Aria the Scarlet Ammo (novel), Volume 2

by Chugaku Akamatsu

  I kind of feel like toying with her now.

  “...”

  I took out my cell phone and sent her an e-mail from the hallway.

  “Sorry. Gonna be late by thirty more minutes.”

  When Shirayuki’s white cell phone lit up, she grabbed it at a speed too fast for the eye to follow, and holding it in front of her with both hands, she read the message. She then cheerfully typed her reply. I had thought ahead of time to put my phone in manner mode and read the e-mail that came back to me.

  “That’s okay. I'll be here waiting.”

  There was even a smiley face at the end of the sentence. It wouldn’t be unreasonable for her to get a little angry … I tried sending another e-mail.

  “Actually, it’s gonna be three more hours. Wanna just call it off?”

  Again, Shirayuki opened the phone she had replaced on the charger and read my message. She looked as if the world was about to come to an end.

  Hehehe. I’m right here though.

  “Stop looking as if the world is about to come to the end,” I e-mailed her. When she read it, she sat there blinking her eyes with a confused look on her face.

  This is like a Shirayuki remote control. I could do this all day.

  But having taken things this far, I started feeling a little guilty, so I decided to make my presence known.

  “Come on. Let’s go,” I said with a wry smile on my face.

  “Hyaaa!” cried Shirayuki, jumping around twenty centimeters into the air, but still maintaining the same sitting position.

  How in world did she do that?

  “K-K-Kin-chan! You’re horrible! You were watching me from behind and laughing the whole time?!” A rosy-cheeked Shirayuki stood up, and with her glossy bangs swaying back and forth, lightly walked over to me. Rather, she tried to, but must have been fairly nervous because she stumbled on thin air.

  “Aah!”

  “What are you tripping over for? ...Um, I mean, sorry for being late.”

  “No, don’t worry about it! You’re not late at all!” she insisted, smiling and waving her open palm in front of her.

  I was undoubtedly late, but ... if that’s what the person who was kept waiting says, I guess it’s not too much of a problem. When our eyes met, Shirayuki hurriedly averted her gaze and fretfully straightened out her yukata.

  “K-Kin-chan, what do you think of these clothes? I ordered it on-line, but ... it doesn’t look strange, does it?

  “Not really.”

  “T-That’s good. … Ah, what about my hair? I just had it done at a salon on Academy Island … It’s not weird, is it?

  “It’s not weird.”

  Upon hearing my answer, Shirayuki looked so relieved, it made me feel embarrassed to just stare at her. Before the situation got more uncomfortable, I said, “Let’s get going” and went back to the door of the apartment. I put on my shoes, and when I turned around, Shirayuki said she was coming and followed after me with quick, mincing steps. She gracefully made her way to the door, where she slipped on what appeared to be newly bought women’s paulownia-wood getas. Her every movement was that of a perfect Japanese woman. She stands like a Chinese peony, sits like a tree peony, and walks like a lily. I think that’s how the expression goes ... for this sort of thing anyways.

  I’m not at all averse to going out at night. Back when I first transferred from Assault to Inquesta, I felt somewhat empty, and after eating dinner, I would aimlessly prowl around the city at night.

  “... It’s cool out, isn’t it?” I asked, turning my head towards Shirayuki who was pitter-pattering slightly behind me to the right. She seemed to have been watching me absent-mindedly from behind.

  “Y-Yeah,” she replied, hastily lowering her eyes. It was as if she were trying to say that she hadn’t been looking at me, and our eyes had just met by mere chance.

  “I like to go for a walk at night every now and then, but how about you?”

  “No. I wouldn’t go walking around at this hour unless you were with me.”

  “I see.”

  ...

  …

  Somehow, our conversation wasn’t holding up. It shouldn’t be a surprise; I had always avoided talking with a girl alone unless there was a very good reason to do so. It might be because I had developed a habit of dismissing most of whatever Aria said whenever she started droning on about the U.S. army’s flash grenades or Germany’s latest model knives. But in this case, I was having a difficult time chatting. The vending machines on the roadside seemed to be ridiculing us with their flashing fluorescent lights.

  “U-Um.”

  Thankfully, Shirayuki spoke up.

  “Yeah?”

  “T-This ... is kind of l-l-like a ... date ... sort of ... in a way ... or not ... but maybe it is ...”

  “What?” Her speech was grammatically impaired, and I wasn’t sure what she was saying. “It’s ... like we’re on a date ... isn’t it.”

  “A date?”

  Just when I thought she finally articulated herself, what she said was rather odd.

  I’ve got to be firm in my denial of this.

  It would be problematic if she were to have any misunderstandings and did anything that would set off my hysteria mode later.

  “This isn’t a date. Your bodyguard is escorting you as you travel about. That’s all there is to it.”

  Butei Charter, Article Five: Act with expedition. Buteis should make it a principle to strike first and secure victory.

  “Bodyguard ...” Shirayuki said to herself as she somewhat sadly lowered the ends of her eyebrows, “Y-You’re right. You’re here to protect me, aren’t you? Sorry for ... saying something so weird,” she apologized with what was most probably a feigned smile.

  Later on—and it was partially my fault for being late—by the time we arrived at Butei High’s monorail station, we could already hear the fireworks that had started off in the distance.

  I wonder if we’ll make it in time.

  Shirayuki went to buy her monorail ticket, but I sensed she was still hesitant about leaving school grounds.

  “I’ll buy both of our tickets then,” was the solution I offered.

  “I couldn’t ask you to do that. I’ll buy my own ticket,” said Shirayuki, finally making her purchase.

  I asked her about what type of transportation she usually used, and Shirayuki told me she’d only left Butei High by means of the car in which Hotogi’s chauffeur came to pick her up. In fact, she said that as far she could recall, she’d never even ridden a train. ... Just how sheltered can a person be?

  Well, in any case, I’d succeeded in releasing the bird from its cage. I was still gently cradling it in my hands though.

  We took the monorail to Odaiba, and from there went to Ariake using the Yurikamome line. Next, we went to Shinkiba via the Rinkai Line and lastly, transferred to the Keiyou Line. We finally reached Kasai Sea-side Park after repeatedly transferring from one train to the next, and that alone had Shirayuki looking at me with eyes full of respect. I couldn’t say I felt all that great about being respected for navigating through Tokyo’s train system. Scratching the back of my head, I began leading Shirayuki from the station to the ocean. We entered Kasai Sea-side Park, which was arranged like a small forest, and there were electric light poles forming a spotted trail to the ocean. Indeed, it had the elegant appearance of a park at nighttime. Being a bodyguard, I did my job of inspecting our surroundings, but even though it was night, there were kiosks open for business and people scattered about here and there. There wasn’t likely to be much danger. If there was anything to be concerned about, it would be the delinquents on the prowl for couples to harass, but they weren’t dumb enough to attack an armed butei. “... The moon is pretty, isn’t it?” said Shirayuki.

  “Yeah.”

  The two of us walked along the path to the ocean amidst the sound of fireworks we couldn't yet see. Once we reached the end of this trail, we came out on an artificial beach that had a splendid view.

>   “... It really is pretty.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Kin-chan ... um ... is this boring for you at all?”

  I shook my head in response to her round eyes that looked at me apprehensively.

  “It’s not boring.”

  “Um, I ... don’t really talk to guys that often, so I don’t know what kind of topics they would be interested in talking about. ... Sorry.”

  “It’s nothing to worry about. And stop being so quick to apologize about everything. It’s a bad habit of yours.”

  “S-Sorry.”

  “That’s what I’m talking about.”

  “Ah ... Sor ...”

  Shirayuki’s reflexive apologies were so comical, I let out a small laugh. She cast her eyes downward, but finding it funny herself, smiled cheerily. As before, there was nothing to talk about in particular, but the mood was quite different from what it was when we left the apartment. We continued down the path, and as was her usual habit, Shirayuki tilted her head downward and sounded very happy as she whispered in a small voice.

  “It’s like a dream ...”

  We made our way out onto to the artificial beach. As I expected, no one was to be seen. It was in every way an artificial beach, but sea bathing, fishing, and even barbequing was prohibited, so there were no people around. I thought that this would be an excellent, little-known place to watch Walt Land’s fireworks, but... “... It looks like it’s over,” I said.

  Cloud-like smoke from the fireworks was all that could be seen in the sky above the coast of Tokyo Bay where Walt Land was situated. I brought her all the way out here, and the end result was awkward to say the least.

  “... Sorry. It’s my fault for being late.”

  “N-No, it’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have been walking so slowly.

  Shirayuki was using her own unique logic again, which prevented me from doing any wrong ... but her eyes had a tint of sadness to them.

  “And ... while we were walking, I had the chance to reminisce about the past, so I’m satisfied. Just hearing the fireworks was enough. I was able to imagine what they were like.” Shirayuki smiled resolutely as if she were trying to console me.

  “About ... the past?”

  “You know. The fireworks festival in Aomori.”

  “Oh. Right. I took you to see it ... and we got in trouble afterwards.”

  I think I must have been five years old. I practically forced her to leave the shrine and come with me. Now that she mentioned it, fireworks brought about the opportunity for us to go somewhere that time as well. Was I subconsciously trying to do the same thing?

  “... You ... showed me the world outside Hotogi shrine back then too,” said Shirauki, making crunching noises on the sand beneath her feet as she turned towards the ocean.

  The sandy beach wasn’t easy to walk on, but her posture remained as beautiful as always. Her dressed-up black hair swayed modestly in the night wind.

  “I still remember those fireworks. That’s good enough for me. To be honest ... I was looking forward to seeing them today as well ... just a little. But it doesn’t matter if there were fireworks or not. I would have been happy going to a moonlit ocean or even being at home,” said Shirayuki, turning around so that the starry sky was now behind her, “since you would be there with me ...”

  Her smile was that of someone who truly cared about me from the bottom of her heart.

  Shirayuki ... I ... A guy like me ... can’t become a butei. I can’t even be a normal high school student. I’m a mediocre good-for-nothing. I’m the kind of guy who after being late, laughed as I played around with you like a remote controlled toy, and in the end, couldn’t even show you a single firework. Yet you don't utter a word of complaint. Far from getting angry, you forgive me with the most genuine smile. Why are you so kind? If this is how things are going to be ... I’m the one who won’t be able to stop myself from taking action.

  “Shirayuki.”

  “Yes?”

  I said her name somewhat as if I were calling for her, and Shirayuki merrily came up to me.

  “Are you cold? It’s cold, isn’t it? You are cold, aren’t you? Alright then, put this on and wait here for a second.” I took off my jacket at placed it around Shirayuki’s shoulders without letting her protest.

  “Kin-chan? You’re not cold, Kin-chan?”

  “I plan on getting warmed up so it’s not a problem. I’m gonna make a quick dash. I’ll be right back.”

  Shirayuki wasn’t sure what was going on, but I ran off to the station before she could say anything. In truth, it wasn’t a good idea for a bodyguard to leave the person he’s guarding all alone in such a wide-open area, but there weren’t any enemies around. It would be fine.

  As I thought, this was a safe place. Running back to where I left Shirayuki, I found her sitting on a bench a short distance from the beach. She was still wearing my jacket and waiting patiently.

  “Shirayuki. Sorry for the wait,” I called out to her, but there was no reply. She was clinging onto the sleeves of my jacket, so I tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention.

  “Hey.”

  Shirayuki turned around in surprise. There was a tinge of fear in her onyx-like black eyes.

  ... What gives?

  “What’s wrong? Were you scared on your own?

  “N-No. It’s nothing. I’m okay. I had this ... so I was fine.” Shirayuki held up the sleeve of my jacket as if she were trying to gloss over the issue. “This jacket has your scent ... so it was like you were with me.”

  I smiled bitterly.

  “It’s my jacket, so it should. It doesn't reek of gunpowder?

  “No. It had a nice smell.”

  “Weird one, aren’t you. Anyways, here,” I said, presenting Shirayuki with the toy fireworks I barely managed to buy before the kiosk closed.

  “...?”

  “We’re gonna enjoy some fireworks. They’ll only be about one-thousandth of the usual size though.”

  Pop. Pop.

  Crouching on the beach, the two of us watched the flying sparks given off by miniature fireworks. Given that I was dealing with Shirayuki, I thought this Japanese style of enjoying toy fireworks would be a good idea, but ...

  This is a bit too bland, I guess. I can’t say I really feel the excitement.

  Still, Shiruyuki looked genuinely happy as she stared at the fire that resembled miniature thunderbolts. Shrouded in the semidarkness, I could see the blinking light of the fire being reflected in her slightly drooping, gentle eyes with their long eyelashes. Looking at her like this, I couldn’t help but be reminded of what a beautiful girl she is.

  “Kin-chan.”

  “Hm? What is it?”

  “The fireworks are pretty, aren’t they?”

  “... Yeah.”

  Pop. Pop.

  “Kin-chan, do you ... like fire?”

  Fire? That’s a pretty vague question.

  “This sort of thing is alright. Really huge flames are scary though. That’s how human instincts work.”

  “Y ... yeah, that’s true. Ah ...”

  The tiny ball of fire fell off the firework that Shirayuki was holding. She looked up at me with a wry smile, and when our eyes met, my finger twitched, which was probably why the fireball fell off of mine as well. Nearby, I could hear the waves lapping against the artificial beach.

  “... Looks like it's over,” said Shirayuki.

  “There was one more, wasn’t there? You can hold it,” I said, pulling out the one-hundred yen lighter that I purchased at the store I bought the fireworks. Shirayuki embraced the bag with the remaining firework to her chest and shook her head from side to side.

  “That’s okay. I want to keep this one.”

  “What for?”

  “This is something you got for me. I want to take it home. It would be a pity to burn it up.”

  “What are you gonna do with that thing? Fireworks are meant to be lit on fire.”

  “But ...”

  �
��You’re supposed to keep these sort of things eternally stored in your memories.” I came up with something that I thought might sound convincing, and Shirayuki nodded after a brief pause. She then carefully took out the last firework, and I flicked up a small flame to light it.

  Pop. Pop.

  The light from the toy firework illuminated her skin in way that made it seems as if it were flickering on and off. ... Hey ... come on now ...

  I just saw it from the opening of her yukata. Shirayuki. I don’t know why, but she was wearing black again. If I recall, it was one of the undergarments grouped into the “battle” section of that drawer. N ... Now that I think about it, Muto had mentioned something a long time ago about Japanese style clothing being the easiest type of clothing in the world to take off a person. Ah ... stop that, Kinji. Don’t start getting any unnecessary ideas. What are you gonna do if it causes you to go into hysteria mode? Think of something else and calm down. Start counting prime numbers in your head. Two, three, five ... “Kin-chan ... thank you. Really. I think I’m going to be too happy to even fall asleep tonight,” said Shirayuki, fixated on the firework in her hand.

  I lifted my head.

  That’s right. Conversation. I was forgetting one of the simplest methods. Why am I sitting here counting prime numbers? I can get my mind off her black lacy bra by concentrating on a conversation.

  “You won’t be able to sleep? Come on. You’re exaggerating. All we did was ride a train and walk around a park on a night that’s as black ... uh ...” That poor choice of words caused me to trail off before I could even finish my first statement, and Shirayuki tilted her head in puzzlement.

  “Black?”

  “Ah, it’s nothing. Dark. It’s pretty dark. And then we just lit a few fireworks. It’s not that big of a deal.”

  “... But you know ... it was really special to me. It was like a miracle.”

  Pop. Pop.

  The sparks from the firework had already started to die down.

  “You’ve always been a person who delivers me miracles. Even on that day of the entrance examinations, you saved me from those awful people ...”