Fl

owe
rBud

Aug
ust31s
t2018AD,
att
heMa
rug
amec
ast
le.

Ac
ros
sthewi
ndow,
thes
umme
r'sbl
ues
kyc
oul
dbes
een.

Shi
koku'
sskylooke
dexac
tlyt
hesameevenaerthea
ttac
k.Rat
her
,theci
ty,
pas
singv
ehicl
esandpe
ople,t
hewhis
tl
ingofci
cadasandthebe
aut
yoftheEdos
ea.

Noneofi
tse
eme
ddi
ffer
ent
.

Aert
heinv
a s
ion,aspecia
ltr
eebyt hena
me" Shi
nju"appe
aredi
nShikoku,andagiantwallmadeof
pl
antt
iss
uesurroundedtheis
land.
Itissa
idthatShi
njuwasthei
nca
rnationofthel
ocalgods,a
ndthe
wal
lwasabarr
ieritputuptostoptheVert
ex.

Pe oplearesa
fea sl
ongast
hey'r
eins
idethisbar
rie
r.Peacewasgra
ntedi
nsidethecon nesofthi
st i
ny
spa ce
...
Somepe opl
esta
rte
dc al
li
ngShikoku" eArk".Aerthi
sdis
ast
er,
c omparabl
etogreat ood
from themy thwouldpass
,theworl
dwoul donceagai
nber et
urnedt
othepe opl
e;orsoWa ka
bat hought
wa stheirre
asoning.

(
Howe
ver
..
.i
ngswe
rec
lea
rlydi
ffer
entf
rom be
for
e..
.)

Atthemoment
,thenumberofpeopl
epa
ssi
ngbyi
ntowng
rewf
ewe
r;a
mongt
hemt
hos
ewe
ari
ngaha
t
orholdi
nga
numbr e
llas
toodout
.

I
twa
snoc
ount
erme
asur
eag
ains
tthes
umme
rsun.

"
Skyf
ears
yndr
ome
"

Someoft hepeopl
ewhowe repres
entduri
ngtheatt
ackt
hreeyea
rsa
goweres
til
linas
tat
eofs
hoc
k,a
nd
st
artedfe
a r
edlookingupatthes
ky. ephenomenonwas
ref
erredt
oa sthe"Skyfe
arsyndr
ome".Seve
recas
eswereunabl
etoe
vens
tep
outs
ideabui l
ding
.

Ev
ennow,
thes
car
sle
byt
heVe
rte
x'sa
tta
ckont
hepe
opl
e'
she
art
sst
il
lha
dnothe
ale
d.

-
"Wa
~ka
ba-
cha
n"

Attha
tmome nt,Hi
nat
aoc
cupi
edWa
kaba
'se
nti
ree
ldofv
isi
on.
Shel
ooke
ddownonhe
rwi
th
re
proachf
ule
y e
s.

Wa
kabawa
sus
inghe
rla
paspi
ll
owwhi
leHi
nat
acl
eane
dhe
rea
rs.

-
"ereyougomakingtha
tst
ernf
acea
gai
n.Ex
ces
sst
res
sands
tra
ina
reba
dfory
ourbody
.Ify
ou'
re
g
onnabeli
ketha
t..
.EI
!"

-
"?!
"

Hina
tamove
dthec
ott
ons
wa binaci
rcula
rmoti
oninsi
deWa ka
ba'
sea
r.Ov
erwhe
lme
dbyt
he
pl
eas
antf
eel
ing
,Waka
baf
eltt
hestr
engthdra
ini
ngoutofhe
rbody.
 Nog
iWa
kabai
saHe
ro

 es
eri
ousl
ookfr
om be
for
ecompl
ete
lydi
sappe
are
dfr
om he
rfa
ce;
here
xpr
ess
ionc
hang
edt
otha
tofa
ba
bybei
nglul
ledt
osl
eepbyhi
smother
.

She
'shadHinat
acle
anhe
rea
rsf
orhe
rforal
ongt
imea
ndbynow,
shec
oul
dev
enbec
all
edapr
oat
Wakabaea
r-cl
eani
ng.

-
"e
reweg
o,a
lldone
"

Ass
hes
aidt
hat
,shepul
ledt
hes
wabout
.Wa
kaba
,fe
eli
ngat
inybi
tofr
egr
ett
hati
t'
sov
er,
gotupa
swe
ll.

-
"Nowt
hen,
it'
saboutt
imet
oge
tinc
ont
actwi
th"
Nag
ano"
.Pl
eas
egoona
hea
d"

-
"Ri
ght
"

Wa
kabapi
cke
dupt
hes
wor
dne
xtt
ohe
r,a
ndhe
ade
dfort
hebr
oadc
ast
ingr
oom.

 eMar
ug a
mecast
lewasre
modell
eda
ndus e
da saschoolf
orWa ka
baandtheot
her
s. ee
xte
rior
de
sig
nwa smos
tl
yleint
actwhi
let
heins
idesec
tionsweres
light
lymodied.

Onl
y6s
tude
ntsa
tte
nde
dtha
tsc
hool
,5"
her
oes
"andas
ingl
e"Mi
ko"
.

Heroe
sareendowedwiththepowe
rofthel
ocalgodsi
nor
dert
o ghtofft
heVe
rte
x.Wa
kabawa
sone
suc
hHe r
o,whoa wake
nedt ohe
rpowerdur
ingthe
i
nvasi
onthr
e eye
a r
sago.

e
rea
rec
urr
ent
ly5he
roe
sinS
hikoku,
allofwhi
cha
rea
tte
ndi
ngt
hiss
chool
.

AMikoisanora
clewhoc
a nhe
arthev
oic
eoft
heg
ods
.a
nkst
otha
tabi
li
ty,
Hina
tawa
sabl
etos
ave
numer
ouspeopl
eduri
ngtheat
tac
k.

Al
thoughits
ays"
hear
ingt
hevoic
eofthegods
",i
tisnotthr
oughc
ommons
pee
ch,
butr
athe
rint
he
f
orm ofs
ymbolsands
ugge
sti
vehint
sthati
nst
ruc
tionsar
e
t
ransmit
tedt
oher.

Bot
htheHe
roe
sandt
heMi
koa
rey
oungg
irl
s.

Onl
ythepur
estofg
irl
sar
eabl
etoc
omei
ncont
actwi
tht
heg
odswhode
tes
timpur
ity
.

Wa
kabawa
sal
soc
hos
ena
sat
empor
aryl
eade
rfort
heS
hikokuhe
roe
s.

S
hema deherwa
yint
othebr
oadc
ast
ingr
oom,
pre
sse
dther
adi
oswi
tcha
nd
s
tar
teditup.

Ae
rabi
tofs
tat
icnoi
sec
lea
red,
thec
almv
oic
eofay
oungg
irlc
oul
dbehe
ardf
rom t
her
adi
o.

-
".
..
Shi
rat
orihe
re,
spe
aki
ngf
rom Na
gano.
Nows
tar
tingupt
hehe
roc
ommuni
cat
ion"

-
"Nog
ifr
om Ka
gawahe
re.
I'l
lbei
nyourc
are
"
Fl
owe
rBud

Anare
aint
heeasts
out
her
npartoft
heSuwaLa
kei
nNa
ganopr
efe
ctur
ewa
ssi
mil
art
oShi
koku,
apl
acepr
o-
t
ect
edbyabar
rie
rwher
epeopl
ecoul
dli
ve.

S
hir
ator
iwa
stheonl
yhe
roi
ncha
rgeofpr
ote
cti
ngi
t.

-
"Shi
rat
ori
-sa
n,how'
sthes
it
uat
iont
her
e?"

-
"Notf
ant
ast
ic;
nott
hati
tha
sev
erbe
ens
inc
etha
tda
ythr
eey
ear
sag
o"

-
".
..
Noki
ddi
ng"

Wa
kabas
tri
vednott
osoundt
oogl
oomy
.

Origi
nall
y,al
arge
rare
awitht
heSuwal
akeatt
hec
ent
erwasasaf
ezone,butduetotherepe
ateda
tta
cksthat
fol
lowedduri
ngthet
hreey
ear
s,l
andwasl
osta
ndonl
yaport
ioninthee
a s
tsouther
na r
eaofthel
akecould
bema i
ntai
ned.

-
"Fornow,
Mai
nta
ini
ngt
hes
tat
us-
quowou-
..
.bz
zzz
zt.
..
..
.i
ty"

S
hir
ator
i'
svoi
cewa
scut
.

-
"Sor
ry,
Ita
ppe
arst
her
ewa
ssomenoi
se"

-
"Ri
ght
;AsIwass
aying
, ma
inta
ini
ngthes
tat
us-
quoshoul
dbeourpr
ior
ityf
ornow.
isl
ineof
c
ommunic
ati
onhasbeenge
tti
ngmoreandmoreuns
tabl
elat
ely
"

-
"Ye
ah.
..
"

-
"Iwonde
rhowmuc
hlong
erwe
'l
lbea
blet
ous
eit
..
."

Asshet
houghta
bouti
t,Wa
kabaf
elts
li
ght
lyde
pre
sse
d.I
nor
dernott
oshowi
t,s
hequi
ckl
ycha
nge
dthes
ub-
j
ect
.

-
"Spe
aki
ngofwhi
ch,
Shi
rat
ori
-sa
n.I
sn'
tita
boutt
imewes
ett
ledours
cor
e..
."

-
"Ye
s,Imy
sel
fwa
sthi
nki
ngt
hee
xac
tsa
met
hing
.Toda
yist
heda
yweputa
nendt
oit
..
."

S
hir
ator
iga
veabol
dre
spons
e.

-
"Whi
choft
het
woi
ssupe
rior
,UdonorSoba
!!"

Bot
hvoi
cess
pokea
tthes
amet
ime
.

-
"Udoni
sobv
ious
lys
upe
rior
,the
rei
snor
oom f
orc
ompa
ris
on"

-
"Ex
act
ly,
noc
ompa
ris
oni
sne
ede
d.Sobai
scl
ear
lybe
tte
r"

-"
..
.Wha tf
ooli
s hnes
s.Haveyoueventas
tedKagawa'
sUdonbefor
e? at
myster
iousfeeltoit
,tha
tglit
ter
ingwhit
enes
s,t
ha te
xcqui
si
tedel
ici
ous
nesst
haty
ouc
anne
verg
ete
nough
of
...
Some t
hingl i
keSobacouldneve
rcompare"

-"
fufuf
u,andha veYOUe ve
reat
enNagano'
sSoba,Nog
i-s
an? ate
leg
ant
fr
agrance,
thatri
c hf
eel
ingofi
tgoi
ngdowny ourt
hroa
t,t
hatpe
rfec
tcombi
nat
ionofs
oupa
nd
noodles
..
.I
tissuperi
ort
oUdoni neve
ryway"
 Nog
iWa
kabai
saHe
ro

Ast
het
wol
is
tene
dtoe
ach-
othe
r’swor
ds,
the
yre
pli
edba
ck.

-".
..
We l
l,Notonlydoe
sSobawinint
hetas
tedepart
ment
,itisal
sogoodforyourheal
th.Soba
contai
nsRutinwhichhel
pspr
eventa
the
roscl
eros
isandv
ariousl
ife
sty
ledis
eases
.Inothe
rwor ds
,
aperfect
lyheal
thymeal"

-"Hah, a
ndhe reIwa swonde r
ingwhatyouwe regonnasa
yne x
t.Ifwe
'ret
alki
ngaboutnon-ta
ste
rela
tedthings,thenUdoni stheeas
iestt
odigestoutofa
llty
pesofnoodle
s.Eveni
nthec as
eofthos
e
sufferingfrom exhausti
onors ometypeofdise
a s
ereduc
ingthei
rbodil
yfuncti
onal
it
ies
,itcan
providethem wi t
hthene ce
ssarye
nergyquickl
y.i she
reisext
remel
yv i
talf
orawarri
or.Udoncould
evenbede scr
ibe dasthesupremenutrie
ntforbattl
e.
"

-
".
..
."

-
".
..
."

 et
wog
ode
epi
nthought
,pl
anni
ngt
hei
rne
xtr
ebut
tal
.

Attha
tmome nt
,thes
oundoft
hec hi
mee c
hoe
dthr
oughoutt
hebui
ldi
ng.
Alt
houghi
twa
ssumme
r
br
eak,thec
himealwa
ysra
ngattheexac
tti
me.

-
"Outoft
ime
,huh.
Looksl
ikeSobawa
sspa
red"

-
"ati
smyl i
ne,Udonist
heonet
hatmanage
dtoes
capewit
hitsl
if
e..
. enews
eme
ste
rst
art
stomor
-
r
ow,
soitwouldbebes
tifwel
ecommunic
ati
onunt
ilae
rclas
seswereover
"

-
"Af
airpoi
nt.
Wel
lthe
n,unt
ilt
omor
row.
Ipr
ayf
ory
ours
afe
tya
ndg
oodl
ucka
tNa
gano"

-
"Ma
yyoubes
afea
tShi
kokua
swe
ll"

Wa
kabahungup.

Herl
ightexchangeswit
hS hir
ator
iwer
everydea
rtoher
.Sinc
eshecoul
dnotlea
veS hi
koku,
thi
swast
he
cl
ose
stthi
ngt othe"out
side"shehadl
e.
Itle
therf
eels
afeknowi
ngtherewa
saf r
iendoutt
her
e ght
-
i
ngaswe l
l.

 ene
xtda
y.

Aug
ustha
sende
d,a
ndt
hene
wse
mes
ters
tar
ted.

Evenduri
ngs ummerbre
ak,Wa kabaandt
heotherske
ptcomingtosc
hoolforthei
rtra
ining,
soitdi
dn'
t
ex
actl
yfeell
ikea"newsemest
er"tothem.
 ehe r
oesandtheMikowerethe nalhopeof
mankindagains
ttheVe
rtex
,therewasabs
olut
elynowa yt
heywouldmissthe
irdail
ytrai
ning.
Fl
owe
rBud

Asusua
l,theearl
ies
ttoa
rriv
eisWa
kaba
,shel
ight
lyc
lea
nedupt
hec
las
sroom a
ndpr
epa
redt
hec
hal
k
f
orthebla
c kboa
rdandsuch.

-
"Morni
ng'
!
!Ah,
You'
rehe
rer
sta
gai
nWa
kaba
.Jus
twhe
nTa
ma na
llyt
houghts
he'
dbet
he r
stt
o
makei
t!
"

 enexttoa
rri
vewa sDoiTa
mako.
Shewa
sal
soaHe
roj
ustl
ikeWa
kaba
.Ta
makowi
thhe
rshor
tgur
e
e
ntere
dt hec
las
sroom.

And,a
sifhidi
ngbehindher
,Iy
oji
maAnz ufoll
owedinhers
teps
.we
ll,
tec
hni
cal
lys
pea
king
,si
nces
he
wast
all
erthanTa
ma koshewasn'
thi
dingi
nt hesl
ight
est
.

I
tsi
mpl
ylookedt
hatway,be
caus
eofhe
rca
lm de
mea
nourc
ompa
redt
oTa
mako'
sli
vel
ype
rsona
lit
y.
Anz
uwasals
ooneoftheher
oes.

-
"Goodmor
ning
,Doi
,Iy
oji
ma"

-
"Wa
kaba
!!Tomor
rowTa
mawi
lldeni
tel
yge
the
rer
st!
"

Tamakopointe
da tWakaba
,ass
hemadeherdec
lara
tion.Fors
omereas
on,sheburne
dwi
th
compet
it
ivespir
ittowa
rdsWakaba
.Waka
bathoughtplea
s a
ntl
yofhe
rtinypost
ure
.

-
"Ta
mac
chi
,yous
houl
dn'
tpi
ckupa ght r
stt
hingi
nthemor
ning
~"

Anzucal
ledoutt
ohe
rina
nat
temptt
oappe
asehe
r.Ta
makot
hent
urne
dar
ounda
ndl
ooke
dathe
rwi
th
sc
ornf
uleyes
.

-
"A~N~ZU~.
Wha
tthehe
lli
s"Ta
mac
chi
"?!Ta
mai
sol
dert
hany
ou.
Cal
lmeTa
mac
chi
-se
npa
i!"

-
"Il
ikeTa
mac
chibe
tte
r..
."

Anz
ule
toutabi
tt
ers
mil
e.

Tama koa ndWa kabawerebot

hinthei
rs econdyearofmiddleschool,whil
eAnz uwasayea
rbel
ow.
Schooly e
a rswereallmi
xedupsi
ncealltheheroe
sf r
om Shikokugatheredinhere.Ta
makoandAnz
u
werelikes i
bli
ngs..
.howe
verpe
ople'
sopinionsoenspli
tonwhi chwa stheolde
ra ndwhi
chwast
he
young ersis
ter.

Ne
xtt
oar
riv
ewa
sHi
nat
a.

-
"Goodmor
ning
,ev
ery
one
"

Herca
lmv oi
cea
ndg
rac
efule
xpr
ess
ion,
here
leg
antde
mea
nourma
dey
oudoubts
hewa
sthes
amea
ge
ast
heothe
r s
.

AsTamakot
urnedaroundt
ofaceHina
ta,
shegl
ancedathe
rpos
tur
ehe
ruppe
rha
lfi
npa
rti
cul
ara
nd
bac
ktoherc
hil
d-li
kebody,
the
ns a
idinherf
rus
tra
tion.

-"
Kuh..
.Lookaty
oue
xpos
ingt
hos
ede
vil
is
hlumpsonc
eag
ain!Pr
epa
ret
ore
cei
vey
our
puni
shme nt
!!
"

-
"Wa
it.
..
Tama
cchi
-sa
n,pl
eas
est
opf
ondl
ingmybr
eas
ts!
"

-
"I'
m notf
ondl
ingt
hem!I
'mt
ryi
ngt
ote
art
hem off!
"
 Nog
iWa
kabai
saHe
ro

Ta
makos
tar
tedma
ssa
gingHi
nat
a'sbount
if
ulc
hes
t.

Wa
kabaa
ndAnz
uqui
ckl
ypul
ledt
her
abi
dTa
makoa
wayf
rom Hi
nat
a.

-
"LETMEGO!Ta
mane
edst
opuni
sht
hos
ede
moni
cthi
ngs
"

-
"Ca
lmy
our
sel
f,Doi
!"

-
"a
t'
sri
ght
.You'
res
til
lgr
owi
ngTa
mac
chi
-se
npa
i!"

-
"Uwa
a~n!Nowe
venAnz
uisl
ooki
ngdownonme
!"

I
nt hemids
tofthec
ommot
ion,
Koor
iChi
kag
eent
ere
dthec
las
sroom.
Shewa
sal
soahe
roa
nd3r
dye
ar
middles
chool
er.

-
".
..
..
"

Chika
g el
ookedtowar
dt hegroup,
thena
ver
tedherey
esoutofdi
si
nte
r e
stasshemadehe
rwa
ytohe
r
se
at.Shewasn'
tveryt
alkat
iveandsee
medtoavoi
dinte
rac
tingwi
thotherpeopl
e.

Fina
lly
,ri
ghtbe
for
ethe na
lchi
mer
ang
,Ta
kas
himaYuunama
dei
ttot
hec
las
sroom.
Shea
lsowa
sa
2ndyearandaher
o.

"
-Goodmor
ning
~!Ta
kas
himaYuunaha
sar
riv
ed.
ankg
od,
I'm notl
ate
!"

Yuunae
xcha
nge
dgr
eet
ing
swi
the
ver
yonei
nthec
las
sroom,
andhe
ade
dforhe
rse
atbe
sideChi
kag
e.

-
"Goodmor
ning
...
Taka
shi
ma-
san"

-
"Mor
ning
,Gun-
cha
n!"

-
"Youwe
re.
..
la
tet
oda
y"

-"
Yeah,Iwa
swat
chi
ngthi
smart
ialar
tsprog
ram onTVye
ster
da y
,andtri
edmi
mic
kinga
nd
prac
tic
ingt
hemove
sasIwat
che
d. Ig
ottooexc
iteda
ndc
ouldn'tsl
eep.
HA!CHOP!ROUNDHOUS
E
KICK!"

Yuunas
wunghe
rar
m downa
nddi
da360°ki
ck.

-
"Ta
kas
hima
-sa
n..
.Yous
houl
dn'
tra
isey
ourl
egs
ohi
gh.
..
Yourunde
rwe
arwoul
dbev
isi
ble
"

-
"Ah!e
hehe
..
."

Yuunahe
ldhe
rski
rtdownwhi
lebl
ushi
ng.

 es
il
entChi
kag
e,coul
doenbese
ental
kingonl
ytoYuuna
.Chikag
ewasolder
,butj
ustl
ikeTa
mako
a
ndAnz ut
heyhee
dednoatt
ent
iont
otheagediffe
renc
eandtre
ate
de a
chot
he ra
sequal
s.

Yuunahadaver
yli
kea
bleper
sonal
ity
, a
ndg ota
longwit
hever
yonei
nthec
las
s.Ev
enChi
kag
ewho
te
ndedtobui
ldwal
lsa
roundhers
elfcouldnott
urnherdown.
 Nog
iWa
kabai
saHe
ro

 emor
ningc
las
sesha
dst
art
ed.

Alt
houghtheonl
ystudent
satt
hissc
hoolwer
eheroe
sandaMi ko,
subj
ect
swe r
enodi
ffer
entt
hana
normalone
.Inaddi
tion,t
heyr
ecei
vedspe
cia
ltr
aini
ngto ghtofftheVer
tex
.

Asa r
storderoft
hei
rtrai
ningonthi
snewse
me st
er,
the
ywe
res
hownv
isua
lre
cor
ding
soft
heba
ttl
e
t
heJDFfoughtaga
ins
ttheVert
exthre
eye
arsago.

nt
I hefootage
,rie sa
ndtankcanonswerer edattheVertexthata
ppeare
dint hecit
y,butnotonlydi
d
i
tnothurtthem,itdi
dn'
teve
nse e
mt ohaveanyeffe c
t. eVe rt
exswar
me dthetanksli
keants,a
te
t
hroughthestee
lshel
lsa
nddevouredthepeoplei
nsideasiftheywereamealforthem.

Normalwe
aponswe
reus
ele
ssa
gai
nstt
heVe
rte
x,onl
ythos
etha
ttheHe
roe
swi
elde
dcoul
dini
ct
damag
euponthem.

Wakaba'
sweaponwasas
wordsheobtai
nedf r
om theshri
neinI
zumo,threeyea
rsa
go.Fr
om a
c
sie
ntica na
lysi
soft
hemat
eri
al,i
tlookednomor ethanaswor
dma deaertheHei
anperiod.
Howev -
e
r,t
hemome ntWa ka
bas
howsthewillto ghtandtakesi
tinhe
rhand,theswordg
etslledwithdi
vine
e
nergy.

Ac
ert
ainMi
koc
all
edt
hepowe
r owi
ngt
hroughWa
kaba
'ss
wor
d"I
kut
achi
".

 eot
herhe
roe
sal
soe
achha
das
pec
ialwe
apon.

Att
hee
ndoft
hef
oot
age
,thehome
room t
eac
hers
aid.

-
"Onl
yhe
roe
sha
vet
hea
bil
it
ytos
tanda
gai
nstt
heVe
rte
x.Yourpowe
risne
ede
d."

Wa
kabaa
ndt
heot
her
sha
dse
ent
her
ecor
ding
sandl
is
tene
dtot
hos
ewor
dsnume
roust
ime
sbe
for
e.

Wha
tex
act
lya
reVe
rte
x?

Whyi
sma
nki
ndbe
inga
tta
cke
d?

 ede
tai
lswe
res
til
lunc
lea
r.

Onethi
ngwasforce
rta
in,t
hef
actt
hatt
heVer
texwerethee
nemyofma
nki
nd,
andt
hatt
hel
oca
lgods
wer
elendi
ngthei
rpowersi
nor
dertopr
ote
ctt
hepeople
.

-
"Int
hatc
ase
..
.Whydon'
tthos
egodsg
o ghtt
hem.
..
"

Chi
kag
emumbl
edwhi
lewa
tchi
ng.

Ta
makowa
stheonet
oans
werhe
r.

-"
Ma ybetheydid ghtt
hem.Re
me mber
,be
foretheat
tac
kane
art
hqua
keorna
tur
aldi
sas
terwoul
d
occur
.Ithinkthatwast
here
sul
toftheg
odsgoingati
t"

-
".
..
."

Chi
kag
elooke
duns
ati
seda
sshewe
nts
il
ent
.
Fl
owe
rBud

Ne
xtupwa
scomba
ttr
aini
ng.
Hina
taa
lonewa
sta
kent
oadi
ffer
entpl
acef
orhe
rMi
kot
rai
ning
.

-
"Aah~; esi
ghtofWaka
ba-
cha
ne ng
ros
sedinhe
rtra
ini
ng..
.herspar
kli
ngs
wea
tand
us
ter
edskin.
..
Iwantt
oaddi
tal
ltomyWa ka
ba-c
hancol
lec
tion..
."

Hina
taa
lwayss
ayswhi
lel
ooki
ngdi
sappoi
nte
d,buts
heofc
our
sewoul
dn'
tdi
sobe
yor
der
sfors
ucha
se
lshreas
on.

 et
rai
ningme nuwa
svar
ied,f
rom e
xer
cise
stobui
ldups
tami
nat
oba
sict
eac
hing
sofma
rti
ala
rtsa
nd
e
venzenme di
tati
ont
ost
rengt
henthemind.

Eversinc
et ha
tday3y e
arsago,Wakabaandtheother
shave
n'tfoughta
nyVert
ex,buteve
ntua
lly
,in
ordertotaketheworl
dbackfrom t
hemt hebat
tleca
nnotbea v
oided.er
ewa sal
soahighpossi
bil
it
y
Shikokuwouldbea t
tac
kedsoon.Prepar
ati
onsfora ghtwereoftheut
mostnece
ssit
y.

Mor
ningpe
riodha
sende
d,a
ndi
twa
sti
mef
orl
unc
hbr
eak.
 e6a
lwa
yshe
ade
dtot
hec
afe
ter
ia
t
oge
ther
.

Wakabawastheonewhosugg
est
edt
heya
lwa
ysa
tel
unc
htog
ethe
rthi
swa
y;I
tcoul
dbeag
rea
the
lpi
n
i
mprovingt
heirte
amwork.

ChikageandTa makosl
ight
lyobjec
tedatr st
.Chikag
epref
err
edeat
ingal
one,whi
leTa
ma kodi
dn't
wantrule
sa ppl
iedtohermealt
imea swel
l.ButwhenYuunasai
d"Meal
sal
wa y
stast
ebet
terwhe
ne at
en
t
og e
ther!
",Tama kol
etoutabett
ersmilewhil
eChikages
aid"I
fTaka
shima-
sansay
sso.
..
"andboth
endedupa gree
ing.

erewe r
eadult
saswel
linthecaf
eter
ia. et
eache
rsincha
rgeofthegir
ls'
educati
on, a
ndme mbe r
sof
t
heorganis
ati
ongiv
enfulla
uthori
tybythegover
nme ntt
odealwi
ththeVertex,"
Taisha"
."Tai
sha"was
wri
tt
enwi t
hthechar
act
ersfor"
GreatShri
ne",
andha sbe
enpubli
clyac
tiv
ee ve
rsincethesta
rtofthe
i
nvasi
on.
Fl
owe
rBud

Eachoft
heg
irl
sse
rve
dhe
rse
lfa
ndt
heya
llg
athe
reda
tas
ingl
eta
ble
.e
ywe
renotc
har
gedf
ort
hei
r
food.

Al
thoughitwasase
lf-
ser
vef
orma
t,t
heya
lle
nde
dupwi
thUdonont
hei
rpl
ate
s;t
het
oppi
ngs
di
fferedhowev
e r
.

-
" eme
ala
ert
rai
ningt
ast
est
hebe
st!
"

Yuunas
aidwi
thac
are
fre
esmi
le,
ass
hes
lur
pedhe
rUdon.

Chi
kag
elooke
dathe
rpl
eas
ant
ly.

-
"He
y,Anz
u.Wa
tchy
ourma
nne
rs"

Anz
uwa
sre
adi
ngabookwhi
lee
ati
ng,
Tama
kot
hens
nat
che
dita
wayf
rom he
r.

-
"Aa
h!ButIwa
sjus
tge
tti
ngt
otheg
oodpa
rt.
..
"

Anzule
toutas
advoi
ce.
 ebooks
hewasrea
dingwa
saShoujonov
ela
ime
datmi
d-hi
ghs
chool
ers
.
Shel
ovedre
adi
nga
nda l
way
shadabookst
uffedinhe
rpocke
t.

-
"Nobut
s.Fi
nis
hyourme
al,
the
nyouc
anha
vei
tba
ck"

"
-Fi
~ne
..
."

Anz
uga
veupa
ndwe
ntba
ckt
ohe
rUdon.

-
".
..
Sti
ll
,whydoweha
vet
ogot
hrought
rai
ninge
ver
ysi
ngl
esa
y"

Ta
makos
aidg
rumbl
ing
.

-
"It
'sbe
caus
eonl
yhe
roe
sha
veac
hanc
eag
ains
ttheVe
rte
x..
."

-
"Iknowtha
t,Hinat
a.Butnormalmiddl
esc
hoolgi
rl
sus
uall
yhangoutwi
tht
hei
rfr
iends
..
.Orf
alli
n
l
oveorsomet
hing.
a t'
sthekindofl
if
ethe
yshoul
dbel
eading
,no?"

Ta
makos
ighe
dtohe
rse
lf.

-
"i
sisa
nex
tre
mee
mer
genc
ysi
tua
tion.
Hav
ingourf
ree
dom s
li
ght
lyl
imi
tedc
an'
tbehe
lpe
d."

Ta
makoc
ros
sedhe
rar
ms,
notc
onv
inc
edbyWa
kaba
'sa
nswe
r.

-
"Hmmm.
..
."

-
"Ifwer
efus
etoc
oope
rat
e,ma
nki
ndwi
llme
eti
tsdoom.
Weha
vet
obe
comet
hes
pea
rst
hatpr
ot-
"

-
"Iknow!Ia
mful
lya
war
e,buts
til
l"

Ta
makor
ais
ehe
rvoi
ce,
the
nimme
dia
tel
ylooke
ddowna
ndmumbl
ed.
 Nog
iWa
kabai
saHe
ro

-
".
..
I'
msor
ry.
..
"

-
"Ta
mac
chi
-se
npa
i..
."

Anz
ugr
abbe
dthee
dgeofTa
mako'
suni
for
mandl
ooke
dupt
ohe
r.He
rey
es,l
ledwi
tha
nxi
ety
.

 es
cenewe
ntc
ompl
ete
lys
il
ent
.

Wa kabaunders
toodwha tTama kowasgoingthrough.Shewasn'
tspeakingoutofselshnes
snordis-
content
.Shewa sf
eeli
nga nxi
ous. ebatt
leagainstVert
exwasful
lofda nger
.Ifitc
amedownt oit,
it
wasunc e
rtai
niftheycouldevensurvi
ve.
..
Ra t
her, t
heprobabi
li
tyoftheml os
ingthei
rli
vesi
nt hepro-
cesswashigher
.r eeyearsago,i
fHinat
awe ren'tpre
sentduri
ngthetimeoft hebat
tl
e,Wakabamight
havediedthenandthere.

(
Doipr
oba
blyf
ear
sforI
yoj
ima
'ss
afe
tymor
etha
nhe
rowns
..
.)

Wa
kabat
houghta
sshel
ooke
datTa
mako.

I
yoj
imaAnzuwasn'
tpa
rti
cul
arl
ygooda ts
por
ts,
andhadthewors
tres
ult
swhe
nitc
amet
oma
rti
ala
rts
t
rai
ning
.Inba
ttl
e,s
hewoul
dbethehighes
tca
ndida
tet
oloseherl
if
e.

 eonewhobr
oket
hehe
avys
il
enc
ewa
sYuuna
.

-
"a
nksf
ort
hef
ood!I
twa
sgr
eata
sal
way
s!"

S
heputthebowl
,compl
ete
lye
mpt
yont
het
abl
e;Yuunat
henj
oine
dhe
rha
ndsa
ndl
ooke
dar
ounda
t
e
ver
yoneatthet
able
.

-
"Wha
t'
swi
tht
hel
ongf
ace
s,e
ver
yone
?"

-
".
..
Taka
shi
ma.
..
Hav
en'
tyoube
enl
is
teni
ng?
"

-
"Eh,ahh.
..
Sor
ryWa
kaba
-cha
n!t
heUdonwa
ssog
oodt
hatIc
ompl
ete
lyl
ostt
rac
kofmy
s
urroundi
ngs.
..
"

Ev
ery
onet
henl
etoutas
igh.

-
"Ee
eh?
!wha
twa
stha
tfor
?!"

Yuunal
ooke
dar
ounda
tev
ery
one
.

-
"Eve
ryt
hingi
sgonnabe ne
.We
'rea
lls
trongt
obe
ginwi
th,
ifwea
lldoourbe
stwe
'l
ldeni
tel
ysuc
-
c
eed!
"

S
hes
aidwi
thas
mil
e.

Ae
rlunc
h,wa
lki
nga
lonei
nthec
orr
idor
,Wa
kabawhi
spe
redt
oHi
nat
a.
Fl
owe
rBud

-
"Pe
rha
ps.
..
I'
m not tt
obet
hel
eade
r"

-
"Wha
tma
kesy
ous
ayt
hat
?"

-"
Itendtof
orc
emyt houghtsoneve
ryoneel
se,
whichus
ual
lyc
ausesopposi
tiont
oari
sedi
srupt
ingt
he
bal
anceoft
hegroup.Someoneli
keTakas
himaismuchmor
esuit
edfortherolet
hanI
..
."

-
"EI
!"

Hi
nat
ahe
ldWa
kabai
nhe
rar
ms,
int
err
upt
inghe
rwor
ds.

-
"Hi
-Hi
nat
a?!
"

-"
Whatareyouwhi
ninga
bout
,tha
t'
ssounl
ikey
ouWa
kaba
-cha
n.You'
redoi
ngape
rfe
ctl
y nej
ob
bei
ngl
eader
"

-
".
..
"

Hi
nat
a'
swor
dse
choe
dthr
oughhe
rhe
art
.Shedi
dn'
tknowi
ftha
twe
rer
eal
lyt
hec
ase
.

Ae
rsc
hool
,Wakabahe
ade
dt othebr
oadc
ast
ingroom.
Shewa swa
iti
ngf
orS
hir
ator
itopi
ckup,
but
t
her
ewasnoans
wernomat
terhowmuc hs
hecall
edNagano.

Ast
hes
unwe
ntdown,
thec
all na
llywe
ntt
hrough.

-
"Sor
ry.
..
.bz
zzt
..
.-
san.
Iha
dsom.
..
.bz
zt.
..
.a
kec
areof
"

e
rewa
sal
otofs
tat
ic.
 el
inewa
suns
tabl
e.

-
"Don'
tswe
ati
t,di
dsome
thi
ngha
ppe
nov
ert
her
e?"

-
"i
sae
rnoon,
the
rewa
saba
ttl
eag
ains
ttheVe
rte
x"

-
".
..
How'
stheda
mag
e?"

-
"e
rewe
renopr
obl
ems
..
.bz
zzt
..
. ee
nemywa
sdr
ive
nba
ck.
the
rewe
renoc
asua
lit
ies
"

-
"Is
ee.
..
"

Wakabaletoutasighofre
liefae
rhear
ingthenoise
-lledr
eport
.SheonlyspoketoShir
atorit
hrough
t
hisradi
o,butshewa sadearandirr
epl
ace
ablefr
iendtoher
.Shet
rulywasthankfult
hatbothsheand
Naga
nowe r
esafe
.

-
"How'
sthes
it
uat
iona
tShi
koku?
"

-
"Sa
mea
sal
way
s,s
ofa
rnoa
tta
cks
.Wes
pentt
heda
ytr
aini
nga
nda
tte
ndi
ngc
las
ses
"

-
"Is
..
..
bzz
zt.
..
..
I'
mre
lie
ved"

Wa kabatol
dS hi
rat
oriaboutwha
thappe
nedduringlunchtoda
y. euneasi
nesseve
ryone
'sfe
e l
inga
nd
thena t
ureofherre
lat
ionshi
pwit
htheothe
rs.
..
ShethoughtShi
rat
orimightprovi
deherwithsome
usefuladvi
ce.
 Nog
iWa
kabai
saHe
ro

-"Ise
e..
.Ial
souse
dtohavethes
ameworr
iesatrst
,butyouevent
ual
lystopthi
nki
ngabouts
uch
things
..
..
.bz
zzt
..
..
.Re
ali
tyi
smuchmoreheavyt
hanthought
s,a
ndforc
e sustomakece
rta
in
decis
ions"

S
hir
ator
isounde
dasi
fthos
ewor
dswe
reme
antf
orhe
raswe
ll.

 eda
yspa
sse
dbywi
thouta
nyma
jorc
hang
es.

Wa
kabaa
ndt
heot
her
swe
ntt
ocl
ass
esa
ndr
ece
ive
dthe
irHe
roa
ndMi
kot
rai
ninga
sus
ual
.

Onc
einawhil
e,s
ome
onewoul
ddi
spl
ayahi
ntofdi
scomf
ortorune
asi
nes
s,buti
tha
dnoi
mpa
cton
t
hei
rdai
lyl
ive
s.

 enoi
se-l
ledc
all
stoNa
ganoa
lsoc
ont
inue
d.

-"
We'
rege
tti
ngnowherecons
tant
lya
rgui
nga
boutUdona
ndSoba
..
.bz
zzt
..
.Le
t'
sta
lka
bouta
di
ffer
ents
pecia
ltyt
oda
y "

-
"ve
rywell
,weherea
tMarug
amei
nKa
gawa
,ha
veHone
tsuki
tor
i,adi
sht
hat
'l
lha
vea
nyonewhot
ast
ed
i
tonceg
etaddi
cte
dtoit
."

-
"Fuf
ufu,
Nag
anoha
sShi
nshuumi
sowhos
ena
mer
esoundst
hroughouta
llofJ
apa
n..
.!
"

Tr
aini
nga
tsc
hooli
sthes
amea
sal
way
s.

Cont
actwi
thNa
ganowa
sal
soke
ptr
egul
arl
y.

Howeve
r,t
herewereda
yswhe
retheli
newouldbes
ouns t
abl
e,orcompl
ete
lyunus
abl
e. ea
mountof
st
ati
cal
soinc
reas
edwhichmadethei
nte
rcha
ngeharde
randha r
der.

Af
ewwe
eksl
ate
r,t
hes
it
uat
iona
tNa
ganobe
camede
cis
ive
.

-
"I'
msor
ry,
 el
ine
..
..
bzz
zt.
..
.ba
d..
..
..
bzz
zt.
..
."

 enois
ewa srat
herhight
hatda
y;f
rom t
hewa
yshes
poke
,as
li
ghthi
ntofe
xha
ust
ionc
oul
dbef
elt
f
rom Shir
atori
'
svoice
.

-
"Wha
t'
swr
ong
?Di
dsome
thi
ngha
ppe
n?"

-"
...
No,Ijusthadt o ghtar a
therpersi
ste
ntVert
ex..
.bzzz
t..
..
acks e
emst ohavedamage
dt he
radi
o..
.bzzz
t..
..
.mightnotbea bl
etot al
kforawhil
e .
..
..
bzzzzt
..
..I
'ms ureyouals
ohaveyourfai
rsha
reof
worrie
s,butdoy ourbest.
..
.bzzz
t..
..
.ev
erythi
ngwillbeokay.Ialsothoughtitwasa
nimpos s
ibl
etas
kat
rst
..
..
.bzzz
t..
..
wa sabl
etoke epong oi
ngfortwomor eyears
...
.bzzzzt
..
..
..
..
..
"
Fl
owe
rBud

-
"Shi
rat
ori
-sa
n?!Ca
nyouhe
arme
?!!
"

Ae
ral
ongwa
veofnoi
se

-
".
..
Nog
i-s
an,
ther
esti
siny
ourha
nds
"

 os
ewe
ret
he na
lwor
dsbe
for
ethel
inec
ompl
ete
lys
hut
.

Wa
kabag
aze
datt
hes
eaf
rom t
hei
nne
rke
epoft
heMa
rug
amec
ast
le.

 es
unwa
sse
tti
nga
tthee
dgeoft
hehor
izon.
Itsc
olorc
hang
edf
rom ac
rims
onr
edt
oada
rkpur
ple
.

-
"Wa
kaba
-cha
n,t
hisi
swhe
rey
ou'
vebe
en"

Hi
nat
ahur
rie
dtohe
rsi
de.

-"
I'
vebeenlooki
ngforyou.eys
aidy
ouha
ven'
tgonehomey
ete
vent
houghi
t'
sthi
sla
te.
..
Hav
eyou
beent
alki
ngtoShir
a t
ori
-sa
n?"

-"
..
. ec
allwa
sint
err
upt
ed.
Itr
iedc
all
ingba
ckma
nyt
ime
s,buti
tse
emst
hel
inei
tse
lfbe
cameunus
a-
bl
e..
."

-
".
..
."

Hi
nat
awa
satal
ossf
orwor
ds.

S
hec
oul
dea
sil
yima
ginewha
tWa
kabame
antbyt
hat
.

-
"It
'sov
er.
..
forNa
gano"

Wa
kabas
aidnot
hing
,shes
il
ent
lyg
aveanod.

S
hehe
ldhe
rswor
dsos
trongl
ytha
the
rha
ndhur
t.

 eVe
rte
xtooky
eta
not
herpr
eci
oust
hingf
rom Wa
kaba
.

S
udde
nly
,Wa
kaba
'sphonema
dear
ing
ingnoi
se,
likea
nal
arm.

 edi
sta
ntwave
sint
hesea,
theboa
tsc
ros
singt
hewa
ter
,thec
ica
das
'cr
ies
,thel
eav
ess
way
ingi
nthe
wi
nd..
.Allc
ametoas
top.

S
tandi
ngne
xtt
oWa
kaba
,Hi
nat
aal
sos
eeme
dtobef
roz
eni
npl
ace
.

-
".
..
?!
"

Waka
baimme
dia
tel
ylooke
dathe
rphone
.Di
spl
aye
dont
hes
cre
enwe
ret
hewor
ds"
For
est
ize
wa
rning
".
 Nog
iWa
kabai
saHe
ro

For
esti
zat
ion.
..
Aphe
nome
nont
hatoc
cur
redt
hemome
ntaVe
rte
xst
eppe
dins
idet
he
bar
rie
r.

Wa
kabal
ear
neda
bouti
tinc
las
s.

Ev
ers
inceShi
njuputupt
hewa
lla
roundS
hikoku,
itwoul
doc
curi
nor
dert
opr
ote
ctt
he
pe
opl
einsi
de.

-
"e
y na
llyc
ame
..
. eVe
rte
x..
."

Aerdes
troyi
ngNagano,i
twasnowShi
koku'
sturnasthe nalshe
lte
rofma nkind.
 esi
ghti
nf r
ontofWakaba'
seye
swasr
apidl
ychanging. el
and,buil
ding
s,carsandpe
opl
e
werec
overedbygi
ganti
ctre
eroot
sandi
viese
xtendi
nga l
lthewaytoedgeofthesea.

(S
hir
ator
i-s
an,pe
opl
efrom Nagano.
..
Yourpa
in,s
orr
ow,ange
r..
.I
'l
ldenit
elyma
ket
heVerte
x
payt
hepric
efort
hem.Ever
y t
hingiswort
hyofr
eward,
thati
sthewayofl
if
eoft
heNog
i.)

Wa
kabadr
ewhe
rswor
d,a
ndpoi
nte
ditbe
yondt
hes
ea.

-
"Ihaveta
ke nov
ert
hedut
yofprote
ctingmankindf
rom Na
gano.
We,
her
oesofS
hikokuwi
ll
i
nter
cepttheene
myatopt
hisMa
r ugamecas
tle
!!"

Cha
pte
r2-e
nd.