if there's anything I can do for her, I want to help with everything I've got. I want to make it up to her.

"Huh, where's Sis?"

When I looked up, she was gone. Lumiel was looking up at me with an exasperated expression.

"Akira already went home, I told you."

"What! But I haven't given her her phone back yet!"

"I said it multiple times."

Lumiel puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

Sorry, I totally didn't notice.

"Actually, she should have the guild phone (I got issued one too), so I can just message her on that."

With that, I sent a message saying "You forgot your phone, want me to bring it to your place?" when I noticed a pair — a man and a woman — heading toward the memorial monument.

"Is that..."

The two stopped in front of the monument, offered flowers like my sister had, and bowed their heads in prayer.

One of them was a face I recognized — Narashima Hunter, who'd been through the brink of death with me the other day.

Standing beside him, close like she was nestling in, was a quiet-looking girl about half his height.

"Narashima-san?"

At my words, Narashima Hunter slowly turned around.

His expression carried a shadow, and the girl next to him had faint tear tracks glistening at the corners of her eyes.

"Oh, Maeda-san, what a coincidence. Here to visit a grave?"

"Well, uh, I was looking for my sister and ended up here..."

"I see. I see your sister here often too."

As we talked, the girl and I made eye contact.

Age-wise, she seemed about high school age, but something about her expression, or maybe her presence, felt oddly mature.

Narashima Hunter looked down at the girl beside him.

"Allow me to introduce you. This is Kido Mizuki."

"Ah... I'm Maeda Hagane. And this is Lumiel."

Lumiel gave a small bow behind me too.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Kido Mizuki."

Kido Mizuki-san gave a slight shy smile, then her face turned sad again as she looked at the memorial monument.

"I'm the younger sister of Kido Ryuji, who was killed in action the other day."

She continued in a voice that seemed like it might fade away.

Kido Ryuji — the Guild Master of Cross Guild, an S-Rank Hunter who lost his life in the depths of the World Clock.

I see. So she's...

"About what happened —"

"Thank you."

Before I could finish, she looked me in the eye and bowed her head.

"I wanted to thank you both directly."

"Thank us? But we didn't..."

Mizuki-san slowly shook her head as she straightened up, giving a small smile.

"The reason I was able to come to terms with the reality of my brother's death sooner is because Narashima-san told me directly. If it had been someone else, I think I still wouldn't be able to believe it even now."

"..."

Narashima Hunter said nothing, quietly listening.

"I heard that Narashima-san was able to come back alive because of you two and Kunimori-kun. So... thank you. I'm sorry I couldn't come see you sooner."

I couldn't understand the meaning of her words at first.

I remembered the families of fallen Hunters on the news programs, voicing their resentment toward us. There had been zero casualties after Lumiel joined up, but it's only natural for emotions to come before logic.

If they needed to direct their anger at us to find some peace, I was fine with that. That's what I'd thought.

We couldn't save them.

We couldn't save Kido-san.

And yet, this girl...

Her sincere words made the back of my eyes burn.

When I couldn't answer, Narashima Hunter looked up at the memorial monument and murmured.

"I'm going to live as a Hunter for the rest of my life, until I die. I'll defeat enemies in Ryuji's place and save people. That's the only atonement I can make."

"..."

At those words, Mizuki-san silently wept.

'Hunters live carrying the weight of lives they couldn't save. Sometimes your comrades die right in front of you. Even then, will you do it?'

My sister's words echoed in my head again.

From what I'd read in the report, Kido Hunter's death wasn't Narashima Hunter's fault. Even so, he'll keep fighting from now on, carrying this girl's feelings too.

And me too...

Beep beep, beep beep.

Narashima Hunter's phone rang.

"Sorry, work. Can you get home on your own?"

"Ah, in that case, I'll walk her home."

I said that and shifted my gaze to Mizuki-san.

She didn't seem to be showing any signs of reluctance...

"Appreciate it. Well then, see you tomorrow."

"Yeah. Take care, Narashima-san."

Narashima Hunter turned back to me, gave a small bow saying "I'm counting on you," and hurried away.

Once he was out of sight, Mizuki-san spoke again.

"He comes here every day, Narashima-san."

I wondered what kind of relationship Narashima Hunter and Kido Hunter had when they were alive.

According to Kunimori-kun, Kido Hunter called Narashima Hunter "Brother." It wasn't hard to imagine they were close.

"I'm really happy that he cares so much about my brother. But I'm worried that someday he'll break down from it... Ah, I'm sorry. For bringing that up."

"No, no, I can't exactly say it's none of my business either. If you don't mind, could you tell me more about your brother and Narashima-san's relationship?"

"...Alright. Then let's move somewhere else."

We left the memorial monument and headed toward a nearby bench.

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Volume 1 is out now, thanks to all of you! Thank you so much.

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