Chapter 17: Start

At this time of year, holding a performance in the bright light of a sunny day was actually quite a “malicious” thing to do.

Scorching sunlight, dripping sweat.

Where crowds gathered, so did stagnant heat.

The open-air venue had turned into a furnace.

Below the constructed stage, Ephnel stood tall, gazing straight ahead.

Although she couldn’t see much from below the stage, the cheers washed over her like a summer heatwave, reaching her ears.

She made a final adjustment to her earpiece, and Yonomikenami’s voice came through.

–It’s quite a grand affair, isn’t it, Ephnel-chan~?

–Don’t call me that.

–Don’t be a stranger. Isn’t that what all the fans like to call you?

–That’s different…

–Alright, alright, I won’t say it anymore. Anyway, the show is about to start. Are you ready?

–Yeah… I’m ready…

–…

The other end paused for a moment.

–You don’t sound very motivated. Are you still thinking about Saori and Rin?

–Yeah…

Ephnel didn’t deny it.

The gift Saori had brought was still lying on the coffee table in the preparation room.

“If you can… please open it after the performance…”

Saori had left those words as she departed.

Ephnel hadn’t responded.

‘Perhaps… there’s nothing left to say…’

Ephnel wasn’t a talkative person.

Rather than stubbornly trying to hold on, it was better to be more graceful.

Saori’s words lingered in Ephnel’s mind.

Uzuki Saori.

Ephnel actually admired this lovable junior.

Beneath her serene exterior hid a strong-willed side.

She was exceptionally serious when it came to work, to the point where calling her stubborn wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Her relationship with Rin was excellent, enviably so.

Although they were both orphans from a welfare institution, survivors of a disaster, they didn’t actually know each other before becoming Agents.

But in just one short month, they had become inseparable.

Perhaps… this was what people called finding a kindred spirit late in life?

Ephnel had never experienced such an “encounter,” but if Shiomi Yukina was the most important person to Ephnel, then Rin was likely the same for Uzuki Saori.

So Ephnel could probably understand, understand Saori’s thoughts, understand the despair in her tears at that time.

But on the other hand, Ephnel could also understand Shiina Rin’s thoughts—just as Uzuki Saori fought for Shiina Rin, wasn’t Shiina Rin also fighting for Saori?

It was for this very reason that Shiina Rin was so unwilling to quit.

“If I leave, what will Saori do?”—Shiina Rin always said this with a smile, but it was undoubtedly her truest thought.

Both Ephnel and Uzuki Saori were well aware of this.

If… just if.

If Rin had died in that battle, Saori would undoubtedly have broken down.

Because Rin was that important to Saori.

They were both children from the welfare institution, relying on each other as their sole support, fighting side by side.

Perhaps letting them quit…

Ephnel pressed her lips together, the gloss on them creasing under the pressure, shimmering under the bright lights.

But, if that were the case…

–Well… yeah…

In her earpiece, Yonomikenami sighed.

–What did you say?

–I’m saying, the show is about to start. Are you okay? If you’re not in the right state, I can move your time slot a bit.

–I’m fine, don’t worry… Even if it’s just this level of work, I will take it seriously.

–I see.

The other end went quiet for a moment, and the fervent cheers flooded her mind.

The familiar music started from overhead.

–Ephnel.

–Yeah…

–Well then… good luck. Break a leg.

–Yeah.

A heavy feeling pressed down on the soles of her feet.

The lift slowly ascended.

Her field of vision dropped, then suddenly became incredibly vast.

The performance stage was deliberately built very high, allowing her to take in the entire massive venue with a single glance.

With a click under her feet, Ephnel took a step forward and appeared on stage.

The cheers suddenly intensified.

Jets of hot air erupted from the fog machines.

The brilliant sunlight transformed into a beautiful rainbow, scattering down.

Her own image was projected onto the colorful large screen.

Standing on stage made one’s heart race.

But Ephnel’s reason for being here wasn’t so simple.

In this city, every day, people were injured, people died.

To brazenly sing of happiness was a despicable act.

Fifina.

Furan.

Or even Saori.

It wasn’t Ephnel’s place to judge their choices.

But if…

If…

That kind of wish was like a mirage on the other side of a desert, distant and fragile.

The music gradually faded, and the lights converged on one spot.

Ephnel took a deep breath, pushing her myriad thoughts to the bottom of her heart.

The first performance began.

‘After the show, I’ll go to the hospital.’

‘To visit Fuurin Shion, and Shiina Rin.’

‘My persuasion probably won’t be of any use, but perhaps, instead of standing still and hesitating, stepping forward without a second thought is the only way to walk out of the fog.’

Ephnel’s singing was impeccable, and her dancing was amazing too.

But that wasn’t why Shiomi Yukina became a fan of Ephnel’s.

She stared blankly at the figure dancing and singing on the high stage.

Exceptionally dazzling.

Very beautiful, soul-stirringly so.

Whether as the strongest Chief Agent of Seikyo City, as the spokesperson for the Order Organization, or as an idol in the hearts of the people, Ephnel’s figure was always so radiant and moving.

She always gave her all, infecting everyone present with an almost burning passion.

In this era, it was for a reason that Ephnel, in her heroic form, was worshipped as a national idol.

And Yukina’s affection for Ephnel wasn’t just simple appreciation.

It stemmed from admiration, longing… and perhaps a deeply hidden infatuation.

Yukina still remembered the first time she saw Ephnel on TV.

At that time, she had inadvertently seen a news report about the new Agent “Ephnel.”

At that time, Yukina had only given her a passing glance.

—Very pretty.

Beyond that, she had no other thoughts.

At that time, Ephnel was just one of a dozen or so Agents.

Because of her beautiful appearance, she was the type you couldn’t forget after seeing her once.

This made Ephnel seem a little special, but that was all.

No one paid special attention to news about this new Agent.

The “Agents” protected the city, yet there was a distinct sense of distance between them and the city—it might seem strange, but the truth was, in the beginning, the lives of “Agents” and ordinary people were completely separate.

Under the threat of the “Erosion,” ordinary people would die, and so would “Agents.”

‘They’ll die anyway, so maybe there’s no difference?’

The status of the Agents didn’t come from their sacrifice, but from the people’s need for them.

This was the same for Yukina.

Until that day.

When she was helpless and desperate, it was Ephnel who saved her, pulled her out of the water, protected her from the threat of the Erosion organism, and gave her artificial respiration when she was drowning.

To this day, Yukina still remembered the warmth from that small palm, that petite figure, those soft shoulders, and those warm, forceful lips whose taste she no longer quite remembered.

And the look in her eyes at that time, complex, filled with an unfathomable hesitation and resolve.

For some reason, leaning on that person’s shoulder felt very reassuring, like holding her brother’s hand as a child.

No matter where they went, her brother was her eternal support.

It was just that she had never experienced that feeling again after growing up.

She really liked it, was deeply immersed in that feeling.

On a whim, she began to pay attention to news about the “Agents.”

Later, Ephnel was suddenly promoted to be the Order’s spokesperson, becoming a public figure in this city.

Gradually, some things began to change.

‘If… I had been a little more honest with myself, what would have happened?’

“Sorry, excuse me!”

“Eh?”

While she was lost in thought, someone suddenly bumped her shoulder hard, causing Yukina to stumble.

“Yukina! Are you okay?”

Beside her, a friend reached out in time to steady her.

Yukina subconsciously looked back, only to see a slender back disappearing into the crowd.

A girl?

“I’m fine… Someone just bumped into me…”

“Huh? Does that person not have eyes?”

“It’s fine, it’s just a small thing…”

Yukina didn’t think much of it and turned her gaze back to the stage.

“Tch, honestly. There’s so much space, why did they have to squeeze past us.”

“So rude.”

Her friends started to complain.

“Hey, hey, you don’t think it was a pervert, do you?”

“Eh? Even though it was a girl?”

“It’s possible! Don’t underestimate girls!”

“I’d believe it more if you said it was a pickpocket, you know!”

“Oh yeah! Yukina, quick, check your pockets. Did your phone get stolen?”

“Huh?”

Yukina nodded and fumbled in her pocket.

“Eh?”

“Eh? What’s wrong? Don’t tell me, don’t tell me it really got stolen!?!?”

“N-No, not at all… It’s just…”

Yukina blinked in confusion.

Nothing was missing.

In fact, there was something extra… a cold, hard object.

She pulled her hand out and opened her palm.

It was a hair clip.

A cute, bow-shaped, exquisitely designed hair clip, glinting with a dark, ambiguous light in the sun.

“Eh? What a cute hair clip…”

“It’s so pretty. I’ve never seen that style before.”

“No way? Even a fashionista like you hasn’t seen it?”

“Hmm… maybe… it’s the latest release?”

“I think it’s probably custom-made.”

Her friends chattered away, but Yukina just frowned, staring at her palm.

She was sure she didn’t own this hair clip.

But…

This hair clip gave her a very strange feeling… Holding it, her heart began to race, and her blood felt like it was boiling.

As if something was about to burst out of her.

She turned the hair clip over.

On the back, there was a line of inconspicuous text on the inner side.

“Agent-Fifina.”