"What are you embarrassed about...? Put your leg over here."
Seeing her like this, Mio sighed inwardly and pulled the girl's leg in front of her. The white-stockinged foot lightly rested against her thigh, the warmth from the sole seeping through the fabric and into her skin. There was even a faint trace of dampness.
She ignored such trivial details. Gently, she rolled the stocking down to the calf and looked at the glaring wound on the girl's thigh. It was clearly a knife wound—and one that had been deliberately cut deep.
"..."
Inori's face remained flushed the entire time. Whether it was from embarrassment or something else, Mio couldn't tell. The toes hidden inside the stocking would occasionally curl and flex against her thigh, brushing lightly over her skin and making her feel a faint ticklish sensation.
"The wound is fairly deep. We'll treat it more thoroughly once we're home. For now, I'll just handle it simply."
She spoke to Inori.
"...Mm."
Still red-faced, Inori nodded obediently, meek to an almost unbelievable degree.
Buzz—
A faint glow bearing the mark of Ba flickered from her palm. She pressed it gently over the wound on Inori's thigh. After about a minute, the simple treatment was complete. She pulled the stocking back up, then helped her put her shoe on again.
"They already told me... about you. About your mission..."
She looked at the girl as she put her shoe back on.
"Mm..."
Inori held her calf-length boot and nodded softly, offering no extra explanation.
Tap...
Seeing her like this, dissatisfaction stirred within Mio. She leaned closer and grabbed the girl's arm as she was putting on her shoe.
"..."
Inori stopped moving, but still did not look at her.
"Aren't you going to say anything to me?"
She questioned her.
"...I'm sorry, Mio... I didn't want you—"
"I'm already involved. Is that enough now?"
She cut her off. She had already guessed what Inori was going to say.
"..."
Inori lowered her eyes, lightly pressing her lips together, clearly unwilling to speak further.
"...Haa, forget it."
Seeing this, Mio let out a slow breath, released her hand, and stood up, stepping away.
"Mio... Shogun..."
Perhaps sensing her disappointment, Inori's voice trembled slightly as she called out to her—even saying her full title. She reached out as if to grab her, but her hand hesitated and withdrew.
"I'm not as fragile as you think, Inori."
She turned around to face the pink-haired girl, her gaze complicated.
"..."
Inori lowered her head without speaking.
"I'm not some defenseless ordinary person either. In our world, I existed as the ruler of a nation—one who protected her people. Even so, I allowed you to protect me back then... because I knew I couldn't trample on your hopes or your resolve."
"You can protect me if you wish... but I hope you don't shut me out in this cold way just because of that. When you do that... it only makes me worry even more."
"!!"
Inori's body trembled.
"That's all I wanted to say. I'm not angry at you, and I don't resent you. I just want you to understand."
She returned to her side and sat down again, gently stroking the girl's hair.
"...!"
Feeling the touch, Inori could no longer hold back. She suddenly threw herself into Mio's arms, wrapping them tightly around her as she silently closed her eyes.
...
On the other side—
Beep—!
After climbing to the rooftop, Gai heard the call from his terminal. With practiced ease, he pulled the device from his pocket and flicked it open one-handed. A projection screen appeared.
On the screen was Ayase in her pilot suit. Her face was filled with guilt—clearly calling to admit fault.
"I'm sorry... Gai."
Her voice came through the terminal.
"Ayase? Report the situation."
He ignored her apology and asked about the situation directly.
"...We lost the unit. I'm very sorry... It's my responsibility. I'm not skilled enough."
Ayase lowered her head, fists clenched on her thighs as she apologized quietly.
"Is that so? That's truly regrettable."
He said cooperatively.
"!"
Even though Ayase had prepared herself mentally, her heart still ached when she heard that. She had disappointed this man. But she didn't refute it. She would never refute it... It was her fault.
"'Hold them off for eighteen minutes with that outdated unit'—that was the harsh order I gave you. Yet you completed it brilliantly, and now you're saying it's your own responsibility...?"
He smiled faintly.
"Doesn't that mean I'm the incompetent commander?"
"///!"
Ayase instantly understood and flushed red.
"That's not it—///! It's because I lost! That's why—!!"
"I'm joking..."
He smiled again.
"Eh?"
She blinked at him in confusion.
"I'm just glad you're safe, Ayase."
Bzz—
Before she could respond, he closed the terminal.
Staring at the disconnected screen, Ayase's face grew even redder. Warmth surged in her chest, and a blissful smile spread across her lips.
"Ah... Sister Ayase's heart rate is steadily rising~"
Tsugumi, seated nearby at the computer, teased her when she saw that lovestruck expression.
"S-Shut up, Tsugumi—///!"
"Bleh—!"
Tsugumi stuck out her tongue at her.
"Haa... honestly—///"
Ayase covered her burning face and let out a helpless sigh.
...
Tap... tap...
Gai walked through the abandoned top floor of the building and found the two women sitting side by side deeper inside. The Shogun was still pressing a towel against some of Inori's smaller wounds. When she saw him approach, she lifted her eyes and glanced at Inori.
"...Gai."
Inori tried to stand upon seeing him. The Shogun cooperated, removing the towel and letting her rise, while she remained seated, waiting for her to return.
"Inori... how are your injuries?"
After observing the interaction between the two, Gai narrowed his eyes slightly before asking.
"They're nothing serious... I'll be fully healed in a couple of days."
Inori subconsciously touched the bandage still wrapped around her arm as she answered softly.
"..." ×2
For a moment, both of them fell silent.
"Gai, I—"
"Inori, I'm very disappointed in you."
Gai frowned and spoke coldly.
"..."
Inori said nothing more. She simply lowered her eyes and stood there quietly, offering no rebuttal—as if she had already expected to disappoint him.
Looking at the "King's Mark" on the back of the hand clutching her arm, Gai felt a surge of dissatisfaction.
"..."
The Shogun did not interrupt. She simply folded and unfolded the still-warm handkerchief over her thigh.
"I'm sorry... Gai."
In the end, Inori apologized. There was no other choice. She understood that much.
"I don't want to hear your apology. No matter what, the result has already happened. You made a grave mistake at the end. Do you understand?"
Gai asked.
"Mm... I wasted the Void Genome."
Inori answered in a low voice.
"It wasn't a waste—it was put to use. She has indeed gained the power to contend with GHQ. She can even draw the sword. How can you call that a waste?"
The Shogun finally interjected.
"...Mio..."
Inori looked at her with complicated emotions.
"I think you're misunderstanding something. You were the one who had her use the gene serum. The root of the issue still lies in your existence."
Gai turned his gaze toward the purple-haired woman seated behind them, still calmly folding the handkerchief.
"Gai... don't say that... Mio only—"
Inori hurriedly tried to plead for her.
"And so what? In everything she went through, I don't see how you played any significant role."
She replied coldly, finally lifting her eyes to meet his. In the dim light, her violet pupils seemed to shimmer faintly.
"Mio... stop... please..."
Inori turned and pleaded with her.
"What are you implying? That only you can protect her?"
Gai asked with a faint smile.
"I never said that. But who knows? At the very least, I might do a better job than you."
She slowly crossed one leg over the other and casually tossed the towel in her hand back into the bucket.
"That serum was originally meant for me."
Gai stepped past Inori and walked directly in front of her.
"You're both human. Does it matter who receives it? You're both members of Funeral Parlor. Or is it that only you can endure the side effects? She seems perfectly fine to me. Or... did you have some other purpose in mind?"
She still did not rise.
"..."
Gai stared at her in silence. She met his gaze just as steadily.
"Woman..."
He suddenly addressed her.
"What is it?"
She responded calmly.
"What's your name?"
He asked.
"...Raiden Mio. And yours?"
"Gai Tsutsugami."
"...?"
Inori looked back in confusion.
"Heh... is that so? Would you like to join Funeral Parlor?"
Gai smiled as he extended the invitation. From her, he sensed a rare spirit of rebellion.
"!"
Inori's heart trembled the moment she heard that. She quickly stepped closer to them and looked at Gai.
"Gai... this has nothing to do with her. Don't drag her into this—"
"I'll join."
"Eh? Mio...?"
Inori froze mid-sentence, staring at her in disbelief, as if silently urging her not to joke around.
"Are you serious?"
Gai asked.
"I do not speak in jest."
She answered, then uncrossed her legs and stood up, facing the much taller blond man.
"Oh~? I like that look in your eyes."
They were eyes filled with unwavering resolve—and he liked that.
"Is that so? Then I'm truly... honored."
She replied indifferently.
"Can you tell me why?"
He asked.
"You were the one who brought it up first. And now you want my reason? Haa... fine. It's simple. There's a certain idiot who always comes home late... covered in wounds every time. It makes me worry."
She glanced at Inori beside her. Under the implication, Inori lowered her head subconsciously, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Since that's the case, I might as well stay by her side. Whether I'm protecting her... or being 'protected' by her... at least it might reduce the number of injuries she comes back with. Isn't that right?"
She tilted her head slightly, smiling as she asked the question as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Mio... ///"
Inori's face flushed faintly. She lightly held her arm and lowered her head in front of her.