[Dying Conscience]
After seeing off Sen, I stand in front of the payphone.
From now on, I will make a phone call to Tsurugi.
And try to negotiate again to see if we can form a cooperative relationship.
At least on the surface, I would like to try to talk with a policy that matches Tsurugi’s means.
He rejected the previous proposal due to an extremely reasonable reason, that is he couldn’t agree with our outlaw-ish means.
Of course, there may be other reasons, but at least we won’t come to terms unless our side make concessions.
In that case, our movement will be restricted, especially me and Utsusemi-san, but if doing so would give me a serious wound, at worst, I would just sever my relationship with Tsurugi.
It is only because of Yoiyami-san’s humor that I go out of my way trying to form a cooperative relationship with Tsurugi. Even though it was because of personal feelings, Yoiyami-san directly nominated Tsurugi, so I think it is essential to form a cooperation with him as soon as possible.
Right, that’s why the relationship with Tsurugi is only something temporary. I can come up with any number of ways to get rid of Tsurugi later.
Just that, I have to show my loyalty to Yoiyami-san.
In order for us to survive, the backing of Yoiyami-san is indispensable.
I must not misunderstand the current situation. This is a fact that can’t be overturned no matter how we struggle. We would have been dead by this time without Yoiyami-san. It will continue to be so. Everything will end if he abandons us.
Therefore, while respecting his ideas as much as possible, I will also consider my self-protection.
The Observer’s case is a difficult problem.
She is the very reason why Yoiyami-san fights.
I lied that she was alive, but she was actually dead. However, even if I lied, if I didn’t stop him at that time, I’m sure we would’ve lost him.
Is there a way to appease Yoiyami-san without lying to him?
Anyways, the horrible treatment Observer received should have been enough reason for Yoiyami-san to fight, but I just had to go out of my way to fan him.
At least there must have been a better lie.
I’m assuming that I could hide the matter of Observer well even in the future by matching my story with Tsurugi.
However, when Yoiyami-san, who is hoping that she is alive, finally confront Boss and learn the truth—
……No, I don’t want to think about that time.
Closing my eyes and breathing out, I finally pick up the payphone handset.
I insert coins into the coin slot and press Tsurugi’s phone numbers – that I – memorized one by one while being cautious of the sounds around me.
After the electronic sound *pipopa* – that I used to like – echoed in order from the handset, it eventually change to a call *Turulu*.
And after a few rings, without losing my patience, the phone is connected.
[Hello.] A female voice comes from the handset. It’s Yumesaki Aika. I have no use for this person currently.
“Please give the phone to Tsurugi.” (Shion)
[Shion-san is it? I will give it to him now,] She said mechanically, without a pause.
I can hear air noise from the other side of the handset.
While listening to the exchange of Tsurugi and Yumesaki Aika and the noise of the car, I look over the street corner where the setting sun is setting.
I can see the streetlight is already lit up on the street in the distance.
[Kazato?] Then Tsurugi’s voice reaches my ears.
“Ahh.” (Shion)
[I know what your business is generally.] (Tsurugi)
Meaning this guy predicted the possibility that I would want to talk again, huh.
Meanwhile, I had been trying to calm down and braved myself to come here for the flicker of hope for negotiation.
Was the reason he refused the first invitation to lower our conditions?
Or did he have a second thought? Well, it doesn’t matter which one.
“That’s good, the talk will be quick then.” (Shion)
From the noise of the call, he’s outdoor now, huh.
For him to be outside with Yumesaki Aika on purpose means that Tsurugi has no one like Yoiyami-san to ‘depend on’.
No, in the case of this guy, it is highly likely that he doesn’t dare to rely on someone because he doesn’t want to bother them.
However, that’s not the case with us who are in the same situation as himself.
[How about Hitomi?] (Tsurugi)
I feel like clicking my tongue.
Shameless. Since he has predicted it, he should know that I wouldn’t kill Ohashi.
If he sizes me up that far, it makes me feel like holding my ground, but… if I become too emotional, it would be a repeat of the case at Negwave.
“You should know that she’s safe, right?” (Shion)
[I see… yeah, I’m glad. Since at that time Kazato sounded like you were really going to kill her. I was really worried you know.] (Tsurugi)
“……”
The flippant and affable voice, that sounded just like that of Tsurugi’s of the past, cross through the handset and jolt my eardrum.
This time I couldn’t make a voice.
It’s because I can’t read his true intention. I don’t feel hatred from Tsurugi’s voice, after all.
However, I feel a gap from that tone with the somewhat formal tone he had during our last conversation that sounds as though he was probing me.
From that difference, I get the feeling that I might go mad if I talk to him for a long time.
Even though I just talked to him for a little while.
[About the invitation, I’ll join you for the time being.] (Tsurugi)
“That doesn’t mean… you accept the invitation without any condition, right?” (Shion)
[Of course. It’s kind of hard to talk about the points that we can’t concede to each other over the phone, so let’s talk directly. Let me decide after that whether or not I will cooperate.] (Tsurugi)
“…Ah, got it,” Wanting to end the call as soon as possible, I unintentionally give a crisp reply.
Tsurugi’s words sounded like an eerie sound in the inside of my eardrum, and only after a few seconds passed that I grasped the meaning of his words.
I can hear a beeping sound *beeeep* from the payphone nearing the end of the call.
I add a coin to the slot and swallow my saliva, braving myself,
“No, wait. Before that, I want to talk with just the two of us once.” (Shion)
[……I don’t mind. Can I bring Aika with me?] (Tsurugi)
Tsurugi’s tone changes.
Cause I want Yumesaki Aika to listen to me too, I affirm, “Yeah.”
“Where are you now?” (Shion)
[Ahh, don’t worry about that. Aika has grasped your position, we’ll be there somehow.] (Tsurugi)
“…Then about what time will you arrive?” (Shion)
[Perhaps three days at the latest, I think. Please contact me again around that time.] (Tsurugi)
“No, I’m not in a situation where I can contact you that many times, so I’ll head to you when you are close.” (Shion)
[Can you do something like that?] (Tsurugi)
“Well, yeah.” (Shion)
I can pick up sound from the whole area, Tsurugi is at the place where I can’t pick up sound.
If he received that interference, he should be able to notice me as well.
Tsurugi who is moving in pair with Yumesaki Aika must have pass through waves of detection. So, he probably wouldn’t turn off his ability when he enters a new city.
“But just in case, how about we decide the place to meet?” (Shion)
[Is it okay to talk about that over the phone?] (Tsurugi)
“It’s fine.” (Shion)
Boss probably have marked Tsurugi’s phone, but he shouldn’t have tap it.
If we talk about needless things, he would have to get rid of more people after all.
In the case of Negwave, before Tsurugi and I made contact, the existence of Yoiyami-san had not been revealed, so he moved the Self-Defense Forces.
Boss has a new position.
Even if he eavesdrops on this conversation privately, if he wants to crush someone, he would crush Tsurugi, who is moving independently, before he join up with us. He is the Boss who lynched Midou Ryuusui with all the executives. Even against Yoiyami-san, he will never challenge him with a half-baked force.
Boss currently doesn’t have the power to move many generals yet.
Well, there is a merit to me no matter how it turns out.
If Tsurugi and Yumesaki Aika die, my anxiety will clear up, and if the matter with Tsurugi and co goes well, in addition to increasing our strength, I will be able to gain Yoiyami-san’s trust.
What I hate is,
[If you have a place in mind, let’s go with that.] (Tsurugi)
The attitude of this guy.
It’s good that he predicted my thoughts, but I didn’t expect this immediate response.
Without thinking about anything, they leave their safety to me.
Even if he has an absolutely inviolable insurance, that is ‘Master Cancel’, that leisure is sickening.
“…Then, I’ll tell you the meeting place, so take a note.” (Shion)
[Aika is listening, so feel free to say it anytime.] (Tsurugi)
“There is a downtown area along Road 5, which extends to the northeastern slums of the city. On the second floor of a building called New Avenue there, there is an internet café, so if we can’t join up, let’s meet there.” (Shion)
At that time, whether or not I could get out of the apartment… but well, at that time, I better tell the truth to Yoiyami-san to some extent.
If I said I have something I want to talk about with Tsurugi, he should think I want to talk about our private matters, not about Observer.
[You sure are careful. I got it.] (Tsurugi)
“Not really.” (Shion)
[Okay.] (Tsurugi)
*Piii* The sound of the call about to end comes from the payphone again.
“Later,” Saying that, I put the handset back in its original position.
“Haah…”
That was tiring.
The tongue-clicking that had been holding back during the call becomes a sigh and flows out of my body.
I wonder if Sen is able to manage the money properly.
I clear up my next anxiety and proceed to the supermarket.
[Dying Conscience]
After seeing off Sen, I stand in front of the payphone.
From now on, I will make a phone call to Tsurugi.
And try to negotiate again to see if we can form a cooperative relationship.
At least on the surface, I would like to try to talk with a policy that matches Tsurugi’s means.
He rejected the previous proposal due to an extremely reasonable reason, that is he couldn’t agree with our outlaw-ish means.
Of course, there may be other reasons, but at least we won’t come to terms unless our side make concessions.
In that case, our movement will be restricted, especially me and Utsusemi-san, but if doing so would give me a serious wound, at worst, I would just sever my relationship with Tsurugi.
It is only because of Yoiyami-san’s humor that I go out of my way trying to form a cooperative relationship with Tsurugi. Even though it was because of personal feelings, Yoiyami-san directly nominated Tsurugi, so I think it is essential to form a cooperation with him as soon as possible.
Right, that’s why the relationship with Tsurugi is only something temporary. I can come up with any number of ways to get rid of Tsurugi later.
Just that, I have to show my loyalty to Yoiyami-san.
In order for us to survive, the backing of Yoiyami-san is indispensable.
I must not misunderstand the current situation. This is a fact that can’t be overturned no matter how we struggle. We would have been dead by this time without Yoiyami-san. It will continue to be so. Everything will end if he abandons us.
Therefore, while respecting his ideas as much as possible, I will also consider my self-protection.
The Observer’s case is a difficult problem.
She is the very reason why Yoiyami-san fights.
I lied that she was alive, but she was actually dead. However, even if I lied, if I didn’t stop him at that time, I’m sure we would’ve lost him.
Is there a way to appease Yoiyami-san without lying to him?
Anyways, the horrible treatment Observer received should have been enough reason for Yoiyami-san to fight, but I just had to go out of my way to fan him.
At least there must have been a better lie.
I’m assuming that I could hide the matter of Observer well even in the future by matching my story with Tsurugi.
However, when Yoiyami-san, who is hoping that she is alive, finally confront Boss and learn the truth—
……No, I don’t want to think about that time.
Closing my eyes and breathing out, I finally pick up the payphone handset.
I insert coins into the coin slot and press Tsurugi’s phone numbers – that I – memorized one by one while being cautious of the sounds around me.
After the electronic sound *pipopa* – that I used to like – echoed in order from the handset, it eventually change to a call *Turulu*.
And after a few rings, without losing my patience, the phone is connected.
[Hello.] A female voice comes from the handset. It’s Yumesaki Aika. I have no use for this person currently.
“Please give the phone to Tsurugi.” (Shion)
[Shion-san is it? I will give it to him now,] She said mechanically, without a pause.
I can hear air noise from the other side of the handset.
While listening to the exchange of Tsurugi and Yumesaki Aika and the noise of the car, I look over the street corner where the setting sun is setting.
I can see the streetlight is already lit up on the street in the distance.
[Kazato?] Then Tsurugi’s voice reaches my ears.
“Ahh.” (Shion)
[I know what your business is generally.] (Tsurugi)
Meaning this guy predicted the possibility that I would want to talk again, huh.
Meanwhile, I had been trying to calm down and braved myself to come here for the flicker of hope for negotiation.
Was the reason he refused the first invitation to lower our conditions?
Or did he have a second thought? Well, it doesn’t matter which one.
“That’s good, the talk will be quick then.” (Shion)
From the noise of the call, he’s outdoor now, huh.
For him to be outside with Yumesaki Aika on purpose means that Tsurugi has no one like Yoiyami-san to ‘depend on’.
No, in the case of this guy, it is highly likely that he doesn’t dare to rely on someone because he doesn’t want to bother them.
However, that’s not the case with us who are in the same situation as himself.
[How about Hitomi?] (Tsurugi)
I feel like clicking my tongue.
Shameless. Since he has predicted it, he should know that I wouldn’t kill Ohashi.
If he sizes me up that far, it makes me feel like holding my ground, but… if I become too emotional, it would be a repeat of the case at Negwave.
“You should know that she’s safe, right?” (Shion)
[I see… yeah, I’m glad. Since at that time Kazato sounded like you were really going to kill her. I was really worried you know.] (Tsurugi)
“……”
The flippant and affable voice, that sounded just like that of Tsurugi’s of the past, cross through the handset and jolt my eardrum.
This time I couldn’t make a voice.
It’s because I can’t read his true intention. I don’t feel hatred from Tsurugi’s voice, after all.
However, I feel a gap from that tone with the somewhat formal tone he had during our last conversation that sounds as though he was probing me.
From that difference, I get the feeling that I might go mad if I talk to him for a long time.
Even though I just talked to him for a little while.
[About the invitation, I’ll join you for the time being.] (Tsurugi)
“That doesn’t mean… you accept the invitation without any condition, right?” (Shion)
[Of course. It’s kind of hard to talk about the points that we can’t concede to each other over the phone, so let’s talk directly. Let me decide after that whether or not I will cooperate.] (Tsurugi)
“…Ah, got it,” Wanting to end the call as soon as possible, I unintentionally give a crisp reply.
Tsurugi’s words sounded like an eerie sound in the inside of my eardrum, and only after a few seconds passed that I grasped the meaning of his words.
I can hear a beeping sound *beeeep* from the payphone nearing the end of the call.
I add a coin to the slot and swallow my saliva, braving myself,
“No, wait. Before that, I want to talk with just the two of us once.” (Shion)
[……I don’t mind. Can I bring Aika with me?] (Tsurugi)
Tsurugi’s tone changes.
Cause I want Yumesaki Aika to listen to me too, I affirm, “Yeah.”
“Where are you now?” (Shion)
[Ahh, don’t worry about that. Aika has grasped your position, we’ll be there somehow.] (Tsurugi)
“…Then about what time will you arrive?” (Shion)
[Perhaps three days at the latest, I think. Please contact me again around that time.] (Tsurugi)
“No, I’m not in a situation where I can contact you that many times, so I’ll head to you when you are close.” (Shion)
[Can you do something like that?] (Tsurugi)
“Well, yeah.” (Shion)
I can pick up sound from the whole area, Tsurugi is at the place where I can’t pick up sound.
If he received that interference, he should be able to notice me as well.
Tsurugi who is moving in pair with Yumesaki Aika must have pass through waves of detection. So, he probably wouldn’t turn off his ability when he enters a new city.
“But just in case, how about we decide the place to meet?” (Shion)
[Is it okay to talk about that over the phone?] (Tsurugi)
“It’s fine.” (Shion)
Boss probably have marked Tsurugi’s phone, but he shouldn’t have tap it.
If we talk about needless things, he would have to get rid of more people after all.
In the case of Negwave, before Tsurugi and I made contact, the existence of Yoiyami-san had not been revealed, so he moved the Self-Defense Forces.
Boss has a new position.
Even if he eavesdrops on this conversation privately, if he wants to crush someone, he would crush Tsurugi, who is moving independently, before he join up with us. He is the Boss who lynched Midou Ryuusui with all the executives. Even against Yoiyami-san, he will never challenge him with a half-baked force.
Boss currently doesn’t have the power to move many generals yet.
Well, there is a merit to me no matter how it turns out.
If Tsurugi and Yumesaki Aika die, my anxiety will clear up, and if the matter with Tsurugi and co goes well, in addition to increasing our strength, I will be able to gain Yoiyami-san’s trust.
What I hate is,
[If you have a place in mind, let’s go with that.] (Tsurugi)
The attitude of this guy.
It’s good that he predicted my thoughts, but I didn’t expect this immediate response.
Without thinking about anything, they leave their safety to me.
Even if he has an absolutely inviolable insurance, that is ‘Master Cancel’, that leisure is sickening.
“…Then, I’ll tell you the meeting place, so take a note.” (Shion)
[Aika is listening, so feel free to say it anytime.] (Tsurugi)
“There is a downtown area along Road 5, which extends to the northeastern slums of the city. On the second floor of a building called New Avenue there, there is an internet café, so if we can’t join up, let’s meet there.” (Shion)
At that time, whether or not I could get out of the apartment… but well, at that time, I better tell the truth to Yoiyami-san to some extent.
If I said I have something I want to talk about with Tsurugi, he should think I want to talk about our private matters, not about Observer.
[You sure are careful. I got it.] (Tsurugi)
“Not really.” (Shion)
[Okay.] (Tsurugi)
*Piii* The sound of the call about to end comes from the payphone again.
“Later,” Saying that, I put the handset back in its original position.
“Haah…”
That was tiring.
The tongue-clicking that had been holding back during the call becomes a sigh and flows out of my body.
I wonder if Sen is able to manage the money properly.
I clear up my next anxiety and proceed to the supermarket.
