Chapter 33: Change

In truth, ever since leaving the venue, Yukina had been replaying everything that had happened.

From leaving the shelter to come to the sports venue in search of her brother, to encountering the Erosion Organism, and to her reunion with Ephnel.

If she had lost her judgment back then, overwhelmed by the pain of losing her brother and being abandoned by Ephnel, then now… she had regained her composure.

Details she hadn’t paid attention to at the time now flooded her mind.

But no matter how Yukina thought about it, she couldn’t understand what had happened to her back then.

The strange impulse at that time had almost completely stripped her of her ability to think.

After Ephnel left, a strange emotion had risen in her heart… as if she had lost something.

For no reason, Yukina thought of that hair clip.

From the moment it appeared in her pocket, it seemed to be filled with an undeniable sense of incongruity.

“Fifina”—that’s what was engraved on the hair clip, a name Ephnel had mentioned several times.

She couldn’t quite remember what Ephnel had said to her at the time, but Yukina knew it was the codename of Ephnel’s partner, Fifina.

And then, when facing that massive, viscous Erosion Organism, what was that white light?

How did the Erosion Organism disappear?

What were the changes that happened to her body?

What was the longbow that had appeared in her hands?

All sorts of doubts plagued her.

That butterfly hair clip had taken her to a mysterious place.

Later, she tried closing her eyes again several times, but she could no longer feel that same change.

When Yukina left with Ephnel, she never saw the bow or anything like it again.

It was as if it had disappeared along with the butterfly hair clip.

“Speaking of which, I wonder how Senpai Ephnel is doing now. Her line just suddenly cut out, and there’s been no word since.”

Canary stared at the end of the street, her voice soft and a little dejected.

“Though, I really want to go into the venue and fight alongside Senpai Ephnel. I’d do anything to help…”

Yukina stood beside her, her gaze passing over Canary to focus on the venue at the end of their line of sight.

The thoughts in her mind grew chaotic amidst repeated hesitation and uncertainty.

Yukina silently lowered her head, looking at her own palm.

“But, we ‘Agents’ are also soldiers. I must obey orders. To act without orders would be a sign of distrust in my commander and irresponsible towards my comrades. I can’t do that, no matter what. So, little Yukina, my mission right now is to protect you and support this temporary defensive point. Let’s just wait here for Senpai and Ayse to return victorious.”

Canary was still talking.

Compared to Yukina, who was truly not good at interacting with people, she was quite talkative.

While carrying out her guard duty, she would bring up various topics from time to time.

She glanced at Yukina and suddenly smiled.

“Well, anyway, little Yukina, you don’t have to worry at all. And Senpai Ephnel will absolutely not lose. Ab-so-lute-ly!”

Yukina was silent.

Of course, Ephnel was strong, but even the most capable people would face things they couldn’t solve alone.

‘If only I could help her.’

But the people here, as Canary had said, would only get in Ephnel’s way if they rushed over rashly, just like she had when she recklessly ran into the venue earlier.

“Little Yukina, look at this.”

Canary suddenly clenched her fist and took a stance.

“—Ha!”

With a sudden low shout, Canary lunged forward and threw a punch.

Her fist cut through the air with a faint whoosh, and the fallen leaves on the ground were instantly swept up.

Yukina was also startled by the abrupt gust of wind.

“Amazing…”

Yukina came back to her senses, looking in surprise at the blown-away withered leaves.

“Hmph!”

Canary smiled proudly and relaxed her stance.

“That’s the move Senpai Ephnel just used, the one where she—Hiyah!—sent the ‘Apostle’ flying with one punch. But even though it’s the exact same move, it feels completely different when different people do it. Damn it, that was so cool! I want to learn it too… I wish I could master hand-to-hand combat to that level someday…”

“You’re already very impressive, Miss Canary… It’s a kind of power I wouldn’t believe if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”

Yukina praised her with envy.

There was a time when Yukina had also harbored the thought of becoming an Agent, but she didn’t have the “aptitude.”

“But it’s still not enough! My goal is Senpai Ephnel, you know. Well… though I can’t even touch her in simulated battles…”

Canary’s shoulders suddenly slumped, and she looked completely dejected.

Yukina quietly watched Canary, an irrepressible palpitation stirring in her heart.

Every time she heard Ephnel’s name, it was like a feather brushing gently against her heart—a light, ticklish sensation that spread throughout her body along her veins.

Unable to resist the impulse, Yukina spoke carefully.

“Is Miss Ephnel… really that strong…?”

“Let’s see, if I wanted to beat her…”

Canary thought for a moment.

“Yeah, no matter how I think about it, it’s completely hopeless… Let me tell you, don’t be fooled by how gentle and cute that girl (Ephnel) usually acts. When it comes to training, she’s a demon. Probably to the extent that… she’d make the poor soul she’s training not want to eat for three days!”

“Miss Ephnel… is an instructor?”

“That’s what you focused on?! Damn it… Well, whatever… I guess you could say that… In a way, you’re not wrong…”

Canary imagined a scenario where Ephnel was an instructor and sighed for some reason.

“It’s because we ‘Agents’ can’t use standard combat training methods. The targets we face in battle are too varied, not to mention that we each use different weapons. If we trained in a group, something would always be missed or messed up. Anyway, there aren’t many of us, so we’re completely separate from the special operations agencies. Besides the necessary training programs, what we do most of the time is practical combat practice… In short, it’s very tiring stuff…”

Yukina listened, only half understanding.

Information related to Agents was classified.

Even though many people in this city had come into contact with Agents, much of the information about them was strictly confidential.

Very little of it circulated online, and the general public knew even less.

So when Canary talked about these things, Yukina couldn’t contribute to the conversation at all.

Although she wanted to know more about Ephnel, for someone who was completely inept at conversation, this was her limit.

“Is… that so…”

Yukina gave a dry laugh, her eyes downcast.

She pursed her lips, suddenly recalling many things.

The difference in warmth between people creates a sense of distance.

“I… really don’t know Miss Ephnel very well, do I…”

She murmured under her breath.

They were in completely different worlds.

“Did you say something, little Yukina?”

“I want to know more, more about Miss Ephnel…”

“You do?”

Canary looked at Yukina suspiciously.

…