Chapter 12: Revelation
I messed up.
But can you blame me?
I mean, it’s been so long since I talked to Katsumi-kun, so getting excited is understandable, right?
Objectively speaking, I’m aware that I looked like a dangerous woman covered in monster blood.
“But don’t you think this punishment is a bit harsh?”
“Shut up, Blood-soaked red.”
“Sit properly and reflect on your actions.”
“Don’t think you’ll be forgiven so easily.”
Kirara, Aoi, and Alpha-chan glare at me coldly in response to my protest.
Upon returning from the scene, I was immediately made to sit in seiza position in the usual cell where Katsumi-kun was held.
To make matters worse, a message board hanging around my neck read [I am an idiot], which was quite demeaning.
“Honestly, I realize I was too hasty.”
“It only made him more wary, didn’t it?”
“From Katsumi-kun’s perspective, you must have looked like a mysterious red person targeting his sister.”
I groan at Aoi and Alpha-chan’s sharp remarks.
We recently confirmed that Katsumi-kun has amnesia when Kirara accidentally encountered him the other day.
It must have been incredibly shocking for Kirara to actually talk to Katsumi-kun, who didn’t remember her at all. But at least we learned about the mysterious person claiming to be his real sister who’s currently by his side.
“You can stand up now.”
“Be grateful that you’re getting off this lightly.”
Lightly? I’ve been forced to sit in seiza for about 30 minutes straight.
I stand up normally, without my legs feeling numb at all.
“Kirara aside, Alpha and I actually saw the White Knight…”
“It was him.”
I nod at Aoi’s immediate response.
Even with his memories lost, he’s still Katsumi-kun.
We haven’t been fighting alongside or against each other for a whole year like the others.
That’s why it’s so sad that he doesn’t remember us…
“But he hasn’t completely forgotten. In fact, he transformed into a red figure with a sword, just like me! Just like me!”
“How many times are you going to repeat that? Don’t forget, the same applies to us too.”
As I emphasize that his form was the same red as mine, Aoi joins in, and I take the opportunity to brag about my first transformation for the umpteenth time.
“Well, no matter what anyone says, it doesn’t change the fact that I was the first transformation.”
“The order doesn’t matter. I’m sure mine used it more frequently.”
His transformation variations are clearly based on our weapons and attributes.
This means that he hasn’t completely forgotten his memories.
Moreover, the first alternate form he changed into should be the most memorable.
“Hmm…”
Aoi and I glare at each other.
Kirara stands with her arms crossed and eyes closed, seemingly unconcerned.
Amidst this chaotic situation, Alpha-chan lets out an exasperated sigh.
“Aren’t you guys so pitiful for competing over such things?”
Alpha-chan watches our exchange with a sidelong glance.
Even with her eyes half-closed, she doesn’t lose any of her beauty. At her muttering, we shrug our shoulders.
“It’s because this is the only way we can talk about it.”
“What else can we talk about?”
“S-Sorry…”
For some reason, she turns pale looking at my faces.
I wonder what’s wrong? I really don’t understand why.
“Hey, instead of such trivial matters, there’s something much more important,”
Kirara says, arms still crossed.
“Look who’s talking. The newly implemented Yellow.”
“Come up here. To this stage.”
I immediately start a verbal wrestling match, but Kirara points at herself with an inexplicable air of superiority.
“I’m not called Yellow anymore, okay? I actually met Katsumi-kun and revealed my real name.”
“You mean you failed to secure him right in front of you, you wimp?”
“If you hadn’t been so flustered, Katsumi-kun might be here by now.”
“Oh? Oh? You wanna go? Huh?”
In an instant, Kirara reaches her boiling point, and we glare at each other, ready to fight.
Watching this from the side, Alpha-chan panics cutely.
“Hey, is this really okay!? Are you guys really friends!? The atmosphere is surprisingly heavy!”
Seeing her looking so uncomfortable, I think we might have gone too far.
We decide to calm down the tense atmosphere and exchange smiles.
“Well, let’s end the jokes here.”
“Yeah, yeah, we’re good friends.”
“That’s right. Good friends, good friends.”
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The cell’s atmosphere suddenly becomes peaceful.
Alpha-chan collapses onto the bed, her doll-like, well-proportioned face looking tired.
“Ugh, I’ve had enough. Katsumi, I miss you…”
She’s so obvious.
From her cute appearance to her gestures, she’s just too obvious.
“Alpha-chan, you have the kind of personality that other girls might dislike.”
“Doesn’t that imply that you dislike me?”
“…I don’t dislike you, you know? Right, Kirara, Aoi?”
“Yeah, yeah, of course.”
“Can you not believe these eyes?”
“Please stop inching closer with that smile, it’s scary.”
Alpha-chan’s voice trembles as we approach her, smiling and tilting our heads.
We don’t dislike her. We get along pretty well and consider her a friend, but she’s also someone we can’t let our guard down around.
“Now, back to our conversation… I wanted to talk about the sister,” Kirara says.
“…”
“There’s an imposter claiming to be Katsumi-kun’s sister.”
The story Kirara heard from Katsumi-kun himself the other day.
He doesn’t have any siblings.
“To indoctrinate him while he has amnesia…”
“And even pretend to be his sister to become family…”
“We should have thought of that…!”
“Sometimes, your thought processes terrify me. Even I couldn’t have come up with something like that…?”
Alpha-chan looks utterly shocked at my and Kirara’s mutterings.
But I notice that Aoi doesn’t seem particularly bothered, so I decide to ask her about it.
“Aoi, you don’t seem to mind much.”
“Well, I’m aiming for the junior position, so I don’t really care.”
“…Huh? You haven’t shown any junior-like behavior at all, you know?”
“Katsumi-senpai is my senior, after all.”
“You’re suddenly bringing up that element… you fake science girl…”
Now…? Katsumi-kun probably thinks we’re just classmates.
Come to think of it, I sometimes forget that Aoi is actually a year younger than us because she was told to act normally from the beginning.
“I was hoping that being in the same grade would be fine.”
“Kirara, this girl is so cunning!! She’s aiming for after we graduate!!”
“Whaaat!? We’re already in our third year!?”
“Are you facing reality here!?”
Kirara holds her head, imagining post-graduation plans and whatnot.
In reality, we have an incredible amount of savings thanks to our activities as Justice Crusaders, but we still want to go to university.
We have such thoughts, but given the current situation with invaders, that might be difficult.
“Aoi, speaking of sisters, is Haru-chan okay?”
Kirara asks Aoi.
Alpha-chan looks puzzled at this question.
“Haru-chan? Who’s that?”
“My sister.”
“…Huh?”
“Why are you surprised that I have a sister? Depending on the reason, isn’t that rude?”
“Your behavior doesn’t seem very sisterly at all… She’s not an imaginary sister, is she?”
“I’m about to get angry.”
I can understand why Alpha-chan might think that way.
Actually, Kirara and I were surprised too when we found out Aoi had a sister.
“Haru-chan has been feeling a bit better recently. She’s still on hiatus from streaming, but she’s going to school properly.”
“I see… That’s good.”
She was a big fan of the Black Knight too.
She was depressed when he disappeared, but it seems she’s cheered up a little since the White Knight appeared.
“Oh, speaking of school, how did you guys manage to sneak out during classes?”
“Oh, we use our Changers for optical camouflage, and then holograms attend classes in our place.”
“Is that really okay…?”
“It’s fine unless something major happens. We have cooperators in our class.”
If the holograms are about to be exposed, they cover for us.
Thanks to their efforts, we’re able to act as Justice Crusaders.
“Ah, if I used my ability, it would be even easier to sneak out of class–“
“If you try to alter anyone’s perception, I’ll knock you out, okay?”
“I-I’m sorry…”
Alpha-chan looks terrified.
Hm? Could it be that the reason no one questioned Katsumi-kun sneaking out of class was…
“Did you help Katsumi-kun sneak out of class by altering perceptions, Alpha-chan?”
“Ah, yes. I was told not to use it much other than that.”
I had been wondering how Katsumi-kun managed to sneak out of class without backup like us, but now it makes sense.
Maybe this girl was also involved in why we couldn’t find him when he was active as the Black Knight.
“I’ve said this many times, but you shouldn’t use your ability casually, okay? Even if we don’t know whether they’re targeting you or not, there’s always a possibility.”
“I-I know. I know this place and the people here aren’t bad. It’s not that I don’t trust you. But…”
Her words came out haltingly as she continued.
“I wonder when Katsumi will come back……”
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