Absolute Duo Vol 5 Chapter 3

“Tooru, are you awake?”

On a certain afternoon, almost a week after the battle with >.

Even though it should be cla.s.s time now, Lilith showed up at my medical room.

“Aah, I am…………are you ditching cla.s.s?”

“Why not. I don’t need to take general subjects anyway”

That’s one leisure sentence; if its academics then, she can easily top over the school level.

I want to share her academic abilities if possible.

“How’s your condition?”

“I am thinking of heading back to my room and change before showing up in the afternoon cla.s.s………well, I am really just going to show my face only though”

Since my wounds stabilized------(thanks to recovery enhancement from the >)----I received the permit to be discharged under the condition that exercise is prohibited for a few more days.

“That’s a good idea. It seems suffocating if you stay here doing nothing”

“It’s not “It seems suffocating”, it really is suffocating……….i really want to stop coming back here ever again”

“Fufu. You’re a regular already”

……….i feel like it’s too late already.

Many students are admitted in due to injuries but, I can’t help to think that I am the Kouryou Academy’s history first student to be admitted 3 times from the span of the start of my 1st year to summer.

“By the way-----that girl didn’t come?”

“If it’s Julie; isn’t it cla.s.s time now?”

“She didn’t show up that’s why I asked”

You got a point there, I nodded.

(But, it really is rare for Julie to skip cla.s.s……..)

Unlike the whimsical gold girl in front of me, the silver girl is actually quite responsible.

Within my knowledge, she has not skipped cla.s.s before.

(……….maybe-----)

I have an idea about it but, this is something I have to ask her or I won’t get the answer.

However, if she didn’t come here then, where is Julie right now?

Is she in the dorm room, or------

(…………no, more importantly now----)

I decided to leave Julie aside temporarily and concentrate back at Lilith.

“Hey Lilith. Can we get into the main topic already?”

“Main topic?”

“You have something that you don’t others to hear so you picked this time to come-----right?”

“…………correct. I sometimes don’t know if you’re dense or sharp”

While making a wry smile, Lilith shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, we can talk while walking, if you are heading back to the dorm”

I nodded to her suggestion and quickly packed my stuff to head out the room with her.

When we got outside, the strong sunlight burned my skin.

Even though the lantern festival is over, I guess summer is still going to go on.

I walked back to the dorm and beside me is the girl with Yellow Topazblonde hair that won’t lose to the glow of the sun.

“………it’s about > huh?”

“I was wondering about what happened after he was apprehended”

Apparently with his consciousness cut from the >, > was brought towards the medical ward by the security guards after they appended him.

“He was injured before the fight?”

“Yes. And it was quite serious”

The reason was not clear but, it seems that > suffered serious injuries before Tsukimi and our fight.

And it was so serious that he might have died if he was brought to the emergency room a little later.

“Most likely, he wished to fight while fully prepared for death”

“Just why would he; in such a body…….”

“That just means that finis.h.i.+ng things up with you means a lot to him…………If you really are curious about it then, should I tell them to ask?”

Ask him-----That’s probably the main reason why they saved him even though he brought great damage to Kouryou academy AKA Dawn Organization many times.

This is so that they can gain information through interrogation of the enemy organization-Gogmagog.

“………….no, never mind. I somehow know that he will not answer------it feels like that”

“I see…….i understand”

“What’s going to happen to---->?”

“There are many instances that those type of devoted ones cannot be handled so, dragging him over through deals won’t be happening”

Even though Lilith’s face turned moody from my question, she told me the actions that the Dawnorganization’s was trying to take.

What’s left is probably using him as business materials to deal with Gogmagog but, I think that won’t be happening if I think about them coming to receive someone who is gravely injured.

Which means; it won’t be hard to imagine what is going to happen later.

The world we are in right now is outside the realms of law.

“It’s better to fret about it”

“……..thanks, Lllith. I am okay”

I replied and thanked her for her consideration.

Our words were cut off for a while.

While hearing the cicada coming from a distance, we continued walking without talking and------

(Ah……….)

I quickly stopped when he reached the clock tower nearby.

It’s because I saw the black yellow guard fence showing that it is prohibited to enter.

Over the other side of the fence was the scars of the Ether cannon that > shot at Tsukimi.

Thinking back again; it’s quite amazing that we were able to block the Twin Ether Cannon which has more explosive output than normal.

(It’s all thanks to Julie………..)

I might have not won if I was alone.

It’s because I believed in her at that time that I am………..

“I saw the report. Looks like it was one crazy fight”

“Well yeah……….”

While directing her sapphire eyes at the place prohibited from entering, Lilith said that.

2 days go, an investigation was conducted on us by a staff member dispatched by Dawn organization.

Lilith then read through the report created with additional information including the scars of the battle.

Which means----she should also know about the mysterious > inside Julie.

Just how did this gold girl feel when she saw the article in the report?

I moved towards the tower from the fence and told Lilith.

“Lilith. I have somewhere to go so, sorry but, can you let me go alone”

“Alone? Well I don’t mind…………..well then, I will head back to the dorm first”

After seeing off the gold girl walking at the path leading to the dorm, I once again looked back at the clock tower.

“Well then………….”

After mumbling alone, I started walking towards the clock tower.

It’s been 4 months since I walked into the clock tower------ever since the day I officially teamed up with Julie as >.

One step after another, I climbed up the stone stairs of the quiet tower.

The stairs soon ended and I reached a hall before-----

*Chirin* I heard the sound of bells with the wind.

“Tooru……………..”

The silver girl who was looking up at the sky, turned around.

It’s not like I saw her from below but, the first thing that popped up in my mind when I thought about Julie in the medical room was the clock tower.

“It’s not good to skip cla.s.s you know, Julie”

I went closer to her while saying that before standing beside her to look out the window.

My head was filled with Julie during the last time I came here but, now that I take a good look outside, I am able to take a good look at the academy which I have many fates with, and the buildings expanding across the tall walls.

“Nice view”

“Ja--………….”

Even though Julie nodded, she looked downwards.

“…………….are you okay coming outside?”

“Yeah. Although it’s with a condition that I can’t exercise, I will be heading back to the dorm starting from today”

“That’s good”

After saying that, a gentle wind came in when Julie made a soft smile.

The wind pa.s.sing by feels comfortable.

“Okay then. I feel like relaxing here but, let’s head back already”

After I tapped Julie’s shoulder, I turned my heel and walked off.

I stopped walking because of one sentence the silver girl said.

“>-----“

“Eh…….?”

When I turned around, her Ruby eyesred eyes looked at me.

“That is the > of my > you saw”

“The ability to kick the sky, was the real > of your >…..?”

*Chirin* the bells echoed when the silver girl nodded.

It took a while to digest Julie’s words before I made up my mind.

“I was hesitating if I should ask. It’s just that I thought you might know about your own >…….”

When I first woke up at the medical room and asked her about the >, Julie looked like she wanted to say something.

But after I saw the anxiety in the eyes of the silver girl, I ended the conversation by pretending that she does not know about her own >.

That’s because I was trapped by a strong uneasiness.

I thought that Julie might go somewhere-------

I was stuck with that thought.

But now; the silver girl told me about her > for whatever reason it may be.

The same anxiety as that time was floating in her eyes.

But, she did not hide the truth and told me.

That’s why I have the obligation to listen to the rest of her story.

I have to listen to the confession made by the girl that I made a vow to be a > with.

“Will you tell me? The truth about Julie----I have to know”

“Ja---“

The bells echoed when the wind blew her Silver BlondeSilver hair-----

She then started talking about herself.

“I----am not an >”

“Wha..!?”

Shock came out from my mouth when I heard the truth Julie presented.

That’s normal.

That’s because Julie has the physical abilities far surpa.s.sing human beings while is able to manifest the > too like us-----and that weapon is the biggest characteristic of being an >.

It’s hard to believe but, I know the best that this silver girl is not one that will joke.

“Then, what are you?”

“>-----a human that has awakened their hidden >………that’s me”

Julie placed her hand on her chest and called herself that.

“Everything started on that snowy night------yes, when this curse was carved on my back”

While saying that, Julie moved her hands to her shoulders as if she was reaching for the scar.

“I-----couldn’t understand immediately when my papa died. The hand patting my head gently fell off powerlessly, his smile disappeared, and his eyes stopped opening-----I was just there blank there and I could only stare at my papa turning colder……….”

Ironically, it was the man that killed him that made Julie understood that her father died.

Your father is dead------you’re the one that killed him, those were his words.

Violent anger and hatred were brewing inside the girl when she was pulled back to reality.

A concentrate of pure black negative emotions that could be called >, took over Julie’s heart and made her jump defenselessly towards her enemy.

However, there’s no way such a young girl could beat someone that even Gimle’s number hero-Julie’s father could handle.

She got punched to the ground but even so, Julie stilled glared at her enemy with violent emotions.

“I prayed for > and wished for it. I wanted a > that is able stab into him and tear his throat into pieces…………..”

At that time, Julie felt a scorching pain on her chest.

It felt like the > turned into h.e.l.l fire and was trying to burn down her heart.

Immediately, an extreme pain attacked her as if her blood, flesh and bones were scorched down.

Julie’s body was really covered in >.

(It’s the same as the when the > is administrated………)

And------Julie grabbed the > just like how I did it so.

“The > I grabbed turned into the > and I gained the >-----of 2 >”

Julie bore her fangs at her enemy again with the > she gained.

Her old self is no longer there.

She turned stronger and faster as if she was another person and she was able to fly too.

But even so------it still did not reach her enemy’s life.

Julie was then scarred at her back after she lost and that was the start of her path as an

“………..i know that unlike me, you broke through your limits as a human-----and turned into that > or something. But why come to Kouryou academy? If you gained > during that point of life then, what is your reason for getting closer to this academy?”

Julie made a small nod at my question before talking again.

“After 2 years my papa was killed by that man-----It’s an event that happened 4 years ago from now”

In a way that her mother wouldn’t find out----Julie entered the forest to train her > and met up with several foreigners.

She found this out later but, it seems that they were all mafia remnants that have soiled their hands in criminal activities overseas.

They were at that time escaping and were shocked to see the silver girl at such an impossible area---deep inside the forest.

That’s only normal.

No one would imagine finding a girl swinging swords deep inside a forest covered in snow.

The men who regained their composure, planned to use Julie to slow down the > chasing them as much as possible.

If the pursuer found a seriously injured Julie then, they will be able to buy some time because the pursuer would either threat Julie or call someone to help; and even though they pointed the gun at her-----

Their evil intentions, caused the > to awaken----

After The Mafia remnants were disabled in a short time, a female > called Valeria who were chasing them, showed up at the area.

Julie went berserk------(but it seems that the memories were still with her)-----and judged that the female that suddenly appeared to be a new enemy before attacking her.

“During the battle, it seems that Valeria was shocked. It’s because she realized that the ident.i.ty of the opponent that attacked her was a child”

Still being controlled by the >, Julie battled equally with Valeria who is a > >.

The battle concluded quickly.

As a result of going all out with her > without any restraints in berserk state-----Julie suddenly lost her speed and the battle ended when she was beaten down because of that reason.

After that, Valeria took custody of Julie and brought her under Dawn Organization’s care, with the reason that Julie is suffering a disease that was corroding her body and it was undetected even by herself-----(This reason was for her mother).

The person she met there was the birth parent of the > and the Chairman’s grandfather- Professor Tsuk.u.mo.

“At that time, I found out that I am an >”

“What is the >…………….?”

Julie answered my question through the information told by Professor Tsuk.u.mo.

That every human has a > hidden in their > called >.

That every human is able to control a body which has gone over the limits, by awakening the >.

The awakened person can manifest their > into a weapon, and can even activate a special skill.

“It’s just like the >>…………..no, the > is just like----“

“Ja. That is correct Tooru. The > are > who awoken the > artificially through the >-----That’s what I have been told”

“I see…………”

I could only be shocked at the truth presented to me which isn’t even taught in cla.s.s.

“After that, I was able given the ability to control the > which I couldn’t before”

From what I heard, it seems that Julie’s body was at a wreck because it was unable to endure the > at that time.

To fix that, Professor Tsuk.u.mo arranged sword training for her and also not only that, but also to raise her neglected basic physical abilities until she can enroll to Kouryou academy.

And in a few months, she was able to unleash her controlled > by taking each step but------

When she saw my critical state in the fight with >, her violent emotions awoken the > and removed her limiter temporarily.

“I----made a lie”

While looking down, Julie placed her hand on her chest and grabbed her uniform.

“I lied to hide this > from you, and pretended that I am an >………”

Lies and pretend----

That’s correct.

Julie said that she don’t really remember about the fight on the boat with her unleased >.

More importantly, she has been keeping the truth about her being an > from her > -me.

Everything----was reality.

“I was afraid. That you would leave me if you knew the truth………”

This was probably the anxiety Julie showed in the medical room.

She was afraid that I might make a wall if I found out about the different existence called >; on top of that, she cannot help but to feel anxious that I might even leave her because of that.

“But, there is something I am more afraid of. If I am swallowed by the > next time-----I might even hurt Tooru when it happens, I might even take your life; I am really afraid of that……..”

Julie looked at me with her anxious filled eyes and continued her words.

“But even so…………”

She had the expression of running away.

However, Julie made up her mind not to run.

So that she could tell me the truth, her wishes, and desire.

“But even so, I still want to be with you”

The silver girl confessed her wish and desire to me.

“I lied, pretended and might even hurt you someday. But-----“

Even though she was afraid of rejection, Julie brought her hands forward to me.

Just like how I extend my hands to her in this clock tower before.

“Can I continue being your >, Tooru”

Julie, stared at me and waited.

She was waiting for my words.

She was waiting for my choice.

That’s why I will tell her my will.

“Those who have bonded, must use their utmost ability to stay together---whether it’s through happiness or sadness or being healthy; until the day death separates us………..!”

I placed my hand on Julie’s hand.

“…………Really?”

“Of course”

“……..As long as I am your >, I might end up hurting you and the others”

“I have my > to prevent you from hurting others”

“…………I am weak. I will rely on you a lot you know?”

“I relied on you when I was having it tough right? That’s what you call supporting each other as >”

“Ah………….”

It seems that Julie recalled back the words she said on a certain night.

“Is that so…………..”

Julie nodded with a small smile.

*Chirin* after hearing a ring, I told the silver girl this.

“Julie, let me protect you with this >”

“Tooru…………..!”

I then, said the wish and desire we both wanted.

“We are >. From now on, and forever……..!!”

“Ja--. Together forever……!”

*Gyuu* after her small hands gripped my hand tightly, Julie smiled.

Her smile looked so happy yet she was close to crying.

My heart shook greatly when I saw that smile---

And I ended up hugging the silver girl by reflex.

“…………That was a little surprising”

“Haha, Sorry. I somehow feel like I needed to do that”

“I see”

After the silver girl commented on the hug, my cheeks turned a little red and I replied back with a wry smile.

Just like Julie, she had some kind of happy atmosphere around her but-----

Her expression was slightly clouded.

“Tooru………is it really okay?”

“You still worry about that?”

“I’ve been feeling guilty the whole time so…….”

After seeing her slightly dropped her shoulders, I swung my head with the intentions of telling her not to worry.

“……….it’s true that you might have lied. You might have pretended too. That’s reality but--------so what? Even I have 1 or 2 things I didn’t tell you”

“………..and what is that?”

“A secret. But, I think the time to tell you will come soon”

I will, someday.

What should I do with Julie’s revenge?

Should I stop Julie’s wish------for revenge?

But as an

I can’t answer that now.

But, I have to come up with the answer until that day comes.

“……….I understand. Then, someday”

“Yeah, I will, someday”

I nodded and told Julie that we should head back to the dorm.

After Julie nodded, she once again joined our hands.

“Ju-Julie…….?”

“-----?”

Julie tilted her small head when she looked at me shaken caused by this and the hug just now.

“N-no, nothing………”

Compared to sleeping together, joining hands isn’t a big deal.

Oddly enough, my heartbeat was pumping faster than usual.

“Eeer, mo-more importantly, this is about the talk just now. The sentence regarding the > feels embarra.s.sing to put into words huh. Like, it’s like a wedding vow………..!”

(Wait, What the heck did I say!?)

I retorted at my running mouth inside my mind.

On the other hand, Julie----

“…………Now that you say that, I feel that too now”

After saying that, the silver girl looking down blushed and revealed her embarra.s.sment.

Normally, the silver girl was the one who makes me feel panic and awkward.

When I saw Julie looking up at me looking shy, I felt so embarra.s.sed that smoke might puff out from my head until I die.

“O-okay then, let’s head back to the dorm and eat. Also, we have to attend afternoon training too. Hahaha……………”

“J-ja--, that’s true, let’s do that………….but, before that-----“

“Hn?”

“Can we go back to the room first?”

“! Yeah, that’s right”

I tried guessing what the silver girl meant------

Our voices mixed together and said the next word.

“”Let’s drink Apple tea again””

Including the students; everyone related to the academy knows about the > research facility under Kouryou academy.

However, there are several facilities underground other than the > research lab that the student’s don’t know. Within one of them, a teenager called > was imprisoned in a jail facility in the security office ------basically it’s a prison.

(I look pathetic huh)

After regaining his consciousness, > found out that he lost; he then evaluated his captured self and saw that he could not move because of the straitjacket and could not talk because of the mouth restraint.

But, forget even anger, the craziness he showed in the fight with Tooru has disappeared from his eyes.

Unlike the craziness that happened in the fight, his mind feels calm too.

It’s felt like a dream.

It’s as if the evil spirit was cut down together with his > by the >.

> knows where the reason of this change came from.

(It turned out like that in the end but, I know……….)

At that time--------he saw Tooru’s back blocking the blade swung down by the silver girl and it made his violent emotions grow even more violent.

However now; an indescribable sense of defeat was given to > each time he closes his eyelids and see that scene. That’s because the action Tooru took, was the only cause that answered the scream which has been screaming deep inside >’s chest the whole time ------the voice that has been calling out for help.

People change.

No matter who it is, there are various triggers to accomplish that.

That’s something true no matter how contradictory others think off it.

Even though > hasn’t notice that, he has gained the trigger.

But----it’s too late.

> will die in the near future.

It’s because it’s the end after information’s about Gogmagog are extracted from him.

Even fully aware of his end, he had no intentions to resist.

He had no obligation to keep quiet for the sake of the organization that discarded him, and more importantly, he no longer has the obsession he had with Tooru and the will to live anymore.

This happened at that time.

“For he is named Shakespeare. Everything belongs on the stage while every person is the performer----“ Suddenly, a clear voice echoed in the prison.

(Wha………..!?)

Immediately a bright light appeared.

> felt shaken in his mind towards the event that happened with no notice.

(This is----GateTeleporting Magic!?)

The mysterious light he is witnessing now is the same as the move used by the > in the >.

(But, what kind of goal…….!?)

During >’s bewilderment, the light shun through his shape and filled the area until it leaked outside-----and popped.

Immediately right after; > forgotten how to breath for a while when he felt the presence that suddenly appeared behind him.

The clear voice sound so smooth like water, and the person was giving off the presence of the bottomless abyss.

(Ju-just who is this person………!?)

The unidentified existence, walked pa.s.sed > from behind while continuing his sentence.

“Every performer has their own role------but when that role is over; what happens to the performer I wonder”

The clear voice that echoed just in in the person belongs to a young man-----and what’s more a teenager at his mid-10’s.

The teen walked forward from > and stopped without looking back.

His appearance looks like----darkness.

> felt that the teen’s existence was like a human shaped by the darkness from the abyss.

That’s because the loitering boy had hair, clothes, sword, sword handle, and even the sheath all in black color.

The teen slowly turned around and talked towards > who was looking at him suspiciously.

“You should know me >-----no, Kevin Wiffia”

(H-how do you know that name……..!?)

> felt shocked when his lost name was spoken out.

But-----

Next off, > felt an impact that surpa.s.ses his shock.

That happened when he saw the eyes of the dark and calm teen.

The moment > opened his eyes wide because he reached to the conclusion on, who the teen in front of him is------

The teen suddenly pulled out his sword.

The sword drew an arch from above and sliced >’s mouth restraint right in the middle.

“You can’t talk if you remained like that”

With his restraints taken off, > fell to his knees onto the hard ground and looked up at the teen.

“Don’t tell me……you’re………..”

The dark teen smiled answered the question > asked for confirmation.

“………….why, are you here…….?”

The teen opened his mouth this time without answering the 2nd question.

“Thank you >. Thanks to you, they awoken and the 1st stage has ended. As thanks; I have come to reward you with the truth”

“Fu, haha……..so everything was according to the script”

After the dark teen told him that, > let out a dry laugh when he found out that he was dancing on the palm of the dark teen’s hand.

“Yes. It’s according to script. Ever since your brother died to this day----everything……..that’s fact”

“Wh………what did you say……..no, impossible……..everything since that day……..? The-then…….my brother’s-----!!”

>’s voice shook at the content of the sentence that made him recall back his brother’s death that occurred when he covered for him 7 years ago.

“You probably suffered for a long time, >. Really, good work…………but, your rolehas ended. There might be a chance that the script might get distorted if you tell Dawn organization about the information you have so-------I will have you leave now”

“…..Shut up………shut up…………!! You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you’re the one who killed my brother……!! UaaaaaAA-----!!”

The sadness of his brother murdered and the anger of his whole life being played turned into hatred and controlled >’s body to jump at the teen in front of him to crush his throat, but-----

Suddenly, something weird occurred in his body.

A middle border appeared and his view tilted.

No, that has already pa.s.sed and > does not even realize this.

When the teen cut the straightjacket and mouth restrain, his life has been severed too at the same time.

“A-aaah-ah………”

After receiving a sword strike permitted only by a master; >’s body was split into half like the straightjacket just now.

Half of the body dropped with a thud and the remaining half turned to a lump of flesh while the knees were still bent on the ground.

The teen gently smiled and told this to the lump of flesh which used to be call >.

“Rest in peace, Kevin Wiffia. If I use his words then------Have a Bonne Vacancenice vacation, for Eterniaeternity”

A light appeared in the room again and started covering the dark teen.

Right before disappearing into the light, the teen mumbled to himself.

“Well then----Let’s the second chapter begin”