Aria the Scarlet Ammo (novel), Volume 1

by Chugaku Akamatsu

  I heard that strange noise again. Aria was looking at the mirror with moist eyes, and she was repeatedly fastening and taking off the hairpin she always used. Seeing that, I felt a pain in my heart as if it were being pierced by dozens of needles. Aria…was very fond of her forehead. It must have been really difficult for her to have a scar like that on it.

  “…Aria.” I pretended like I had just arrived and knocked on the door after slightly distancing myself from it.

  “Ah, h-hold on a second.”

  I could hear the rustling sound of hasty movement coming from inside the room.

  “…Come in.”

  I entered the room just in time to see Aria rewrap the bandage around her head with amazing speed and proceed to tinker with her gun using some sort of tool. It was a bit contrived, but apparently she was pretending to have been doing maintenance on her gun.

  “Are you here to visit me?” When she glanced at me, there was a look of aversion in her eyes that she wasn’t trying to hide.

  “Just don’t treat me like I’m some sort of injured patient. I can’t believe I’m being hospitalized for a little scratch like this. The doctors here make such a big deal out of everything.”

  “You’re every bit an injured patient. That wound on your forehead–”

  “What about it? Stop your gawking.”

  “Well, I mean, it’s gonna leave a scar isn’t it?”

  “So what? I’m not concerned about it. You don’t have to be concerned about it, either. That takes care of maintenance.” Aria placed her gun on the side table and crossed her arms. “Butei Charter, Article One, ‘Believe in your comrades and help one another.’ I was merely abiding by our creed. I wasn’t making any special exceptions when I saved you just because it was you.

  “The Butei Charter…? It’s just a bunch of stuck up ideals. Don’t go around defending them like some idiot.”

  “…Are you saying I’m an idiot? I don’t wanna hear that from someone like you. But…you may be right. I just might be an idiot for saving an idiot like you.”

  Aria turned her back on me, and I didn’t feel like carrying on this conversation any further so I just held out the bag of goods I brought from the convenience store. After a short silence, Aria’s nostrils quivered as she sniffed the air.

  “…Peach buns?”

  I hadn’t even opened the bag, but she knew by the scent. Aria turned towards me and her angry red eyes opened wide.

  “Knock yourself out. I bought all they had—five to be precise. They’re your favorite, aren’t they?”

  For a moment, Aria just sat there quietly eyeing the bag, but soon enough she snatched it out of my hands and plunged her own inside. She then began to greedily devour the peach buns, which had already started to cool off. It was kind of like feeding a wounded, savage animal.

  “Take your time. Those peach buns aren’t going anywhere.”

  “Be quiet. I can eat them however I want.”

  Aria stopped eating just long enough to say something spiteful with that bean paste-stained mouth of hers and continued to gobble down her peach buns in silence. Butei Hospital was famous for serving awful tasting food. She probably hadn’t eaten too much since she’s been here.

  “Well, listen while you eat. After that incident, they found the hotel room that the culprit was using.”

  “…What about the hotel register?”

  “There was none. Rather, I should say the records were tampered with. It was done from the outside.”

  I took out a translucent file from my bag and laid it by Aria’s knees. “We had Riko Mine and other members of Inquesta and Repier inspect the room. The end result…not a single trace of anything that would help to identify the culprit could be found.”

  “I’m not surprised. Our ‘Butei killer’ is incredibly cunning. There’s no way the person would leave behind any footprints.”

  “‘Butei killer’, huh? I was convinced that both my bicycle-jacking episode and the bus-jacking were copycat crimes of the ‘Butei killings’. After all, the perpetrator had already been arrested.”

  “I told you. They arrested the wrong person.”

  I was unable to refute Aria’s theory. Sure enough, these crimes didn’t seem like the work of some petty copycat criminal.

  “Also…the results of the investigation on the bicycle-jacking are included in that file. But to be honest, there wasn’t much to gain from that incident, either. Both the Segways and the Uzis were stolen goods.”

  “Those guys are all so useless. Reading those documents would be a waste of time.”

  “If that’s what you think, just throw them in the trash.”

  I wasn’t really being serious, but then Aria actually did just that, causing me to become a little angry. Although they didn’t come up with any clues, Riko and the others worked throughout the night conducting the investigation.

  “You can leave now. It’s over isn’t it?”

  “?”

  “You were going to help resolve the first case that presented itself after returning to Assault. That case is closed so your contract has expired. You can go back to Inquesta now. Good-Bye.” Aria had finished her peach buns and spoke with exasperation.

  “What the hell? You really are a self-centered person, aren’t you? You were so forceful in dragging me into this, and now that you’re done with me, that’s how you’re gonna be?”

  “Do you want me to apologize? Will you feel better if I pay you?”

  “…Do you want to make me angry?”

  “I want you to hurry up and leave. Let me be alone.”

  “You got it. I’m outta here.”

  I could feel myself getting angrier by the minute. I wasn’t sure why I was so upset, but each of Aria’s words stung me like bees.

  “Humph!” I turned my back on Aria as well and started heading out of the hospital room.

  “I can’t believe you…”

  I heard Aria say something under her breath as I took hold of the doorknob.

  “I was counting on you…I thought you would show me the skills you demonstrated that other time if I brought you on a mission with me!”

  “Nobody told you to have such big expectations of me! You came to your own conclusions! I don’t have that kind of skill! And besides…I’ve already decided to quit being a Butei! Why do you always decide everything on your own?!”

  Unable to control myself, I raised my voice as I spun around to face her. For some reason, when Aria was the person I was dealing with, I couldn’t maintain my composure.

  Damn it. What’s going on? This isn’t like me.

  “I have to decide everything on my own! I’m running out of time!”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?! You’re not making any sense!”

  “If you’re a Butei, why don’t you look into it on your own?! Compared to…compared to my circumstances, your reasons for wanting to quit being a Butei are trivial! I just know it!”

  Trivial.

  Hearing those words, before I knew it, I had impulsively approached Aria, and forgetting that she was a girl, I nearly grabbed her by the collar. However, I restrained myself, and my fists closed on themselves instead—tightly enough to leave nail imprints on my hand.

  “W-What? What’s your problem?”

  Even Aria was taken off guard by the threatening attitude I had never shown before. I placed both of my hands on the bed and buried my face in the sheets.

  I must have a hideous look on my face right now—a face I don’t want to show to anyone.

  Shirayuki had mentioned this to me before, but my family, the Tohyama's, have been heroes of justice for generations. The occupation may have changed depending on the era, but for hundreds of years, we have been fighting on behalf of the weak using the power of our unique genetic make-up known as hysteria mode. My father, who died in the line of duty while I was still a toddler, was active as an armed prosecutor, and my older brother was also a Butei. As far as I was concerned, they were heroes I
wanted to model my own life after. That’s why I entered Butei High of my own free will without hesitation. My hysteria mode might have been the cause of some bad experiences I had in middle school, but I figured I would eventually be able to control it like my father and my older brother. That’s how optimistic I was. But during the winter of last year, something happened that turned my entire life upside down—the boating disaster off the coast of Uraga.

  Embellir, a Japanese-registered cruise ship, had sunk, and one passenger went missing. It was a misfortunate accident in which the search was called off without the body ever turning up. The person who died was a Butei who happened to be on the boat—Kinichi Tohyama, my older brother. According to what the police said, my brother, a person who was always fighting on behalf of the weak for a mere pittance and never lost to even the most formidable of villains, was helping to evacuate the crew and passengers and failed to make it out in time as a result. But fearing lawsuits from passengers, the company that offered the cruise as well as some of the passengers who were incited by the company, harshly criticized my brother after the accident. They claimed that my brother was an incompetent Butei for not being able to prevent the accident, despite being onboard the ship. All the numerous verbal attacks posted on the Internet and in the weekly magazines that were aimed at me, the surviving family—even now, they still haunt me in my dreams. Why did my brother die after saving other people? Why was he made into a scapegoat? It’s because of the hysteria mode in our genes…and it's because he was a damned Butei! That’s right. Butei. Heroes of justice. They just fight and fight until they’re completely battered, and even if they wind up dead, people will still throw stones at them. They’re worthless roles, and whoever fills them is only going to lose out! That’s why I gave up becoming something so ridiculous. From this point on, I’m going to be a regular person. I’m joining the side that just lives their lives saying irresponsible things and spends their days carefree and in peace. That’s what I’ve decided.

  I lifted my head. Aria…wasn’t saying a word. When my eyes met with those camellia-colored eyes of hers, I realized what this black feeling inside me that I had towards Aria was. She and I were alike. Aria shouldered a heavy burden that no one else could understand and was tragically running at full speed down the path of a Butei in the direction directly opposite of where I was headed. I was trying to run away from my issues, while she was trying to confront hers. That’s why I was unable to remain calm when Aria was involved.

  “In any case, I’ve already given up on being a Butei. Starting next year, I’ll even be going to a normal school.”

  “…”

  “Are you listening?”

  “Alright…alright already…You…” Aria looked away from me and closed her eyes for short while before reopening them. It was like placing the period at the end of a sentence that shouldn’t be written. “…weren’t the person I was looking for.”

  Fourth Bullet Under the Bangs

  In the end, Aria and I parted from each other on disagreeable terms.

  I wonder if this was really for the best.

  It was precisely the outcome I had always wished for. I was able to show her that I couldn’t do anything in my current state thanks to that bus-jacking incident. Thus, Aria became disillusioned and set me free. As a result, I could now leave Assault. All I had to do now was peacefully bide my time at Inquesta and transfer to a regular school next year. Then I could wash my hands of this Butei lifestyle and become an ordinary adult. What’s wrong with that?

  But what is it—this feeling that’s eating at me?

  Presently, I was spending the weekend with emotions that caused me boundless irritation. I couldn’t make any sense of them and they had lingered with me since leaving the hospital. Whether I was watching television or surfing the net, the sound of that hairpin opening and closing just wouldn’t leave from my head. I had heard that Aria was due to be released from the hospital on Sunday morning—this morning—and busied myself with cleaning and laundry so as not to think about her. But it was because of this…that I coincidentally caught sight of Aria in an unexpected place after she was discharged. It was at a beauty salon in the corner of Academy Island. The dry cleaners I had gone to happened to be next to the salon, and on my way home, I was so shocked to see Aria in her transformed state that I stopped dead in my tracks. She didn’t realize I was there, so it was somewhat like I was spying on her again, but…

  “…”

  Aria, looking a little down, still had her hair in twin pigtails, but her hairstyle was slightly different. She had bangs. She looked amazingly cute with them, really…but there was no questioning why they were there. They were for concealing the scar on her forehead. When that thought entered my head, my heart was again filled with a sharp prickling sensation. Making clip-clop noises with her sandals, decorated with puff balls which were the color of Rainier cherries, Aria walked towards the monorail station. She was dressed in her casual clothes. Since I had only ever seen Aria in her school uniform or class C equipment, seeing her look like any other girl was actually quite different. Wearing a simple, neat, white dress adorned with a light pink pattern, Aria had a modern look about her that made it seem as if she stepped right out of a fashion magazine. If a picture of her were put on the cover, both the magazine and the dress would probably sell like hotcakes. True, Aria was the type who always took care to make sure she had a respectable appearance, but it was the first time I had ever seen her this dressed up.

  I wonder where she’s going. On a date? There’s no need for the interrogative case. That’s probably it. Aria’s boyfriend… She had one? I wonder what he’s like.

  With those thoughts in my mind, I wasn’t really sure why…but I just started following her. Aria took the monorail to Shinbashi, and from there, going through Kanda via train, got off at Shinjuku. Following Aria from a short distance, I noticed that the guys in the city were eying her. It made sense. You’d be lucky to find a girl this cute. Not only that, but she put her all into dressing herself up nicely. It would’ve been odd if guys weren’t looking at her. Aria left the station through the west exit and emerged into the skyscraper-dominated city, her sandals incessantly clip-clopped every step of the way. The direction she was heading in also had me tilting my head. There was nothing here except for office buildings. Did that mean her boyfriend was a company employee? I continued to follow Aria, and she eventually stopped in front of one the most unexpected buildings. It was the Shinjuku Police Department. Why did she get all dress up to come to a place like this?

  “…You stink at tailing people. I can see you as plain as day,” said Aria without even turning around to look at me.

  I swallowed hard, despite myself.

  Well, well. She knew.

  “Um…well, you said it yourself. ‘If you’re a Butei don't ask questions. Investigate on your own.’” I felt awkward so I replied with a somewhat defiant attitude as I walked over to Aria’s side. “More to the point, if you knew I was there, why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I couldn’t make up my mind whether or not I wanted to let you know about this…what with you being a victim of the ‘Butei killer’ and all.”

  “?”

  “Well, we’re here now. You plan on coming along even if I tried to send you away, aren’t you?” said Aria, lacking her usual stubborn spirit.

  Aria entered the police department, and my mind was filled with puzzling thoughts as I followed behind her.

  I recognized the beautiful woman who came into the visiting room for detainees on the other side of the acrylic glass window under the supervision of two guards.

  If I recall…I saw her on the cameo embedded on the grip of Aria’s pistol. She was the lady who was engraved on that cameo and looked like Aria. Her long hair arced in a gentle curve and she had eyes like onyx. Her white porcelain skin was the same as Aria’s.

  “Oh, my…Aria, is this young gentleman your boyfriend?”

  “N-No, he’s not, mama.”


  This lady who looked at me with a hint of surprise on her face, but spoke with a gentle and composed voice—she was Aria’s mother. Or so it would seem.

  S-She’s so young. She seems more like an older sister of Aria rather than her mother.

  “He’s a dear friend of yours then? How about that! You’ve gotten to the age at where you have male friends. And you used to be so bad at making any friends at all,” Aria’s mother chuckled.

  “That’s not it. This is Kinji Tohyama. He’s a student at Butei High, not…what you’re thinking. Not by any means,” Aria declared positively in front of her mother who was smiling gently.

  You don’t have to deny it that flatly.

  “…It’s nice to meet you, Kinji. My name is Kanae Kanzaki. I’m Aria’s mother. It would seem you’ve been helping out my daughter.”

  “Oh, no, I haven’t really…”

  Kanae seemed like the type of person who gave the atmosphere a pleasant feeling, despite being in a room such as the one we were in. Truth be told, I have a weakness for people like this. Quite unlike me, I became flustered and was unable to speak very smoothly. Seeing me like that seemed to put a look of irritation on Aria’s face, and she leaned forward towards the acrylic glass.

  “Mama, we’re only allowed to speak for three minutes so I’ll make this quick…this guy with the dumb look on his face is the third victim of the ‘Butei killings.’ Last week, a bomb was planted on his bicycle at school.”

  “…Oh dear…” said Kanae, hardening her expression.

  “One more incident occurred. The day before yesterday, there was a bus-jacking. The ‘Butei killer’ is suddenly becoming more and more active. That means whoever is behind this is going to reveal himself before long. So first, I’m going to catch the ‘Butei killer’ just like I planned. If I can prove your innocence in regards to the ‘Butei killings’ alone, I can reduce your sentence of eight hundred and sixty-four years to seven hundred and forty-two. I’ll do something about all the other accusations before the Supreme Court trial too. I swear.”