Absolute Duo Vol 4 Chapter 1

The first Saturday after coming back from the seaside school has arrived.

Seasonally, the world would completely be in a summer mood but, that’s something unrelated to Kouryou academy.

With a minimum of one general subject lesson added in, Kouryou has taken in consideration the time for ability training-----battle arts, the summer break here takes the Bon festival as the main holiday and the break isn’t even one week.

With that said, even though it’s the last 2 weeks of July, it was the time where they should be heading back to school but-----

“Julie, Let’s get going”

While dozing off and sitting down, the silver girl opened her eyes when I called out to her.

“Ja-………..”

“Are you alright? It’s been hot every night recently, and it looks like you haven’t been sleeping much……”

“Nai. I am okay, please don’t mind me”

Even though Julie said that, the hot days will continue from now on, and there was a forecast that today was going to be a very hot day with a temperature crossing over 35 degrees.

(Uuun, it would be nice if there’s something I can do for her………..)

I probably can’t do anything with the heat but, I pondered on whether if there is something I can do when she goes to sleep, and when I was doing so-----

“Okay then, let’s go Tooru”

“Aah, okay”

Instead, I was the one getting urged and we left the room with Julie following me from behind.

Even though it was unneeded to say this, a strong sunshine was shining down when we got outside the dormitory.

“It looks like it’s going to be hot as predicted. It’s probably going to be tough but, let’s work hard, Julie”

“Ja--♪”

After the girl with Silver BlondeSilver hair nodded, the ribbon’s bell echoed and made a cooling sound.

In the familiar street to the school from the dorm----

There were students heading to the school in the surroundings and a lot of them were wearing dark expressions.

Even though it’s summer break--------that was not the reason.

They were wondering if they should continue attending Kouryou academy or not.

The day they got back to the main school from the seaside school, the chairman’s speech that took place during the school's emergency assembly was the cause for that worry.

Pretext—the attack that happened before was revenge from a criminal organization which has fought the Dawn organization’s public order last time. Just like what happened, this revenge to the academy was the first case that happened but, there was a possibility that the same thing might happen again in the future.

With that based on, she left the decision to everyone if they wanted to stay in Kouryou academy.

As a result, it left many students to ponder on the choice for their future.

That’s because, the attack not only caused property damage because of gunshots and explosions, but many were injured and-------the death count was in the double digits.

That reality was the main reason why many students were worried.

It’s only normal.

They were just normal middle school students living a normal peaceful life until they enrolled in Kouryou academy. A person’s life and death would only happen in the filter of the internet and television or maybe, in fictional categories like in games or Manga.

From the explanation we received before enrollment, there will be danger during training and lessons after enrollment as well as danger during missions when they get employed into the public order maintaining team after graduation.

However-----they noticed this reality when they saw someone close to them had their life taken away from them.

No, they were forced to notice this.

They were forced to notice that the path they are going to go through will not be one found in a normal world, but instead it will be the realm of abnormality.

That was why; this incident has become a big crossroad.

They can either return back to their normal world if they treasure their life, or they can make up their determination and will to advance through the world of abnormalities.

Conclusion-----

Until today, 12 first year students that encountered the attack have left the academy. Most likely from now on, more students will probably choose to quit too. From what I can see, half of the remaining students were pondering if they should continue or leave.

Maybe the upper level students have attended several somewhat dangerous missions in their training, there were less people that chose to quit. But even so, many of them were also pondering too.

Me----and the silver girl walking beside me, has chosen to continue on this road.

As long as both of us follow the path of the <

“…………It turned prettier huh, Tooru”

“Aah, that’s right”

We stared at the scars on the school in front of us that was caused from the previous attack.

Even though the enemy----who has the name <

[Good morning White Usa-sensei] [You’re tension is high today too, White Usa-sensei] [Well it’s White Usa-sensei]

Replies and talks could be heard in the classroom when Tsukimi greeted us.

The thing different from last time was that she was being called “White Usa”.

The reason for that was-----

“OooRah! Hurry up and sit down you brats!!”

[It’s Black Usa-sensei mode] [This is bad, it’s Black Usa-sensei; this is bad] [Black Usa-sensei, scold more……]

Having her identity questioned when her real-self was seen; she showed her snapped off appearance to everyone.

“The gold and silver fighting over a guy there. HR is going to start so, hurry up and end the Shuraba love triangle with the couple and mistress”

“It’s not a Shuraba or anything”

“Ja---“

“I agree with that but, I am curious on why I am called the mistress when you looked at me”

“Iyaaan, the Ojou-sama’s check sure is strict huh♪”

“Seriously, I always tell you that I am the legal wife”

“Nai, I refuse”

“Why must you be the one doing the refusal!?”

The sights of the 2 girls with silver and gold hair collided again.

I made a small sigh, and stood in the middle.

“Come on, let’s end it there. HR is going to start”

“……….Maa, it can’t be helped if Tooru says so. Okay then, see you later, Tooru”

Lilith winked at me before returning back to her seat.

“Okay then, now that I said that HR is going to start, its message time☆There is going to be a joint training with the 2nd year students today okay♪ Okay next; people that turned <

“Fuun, there’s no way I won’t notice. In the first place, judging by your attitude with her until now, there’s no way I won’t guess that something happened during seaside school”

Just as expected from him.

Judging by the recent state, I never would have thought that he would notice this.

Which means, I think this might be unlikely but, things might have turned complicated because of some reason……….

“I heard this from Tachibana during the afternoon but, Hotaka is going back to her home during summer break. Even though it’s short, it will probably be harder to mend things later on if you don’t meet her for about one week. That’s why, hurry up and do something about it before summer break starts”

“A-aah………Sorry, to make you worry about this……”

Whether it’s the last matter or the last attack, Tora has been helping out a lot.

“It’s not like I am worried about you, it just feels annoying……….and, that isn’t the only thing I want to talk about”

“Eh, there’s something else?”

I thought the problem with Miyabi was what he wanted to talk about so I tilted my head.

“It’s about going home. It’s not about Hotaka’s, it’s yours”

“Mine?”

Tora nodded and continued on with his original business.

“That woman said this during dinner time right, that you will be going back home”

“I plan on doing so but, what about it?”

“…………..Can I follow you when you go back?”

“Aah, let’s go back together. We are going to be together for half the trip anyway”

“No”

It was a quiet and yet strong tone.

When I thought Tora was different from usual, his face turned unusually serious and he looked a little stiff.

“I am asking if I can go to your house, Tooru”

My heart skipped a beat.

Tora has been to my house many times in the past.

But, it was when Otoha was still alive.

During a dojo exchange that occurs only a few times per year, we became friends since we were the same age and not long later, Tora started coming over to the dojo to learn and would often come over to my house.

However----That was also 2 years ago.

Tora does not know this.

He does not know that the house no longer has anyone living in it anymore.

“I-I plan to stay for one night only so, Tora head back to your----“

He doesn’t need to know.

I decided to reject his visit so that Tora can only recall back the memories of the warm Kokonoe house of the past.

“No, I am going. Let me go. Let me offer flowers to---Otoha too”

“-----!?”

I was so shocked from those unexpected words that I gasped.

That’s because ever since we reunited during the enrollment ceremony I never took on an attitude that would bring him to that conclusion.

“You……knew……….”

After a while, I managed to squeeze my voice out and Tora tilted his head vertically silently.

“……….I got contacted by the dojo”

“I see……..”

I missed out something simple.

Because he was with us for a long time, it’s only natural for this to be told to him.

“It seems the dojo encountered a fire disaster because of a tobacco misuse. I knew this and keep quiet about it so, sorry. This may be too late but, this was just sad. She took care of me before. So-----“

“………I get it. Since you know about this, I am counting on you then. Otoha will be happy”

Whenever Tora and I sparred, Otoha would be the one who treated our wounds.

I could clearly remember her giving it her all to assist us and I would probably never forget about it.

I would never forget the memories of me, Tora, Otoha, and----him; all 4 of us playing together.

“Sorry. Even though you know, this was something I should tell you…….”

“Fuun, don’t worry about it. Everyone has things they don’t want to say……….okay, our talk ends here. Let’s head back to the dorm”

Tora started walking in front and I followed behind.

Even though he has a foul mouth, I am grateful for him for being concerned about his friend.

However, Tora does not know.

2 years ago, the disaster that occurred in the dojo was not a fire but rather, it was a tragedy that occurred because he swung his deadly blade.

The only ones that knew of this was me, him and another person-----

That person was the one that saved me from that burning dojo.

But, that’s good.

Tora might be foul mouthed but he’s a good person, and if he finds out about that day's truth-------

If he found out that Otoha didn’t die from that fire and was killed, he would fly into a rage and become a captive to vengeance, just like me so……..

That’s why, Tora don’t have to know.

I am the only one who needs to take revenge against him.

Part 2

“Are you going to run now? It’s evening already”

“U-un. But I have been skipping these past few days so, I want to regain the lost time as much as possible so………”

“…………… I see, work hard then. However, gradually take it back without rushing yourself. It’s bad to suddenly force yourself. Also, you have to eat dinner once you finish running. To avoid getting heat stroke-----“

“Fufu, it’s okay so don’t worry so much, Tomoe-chan”

Miyabi giggled to her partner who warned her in details just like a mother.

Tomoe got relieved since Miyabi has been smiling apolitically ever since the seaside school.

After changing into clothes to move easier for running, Miyabi told Tomoe that she will be leaving and left the room.

But------

With the sun set and the surroundings dark, Miyabi left the dorm and looked around restlessly. Of course, there were no students walking around in the night and she exhaled when she confirmed that there was no one around.

(Eeeeeerrr………..I think I should take more distance)

Since there might be students coming back to the dorm, the girl ran towards the south side of the academy dorm which has no one around.

The conversation she had with the old man today resurfaced in her mind.

““Then, let me bestow upon you this-----The <