Chapter 34

## Chapter Chronology

**"FREE"** (自由, *Jiyuu*) is the 34th chapter of You Chiba's manga series, *Kindergarten WARS*.

## Summary

With a sudden gunshot, Natsuki jolts awake and sees Haruo using all his strength to push Rita away, protecting his older brother from the shot. Rita's bullet misses Natsuki due to Haruo's intervention. While shielding his brother, Haruo expresses his refusal to flee, despite knowing Rita is a formidable opponent. For Haruo, his older brother has always shielded and cared for him, so even if he cannot win or if it leads to his demise, he is determined to stand by Natsuki's side until the very end. This sentiment triggers a memory for Rita about her brother Leo, causing her to release all her bullets and concede defeat. Exhausted and seeing Haruo and Natsuki visibly worn out and injured, she acknowledges that they don't fit the criteria of her contract with Kindergarten Noir, which is to eliminate assassins threatening children. She recalls Natsuki's earlier plea to keep Lyla safe because he refuses to harm children. Rita also hesitates to eliminate more attractive men than necessary and instead proposes a deal—she asks for their assistance in finding a safe route to the weapon shop in exchange for letting them go.

Haruo felt irritated by Rita's tempting offer, suspecting it to be a lie. Meanwhile, Natsuki was in deep thought. His existence had revolved around the harsh reality of survival, a world where killing or being killed was commonplace. Rita acknowledged this as the code of conduct for assassins, a rule she accepted. However, she saw herself differently—not as an assassin bound by such rules but merely as a kindergarten teacher with a sole duty of protecting the children, a responsibility that stood above any code.

Haruo seized the chance to have a heartfelt conversation and expressed remorse to his brother for burdening himself with the responsibility of protecting the shop and him. His brother had carried this weight for far too long and conveyed that he didn't need to bear everything alone. Haruo suggested abandoning the shop, proposing they leave behind the side business and escape to a distant place where they could live freely, without any burdens. These words stirred a memory in Natsuki from their childhood when their parents were still alive. At that time, Natsuki had once expressed his reluctance to take over the family business, and their father simply accepted his decision, affirming that Natsuki was free to live his life as he desired. All their father wished for was their happiness and for the brothers to always get along, which moved Natsuki to tears, and he affectionately bumped fists with his brother.

As Rita observed the two brothers smiling from a distance, she noticed the debris behind her, caused by the damaged buildings, beginning to collapse. She urgently yelled at the brothers to run, preventing them from being hit by the falling structure. However, just before they could be struck, a powerful impact from a distance caused an explosion, scattering the debris. It was then Doug arriving on the scene, checking if Rita was alright. The way he expressed concern made Rita's heart skip a beat. In response, she approached Doug as if about to hug him but instead playfully pushed him down, refraining from thanking him and joking that he should save people in a more conventional manner. This behavior puzzled the two brothers who watched from a distance, questioning what was unconventional about Doug's rescue.

After a short while, Hana arrived carrying Lyla on her back. She remarked on Rita's surprising softness, suggesting that it's the reason she's still alive, as they managed to rescue them just in time. Additionally, Hana praised Natsuki for being an exceptional brother, for protecting both their shop and his brother Haruo. This heartfelt compliment caused Natsuki's heart to race, and Haruo was startled to realize the sudden change in his brother's heartbeat.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

**Natsuki Inomoto**
**Haruo Inomoto**
**Rita**
**Leo**
**Natsuki's Father**Flashback
**Doug**
**Hana Bradley**
**Lyla**