3:14 P.M.

3:14 P.M.

 

“…that was ‘Kashmir.’ But why?”

I, Niitoki Kei, glared at Saotome Masami, the King of Distortion.

“………”

He did not answer.

“So is that your ultimate goal? Just to kill everyone in the building? That’s it?”

“Is it?”

“Was that announcement something that actually happened? Or are you just trying to trick me again?”

“What do you think?”

“I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking!”

I was getting annoyed, and my voice was a little too loud.

Where I was standing looked just like the Moon Temple, except for the fact that all the people on the floor appeared to be those mannequin art projects.

But that didn’t change the fact that this was an illusion, a ‘reality’ that fudged the details.

It might be a trap. But it might not be. I had nothing to base my judgment on, no way to calculate the odds.

Argh…!

I wanted everything to fit neatly into place, so this situation was torture for me.

“It isn’t like you to think in circles, President.”

He was making fun of me. I glared at him.

“I know! Thinking won’t get me anywhere. I’m not smart like Suema-san! This isn’t what I do!”

I turned my back on him and walked away.

“Where are you going?”

“Somewhere else!”

There had to be something out there.

Somewhere.

Even if this was an illusion, there had to be a hint somewhere that would let me break out of this mess. Or maybe there wasn’t. But I couldn’t just do nothing. I had to act.

I had no specific goal in mind, but I moved forward purposefully anyway. He followed.

“Looking for something?”

“Yep!”

“Looking for something with Saotome Masami at your side. Just like that day.”

That stopped me in my tracks.

“………”

“If Tanaka Shiro was here, it would be exactly the same.”

“Is the Manticore gonna attack us?”

“No, but maybe Kirima Nagi will come to save you.”

“I’m not getting my hopes up.”

I started walking again.

For a while we proceeded in silence.

Certainly, if Nagi showed up here, that would be reassuring. But Nagi was only human. If she got cut, she’d bleed, even die. And Echoes wasn’t around to share his life energy with her again.

I couldn’t and shouldn’t count on anyone coming to save me.

I had to look after myself.

But as I thought that, something bugged me.

…mm?

I felt like I’d been thinking this same thing over and over again. I’d never really been one to wait for someone to give me a hand. I’d always looked younger than I was, so I’d spent my whole life with people asking if I needed help, and insisting I could do it myself.

“Oh.”

Suddenly, it came to me.

I got it now.

I stopped in my tracks.

“What is it, President?” the King of Distortion said.

I turned back towards him.

“I figured it out, Saotome-kun.”

He frowned.

“Figured what out?”

“What I left with you. The reason why you… why Saotome Masami appeared as my King of Distortion.”