"So we should call you Director Amaha from now on."
Ui smiled slightly.
"In that case, I can't just call you Byakuya-boy anymore."
Tanakamaru looked somewhat regretful.
His verbal habit was adding "boy" to everyone's names—like "Ui-boy" or "Suzuya-boy."
"We'll need a proper promotion ceremony. Previous Bureau Directors like Yoshitoki were already Special Class before taking office. It wouldn't be appropriate for Byakuya to still be Associate Special Class—it's time for him to be promoted to Special Class."
Marude was already planning to hold a promotion ceremony within the next few days.
"Indeed. If Director Amaha isn't a Special Class investigator, it would make us Special Classes look undeserving of our rank."
Ui remarked.
"The Washuu Clan was our internal threat, and that's been resolved. But Madara remains a major external threat..."
Marude voiced his concern.
"Actually, Madara... is me."
Byakuya revealed his identity directly in front of everyone.
He no longer had any reason to hide it.
"You're Madara?!"
Marude was stunned.
"I see..."
Akira murmured in belated realization.
But she was still the first among them to process it, so her face showed no major surprise.
Thinking back to how Madara had also displayed incredible abilities, it matched up with the divine powers Byakuya had shown today.
"Byakuya... no, Director Amaha, I remember you were present when Madara appeared. Are there two of you?"
Ui remembered the situation clearly and was confused.
"Yes. Creating clones is one of my abilities."
Byakuya explained.
"That explains it..."
Ui nodded.
Compared to Almighty Push and Planetary Devastation that Byakuya had used today, the clone ability didn't seem quite as astonishing.
At least it was still within their comprehension—the SS-rated "Priest" locked up in Cochlea, for instance, had the ability to turn his fingers into clones.
Eto and Arima, who already knew, showed no reaction.
Marude rubbed his forehead, struggling to keep up. "Sorry, too much has happened today. My brain can barely process it all..."
"Must be getting old. Maybe it's time for you to retire, Marude-san."
Kiyoko deadpanned.
"Not for a long time! I'm still perfectly healthy!"
Marude protested immediately.
"Speaking of which, First Class Ihei is still holding onto Byakuya... Do you like him that much?"
Kiyoko turned to Hairu.
"Yes! I like Byakuya-senpai the most~"
Hairu nodded without hesitation.
"I see..."
Kiyoko said nothing more. Her expressionless face made it impossible to tell what she was thinking.
"Hairu-nee, so you like Byakuya-san that much too."
Shio spoke up innocently nearby.
As an eleven or twelve-year-old boy, Shio probably didn't understand romantic feelings.
"Though I don't really get it, Shio, I think my 'like' for Byakuya is different from yours."
Hairu pointed out.
"Akira-san, you have another rival now—though you probably already knew."
Eto teased Akira beside her.
Akira had indeed known, so she showed no visible reaction.
"But don't worry too much, Akira-san. I'll support you from behind."
Eto suddenly declared her position.
"...What?"
Akira didn't immediately process this.
"I mean I'll support you in defeating those rivals."
Eto elaborated.
"Aren't you also calling yourself my rival? And now you want to support me?"
Akira was skeptical.
"Well~ I don't actually have much intention of competing with you all for that guy, so I can support whoever I want."
Eto said honestly.
"I appreciate the gesture, but no thanks."
Akira wasn't inclined to accept.
After all, Eto was her sworn enemy.
Eto didn't say anything more, maintaining her smile.
"Speaking of which, Arima, you're free now. Do you still want to stay with the CCG?"
Marude turned to Arima. "Byakuya mentioned you were a Cleaner for the Washuu. I imagine working at the CCG wasn't your choice?"
"..."
Arima was silent for a moment before speaking, his face expressionless. "I'll stay. I have nothing else to do. At least in the time I have left, I can do some good that I actually want to do..."
Few among those present could understand what Arima meant.
"That's good. I was hoping you'd stay."
Marude said happily.
"Arima-san, please don't dwell on the past."
Ui offered comfort.
Though he didn't know exactly what Arima had done under the Washuu's orders...
"Arima-san, I'll keep working hard to carry on your legacy."
Yusa Arima said solemnly.
Among those present—aside from Byakuya and Eto—only the half-humans understood what Arima meant by "the time I have left."
"Listen to yourself, kid. You make it sound like Arima's about to kick the bucket."
Marude couldn't help but comment.
"No... Yusa is correct. I really don't have much time left."
Arima said.
"What... what do you mean? Aren't you only twenty-nine or thirty? Or are you planning to atone with your life?"
Marude was confused.
"I'm a half-human bred by the Washuu Clan. The children from Sunlit Garden are the same as me—born with physical abilities superior to normal humans, but at the cost of a lifespan only about a third of a normal person's..."
Arima explained in a flat tone, as if discussing something trivial. "One of my eyes already has glaucoma. My body is like that of a frail elderly person. In a few years, my life will come to an end."
"There's actually something like this..."
Marude's expression showed disbelief.
This also helped them understand why investigators from Sunlit Garden could skip the Academy and join the CCG directly...
The atmosphere grew heavy. Even though Shio and the others had always known half-humans had such short lifespans, they couldn't help feeling sad at this moment.
Then Byakuya suddenly spoke up. "The half-human lifespan issue can actually be solved."
...
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