My youth story cannot be a knight war

【"Who are you--"】

Looking at the beautiful woman before him, Kousaka's eyes widened slightly. Time flowed backwards, and the mature and dignified brunette transformed into a girl in a black school uniform. Her purple eyes, beneath their cold appearance, concealed a unique stubbornness and determination.

【"Rina?"】

"It seems you haven't forgotten me, cousin."

Kosaka Reina sat down on the sofa next to Kosaka Kyosuke and handed him a cup of black tea. She no longer had the cold and elegant teacher image she usually had in front of others, and a faint smile appeared on her cheeks.

[“…You’ve changed so much, I almost didn’t recognize you.”]

After receiving the tea, Kousaka Kyousuke was a bit stunned for a moment. He stared intently at the elegant and mature Kousaka Reina beside him, then he exhaled deeply and spoke.

[“Although I knew from my uncle that you were currently working at this school, it’s been a long time since we last met. The last time I remember was at—”]

"At Uncle Daisuke's funeral, right?"

【"……Um."】

This sentence made Kousaka Kyosuke silent for a moment, before he nodded gently and took a sip of the black tea in the cup. The bitter yet slightly sweet aroma lingered in his mouth and memory.

[“Unknowingly, so many years have passed.”]

"Yes, and cousin, that's not the way you say it to me. It's more suitable for you."

Kousaka Reina, holding a cup of black tea, looked at the calm young man beside her, who was completely different from the first time she met him. Her tone revealed a hint of emotion and sigh.

"My cousin, you're completely different from the Kousaka Kyousuke I remembered. Even we in Kyoto hear your name often now. Everything you've done is truly remarkable."

"If Uncle Daisuke knew what you've accomplished, cousin, he would be very pleased."

Her words made Kousaka Kyosuke pause, his hand holding the teacup trembling. Faint ripples spread across the surface of the tea. He lowered his eyelids and remained silent for a while.

【“…Perhaps.”】

He placed the cup of tea on the table in front of him, closed his eyes, exhaled, and spoke.

"But I think Dad would... Never mind, let's not talk about this heavy topic anymore."

[Kousaka Kyosuke turned his head to look at his cousin in the distance, his lips curled up slightly.]

"But I can't believe that the girl who was as stubborn as a hedgehog when we first met has become so mature and beautiful now. What's that old saying? Beauty is the root of trouble."

"Do you have a crush on someone or a boyfriend? Do you need me to introduce you to someone? This is a caring gesture from an elder."

This was a side of Kousaka Kyousuke that he rarely showed in front of others. He removed the hard mask he usually wore, revealing a rare touch of humanity, like a brother concerned about his cousin's relationship status. His words were a mixture of gossip and curiosity, and the teasing tone made Kousaka Reina roll her eyes.

"It seems I underestimated how much you've changed, cousin. You used to be so shy about even talking to girls, but now you're so familiar with me and asking a question that borders on harassment to my cousin, who we've only just met for a few minutes."

"If you talk to other women this frivolously, they'll probably record it and use it as evidence to call the police, Officer Kosaka~"

"There's no Officer Kosaka here right now. There's only a cousin who's concerned about his cousin's love life. This is a family matter, and even the most honest official wouldn't want to get involved in family matters."

[Kousaka Kyosuke smiled and shook his finger, then said.]

"And, Reina, have you forgotten? I'm now the highest-ranking official in the Metropolitan Police Department. It's only temporary, but if you call the police, it's like, 'Who's suing me?'"

[…It seems that it’s not just your inner self that’s changed, cousin. Even your outward appearance has become thicker day by day. You’ve completely transformed into a mature, dirty adult.]

"Can I take this as a compliment from my cousin on my cousin's excellence?"

[Faced with Kousaka Kyosuke's shameless words, Kousaka Reina was completely helpless. She looked at him with disdain despite his smile and moved a little, trying to get away from this shameless cousin.]

"Don't worry, I'm not in a rush about relationships or marriage right now, and my family isn't pushing me to find a partner—but that's not necessarily the case for you, cousin."

As if remembering something, Kousaka Reina's mouth curved into a subtle arc, like a grinning little devil. The girl from the past returned at this moment.

"I heard from others that you're taking special care of a student who recently transferred to my class, cousin, to the point where you're almost discussing marriage."

The smile on Kousaka Kyosuke's face froze, and the corners of his eyes twitched uncontrollably. Seeing him like this, Kousaka Reina knew she had found his G-spot, and she immediately pressed the issue, her gentle words piercing his heart like knives.

"My student seems to be only... almost seventeen this year? The national marriage age for girls is eighteen. Cousin, you're almost twenty-five, right?"

"By the way, do Auntie and Kirino know about this? I remember Auntie always seemed to be very concerned about your love life. If she knew that you quietly found such a beautiful and wealthy girl, and she's even an underage student, she would definitely be very happy, right?"

"Cousin, do you want me to call my aunt and talk about this now?"

[“I’m sorry, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have gotten so carried away.”]

Facing Reina Kousaka's smiling gaze as she pulled out her phone, Kousaka Kyousuke chose to give in without a second thought. Even now, this was giving him a splitting headache. If his mother and sister knew about this, Kousaka Kyousuke couldn't imagine what kind of hell would await him.

After all, even my colleagues at work look at me like a potential lolita convict. If my family knew about this… Kousakagura Kyosuke shuddered. He was afraid that by then, he would be a true failure of humanity. When he was buried, his tombstone would probably be engraved with his "glorious" life, attracting the scorn and worship of everyone.

[Seeing Kousaka Kyosuke bow his head and admit defeat, Kousaka Reina nodded with satisfaction, put her phone away, and placed the teacup on the table.]

"Cousin, if you don't mind telling me, I'm really curious about how a police officer like you, a prominent figure, could have such a relationship with my student—"

【Crackle!】

A sudden crash echoed in the teacher's office. The table toppled over, and the two cups of black tea placed on it fell to the ground and shattered. The broken ceramic cup fragments mixed with the tea spread across the carpet, attracting the attention of other people in the school who were secretly peeking in from a distance.

[“This——cousin???”]

Seeing Kousaka Kyosuke suddenly stand up and kick the table away, Kousaka Reina was completely stunned. The coldness on his face at this moment completely shocked her.

Although the relationship between the two is just that of ordinary relatives, Reina Kousaka also knows something about Kousaka Kyosuke. He is a highly capable police officer, but he never shows any work-related behavior in front of his relatives. In private, he is like an ordinary brother and son at home.

Although he didn't often show this side of himself to others, anyone who had met him would understand that beneath his cold exterior, Kousaka Kyousuke was actually quite easygoing... but she had never seen such an expression on her cousin's face.

Cold, sharp, and unmistakable, the curve of his profile was as sharp as the blade of a drawn samurai sword. Those eyes were so captivating that even without looking directly at her, Kousaka Reina felt the urge to turn away.

The ordinariness and casualness he displayed during the conversation just now was like a sheath placed on a blade. Now the blade has been unsheathed, tearing everything before into pieces. Perhaps this is the real Kousaka Kyousuke now.

Perhaps the ordinary boy in her memory had long since vanished. Standing here now was a powerful figure, a warrior who had returned from countless battles on the battlefields of Shura. Sensing the subtle hint of murderous intent emanating from him, Kousaka Reina felt as if her heart had frozen, like a baby facing the lion king. Beings at the top of the food chain naturally possessed dominance over those below them.

"Mr. Takasaka, what's wrong?!"

The principal, who had returned from a short distance, saw this important figure's sudden and violent reaction and immediately ran over at full speed. Seeing his expression, he shuddered inwardly. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked timidly, fearing that he might have offended him.

[“…Reina, Principal.”]

[Kousaka Kyosuke didn't look at his cousin or the principal beside him. His eyes were fixed on a certain spot in the nearby teaching building, without moving even a bit.]

"Can you guys prepare to evacuate the school?"

“This… this might be a little difficult! Today is our school’s 40th anniversary, and there are so many people on campus right now. We need a good reason!”

Before Kousaka Reina could reply, the principal was stunned after hearing Kousaka Kyousuke's words. He then frantically waved his hands and bit his head. The shining Mediterranean sea above his head looked like a constantly flashing lightbulb under the light.

The principal had never expected this prominent figure to make such an outrageous request. There were so many issues involved. Not only was he, a powerless principal, even the board of directors would have to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the matter. He simply couldn't give Kousaka Kyousuke a definitive response, nor did he dare to. Otherwise, if he gave someone else a pretext, he would undoubtedly be the one to take the blame.

[“Unconfirmed invasion of life forms—is this reason appropriate?”]

【“???——!!!!!!”】

[Kousaka Kyosuke said this, and the two were stunned at first, their brains completely unable to react to what he meant.]

After finally realizing what was happening, their expressions suddenly changed drastically. The principal's face turned as pale as the ointment his wife often used on her face. His legs began to tremble violently, and even the others who had heard this nearby began to show signs of agitation.

"Mr. Takasaka! What do you mean—"

"Cousin, is this true?!"

The trembling principal spoke incoherently, but before he could finish his trembling words, Kousaka Reina asked a question first. She stared at Kousaka Kyosuke intently, her eyes filled with disbelief.

[Unidentified life form. Although she has always been in Kyoto, far from Tokyo, she is familiar with this name. This name represents death, destruction, and killing. It is an existence that all citizens of this country now shudder at.]

"But haven't these monsters always been wreaking havoc in Tokyo? Why did they suddenly come to Kyoto?..." She turned pale at the thought.

Kosaka Reina remembered that these guys had indeed come to Kyoto and caused a tragedy that shocked the entire education community. This incident even caused many teachers in Kyoto schools to resign, fearing that the same thing would happen again.

【And the concerns of those teachers at that time may have become a reality today.】

"Everyone here, listen to my instructions!"

Kousaka Kyosuke suddenly turned around, his cold, sharp voice echoing throughout the office. Everyone who heard it was overwhelmed by the power contained in it, and involuntarily stood up straight.

"All teachers, immediately notify the rest of the school's academic staff and have them urgently open all the school's external doors and prepare to evacuate the crowd. Use the excuse of 'preventing a stampede'. But before receiving my order, no one is allowed to reveal the truth! No one is allowed to flee without permission! First, use various excuses to persuade the crowd to leave the vicinity of the teaching building!"

"If anyone is found to have disobeyed orders afterwards, I have the right to deem it a leak of state secrets and execute them on the spot!"

Kousaka Kyosuke pulled his revolver from his windbreaker and slammed it on the table. The sound of the gun hitting the surface resonated in the hearts of all the teachers, who nodded in agreement. No one dared to ask questions at this moment.

"Right now! Immediately! Act now!"

All the teachers scattered as he spoke. The office, which had been packed with people just a moment ago, was now empty, with only the original three people remaining.

【"headmaster."】

【"……yes!"】

[Kousaka Kyosuke placed his hand on the shoulder of the nearly unconscious principal. The immense force and pain on his shoulder jolted the principal awake, and he hurriedly bowed in response.]

"I'll leave the communication with the school's higher-ups to you. Is that okay?"

"No problem! Leave it to me!"

Looking at the revolver in Kousaka Kyosuke's other hand, the principal dared not question him. He nodded frantically, then turned and ran out of the office. As he approached the door, he tripped over the threshold and fell, but immediately started running again.

“Cousin, this—”

The hurried footsteps gradually faded from the corridor outside, and all doubts were completely dispelled by this scene. Kousaka Reina looked at Kousaka Kyousuke, her voice filled with unconcealed panic.

"Reina, go find the students from your class immediately and find a way to get them as far away from here as possible."

Kousaka Kyousuke retracted his revolver, and with a force far lighter than the principal's earlier, he pressed down on her shoulders, gazing at his cousin's uneasy expression.

"Leave the rest to me, just do your job well."

[“…Then be careful, cousin.”]

[Kousaka Reina pursed her lips, suppressed the chaotic thoughts in her heart, turned around and ran quickly towards the exit. After leaving the door, she disappeared from Kousaka Kyosuke's sight.]

After giving all the instructions, Kousaka turned and looked in the direction he had been looking at. An unconcealable solemnity and murderous intent emanated from the depths of his eyes.

[——What is your purpose in coming here? B1.]

……

"Mio."

【"well?"】

Akiyama Mio was stunned when she heard the stranger in front of her say her name (Mio). She looked up at the calm Baruba anxiously. Could it be that she knew her?

[“Excuse me, how do you know my name? Are you——”]

Wait… Akiyama Mio's gaze suddenly froze. She stared blankly at Baruba's forehead, at the rose totem that looked like it had been made of white paint. Suddenly, her mind raced, and past memories flooded back.

She remembered that nightmarish day, when she was attacked by Unidentified Lifeform No. 33. He had spoken softly of the utter cruelty of her, even reaching out to tug at her collar, as she trembled in suppressed fear.

As it tugged at the collar, Akiyama Mio actually saw a hieroglyphic-like totem appear and disappear below the collarbone as the collar swayed.

[The totem is black, but the painting style... is exactly the same as the woman in front of me.]

["——!???"]

A tsunami-like feeling of fear surged from deep within her spine, and Akiyama Mio's slender legs began to tremble uncontrollably. She stared at Baruba with wide eyes, the deepest fear in the world slowly spreading through her eyes.

「You, you are──!?」

"Your name...?"

Akiyama Mio trembled as she took a few steps back and slumped back into her chair. Baruba ignored her reaction and instead chewed over her words, his gaze growing darker.

The next moment, her eyes suddenly turned pure golden. This color, which was definitely not possessed by humans, reflected the terrified face of the girl before her, and also saw a scene that humans could never see.

[“…As expected, the shape is exactly the same.”]

The golden light slowly faded from her eyes, and Baruba's gaze dropped. She stared at the extremely uneasy Akiyama Mio and slowly extended her right hand.

[“Can Lin Duo’s soul really be resurrected from death? Then he…”]

Looking at the hand reaching for her forehead, Akiyama Mio wanted to scream, but the fear that penetrated her bones completely took over her body. She could only stare at the other person stiffly, unable to do anything else, as if countless invisible chains were binding her body firmly in place.

It wasn't just pure fear; a powerful pressure was building up when Akiyama Mio looked directly into Baruba's eyes. Even if the other party didn't intentionally show any malice, it was enough to completely dominate an ordinary girl, including her body.

Baruba stretched out her hand and slowly bent the fingers, leaving only her index finger raised. A faint golden light, invisible to the naked eye, flickered at her fingertips, as brilliant as a shooting star.

[This finger slowly pointed towards Akiyama Mio's forehead.]

Leader: Thank you! .jpg

17. Declaration of War (7K)