kscans

Chapter 739 - Mi-na and Ri-na

—Just as I suspected, that 'sword' isn't some completely unassailable, lawless thing. It's only natural, but I take a breath, relieved that this fact has been firmly established... though,

"More, coming...!"

"Heave-ho!"

I don't even have a moment for that, not behind my diligently maintained deadpan expression.

It's only less effective than on other things, but it's still a 'super effective' counter. To keep the [Acrobat], who wields the absolute solution to anything 'magical' in Arcadia, at bay, the mental resources I have to dedicate are on a completely different level than before.

And this is a tag match. There's one other person I can't take my eyes off of.

"Oh, crap—nice, Ri-na-chan!"

The draft was finished in time, and the final copy was overlaid without a single bit of lag, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The 'wind' that was drawn forth blew away the explosions of flame that had erupted in all directions.

Hinayo's Anima, [Nova Rescellerate, Mirror Illuminating Six Stars], can cause two phenomena. The first is igniting a designated space. The second is a major technique that serves as both a finisher and a buff, releasing the heat accumulated in her guns to raise her 'stage' level.

The latter's threat level is immense, easily capable of dealing a fatal blow to an average raid boss. And the former, this, is far too powerful to be called a minor technique; it's utterly terrifying.

As its name implies, the ignition coordinates are designated by her gaze and are limited to spaces with a certain amount of room. This means she can't just directly poof a target into oblivion; she has to catch them in the blast, leaving some room for defense... but that's it.

Her wind-up is the mere movement of her eyes, the tell is minuscule, and the activation speed, firepower, and casting interval are all flawless. This, too, is a power that can be fatal to any and all 'enemies'.

By herself, she is this powerful. Honestly, even now, the crown has not been passed on to—

"Focus!"

"...!"

A bad habit I can never seem to shake. My thought speed is nothing compared to my partner's, and on top of that, I can't eliminate extraneous thoughts. I'm called back just as my response time was about to drop.

It's always like this. I can't seem to get it right.

We've been together since we were born. I don't really think about comparing myself to the person next to me, who is like a part of myself... but still.

Five hundred additional magic bullets drawn, split half and half.

"Whoa, she's really going for it! As expected!"

I'll do my best to at least maintain an outward appearance of being on par with her.

◇◆◇◆◇

She's at it again, thinking about all sorts of things at a time like this. I can tell completely.

The 'one next to her,' who prides herself on being the only person in the world who can accurately read the languid indifference behind her partner's expression, smiled faintly at the glimpse of Ri-na's profile.

They'd been together since birth. She no longer had anything to say to the one beside her, who was like a part of herself... but still, the day she would realize it herself seemed far away, and it was frustrating.

It wasn't a matter of how fast her mind worked. It was that she was always, always, always thinking about too many unnecessary things—and that very thing was her greatest strength.

She could line up a plethora of random thoughts. In other words, a parallel processing capacity that was different from mere thought speed. That was a magnificent talent in itself. I (Mi-na) don't have anything like that.

Furthermore, she had the imagination and instantaneous power to draw a wide variety of 'illusions.' I pride myself on not losing in the latter, but the former is nothing less than a complete and total point of superiority.

That's why, really, all I can do is laugh. Though one of us is currently showing signs of improvement, I wonder when the day will come that both of us can truly believe in ourselves.

Ah, no. Not two of us, three. They're so similar, you know, in the way their self-evaluations are all over the place. Ri-na-chan, big bro (him), and Yurayura-san.

It's only natural that Ri-na gravitates towards them, whether consciously or unconsciously. She probably feels at ease, since the fundamental atmosphere they share is of the same kind.

That's fine. It's not a bad thing. Neither of them are bad people at all, so she should go ahead and get attached and become good friends. They don't seem like they'd look at her with any ill intentions, so it's safe and sound.

...But still, that's that.

"—?! Wha—..."

She's mine, I think, pulling my partner, my other half who is as alike to me as two peas in a pod, into a hug. Her confused voice is understandable; if she asked what I was doing in the middle of a battle, she'd be right.

But behold, world. Isn't Ri-na-chan cute, trying so hard to maintain her deadpan, emotionless character while surprised and confused, all while earnestly trying to focus on the battle?

Well then, while we're at it, I'll show you that she's not just cute, she's amazing too.

"Ri-na-chan, think you can do that?"

"—... ..."

I'm not confident.

The words and emotions that resonated in our connected minds were so predictable that...

"Ehh? Even with me by your side?"

...I let out another smile and threw a taunt that, to an outsider, would seem incomprehensible, but in reality, was perfectly aimed to hit my partner's sore spot.

There's no way it wouldn't resonate, no way she wouldn't respond. For us, who have built a bond of trust and affection so deep it's almost sinful, a bond that can never be broken—

"...I'll... try my best."

"Heheh! That's the spirit!"

The will of one...

"'One.'" "...'Two.'" "'Three.'" "'Four.'"

"'Lined up.'"

"'Layered.'"

""—'Weaving a truth.'""

...is the will of two.

And so, a person with only a 'Sakura' and a swarm of pursuing magic bullets. A raging torrent of continuous explosions and a roaring wind that deflects them. In the center of the stage, which had taken on a chaotic appearance as these two forces intertwined...

"—Huh?"

"—Eh?"

They were right in the middle of a desperate struggle. Yet, the [Acrobat] and [Heat Gaze] couldn't help but let out dumbfounded sounds of confusion, their eyes stolen for even a moment.

It was a sight known to every Arcadia player... an unsightly lump of stone had appeared.

---

They're both geniuses. Just different types.