Chapter 18: Step by Step

Today, there’s no studying with Saori and Misaki.

I figured it would be better to set aside some self-study time for efficiency’s sake.

In other words, I’d be spending time with Atsuko and Hiyori somewhere out of these two's sight.

When I told them that—

"Listen up…! If you try anything weird with Hiyori or Atsuko, you’d better be ready to lose your eyes…!!!"

"…If you lay a finger on them… I won’t forgive you."

"What do you two think I am!?"

…I got seriously threatened.

But the fact that they still left the girls with me, despite all that—it means they’re starting to trust me. Little by little… maybe? I’d like to think so.

Bit by bit, more and more of them are beginning to accept me.

Maybe the lessons really are working.

I guess they’d always quietly admired this kind of thing.

…And yet, even now, the kids I can actually meet and talk with probably don’t even make up a fraction of the children in Arius.

“…I’ve got to work harder.”

Yeah. That’s right.

“…Huh? W-what do you mean…!?”

Oops. I’d said that out loud. The girl with light blue hair was looking at me. Beside her stood a girl with pale purple hair, wearing a simple white mask.

They were Hiyori Tsuchinaga and Atsuko Hakari.

“No, it’s nothing. Anyway, did Saori or Misaki explain things to you?”

“…”

Atsuko was trying her best to say something in sign language, but I couldn’t understand a word.

“Uh—sorry, Atsuko. I still don’t know sign language. Could you… maybe talk to me instead?”

“…”

She shook her head firmly.

Well, figures.

“Um, Atsuko-chan can only use sign language because ‘she’ ordered her to…”

“…Yeah. I know. The mask’s part of it too, isn’t it?”

Hakari Atsuko. She’s different from the other members of the Arius Squad.

Atsuko carries the blood of the former Student Council President—a royal lineage.

Most likely, she’s the only one of her kind left in Arius.

…Cyan wasn’t what I thought, either.

In any case, Beatrice has her eyes on Hakari Atsuko, the royal-blooded girl.

She wants to sacrifice her, absorb her mysteries, and reach the realm of colors.

Everything that happened during the Eden Treaty arc—all of it was for that purpose.

When the Arius Squad learned of this and couldn’t stand by, they tried to help her, which is why Atsuko is here with them now.

In short, Atsuko isn’t from the slums—and Beatrice has targeted her.

…She’s one of the keys to getting closer to Beatrice.

“…?”

“…Oh, nothing.”

But before any of that, she’s a child.

She’s my little sister.

I will never let her be hurt.

“Hey, Atsuko. Nobody’s going to find out. Couldn’t you try speaking just this once?”

“…”

…Well, yeah. When you’re a kid, you don’t want to do anything that might get you in trouble, even if no one finds out.

But that’s not how this should be.

“…You don’t have to obey that rotten old hag.”

“…”

“…I understand how you feel. It’s the ‘what if’ that scares you, right? What if you get caught… you might not be the only one who ends up in danger. Everyone could suffer because of you.”

“Ah…!”

…She’s a kind kid. Even in this situation, she’s thinking of others.

But still—

“It’s okay! You’ve got your big sister with you!! And of course, Hiyori too!”

“Eh!? I—I don’t need one…”

“Ugh—anyway! If anything happens, I’ll handle it! I’ll take full responsibility! I won’t let anyone lay a finger on any of you!! That’s what being an older sister means!”

My own dumb big sister was like that too… wonder if she’s doing okay.

No—focus on what’s in front of you.

“So please, be a little more selfish. Do what you want to do.”

“…”

…She’s hesitating.

Even just a little would be fine. I want her to learn how to resist. To learn how to rely on others.

Sneaking around and breaking unfair rules—normal kids do that all the time.

What these kids need right now is that kind of ‘normal.’

“…”

“…Atsuko-chan…”

“…Atsuko.”

…She’s trembling.

I don’t know what she’s been through, but it’s not hard to guess it wasn’t anything good.

“It’s okay.”

“…”

“It’s okay. I’ll protect everyone. So just a little. Just one word. Start small.”

Even if I have to be a little forceful, I want her to know this kind of ‘normal.’

“………” “…a…”

“!!”

It was a voice so faint it seemed ready to vanish.

If I lost focus for even a moment, I might miss it.

Even so… this was her tiny first step. Proof of her resistance.

“A-Atsuko—”

“Atsukooooo!!!”

I rushed straight to her, throwing my arms around her as I sobbed.

“!?”

“You did it…!! You were amazing…!! I’m sorry for pushing you so hard…!!”

“…”

For her, mustering up that courage had to be so, so difficult. So terrifying.

And yet, she still managed to take a step forward.

“…”

But Atsuko was trembling, her strength drained away.

I couldn’t push her any further than this.

“…Yeah. I understand. That was scary, wasn’t it…? For now, this is more than enough.”

“U-um!! …I don’t think that’s it!”

“Huh?”

“Atsuko-chan’s trembling is because… S-Suou-san, your grip was too strong…!”

…Wait, what?

“Wha—Atsuko!? I’m so sorry!! Are you okay!? Nothing hurts, does it!?”

Oh no oh no oh no!! After she worked up so much courage, did I just ruin it all!?

“…Hehe.”

“…!?”

That laugh just now—!

“Atsuko…!?”

“…”

She turned her head away, embarrassed.

But that was definitely her…

“…S-so she’s fine, I guess… pfft…!”

“D-don’t you two start laughing at me!?”

“…”

“Y-yeah, you’re right…! This is Suou-san’s fault for squeezing too hard.”

“Ugh…!!”

…Not exactly the heartwarming scene I’d pictured.

“B-but Atsuko-chan has such a cute voice… unlike me…”

“…”

“N-no, that’s not true…! Are you just flattering me…!? What am I even supposed to do…!?”

“What kind of negative spiral is that!? I think both of you have really cute voices, honestly!”

“…”

“E-even you, Suou-san…”

Well, whatever. If it brightened the mood even a little for the two of them, that was good enough.

“Oh, right. So, did either of you hear about this yet?”

“…”

Figures. I had no idea what she just signed. I really need to start learning.

“Hiyori, what did Atsuko say?”

“She asked what exactly you mean. I… haven’t been told anything either.”

Huh? A communication slip-up? Well, it happens.

“I’ve been teaching Saori and Misaki for a while now. You two will be joining them.”

“I-I see… and in return you’ll forcibly make us your little sisters—”

“I will not.”

…Man, Hiyori’s negativity is something else. Still, compared to the other three, she’s honestly the most mentally stable of the bunch. Her toughness probably comes from that mindset.

“…”

“Wh-what is it…!?”

“Oh, nothing.”

…Guess Hiyori’s still just testing the waters.

“Anyway, you’ll be participating too.”

“…”

“R-right… we’ve never really studied before, so… wait. Where are the other two, then…?”

“They’re doing self-study today. In the abandoned building next door.”

“…!”

“Huh?”

Oi, Hiyori. Why the sudden twitch in your expression? Atsuko’s mask hides her face, but… hopefully she’s not making the same look.

“In other words, it’s just the two of you today.”

“E—eeehhh!?”

Hiyori’s face went pale in an instant, steadily shifting into outright despair.

What, does she have a problem with that?

But I couldn’t back down here either.

“So! For today, you’ll be studying with your big sister! Atsuko! Hiyori!”

“…”

“Uwaaahhh!! This is the end for meee!!”

“The end of what!?”

What does that even mean, “the end of studying with someone else”!? Is it really that awful!?

“There’s nothing left but despair…!! Then at least…!! Will there be snacks!?”

“You glutton!!”

Unbelievable! This girl really is tough-skinned!!

“Fine! I’ll give you snacks!! But only if you study properly!!”

“…”

“A-Atsuko-chan…! Y-yes, that’s right! Let’s do our best…!”

And so, I was about to start studying with the two of them when—

“At last you reveal your true colors, you lunatic!!! What did you do to Hiyori and Atsuko!?”

“Are you two okay…!?”

Hiyori’s wailing had brought the other two running in, completely misunderstanding the situation!?

Is my trust as their “big sister” really this fragile!?

“…!!”

“They weren’t… hurt…?”

“T-That’s… probably just a misunderstanding…!”

A-Atsuko! Hiyori! You’re trying to clear things up for me!?

“There’s no way! Did she silence you somehow…!?”

“Cowardly…!! You malignant tumor!!!”

Nope, didn’t work!!
And wait—you actually remembered when I called myself a “malignant neoplasm” as a joke the other day!? You’re using it wrong though!!

…But wow, they really are studying seriously if they picked up vocabulary like that.

…No, no! Now’s not the time to get sentimental!!

“Y-you’re wrong!!! Just listen to me!!”

“Why aren’t our attacks working…!?”

They are working!? Getting shot with a gun still hurts, you know!?

“Damn it…! Monster!!!”

“You call yourself a sister!?”

…Is this really okay? Am I gonna survive this…?

Well, whatever. I don’t have a choice but to keep going.

The hand cannon modifications are almost done. Training is on track.

Step by step, I have to keep moving closer to killing Beatrice.

“Misaki… will you fight alongside me?”

“…! …Yeah. Atsuko, Hiyori. Run. We’ll hold her off.”

“…! …!!”

“I-It really is just a misunderstanding…!!”

But before all that—seriously, I need to fix this situation first!!!