The man, expelled back into the real world, had escaped from the now-empty shop. He had discarded all of his conspicuous gear, keeping only the bare minimum.
He had been forcibly ejected from the mirror world. Did something happen to Azenta, or was he deemed useless and discarded?
Either way, it was too dangerous to stay here.
"I can't contact Azenta or that woman... Damn it!"
Fearing being back-traced, he also threw away his communication device. He had only used it for this plan, so it was no great loss.
Azenta and the man were able to get to the island because of the red-haired girl. The survivors of the criminal group Fate had destroyed didn't have the resources to evade a nationwide manhunt and acquire equipment.
"I have to get out of here. If reinforcements come, I won't be able to escape."
If he still had Azenta's Stand ability, he could have neutralized all the reinforcements. But there was no point in wishing for something he didn't have. He had to accept this operation was a failure and look for another opportunity.
The problem was how to escape this now deserted place. Could a man who had stepped on a tiger's tail really get away?
The encirclement was steadily closing in. It hadn't been long since Sho made the call, but there must be a very capable person on the other side. The man had a good idea who it was.
Finally, the moment came.
"I'm Nanoha Takamachi of the Time-Space Administration Bureau. May I have a word with you?"
Clad in a white Barrier Jacket, with her magical scientific staff, Raging Heart, in hand, the symbol of terror for criminals, Nanoha Takamachi, descended from the sky.
The man suppressed his trembling voice and tried to bluff his way out.
"!! (The White Devil?! Of all people, why did it have to be her...?!) I-I mean, an evacuation advisory has been issued. Isn't it a bit dangerous to be talking here?"
"There's no problem... Image verification complete. I'm placing you under arrest."
"Gah— wha!?"
Nanoha had no intention of talking from the start.
Pink rings bound the man's body. He was completely wrapped up and couldn't move.
It was a 'Bind' spell, a magical handcuff that changed performance based on the mana poured into it. Bound by Nanoha's mana-woven Bind, escape was impossible.
Moreover, this amount was clearly more than what was needed for a normal arrest. It showed just how serious she was.
Her iron will to not let him escape.
The man was overwhelmed by Nanoha's will, even more than by his inability to move, and he couldn't even consider the option of running away.
"This is Nanoha Takamachi. I've apprehended the target. I'll be bringing him in now."
The man made no resistance until he was handed over.
----------
Although I let the girl I fought and the man who attacked Ms. Fate get away, it seems my part in this is over.
Ms. Takamachi and the others, who had cut their training short to rush here, took over the scene right away. I delivered the unconscious Azenta and answered questions about the situation.
Especially since Azenta could escape with her Stand ability even when bound, it was necessary to lock her in a room without mirrors. I had to explain that as well.
Still, to let two out of three get away... What a failure... No, not really. We had an attack in the middle of the city and zero casualties. Since we're fighting, a few injuries aren't a reason to get down.
Well, if it weren't for the guy who called himself Woz, there's no doubt there would have been people dead. And secondary destruction from that. It's a really strange feeling. There are a lot of things I need to talk to him about next time we meet.
The injured were Yami and Ms. Testarossa—or rather, Ms. Fate.
Ms. Fate was shot in the shoulder, so she had to go to the hospital immediately. The look on Ms. Takamachi's face when she saw Ms. Fate... well, let's just say I wouldn't want to be her enemy.
As for the other injured person, Yami, she also had to go to the hospital. But unlike Ms. Fate, her injuries weren't that deep. They looked bad from the outside, though.
We who fought all got into an ambulance and went to the hospital. Azenta, too, by the way. My attack had burned her face.
While everyone was getting treated, I gave my statement.
In the middle of it, we got a call that the man had been captured, but the girl I fought was never caught. Even that team couldn't catch her.
The two who had been brainwashed weren't injured. The ability must have stopped when Azenta lost consciousness.
"The day's ending, huh?"
"Yeah, it is."
We had wasted the entire afternoon of our trip. I'll never forgive those guys.
Now, I'm sitting on a hospital sofa, spaced out with Yomi.
"Honestly, what a terrible thing to happen to us."
"Yeah... I hope Yami-san is okay..."
Lutesia, who had tape on her neck to prevent scarring, was already back to her usual self. She's got a thick skin. Her mother, Ms. Megane, had already gone home to prepare dinner. She said she'd make do with the ingredients she had since shopping was out of the question.
In contrast, Vivio was visibly dejected. She was completely down.
It's not her fault she was controlled, but she had beaten up Yami. Not in a match, but with pure violence. It was natural for her to feel depressed.
Yami, whose treatment was finished, peeked her head around the corner.
Her white dress was in tatters, so she was wearing a navy tracksuit bought from a store.
"Couldn't they find something better?"
"Don't be picky."
I was surprised even Yomi, who was usually oblivious to such things, made a subtle face. But Yami probably doesn't care about it, not now at least.
Yami looked at us, or more accurately, at Vivio, and ran over. Vivio, who was sitting, stood up.
"Y-Yami-san! Are you... Whoa! Yami-san!? W-what's wrong!?"
Yami wrapped her arms around Vivio and held on tightly.
"I'm so glad...! That you're safe. I'm really glad...!"
"...Yes. I'm sorry. It's because of me that you got hurt."
"No, it's my fault. That you were targeted this time. It's all my fault...!"
She wasn't crying, but her voice was trembling. After a while, Yami let go.
"Yotsuki Sho. Please apologize to Dr. Mikado for me."
"Are you leaving?"
"What!? N-no!"
This time, Vivio's eyes welled up. She understood everything just from the word "leaving." She's a sharp girl.
"This incident made it clear. I shouldn't be here. I'm just causing trouble for everyone."
"That's not true! We don't think you're a bother at all! Sho-san, please stop her!"
"If that's what you really want, I won't stop you."
"Wha! Sho-san!? Why...!"
"..."
It's not a matter of what she wants.
"I can't always protect you, either."
"Protect? You, me?"
I deliberately tried to provoke her a little.
"I don't know how else to describe today's battle."
Yami made a frustrated face at my words. I'm one to talk. As I said before, everyone was saved today thanks to Woz. But I'll use whatever I can.
"I understand that Yami is a target because of her past. And today, people got hurt. But that's a good thing."
"A good thing...!? That's crazy! People got hurt!"
"The injuries aren't good! I said it's good that no one died!"
"!!"
Everyone flinched at my shout.
"You can leave if you want. But if the person who escaped today leaks information about Vivio, the people who are after you might use her. Whether you're here or not, you're still a target. It makes no difference whether you're here or not."
"That's..."
She didn't understand something so simple. Because she had always been alone.
"Being alone is easy. Whatever happens, you can blame yourself and be done with it. But you can't go back to being alone like you were before. You've gotten involved with others. You've formed relationships that bind you."
They might be bonds that bind, but they are comfortable bonds. Once you've formed them, you can't easily throw them away. Especially for a girl like Yami.
"Then, what should I do?"
"You should protect them."
"You mean protecting people?"
I want her to get to that point eventually.
"No."
I'll deny it for now.
"You'll protect Vivio. You just have to protect Vivio. You won't be motivated if I tell you to protect random strangers, will you?"
Only a goody-two-shoes could do something like that. Yami is different.
"You don't have to worry about the others. I'll—"
"We will," Yomi corrected me. "—we'll cover you."
"You don't have to think about complicated things. Your own selfish wish is the best answer."
"A selfish wish..."
Yami turned to face Vivio.
"Nanoha Vivio, I'm sorry. I might continue to cause you trouble. But I won't throw away this relationship. So, from now on..."
"Yes! Let's be friends!"
Vivio wiped the tears from her eyes and hugged Yami this time.
"You're a bad man, Sho."
"Shut up."
"You're seducing girls that way, aren't you?"
"Yeah, yeah."
With Lutesia and Yomi, two mischievous kids together, it's a handful for me, but I don't get flustered by it anymore.
"Oh, that's boring."
"Well, just like you told Yami-san, you protected us, didn't you?"
"You helped me when I was all beaten up, didn't you?"
"Well..."
How much easier would this fight have been without the Stands? In the end, we outsiders are the ones causing trouble in this world.
"It makes you feel like you have to do it. Everyone does."
This isn't just an afterthought. Next time, I'll protect them for sure.
----------
Azenta was confined in a special room with no reflective surfaces. Because of this, she couldn't use Man in the Mirror to escape into the mirror world. This was thanks to Sho's advice.
"What's going on...?"
There was a commotion outside.
Eventually, the source of the noise appeared.
"Tch, damn it. It's you."
"Hello, Azenta the Tyrant."
Through the small window at the top of the door, she saw the red-haired girl.
"I didn't think you'd come to rescue me. Or are you here to finish me off?"
"Don't make that face. I'm here to help, if anything."
There was no way a person would take the risk of rescuing a failed assassin. Azenta and the girl weren't even allies. They were business partners, using each other.
"Tch, fine. Are you going to help that man, too?"
"No, I wasn't told to help him. And, to be precise, I'm not here to help you. It's more like I want to reclaim your ability."
"What did you say?"
The door was smashed open. The girl in her battle suit took a step forward. What was different from usual was the unfamiliar device on her hand.
"Okay, I'm taking this back."
"W-wait—"
She didn't listen to Azenta's words.
The unarmed Azenta couldn't resist. The girl pulled out the DISC from her head, and Azenta lost consciousness.
(Mea, get out of here. You've taken too long. Head to the harbor. Dr. Shinonono is waiting.)
(Okay, Master.)
The girl called Mea didn't go back the way she came. She blasted open a path with a buster rifle she fired from her transformed arm.
It was completely dark outside.
(I wonder what happened to you, big sister. To lose to a nobody like this just because you can't use your transformation ability.)
(She's probably let her guard down around Nanoha Vivio. Her daily life might also be a factor.)
(Should I try killing Nanoha Vivio? Maybe she'll return to normal then.)
(If you do that, a conflict between us and Golden Darkness will be unavoidable.)
(Oh... Then maybe I shouldn't.)
Multiple footsteps were getting closer to the room.
"See you later, big sister."
She leaped into the night and melted into the darkness.
----------
In another place, a man looked down at the bustling crowd from the top of a building. It was the man who gave Sho the Ziku-Driver—Woz.
"And so, Yotsuki Sho gained the power of Kamen Rider Zi-O sooner than planned. Thanks to that, lives were saved and a tragedy was avoided."
The book Woz held contained the details of this incident. Fate was saved, Vivio and Lutesia were freed from their brainwashing, Yami began to think about her own identity, and Sho defeated the enemy.
The book contained the exact opposite of what had happened. The thick book did not describe the events of this world.
"Can he even smash through the tragedies that are yet to come...? But one thing is for sure—many hardships await him on his destined path."
Woz said with a smile, and his body gradually became transparent and disappeared from the spot.
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