Chapter 2: Tokisaki Ikari

"So, Empty collapsed on the side of the alleyway."

Ikari's scarlet-red eye, as if piercing through a target, stared at the unknown girl.

"Yes! So, where is this place, who am I, and why is there not anyone here?"

Confronted by Ikari's indifferent facial expression, Empty - for the sake of convenience, since a name more appropriate than that couldn't be conceived - kept talking on and on. 

"Is it not possible to ask your questions one at a time?"

"Ah──, uh──. So, who am I?"

Even when faced with Ikari's exasperated sigh, Empty refused to give up.

"I do not recognise you or your name at all."

Ikari said that, however, the girl let on a look of acknowledgement, while hitting her hand on her palm sagaciously.

"That's what I thought!"

"But at the very least, I have an idea of what you are."

"You don't know who I am, but know what I am?"

Empty tilted her head with a confused look.

However, Ikari shot her a knowing look, making her yelp before he continued on without delay.

"I, as well as you. We are not human beings but rather an existence known as spirits".

"...Spirit..."

Spirit, the word that Ikari had said. Although the reasons were unclear, Empty could understand that word without knowing the reason why.

"You, among them, are a type called a Quasi-Spirit." 

"A...Quasi-Spirit?"

"While you lot may not be as strong as a spirit, you, however, are certainly more than a fleeting human, an existence like a mirage."

"Although having said that, since you're not human, you'll suffer no illnesses, no hunger. You can't die under normal circumstances."

"You can also fly in the sky. Correspondingly, you can also wield abilities."

"Seriously!?" Empty's eyes brightened.

How amazing; it was worthy of being bestowed the name of being a spirit.

"But since you were just born, it would be impossible for you."

"Ugh..."

Ikari burnt down her dreams before they could even begin.

However, he seemed to enjoy her reaction, evident from the slight curl of his lips.

"Then…."

Empty's voice trailed off as she looked at Ikari, whose expression had now been replaced by the cold expression once again as she asked.

"Are you also a spirit?"

Hearing such a question, Ikari blinked.

He then looked away, then back at her as he changed the topic within a heartbeat.

"Additionally, here is the world where only spirits live, a place where once former humans live. Both heaven and hell. ──It is called the neighboring world."

'He dodged my question, didn't he?'

Empty thought wryly, but then, his information was too important for her to ignore; hence, she muttered the name after him.

...Neighbouring, world.

Both heaven and hell for those that were once human──the world where spirits lived.

"That is to say, it's quite to live here, as no one would take care of you."

"I – is there a supervisor…?"

"As far as I know, I haven't seen anyone like that."

Ikari tilted his head to the sides, his eyes closed, before looking back at her.

"Then… then, uhh, perhaps. I who have no memories and no relatives…"

Was this not despair? Was this not hell?

"Well then, if you have nothing more to say, excuse me, I am very busy."

"But you look to be free."

Ikari paused, staring at her in that same "are you serious?" expression before letting out another sigh. 

"Merely just an appointment, that's all. ... Look, they're here."

Wondering who was coming, Empty turned her head to look back. There was no one at the entrance to the roof.

Just as Empty was thinking, a voice came from above.

"Which person is the one who called me?"

The voice echoed from the sky. Confused, Empty looked upwards; there another girl stood.

It was a girl dressed in white and blue. Her hairstyle was in sharp twintails resembling an insect's antenna. 

Her short skirt was fluttering against the wind as there was a hint of malice in her eyes.

And one more important point: she was floating in the sky.

It was like Ikari said. "Sky...flying..."

"The one who called you is me."

Ikari replied back while taking a step forward.

"I suppose. But what about that child over there? An assistant?"

"She has nothing to do with our arrangement; if anything, she just formed not too long ago. Well, it doesn't matter to me what you do to her…"

Hearing Ikari's cold words, the girl in the air nodded as if understanding that.

"So, then you were the one who called me. Is that correct?" 

"Yes, that's right. Ms Inui Yume."

Inui Yume, the so-called name of this girl, gave a smile full of confidence, and then she pointed at Ikari.

"I don't intend to drag in someone who had just taken form." 

She then narrowed her eyes at Ikari, "Singularity, come to the sky." 

"Sure."

Tap, 

Ikari gently kicked against the concrete floor. Only by this action alone did his body begin floating in the air.

"Ah..."

Empty couldn't help but unintentionally let out her voice. Seeing that, Yume sneered. 

"That expression is just like an abandoned dog."

"Funny how I thought the same too, but I guess it's unavoidable, huh? It's like she hasn't seen flying objects or people before."

Cruel remarks passed as banter, but yet, Empty wasn't deterred by that.

She shouted towards Ikari who had begun to levitate to the sky,

"I still have a mountain-load of questions to ask!"

"...I know. Then, please wait here. I will be back soon." 

"Haah. Uh, what are you going to do?"

Listening to that question, Ikari and Yume both smiled together.

Smiling, making a facial expression as candidly as possible while they both made that declaration.

"Slaughtering each other."

The two immediately flew into the air like birds.

Empty pressed her head against the fence as she watched on desperately──something resembling two people confronting in a match could be confirmed.

Tokisaki Ikari and Inui Yume were facing off against each other.

For a while, Empty stood dumbfounded, her shoulders abruptly shaking from the thunderous roar.

The two people floating in the air began to dance against each other in the sky.

Nevertheless, that alone was still within a permissible range. 

Meeting people who could fly in the sky in an uninhabited town was an undiluted fantasy.

But what they were doing was──

"They're really...killing each other..."

Lighting the bright sky. Soaring through the sky. Trying to stab your opponent with a sword.

Trying to burn your opponent with flying flaming swords. 

That is to say, no matter what flowery language was used to modify this, it was a perfect attempt at mutual massacre.

Yet, no matter how macabre this scene was, still, both opponents no doubt had a crazed smile on their faces.