Volume 4 – Chapter 103(Main Cast)
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Author Note:
[ ] = When Twilight is speaking.
{ } = When talking through Telepathy.
' ' = When thinking in your mind.
<< >> = When talking with your Pokémon or Tamed Beast.
--- --- = When describing a certain period of time OR Another place.
** ** = Point Of View i.e., POV
/// /// = In Call
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--- Tokyo Area ---
"The Tokyo Area branch chief of a secret anti-Children organization with almost one hundred thousand members in Japan was found dead in a park a few kilometers north of his home in Tokyo Area District 2."
"The Park was a gathering spot for young delinquents, so at first, it was thought to be their doing, but that was not the case. According to the eyewitness report, the man was attacked by a group of children who looked like they were from the Outer District, and in the heat of the fight, he hit his head on the handrail near the stairs."
"His skull was cracked, and he died at the hospital he was brought to due to a cerebral contusion. Before he died, he was also confirmed to have traumatic cuts."
"The Pureblood Japan Association was a large organization said to have many politicians and influential people from different Areas. The chairman was subsequently reported as harshly denouncing the savagery and brutality of the case."
As Primis and others were walking down the street after returning from two months of their hunt, they heard what the reporter was saying on the huge TV.
The female reporter was polite. She kept to the broadcast codes and continued speaking respectfully. However, the words she used dripped with contempt for the Cursed Children.
Ophis: Hmmm. This will greatly change public opinion about Cursed Children.
Said Ophis while Asaka face turned gloomy. However, it turned even gloomier when Primis searched through his phone and spoke.
Primis: It's already did.
Saying he passed the phone to Scáthach who narrowed her eyes after reading it.
Scáthach: Seitenshi's measure that was going through the House of Councillors that would respect the basic human rights of the Cursed Children, the New Gastrea Law, was rejected. In its place, a newly prepared measure on "the reevaluation of the danger of transmission of the Gastrea virus from the Children to humans and countermeasures against it" was already submitted and passed through the lower house of the Diet.
Ophis: She truly is an incompetent head of this State.
Primis: Yeah. She still doesn't realize that her true enemies are within her ranks.
This measure was popularly known as the Family Register Revocation Law, and the moment this measure will go into effect, the Cursed Children had their family registration and citizenship taken away, losing all protection under the Japanese Constitution.
It's an extremely cruel law.
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.
.
.
Since Primis didn't give a fixed time about when he will meet up with Kisara, he decided to take his time looking around.
"The Cursed Children have finally started even this, huh?"
He Ignored the gossips of people passing by because he knew that the incident with the Family Register Revocation Law definitely woke up the feelings of hatred Tokyo Area citizens had for Gastrea.
Shaking his head to put those thoughts away for now, they approached a five-road junction in the middle of the city.
All of sudden, Primis heard singing and stopped. It was the characteristic soprano of a young girl, and a hymn at that. Turning his head toward the sound, he realized that it was coming from the wide pedestrian bridge above.
Ophis: She makes appearance sooner than expected. Plot hasn't even been commenced yet.
Looking at him, Ophis whispered.
Primis: Yeah.
Next, Primis and others ascended the stairs of the pedestrian bridge. There was a rush mat spread out near the middle of it, and the voice was coming from there. Somehow, it seemed different from a street performance. Getting closer they saw who it is.
The singer was a beggar girl clad in rags. Even though she had good features, they were stained, and the cape she wore was greasy, giving an overall shabby impression. The girl held out a beggar's bowl with both hands and sang at the people who were heading to the road. On a piece of scrap wood next to her were the words, "I am one of the Cursed Children from the Outer District. I need money to feed my little sister. Please give what you can.".
'Primis: Yeah. She is that Blind girl.'
Glanced at Asaka by his side, Primis noticed that she was also calm.
[Well, she is used to witnessing this since she lived here before.]
Primis: Do you have a death wish? The way things in Tokyo Area are right now, people won't hesitate to make you the target of their animosity.
Hearing an unfamiliar voice, the girl stopped singing, smiled, and look towards Primis direction.
Blind Girl: So that's how it is. That must be the reason why, I have been hit more and have had dirty words yelled at me more often, which is a little painful.
Primis: ......
Ophis: ......
Scáthach: ...….
Asaka: ......….
The group become silent for a second before Asaka decided to get rid of this awkward atmosphere.
Asaka: Cursed Children are immune to diseases so what happened to your eyes. And how can still smile after being treated like this?
The girl seemed to smile persistently in the face of unimaginable adversity. This was not something nine years old should do.
The girl did not answer Asaka questions but quietly stretched her hands out to her. Asaka was surprised at first, but once she realized that the girl had no ill intent, she let her be.
In place of her hollow eyes, the girl's hands traced Asaka's features, from her hair and face to her neck, collarbone, and shoulders, brushing over them, until finally the girl lifted her face slowly.
Blind Girl: Are you one of the Cursed Children, too?
Becoming surprised Asaka asked.
Asaka: How did you know?
The girl smile grew bigger as she continued.
Blind Girl: You're pretty. I'll bet the boys can't leave you alone, right?
Asaka: I don't think so.
Blind Girl: You know, I can't live without depending on others, so I naturally learned to smile. Besides, I don't know what face to make other than this anymore.
Pausing here, the girl showed a bitter smile and answered the second question.
Blind Girl: As for my eyes, they are mutilated by the lead I poured into them.
Asaka: You did this to yourself! Why!?
Blind Girl: Because I couldn't think of another way to feed my little sister… And because the mother who abandoned us hated my red eyes.
Asaka: ......
'Primis: Gastrea shock.'
'Ophis: The eyes that shone red and were the same in all Gastrea. During the war, there were people traumatized by fear from seeing them, and the red eyes became the trigger for attacks of convulsions or cramps or other symptoms. It became the most widespread disease of society after the Gastrea War.'
'Scáthach: This girl is too brave and have strong heart for being able to do such a painful thing to herself and still trying her best to smile for her sister.'
At this time, a passerby who holding a caned drink tried to throw the pull tab into the girl's bowl.
Though when he was about to do so, Primis glanced back at him. The man noticed Primis gaze and looked at him.
In the next instant, the movements of his body stopped as he looked into Primis dark eyes. His body started shivering as he got covered in cold sweat.
He had never experienced such fear in his life. It was as if death was looking at him.
Fortunately, before he could have a mental breakdown, Primis turned his gaze back to the blind girl.
Man 1: *PANT* *PANT* *PANT*
Man 2: H-Hey, are you alright?
The man's friend realized that something was wrong with him and asked in worried tine.
Man 1: Y- Yeah. L-Let's go.
Deciding not to stay any longer with a devil, the man hurriedly put the pull tab in his pocket and dragged his friend away with him.
Ignoring them, Primis spoke.
Primis: It's almost sunset. Let's leave.
Asaka: Um.
Blind Girl: Oh. Then take care, Big Brother.
Primis didn't reply. He instead grabbed the girl's little hand and took her with him.
This action startled the little girl as she asked.
Blind Girl: Where are you taking me, Big Brother? Did I say or did something wrong?
Primis: No, you didn't. We are just going to pick up your little sister.
Blind Girl: My little sister? But wh----
The girl didn't get to complete as Primis interrupted her.
Primis: And I am not your Big Brother. From now onwards, I am your dad, and you are my daughter.
Blind Girl: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The girl body trembled at this, and she became silent because she didn't know how to react at this situation.
Primis: You said you can't live without depending on others then as your parent you sisters have every right to depend on me.
Blind Girl: ...…I-I am a C-Cursed Children.
Primis: I see.
Blind Girl: ......E-Everyone hate us s-since we are related to G-G-Gastrea.
Primis: I see.
Blind Girl: .........…P-P-People will also h-hate you for a-affiliating with us.
Primis: I see.
Just like that the girl kept on saying one thing after another while Primis kept on giving same response.
After speaking for some more, the girl became silent again as Primis started hearing a sobbing sound behind.
Just like that the girl who could only smile no matter what she had go through showed a new emotion for the first time in years.
Sadness.
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--- Tendo Civil Security Agency –-
Currently, Kisara was sitting on her President chair while looking at the three people in front of her.
One of them was a young teen of small frame and messy dark blue hair, with slightly slanted eyes and blue irises. He was wearing black suit covering his body entirely and high black shoes that have a much lighter color at the bottom.
Another one was a little girl with long crimson hair and had large red irises and very small, black pupils. She was wearing a small orange hooded sweater with orange and red square designs on the inside along with knee high boots with extremely thick, heavy, black soles.
Last as well as uninvited guest was teenage girl of average height with fair skin, blue eyes, and brown hair. There was also a beauty mark under her left eye. She was wearing a pink and yellow kimono that has numerous flowers at the end and on the sleeves.
Kisara: It's been a long time, Satomi.
Teen Boy: Yeah. How are you doing Kisara?
This boy was none other than the Protagonist, Satomi Rentaro.
Kisara: Um. Good. Good. And this must be your Imitator.
Moving her gaze to the little girl she asked.
Little Girl: ......…
Noticing the lack of response, Rentaro showed a wry smile and introduced.
Rentaro: Yes. She is my Initiator, Aihara Enju.
Enju: ......…
The girl still remained silent. Kisara didn't mind and just nodded her head before turning to the last person as an irritated expression appeared on her face.
Kisara: And what are you doing here...… Miori.
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*A/N: Please throw some power stones.
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