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CHAPTER 1 – MULTIPLE STARTING LINES
PART 04
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1-2 A GIRL FALLS FROM THE SKY
That “something” fell into the room amidst a ton of rubble, probably after it landed on the dilapidated and weakened roof of the building.
A quarter of the ceiling had caved in, most of it right on top of Messiah. The commotion had also stirred up the dirt accumulated on the floor over the years, blanketing the entire room in a curtain of dust.
“Oof! What’s happening?”
Messiah’s angry bellow came from the other side of the dust cloud. Isn’t he dead after being buried under so much rubble
?
Anyway, this is our best chance of escape!
Pocketing Satsuki’s phone, I immediately rushed towards her.
Moving within the dust cloud, I shuffled to where I remembered seeing Satsuki last. Unable to see more than ten centimeters before me, I finally managed to make out her shadow.
“Over here! Let’s go!”
“Huh?”
I heard her exclaim something, but in my panic, I blocked out her voice and ran towards the back door of the factory, dragging her along. Crashing our way through, we finally burst out of the building, where I continued to drag her down the hill.
“I’ll protect you with my life!”
I panted out at Satsuki, trying to distract both of our attention from the terrifying situation at hand. If not, I might probably stand rooted to the spot in fear. Halfway down the hill, I remembered that I had cycled my way here, but it was too late to go back and retrieve the bicycle, so I continued running.
I wonder how long we continued running as I shouted encouragement back at her time and again.
Because otherwise, I didn’t really have a clue how I could help her.
We ran until the hill with the abandoned factory was out of sight before I finally stopped.
*pant pant*
My mouth felt like a desert. I desperately needed a drink.
Either way, it didn’t look like Messiah had given chase, so we were safe for now.
Just then, “Satsuki” asked in an unfamiliar voice,
“H-hey, what is your name?”
“Huh?”
I whirled around in shock to find a strange girl holding my hand.
“Hey, I asked for your name. N-A-M-E. Tell me now.”
“Na
Namidare
 Rekka,” I answered, dumbfounded.
“Namidare Rekka
 I’ll call you Rekka, then.”
The mystery girl repeated my name with a smile.

Wait. What is happening here?
Just then, R floated into my line of sight with an answer.
“Rekka-san grabbed the wrong girl back there in the dust cloud.”
Seriously? But where did this girl—
 Oh, she must be the “something” that fell through the roof.
That’s right. I recall hearing a girl screaming right before that “something” came through the ceiling.
“
Hey— Hello? Are you listening to me?”
“Huh? No, what is it?”
“Honestly! Here I am telling you my name, so can’t you listen up?”
The girl, with silver hair tied in twin tails that reached all the way to her feet, humphed in anger.
Then, she placed a hand on the bosom of her frilly, strange-looking dress, and puffed out her chest.
“My name is Iris Pheneritas Psyfacor, the only daughter of the chief of planet Phenerita’s council ‘Owaria’. I’m not really the type of person that any commoner from some godforsaken planet can touch, so I think you should feel honored.”
“Huh?! Oh, sorry!”
Realizing that our hands were still connected, I hurriedly loosened my grip.
“Don’t be silly. I said, you should feel honored, not sorry. Anyway, I’ll forgive you this time because it’s special.”
So saying, Iris grabbed my hand again as she smiled at me.
Her grip this time was strong as she shook my hand painfully, but it was still a girl’s hand, and its softness flustered me.
“W-why is this time special?”
“Because Rekka rescued me from my pursuers.”
“
Huh?”
What is she talking about?
“If I may hazard a guess, Iris-san was being pursued by some people too. During the chase, she fell through the roof of the abandoned factory. Then, Rekka-san grabbed her hand and both of you escaped the place together, giving her the wrong idea that you had rescued her?”
R kindly explained the situation before my head exploded from all the confusion.
“H-hey, I
”
“And you told me that you’ll protect me with your life
 Kyaa! I never thought I would meet a guy who would say such things!”
Iris placed her hand -the one not currently holding mine- to her own cheek as she swayed sheepishly from side to side. It seems like R’s guess was right.
“Ha, ha ha ha.”
There were so many misunderstandings going on here, but I didn’t have the heart to correct her.
But now I’d abandoned Satsuki back at the factory. I needed to get back there as soon as I could.
Just as I was about to explain the situation to Iris, she beat me to it.
“Yep! I’ve decided! Rekka— I’ll make you my lover!”
“Huuuuuh?!”
Doesn’t such a decision usually warrant more time and consideration!?
“If I can show Papa that I have a lover, maybe he’ll stop talking about that stupid marriage proposal. Alright, since that’s decided, let’s go!”
Having made up her mind, the young lady pulled out a mysterious item from the pouch hanging from her shoulder. It looked like a make-up compact, and when she opened it, I spotted a number of buttons within, one of which she pressed with a slim finger.
Suddenly, darkness fell upon us, and I looked up to see a huge flying machine hovering directly above us.
“That’s a U
 U
!”
“Yes, it’s a UFO.”
I was at a loss for words, as R completed the sentence for me.
Iris pressed another button, and a strange light shone from the UFO down onto us
as I felt myself floating up into the light.
Am I going to be mutilated like cattle!? And now that I’ve finally noticed, is that a tail growing out from Iris’ bottom!? Huh, this can’t be real. Is she an alien!?
“W-wait a second! What about my opinion—!?”
“You said you’d protect me with your life, right? Then you’ll have to pose as my lover for now, OK?”
“But it’s all a misunderstanding!”
My body, together with my shouts of protest, were soon swallowed up by the light.