Chapter 2: The Witch-Hunter Moves Along With the Flames. Part 4

He was feeling terrible.

Their initial goal was to seek the gaps in the building, the secret rooms. The nearest secret room was on the fifth floor of the South Block building so they began to climb stairs.

Why do I feel like shit? Kamijou wondered as he climbed the narrow emergency staircase. Initially, he believed it was because of the knight and then because the staircase was narrow and dark.

However, there was a physical reason additional to the psychological.

"My legs…" Kamijou looked down at his legs that were showing unnatural fatigue.

The "front" and "back" of the coin meant that magicians who knew of the "back" could not interfere with the citizens of the "front". These were the rules of the game that Stiyl had outlined.

But, the entire building was a part of the "front". The result of this part of the game meant that stepping on the floor would recoil against the foot. To analogize, it was the difference between punching flesh and punching concrete. As they walked on a "ridiculously hard floor", the fatigue accumulated 2-3 times faster.

"We… can only… pray… that the… enemy is in… the same situation…" Stiyl seemed irate that they were fatigued so quickly. Though his build was rather large, it seemed that he had not done much physical training and was unaccustomed to strenuous physical activity.

"Che… if I had known, we should have taken the elevator."

"We're on the 'back of the coin', how can we press a button on the 'front of the coin?' If you can do it, teach me."

"..."

"Even if we did enter the lift, if students on the front used it, we'd be crushed if a lot of them walked in."

The individuals on the "back" could not interfere with those on the "front".

For example, if a car from the "back" collided into a person from the "front", the car would have been wrecked while the human would escape unscathed.

If the lift were crammed with people, they would be like raw eggs in a fully occupied train: crushed. …Ugh, this is just getting more and more depressing.

Kamijou lowered his head dejectedly. He was already tired and with the dark and murky thoughts swimming in his mind, he began to want to give up.

Think happy thoughts. Hurry up and think of something happy… Kamijou's heart was in urgent need of rest.

"Oh yeah, where're phones?"

"What?"

"You discussed the 'fronts' and 'backs' of the coin right? Will phones work?" Kamijou asked as he took out his phone. He said the words himself and realized they were excuses. Because too many abnormal things occurred around him, he had to do something "normal" or he felt he may have gone crazy.

As for whom to call, Kamijou needed not a moment to consider: his room. Meaning, he would call the girl who was waiting in his room. As he was about to call, he considered something. "…Wait. Wouldn't the enemy detect the signal and attack us?"

"Who knows? But, our existence might already be discovered. We did enter from the front door."

"Then why weren't we attacked?"

"God knows. Maybe it's because they're so overconfident or maybe because they intend to destroy us in one go. That alchemist is that kind of person. Right now, he's probably preparing all sorts of ways to counterattack."

"…" Really? Why in the world does your God exist? However, since their whereabouts were likely exposed, there was no need to dilly dally. Kamijou decided to brazenly make the call.

Three rings.

So it won't work…?

Six rings.

…Looks like I'll have to give up.

Nine rings.

HURRY UP AND PICK UP! Despite his impatience, Kamijou did not want to hang up. During his wait, he had another thought. What if this doesn't have to do with the coin stuff? What if Index doesn't want to pick up? Or… what if it isn't that she won't but she can't?

Don't tell me… Something happened to Index?

Ind—!?

As a mysterious chill rose up in Kamijou's stomach, he was met with a voice, Index's extremely nervous voice to be exact. "Erm. Hello! This is Index Libror—excuse me, I'm sorry. This is Kamijou speaking. Hello? Hello?"

"Oi. Tell me…" Kamijou lethargically asked as if he had just trialed the wrong method of dieting. "…is this is first time you've answered a phone call?"

"Uweeh!? Th-This voice is Touma's. Eh? Do all voices sound the same in phones?"

He then heard the sound of knocking. It was likely a puzzled Index with a tilted head, knocking the receiver against the floor.

"INDEX! STOP HITTING THE MACHINE WHEN YOU THINK IT'S BROKEN! THAT'S WHAT A GRANNY WOULD DO TO FIX SOMETHING!"

"…That's weird. The only person who'd say such stupid things is Touma."

OI!!! Kamijou retorted silently.

It was expected considering it was her first time responding to a phone call (though it seemed she had seen others answer before, judging from her initial "hello"). Apparently she paced frantically in front of the phone but as it continued to ring she was forced to answer.

The "magic" expert who commanded the knowledge of 103,000 grimoires apparently understood nothing of science, a fact that amused Kamijou. However, Kamijou remembered something from his knowledge base that said that Index lacked most of her memories save but a year's worth.

Considering that such a comical deficiency was caused by memory loss was actually quite heartbreaking.

"Niyai? Touma? Why did you deliberately use such a troublesome, exaggerated, excessive and unfriendly thing like a phone? Did something serious happen?"

"Ah… nothing…"

It seemed to Index telephones were an abnormal existence. "Ah. Is it because one of the two lasagnas in the refrigerator was for Touma!?"

"You ate it? …Oh well—"

"Ah!" Before Kamijou could continued, Index exclaimed. "Ah! There was pudding in the refrigerator…!"

"YOU ATE IT!?! THAT WAS MY PUDDING!!!"

"But there was only one!"

"CAN'T YOU THINK ABOUT THE MASTER OF THE HOUSEHOLD!? IT WAS BLACK HONEY PUDDING! ONE OF THEM COSTS 700 YEN!!!" Kamijou grieved. "…Ugh… O-Oh well. Never mind. I went off on a tangent. Since the call connected, never mind."

"…? Touma were you looking for me or something?"

"Argh. I'm just testing if I can reach you. I'm hanging up."

"??"

Right about now, Index is probably tilting her head in confusion, right? Kamijou thought and continued. "Ah. Oh yeah. Did you know, Index? For every minute you use a phone, your lifespan is shorted by a day?"

WAAHHH! The phone line cut off. It seemed the receiver was dropped onto the floor.

"…Such a simple-minded person." He spoke to himself, having taken his pudding-induced revenge, and hung up the phone.

"…" However, it seemed the magician wished to say something.

"Wh-What?"

"Nothing." Stiyl sighed. "It's just that I think you're too relaxed. This's a battlefield and yet you're nonchalantly chatting away with a girl. I don't really care if you die because of carelessness. In fact, I'd be dancing in joy, but, please don't drag me down."

"Are you jealous?"

"Ku… Ugh…" Stiyl silently seemed like he would burst 60% of his blood vessels. Kamijou began to understand how to handle the person before him.

"…Yeah, that's right." Stiyl's words induced surprising shock for Kamijou, though he knew not why he was so affected. "…Don't be mistaken. I'm not considering that child a target of romance."

Without looking at Kamijou's face, Stiyl continued. "You should know that up until now, the child had her memories erased in one year intervals or die. Then, you can understand how many people were once in your position."

"…"

"Many have wanted to be her father, some, her older brother, others her good friend, and some even her teacher." Stiyl elaborated. "It's like that, just that simple. I failed in the past and you succeeded. This's the only difference between you and me."

Stiyl stared at Kamijou's face and looked like he was facing an impossible future. "However, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't care." He said with a sigh. "Besides, she didn't really abandon me, just forgot. If she recovered her memories, she'd coming running at me to hug me."

Kamijou had no response. If there was a person, a really important person, that lost her memory… and unknowingly, someone just stepped in and accompanied her, how would I feel? Could I remain calm? Kamijou mused to himself. No, this isn't just a problem of someone else being beside her.

Would he not have felt betrayed by this important girl? However, the man before him still believed in himself, still following through with his belief.

So strong.

Kamijou looked back at his phone and considered the meaningless five minute conversation. A person had actually given up everything he had in order to protect the person important to him, knowing there was no going back.

Such were people's hearts. These hearts were crushed under the current Kamijou's feet. What right did he of the moment have to keep the girl for himself?

…I don't know.

If it were her only wish to maintain the status quo, Kamijou would have protected it until the end. However, Index had "merely forgotten." How could a girl who was unaware of the other possibilities be expected to make a decision?

I don't know. But, if Kamijou Touma really saved Index…

Yes, if it were the case, he had to take up the burden of protecting her. It was like enthusiastically giving a cat food but not taking it home, despite knowing it would die of hunger. Instead of giving the cat the hope that "this person might keep me," it would have been better to give it despair from the beginning.

However…

The one who saved her wasn't the current "me".

His thoughts came full circle.

Who Index needs is the Kamijou Touma of before.