Chapter 15
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 15. That's Not It, Actually...! (7)
Actually, Chaeyi wanted to get close too.
Because Soi was a good kid. Because no matter how coldly Chaeyi acted, she would quickly approach her again, and no matter how much she built up walls, she would lightly leap over them, take her to fun places, and let her eat delicious things.
However, apart from that Soi.
Lua.
She didn't resent Lua for not coming to find her again.
Because Chaeyi knew too. That there's no way a child can do whatever they want in this world.
Since Chaeyi hadn't even been able to see her mom after coming to the orphanage, she also knew she wouldn't be able to see Lua who had left the orphanage.
Because she knew that the reason Lua told her that was ultimately because she cared enough to make sure Chaeyi wouldn't cry.
So she wanted to get close again.
But.
"You mustn't associate with just anyone."
Chaeyi's 'guardian' said that.
"If you are a hero, you must also know how to filter the people you associate with. Even if you think you are close, eventually when you become adults, they are bound to start stating what they want. People will definitely want your power."
It was the words of her guardian, Blue Phosphor, who saw Chaeyi's talent and trained her strictly.
"You already couldn't keep up with your grades at your previous school anyway. You can't improve by just playing around pointlessly. Still, if you want to associate with someone, tell me. I will check whether they are a child it's okay to do that with or not."
So she hated it.
Because if she got close to anyone, they would have to pass that strict screening.
She hated anyone becoming the subject of that.
Even if she received permission that it was okay to get close—
"Excellent! It's a good thing we transferred to this school instead. Isn't it better to build connections like this rather than needlessly falling behind?"
—They end up being 'judged' like that. Because this was the reason she purposely transferred to a regular school and came here in the first place.
Even if Chaeyi truly became friends with those children, ultimately to Chaeyi's guardian, meaning her 'mom' Blue Phosphor, they just become a 'connection'.
If she were to get close, she just wanted to get close as a friend. Like the old Lua, a friend she just hung out with because they were close, without any particular benefit or anything.
Not getting close forcefully.
She didn't want to go to school. Because if she went to school, Lua would definitely come looking for her together with Soi.
And the closer they got, even if Chaeyi didn't want to, she would end up 'using' that relationship.
"No."
So, she ended up answering without realizing it.
Lua, who had smiled and reached out her hand, lost the strength in her hand with a slightly blank expression.
Chaeyi became depressed again.
As expected, she'd hate a kid like this, right. A kid who keeps saying she hates it when asked to get along.
After a brief silence, Lua opened her mouth.
"I hate it too."
The exact same words of denial.
Actually hearing the answer, it felt like her heart plummeted. Because the Lua Chaeyi knew never said things like that. Because Lua was someone who diligently stroked her hair and hugged her, saying it's okay, it's okay, no matter how much Chaeyi clung to her, no matter how much she whined.
"I'm going to be your friend."
But at the words that followed, Chaeyi snapped her head up.
"Huh?"
"I hate you saying no."
Lua said as if throwing a tantrum.
"So I'm going to be your friend."
Lua reached out her hand and forcefully pulled Chaeyi's hand.
Glaring at Chaeyi, who bewilderingly stood up from her seat, Lua said.
"Let's go."
"I don't want to..."
"Let's go to our house."
"Good!"
Soi shouted as she sprang up.
"But..."
Even when Chaeyi opened her mouth worriedly, Lua, who stubbornly kept her mouth firmly shut, only looked at Chaeyi with strict eyes.
Even though Lua was stuttering in front of Chaeyi just a little while ago.
"...Yeah."
Ultimately, Chaeyi nodded her head.
Lua pulled her by the hand, and just as Chaeyi was about to follow Lua—
"Th-That's nice."
Suddenly, a voice from behind.
A grating, somehow slightly scraping voice like that.
"C-Can I come along too, friends?"
Lua, who looked up behind Chaeyi, had her body go stiff.
Lua's face, which had been smiling just a moment ago, turned pale white, her eyes widened, and—
Yank.
Lua's hand was pulled. Chaeyi fell into Lua's arms, almost tumbling over. Lua grabbed that Chaeyi again and pushed her as she spoke.
"Go!"
"L-Lua?"
"Soi, take Soi and go! Hurry! Chaeyi, you've awakened too, right?"
Without even understanding the situation, Soi's hand was bewilderingly grabbed in her hand. Soi shouted something and tried to go toward Lua, but the two of them were simultaneously swept away. Far away, even though they didn't move their legs.
"Lua!"
Paying no mind to the sound of Chaeyi screaming.
"Protect Soi!"
Only that kind of answer returned.
I mean, it had been so peaceful up until now that I completely forgot, but this world is this kind of world.
A superhero story where superheroes wielding superpowers and supervillains fight.
Of course, among the villains, there are those who just use that power to commit robbery and things like that, but.
Among them, there are true thrill killers or rapists too. Because it was described quite clearly in the novel.
It's true I skimmed the novel roughly. Actually, even now I can hardly recall most of the plot developments.
However, as described in the story, there are places in the region with bad security.
No matter how hard heroes exert themselves, no matter how diligently police are deployed. They cannot stop all crimes that happen in a brief moment. Especially if the ones committing those crimes are also superhumans.
But it's strange. Even so, this suddenly?
There is no one who doesn't know that villains are dangerous. Because superhumans are going around committing crimes.
Relevant alarms go off in areas where villains operate. Until the villain is arrested, heroes go on special patrols, and massive amounts of police are deployed.
"Wh-What, you were a little hero."
A man? A woman? I don't really know. The voice is thick, but somewhat wheezy so there were slightly high parts too, and the hair is long. The face has too much grime and scars.
Right. Too many. As if someone had purposely slashed it with a knife.
"H-Hehe, k-kid. Actually, I have no interest in you."
"Why, because I'm not your type?"
"Y-Yeah. It's n-not my t-type. A-Actually, pipsqueaks aren't my type."
"Th-Then you can just go back."
My legs are trembling violently.
With an anxious mind, I swept the surroundings with telekinesis.
Please, just a pebble, even one.
"Hehe, th-that won't do. Because then it would be meaningless. She finally became alone, the opportunity has finally come."
Step. The villain taking a step toward me.
I also backed away hesitantly.
"Th-That, kid, hid strangely well. As e-expected, it's Blue Phosphor. I guess she's raising her own brat as a hero too..."
Was she being chased?
No, that's probably not it. Rather, Chaeyi must have tried hard not to look weird in front of other people while coming all the way here. Since she said she hid when she saw police or adults...
Cold sweat breaks out.
Right. Because even if you want to commit a crime, you can't commit it in front of people.
Then, why? Why of all things.
"Revenge."
As if sensing the curiosity on my face, the villain said.
"Blue Phosphor, that, that, that, fucking bitch."
Ah.
"I-It was just a robbery. That fucking bitch. Made m-me, me, look like this."
Looking at it now, one sleeve was hanging limply.
The face completely covered in scars.
...Chaeyi wasn't that dependent of a personality even when we first met at school. At least, she wasn't a kid who just blindly followed whatever others said as they wanted.
Even just a little while ago, she said the word 'no' so confidently in front of me.
What was the incident that made such a kid end up like that.
Where her self-esteem and such were completely shattered.
"..."
I got one.
Smack, a brick flew and shattered against the man's head.
Stagger. As my strength drained all at once, the strength left my legs slightly.
As I gathered my ability to catch the brick falling to the ground again.
"...!"
For a moment, my voice wouldn't come out.
"D-Don't interfere."
The man is grabbing my neck.
It's hard to breathe. As strength drained from my body, the brick I had barely picked up dropped with a thud.
Could I have used up all my strength earlier while hurriedly pushing Chaeyi away?
"H-How..."
"Heh, you're curious about my power?"
The man said while laughing.
He looks like he feels good. Is it because he can do what he so desired?
The man's face, disappears.
No, rather than disappearing, it blends in with the surrounding colors. Like an octopus. The shape of the face changes slightly.
Though it wasn't perfect because those scars protruded.
"Ugh, urk."
"Hey, Chaeyi!"
The man shouts.
"Y-Your, your friend, is dying!"
The man shouted loudly.
"If, if you don't come out, your friend—!"
"Who is dying?"
"Huh?"
Before the man could properly react to the newly interjected voice, Thwack.
A force much stronger than the brick I had swung struck the man's head.
The man, who skillfully caught me as I was falling to the ground,
"Oh my, are you okay?"
Looked at me stiffening even more in his arms and made an even angrier expression.
A hero.
Did someone report it perhaps.
"Lua!"
I can hear the sound of running from far away. Two voices calling my name overlap.
The man quickly set me down.
"Stay here with your friends. People will be here soon. This mister has to go catch the villain."
"Y-Yes."
Just as the mister said, the sound of a siren could be heard from far away.
In my ears as I lay carefully on the bench, I heard the tearful voices of Soi and Chaeyi.
Ah, I really wasn't of any help.
If I had just reported it, even if I hadn't stepped up...
With that, my fading consciousness.
"No, Lua! You can't die!"
Chaeyi shakes me, crying and wailing.
"I still have things I haven't said! I don't hate you! I don't hate you, it's not like that!"
A tearful voice shouts.
"That's not it, actually...! I wanted to, I wanted to become close with my own strength...!"
Ah, I see.
She didn't hate me.
I wasn't being hated.
What a relief.