Chapter 50: Hero Candidate - D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. ③

Later, as promised, Yukiya and I had gone out bowling.

Truth be told, ever since moving to the city, this was my first time hanging out like this with a friend my own age.

Though, if I’m being honest, I’ve long since stopped knowing what counts as “my own age.” Physically, Yukiya and I are close enough, sure.

But inside—I’m still just an old woman. I can’t exactly let myself get too carried away.

All the more reason to play it cool in front of Yukiya, who was fidgeting nervously at his first bowling alley.

Putting on the face of someone who knew exactly what she was doing, I checked us in, rented shoes, and picked out a ball of decent weight. Then I taught him the basics of bowling form—measuring his stride, how many steps to take, and the timing for releasing the ball.

Yukiya, quick on the uptake, nodded at every step with cheerful “Got it!” “Oh, I see!” “That makes sense!” replies, making it surprisingly easy to teach him.

Still, explanations only go so far. Better to just try it and adjust along the way.

Or so I thought—until Yukiya’s bowling left absolutely nothing to complain about.

His very first throw was a strike.

I figured it was beginner’s luck, but it was good enough that I couldn’t help showering him with praise. He looked a little embarrassed.

Then his second, third throws—also strikes.

At that point, it was clear this wasn’t luck. It was pure ability.

"You're a genius. Seriously, this your first time?"

"Would I have any reason to lie here? I think it’s because your teaching was good, Inori-san."

"So the genius was me…?"

Wait—do I have a talent for training pro bowlers? Even though I’m not one myself, did I just skip straight to being a coach?

Not impossible, I guess, but if I ever tried running a bowling class, students wouldn’t exactly flock to someone without credentials. I’d have to become a pro first— …wait, what the hell am I doing planning out a career path?!

Damn, Yukiya really knows how to draw people in. And he probably doesn’t even realize it. It’s because he means every word that they hit home.

He never lies—you can believe him. That’s just the way he talks.

Still, it’s annoying that he’s already better than me at this. Even so, I managed to land a strike of my own.

With neither of us throwing anything but strikes, the match sped along quickly.

As he picked up another ball, Yukiya spoke up.

"I’ve actually talked with D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. a few times since then."

"For real? When the hell was that?"

D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. is usually stored away in the closet. You wouldn’t know whether he’s in there or not without opening it.

From the start, I’d told him he could come and go whenever he wanted, so that wasn’t the problem.

Still… so he really had gone out and come back on his own. For some reason, that hit me harder than I expected. D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. never exactly gave off the vibe of free will, after all.

Effortlessly nailing another strike, Yukiya said brightly,

"He seemed like a nice guy!"

"That so…"

Back at the amusement park, Yukiya had spoken to D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. in Italian. D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. replied, so maybe they arranged to meet again then.

What the hell, man—something you didn’t want me hearing? …Now I’m jealous. Of who, exactly? Maybe both. Or maybe it’s just the fact that they can talk to each other now without me in the middle. That thought… was kind of moving.

Both Yukiya and D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. have their issues with communication. Different degrees, sure, but maybe that gave them something in common.

"Truth is, the reason I became a hero was to defeat D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E."

"…Hold up. You never told me that."

"Because I’ve never told anyone."

He dropped that secret on me just like that—while casually throwing another strike.

I noticed the staff glancing our way. No wonder. We walked in looking every bit the clueless beginners, yet here he was rattling off strike after strike. Either he’s a fraud or a once-in-a-generation talent. Either way, people are going to stare.

"Of course, I also admire Raiden-san," Yukiya went on. "But as you can see, I’m not exactly cut out to be a hero."

"I wouldn’t say that."

"Thank you. But at least from my perspective, that’s how I feel. Even so, I became one because… my mother was blown to pieces by D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E."

My jaw dropped. My hand slipped. The ball I threw rolled straight into the gutter.

"Don’t worry about it!" Yukiya said cheerfully.

Even with my next throw, I couldn’t pick up a spare. Shaken, I sat back down.

And still, like nothing had changed, Yukiya smiled and spoke brightly.

"That’s why when you brought D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. along the other day, Inori-san, I was shocked! I thought, ‘Here!? Really!?’"

"S-sorry… a lot of things happened…"

As Yukiya returned from landing yet another strike, I spoke carefully, choosing my words.

"So… was that really okay? About revenge, I mean."

"It was never about revenge to begin with."

The ball I threw knocked down nine pins, and with my second throw I cleared the last one for a spare. My nerves finally started to settle as I listened to Yukiya’s story.

"My mother was incredible. She anticipated everything. She told me beforehand: ‘Even if I’m ever killed, you don’t need to avenge me.’"

"That’s… one hell of a mom."

"Yes, she was amazing. But those weren’t words of compassion."

Even while speaking of his late mother, Yukiya remained calm. And, as always, his throw was another strike.

Had he already processed her death completely within himself? I hadn’t managed to do anything like that. I couldn’t help but genuinely admire him.

"She went on: ‘Don’t use me as an excuse. Don’t say you want to kill someone because it’s what I would have wanted. If you want to kill them, then kill them because you want to. Don’t put it on me.’ …And honestly, I think she was right."

"…She really was one hell of a mom."

The kind of mother he described was so far from my own idea of what a mother should be. Bold, even daunting—but not unpleasant. Even secondhand, I could feel the force of her words, the kind of conviction that made you think, yeah, maybe she’s right.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and reset my focus. One solid throw—strike. My rhythm was back.

"After learning about D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E., I realized I shouldn’t kill him. He doesn’t deserve that. In fact, he seemed like a good person, and I felt like we could even get along. Meeting him honestly made me happy."

"You… you’re really something else, Yukiya."

"I don’t know what’s raising your opinion of me, but I’m honored!"

The fact that he didn’t even seem aware of it made it all the more incredible. Could someone really be that clear-cut about things? Even if it had been an unwanted killing, forced by hostage-taking, D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. would still remain his mother’s killer.

Even with his mother’s own words warning him against revenge—wouldn’t that just become a chain dragging him down? Wasn’t he being held back from his own desire for vengeance?

"Originally, I started being a hero because I thought, if there were more people like me, it would just be too sad. Even without talent, it’s better than doing nothing."

"That’s admirable~."

"If there’s anyone I have to kill, it’s Delta."

A faint chill ran down my spine.

I couldn’t tell if it came from Yukiya’s ability, or simply from something I felt in that moment.

He was already facing away, preparing to throw his next ball. I couldn’t see his expression.

"I’m counting on it—on Delta being someone truly worthy of being killed when they appear before me."

That was the first time Yukiya missed a strike.

He laughed it off brightly with an “Oops!” and then smoothly knocked down the remaining pins.

His last throw was another perfect strike, and when he turned back, he was smiling just like always.

"Want to go for another game?"

"…Yeah."

Even if he couldn’t make a career as a hero, he could become a professional bowler. But Yukiya was exceptional. He could do so much more than that.

If he wanted something, he could become it. He was the kind of person who could put in the effort.

Even in a role he thought he wasn’t suited for—being a hero—he still worked at it with absolute seriousness.

It was Delta that was narrowing Yukiya’s path.

As things stood, he had no choice but to be a hero.

Well then… it looks like I’ve gained yet another reason to take down Delta.