Hundred - Volume 4

– We made it to be in time for the end, somehow…

When Hayato and Emile who changed to their uniforms from their Variable Suits returned to the stadium, the last song of the encore was about to spell the end.

Because he wanted to see all of the big moments of his little sister properly with his eyes, not everything went bad for him, even though he was just in time for that like this.

The song ends, Karen receives the cheers and applause on her whole body at the center of the stage, that reflection was shining many times.

It seems that tears are flowing, it might be because he’s too emotional.

– Karen…

Recalling the days when she was continuously doing rehabilitation in desperation, tears were spilt from the eyes of Hayato.

– Hayato looks like a father.

Emile slipped out a smile.

– It’s inevitable…. It was unexpected to see the condition of Karen could look like this so quickly.

– It’s a relief, Hayato.

Saying so, Emile held out a handkerchief then Hayato nodded and said「Yeah」with a nasal voice, wiping the tears.

While the satisfied spectators were leaving from the stadium one after another, Hayato and Emile were heading to the dressing room of the basement.

– Good job, you two.

– Nii-san!

When Hayato opens the door of the dressing room and speaks to them, Karen who was still in her Variable Suit, jumps towards his chest.

– Hey hey, what are you doing all of a sudden? Today’s heroine.

– Ni-san, what is today’s heroine…?

– You are the heroine.

Hayato stroked the hair of Karen.

– I saw you properly. You were singing at your best.

– … is that so?

– Yeah, you were cute and cool.

– Ehehe, I’m very happy if Nii-san says so.

In Hayato’s arms, Karen shows an extraordinary smile.

– Come to think of it, Nii-san, are you alright? It seems you don’t have injuries, which is great, but…

– Yeah, it’s as you can see. I have no injuries.

– It’s true, what a relief.

Looking at Hayato’s body, Karen let out a relieved breath.

– It’s thanks to your songs. I don’t know what could have happened without your songs.

Saying that, Hayato points his eyes to Sakura.

– It’s thanks to Sakura too. Hmm, it was your idea too? As one would expect. You really saved us.

– Ehehe, I feel embarrassed when you tell me so… But, I’m glad. Our songs reached Hayato-kun and everyone satisfactorily.

– Your songs and your feelings.

When Hayato says so, Sakura and Karen smile happily then show a V sign to each other.

Their appearances, as if they were real sisters, were reflected in the eyes of Hayato.

※※※

– I have to go and meet with the president for a bit, so what are you going to do?

Hayato and Emile left the dressing room as soon as Sakura and Karen started changing clothes, they were walking in the corridor.

– Charo called me, so I’ll go to the lab.

Emile answers the question of Hayato.

– The laboratory? Something happened?

– It just that I used the ability of the Variant too much in this fight. My injuries aren’t fully healed yet, and because I’m in a sort of unstable state, I’ll have to enter for 10 minutes or so the device to stabilize the Variant Virus. Hayato always ends like this, don’t you?

*Ahaha*, Emile laughs.

– Which reminds me, I still haven’t heard of what happened the moment the singing voices of Karen and Sakura were ongoing. What happened there? What was that power? Why the wounds of Hayato healed?

Emile throws questions one after another.

– Well, I’ll talk about that with the president now. I don’t know how much I can tell Emile, so I’ll ask her if it’s fine to say something.

Both Hayato and Emile left the stadium and moved to the school building of the Martial Arts Department.

The basement corridor is in a miserable condition.

Big holes are in some places, and a number of small holes were made by bullets.

Although repairs have already begun, it seems that there are places where electricity isn’t restored. AT the intersection of the basement floor, Emile stops her feet.

– I’ll go this way, so I’ll depart here. Well then, let’s meet again in a moment. You haven’t forgotten about the late night festival, right?

– Of course not. It begins in 30 minutes, yes? So, there’s an hour till the fireworks, so there’s no problem. Once I have finished with the errand, I’ll mail you to meet somewhere, okay?

– Yeah, got it.

Hayato who parted from Emile on her way to the lab, stood alone in front of the Student Council Room.

*Knock* *Knock*, knocking the door, he raises his voice.

– It’s Kisaragi Hayato.

– The door is unlocked masuwa. You can enter desuwayo.

Listening to the reply of Claire, Hayato stepped inside the Student Council Room.

Erika isn’t there. Liddy isn’t there either.

Claire is alone in the spacious Student Council Room.

It’s as they promised.

The conversation from now on is one that can only be done by those two.

That’s why he told her that he wanted to talk with her alone.

– Good work, Kisaragi Hayato.

It’s Claire who opened her mouth first.

And at the same time, a sound resonates with a clink on his back.

It seems that Claire has locked the door using a remote control.

– Likewise. And thank you for taking the time specially in a hectic time like this.

– It’s not a problem masenwa. You have something important to talk about, correct? So, what is it about desu?

– Well, there’s that and…

Hayato began to talk about after defeating the replicant on the top glass.

The former hunters.

And, the noise generated immediately after he joined with Krovahn, Nesat and Nakri, the three artificial Variants.

As a result, the three artificial Variants ran wildly.

About how they were caught in a dilemma because the control of the energybecame unstable due to the headache.

However, due to the songs of Sakura and Karen, the effect of the noise ceased.

The problem comes after that.

– The little sister of President——Liza, appeared before my eyes.

– What did you say…!?

– I know that it doesn’t mean she was the real Liza, but…

Anyhow, her body was transparent.

It was like a mass of energy.

– And then, Liza lent me her power. Thanks to that, my wounds healed and I was able to stop the attacks of Nesat who armed copying the corpse of the replicantthen attempted to persuade her, I made her disarm herself.

– Such a thing happened…. At that time, did Liza say something?

– That I’m the one ought to ornament this last fight, or something like that…

When Hayato answers, Claire slipped out a smile.

– You are truly liked by Liza desuwane.

– … ah…

At that time, he remembered when had kissed him.

– DId something else happen mashitano?

– N-no, not at all…

It would be better to not say that she gave her power with a kiss.

… probably.

– Anyway, it is my responsibility for letting the three artificial Variants to sortie arimasu. I caused trouble to you again mashitawane, Kisaragi Hayato.

– No, that’s…. Besides, I promised to be the strength of the president. Umm, come to think of it, what about those three?

– Eh, yes…. Charlotte seems to be protecting them desuwa. It looks there’s nothing wrong regarding their lives, for now desu. We will think about measures to prevent rampages from now on desu.

– Is that so…?

Hayato feels relieved.

– You are really kind desuwane.

– Eh…?

– Well, it’s just… thank you very much for conveying the information that Liza has appeared masu. This might be a sign of a real awakening masenwa.

– It was for only a moment, but Liza was completely awakened.

– ——Onii-sama!?

Opening the door all of a sudden, the person who set foot into the president’s office was Judal Harvey, the older brother of Claire.

– And then, she protected my life. Oh, speaking of which, I still haven’t told Claire. The terrorist Vitaly Tynyanov was after the core of Little Garden to have the key to control Warslan from now on. And so, our little sister——Liza Harvey.

– …

Claire responds nothing.

Because she was pondering that such wasn’t the truth from the behavior of Judal.

– After I came out from the briefing room, I headed to Liza and it was there where I met with Vitaly. Thereupon, Liza opened her eyes. And she stopped the bullets that Vitaly had fired with a barrier. Then, using energy, she created clones of herself and surrounded Vitaly. Looking at that gap, I did this to Vitaly.

Judal makes a gun with his fingers and says 「BANG!」

While glaring at Judal with half-opened eyes, Claire asks in a low voice.

– … Onii-sama…

– Why are you making such a scary face? It spoils your beauty.

– But it was said that Vitaly Tynyanov suicided deshitawayone.

– Yeah, which reminds me, I was about to mention so. In the official report document, my life was being targeted by Vitaly to whom I conversely drove to a corner, and because she was cornered, she suicided. So, there’s nothing wrong with it. And the matter of Liza won’t be public.

– …

Claire kept looking down, holding her temper.

However, those are unavoidable measures to not make Liza public.

– In any case, the damages of Little Garden were minimal. We were able to get rid of Vitaly as planned, it’s such a great thing for us that the obstacles to Project Lunaltia were reduced by one, don’t you agree?

– … as planned, you say? You’re saying that you guessed that Vitaly was going to come by herself and was after Liza desuno?

– To put it correctly, Liza and me, isn’t it?

– Judal! You——!?

Claire flared up at the collar of Judal.

– Depending on the situation, it was even possible that casualties would have appeared among the visitors and residents of Little Garden desuwayo. But even so, Onii-sama is saying that you used us as decoys!?

– If that’s the case, then what about it? If you feel satisfied by hitting me, then it’s fine to hit me.

There’s no agitation.

Coldly saying that, Judal glares back at Claire.

– … kuh….!

She thought that it was useless to keep complaining more than this.

Claire took off her hands from Judal.

*Phew….*, Judal sighs and opens his mouth while straightening himself.

– Claire, I’ll just let you know this. Now that Liza is trying to wake up, I thought that I could deal with Vitaly. That was the best option with less victims, and its probability of success was high. I also thought that it would be for the sake of the future of mankind. However, I didn’t consider using you as decoys. Besides, if it’s you, then it’s a trusting plan where we can minimize sacrifices.

There, the door of the presidents’ office makes a *knock* *knock*.

– … who is it desuno?

It’s Claire who asked.

– It’s Emile Crossford. It seems that Hayato is still here but, is it still going to take time?

– No, the conversation is over, Emile-kun.

It’s Judal who said so.

When he unlocks the door and opens it, he was able to see the figure of the surprised Emile.

– Onii-sama, doing what you please is…

– It’s fine, you know? The conversation is truly over. After all, the late-night festival starts soon. Abd the discussion of the restoration plan will be informed afterwards as well, isn’t that correct?

– That’s, correct, but…

– Well then, I will take my leave first.

Judal leaves the Student Council Room.

– Hayato, what where you talking about with the prez and the company president? Is it okay to explain to me what happened to Hayato during the battle?

– That’s, well…

– Kisaragi Hayato.

– Ah, yes.

Claire approached the side of Hayato and said at his ear in a tiny voice so that she wasn’t heard by Emile, calling his attention.

– Your awakening comes from the songs of Kisaragi Karen and Kirishima Sakura. That’s our common point of view. Are we clear desuwane?

Looks like she grasped that Emile was getting aware of something.

Saying so, Claire casted down her eyes.

– The talk is over with this desuwa.

– Alright. Then can we go and see the fireworks already?

Saying that, Emile takes the arm of Hayato.

Claire narrowed her eyes.

– … fireworks desuno?

– We promised to see the fireworks at the late-night festival together. With that said, let’s go, Hayato.

– Wa-wait a moment!

Claire says on the back of Hayato who’s about to leave the Student Council Room while being pulled by Emile.

– Why? Is there still something?

– Ah, no, err…

Claire rolls unintelligibly words in her mouth.

The words that finally came out are,

– … nothing in particular masenwayo.

※※※

– Where are we going?

Hayato who left the Student Council Room was walking along the side of the completely silent stadium, leaving behind the school building of the Martial Arts Department that is about to get excited with the late-night festival in a shape as if he let himself be persuaded by Emile.

– IT’s a private beach for Slayers. The students of Martial Arts Department, residents and visitors are all around the school where the late-night festival is being held now, so I imagined that that place was empty.

– I see.

– The fireworks seem to come from nearby uninhabited beaches. We should be able to see them from that beach.

They immediately arrived at that beach.

And certainly was Emile was saying, there’s no one.

Unlike the school building which is rising with great noise, here it’s completely silent.

– Let’s seat.

– Yeah.

They sit down side-by-side on the completely silent beach.

*Wave* *wave*… the roar of the waves is heard.

There are countless starts spread almost all over the sky.

– Ah, you… what are you doing?

When he noticed, Emile started untying the ribbon with what she did a ponytail.

– Now I’m not Emile Crossford, I’m Emilia Hermit… no, I want to be close with Hayato as Emilia Gudenburg.

– But, this is Little Garden, isn’t it? Isn’t dangerous here as well?

– It’s fine. There’s no one around us.

– That may be true, but.

– Ehehe…

Emilia who unlaced the ribbon brings her body even more closer.

– It’s been half a year since you came here already.

– … that’s right.

– And really, a lot of things happened.

– Yeah…

The enrolment in Little Garden.

The intensive training with Emile aka Emilia to fight with the president.

He joined Selections and fought against the Savages for the first time.

He also did an escort mission and participated in a joint operation.

And of course, it’s not only him.

Fritz and Latia.

Shuemei, Alphonse and Noah.

Sakura, the president and the vice presidents.

He made a lot of friends and Karen got quite healthy as well.

– There’s no doubt that these have been the most dense six months in my life.

Hayato muttered while thinking back upon this half year.

– Me too. It was very dense. I was able to see Hayato again in this way.

While saying that, Emilia piles up her hands.

– …

– …

Silence visited again.

Hayato looks at the face of Emile from the side.

She was showing an expression that she was thinking hard over something, that she was pondering about something.

Recently, he was frequently looking a look of Emile like this….

– Why are you fixedly looking at my face?

– Well, I thought that you were putting that face recently. Is there something you are thinking about?

– After all, you noticed, huh.

Laughing with a *ahaha*, Emile continued.

– Sorry. I was lying to Hayato.

– Lying? What are you saying?

– In fact, I caused trouble all the time. The day when Kilfelthar came to Little Garden. That day, he told me that my father’s health was quite bad. For that reason, he wants me to come back to my country. He said the king… that my father wanted to see me.

– Then you were wavering because of that?

– The people of government of Gudenburg hates me, but my father gave me my freedom. There are no bad feelings towards my father. If he says he wants to see me, then I’d like to see him, but there’s also the matter of the engagement, so if he remained as he was, then I’ll definitely wouldn’t have thought about going back. But, Kilfelthar was saying that I can go with Hayato.

– You’re saying that you want to go home with me? If so, then I don’t mind. You went with me to Yamato before. So, of course we should talk about this matter to the president and get some holidays. You’ll never know when you’ll have to part with your father or mother, so she must do it if it’s a serious matter.

– That’s not what I meant.

– …eh?

– I wasn’t talking about holidays. Kilfelthar told me to leave Little Garden and return to Gudenburg right now.

– Eh…

– Kilfelthar told me that Little Garden is in even more danger. That’s also the consensus of the government of Gudenburg. If it’s now Hayato, then you know what it means?

– Well, I guess…

Of course he grasps that it means the joint operation and the elapsed attack of this time.

Although some people regard them as heroes, it doesn’t mean they are loved around the world. There are many people who bear a grudge against them.

– So, I was worrying about it. If I can spend safe days in happiness with Hayato when I’ll return to Gudenburg.

– …

– Even the health of Karen-chan became quite better and the institution of Yamato had finished rebuilding as well, so it seemed that everyone is happy. Hayato doesn’t need to be here anymore, isn’t that right?

– But it’s precisely because I’m studying in Little Garden and became a mercenary of Warslan that I covered the costs of the reconstruction of the institution and the surgery costs of Karen, so as one would expect I…

– I think that the part of the repayment is more than enough, so Hayato doesn’t have to work anymore. Besides, in case Warslan says that they want the total amount of the money they have invested so far, then I’m sure Gudenburg will pay it.

For an ordinary person that might be a large amount of money, but if it’s a whole country, then that amount of money it’s not a big deal, perhaps.

In order to bring back Emilia to Gudenburg, it’s what he can understand from the conversation so far in a sort of way.

(But…)

The first that floated in the head of Hayato was the face of the Student Council President of Little Garden, Claire Harvey. And her older brother, Judal Harvey, the company president of Warslan Company, to whom he doesn’t know what to think about and he doesn’t know if it’s fine to believe in him.

But, the president is——

Hayato thinks that the Queen of Little Garden, Claire Harvey, is a person he trusts.

(Besides, there’s the promise after all…)

Of course that is, to be of help to the president.

There are many friends he made at this place as well.

Moreover, there’s Liza…

– I’m sorry, Emilia.

– Eh…?

– I can’t accept that invitation now.

– I see…

Emilia smiled sweetly and,

– It’s because of a promise with the president?

– Eh…?

– Bull’s-eye? You’re picking the president over me?

*TN: Who wouldn’t?

She raises her eyebrows.

– No, it’s nothing like that.

– Then what does it mean?

– Well, that’s…. I came to Little Garden for various reasons, such as for the sake of Karen and for the companions of the institution with whom I lived together in Yamato, but now I feel like I want to fight as a member of Selections. It’s my first time feeling like this. I feel that I have found something that I want to do, as a goal for me.

– The thing that Hayato want to do?

– Don’t you have something like that too?

– What I want to do…?

– Yeah, do you have something?

– If I can stay with Hayato, that’s fine by me. Really, that’s all there is to it.

– … I see.

– Yup.

– If so, then…

– What?

– Then don’t you want to stay here in Little Garden——and hangout with me for a while? Of course, I’ll go with you temporarily to Gudenburg.

– Got it. If Hayato says so.

– Really?

– But, promise me something.

– A promise?

– Don’t die. Never. Don’t be unreasonable.

That was the heaviest thing as of now, a supplication from the bottom of her heart.

– … got it. I promise.

– If so, then I’ll stay with you.

– Sorry.

– Don’t apologize. It’s like it’s my loss when I fell in love with Hayato at that point in time.

*Boom*!

When they looked up at the night sky in response to a sound of a gunpowder that exploded, red blooming where drawn there.

Apparently, it seems that the launch of fireworks began.

– Wow, it’s beautiful…

Emilia murmured whole watching at the yellow, green and other blooming drawn in the night sky one after another.

– Say, is are these the same as the rumored ones of Yamato?

Hayato nodded, recalling the fireworks of Yamato in his memory.

– So, are you satisfied?

– Yup. Because I was able to see them with Hayato, the two of us, in this way.

Blooming are being drawn in the night sky without stopping.

– Hey, Hayato.

*Grabs*

Emilia pulled the sleeve of his uniform.

– What is it, even though the fireworks are fine at this place…

– It’s fine, look at me for a minute.

– Got it… eh——

Replying, the instant when Hayato looked at the direction of Emilia.

Emilia blocked his lips with her lips.

– *Kiss*…. Fuaah… chu… *smooch*…

Tongues and saliva get tangled together, it’s a long kiss.

– … *kiss*, chu…. *smack*, nfuu…

They’ve been kissing for almost a minute now.

Even when their lips separated, a saliva thread was tying the two of them.

– W-what are you doing so suddenly!? Neither of us are under the influence of the Variant Virus, and our vital and energy are not having issues either——

– It has nothing to do with that.

– It has nothing to do with that….?

– It’s totally unrelated to that. I wanted to kiss Hayato. So I just did it.

There’s no reason.

She wanted to kiss him.

And so, she did.

That’s a kiss.

It’s a kiss between a girlfriend and a boyfriend.

– You haven’t kissed anyone like this till now, right?

– That’s, right but…

Emilia’s the only one he did it like this.

If it’s about the president, it was merely to deliver his power.

Of course, there’s Liza as well.

– Hayato, one more time…

Then again, Emilia closed the lips of Hayato.

Without stopping, the explosive sounds continue echoing.

In the sky, huge red, blue, yellow, green and orange blooming were drawn.

– Sorry….

Saying so almost at the same time their long kiss finished, Emilia continues.

– But, please forgive my selfishness. Because I will control myself from now on. And as Hayato said earlier, I’ll search for my goal. But, now, one more time…

Emilia kisses Hayato, pushing him down.

It’s not only once.

Short kisses. Long kisses.

They move their necks and lips many, many times over.

Hayato hugged Emilia with both arms.

What sounded there was the voice of Sakura.

– AAAAA, you guys! W-what are you doing, kissing and being entangled like that!?

– Eh…

Emilia hardens.

– No way…?

Hayato doubted his eyes.

When the two of them raised up their bodies all together, not only Sakura was pointing with her index finger of her right hand towards Hayato and Emilia who are on the sandy beach but also the wheelchaired Karen, Fritz, Latia——even Claudia was there.

– I knew that she was with Kisaragi Hayato and I had to get in the way, but I never imagined that she was going to be in her female figure and kissing over and over again!! I misjudged you, Emilia-sama!

Like Sakura, Claudia shouts, pointing her index finger towards Emilia.

Looking at that figure, Latia cocks her head in puzzlement.

– … what exactly do you mean with Emilia-sama? Moreover, he’s hugging Hayato. Is Emile in reality a woman? Ugh, this is incomprehensible! I see, this is a dream!

– In order to ascertain that this is a dream, should I pinch your cheek?

Fritz pulled the cheek of the confused Latia.

– Gey, thaz hurtz!

Latia quickly shakes off the hand of Fritz.

– But I understand well that this isn’t a dream or anything. However, there’s something that I don’t understand yet. Don’t tell me that Emile has some kind of female clothing hobby? And so, a homosexual?

– No, it’s not like that.

Fritz makes a wry smile.

– But naturally, this is confusing…

Fritz smiles wryly again, turning his eyes towards Karen who is shaking on the wheelchair.

– Eh, eh…? Then Emile-san, is Emilia-san, a girl? Then Nii-san was kissing with a——? I was worried that he was batting for the same team, but between a man and a woman? Eh? Au…

Karen can’t understand the reality and her thought isn’t catching up with it, it seems that her brain overheated.

– Now that it has become to this, it can’t be helped. I was caught red handed so.

– You were caught? No way, you are…

– I was thinking that it was reaching its limit, so it can’t be helped. I was already found by the guys of Gudenburg so there’s no need to hide it.

As Emilia scratches the back of her head with a hand looking troubled, she faced everyone except Hayato with an embarrassed-like look on her face.

– To tell the truth, I was lying to everyone. As you can see, I’m actually a woman… And also, I’m the third princes of Gudenburg.

*Boom*, during the biggest 4 shaku* sphere fireworks of today that bursts open in the night sky making the sound of an explosion, what were greater than that were the loud surprised voices that resounded at the sandy beach.

*TN: Shaku 尺 is a unit of distance approximately equal to 30.3 cm.