"Enju!"
At that shout, Enju Aihara turned to look at Rentaro. His head hung low; his rasping, subdued voice was almost an order.
"We're leaving."
"But that girl…" Enju grew anxious, trying to protest.
"We're leaving!"
He cut her off, fists clenched so tightly that veins bulged, then turned around and walked away.
"Hahaha." The two officers sneered, as if laughing at his cowardice, and without hesitation pressed the trigger in their hands.
Bang!
Enju Aihara gaped, frozen. Blood splattered.
"Ugh, next time give a heads-up before you shoot! Got it all over me!" the other officer grumbled, using the battered Cursed Child's clothing to wipe away the blood now on him.
The one who had fired loosened his grip on the Cursed Child. The girl, bereft of any signs of life, dropped to the ground, blood still seeping out. Yet the men's callous words were even more chilling:
"Next time, I'll definitely warn you."
Next time…
A blazing fury and inexplicable confusion surged in Enju's mind.
It was as if her past self had died—right before her own eyes—and she realized she was powerless to protect who she used to be.
"Enju, let's go." Satomi Rentaro reached out to grab Enju's hand, but she dodged him.
She gazed at him with a complicated look, suddenly feeling he was a complete stranger.
"Enju…"
He could sense her disappointment. It knotted his heart in pain. But in order not to cause trouble, not to break any laws, he had made that choice. A choice that let Enju down so bitterly.
"Ha… Really disappointing. I shouldn't have placed any hope in you."
This abrupt voice drew everyone's attention. Several figures appeared out of nowhere.
"Tendo‑san…" Rentaro recognized Kisara Tendo at a glance.
"…"
Kisara stared at Rentaro with eyes full of disappointment.
"What's that Cursed Child doing with you?"
The two officers pointed their guns at these unknown intruders, only to notice that Tatsuki was holding in his arms the very same child they'd just killed.
Their eyes went wide. Moments ago they were certain that child lay dead by their hands.
Looking down, they saw the Cursed Child's corpse fade away like an illusion.
"What the—?"
Was it all a hallucination? The corpse had vanished?
All Tatsuki had done was manipulate their five senses. In fact, he had long since retrieved the girl. The one they killed was nothing but an illusion.
"She…"
Enju's voice trembled with excitement and worry, wanting to ask him about the girl.
"She's safe, don't worry." Tatsuki said, having already used his primal energy to heal all her injuries. She was now dozing quietly in his arms.
"That's wonderful."
Enju Aihara's tears glimmered.
"Who the hell are you?!"
The officers, feeling they'd been toyed with, flew into a rage. They aimed their guns at Tatsuki again.
"Tatsuki‑kun, may I make a move?"
Shinobu's eyes curved in a smile that gave off an icy chill. She'd endured this scum long enough.
"Tsk, I kinda wanted to riddle them with bullets, but since Shinobu asked first—go ahead."
Exusiai's gun was already sighting in on both men's skulls. Tatsuki casually nodded. Even the chivalrous Reinhard didn't stop them. Indeed, he was a knight of justice, but that didn't mean he'd show mercy to evil. All the more so since these men belonged to another world.
"What are you doing?" Rentaro felt alarmed. Something about these people with Kisara was truly off.
No one answered him. Kisara merely wrinkled her brow at Rentaro's behavior.
"My, may you both spend eternity in Hell, side by side with Muzan."
Shinobu gave a gentle puff. Instantly, purple mist enveloped the two.
"What the—?!"
They let out a terrified cry, then toppled over, their bodies turning purple. Eyes rolled back, foam bubbled on their lips, limbs trembling. After a couple of seconds, they stiffened and died on the spot.
Rentaro grew grim, adopting a combat stance.
"You just killed people! That's a crime—turn yourselves in at once!"
In his eyes, Tatsuki and the others were murderers, criminals.
"Killed animals, maybe," Tatsuki sneered.
"Animals…?" Rentaro scowled, mystified.
"Don't you see how they were brutalizing that poor little girl? By torturing a child to amuse themselves, you think they're not animals?"
Tatsuki asked coldly.
"…"
Enju stared at Tatsuki. Her red eyes mirrored his figure. He's the one calling them little girls, rather than Cursed Children.
Rentaro clenched his fists, responding in righteous indignation.
"Even if they broke the law, they should face legal punishment, not private execution."
Tatsuki let out a dismissive laugh. "Aren't you the one who's acting ridiculous?"
"That child did nothing wrong. Why was she put to a private execution, then I heard on the news that the Seitenshi had decreed that Cursed Children have the same rights as normal humans?"
"…"
Rentaro's breath caught, his words stuck. After a moment, in a hoarse tone, he muttered.
"She was a thief…"
Tatsuki looked like he'd heard the biggest joke.
"Hey, you sure about that? Didn't you just hear the animals call her that? Weren't you the one who said the law requires evidence? Listen to yourself—how hypocritical can you get?"
"!"
What he said made everyone realize: something was off with Rentaro's worldview.
"I…"
Rentaro tried to retort, but Tatsuki cut him off. With steely eyes, he delivered startling words.
"Rentaro Satomi, a cyborg product of the New Human Creation Project."
"How do you know that?" Rentaro's eyes widened. This was his secret!
"New Human Creation Project?"
Kisara repeated, astonished. From Rentaro's reaction, it didn't seem Tatsuki was lying. She realized, after all this time, she hadn't truly known him.
"You claim you want to protect these Cursed Children, right?"
"Fine, you do have the ability. As one of only two from the New Human Creation Project, you're strong—on par with them but all you do is slack off."
"With your strength, you could climb high, gain a platform, at least try to change something but you didn't."
"You just hide away, living some laid-back life, spouting nice slogans but secretly seeking your own peace."
"I despise people who have power but never use it, all talk and no action."
"If you openly said, I just want to do nothing, maybe I wouldn't hate you so much."
Tatsuki himself was that kind of person. If he wanted to laze, he'd laze openly. If he wanted something, he'd fight for it.
Long ago, when exterminating evil spirits to build up a foundation for apocalypse survival, that was how he started. Had he only mouthed slogans and sat idle, he'd have been devoured by zombies at the very first apocalypse game. He was disgusted by types like Rentaro: immature of mind, proclaiming noble ideals while drifting in confusion—a spineless waste, easily shaken at any conflict.
As though to twist the knife, Tatsuki went on, "Moreover, you're a double-standard hypocrite. You keep saying you want to protect those girls, but your eyes see them as Cursed Children."
Glancing at the short-haired child in his arms, he added. "Just now, I asked you what crime she committed, and you answered, she's a thief. Putting aside whether she actually stole anything, you think theft merits torture and murder? Why do you accept that as natural?"
"Perhaps in your mind, it's that because she's cursed, she deserves death if she steals anything?"
"Rentaro… is that true?!" Enju's voice quavered in heartbreak. She needed to hear him deny it calmly. Instead, he fumbled.
"No, Enju, that's not what I— I never thought that!"
He flailed to explain.
"Enough!"
She cried, tears brimming. She wanted unwavering confidence, but all he offered was fluster. She felt a gulf between them.
"Enju…" He realized all was lost.
She wasn't dumb. He had the power to change the system, but clung to inaction. Shouting that he'd defend Cursed Children, yet letting them be tortured and shot before his eyes… That wasn't the Rentaro she had believed in.
Not only Enju but also Kisara felt as though she were seeing him for the first time. The letdown was profound. She had once assumed he was simply indecisive, unaware that in essence he was slack and cowardly.
At that moment, the commotion woke the girl in Tatsuki's arms. She drowsily opened her eyes.
"So warm… Did I die and go to Heaven?"
She gradually focused, spotting a good-looking face.
Tatsuki asked gently, "You're awake?"
"Am I in Heaven…?"
"No. You're in my arms."
"!"
Startled, she tried to scramble away, tears in her voice.
"I'm sorry, so sorry! I shouldn't have picked up that bread off the ground—please spare me! Don't beat me!"
Her panic and fear left everyone stunned. Indeed, the thief claims were nonsense. This poor child's apology revealed she'd only picked up a piece of bread. She'd been tricked, battered to death.
Even Rentaro, speechless, realized she truly hadn't stolen anything.
The girl's words stabbed at people's hearts. Shinobu felt as though she were seeing a reflection of Kanao, re-igniting her anger.
"Oh dear, letting them die so easily was truly letting them off. Such vile men."
Reinhard gripped his sword, even his gentle nature outraged.
Tatsuki, hugging the girl's thin body, gently stroked her short red hair, murmuring kindly.
"It's all right now. Everything's over. You did nothing wrong, and no one's going to come after you again."
"R-really…?"
She still seemed fearful of being deceived. Once, a friend of hers was tricked by sweet words, only to be beaten to death.
"It's the truth. What's your name?"
"I… I'm Rainbow."
"Rainbow—what a pretty name. Would you like to come with me?"
"Eh!" Rainbow was astonished. "But… I'm a cursed child…"
Who in the world would want to keep a Cursed Child?
"Cursed child? All I see is a sweet little girl."
Tatsuki held her easily in one arm while patting her hair with the other.
"From now on, you're my little sister. Call me Tatsuki."
"I want to be her big sister, too!" Exusiai chimed in. "You can call me Exusiai‑nee‑chan."
"…"
Rainbow felt as if dreaming. Could someone truly accept a Cursed Child? Even if it was just a dream, she wanted to dream forever.
"T-Tatsuki… O‑Oniichan… Exusiai‑nee‐chan…"
Her eyes reddened with tears, preparing for the possibility it might all be too good to be true.
"Aww, what a sweetheart." Exusiai gently touched her cheek.
"She really is like Kanao," Shinobu murmured softly.
"Alright, let's get Rainbow some new clothes. Hers are all torn."
"U-um, these are fine…"
"No way. I call the shots—my little sis can't be wearing rags. You'll have only the best."
With that, Tatsuki carried Rainbow away, and Exusiai plus the others followed.
Kisara paused by the slack-jawed Rentaro, casting him a look heavy with disappointment, then quickly hurried after them.