Back at the [Tohno Mansion], Arcueid told me that she was going to rent a hotel room to take as a base since she can't return to the hotel after the disaster that happened in the early morning.
I was here then, having a cup of tea with my guardians, Aoko-san and Touko-san.
My legs are shaking a little from nerves.
Shiki, are you going to tell us now the reason why you got so involved with the [Princess of True Ancestors], Arcueid Brunestud?
It's completely natural for me to feel nervous.
They are upset. Especially Aoko-san, who had been holding back until now that she has a chance to talk privately with me.
The last two days were very hectic in our lives, to the point that the entire city was in danger and there was nothing the [Mage] in this city could have done on her own. If Aoko-san got involved... she would surely have died.
If I, who can kill even the already dead was about to die, she without that ability wouldn't have been able to take out a monster like Nrvnqsr in one blow.
Although, at least I had the support of Touko-san, who is a bit more specialized in supernatural events like this after Ryougi-san and Mikiya-san worked for her.
But nothing I say is going to appease the anger Aoko-san has against me right now. Even Akiha-san fled in terror at the sight of Aoko-san.
"Nii-san... I wish you the best of luck."
That's all my younger sister said to me, which makes me want to bite my lip and die silently, but these [Sorceresses] won't let me do that so easily.
Ok, organise your ideas, Shiki.
How do we start with the explanation?
I can't say something like, "Well... you see, I suddenly felt the urge to kill and ended up with Arcueid cutting her into seventeen different pieces, hehe..."
Aoko-san would give me a one-sided beating if I told her that.
...
I seriously don't know how to explain it....
─So, Shiki?
Aoko-san was pressuring me to give her the answer.
But there's only one possible answer and that's the only way I could say it. It's a reality, I...
─I killed her. I don't know why... but I killed Arcueid Brunestud... by stepping on those words that Sensei gave me, I took a person's life...
And then, my face turned to the right. The reason was obvious, Aoko-san stood up and slapped me.
I felt like crying at that moment.
Because I trampled on everything Sensei told me... that reprimand he gave me when he gave me these glasses, the beautiful words which I had been keeping as a rule that I should not break.
"Not to take off my glasses unless it is completely necessary."
"Not to cut the lines thoughtlessly."
"Use my skill in the way I think is right."
Those are the rules I had set for myself based on what Sensei told me. That I want to cry at this moment is entirely natural for me.
─Sensei... I...
─You're a big fool, Shiki!
But before I could apologize, Sensei hugged me tightly.
This feeling reminds me of that time when we were almost separated in the past. She was about to leave, but she responded to the selfish request of a child clinging to her.
Before I knew it, tears were coming down from my eyes. But I shouldn't feel sad, because right now, Sensei is shaking. I don't know if from hysteria or something, but she's shaking hard as she clings to me in the embrace.
Sensei...
─You don't know how much you worried me! You're not a hero, Shiki! You can't go throwing your life into danger like that, that was reckless, irresponsible, stupid! What's gotten into your head, you asshole!
The tears intensified out of guilt, I couldn't say anything to reproach her, she is absolutely right.
I hug Sensei as tightly as she hugs me, trying to drown the regret I feel for having failed her. Memories of how I wanted to kill myself in the rain that time and how Ciel-senpai helped me pull myself together come flooding back and make me feel even more miserable.
─Not only "killing" Arcueid Brunestud, but also allying with her to kill two other vampires... Nrvnqsr Chaos and Vlov Arkhangel, ranked 19 and 10 among the [Dead Apostle Ancestors], you killed them both, putting your life at risk, stupidly!
Aoko-san kept scolding me, but I don't think he's going to stop for a while.
─You took the risk for everything, extending the defense line to Nee-san and call to Shiki-chan, knowing that the danger was so great that you were going to need all the help that was available. You pushed aside Akiha-chan, Hisui-chan, Kohaku-chan, and even me, Nee-san took a video of everything you did and the expressions you made were such that I had never seen them on your face before.
It's true, I was upset at the time.
Vlov put me against the reins to make me defend Arcueid to the end. I had to flow [Magical Energy] throughout my body in large quantities to do all the manoeuvres I did at that moment so that my brain wouldn't be fried.
I pushed myself to the limit of my physical ability, breaking the limit of my ordinary stamina by far, which by its very nature, exposed me to death many times, but I did my best to fight even at a disadvantage.
As if the battle against Nrvnqsr had not been enough, the one I had with Vlov finished using up all the energy I had left at that moment.
Arcueid helped me by using remnants of Nrvnqsr's [Beasts] to at least mostly heal the wounds that could have been fatal in my condition. Touko-san brought me to the mansion and Ciel-senpai along with Ryougi-san went to escort Aoko-san and the others to be all in one place.
Touko-san, who hadn't said anything so far, then says:
─It may have been very dangerous, but Shiki-kun came back alive. That's not a mistake. He broke a rule or two but he's the one who worked the hardest among all of us to not only protect himself and the city, but everyone he holds dear.
─I know, Nee-san! But still... Shiki, there are many things you shouldn't have done and some things you could have done better. I'm sorry for hitting you, but it's the same as back then, if I don't contradict you, in the not so distant future you might make a mistake that you won't be able to make amends for.
─Calm down, calm down... you two really are brats. Just let us know when something like this happens again, Shiki-kun.
─Touko-san...
─If you feel sorry, it's okay. Hold on to that feeling and hold on to that with your whole life.
─Uh... uhn... Yeah, yeah...! Thank you, Touko-san!
This is my family, no doubt about it.
None of the Tohno's, I belong to the Aozaki family after all, and no one can deny that.
It was at that precise moment, that a scream was heard all around the mansion at the same time. And before I knew it, my life was about to take another one of those unexpected turns that would involve everyone I hold dear.