In a spacious room with littered bags of snacks, two people were sitting on the bed.
One of them was Hoga who tried to clean around the cut wound but he was reckless. As he casually rubbed a washed cloth to clean the surrounding area, he accidentally touched the cut wound.
"-It hurts you bastard!!"
The other one, Yemon felt agonized as he cursed Hoga for his carelessness.
"Calm the fuck down! Does it look like I'm a nurse?"
"Do it slowly you retard!"
"I'm doing the best I can!"
Hoga complained but he tried to follow as what Yemon ordered. The long cut wound, which went from his right shoulder down to his left hip, was straight and quite impressive.
To think that Yemon escaped from that, that too was astounding.
"Well? Did you manage to get her along with the cost of your injuries?"
Yemon squinted his eyes with indecisiveness as he replied weakly.
"I am not sure..."
*Sigh*
Hoga was not happy with his response but he stayed quiet. He was now trying to disinfect the wound with help of gauze and alcohol.
Yemon felt the burning sensation but endured it to make it easier for Hoga to apply ţhe gauze.
It took some time but he did it with care. Finally the dressing, it required a long bandage considering the big area the injury covered. In the end, he used a scissor and cut the bandage since it was enough wrapping for now.
Yemon kind of helped Hoga easily bandage his sterilized cut wound. It was surely a difficult task for Hoga and Yemon yet they got it done after a little fight and cooperation.
"I'm telling you in advance, I am not doing this shit again."
"...I am hoping for that too..."
Yemon couldn't be asked to get another injury by these killing and torturing machines. It is dangerous to even glare at them.
Yemon purposefully avoided talking about the fact that Mara was a Magic-User. It is because of the selfish reason that he did not want to talk anymore with Hoga. Mainly because he was too tired to talk with him more.
However, there was just one more thing that he couldn't help but ask Hoga.
"How many to go...?"
Yemon stared at the bright sky through the window with no apparent aim.
His strength in his voice depleted when he expected for an ideal response from Hoga. But inside he knew, that it was not going to happen.
Hoga sighed again, sensing that Yemon was desperately determined to finish his tasks.
".....Currently, there are 4 that you have yet to be in contact with. I am so close to knowin-"
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
"Onii-chan."
Listening to that voice, Hoga froze.
Yemon took action faster and went near the door. He was hiding in the blindspot of the door.
Hoga did not answer because he was still frozen due to unknown reasons. Yemon was beckoning him to shoo off the person behind the door.
But Hoga just had a displeased face.
"I'm entering."
The door opened and it unveiled the figure of a short black haired girl of middle school age. She looked at the room and saw that next to Hoga was bandages, gauzes and alcohol.
This scene made the girl worry more about Hoga.
"Onii-chan! Are you hurt?"
She tried to approach Hoga with the intention of aiding him. Yemon thought that it was bad. If she goes any further in this room, then she might see him.
*Clank!*
A scissor flew by the girl's face and hit the wall, then fell on the floor. The girl was scared at what just happened.
Even more fear intruded her expression as she felt the pain from her left cheek. Her hands trembled as she investigated and to her horror, blood oozed.
It was just a small cut but it meant a lot.
"...Wh-"
"Didn't I tell you to not call me 'Onii-Chan'!!?!"
She shrieked a little from Hoga's scream. She backed away due to the immense fright she felt from him.
Hoga turned his head to face the girl, revealing the hatred in his eyes.
The girl could not believe that such despise existed in Hoga's face. Speechless and a strange feeling of guilt shrouded her mind.
"Is it that difficult for you to understand such simple words!?!? You stupid little bitch!!"
Her lips kept fidgeting with fright.
"Stop bothering me every single time!!!"
Yemon stared at Hoga silently. All he could do was hide from the frightened girl's sight.
Her eyes were becoming moist as tears welled up. One stream of tears from her left eye just slowly flowed down alongside the blood from her cheek.
Hoga got more pissed off seeing the girl like this.
"GET THE FUCK OUT!!!!!"
The girl bit down her lip and tried to hold back her tears but in vain. It just wouldn't stop.
So she turned around and exited the room while hiding her wet eyes.
*Sniffs*
She closed the door weakly, leaving a dead silence atmosphere around the two people in the room. Hoga clenched his fist, creasing the bedsheet he sat on.
Yemon waited for the intense dislike in Hoga's facial expression to dissipate.
After a few minutes, Yemon sat on the bed besides Hoga. He could hear him breathing heavily due to all the shouting.
Yemon stared at the blue ceiling and calmly announced.
"Everyone has their own problems. You are not alone."
Hoga scoffed and spat out,
"Fuck off."
Yemon thinly smirked and proceeded to ruffle through Hoga's blonde hair.
"Get your hands off of me! The hell are you doing!?"
"Come on. It is time to do your job."
Hoga pushed his hand off and replied, "You don't have to tell me. I was going to do it anyway."
He stood up quietly and sat in front of his computer, then started typing.
.....
In the afternoon, before Yemon made contact with Mara. There was another surprise that would be unveiled in front of another person.
"Nami-san! Can you come here for a minute?"
Nami was practising with the members of the Drama Club. Suddenly she was called out by Harue as he was beckoning her to come near him.
Nami excused herself and approached Harue.
"What is it, Harue-senpai?"
"I just want to know if the attire's outline is the same as the measurement. Can you try it on and tell me if it is comfortable?"
He was holding out a plain black attire that seems to resemble a maid's outfit.
"...Okay." Nami went to the changing room and exited with the outfit on. She walked and checked.
"How is it?" Harue inquired, "Don't hold back even if it is the smallest detail."
Nami was a bit perplexed but obeyed to his demands. She voiced out her complaints.
"The outfit is just a bit tight around the shoulder area and.....it is a bit loose around the hip.....That's all."
"Okay. I'll make the adjustments. I will tell you later so you can try it on again. If it is good, then I'll add the necessary design and ornaments."
"...Thank you for your hard work."
Harue went back to a seat and started to do the said adjustments. Before Nami got on the stage and practice with the other members, she just stared at Kagome, pondering about something.
"Harue-senpai, there is something that I want to know if you don't mind."
Harue looked up to her and welcomed her question with a cute smile.
It was quite difficult for Nami to reject the fact that Harue was a boy. If he had worn a girl's school uniform, then everyone would be convinced to think otherwise.
Nonetheless, she pretty much adapted faster than anyone. Nami curiously asked Harue.
"Is Kagome-senpai.....a Magic-User?"
Harue was confused about what she said yet, he did not deny anything.
'So it is really true.' Nami contemplated in her head.
"From where did you hear that?" Harue enquired casually.
Nami explained her point.
"Well, Daisuke-senpai informed us that she is a noble. So it is natural that she is a Magic-User.....right?"
"Well, you are not wrong. It is obvious."
It has been proven. No, it was a blatant fact.
Nobles are hereditary Magic-Users.
This was first discovered when one of the Emperor's, the Hero Ryouma's companions married and had an offspring.
At an early age, the offspring started to have the same power as one of his parents or more specifically, the one who had the power of Magic.
Additionally, more such similar cases happened with other companion's family. Their offsprings went on and developed the same power that one of their parents had.
So, another factor that made nobles more respected and important is that their genetics contained the mysterious power of Magic. Therefore, they had an influential role in society in this modern era.
But the same cannot be said to multiple heroes such as Haze or Trista, the ones who aided the Special Magus Force in the Heisei Shopping Mall incident.
Those were people outside the noble lineage. So how did they acquire such unique power themselves?
It hasn't exactly been confirmed but, all of the Hero outside the noble lineage awaken to such powers when they were in dire situations.
That explains why criminals too can manifest the power of Magic in them.
Well, it is not entirely sure but once scientists uncover the mysteries behind the origin of Magic, or at least know how to arouse this power in a person, then the world would completely change.
People have asked the Emperor how did he gain power like this in the first place but he would always curve the discussion elsewhere or feign ignorance to it.
To this day the only one who seemingly knows about the root of Magic, is the Emperor.
"If you don't mind me asking again, what is Kagome-senpai's power?"
Harue frivolously told her, "Her power is somewhat like telekinesis."
"Wow, that's awesome."
Harue continued, "Since her dad was one of the Emperor's companions back in the day, he had a strong kind of Magic power. That is why their family are in the rank of a Marquis."
"..."
"For now, Kagome-san just inherited a little bit of her father's power."
Well, saying that, Harue thought that she would, later on, be more powerful as the Magic in her would manifest.
"Why were you asking me that?"
Nami just simply replied, "I was just curious. Thank you, Senpai."
She went back and joined the practice. Harue didn't ponder much about her since he was too happy to be called a Senpai.
He went back to his work and time moved on till the club would end for the day. Harue packed his bag with all the materials to work with.
He exited the school after wearing his outdoor shoes. But he did not completely leave the school since he just stood near the main gate.
Harue was waiting for someone. After 10 minutes, he saw his best friend, Kouki from a distance.
Kouki noticed that Harue was looking at him and waiting for him. His face brightened and he walked faster to him.
"Yo Harue! You waited for me this time?"
"How can I possibly forget you."
"In the morning, I remember that you did forget about me."
"I don't remember."
"Feigning ignorance is a sin."
"Feigning ignorance to you is a virtue."
Kouki pulled Harue's cheeks apart and jokingly replied.
"You are hurting me."
"Wyou war wurwing we!! Wew offfw!!'
Harue weakly put up a fight but it didn't faze Kouki. Out of pity, he let go. Harue rubbed his cheeks which were in pain and announced to leave.
But before they were about to, Kouki noticed someone familiar. He grabbed Harue by the shoulder, stopping him from his tracks.
"What?"
"It's Kana-chan."
"Kana? I thought she went home already."
Harue and Kouki waited for her at the gate. Kana also noticed the two individuals so she approached them.
She was sweating and tired of the club activity she was participating.
"Kou-nii. Nee-chan."
"It's 'Nii-chan'!"
Ignoring Harue, Kouki and Kana conversed.
"How is the Karate club doing for you? Want to quit?"
"I can handle that much." She was annoyed by the way Kouki addressed her choice of club.
She shrugged it off and continued to walk to the bus stop. Those three got onto a bus while still chatting with mainly Harue and Kouki, while Kana spat some hurtful words towards his brother occasionally.
And as always, Harue hid his jealously towards Kouki as he was called 'Kou-nii' by Kana while he was desperate for her to acknowledge him as a boy.
.....
When they arrived at the Fukuyama Household, Kouki greeted them off and walked further down the streets. He had to walk for 10 minutes to arrive at his house.
Kana and Harue entered their house, each of them tired due to different reasons. Kana, because of club activities, and Harue, because of his head injury.
"I'm going into the bath first." Kana declared to Harue.
Harue did not object as he put on an apron to cook for dinner.
About 45 minutes later, the dinner was prepared. Kana was watching T.V in the living room while Harue was setting up the table.
Just then, the door opened and someone came in.
"I'm home."
The voice of their older sister, Akane intruded their ears.
""Welcome home."" The two responded in unison.
Akane walked in the living room and sat down on the sofa. Tiredness oozed off of her and she complained about the work.
"Haa....The Boss is too demanding. I want to punch him in the face!"
Harue put a glass of cold water on the small table next to Akane.
"Good work for the day."
"Seriously though, he is too annoying to the point that I never knew such people existed."
"Yea yea..."
Harue listened to her complaints, just like always.
"Nee-chan. I'm going to the bath before you." Harue warned Akane
"Yeah, go ahead."
Harue proceeded to grab a towel and his clothes before heading to the bathroom. But.....
"A shocking murder in the boat warehouse along the coast of Aji River which is terrifying the citizens of Osaka. The dead body of a 14-year old named Shinagawa Miyauchi was brutally tortured and murdered."
Harue froze.
Akane turned her head with astonishment to the T.V screen.
Kana's eyebrows twitched with surprise
'Did I hear that correctly?' Harue pondered and veered his attention to the T.V screen.
More information was displayed about the victim. That little energetic boy, who was their next-door neighbour.....is no more?
And to top it off, he was tortured and murdered.....?
The screen changed from the host of the news to a familiar middle-aged man. Those three knew him too well.
The father of Shinagawa Miyauchi spoke with helplessness and grief.
"The police of Osaka. No, the police of Japan. If I seem like an overly selfish father then I sincerely apologize but I have but one request. Please....please catch the demon who caused all of this. I at least want to see the face of who killed my son. Please...Catch...that demon..."
The sadness in his eyes could not be ignored.
That was the start of the downfall.