There’s No Enemy We Can’t Beat! – Part 01
It was Saturday, which meant no school. I had plans to meet a girl who survived the serial murders.
I wanted to know more about the one who killed me. If she had that information, I’d gladly go see her.
Long hair and a long, narrow weapon. Since I got stabbed, I figured it was a blade. That alone didn’t say much, but I doubted it was some regular person. Probably a Vampire Ninja or something close. Maybe even a Megalo. Or so I thought.
“Megalos don’t use weapons,” was what Haruna said, flat-out.
When I asked, “You sure?” she snapped, “Absolutely!”
And according to Sera, Vampire Ninjas don’t kill ordinary humans. Because of some code.
“Those who break it face severe punishment, but I’ve never seen anyone actually get punished,” she added.
So then, who the hell was it? If they used one blade in both hands, sure, I’d get it. But dismembering someone with two swords? That took ridiculous strength and skill. Well, maybe a zombie could do it. Or, you know, a certain Vampire Ninja.
By evening, I was walking with Orito. We got caught in the rain on the way. Fantastic. Even the mighty sun couldn’t win against the clouds today.
I ducked under Orito’s navy-blue umbrella, and the two of us walked side by side like some couple.
“Aikawa, why the hell are you smiling like that? It’s creepy.”
“Is it?”
Good weather always put me in a good mood. I was probably grinning like an idiot. Definitely not because I was happy to be walking next to Orito, just to be clear.
“If you smile like that, Kyouko’s gonna be thrilled.”
Orito flashed a grin. Why do guys’ smiles always look so obnoxious? Kyouko was the girl we were about to meet, a survivor of the murders.
“By the way, how does Kyouko even know me?” I asked.
“Beats me. Maybe you passed each other in school back in junior high or something?”
“Well, I am pretty popular with the girls.”
“In your dreams. Only a witch would fall for you.”
“Didn’t you say Kyouko was in love with me?”
“I did. Every time I visited, she kept saying she wanted to see you. Probably messed up her brain after everything she went through.”
Okay, now he was taking it too far.
“Listen, man. Kyouko’s like a second little sister to me. If you try anything weird, I’ll kill you.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
We kept walking, chatting about stuff like going bowling tomorrow (which I’d completely forgotten about). Talking casually like this with a normal person almost made me forget I was caught in some life-or-death situation.
Everyone had something they’d never drag into danger, something they just couldn’t afford to lose.
Everyone, including a zombie.
Orito barged into Room 305 with a loud greeting that cut through the hospital’s distinct smell and quiet. I followed, stepping in more hesitantly. Inside were several old ladies, and among them sat one girl who clearly didn’t belong—young, not exactly standing out but noticeably out of place. Her left arm was in a cast.
Only then did it hit me. I hadn’t brought anything. Not even a get-well gift.
“Ah, Orito. Wait, Ai… kawa?”
She had long hair that reached her chest, looked about my age, but was taller than Haruna or Eu. The moment she spotted me, she flailed in a panic.
Orito strode up to her. “Hey, Kyouko! I told you to go with the pigtails, didn’t I? Seriously, Aikawa’s a sucker for pigtails.”
Who was he to make that decision for me? I mean, he wasn’t wrong, but still.
“Ah, r-right. I didn’t think you’d actually come. I’ll change it right away. Wait, but I can’t do it one-handed. Help me, please!”
“Ugh, fine,” Orito muttered, and the two of them began working together to fix her hair.
Kyouko kept her head down, face red as an apple. Watching the heartwarming scene, I took a seat on the round stool across the bed from Orito.
Sorry, Room 305 grannies, for bringing this ball of chaos with me.
I glanced around the room, but nobody seemed to care. I thought maybe there’d be some casual chatter between patients, but I guess middle schoolers and seniors didn’t have much to talk about.
“Um, Aikawa. Do you… remember me?” Kyouko spoke nervously without lifting her head.
I hesitated, unsure if I should just lie and say I remembered her, but I chose the truth.
“I’m really sorry, but I actually don’t.” I bowed my head.
She waved her hands frantically. “No, it’s totally fine! Actually, I’m relieved you don’t.”
Had I done something weird to this girl?
“Come on, Aikawa. You went to the same junior high, didn’t you? Aight, done! Well? What do you think, Aikawa? Cute, right?”
“Yeah. Super cute.”
That was my genuine impression. Her shy, downward glance only made her look even cuter.
She glanced upwards at me. “Really?”
I nodded. Kyouko blushed and smiled bashfully.
From there, Orito took the lead in the conversation, going on about how great high school was.
Was Kyouko planning to attend our high school too? Orito clearly hoped so, but it was her decision to make. Besides, though she smiled while listening, there were moments her expression looked a little lonely.
When Orito stepped out to use the restroom, I asked, “Something wrong? You looked kind of sad.”
“Yes. Actually… I’m going to live with my grandfather in Kyoto. So I feel bad for Orito.”
That explained it. All that talk had been under the assumption she’d be coming to our school. She must’ve found it hard to tell him. That look on her face made sense now.
Anyway, with Orito out of the room, I figured I should get to the point.
“Sorry to bring this up so suddenly, but did you see the guy who attacked you? Anything at all would help.”
“I-I did, actually.”
So she did. As I thought. No way the attacker would’ve been careless enough to be seen that easily.
Wait, what did she say?
“You… you saw them? Seriously?”
Kyouko nodded firmly. I never thought I’d get a solid lead so easily.
“Wh-What did they look like?” I asked, a little too eagerly. Okay, maybe I was also a little excited over the pigtails.
“They had these beautiful, blue eyes… and I think they were about my age.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. There was one person I knew who fit that description.
“Did they have some weird gauntlets on and silver hair? Really smooth and straight?”
“Y-Yes! Exactly like that!”
Kyouko looked genuinely moved that I understood her so quickly.
No way. Why… Why would it be Eu? No one else dressed like that.
Damn it, what the hell is going on?
“You know who the culprit was?” Kyouko asked.
“Yeah, I’ve got someone in mind, but… I think it’s a case of mistaken identity.”
“Please tell me! Who is it?!”
I never thought I’d be the one getting interrogated over this case. There was a spark of fire in her round eyes. I had no idea where to even begin.
“The person I know… she’s quiet, emotionless. Not the kind who’d do anything that bold. So I really think it’s a mistake.”
Kyouko shook her head, her pigtails swaying.
“I think it was her. The attacker had a blank face, like killing meant nothing to them.”
You’ve gotta be kidding me. Was it really Eu?
Was she the one I was looking for? Or was Kyouko’s case separate from the serial murders? Maybe that’s why she survived. Or maybe my case had nothing to do with the serial murders… and Eu was the real killer behind those?
“When were you attacked?” I asked.
“On the night of May 26th.”
That was the same day I met Eu. The house I died in had no survivors. I’d confirmed that on the news.
So there was another murder that night? The news never mentioned it. Maybe they kept it quiet to protect the survivor from the killer. Or maybe it really was a different case altogether?
My head started spinning. I looked around, hoping to shift the topic. There were plenty of get-well fruits, a bag of clothes, and when I moved my leg to glance around the room, I accidentally kicked something.
I bent down and peeked under the bed. What I saw didn’t belong in a hospital room.
It was a huge wooden sword. I’d never taken a good look at one before, and this thing was massive. I half-suspected there was another one hidden inside. Maybe it was a keepsake from a dead relative?
Kyouko’s face turned bright red as she scrambled to hide it.
“Why do you have a wooden sword?” I asked with a half-smirk.
“It’s a treasured heirloom passed down in my family.”
Giggling, she struck a proud little pose. It was kind of cute.
As I kept grinning, Kyouko asked, “Is something wrong? Your face is red. Do you have a fever or something?”
Her pretty face leaned in closer. No middle schooler should’ve had a chest like that, but there it was, forming a clear valley between two hills. Her hand pressed against my forehead. It was cold, probably because of poor circulation, but the chill only made my brain overheat.
“Hmm… you don’t have a fever.”
Even as someone who preferred the flat-chested type, I couldn’t look away. When she lifted her hand, she licked her lips.
“Now, please tell me about that person,” she said.
“Hm? You’re still on that? It’s kinda hard to explain.”
“Huh? Wait, what?” Kyouko looked puzzled.
“What?”
“It’s just… that’s it? We’re done talking?”
“What do you want to do with the culprit?”
“Um, well… I’d just ask them to please stop doing such horrible things.”
Man, she was really a good kid.
“Does your arm hurt?”
She gave a small, forlorn nod.
So, she hasn’t turned into a zombie.
The spiky-haired idiot came back from the bathroom. “Well, well. Look at this vibe. Young man and young woman bonding over a hospital bed.”
He pushed his glasses up with a sleazy grin like some pervy office boss.
Now that Orito was back, the conversation shifted back to school stuff. I joined in with my best zombie smile to keep things upbeat.
After some lively chatting, Kyouko and I exchanged phone numbers.
Orito stood up. “All right, Aikawa. Time to head out?”
Maybe he’d run out of things to say. From the tone, it wasn’t a suggestion. I followed his lead and stood up too.
“Um!”
“Hm?”
“Um… thank you,” Kyouko said. “I’m really glad we got to talk.”
The angelic smile she gave me at the end made my heart skip a beat.
Yeah… girls really did look best when they smiled. I wished that Necromancer and Vampire Ninja would take notes.
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