The day after rescuing Sieg and his friends from the labyrinth of the Tomb of the Deep Sea.
　The next day, Mzee-Hoens left the classroom just as the school was about to close for the day.

I'm sorry, I'll leave you alone for now.

What can I do for you?

　Normally, Twight, Gran, Elysia, and Mize go to school together.
　When Mize tried to go home alone, Elysia questioned her.

You can find a lot of people who are interested in this kind of thing.

I'm sure you've heard of it. ...... Okay, I'll see you tomorrow then.

Yes, see you tomorrow.

　Mize then said a few words to Twite and Gran before leaving the classroom.
　Just before she walked through the door, she casually looked at Toate.

　--He didn't follow her.

　I was wrong.
　No, not yet. If my prediction was correct, he wouldn't be so quick to turn tail.

　--Isn't Toate secretly guarding her?

　It was only the other day that Mize harbored this suspicion.
　He had always been suspicious of him. Lately, Twait has been coming to the courtyard late at lunchtime, once every three days. Gran and Elysia didn't notice, but if you looked closely, you could see dirt on his clothes and sand on the soles of his shoes when he came late. It could only mean that he had been on the field or off campus.

　However, Tuite explained that he had stopped by the library.
　It is true that Tuite had said that he had been reading for a long time, but ...... he had not been to the library that often.

　One day, Twight said, "I came by the library," as usual.
　Mize described Toate to the receptionist at the library and asked, "Did you see anyone like this at the library today? She asked.

　The result: black.
　It was a lie that Toate had dropped by the library.

　When the lie was discovered, Mize immediately tried to ask Toate the truth.
　However, Tuite was a quick thinker. He would have just brushed it off.

　The question remained unanswered, and the time passed in a foggy state of mind.
　Then, the incident happened the other day.

...... I'm sure he's hiding something.

　It might be premature to suspect Twait as a bodyguard just because of his actions the other day.
　But Mize had an idea of who would be guarding him.
　He also had a vague idea of whose orders it would be.

　--If Toate was his bodyguard, he'd be following him.

　That's why Mize decided to go on a mission today.
　I lied when I said I was running out of seasoning. The real purpose of the mission was to go to the castle town by herself and see if Toate would follow her.

　As she passed through the school gate and entered the castle town, Mize pulled out a hand mirror from her pocket of her school uniform.
　Pretending to be looking at a stall, she checks behind her in the mirror.

　She had a feeling that someone was following her.
　It didn't look like a student from the school. If it was Toate, he was probably in disguise.

　I kept walking for a while, but the figure didn't disappear.
　It was definitely tracking him. Convinced of this, Mize suddenly started running.

"Ha, ha, ha, ......!

　The bag in his hand shook violently.
　The bag in her hand shook violently. Breathing hard, Mize turned a corner.
　She stopped there and turned around quickly.

　She waited for Toate, who was desperately chasing her from behind, but .............

...... Huh?

　Contrary to his expectations, Toate did not appear.
　If someone was following you, you would have thought they would have rushed to follow you when you suddenly started running. .......

I'm sure it was just my imagination,......?

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　The prediction was wrong, but it was more convenient for Mize.
　If his prediction was correct, and Tuite was guarding him, then Tuite knew who he was.

　If possible, I would like to remain friends with Toate in the future.
　It seems that I will be able to fulfill that wish successfully.

　Just after I felt relieved...

"...

　I felt a sharp pain in my head.
　An image appeared in my mind. It was a memory from years ...... or even decades ago (・・・・・).

　Memories of a time before I was born.
　There's no way that's possible. It must have been a delusion or a fantasy, but the images that popped into my head were incredibly vivid.

　The streets were old and tattered compared to today. In the center of it, she was being attacked by someone. She was attacked by a group of assassins, and the mastermind behind the attack was - her memory is too foggy to decipher well.

...... déjà vu, was it?

　I'm not sure what to make of it.
　Recently, I've been experiencing deja vu at odd times. Elysia once pointed out to me that I was merely recalling knowledge I had read in a book, and I pretended to be convinced at the time, but ...... this time is definitely different. The images that came to my mind right now are not something I got from a book.

　I didn't really understand what was happening to me.
　The headache wouldn't go away. Unable to collapse in the middle of the traffic, Mize went into the alleyway.


　Right after.

"What--?

　Suddenly, an arm reached out from the side of the room and covered her mouth.
　It was a man's strong arm. The arm quickly pulled Mize deeper into the alleyway.

"All right, ......, I've finally got you.

You got lucky at the last minute.

　The two men in the auburn cloaks say with smiles on their faces.
　Mize twisted and somehow managed to escape from the men's restraints.

"Let go of me!　Who are you--

"Shut up!

　A dagger was placed on Mize's neck as she tried to scream out.
　A cold sweat broke out on Mize's forehead.

We must leave now, before the guards find out.

　The man covered Mize's mouth and tried to move away.
　But then...

"We can't let them get away.

　A familiar voice came from behind him.