Chapter 9: The Protagonist Wants to Save the Runaway Girl

Just when I thought the team had finally started to come together, things between Akegami-san and Kurokawa-san had somehow turned… strange.

They were even high-fiving before. What happened?

More specifically, Kurokawa-san had started avoiding Akegami-san. …Well, she’s been avoiding me too.

And while I was thinking that, things only got worse little by little. Before I knew it, Kurokawa-san had begun launching sorties on her own—getting injured, spending her days like that. Even when we tried to talk to her, she often wouldn’t listen.

Even so, today was another deployment day. …I was worried about Kurokawa-san, but if we were all together, she probably wouldn’t do anything reckless.

Standing beside me was Kotodzuka-san. Her position seemed to be protecting me while attacking from long range. …Being protected by a girl while I can’t fight—it’s frustrating.

“Connector-kun, you’re troubled, aren’t you~?”

The source of my worries—Kurokawa-san—leans in to peer at my face. She looks a little worn out. Maybe today, at least, she’ll talk.

Maybe I should just ask her directly.

“Kurokawa-san… what exactly happened between you and Akegami-san?”

“…You’re coming in pretty direct.”

It must’ve caught her off guard—she looks genuinely taken aback.

It’s the first time I’ve seen her surprised. She’s usually always smiling.

“You’ve been avoiding her.”

“…It’s nothing.”

Kurokawa-san lets out a faint, drained smile. Not her usual one—this one carries a shadow.

“…Will you do a Connect Link with me this time?”

“I think I’ll pass.”

“Can I at least ask why you won’t do it?”

“…Does it even matter? Everyone’s different from me.”

Her tone is careless… like she might disappear at any moment. Without thinking, I grab her hand.

“—Don’t touch me.”

She shakes me off sharply.

“I’ll take down all the Deep Calamities myself, so you can just stick to Yuri and watch, Connector-kun.”

Kurokawa-san is unstable today. …But there’s nothing I can do right now. I wonder if the other Connectors feel the same.

“Man, you’re being way too pushy, Nagisa-kun.”

Problem number two arrives.

“If you try to pry too much into a maiden’s heart, she’ll get all huffy, you know?”

“Huffy” feels like an understatement…

…Akegami-san’s expression also seems darker than usual.

“…Kisa and I are just different types. I’ve come to terms with things, but she hasn’t yet.”

“…What do you mean?”

“It means digging into the true feelings of a bunch of unstable girls is dangerous, kid. I said ‘do something about it,’ but pushing too hard isn’t good either.”

Even after hearing that, I still don’t really get it. …Then again, Akegami-san is always hard to understand.

“Akegami-san, will you do a Connect Link?”

“Hmm, not really feeling it today.”

“…Is that something you decide based on mood?”

“Well… sometimes I still can’t shake the feeling that I’m an old man, you know?”

“An old man…?”

“Ah—wait. Forget that. Let me just switch gears for a second.”

“Huh—!?”

A soft scent drifts from Akegami-san’s hair. Her face is suddenly right in front of me.

Then, abruptly, she leans into my chest, wrapping her arms around my back.

Thump-thump. My heartbeat spikes instantly. …I—I can’t move. It feels like I might just merge with her like this—my senses going hazy.

“I love Nagisa-kun, I love Nagisa-kun… okay!”

She mutters something like an incomprehensible chant, then releases me. Wait—did she just say she loves me? …Must be my imagination.

I take a deep breath. My racing heart gradually calms down.

…That was bad for my health. I thought I might collapse before the battle even started.

“You’re way too clingy.”

“I’m the one being clung to!?”

Kotodzuka-san shoots me a cold look. …I guess I let my guard down since Akegami-san didn’t seem like she’d pull something like that today.

Anyway, the battle’s about to start. I need to focus. …Not that there’s much I can actually do.

The Deep Calamities appear randomly, but apparently they often show up again in the same places.

This time, it’s the same location where that spider-like Deep Calamity appeared before.

A mountain of rubble comes into view. Swarms of spider creatures are crawling out, skittering everywhere.

“…《Soul Flame》—‘Burst Fist.’”

A thunderous boom echoes immediately after. A cloud of dust blocks my vision.

—And then I see Kurokawa-san soaring through the air.

Why!?

“Huh!?”

That’s the first time I’ve heard Akegami-san sound genuinely panicked.

Using that explosive skill to launch herself upward, she’s charging straight into the enemy. That’s… completely reckless!

She plunges straight into the swarm. The moment she lands, a massive explosion erupts. The spider-type Deep Calamities are blasted away.

Could it be… that Kurokawa-san is trying to do everything on her own?

…She was acting strange today, but what actually happened!?

“W-wait, I’m going too!”

“Hold on, Akegami-san!”

“Huh—”

I hurriedly grab Akegami-san’s hand as she tries to run off. At the very least, I have to do this for her.

She flinches, her body twitching.

“Connect Link.”

Through our joined hands, something like light flows into Akegami-san.

“…Honestly, you’re so proper. 《Saint Arts》—‘Arrow.’”

Beams of light begin forming one by one around her, then fire all at once.

They pierce into the scattered Deep Calamities left by the explosions, tearing their bodies apart as they shatter.

…She has ranged attacks too?

“Alright, I’m heading in! 《Saint Arts》—‘Lance.’”

Grabbing the spear of light she created, Akegami-san launches herself forward. In the distance, explosions continue to echo intermittently.

“Hahahaha—!”

—And then, Kurokawa-san’s loud laughter rings out.

Flames erupt from her gauntlets, detonating one after another as she rampages like a wild beast.

“Connector, don’t stray. I’ll protect you while providing support from here.”

“Got it. But…”

I can’t just leave Kurokawa-san like this. Do I have to leave it to Akegami-san? It frustrates me—being unable to do anything.

The explosions stop.

Before Akegami-san can even reach her, the Deep Calamities surrounding Kurokawa-san have already been wiped out. A few remain scattered in the distance—but—

It looks like Kurokawa-san took down almost all of them herself.

From afar, her figure is covered in soot. Her clothes are torn and worn.

There’s no way she’s unharmed.

“You figure something out.”

Suddenly, I remember Akegami-san’s words.

—Right. There’s only one thing I need to do.

“Kotodzuka-san, can you cover me for a bit?”

“What are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to Kurokawa-san.”

“…I see. And why is that?”

“I just remembered. The reason I became a Connector… is because I didn’t want to leave injured girls alone.”

I remember now.

That’s why I became a Connector.

Watching the Curse Seekers fight, I kept wondering if there was something I could do.

They act like they’re fine—but there’s no way they really are.

Maybe this feeling is just me overstepping.

But still—

There’s no way I can just leave them like that.

“I see. You’re more of an idiot than I thought.”

“Haha… I get that sometimes.”

“But I don’t dislike that kind of straightforwardness. Even if we leave them, those two will finish everything anyway… but you don’t want to just stand here watching, do you?”

Kotodzuka-san lets out a small laugh.

I nod firmly.

“Go on, Connector.”

“Yeah—thanks!”

I start running toward Kurokawa-san.

Akegami-san is already heading off to eliminate the scattered Deep Calamities. Kurokawa-san looks like she’s trying to move too—but maybe she’s exhausted. She’s swaying.

—!

A harsh, unpleasant screech rings out from the side. A Deep Calamity—was it hiding among the rubble?

“You can keep going.”

Right after that—crackle, snap! Lightning streaks through the air.

The spider’s legs reaching for me are burned away instantly.

…Kotodzuka-san’s abilities aren’t just ice? She can use electricity too?

“Nagisa-kun!? Why are you coming this way!?”

“Sorry—I’m going to Kurokawa-san!”

“…Ahaha, you’re the best, you know that!? I’ll handle everything here, so leave it to me!”

Akegami-san will take care of the rest.

Then I can focus entirely on Kurokawa-san.

Curse Seekers have enhanced physical abilities—but Connectors don’t.

So even climbing this pile of rubble takes time.

She’s right there in front of me… covered in wounds.

I just want to reach her as fast as I can.

Kurokawa-san’s body sways.

She tries to walk—but it looks like she’s injured her leg.

“Kurokawa-san!”

The words escape me before I realize it. My body moves on its own.

Forcing myself forward, I climb the rubble.

Her empty eyes turn toward me.

The cheerful version of her I know… is nowhere to be seen.

“Don’t come.”

Heat brushes against my cheek.

Flames burst from her gauntlet, streaking past me.

She’s using the fire to keep me away.

So she can shoot it too…

But I can’t stop.

I take another step forward.

Kurokawa-san’s eyes widen.

“…Why are you coming?”

“Because… you’re already completely worn down, Kurokawa-san.”

“Shut up.”

“This is the only thing I can do.”

“I told you not to come!”

Ignoring her protests, I step right in front of her.

Just as I thought—she’s injured her leg and can’t move properly. She tries to walk, but stops almost immediately.

Her entire body is stained with soot. Her shoulders, cheeks, legs—cuts everywhere. She’s covered in wounds.

I reach out my hand to hers.

Even as she tries to shake me off, I grab it anyway.

“…!!”

Hot.

Flames burst again from her gauntlet—but only slightly. Just enough to push me away.

She’s not trying to seriously hurt me.

My palm burns.

It hurts.

But there’s no way I’m letting go.

“W-why…?”

Kurokawa-san’s eyes waver.

“Connect Link.”

Through our joined hands, light flows into her.

Little by little, her wounds begin to heal through the Connect Link’s restorative power. I can’t clean the soot—but at least this will help.

The flames die out.

Kurokawa-san’s knees give way as she collapses.

“A-are you okay!?”

I manage to catch her.

Her hair slips loose, falling softly as I help her sit down.

“Are you okay? Your palm…”

“Yeah. Just a small burn, probably.”

“…You’re such an idiot. The battle’s basically over.”

“Still… you were hurt.”

Kurokawa-san falls silent.

Then she curls in on herself.

The girl who was rampaging just moments ago is gone.

What’s left here… is just an injured girl.

“…I’m sorry. That hurt, didn’t it?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“You should worry. It’s my fault.”

“…But I noticed something was off with you and still left you alone.”

“Man… I thought you were just timid, but turns out you’re a softie too. That’s not what I expected.”

“What do you mean?”

Kurokawa-san lifts her face and stares straight at me.

Then she smiles bitterly.

“Because it looks like you won’t let me die.”

My breath catches.

I knew she was being reckless—but I didn’t think it went that far.

“…Yeah. If you died, I’d be sad.”

“…Ahaha. I wish there were more people like you.”

She laughs weakly.

It doesn’t look like she has any will to fight left.

“I figured if I stayed injured like this, the wounds would get worse and I’d just die eventually… but I forgot Connectors can heal too.”

“…Don’t go trying to die the moment I look away.”

“I won’t. I wouldn’t want you doing something reckless again.”

Brushing off the soot, Kurokawa-san stands.

Her wounds seem to have healed enough—she can walk now.

“I think I get a little why Yuri likes you.”

She smiles.

At the very least… it feels like she’s facing forward again.

“Nagisa-kuuun!”

“Connector, are you okay?”

Voices call out from the distance—Akegami-san and Kotodzuka-san.

Looks like the battle’s over.

“Let’s go, Connector-kun.”

“Yeah, Kurokawa-san.”

“…Kisa is fine.”

“Huh?”

“Calling me by my last name with ‘-san’ forever is too distant.”

“Well, um…”

“Just do it!”

“…Kisa-san.”

She pouts, lips jutting out.

I mean… dropping the ‘-san’ completely feels a bit much.

“Geez, can’t be helped. —Shinozaki-kun, thanks.”

Muttering that quietly, Kisa-san roughly brushes off the soot and turns her face away.

But the profile I catch—

looks just a little brighter.