Chapter 61: Dreaming Girl – Usui Yura①

A train is called a train because it runs on electricity.

That means if someone like Raiden, who can manipulate electricity, is around, even an abandoned car can be made to move.

The instant Raiden appeared, my thoughts jumped straight to that.

Well, it’s a lot more realistic than trying to escape on foot.

I’d already been thinking about rolling a car out to make our getaway. That’s why I had Usui-chan disarm the bombs inside the car first. Of course, defusing the explosives closest to the hostages helps keep things safer.

Even if Haze Fog can’t get the car moving, I figured one of the reinforcements from my side might handle it—though, thinking about it, that would’ve been impossible for anyone but Ironclad.

"Since there are no seatbelts, make sure to hold on tight!"

Anyway, if it’s Raiden, he’ll pull it off somehow. Still running his mouth like always. He’s never quiet—that much never changes.

Yura-chan clutched the handrail with both hands. I grabbed the same rail from behind, hugging around her like a back-shield.

Not harassment, mind you. This way I could protect Yura-chan better. A human wall. Better than nothing.

"Please be careful, it’s going to be a bumpy ride ahead!"

The old train car buzzed and crackled as power coursed through it, the sounds worrying enough by themselves. A worn-out fluorescent light gave a sharp pop as it blew out. Maybe the voltage was too strong—or maybe the bulb’s life just ran out. Either way, the train began to move.

The sudden start, under Raiden who wasn’t even a conductor, was rough. I wanted to yell, "At least play Train Simulator first!" but with hostages on board, I couldn’t afford to joke around that much.

The train picked up more and more speed. Come to think of it, I never thought about how we’d stop. Could Raiden even work the brakes? Are train brakes electric? I’ve got no clue—never played Train Simulator.

The air in front of me rippled, and fog took shape. Haze Fog.

"With about thirty seconds left before detonation, if we keep this pace, we just might scrape by alive… but I’ve got some bad news too."

"Say it in three seconds."

"The tracks up ahead are broken."

"Damn it—if Jin were here…"

He might’ve been able to manipulate the rails back together. Or maybe even lift the whole car into the air. But if he was here, he’d have gone straight for Raiden regardless of the bombs, and things would’ve turned out worse. Better he’s not around.

I shoved a hand into my pocket and pulled out what I’d prepared.

"For now, I’ll trust Usui-chan won’t die even if there’s an explosion, and hand this to you. Use it if you’re not instantly dead. If it looks like you’ll survive without it, don’t use it—it’s still in the trial phase."

"…Well, thanks, I guess."

Usui-chan’s eyes widened as he accepted the drug. What was that about? Oh—he wanted this, didn’t he? Probably for Yura-chan. No way a guy who casually entrusted me with his life would be looking for an extension that way.

I’ve got no special skills besides regeneration. Nothing else comes to mind. I ruffled my hair roughly.

"So what now? Jump off at the last second?"

"Only Inori could jump out of a train going this fast and live."

"Yeah, no thanks. I’m not in the mood to turn into mincemeat."

Leaping from a train running at commuter express speed? Yeah, that’d do it. Maybe with Haze Fog and Flux around we could manage a landing, but still…

While I was thinking, Raiden pointed at himself.

"Hey, what about asking me? Inori, you really do make friends with anyone instantly. You shouldn’t follow strangers, you know! At least try to remember the faces of villains!"

"Too many new ones pop up all the time. Can’t keep track. As for Usui-chan, I knew he was a villain and still got friendly with him."

"Which makes it even worse, doesn’t it?"

"The bad guys are the villains, duh."

Yura-chan chuckled softly. Raiden and I exchanged a glance, sharing the small victory of lightening the mood.

"How big’s the break in the track?"

"About five meters," Haze Fog answered.

Raiden shrugged.

"Okay then. Let me make another announcement. The train’s about to shake violently, so please hold on tight."

Whenever Raiden shows up before me, he’s usually flustered. But now—there was composure in him. Somehow it gave me a strange sense of reassurance, like he really could pull this off.

Alright then. I’ll leave it to him.

Doing as I was told, I held Yura-chan close and gripped the handrail tight.

A thunderous crack split the air, the surroundings lit up brilliantly. The glow came not from the ground but the rails themselves.

"Should I explain the principle? Ever heard of a linear motor car?"

"Sounds like a pain. Pass."

Since it’s a different field, I’m not that knowledgeable either, but I could roughly imagine what Raiden was doing.

There was a slight floating sensation—this car was probably levitating.

When you pass an electric current, you can generate a magnetic field.

Magnets repel when like poles are brought close together.

By creating electromagnetic fields in both the car and the tracks, he was floating the car and propelling it forward.

With no friction while floating, the train would accelerate even more.

Linear motor cars are theoretically possible, but they require massive infrastructure, so profitability is a problem.

Well, I’m getting a rare experience here, that’s for sure.

"Raiden, you’d have no trouble finding a job even if you quit being a hero."

"If I had to do this every day, being a hero is the better option."

It looks easy when he does it, but apparently, it’s not.

Of course, if he looked like he was struggling, we’d worry. Acting calm is probably the right thing for a hero.

Energy problems aren’t solved so easily, either.

――And then, a massive explosion.

Apparently, it had been five minutes. Felt longer than I expected.

The blast that flowed in was hot. Well, obviously.

The fog took shape again, and Haze Fog appeared right in front of me.

He clutched the handrail as if to cover me.

Of course, I wasn’t the one covering anyone. I was covering Yura-chan.

I realized I had misjudged.

I gave her the drug thinking she wouldn’t die from the blast thanks to her ability to turn into smoke, but of course, she would naturally prioritize the safety of the girl over her own life.

The car, lifted further by the explosion, eventually fell to the ground following gravity.

It seemed it couldn’t return to the tracks.

With a deafening crash of metal, it slid for a while before coming to a stop.

It didn’t tip over, so someone must’ve done something. With a team like this, it was bound to work out somehow.

I don’t know much about supernatural phenomena outside of myself.

"Ah, sorry. I forgot to tell you to close your eyes, it’s pretty bright."

Raiden apologized casually.

Indeed, the light made my vision flicker a little.

"Wow. You actually had such an amazing ultimate move, Raiden."

"Well, a situation where I’d have to make a linear motor car on the fly doesn’t come up often."

"Good for you. Finally showing off a skill that might’ve stayed hidden your whole life."

"If I didn’t have to, I’d rather never have done it at all."

Perfectly ideal hero lines.

And he sounded like he really meant it without thinking—points for sincerity.

I don’t know when he learned to do this, but it’s Raiden we’re talking about. He’d probably claim he could do it from the start.

The reason he took so long to defeat Flux was probably because he was careful with controlling his strength and not involving bystanders.

Raiden might surprisingly be in the same category as Yukiya.

The type who struggles to control overwhelming power.

Electricity is an indispensable lifeline in modern society.

I figured that if he went full force, he could probably destroy civilization, but I don’t need to worry about that.

Because I can’t imagine Raiden turning into a villain.

There might be villains who can take over bodies, and that would be troublesome, but otherwise, there’s Omokage. Raiden has even been copied without realizing it once.

Huh? Maybe the world could actually end more easily than I thought?