"Those scumbags from DEM... unforgivable..."
Crushing the Chupa Chups lollipop in her mouth, Kotori clenched her fists in anger.
"Kotori."
"I'm fine, I know... I know..."
Even if she got angry, it would be aningless. She knew this better than anyone. Kotori took a long, deep breath and gradually cald down.
"I understand the situation, Shido. Those guys from DEM, to actually think of using us to complete Nia's inversion. They're really looking down on us."
"But, this is also an opportunity for us."
Hearing Shido's words, Kotori froze for a mont, then a smile curved her lips.
"You're right! If they just kept Nia imprisoned, it would be extrely difficult for us to rescue her. Since they took the initiative to return Nia to us, naturally we have no reason to send her back." Kotori looked at Shido seriously and asked, "Shido, I've already heard your and Yutsuki-nee's plan from Reine. Do you have a chance of winning?"
"I will definitely make it succeed."
Shido answered firmly and decisively.
"Is that so... alright."
Kotori closed her eyes, thought deeply for a long ti, then let out a long sigh and nodded helplessly.
"Since you put it that way, I won't stop you. Everyone at Ratatoskr will support you. But, you absolutely must prioritize your own safety, understand?"
"Mhm, don't worry, Kotori."
"I can't worry at all..."
Looking uneasily at her unreliable brother, Kotori scratched her hair, wanting to say sothing, but finally chose to give up.
"Forget it, let's end this topic for now. Shido, how is Nia's condition right now?"
"I'm not exactly sure either... According to the text Yutsuki sent. It seems she looked fine when she woke up this morning, and she already took the train to the venue with Yutsuki."
"Does she know? About what DEM did to her."
"Mhm..."
Shido nodded silently.
"That girl..."
Kotori pursed her lips slightly.
Although they had now developed into competitors, Itsuka Kotori had no personal grudge against Honjou Nia, nor did she dislike her personality. Rather than the outco of this so-called manga competition, she was more worried about Honjou Nia's ntal state.
After all, being told that you are going to be slaughtered by the enemy like at on a chopping board, probably no one would feel more fear and unease than the person involved, Nia.
Honestly, even if Nia hid at ho and refused to go out, or broke the promise to compete with Kotori and the others, and fled this city to escape DEM's attack, it wouldn't be strange at all.
"Is Nia... okay?"
"Hoo~ Did you call ~ Ko-to-ri-chan?"
Patting Kotori's shoulder from behind, Nia blew a cold breath against Kotori's neck and asked in a gloomy tone.
From Shido's perspective, he could clearly see that after shuddering violently, Kotori's face turned a sickly pale green at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"—Ghost aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
After letting out a scream, Kotori hurriedly ran behind Shido, grabbing his sleeve and trembling.
"My~ Fully satisfied! Your reaction is really cute, Kotori-chan. Brocon little sisters are the best! Thanks for the al!"
"Nia, you..."
Looking at the satisfied Nia, Shido's forehead was covered in speechless black lines.
"Yo, we et again, bo—Oof!"
Just as Nia was about to greet Shido, a paper fan suddenly smacked her on the head, forcing her into a position like a chick pecking at rice.
"Ugh—That really hurts. Biri-chan."
Holding her head, squatting on the ground in a defensive posture, Nia complained to the person behind her in dissatisfaction.
"What? If you're allowed to pretend to be a ghost and scare Kotori-chan from behind, am I not allowed to greet your head with a paper fan?"
Yutsuki retorted in exasperation.
"Ugh..."
Nia was montarily left speechless.
"Honestly..."
Sighing helplessly, Yutsuki put the paper fan back into her backpack, conveniently took out a manga doujinshi and a marker, and handed them to Nia.
"Take this, write 'Thank you for your support,Ryougi Yutsuki-san' on the cover, along with your pen na, and then give it to ."
"...Having been a manga artist for so long, you're the first fan to ask for an autograph with such a condescending attitude, Biri-chan."
Nia felt the corner of her eye twitching continuously.
"By the way, isn't this the new release I'm selling at my stall today? The official opening is at ten, right? Biri-chan, this is..."
"Well, as a return favor for taking care of a certain drunk manga artist last night, I think this little privilege isn't too much to ask."
Yutsuki said with a matter-of-fact attitude.
"Ugh! Fine..."
Since she was in the wrong, although sowhat reluctantly, Nia obediently signed it.
"Here, thank you very much for your continued support—"
Nia handed over her autographed book, reading the line like a robot without any emotion.
"Mhm, it's a manga I really like. Please continue to do your best in the future."
Yutsuki took the autograph, nodded, and replied. Then, with a cold face, she extended a hand towards Nia.
"What?"
Nia asked in confusion.
"Please give nine thousand five hundred yen."
"Why do I have to pay you to sell my own new release?!"
Honjou Nia felt like she was going crazy. What is this? Did Biri-chan think she could do whatever she wanted just because she was a fan?
"Yesterday, who said they were treating at the food stall, and then got dead drunk?"
Her amber eyes staring silently at Nia, Yutsuki asked calmly.
"Uh."
Nia's body involuntarily stiffened.
"Who do you think paid that Yukichi (10,000 yen bill) last night? Your manga is five hundred yen a copy, is my math wrong?"
"..."
Seemingly recalling what she said yesterday, Nia looked away guiltily, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.
"U-Um—look, didn't I sign it for you? I'm a famous manga artist after all, my autograph should be enough to repay..."
"Are you planning to sell your autograph cheap for nine thousand five hundred yen?"
"...Alright. You win, Biri-chan."
Since Yutsuki had put it like that, if she hesitated, Honjou Nia would be disqualified as a manga artist. Nia took out her wallet dejectedly and obediently placed the money into Yutsuki's hand.
"Yutsuki. Isn't doing this a bit too harsh?"
Watching Nia, who had already started muttering things like "What the hell is wrong with this world" and began to doubt her life, Shido couldn't help but feel that Yutsuki's debt-collecting thod was a bit excessive.
"Is it? I actually think it has to be this way."
Looking back at Nia, Yutsuki sighed lightly and said softly to Shido.
"Shido, if one day you were suddenly diagnosed with terminal cancer by a doctor, and everyone around you suddenly looked at you with pity and sympathy, how would you feel?"
"This..."
Shido was speechless for a mont.
"Nia is... much stronger than you and I imagine... So, this is fine."
Patting Shido's shoulder, Yutsuki walked a few steps forward, then turned around and waved to the three of them.
"Sorry, Shido, Kotori-chan. Next, I'm going to battle for loot in various major areas, so I can't help out at your stall. You guys do your best in the competition with Nia."
After saying that, Yutsuki turned and left.
"She left."
"She left."
Kotori and Shido muttered in unison.
"Well, Biri-chan is the sa as always. No matter what happens, her rhythm won't be disrupted."
Seemingly having recovered from the blow, Nia remarked. Then she struck a very strange pose towards Shido and Kotori, laughing proudly.
"Haha—How about that, boy, Kotori-chan? The convention hasn't even started, and my manga has already been bought by a fan. If you dawdle any longer, the match will be over before it even begins."
"Nia... actually, we..."
Just as Kotori was about to say sothing, Shido suddenly grabbed her and silently shook his head.
(That's right. Just like Yutsuki said, what Nia needs right now isn't pity or sympathy.)
When the rabbit dies, the fox mourns. Seeing soone near death, the people around them feel sad, feel pity, feel sympathy. —This is natural, and at the sa ti, very easy.
But, for the person involved, what do these things amount to?
—Yes, that's right, you're going to die soon.
—You're no longer in the sa world as us.
—Sorry, this is all we can do.
These feelings undoubtedly only serve to emphasize to Honjou Nia that what awaits her is an incredibly cruel future.
What Shido and the others wanted to convey to Nia right now wasn't this.
"We will definitely win, Kotori!"
Hearing Shido's words, Kotori froze for a mont, but soon, she understood Shido's thoughts.
Stepping out from behind Shido, Kotori looked straight into Nia's eyes and declared firmly.
"Just you wait! Honjou Nia! Our work will definitely make you admit defeat wholeheartedly!"
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