Chapter 70: Rationality? What Rationality Am I Supposed to Hold On To?
.....
"You look pretty happy coming back. Did something good happen?"
Minami Yume took the cake Kihara handed her and placed it gently on the table before turning to grab plates and utensils.
"Yeah," he replied calmly.
"I avenged you… and I also found out the truth behind your sister's death."
Clang—!
The plate slipped from her hands and shattered on the floor.
Yume slowly turned around, staring blankly at him. The light in her emerald eyes vanished completely.
And then tears began pouring out uncontrollably.
"Yume… are you okay?"
"I—I'm fine… You found the truth for me… I should be happy…"
Her voice trembled.
"But I don't know why… I just… can't stop crying…"
Kihara gently pulled her into his arms.
He understood.
For years, she had been tormented by her sister's death. Now that the truth was finally within reach—this release, this emotional flood… it was only natural.
Still crying, Yume suddenly lifted her head.
And kissed him hard.
She didn't know how to express what she was feeling with words…
So she chose the most direct way she could.
Kihara carried her to the sofa and held her close, gently stroking her back as he began to explain everything.
Back then—
After Kaiju Supremacy was unexpectedly revived through the Monster Association, they sought to prove their worth.
To do so, they accepted a mission:
Assassinate a high-ranking official from the Hero Association.
According to Mujina's account.
Chen had controlled a kaiju and set up an ambush near a bridge the official crossed every evening.
When the target drove onto the bridge.
The kaiju appeared.
And destroyed the entire structure.
Meanwhile—
Minami Yume's sister, Minami Kano, happened to be in a high-rise building near the river.
The sudden chaos, the overwhelming shock.
Caused her to lose her footing and fall to her death.
"So… my sister didn't refuse to reconcile with me… and jump on purpose…" Yume whispered.
"It was… an accident?"
Kihara sighed softly.
"I don't think there are many sisters in this world who would rather jump off a building than make up with their little sister."
"…I see…"
She lowered her gaze.
Even knowing the truth—
Didn't mean she could move on so easily.
Kihara didn't want her to sink deeper into despair.
"Let's go there tomorrow," he suggested gently.
"To the place where it happened. Even if we don't find anything new… we can at least pay our respects."
Silence filled the room.
For years, Yume had believed.
Her sister had chosen not to come home.
That she had deliberately abandoned her.
That belief had twisted into guilt, resentment, and regret.
Combined with a cold, distant family.
Those emotions had haunted her like a nightmare.
Even now—
Even sleeping in the arms of the one person who made her feel safe.
She would still wake up from time to time, trembling from bad dreams.
And every time she did.
She would cling to Kihara, seeking warmth to drive away the lingering darkness.
"…Okay."
At last, she nodded.
"Let's go… I should apologize to her too."
"Then it's settled."
Kihara smiled faintly.
"I'll clean up the broken plates. You grab a new set."
"Wait."
She grabbed his hand.
Then, under his puzzled gaze.
She spoke softly.
"…I can serve dessert too."
She led him to the table.
With a delicate finger, she scooped up some cream and spread it across her soft lips.
Then she picked up a cherry…and held it gently between them.
Decorating herself like a sweet, irresistible dessert.
Yume closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly upward.
Kihara understood immediately.
With the focus of a dedicated pâtissier.
He leaned in.
Carefully.
Slowly.
Tasting the sweetness he had just "prepared."
...
Meanwhile—
Far away—
Two figures received news of their missing companions.
When Onija and Jūga arrived in Z-City.
The sky had already darkened.
Heavy clouds loomed overhead, pressing down like a suffocating weight.
Rain poured relentlessly.
They stood in the storm, letting the cold rain drench their bodies.
Before them—
A grotesque scene.
Dismembered remains.
Washed and distorted by the rain.
Yet still arranged into a single, unmistakable word:
"DEAD."
Nearby—
A charred skeleton lay collapsed.
It was obvious.
One had been dismembered.
The other—
Burned alive.
"Damn it!"
Onija slammed his fist into a concrete wall.
"Which bastard did this to them?!"
Jūga adjusted his glasses.
Rainwater covered the lenses, hiding his eyes.
His voice remained eerily calm.
"…Calm down."
"Calm down?!"
Onija's eyes burned red with rage.
"Without Chen, how are we supposed to find Kaiju cores?! How are we supposed to carry out our plan to wipe out humanity?!"
Like a raging beast, he punched the wall repeatedly.
Then turned his fury toward the corpses, kicking and crushing what remained.
"Useless trash… couldn't even survive long enough to find anything."
"…I might have a backup plan."
Jūga's pale lips curled into a chilling smile.
"The Monster King gave each of us a monster cell, didn't he?"
"…So?"
"Maybe… it can push us further."
"Further?" Onija frowned. "Why didn't you say that before?"
"Because Chen and Mujina would never agree."
Jūga handed him the grotesque, purple mass.
Without hesitation—
Onija swallowed it.
Within seconds—
His body twisted and expanded.
Transforming into a towering, two-meter-tall, crimson-skinned demon with fangs and horns.
"Incredible…"
He flexed his new body, eyes filled with madness.
"I feel unstoppable… though I can't turn back anymore."
"…Seems successful," Jūga said calmly.
"You haven't tried controlling yourself yet, right?"
"No need yet."
Onija grinned wickedly.
"Once I find the bastard who killed them… I'll test it then."
"…Fair enough."
Jūga's tone carried a hint of disappointment.
But Onija didn't notice.
He was too busy reveling in his newfound power, smashing apart nearby ruins like a madman.
"Don't cause too much trouble," Jūga warned.
"If an S-Class hero shows up, we might not win."
"Oh?"
Onija smirked.
"With this power… I might even kill one."
He paused—
Then grinned wider.
"Actually… why not start with that B-Class hero?"
"…That's a good idea."
"I'll wait for him here," Onija declared.
"You keep searching for Kaiju cores."
And just like that—
A storm far more dangerous than the rain itself began to gather.
.....
Thank you for reading.