After getting rid of the last of the ghost I finally end up relaxing looking over at Shiro to make sure he was doing okay. When I was sure he was fine I looked over to Toji to see him lowering his head. “Be at peace.” After he said that the katanas he summoned disappear from his hand and went back to his hip.
“Let’s go. Shut up and follow me.” Toji started to walk which caused me and Shiro to quickly follow after him. Shiro kept looking at Toji like he wanted to say something. “Are those Katanas also Sacred Artifacts like my Book and Masato’s Sword? Are they related to the App, too?” Toji quickly spun around and stared Shiro down with a glare causing him to flinch and take a step back slightly.
“You speak nonsense! The Sakimori has honed our skills for generations. It’s an offense to even compare my skills with your. . .child’s play. I’ve obtained my power through strenuous training. If you dare insult me again, I’ll show you no mercy.” I could feel the air getting tense between Toji and Shiro so I got between them with an awkward smile on my face trying to calm Toji down.
“Sooo. . . not the App, then. . .?” The glare on Toji's face disappeared as he just scoffed at me like an idiot. Even with his obvious dislike towards me and Shiro I can’t help but like how proud he was. He was a proud baby bird which was so cute for me.
“The Sakimori family can summon without the help of this App of yours. However, phenomena created by the App can only be observed through and intervened with via the App. Thus, while it pains me to do so, I will take advantage of whatever is at my disposal. If it can lead to the realization of our long-cherished ambition, I will gladly endure any hardship. We shall continue on together. Do as I say, and we will eradicate that abomination.” Toji then turned back around to walk again but Shiro quickly stopped him before he could get any further.
“W-Wait! There’s one thing I need to know. That colossus is a living thing, isn’t it? Are we. . . supposed to hurt it?” Toji just glared at Shiro again with a frown on his face as he took a step near Shiro.
“I thought I told you to shut up. However. . . If you refuse to harm another, even in this situation. . . I suppose I must answer. A soldier who can’t commit to the battle is a liability.” Toji raised an arm toward the colossus, pointing at them as they just sat down on the buildings with a bored look on their face.
“That is neither a living entity, nor a sentient one. It is merely a Rule that has gone out of control and assumed a human-like form. It is not within my power to eradicate that Exception. Since you’re the ones who summoned it, you’re the only ones who can destroy it. I will clear the path for you. When I do, you must do your part.” Shiro raised his eyebrow in confusion as Toji said we had to eradicate that huge being. ‘Um. . . There is a limit to what we can do against something that huge you know!’
“How are we supposed to eradicate a thing like that?” Shiro voiced the thoughts I was thinking at the moment and Toji grew quiet and I could see red appearing on his cheek. I tilt my head at that wondering why he was growing red.
Toji was silent for a few more seconds and Shiro looked at him confused. “Well?” Toji cleared his throat as he avoided looking at us. “The reason that Exception has come into being is because the App cannot determine the hierarchy of your Rules. If it can be established which of your Rules dominates the other, the Exception will cease to be. You must clarify the hierarchy whilst in physical contact with its form. The concept is the same as a pact formed through the App. When one party submits to the other, they are rewarded with a provision of power. . . This allows the App to operate normally. I don’t care who outranks who. Sort it out between yourselves.”
Toji still wasn’t looking at us and his ears looked a bit more redder than usual causing me to look at him in confusion. “Dominates. . .? You want us to decide whether Resurrection or Rending is the dominant Rule? That’s easier said than done. . . How do we go about it? Do we have to fight to decide the winner? Or can we just declare it out loud; say something like ‘You’re on top. . .?’” I looked at Shiro when he said “You’re on top” with different emotions going through my head. ‘Shiro, that line has so many meanings. You are trying to give me a nosebleed aren’t you?’
“Settling the matter of dominance by dueling. . . That could work, if it was a normal pact. But in this case, it won’t. If you two were to fight again under the current circumstances, the App would deem you to be on opposing sides. That would only exacerbate the Exception. It would make things so much worse. Rather than creating a situation in which you stand against one another, you must strengthen the cooperation between you to enable a transfer of power. A declaration. . . The power of words has its own merits, but would not be enough in this case. This will require implementation of magic far beyond that which is contained in the spoken word.” As Toji spoke to us, me and Shiro just grew more confused as we tried to understand what he was trying to tell us.
“What do you mean, exactly?” Toji just avoided eye contact as he grew silent as his face was getting even redder which was causing me to worry for him. “A. . .k. . .ss.” Toji mumbled something which caused me and Shiro to move closer to him to hear what he was trying to tell us.
“I can’t hear you. . . You gotta speak louder than that.” Toji looked at us with a glare on his red face. “A k-k. . . kiss!” Toji shouted that out, causing me and Shiro to freeze in shock. “Huh. . ?” I was completely caught off guard by what he just shouted that I couldn’t come up with a teasing remark.
“I’m as serious as I have ever been! I would never joke around at a time like this!” Shiro next to me finally unfroze and his face grew red as what Toji just told him finally processed through his head.
“A. . . kiss? As in. . . touching lips? Me. . . and. . .? Me and Masato?!” Shiro's face was so red I was worried he was about to pass out but I wasn’t better at the moment. ‘Kissing. K-I-S-S-I-N-G! Me and Shiro have to kiss! I am not ready for this at all’ I was holding my face in my hands as I tried not to get a nosebleed.
“Of course! What else would I mean by kiss?! And yes, you must. I pored through all the ancient texts, but this is the only way!” Toji had a serious expression on his face but he was still blushing as he spoke to us.
“A-Are you serious?” Shiro's voice was high pitched at the moment with an embarrassed expression on his face as he made sure not to look at me directly. I was still trying to wrap my head around kissing Shiro. ‘Will this be my first kiss?! Wait I have amnesia! So it probably is not my first kiss! Probably. . . I don’t know!’
“Hey, I didn’t come up with it! The Summoners of Nagatacho all say that intense physicality has profound meaning when it comes to summoning. . .” Toji stopped speaking when he noticed us awkwardly looking at him. He just cough awkwardly into his fist looking away from us.
“Forgive me, I’m rambling. . . Forget what I just said. I’ll have you know that is only a formality; nothing more than a declaration of rank for the sake of the App. There is no requirement for emotion of any sort. Just know that kissing each other on the lips connects to the soul through the power of words. Thus, a kiss on the lips creates a much stronger bond. After you guys kiss one of you must declare submission to the other. This action isn’t optional seeing as it is the only way to restore Shinjuku to-” Toji stopped talking when the ground under us started to shake again violently. We all looked toward the huge being sitting on the building who still had a bored expression on their face. I notice a lot more creatures that were like the ghosts were coming from them going everywhere in the destroyed city of Shinjuku.
“More and more of that thing’s brethren are coming through to Tokyo from the tears in space. I’ll draw their attention. You make the best of this chance to return the Exception whence it came. You’d better be prepared to lay down your lives. If you hold back, I’ll behead you myself. Farewell.” Turning around from us with a sharp turn Toji goes off in a different direction from the Exception.
Me and Shiro look at each other then start walking toward the immense being on our own. The Exception was still in the same spot just staring vaguely up at the sky, unmoving and unresponsive. Their expression is like that of a bored infant with nothing better to do.
Yet, all around them, the orbs continue to suck in anything and everything, spreading oblivion in return. Shiro had a serious expression on his face as we quietly walked toward the being. I didn’t know what to say as I looked around what was formerly known as Shinjuku.
Among the destruction of buildings and structures, silence reigns with deafening finality. Even the sound of our feet hitting the ground registers as cacophony. We continue to walk in silent with the sound of shoes as the only noise between us. Shiro looked over at me nervously looking away when I made eye contact with him.
“U-Um. . . Do you mind if I talk a bit?” Shiro looked uncomfortable with the silence between us as he muttered his question hesitantly. After seeing me give him a nod to continue, Shiro became more relaxed around me.
“Do you. . . think that guy is trustworthy?” I thought deeply about the question about Toji. ‘He is serious as hell and really doesn’t like me. But he seems like a genuine person who wouldn’t just lie to anyone if the situation was really serious.’ I feel like we could trust him even if he wanted to cut us down with his sword.
“Well I do find him trustworthy even if he is a bit serious. But let's get to the important subject. . . S-Should we practice k-kissing. . ?” I nervously looked at Shiro as I stuttered out the question. Shiro's face grew red quickly after I said that looking at me in shock.
“What?! You’re joking, right? Then again. . . Maybe that would be for the best. Since it’s my first time, I don’t think I’ll be very good at. . .Uh, nevermind! Forget I said anything!” Shiro was waving his hands quickly in front of him as he tried to give me a straight answer.
It grew quiet between us for a minute before Shiro started speaking again. “I mean, it’s not that I don’t think he can be trusted, but this whole situation is so. . . phenomenal. . . And we’re to blame for the colossus over there, as well as the disappearance of Shinjuku and everyone in it. If we fail at this. . . How will I live with it? How will I ever atone? My family, Kengo, Ryota, my classmates. . . It will be my fault that everyone. . .! I did this!” I could see Shiro getting lost in all his negative emotions so I quickly got in front of him and flicked his forehead.
Shiro flinched in pain and quickly covered his forehead as he looked at me in confusion. I give him a thumbs up giving him a big smile. “Don’t get so carried away Shiro. I’ve got this so don’t worry so much.” Shiro looked at me in surprise and was quiet for a while as he process the words I just said.
“How can you never waver?” Shiro took his hand off his forehead as he gave me a smile. “Thank you. I feel better now, Masato. Let’s do this! You and I, together!” After I was sure Shiro was okay we started to walk toward the colossus who was still in the same spot with a bored expression on their face as they just stared blankly at everything happening around them.
