Encore 12 — Divine Church (I)

[Remember, Kazuya. I will always love you. No matter who you are.]

What's this?

I saw a hazy image. I could barely make it out. A woman, embracing me. She looked injured. Blood seeped from the corners of her mouth.

She smiled, contently.

[Do not forget who you are because... I will always... love you.]

...

I awoke, suddenly. My whole body was hot. I seemed to be sweating in my sleep.

"Ouch!"

The earring seemed to clasp my ear tighter. It didn't make sense how, but I didn't question it.

"Maybe this is why people say that you shouldn't sleep with earrings on."

However, it was strange. I mean, I always slept with this earring on. This dream I had was foreign to me. The dream I would always remember was that hollow void one.

The phone, beside my bed, buzzed.

I picked it up.

"Oh, it's Ms Kin,"

I answered.

"Hello?"

[Do you have any idea what time it is?!]

She shouted into the phone, as usual. It was always like this whenever we went on missions too but, on comms instead.

"Nah."

[Don't answer so casually! It's 9:01 am! My lesson started without you!]

"Huh?"

I checked the time; it was 9:01 am.

I rushed out of bed and went to the closet to get my clothes.

"Dammit! Why didn't senpai wake me up?!"

"Nn... Sonoko..."

I paused, slowly turning behind me.

Maden-senpai was sound asleep on the floor. This guy... He didn't wake up for school either.

You know, just because he didn't wake me up, I'll leave him like that.

·———·

After attending Ms Kin's lesson, I had a detention for the break. After break, I attended my next class, which was Magic Divination led by Mr Hondou.

"Divination."

Since this was a lesson before a big test in two weeks, Mr Hondou decided to have a revision lesson.

"What exactly is Magic Divination?"

He asked.

A girl raised her hand.

The girl next to me.

When I looked at her, she reminded me of Aphrodite slightly. She's one of the two rumoured transfer students. Her first name was Ameri, I don't know what her second name was though...

"Yes, Goldengate."

Ameri Goldengate. Pronouncing her second name in Japanese must be hard. Luckily my sister, who travels around the world, taught me a few languages.

English, Korean, Spanish, German and Chinese.

Let's just say that my sister is a real worker.

"Magic Divination is the art of seeing one's future using the divine lifeforce, mana, as a catalyst."

Mr Hondou smiled.

"Then, can anyone tell me how it differs from ordinary divination?"

This time, a boy raised their hand.

It was the other transfer student. I'm surprised to see them both in my class.

"Yes, Kurokawa."

The girls near me began whispering. I could understand why.

He was handsome.

His eyes were narrow, yet somehow sultry. His face was neatly shaped and his mouth never seemed to form a smile. His hair was black and slightly messy, exactly what the girls liked.

"Magic Divination tells one of their future while Divination tells of events around the individual."

His voice was fairly deep, yet soothing. It felt weird to describe it that way since I'm a guy.

"Hm?"

"Correct. Now, when it comes to normal Divination..."

Kurokawa's narrow eyes moved and laid themselves on me. I saw a faint smile form as the corner of his mouth turned upward.

That's kind of creepy. This may seem rude but he should never smile in his life. It's unsettling seeing him smile.

"This lesson's boring, isn't it?"

I turned to the foreign girl beside me. She had her hand on her cheek, clearly bored.

She's pretty...

I couldn't help but think. I'm somewhat more attracted to her than to the Goddess of Love and Fertility.

"So, what's your name?"

She asked.

"I'm Kazuya Shiba."

"Kazuya then. I'm Ameri, hope we can be friends."

"Likewise."

We smiled at each other.

"Shiba!"

I shivered at being called by Mr Hondou.

"Who discovered Magic Divination and in what year?"

Teachers do this to me all the time and fail. I feel bad for having to embarrass you, Mr Hondou.

"Magic Divination was discovered in Germany, in 1986. The one who discovered it was Gërnac Kaiser."

Mr Hondou gritted his teeth but relaxed.

Yes, he was clearly annoyed at the fact that I got it correct.

He carried on teaching.

"Smart, aren't you?"

"I'm just going to school for the Magi experience. All the knowledge has been drilled into my brain by my family."

Mainly my overbearing sister.

"Eh... Sounds like me."

She said.

"For me, my parents forced me to be the representative of the Goldengate family, which is well-known in the west. I don't want to be the puppet my parents shape me into."

A puppet born for her parents' use. I wonder how she feels. I'm not so insensitive that I would ask.

"Wait, why are you telling me this? A boy you just met in class? This seems to be sensitive information."

"Well, I just feel that you would be someone who would listen. Like a friend."

Ameri said, glancing at me.

"That's a creepy feeling."

I told her.

"Hey, don't underestimate the senses of those from the west."

She smiled.

For the whole lesson, I had an interesting conversation with Ameri Goldengate. Mr Hondou attempted to scold us lots of times but we outsmarted him when it counted.

When the lesson ended...

"I see you're friends with that witch."

Isla commented from behind.

"Huh? Witch?"

"Isla's not exactly fond of Ameri-san."

Yuichi said.

"She tried to be my girlfriend all of a sudden."

That's... weird.

·———·

After school, Isla, Yuichi and I decided to go out and hang out with each other. It had been a while since we hung out as a group.

We chilled in a cafe near Interblade.

"When will we get another mission?"

Isla asked.

I didn't say anything since she seemed to be asking the team leader, Yuichi.

Instead, I looked behind, secretively.

They think they're hidden...

"Don't know. Ms Kin hasn't said anything."

He said casually.

Yuichi sighed.

"It sure is boring without missions."

"But the missions you choose are usually unbelievable."

I said.

"Still. I'd rather be fighting monsters by now."

"If so, then why don't you hear us out?"

Two women approached us. One was a black-haired girl with an eye patch and the other was a rather emotionless girl with dull violet hair. They wore something of a mix of a battle uniform and a nun's outfit.

They were preachers of the Divine Church. That much was obvious.

"Who are you two?"

Isla asked, slightly hostile.

"Don't worry, I'm only here to talk to Yuichi Asame."

She said with a gentle smile.

"About what?"

I asked.

The woman seemed to scoff.

"About joining the Divine Church."