Hijikata Isami was the type of quasi-spirit whose memories had disappeared completely.
Generally speaking, girls are more or less concerned about this.
How in the world did she get here?
Most Quasi-Spirits wanted to know this.
This was true even for girls who sought their existence through battle.
It was the same for those desiring candy, like Sheri, and those seeking books, like Takeshita Ayame.
The things sought would differ from person to person, but that was the only line connecting one side to the other.
Hijikata Isami did not seek such a difficult goal.
After reaching this neighboring world, she discovered that she could survive in this world by killing others.
And so, she killed.
That was all. There was no need for eating, sleeping, dressing, or even entertainment.
Because there was no need, it became better to swing a sword.
Although training was troublesome, Isami continued to cut and kill before suddenly stopping.
—Oh. Could it be said that she had some sort of problem?
As it turns out, there was no one who spoke affectionately to her. Acquaintances naturally faded away.
Since she was the one killing, it was only fitting.
I want a friend. No, I don't want that. I don't want to think like that. It was only a matter of time before that relationship would be torn apart.
It was a little lonely. Not being able to do anything but kill, it was a little miserable.
...But still, she could not suppress her excitement, her accelerating heartbeat, when facing other strong Quasi-Spirits.
And so, Hijikata Isami liked Takeshita Ayame. Despite knowing he was hated by the other party, it was still a feeling of fondness.
Most of all, rather than now, he hoped they would kill each other at the very end.
There were quasi-spirits just as strong as her.
There certainly were quasi-spirits even stronger than her. And then, there was him.
However, as the only girl constantly fighting against them, it couldn't be helped that she was an exception.
Therefore, Isami felt relieved when asking for a joint effort.
"Making that guy the ruler of the Neighboring World… Does that mean we get to fight!?"
"What a simpleton."
Ayame sighed. Somehow, her judgment on that matter seemed relatively sensible—or at least, Isami thought so.
While undoubtedly looking callous and harsh at first glance, underneath that mask was a cluster of tender and good-natured consciousness.
Isami thought she was different from herself, a ronin who would swing a sword underhandedly.
"I mean, a bigger goal equals more fights with more stronger people, right…?"
Isami calmly said so. Truly, the distinction between the enemy and them was drawn too quickly.
There was no room for sympathy, only the desire to cut down enemies when seen.
That was Isami's approach, her method of survival.
So even now, Isami would kill Ayame if given the opportunity. She was already an enemy; it was merely that now was not the chance to kill.
However, these useless conversations exchanged on the battlefield were Ayame's greatest salvation in this merciless world.
Honestly, this is the reason she has survived until now, allowing the Sephira Crystal to accumulate even more power.
Quasi-Spirits cannot live without dreams.
Ayame's dream was to someday be without an Unsigned Angel and leisurely converse with Isami in the sunshine.
That was all.
Isami would surely laugh if she heard this.
Before killing, before being killed, Ayame hoped to be able to convey that, at least.
'…Well, even after deciding to kill, I broke down.'
Even though she desired that, she still didn't want to die; how utterly foolish.
And when faced with the person who could fulfill that wish, despite all her bravado, she still faltered, which made her laugh at herself.
However, Isami repeated this matter again and again.
"If anything, I want to continue fighting with you and other stronger opponents!"
"Yes, yes… But still, there are many things I want to enjoy until then."
Isami widely opened her eyes. Ayame felt it was a little strange. But then…
"Hey, let's go. To play with both of them."
"Yeah! Un… let's go. Whether it's an inverse or quasi-spirit, it doesn't matter. There's no difference in withered lives.
…
Leaving the school grounds, they went to the city and entered a shopping mall.
Since, technically, it wasn't against the rules—and there were none against them leaving, as the entire Tenth Region was a battlefield—
After entering the shopping mall, a strange scene unfolded before them. There was a clerk.
However, the clerk was like a mannequin. There was a face, but no eyes or nose, only the faint outline of a mouth, and no ear holes.
Was this a mannequin, or could it be—
"Welcome. What do you need?"
"Hello, I want clothes. Any recommendations? I'm completely covered in pure white; it feels a bit too pristine, or rather, too simple and naive. I hope to find clothes that give people a more refreshing feeling—"
"Welcome, what can I get for you?"
"...Is that all you can say?"
"Just get in already."
Ikari said that, pushing Empty into a nearby ladies' fashion shop with a tap on her back.
Empty, having been pushed in by Ikari, entered the eye-catching store, her shoulders twitching in annoyance.
From there, "Hey, which one do you think looks good?", "Isn't anything fine enough?"
The faint buzzing in his ears caused Ikari to scowl.
From the recovery of things that should have been long abandoned, Ikari suffered from an exceedingly sore headache.
In the first place, why was he even here?
Ah, yes. An Empty who doesn't have control over reiryokuken yet was pestering him about a change of clothes.
Vaguely, to him, this felt like déjà vu. He had experienced a similar situation, and instinctively he followed her here.
Of course, there was also another reason, but…
"Ikari-san! Can you help me find a cloth that suits me!?"
From empty, suddenly darting out while dressed in underwear, Ikari was involuntarily taken aback.
'Gah! I should have seen this coming.'
Ikari slapped his forehead. From her innocent smile, Ikari felt a faint degree of irritation and guilt.
But then, he sighed, looking away.
"You're not supposed to show that to me, or any other male for that matter."
Hearing that, Empty finally came to her senses, looking down at herself.
Now that she thought about it, she just felt it was natural for her to have done so.
But now, with his rebuttal, 'What am I doing!?'
"Eeeeeeeh!"
With a shriek, she ran back into the dressing room at a burst of speed.
Meanwhile,
"Activating. First, second, and third shot preparation. Loading. Determining measurement.
On a drafty structure in the shopping mall, a single Quasi-Spirit began to descend.
The target was on the second floor of the ladies' fashion shop: the girl Empty, who was leisurely changing clothes, and Tokisaki Ikari in front of said shop.
The other quasi-spirit carefully took aim.
Since their goal had changed from "kill" to "determine," they targeted only the one who had been described to them.
Now that they had decided to work together in earnest, their combat power had doubled.
As for the other four—Sheri, Tonami, Tsuan, and False—they were not worried. They could interfere.
If anything, both pairs would welcome the intervention.
"A human's life is short; a brief life suddenly blooms and fades. It is a life to live without regrets!"
With a smile, the girl prepared to set up her Unsigned Angel.
…
After the fashion store, there wasn't much more shopping.
Rather, it would be better to say that Ikari and Empty were making a game of wandering around the shopping mall.
Empty enthusiastically called to Ikari to enter each store, but Ikari ignored every request.
"Really, what is the matter, Ikari-san?"
"I did not follow you here to play."
"Eh, then what did you come here to do?"
Ikari came to a stop, looking at the ceiling of the middle spot of the shopping mall, which displayed other floors from where they stood.
"What else? An ambush."
Ever since hearing the results of the prior match, according to Doll Master, it meant that some Quasi-Spirits had already…
However, such a result meant he was the main center of attention, which, if anything, worked in his favor.
Since neither of those two had been eliminated, he also had a feeling they would come back for him.
Depending on how today's match goes, he might really end it all today.
'I'm stable at the moment. If it's [Cardinal Acceleration], I should be able to use it once. Maximum, twice.'
'
Thinking that, Ikari opened his eyes. It's coming, he whispered to himself.
The shopping mall was a spacious structure.
Therefore, if commencing a surprise attack, now was the perfect opportunity, as the two were about to walk outside.
It wasn't like those girls to miss such an opportunity.
As she looked at the Quasi-Spirit falling down, there was no look of surprise on her face. As expected, everything went as planned.
Yes, as expected, what had fallen was—
"
"So, your path has finally led you back to me, Ms. Takashita Ayame?"
"It cannot be helped. Depending on our battle today, we will either submit or die."
"I see… then I shall humor you."
As Takeshita Ayame dropped down, Ikari was instantly wrapped in flames, motioning for Empty to step back.
Since Empty wasn't in the game, she was relatively safe. Of course, that is if she doesn't end up as a hostage.
Knowing them, they probably wouldn't stoop to such levels.
Of course, maybe he's giving them that much credit, but either way, it won't change the end result.
The intersection lasted only a moment.
Even though stunned at being seen through, Ayame fired her arrow.
The arrow, like a rifle bullet, went perfectly straight, spiraling forward.
At the cost of sacrificing speed, the arrow had the destructive capability to penetrate an Astral Dress.
Ikari avoided it by sidestepping the arrow.
"Ku...!"
Other arrows could increase speed by imbuing them with reiryoku, but since
No matter how much the speed increased, it was pointless if a hit could not be landed.
However, Ayame's role of pinning that male to a single location had already been accomplished.
While putting on the brakes mid-air, Ayame continued firing one arrow after another.
"Kiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
It was that girl who let out a sorrowful scream while fleeing in disarray.
"Ended up as I thought, huh?"
Ikari muttered, dodging another arrow, before sending the mage's starter magic pack: fireball.
However,
It wasn't just one, but many huge fireballs that obstructed her vision in addition to the searing heat that seemed to want to consume her.
"As expected… Ridiculous."
Ayame thought as she immediately descended the path of the fireball's descent.
With Reiryūken, she would manage. Discerning his position comes first. And once she did…
"Isami, now!"
Ayame shouted. Immediately afterward, accompanied by a slamming roar, Isami leaped from the fifth floor and landed on the ground.
"
It was an innocent, monster-like roar. An extraordinary onslaught struck the surrounding region.
There was no such thing as a special ability for Hijikata Isami's Unsigned Angel.
It was a pure mass of reckless slashing; merely cutting, cutting, cutting, until the very end—a fury of slashes where neither defense nor escape was permitted.
No matter what sort of spirit, no one could remain unscathed by this.
Or at least, that is what she believes. Who's going to tell her?
"Eh, there's no one here!?"
"Huh…!?"
Ayame froze upon hearing Isami's voice. Thinking back to just before her thoughts scrambled.
She was sure she had discerned his position. Wait, could he have used his other ability? Even if that is the case, then…
"Ayame, where!?"
"Looking for, now─"
Ayame suddenly blinked, looking down and letting out a "crap" sound.
Below them, the ground was bright red. Ayame then looked up again.
Standing on the railing guarding the second floor was Ikari; his right hand raised up, his index and middle fingers together.
"Isami…!"
"Got it!"
BOOM–!