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Sayuki: Nii-san...How was it?
Reiji: ...
At lunchtime, Sayuki and I met at our meeting place, and I shake my head.
Reiji: After all, Ryuichi, and Suzushiro...They're nowhere to be found.
Sayuki: ...
Reiji: ***! I won't forgive him...Odin...I'll never forgive him for this!!
Sayuki: Stay calm, Nii-san! At this moment there's no way that we can win against him.
Reiji: Even so, do you think I'm going to just sit here and do nothing?!
Sayuki: That's not it. You have to be yourself Nii-san, so we can calmly come up with a strategy...
Reiji: Geh...Yeah. I know...I know that...Forgive me Sayuki. I'm the worst for taking this out on you.
Sayuki: No. I understand better than anyone else that they were important people to you, Nii-san...
Reiji: ...Don't say a dumb thing like that. I found my resolve thanks to them. Kirisaki and Kajiura, Suzushiro...
and incidentally Ryuichi...Everyone's enemy has finally shown up.
Reiji: Therefore, I can't become an uncharacteristic hot-head.
Sayuki: ...Nn.
Sayuki: But, that's why we have to be calm, so that we can come up with a plan to defeat that person.
Reiji: ...That's right.
I somehow manage to cool my head and nod, and start to think together with Sayuki.
But even with Sayuki's encouragement, my mind keeps cycling back to one thought.
---Odin cannot be defeated, no matter how hard we try otherwise.
Sayuki knows just how much pain I am in now.
But still...In my heart, I also can't help but admit the reality of the situation.
Reiji: ...
However...If we want to survive, we somehow have to achieve "Victory" against that monster.
If we are to erase the regrets of our friends who have disappeared, we have to defeat Odin.
Therefore, our chances of winning do not matter.
However, be that as it may...I have no idea what we should do.
Sayuki: Anyhow, we know far too little information about that person. There may be one person who knows, though...
Reiji: ...You're right. Even though the chances are low, it looks like we'll have to bet on that person...
Yes.
Even though Ryuichi's strength was unfathomable, he still couldn't win against such an opponent.
We still don't know exactly what Odin's "Ability" is, and there's a good chance that it's something far beyond anything we can imagine.
The only information we really have about it is that he's able to prevent all of Sayuki and Sakura's attacks with it.
With an "Ability" like that, the obvious answer would be to try and hit him with your most powerful attack,
but there's still no guarentee that his "Ability" won't prevent that as well...
Even if we find out what it is, there's also still the question of why Odin seems to be so intent on having me join him.
In that case, I can't help but think of the worst possible situation.
Then...
Reiji: Sayuki.
Sayuki: What is it, Nii-san?
Reiji: Let's split up today.
Sayuki: Na...?!
Sayuki: Nii-san, no matter what idea you've come up with, it's too dangerous to be alone right now. I'm absolutely against this.
Reiji: ...We don't know how much time we have left.
Sayuki: Eh?
Reiji: With the situation as it is now, that man could attack us at anytime you know?
Sayuki: That's-!
Reiji: That's why! That's why we have to figure out some way that we can oppose him as soon as possible.
Sayuki: Nii-san...
Reiji: I'll keep looking for Ryuichi and Suzushiro. I know a little more about them than you do.
Rather then be dead, they could be hiding, and I have a few ideas where they could be.
Sayuki: But...
Reiji: Therefore, Sayuki. I want you to search for the ghost girl. Also keep an eye out for that Yggdrassil witch.
Even she might know something we don't.
Reiji: Anyhow, since those two are outside his plans there's a good chance we can become allies,
and they may be crucial if we want to survive.
Sayuki: ...Understood.
Even though she's reluctant to, Sayuki nods to my proposal.
I'm sure that Sayuki feels the same sense of urgency that I do.
Sayuki: But, Nii-san. I want you to promise me. If you find Odin, you can't fight him alone, no matter what.
Reiji: Yeah. I know that. I don't want to get myself killed.
Reiji: ...Sayuki, you'll promise not to fight Odin either if the same happens to you, right? Until I can find you, you have to survive, no matter the cost.
Sayuki: Nn.
Having decided what to do should the worst happen, we split up our search objectives.
While there's no guarentee that we'll not come back, there's a good chance we'll be absent from school indefinitely.
Reiji: Alright. Well than, we should go on and leave.
Sayuki: Nn. We must strengthen our forces as soon as possible, and try and identify Odin's "Ability" before we meet him again.
Reiji: Yeah. ......Be careful, Sayuki.
Sayuki: You be careful as well, Nii-san. If something happens, call for me immediately. ...I'll protect you, no matter what.
Reiji: Yeah, I'll be relying on you.
Sayuki: Nn.
With that, we both slip out of the back gate of the school and split up to look for the people we decided on.
---------With this, things should be good.
Half of what I told Sayuki a bit ago was serious, but the other half I completely made up.
Reiji: Odin...
For some reason, he seems to be obsessed with me joining him.
Therefore, the chance that he'll appear before me again is high.
That's why I decided to part ways with Sayuki and act on my own.
The way things are going, I'd only be putting Sayuki in more and more danger, so I had no choice other than to act alone.
Even if my life is threatened...I'd give up everything to protect Sayuki.
I clench my fist tightly, resolving to do so, no matter what happens.