"ーSo, do you know anything about them?"
"Hoho, I see, I see. Allekant is it?"
Lunch break, the next day. The classroom of Year 1, Class 3.
Ayato was questioning Eishirou regarding the two girls from Allekant who'd visited the day before. Eishirou, on the other hand, nodded happily as he skilfully sliced his apple with a dagger-type Lux.
Whenever Eishirou was low on funds, this was what he'd do for lunch.
Even this apple was a gift from his neighbors back home, who'd grown it themselves.
"Information on those two is going to be pretty pricey, you know?"
Chewing on an apple slice, Eishirou exaggeratedly rubbed his thumb and middle finger together.
"...Alright then. Why don't I treat you to lunch and we'll call it even?"
"Great, you've got a deal. Finally, my first good meal in who knows how long."
Eishirou stuffed the rest of the apple slices into his mouth and pulled out his phone.
"Right then, why don't I fill you in while we're on the way? Let's see, Camilla and Ernesta..."
Urging Ayato onward, Eishirou exited the classroom.
Although the incident with Cyrus hadn't been publicized and he hadn't been given the full details on the situation, for Eishirou, the names were enough. Opening a window, the faces of the two girls from yesterday appeared.
"First up is the foreign beauty... Her name is Camilla Pareto, a student at Allekant Academy. She's the representative of Allekant's largest faction, Ferrovius. Her research is focused on the development of Lux weaponry. The team using weaponry developed by her claimed victory in last year's Phoenix. Other Festa participants have also used weapons developed by her. When taken in sum, her excellent final score during last year's Festa season places her second."
"Wow, impressive."
To be sure, that forthright and perceptive personality of hers screamed of her competence.
"Now then, the other is Ernesta Kühne - the genius of Allekant, the brilliant and well-known representative of the Pygmalion faction. There's not too much about her, to be honest. All that I've heard is that apparently she has quite the peculiar personality."
Wasn't that the truth.
As he remembered the light sensation upon his cheek, Ayato reddened a little. Even putting aside that shocking action, her other words and actions had been just as unsettling.
"Just one thing. When she first joined, Pygmalion was both small and weak. Its due to her efforts alone that its influence can no longer be ignored. She's one to be wary of."
"Pygmalion and Ferrovius, is it?"
"Every school, large or small, has its own internal power struggles. Allekant is something of a special case, though. Split into factions according to research interests and ideologies, they vie over research funding and students to put their efforts into practice."
Eishirou opened another window, which revealed a pie chart.
"As I'd just mentioned, the Ferrovius are the most influential power of the Lux development groups. As you can see from the diagram, their influence accounts for about 50% of the total."
"Pretty overwhelming."
"Although they're certainly influential, they lack a centralized system. Moreover, Allekant's student council wields more authority than they do, and resolutions require a two-thirds majority to pass. In order to ensure those votes, they have to join hands with other factions. In times past, their ally was the Tenorio faction, whose research focused on living things. However, it seems that some years ago, the Tenorio suffered a grave humiliation and lost most, if not all, of their influence. Since then, their new partner has been Pygmalion."
This conversation sure had gotten complicated.
"Pygmalion... what kind of research do they do?"
"Their research focuses on cybernetics and Replicants."
No wonder.
That being the case, it looked like the person who'd supplied Cyrus with his puppets had indeed been Ernesta. In order to combat Julis and Lester, she'd provided him with specially designed puppets intentionally targeting them. Viewing her as the mastermind behind the curtains of the incident seemed pretty fair.
"So, this is a pretty stupid question, but why does Allekant allow its students to personally undertake R&D? Isn't it better to leave that side of things to the Integrated Enterprise Foundation, and focus on the Festa?"
"Yeah, there's a fair bit of difference there. Mana and Prana research are related - both relate to the Starpulse Generation. To be honest, the majority of outstanding meteoric engineers are members of the Starpulse Generation. Since they all gather together anyway as members of the Starpulse Generation, why not teach them at the same time? That's how Allekant sees things."
"Isn't that a bit much...?"
"Truth be told, when Allekant was first founded, it was rather weak. However, due to the excellent results brought forth by their research, they're now very formidable. Moreover, when it comes to those with the desire to do research, there's really nowhere else to go."
"Is that so? Wait, what's this...?"
Halfway through his comment, Ayato realized he was on a path he didn't normally take.
Having left the high school building, he now found himself headed towards the junior high hallway.
"Yabuki, the cafeteria's the other way..."
"Don't worry about it. This is one of those rare times when you're treating me; why would I go to one of those cheap places we normally eat at anyway?"
Grinning evilly, Eishirou gave Ayato a quick glance.
"Today we're going to dine on fine cuisine at 'Le Meurice'."
"Huh...?"
Le Meurice was a high class dining hall located on Seidoukan grounds. It was situated at the entrance to a forest, a ways off from the school buildings. When compared to the Polaris Dining Hall Ayato normally ate at, the prices were three times greater.
"That data was hard to come by. This still counts as pretty cheap, you know?"
"...Oh, well, OK then."
He'd been the one to offer, so there wasn't anything he could do about it now.
Ayato pulled out his wallet to confirm he had enough on him. All the eateries on Asterisk accepted electronic currency, but this didn't suit Ayato, so he rarely used it.
"Hmm?"
"Eh?!"
Eishirou suddenly stopped short. Counting his money in a daze, Ayato almost crashed into him.
"That was close, what's up?"
"Oh, nothing much. I just happened to catch sight of something interesting is all," Eishirou answered, eyes flashing like a young child catching glimpse of a new toy.
Following Eishirou's gaze, Ayato saw two shadows, hidden behind a hallway pillar.
"That'sー"
Ayato knew those two.
The girl from a few days ago, who he'd run into in the hallway, as well as the middle-aged man she'd called "Uncle".
They were too far away for him to hear anything, but the atmosphere was strange. Although their conversation wasn't quite an argument, but it was still quite tense.
"Ho~h. Never thought I'd get a sneak peek at some info on Toudou Kirin. I can't let such a good opportunity go to waste."
Eishirou pulled out a small notepad and, without allowing Ayato to see what he was writing, began to jot something down.
"You know her?"
Even though Eishirou had just said he couldn't let this opportunity go to waste, when he heard Ayato, he couldn't help but stop writing, and turned to him with a dumbfounded look on his face.
"...Are you for real?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, the person you're asking about is Toudou Kirinー"
Eishirou was interrupted by a sudden sharp sound.
"!"
The man had suddenlyー! Kirin's face was now sporting a fresh red handmark.
"ーI told you it's not something you should worry yourself over, Kirin."
"B-but, Uncle, Iー"
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"I don't remember ever giving you permission to speak."
The man raised his hand to strike her once more as Kirin trembled.
ーHowever.
"ーEnough. This ends here."
As the man had swung his arm down, Ayato had suddenly appeared in-between the two, and caught the man's arm.
"Huh...?"
Kirin was astonished beyond measure.
"...And who the hell are you?"
The man frowned, and commanded a response.
He stared at Ayato with eyes both cold and contemptuous, and his voice revealed his disgust.
"I have no idea what the circumstances are that led to this, but you should never raise a hand against a defenseless girl."
Ayato's answer received a scornful laugh.
"Don't make me laugh. Look at all of you, fighting whenever you please, and yet you have the nerve to say such dignified words?"
"It's a competition, not a street-fight. At the very least, it's not just one-sided violence."
Ayato calmly met the man's intense gaze head-on.
The two stared at one another for a while before the man finally shrugged off Ayato's hand from his wrist with a hmph!
"...Hmph. I was just dispensing discipline. This is a family matter; outsiders should stay out of this."
"Family matter...?"
Ayato sized the man up once more.
He looked about forty or so, and even more than from his quick glance yesterday, Ayato could tell his physique was impressive. He was of roughly the same stature as Lester, and thick muscles covered his shoulders and chest. He wore an expensive-looking brown suit.
From his muscled appearance, it was clear that he had both undergone martial arts training and that he was not a member of the Starpulse Generation.
"I am Toudou Kouichirou, the uncle of this Toudou Kirin."
Ayato turned his gaze to Kirin who nodded her head with a look of terror.
"Now that you know, get the hell out of here, brat. Anyway, to you Starpulse Generation punks, a slap is nothing serious, after all."
"Be that as it may, pain is still pain."
His words led Kirin to look up at Ayato.
She opened her mouth as if to speak, but, her gaze wavering, she kept her silence.
Kouichirou, on the other hand, was frowning in open displeasure.
"You sure talk big for some no-name student. You, what's your name?"
"...Amagiri Ayato."
The man pulled out his phone, opened a window, and flipped through it with practiced ease.
"Amagiri... Hmph. Just some piece of useless garbage who isn't even on the Named Charts."
It seems he'd looked up Ayato's information.
Suddenly, Kouichirou's arrogant, condescending expression turned sober.
"Hmm... Ser-Versta, is it? Well, that's something..."
Kouichirou gave a haughty laugh and looked at Ayato once more.
"Alright then, boy. Since you can't seem to stand by and watch anymore, what is it you want me to do?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm listening. Speak."
Kouichirou folded his arms patronizingly.
Ayato hesitated for a moment, before speaking forthrightly.
"Promise me you won't raise your hand against her again."
"Hmph, fine."
Kouichirou took the opportunity to add a malicious smile to his already egotistical attitude.
"ーBut that's if you win the duel."
"Duel...?"
"Uncle, please wait!"
Kirin responded in surprise while Kouichirou, caring not the least whit, continued to speak.
"Exactly. Is that not the way of things for Asteriskー for all of you?"
"That certainly is true... but you're not one of us?"
It was impossible that Kouichirou was a student.
"Moreover, you're not even a member of the Starpulse Generation."
"Cut the crap!"
Kouichirou cut off Ayato's words with a loud roar.
"Don't you ever mention me in the same sentence as you monsters again..."
Furious to the point where he could no longer control himself, Kouichirou glared at Ayato before turning back to face Kirin-
"Your opponent is her."
He put his hand on her slender shoulder.
"Whaー"
Ayato was so stunned he couldn't even speak.
What on earth was going on here?
"Don't worry ー even when you lose, I'm not going to make any demands of you."
"That's hardly the part I'm concerned about..."
Which would be something occurring even before the duel took place.
"Uncle! I..."
"Shut your mouth. Just do what I say."
Facing Kirin, he silenced her with an icy gaze.
"ーKirin. Don't tell me you're thinking of defying me?"
A deep, dark voice which didn't bother to hide its malice.
Kirin's heart and body both shook, and she visibly deflated.
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"...No, I neverー"
"Exactly. If it's Ser-Versta, then there's some meaning in victory here. I look forward to it."
Having finished speaking, he turned his back on Kirin, and slowly walked away.
"..."
Kirin, left behind, bit her lips with her head bowed.
Ayato clutched his head.
The sound raised by the disturbance had already caused several students to gather around, who were, even now, excitedly discussing the matter amongst themselves.
Ayato looked to Eishirou for salvation, but there was none to be found. On the contrary, he wore a smile which beamed bright as the sun.
Ayato sighed, and turned to Kirin.
"Um, Toudou-san? Iー"
"...I'm so sorry."
Kirin never raised her eyes, instead answering Ayato in a quaking tone.
"Huh...?"
"I... Toudou Kirin, challenge Amagiri Ayato-senpai to a duel."
In response to that low voice, the emblems on their chests began to glow with a scarlet light.
"Whaー Why must the two of us fight?!"
Ayato shook his head.
Kirin looked at him with a sorrowful expression.
"I don't want this either... but I have no choice."
"No choice?"
"There's a dream I want to make happen. Uncle is doing this for me..."
A tone which struggled to suppress all emotion.
And, failing utterly, instead revealed the boundless grief hidden within.
"Please, senpai. Please just take it back, please."
Ayato pondered for but an instant before looking her deep in the eyes.
"...And if I did that, what about you?"
"Me?"
"What would happen to you?"
Kirin looked away as if to escape that searching gaze.
"D-don't worry about me. It doesn't matter how I'm treated."
"ーAnd that's why I can't do what you ask," Ayato responded simply.
Ayato well understood that he was being unreasonable.
To fight against the very person he wanted to save, wasn't that defeating the whole point?
But given what he had just witnessed, that scene of violence, and the words the girl had just uttered, "It doesn't matter how I'm treated", he refused to turn a blind eye and pretend he'd seen nothing.
"Is that so? ... Amagiri-senpai sure is kind."
Kirin gave a faint smile, and then reached behind her to unsheathe her weapon.
"ーBut this is different. I cannot afford to lose."
In that moment, Ayato felt goosebumps.
Purely instinctively, he opened up a gap between them.
Her expression never changed.
Utterly reluctant, and inches from crying, she nevertheless brandished her weapon.
He'd noticed the first they met, this was no Lux. Although its design was highly modernized... but this was without a doubt a real sword, and a nihontou at that.[1]
He couldn't feel the presence of mana, and so she wasn't a Strega. However, in addition to the feeling of being bathed in her Prana, there was something else which warranted taking her seriously.
From Kirin, holding her sword in a combat stance, he could feel an ice-cold, piercing aura as sharp as a razor's edge.
This was an intimidating presence Ayato had never before experienced.
"Well... I can't back down on this either," Ayato muttered as he grabbed his school emblem.
"ーI accept your request for a duel."
He gathered Prana within his body before focusing it.
He intuitively felt itー that even at his full strength, he couldn't compete with this girl.
As Prana ran through his body, carrying with it a sparkling radiance, magic circles began to appear around him.
Pain ran throughout his body and took form.
The chains which bound him were forcibly dispersed by the power which swelled forth from within him.