Chapter 3: Closure. Battle_Cry.[Part 4]

Up till now, Kazakiri Hyouka had felt a burning sensation of pain.

"Ugh…gueeh!"

Half of her face, the left wrist, the left abdomen felt like it was dipped inside molten metal as the sensation of pain occurred. Forget about running, Kazakiri couldn't even stand up, and could only lay prone on the cold floor. In order to distract herself, she started to move her legs wildly, rolling on the floor.

She took signals of pain that any ordinary human would die from, but she couldn't even escape by dying; it was like a living Hell.

But the pain didn't last long.

"Ah…?"

A terrifying change occurred.

With squishy sounds like jelly being crushed, the wounds started to heal. Like a fast rewind the holes started to heal at a rate no human could possibly achieve.

The pain that would make anyone go crazy subsided like a decrease in temperature.

Those had definitely been fatal wounds.

She shouldn't be alive at all.

Not just the skin, even the spectacles that had been blown apart and the edges of her clothes were starting to regain shape.

"Ah…ahhh…!"

With the sense of pain gradually disappearing, her originally blank mind started to process thoughts.

Regarding the fact that her body was hollow inside.

Regarding the fact that her body was abnormal.

Like an originally sealed memory being released, covering all her knowledge.

"Ahh…uu! Ky…uu…UUGH…UUGG!! AGH…UGH..MM…GYAA..GYAA…UU…UU…EE…GYYAAAHH!! UUU….UUUUU…KY…AAAHHH!!"

Her thoughts were all messed up such that she couldn't compose a sentence, but the huge pressure inside Kazakiri Hyouka made her unable to hold back her cries.

At this moment, seemingly in response to the cry of despair within Kazakiri's heart, another despair appeared.

A tremor shook the entire underground street.

Kazakiri fell off as if she was sitting on a berserk horse's back, as her body floated up in the air while her eyes were fixated on the other side of the darkness.

Standing there was an ugly monster made of iron and concrete.

Behind the monster was a blond lady who was even scarier.

The woman was smiling.

As if reminding Kazakiri that only humans could have such a distorted smile.

"Ugh…AAHHH…!!"

Kazakiri remembered the pain when she had gotten hit by the giant stone golem's huge arm, and instinctively tried to escape. But due to fear, her feet wouldn't oblige.

The woman didn't say anything to Kazakiri.

She silently raised the oil pastel that looked like white chalk and used it to draw. The stone golem swung a fist at Kazakiri's back.

Kazakiri frantically sprawled onto the floor.

However, her long hair that was swaying in the air still got hit by the stone golem, and Kazakiri felt a sharp pain, as if her scalp had been ripped off. Her body shot out like a cannonball.

"Kuu…!"

POW! Kazakiri's body let out a terrifying sound. Rolling on the floor with such a terrifying force, Kazakiri's entire body felt like it had been grinded by a large grindstone.

"Ah…ahh…ahhh…!"

The fragments of skin and hair that were forcefully ripped off formed a straight line that was several meters long.

Chichi…a strange sound could be heard from Kazakiri's face.

Touching her own face, Kazakiri was face was trembling strangely. The fragments of skin that had peeled off on the floor again returned back to their original position.

"How can there be such a laughable thing?"

The blond lady finally spoke, looking as if she had just seen something really awkward, and said,

"I thought the key to the Imaginary Number District was something that had 3 heads and 6 arms, to think that it's actually such a thing! HAHA…HAHAHA! To create such a thing as a gem of science, it really makes people wonder!"

While the woman laughed, Kazakiri's body started to recover. Her face started to let out sounds of water being compressed, and reverted back to its original shape within a few seconds.

"Ugh…ahh!"

Kazakiri started to feel fearful and irritation at her own body. In contrast, Sherry said happily,

"Hoho…but if so, killing you will be a lot more troublesome. Hm, how about we try this? Let's turn you into a pile of minced meat, and see if you can recover?"

"Wh…wh…yy…?"

"Hm?"

"Why…must you…do such an unreasonable thing?"

"Oh, no particular reason."

Such a cruel sentence made Kazakiri Hyouka speechless.

"There's no real reason for it to be you. It's alright even if it's not you. However, the fastest method is for me to take you out. That's the reason. How? Simple?"

Before Kazakiri's mind could process the shock, the woman had already waved the oil pastel, and the stone golem Ellis swung its fist at Kazakiri, who was on the floor. Kazakiri frantically rolled backwards, and Ellis' fist crushed the ground; the shrapnel pierced into Kazakiri's entire body. Kazakiri's body bounced up due to the impact. With the huge horrific sound, a certain part of her body got distorted. The abnormal pain caused Kazakiri's mind to go blank, but as she rolled on the floor, Kazakiri's body started to recover. Though her body rolled all the way to the cross junction, she continued to breathe.

And neither was she dead.

But the woman intending to kill her didn't change her expression, not even a tinge of disappointment was on her face.

It was as if Kazakiri's life or death was insignificant to her.

Seeing her life being belittled like this, Kazakiri's eyes watered due to the humiliation. Also, she was angry at her own weakness; she was definitely unhappy, but she couldn't do anything about it.

Seeing Kazakiri's expression, the blond lady delightedly said,

"Oi oi, what's with that expression of yours? Don't tell me you're still afraid of death?"

"Eh?"

"Oi oi oi oi! What's with that justified look of yours? Haven't you realised? You were beaten up so badly and you aren't dead, how can you possibly be human?"

"…"

"What's with that pale look of yours? Are you trying to gain sympathy? Don't be foolish, even if you're to disappear, what will this world lose? Here's an example, watch!"

The blond lady used her thumb to tap the side of the oil pastel.

The next moment, the stone golem swung its fist horizontally. Its arm smashed into the wall and broke.

"What I did to you was like this."

"Ah…"

"Even if a monster has its limbs broken, who will sympathise with you? Don't you understand? Why must we show feelings to those that don't have life? Must I make this thing to be such that it can shed tears? Wouldn't I become like a pervert who delights in taking off a doll's clothes?"

"AH…UWAAHH!"

In front of the despairing Kazakiri, the damaged arm of the stone golem started to regrow as it absorbed the surrounding glass and materials, reverting back to its original state. That look actually looked similar to her right now.

That was Kazakiri Hyouka's true nature.

The real, ugly nature of her's once the human skin was peeled off.

"Do you understand now? Right now, you're a monster like Ellis. You can't escape. Where do you want to run to? Is there a place that accepts such a monster like you? Do you understand now? Hurry up, why do you still not understand? There's no place to accommodate you."

The woman slowly waved the oil pastel in her hand, and the stone golem slowly moved towards Kazakiri.

Kazakiri continued to remain dumbstruck in a fallen position.

She couldn't move.

Not because of her injuries, since they had already healed a long time ago.

Not because of her psychological fear, since it was telling her to run away.

However,

Where could she run to?

Kazakiri remembered.

—Today's the first day she went to school.

Thus she thought that she was a transfer student.

—Today's the first day she had a nutritious meal

Thus she said that she wanted to check out the school cafeteria.

—Today's the first day she spoke to a boy.

Thus she thought that she was afraid of the boy because of that.

—Today's the first day she used the vending machine.

She had knowledge on how to use a vending machine, but she never drank from it before. In the past, how did she manage to find an excuse to explain this anomaly?

The first time, the first time, the first time, the first time, the first time. These were all first times, no exceptions.

Then what was she doing in the past? Why didn't her heart raise such a suspicion? It was as if she thought that she didn't exist in the past. Right now, Kazakiri discovered that the 'me' right now was just a bubble of illusion floating among the mist.

Even if she was to look away, it was meaningless.

Even if she didn't look at her wounds, the pain wouldn't subside.

No matter how hard she tried, it was too late. Kazakiri couldn't escape, couldn't hide. There was no wonderland on the world that could warmly receive this ugly monster that didn't have any self-awareness.

Inside the pocket of her skirt was the photograph that Kazakiri had taken together with that white girl.

But the girl in the photo, Index, didn't know.

She didn't know that Kazakiri Hyouka's real identity was such a monster.

Once she knew the real identity beneath the human skin,

At that moment, the girl would not smile back at her. Not only that, she would prefer to think that she didn't smile at her. This was because the Kazakiri Hyouka that was smiling in the photo didn't exist anymore. What remained was an ugly monster with a fake human exterior.

Tears gathered in Kazakiri's eyes.

She really wanted a warm world, wanted to smile with a certain someone, even if for a minute, a second; if she could just get this short moment of light, it was alright no matter how much she lowered her head to beg.

But in the end…

Nobody would grant this request.

"Don't cry, you monster."

The blond lady mockingly waved the oil pastel.

"Seeing you cry makes me sick."

That gigantic arm of the stone golem that could even break through thick wood closed in.

"Ahh…"

Kazakiri pondered while in despair.

Though she didn't want to die.

Instead of saying that nobody wanted her, it was more like once anyone saw her, they would completely treat her as a monster. Thus, it may be better to die here.

Kazakiri closed her eyes tightly.

Curling her body tight, waiting for the imminent Hell of pain.

The pain didn't come.

After a while, there was still no sound.

But this strange silence wrapped around Kazakiri Hyouka's body, warmly and gently. It was like she returned to a warm house with a roof while it was pouring outside.

Kazakiri Hyouka gingerly opened her eyes.

There seemed to be a familiar figure in front of her. However, her tears blocked her vision, and she could only see a blurry image.

The figure seemed to be that of a boy.

Kazakiri was standing in the middle of the cross junction. Standing in front of Kazakiri and facing the stone golem, the boy seemed to have cut in from the underground street beside her. The side of the face seem to enter her vision in a blurry manner.

The stone golem stopped moving.

The boy casually reached out his right hand and grabbed the stone golem's giant arm. The palm was like a powerful fist that could even crush a battle tank.

Such a simple action caused the stone golem to be unable to move—even letting out a cracking sound.

"Ellis?"

The voice of a woman could be heard from afar.

"Ellis, why aren't you responding? ELLIS? DAMN IT, WHAT'S GOING ON!?"

For the first time, the woman sounded panicky. However, the boy didn't even look at her.

The boy just stared directly at Kazakiri Hyouka's face.

"Seems like I was late."

The boy's voice caused Kazakiri's shoulders to tremble slightly. Even though she couldn't see clearly due to the tears, the voice was ever so familiar.

Truthfully, Kazakiri had only met a few people.

Such a powerful voice.

Such a warm voice.

Such a reliable voice.

And most importantly,

Such a gentle voice.

The boy said to Kazakiri,

"However, it's alright. Don't cry, it's so ugly. What's the point of crying over such a trivial matter?"

Like a child, Kazakiri Hyouka reached her hand out to wipe her eyes.

The cover of tears was removed.

The boy was in front of her.

Kamijou Touma was in front of her.

Revealing an expression that was like an intimate friend.

The stone golem behind him started to crack before it crumbled.

The wall of despair that no one could cross seemed to be broken.

"ELLIS…STOP STANDING OVER THERE BLANKLY, ELLIS!"

A roar that was full of anger and fear.

The blond lady gripped tightly onto the white oil pastel, almost breaking it. She raised it and started to doodle on the wall as if she was drawing out a sword, muttering hastily at the same time.

The concrete wall collapsed like dried dirt. And within a few seconds, it was as if an invisible hand molded a stone golem with a head on top.

The woman looked rather anxious, but she hadn't lost her cool yet.

This was an ace that could regenerate no matter how many times it was destroyed. Also, this was the biggest advantage to the blond lady. The stone golem could be used as a shield, as a bait, as a strikeforce or to self-destruct.

Kamijou turned his head around.

In order to protect this girl that was being bullied, he stood in front of the ugly stone golem.

Seeing the situation, Kazakiri was terrified, whereas the blond lady was laughing.

"Ho…haha! WAHAHAHA! IS THIS A JOKE? OI, WHAT CAUSED YOU TO GROW UP TO BECOME LIKE THIS? HAHAHA! BE HAPPY, MONSTER! THIS WORLD ISN'T SO BAD TO YOU! AT LEAST THERE'S STILL AN IDIOT HERE!!"

The deepness of the voice caused Kazakiri's shoulders to tremble violently.

That was right. The boy came here to protect her. Though that was something worth taking comfort from, she couldn't just let the boy get involved in this battle between monsters. Kazakiri Hyouka didn't want to see the boy that worked so hard to create this warm world for her to fall over here.

However, no matter how terrified Kazakiri was, the boy was unmoved even as he was facing the stone golem.

The boy said,

"It's not just me."

"What?"

The woman was shocked.

At that moment,

BOOM! A bright light appeared.

The white rays of light almost blinded her eyes as Kazakiri inadvertently used her hands to cover them.

Kazakiri was sitting in the middle of the cross junction, and the light came from the 3 lanes other than the one the blond lady was standing in. The dazzling lights even caused Kazakiri to have a migraine, but she barely managed to squint her eyes and look around.

It was as intense as a car's headlamp.

The light actually came from the searchlights attached onto rifles. And it was not just one or two; right now, there were about 30, 40 people gathered here.

Anti-Skill.

None of them were unscathed. Some of them had bandages on their abdomens and heads, some were dragging their injured arms and legs, and all of them looked like patients that should be lying on the hospital beds.

But they were not afraid at all.

Not caring for their own safety, not uttering anything even with so much pain, they came back to this battlefield where they were extremely likely to die. These people weren't mighty men like those main characters in an action movie, as there were women among them. The female Anti-Skill member wielding the transparent shield didn't seem to be fazed by her own injuries as she revealed a confident smile. Her eyes seemed to be saying, "Don't worry, it's alright."

"…Why…?"

Kazakiri Hyouka asked in surprise.

Though she couldn't be certain about how much these people knew about her, at least they should know that she wasn't an ordinary human. These people should have witnessed her face being hit by the stray bullets and immediately standing up after she got hit by the stone golem.

Thus, Kazakiri asked this.

Why?

Why didn't they just shoot that terrorist together with her? Why did they purposely come all the way over here just to protect her? Kazakiri Hyouka was unable to understand at all.

But the boy responded without any hesitation, "Don't be silly. Is there a need for a reason?"

Facing this monster called Kazakiri, the boy didn't look away from her even once.

The expression was exactly the same as when they were in the arcade.

Among all these lights, he said,

Like usual, without any pretense, "This isn't anything strange. I just spoke to them."

In this place that was full of light, he said, "I told them…please save my friend."

For a moment, Kazakiri Hyouka was unable to understand what this sentence meant.

For Kazakiri Hyouka wasn't a human, but a monster; her body was hollow, there was nothing underneath her skin. She had been hit by gunfire, blown away by the stone golem, and yet she wasn't dead. Any doctor or scholar would drop their jaws if they saw this.

Didn't these people care at all?

Were they willing to accept the 'unknown' body that Kazakiri herself despaired over?

Maybe it was because it was Academy City. 80% of the population here were students, and each had their own powers. Everyone knew that each person is different, so they were more accepting Kazakiri Hyouka who was 'different from others'.

Can I continue to remain here?

Are they willing to smile and accept me?

The boy said to the perplexed Kazakiri,

"Wipe your tears clean and watch clearly. You should be proud of yourself since not one person here wants you dead."

Kazakiri lifted her head up.

The world that was surrounded in darkness was already gone.

"Watch. We'll prove to you that this world you live in isn't so bad!"

Kazakiri understood.

Even though that blond lady caused the underground to be surrounded in darkness,

These people here would use light to fight the darkness,

In order to save the hand within the darkness that was waiting to be saved.

The boy then said,

"We'll also let you know that your resting place won't be destroyed so easily!"