“And then I swore. I would get revenge on that country.”
“That’s…”
Kenyya didn’t know.
He knew she was a member of the resistance, but not why.
He didn’t know what kind of past she had, or how she had lived.
It was so tragic.
It was like something out of a story, and he was left speechless.
But it must have really happened, and in his old world, it was a story that was common not too long ago.
“So, Kaguya is…”
“Yes, I’m a member of the resistance. The largest resistance group in Japan. I’m a member of Amaterasu. I’m just infiltrating the military.”
“…”
“Surprised? I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to tell you, but… I felt like you were different…”
Then Kaguya stood up.
“The curry was delicious. Forget about today! From tomorrow, we’ll be normal… well, maybe that’s impossible, but let’s get along!”
In a slightly sad voice, Kaguya gave a forced smile and tried to leave.
But Kenyya grabbed Kaguya’s hand as she headed for the door, tightly.
And he said clearly.
“I want you to let me join too. The resistance.”
“Huh?”
“Because I want to protect you. I want you to let me join the resistance. Let’s fight together.”
“Huh?… Are you… serious…?”
“Of course.”
(That’s why I came to this world, it’s easier to protect you if I’m by your side.)
Kaguya looked at him with a surprised expression.
Originally, she had wanted him to join if possible.
But that was a path into an uncertain future, a war with the Empire where defeat was almost certain.
Kaguya couldn’t easily invite him to such a place.
Because that would mean something like, “I want you to die with me.”
But Kenyya said it of his own will.
That he wanted to protect her, that he wanted to join the resistance.
“You might die, you know?”
“That’s better than letting you die.”
“Hehe, you’re weird after all. But if you have your reasons, Kenyya…”
And then Kaguya smiled at Kenyya, not a forced smile.
“Okay, become a comrade. Kenyya.”
“Leave it to me.”
Kenyya smiled back.
One of Kenyya’s goals.
His participation in the resistance was achieved.
And Kenyya stood up.
“Well then, shall we go?”
“Go?”
“You’re going back to Amaterasu’s headquarters, right? I’ll go with you.”
Kaguya didn’t live in the dorm.
Her place to return to was decided, Amaterasu’s headquarters.
It was in the Slums, about a two-hour drive from here.
…
“Kaguya, you can drive, huh?”
“It’s easy, this much. Compared to a KOG, anyway.”
Kenyya and the others got into Kaguya’s car and headed to Amaterasu’s headquarters.
Around them were well-maintained roads and empty scenery.
The rubble had been removed in the five years, but nothing was built in its place.
The beat-up compact car wasn’t comfortable, but it did its job and carried the two of them.
“There are cars and stuff, huh?”
“You’re not going to tell me you don’t know what a car is, are you?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just that you have a KOG, but you’re using a compact car.”
“You hardly see them in the city, but if you leave Tokyo, they’re pretty common.”
“Hmm.”
Kenyya looked outside, feeling the wind.
The temperature was just right, and it felt like spring, but there were no cherry blossoms anywhere.
The empty roads that had been cleared and leveled stretched out.
Then Kaguya looked straight ahead and asked Kenyya.
“Hey, is it okay if I ask about your past?”
“Are you interested?”
“It’s weird if I’m not. You can operate a KOG like that, but you don’t know much about the world.”
“That’s true. Yeah, I’ll tell you someday. But can you wait for now?”
“…O-Okay, I understand.”
Kaguya didn’t ask anything more.
Kenyya also intended to tell her someday.
But not now.
He himself wasn’t completely convinced, and he didn’t think she would believe him either.
Kaguya, seeing Kenyya’s behavior, thought it wasn’t normal and stopped the conversation there.
She didn’t intend to force him to talk about something he didn’t want to talk about.
Since he said he would tell her someday.
…
“We’re here.”
A slum spread out before them.
It was a place where many people lived, where the Japanese, called the third-class, were working together to live.
The emotion Kenyya felt when he saw that sight was.
(This is a terrible place…)
Kenyya was a civilized person.
In his previous world, although he didn’t have parents, he lived without any inconveniences.
If he wanted to take a bath, he could heat up the water, and if he was thirsty, he could drink water.
If he was hungry, there was a convenience store just a short walk away.
Such things that were normal didn’t exist here.
As he followed Kaguya into the slums, people gathered one after another.
“Ah! Kaguya-chan, welcome back!”
“I’m home!”
“Kaguya-neechan, welcome back! Let’s play later!”
“I’m home! Sorry, I have things to do today.”
“Kaguya-chan, is he your boyfriend?”
“N-No, he’s not!”
Just walking through the slums, Kaguya was greeted by many people.
This was the headquarters of the resistance, hidden in the slums, where Amaterasu’s headquarters was located.
Everyone liked Kaguya, and Kaguya liked everyone.
Everyone was living together like a family.
“You’re popular.”
“…Yeah. They’re all good people.”
“So, where to?”
Kenyya asked Kaguya, who was heading straight for her destination.
“There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“That’s…”
…
“I am Kaguya’s father. Kurokami Isshin, the leader of Amaterasu. You’re the man Kaguya is interested in?”
“Kaguya is interested in me?… Could it be that she likes me…”
“N-No, that’s not it! Don’t get the wrong idea!”
Isshin and Kenyya faced each other across a table in a tatami room.
This was Amaterasu’s headquarters.
“Hmm? Kaguya! Why are you sitting next to him! This is like introducing your husband!”
“Today, I was told that Kaguya-san wanted to introduce me to her father.”
“W-What did you say!? Kaguya!”
“N-No, that’s not it!! He said he wanted to join Amaterasu!”
“But I swear to protect your daughter for the rest of my life.”
“Hey, what are you talking about!?”
“Are you prepared?”
“With my life.”
“Stop it, stop with the weird vibe!”
The exchange between the father and Kenyya was serious.
However, Kaguya, who was next to them, was so embarrassed that her face was burning.
“You have good eyes. You want to join Amaterasu?”
“Yes.”
“Kaguya, you believe in this man?”
“Yes, I… I think I can trust him. At least, he can’t be a spy.”
Isshin looked straight at Kenyya.
His eyes were those of a warrior who had survived many battlefields.
Isshin, who was confident in his ability to see people, was trying to assess Kenyya.
“Okay, we’ll test your aptitude in tomorrow’s operation.”
“T-Tomorrow’s operation!? So suddenly!? And we’ve never done an aptitude test before!”
“It’s not for Amaterasu. It’s a test to see if you’re worthy as my daughter’s husband.”
“I will give it my all. Father.”
“I don’t remember saying you could call me Father!”
“Haa, just do whatever you want…”
Kaguya held her head in her hands.
However, Kenyya’s entry into Amaterasu was approved.
His background was unknown, but he was introduced by Kaguya, and more than anything, Isshin saw in his eyes the eyes of a man who had made up his mind.
“Alright, I’m going to the strategy meeting. It’s late today, so stay the night. Kaguya, show him around.”
“Okay.”
And so, Kenyya and Kaguya went to a sleepover.
He thought it would be a fun development, but nothing of the sort happened.
“Here?”
“Yes, you’ll be staying here tonight.”
The place they were led to was.
“Who’s the big brother?”
“Play with us, play with us!”
“I’m sleepy–”
“Is he Kaguya-neechan’s boyfriend?”
There were many children.
“You weren’t imagining a luxury hotel, were you? We don’t have that kind of luxury. We’ll all sleep together here.”
“Haha, a big kid has come. I’m the auntie of this orphanage. You can call me Yoshie-san.”
Then, a woman who looked like she could wield a giant rice paddle came into the room.
She was wearing an apron and had a motherly feel.
That day, he ended up sleeping while being surrounded by the children.
“Sorry, is it hard to sleep?”
“Ah, someone’s butt is on my hand… ugh!”
“That’s mine!”
“Ouch… Kaguya, do you sleep here every day?”
“Not every day, but… these kids have all lost their families in the war. So, as much as possible…”
Her face, even in the dark room, looked almost like a saint.
She played with everyone until they fell asleep, and when they did, she gently slept next to them.
She looked almost like a mother.
Next to him, she was patting a young child to sleep.
“I see… well then, good night.”
“Yeah, good night.”
◇The next day
(My back hurts…)
Kenyya woke up with a large group in a room that wasn’t very comfortable to sleep in.
(It’s like a school trip…)
Around Kenyya, the children were sleeping with their futons lined up.
“Even such a small girl… her name was Azusa, right?”
He said, stroking the hair of the girl sleeping next to him.
She was probably only about six years old, and to think she didn’t have parents at such a young age.
Kenyya understood her feelings all too well.
Kenyya, who himself had lost his parents, understood the feelings of these children who didn’t have parents at an age when they wanted to be spoiled.
“Papa…”
The girl grabbed Kenyya’s hand and hugged him.
“Hehe, I’m still a high school student, you know.”
Kenyya was called Papa.
He laughed a little, thinking that the girl sleeping next to him had mistaken him for her parent.
But with the next words, he understood the meaning.
“Papa… don’t go… don’t leave Azusa behind…”
Her small hand, gripped tightly in mine, trembled.
Tears streamed down her face as she squeezed my hand even harder.
Hearing that, the smile vanished from my face.
I remembered.
This was the orphanage, and her father was already dead.
Probably killed in the war. The moment I understood that, I cursed myself for laughing so carelessly.
“Mmm… good morning… Kenyya, what’s wrong? Aren’t you getting up?”
“Sorry, I want to stay like this a little longer.”
I held the girl’s hand and gently stroked her head.
I could see her expression softening, but this was all I could do for her right now.
Little by little, I was starting to realize it.
This world.
I still felt like I was in a game, floating along, but I was beginning to understand that each person had their own story, and it was all real.
“This world is… awful… truly.”
When I first arrived, I thought I had come to the best world.
I even believed that.
But now, there was only one emotion I felt towards this world.
This world.
This world where so many people were dying in war.
It was hell.