Chapter 11: Your Name [2]

UUUUUUUuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu————

"Right on schedule, I guess," Rei uttered as he put back his phone on his pocket.

With those words, he directly headed to the destination where everything worth remembering in this day would take place.

——

[3rd PoV]

Within the temporary underground base of Ratatoskr located in Tenguu City, Shidou stood by as he was transported here as soon as the spacequake alarm rang out.

Upon arriving at the place, he was hurriedly escorted to the main room where the 'operations' would be commanded.

And so, moving here and there and listening on the explanations hmgiven to him by his sister, he could only nod in response due to confusion and doubt.

The only thing he could understand was—on the right side of the screen, a map centered on Shidou's highschool was there.

"I see, mm"

Sitting in the captain's seat, exchanging words with the crew while licking Chupa Chups (A Freakin' lollipop), Kotori raised the edge of her lips slightly.

"Shidou"

"What?"

"I'll have you get to work immediately. Go get ready."

"..."

Kotori's words caused Shidou's body to stiffen.

Well, he had imagined this would happen, and he was supposed to have resolved himself too. To think that it all began with a chance encounter which immediately came to the point where he played dating simulation games for.

But even then, he couldn't hide his nervousness now that it's time for the real thing.

"Are you letting him take part in the real fight already, commander?"

Standing beside the captain's seat, while staring at the screen, Kannazuki suddenly asked.

"The opponent is a Spirit. Failure is equivalent to death. Has he had enough trainin—gefuh!"

In the middle of his sentence, Kotori's fist sunk itself into Kannazuki's solar plexus. Without a doubt, that really hurts since the solar plexus is one of the parts of the human body that could be called 'very vulnerable'.

While seeming in pain, Kotori stepped on Kannazuki's back and said, "Questioning my decisions, you've become quite a person huh Kannazuki. As punishment, until I say otherwise you will speak like a pig," Kotori retorted with a glare.

"O-Oink"

For some reason, seeming extremely used to it, Kannazuki replied.

Looking at this scene, Shidou wiped the sweat that had surfaced on him.

Breathing in a lot of air, he exhaled and then said, "...But, Kotori, I think that Kannazuki-san has a point..."

"Ara, Shidou, you can understand pig language? As expected of someone on the same level as pigs," Kotori's eyes showed a glint of ferocity with a mocking expression on her face.

And for some stupid reason, Shidou retorted against her statement with the following words, "D-Don't underestimate pigs! Pigs are unexpectedly amazing animals you know!"

[A/N: This is legit c+p from the LN... but still... Pigs huh...]

"I know that. They love cleanliness and are strong. It's even been said that they have more intelligence than dogs. That's why for my capable subordinate Kannazuki, or for my honorable brother Shidou, it's with the greatest respect that I am calling you pigs. Pig. You pig," Kotori said as of drilling this information into Shidou's head.

"...Guuu"

It didn't sound like she was using it as a respectful title.

However, Kotori probably understood Kannazuki's question and Shidou's anxiousness the most. Her candy's stick pointed straight upwards, and she motioned to the screen.

"Shidou, you're pretty lucky you know."

"Eh...?"

Following Kotori's gaze, he looked at the screen.

As expected, numbers of unknown meaning danced around the screen, but—on the map on the right, he noticed something different from before.

Inside Shidou's highschool, there was a single red icon, and surrounding it, many small yellow icons were shown.

"The red one is the Spirit, and the yellow ones are the AST....drones"

"...and, what's lucky about this?"

"Look at the AST. See how they haven't moved at all?"

"Ahh... seems so"

"They're waiting for the Spirit to go outside."

"Why? Aren't they going to charge in?"

Shidou tilted his head, and Kotori gave a big shrug.

"At least think a bit before speaking. I'm so ashamed, even mold is slightly more intelligent than you"

"H-How dare you!"

"CR-Units weren't created for fighting in small rooms to begin with. Even if you expand a territory, there are many obstacles and the corridors are narrow, so inside a building your mobility will definitely decrease, not to mention that your vision is also obstructed"

Saying this, Kotori snapped her fingers. As if responding to that, the image on the screen changed to real-time footage of the school.

A shallow bowl-shaped hole appeared in the schoolyard, and surrounding it the roads and even a part of the school building were cleanly cut through. It was exactly like what Shidou had witnessed that other day.

"After appearing in the yard, it seems to have entered the half destroyed school building. It's not often you get this lucky, because now you can make contact with the Spirit without the AST's interference."

"...Ohhh, I see."

He understood the logic.

However, Kotori's words caused Shidou to consider something, as he narrowed his eyes.

"...If the Spirit had appeared outside like normal, how was I supposed to approach it?"

"Wait for the AST to be completely defeated, or to charge through the middle of the battle, something like that."

"..."

Shidou understood much deeper than before just how thankful he should be for the situation right now.

"Nn, then let's quickly move out. —Shidou, you haven't removed the intercom right?"

"Ah, yeah"

He touched his right ear. As expected the intercom he had been using just a while ago was still equipped.

"Okay then. The camera will be following you, so if you're in a pinch, make a sign, and tap the intercom twice"

"Mm... I understand. But well..."

Shidou narrowed his eyes, and looked towards Kotori and the crew members from the lower part of the room.

From their suggestions during training, they were really quite hopeless support members.

Probably figuring out what he was thinking from his expression, Kotori formed a fearless smile.

"Don't worry Shidou. There are a lot of reliable people in <Fraxinus>'s crew."

"I-is that so?"

With a doubtful face Shidou replied, and Kotori flung out her coat with a floomp and stood up.

"Such as,"

And then with vigor, she pointed at one of the crew in the lower part of the room.

"Having experienced marriage five times, Romance Master●<Bad Marriage Tired Too Early> Kawagoe!"

"But that means he divorced four times doesn't it!?"

"Boasting great popularity with the Filipina in the stores at night, <President> Mikimoto!"

[A/N: I don't know what to say about this LoL]

"That's completely through money appeal isn't it!?"

"Her love rivals encounter misfortune one by one. The 2AM Woman●<Nail Knocker Straw Doll> Shiizaki!"

"She's definitely got some curse on her!"

"Man With One Hundred Brides●<Dimension●Breaker>; The Person Who Surpasses The Dimensions> Nakatsugawa!"

"They are brides with a proper z-dimension right!?"

"Due to her deep love, now the law won't let her within 500 meters of her loved one●<On Probation> Minowa!"

[A/N: Yandere huh]

"Why are there only people like this here!"

"...Everyone, as the crew, their skills are certainly real," Kotori smugly said.

From the lower part of the room, Kotori's mumbling voice could be heard.

"E-even if you say that..."

"Whatever, hurry and leave already. If the Spirit goes out then the AST will come swarming"

Shidou had started complaining, and Kotori vigorously kicked Shidou's butt with a *bong*.

"...ow, y-you..."

"It's fine even if you don't worry. If it's Shidou, even if you die once or twice, you can immediately start a new game"

Shidou sweated at those words and immediately spat back with a nervous expression.

"Don't mess with me, would you?"

"Oh my? A brother that doesn't believe his sister will become unhappy you know"

[A/N: You guys with sisters, what r ur thoughts about this?]

"I don't want to hear that from a sister who won't listen to her brother..."

Mixed with a sigh, Shidou said, and obediently walked towards the transporter's door.

"Good luck"

"Yeah"

Towards Kotori who raised her thumb, he lightly waved his hand as a reply.

His heart was still beating fast, but—there was no way he was going to run away from this chance.

To defeat them, or to make them fall in love, or to save the world.

Such grand things he was not considering at all.

It was just—he wanted to talk once with that girl.

"...Wait, Kotori. I think this is a bad time to initiate the planned sealing for now," said the person.

Just as soon as he was about to get transported, someone then got in the command room and headed directly towards Shidou's direction as the person dragged him back to where Kotori is.

That person was <Fraxinus>'s Analysis Officer, Murasame Reine. And for some reasons, she looked more exhausted than usual with her droopy eyes staring at the people in the room.

"Reine...? Why? Isn't this the best time to execute this real-time simulation?"

"...No, look back at the monitor for a second. It should be happening at any moment."

And so, they looked back. Nothing really changed. At least, in their perspective, not yet.

"What about it, Reine? Is there an specific reason to stop this?"

"I might say that Shin's life would be at stake"

"It would be ever since he agreed to do the deed, Reine. And as I said, he will die if he fails and it's game over. But even if he dies once or twice, he can immediately start a new game," Kotori said smugly and then added.

"You know what that means right? But seeing you right now brings some questions in mind so I think that isn't the only reason why Shidou shouldn't go, correct?"

"...Yes. It's about <Seraph>"

"Ah... so your talking about him? As you could see, there are no Spirit Waves detected other than <Princess> in the place"

"...just look at this"

Reine then handed Kotori the Tablet in her hands. On it was a displayed realtime recording within the school.

"This is...."

Seraph was there, in the room where <Princess> herself was located at. It was a mystery as of why he wasn't detected with the Spirit radar but the fact that he is in there brings some complications.

"...As you could see, our interference might only give some problems. Letting him handle it would be ideal at the moment, besides, Shin could use this as a reference since I've talked with him myself and I somehow know what his thought process was sat the moment"

Shidou who heard them just tilted his head in confusion Wonder what the two were talking about.

And it was then Reine added.

"Kotori, even if you say that Shin always had the option of a 'reset' button as if this was a game that would bring him back if he dies. That would have no meaning if Shin was 'deleted' himself, right?"

"...."

"Death from being deleted is different from a simple game over when you die. You know what I mean right, Kotori?" Reine said as if confirming facts.

As time passed since back then, <Seraph> could now be considered to be a full-fledged [Spirit] in a sense. His abilities were designated to be [Spatial Manipulation] as the main type, alongside [Fire Manipulation] and [Weapon Armament Creation] as subtypes.

Realizing this once more, Kotori remembered what happened that day, the feeling of getting your body 'warped' and crushed while constantly regenerating could be defined as 'hellish pain' which a normal person couldn't handle.

Other than that, if Kotori imagined what [Space Manipulation] could do, <Seraph> could probably make a move that would involve the concepts of a black hole that would suck everything within it turning it's target into a piece of nothingness at the next moment.

Knowing this, Kotori couldn't help but worry about his brother. What she is currently doing could be the same as sending his brother in a beast's lair waiting to be killed at any moment.

There was nor reset at that point. Her regenerative powers that Shidou somewhat has was something that couldn't probably keep up with the concept of [Space] if that were to happen.

*Crack*

With a resounding crack coming from Kotori's mouth, the stick of the lollipop fell. She gritted her teeth too hard that it resulted into that.

Shaking her heads as if she was denying something for a few times, Reine then added.

"... Isn't it, Kotori? Besides, you said 'if you die once or twice, you can immediately start a new game'. But you can't start a new game if there's a bug in it that would prevent any new games to happen nex—"

And it was then, Kotori cut in. She now well understood how dire Shidou's situation would be if he stepped on <Seraph>'s reverse scale or something.

"....Okay I get it Reine, stop... We will... watch for now. All of you, you heard me okay?" She said as her voice resounded loud enough for everyone to hear in the room.

"Yes, commander!" said by the crew of Fraxinus.

Meanwhile, Kannazuki who was still acting like a pig a while ago returned to his serious demeanor as he arranged his tie. He then looked back at the monitor as he widened his eyes.

"Commander... no, Reine. Is this what you mean by what would happen?" Kannazuki asked.

"...Nn," Reine nodded.

"...All visuals, observation cameras, drones, and appliances planted within the school perimeter has been destroyed! Commander, this...!" One of the crew members said in panic.

At the monitor, a seemingly large dome colored in black engulfed almost everything in the place. And what it meant by everything was the entire Raizen Highschool including it's surrounding areas as well.

Noticing its shape, Kotori can't help but think that another spacequake may happen... but, she wasn't sure so she proceeded to ask Reine for confirmation.

"Another space quake...? No, Reine, what is this?" Kotori then glanced at Reine who was now tapping on the tablet on her hands in a very fast manner.

"Hm.... What <Seraph> probably did was akin to making a personal [Territory] but... this could be likely described to be a [Enclosed Space] or a [Spatial Domain]," Reine said.

Understanding the point of what Reine said, Kotori nodded with a grumble and said, "...is that so? This...if he interferes like this each and every time, I don't know when Shidou would seal his first [Spirit]"

"Don't worry, that wouldn't happen each and every time," Reine immediately interjected.

"And what's your basis for that?" Kannazuki asked seemingly curious about it.

"...Nn? Woman's instinct?" Reine responded plainly as she tilted her head.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Meanwhile, Shidou who was trying to comprehend their entire conversation so far had this seemingly hot steam flowing out form his head as he could not follow where their conversation was heading off at the moment.

——

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[A/N: More like a filler chap ain't it? Well, of course, that is the case so yeah guys...

And the PoV of Ratatoskr took longer than what I would've expected to be honest... and seriously, this may bring some dissatisfactions to some of you since the Freakin' screentime of the MC (Rei) was almost being taken (by half I think...) by Story MC (Shidou) making the story seemingly having two protags at the same time (which if I include our lovely chaos incarnate would make three.... ugh).

And that wasn't intended at all. I myself noticed that this story is getting confusing as fck due to the mix of different MC's at the same time.... anyways, I'll try to limit the PoV to Rei in the following chaps (after I finish Gudako's PoV I guess...?).

Umm, so the real deal starts from the next chap so don't worry and just wait.... yes. Just wait for it and.... nevermind....

Comment if you see errors by the way guyz.

And so, byebye]