Chapter 45…
For Those Who Can’t Fight
I’ll Save Him
We crossed the police barricade and entered the restricted area set up in front of the station.
The scene was terrible.
All around the plaza were things people had dropped as they fled, and claw marks were gouged into the ground.
And beyond that—stood a red-and-black monster with sharp claws and fangs.
My senior apprentice brother, Shouji, who had fallen and become a Fallen Star, was roaring.
To draw his attention, I called out, “I’m here, Shouji-nii.”
At that, he turned toward us and growled, “You came… Shirou…!!”
This was my first real battle.
And my opponent was my own senior apprentice.
If you asked whether I was nervous—I’d be lying if I said no.
Sensing that, Masato put a hand on my shoulder.
“If it’s too much, you can fall back.”
“Nah, it’s just the excitement before the fight.”
“I see. Both of you—don’t forget the plan.”
“Got it.” “Okay.”
We each raised a hand over our abdomens and summoned our Gears.
I lifted my left hand slightly below my shoulder—around where 4 o’clock would be on a clock—and focused.
Visualizing the star energy in my body gathering in my hand, I formed the Leo Plate in my palm.
I inserted it into the Gear on my abdomen, then raised my left hand again, rotating it clockwise in a full circle.
Then I faced my palm upward, thrust out my right fist, and pressed the Gear’s button with my right hand.
“Star Armor—Activate!”
Our voices—mine, Masato’s, and Yui’s—rang out in unison.
The moment we spoke, the constellations from each of our Gears burst forth, wrapping us in light.
Inside the light, my body was encased in something like a deep-blue undersuit, and over it, blue and orange armor formed.
When the light faded—
“Shirou… You always surpass me… every time!!!”
Shouji roared and charged at us.
Just like before—he was moving too fast for the eye to follow.
Masato leapt forward to meet him head-on.
The sound of metal clashing echoed across the battlefield.
At the same time, miasma began to bubble up again, stirred by Shouji’s roar.
Yui and I began fighting the miasma creatures.
If we followed Masato’s plan, we could still save Shouji.
That plan had been made a week ago, on a clear day—not in my family’s dojo, but in the parking lot of an abandoned building.
Masato: “Leo Minor’s unique abilities are that speed and those claws. And that speed is the most troublesome part.
So first, I’ll intercept him.”
Shirou: “Intercept him? How?”
Masato: “I’ll match his speed. In the meantime, you two focus on tracking his movements and his star energy flow.”
Shirou: “That’s asking a lot!”
Masato: “You’ll have to manage. I’ll also try using ice magic to slow him down.
Once you’ve adapted, I’ll apply the same enhancement spell I use on myself to both of you. It won’t last long, though.
When I do, Shirou—you attack. Yui, you focus on disrupting his movements using your sheep.”
Yui: “…Is my power really sleep-related?”
Masato: “I’m not sure. But last time, when the Leo Minor touched your sheep, its movement slowed for an instant.
Whatever the mechanism, it works on Fallen Stars.
Once his movements are dulled, we finish it in one strike. That’s the plan.”
I understood most of the plan—but there was one thing I still had to ask.
Shirou: “Mind if I ask something?”
Masato: “What is it?”
Shirou: “What’ll happen to Shouji-nii? Can we really save him?”
Masato: “…I can’t promise. But we will save him. Once Leo Minor can’t move, Yui should be able to turn him back into a human.”
Shirou: “Should?”
Masato: “Since Yui was chosen as Aries, she’s only fought one Fallen Star. We don’t have much data.”
Shirou: “…Then all we can do is believe in that one success.”
I struck the last miasma creature with my fist.
It flew back, hit the ground, and vanished.
With that done, I turned toward Masato to help him.
At that moment, Masato and Shouji had taken some distance from each other.
Masato generated a staff and fired several light orbs from its tip.
Shouji retaliated by slashing, sending flying blades from his claws.
The light orbs and slashes collided—small explosions burst between them.
…What the hell.
It’s like something out of a battle manga.
The two of them faced each other, neither moving.
I took the chance to regroup with Masato alongside Yui.
Without taking his eyes off Shouji, Masato asked, “Ready?”
We both nodded.
“You saw it—he can fire ranged slashes now. Watch out for those.”
Then Masato moved behind us and began chanting quickly:
“Our movements—beyond human sight.
Let our speed be as the wind.”
He tapped both our backs lightly at the same time.
Instantly, power surged through my body. No—more like my body had become weightless.
It was a different sensation from when I first became Leo.
He’d cast this spell on me before for training, but still—Masato’s incredible…
While I was lost in thought, he was already charging back into the fight.
I hurried after him.
I wasn’t as fast as Masato or Shouji, but I was faster than before.
Together, I attacked with punches and kicks, while Yui sent her sheep charging to interfere with Shouji’s movements.
Our coordinated strikes overwhelmed him.
We could do this.
Or so I thought—until Shouji suddenly leapt back.
Then he lunged straight at me.
It was only a split second, but I recognized it—his tell before unleashing a heavy blow.
I dodged and countered with a strike of my own.
Shouji was knocked back—but even as he flew, he twisted in midair, landing on his feet.
Masato raised the ground beneath his landing spot, trying to catch him off guard.
But Shouji kicked off the raised earth, flipping in midair to land just behind it.
Completely inhuman.
…Does he still have that much stamina left?
As I thought that, Shouji shouted—
“Why is it… you always… always leave me behind!!!”
At his roar, new miasma creatures burst forth again—at least ten of them forming a wall between us.
I ran back to Masato, and Yui joined us too, exclaiming,
“What do we do now!? There’s no end to them!”
Masato frowned.
“…You’re right. But we’ll just have to attack the same way again. He’s definitely getting weaker.
So, I’m counting on you two to handle the miasma.”
He was right—but if this kept up, we’d get nowhere.
And honestly, leaving Shouji to Masato again didn’t sit right with me.
So I decided—
“No… I’ll fight Shouji myself.”
