act44side

I will continue to walk the performer's path, as long as I live.

I want to bring hope to others, and tell those plagued by fear that there is someone who was once just like you, someone who knows how you feel.

She will sing your story, act your story. She will do all that she can, so that your voices will not fade into darkness.

Momoka wipes away a drop of sweat from her brow.

Wow, I really said a lot, didn't I?

You know, I'm starting to get cold feet now, after having said all that. I'm really timid, after all.

Maybe the kaidan aren't the only lies in our lives. Maybe there are countless more lies like theirs, and the prosperity that we enjoy...

...is built upon these lies.

What is that bitch babbling about?!

She doesn't know that everything is built upon faith. She doesn't know that if panic spreads—

But... this is our life. And it will continue, until the end arrives... if it arrives.

Even if it is built upon lies... upon bubbles that might shatter tomorrow, it's still our life...

A life that I have to learn to love.

Besides, even if a life like this is destined to disappear someday... it's beautiful, isn't it?

An instant of beauty will be the warmth that stays with us through the cold night, even after everything else falls apart... as long as we keep it in our hearts.

That's all I want to say.

This has been Momoka Hanyuu, and I apologize for taking up your valuable time.

Perhaps... no, we WILL meet again.

There is no longer any possibility of turning the tables.

The Phidia stares blankly at the figure on the screen.

Oh, you got up again.

Shall we continue?

The bitch is done babbling. You can try to take revenge for your pop now, again.

The young Oni sets his unsteady feet. The Phidia has collected himself, and identifies an opening that will let him put his sword right through the ribs of the Oni when he makes his move.

But the Oni does not move.

Are you scared?

No.

But even a fool like me can tell that you're finished.

Tetsuya turns around. Mifune's face is ghastly pale, but he does not make a move.

I'm showing my back to you. Aren't you going to kill me?

Not in the mood. There are plenty of other people I want to kill first.

I'll come find you when they're all dead.

Oh, and one more thing...

Mifune stares at Tetsuya's back. Suddenly, he blurts out a sentence that even he himself is unsure why he says it.

The words that I said to your father... They were actually for you.

Tetsuya cannot tell if these words are meant to provoke, or to accomplish something else. He turns and casts one glare at Mifune with bloodshot eyes, before leaving with unsteady steps.

Phew...

Everything feels so surreal, like a dream.

After finishing her speech, she fainted onstage out of excitement.

Everything that happened next was like a blur... in any case, Hoshiguma went upstairs, while Moriuchi, Kichisei, and Sarasa took her downstairs.

She seems to remember fighting and explosions, but it all felt so far away—

Where are we? Kichisei? Moriuchi-san? Sarasa?

Why is Sarasa on the ground... she's asleep?!

She fell asleep in the TV station too... does she get tired easy?

No time for this—it's my turn to carry her now!

Where are you, Momoka? Where's Sarasa?

Did you get lost in the alleys?

I'm—

Mmph!

Gotcha!

I... I got her! On my own! I-I might get promoted for this...

Good thing I had duct tape on me. She's a singer, who knows how loud she can get when she hollers?

I dreamed about 'ninjutsu items' before I became a ninja, but it's only the veterans who get to use the good stuff, while all I have is trash...

Gotta report this upstairs—

Gah, I forgot I discharged my terminal so I could enjoy an afternoon of peace and quiet in one of the coffee shops in the alleys.

Then this girl just falls into my hands like that! It's definitely my lucky day.

Where's my Originium Circuit Hyourougan?

The ninja takes out the Originium Circuit Hyourougan, a spherical Originium appliance with a long wire attached to it, which he connects to the depleted terminal.

It's charging so slowly.

Hey, how about I pull that tape off your mouth, and you sing a song or two for me?

Mmph, mm, mmmh!

Well, it's not like I would do it, even if you nodded.

Did you know? We were looking for you everywhere after you ran away on that motorbike that night. I was the one who searched your house.

Mmh!

Boy, was that a crappy place. Big idol like you, I thought you'd be living in a mansion or something, but you didn't have anything worth shit.

What's with the collection of garbage by your window, anyway? Some kind of weird obsession?

Mmph—argh! *cough* *cough*!

Say that again?!

The tape came loose? I thought I put it on right.

Hmph, who cares, just a frail little idol.

I tell you, not only did I have to check all that weird garbage you had by the window one by one, I also trimmed that dying plant for you.

You cut Hasuke?!

'Hasuke'? Oh, that tree sprout was barely even a weed.

Yeah, I did it. What about it? How did you even take care of it? I have no idea, 'cause its leaves were all yellow and brittle. No way it was gonna live, so I put it out of its misery. It was a kindness.

I've grown flowers before, and it takes patience, and endless love and care, you understand? Someone like you—

Hey, hey, hey, how did you get up? What kind of crappy duct tape was that?

I see, you must know some sort of Arts... you're Ægir, so I guess it's about water? That's it, of course, no wonder the tape came loose.

But didn't the vets say that only the Infected could use Arts without a unit? That's weird. You couldn't have broken the tape with brute force, could you?

Nah, of course not. I doubt you've ever lifted anything heavier than an apple! Must be Arts, definitely.

So what? What are you gonna do, spray water in my face?

The novice ninja taunts Momoka, but he keeps his gaze fixed on her eyes.

A cornered beast will fight back, and the same is true for the girl in front of him. What kind of Arts will she use? Mist? A high-pressure jet? Acid spray, even?

He must not let his guard down just because he is facing an idol with no combat experience.

It is unlikely that her Arts would be particularly powerful, and there would be little movement from her microphone-shaped Arts unit when she casts. Better to stay focused on her eyes.

Her eyes will betray all that she is thinking.

For example... murderous intent.

Foolish girl, not knowing her place.

But that is all. Observe her eyes, and analyze her intent, be it the timing of casting, direction, or...

Why is there no intent other than murder?

Before he can react, the ninja feels a dull 'thud' on his head.

Wha-you hit me on the head with your mic? What kind of Arts is...?

MURDERER!

BEAST!

HEARTLESS DEVIL!

THIS IS FOR HASUKE!

W-Wait, calm down—

NO I WILL NOT!

IT WASN'T DEAD YET! HOW COULD YOU—

HOW COULD YOU CUT MY HASUKE?!

Momoka babbles her incoherent vengeful fury, a far cry from the image that she presented on stage just moments ago.