Encore 22 — False Existence (I)

A month passed and it was now June.

My team has taken more missions than usual due to Isla's departure next month. There was also the fact of that prophecy that Morisa-san told us about.

Yuichi told me that we should tell the principal but I refused. If the prophecy was guaranteed to be correct, then they would have evacuated everyone on Interblade by now.

"So, would care to tell us about your life?"

Isla asked me, sitting next to Yuichi.

After the last mission, the issue of my past was brought up and Isla wanted to know more about me before going to the Secret Force.

They remembered what I said in the karaoke room and wanted more information about me.

It is fair since they've told me things about their life. Even if we are in the school cafeteria, this feels like an interrogation...

"What do you want to know about?"

"Don't ask that question so that you wouldn't tell us anything."

She growled.

Wow, vicious.

Yuichi looked slightly nervous, peering at her from beside her.

She's gotten used to my personality, unlike Yuichi, who still considers me his best friend. Naïve guy. But that's a part of his charm.

"Just tell us things you can remember."

The first thing I remember was my mother's voice. She told me something but that wouldn't matter to them.

"Well, I remember waking up in—"

"Not the details, just an overview."

She said.

I nodded.

"I woke up after the Ethereal Impact. My dad and sister took me in and they nursed me like I was a child. Since my sister was on leave for a few years, she took it upon herself to teach me. She was able to teach so fast that I was able to attend middle school."

"What a heartwarming sister. I regret being an only child."

Yuichi said.

"So, that's where you got your rotten personality from, huh?"

Isla mocked me.

"You seem to be happy today. Did something good happen?"

I asked, clenching my teeth in irritation.

"I don't know, I'll ask you that."

Why is she being even more irritating today? She's getting on my nerves when I begin explaining my tragic past.

There's something wrong with Isla today.

"Isla."

"What?!"

She screamed at Yuichi, who shrank back at her sudden outburst.

"Oh, ah, sorry, Yuichi. I'm just a bit..."

I knew it. Something is troubling her. The fact that she's shy in front of Yuichi means that...

"Isla, let me guess what's troubling you."

They both looked at me.

"First, it's either the fact that your mother, Morisa-san, said that you can't be with Yuichi anymore. Or, you're going to the Secret Force slightly earlier. For example, next week."

Isla widened her eyes and chuckled at my words.

"Though you have a nasty personality, you're smart, as always."

"Which one?"

Yuichi asked, worried.

"The second one. You're right. I'm going at the end of this week."

My heart dropped but not as much as Yuichi's. Sparks of electricity trickled from his hand as he struck the table.

I felt goosebumps on my arms as my hands stood up. Luckily, this was after school so, basically, no one was here to see this.

Yuichi was a gentle person. He was kind, innocent, strong and good-looking, the type of boy that many girls loved.

However, when angered, he became the scariest boy alive.

The reason he was pissed was because, next week, he was going on a brilliant last date with Isla. I don't know what it is, but that's how he phrased it.

"Well, time for you to calm down the beast, Isla."

"How can you not be mad too, Kazuya?"

Yuichi asked me with a tense expression.

"Isla's being taken away against her will. Didn't you say that we shouldn't tell the principal because it may not occur?"

Saying the wrong thing will just anger him.

"There's nothing we can do about it."

The wrong thing to say.

Yuichi slammed the table. His arms were cloaked with white lightning.

"If you can protect Isla better than Morisa-san then go ahead. There's no telling what would happen if you try to intervene with the Secret Force."

I threatened him. He picked up on my intention and scoffed.

"What will you do?"

He asked me.

We glared at each other before we were pushed apart by Isla.

"Stop fighting! Yuichi, you can't go getting mad at Kazuya for no reason."

The lightning around him settled and he calmed down.

"But..."

"I'm leaving,"

I said.

Honestly, I wasn't angry at Yuichi. I just didn't want to cause any more conflict between the two.

"W-wait, Kazuya, where are you going?"

"I'm going to that cafe. Seems like I don't belong."

"W-wait!"

Isla attempted to stop me but I left.

·———·

"You have to stop getting angry at Kazuya! You're driving him away like things are his fault! Remember the last time this happened, if we hadn't arrived in time, he would've died!"

Yuichi pouted as Isla scolded him.

"I did it again, didn't I?"

"You did it again! Now, we'll revise an apology for Kazuya and then go to the cafe and apologise. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes, ma'am..."

"Let's go now!"

"N-now?!"

"Of course!"

And they ran out of the cafeteria, chasing after Kazuya.

·———·

"Hello, Kazuya Shiba."

I stopped, as I walked toward the cafe. I took the usual path and a shortcut through an alleyway and was stopped.

I was stopped by a girl. She appeared to be a gothic lolita. Her dress was black and pink. She had rose-tousled hair and a wide smile on her face. Her eyes were large and yellow.

Though she looked slightly different, I recognised her. I didn't have my guns, Dawn and Dusk, with me and my Spatial Composer was still being repaired by Reina.

The girl smiled when she saw me react as I did.

"Who are you?"

I feigned ignorance.

"Oh, you really don't know me. I'm sad..."

The girl said mockingly.

How do I escape? It's an alleyway. I doubt I could escape by running as well. I can't attack because I don't have Dawn or Dusk.

The real question is... why is she after me?

"How do you know my name?"

"How could I not know your name? I've been looking for you."

"Well, at least introduce yourself."

An escape route... an escape route... an escape route...

She curtsied and wryly smiled.

"I am Ylna Remington. Nice to meet you, or should I say, goodbye?"