CH 53
By Effugium December 14, 2022
The antidote that Rintaro brought back worked remarkably well. The black knife wounds quickly closed up, and the color of Bearion and Colonel Usanyi-chan’s faces began to improve.
「Thanks Rintaro. I heard you had a run-in with the Victor Rangers?」
Minato, who was dressed in white, asked him a question with concern, but Rintaro did not respond. Rintaro was silently receiving treatment for the wound Kirika had inflicted on him.
「Thank goodness, the wound on your shoulder is shallow. …… hmm? Hey Rintaro, your fist is injured too!」
Minato’s hand touched Rintaro’s hand. Rintaro shook his hand in surprise.
「Sorry, did that hurt? I’ll disinfect it immediately. ……」
「……Sorry, Minato. It’s okay. It’s just a little scrape.」
「Oi Rintaro……!」
Rintaro responded to Minato’s call with, “It’s fine, it’s fine”. He left the infirmary in a daze and returned to his room.
Samecchi would be staying in the infirmary again tonight. The empty room felt strangely spacious.
He buried his body in the soft bed and quietly closed his eyes. Even if he stayed awake, he would only think of unpleasant things.
「…… Lost…… lost again……」
The two defeats came as a great shock to Rintaro.
Shocked by the fact that he had been shown a gap in ability that could not be filled by his more gifted juniors. Shocked that his own ability, which he had placed absolute trust in, did not measure up.
Above all, the fact that he did not achieve “victory” itself cast a big shadow over Rintaro’s mind. Winning was the only identity that had sustained Rintaro since his days as a hero.
Justice is victory. Even if it is an evil justice.
The “My Justice” that he has finally realized is about to fall out of his hands. The frustration, disappointment, and fear were eating away at Rintaro’s mind and body like poison.
…………
The next day and the day after that, Rintaro did not step out of his room even once.
「Death Green-san, please cheer up. Don’t worry even if you lose!」
「Aah, It’s me, Death Green-sama ……. If you don’t mind, you can talk to me.」
「Dear Death Green, I have made some rice balls…… Please enjoy them…….」
「Rintaro, why don’t you at least eat something? People are worried about you.」
Various mysterious beings came to check on him, but Rintaro turned them away without exchanging a word.
Having been beaten black and blue, he was no longer the invincible Death Green that is full of everyone’s expectation. At this juncture, there was no way he could face them. He should just lie face down on their beds and stay still as if he was on a nursery bed.
Kii …… the door to the room quietly opened and another mysterious being came to check on Rintaro.
She wears a blue hoodie and stands two heads shorter than Rintaro. Through her flaxen bangs, her large, round eyes peek out like a slightly missing moon.
「……Aniki!」
She was the last person he wanted to see right now.
Rintaro had no choice but to slowly raise his body and sit down on the bed to face the girl. Whether or not she knew what was going on in Rintaro’s mind, Samechi continued to speak.
「The base of the strange insects army was attacked, ssu. They are still confirming the details, ssukedo, but it seems like General Zazoma was also dealt a serious blow and can’t move for a while, ssu.」
Rintaro could not believe his ears.
That Zazoma had been dealt a serious blow? The army of insects that had repelled the Victor Rangers’ attack had suffered a defeat?
It’s a hard thing to believe.
「Who did this to them? The Victor Rangers shouldn’t be able to move for a while.」
「That, Victor Black did it alone, ssu.」
Victor Black — Mayuzumi Kirika –. As if a matter of fact, that name comes up.
She had already suffered a painful defeat once, and now she was able to get revenge in just a few days. Kirika’s movements were much quicker and more precise than expected.
「That’s ridiculous. Just how in the world……?」
「It seems that she put an insecticide in the water supply. At the same time, white smoke was rising around the base…….」
「That person got defeated by Ba*-san!?」
The cause of defeat of the Strange Insects Army was much more pitiful than he had imagined, but it was certainly effective. If Rintaro had remained a member of the Victory Rangers, he would have surely used the same method.
「Other bases are being sabotaged one after another, ssu! Aniki, Let’s go save everyone as soon as possible, ssu!」
A cold sweat ran down Rintaro’s back.
Going to help means fighting that Mayuzumi Kirika. He would have to cross swords with her again, who could be called a superior version of the heinous mysterious Death Green.
「I- I have a stomach ache, so let’s do it another time.」
He doesn’t want to lose any more. This feeling filled Rintaro’s heart to the brim.
The significance of the heinous mysterious Death Green’s existence in Ark Dominion is “victory”. He is a charismatic figure of evil who suddenly and unexpectedly appears before the mysterious beings. He is Death Green, the most powerful and undefeated mysterious being who boasts a string of victories against the heroes.
If he doesn’t keep winning, he won’t get anything. If he keeps losing, he will lose everything: his position, his honor, his friends, his trust, and his justice. Eventually, even this girl in front of him will be lost.
「You can’t, ssuyo, Aniki! There’s nobody other than Aniki who stands a chance against Victor Black, ssuyo!」
「Listen, Samecchi. Don’t challenge an opponent you can’t beat. This is the basis of the Art of War.」
「It’s fine, ssu! Samecchi believes that Aniki can win, ssu!」
「On what basis do you say that, Samecchi? The other party is a genuine monster, you know?」
The unexpected weak tone of Rintaro’s voice puzzled Samechi for a moment, but she soon regained her composure. With a slight blush on her cheeks, she continued speaking to cheer Rintaro up.
「Aniki, Don’t worry about such things and do your best, ssu! And even if you lose, Samecchi loves Aniki, ssuyo!」
「What’s the point if we don’t win!!!」
Rintaro’s angry voice echoed through the room. The unexpectedness of Rintaro’s words startled Samecchi, causing her shoulders to shake.
「…… It’s okay if I lose? You’ll be taken advantage of because you’re being so naive. Winning and achieving results is what it’s all about. To do that, all you need is a perfect strategy, powerful weapons, and overwhelming talent. “Do your best” is not the right word.」
「A- Aniki……?」
「I say, if you think you can become strong through spiritualism, show me the evidence. If I could break through a difficult situation with just mentality, I would have done so a long time ago. The reality is that you can’t get results just by wanting to win, you know!」
After saying all that, Rintaro came back to himself. Samecchi was staring at Rintaro with a face that looked as if she was about to cry.
What in the world is he even doing getting so worked up over a little girl who is not even of age? Being impatient and lashing out at the kid is not going to solve anything.
「……Sorry, Samecchi. It seems Aniki is a little tired. Can you leave me alone.」
Rintaro said this as he sat up in bed, turning his back to Samechi. He did not want Samechi to see his face filled with self-loathing.
Without saying a word, a small presence slowly moved away from Rintaro. The door slammed shut and silence returned to the room.
Rintaro was again alone in the dark room.
「Damn it……」
Tears welled up in Rintaro’s dark, stagnant eyes.
A man named Rintaro Kuriyama was helplessly disgusted with himself.
He who have no talent other than fighting and winning. The weak him, who was overwhelmed by his talented junior. The pathetic him who lashed out at an innocent girl.
He was abandoned because of his lack of talent, he was despised because of his weakness, and he was on the road to loneliness because of his pathetic nature.
「……Damn it……Damn iit……」
Finally, his frustration spilled out in large drops. Even though he tried desperately to stop it, it kept pouring out, drop after drop.
His fingertips trembled and his cold fists now began to ache.
「…………!?」
A thin arm wrapped around Rintaro’s shoulder. The soft warmth on his back beat a small, rapid heartbeat.
「……Aniki. Onee-chan said that when you feel lonely, you shouldn’t cry alone.」
「Samecchi……?」
The scent of soap and a girl’s scent tickled Rintaro’s nose. When he came to, he found himself in a gentle embrace with Samechi from behind.
「Why……? I told you to leave me alone…… pushed you away coldly……」
「Sorry, ssu. Samecchi is a bad girl, so Samecchi couldn’t follow Aniki’s instruction」
Samecchi said shyly. She had never left from the very beginning.
「There is Samecchi by Aniki’s side, ssuyo.」
He felt abandoned. He thought she had given up on him.
However, the mysterious being girl denied that truth.
「I…… lost, you know?」
「It was just a bit of a pinch, ssu. The various pinches that Aniki had overcome so far, Samecchi saw it all, ssu.」
「Mayuzumi…… Victor Black scared me, you know?」
「She’s very very scary, ssuyo. The fact that Aniki is actually a scaredy-cat, Samecchi also properly see, ssu. I also know that precisely because of being a scaredy-cat, you are really smart, ssu.」
A small hand gently nudges Rintaro’s head.
Just like Rintaro had always patted Samecchi on the head. Gently and firmly, she made sure that Aniki was there.
「Samecchi……」
When her name was called, Samecchi felt her cheeks turn red and hot. Her heart was pounding faster and faster, and she felt ashamed when she thought that Rintaro could hear it. But she can’t let go, she won’t let go, she swore in her heart, and she formed the words as hard as she can.
「Samecchi was properly looking at Aniki, ssuyo.」
「But lashing out at Samecchi…… I am a failure as an Aniki.」
「Don’t say such a thing, ssu! Samecchi won’t hand over the first sister title to somebody else, ssuyo!」
「I am not as amazing as Samecchi thinks I am.」
「Samecchi can’t be fooled, ssu! Aniki had helped Samecchi so many times with his courage and wits! Aniki’s amazingness will be decided by Samecchi, ssu!」
Samecchi squeezed her thin arms and hugged Aniki’s small back. His back, which could only be chased by her, is held close to her chest with her small body.
「How cool Aniki is, how kind Aniki is. How much Samecchi loves Aniki, are all decided by Samecchi, ssu! Even if Aniki hates Samecchi, Samecchi’s love will not be changed, ssu!!!」
Rintaro closed his eyes quietly, feeling a small heartbeat. His hands had already stopped shaking.
Then, slowly, he lays his palm on the girl’s warm palm.
「Samecchi, will you still believe in Aniki?」
「Of course, ssu! Even if Samecchi is told not to believe, Samecchi will still continue believing in Aniki, ssu! Because Samecchi is a bad girl, ssukara!」
Rintaro pulled Samecchi’s hand and held her close to his chest. As he held Samecchi’s small body in his arms, he cried out without a care in the world.
「Samecchiii!!」
「Anikiiii!!」
「Uwaaaaaaaan!!!」
「Waaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!」
They cried in each other’s arms until morning.
………………
…………
……
――The next morning――
Rintaro’s mind was clear. There was no longer any doubt in his mind.
The heinous mysterious Death Green will use all his power to lead Mayuzumi Kirika, the Victor Black, to her defeat.
「Aniki」
Samecchi, red-eyed, called out to him from the bed.
「What is it, Samecchi?」
「Can we kiss, ssuka?」
「You’re ten years too early.」
Rintaro smiled back at her with a bad smile while adjusting his glasses.
The antidote that Rintaro brought back worked remarkably well. The black knife wounds quickly closed up, and the color of Bearion and Colonel Usanyi-chan’s faces began to improve.
「Thanks Rintaro. I heard you had a run-in with the Victor Rangers?」
Minato, who was dressed in white, asked him a question with concern, but Rintaro did not respond. Rintaro was silently receiving treatment for the wound Kirika had inflicted on him.
「Thank goodness, the wound on your shoulder is shallow. …… hmm? Hey Rintaro, your fist is injured too!」
Minato’s hand touched Rintaro’s hand. Rintaro shook his hand in surprise.
「Sorry, did that hurt? I’ll disinfect it immediately. ……」
「……Sorry, Minato. It’s okay. It’s just a little scrape.」
「Oi Rintaro……!」
Rintaro responded to Minato’s call with, “It’s fine, it’s fine”. He left the infirmary in a daze and returned to his room.
Samecchi would be staying in the infirmary again tonight. The empty room felt strangely spacious.
He buried his body in the soft bed and quietly closed his eyes. Even if he stayed awake, he would only think of unpleasant things.
「…… Lost…… lost again……」
The two defeats came as a great shock to Rintaro.
Shocked by the fact that he had been shown a gap in ability that could not be filled by his more gifted juniors. Shocked that his own ability, which he had placed absolute trust in, did not measure up.
Above all, the fact that he did not achieve “victory” itself cast a big shadow over Rintaro’s mind. Winning was the only identity that had sustained Rintaro since his days as a hero.
Justice is victory. Even if it is an evil justice.
The “My Justice” that he has finally realized is about to fall out of his hands. The frustration, disappointment, and fear were eating away at Rintaro’s mind and body like poison.
…………
The next day and the day after that, Rintaro did not step out of his room even once.
「Death Green-san, please cheer up. Don’t worry even if you lose!」
「Aah, It’s me, Death Green-sama ……. If you don’t mind, you can talk to me.」
「Dear Death Green, I have made some rice balls…… Please enjoy them…….」
「Rintaro, why don’t you at least eat something? People are worried about you.」
Various mysterious beings came to check on him, but Rintaro turned them away without exchanging a word.
Having been beaten black and blue, he was no longer the invincible Death Green that is full of everyone’s expectation. At this juncture, there was no way he could face them. He should just lie face down on their beds and stay still as if he was on a nursery bed.
Kii …… the door to the room quietly opened and another mysterious being came to check on Rintaro.
She wears a blue hoodie and stands two heads shorter than Rintaro. Through her flaxen bangs, her large, round eyes peek out like a slightly missing moon.
「……Aniki!」
She was the last person he wanted to see right now.
Rintaro had no choice but to slowly raise his body and sit down on the bed to face the girl. Whether or not she knew what was going on in Rintaro’s mind, Samechi continued to speak.
「The base of the strange insects army was attacked, ssu. They are still confirming the details, ssukedo, but it seems like General Zazoma was also dealt a serious blow and can’t move for a while, ssu.」
Rintaro could not believe his ears.
That Zazoma had been dealt a serious blow? The army of insects that had repelled the Victor Rangers’ attack had suffered a defeat?
It’s a hard thing to believe.
「Who did this to them? The Victor Rangers shouldn’t be able to move for a while.」
「That, Victor Black did it alone, ssu.」
Victor Black — Mayuzumi Kirika –. As if a matter of fact, that name comes up.
She had already suffered a painful defeat once, and now she was able to get revenge in just a few days. Kirika’s movements were much quicker and more precise than expected.
「That’s ridiculous. Just how in the world……?」
「It seems that she put an insecticide in the water supply. At the same time, white smoke was rising around the base…….」
「That person got defeated by Ba*-san!?」
The cause of defeat of the Strange Insects Army was much more pitiful than he had imagined, but it was certainly effective. If Rintaro had remained a member of the Victory Rangers, he would have surely used the same method.
「Other bases are being sabotaged one after another, ssu! Aniki, Let’s go save everyone as soon as possible, ssu!」
A cold sweat ran down Rintaro’s back.
Going to help means fighting that Mayuzumi Kirika. He would have to cross swords with her again, who could be called a superior version of the heinous mysterious Death Green.
「I- I have a stomach ache, so let’s do it another time.」
He doesn’t want to lose any more. This feeling filled Rintaro’s heart to the brim.
The significance of the heinous mysterious Death Green’s existence in Ark Dominion is “victory”. He is a charismatic figure of evil who suddenly and unexpectedly appears before the mysterious beings. He is Death Green, the most powerful and undefeated mysterious being who boasts a string of victories against the heroes.
If he doesn’t keep winning, he won’t get anything. If he keeps losing, he will lose everything: his position, his honor, his friends, his trust, and his justice. Eventually, even this girl in front of him will be lost.
「You can’t, ssuyo, Aniki! There’s nobody other than Aniki who stands a chance against Victor Black, ssuyo!」
「Listen, Samecchi. Don’t challenge an opponent you can’t beat. This is the basis of the Art of War.」
「It’s fine, ssu! Samecchi believes that Aniki can win, ssu!」
「On what basis do you say that, Samecchi? The other party is a genuine monster, you know?」
The unexpected weak tone of Rintaro’s voice puzzled Samechi for a moment, but she soon regained her composure. With a slight blush on her cheeks, she continued speaking to cheer Rintaro up.
「Aniki, Don’t worry about such things and do your best, ssu! And even if you lose, Samecchi loves Aniki, ssuyo!」
「What’s the point if we don’t win!!!」
Rintaro’s angry voice echoed through the room. The unexpectedness of Rintaro’s words startled Samecchi, causing her shoulders to shake.
「…… It’s okay if I lose? You’ll be taken advantage of because you’re being so naive. Winning and achieving results is what it’s all about. To do that, all you need is a perfect strategy, powerful weapons, and overwhelming talent. “Do your best” is not the right word.」
「A- Aniki……?」
「I say, if you think you can become strong through spiritualism, show me the evidence. If I could break through a difficult situation with just mentality, I would have done so a long time ago. The reality is that you can’t get results just by wanting to win, you know!」
After saying all that, Rintaro came back to himself. Samecchi was staring at Rintaro with a face that looked as if she was about to cry.
What in the world is he even doing getting so worked up over a little girl who is not even of age? Being impatient and lashing out at the kid is not going to solve anything.
「……Sorry, Samecchi. It seems Aniki is a little tired. Can you leave me alone.」
Rintaro said this as he sat up in bed, turning his back to Samechi. He did not want Samechi to see his face filled with self-loathing.
Without saying a word, a small presence slowly moved away from Rintaro. The door slammed shut and silence returned to the room.
Rintaro was again alone in the dark room.
「Damn it……」
Tears welled up in Rintaro’s dark, stagnant eyes.
A man named Rintaro Kuriyama was helplessly disgusted with himself.
He who have no talent other than fighting and winning. The weak him, who was overwhelmed by his talented junior. The pathetic him who lashed out at an innocent girl.
He was abandoned because of his lack of talent, he was despised because of his weakness, and he was on the road to loneliness because of his pathetic nature.
「……Damn it……Damn iit……」
Finally, his frustration spilled out in large drops. Even though he tried desperately to stop it, it kept pouring out, drop after drop.
His fingertips trembled and his cold fists now began to ache.
「…………!?」
A thin arm wrapped around Rintaro’s shoulder. The soft warmth on his back beat a small, rapid heartbeat.
「……Aniki. Onee-chan said that when you feel lonely, you shouldn’t cry alone.」
「Samecchi……?」
The scent of soap and a girl’s scent tickled Rintaro’s nose. When he came to, he found himself in a gentle embrace with Samechi from behind.
「Why……? I told you to leave me alone…… pushed you away coldly……」
「Sorry, ssu. Samecchi is a bad girl, so Samecchi couldn’t follow Aniki’s instruction」
Samecchi said shyly. She had never left from the very beginning.
「There is Samecchi by Aniki’s side, ssuyo.」
He felt abandoned. He thought she had given up on him.
However, the mysterious being girl denied that truth.
「I…… lost, you know?」
「It was just a bit of a pinch, ssu. The various pinches that Aniki had overcome so far, Samecchi saw it all, ssu.」
「Mayuzumi…… Victor Black scared me, you know?」
「She’s very very scary, ssuyo. The fact that Aniki is actually a scaredy-cat, Samecchi also properly see, ssu. I also know that precisely because of being a scaredy-cat, you are really smart, ssu.」
A small hand gently nudges Rintaro’s head.
Just like Rintaro had always patted Samecchi on the head. Gently and firmly, she made sure that Aniki was there.
「Samecchi……」
When her name was called, Samecchi felt her cheeks turn red and hot. Her heart was pounding faster and faster, and she felt ashamed when she thought that Rintaro could hear it. But she can’t let go, she won’t let go, she swore in her heart, and she formed the words as hard as she can.
「Samecchi was properly looking at Aniki, ssuyo.」
「But lashing out at Samecchi…… I am a failure as an Aniki.」
「Don’t say such a thing, ssu! Samecchi won’t hand over the first sister title to somebody else, ssuyo!」
「I am not as amazing as Samecchi thinks I am.」
「Samecchi can’t be fooled, ssu! Aniki had helped Samecchi so many times with his courage and wits! Aniki’s amazingness will be decided by Samecchi, ssu!」
Samecchi squeezed her thin arms and hugged Aniki’s small back. His back, which could only be chased by her, is held close to her chest with her small body.
「How cool Aniki is, how kind Aniki is. How much Samecchi loves Aniki, are all decided by Samecchi, ssu! Even if Aniki hates Samecchi, Samecchi’s love will not be changed, ssu!!!」
Rintaro closed his eyes quietly, feeling a small heartbeat. His hands had already stopped shaking.
Then, slowly, he lays his palm on the girl’s warm palm.
「Samecchi, will you still believe in Aniki?」
「Of course, ssu! Even if Samecchi is told not to believe, Samecchi will still continue believing in Aniki, ssu! Because Samecchi is a bad girl, ssukara!」
Rintaro pulled Samecchi’s hand and held her close to his chest. As he held Samecchi’s small body in his arms, he cried out without a care in the world.
「Samecchiii!!」
「Anikiiii!!」
「Uwaaaaaaaan!!!」
「Waaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!」
They cried in each other’s arms until morning.
………………
…………
……
――The next morning――
Rintaro’s mind was clear. There was no longer any doubt in his mind.
The heinous mysterious Death Green will use all his power to lead Mayuzumi Kirika, the Victor Black, to her defeat.
「Aniki」
Samecchi, red-eyed, called out to him from the bed.
「What is it, Samecchi?」
「Can we kiss, ssuka?」
「You’re ten years too early.」
Rintaro smiled back at her with a bad smile while adjusting his glasses.
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