Volume 8, Chapter 14

August 11th, AD 2092 / Okinawa - Airforce base ~ Villa

The two days after that passed by normally.

That person followed me around as always, and I treated him the same as always. I thought I’d try being nicer to my brother. —No, I still think so.

I thought that if I did so, something might be changed.

But it only served as a constant reminder that habits, once ingrained, cannot be so easily corrected.

Yesterday, and the day before, I again as always, treated him selfishly. There are seven days left of our two week vacation. In those seven days, I will most likely treat him the same again and again. I cannot overcome myself.

....If it were one week ago, I wouldn’t even have noticed.

Just what is happening to me?

I don’t understand myself. I don’t understand what it is I desire.

In a state of melancholy, I supposed I had to pass this day as well with such thoughts clouding my mind.

But, happily — saying so may be far too impudent, yet it seemed that would no longer be the case — I no longer have the luxury of such thoughts.

Just as I was finishing breakfast, emergency alerts started blaring from all the devices and equipment around.

The ones issuing the alarm were the armed forces.

In other words, an attack by a foreign power.

I stared intently at the screen, as if to devour it.

"An invasion is underway from the West sea."

"There has been no declaration of war."

"The attack force is a fleet of ballistic missile submarines."

"Currently, they are semi-submerged and are attacking the Kerama Islands."

At that flood of unfamiliar words, panic threatened to overwhelm me. The only words which stuck were ‘ballistic missile submarine’. Was the submarine we encountered on our cruise a harbinger of this event?

"Please allow me to convey this to Maya-sama as soon as possible!" Sakurai-san could not hide her impatience as she made her request. "Yes, please do."

And as she nodded, neither could Okaa-sama hide her nervousness. I thought, no wonder.

I myself certainly hadn’t considered that we’d suddenly find ourselves in the middle of a war with no warning.

The TV anchor from earlier was making repeated calls for everyone to ‘please stay calm’, although he himself didn’t exactly look like a figure of composure either.

Of course. Saying something like ‘don’t panic’ in a situation like this is far more ludicrous.

The reason I wasn’t truly panicking was because I simply didn’t have that sense of reality. I think I saw everything as if it were someone else's problem, and kept myself in a sort of escapism.

But....what about this person?

My brother, reading in silence from a small terminal rapidly scrolling with data far more detailed than the TV reports, seemed to have misplaced his human emotions such as agitation and tension elsewhere.

In a calm atmosphere, seeming as if considering all this a mere intellectual exercise, if someone had called him a complex android I might have even been inclined to agree with them.

Does my brother not feel that this is really happening, the same as me? Or does he really, simply not feel anything at all?

As I stared, my brother made an ‘oh?’ face.

Just as I was thinking "what is it?", my brother took a communication terminal out from the breast pocket of his summer jacket.

"Yes, this is Shiba....no, I should be thanking you for the other day....to the base, you say?"

From his response, I guessed that the ones on the line must be our recent acquaintances from the Defense Forces, the Captain and his squad. But the base should be in a state of war at the moment, what could it possibly be?

"I appreciate the offer, but....no....yes, I’ll try talking with my mother.... alright, I’ll contact you later."

As he finished the call, it was no longer just me staring at my brother.

Turning to Okaa-sama who was seated on the couch, my brother stood up and bowed.

"Madam."

Facing his real mother, that person addressed her so.

Why, at such a time, does that pain come back to me, as if it was squeezing my heart?

This pain which I had never felt before one week ago.

"We have received an offer from Captain Kazama at Onna Air Force base, to shelter in the base."

"Eh!?"

Involuntarily, I let out a sound.

He’s only met us twice, and only one of them really counts as a meeting, so why....?

Unbelievable things were piling up one after the other such that my emotions were almost saturated, but the surprises didn’t stop there.

"Madam."

Sakurai-san held out a cordless voice communication unit, a so called ‘handset’. "It’s a call from Maya-sama."

This time not even an ‘eh’ came out. A call from Aunt?

To Okaa-sama?

Okaa-sama and Aunt are twins, and generally speaking it’s not too unusual for them to converse, but....it is an open secret amongst the Yotsuba that Okaa-sama and Aunt don’t really get along well.

They don’t openly come to blows, but their relationship is somewhat like the Cold War.

Which was why just earlier, without even Okaa-sama contacting her....

Before my eyes, a different sort of nervousness appearing on her face, Okaa-sama took the headset.

"Hello, Maya? ....Yes, it’s me. ....I see. I guess you’ve been using your influence.... But, wouldn’t moving be dangerous? ....I suppose....alright.

Thanks."

After she finished talking, Okaa-sama handed the headset back to Sakurai-san. "Madam. What did Maya-sama have to say?"

Taking the headset, Sakurai-san asked that natural question. "She has arranged for us to shelter with the Defense Forces."

"Then, the call Tatsuya-kun received just now."

"That would be it, it seems."

"But, wouldn’t moving be dangerous?"

"That's what I said, but,"

....Why? Wouldn’t a military shelter be sturdier and safer than a private one?

"Although we are not in an official state of hostilities, against an opponent who would launch a surprise attack like this, expecting them to comply with all the rules of war would be too much of a leap of faith."

"That....I guess so...."

Seeing Okaa-sama and Sakurai-san, then my brother’s grim expression, it’s like I’m the only one who doesn’t understand the situation. Asking them to explain everything bit by bit would be demeaning however....I guess I’ll just keep quiet for now.

"Although it wouldn’t have been too difficult, she did make the effort, so let’s try doing as Maya says. Tatsuya."

"Yes."

My brother, who had been left standing all the while, reacted with a snap. ....

Since the person himself wasn’t making a dissatisfied face, surely there was no reason for me to be feeling this.

"Contact the Captain and tell him, we accept. Also, request a pickup if possible."

"Certainly."

It almost seemed to me as if everything petty was being pushed onto my brother, but, I’m sure that was just me overthinking things.

Somehow, I had predicted this.

The soldier who came to take us to the base, was none other than Lance Corporal Joseph Higaki.

"Tatsuya, sorry to keep ya waiting!"

"Joe, thanks for coming all this way."

"C’mon man, there’s no need to be so formal." Lance Corporal Higaki gave a bright cheerful smile.

My brother in contrast looked slightly reserved, but was still far more expressive than usual.

No matter how you look at it, the attitude he directed to this Lance Corporal whom we had just recently met was far friendlier than that he ever had towards our family.

Okaa-sama’s furrowed brow was no doubt in disapproval towards this rude behavior.

It couldn’t possibly be that she was displeased that my brother would open up more to others than his own relatives right?

Whether noticing Okaa-sama’s displeased expression, or Sakurai-san’s impatient manner, Lance Corporal Higaki stowed the familiar attitude and, snapping to attention, gave a salute.

"By order of Captain Kazama, I am here to pick you up!"

"Thank you for your efforts. Please take us there."

"Ma’am!"

As the Lance Corporal delivered his message in a somewhat more enthusiastic manner than strictly necessary, Sakurai-san replied with a bit of a wince.

Lance Corporal Higaki showed no sign of noticing.

....Truth be told I had wished I were more worried earlier, but now I was able to at least understand a bit better why they were concerned about getting to the base.

The roads were flooded with evacuating civilians, the blaring of the stuck military vehicle’s horn lost amidst the crucible of chaos — was a scene I didn’t see.

As if the island were quietly holding its breath, the only vehicles on the roads were dark toned military ones.

The atmosphere, rather than a state of alarm, seemed more like a state of martial law. —Although I’ve only ever seen both in videos before, so I don’t exactly know the truth.

Riding in a Defense Forces car, without once being stopped at a checkpoint, without once coming under attack from an enemy, we reached the base uneventfully.

An hour had already passed since the attack began, and despite being taken by complete surprise by the yet unidentified enemy, the Navy and Air Force seemed to be managing to hold them off at the shore.

Unless you had intel from the actual island in question, you’d have no way of knowing anything was actually happening and simply have to take the military’s word for it.

Surprisingly, we weren’t the only civilians who had been evacuated to the base.

Although it wasn’t quite in the hundreds, the number of people here seemed pretty close.

In addition to us, five other civilians had been guided to this underground shelter.

It’s none of my business, but I can’t help wondering that considering the threat of enemy attack, is it really okay to invite such a large number of unrelated and useless people?

Perhaps, even we—even I, will end up having to fight.

I cannot just rely on Sakurai-san. Okaa-sama was seated on a couch, still recovering. And it will be Sakurai-san’s duty to defend her.

Until today I have never had the experience of battle, but my combat magic abilities have been judged to be no less than those of a grown magician.

That was Sakurai-san’s judgement, so it’s reliable enough.

Yet that alone wasn’t enough to dispel my anxieties, and I glanced over subtly at the neighboring seat.

My brother had sat down on the chair next to mine.

Normally he’d always stand just a bit aside or behind me, but now we were sitting next to each other so as to not draw any attention.

In his breast pocket, two CADs were hidden and ready for use at any time.

I’m unsure if this person has anything which could be considered ‘combat experience’ either, but unlike me, he has plenty of experience killing people.

It wasn’t some paltry number like five or ten either.

I had not verified such scenes with my own eyes, but since there’s no benefit in lying to me about it, it’s definitely the truth.

In support of that experience, my brother maintained perfect composure. His eyes didn’t wander nervously, nor did his body tremble.

Looking at my brother, my anxiety melted away just a little. Once more....thinking that, I looked over again.

For some reason, our eyes met. Eh? Eh? Wha? Why?

"Are you alright, Miyuki?" ....!

As agreed three days ago, that person called me ‘Miyuki’. Unlike that time, not pretend-friendly, but a soft, gentle voice. "I’m right here."

....That’s, cheating....!

I don’t know what expression I should make.

I don’t know what expression I’m making right now.

Hey! Get a grip me! This is just the suspension bridge effect*! Like a horror house! Stockholm syndrome..

..Is somewhat different from this situation, but anyway, it’s all in my head! Seriously, now of all times, hitting on your actual sister is way too inappropriate!

He himself probably had no such intention, but that’s totally irrelevant, no rather, that’s just infuriating!

I glared at my brother.

Doing so, my brother abruptly rose from his chair. Eh? Was I really, making such an unpleasant face?

—Actually, as if not allowing my idealistic naivety to proceed any further, events were proceeding at a rapid pace. I found that out soon enough.

? ? ?

It wasn’t just my brother who had suddenly stood up. One breath later, Sakurai-san also knocked aside her chair.

The strangers seated with us, wearing startled expressions, stared at Sakurai-san and that person.

"Tatsuya-kun, that was...."

"Sakurai-san, you heard it as well?"

"Then, there really were gunshots....!"

"It wasn’t a pistol but full auto, probably an assault rifle." ....Eh? That means, the enemy is here!?

Why?

Isn’t this place right in the heart of a military base? "Do you know the situation?"

"No, from here is....the walls of this room appear to block magic."

"Yes....it seems, a traditional barrier magic has been erected. Not just this room, but the entire building has been covered to prevent magical reconnaissance."

"We can still use magic just fine within the room however."

Sakurai-san showed agreement to my brother’s words. I had had no idea....

"Hey, y-you guys are magicians?"

Unexpectedly, a man sitting a little apart from us called out to Sakurai-san and my brother. He wore well cut clothes, and appeared to be a man of status. The ones sitting with him were likely his family.

"Yes?"

At that sudden voice, Sakurai-san answered in a dubious tone. The man continued in a rather pompous manner, although I think it was mainly bravado.

"Then, have a look at what’s going on." ....The heck?

It’s like he’s talking to some employees. That’s so....!

"....We are unaffiliated with the base."

Sakurai-san also replied in an offended tone.

Under duress it seems one’s true nature shows itself, but there is no obligation to engage with total strangers, especially ones who hold no interest to you, she was probably thinking.

However, Sakurai-san’s natural point was lost on this man. "That’s irrelevant. You lot are magicians right?"

"Yes, I said we were."

This man wasn’t even listening to Sakurai-san’s words. "Then isn’t it your natural obligation to serve humans?" ....!

No way, for people to still say such things with such cold conviction....

Not to mention, right to a magician’s face....!

"Did you really mean that?"

Menace crept into Sakurai-san’s voice. Her eyes were already narrowed. Even that man flinched slightly, but his rant didn’t stop.

"I-In the first place, magicians are ‘things’ created to serve ‘people’. So it shouldn’t matter whether you’re military or not."

My shock and anger were too strong for words. This man had just uttered the unspeakable.

But the sad truth is, there are still numerous non-magicians who think such things. "I see, yet even assuming that we are indeed created existences."

Replying in my place was my brother who had until now let Sakurai-san do the speaking.

His tone was neither upset nor angry, but merely cold and cynical.

"We are under no obligation to serve you."

"Wha!?"

"Magicians, as existences who serve society and public order, are not required to follow the whims of one unknown individual."

To serve society and public order is a phrase in the ‘Charter of the International Association of Magic’ well known even to non-magicians. Of course, this man likely knows it as well.

"Y-You impertinent child!" Hence this reaction.

That man yelled red faced at my brother.

Looking at my brother’s eyes, they were filled with contempt and pity.

"Honestly....as an adult, aren’t you ashamed to act like that in front of your children?"

Although they had used the same word ‘child’, the meaning was completely different.

The unknown man looked back at his family with a start. His family was looking back at him.

His own children, seeing his childish outburst, stared at him in contempt. To the trembling man’s back, my brother delivered the coup de grace.

"You seem to be misunderstanding something....in this country, more than 80% of magicians came about through lineage and ancestry. Even including partial treatment, the number of biologically ‘made’ magicians does not even reach 20%."

"Tatsuya."

Bringing matters to a close was Okaa-sama. She most likely didn’t have any such intentions though.

Speaking in a languid voice from the sofa, Okaa-sama called my brother’s name. My brother took his eyes off the trembling man’s back.

"What is it?"

"Go see and report on the situation outside."

As usual, my mother gave instructions in an indifferent tone. But unusually, my brother frowned.

"....More so than knowing the situation outside is the possibility that harm may befall you in here. In my current state, I cannot protect Miyuki from a remote location."

"Miyuki?"

In a cold voice, Okaa-sama cut through my brother’s objections. Her eyes, frigid, narrowed.

"Tatsuya, do you remember your place?"

Only her tone remained courteous; her voice trembled along with her back. My brother called me Miyuki, because I had wished it. Yet hearing Okaa-sama’s soft imperative voice, I couldn’t even speak up in his defense.

"—My apologies."

My brother apologised with a word, and didn’t speak up any more. "....Tatsuya-kun, leave this place to me."

Breaking into that awkward atmosphere, Sakurai-san spoke up. Losing interest, Okaa-sama looked away.

"Understood. I’m going."

Bowing in Okaa-sama’s direction, he left the room.

Neither my brother, nor Okaa-sama, so much as spared one glance at the man’s family as they looked on with frightened eyes.

I can hear sounds like firecrackers coming from outside.

Of course, there’s no way they’re having a festival out there. The sound of shooting is audible even to me now.

And it’s not just gunshots which are getting closer.

A number of footsteps approached the room, and stopped outside. Sakurai-san stepped in front of Okaa-sama and me.

Her bracelet CAD was charged with psions, ready to deploy magic immediately.

It’s difficult to maintain a ready state for a prolonged period of time like this; Sakurai-san’s technique really is quite something.

I can only see her back, but she was probably glaring sharply at the door. "Excuse me! I am PFC Kinjou, Airborne second squad!"

Although maintaining her alert state, I could tell Sakurai-san’s tension decreased slightly. I was also relieved to hear voices on the other side of the door.

It seems like they’re soldiers from the base.

Standing behind the door when it opened were four young soldiers. They all seemed to be second generation Left Bloods, but I wasn’t particularly concerned. It was just the nature of the base’s locality.

Their machine guns being tinged with heat was probably a result of rushing here whilst exchanging gunfire with the enemy.

"We are here to take you to an underground shelter. Everyone, please follow us."

They were expected words, yet I hesitated. If I leave now, I’ll become separated from my brother.

"I’m sorry, but one of us went out to see the situation outside." Before I could speak, Sakurai-san talked to PFC Kinjou.

Sure enough, the PFC frowned.

"But enemy forces have penetrated deep inside the base. It’s dangerous to remain here."

To some extent, this was expected as well.

"Then, please feel free to take just those people along for now." However, Okaa-sama’s words were completely unexpected.

"I will not simply abandon my son." Sakurai-san and I exchanged a silent glance.

Although her words are completely natural if you think about it, a sense of discomfort remained.

"But...."

"You, Kinjou-kun was it. Please go ahead and take those people along, we will remain here."

The man from earlier came forwards to see what was going on, and the four soldiers, now looking grim, began talking to each other in undertones.

"....About Tatsuya-kun, couldn’t we contact Captain Kazama later and get him to meet up with us?"

In that gap, Sakurai-san spoke to Okaa-sama in a low voice. "I’m not worried about Tatsuya. That was just for face." Okaa-sama’s reply was returned under her breath.

I was forced to spend great effort to prevent my knees from knocking together. Why does Okaa-sama, to her true son, act so indifferently....?

"Then why?"

"Intuition."

"Intuition, you say?"

"Yes. Intuition that these people are not to be trusted." In an instant, Sakurai-san’s alertness flared to the max. I also forgot all my grievances.

Setting her apart from others, earning her the name Ruler of the River of

Oblivion'Mistress of Lethe', Okaa-sama’s ‘intuition’.

Okaa-sama’s specialty magic lies not in perception nor prediction magic, but is a mental interference magic, and as ‘mental’ magic users are hypothesised to be closely linked with the ‘Akashic Record’, they possess exceedingly insightful intuition....although there are exceptions, such as me.

At that time, the four soldiers also finished their consultation.

"We are very sorry, but we cannot leave you in this room. Please act responsibly, and come with us."

The words were the same as before.

But, the feeling that their attitude has suddenly become threatening, is surely just my preconception right?

"Dick!"

A new character brought rapid developments to the scene.

PFC Kinjou, upon hearing that voice, immediately opened fire on the speaker, Lance Corporal Higaki.

There are no windows in the corridor walls so I cannot tell if he was hit, but it was certain that the voice just now had been Lance Corporal Higaki, and it was also certain that PFC Kinjou had been firing at him.

The man’s family began to scream.

PFC Kinjou’s companions advanced into the room, their muzzles aimed.

Sakurai-san immediately began an activation sequence, but a ‘noise’ suddenly filled my head, like scratching glass, and the magic formula’s construction faltered.

This is, a Psion wave? Cast Jamming!?

Holding my ears and turning around, I saw that one of the four wore a brass ring. Okaa-sama was clutching her chest and slumping over!

This is bad....!

From the start, Okaa-sama had extreme sensitivity to Psions. In addition, she was no longer young, and her Psion wave resistance had fallen as of late.

The Psion waves from Cast Jamming now adversely affected her body as well. I have to stop it!

"Dick! Al! Mark! Ben! Why?"

My palms still held to my ears, I heard Lance Corporal Higaki’s voice faintly. Thank goodness, so he wasn’t hit....

"Why are you betraying us?!"

"Joe, rather, why are you so loyal to Japan!"

Between single shots—so machine guns can fire single shots as well I thought, although honestly I could care less right now—PFC Kinjou bellowed in return.

"Have you lost it, Dick! Isn’t Japan our homeland!"

"Look at how Japan has treated us! Even though we joined the army, even though we worked for the sake of Japan, we’re still just ‘Left Blood’s to them! We’re outsiders, no matter how much time passes!"

"You’re wrong! Dick, that’s just what you think! Our parents were unquestionably foreigners. Compared to the guys who have lived here for generations, it’s natural for them to treat us a bit like strangers! And yet the military! The unit! Our superiors and our comrades, treat us as brothers! Accepted us as friends!"

"Joe, that’s because you’re a magician! Because they see value in you, the military guys show you a good face!"

"Dick, are you really saying such a thing? Are you really saying that as a Left Blood you’re treated as an outsider, and as a magician I live a separate existence from you guys? Am I not your comrade, Dick!"

The sound of gunshots faltered.

And, the Cast Jamming Psion wave weakened. A chance!

Judging from this instability, the Antinite user is a non-magician without a magic field. Just because you‘re pushing a bunch of Psions, and are using a general form of Cast Jamming you can’t even control properly, thinking you can keep me, the candidate for the next Yotsuba head, down forever is a big mistake!

I cannot use a CAD. The time taken to initiate an activation sequence would be too much.

The only magic I can use then, is that.

The mental interference magic I inherited from Okaa-sama.

It’s different from Okaa-sama’s magic, which interferes with mental structure, but like Okaa-sama’s magic, it acts upon the target’s mind.

It’s a magic which freezes their soul.

So as to not involve unrelated people in the effect, I took aim only at the one wearing the Antinite ring—

And activated my mental freeze magic, ‘Cocytus’.

The Cast Jamming stopped.

I knew that the person had ‘stopped’ as well.

He was the third human I had ‘stopped’ in this manner.

They aren’t killed, but that which is frozen will never again melt, that which is stilled will never again move; the same as death.

To hold back my guilt, I ground my teeth together. In doing so, valuable time was lost.

That was my weakness.

So therefore, this result was well deserved. I knew he wasn’t alone.

I knew there were numerous muzzles pointed in our direction.

As Sakurai-san activated her magic, those triggers were pulled at the same time. The magic Sakurai-san had been forming dissipated with no effect.

One sweep of those machine guns drilled me, and Okaa-sama, and Sakurai-san, full of holes.

The places I’m hit are,

Not so much painful as,

Hot.

My whole body is,

Cold.

I understood that flowing out of me was not only my blood, but also my life. I am, going to die....

I had always thought that when you die you’re supposed to feel things like regret or attachment, but surprisingly I can’t think of anything.

If I could have just one regret, it would be, that I had wanted to apologise to that person properly.

If I didn’t exist, that person could have lived a more normal life. He could have been free.

I’m sorry, Nii-san.

I’m so sorry, Onii-sa....

"Miyuki!"

I’m hearing things.

I’m thinking about my brother, so my mind conveniently fabricates my brother’s voice for me, I thought.

I mean, there’s no way my brother would call my name with so much emotion, in such a desperate voice.

As if he didn't want me to go.

I fluttered my eyelids open with difficulty, and greeting me was the sight of an overcast sky, disappeared walls, rebels nowhere to be seen, and, my brother, with his left hand stretched out towards me.

An overwhelming ‘something’ was released from my brother’s left hand.

It covered my dying body, easily penetrated my barrier of Data Fortification, and flowed into me.

My brother’s ‘heart’ enveloped me.

I could think of no other way to describe it.

It read my body’s everything, and remade everything anew. My body, ‘me’ myself, was being recreated.

By my brother’s will, by my brother’s strength.

Merely calling it magic could not describe its power, its exquisiteness, and its audacity yet delicacy.

No, without a doubt, this is ‘magic’.

This is something truly worthy of the appellation ‘magic’.

I felt like I could see the God of Death, in the distance, turning away. Absolutely helpless and seeming rather vexed.

Of course, that must have been a hallucination.

The God of Death in my hallucination seemed rather human, and without thinking, I gave a little laugh.

There was no longer any sensation of blood welling up in my throat at all. "Miyuki, are you alright!?"

My brother’s anxious face filled my now clear field of view.

This is the first time I’ve seen such raw emotion on this person’s face. "Onii-sama...."

For some reason, that word passed smoothly through my lips.

There was no feel of stuttering at all. "Thank goodness....!"

It's fine to tremble.

It's fine to get flustered even more.

I mean, that person is tightly and firmly embracing me.

—But I shamelessly felt that being in Onii-sama's arms was where I belonged, as if this were only natural.

That must be why, when Onii-sama embraced me, I had reflexively grabbed the hem of his shi-->>

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