“Himekawa is in the enemy’s captive!?”

Kizuna doubted his ear.

However, Reiri’s face was really serious and in no way was telling a joke.

“Himekawa was captured by enemy. Currently she is under the AU’s grasp and become a hostage.”

He didn’t understand the meaning of this.

“……Hostage, you say?”

Kizuna repeated that word dumbfoundedly.

Yuris.h.i.+a leaned her body forward, making her large breast shook.

“Wait a second, Commander? What kind of metaphor is that?”

“The meaning is exactly as you heard. Above Guam, Himekawa was being restrained on the enemy’s aircraft carrier.”

All members lost their word.

{Look at this.}

A floating window was opened, Kei’s text and a video was played there.

It was the aircraft carrier of AU.

Perhaps the picture was shot from air, the blur of the picture was considerable. It was quiet a far off image, but they could confirm about the one thousand meter cla.s.s aircraft carrier. The height of the aircraft carrier was supposed to be several dozen meters, but because the s.h.i.+p hull was long with wide width, it looked like a mere flat plank flying.

The camera was gradually approaching from overhead view. Following that, the image was becoming clearer.

“This picture was taken by the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft that was sent to patrol Guam.”

On the wide and flat deck, floating patterns and letters that seemed to be AU’s were emitting light. In the center of those radiances, Aldea who was wearing Zeel was sitting on a chair.

And then, in a slightly separate place, the category-Ultra Tri-Head was standing by. The large body leisurely lying down was like a living being with life.

――And then, there was one more person.

In front of Aldea, there was a figure floating on the air.

Red Heart Hybrid Gear.

There was no mistake, that was Himekawa Hayuru’s Neros.

At Himekawa’s left and right, below and above, front and back, X-shaped s.h.i.+elds were floating. Flat surfaces of light with those s.h.i.+elds as the center were making a regular hexahedron, Himekawa was locked inside it. Her figure floating in air as if drifting weightlessly was as though she was being restrained by invisible chains.

Above the video, Kei’s inputted text was streaming.

{Even though the unmanned aircraft approached until this close, those guys didn’t shot it down. Most likely their objective is to show us Himekawa’s figure.}

Looking at Himekawa that was restrained by a mysterious power, Yuris.h.i.+a knitted her eyebrows.

“I see……she really feels like a hostage.”

Reiri also nodded with a grim face.

“There is no approach at all from the AU side. We don’t understand what is those guys’ objective, but we can guess that their objective perhaps is to lure us.”

“But Nee-chan. Normally we will think so, but the opponent this time is the AU person you know?”

“Thinking about the precedent of first contact the other day, it’s only natural to think that they have extremely similar behavioral pattern and sense of values with us. And exactly as they aimed――”

Reiri looked over the members of Amaterasu.

“No matter what is the enemy planning, we have to go rescue Himekawa.”

He completely agreed with that.

Yuris.h.i.+a showed a daring smile.

“So we are going to dare to accept the enemy’s invitation you say? I don’t hate something like that.”

“Then, what should we do?”

Aine asked while her eyes were still staring at Aldea on the screen.

“First, I have something for Aine and Kizuna to do.”

“Me and Aine?”

Reiri raised the corner of her mouth.

“This time it’s our turn to surprise them.”

On the wide sprawling deck of the aircraft carrier, there was Aldea staying there alone.

The wind blowing on the sky was fluttering up her long hair.

Her purple eyes were s.h.i.+ning bewitchingly, she was staring with all her attention at the sky that was nearing dawn.

Suddenly her lips was murmuring something.

“This is completely contrary to my expectation……this is really different from the story that I heard from that person. Even though I thought that child in white magic armor is surely the one.”

She turned back at the Tri-Head standing by behind her.

“If it’s just collecting the Core, then I’ll leave that to you. I think it’s about time they come taking the bait.”

Several windows were opened around that murmuring face.

The displayed content and letters were different, but the technology itself couldn’t be told apart from Heart Hybrid Gear.

Those windows underwent complete change into deep red alert display.

“――!?”

From beyond the window, she noticed the pressure of fierce light approaching.

It was bombardment of light possessing destructive power beyond imagination.

――Corruption Armament [Pulverizer]

The light of destruction crossed the sky instantly.

“Multiple s.h.i.+eld(Anti Battles.h.i.+p Use Multiple Defense)!”

Aldea yelled sharply.

As if to respond toward that instruction in panic, the aircraft carrier deployed defense s.h.i.+eld of magic circle. Several tens of s.h.i.+eld were piling up in preparation for the Pulverizer’s bombardment.

Even a single one was a s.h.i.+eld that could block the main cannon of AU’s battles.h.i.+p.

But with a single attack of the Pulverizer, those s.h.i.+elds were crushed really easily. And then, all of the s.h.i.+elds were mowed down. The flash right from the side gouged a gigantic hole almost right at the center of the s.h.i.+p hull, then it pierced through at the other side.

The s.h.i.+p’s body greatly tilted, the surface of the deck was turned into a giant slide.

“――-“

Aldea and Himekawa, and then the Tri-Head began to slide down on the deck.

‘This bombing, it’s from that time!?

This destructive power is as if it comes from a superdreadnought cla.s.s battles.h.i.+p’s main cannon――no, it’s even more than that. It’s not like I cannot block it if I use my Labyrinth Cube(Cube Dimension Maze), but――,’

Aldea stared at the Labyrinth Cube that began to slide down and knitted her eyebrows.

Even now those s.h.i.+elds were used to imprison Neros.

The bombardment of Pulverizer made the aircraft carrier received lethal damage, Aldea also fell into confusion. As if charging at that opening, there was a shadow suddenly approaching with tremendous speed.

Trailing golden trail behind it, a Heart Hybrid Gear was soaring on the sky.

It was Yuris.h.i.+a’s Cross.

Cross that flew by fully opening Differential Frame’s propulsive power easily broke the sound barrier.

On Yuris.h.i.+a’s body, Kizuna was clinging there closely.

“It will be soon, Kizuna!”

“Yeah!”

If it was in a straight line, Cross was faster than anything.

It carried Eros until above the aircraft carrier from beyond the horizon in a blink of eye.

“Now!”

Kizuna separated from Yuris.h.i.+a’s body and danced that body above the sky.

Under his eyes the aircraft carrier which was crumbling even now was visible.

At the center of the hull which had gigantic hole opened, the hull was warping. The one thousand meter gigantic body quickly broke into half and began to fall toward Guam’s sea.

Yuris.h.i.+a that pa.s.sed through in an instant turned back at the falling aircraft carrier. In the end of her sight, there was the Tri-Head that spread its wings to fly from the slanting deck.

“I don’t think I can defeat it but……”

She converted the Differential Frame’s ability from propulsive power to attack power.

“Fire!!”

From Yuris.h.i.+a’s whole body, particle cannons spouted fire all at once. The golden lights stretching out straightforwardly impacted the Tri-Head directly. Together with dazzling light, an explosion spread.

Aldea clicked her tongue while sliding down the deck.

“I’ll leave that long range battery to you! It’s fine for you to break it.”

Tri-Head reached out its neck from inside the flame due to Aldea’s instruction, its spread out wings s.h.i.+ned red and it lightly took off to the sky.

“Please try to catch me!”

Yuris.h.i.+a confirmed the Tri-Head came chasing her and raised the output of the Differential Frame once more.

Confirming the distancing away Tri-Head, Aldea weighed between the captured Neros and that white magic armor she was unfamiliar with. She was wondering which one should she prioritized to deal with?

Letters of AU were floating in the window floating in front of Aldea’s eyes, a warning was addressed to her once more.

‘She is preparing a bombardment again!?

As expected, it will be bad if I’m shot right now.’

Aldea undid the restrain on Himekawa’s body as if throwing her away. The six s.h.i.+elds once more attached themselves to her body, she ignited her thruster and headed toward the direction from where the Pulverizer came with full speed.

Himekawa’s body that lost its support was falling together with the debris of the aircraft carrier.

Confirming Aldea was flying away, Kizuna yelled.

“Mode Zeros!!”

The radiance of Eros that was worn on Kizuna’s body changed. The pink luminescence was changing from below into the same blue color like Zeros.

The first instruction that he got from Reiri in the briefing was to do Climax Hybrid with Aine. And then, they obtained the Corruption Armament [Pulverizer] for Aine, and the same ability with Zeros for him.

Chasing after Himekawa’s body, Kizuna plunged into the middle of the falling debris of the aircraft carrier.

Eros that was supposed to be useless exhibited equal mobility with Zeros. He was avoiding the hundreds of debris falling on him with beautiful movement.

“Himekawa――!!”

While evading the obstacles, Kizuna opened his sensor window.

“Where!?”

The window s.h.i.+ned brightly, pulling Kizuna’s attention on it.

A three dimensional map with Kizuna at the center was displaying s.h.i.+ning red dot.

‘――That’s Neros!’

It displayed the dot falling to the sea diagonally below at the right of Kizuna’s position.

He ignited the thrusters throughout his body with light particles and pursued after Himekawa with speed far faster than natural drop. He soared with tremendous speed amidst the scattered debris.

The torn off deck from the crumbling aircraft carrier was flying in front of Kizuna becoming a gigantic wall.

“Chih!”

Eros’s figure vanished in an instant. At the next movement, it slipped through the falling deck in evasion.

“Himekawa――! Where are youuuu-!?”

The internal magic mechanisms were expelled out to the sky one after another from the pulverized s.h.i.+p hull. Cl.u.s.ters of huge parts were endlessly floating in the air, obstructing his path.

Even while Eros was moving with high speed, it didn’t come into contact with those debris and avoided them all.

If it was the normal Eros, surely it would crash in an instant and bore large damage. However right now the result of the Climax Hybrid with Zeros was in effect. Even the storm of debris looked like they all were in slow motion.

But, no matter how much mobility he exhibited, it was all meaningless if he couldn’t save Himekawa.

The sea surface was rapidly approaching.

Impatience was seeping into Kizuna’s heart.

It was the end if Himekawa fell to the sea. He had to save her no matter what before that.

Where?

Kizuna mobilized all of his sensors and searched for Himekawa’s location.

However there was no reaction.

‘Why d.a.m.n it! There is reaction until just now! s.h.i.+t-!’

Kizuna’s heart was ringing like alarm bell.

Sweat flowed down his forehead.

‘Where!?’

He turned his head, moved his eye, he was sending his gaze to all direction,

At that time, swaying black hair was reflected at the corner of his eyes.

“Himekawa!”

Neros was already terminated, Himekawa right now was only in her pilot suit. Like this it was only natural that there was no reaction from Neros.

If she fell to the sea from this height in her flesh, she would certainly die.

Before she fell to the sea――,

At that time, the prow of the aircraft carrier impacted the sea below. The wreckage of the broken aircraft carrier didn’t immediately sink and stood towering tall like two spires from the sea.

‘This is bad!!’

Himekawa’s body was falling toward that spire. At this rate, Himekawa’s body would hit the aircraft carrier faster than falling into the sea.

Igniting his thruster, Kizuna headed to that direction with all his speed.

In front of Kizuna, a protective wall torn of from the hull flew into his way.

Kizuna twisted his body and pulled his fist.

“HAAA!”

The fist struck out from his shoulder drove into the thick steel plate. Shockwave like an explosion opened a hole on the steel plate.

“HIMEKAWAAAAA-!”

Kizuna flew out from amidst the explosion and embraced the body of Himekawa that was powerlessly floating in the air.

“Himekawa! Oi, get a hold of yourself, Himekawa!”

Kizuna ignited his thruster and slipped through between the two spires just barely.

And then he raised his output in full throttle and increased his speed. While being showered by the gigantic water pillar heaved up by the debris of the aircraft carrier, Kizuna was flying horizontally, distancing himself away from the aircraft carrier.

{This is Kizuna! Himekawa has been safely rescued! We will immediately withdraw from the front line!}

The transmission from Kizuna was delivered to Aine.

Ten kilometer from the aircraft carrier, Aine was readying the Pulverizer on the sky, she was charging the energy for the second shot.

“Next is the Tri-head. Yuris.h.i.+a, lead the prey here quickly――!?”

Her sensor reflected the shadow of something approaching in great speed.

{Aine! Aldea is heading there! Be careful!}

The moment she heard Reiri’s voice, Aine readied her Pulverizer once more.

“To dare challenging this me in a one-on-one battle, there is a limit even in being conceited.”

Aine aimed at the approaching Aldea.

“This time I’ll pulverize her for sure.”

And then, she pulled the trigger without hesitation.

The wave of destruction blown away the cloud and terrific explosion sound roared above the sea. And then, the radiance that destroyed s.p.a.ce and time shot out straight toward Aldea.

It was the bombardment that destructed even a gigantic battles.h.i.+p in one shot. If it hit directly, then the likes of magic weapons would be terminated without the least bit of difficulty.

Aldea stopped in the sky. Her armor detached from her body.

Aldea glossy lips opened.

“Labyrinth Cube.”

Six s.h.i.+elds transformed and linked up, the cube that restrained Himekawa was making its appearance once more.

The next moment, the merciless bombardment of Pulverizer hit.

An explosion of light occurred.

Fierce lightning spread to the sky and sea, shockwave indented the sea.

It made one thought that Aldea altogether with the cube floating in the air were pulverized in one breath.

――However,

The light of Pulverizer lost its target inside the Labyrinth Cube.

The bombardment was circling on and on inside the cube as though losing its path, its direction was changed and then it was flying away from the gap of the Labyrinth Cube.

Several streaks of light that were warped into different directions, one flew to the outer s.p.a.ce annihilating the cloud, one opened a large hole at the sea terminating the sea water.

Aine was staring it happening from beginning to end with shock.

‘――It’s blocked again.

Not just once, but twice.

My Pulverizer doesn’t work.’

Aldea’s figure was wavering standing still at the other side of the heat haze.

Labyrinth Cube distorted the power of Pulverizer. It was blocked, but it didn’t mean that it was repelled easily.

‘――Can I attack one more time?’

Aine tried to ready her Pulverizer. However, Aldea was already moving.

She was heading to Aine with her full speed.

There was no leeway for Aine to charge a third shot.

Aine swiftly threw away her Corruption Armament, the Pulverizer vanished, turning into bead and belt of light.

In exchange she clutched her fist and charged at the approaching enemy.

The two Heart Hybrid Gears collided.

Sharp light and fierce sparks scattered.

The Labyrinth Cube returned into six s.h.i.+elds and lined up in front of Zeros.

With her fist stopped, Aine glared at the enemy across the s.h.i.+eld from very close range.

Looking at Aldea like this, she was really indistinguishable from human.

Her hair and the color of her eyes were a little different, but such thing was still within the range of fas.h.i.+on. It could be changed trivially.

In order to shake off her surprise and hesitation, Aine let out caustic words.

“I don’t care whether you are human or person of AU.”

The elbow thruster increased in brightness, the s.h.i.+eld was pushed back.

“What is without doubt, is that you are the fool who is challenging this me in close range battle!”

The instance Aine almost overcame the s.h.i.+eld, light ran on Aldea’s s.h.i.+eld and Aine’s arm distorted.

“!?”

The distorted s.p.a.ce flicked off Aine’s right fist. However in that moment, Aine’s left hand reached out and grasped the s.h.i.+eld.

“Eh……?”

Aldea was taken by surprise.

Aine’s upper body that was almost thrown backward was supported by gripping the s.h.i.+eld.

“Ha-!!”

And then like that the s.h.i.+eld was raised, and the body that became defenseless was punched. The elbow thruster produced a punch in the speed that was normally impossible, and in the instant of impact, shockwave was fired from the end of the arm.

“――-!!”

The moment the impact attacked Aldea, pattern like a magic circle floated for an instant on her body.

It seemed that it was something substantial like the Life Saver of Heart Hybrid Gear. However, it was like a minimal safeguard that didn’t have that much defensive power.

Aldea’s body was truly easily blown away, Aine kicked the air in order to add pursuing attack.

In order to stop the approaching Aine, Aldea lined up the s.h.i.+elds in front of Aine, but Zeros astounding mobility was in full display, all the s.h.i.+elds were evaded.

“That……-!”

That movement shocked Aldea.

“HAAA!”

The leg thruster emitted belt of light. That propulsion was stuck into Aldea’s body as a fierce spinning kick.

“Gah……ha!”

Aldea’s body bended forming the shape of >. Aldea was using most of her armor as s.h.i.+elds. Although she had pilot suit and safeguard, she was mostly defenseless like this.

Aine once again kicked with her leg, the blade on her s.h.i.+n aimed at Aldea’s abdomen.

“……Kuh!”

Aldea immediately glided a s.h.i.+eld in front of Zeros’s leg.

Aine’s kick changed trajectory in the middle. Her leg flew pa.s.sed the s.h.i.+eld and sunk into Aldea’s chest.

“Gu, AAA-!”

Aldea ignited her thruster and somehow controlled her posture, stopping her body in place.

“The next will be the last.”

Aine put her right hand forward and took a stance.

Aldea raised her face and gazed at Aine.

“How amazing……you are.”

Her face didn’t have anger or killing intent. A smile that was happy from the bottom of her heart was shown there.

“For such an amazing magic armor to exist in this world without any signature……hey, what is the name of that magic armor? Please tell me by any means.”

Aine tightened her lips in ^ shape for a while, but then she reluctantly opened her mouth.

“――Zeros.”

In that instanat, Aldea’s smile froze.

“Ze……ros?”

Aldea muttered deliriously.

“You, Chidori……something I think? You, who are you?”

It was a strange question.

Aine couldn’t catch her meaning.

“Fine then, I’ll teach you. I am the pilot of Zeros. Chidorigafuchi Aine.”

Aldea’s eyes opened wide in shock, her mouth was also hanging open.

“Chidori……Aine……Aine, Zeros.”

She clapped her hands in front of her face.

“Ha……hahaha, is that so, as I thought, so that’s how is it! Ahaha, how spending!”

Aine made a dubious face.

“I wonder if I hit your head when I kicked you before? Aah, but if I punch you, perhaps you will return back to usual?”

Aine grasped her fist tightly.

“Yes, yes, the current you don’t get the meaning of what I’m talking about isn’t it! Aah, but there is no need to worry! Yes, leave everything to me! I will save you for sure!”

Aldea kept talking in excitement. That aroused emotion looked really eerie for Aine who was watching her.

“What are you prattling about I wonder? Your head really got broken isn’t it?”

“Fufufu, now, I’ll capture, imprison, and kidnap you. With……”

Aldea smiled cheerfully.

“This Labyrinth Cube!”

Six s.h.i.+elds was approaching in order to surround Aine.

Kizuna was carrying Himekawa in his arms heading to Ataraxia.

“This is Kizuna. Ataraxia, respond.”

A floating window projected Reiri.

“Nee-chan, my side goes as planned. I’m in the middle of heading back to Atraxia――”

{Kizuna, change of plan. We planned to destroy Tri-Head with Pulverizer, but Aldea interrupted and now she is in the middle of battle with Aine. Yuris.h.i.+a is fighting Tri-Head alone.}

“What do you say!?”

That Heart Hybrid Gear of Aldea, Zeel possessed a mysterious power. In addition, Tri-Head was an opponent that couldn’t be defeated even with the four of them.

Kizuna’s forehead was having cold sweat.

{The only silver lining is you and Himekawa. Head over there for reinforcement immediately!}

Kizuna looked at Himekawa in his arms.

“Putting me aside, Himekawa’s Hybrid Count is already in red zone, she is in a state that cannot even put Neros here!”

Kizuna yelled at Reiri inside the window.

{I’m sending the thing right now. Fly straight at it like that.}

“The thing?”

Just when he was speaking so to the communication window, Kizuna was s.h.i.+ned with dazzling light.

From the front, a large capsule he remembered seeing before suspended below a helicopter was approaching.

“Nn……”

“Himekawa?”

“U, n……Hi, Hida, kun?”

Himekawa’s eyes opened slightly.

“E, eh? This place? Somehow, it feels pleasantly fluffy…..nyaa!?”

Noticing herself who was sleeping on a bed with tattered pilot suit and Kizuna who was sitting beside her, Himekawa unintentionally raised a strange voice.

“Hii!”

Being alert toward Kizuna who was in his pilot suit, Himekawa hugged her body and backed off until the corner of the bed. Certainly pilot suit was made from a thin material that fitted the body. It was understandable for her to want to be on guard. Moreover, Himekawa’s pilot suit had holes opened here and there, the pilot suit that had already high exposure rate at the best of time became something even more risqué, so it further scared her.

“Whe, where is this place, besides my appearance, yo, yo, you, what did you do to me!?”

“I, I didn’t do anything-! Nothing at all!”

Himekawa yelled with bright red face and glared at Kizuna while her nose was huffing roughly.

‘――Eh, now that I think back?’

Himekawa’s memory revived. She was looking around the room restlessly with an axious face.

“I, if I remember right……”

‘That’s right, I should have lose toward that enemy Aldea.’

“This is above the sea. The new equipment brought from Ataraxia is left floating on the sea. Now, we are inside it, that’s how it is.”

“New equipment……this thing?”

The bed she was sleeping on was a queen-sized pure white bed.

Inside the room, there was table and sofa, dresser, monitor. Inside was toilet and washroom, also a big bathroom. The was.h.i.+ng place and also the bathtub were wide enough to be used by two people with enough room left over.

“I, was fighting with that enemy named Aldea……I was pushed into the enemy’s s.h.i.+elds, became unable to move, I remember the event until that time, but after that……”

Himekawa pressed her hand on her head, trying desperately to remember.

“I guess you don’t remember what happened after you fainted, but Himekawa, you became enemy captive then.”

“Eh!”

Himekawa made a face that was shocked from the bottom of her heart.

“But……I, I don’t, remember at all of such thing……”

She shook her head in disbelief.

“But, if that happened then how did I――”

Saying until that far, Himekawa’s complexion changed.

“We carried out an operation to rescue Himekawa. Aine’s Corruption Armament shot down the enemy’s aircraft carrier, me and Yuris.h.i.+a’s combination rescued Himekawa. But, the operation hasn’t ended yet.”

“That’s……what do, you mean?”

“The enemy Aldea, and also the category-Ultra Tri-Head are going strong.”

Hearing that name, Himekawa’s shoulder twitched.

“Aldea is fighting Aine, the Tri-Head is taking on Yuris.h.i.+a, I want to reinforce them immediately. That’s why――Himekawa?”

Himekawa’s face paled, her body was trembling in s.h.i.+vers.

“Oi, what’s wrong?”

“I, I, what did I……”

Kizuna leaned on the bed and peeked into Himekawa’s face.

“Are you okay? Your complexion is bad.”

“I……I’m a useless human……I’m, already useless.”

Her trembling hand grasped the sheet tightly.

“Taking arbitrary action by myself based on personal emotion……I was saying self-important thing trying to correct other people’s conduct, while in the end I’m the one who troubled other people the most……because of my fault, my comrade meet danger……uu-“

Tears spilled out from Himekawa’s eyes.

“Himekawa……don’t blame yourself that much. No one is thinking that about you.”

“Even if no one thinking that about me, I cannot forgive myself!”

When she raised her face and yelled, tears scattered from her eyes.

“Himekawa……in the first place, why are you, that obsessed with the Tri-Head?”

Himekawa hung her head down, she stayed quiet for a while.

However, she opened her mouth then determinedly.

“……Before, I had fought that category-Ultra once.”

‘Eh!?’

Wasn’t the previous battle the first attack of that magic weapon?

“It was in the middle of a chaotic situation, so I didn’t make an official report about it, but on the occasion of the 2nd Another Universe Conflict……right before the Megafloat activated, that Tri-Head appeared in j.a.pan.”

Himekawa was staring at empty air with sorrowful gaze.

“Entrances also appeared in j.a.pan at the 2nd Another Universe Conflict……however, Yuris.h.i.+a-san partic.i.p.ated in the operation of the seventh fleet of American army, while Aine-san had the duty to guard Ataraxia and Megafloat j.a.pan. The protection of mainland j.a.pan was entrusted to me alone.”

“Just alone!?”

“Yes.”

“That’s absurd!”

It was absurd no matter how he thought about it. The guy pus.h.i.+ng that duty to her is really hateful.

It seemed that Himekawa could guess Kizuna’s thinking. Himekawa showed a sad smile.

“But, at that time I seriously thought that I can protect j.a.pan to the end by myself alone. I can do it with my power, rather if I cannot do that, then what meaning there is in this Heart Hybrid Gear. I persuaded myself like that.”

Himekawa stared to empty air remembering something.

“I flew around all over j.a.pan, defeating magic weapons one after another. If it’s like this then I’ll be fine, I can protect j.a.pan, that was what I felt.”

Certainly, if it was Himekawa’s combat ability, she could even defeat category-A. But…….

“However, that was only until the enemy’s march was proceeding in full tilt, it was only for a short time. Soon, I cannot do anything by myself alone.”

Himekawa’s forehead was etched with crease of distress.

“Just what should I do to deal with the magic weapons that appeared in the whole country simultaneously? The invasion of AU was progressing, each territory of j.a.pan fell into enemy’s hand one after another. I don’t understand what happened with the land that was invaded. Was the people living there died, or are they alive……”

Tears gathered in Himekawa’s eyes.

I was wrapped in feeling of despair. Even though if I just had more power, if I can just become stronger, I could actually protect them. The current me can do nothing except defeating the magic weapon before my eyes one by one. It was just like pouring water on hot stone.” (TL: A j.a.panese phrase, that meant useless or inadequate effort that failed.)

“Himekawa……”

“With the order from the commander, I returned to Tokyo. There is the need to accommodate the refuge in Megafloat j.a.pan, so I had to buy time until the refugee boarded the pa.s.senger s.h.i.+p docked in Tokyo Bay……that was the operation.”

Himekawa’s voice was trembling.

“What I can do was only something that much since the start. Something like protecting j.a.pan, that’s just too impertinent. But, I will protect at least those people. Looking at the several thousand people gathering in the harbor, I swore that in my heart. When they saw my figure, everyone cheered joyfully. The new weapon that can defeat the magic weapon has arrived……they thought that they could feel relive with that.”

Even now her voice seemed like she was going to cry.

“Himekawa……it’s enough, you don’t need to――”

“A small girl was……a girl hugging a bear plushy was trembling in terror……I promised that girl. That I will absolutely protect her, so rest a.s.sured, I said……that girl smiled, she was really relieved……despite so, despite so, in that place……that thing, that thing appeared.”

――Category-Ultra [Tri-Head]

“I was……unable to do anything. I couldn’t do anything! Not a single thing! Even though until then there was no magic weapon I couldn’t defeat! I, cannot do anything……everyone, everyone was……uu, ku……”

Tears spilled down from Himekawa’s eyes.

She suppressed the sobbing spilling from her mouth with her hand, crying while stifling her voice.

“I was conceited, I……before the 2nd Another Universe Conflict happened, I was hailed as the trump card of j.a.pan……everywhere I went, everyone made a fuss of me……I was……feeling as if I had become a princess.”

That was an unexpected truth.

That was a great difference from him who was driven away from the laboratory by his mother.

“But, if it was only that, that’s not really a bad story――”

“In addition……right at that time, my interest in my cla.s.smate’s talk about love was gus.h.i.+ng forth……I was constantly yearning for love like the one in novel or manga. Because of that, before I realized it I didn’t put my all into my training. Even though I was shouldering a significant mission, even though I understood that, I was talking about boys just like my friends, wanting to join hand with boyfriend…..I was kept thinking only about that kind of thing.”

This time Kizuna lost his words.

Himekawa Hayuru had interest in love? She didn’t put her all in training?

That was too unexpected……totally unbelievable.

That was really a story about Himekawa herself, was there a mistake somewhere?

“In the first place I’m just a human of that level.”

Himekawa looked down.

“If I only polished myself by training seriously at that time……perhaps I could save those people. If I didn’t get carried away by my fickle feeling and lived seriously, perhaps I can save even more people……thinking that, it make me want to tear apart this body from shame and regret.”

Himekawa glared sternly with eyes that were wet with tears.

“And so, I don’t want to repeat such mistake for the second time. I regulate myself, remonstrate myself, I live systematically, sever my desire, not slacking in my daily training, I give my all for the sake of my mission. I decided in my heart to live like that.”

‘――Is that so?

So Himekawa’s stoic personality is because of that reason.’

Kizuna finally comprehended Himekawa’s obstinate att.i.tude,

“Everyone of Amaterasu who shouldered the same mission like me……also all the students of Ataraxia, so that they won’t follow the same mistake like me, I want them to lead a wholesome life.”

“I understand your feeling but……isn’t that a little too extreme?”

Himekawa glared at Kizuna with red bloodshot eyes.

“No! That will become something to protect your own life. Not only that, it will also protect the life of the people of j.a.pan. I want all of you to understand that. I absolutely don’t want a mistake of a fool like me to happen again! Yet despite so!”

Himekawa shook her hair disorderly, she was literally crying and yelling.

“I got angry and rushed out as I pleased, then like that I lost again to the enemy and turned into captive……”

“Himekawa……”

On the face of the sobbing Himekawa, a self-depreciating smile appeared.

“For the sake of someone like me, everyone now is meeting with danger……this is really a joke. It goes past aggravation and feels humorous instead.”

Kizuna reached out his hand to Himekawa’s shoulder.

“It’s fine, everyone is not thinking like that of you. Even we――”

“Please just leave me alone! In the first place I’m just a human of this level!”

Himekawa shook off Kizuna’s hand with a lot of strength. And then, she hit the bed with clenched fist several times.

“Everything would be better if the Core of Neros was installed to someone else that is not me! If that was the case, no one would feel troubled or meet any danger! Even those many people……that girl too, perhaps they would be saved!”

He had never seen Himekawa this hysteric.

Most likely, there was no one in the world that had seen her like this.

She was always dignified, decorous, composed, the serious Himekawa.

As a public morals committee member, she was n.o.ble, just, strict on the rule, the hardheaded Himekawa.

‘The Himekawa that we know is that kind of person.’

“I’m sorry……because I, because someone like me, is the one who obtained the Heart Hybrid Gear……a lot of people, died……”

But, the weak girl crying and breaking down here, this was also Himekawa Hayuru.

‘I only thought that my distance with Himekawa had gotten closer, yet I didn’t try at all to understand about Himekawa.’

“……Himekawa, everyone has recognized that you are fighting with everything that you have.”

“Tha, that’s, the result in the end……I only troubled other people……hic”

Kizuna put his hand on Himekawa’s shoulder.

“Certainly, I think it’s important to repent for the past. But that’s only for the sake of learning something from it, so that we can live better in the future. It’s not for blaming yourself forever.”

Himekawa faced Kizuna with eyes that had become red.

“But that……that, in the end, I don’t learn anything……from it, isn’t it?”

Tears were flowing down from her damp eyes without stopping.

He guessed that she had endured herself until all this time. The dam that had head held back her piling up bitterness and sorrow had broken and overflowed out all in one go.

“Just……leave me alone. I, I, quit already. From Amaterasu……and from Ataraxia too, I’ll go away……I don’t want, to do this anymore.”

Himekawa rubbed her eyes while turning her back to Kizuna.

‘――This is bad.’

He had to make Himekawa stood on her feet somehow. There was no way it would get better like this. Not only Himekawa, but Aine and Yuris.h.i.+a that was in a bitter fight right now were also approached by danger.

What should he do?

What was the right thing to do?

Kizuna sidled up to Himekawa on the bed.

“Himekawa…..then let’s do this. To make up for the trouble that you cause, can you listen to my story a little?”

“Cu, curse me……hic, as much you like. So, someone like me……hyaa!?”

Kizuna embraced Himekawa’s body from the back.

“Wa, wait, wha, what are you doing!?”

Not only the area around her eyes, her cheeks also reddened when she turned back at Kizuna. However, she found Kizuna’s face near her nose that she turned back to the wall in panic.

“Like this you can calm down right?”

Kizuna recalled how Reiri did this for him when he was crying as a child.

‘――Well, this is out of my depth though.’

“……Pervert.”

Himekawa complained sullenly, but she didn’t resist more than that.

Kizuna took a large deep breath and calmed down his heart, then he began to talk with her face close to Himekawa.

“Hey, Himekawa. Certainly, there might be life that you couldn’t save. But, there should be also a lot of life that Himekawa had saved.”

However, Himekawa only scowled her face.

“Something like that……I don’t know.”

“There is no doubt about that. Because, the one who said that is me who you had actually saved.”

Himekawa was making a face that was increasingly confused.

“You forget? That time when I came for the first time to Ataraxia, you saved me that was attacked by Viking.”

“Ah……”

Certainly that thing happened.

“But, that was……even without me saving you, Hida-kun have Heart Hybrid Gear, so that’s not really――”

“But, my combat ability is nonexistent. Besides at that time, Eros also still hadn’t been adjusted yet. There is enough possibility that I wouldn’t be able to escape. Himekawa saved my life. If Himekawa was not there, I won’t be here right now.”

Himekawa suddenly began to get fl.u.s.tered.

“Bu, but……that’s……don’t you understand what I said?”

“This me that is the actual person concerned in this is feeling that you are my life benefactor. That’s not something that Himekawa can decide. If I have to say further, Himekawa also saved the life of Yuris.h.i.+a and Aine too don’t you think?”

‘Wh, why, does it become like that?”

“If I died, then Heart Hybrid couldn’t be used. In that case, Yuris.h.i.+a would be killed by Dragre in the southern island, and Aine would die from the attack of the large battles.h.i.+p before this.”

Himekawa tried to argue back but no word came out. Only her mouth that was kept opening and closing.

“If that happened, then Ataraxia wouldn’t be able to shot down the enemy large battles.h.i.+p, and also to chase away the enemy fleet. In other words, Himekawa had saved Megafloat j.a.pan.”

“So, something like that……is just……a sophistry.”

“The life that Himekawa saved went to save more life. Sooner or later, it will become an unbelievable number right?”

“That’s……”

Himekawa had recovered most of her composure.

However, her gaze dropped to the floor and her face was becoming gloomy.

“Just because of that……I don’t think that my sin will vanish……”

“In order to redeem that sin, in order to save even more people, aren’t those why you are fighting together with us?”

“……That’s why, I told you that a useless human like me will just cause even larger damage. Please search for other qualified person.”

Kizuna breathed a sigh.

“Is that so……”

Kizuna put some strength to his arms that were embracing Himekawa and pulled her body closer.

Himekawa was forced to entrust her weight to Kizuna’s body.

“Wha, what is it? Wha, what are you planning to do!? Do, doing something like this――”

“Isn’t this fine?”

“Eh?”

“Because, Himekawa had already giving up fighting right? Then, whether you skip your training, or go playing around, even if you have a slovenly life, or getting along with a boy, you shouldn’t particularly mind it. Because, those things are things that Himekawa refrained from in order to fight the enemy.”

“Tha, that’s……perhaps that is so but――n-, no! I wasn’t refraining or anything! I don’t remember ever saying that I want to do those things!”

“But, there shouldn’t be any need to feel any guilt doing this at all right?”

“Eh……that……you’re right, but”

Himekawa’s cheeks was tinged in pink color.

“Ha-! No, I don’t have any intention to surrender my chast.i.ty to you just because of that!”

“I beg you.”

“That’s why! I said that I won’t do anythi――”

“Please help Aine and Yuris.h.i.+a.”

“Eh……!?”

She reflexively tried to look back, there Kizuna’s face was right beside her.

Kizuna’s face was serious.

Himekawa’s chest jumped throbbingly.

“Right now, those two are falling in danger. To save them, Himekawa’s strength is necessary.”

Himekawa’s gaze was lost.

“That’s……it’s already too late, what can I do……”

“Climax Hybrid.”

“Wha-!?”

Himeakawa’s face became bright red instantly.

“This, this me, do, doing such shameless thing is――”

“Right now, to save those two, there is no other choice.”

“……!!”

Himekawa’s words got stuck in her throat.

“The recovery of Hybrid Count using Heart Hybrid. And then, the equipment of Corruption Armament using Climax Hybrid. Those are the key of victory.”

“I……in the first place, it’s possible that something like that is not loaded inside my Neros.”

“I too don’t know that. But, I want to bet on it. On Neros’s Corruption Armament!”

Kizuna’s earnest eyes were staring straight at Himekawa.

Himekawa’s chest throbbed even harder.

“You have seen the might of Zeros’s Pulverizer right? If something of equal power is also inside Neros……”

“If there is……what are you meaning to say?”

Kizuna spoke strongly.

“The category-Ultra, can be defeated by Himekawa’s hand.”

Inside Himekawa, something big shook.

“That, Ultra-cla.s.s, which is like a demon……that invincible Tri-Head……can be defeated?”

“Right.”

A great number of people faces flashed inside Himekawa’s mind.

The time when her own weapon was completely useless, that she was beaten so badly without achieving anything.

The people looking at her joyfully, calling her the G.o.ddess that would save them.

The smiling face of that girl, who believed in her――.

Kizuna took Himekawa’s hand. Then he entangled his fingers with hers.

“Ah……”

Just from that, Himekawa’s back s.h.i.+vered.

“Besides I thought that Himekawa’s heart that hate indecent thing was a problem, but if you actually don’t hate it and only refrained from such act, then I’m relieved.”

“Eh? ……Err, really, I told you already, I’m not liking it or any……nnuu!”

One of his hand crept through Himekawa’s back.

“That’s why……just this once, it’s fine even if it’s just this once! Do Climax Hybrid with me, let’s fight together!”

Kizuna separated their entangling fingers and caressed Himekawa’s head. He brushed through her glossy black hair, stroked her cheek, and touched her lips.

Himekawa’s eyes turned rigid.

“Do, don’t touch my hair carelessly. Hair is a woman’s soul.”

He caressed from Himekawa’s cheek to her ear.

“Hauu”

Himekawa was excessively sensitive, each time he touched her inadvertently, she returned back a reaction for every single one.

“I, I’m, not, a licentious woman like……hauu”

While he was repeating his caress, her eyes became intoxicated.

“I, I said no……even though I understand that we must not do this, my body……”

Kizuna’s hand crawled from Himekawa’s hair to her back. A s.h.i.+vering sensation ran through Himekawa’s back.

“This cannot……be helped? It’s only this once……”

Himekawa narrowed her eyes pleasantly.

“If……if it’s, just once……whether it’s lewd thing, or fighting……because, if I don’t do it, everyone cannot be saved so……that’s why, this cannot, be helped……haan”

Himekawa was already staring at nothing with intoxicated eyes.

Kizuna stroked her head while his other hand was stroking at her thighs.

“It feels good……”

Such words leaked out from Himekawa’s mouth.

“Does your head feel good? Or your leg?”

“Eh? A……ah! My head, head!”

“Is that so? Then”

From her head, his hand brushed her long black hair as if scooping them up.

“Nn”

Kizuna’s hand brushed through her hair, moving to Himekawa’s body.

His hand was moving from her neck that looked so slender they might broke toward her collarbone, he was caressing down each of Himekawa’s body parts, as though confirming them one by one.

“Hyaa, whe, where are you touching……!”

Each time his hand slide, Himekawa’s body twitched.

“Himekawa is really sensitive.”

And then Kizuna’s hadn gradually climbed from her chest to the two hill.

“E……a”

Himekawa suddenly embraced herself with her two hands, hiding her breast.

“What’s wrong?”

Kizuna stared at her fixedly.

‘d.a.m.n it. Did I rush it too much?’

Inside Kizuna’s heart, cold sweat was flowing.

“Hida-kun, you too actually are thinking that my breast is small right?”

‘……What?’

“No……I told you this too before, but I don’t think that at all.”

“Lies. You absolutely compared them to Aine-san and Yuris.h.i.+a-san.”

She began to complain with puffed cheek.

What?

What was with this reaction?

Kizuna was in confusion, but first he thought that he needed to put her in good mood.

“Right now the one I have my eyes on is only Himekawa, I’m not comparing your or anything. Well, if you say that I’m comparing……then compared to the average breast, then even Himekawa’s breast is in the big side.”

“Really……just why is man care that much for breast size? Something like that doesn’t matter……I cannot understand.”

……He had various things he wanted to say, but for now he held back.

“Other than size……the shape of Himekawa’s breast is also beautiful though. Can you show me so I can see properly?”

“Tha, that shameless speech, how can you say that so calmly-!!”

Himekawa sent him a protesting gaze, yet even while doing that, her arms that were hiding her breast were slowly lowering down.

“Is, is this okay?”

“Yeah……it’s really beautiful.”

Kizuna’s fingertips touched the base of Himekawa’s breast.

“Ahnn”

He was only touching the surface while little by little aiming the top area.

“Hiuu!”

He arrived at the part that was the most aroused. There, he was shaking his fingertips in short interval.

Himekawa’s body was writhing around on the bed, as if electricity was traveling through her body.

“Ahh, aa, do, don’t-, that-“

Through the thin pilot suit, he understood well the shape of her breast. And then, even the change that was happening under it was conveyed to him with no hiding it.

The thing that was changing from the smooth round shape, into the solid protrusion was rapidly starting to a.s.sert its existence.

“Aa……!?”

The face of Himekawa who noticed that change was colored bright red.

“No, no…..this is, ya”

“Himekawa feels this really easily huh.”

“You, you’re wrong, this, this is……”

Himekawa became teary from shame.

“There is no need to be shy right? Himekawa’s breast is just too beautiful. If it like this, then it won’t lose at all even to Aine or Yurisia you know.”

Kizuna’s palm gently caressed Himekawa’s whole breast.

“Is……is that, real, ly…..true? I’m really……do, not, lose……to them?”

Even while asking that, Himekawa’s body repeatedly twitched and convulsed from Kizuna’s loving caress.

Her body was this sensitive, that it made him worried just her reacting motion would consumed her stamina considerably.

“Yeah, that’s obvious. It’s really beautiful, I like it.”

Himekawa showed a relieved smile.

“……I’m glad.”

Red light flashed through her eyes that were moist with tear in a flash.

With her condition like this, the success of Heart Hybrid was near.

“Hau……ahn! Ah, the, there-“

Kizuna’s hand caressed from her breast to her side and stomach. Her body twisted as though running away from that hand, but there was no escape. Like that his hand moved from her waist to her thighs, he was caressing her legs. At that time, his finger pulled at the hole on her tights.

“The pilot suit has quite a damage huh.”

“No way……but, there is no change……”

Luckily, there was a spare in this facility. Kizuna opened the dresser buried in the wall and prepared a spare from inside.

“Then, I’ll put this on you, so sit down on the side of the bed.”

“Ye, yes……”

Himekawa obediently moved to the side of the bed.

She  languidly raised her body and brushed up her hair. That gesture was completely captivating.

“Then……please.”

Saying that, she stretched her slender and long leg.

Himekawa’s eyes were completely filled with bewitching light. He was able to stir Himekawa’s excitement enough with all his doing until now. He could see that the preparation for the Heart Hybrid had been put in order completely.

Kizuna crouched and took Himekawa’s left leg. He took off her tight that was torn with holes on it.

He was lowering down the tight slowly. From below, Himekawa’s bare foot was gradually appearing. Her thigh and calf drew a beautiful curve. He lovingly caressed that curve with his finger.

“Aa…..nn”

Kizuna’s body separated Himekawa’s nether region, he was currently in the middle of both her feet.

When he looked up, the surface of Himekawa’s nether region was visible.

Himekawa’s most hidden place, separated only by a sliver of thin fabric was there.

“Aah……this kind of appearance. How improper……”

s.h.i.+vers were traveling through Himekawa’s back.

When she thought that her most important part as a girl was seen by Kizuna, the area around her lower abdomen suddenly became heated.

Kizuna stared at Himekawa’s legs, his finger caressed as if confirming from the tips of her toes one by one.

“Nnu-“

The shape of her leg was also beautiful. The finger of her foot was slender, her nails were glossy with beautiful shape. He couldn’t think of it as dirty at all. Rather, he even wanted to kiss them.

Once he thought that, an indescribable impulse was driven through his body.

Kizuna kissed the back of Himekawa’s foot.

“aAhnn!”

He fitted the tight from her toes. However, he didn’t put it on until finish like that, first he kissed her legs before covering the place he kissed with the tight.

Kizuna slide his mouth, from her s.h.i.+n to her calf. While doing that, the hardness and softness that his lips felt was changing moment by moment, he now knew that there was not even a part with similar sensation.

For Himekawa, that act made her had the feeling, as if a mark was put on her foot showing that this foot was Kizuna’s belonging. The tight that was covered on top of it was like a chast.i.ty belt that denied the erasure of that mark.

Thinking so, it was like the place that Kizuna’s hand touched, the pa.s.sage that his lips pa.s.sed, were gradually turning into Kizuna’s possession, it was like her body was being conquered by Kizuna.

“Fuaaa……”

The instant she imagined that, the core of Himekawa’s body was pierced by a sweet stimulation that paralyzed her.

“Wha, what, kind of, perverted act you are doing……aa, aah……hyaaan!”

When he advanced from around her knee to her thigh, Himekawa’s reaction was changing further. Her hand that was clutching the sheet gripped even stronger, and her body bended largely.

From Himekawa’s body, particles of red light began to scatter.

The success of Heart Hybrid was near.

“Hi-, Hida-kun, tha, that place……”

Kizuna advanced until the joint of the leg and sucked strongly at the inner part of the thigh.

“Kuu~~mm-! Aaah!”

Himekawa’s body was thrown back, her waist floated in the air.

Underneath it a hand was sliding in, left and right hand, each hand was grasping at the left and right a.s.s.

“Kyaa! Wha-, do, don’t-“

However Kizuna’s hands mercilessly kneaded on Himekawa’s a.s.s. His finger rubbed at the same time with the turn of his hand.

The sensation on his palm made Kizuna dazed.

Pink light also raised from Kizuna’s body.

“Hii! Ha, haaaann! No, no, this is, shameful……ah, ah”

Himekawa’s body was trembling.

In front of Kizuna’s eyes, there was Himekawa’s nether region that was protected by the pilot suit.

He kissed there.

“――-! Hau”

Himekawa’s back bended backwards.

Even from above the pilot suit, he could taste the heat and dampness emitted from that part.

Himekawa’s legs stretched out tensely.

Her toes bended, as if trying to take hold of something.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!”

Red light surged out from Himekawa’s body.

And then the pink light flowing out from Kizuna’s body combined with it in complete harmony, surrounding Himekawa’s body.

“This is……Heart Hybrid.”

Himekawa whispered with an enraptured face.

Her whole body turned flaccid on the bed, as though strength had escaped from her body.

‘Aah……this feels so good……?

Unbelievable.

For such a pleasure, to exist…….’

“It feels like……the world, change.”

Words of ecstasy leaked out from Himekawa’s mouth that was opened slovenly.

Kizuna caressed Himekawa’s head.

“You did great Himekawa. Your Hybrid Count is in full charge now.”

He spoke after confirming the vital sign on the smartphone.

“If that’s so……”

Himekawa raised her body as though she was putting a coquettish air.

“What kind of thing, we are, going to do next?”

Himekawa’s eyes were s.h.i.+ning obscenely.

‘――That’s right. It’s still not the end.’

To reach Climax Hybrid, furthermore in a short time, moreover to obtain Hybrid Count with high quality, there was a necessity to make Himekawa even more excited.

Yuris.h.i.+a had the SM play.

What was it for Himekawa?

However, there was no time to test everything. In addition, failure wasn’t permitted.

Even while they were doing this, Aine and Yuris.h.i.+a were forced into a dangerous battle.

Kizuna displayed the console.

“What is that?”

Himekawa looked at the transparent console with wonderment.

And then, she snuggled close to him like a pampered cat.

‘――Yosh, let’s go with this!’

Kizuna’s hand hit the console.

At that instant, the inside of the room changed completely.

“Eh?”

The view was the room where he spent the time together with Himekawa these few days. The student guidance room of Ataraxia.

“Thi, this is, what in the world?”

Himekawa’s eyes were opened wide in shock.

“The function of this new equipment is a kind of environment simulator. Not only location, even our clothes can be changed.”

“Clothes?”

Himekawa looked down on herself and got shocked again.

“U, underwear!?”

Himekawa was in white bra and panty that she usually wore.

“Wh, why?”

She was greatly fl.u.s.tered from the sudden happening.

“That’s not all, see.”

He embraced Himekawa’s shoulder and led her in front of the mirror inside the room.

“Nyaa-!? Just, what is this-!”

“It’s cat ear.”

On Himekawa’s head, a cat ear headband was put on.

What was even more strange, was that the ear was flapping matching with Himekawa’s surprise.

“There is also a collar.”

The collar was fastened with a bell, it was a red leather collar. When Himekawa moved her head, a cute sound was raised.

“Also a tail.”

“Eehh!?”

When she looked behind, a long black tail was growing from her panty. It was waving left and right flexibly using som