Chapter 25…
To Fight Together
Determination
I was now running down the same path I’d taken toward the main entrance a few dozen minutes ago—but this time, toward the back door.
Of course, together with the mother and child I’d helped earlier.
My injuries still hurt a little, but I didn’t have time to care about that now.
We had to get away—fast.
Otherwise, I’d just end up slowing down Maa-kun again.
Then—
I heard a dull, heavy sound, followed by a groan of pain.
When I turned around, Maa-kun had been blown away and was rolling across the ground.
The Fly constellation (Musca) was walking toward us.
This happened because of me.
Because I can’t fight on my own.
Because I still can’t summon my Star Armor.
That’s why Maa-kun always ends up fighting alone.
Maybe… maybe I really shouldn’t be with him after all.
Then, another sound—this time, the sound of someone crying.
I snapped back to my senses and looked toward the voice.
It was coming from the little girl I’d helped earlier.
She was about kindergarten age, crying in fear, held tightly by her mother.
What can I do right now?
I can’t summon Star Armor. I can’t fight.
But before I could even think—my body was already moving.
“Don’t worry. Big sis will take care of this.”
I knelt down, patted the little girl’s head, and smiled reassuringly.
Then I turned around and started walking forward again.
“Gya—let me borrow this again.”
I picked up the Gear from where Maa-kun had fallen and stood in front of him.
I’m weak.
Compared to Maa-kun, I’m incredibly weak—so much that even comparing myself feels disrespectful.
But even so, I still want to be useful.
Maa-kun must be carrying so much on his shoulders.
If I can help even a little, I want to share that burden with him.
And besides—there’s no way I can forgive someone who terrifies a little girl just to do whatever he wants.
I couldn’t forgive the Fly constellation for stealing smiles from innocent people.
“You… dare to get in my way…!?”
“I do. What they did to Ono-kun—the pain, the suffering—it was awful. I can’t forgive those people.
But what you’re doing right now is no different from them.
No, it’s worse—because you’re dragging innocent people into it.
I can’t forgive anyone who steals others’ smiles for their own selfish reasons.”
After saying that, I pressed the Gear to my stomach and locked it in place.
Then I focused on the constellation mark on my left hand, generated the Aries Plate, and slotted it into the Gear.
Raising my left hand high, I drew a clockwise circle through the air, clenched both fists, and held my left hand out in front of me at shoulder height.
Right now, I couldn’t afford to think about failing.
I had to protect Maa-kun.
That little girl.
Everyone.
I can do this.
“Star Armor—Activate!”
As I shouted, I pressed the button on top of the Gear.
From its center, Aries burst out, and my body was wrapped in light.
Within that light, armor formed—covering me in a dark-blue undersuit with navy and crimson plating.
When the light cleared—
“From here on, I’ll be your opponent.”
I’d done it. I’d finally summoned Star Armor.
Now it was my turn to fight—no time to be afraid.
And my body didn’t hurt nearly as much as before.
If anything, I felt stronger—like power was surging through every inch of me.
I could do this.
The Fly constellation lunged forward.
I met it head-on.
It didn’t hurt at all—I could block it easily.
I pushed back and punched the creature.
It staggered backward from the impact.
I rushed in and threw a flurry of punches.
It blocked, but I could tell my blows were landing.
Then I put all my strength into one final hit—
and it was sent flying even farther back.
Before I knew it, we’d fought our way back to the hospital’s front entrance.
I closed in again, ready to continue my barrage—
—but the Fly constellation leapt into the air.
What should I do?
I’d been taught how to fight Yodomi (the corrupted), so I’d managed so far,
but I’d never learned how to fight a flying opponent.
While I hesitated, the Fly constellation dove down from above for a body slam.
I rolled out of the way just in time.
What do I do now?
I tried to think—but I still didn’t know.
Rolling around wouldn’t help.
Then—
a gunshot echoed from the hospital’s main entrance.
“Over here, monster!”
“Suematsu! Don’t provoke it too much!”
Detective Maruoka, Detective Suematsu—the police officers who had rushed to the hospital—were there, aiming their pistols at the Fly constellation.
But—if they did that, it would definitely target them instead!
“Filthy insects…!”
I knew it!
Just as I thought, the Fly constellation turned its attention toward the police and moved away from me.
I ran after it, but I couldn’t catch up.
“Wait—hey!” I shouted, but it didn’t change anything.
I didn’t want my first real battle to end like this.
Then—
vines shot up from the ground and wrapped around the Fly constellation’s body.
“Don’t call people insects when you’re using the power of one yourself.”
“Maa-kun!?”
“Forget about me! Focus on it!”
Of course—it was Maa-kun controlling the vines.
He could do that even without Star Armor…?
And when did he move all the way to the front entrance?
Well—no time to think about that now.
He told me to focus.
The vines slammed the Fly constellation into the ground.
They dissolved, and it broke free again.
Before it could retreat, I charged forward and struck it.
It staggered back, creating distance again—
but I wouldn’t let up. I had to keep punching.
As I moved in closer, it suddenly spoke.
“Why… why does everyone… get in my way…!?
No one helped me back then…
I finally—finally got my chance to get even with them…!”
The pain in his voice made me freeze.
I knew I couldn’t hesitate—
I had made up my mind.
But… I also couldn’t deny the pain he’d gone through.
As I wavered, the Fly constellation charged at me.
I managed to block it—but this time, it pushed me back.
Then Maa-kun shouted—
“Don’t hesitate! Once someone’s been corrupted and fallen into a Fallen Star, they’re no longer themselves!”
He was right.
Becoming like this, attacking people—
that wasn’t normal.
This wasn’t the time to think.
I summoned all my strength and shoved the Fly constellation away.
It tried to fly again—
but Maa-kun’s vines shot up and pinned it down.
“You’re not going anywhere. Yui—finish it!”
“Leave it to me!”
I sprinted toward the bound Fly constellation—
putting everything I had left into my right hand,
all my remaining star energy—
I pulled my arm back.
So that all his pain might one day feel like a bad dream.
So that Ono-kun, too, could smile again someday.
With all those wishes, my fist struck the Fly constellation squarely—
sending it flying.
Dust exploded into the air, shrouding everything from sight.
