**Episode 011: The Appearance of Wild Favorites!!**

“However, I have no idea where they are…”

Although we often hang out, I haven’t inquired about the location of the cram school or what Shuji’s plans are for today. Consequently, I had no clue about their whereabouts.

“But, isn’t that what  smartphones are for in times like this?”

I realized that, like Yamada suggested, I had the modern tool, a  smartphone, in my possession.

“Oh…”

Unintentionally, foreign-sounding words escaped my lips, but the  smartphone I pulled out of my pocket had a dead battery. It seemed I forgot to charge it yesterday.

“This is troublesome… Well, let’s at least try going to their houses.”

The only thing I know is roughly where their houses are. They might have already evacuated, but that’s the only place I’m familiar with, so I decided to visit.

The cityscape, upon closer inspection, had changed drastically. Cars were emitting smoke after accidents, walls and houses were destroyed, and blood was splattered inside some vehicles.

A metallic smell lingered in the air, and it felt like a slaughter scene without corpses.

“Ugh…”

I cut through the shadows I encountered as I walked, not encountering any signs of people. People other than those who had been eaten might be holed up somewhere. If I had realized my power sooner, I might have been able to help, but it’s too late now.

Instead, I encounter shadows frequently. Shadows have become easy prey for me now, so it’s becoming routine.

I cut down any shadows I meet to make this area a bit safer.

“Kyaa!”

While walking and cutting shadows, I heard a woman’s scream.

“Tch.”

I ran towards the direction where the scream was coming from.

Hurry up! People could die in an instant with a slight delay!

I exerted my strength.

“What’s that…!?”

Passing through a narrow path, there were two girls sitting on the ground in the middle of a crossroads. They were huddling together, looking up at the shadows, shedding tears, and trembling.

Shadows were about to attack them.

“I’ll make it in tiiiiime!”

I shouted and threw myself in front of them.

—Squish.

“Ugh.”

I felt an impact on my back.

Looking at the girls in front of me, they had closed their eyes tightly, shaking and cowering. There seemed to be no injuries. It seems I managed to save them somehow.

“Damn, that hurts!”

I swung the sword I had in my hand to slash the monster as I turned around. The monster disappeared as usual, leaving nothing behind.

“Phew, my back doesn’t hurt as much as I thought.”

Although I can’t see my back, reaching for it with my hand doesn’t feel like there’s any blood. The concealment robe not only has special effects but also seems to have high defense, considering it came out of a gold chest.

It’s good that I obtained such good armor.

“Um, well…”

While I was checking myself and dealing with the monster, I heard the girls’ voices. It seems they are calling me. I wonder if they’re talking about me.

“Uh, are you okay?”

“Y-yes… You saved us, right?”

I turned around, and both of them stood up.

One of them was a very cute girl with black hair cut into a bob, big round eyes, and a straight nose. She had a slightly assertive look. Probably around the same age as me, maybe a high school student.

The other one looked exactly like the girl I was talking to but with a slightly gentler gaze. They might be twins. Both had differently colored hairpins.

…Could it be!?

As I looked at the two of them, I realized something. They looked incredibly similar to the twin heroines from Assassin Girls.

It felt like the real-life versions of those two had jumped out of the screen, making my heart race.

“W-well, sort of.”

“Yeah. Thank you. We want to do something to repay you.”

She bowed her head in appreciation, her voice trembling with nervousness. They don’t seem to mind my nonchalant response.

“That’s not necessary…”

I waved my hand in front of my body, trying not to make a big deal out of it, but she persisted.

“No, no. Leaving that aside, why are you two here?”

At this moment, their situation is more concerning than anything else. Why are they alone? What happened to their family? What are their plans for the future? I need to confirm these things.

“That’s… when we were out shopping, black shadows appeared. Our grandparents, who were with us, tried to let us escape and ended up sacrificing themselves. We desperately ran away, but after tripping and facing the approaching monster, we couldn’t move…”

“I see…”

If only I had realized my power sooner, maybe I could have saved them.

“If you had come earlier…”

“I’m sorry.”

The girl, looking regretful, bowed her head, and all I could do was lower my head in shame at my incompetence.

“I… I’m sorry too.”

“No, please don’t worry about it. So, what do you plan to do now? Do you have any other family or friends? Any plans for where to go?”

The girl apologized, and I gently accepted it, moving on to discuss their future.

“My parents are not around. I was raised by my grandparents. I don’t have friends around here, and for now, besides the evacuation center, I don’t have anywhere else to go…”

That’s troublesome. I helped them, but I’m also in the middle of searching for Sato and Shuji. However, I can’t just leave these girls alone.

In that case, for now, taking these girls to a safe place should be the priority. I believe Sato and Shuji are still alive.

Yeah, they’ll be fine!!

Sorry, but saving my ultimate favorite girls takes precedence!!

As I shout in my head, the two voices in my mind scold me, but I ignore them.

“I’m sorry for asking such difficult questions. For now, let me take you to the nearby evacuation center.”

Having resolved my inner conflict, I propose to the two.

“Is it really okay for us to bother you to that extent?”

“Leaving you after helping and saying goodbye would be too irresponsible. Also, it’s not a good feeling to wake up after imagining you guys dying somewhere.”

“True. Thank you for everything. I’m Yukki Yuna. This is my sister, Kana. You don’t need to use honorifics. You can call us by our names.”

“Thank you for saving us. Please take us to the evacuation center.”

The other girl, who spoke for the first time, seemed to be the younger sister. However, I wonder if they think I might deceive them and take them somewhere else.

Of course, I wouldn’t do such a thing.

The two seem a little worried, but being trusted by the embodiment of my ideals is truly an honor.

“R-right. I’m Kotaro Rokudo. Nice to meet you.”

Feeling a bit awkward, I drop the formal language and return the greeting to the two girls.