A Brother's Trail
Hayato glanced up cautiously at Roque after receiving no response to his greeting for a long moment.
"...Did this one do something wrong, perhaps?"
"No."
Hayato's face clearly showed his confusion at Roque's curt reply. He stood there awkwardly, neither bowing nor straightening up, fumbling like a broken machine.
"W-well, Senior. If it's not to your liking, there's no need for you to drive this one. I've heard there are private taxis in Midland, though they're expensive. Of course, I'm glad to see you again after so long, but..."
"Can't drive?"
Even with Roque cutting in mid-sentence, Hayato nodded without a hint of offense.
"This one began training at a very young age, so there was no time to learn. And even after completing that training recently, there was no chance to spare."
"So you forged your Aura Blade and flew straight here. Why?"
Hayato didn't answer. He clamped his mouth shut as if refusing to lie, offering only a troubled smile. With Roque silent too, nothing but quiet hung between them.
Then Elizabeth poked her head out from behind Roque. Her eyes met Hayato's, who had been smiling awkwardly.
She spoke first.
"Hi. I'm Elizabeth."
"Oh. Hello, Elizabeth. This one is Dana Hayato."
Elizabeth looked up at him with her dark eyes and said bluntly,
"Call me Lije, Hayato. You look nice. Can I call you Hayato?"
Hayato hesitated at the expressionless girl's bold words but soon nodded.
"This one isn't all that virtuous... but if you'd like, by all means."
Hayato smiled softly at her, then turned his gaze back to Roque.
"It seems the Elder back home took pity on this one and arranged this."
"Elder?"
Hayato nodded.
"This one said he could find his own way, but he insisted out of worry and assigned a guide anyway. He even found a mercenary familiar with Midland's layout, so this one reluctantly agreed. But I never imagined it would be you, Senior Roque..."
Roque pieced together the situation.
Unless someone lived like a half-feral hermit deep in the mountains, Aura Masters who emerged into the world followed one of two paths: becoming a megacorp's dog or a bodyguard for government elites. Many promising trainees received backing from one side or the other from the start.
Ninety-eight out of a hundred such trainees became worthless investments that couldn't even repay the principal, but one or two might actually become true Aura Masters.
Becoming an Aura Master was rare to begin with, and even fewer aspired to it. Training purely with one's body—no implants—for a lifetime of martial arts was no easy feat in this era. Finding those willing to reenter society afterward, and willing to accept sponsorship, meant slim pickings and sky-high costs.
But their protection matched the price. Their superhuman senses surpassed electronic limits, their Aura Blades sliced anything, and sweeping one wide created an impenetrable wall. Fire extinguishers couldn't kill them unless in open fields; in tight buildings or urban fights, they excelled at massacres.
Above all, their efficiency shone. One Aura Master equaled billions in surveillance gear and dozens of special forces in protection, with far superior mobility and range.
Most Aura Masters, focused solely on martial arts until manifesting their blade, were naive about the world—and once loyal, no bribe could sway them. They made ideal watchdogs. Their anachronistic vibe drew scorn as relics, yet it appealed to the nostalgia of the powerful.
Hayato had such a wealthy, influential sponsor. Unwilling to let his backup bodyguard wander Midland aimlessly, the Elder had found a local guide.
That request had crossed from Japan to Philip in Midland, then to Roque.
"Why not just ask that Elder for a chauffeur too?"
Hayato shook his head at Roque's words.
"This one's visit to Midland is a deeply personal matter. I can't trouble the Elder with it."
Roque wondered if keeping distance wouldn't worry the Elder more, but he didn't pry. They had their own bonds and understandings. He had no desire to meddle clumsily.
He simply sensed that traveling with Hayato would lead him to that cyborg ninja from last night.
Sorting his thoughts, Roque jerked his chin toward the side street where his Black Knight waited.
"Let's go."
"Is that really all right? I can call a taxi..."
Roque walked to the car without repeating himself. Elizabeth trailed close behind.
Moments later, Hayato saw Roque at the wheel and Elizabeth peeking from the back seat through the open passenger door.
Elizabeth called to the hesitating man.
"Hayato, you coming?"
"...Yes."
Hayato climbed into the Black Knight with awkward movements. The engine growled to life, and as they pulled onto the road, he gazed around the interior with wonder. Between the seats sat a vehicle terminal screen, control panel, and radio. In front of Roque's wheel glowed a dashboard with yellow numerals.
With doors only for driver and passenger, the back seat looked cramped—but perfect for Elizabeth.
Then Roque spoke.
"Address."
"...Pardon?"
Roque repeated himself, eyes fixed ahead despite Hayato's dazed reply.
"Where to?"
"Ah."
Hayato fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a crumpled scrap of paper. He read the address aloud.
"East Babylon, 5th Street, 1333."
"East Babylon?"
"...You know it?"
Roque snorted and wrenched the wheel hard.
"Your contact lives in a real shithole."
"Hm, this one knows little of Midland. Why is it rough?"
"East Babylon's where East Asian immigrants cluster. Big area, even bigger population. Mostly humans—feels like humans only."
"And that's a problem?"
"Immigrants from China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam jammed together in a city full of trigger-happy assholes. Guess what happens. They shoot up the place nonstop."
Hayato paled, but Roque kept going.
"Worse, the Chinese, Japanese, Korean gangs hate each other like enemies. When shit hits, it's not just gunfire—bombs go off. North Street's the top crime spot, but East Babylon's the biggest powder keg."
Hayato's expression turned grave as he glanced back.
"...Is it safe to bring your daughter there?"
"Not my daughter."
"Oh? She looks just like you. I thought so from the start."
Roque accelerated in silence. Hayato shut up, sensing his slip.
Then Elizabeth piped up from the back.
"You're nice, Hayato."
"Uh, really?"
"Yeah."
Roque ignored their odd exchange and floored it.
Following Hayato's directions led to a street lined with apartments decades old. Plenty of people bustled outside—mostly East Asian humans like him.
Hayato said to wait in the car, but Roque, not here just to drive, shoved his back instead. Elizabeth naturally followed.
They rode a rickety elevator and navigated dingy halls to a door. Hayato rang the bell.
"..."
Ding-dong. No sound from inside. Hayato rang again, face stiffening, but still nothing.
Roque, arms crossed against the wall, pointed it out.
"Nobody home. Right place?"
"...Hm. Need to open it. Check inside."
Roque shrugged—do what you want. Hayato glanced down the empty hall, gripped the knob with his right hand.
Roque spoke up.
"Gonna smash it?"
"...This one's no good at picking locks."
"Move your hand."
Hayato stepped back. Roque extended his left toward the knob, pausing just short, then flicked his palm lightly.
Click. The door creaked open. Hayato's eyes widened.
"Incredible technique! This one didn't even see what you did."
Of course not. No trick—it was pure telekinesis from Roque's will unlocking the mechanism. His power had grown finer since first manifesting.
"Inside."
"Hm."
Hayato nodded and entered without more questions. Roque followed. Elizabeth, last in line, watched Roque's back with faintly glowing eyes.
The apartment was dark. Curtains blocked all light, making it gloomy. A musty bachelor stench lingered. Elizabeth pinched her nose entering last.
Roque flipped the living room switch. Lights flickered twice, then blazed.
"Hm..."
Chaos reigned. Dried instant food scraps everywhere, tangled clothes dusted and rolling, piled magazines and papers. Used syringes lay abandoned on the table.
All old traces. At least months, maybe much longer, since anyone lived here.
Roque scanned it all.
"Looks empty now."
"Ugh... Troubling. This is the only address I have..."
Roque eyed the sighing Hayato.
"Tell me who you're looking for."
Hayato shut his mouth again but soon relented—hard to navigate alone.
"The one this one seeks... is my brother."
"Brother?"
"Yes. My brother. My younger brother."
Roque perched on a sofa back.
"Why look for him here?"
"Well..."
Hayato sighed deeply, face gloomy.
"It's not much of a story... This one and my brother trained together to become Aura Masters since childhood. I showed promise; he didn't. Disappointed, he left."
He rubbed his eyes.
"I was deep in training, no time to care. Even the family hid his news, calling it a distraction. When I returned after forging my Aura Blade, all I found were a few old letters..."
"So you came yourself. Why hide it?"
Hayato met Roque's eyes with a bitter smile.
"The family sees my brother as a disgrace. They hate me seeking him—or it getting out. There's more between him, me, and the family. Shameful things, not to be shared lightly."
Roque nodded, sensing the cyborg ninja link but not voicing it. Better to investigate first.
Hayato ventured cautiously,
"So... where do we start looking for my brother...?"
Roque straightened.
"Landlord first. Might know if your brother was here, how long, where he went. Dig this dump more too."
"Ah, yes. Start there... Of course."
Hayato nodded vigorously, as if just realizing. Elizabeth bobbed hers beside him.
Then Roque and Hayato's faces hardened. Eyes met; they rushed the entrance. Roque scooped up the puzzled Elizabeth.
As they flanked the door, someone froze outside.
"Huh? Why's it...?"
The figure spun and bolted. Hayato exploded out, whipping something from his waist.
It flew, coiling the man's legs—a rope with weights at both ends. He crashed face-first.
"Ugh!"
Roque, hand on his revolver, saw the man still and glanced at Hayato.
Hayato grinned awkwardly at the look.
"Surely not attacking an innocent citizen?"
"Let's check."
Roque strode over, flipped him. Young human male, nose smashed, bloody. Barely more than a kid.
"Him?"
"No. My brother's not this dim-looking."
"Then why's he here at an empty apartment?"
Roque slapped the man's face. Smack. He groaned awake, mumbling.
Blinking confusedly at the two Aura Masters, his face drained white.
His trembling gaze fixed on Hayato.
"T-Tanaka? Y-you're... alive...?"
Hayato's face chilled at the blurted name.