Tatsuki was surprised.
He had known this girl carried the Dolphin Factor and that her IQ was said to exceed 210, but to see her stay so calm and deduce the situation so neatly still caught him off‑guard.
In truth, he had reached the scene long ago—had stood in the conference room the entire time, watching: the Seitenshi's brow furrow in worry, the politicians' indifference and malice, Kikunojou Tendo's polished performance.
Yet, with his presence suppression, no one noticed him at all.
"How did I do it? …Something like an esper ability, or maybe magic," he answered.
"I see."
Kayo nodded—she believed him, but only after analyzing the facts. A phenomenon this bizarre, plus the stranger's obvious adulthood and lack of red eyes—only supernatural power could explain making people ignore them so completely.
"May I ask why you went to the trouble of using such an ability just to come here and speak with me?"
Did he, like the masked man, covet the Seven‑Star Relic?
"You guessed wrong. I came for you. That relic doesn't interest me in the least."
"Eh?!"
Kayo was stunned—first that he seemed to read her mind, another ability? Second that he claimed he was here for her. How could a nobody Cursed Child matter more than the Seven‑Star Relic?
"Why?" she tilted her head, genuinely puzzled.
"Because I like cute girls," Tatsuki said with a grin.
"But I'm a Cursed Child."
"Interaction doesn't transmit the virus; that's scientifically proven in multiple studies," he replied with dead seriousness.
"…"
Kayo was struck speechless—this man had just shattered every common worldview.
It wasn't merely that he felt fondness for her; it was that he dared admit it openly.
She was a Cursed Child, her body ridden with Gastrea virus. Even if science said otherwise, who would like such a girl?
Her lashes trembled. "You… are really strange."
Tatsuki rubbed his chin, putting on an exaggerated ponder. "Strange‑handsome? Strange‑nice? Strange‑awesome?"
Kayo gave him a slow once‑over, then dead‑panned, "Strange‑narcissistic."
"Hahaha!"
Tatsuki burst out laughing at how earnestly she played along, and the corners of Kayo's mouth lifted as well. The tension bled away, replaced by a faintly teasing warmth.
…
After laughing, he grew serious again.
Originally he'd taken notice of Kayo because of the Black Bullet plot, but this brief exchange made him feel they were unexpectedly compatible: adorable looks, composure, stellar intellect, yet a quirky streak—that combination was exactly his taste.
Tatsuki acted quickly when he liked something. "Kayo, how about you tag along with me from now on? I feel we'd make a good team."
She hadn't even given her name, yet he said it unerringly; the mind‑reading angle no longer surprised her.
Still, the sudden invitation left her conflicted—she cast a sad glance at the corpse of her Promoter, only just killed.
Tatsuki, tactful, said nothing like "Well, he's dead—time to find a new one, might as well be me." He simply waited, letting her decide.
After a long silence Kayo looked straight at him. "Your name?"
"Tatsuki."
"Tatsuki‑san… were all those things you said just now sincere?"
She wanted with her own eyes and ears to confirm that he truly held no contempt for Cursed Children.
"I like girls like Kayo very much. My sincerity is as clear as sun and moon!"
Every word rang strong and steady—anyone could feel the honesty.
"…"
Her eyelid twitched—she hadn't meant that kind of liking! She'd only asked whether he despised Cursed Children.
Likes… isn't that way too straightforward? Even Kayo, usually calm as still water, felt her heart skip and her cheeks warm.
She forced herself on. "Then, Tatsuki‑san, what exactly do you intend to do?"
She couldn't believe he'd come solely for her; there must be a larger goal. Even if he meant well, she had to know.
Tatsuki shrugged lightly. "Simple stuff—have a chat with the Seitenshi, wipe out the Gastrea virus, save the Cursed Children, and on the way eliminate every human soaked in darkness."
"…"
Was he serious?
Chat with the Seitenshi. Erase the Gastrea virus. Rescue all Cursed Children. And kill every wicked soul—all described as simple.
She stared into his eyes—windows to the soul—trying to spot the joke. He didn't flinch. Golden irises, clear and unclouded, gazed back.
"…"
Kayo kept silent. This man was serious.
Time slipped by. The Seitenshi's party had long since departed; even her Promoter's body had been carried away, yet no one noticed the pair standing here.
At length Kayo spoke. "I understand, Tatsuki‑san. Pleased to work with you. I will do everything I can to help you reach those goals."
Her small face set in earnest resolve. Each goal was monumental—she would not hold back.
Tatsuki's large hand landed atop her head.
"What are you talking about? I can settle those things easily. All you have to do is stay by my side, be a cute eye‑candy, and enjoy good food and drink."
"But—"
He cut her off. "And drop the '‑san'. From now on call me Tatsuki‑nii."
"…Tatsuki‑nii."
The intimate address made her heart race—like having family.
"Hahaha! Come on, your nii-san will introduce you to the Seitenshi." He scooped her up bridal‑style.
She looped her arms calmly around his neck, yet muttered, "Tatsuki‑nii, I do have legs, you know."
Tatsuki's lips curved wickedly. "But what if your nii‑san just wants to cop a feel?"
Kayo's ears reddened, but she adopted a thoughtful look. "Speaking of food… I'm hungry."
"Pfft! Saying something that funny at a time like this—hahaha!"
Laughing, he carried her away.
…
"Sigh…"
Back in the credential hall, everyone else had gone. Kikunojou Tendo was mobilizing forces, recruiting Civil‑Security pairs to retrieve the Seven‑Star Relic.
Only the Seitenshi remained, slumped at her desk, beautiful and delicate face clouded with worry.
A fresh stack of documents lay unopened. The uproar over the New Gastrea Law already had her drowning, and now the Relic incident—she didn't know where to start.
"You look troubled."
"Who—?!"
She looked up in alarm to see a black‑haired, golden‑eyed man, a girl beside him.
"Tatsuki," he said mildly.
"Kayo," the girl added, just as concise.
"Tatsuki‑dono!" The Seitenshi rose at once.
Kayo blinked—Even the highest ruler of Tokyo Area calls him 'dono'… just who is nii‑san?
"The others aren't here?" the saintly princess asked, meaning Exusiai's group.
"They went hunting Gastrea. Kisara's at home."
Tatsuki strolled over, picked up the top dossier and flipped through it.
Then he asked, "So—did you find the answer to the question I posed?"
"…No."
Seitenshi bowed her head. What is the world's darkness? She still could not say.
Cursed Children's lives were lives; so were ordinary humans'. She longed for a world where both lived side by side. But doubt and hesitation bound her heart.
Tatsuki turned to Kayo. "Kayo, how do you judge the Cursed Children's situation? You have the right to speak as one yourself."
Seitenshi also looked at her.
Encouraged by Tatsuki's gaze, Kayo spoke her mind:
"The situation of Cursed Children is appalling. Those chosen as Initiators live a little better, but most Promoters treat them like tools—break one, replace it."
"Those who can't become Initiators can't even meet the bare minimum to survive. They can't work, can't earn, can't get food; they just starve."
"Driven by hunger, if they steal so much as a crust, they're beaten or tortured to death without mercy. Frankly, we don't live like humans—we live like Gastrea."
Every word cut. The Seitenshi clutched her chest; it hurt to hear.
"I issued the New Gastrea Law to grant them human rights," she whispered, "I believe things will improve."
"Ha. Keep dreaming."
Tatsuki snorted, pulled one sheet from the dossier and held it out. "Read this."
The Seitenshi scanned the page—then froze, struck as if by lightning.
[Survey of Public Opinion on the New Gastrea Law
Restoring human rights to Cursed Children
– Support: 4 %
– Neutral: 3 %
– Oppose: 93 %]
Only four percent supported the law—meaning a mere four in a hundred saw Cursed Children as human.
An attached petition bore ten‑thousand signatures demanding the law's immediate repeal.
Before the shock could settle, a squad of law‑enforcers burst in.
At their head, Takuto pointed at Tatsuki and Kayo, fury blazing behind his glasses.
"Who are you two? How did you get in here?"
"Oh? That's your security‑captain, right?" Tatsuki asked the Seitenshi, amused.
"Yes—please, don't hurt them," she pleaded.
"Seems you don't know your own men. Care to hear who the real murderers are?"
Tatsuki's eyes narrowed.
"You monster! Planning to attack the Seitenshi? Men—seize him!" Takuto roared.
Yet crafty as always, he himself didn't move—waiting for his subordinates to charge first.
"…"
More awkward still—not one of them moved.