kscans

Chapter 260 - A Distorted Normality

A normal young man—that was Chitose's first impression of the Acrobat, Haru Kasuga.

He was calm for his age and a keen observer of people. However, if asked whether he had the same 'special aura' as the Sword Queen or other renowned rankers…

"—............"

The answer was no.

He glanced at the back seat in the rearview mirror. The young man sitting there quietly looked, as expected, like nothing more than a 'normal' university student.

Chitose knew every single one of the Acrobat Haru's battles. That was precisely why he was inwardly perplexed by the difference between the young man here in the real world and the one in the virtual world.

"I had you looked into to a certain extent. My apologies, but it's part of my position."

When he deliberately threw out those words so suddenly, the young man naturally looked surprised—

But the look of bewilderment lasted only for a moment.

It seemed his perceptiveness and quick thinking were the same here as they were over there. After another moment's hesitation, the young man opened his mouth, watching Chitose's expression as he waited for him to continue.

"In that case, you probably know about that thing from my high school days too, right?"

Though he was visibly tense, he seemed to have enough composure to crack a joke. Was he unfazed… or was he just good at putting on a front?

It wasn't entirely natural, but he managed to put on a smile that was only slightly awkward.

"'That thing,' you say… —Juggling your reckless part-time jobs and your studies. What's astonishing is that you didn't lose heart, you didn't break your body, and you continued that for three years, right on the very edge of healthy."

"W-Well… whether it was 'healthy' or not probably depends on your point of view."

"Well, you did pass the [Arcadia] screening at least. It's certain that even after pulling off such an impossible feat, you didn't suffer any mental or physical abnormalities—you've got some serious grit."

"Uh… thanks?"

He felt 'obsession' might be a more fitting word than 'grit,' but he chose his words carefully.

And then—

""————————""

Their eyes met for a brief moment in the mirror, and Chitose cut off his next words.

—Stop right there. That's what his eyes had communicated with undeniable force.

Chitose—they—knew Haru Kasuga's past.

There was no conventional morality involved, no consideration for a 'person's' privacy. With nothing but permission from on high, 'Yotsuya' observed its 'players'.

To be involved in this work, Chitose had cast aside more than half of the common sense one should uphold as a human being. If he were bound by guilt or ethics, he could never be a subordinate to God.

Therefore, Chitose knew the roots of what made him who he was.

That was why—

"We'll be there soon. Do you prefer tea or coffee?"

"Ah… coffee, I think."

—the very fact that he was able to act like a normal young man right now...

"Then I'll have them prepare some good coffee."

...seemed to be what made him a 'distorted one,' on par with the 'special ones.'

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This is basically an interlude, so another chapter later today.