"A shield can't be a weapon."
Everyone laughed at Kokonoe Tooru's Blaze—a pitiful, dinner-plate excuse for a soul armament. But they don't know why he enrolled at Rakuryou Academy. They don't know about the little sister he buried two years ago. And they don't know that the man who killed her is still out there.
Tooru doesn't need their respect. He needs strength. He needs a partner.
But in a school where Blaze partners are bound by fate and compatibility, who would ever choose to stand besid
Absolute Duo if: The Other Duo - A New Vow — When the Shield Shines, Love's Turmoil Arrives
Morning light filtered white through the hospital room curtains.
Kokonoe Tooru sat up in bed and slowly looked down at his left arm—the arm that no longer existed past the shoulder.
The bandages were off. The wound had already closed. Blaze users healed far faster than ordinary people. But what was lost could never return.
(...I've gotten used to the wrongness by now.)
He'd told himself that countless times since the day Sakaki cut him down.
Outside the window, the ridgeline of the Hekika Mountains stood sharp and clear. The sky was high, without a single cloud.
—Knock, knock.
"Tooru, you're awake, aren't you?"
A familiar voice came from beyond the door.
"...I'm up."
Tooru answered briefly, and Tomoe quietly opened the door and stepped inside.
Her straight black hair was tied back in a single bundle today—her training hairstyle. Her piercing jet-black eyes looked straight at Tooru's face.
"I've arranged for us to use the Enbukan today. You're going to keep up the rehab, aren't you?"
Tooru gave a small nod.
"...Yeah. Sorry for the trouble."
"What are you talking about? Helping with your rehab is the natural thing to do as your bonded twin blade."
Tomoe's tone was firm.
Tooru had lost count of how many times her directness had saved him.
But he couldn't bring himself to say that out loud.
"...Let's go."
Tooru got out of bed.
The indoor training facility on the Kouryou Academy grounds—the Enbukan.
The vast five-thousand-square-meter space was warded with barriers for mock battles. The walls and floor were made of a special material laced with blaze-iron, sturdy enough to shrug off all but the heaviest attacks.
Tooru and Tomoe stood at its center.
"Don't push yourself. You're still not back to full strength."
Tomoe's gaze flicked to Tooru's left shoulder.
"I won't push it. ...But I can't get stronger if I don't do this."
Tooru thrust his right hand forward.
He focused.
Deep in his chest, he felt something like heat. He pushed it outward, toward the tips of his fingers—
A flash of light burst.
A pale blue plate of light materialized before Tooru's right hand.
A shield.
Tooru's blaze fang.
Before, he'd deployed it braced with both hands. Now he had to sustain it with only one arm.
"...Ngh."
The light wavered slightly.
Stabilizing a blaze fang with a single arm was harder than he'd imagined. The balance was off. The mental strain was far greater than before.
"You okay?"
Tomoe took a step closer.
"...I can still keep going."
Tooru gritted his teeth.
"Then here I come."
Tomoe swung her right hand.
A silver chain extended from her wrist. Her blaze fang—Iron Chain. A supple, razor-sharp weapon wielded by Tomoe, heir to the eighteen arts of the Tachibana style.
The chain tore through the air and closed in on Tooru.
Tooru moved his shield.
Clang!
The chain was deflected off the shield. Sparks scattered.
"The next one's faster."
Tomoe's chains attacked from two directions at once.
Tooru angled his shield and let the first one slide off. He caught the second on the shield's face.
Bang! Clang!
The sound of metal echoed through the Enbukan.
(...Heavy.)
Sweat beaded on Tooru's forehead.
With one arm, just holding the shield up was all he could manage. He could block the attacks, but he couldn't create an opening to counter.
But.
(I'm still protecting myself.)
Tooru kept blocking Tomoe's attacks while focusing inward.
He felt as though the shield had grown just a little brighter.
"...Phew."
Having finished the round of strikes, Tomoe caught her breath and retracted her chains.
Tooru let his shield vanish and dropped to one knee.
"...Still a long way to go."
"But you're much better than before. Your shield feels warmer than it used to."
Tomoe crouched down beside Tooru.
"...Warmer?"
Tooru looked at Tomoe's face.
"Yes. Before, it just felt like a hard wall. But now... it's like your feelings come through it somehow. I can tell you're trying to protect."
At Tomoe's words, Tooru stared at his right hand.
The shield was already gone. But he felt as though warmth still lingered in his palm.
(As long as there's something I want to protect, the shield grows stronger.)
The words Chairman Tsukumo Sakuya had spoken in his hospital room that night surfaced in Tooru's mind.
At first, he hadn't understood what they meant.
He'd thought the shield was a tool for revenge.
Nothing more than a means to defeat Sakaki.
But now it was different.
He would take Otoha back.
That was Tooru's new reason to fight.
And for that, Tomoe was at his side.
"...Hey, Tomoe."
Tooru slowly rose to his feet.
"What?"
Tomoe stood up too and looked up at Tooru.
Tooru drew a deep breath.
"...I'm going to take Otoha back."
His own voice echoed strangely quietly.
"I'll defeat Sakaki. I'll rescue Otoha from him. ...So."
Tooru looked straight into Tomoe's jet-black eyes.
"Come with me."
Tomoe's eyes widened slightly.
A moment of silence passed.
In the distance, only the sound of the Enbukan's ventilation could be heard.
"...What did you just say?"
Tomoe's voice trembled just a little.
"Come with me. ...I can't protect Otoha alone. I need your strength."
Tooru said it clearly once more.
Tomoe stared at Tooru's face for a while.
Then, with a soft breath, she smiled.
"Of course."
Tomoe's smile looked impossibly bright under the Enbukan's lights.
"I'm your partner, after all. If you're going, I'll go anywhere."
Tomoe gently placed her hand on Tooru's right arm.
It was a warm hand.
"Don't carry it all alone. ...I'll protect your back."
Tooru felt the warmth of Tomoe's hand through his whole arm.
"...Yeah. I'm counting on you."
Tooru's voice was just a little hoarse.
That night.
Tooru returned to his hospital bed and stared at the ceiling.
The fatigue from the day's rehab lingered deep in his body.
But his heart felt strangely light.
He'd told Tomoe everything.
About Otoha. About Sakaki. About revenge.
He'd decided to stop shouldering it all alone.
(I'm glad she's my partner.)
Tooru murmured it in his heart.
—Knock, knock.
There was a knock at the hospital room door.
"Tooru, are you awake?"
A familiar, gentle voice.
"...Miyabi. Come in."
When Tooru answered, the door opened and Hotaka Miyabi stepped inside.
Her soft chestnut semi-long hair. The big ribbon was her trademark. Her gentle amber eyes looked at Tooru.
"How are you feeling? Tomoe told me you did rehab today."
Miyabi held a small paper bag in her hands.
"Um, here—if you'd like. I found an apple tea at the Horaido shop that seemed like something you'd enjoy."
Miyabi held out the paper bag to Tooru.
"...Thanks. Sorry for the trouble."
Tooru took the bag. Inside was powdered apple tea.
"No, I just did it on my own... um, Tooru."
Miyabi clasped her hands at her chest.
It was her habit when she was embarrassed.
"I want to be helpful to you too. ...If there's anything I can do, I'll do it."
Miyabi's amber eyes looked at Tooru earnestly.
"...Thank you. But don't push yourself, Miyabi."
Tooru was glad for her feelings.
But he couldn't drag her into danger.
"...I'm just a burden, aren't I."
Miyabi's voice grew small.
"That's not what I meant. ...You're Tomoe's partner, aren't you? Be there for her."
At Tooru's words, Miyabi gave a small nod.
"...Yes. I care about Tomoe more than anyone, after all."
Miyabi's smile was just a little wistful.
That was when it happened.
—Bang, bang, bang!
The hospital room door was pounded on violently.
"Kokonoe Tooru! You're in there, aren't you!? Open up!"
An unfamiliar, haughty voice.
"...What now?"
As Tooru furrowed his brow, the door flew open.
Standing there was a girl with golden straight hair swaying around her.
Clear blue eyes like sapphires. Long, carefully tended hair. Her back was straight, her chin lifted proudly.
"Pleased to meet you, Kokonoe Tooru. My name is Lilith Bristol. I'm an exchange student from St. Argus Academy."
The girl who called herself Lilith looked down at Tooru.
"...Exchange student?"
"Yes. I've transferred into Kouryou Academy as a special exception. Word of you crossed the sea all the way to the British school. The boy with the aberrant blaze fang—the Irregular Shield, Kokonoe Tooru."
Lilith approached Tooru's bed.
"Only someone with an aberrant blaze fang like yours is worthy of someone special like me. Kokonoe Tooru, I hereby recognize you as a candidate for my fiancé."
For a moment, the hospital room went silent.
"...Huh?"
A dumbfounded sound escaped Tooru's mouth.
"I said, a candidate for my fiancé. Be honored. I, who am special, have chosen you."
Lilith puffed out her chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"...What are you talking about, you spoiled princess?"
Tooru was too stunned for words.
"Um, um...!"
Miyabi fidgeted, her gaze darting between Tooru and Lilith.
"Oh my, and who are you?"
Lilith looked at Miyabi.
"I-I'm Hotaka Miyabi. Tooru's classmate..."
"Hmm. Well, it doesn't matter who you are. Kokonoe Tooru, you are going to be my fiancé. The aberrant shield and a special gun. There's no better match."
Lilith reached out to take Tooru's hand.
"...Hold on. Don't go deciding things on your own."
Tooru pulled his hand away from Lilith's.
"Oh my, why do you avoid me? Is taking my hand truly so distasteful?"
"It's not about distaste. ...Besides, why me? You don't know anything about me."
"I know. You are the one and only existence with an aberrant shield. That's more than enough. Only those with special power like mine are qualified to stand at my side."
Lilith was completely unfazed by Tooru's words.
"Um... Tooru is troubled by this..."
Miyabi mustered her courage and cut in.
"I wasn't asking you. ...Kokonoe Tooru, your answer?"
Lilith pressed Tooru.
"...I refuse."
Tooru said it flatly.
"...You refuse?"
Lilith's blue eyes went wide.
"Yeah. I have no intention of becoming your fiancé. ...I have things I need to do."
Tooru's voice was quiet, but filled with strong resolve.
Just then, the hospital room door opened again.
"...Tooru, what's all the commotion?"
Tomoe had returned with her washing kit.
Tomoe's jet-black eyes caught sight of Lilith.
"...Who is this?"
Tomoe's voice dropped slightly.
"I am Lilith Bristol. Candidate for Kokonoe Tooru's fiancée."
Lilith spoke as if looking down on Tomoe.
"...Fiancée candidate?"
A deep crease formed between Tomoe's brows.
"Yes. And what are you to Kokonoe Tooru?"
"I'm Tooru's bonded twin blade. ...Don't you dare snatch him away from the side."
Tomoe stood in front of Lilith.
The two girls' gazes sliced through the air of the hospital room.
"Bonded twin blade? A mere partner dares to defy me?"
Lilith snorted.
"A mere partner? What do you think a bonded twin blade is?"
Tomoe shot back without giving an inch.
"Bonded twin blade is just a system. What exists between me and Kokonoe Tooru is a far more special destiny."
"Destiny? Don't make me laugh. I'm the one who protects Tooru. I have no intention of handing him over to you."
Tomoe's voice rang through the hospital room.
"Tomoe... calm down..."
Miyabi clung to Tomoe's arm.
"...Miyabi, stay out of this. This is between me and that woman."
Tomoe didn't move, her glare fixed on Lilith.
"My, my, how passionate. ...Very well. Kokonoe Tooru, I'll leave your answer pending. But remember this. Only you are worthy of someone special like me."
Lilith winked at Tooru and turned gracefully on her heel.
"...Hey, wait."
Tooru called after her, but Lilith didn't look back.
"I'll come again. ...Prepare your heart by the next time we meet, Kokonoe Tooru."
With those words, Lilith left the hospital room.
A heavy silence remained.
"...What was with that woman?"
Tomoe muttered under her breath.
"...Tooru, are you all right?"
Miyabi looked at Tooru with concern.
"...Yeah. She didn't do anything to me."
Tooru let out a sigh.
"Why d
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