The Bird's Perch

......

Route 99? Okay. I'll handle the rest.

Perfect. You have been an excellent smuggler. I must reward you for your hard work.

Th-Thank y...

Here is your reward. The only reason I haven't killed you is because I may have need of you yet. Be grateful that you're still alive.

Lay down your weapon!

Stay right where you are! Make one move and I'll attack!

Heheh. I'm not calling your bluff, I'm afraid. You're just a little girl, what exactly are you going to do?

I'm sorry, that was rude of me. That's just how you greet people in your pathetic open world, isn't it? I take it you're the deputy IDEAlist, second in command to my dear sibling?

Tsk! I told you not to move!

So you followed me from the other time layer? How dedicated you are. But perhaps you'd be better off coming back once you've called Curio to your aid. This is an awful lot of pressure for a little girl to take all on her own...

I'm not in contact with Curio. The last I heard from him was the note he left the day he came to this time layer.

How sad. So you're lonely, is that it? My little brother can be so cruel...

I'm afraid you're wrong. The reason why I followed you here... ......

Was to make you take responsibility for what you did! Upon my honor as an IDEAlist!

Oh, I almost forgot about that. What a sweet girl you are, grieving over all those teachers and staff who are no longer with us.

This is the first time I've ever met an internationally wanted criminal. You're quite the talker, aren't you?

You flatter me.

Have you no intention of surrendering?

Did you actually think I'd surrender? Is your estimation of me really that low?

Argggh...

Huh?!

Oh no... Are you okay?!

Urgh...

Wake up!

Thank goodness! Your wound may be deep, but at least you're still breathing!

You're hardly in a position to be worrying about a discarded pawn right now, right?

What?!

You're so predictable that I can hardly keep myself awake. It's like watching a movie for the hundredth time. You're too weak to the pain of others and too willing to put your life on the line. Are you following the teachings of your scriptures? What kind of god would want you to do such a thing? He must never have seen the dawn when he came to earth.

......

If I'm blindly following such a god... Then surely you are, too?

Guh...

Hahahahaha. Are you bluffing, little missy?

No. I know you. Because...

Curio used to tell me lovely stories about you over dinner, each and every night. What do you say to that, dearest sister-in-law?

Huh... Uh... What?!

Sister...in-law?!

I'm bluffing.

What?! She reversed my magic... and escaped?! Urgh! I've had it! I even gave lying a go, why'd she have to...

I really want to follow her, but I've got to help this guy out first.

*huff puff* She almost had me there... (I may have given her the slip for now, but she seems pretty persistent.) (I really don't want her on my tail. My best course of action is to get her to give up and go back to her own time layer.) At any rate, his deputy will be coming after me.

(IDEA is allowed to govern itself within IDA grounds, and has the right to investigate during an emergency.) (External organizations aren't allowed to take charge in their open world, no matter what happens there.) She must have followed me here under the jurisdiction of IDEA from our time layer.

But this is a different time layer. It will be easy to turn the tables on her.

The self-governance of an open world, versus the self-governance of another, identical open world. This should buy me some time to rest.

I can't imagine anybody will come here during the day.

(But it is kind of funny.) (You'd think with the massively overblown way they refer to me, as an "internationally wanted criminal," I'd at least act the part...) (Yet I seem to spend all my time sneaking around like a mouse, or a petty thief. I'll hide out here and wait for my pursuer to pass.)

If I'm blindly following such a god... Then surely you are, too?

...... Yes. For him, I would bow my head in prayer like the most ardent of believers.

So this the school? I really don't belong here. But I'm sure he feels right at home...

*cough cough*

Oh?! (A person?!)

Oh...

Huh? You're...

*cough* *cough* *splutter*

......

Here, drink this. It's water.

Huh? Oh...

Thank you so much. I felt so ill as soon as I tried to move...

Yeah.

Excuse me! Um, sorry if I've got this wrong...

But are you the girl who saved me before? When the corridor was on fire...

......

I-I was so delirious back then that I thought you were the Head of... I mean, I mistook you for somebody else. But now that I've seen you, it's all come back to me. Thank you. If it hadn't been for you, I...

I don't need your thanks. Letting you live would have been more beneficial than letting you die. That's all there is to it.

Wait!

What is your problem? I don't want to tal...

You've hurt your leg, haven't you? Let me fix it up for you. Please, Isuka.

Huh?! They told you my name?!

Wh-Who are you talking about?

Nobody told me anything. I just know. You may look different and talk different, and it may be completely impossible... But you're Isuka, without a shadow of a doubt.

...... Suit yourself.

Heheh, I will.

This should do it. How does it feel?

......

You certainly have a unique way of wrapping a bandage. I didn't expect to be wearing a piece of modern art on my leg.

Hey, don't be like that! I've never done this before!

Heheheh...

What are you laughing about?

It's nothing. It's just kinda refreshing to hear you saying something rude.

It's hard to tell whether you're being shy or bold...

S-Sorry...

Shouldn't you be lying down?

Huh?

This is your infirmary, correct? So surely you came here to rest? If you're not feeling well, you shouldn't push yourself unnecessarily. That goes against the soldier's code.

Are you worried about me?

I hate it when people talk back.

Hah, sorry.

But I'm fine as I am right now.

I see.

It's like a dream. It's just so...

Yes, perhaps it is a dream. Another possibility of what could be, crossing through and existing in the same world... It really should be a dream of some type.

What do you mean?

......

You can talk to me, you know. So tell me, how did you get injured? And...where did you come from?

If you're going to poke your nose into other people's business, don't ask questions without first considering how it may impact you. You'd do well to remember that if you wish to avoid being dragged into other people's problems.

...... Then...

Are you being followed?

Did you not listen to a word I just said?

Of course I did. But I... I would rather get dragged into this with you than turn a blind eye. And... I don't want to leave you here.

You certainly are stubborn. You and the deputy are just the same.

Huh?

I'm caught in a trap, that's all. One of my own making.

What was all that noise?!

Wha?! Y-You...

They're not breathing! Did you kill them?!

W-Wait!

...... (Their agents were hiding in the school. I wanted to root out that danger for him, even if the summons was a trap...) (Ever since that incident, the IDEA from the other side has had me marked...)

Isuka...

Um, I may not know what's going on exactly... But... Is there anything I can do? Can I help in any way?

......

Oh. I-I make it sound like I'm actually useful. But... With my body as it is, I can't really do very much at all.

As I already told you... I only saved you back then because I thought it would serve my interests. I may be a liar, but I don't lie unless it's absolutely necessary.

Isuka?

It sounds like the welcome wagon's here.

Eep?!

*sigh* How dedicated she is. I would have preferred her to be a little... meeker. Sounds like the noise is coming from the Sky Terrace.

Um, when you say welcome wagon...

Mayu...

You can hold your head up high. You've done enough.

You've done plenty already. Both for me and for you.

Wait, Isuka!

Have you ever heard the expression, "only fools climb to high places"?

Because you're certainly proving its point right now...

By that logic... All of us who live on this floating city must be fools.

Well, you're not wrong.

Anyway, let's say you actually manage to win against me. What next?

As I'm sure you know, this is IDA School. An open world of learning ruled as ever by your beloved ideal of self-governance. It may only be a school, but it has both the right to self-governance and the right to investigate cases. Meaning that IDEA takes charge of all incidents occurring on school grounds. No outside organizations can get involved.

Do you understand what I'm saying here?

......

What I'm trying to say is... You may be from IDEA, but you're not from their IDEA. You hail from a different time layer. That makes you an outside organization. The moment I fled here, the case moved beyond your jurisdiction.

If you wish to break that all-important rule and confront me here...

Then you will be disrupting the order of this school.

You really do like the sound of your own voice, don't you?

I know you're trying to rattle me, but it won't work. I am going to arrest you here and now, no matter what that makes me. So long as I wear...

The white uniform, the pride of IDEA?

Hah, how insolent. You're basically saying that you don't care about anyone else's pride, all that matters is your own. But unfortunately for you, the IDEA from this world is also very proud of its white uniform.

Well...

That was rude of me. No matter how resolved you are, it doesn't feel nice to hear it from somebody else's lips, does it? It's human nature for the fair to want to always be honest...and to always be blind. You should be ashamed of yourself, deputy.

Hey!

Cut the talk and ready your weapon, Isuka! Because I'm coming to arrest you!

Heheh, as you wish.

Vanguard of order, safe in your cocoon. Careful not to let the wind ruffle your feathers, now.

Ngh!

Pride is nothing but a shackle, weighing you down, hampering your movement. You should have left COA or EGPD to make the arrest. They would have been able to protect a sweet little thing like you.

No matter how heavy, it's the weight of those shackles that makes me who I am. And... What would have been the point if COA or EGPD caught you first? If they did...

Hm? You don't mean... ......

Pfft, I suppose you couldn't bear the thought of adults from outside the open world stealing your thunder. Such a shame that you weren't able to arrest me. But you see... I'm the furthest you can get from an easy target.

Hey!

Huh? Why aren't you finishing the job?

What's all this noise?!

This way! I heard a loud noise coming from over there!

Hmph. Here come the men in white at last.

Are you...

You two! Stay right where you are!

Ah, to be that carefree. And such high spirits, too. I'm positively jealous. So long, Mayu. You may lose your cool all too easily, but I rather enjoyed our time together.

Wha?! Hey, wait!

I told you not to move! You're coming with us for questioning.

And you'd better have a good explanation as to why you're wearing our white uniform.

URGHHH!

*huff puff*

Isuka? Where are you?

Huh?! That's me? Wearing the white uniform...

What?! That's me from this time layer?!

Urgh, I've had it!

(There I go again, feeling sorry for the enemy, letting them get away, losing my temper...) (I really screwed up this time!)

Hey! Hold it!

It wasn't just Isuka. There was another me as well...

It's like a dream. It's just so...

Yes, perhaps it is a dream. Another possibility of what could be, crossing through and existing in the same world.

Is this a dream? Or... (Another possibility... Another...me?) Isuka...

I needed to shake her off, but I didn't mean to cause such a big scene in the process. I should go find somewhere quiet to hide out until things cool down.

Last Island, maybe? Surely the men in white won't follow me there.

......

Is this an ambush?

Yes. I was waiting for you.

I thought you'd come here.

I'm guessing your deputy got in contact with you back at Route 99. I thought you were off the radar these days. I thought you preferred the company of your new friends...

No, not at all. It's just...that I left IDEA to her when I came here. I didn't want to cause any extra worry.

It's not me you should be explaining this to.

Looks like Mayu's been doing everything she can to try and arrest you under IDEA jurisdiction.

You're too slow, every single one of you. You would have been far better off leaving me to COA or EGPD.

Perhaps. But I want to join hands with you again, before anyone else gets the chance. Mayu understood that. That's why she chose to try and protect you. The IDA School incident was just an excuse. If she was able to hold you under IDEA jurisdiction... No other organization would have been able to lay a finger on you.

......

If some other organization had taken you, I wouldn't have been able to find out your true motives.

My true motives? There are none! Stop looking for something that isn't there.

Only if you stop trying to deceive me. You're trying to pull the wool over my eyes, hoping I won't realize. Am I wrong, Isuka? You have a kind heart underneath it all. The reason for all this violence... Was all for my...

Curio...

The real ocean truly is beautiful, isn't it?

Huh?!

You always wanted to see it, didn't you? When we were young, you used to talk about coming here once we were free. Just being able to talk to you here... That's enough for me.

I knew it! I...

The time for talking is over. As soon as you get passionate, you never stop talking. Talk to your friends from now on, not me.

Isuka!

I can't give up. You're the most important person in the world to me. You're the other half of my being.