The Final Act

Bunkyo Ward,

Todai Hospital,

"Hey, I'm better?!"

The young policewoman, Kawai Mai, sat bolt upright in bed. With her short bobbed hair, she looked stunned as she felt herself all over.

"This... this isn't scientific at all!"

She threw off the covers and set her bare feet on the floor. Experiencing the feeling of walking again made the young policewoman bounce with delight. She also grabbed both of the girl's hands and thanked her excitedly.

"Thank you, thank you."

"You're welcome. Well, I'm off to school."

After treating her patient, Amame Ei prepared to leave. In her eyes, anyone worthy of her treatment was either rich or powerful.

The woman before her was only a few years older than she was. Perhaps she was the heir to some major conglomerate.

Although Amame Ei's status was now far more exalted, long since surpassing that of a young lady from a wealthy family,

she still didn't like associating with "important people." They were too phony.

Sigh...

Yu, Sora, and Nao.

She'd been accepted by her "parents" and could spend every day with her little sister.

But Amame Ei, their former friend, understood that with her current status, it was no longer appropriate for her to see them.

It was hard to say whether these changes were for better or worse.

Amame Ei left the hospital room, lost in thought, and went to school.

Fuji Seiko entered the room and watched her junior, Kawai Mai, bouncing around. A relieved smile appeared on her face.

"Senpai!"

"The girl from earlier... Also, the hospital stay here must be expensive, right?"

Though Kawai Mai was a young woman fresh out of school, she understood that transferring her to such a high-end private hospital and having a high schooler with miraculous powers treat her couldn't possibly have been arranged by the parents of an ordinary person.

That left only her senpai.

"I'll pay you back for the treatment."

The young policewoman bowed in thanks and made a solemn promise. Iori Ichika, who had just entered, let out a derisive laugh.

"Kid, you couldn't pay off that debt."

?

"Who are you?"

"This is Iori Ichika, Superintendent General and head of the Metropolitan Police Department's Supernatural Countermeasures Division."

Fuji Seiko introduced the young policewoman.

?!

"Good morning, ma'am."

Facing a high-ranking officer like the superintendent general, Kawai Mai reflexively snapped to attention and saluted.

The highest-ranking official she'd ever dealt with had been a superintendent at the Adachi Ward police station.

"Relax."

"Come in."

Iori Ichika snapped her fingers, and a stern Public Security Bureau officer in formal attire entered the room carrying a document pouch.

"Patrol Officer Kawai Mai, here's your transfer order."

"Effective immediately, you'll be reassigned to the Supernatural Countermeasures Division as a logistics officer in the Second Mobile Unit, with the rank of assistant inspector."

The stiff-faced officer announced it in a formal, matter-of-fact tone.

"You may refuse the transfer order. In that case—you'll be charged with treason."

"Huh? Huh? What?!"

First, a high school girl had "touched" her, and she'd miraculously recovered.

Now she was being transferred to some "Supernatural Countermeasures Division." And the most absurd part was that refusing was tantamount to treason?

The young policewoman stared blankly, her brain apparently overloaded and no longer functioning.

"Mai, this is the price you have to pay."

Fuji Seiko patted her junior on the shoulder. Iori Ichika, standing beside them, pursed her lips.

"Hey, hey, what kind of gloomy talk is that, right in front of me, the division head?"

"Anyone else who wanted to join my division would have to go through round after round of screening and investigation. The pay and benefits are several times better than at a regular department!"

"But the risks are several times higher too, aren't they?"

After getting used to her superior, the serious Fuji Seiko had become more casual around her.

Several times higher? Try much more!

Regular police officers mostly dealt with petty theft. A major case involving a corpse was rare enough to go a whole year without one.

But the still-undisclosed Supernatural Countermeasures Division had to face all kinds of invisible, intangible Evil Spirits; demons with all sorts of strange abilities; and superhuman entities bold enough to massacre armies head-on.

"Senpai, you're also..."

"Mm. I'm the captain of the Second Mobile Unit."

"All right, I'm in!"

"Huh?!"

"We're starting work right now?"

Kawai Mai had just joined the Supernatural Countermeasures Division's Second Mobile Unit and changed into a police uniform. She'd barely left the hospital when they brought her to a mobile command vehicle.

"Hahaha, that's what they mean by 'speed is the essence of war.'"

As the flustered young policewoman looked around, Iori Ichika gestured toward the two rows of computers and several staff members aboard the command vehicle.

"If there's anything you don't understand, ask them on the way."

"Move out!"

From the outside, the convoy's vehicles looked like classic 1980s Nissan Vanettes—in other words, minivans.

At an agency like the Metropolitan Police Department, the higher-ups still clung to the aesthetic tastes of decades past. Only government departments would use cars with this kind of look.

But beneath their plain exteriors, the vehicles were packed with high-tech equipment.

"This mission has just one objective."

Inside the lead van—cough, camper van.

As several researchers busied themselves around her, adjusting her equipment, Iori Ichika looked at Fuji Seiko.

"Beat Tanimura Wataru half to death!"

High in the sky,

a crow soared on outstretched wings, following the convoy overhead.

Its dark eyes shifted, spotting numerous drones gathering in the sky ahead with a steady buzz.

Once they reached a certain altitude, people on the ground could only make out tiny dots. But the drones' high-resolution cameras could clearly capture everything happening below.

Their appearance proved that Japan was preparing to move against Tanimura Wataru.

What a great opportunity!

Longing for a chance to use ninjutsu openly, Akihi Yu didn't mind adding fuel to the fire.

Meanwhile,

at Tokyo Metropolitan Koishikawa Secondary Education School.

?

"Teacher, I'm going to the bathroom."

After raising his hand, Kishida Jun left without waiting for permission. He returned to the classroom and sat down again ten-odd seconds later.

But this was only a Water Clone. The real Kishida Jun had already leapt out through the bathroom window and, with a snap, opened an umbrella.

The umbrella concealed his face as he avoided the school's cameras and made his way silently to a nearby river. Then he leapt in.

Splash,

a ripple spread,

and the rivers running throughout Tokyo made the perfect hidden passageway.

Daishimaecho,

"You should solve the problem this way."

Inside a small restaurant, Tanimura Wataru was helping the girl beside him with her studies.

After all, he'd once been a university student. If nothing unexpected had happened, he should have been continuing his education while tutoring on the side.

"Hoshino,"

the chef called from the kitchen, poking his head out in exasperation.

"I hate to interrupt your studying, but Mr. Honda just delivered the seafood. Give me a hand—"

"Let me do it,"

Tanimura Wataru offered, getting up when he heard the chef.

This girl, who looked so much like Akemi, was one of the few—no, the only friend he had left.

So when she started taking her studies and part-time job seriously, Tanimura Wataru didn't mind helping her study in his spare time. He hadn't realized it was a kind of wishful compensation: if he'd stayed by Akemi's side back then, that wouldn't have happened.

"I'd really appreciate that. This way, please."

He followed the chef out the back door. A camper van was parked not far away.

These vehicles were great for family trips, but their rear seats could also be removed to carry large amounts of cargo. They were a popular choice among many businesses.

But—

Tanimura Wataru sniffed.

He smelled a strong mix of scents coming from the vehicle!

Bang!

He spun around and rushed back into the restaurant. The chef slammed the back door shut.

Tanimura Wataru paid no attention to the ordinary man. He stared at the vehicle in front of him, slightly crouched.

He'd let his guard down.

He'd been so absorbed in teaching that he hadn't noticed how thin the human presence in the area had become. It meant the residents of the street had all been quietly evacuated.

And the reason was obvious: they were trying to capture him.

Bang!!

The camper van's rear doors were kicked open. With a clatter, a metal combat boot hit the ground.

"Well, long time no see."

???

"Officer Iori?"

Even Tanimura Wataru was taken aback, because—

"What, stunned by my 'new outfit'?"

No,

Iori Ichika's equipment had certainly surprised him,

but what surprised him even more was the faint Demonic Aura coming from the policewoman.

Iori Ichika stepped out of the camper van, her body encased in metal armor. She tapped her thumb against the armor on her chest.

"America's ONYX IV Exoskeleton Armor. This rare piece of equipment was just brought over from Lockheed Martin's lab."

That's right. Iori Ichika was wearing a suit of armor brimming with high-tech flair. Through the gaps, black cables and silver metal supports were visible, clearly showing that it had been hastily assembled.

"Don't be surprised. Militaries around the world have been using exoskeletons for a long time."

Of course, most were only partial exoskeletons.

For example, some were worn on the upper body to help carry artillery shells; others were fitted to the legs to provide extra power for climbing.

But exoskeletons had two major problems. First was the power supply. Carrying more exoskeleton equipment required a more powerful energy source, while a heavier portable power supply added to the exoskeleton's load. So most exoskeletons took the form of lightweight frames attached to the body.

That was why, despite how advanced this ONYX III Exoskeleton Armor looked, an ordinary soldier wouldn't get very far wearing it.

The second problem, of course, was the cost!

How much was a grunt's life worth? Who'd send him into battle wearing equipment worth tens or even hundreds of thousands?

"Unfortunately, those of us with supernatural powers can fight while carrying the extra weight. As for the cost—"

Whoosh,

Iori Ichika, encased in armor, drew a short baton from her waist.

She pressed a button, and a foot-long beam of electricity erupted from the other end. Silver strands of high-voltage current writhed like metal snakes, crackling through the air around her.

"The major conglomerates say money isn't an issue."

As long as they got a share of the spoils,

Bang!!

Iori Ichika stomped down and charged forward, her armor clanking as she raised the "stun baton" high.

"Give up peacefully—"

"ROAR!!!"

But how could Tanimura Wataru not fight back?

With a roar, his body suddenly stretched. His clothes were replaced by fur rippling across his body as he transformed into an upright wolf-man.

The next instant, they collided head-on. Machinery and muscle clashed, steel and claws sending sparks flying.

Hm?

That was quite a sight.

In the sky, the Crow wheeled with his wings spread, a humanlike look of surprise on his face.

He looked down at the scene below: "Iron Man: The Budget Edition" battling "Werewolf: Ninjutsu."

Sure enough, you couldn't underestimate the power of technology. Not only could it extract a "magic serum," it could even produce Exoskeleton Armor fit for actual combat.

After watching for a while, Akihi Yu realized that the Exoskeleton Armor was absurdly tough. Tanimura Wataru's claws could barely pierce it. It was probably made of some high-strength alloy. Meanwhile, whenever the "stun baton" in Iori Ichika's hand landed a hit, electricity crackled, making Tanimura Wataru convulse and billow with black smoke.

If not for the physical enhancement granted by the Inuzuka Clan's Four-Legged Technique, Tanimura Wataru would already have been down.

Tanimura Wataru was faster, stronger, and more durable. But that woman from the island nation had sturdy armor, a formidable weapon, and smooth, flowing fighting skills. She was actually beating him down!

Tsk.

A close-combat fighter without technique was just a chump.

There was a reason Taijutsu was one of the three basic disciplines of a Ninja.

This wasn't good.

Pinned down and pummeled, Tanimura Wataru was utterly frustrated. His attacks kept missing, while hers came one after another. He stood no chance.

Time to retreat—

Though he'd taken a beating, at least he still had plenty of "demonic energy" in him.

Seizing his chance, Tanimura Wataru rolled backward in a desperate scramble, landed on all fours, and sprang toward a nearby rooftop.

?!

But at that very instant,

every hair on his body stood on end as an overwhelming sense of danger washed over him.

Whoosh—

He twisted at the waist in midair. A streak of blood suddenly burst from the outside of his thigh.

Bang!

The gunshot rang out only afterward.

???

As he tumbled down, Tanimura Wataru glanced around and spotted a woman in "high-tech armor" crouched on the roof of a nearby building, aiming a sniper rifle.

Most importantly, he could sense a faint trace of "demonic energy" coming from her, too.

Damn it. There's another one.

"Commander, I missed."

Fuji Seiko's voice came through the earpiece. Iori Ichika, charging forward at a run, grinned.

"Don't worry."

If they knocked him down in just a few blows, the show would be over too soon.

Still charging, Iori Ichika turned sideways and led with the armor on her shoulder, smashing into the courtyard where Tanimura Wataru had fallen.

Crash!

The brick courtyard exploded into rubble. Cloaked in smoke and dust, Iori Ichika burst inside.

"This isn't the time to rest, little puppy!"

Tanimura Wataru had lost.

The Crow's eyes flickered as he watched from the sky.

Although Tanimura Wataru had the Inuzuka Clan's Secret Technique, he was still only a Genin—and a Genin with little combat experience, unless you counted beating up weaklings.

Now he'd run into two fully armed opponents. Even though they had less magic than a Genin, their technology still let them keep Tanimura Wataru pinned down. With a sniper interfering from range, he couldn't even escape.

Unless something unexpected happened, those two women would beat him to his knees.

Right. Next came the scene where the beauty rescued the beast.

Just as Iori Ichika was about to tell the "heroine" to get into position, an urgent voice came through the earpiece.

"Warning! Warning!"

"An unidentified fog has appeared at the scene. It's the 'Rain Woman'!"

Why was she here, too?!