"What an arrogance for a bunch of weaklings. Know your place, weaklings!"
Isshin Kira attacks his own troops with crystal that they die in a jiffy. The others are confused by what he has done.
"Why… Isshin-sama…?"
"We… Trust you…!"
One of them asked and hope that what he has done is just an accident. But, a smirk appears on his face as if the expression ruins their expectation.
"I told you, right? I am just interested in strong people! That's right! I am just interested in the likes of you!"
Isshin Kira points out Satou Hideaki who looks confused for being pointed out.
"Me?"
"Yeah... You! You have shown me what you got."
"What do you mean?"
"Come with me, Satou. The likes of you deserve to be on my side."
Said Isshin Kira giving his hand to Satou persuading Satou to join his side, becoming part or ally of his organization.
"If only that will put an end to the war, then I'll take it."
As Satou is about to reach Isshin Kira's hand, suddenly Yumeno stops it. She gives an eerie gaze to Isshin Kira and tries to grip his wrist strongly.
"I won't let you exploit him, Isshin Kira!"
Yumeno exclaimed in a wrath tone. That gets on Isshin Kira's nerve as he sees his wrist being gripped by her and he tries to let it go, though it's nothing for him yet it makes him uneasy.
"Leave me alone, Yumeno!"
At the same time, Satou who sees that shoves her to the side and makes him get hit by Isshin Kira's crystal.
"Satou!!"
Yumeno is surprised to see Satou got hit by the crystal.
"You reflex impresses me. Did you learn some sort of martial arts or something?"
Isshin Kira is impressed by what has Satou done. His impression of that curly-haired guy gets bigger.
"Well, sort of. Many things happened that I resigned."
Satou said as he holds the pain while trying to pull off the crystal out of his body. When he feels hostility around, he backs off avoiding the crossfire shot by Sanada.
"Are you alright, Satou!?"
Sanada asked in a worried tone approaching him.
"What did you do Satou?! You could have avoided it!"
Yumeno yelled at Satou. She gets upset when she saw the guy become a meat shield just to protect her from Isshin Kira, though she could have just taken care of it.
Satou himself wonder why he did that. What he knows is his body suddenly moved by itself just to save Yumeno from the crystal. He just gets up says something.
"You wanted me to join you, right? Err… What is your name again?"
"It's Isshin Kira…"
"Looks like I have to say no."
"You still don't get it eh? The likes of you suit to become one of us."
"Why are you so eager to me join you?"
"I can see it from your eyes. They are the ones who want to destroy everything. Just like mine!"
Isshin Kira puts on a smirk and says.
"Well, you just don't give a shit on everything, right? Yet, you still want to fight as that's what you want deep within, so that's interesting!"
Satou remains silent as he hears what Isshin Kira said.
'That's right. I do not give a shit on everything. If I know the meaning of the dream I had, what would I do? Does it have a meaning or something? I am just not like Tanaka who wants to protect Japan. But, I just want to fight.'
Satou said in his mind.
"That's why. Join me! You can help me realize my goal!"
"What is your goal anyway?"
"You must know that the world depends on the magic tree named Yggdrasil too much."
"The magic tree."
"I want to destroy it! Once I do, the world won't depend on it anymore!"
Isshin Kira answered with a piqued tone as if he told it by his heart. But, after hearing it, Stephen Smith approaches Isshin Kira and says.
"If you do, then a disaster will occur! It's just like you create an Armageddon!"
Because of the conversation, especially from Stephen Smith, that makes Satou understand how important Yggdrasil is and the reason why WTM protects it. It's because if someone destroys Yggdrasil, then that will be a trigger of a disaster. In other words, Yggdrasil is like the heart of this world.
'Since Sanada chose WTM over a politician, eh? Well, that would be no good for Yggdrasil if the public knew about the truth.'
Satou said in his mind.
"What you mean is the rise of the monster, right, Stephen Smith? Doesn't it mean that WTM is nothing but a bunch of cowards afraid of it?"
Isshin Kira puts a smirk as he insults Stephen Smith so that he will be triggered by it. That makes Satou remain silent again.
He remembers a dream where he saw a monster killing so many innocent lives before it. A nightmare indeed.
"So monster does exist in this world…?"
Satou asked can't believe what Isshin Kira said. But, he just responds by nodding at that curly-haired guy, encouraging Satou about the truth he just spilled.
"Yeah, that's why I will resurrect it."
Isshin Kira answered.
"If you do resurrect it, what will you do?"
Sanada asked.
"Isn't that obvious? I will defeat it. Once it's done, I can show the world that I am the strongest of the world ever!"
He said in pride and confidence. He smiles like a maniac. But, as if he feels something coming at him, he turns around to avoid the gale Yumeno launched.
"That's too reckless! Don't you think the monster won't attack the people in this world?!"
Yumeno exclaimed as she is mad over the plan Isshin Kira said.
"Of course, serve them right! In the end, only the strongest survives! They are the only ones who survive!"
Using the chance, Yumeno attacks Isshin Kira by launching gale in his direction, but he dodges it with ease. She just sighs in pique as her surprise attack ended up failing.
Isshin Kira's phone rings.
"It's time, eh?"
"Where are you going, Isshin Kira?! Retreating again, huh?"
"I am not. I just have decided the right time to wipe out weakling like you. But, now is not the right time."
"In the other words, you will attack WTM again, right?"
Satou said.
"Satou Hideaki, that's your name, right?"
"Yeah, so what?"
"I'll remember that. One day, you will understand only the strongest deserve to stand in this world."
Saying that, Isshin Kira leaves the place and Yumeno who is about to chase him is stopped by Stephen Smith. She sees him shake his head and that lets her down.
"At this rate, the operation of stopping him must be postponed."
Stephen Smith said in a serious tone as he sees his surroundings.
Seeing the feud with Isshin Kira and the organization is over, for a while. The armies of WTM including Satou finally leave the forest.
"So Satou Hideaki broke the kekkai, eh?"
Stephen Smith asked confirming what he knows is real.
"I'm sorry, can't deny that."
Sanada said bowing in disappointment showing an apology to his boss.
"Why do you act like the guilty one here? Didn't you say that you are determined to fight to protect the Yggdrasil? If you didn't I might have dead."
Stephen Smith pats the shoulder of his subordinate and smiles a bit.
"We didn't drop the ball, right?"
Satou pats Sanada's shoulder.
"But still, that was reckless, Satou."
Yumeno said.
"That's your fault, Yumeno! If you didn't tell about Satou beating up Isshin Kira troops, this wouldn't happen!"
Stephen Smith yelled at her. That makes her remain silent reconsidering what he just said to her. He just clenches her fist in vexation.
A few minutes later, the WTM armies led by the baldie come approaching Stephen Smith. When he sees Satou, he points out Satou with a vexation shown on his face.
"You are the one who beat me up before!"
The baldie yelled at Satou.
"Oi Tanaka, isn't he one of those traitors too?"
"I don't think so…"
Sanada is not sure about that as he scratches his cheek.
"'Traitor', you said?! What are you talking about?! We are the WTM army! It's you who is suspicious here!"
The baldie said as he gets pissed off by Satou.
"Enough. Knowing you are still on our side is just enough."
Stephen Smith said patting the baldie's shoulder.
"What happened? What the hell had happed? How could you stop Isshin Kira?"
The baldie asked as he is wondering and confused over the current situation. Sanada then lets out a sigh which somehow becomes the response to the baldie's question.
"Actually, the armies who were brought by Stephen Smith were on Isshin Kira's side."
Sanada answered in a low tone of disappointment. They then remain silent, so does the baldie. But, as he is about to speak, Yumeno interrupts.
"In the end, I have to protect Stephen Smith."
She answered.
"Didn't expect that kind of thing did happen."
The baldie said unable to believe what he just heard.
"Thanks to Sanada and Satou Hideaki for saving my ass."
"Don't tell me, Sanada! You had known about the betrayal?! That's why you wanted to enter the forest, right?! I was wrong about you then!"
"Ah… That's---"
Haven't finished his word, Satou pats Sanada's shoulder and says,
"Ain't he great? He even made me take a part, hahaha!"
"Oi Satou! It's you---"
But it doesn't do anything as what has Satou done to WTM armies increases Sanada's prestige. Even some of them stay loyal and didn't betray are impressed with an officer who doesn't come from the combat troops could do such an honorable act.
Sanada who sees the turning out of the event has no choice but to agree with the lie Satou spilled. He doesn't know whether he should be happy or guilty for this.
At the night.
Satou and the others have arrived in WTM base after the long war with Isshin Kira and his troops. One more time, the rumor about Sanada, which was Satou, had got spread steadily but sure in the base. That makes him uneasy about how they treat him.
When Satou enters, his eyes see someone he knows by accident and he feels like that guy calls him as they run approaching him.
"Satou!!!"
"Yo! Hai—"
About to finish his words, suddenly he gets surprised by someone he knows. They are a woman who behave cold and refused his invitation to have breakfast together.
She suddenly hugs him and it surprises everyone, except Yumeno and Stephen Smith who seem to know that this would happen.
"What are you doing Caroline-san?"
Satou asked in confusion and a bit of curiosity. He sees Kayonna Charlee who is still hugging him with her face sticking in his chest with her face set on a rare expression of her, worries about him.
"Thank goodness, you are unharmed. Are you hurt or something?"
Hearing what she said makes Yumeno wink as she does a facepalm for she realizes that he was hurt while protecting her.
"That's right. Satou was hurt for protecting me. Isn't it a good time to treat it right now?"
Hearing Yumeno's question, the curly-haired guy is about to show the scar he got from Isshin Kira, but he was confused when he sees the scar.
"Huh? It's gone? That's weird."
That makes Yumeno confused, while Sanada and Stephen Smith feel something is off from what he said.
"But, that's weird.."
"What is it, Yume?"
"It's Yumeno! Of course, it is… You are skinny but you are good at fighting."
"Isn't it a compliment or an insult?! What do you mean?!"
He exclaimed. Yumeno just tilts her head in confusion.
"Is it an insult?"
Yumeno asked.
As Satou, Charlee, and Yumeno are kept busy with that, Sanada with his initiative approaches Stephen Smith whispering something to him.
"Stephen-san. If you have recovered, can we have a talk?"
"What is it, Sanada?"
"I'd like to talk about Satou."
"…I get it."
He nods and approaches Satou and Yumeno. That attracts their attention as he is about to say something.
"Because of Yumeno, Satou got involved in this problem. So, I hope you'll take the responsibility."
Said Stephen Smith crossing his fingers in a firm tone to Yumeno. That makes her realize about her mistake. She bows apologizing to Satou.
"I am sorry!"
"Good. So, what will you do, Satou? She had got you involved in this problem."
Stephen Smith with a curious face asked Satou.
"I agree. It'd be better if she becomes his personal bodyguard. Well, just consider it her responsibility for getting you involved, right, Satou?"
Sanada said nodding in agreement.
"If I'm not mistaken, It's my fault for being drunk."
"What are you talking about, my best friend? You have to raise your voice!"
"What are you so excited about? Hmm… Something I want from Yume, eh?"
"It's Yumeno!"
Ignoring her correction, Satou takes a moment to think. A few seconds later, his expression changes as if he has got an idea. He then looks at her.
"How does a date sound like?"
His statement turns the atmosphere to silent and Sanada who heard it just lets out a sigh and does a facepalm while shaking his head.
"I understand that you can't move on, but I didn't expect that you would turn on her."
Sanada said feeling confused over his best friend's behavior.
"It's you telling to what to do, so I chose what I'd like to do!"
Satou exclaimed can't take the response given the guy claimed as his best friend.
"I get it. How about tomorrow?"
She said with no expression and the tone she said sounded like she doesn't care about it. Kayonna Charlee who sees that just raises her glasses.
"Then, it's settled."
After saying that, Satou and the other go to their rooms. Sanada keeps him company on his way to his room
"I didn't think Caroline likes me, but she does care about me that much, eh?"
"Not to mention she hugged you. What a surprise."
"I don't get it, Tanaka..."
"What? This harem situation?"
"Not that! Why did you say harem? I just wonder if the girl in my dream is Kayonna Charlee. There are so many dreams I had that have happened in the real world!"
Sanada just remains silent after hearing that as he has no idea how to respond to it.
"But, oh well, I am beat! I have a date tomorrow."
Satou said extends both of his arms and yawns as he feels his body gets heavier and sleepy.
"It's time to move on!"
Sanada said in a sarcastic tone. You can see that from his face.
"Shut the fuck up!"
They then burst out laughing and say goodbye. They go to their own rooms. When Satou is about to enter his room, he says good night to Sanada.
---
On the next day, in the morning, Satou who is falling asleep suddenly hears and feels someone is trying to wake him up by force.
He tries to open his eyes and it's Sanada. That gets on his nerves in the morning.
"What are you doing, Satou?! You have a date! A gentleman must come first!"
Sanada yelled at Satou who is still half awake. He scratches his eyes and yawns from the drowsiness, but Sanada makes him unable to sleep anymore.
"Who are you? My parent? The date is at noon!"
"It's because I want to fix your fashion style for your date!"
"Huh? What a pain in the ass."
"Come on! Come with me!"
In the end, without hearing Satou's protest, Sanada pulls his best friend to get ready for Satou's date today.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Of course to the fashion expert!"
They then walk and arrive in Kayona Charlee's room.
"Leave it to me! I'll make you fabulous!"
She said so enthusiastically. They can see it from her face.
"Eh!?"
Of course, Satou is surprised to see how she acted. And the reason is confusing. But, in the end, Kayonna Charlie then starts working adjusting Satou's look for the date with Yumeno this noon.
After some time making over Satou, he looks so different. His hair is spiky and he wears a neat black suit.
"Don't I look weird?"
Satou raises his eyebrow for being confused with his new look.
"What are you talking about? You look fabulous!"
Sanada answered. He smiles and cheers his friend to encourage him. Even Kayonna Charlee nods in agreement with Sanada. Satou just lets out a sigh.
"Didn't expect you know much about this, Caroline."
"Of course I do."
Charlee said in a cold tone out of the blue. Satou is surprised by the sudden event turnout.
"Why do you always so cold to me? Oh well."
Then, Satou is getting ready to leave as he didn't expect that the time is getting closer, it's getting noon, After remembering what Sanada said, he waits for Yumeno.
"As I thought, she hasn't come. This is why I hate coming early."
Satou lets out a sigh and scratches his hair. But, after a few minutes, He sees someone familiar. He can tell it by their voice.
He raises his head and he sees Yumeno approaching him as she is waving her hand. He waves back.
"Sorry for the wait."
Yumeno exclaimed in regret apologizing. But Satou just waves his hand telling her not to mind it.
"That's fine. Let's go."
He said.
"Do you always wear this kind of outfit?"
"Nope, many things happen that I wear this so I will look like a gentleman."
He answered.
"Gentleman? But, you look cool though."
"Really? Good grief."
"How do I look? Do I look good?"
She asked him.
"So-so. If only anyone normal sees you, they will like it!"
"Really? Too bad you don't like it."
"Don't mind it~"
Finally, Satou and Yumeno take a bus to their next destination.
"So, where are we going, Satou?"
"The zoo."
"The zoo?"
"You don't know?"
She shakes he head and that surprises him. He then clears his throat and tries to explain what zoo is to her.
"The zoo is a place where you can see so many animals!"
The flat expression of hers turns to the one full of excitement that he starts to chuckle.
"Why are you laughing, Satou? Is it funny?"
"Nah, not at all."
Satou answered
He answered smiling at the change of her expression. He thinks that her expression is interesting and during the journey to the zoo, he gives her some information about their destination.
She nods in excitement and understands all what he said. In the end, the bust arrives in the zoo. Satou and Yumeno then enter the zoo.
He explained many animals to her, and she looks impressed by them.
"It's an eagle!"
He points out an eagle
"How wonderful. Does it fly?"
"Of course!"
"I'd like to see how it flies."
Hearing that from Yumeno, Satou says,
"I've heard a story about an eagle."
"A story about an eagle?"
"Yup, an eagle always files so high, that no one can match it."
"Then?"
"But, one day, it encountered a blizzard!"
"Was it okay?"
"Not at all. It's because the eagle always flew high even in the mid of a blizzard."
"That eagle is so cool."
"Though he managed to pass through the blizzard, he couldn't find where to descend."
While telling stuff to her that she does listen to it, they didn't realize that time has flown fast that it gets evening. Satou who realizes that decide to have dinner with her in a café near a bank.
Arriving at the café, they then have an order. After having an order, he becomes awkward as he has no topic to talk about while waiting for the meal.
'This is bad! I've used all the topics I had at the zoo. I have to do something to break the ice!'
Satou said in his mind as he is panic for not having any topic to talk about. But, suddenly he recalls what Sanada said this morning. A statement may become their conversation topic.
"Do you know, Satou? The weather has become a hot topic these days!"
Remembering that, he clenches his hand and he decides to give it a shot.
"By the way, what weather do you like?"
"Sunny, I guess? How about you?"
"I like rain. It's because, when it's pouring, I can feel a chill from every raindrop."
"I see."
The conversation stops out of the blue turning back the awkward atmosphere and he curses himself because of his disability over this situation.
Unable to bear the embarrassment, he then decides to do a tactical retreat.
"I have to go to the restroom."
He stands up leaving her alone. The clueless Yumeno just says yes.
"I get it"
When he arrives in the restroom, he makes a call to Sanada. He then hears his best friend's voice greeting him.
"What's with 'like rain', you bastard?! Do I look like a brat to you?"
Satou exclaimed.
"What are you talking about?"
"The weather topic! You said that it's a hot topic! It doesn't work at all, you bastard!"
"Awkward situation, eh? How about food?"
Finally, he returns from the restroom with the new topic he got from Sanada. He then sits back with her.
"Oh, you are back, Satou-san."
"By the way, what food do you like?"
"The one suits my taste, perhaps?"
"Me too!"
The atmosphere turns back to awkward and he is out of an idea. He has to do the tactical retreat again.
"I am sorry, I have to go to the restroom!"
He stands up again leaving her.
"Eh? I get it!"
Arriving at the restroom, he calls Sanada again and yells at him.
"' The one suits my taste', my ass! At least tell me something like 'I like burgers'!"
He exclaimed
"Calm down, Satou!"
"It's getting awkward, you dumbass! Favorite food topic doesn't work at all!"
"Show about history?"
He returns from the toilet with a NEW topic hoping he can get away from the awkward atmosphere with it.
"Do you have a history you like?"
"Probably about Yukimura Sanada's sacrifice. I burst into tears when I read it in the library. How about you? Do you have some?"
"…None."
"I see…"
Awkward.
"Restroom!"
He gets up out of the blue.
"Are you alright, Satou?! You have gone to the restroom 3 times!"
"I am cool! It's just a bad habit of mine. I have to go to the restroom 3 times a day! Then, please excuse me!"
He rushes to the restroom and calls Sanada.
"Why did you suggest me history? I have no interest in history, you dumbass!"
"Calm down, my best friend."
"Calm down, my ass?! I've used 3 topics and they didn't work at all!"
"Then, why don't you talk normally just the way you do? Will that be better?"
"That's right! As I thought, you are my best friend!"
After the call, he hangs up the call. That makes Sanada let out his sigh and smile while shaking his head because of his best friend's behavior.
"You never changes, Satou."
He said.
"That's right! He never does."
Stephen Smith approaches Sanada.
"It seems like you are ready to talk to me, Stephen san."
Sanada said in a serious and wondering tone. Stephen Smith just nods.
"Exactly. To talk about Satou Hideaki, then I have to bring her."
Said Stephen Smith.
Kayonna Charlee is seen approaching. That reminds Satou about how Satou talked about her who appeared in his dream.
"Before we go to the main topic, there is something I have to ask from you, Stephen san."
" What is it?
"Where does the power of Yumeno and Ishhin Kira come from? Is it Yggdrasil?"
Sanada gives a serious gaze at Stephen Smith.