After they finished drinking, Seiji carried Chiaki back to her bed in her apartment room, and had her sleep there.
When he returned home, his cell phone suddenly rang.
He checked the caller ID and saw that it was from an unfamiliar number. He accepted the call anyways.
âHey, Haruta Bro,â a happy-sounding voice spoke in the phone.
Seiji frowned slightly as he recalled the figure of the silver-haired boy who liked to wear black clothing.
âWhat business do you have with me, Kamitani-san?â
As Seiji talked on the phone, he swiftly went towards his study.
âPlease donât be so hasty. I only wanted to offer you some fun. I donât want others to get involved.â Kamitaniâs voice sounded like it had an implied meaning.
Seiji stopped in his footsteps.
But, he quickly went to his study and sat down in front of his computer.
âWhat type of game did you want to play with me?â
âDonât have such a cold tone. Arenât you quite bored these days? Soul Society has already gathered enough participants for the second major battle in the Realm of Cherry Blossoms. But, you werenât invited.â
âIâm not bored at all.â
âHaha, donât deny it. Your older sister and others are about to have a major battle, while youâre left on the sidelines with nobody paying attention to you. How pitiful.â
âStop saying such useless things. What do you want?â
âDonât be so tense. I really am trying to offer you some fun so that you can have a more exciting life. Iâm not trying to be enemies with you.â
âIâd be quite happy if you stopped bothering me, Kamitani-san.â
âNo need to use honorifics with me. That makes us sound so distant. You can just call me Kamitani, or even address me by my name, Itsuki.â
âThank you for being so friendly, Kamitani.â
âNo need to be so reserved. That sounds much better. Now, if only you would stop being so on guard against me.â
âI apologize, itâs impossible not to be on guard against you.â
âThat really hurts. Iâm clearly so proactive and friendly.â
âI believe that we may have different understandings of what the word âfriendlyâ means.â
âDonât retort so seriously⊠Eh? I think that you retorted like this before?â Kamitani pretended to be forgetful. âForget it. Let us discuss the topic of âheroes.'â Kamitani then changed the topic. âMy bro Haruta, what type of image do you think of when you hear the word âhero?'â
âFor me, my first mental image would be a male wearing cool clothing and wearing a mask, with a gigantic monster right before him.â Kamitani continued speaking without waiting for Seijiâs reply. âCool and powerful individuals that fight giant monsters! Thatâs what my concept of a âheroâ is. Yet, there are many people that fit that definition, but I donât feel that they are âheroes.â Why is that? After careful consideration, I discovered the reason, which is⊠they werenât on the big screen!â
Kamitani said this with great conviction.
âScreen?â Seiji didnât quite follow.
âThatâs right, the big screen!â Kamitani spoke quite seriously. âBecause they werenât on the big screen, not many people saw them, so they didnât feel like âheroes!'â
Seiji was rendered speechless.
He wanted to retort, but didnât know how.
âCool appearance, powerful abilities, and fighting giant monsters. And, being on the big screen so that many people can see them. Thatâs what a âheroâ is!â Kamitani concluded. âI want to see real âheroes,â not fictional ones. And you are a perfect candidate to be a âhero,â my bro Haruta!â
So this was what Kamitani wanted. Seiji narrowed his eyes.
âIâll create the monster, and also arrange the filming. You just have to play the part of the âhero!â Doesnât that sound wonderful!â Kamitani spoke passionately. He sounded exactly as if he was talking to a friend about a âfun game that you should come and play as well.â
âWhat purpose do you have with all this?â
âOf course, because itâs fun.â
âDonât joke around. Creating chaos at such a time might have severe consequences. Are you certain that you can handle them?â Seiji questioned.
âThank you for your concern, but thereâs no problem,â Kamitani replied happily.
âIâm not concerned about you at all! Since you call yourself âfriendly,â how about telling the truth?â
âEverything Iâve told you was the truth.â
âI would never believe that. Iâm hanging up now.â
âWait a moment! Actually, this matter is related to the âEcstasyâ mystical drug⊠You should know what that is.â
Ecstasy! Something flashed in Seijiâs eyes.
âI only know that itâs a strange drug created by your Messengers organization. Just what exactly is it used for?â
âTo conquer the world!â
âYou shouldnât ask questions that you know you obviously wonât receive the answer to, my bro Haruta.â Kamitani chuckled. âBut what I can tell you is that after the Realm of Cherry Blossoms Inner World #1 is unsealed, itâs highly likely that Ecstasy users will mutate and transform into monsters. We of the Messengers organization want to recover them, but we lack personnel due to the issue with the Realm of Cherry Blossoms.â
âAn evil organization that lacks personnel⊠Haha, very funny. So, you want me to act as your janitorâŠâ Seiji spoke in a heavy tone.
âYou could say that. Filming this whole process is to leave behind a record. Of course, the most important reason is because I think it would be fun,â Kamitani stated casually.
âWhy? As in, why should I do this for you?â
âI contacted you of my own volition. Like I said, itâs because I wanted to offer you some fun⊠and, I protected you and your women from the Messengers organization. You should at least owe me this favor.â
Seiji fell silent for a moment before speaking. âI donât know if youâre telling the truth or not here. But if so, thank you,â Seiji spoke in a calm tone. âNow, I want to ask, the fact that youâre paying so much attention and âtaking careâ of me, itâs actually all because of my older sister, is that correct?â
Kamitani chuckled on the other end of the phone.
âShe is indeed an important reason. But, as I said, you are an interesting existence, Seiji Haruta,â Kamitani spoke in a meaningful tone. âI want to see what youâll become in the future. I believe that your older sister is of the same opinion as me here. I hope that youâll keep my interest in you.â
âI shall do my best not to disappoint my sister. But, I donât care if I disappoint you, Kamitani-kun.â
âThatâs a nice way of addressing me as well. My bro Haruta, become a âhero!'â
âIâm not a hero. I donât want to work for free.â
âDo you want money or a new woman?â
âIâm not interested in either.â
âThen how about an importance piece of information? This is regarding one of your women.â
ââŠWho?â A sharp glint appeared in Seijiâs eyes.
âIâll only tell you if you agree to act as a âhero.â This is a valuable piece of informationâŠâ
âArenât you agreeing too easily!â
âItâs not a good thing to value your women so much, my bro Haruta.â
ââŠIâll tell you first which woman this information is about. As for the information itself, Iâll tell you after you complete your task for me so that you donât have any distractions.â
Kamitani then told him a name.
After the phone call ended, Seiji immediately called Yui.
However, he was unable to get through to Yuiâs cell phone. So, he immediately called Natsuya instead, and told her about whatâd just happened.
âDo you believe what he says?â Natsuya asked after hearing the situation.
âOf course Iâm suspicious⊠I want to tell Yui about it, and hear what she has to say. But, I canât get in contact with her right now.â Seiji sighed.
Natsuya fell silent for a moment. âYou absolutely have to be careful,â she warned him.