“Joking aside, Kisara, are you really having that much trouble making ends meet?”
Kisara looked down, embarrassed, and pulled out her wallet, opening it to show him. Looking inside, he suddenly felt the desire to cover his eyes with his hands. He didn’t realize she had fallen so low. “Hey, Kisara… You don’t have to purposefully pay a lot of money to go to a rich girl’s school. You could just go to a regular public school, can’t you?”
“Attending Miwa Academy is all that’s left of my pride as a Tendo,” she said defiantly. “I’m allowed, aren’t I? It’s the money I made from properly managing the meager assets I have as stocks and exchanges.”
“But Kisara, I thought you hated being called a Tendo?”
“How other people see me is a different matter, isn’t it?”
“Well, yeah…it is, but…,” said Rentaro. He tried a different tack. “Well then, how were you planning on getting to the Ministry of Defense with what’s left in your wallet?”
Kisara smiled an extremely charming smile. “Satomi, you withdrew money from the ATM two days ago, didn’t you?”
Rentaro looked away from Kisara. His boss was trying to bum off of him!
“Satomi, you withdrew money from the ATM two days ago, didn’t you?”
“I did, but…” His voice trailed off.
“Satomi, you’re such a hard worker, and so strong, and reliable, too!”
“I thought you called me ‘good-for-nothing’ and ‘weak’ and ‘unreliable.’”
“That was ages ago. I’ve long since forgotten about that stuff.”
“That was yesterday, wasn’t it?”
“That was ages ago. I’ve long-since forgotten about that stuff.”
“I’ll expense it.”
“I’ll pay you back in my next life.”
He was appalled to hear this coming from a company president. Rentaro sighed a heavy sigh. “All right, fine! Let’s just hurry up and get going.”
As Rentaro started walking, Kisara grabbed hold of his sleeve and looked down. Seeing this, Rentaro got fed up. “What, was there something else?”
“Um…,” she said. “Satomi, the beef jerky… Is there any left?”
In the end, he gave Kisara the last two pieces of beef jerky, and she ate them then and there.
The stray Chihuahua looked up at Kisara with a betrayed expression on its face.
“It’s kind of late for this, but was it okay that we didn’t get Enju?”
As the train’s departure bell sounded, the doors closed with a rush of air. They were the only ones in the car.
Kisara pulled up her hair so that the nape of her neck was showing and looked at Rentaro. “It’s not like we’ll be fighting. It’s more like something that would just put Enju to sleep.”
“Oh, I see.” Rentaro understood. So they were going to be asked something about the incident from before. But why wasn’t the usual report enough by itself?
“I didn’t hear the details either, but I was just told to go. I hate bureaucrats. They’ve got the nerve to tell the civsec officers who protect the Tokyo Area that they should be grateful they are even getting jobs from them.”
“Then you should’ve just refused them this time.”
“No way. If they give even the slightest hint that they won’t give jobs to puny people like us, then we have no choice but to obey.”
Rentaro sighed. “Even though we’re ‘civil’ officers, we’re still attached to the government by a thread, huh?”
“They’re jealous. Theoretically, there is no limit to the abilities of the Initiators. A top-class Initiator is supposed to be strong enough to sway the balance of the world’s armies. That’s why the government generally wants to have all the civsec officers under control to manage them.”
“They want to have their cake and eat it, too. But wait, then does that mean that we’re about to enter enemy territory, in a way?”
Kisara lowered her long eyelashes and nodded slightly. “Oh dear, you just noticed? That’s why I went and got you, my bodyguard. You’re the only one I can depend on, so you need to be strong, okay?”
Inside Rentaro’s head, only her last words continued to echo, and gradually, deep emotions began to well up.
Just then, a soft weight fell gently on his shoulder, and he gave a start. Kisara was leaning her head against his shoulder. She blinked her heavy eyelids in annoyance. “Sorry… I’m a little sleepy. Let me borrow your shoulder. I’m always like this after I eat. I can’t sleep at school, either…”
“You can’t sleep?” he asked. “Why not?”
“I…am a Tendo… I’m supposed to be a model for everyone. I cannot show an unsightly side of myself.” She reached her limit. As the strength left her body, a weight fell on his shoulder. She seemed to have really fallen asleep.
Clang, clang, went the train, rushing along with a pleasant rhythm. The sunlight streaming in through the window changed the shadows and shone on Kisara’s expression.
Careful not to wake her up, Rentaro slowly turned his head toward her, and his eyes went to her bosom, where he would normally never look directly. Between her slender shoulder and the largely exposed area around her neck was the beautiful line of her collarbone. The soft swell that pushed up her school uniform slowly rose and fell at a distance that seemed almost close enough to touch.
His gaze went from her eyes and the tip of her nose to her well-featured face, lips, and long hair. A sweet fragrance that wasn’t perfume or shampoo intoxicated him. Every time her soft breathing hit the back of Rentaro’s neck, he felt like he was being shocked. She’s beautiful, he thought.
“Satomi…”
He almost answered her until he realized that she was talking in her sleep. But the words she choked out next left his heart hurting.
“Satomi…my revenge…help me…kill…Tendo…”
He paused for a long time before saying, “I will.”
Kisara knit her brows and curled up her body, starting to shake with fright.
“Fa…ther… Mother…no…don’t die… Satomi…help me…”
Rentaro put his arm around Kisara’s shoulder and hugged her tightly without a word.
4
The government building was deserted after lunch. When Rentaro and Kisara gave their names at the entrance, they were led into the government building and taken up in a pristine elevator. In front of a room marked MEETING ROOM 1 the staff member who was leading them bowed and left.
Opening the door in Kisara’s stead, Rentaro raised his voice involuntarily. The room was far larger than the small door made it seem. In the middle was a long elliptical table, and the back wall was covered with electroluminescent panels. The problem was the people who were inside.
“Kisara, this is…,” he started.
“I didn’t think that we were the only ones to be called,” said Kisara, “but I didn’t expect that so many people in the same business would be invited.”
People wearing well-tailored suits who looked to be civsec agency presidents were already sitting in their assigned seats, and behind them were people who obviously specialized in fighting, staying back. In their hands glittered black chrome Varanium alloy weapons. They were definitely Promoters like Rentaro. He also saw a number of Initiators about the same age as Enju next to them.
What in the world is about to start here? The instant Rentaro stepped into the room, the idle talk that had filled it stopped, and bloodthirsty glares shot at him.
“Woah, hold up. What’s the deal with the quality of civsec officers these days? Are kids playing at being civsec now? Maybe you’ve got the wrong room. If you’re here for a social studies field trip, you should just turn around right now.” One of the Promoters yelled loud enough for him to hear and headed in their direction.
The Promoter’s intimidating, iron plate–like chest was obvious even through his tank top. His hair was spiked like flames, and his mouth was covered by a face scarf with a skull on it. The eyes assessing Rentar
o’s worth were opened wide, with white showing between the iris and the lower eyelid.
He held what could be called a bastard sword—a thick, long broadsword that looked like it weighed more than ten kilos. Of course, it was made of Varanium, so the blade was black. The slender Rentaro would have had a hard time swinging the giant sword. Just the fact that the Promoter was holding it lightly made it clear that he was no ordinary man.
Rentaro mustered his courage and stood in front of Kisara to protect her, but apparently the man didn’t like that. “Yeah?” he said threateningly.
“Who the hell are you?” said Rentaro. “If you’ve got business with me, tell me your name first.”
“What do you mean, ‘Who the hell are you? If you’ve got business with me, tell me your name first,’ little boy? You’re obviously a weakling.”
“Civsec officers’ true abilities can’t be determined by how they look.”
“‘Civsec officers’ true abilities can’t be determined by how they look’? You’re getting on my nerves. I want to kill you. Seriously.” His sticky glare made Rentaro’s knees shake and beads of sweat appear on his forehead.
Damn it, why is there a thug like this guy here? He didn’t want to pick a fight in a place like this. As he looked around wondering what agency the man belonged to, a sharp blow hit his face. Rentaro was blown back and stumbled backward. The next instant, he jumped up, pressing on his face with one hand.
Being suddenly head-butted in the face he was more surprised than hurt. He stretched his hand out to the XD gun in his belt.
“Idiot,” said the man contemptuously. “What’re ya gettin’ all worked up about? That was just a greeting.”
Around them were sniggers that seemed to be making fun of him.
That bastard! thought Rentaro.
“Satomi, don’t get involved with the likes of him. Don’t forget what we’re here for.”
“Hey, bitch, what did you say just now?”
“Stop it, Shogen!”
Their rescuer was a man sitting at the table who was probably the Promoter’s employer.
“Aw, come on, Mr. Mikajima!”
“Enough’s enough. If there is bloodshed in this building, we are the ones who would be in trouble. If you cannot follow my orders, then get out this instant!”
The man called Shogen looked like he was thinking things over and was eerily silent for a moment. Then he left, with an insolent “Yessir” and a final sidelong glance at Rentaro.
Rentaro relaxed his body and sighed deeply. When he did, this time it was the man’s employer approaching them, with his hands wide. He looked to be in his midthirties and had the air of the elite about him. He wore a Christian Dior suit and looked like an intellectual.
“You there,” said the man. “Sorry about that. He’s terribly short-tempered.”
“You can’t even properly discipline your pet dog?” said Rentaro.
The man didn’t blink an eye at Rentaro’s snide remark. “I really do apologize.”
“Yeah? Well, I’m used to it, so it’s fine.” That was the truth. Of the civsec Promoters, the hard truth of the matter was that while there were those who stuck to their philosophical beliefs, there were also many who just wanted a place to run wild, or who were criminals who used the position as a cover.
The man turned to face Kisara. “It is a pleasure to meet someone so beautiful.”
“My, aren’t you a sweet talker,” said Kisara.
The man showed no sign of turning in Rentaro’s direction again. Even as he seemed calm and collected in his expensive suit, he also gave an air of nervousness.
Kisara wrapped things up with a sociable smile, and she was moderately pleasant as she sat down in a tall-backed chair.
“We’re in the lowest seat, huh?” said Rentaro.
“There’s no helping it,” said Kisara. “In terms of strength, we’re the lowest in rank.”
Looking around again, Rentaro saw those invited were all big names who practically oozed with capability.
“Then why are weaklings like us even here?” Rentaro whispered quietly in her ear as he looked at the guys from before sitting across from them. “Also, who are those guys?”
Kisara pulled out the business card she had exchanged with the man earlier, still facing forward. There was a watermark on the back that said in gold letters, MIKAJIMA ROYAL GUARD, REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTOR, KAGEMOCHI MIKAJIMA.
Rentaro gave a small groan. Even among the major players, this was a huge name that even Rentaro had heard of. It was a large civsec agency that employed many capable pairs. “That means that Promoter is also extremely skilled, huh?” he said.
“Someone said ‘Shogen’ earlier, so he’s probably Shogen Ikuma,” said Kisara. “His IP Rank is 1,584.”
“He’s on the thousands board, huh?”
IP Rankings, which were regulated and published by the International Initiator Supervision Organization, were rankings based on the number of Gastrea defeated and the battle results. There were problems with individual differences in compatibility, but the rank assigned by the IISO was basically thought of as the basis for measuring a pair’s strength.
Rentaro wiped the sweat from his palms onto his pants. If that man had come at him in a rage earlier, Rentaro would have been knocked flat, no doubt about it.
“By the way, Satomi, do you remember the IP Rank assigned to you and Enju?” said Kisara.
“I don’t remember exactly, but…around 120,000 something, right?” said Rentaro.
“I don’t remember the exact number either, but it’s about there.” Kisara peeked in Rentaro’s direction and sighed affectedly. “And that corporation employs pairs that are even stronger than him. I’d love a Promoter that strong in my office. Even though my Initiator is extremely gifted, my Promoter is a good-for-nothing idiot who’s ranked lower than me, and is hopelessly weak, at that.”
Rentaro pretended he didn’t hear her, but inside his heart, he felt that Kisara’s words had hit the nail on the head.
How well-known a company was was directly linked to the quality of its Initiators and Promoters. In other words, if a civsec agency was famous, it was because it employed a number of strong pairs. Enju was strong. With an adequate Promoter, she could probably make it into the thousands board. If she was stuck in the 120,000s middle zone, it was natural for her partner to be called incompetent.
Just then, a bald man wearing a uniform entered the room. All at once, the company presidents in the room, including Kisara, stood up, but the man urged them to sit with a wave of his hand. He was too far away for Rentaro to make out his badge of rank, but he was probably a self-defense force staff officer.
“The fact of the matter is that we have gathered you civil officers here today because we have a job for you. Feel free to assume the job comes from the government.” The bald man seemed to be waiting for something as he paused for a beat and scowled as he looked around. “Hmm, one absentee, I see.”
Now that he looked, Rentaro could see that the only empty seat was six seats down from them with a triangular nameplate that said OSE FUTURE CORPORATION on it. He had met them once before on a job. The fat president had been accompanied by the lanky secretary who briskly took care of whatever the president needed. They seemed like a comedy duo, somehow. He wondered what had happened to them.
“Before explaining the contents of the job, if there is anyone who does not wish to take on this job, please stand up and leave the room now. Once you’ve heard what the job is, you may no longer turn it down.”
Rentaro sighed inwardly. What was the difference between a job you were forced to take and a task you were ordered to do? He looked around, but as expected, not a single person stood up.
The elliptical table that was not quite round had over thirty people seated around it, including Kisara. Kisara, who had come straight from school and was still wearing her school uniform, stood out like a sore thumb, but she herself didn’t seem to care.
And behind
the company presidents were the Promoters. Their clothes were all over the place. There was a woman who was wearing all red, with a red bodysuit and even dyed-red hair, and a tall, gangly man with bandages on his face who brought to mind Giacometti’s statues. The thought that “I’m going to a government building, so I should wear formal clothes” didn’t seem to have crossed a single one of their minds.
Shogen Ikuma stood by himself with his back to the wall.
Huh? Rentaro noticed a girl standing close to Shogen. She wore a dull, long-sleeved dress with tights. She had large bright eyes, but there was a coldness to them.
Shogen had left such a strong impression that Rentaro didn’t notice her until now, but she must have been his partner Initiator. At that moment, his eyes met the girl’s. Rentaro hurriedly shifted his gaze, but he could feel her staring at him. After a while, he moved only his eyes to look in her direction, but she was still looking at him.
He didn’t know what she was thinking, but she pressed on her stomach with her hands and looked a little sadly in his direction. At first, he was worried that she might have a stomachache, but he soon realized that the subtle expression on her face meant “I’m hungry.” She was an interesting girl to be paired with the tough Shogen.
“Very well, then may I assume that no one intends to refuse the job?” The bald man seemed to emphasize this point by looking at everyone in order. Then, he said, “You will receive the explanation from this personage,” and withdrew.
Suddenly, on the large panels in the back of the room appeared the figure of a girl. “Good afternoon, everyone.”
Kisara opened her eyes wide, and then stood up with force the next instant. At almost the same time, the other company presidents also stood hurriedly.
Rentaro, too, looked at the panels with unbelieving eyes.
With her pure white clothes that made it look like she was covered in snow and her silver hair—it was the Seitenshi, the ruler of Tokyo Area after Japan’s defeat in the war. At a distance not too far and not too close was Kikunojo Tendo, who accompanied her like a shadow. It looked like a live feed from a Western-style room somewhere. For just a moment, Kisara’s and Kikunojo’s eyes met, and sparks flew. Knowing the feud between them, Rentaro was scared.
Black Bullet, Vol. 1: Those Who Would Be Gods Page 7