Chapter 98
"..."
Ayaka gripped her Zanpakuto tightly.
"Stay away from me, you pervert."
Although her legs were broken at the beginning—this Quincy wasn't skilled in the Hirenkyaku, so he directly chose the crippling mode that prevented his prey from escaping— Ayaka still had Kidō to use.
Even though she was far from being skilled or powerful, under Haruto's influence, Ayaka had at least mastered one of the techniques in the Zankensōki style.
So...
It's not time to give up hope yet!
――――
Volume 1: Chapter 62, Swift!
Ayaka didn't believe she could defeat the Quincy before her.
Although she has made considerable progress in the last six months, she has not broken through the limitations of the Ninth Class of Reii, and can be said to have made no achievements outside of the Kidō.
As the weakest member of the small group, even if he joined the Gotei 13 after graduation, he would at best only be able to dangle behind a high- Seated Officer.
But!
Ayaka believes in Haruto.
If the Hell Butterfly hadn't been used before, it wouldn't have mattered. With such an obvious signal problem, Haruto would definitely have noticed the clues.
As long as Haruto arrives...
Haruto could kill this arrogant guy with a single finger.
"Abnormal?"
The Quincy were not very satisfied with Ayaka's description.
"NoNoNo~"
He shook his finger as he walked toward the immobilized Ayaka.
"Girl, I only extended this invitation because of your beauty, so I hope you can have some self-awareness."
The Quincy glanced at the three incomplete corpses on the ground.
"Otherwise, your fate might not be so good~"
"..."
The Quincy's tone of voice alone makes you want to punch him, let alone his so-called aesthetic sense of turning corpses and mutilation into works of art.
"Oh?"
Ayaka's smile held a disdain for sharing the sunlight.
"Your idea of beauty is inviting people with paralyzed legs to dance?"
Is there something wrong with it?
The astonishment in the Quincy's eyes seemed genuine.
"No."
Ayaka gently shook her head.
"I just hope I never have to see something as disgusting as you again in my life."
Ayaka leaned on her Zanpakuto with one hand.
The twisted finger bones barely managed to open, pointing straight at the approaching Quincy.
"Hadō #39"
Ayaka Shakkahō Technique were decent, but her Kidō talent was only average, and her Reiatsu level was insufficient to complete a high-level Hadō.
So.
Under Haruto's tutelage, incorporating elements of lightning-based Kidō became her primary method for enhancing her combat abilities.
"Kongōbaku!"
A fireball, its surface crackling with electricity, shot towards the Quincy was right in front of it!
"Boom!"
The shockwave from the explosion even sent Ayaka, the caster of the spell, flying.
However--
"Perverted? Disgusting?"
The Quincy emerged from the swirling black smoke.
"Sigh~"
He covered his forehead and said with regret.
Seeing your makeup and outfit, I thought we'd have a lot in common.
"It's a pity--"
"Buzz!"
As he flicked the Silver Cross from his rolled-up sleeve to his wrist, the Reishi flowing in the air quickly coalesced in his hand into the shape of a short bow.
"Sacred..."
Draw the bow and arrow, then...
"Puff!!"
Cut in two with one stroke.
――――
His short life came to an end just like that.
Looking at the bow and arrows in the Quincy's hands, Ayaka Kurumadani couldn't help but think this.
"The attempt to buy time has failed."
In the past...
Whether it's begging for mercy or temptation, Ayaka Kurumadani will always use all her abilities and means to try to survive—besides her noble status, she was no better off than Juzu Izumi.
Otherwise, the two wouldn't have become such good friends.
But.
After getting to know Haruto, and especially after gradually integrating into this small group, Ayaka also changed without realizing it:
She began to feel that some things were more important than life and "glory," something deeply rooted in her soul...
Pride.
What attracted her most to Haruto was precisely these two words.
That's why.
Only then could she unhesitatingly use her strongest, yet least likely to-win, Kidō when facing an opponent she could never defeat.
"Fortunately..."
Ayaka did not regret it, because her life was not entirely without merit.
"Although I don't have any official status, I, Ayaka Kurumadani, have excellent taste in men—"
"Puff!!"
The sharp blade is drawn.
A golden-blue light descended from the sky, slicing the Quincy's body into two identical pieces from his forehead to his groin...
It was decorated with his favorite colors, red and white.
"It's actually quite accurate."
After that bloodshed and cruelty that cleaved things in two, came the warm sun piercing through the dark clouds and cold... and the figure that brought that warmth.
"..."
"A-Qing."
Ayaka's voice trembled slightly.
Leaving aside the leg injuries, the burden on the body from performing Kidō while all ten fingers were twisted in the opposite direction is unimaginable.
"Feel sorry."
Haruto, of course, wouldn't ignore Ayaka's physical condition.
Even though she didn't have any particular feelings for her, seeing the girl who had been all lovey-dovey that morning in this state still stirred something strange in Haruto's heart.
I'm late.
Haruto's voice was somewhat low.
"No, you've come at just the right time..."
The falling snowflakes stopped without anyone noticing.
"My hero."
"..."
Faced with the girl's words, which were almost a confession, Haruto was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Puff."
Looking directly at Haruto's somewhat tense expression, Ayaka couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"There's no need to be so serious."
Ayaka forgot about her physical condition; just as she was about to take a step forward, Haruto had stepped ahead, half-embraced her.
There's no particular reason; otherwise, I'd collapse.
"I'm a good girl who knows my limits, and my desire for your promise has never changed."
Her lips, barely retaining any color, gently brushed against Haruto's ear, a seductive allure that stirred the soul like a little devil—
"Being a 'b' friend is enough~"
"Smack!"
Haruto gently patted Ayaka's leg.
"You're so badly injured, and you still have the energy to talk trash?"
"Hey-hey."
Ayaka stuck out her tongue cutely.
"..."
Haruto stopped joking with Ayaka and his expression became quite serious.
Stop pretending.
"I saw you trembling just now. If you don't get someone to help, you'll be in trouble when we get back to Soul Society."
"It means I have to postpone my graduation."
Haruto wasn't good at Kaidō, but he did have some insight.
"... You found Isane and the others?"
Whether it was a misperception or not, Haruto seemed to detect a hint of bitterness in Ayaka's tone.
"No."
Haruto shook his head and said:
You just happened to be the first one I saved.
"But..."