COTE: A Man On A Mission || Love is War?

“So is Nanase going to take action now?” Hachiman asked schoolmate Tsubaki, girl seemed to be looked upon with eyes of hostility by Hashimoto.

“Yes, I noticed two smoke trails side by side before I came here, and that was a sign that she would start to move.”

Even though they had already made a plan on ship, everyone’s communication devices had been taken away, and they couldn’t be as wealthy as President Sakayanagi to use a walkie-talkie to communicate, so they could only use this crude method to burn Hosen’s wood.

“Then you guys stay here for now. Hashimoto, I’ll arrange for you to take care of this junior.”

“W-what? Fuck no!”

“Kamuro-san, you will stay here for the time being.”

“The mission I received was to follow you,” But girl named Kamuro-san refused outright.

“Not for now. There is some news you can’t listen to.”

“.....” Kamuro-san who actually knows a lot about your shady operandi from her owner, Sakayanagi.

Snort! This is what you don’t want her to protect.

Kamuro-san then maintained a certain distance from Hikigaya, a distance at which she could see him and ensure support, but could not hear his voice.

Hachiman picked up a branch from the ground and walked into forest.

From this direction, you can still see the two traces of smoke that Tsubaki just mentioned.

xxxxx

Hachiman didn’t walk for long before he spotted the target person in front of him.

Two people.

Nanase Tsubasa and Ayanokoji.

Among them, Kiyotaka was not carrying a bag, and the same went for Nanase.

They must have arrived at first designated area of the day, and then Yukimura could not walk anymore, so Ayanokoji asked him to look after the luggage while he prepared to go to assignment.

Then he met Nanase who had been lying in ambush.

The schoolgirl deliberately started a conversation with other party, then set two fires and started to act according to the plan.

So now it is... a confrontation scene.

“I feel that senpai shouldn’t exist in this school,” The voice of innocent Nanase was heard from afar.

“Shouldn’t exist? Can you tell me the reason?” Kiyotaka maintained his usual expressionless expression, but inwardly he too was ’hurt’, cause what do you mean you shouldn’t exist?

“Because you are from White Room. So it is not appropriate for you to stay here....”

In desolate mountains and sparsely populated areas, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka’s identity was exposed.

“You are not an ordinary person either,” Kiyotaka’s expression did not change much, even though his origin was revealed.

Because now there are more than just White Room students in this school.

“Yes, do you still remember the name Matsuo?” However, Nanase-chan felt like her body was shaking, “You won’t forget it, and you can’t forget it, because it was Butler Matsuo who helped you, and then you were able to come to Advanced Nurturing High School and live a free life. But, have you ever thought about consequences of doing this, Matsuo family, after assisting you?”

“So what’s your purpose here?” Kiyotaka seemed to understand why this schoolgirl always cast resentful glances at him from time to time.

“Butler Matsuo was punished by your father, and his son was also implicated.”

Ayanokoji knew about the son of Matsuo, butler.

Matsuo was 60 years old, but he was in his 40s when he had his son. His wife died during childbirth, and his son became his life.

Then, son was also persecuted by that man. In order to appease man’s anger, Butler chose to burn himself to apologize.

Kiyotaka already knew this last time he met that person at school. What’s your point? Do you want revenge? Your relationship with Matsuo Family?

And that person commented, “It’s obviously a matter of life and death for the person who has been helping you, but you are not moved at all.”

Of course, he won’t be moved after seeing everything in White Room, a person burning to death wouldn’t shake him at all, even if that said person was his family so to speak.

That being said, but wouldn’t it make someone like Kiyotaka the one?

Wasn’t he made in the same way?

Randomly letting emotions get in the way will only expose your weaknesses.

So it is better to have no emotions at all. After all, as long as he is the winner, it’s fine.

No matter what means are used.

Kiyotaka was thinking.

But, Nanase wasn’t impressed by his stupid facial expression.

“I’m Eiichiro Matsuo’s childhood sweetheart. He was always optimistic and positive, but everything changed because of you. Even losing one’s life. I can’t accept that you can still enjoy this kind of campus life so peacefully!” Nanase had enough of this kind of lack of response, and started to act.

Kiyotaka also understood current exam rules. He knows that fighting will cause problems.

So, perhaps the only option for him now is to escape. He did not choose this path.

Instead, they began to fight back.

“Because my childhood sweetheart is related to White Room, we have received some training together since we were young. And after Eiichiro committed suicide, I trained myself even more intensively, so Ayanokoji-senpai, I will not ask you to let me off just because I am a woman.”

’This, who cares if you are a girl?’ Kiyotaka dodged her another punch to his stomach with bare minimum of his efforts, it’s like he wasn’t even paying attention to girl’s fists.

He found Hikigaya to say hello instead, and nodded with eyes.

???

’Obviously, it was an act of revenge, but it still followed certain rules and implemented theme of justice...but, you Ayanokoji, found it more important to say hello? I am speechless by this level of a genius.....’ Hikigaya-senpai watched from a distance.

Ayanokoji began to fight back. But his counterattack was quite interesting, that is, every move was fatal, but there were always gaps, like stopping just at the moment it was about to hit.

Swish! Boom!

Nanase felt her body shudder, her bangs could be seen leaving and cutting down from the air, falling into the ground.

This should be called using hard power to defeat the enemy. Let the opponent discover real difference in strength between the two sides.

Hachiman’s lips twitched, he was sure if any of his moves connected with Nanase’s body, it would definitely make a hole into it, and come out of her back.

After dozens of moves, Nanase finally realized that she was no match for the opponent.

“…”

Hachiman felt that it was not enough, not yet.

Because this is just a normal way of venting emotions and getting revenge.

It is not what Kushida-chan said, it cannot touch the deeper part of Nanase’s heart.

Kushida believes there is still 30% of Nanase’s heart that will explode if touched.

Now, isn’t it going to explode?

She was given the opportunity to face Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, but she still didn’t explode?

“As expected. I can’t defeat you with my own strength. Of course, I am mentally prepared for this,” However, at this time, Nanase suddenly became serious.

At the same time, her tone became more subtle.

“It’s my turn now, Boku. Because this is my anger after all. I need to avenge it myself.”

In Japanese yen, he and she, male I and female I are pronounced differently.

The boy calls himself boku.

The girl calls herself Watashi.

“This is Eiichiro’s personality,” When he looked at Nanase again, her tone was the same as usual. She explained, her dual actions, “He is different from me. He is stronger than me, much stronger!”

Hachiman understood.

It is unacceptable to hear a childhood sweetheart commit suicide. It is unacceptable to hear such an unfair and unjust thing.

Then, Nanase developed a personality.

The person she imagined herself to be was the personality of her childhood friend, Eiichirō Matsuo.

And this is 30% that Kushida is talking about. This school girl really has a mental problem.

Suffering from schizophrenia.

Almost switching to this personality, her speed and strength increased.

Becoming very fast.

Amasawa herself said that although she was 5th-Gen White Room student, Yagami was 1st.

But, she learned from instructor that training intensity of 4th Gen is completely different from theirs.

So as Masterpiece of 4th Demonic Generation, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

His skills.

It’s a mystery, but Hachiman can confirm that it is definitely very strong, even more so than Koenji.

Yes, his instincts were never wrong.

Even Koenji will lose, but Ayanokoji still won’t go to use every ounce of ability, keeping lots in reserve.

That’s how much strong Hachiman evaluated him to be.

There was no surprise at all. Even after switching to Eiichiro’s personality, Nanase still lost.



The school girl fell to ground, leaning against the tree trunk, left hand on her head in utter shame and defeat, “It looks like I lost...I’m sorry, Ayanokoji-senpai.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I understand your anger, but I also have reasons why I can’t lose to you. Because, as long as I stay in this school, it will be my only way to fight back against that man - my father!”

Kiyotaka displayed his emotions with a straight face.

“.....”

“You may already know that even though I’m here, that man has been forcing me to drop out of school. I can’t resist him, but this place, which he can’t fully control, is the only thing that can resist him.”

This sentence made Nanase Tsubasa look up in surprise and complexity.

Because she probably didn’t expect that other party was also fighting against Mr. Ayanokoji.

“....” Hachiman watched using his eyes. ’As expected, he came from White Room. This psychology is really awesome. This statement alone is enough to directly shake Nanase Tsubasa’s heart. Because of Ayanokoji, the father and son of Matsuo died tragically, but for some reason, Ayanokoji was the person that father and son of Matsuo defended with their lives. So if Ayanokoji was expelled from school, it would be to negate value of their sacrifice....This Kouhai has always been able to maintain politeness and a certain sense of justice. Then it is possible to communicate. Ayanokoji must have confirmed she did not sincerely want him to drop out of school, and then used this excuse. Ayanokoji might be a master of psychology. Good at manipulating people’s minds.....’

However, Hachiman does not think it is appropriate to let Ayanokoji provide psychological counseling to Kushida.

’There was no expression on Ayanokoji’s face when he said this. In other words, this statement was just to persuade Nanase Tsubasa. The reason why he didn’t avoid Nanase Tsubasa and run away at beginning was that he thought he could convince other party psychologically.’

Nanase is no match for him at all, both in terms of physical and mental strength.

He is son of that terrifying man, so he is not ordinary. Hikigaya concluded that Ayanokoji was not a good man.

’In other words, if he can become Masterpiece, or even drive Yagami crazy, then what should be sacrificed in the process? Work harder than others? Or, erase your own emotions like Amasawa?’

“Besides, Nanase, you should know who your real enemy is. So, you don’t really want me to drop out of school.”

“…..” Nanase Tsubasa.

“Yes...” Her heart was quite heavy as she sighed, “After Eiichiro committed suicide, I met someone who told me where you were, which was this school. However, not everyone can enter this school, so that person made an agreement with me and arranged for me to enroll. Let me expel you. And this is price I paid for entering this school.”

Almost instantly, everyone at the scene knew who the person who brought in Nanase Tsubasa was.

“But, Ayanokoji-senpai, I’m sorry. Actually, the fight between you and me just now was not mainly for revenge. I was just fulfilling my promise to enter this school, so I actually had teammates just now. And the other party must have filmed the scene of our fight....”

“If you’re talking about people taking photos, then there’s no need to worry.”

Turning your face a bit sideways.

“Isn’t that right, Hikigaya?”

So creepy.

At this time, Kiyotaka looked in one direction. Then Nanase saw Hikigaya-senpai approaching from a distance.

“…..”

It was only at this point that Nanase realized that she had completely lost.

“It seems that your knot has been untied,” Hachiman gave her a look.

“• ? ! •” She finally realized that she had caused trouble for the two seniors. ’Because, Ayanokoji-senpai discovered from beginning that Hikigaya-senpai was nearby, and he was still fighting with me, just to fulfill what Hikigaya-senpai said now, to untie my knot....’

xxxxxxx

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