“ - «Hailstorm Domination»!!”
Giyudoaaaapapapapaundaridaridari, those three attack sounds reverberated, main cannon, missiles, and machine guns fired at the same time.
This is truly, a huge manifestation of «Long range anti-air attack» that Haruyuki was having long time trouble with. The previous week, and the week before that as well, Haruyuki was chased by one tenth of that firepower and was shot down.
Then why did he now, have no wish to give up, or feel any fear?
Since the enemy is so much stronger, he might just be having a ‘so-what’ attitude. However Haruyuki, for once in a long while, his whole body was covered by the heat of his boiling blood. That was, the excitement of «Duel».
“...Zuoriyaa - !!”
With that roar, Haruyuki first dashed to the right in the air, avoiding the main cannon’s high heat beam. If he was directly hit with that, he would be burn to a crisp instantly. The beam dangerously passed by him, this time it opened a huge hole in park tower and NS building.
However, the enemy seemed to have predicted that move. Numerous small missiles came after him from the front with their seeker shining.
Taking a deep breath, Haruyuki started full body ultra high speed movement.
He flew straight and pulled a group of missiles behind him, then did a more than 90 degrees sharp turn. While he wavered from the explosions of missiles that lost their homing target, the next group of missiles closed in, and he again dodged.
He zig zag in the air like an UFO, and left numerous explosions as Silver Crow continued to fly.
Strangely, he could clearly see the missile and machine gun bullet paths. If this was result from the training in that white room, he could not tell.
While doing unlimited high speed flight, Haruyuki felt a strong resentment against himself.
Why couldn't he do this kind of movement in the weekly territory battle? Why did he always get shot by just one rifle and his legs - no wings shun and he stopped flying? If it was because of pressure, then his one on one fight with the one called «Red King» should be way more fearful.
‘- I am this fast. I can fly this way. Then, why in the moment when it matters I was so clumsily hit by bullets? I should be a lot stronger. Become strong, raise my level, then that person...’
“...!”
While he strongly ground his teeth under his helmet, his flight speed slowed just a bit, and the only dodge route trace was missed.
In front of him was the remaining around 30 missiles group. Behind him was the machine gun bullet shower. And below him Scarlet Rain’s left main cannon finished charging, and started tracking him.
“Sh... it!”
Haruyuki right kicked the missile that came in front of him. It flew away and blew up. From the reaction, he changed his angle and dived straight below. However, in front of his eyes, the left main cannon’s hole waited -.
At that time, a fierce wind blew in the battle field.
It was the «Weathered» stage’s geological effect. From the concrete buildings to the ground, a large sand storm blew up, his view was temporarily filled with grey. The surrounding missiles lost their target and exploded one by one.
‘...This is it!!’
Haruyuki opened his eyes, aiming just for the ruby color in the sandstorm, and did a rapid spiral dive.
In the middle of his path, the main cannon’s beam passed by, burning just air.
“Oooooo!!”
With that roar, Haruyuki changed his position, the sharp front of his foot moved forward like a spear of light. His all or nothing left kick, aimed between Scarlet Rain’s twin missile containers. If this could be a critical hit, there might be a chance for him yet -
- However.
“...!?”
Right before the sword sharp feet hit, the huge fortress avatar broke apart at once.
The containers and main cannons split apart, and the armor plates too opened up all around.
From the center, an elegant girl avatar appeared, and looked up at him.
With an unbelievable speed, she slid one step, and dodged Silver Crow’s kick.
Blam! Silver Crow made a big hole on the ground, he fell clumsily, and something was stuck on his helmet. Looking up, he saw a small gun hole. Scarlet Rain’s main body, the small girl avatar, held a crimson handgun in her right hand, and ‘hold up’ Haruyuki.
‘- When that kick was easily dodged, I lost.’
Even acknowledging that, Haruyuki said while not knowing when to give up.
“...Do you think that toy like gun can penetrate my armor?”
Then, on Red King’s mask that only had two lens like eyes, a bright smile showed.
“If I said this gun was my strongest weapon, would you believe it, onii-chan?”
Haruyuki took a deep breath, then blew it out, with both hands - his left hand was mostly gone - held up.
“...I believe you. You win, Scarlet Rain.”
Then, the Red King smiled once more, and said.
“Then, will you listen to my wish?”
“Eh? Wish...?”
It wouldn’t be betraying the Black legion right? That would be impossible negotiation.
While he panicked inside, the answer was beyond his expectation. With a sudden threatening tone, the girl haughtily said.
“- I want to meet your «Parent». In the real world... with our real selves.”
Chapter 2
The following day, January 22nd, Thursday, 12:05pm.
While looking bleary eyed due to lack of sleep, Haruyuki walked towards the student cafeteria on the first floor of Umesato middle school.
Last night, Haruyuki eventually slept in his own room, and his second cousin Tomoko - the «Red King» who faked being her, slept in the living room sofa bed, but of course he did not have the courage to sleep properly in such situation.
What was the goal of the Red King anyway? Why did she pretend to be a sweet imouto character in the beginning and even bake cookies, and then want to meet and talk with Kuroyukihime, who is the Black King.
He wanted to think about that and other things seriously, but his brain kept replaying that bathroom scene, ‘ahaa this way I might really be a hentai, since I am a troubled 13 year old boy, however I already have someone called Kuroyukihime.’
With that kind of worry it became daylight, Haruyuki tried not to wake up the Red King who was sleeping deeply, ate cereal for breakfast then left his home quickly.
He somehow managed to get past his morning classes with the help of the Neuro Linker alarm to keep him awake, however when the noon recess neared, he was excited about meeting Kuroyukihime today too, so he was partially awake, and at the same time as the chime sounded, he rushed out of his classroom.
Haruyuki stepped into the still almost empty cafeteria, went between the long tables that were lined up, and jumped into the lounge that was on the other side.
A circular area with elegant round tables, at the farthest table inside. With the winter light shining through the glass wall behind her, was a black clothed human shape that looked as if she was shining with an aura, Haruyuki stared at her while forgetting to breathe.
During the past three months, he had seen the same scene many times. However, the painful tingling in his chest never seemed to wane. That this picturesque scenery exists today too, he thought was a miracle.
Looking small and quiet with her cheek resting on one hand, reading a large book on the table - Kuroyukihime eventually raised her head without a sound. Long black hair that flowed down her shoulders, shone in the soft sunlight.
“Ah, good morning, Haruyuki-kun.”
While feeling happy that the somewhat low and smooth silky voice called his name today too, he recalled a little bit of his recent clumsy battle losses and felt shameful, Haruyuki walked to her table and bowed.
“Good morning, senpai. That is... to...”
‘Today too, you are beautiful.’
He had the ambition of saying that one day, but
he did not have the skill to say that with his human voice, so with no choice, changed to something else.
“...Today too, you are early. I have never gotten here before senpai...”
“That’s of course. The first year classroom is on the 3rd floor, and the second year on the 2nd floor.”
She shrugged with a composed expression. Haruyuki pulled out the chair beside her and sat down, then retorted.
“Th... that’s reasonable, but. Even though, that’s everyday...”
“That, I like waiting for you more than you waiting for me. In this precious time, I can store in memory from the moment you enter.”
Again, she smiled like a black lily flower opening.
Those words and smile was aimed at his fat and clumsy self, that made him felt equal parts of happiness and wither, he blew out his momentarily stopped breath slowly.
- It’s absolutely unbelievable. That the ephemerally kind senpai, and the Sparta demon instructor in the accelerated world were the same person.
For Haruyuki, he wanted to spend more time with the former type, but that wish probably wouldn’t be granted today. After he explained the situation from last night that continued today, the kind «Kuroyukihime senpai» will surely change into the scary «Black death water lily».
He wanted to spend even one second more looking into each other’s eyes, while Haruyuki was thinking like a girl in love, Kuroyukihime said ‘oh that’s right’ and opened her mouth.
“Last night’s phone call... what was that? While I thought you went silent during the conversation, then suddenly you hung up after ‘good night’. Something like... «Red King» was mentioned...”
“Ah... well... that...”
‘In that one second of silence, I dueled with the Red King herself.’
If he had said that suddenly, she would not have believed him. For the level 9 «Kings», they no longer need to fight normal duels to earn Burst Points to level up, so they rarely appeared in battle fields.
So Haruyuki voluntarily told her everything. Everything starting with ‘Welcome home, onii-chan’ - he was not able to avoid the problematic bathroom scene.
A few minutes later.
Kuroyukihime with 30% amazement and 70% anger, took in a long breath, and held her hard right fist in the air.
‘You fool!’ Blam!
That angry roar and slam on the table, dangerously did not happen. In the lounge, some students entered while holding their lunch trays. They glanced at Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime, even though it was a familiar sight to them, the unbelievable expression still always showed on their faces, and they sat at tables a bit away from them.
Unlike Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime did not seem to notice the other students’ looks, she held her fist about 5cm above the table and repeatedly breathed hard, then eventually lowering her hand onto the table.
“Why did you not... notice when you first met her, I would like to say that very much... but with that perfect social engineering, also, the «King» herself coming is beyond expectations...”
“Ye, yea, isn’t that right?”
After avoiding Kuroyukihime’s violent eruption, Haruyuki rubbed his chest and nodded.
With her final expression heading towards a large bitter smile, Kuroyukihime shook her head many times and said in a low voice.
“Well... there’s also your unexpected success from failure. A direct fight with a «King», is an important experience that no amount of Burst Points can buy. How was the 2nd generation «Red King»?”
“Absolutely unreasonable. One hit blew away half of a city... my home was totally destroyed...”
Thinking back on that transcendental firepower made Haruyuki tremble. Seeing that, Kuroyukihime laughed.
“That is the power of «very specialized ability». I heard that «Scarlet Rain» put all of her level up bonuses into enhancing her long range firepower. That’s right... in your duel, did the Red King move?”
“Huh?”
Momentarily unable to understand the question, Haruyuki blinked.
Soon, he understood what Kuroyukihime was trying to ask.
That’s right - thinking back, while the Red King Scarlet Rain changed to her duel avatar in front of him, she was covered with that fortress like armament. She destroyed Haruyuki’s apartment home, and finally shot all that anti-air fire, but she did not move even once.
While he was shaking his head, he suddenly stopped.
No, to be exact that’s not right. At the duel’s very end, to avoid Haruyuki’s full speed descent attack, the Red King moved just one step - .
“Ah... she moved. Just for 50cm.”
Hearing that, Kuroyukihime finally smiled once more, and clapped her hands together.
“Oh, that’s impressive! One of Scarlet Rain’s names is «Immobile Fortress», it was given not because she could not move, it was because she did not need to move. According to rumors, in a large scale battle for the throne of 2nd generation Red King, she did not move even one step from where she appeared and destroyed around 30 people.”
“Wow...”
Haruyuki unconsciously let that out. Fighting that kind of person head on, being ignorant was scary.
“If... if I heard of that before, I would have surrendered at the start. Or more like, if I knew she was a «King», I would have instantly rejected the duel. Since it is called «Pure color six kings», I just thought the Red King would be «Red something».”
Hearing that, Kuroyukihime said with a smile.
“That’s why I said you were short on study on the phone. In the accelerated world, the Red crowned, is the one and only «Red Rider»...”
She said till there.
Then stopped abruptly.
As Haruyuki looked on, her smile slowly disappeared. Her white flesh lost blood, and seem to become pale as ice.
“Se, senpai...?”
After Haruyuki asked with wide eyes, Kuroyukihime replied with ‘No, nothing’ in a completely dry tone.
With a completely blank expression, Kuroyukihime slowly lowered her face. When he saw her right hand that was on the table trembling slightly, Haruyuki finally - way to late, realized the reason for Kuroyukihime’s reaction.
The previous Red King. «Red Rider».
It was the first time he heard of that name from Kuroyukihime. However, he knew the reason why the Burst Linker with that name left the accelerated world.
Two years ago, Kuroyukihime - the Black King - Black Lotus, cut off his head with her own hands.
However it was not in a normal duel, it was during the gathering at the seven kings’ conference. She sneak attacked him while he was delivering a speech.
For level 9 Burst Linker duel, a cruel rule existed that made them lose all their Burst Points even in one defeat. Without needing to say, those who lost all points is the same as forever losing Brain Burst itself.
Looking at Kuroyukihime’s tightly clenched white hand on the table, Haruyuki half involuntarily asked.
“Senpai... perhaps, the previous Red King, to you...”
‘- Instead of just a friend, did he have some kind of special place in your heart?’
That question, instead of being concerned for the person in front of him, it’s more to quell his own jealousy. After dangerously noticing that, he abruptly stopped what he was going to ask. Right after, he lowered his head trying to hide it.
“Sorry, I was way too insensitive. Last night’s phone call... and the question now as well. I am sorry, really...”
“...No... it’s okay, don’t worry about it.”
That reply lost all luster and was faded.
“It’s the path I chose. Having this kind of reaction means I am still immature. Fufu... I thought I had made up my mind long ago... that all other Burst Linkers are foes, that is set as «enemy»... this is what I get for being caught off guard, this is way too ridiculous.”
With Kuku low laughter, Kuroyukihime tried to put her hand back on her knee.
That hand, was held by bot
h Haruyuki’s hands that involuntarily reached out. It seemed like with a breath, she tried to pull her hand back hard, but Haruyuki became stubborn and resisted.
Even though she was bathed in the sunlight from the window, she was as cold as a statue. He almost could hear her tendons that were strained to the limit.
While he tried to concentrate as much of his body heat into the cold hand as possible, Haruyuki opened his mouth.
“...I... I am...”
The image of what he wanted to say was in his head, but he did not have to ability to convert it into language. Not even noticing the stares of more students coming into the lounge, Haruyuki desperately moved his mouth.
“I will absolutely not fight with senpai. Never become your «enemy». Senpai is my «parent», and I am senpai’s «child». Before we are foes, we are family, right?”
The silence continued for a while.
Eventually, Kuroyukihime raised her head to look up at Haruyuki, and slowly nodded.
Her lips contained a light smile, however, Haruyuki saw that it was mixed with a somewhat sad feeling.
“...Let’s change the location.”
Kuroyukihime said simply, and this time she took her right hand back.
After that she got up smoothly, and started walking while holding her hardcover book, Haruyuki chased after her and inquired.
“Wh, where to...?”
‘To a place where we can be alone.’
That was not it, Kuroyukihime’s response was business like.
“How to deal with «Scarlet Rain», we can’t just decide that for ourselves. This kind of thing, must be conferred with the whole legion. For lunch, let’s go buy sandwiches.”
“Ah... Th, that’s right.”
While a bit disappointed, he was relieved that Kuroyukihime’s manner had returned to normal, so he nodded.
The Black Legion was called «Nega Nebulas».
It was a large scale naming with the meaning of a dark star cluster, but they were an ultra small legion with only three members, the last member responded to Haruyuki’s email with ‘on the roof’.
Haruyuki shrunk his head from the outside cold wind when he opened the iron door, he looked around, and found someone sitting on a bench far away.