Monday
"Good morning, Yamura City! Another week is beginning, and even though it's the start of the week, we already have big changes planned for the city. As we saw, the case of the Corrupted who attacked an arcade frequented by many young people generated a great discussion regarding how the schools in our beloved city deal with the psychological issues of their students due to their duties, futures, and social situations. This led the Neon City to decree a series of additions to the educational and health systems of the tutelary cities of the Blue Region. Not only that, but the inauguration of a branch of the Blue Guard, with the presence of one of the greatest icons in the fight against crime and the Corrupteds, Breaker Blaire, has given people a certain confidence that security will be vigorously reinforced, considering that cooperation between independent Summoners and branches from other neighboring cities has even been announced. Well, I can't say for sure what the next few days will be like, but I'm certain that these changes will be important for the future of our beloved city!"
Seated in their chairs at the kitchen table, Samantha and Cyro, preparing for another day of school, remained in an awkward silence while having their breakfast. The presenter's voice made Cyro pause for a moment, noticing what was being said, and Samantha only looked at Cyro, more specifically at the nanite bandage on Cyro's arm, which was still healing the fracture in the bone of his right arm that had been almost destroyed after the confrontation with the Corrupted three days ago.
- You know you don't have to go to school like that if you don't want to.
Trying to break Cyro's attention, Samantha simply speaks calmly, but this doesn't seem to affect Cyro in any way.
- I'm fine and I can go. Besides, the first college pre-entrance exams start next week, so I can't miss them.I understand…
The siblings' relationship was never complex or simple, but given the situation, it seemed as if a great wall had been erected between them, creating a slightly uncomfortable situation for both. Samantha, without saying anything more, simply picks up her used dishes to take to the sink, while Cyro finishes his breakfast and gets ready for school.
- I'm on my way. I'll be back on time as promised.
- Okay. If anything happens, let me know.
- Okay. See you later.
Without much delay, Cyro simply heads towards the door and leaves home to go to his school. Walking down his street, Cyro notices that everything is very calm even though the Corrupted's attack had happened relatively close to where he lives, but perhaps because it's early in the day and there aren't many people on the street, this feeling is lessened for a few minutes, until the moment he crosses his street to approach groups of students who are heading to the school where he studies, and a familiar voice greets him.
- Hey Cyr... What's up?
Hyoudo approaches Cyro and makes a curious expression upon noticing the technological bandage on Cyro's arm, causing Cyro to sigh as he realizes he will be questioned about what happened and how he will lie to his friend.
- Before you say anything suspicious, I fell down the stairs at home.
- Did you fall down the stairs?! Did that small staircase make you break your arm?
- Yes, that staircase, which wasn't designed for someone to descend backwards without looking, did that - Cyro replied in his ironic tone, while avoiding letting Hyoudo touch his bandaged arm.
- Wait. Backwards?!
- Yes, I went to help my sister clean the house and I didn't see that I was near the stairs. Luckily, I fell in a way that allowed me to brace myself and not hurt myself more, but in the end… - Cyro says as he and Hyoudo walk near the groups of students from the same school they attend.
- Wow, even I, who am clumsy, wouldn't fall like that. You're losing credibility with me, huh
- Credibility? It's easy to talk when you're not the one breaking your arm in the process, with the possibility of something worse happening. And thankfully it was only my arm.
- Yeah, right. You don't break easily. If you had said it was the Corrupted who attacked you, I would have thought it was awesome and then I would have believed it.
- Do you really think a Corrupted would just break my arm and be done with it? And what credibility based on that would be acceptable? - Cyro questions, making an ironic expression.
- Like, "look guys, I stood face to face with the Corrupted and confronted him". Imagine how awesome it would be if it were something like that.
- Only in your dreams would you think it would be cool to keep saying that.
Even though he responded ironically, the thought that his body was very sore and that his broken arm was caused by the Corrupted was something Cyro tried to avoid dwelling on. Hyoudo, being a curious person, might have had suspicions since he hadn't seen Cyro for a while after the Corrupted's attack, and by sheer luck or Hyoudo's inattention, Cyro's deflecting about his broken arm falling down the stairs at his house kept him incredulous.
- Well, it would be. But anyway… Are you okay?
- The doctor said that if I rest my arm and don't do any exercises or exertion that makes me use my arm, everything will be back to normal in a few days.
- That's good. But have you checked if this could cause… corruption? - Hyoudo speaks quietly to Cyro, who only shakes his head negatively.
- No, that's not how it works. If that were the case, many people would be corrupted just for making a slight scratch or worse.
- I know that, but the thing is... We were close to someone who was corrupted. Wouldn't that really matter even if it were distanced?
- For someone who knows a lot about Corrupteds, you're a bit misinformed. It's not like it's a gas or anything that affects people through the air or the environment, especially injured people. And thankfully, that's not how it works.
- Yeah, that's good. But you never know, right?
A few more minutes pass as Cyro and Hyoudo approach the school, but something begins to make them both slightly uncomfortable.
- Is it just me, or is everyone a little too quiet for the start of the week? - Hyoudo says this while looking at the other students around him.
- What did you expect? A student from our school simply turned into a Corrupted and almost hurt some familiar faces. Of course, everyone's going to end up like this.
- I understand. But seriously, how come nobody noticed? Okay, the girl wasn't paying him any attention, and those idiots still insisted on belittling Noah.
- To be honest, I think it was possible to tell, but it's difficult to say when a person is going to become a Corrupted or just do something stupid.
- How do you ask if the girl you like is dating another guy?There's the idea of accepting, of not accepting, and of exaggerating things. It's in this exaggeration that everyone should be careful. Even if it's something like being deceived and accepting that you were made a fool of, or being indignant upon discovering something of that nature, it's only after that that exaggeration can cause problems. That was the case with Noah, and we saw what happened.Really.
- But what saddens me is that… She could have told the truth from the beginning, couldn't she?
- Yes, but people like to prolong things to the limit of what they can or like to see the spectacle around them.
- You speak as if you've been through something similar. Past grievances?
- No. Do I look like the type of person who disappoints people?
- Do I need to count all the times you looked at me with disdain because I said something stupid?
- You're an exception. You know what I'm like and you still accept being my friend, and honestly, being disappointed in you will be the last thing that happens.
Upon hearing this, Hyoudo simply stops walking while looking at Cyro with a surprised expression, and noticing that Hyoudo wasn't beside him, Cyro just looks back.
- What happened? Did you forget your cellphone at home again?
- Nothing, it's just that... Let me keep this moment to myself, it even made me feel excited for the rest of my week!
- Idiot…
…
Meanwhile, at the Yamura Blue Guard branch base…
- Here is the first report of criminal acts that have been recorded in recent months, Captain. According to the data, the cases began to increase last year, along with the rise in cases of attacks by corrupted individuals recorded in Yamura and other nearby cities.
Seated at her desk in her office with a member of the Blue Guard in front of her, Blaire begins to analyze the document containing these criminal occurrences, which she was requested to understand the situation in the city of Yamura in order to begin reinforcement efforts in the region.
- Do the previous garrisons only have documents from that period? - Blaire asks, looking at the officer.
- Unfortunately, that's what we were able to find at the garrison bases. They didn't have the habit of storing information in a way that would better preserve it, nor did they transfer the information to computers.I figured it would be something like this - Blaire says, turning her gaze back to the report - Well, I'm waiting for approval from Headquarters to call in employees from the collective selections to start scanning and documenting all these cases. The faster we digitize this information, the better we can start integrating the communication network between the Regional Police and the Blue Guard.Hopefully, this won't be disregarded. It's difficult to work with your hands tied and left in disarray.
- I agree with you, Captain.
- Anyway, you're dismissed. Thank you very much.
- Thank you, Captain Blaire. I'm taking my leave.
After a few more seconds, the Blue Guard member leaves the room, leaving Blaire alone with those documents on her desk.
- Damn it… I swore that putting this information together would tell me something, but in the end, it was just a waste of time. At least, with this information, we'll be able to mark the areas of activity of the Corrupted in Yamura… - Blaire thinks to herself as she gets up from her chair and starts walking towards the window of her office that overlooks part of the city of Yamura.
As she looks out the window, several things begin to cross Blaire's mind. The case of the Corrupted from three days ago, and other cases that were increasing in frequency, were the reason for Blaire's presence in Yamura, but beyond that, another issue was important enough to warrant sending Blaire to this area, which leaves Blaire thoughtful after reflecting a bit on this report.
- Cyro… What are you doing now?
After considering this, Blaire hears a knock on her office door, and without hesitation, she simply releases an automatic lock under her desk, opening the door to a Blue Guard agent.
- Captain, I'm here to inform you that the last squad has just arrived and everyone is waiting in the gym. - says the agent.
- Very good.
- So, one of the squad leaders wanted to speak with you before the meeting.
Upon hearing this, Blaire simply makes a curious expression.
- Did he say why?
- He didn't say so, but he did say that you asked him for a favor.
- .… Let him in. And inform the squads to wait a few minutes while I greet them.
- Yes, Captain. With your permission.
Blaire simply stands up and leans against the front of her desk, while the agent simply leaves the office and calls someone from outside. Even knowing who it is, Blaire just crosses her arms and waits for the person to enter, and not long after, the person does. Wearing a gray suit with dark blue lines in some parts of it, the person appears to be a young man, 1.80 meters tall, with dark skin, short brown hair, green eyes, and a slight scar near the area between his jaw and neck, wearing a brown overcoat over his suit.
- Reporting for duty, Captain - the person says while giving Blaire a military salute.
- .… You know that this only happens in front of other members, right?
- I never lose certain habits. Besides, I'm sort of introducing myself to my boss in the next few months, so it's best to keep things more professional.
- I understand. I saw your name among the squads, but I thought you would refuse the call and make up some excuse to avoid being summoned here - Blaire speaks in a calmer and less tense tone than she usually does when facing other members of the Blue Guard.
- Honestly, I won't deny that you were right, but you know how it is? The job calls, you have to come.
Even though he spoke in a calm and relaxed manner, the young man had a serious demeanor, as if even in the presence of someone he might consider someone with whom he could falter for a moment, his guard seemed to be on high alert the entire time.
- Yes, I understand. But I believe that coming here earlier wasn't because of an introduction or anything like that, am I right?
- You know me well, Blaire.
- So, what is it all about?
- I want to confirm something I already know the answer to. Only by hearing it from you will I be certain of what I already know.
- Continue.
- A contact of mine from the Blue Guard's communications sector told me that there was an attack here in Yamura that was resolved by a Blue Guard member who was undercover at the scene. Reinforcements were requested, but the communication was quickly intercepted and put on private for Kuroi. From what I understand, the member presented an ID that isn't part of our current database, and even though the Blue Guard has procedures to intervene in larger groups in case of potential casualties or to prevent them, they only contained the area, while the Blue Guard member, supposedly alone, dealt with the Corrupted.
- … It was quite a curious case, but things turned out well in the end. That's what matters – Blaire crossed her arms, looking seriously at the boy who only showed a serious expression.
- Yes, the important thing is that everything turned out alright. But there's something that caught my attention.
- What would that be?
- This member's ID isn't in the current database, but I'd recognize that ID even if it were deleted from any record we have. Not to mention the location, relatively close to where he lives… Well, I think you know where I'm going with this.
Blaire simply sighed heavily before saying what the boy wanted to hear at that moment.
- Whether it was him or not, does it matter to you now, Daniel?
Making a slightly surprised expression at what Blaire had said, Daniel quickly relaxed his body and held back from smiling so brazenly.
- Of course not. But someone else cared enough to go to him.
- Where have I gotten myself into? - Blaire thinks as she notices Daniel's ironic expression in front of her.
…
- And so we conclude this announcement. Please proceed to your classrooms and wait for the teachers to begin today's school activities starting in the second period.
Shortly after a 20-minute conversation between the school principal, teachers, staff, and students in the schoolyard, everyone began heading to their workplaces and classrooms, especially for the students. Cyro and Hyoudo had already gone to their classrooms along with other students who were only discussing what had been said to them. As a consequence of Noah's Corrupted attack, the students would undergo psychological evaluation sessions and be monitored by members of the Blue Guard, who were sent from the Yamura branch base to keep an eye on student behavior in case anything out of the ordinary, in order to prevent something similar to what had happened on Friday. Cyro was already expecting this, but the fact that no Blue Guard members were present before he arrived at the school put him on alert, since he didn't know why this was happening, as it only hinders the process of maintaining security in the area and keeping an eye on teenagers.
Upon entering his classroom, Cyro glances quickly at the corner of the room where Mallory is already seated, reading something in her notebook, while Cyro simply heads to his seat on the opposite side of the room from Mallory. Mallory glances at Cyro a few times, as if her desire to speak to him is so obvious that Cyro will notice these glances, and to Cyro's misfortune, Hyoudo notices this but remains silent, holding onto it like a weapon.
The hours pass in the city. The atmosphere of security is as evident as at Cyro's school, with some members of the Blue Guard patrolling areas frequented by students, and even though it's temporary due to the recent situation, their presence makes Cyro slightly uncomfortable seeing this unit operating from them.
During the break, Cyro is going to the bathroom to check on his arm when he starts to smell a familiar scent of lavender and an intoxicating perfume that would make him nervous if a woman were approaching him to ask for something, but with a slight and genuine smile, he looks back and…
- Standing almost glued to my back and looking at me with that smile wouldn't be the best way to scare me or say hi, Lilith.
In an almost translucent form floating at Cyro's eye level, whose outlines are only visible to his perception, a woman with short white hair, fair skin, pink eyes with a distinctive symbol in her iris, wearing a kind of swimsuit-like garment that covers her torso down to near her waist with small blue denim shorts minimally covering her thighs, with some thin purple fabrics covering her arms and legs held together by rings, and most notably, a pair of small wavy horns, a pair of purple wings, and a black tail extending to the end of her legs with a purple heart-shaped tip, is hovering, displaying an expression of happiness as if she were about to shout at having been reunited with or seen by Cyro so abruptly.
- It took you a while to notice me~~ That hurt, okay?
- Sorry. I don't usually perceive a spirit following me wherever I go.
- You could have given me a hint, a comment… it would have made me happier.
Cyro looks down the corridors to see if anyone is close enough to hear their conversation, and also to confirm that Nanoko, Mallory's Gacha, wasn't nearby, watching me in her translucent form. Upon confirming her absence, he simply sighs.
- Did you come to reminisce, Lilith?
- Yes, of course. Especially after I heard a certain comment that a supposed undercover member of the Blue Guard decided to act against a Corrupted~~ - Lilith only reveals a "I know it was you" look to Cyro when saying these words.
- Comments and gossip should not be seen as the same thing.
- I agree. But I won't deny that I was surprised when that member, aka you, decided to do something. It's your way of keeping things from getting out of control, isn't it?
- Perhaps…Did you know that your questionable attitude doesn't suit you? You know you don't need to hide what you want to say or feel from me. You don't need to feel like a stranger around me. Besides…
Lilith emerges from her translucent form and takes on an apparently floating physical form. She extends her hands, which touch Cyro's face, but a purple barrier covers the area where the touch occurs…
- I would never let you feel in doubt about what you truly desire, my dear Cyro.
Cyro looks at Lilith's face. A beautiful face that would make many men fall for the charms of this woman who resembles a succubus, a demonic figure who tempts men and women to yield to their most pleasurable instincts. But their gaze doesn't carry a tension of pleasure, but something deeper, almost like a bond of intimacy that neither of them has had in a long time, which leaves Cyro slightly intoxicated by a relaxation from Lilith's touch on his face, but leaves him oblivious enough to notice another translucent figure watching the scene behind Lilith.
- Lady Lilith, you're going to attract unwanted attention with that… area of yours - Nanoko, Mallory's Gacha, says in a slightly serious and slightly disconcerted tone, taken aback by Lilith's strangely provocative pose, while Lilith merely floats upside down to look at Nanoko.
- Look at that~~ It's been so long since I've seen a Nanoko in these times. Or are you the original?
- No, a copy.
- Ah, yes. But you know who I am. I suppose you already have enough knowledge to define that.
- Yes, I already have it. But I believe my affairs don't involve her.
- I don't like this more polite way of speaking... We're not living in ancient times to be talking like that.
- … Mr. Hannigan, my mistress wants to speak with you - Nanoko speaks while directing her gaze towards Cyro.
- You're really going to ignore me, aren't you? - Lilith hangs suspended in the air, making a sulky face.
- If it's because of what happened, I didn't say anything in the way she shouldn't have.
- Yes, but the purpose of this meeting is not to define this relationship in light of recent events.
- No? Then what would it be?
- Meet her on the rooftop of this building at 4:00 PM. She will tell you what she hopes for with you.
Cyro remains silent as Nanoko's translucent form disappears.
- Hmm. New girlfriend? You're going to trade Aline for just anyone?
- She's not a girlfriend or anything like that. Just someone who wants to prove herself a Summoner.
- I understand. Can I follow along? I want to see what she'll try to do to convince you to… I don't know, put you on her leash.
- Don't you have a better term to choose from?
- And what other term would be more fitting than a nervous woman trying to put a man in his place?
- One day, you're going to get screwed for saying things like that.
- One day, but not today.
...