Jigglypuff's Diary

Aristel calmly looked at Youko as she sat herself across the table.
She was wearing a tense expression, but her gaze never wavered as though to say that she would accept any and all faults.
It was an attitude so sincere that it felt clumsy.

“…”

An attitude that reminded Aristel all too much of a certain someone, but she didn’t point it out.
Aristel did not speak to her as a commander but simply as another girl.

“It’s true that you deserve to be scolded, but I’ll refrain from doing so for now.”

“Huh?”

Aristel was speaking gently when Youko had prepared herself for an earful, so she was understandably confused, but that only served to deepen the grin on Aristel, pleased to see her little mischief work.

“Well, you already know where you’re wrong, if I were to nag you more, I’ll just be hated. I wouldn’t want, not from you.”

Aristel said that casually, and Youko became even more confused.

“Besides, it’s not as though you can fix it just because I tell you to.”

“H-Huh!?”

By this point, the shock and confusion have completely written themselves all over Youko’s face, but that only served to emphasize Aristel’s point.

“Miss Senba, you must have known in your head(・・・)that there was nothing wrong with the Gorad moving ahead, and you must’ve also known the reason why he was wearing a pair of shielded sunglasses,” Aristel pointed out.

“…Yes. The Gorad breaking through the encirclement isn’t an issue. If he did it intentionally, he would’ve lied, but that’s a minor detail,” Youko said.

Despite saying that, there was a wry smile on her as though she found that hard to accept.

After all, that would mean that there was more to Shinichi than met the eye, and that he had to lie because of her.

“Really, it’s such a mystery,” Aristel said.

“Yes?” Youko said.

“Nevermind. Please continue.”

“Y-Yes. For those whose vision has been enhanced due to the dimensional drift, when put in a world filled with photon particles such as Garesto, the scenery can be so intense that eye protection is required,” Youko said.

“Yes, supposedly, it feels as if your entire field of vision is being filled with intense light. Of course, this ability can be turned off, but that means losing sight of photon light as well as the blades and bullets resulting, not to mention the struggles in everyday life,” Aristel said.

“Yes. That’s right. All of this is information that any student at the academy should know. It would be stranger if I didn’t know, being the top second-year student of the general education department,” Youko said.

Shinichi himself had explained as much, but Youko couldn’t help but vent her feelings.

She knew there weren’t really any problems, but she couldn’t stop herself from picking a fight with him anyway.

“I know how important and valuable a rider is, and yet I actually screamed like that next to a Gorad… I…”

Really. Why did she act like that?

Youko bit her lip, but she had no answer.

Despite the Gorads’ high physical abilities and sturdy shells, they were timid and wary.

So, the only way to become a rider was to either care for them from birth or to spend enough time to develop a relationship.

Garesto may be technologically advanced, but they suffered from resource shortages, so society needed the Gorad labor force.

The Gorad filled a role similar to that of horses, oxen, guard dogs, and chariots, and the demand for rider remained ever high, though supply was often short.

Really, one of the reasons behind this training session was to give the academy students a firsthand account of the Gorad’s difficulties and abilities.

Everyone but the first-year students knew that.

“…You are someone who exercises strong self-discipline and is always striving to be fair. Even just now, you protected others by claiming that it was your own fault. So, evidently, your problem isn’t something that can be resolved with a scolding. We don’t know each other all that well too.”

Aristel seemed understanding, but Youko was just confused.

She couldn’t tell if Aristel was trying to be understanding, or if she was indirectly telling her that she was a lost cause.

“My deepest apologies,” Youko said.

As such, all she could do was apologize.

Aristel shook her head.

“Oh, I’m not trying to find fault with you. Of course, your evaluation will take a hit, but personally, as inappropriate as this phrasing may be, I feel relieved.”

“Um… What do you mean by that?”

What on earth was there to be relieved about? Youko tilted her head in confusion, and Aristel wryly smiled.

She took a moment to gather her thoughts, then she said.

“…I’ve always admired your attitude of not backing down no matter who the offender was. You’ve given me a warning plenty of times too.”

People who could do that were rare given her position, especially in the academy, so Aristel was sincerely grateful. For an ordinary girl, however, such gratitude was nothing but intimidating. It might have been different if Youko were currently working as one of the disciplinary committee, but as someone who was currently just a fellow student, to face the student that was, Aristel F. Padyuel–it was just too intimidating.

There was an aura to this young lady that made it clear she lived in a completely different world and social class from her. Everything about her seemed out of the ordinary, and Youko knew that she was powerless to stand up to her in case of a conflict.

“N-Not at all. I was just doing my job. And, well, it wasn’t really difficult because of you. If anything…”

When it came to warning Aristel, the problem lay in the people around her.

Aristel was aware that she knew little about the Earthlings, so she was always one to correct herself given a well-reasoned explanation.

So, regardless of the differences in their positions, Aristel has always been someone easy to reprimand.

Of course, this was only so from Youko’s perspective.

“On that point, my deepest apologies for causing you so much trouble.

I’d be grateful if you could convey my thoughts to the other members who were victimized by them as well.

Even now, it weighs on my mind how they might still be causing problems for others.”

Aristel’s expression went somber as she quickly understood what Youko was trying to say.

Youko nodded with a similar expression, as if to say that she understood how she felt.

After all, ‘those two’ held such rigid values that one couldn’t even hope they weren’t causing problems.

For a personality such as theirs, they could only cause problems.

“For the record, I’m not saying this just to make up for this mistake, but in the case that there is a problem, as a member of the discipline committee, I will do my best to help out!”

“Thank you! I’m so grateful!”

“I-It’s nothing major…”

Aristel leaned forward enthusiastically and, overcome with emotion, took Youko’s hand into her own and squeezed it tightly.

Youko was surprised how soft Aristel’s palm was. It was smaller than expected.

When she came nose-to-nose of her to find her golden eyes sparkling with gratitude, she couldn’t help but find her adorable.

Perhaps it was hereditary to focus on her cuteness rather than on her beauty.

At the same time, she realized how much she must’ve been suffering because of those two.

“Ah, I-I’m so sorry! I don’t know what came over me…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

But then Aristel realized that she’d gotten too excited and too familiar, so she immediately let go of her hand and sat up straight.

Her cheeks flushed red, and she fumbled with her luxurious vertical curls.

Clearing her throat, unaware that Youko was once again writhing in delight at how adorable she was in secret, she said.

“Ahem, I’ve gotten off topic. Well, you see, what I found so reassuring was that I’d selfishly come to feel a sense of camaraderie with you.”

“Camaraderie, you say?”

Aristel wasn’t poking fun at her, but she was once again expressing something she couldn’t comprehend.

Just what sort of camaraderie could she have with this beautiful girl, whose aura and charm easily dwarfed hers?

This beautiful senior, who she just realized was actually so adorable.

Youko tilted her head, and Aristel continued.

“Please don’t laugh, but how should I put this?
I was pretty arrogant up until before Golden Week, wasn’t I?”

“Um, well… yes.”

Even though it was Aristel herself saying that, it was hard for Youko to admit it so casually right in front of her.

But despite hesitating, Youko ultimately chose to nod.

That raised Aristel’s favorability even more, though there was no way for Youko to know that.

“Hehe… But you realized that was just a bluff, right?”

“…Yes.”

After a brief pause, Youko nodded again.

Youko had often warned Aristel about her behavior when she was still putting on airs.

At the time, she was perhaps the Earthling closest to her.

Aristel couldn’t hide her deep-seated kindness and good nature completely, so Youko tried to advise her.

“I had suspected something might’ve been up given your position…”

“I know it’s a little late to say this, but thank you so much for your consideration back then.”

“Oh no, i-it really wasn’t much!”

Aristel, for her part, had felt that Youko had seen right through her, so she looked at her with an understanding expression.

She was genuinely grateful that this young woman never called her out or spread any untoward rumors.

Youko felt embarrassed, but she failed to realize that if she could see through Aristel, then Aristel could see through her too.

“But perhaps that’s why, I also sensed a sort of obsession from you, as though there was something you had to accomplish at all cost.”

“Huh?”

That’s why she felt a sense of camaraderie with her, even if it was only a little.

“Ever since I saw how natural you were when you were with your younger brother, I realized you too were carrying a burden.”

“…”

Despite wanting to say that that wasn’t the case, Youko couldn’t find it in herself to.

There was a sincerity in those words that she just found too relatable to refute.

“So, while the way you approached him just now wasn’t particularly commendable, I am at least relieved to find that you have someone other than your younger brother to vent your feelings to.”

“…”

Aristel smiled as though genuinely relieved, but Youko just felt as though someone had hit her on the head.

It’s true that she had been unreasonable with him earlier, but this way of putting it…

Wouldn’t that mean that she–?

–Youko, what’s wrong?–

For a moment, she felt as though she could hear that gentle voice speaking to her.

She had just hydrated herself, but somehow, a wave of dizziness assaulted her as though she hadn’t.

After all, to accept Aristel’s words, wouldn’t that mean–

“…”

That she, the younger sister, toward her older brother, held–

“No! There’s no way!”

That’s impossible.

Because that’s something that should never(・・・・)do(・・・・) happen.

“Ah—”

For a moment, Youko had completely lost sight of her place.
Only when Aristel was looking at her with eyes wide open did she realize it.
She had slammed the table with all of her strength.
Had it not been designed for Garestonian warriors, it would have already shattered.

“I-I’m so sorry!!”

Her face flushed, though whether it was in hues of red or white was hard to distinguish.
No matter. Youko fell limply back into her seat, unable to even look at Aristel as she hung her head in shame.
What was wrong with her?
But whatever repercussion she might’ve imagined never came, and only a gentle voice spoke to her.

“Please don’t worry about it. I spoke so much in spite of not knowing your circumstances, so let’s just call it even, shall we?”

“…Yes, thank you very much.”

She wasn’t scolding her, not even finding fault, just providing words of kindness accompanied with a gentle smile.
It was a grace so overwhelming that Youko could only find herself sinking deeper into the mire.

“Why is it, I wonder? But for some reason, she resembles that person so much.”

Thinking that she might have chosen the wrong words, Aristel found herself observing Youko’s downcast figure.
When she thought back to it now, perhaps it was this similarity that sparked interest in the first place.
As Aristel chose her words, she found her thoughts drifting to a bad example.

“Let’s change the subject.”

“Yes?”

“Your behavior toward him… Would you call it that thing where you can’t help but tease someone because you care about them?”

“Hm?”

Youko found herself looking up slowly, as though she couldn’t quite process what she was hearing.

When she finally saw Aristel, she was making a gesture as though she’d been hit in the heart.

“Yes. I hear there are people who treat the person they love more harshly on purpose.”

“Huh?”

“What was the term for it again? Oh, yes! I believe it’s–Tsundere.”

If there was a word that could encapsulate exactly what sort of face Youko was making now, there could only be one–Blank.

Or rather, her mind had blanked.

The words repeated themselves as the world spun.

‘Care about.’

‘In love.’

‘Tsundere.’

Seconds that felt like minutes passed until finally, realization caught up, and she stood up in a jolt, face flushed red.

“Noooo!”

Alas, such a strong denial in the face of such accusations could only lead to one result.

“As the saying goes, the stronger the denial, the stronger the confirmation.”

“No, no, no! I know I’m not one to talk after causing so much problems,
but I am one-hundred percent sure! Romance has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with our problems!!”

Youko was panting by the end of those words, but Aristel just smiled and nodded.

“I see,” she said.

Youko sighed in relief, mildly rebuking with half-lidded eyes.

Then Aristel giggled, and Youko realized that perhaps the whole thing had been a joke.

A prodding meant only to lift her mood.

The realization of that stirred dark thoughts again, as she realized she was being pampered to this extent.

The need to be pampered worsened her mood, but then the next words shook her to her core.

“But it is a little disappointing. I was thinking you’d make a fine rival too.”

“…Eh?”

Aristel had said it so casually as though she were talking about the weather.
But for Youko, it was the equivalent of dropping a nuclear bomb.
Given the topic of the conversation, there was no way to not understand what sort of rivalry this young lady meant.
With Youko’s sensitivity to emotional nuances, inherited from that older brother of hers, there was no way not to realize what she was getting at.

“D-Don’t tell me… Are you intimate with him?”

Surely, this too must’ve been some sort of joke. A prank. A punking. Yes, it was very funny, everyone. You can laugh now. But Aristel’s response couldn’t be worse.

“Oh my,” she said, covering her mouth with one hand as though to say that she’d said too much.

It was a gesture, beautiful and elegant, but it offered Youko no comfort, as her brain fried itself into shock.

“Ah…”

It was a confirmation in the worst possible direction.
How could such a thing happen?
How could that older brother of hers?
Was this a nightmare?
She pinched herself beneath the table.
It hurt.

“S-Surely, you’re joking, right?
I mean, if that were the case, then how could the two of you have been placed in the same team to begin with?”

Yes.
This assignment paired students unfamiliar with each other.
Surely, the faculty would have known not to put them together if they were so close.
Team assignments were kept secret until the last moment.
The only consistent rule was that close individuals had to be kept separated.
If they were on the same team, then at the very least, they shouldn’t have a good relationship.
She clung to that fragile hope, but…

“W-Well, it’s a bit of a–private matter, so to speak.”

With a soft shh gesture and a gentle smile, Aristel couldn’t be more adorable.

But Youko was in no state to appreciate that right now.

After all, a planet-destroying buster cannon of an attack had just been unleashed straight into her heart.

“Some time ago, I visited Japan secretly, and it was that man who helped me.
We met again at the academy later and arranged to see each other quietly a few times, so the school likely never noticed.”

But of course, there was also Frire interfering to ensure that someone who understood Shinichi would be around him, but neither of them knew that.

“S-So, what you mean to say is that, you and my–I mean, you and that guy… Became close?”

“Yes.”

Aristel nodded at once, and Youko felt like she’d just been gutted inside out.
Aristel radiated with a happiness so beautiful it was captivating.
But opposite that beauty was the power to turn incredulity into certainty.
Youko couldn’t accept it.
Alas, when she thought of how they interacted over the shield glasses, whatever entrails that remained were gutted out.

“J-Just for reference, what do you even like about that guy?”

Reference for what?
Youko had no idea, but surely, any crumb was worth grasping to deny this absurd reality that was being thrust into her.

“Well, there are many things, but…”

Meanwhile, Aristel had no qualms whatsoever.
After all, was this not the so-called “girls’ talk” she had been dreaming of.
The young lady burned with zeal.
So she did not stop.

“When he effortlessly steps in front of others, when he’s quietly kind…
It’s hard not be captivated when he’s like that, you know?
He’s not overt about it, but that kindness of his has saved me so many times.
He genuinely detests the suffering of others, and he enjoys seeing people smile.
I think that way of being is truly wonderful.
When I’m with him, I feel safe. He’s strict, but he’s also gentle.
Two contrasting traits, but he’s so good at balancing them that it’s actually addictive.
Sometimes he teases me, but even that is a new and pleasant experience.
Besides, he never does anything that would really hurt me.
So, all the time I spend with him can only be described as–bliss.”

“…”

What excessive praise–No, what a shameless lovestruck adoration!
Who was this blushing maiden that wove one sugar-infested line after another?
There was a thud. The sound of something hitting the floor.
Yes, it was none other than Youko’s jaw.

—What in the world did that brother of mine do to this girl!?

“Oh, and let’s not forget just how educational and interesting his perspective is!”

Aristel continued happily on her tirade, completely unaware of Youko’s crumbling world, who in turn could only force herself to nod and push the conversation along.

“Such as?”

“For example, how he tamed that Gorad. Wasn’t his approach innovative?”

“…Innovative? That?”

Youko’s face twitched.
To her, it looked nothing more than a clumsy attempt that happened to succeed.

“Yes. I had heard he wasn’t liked by animals, but to turn their fear into an advantage like that—It’s so unique!”

“Well, yes. I suppose.”

Youko responded vaguely as she recalled the scene.
When they went out to tame a Gorad, all the creatures in the vicinity froze as soon as he approached.
He took one step at them, and they all bolted except one.
It was too terrified to move.
After that, he just placed one arm around its shoulders and asked.

“You’re more than happy to work with us, right?”

The Gorad nodded so frantically that she actually felt sorry for it.

Rather than say it had been tamed, it would be better to say that it was intimidated into servitude.

But Aristel’s eyes shone regardless.

“To turn what should be a flaw into an advantage—that kind of adaptability is truly remarkable.
It’s always such an eye opener whenever I see him.
As someone who will one day take responsibility for my house and territory, his methods are exemplary.”

“…I see.”

So, it wasn’t just mere infatuation.
She was looking out for her future too.
When Aristel was being so sincere, even Youko couldn’t help but to finally let the matter go.

One moment, a girl in love, then a dignified lady of a noble house.
It was so effortless for her, and it was that that told tales of the difference in their worlds.
A painful reminder that she was completely outclassed.
Yet this noble lady who stood far and above her was being influenced by no other than that brother of hers.

When she thought of the changes surrounding Aristel, his influence on her was clearly not just a crush.
In comparison, that desperate flailing she’d displayed earlier was nothing short of pathetic.
Youko bit her lips.

“…I guess, it really isn’t easy to copy him,” Aristel muttered.

What Youko didn’t know, however, was that that noble lady she so admired was also feeling down.

---

Shinichi, while riding on the back of the Gorad, intentionally turned his visual-type photon detection ability OFF so that he could look up.

What he saw through the black shield glasses was a sky slightly different in color from that of Earth’s blue.

It was filled with countless “stars”.

However, these “stars” were not celestial bodies and instead just lighting that lit up the sky.

“In a sense, this world feels even more otherworldly than Falandia did.”

It was still daytime, so according to Earth’s common sense, the stars should not be visible.
But Garesto was not a planet drifting in space, so there shouldn’t be any stars at all.
So, what existed instead were spherical light sources.

Each of these countless small white light spheres was not particularly bright due to size and distance.
Through the shield glasses, they only looked like faint specks of glowing dust.
But because there were truly enough to be called “as many as the stars,” they became the light source that illuminated the entire world.

A natural phenomenon caused by the land of Garesto itself.

At the time equivalent to dawn on Earth, the land would release these spheres to rise into the sky, floating at a fixed altitude to illuminate the world.
Then, as the time equivalent to sunset approached, they would gradually fade and fall back to the ground.
This cycle would repeat itself daily, forming Garesto’s sunrise and sunset.

In Japanese translation, these spheres were called “星陽 (Shoyo)” or Sunstar.

When visual photon detection was ON, the photon particles that were ever present shone brighter than the sunstar, making the sky invisible.

But now with his abilities turned off, Shinichi could finally see Garesto’s blue sky and its floating lights.

However—

“I see. I guess it can’t be helped then.”

Alas, even with his ability turned OFF, there was still too many obstructing the view.

“Rider, slow down a bit. We don’t want those creatures to notice.”

That was the B-Team’s leader, who had swapped in for Aristel, talking, so he signaled the Gorad to reduce speed.
Loud noise risked provoking them.
They flew lower than the sunstars, but they were still low enough that sound from below could reach them.

“There’s actually more of them than the clouds.”

Shinichi forced a wry laugh.

The clouds above were sparse and yet the sunstars were still so hard to see, as flocks of flying-type Radiant Beasts congested the air.

There was no end of them flying to and fro, but what was most absurd of all wasn’t their numbers, but the fact that this was normal in Garesto.

He could only laugh, because if he didn’t, it would hurt too much.

“It can’t be helped. Really,” Shinichi said.

Already, the bigger hordes were behind them
No dangerous beast lurked nearby.
And yet…
Even without all of that, even with only the normal herd of raybeasts that came to and fro.
There was still enough to litter the whole land.

This was Garesto.

This was their normal.

That’s why.

He could only accept.

Indeed.

Who could possibly expect him to survive falling into a place like this?