Encore 18 — The Prophecy (II)

"I can't believe a kid like this convinced you, Master."

Yuichi and I sat on a sofa in between two other sofas.

"Can you block Yusaka's sudden attack, Gunma?"

The man shut his mouth at Morisa-san's retort.

He wore the same grey military uniform as her. He had short red hair and vermilion eyes. On his hips were daggers connected by a silver chain.

Sitting beside him were a woman and a man.

The man looked especially quiet, staring at me with similar sultry eyes to Kurokawa.

His hair was navy blue and his eyes were the same colour. He looked considerably older than the others. The man had a spear on the wall beside him.

Then, the woman furthest from us was glaring at me. She looked to be in her early 20s. Her hair was tied up into a ponytail. It was light brown, along with her eyes.

Judging from the pistols on her waist, she's also a gunslinger. Ah, a gunslinger is a general name for someone who fights with two pistols like me.

"So, what's your name, boy and what's your relationship with Isla?"

I felt slightly uncomfortable that she mentioned Isla all of a sudden.

"I'm Kazuya Shiba and I'm her friend."

"Bullshit, boys aren't girl's friends without ulterior motives."

Morisa-san seemed suspicious. She narrowed her eyes at me as if to ascertain my true intentions.

Honestly, I've never had any sexual desires toward any girl. Especially not Isla.

"I don't know what you think but, as you can see, I'm ugly. I have no chances with any girl. Not that I have anyone I like."

I muttered that last part to myself.

"Shiba."

The navy-haired man said.

"Hm?"

"Shiba. I've heard that name before."

"What is it, Aran? Spit it out."

The man, Aran, spoke.

"Tetsuya Shiba, the Steel Magi and Siesta Shiba. You're related to them, are you not?"

Aran asked me.

He's the first one to make the connections between me and my dad and sister. I see no reason to lie.

"Yes."

"Don't joke like that!"

The woman shouted. For some reason, she was glaring at me.

"Siesta Shiba is our commanding officer!"

She yelled at me.

She then aimed her pistols at me.

"I'll fucking kill you for lying like that!"

"Rika! Stop!"

Morisa-san shouted; the girl stopped.

"Commander Siesta did speak of a younger brother. The name fits yet the description doesn't."

"Why?"

Isla seemed curious. I've never told any of them about my family.

"Her little brother is supposedly cute and obedient. You seem nothing like that."

Gunma said.

"Well, blame my sister training me to the—."

I stopped and my heart skipped a beat.

Gunma was holding my pocket watch. The pocket watch was originally my mother's.

"What an old watch. I should buy you a new one."

I snapped.

In a silent fit of rage, I drew Dawn and aimed it at his forehead. At the same time, Yusaka and Aran had their blades against my neck but I didn't care.

I aimed Dusk at Rika, who stood still when she saw my barrel.

I didn't care who I killed right now. As long as I got my mother's pocket watch back.

"Give it back."

Gunma was slightly shaken, but I didn't care.

"I'll count to three."

"Kazuya!"

Yuichi shouted, running toward me.

"Get near me and I'll shoot him in the head."

He faltered.

"You're quite bold."

I ignored Morisa-san.

"Three."

"All of this bullshit for a pocket watch?! Fucking hell! I might as well break it."

He was testing my patience.

"Two."

Gunma raised his arm. In that instant, I shot his arm and then his left shoulder, snatching the pocket watch from his hand.

I then ducked, causing their blades to clash. I hit Aran with Dawn in the head and I kicked Yusaka back into her seat.

I placed my pocket watch back into my blazer pocket. Relieved, I sighed.

The two with blades were ready to attack me but...

"Stop!"

Morisa-san shouted.

They froze.

"But, Master!"

"You... You are her younger brother, meaning that your mother must be... Reiko Hinamachi."

I stared at her without saying a single thing.

"Reiko Hinamachi? Isn't that..."

"The Magia that disappeared alongside Alpha."

Isla and Yuichi were surprised. I didn't tell them. I didn't tell them anything about myself.

My mother was Reiko Hinamachi. The reason I don't share the same surname as her is that she wanted to hide my existence alongside my older sister. Or so, my sister says.

Yuichi and Isla also don't know about the fact that I lost 8 years of memories.

Ultimately, I don't have a strong memory or connection with my mother but I just naturally love her and dread her dying, even though I've never seen her face.

I've only seen her in news articles.

Morisa-san smiled when she saw Yuichi and Isla's reactions.

"You didn't tell them."

I stayed silent.

I'm not a good person like those two. I could lie without changing a single facial expression if I wanted to.

"Something's telling me that you're hiding something else."

"Everyone has a secret or two."

"Not like the big secrets you're keeping. Didn't you know, secrets aren't meant to be kept?"

She answered with a disturbingly positive smile.

"Look, if you tell me your secret, then I will let you off. Not even you, the Commander's little brother, can get off with attacking my officer without consequence."

She looked over at Gunma, who was grunting in pain, being attended to by that Rika woman.

It's a pain in the ass but it's not like I've been trying to hide it. I mean, I told Principal Chigiri.

I sighed and shot a menacing glare at the smirking Morisa-san.

Twisted adults.

"I only have 8 years of memories. I have no recollection of what happened before the Ethereal Impact."

I said.

Everyone's faces seemed to open wider, especially the ones of my friends. Even Morisa-san's mouth seemed to gape open wide.

Surprised faces are only satisfying to see in novels, however, in real life, they feel like piercing knives...