Chapter 121
The Self-Defense Forces had already been wiped out.
Fujita-san was speechless at Towada-san's declaration.
But that lasted only a few seconds.
He quickly regained his composure and questioned Towada-san.
"Wiped out...? What do you mean? What happened, Towada?!"
As Fujita-san pressed him, Towada-san grimaced.
His face had gone pale, and his body was trembling.
As if even remembering it filled him with terror.
(...Did something that terrible happen?)
Was it a monster attack, or perhaps infighting...?
I'd seen an actual case of a school being wiped out by a girl who could tame monsters.
Anything was possible.
"What's wrong, Towada? Answer me."
"..."
Fujita-san asked again, but Towada-san remained silent, still trembling.
He was completely different from before.
(...Looks like getting an explanation out of him will be difficult.)
What could have happened to leave him this frightened?
Had he played tag with a monster that could casually toss heavy machinery with one hand, or fought to the death with a wolf that could create anything from darkness?
Whatever the case, now that things had turned out this way, we'd have to change our plans considerably.
If the Self-Defense Forces had been wiped out, there was no reason to stay here.
We needed to head back immediately and come up with another plan.
(That is, if I take everything he said at face value...)
Still, Towada-san didn't seem like he was lying.
I'd been 'Observing' him for a while now, and there hadn't been a single sign of him acting.
Maybe it was because I'd acquired the 'Acting' Skill, but I could somehow tell the subtle difference between someone behaving naturally and someone putting on an act.
In that regard, Towada-san was in the clear.
He seemed to be telling Fujita-san nothing but the truth.
Well, if Towada-san has Skills or acting ability that surpass mine, there's nothing I can do about it. But if I start suspecting everyone, there's no end to it.
It's better to be overly cautious than not cautious enough, but if all that thinking gets in the way of taking action, it defeats the purpose.
"Um, Fujita-san, Towada-san looks like he's having a hard time. Maybe you shouldn't force him to explain? ...More importantly, shouldn't we think about what to do from here?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah, you're right..."
Fujita-san rested a hand on his chin and thought for a while before looking at Towada-san.
"...Towada, what are you planning to do now?"
Towada-san kept his head bowed for a while, then finally muttered,
"...I was planning to set up a base in your town. ...There's nothing left of the town we were in anymore."
What had he said in that last part?
His voice was too quiet for me to make it out.
"I see. Then this is perfect. Why don't you come with us?"
"I told you, that's not possible. We can't be the fighting force you need in our current state."
"No, that's not what I mean."
Fujita-san let out a long sigh.
He put another cigarette in his mouth and lit it.
"Towada, you're so damn serious. To the point of being an idiot, you know?"
"What...?"
"I mean, why have you decided I wouldn't take you in as one of my people?"
"As I said before, our garrison was wiped out long ago. We're not fit to be a fighting force—"
"That's not what I'm talking about!"
This time, Fujita-san cut Towada-san off.
"Those are two separate things! Why the hell would I abandon a friend of twenty years?!"
"...!"
Towada-san's eyes widened at those words.
A light returned to his exhausted eyes.
"It's true that it's a shame we couldn't get the Self-Defense Forces' help. Yeah, it really is. ...But that's exactly why I'm glad you survived, even in a situation like this."
"Soichiro... You..."
Fujita-san held out his hand.
"So come with us, Towada. I need you."
At those words, Towada-san gave a faint smile.
"...You've really never changed. You're just like you were back in school."
"I've changed. I smoke and drink now, and I got married. Well, my wife and kid ran off on me, though."
"...You and Saki-chan were so close. You got divorced...?"
"Don't bring it up. A lot happened..."
"I-I see... Um, well, I'm sorry. Forget I asked."
"Don't tiptoe around it! That just makes it worse! ...Anyway, what's your answer?"
Fujita-san asked again.
After a brief pause, Towada-san took his hand.
"...Yeah. I look forward to working with you."
"That's more like it."
Fujita-san smiled, looking genuinely happy.
"All right! Since that's settled, we should get moving. Ichinose-chan, sorry, but could you head back to City Hall first?"
"Huh?"
"There's a big difference in travel time between a motorcycle and going on foot. Could you go ahead to City Hall and tell them what happened? Towada and I will explain things to the others, then head over right away."
"I see... Understood."
It was certainly more efficient for me to go ahead alone than for all of us to travel together.
More than that, I liked that I could act on my own.
"Then I'll get going right away."
"Yeah. Be careful, all right? Safety first."
"Of course. You be careful too, Fujita-san. Make sure you don't die, okay?"
"Hah, don't get cocky, brat."
He ruffled my hair.
Hey, Fujita-san, that's sexual harassment by today's standards.
But strangely, I didn't feel uncomfortable.
Somehow, I felt like it was fine coming from him.
(Is this what people mean by an adult's capacity for understanding...?)
I don't have that sort of thing, after all. And I'm an adult with a job, too.
At my company, everyone put their own interests first.
If there'd been even one person like him, could things have changed at that godawful workplace?
"Still, I'm glad, Ichinose-chan."
"What are you glad about?"
"That you're talking to me so normally now. When you first came to City Hall, and even while we were traveling, you seemed a little stiff, like you were keeping your distance."
"...!"
His words made my heart skip a beat.
This guy really was sharp.
He had a way of getting right to the heart of things.
"But I don't get that feeling from you now. It feels like we're talking normally, and I'm glad you can treat me that way."
"..."
He really meant what he said.
Unlike me, he had no ulterior motives or hidden agenda; he was simply worried about me.
"...Yeah, I've decided."
"Hm? Decided what, Ichinose-chan?"
I stared intently at Fujita-san.
"...Fujita-san, could you spare me a little time once we get back to City Hall? There's something I'd like to talk about."
"What is it? Can't you tell me here?"
"No. You'll have to wait until we get back."
Once we returned, I'd talk to him properly.
About the truth about me and Ichinose-san.
Because I felt I could trust this man.
That's what I'd decided.
"Well then, Fujita-san. See you later."
I climbed onto the motorcycle and left the parking area.