Chapter 1: The Mother and Daughter Next Door Who Resemble the Recently Defeated Evil Boss and Top Henchman
Let’s rewind a bit from the current time.
For several years, evil organization – The Cleared had ravaged the world,
taking away people’s freedom and dominating nations with their monstrous beings and superweapons, crushing the armies of various countries.
However,
“Shine! Burn with the roaring flames of red! Banshoku Red!”
“Flow with the surging waters of blue! Banshoku Blue!”
“Passionate love, the delicate pink of flowers! Banshoku Pink!”
“The darkness of night guarding people’s peace! Banshoku Black!”
“The vibrant green of lively trees! Banshoku Green!”
“In the dazzling brilliance of a myriad of colors! The Multicolored Squadron, Banshokuger!!”
With the emergence of the special organization, the Multicolored Squadron Banshokuger, utilizing the power called [Colored] bestowed upon the chosen ones, humanity began its counterattack. Finally, they defeated the evil organization’s leader and brought about the destruction of the organization.
(If only defeating the evil organization Cleared meant the world had become peaceful… I wish.)
While thinking about it, clad in a green battle suit, I sent off a burst of emerald light with my comrades, intensifying the momentum.
“Forester Boost! This should break through, go!”
“Sure thing…! Combining!”
“Burning Dark Attack!”
The combination of Banshoku Red and Banshoku Black’s fists and swords explodes, and the monster in the form of a turtle-man bursts into flames.
“All right!”
Celebrating the victory, we gather around Red, and we exchange high fives. Red, Blue, Black, Pink – all of us share the joy of victory.
“Phew… Today’s monster was quite tough.”
And a few minutes later, I find myself alone, sitting on debris. In front of me,
“Ao, I’m glad you’re here again.”
“Yeah, I know Akashi is doing his best.”
Red and Blue hug tightly,
“U-um, Nadeshiko-san. Isn’t this too close?”
“Oh? Karasu-san. Can’t you call me by my name?”
Pink is leaning against Black.
This happens every time.
Until the squadron’s helicopter comes to pick us up, this situation will likely continue.
“Ah… I probably won’t be able to receive the figures arriving today…”
Well, I means.
The Green who’s left out, that’s me.
***
I, Banshoku Green, also known as Midori Kusama, change into a formal suit after the battle and, on my way home, I watch the TV screen displaying the news on a building through my glasses.
The news caster reporting the night news is shown on the screen,
[“The ongoing civil wars in the countries liberated from Cleared’s rule continue to escalate…”]
[The damage caused by the monster that appeared in the city of Ayame last night…]
The reported contents are quite grim. A sigh escapes me.
Months have passed since the final battle with Cleared. The scars are still evident worldwide, and a new mysterious organization – a group of monsters operating in Japan – has emerged.
The turtle-man I defeated earlier during the emergency mission is one of them.
“At least I wanted a year of rest…”
I had bought action figures for my victory celebration, but I haven’t even had the chance to open them.
Midori Kusama. Twenty-six years old. Broadly considered an “around thirty” woman. Non-regular employee. Living alone in a apartment in Ayame City. Despite being part of the team that protects world peace, my everyday life is like this.
Looking at the delivery truck parked in front of the apartment, I climb the stairs to my home. It’s an old apartment, so the lack of an elevator is a drawback. Cheap, though.
“Oh, what was this for again?” “That’s the TV cord.” “Where did that go?” “I think it’s this one…”
I raise my head at the audible voices. Still out of sight beyond the stairs, the source of the sound seems to be next to my room.
I look upward. Two female voices.
From the sound of it, it seems to be a mother and daughter, but for some reason, the daughter’s voice is more composed.
(I’m pretty sure my neighbor was a corner room, an empty one… a new person?)
If that’s the case, I should at least greet them. Suppressing my reluctance, I prepare myself to meet new people and move my feet.
“Hey, isn’t that a bit big?” “What? This is easy… watch!”
The voice echoes again. At the end of those words, I sense a hint of panic. Without thinking, I quicken my pace, turning the corner of the hallway.
“Hey, watch out!”
“Ah, wha─whoa?”
(Incredible!)
A startled voice. I skip the last few steps and rush towards a woman who seems about to fall with a toppled shelf.
Crash, bang! Several sounds chain together.
“I-I made it in time…”
I slip between the fallen shelf and the woman, supporting it with my arms. I made it. Even though I haven’t transformed, I can handle this. The glasses are a bit crooked, though.
“It’s okay…,” I say as I lift the shelf, turning to face the woman.
///
***
scene transition
***
///
In that moment, I am captivated by the silver presence.
“Huh…?”
My words are literally dumbfounded, delayed.
“Th-thank you very much…”
A tense yet serene voice. Flowing silver hair. A face as intelligent as emerald. Exotic, tan skin. Despite speaking Japanese, her appearance is strikingly foreign.
“Hmm?”
I freeze. It’s not just the obviously non-Japanese beauty in front of me.
(This face…)
Something. Somewhere, there’s a sense of déjà vu. I instinctively squat down, trying to match eye levels and stare intently.
“W-What’s wrong?” she asks, looking a bit surprised. “Are you injured somewhere!?”
“Oh, no…,”
She speaks fluent Japanese, which is not so bad considering her appearance. I shake off the strange feeling and extend my hand towards her.
“I’m next door’s Midori. Nice to meet you.”
As I introduce myself with a shaky self-introduction, the silver-haired woman smiles.
“I’m Kuri Ashella. Thank you for helping me. Let’s get along as neighbors.”
Her cool hand shakes mine. My heart pounds at the touch.
“Taratat!”
A voice from behind startles me. Turning around, a carefree-looking girl with golden hair stands at the entrance of the room.
(Oh, she looks familiar too…)
Taratat introduces herself with a cheerful smile and waves her hands energetically.
“She’s my daughter.”
“Ahaha…”
I awkwardly smile and wave back.
(Married? A child?)
Feeling a bit downcast, I face the two of them. Apologizing, Ashella explains.
“Sorry, we tried to move the luggage before the movers arrived… I used to handle this easily in the past.”
As she speaks, footsteps approach from behind. The movers have arrived.
“Thank you so much. I’ll make sure to repay you, Midori-san,”
she says, standing tall, and with a graceful sway of her long silver hair, she enters the neighboring room with the girl.
The sensation from earlier seems to have disappeared. I’m momentarily stunned by the faint lingering scent of her.
(Probably just my imagination, probably.)
Regaining my composure, I left the workers to their tasks and returned home.
I have work again tomorrow. Even though I’ve just been in battle.
***
The staff room during lunch break is noisy with teachers’ conversations and students coming in for various reasons.
“Something, something is bugging me. …… ”
“What’s wrong, Mr. Kusama?”
With a furrowed brow, I turn to the side. There’s a petite female student leaning on the edge of my desk. She belongs to the class I teach.
“Oh, Tanaka. No, I just met someone yesterday, and I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere.”
“Ugh. Mr. Kusama, trying to pick up a student you just met? Stop doing things that could make it to the news, even if you’re a teacher.”
“Do not saying it out loud.”
Yeah. Mr. Kusama. A part-time lecturer at Ayakumo High School, teaching world history.
This is my usual title. Members of Banshokuger keep their personal information undisclosed. Some may switch their main jobs to the “other side,” but I haven’t quit my job because I fear when peace comes.
“Oh, haha. What kind of person was she?”
“A foreign woman and her child, like models… Hey, don’t pick up your phone. Don’t just call 110 now.”
I stop Tanaka, who mutters, “Police? Police?” in a low voice. A slightly awkward laugh follows.
“Leave the jokes aside. If you mess with them, a beefy husband might appear from somewhere.”
“We’ll see about that.”
While shooing him away, I realize I didn’t see the husband.
I stand up, and she laughs heartily.
“Maybe you’ve seen someone similar in a TV show or movie? There aren’t many foreign model types in our living area.”
Well, that’s true. I think it’s just a matter of the brain remembering the parts of a beautiful woman seen somewhere and categorizing them as a preferred type.
By the way…
“Hey, you still have the assignment, right? Did you bring it?”
Tanaka escapes. If she doesn’t submit it by the weekend, she’ll have to stay late.
(Well, well, I was groaning while working. No more classes, and since I don’t have anything else to do, I might as well go home and catch up on my recorded shows.)
One good thing about being a part-time lecturer is that once you finish your assigned class, you’re free to go home.
(Well, the pay is low.)
Thinking about such things, I greet my colleagues and try to leave the staff room—my smartphone in my pocket vibrates.
“A strange person has appeared on the city streets. Affiliation unknown. Vehicles are damaged. No time for diversion. Banshokuger members, gather on-site in colored attire.”
“Again?”
I turn my steps toward the rooftop instead of the exit, and I go outside. There’s no one on the rooftop or in the sky.
I take off my glasses. I won’t need them anymore.
“─Green attire.”
The natural energy around me condenses. The leaves of the rooftop garden sway as if possessed by intent. Not only that, but from the countless colors in the world, things belonging to the green spectrum gather around me.
Light emerges from the condensed energy, revealing me in a battle suit that seems to have the green light stuck to it—no, the appearance of Banshoku Green.
The view is clear. With the enhancements from the battle suit, my various physical abilities now surpass human limits. Including my eyesight.
(Overtime seems inevitable….)
I kick the rooftop floor, and the green shadow flies out into the distance. In just one jump, leaving the rooftop several dozen meters behind, I race through the city at incredible speed.
***
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