138-Jogakuin, survey and ⑦




'What? There's no one here. And you're sure about that? Come to this rooftop without permission.

 Ichigo blurted out as he came to the large rooftop of the school building.

'They told me to come here. He said that no one would be here at lunchtime. Oh, speaking of which, where's Mito-san?

Yeah, Mr. Mito was having a hard time with the young lady's invitation. I wish I could have gone with you. That would have been a breakthrough for you to get to know the young lady.

 Shizuka seems to be popular in the class next door because of her friendly attitude. Apparently Ichigo doesn't have a bad impression of her either, but it seems that the bar is still high for the young lady to have dinner with boys together.

''So, how's it going over there?''

'Oh, what can I say, Mari is incredibly popular...'

'Haha, Shirasawa-san is amazing. I guess a popular person is a popular person no matter where you go.

Yes.

So, did you introduce them to your business associates?

Yeah, I did.

...How was it?

What do you mean?

So that's Shirasawa-san's reaction.

'Hmmm, he was just smiling like a normal person? He seemed a little suspicious because I refused to go to dinner with him, but...

I see you're smiling........well, never mind. And about Shirasawa-san. You may have already sensed that we're a bit crazy.

'Yeah, I guess so!'

'Yeah, definitely. Especially since you're so quick to get in my face.

....

'Well, I'll follow up on that. If you're that popular, I think I can at least keep you guys apart.

Uh-huh.

 Then the door to the rooftop doorway opened.

'Yuto, you've kept me waiting.

 Mizuho and Marion show up.
 And behind them........Nina was also there.

''Ah, Mizuho. Eh! Nina!

 Nina showed up with her, and Yuto let out a loud voice.

''Yes, after discussing it with Mizuho-san, I thought it would be better to have Nina-san come over so we could save on unnecessary explanations.

 Nina already knows that Yuto and the others are capable. In any case, it's also what we were planning to talk about this time, and if you think about it, there's nothing wrong with having them come here now.
 Incidentally, Mari was apparently taken to the cafeteria in the academy by a number of young ladies after that.

''I see.......that's right. Oh, let me introduce you to Hakamada Ichigo, who I was talking to.

This is Hakamada Ichigo. Nice to meet you!

It's Shitenji Mizuho.

'I'm Marion Mia Schlian. It's nice to meet you.

'I'm Nina S. Hule. I'm not a gifted person, so I'm in the same position as Hakamada-san.

 After a brief greeting to each other, Ichigo looks over at the three girls and gives them an indescribable look.

(Holy shit........that's amazing. With this, Shirasawa-san can't be at peace with himself. (But such a rare and beautiful place around Yuto?

 Ichigo silently punched Yuto in the head.

''Ouch! What the hell, Ichigo!

It's nothing...

 Since it's an empty rooftop, a witty Marion takes out a large leisure sheet from the tote bag she brought with her and spreads it out on the floor.

''Since standing around is nothing to talk about, let's talk here. Also, I've only prepared tea.

Oh, thank you, Miss Marion.

 We all sit down on Marion's spread out seat.

'Well, let's get right to it, Yuto. About the future investigation of the source of the curse.

 Mizuho opened her mouth and Yuto nodded seriously.

''Yeah, first I'll briefly explain what we're going to do I'll have you go over everything.

All of them?

 When Mizuho listens back with a raised eyebrow, everyone's attention is drawn to what Yuto is saying.

''Yeah, that's right. It's everything from the cursed person's status and standing, family structure, friendships, normal hobbies and interests, to life patterns. Well, in order of priority, I guess, from status, standing, family structure. And the perspective is always to be aware of the person or organization that benefits from the misfortune of the person who has been cursed.

It's like being a detective.

'No, you're right, Ichigo. Even if you're an able-bodied person, you always have a purpose or intention to make things happen. Things don't happen for no reason.

What if he was a jerk?

'We can't rule out that possibility. If that were the case, it would be the most troublesome and the narrowing down target would be unusually wide. However, in that case, the pleasant criminal would surely have other spells in mind. The only way to find such victims is to look for them. But even so, there will always be a thought pattern or the preferences of the surgeon himself, and we can trace it back from there to narrow down the culprit. That's why it's very important for everyone to talk about it from different perspectives.

 Listening to Yuto's story, it sounded like a rambling story, and Mizuho and the others' faces clouded over.

''But my guess is that there's a good chance it's not a pleasant crime this time.

Why? Yuto.

''Yeah, that Hougetsu-san's condition that I heard about the other day but from what I can imagine, this curse is a very strong curse.

 Yuto looked serious, while Mizuho, Marion, and Nina also felt a pain in their chests and their lips tightened. Now, after Houzuki Akiko was transported to the General Hospital, she was transferred to the University Hospital as an unexplained illness with no abnormalities found in any tests.
 More than anything else, it seems that her body is severely weakened.

'First of all, I've never heard of anything that could take someone's life from a curse alone. There have been cases of people dying from accidents or suicides as a result of secondary disasters caused by a curse, but the curse itself doesn't have that much power. When you think about it, this curse is one of the strongest in terms of its strength. In that case, the magician is not an ordinary haphazard magician. A lot of spellcasters who become jokers are usually amateurs who have just gained their powers and want to test them out.

So this curse is...

 Ichigo puts a hand to his chin.

'Yeah, I think it's better to think of it as the work of a professional. So there must be an aim for it. I'll get a little bit of that aim and make a prediction.

'What if you can narrow it down? Yuto.

'Of course, I'm going to get in there and I'm going to beat the sorcerer. At worst, I will purify and destroy the ritual vessels and catalyst used in the magic. Then this curse will disappear.

 Ichigo and Nina look nervous at Yuto's words. Ichigo and Nina are not gifted. So they wouldn't be able to help them with what happened after they identified the other party. But now his own friend is saying that he won't quit fighting that ungainly sorcerer in the end.
 To be honest, it felt both unrealistic and terrifying.

'Now, it may not be something I'm going to say, but on top of that, I can envision another troubling... worst-case scenario as a possible thing to consider. This could be possible even if we were able to narrow down the opponent with surprising ease.

...What is that, Yuto?

It's when they are part of a powerful group or organization.

!

These possibilities are there. It's still a long way off, you know? However, there are even organizations that can perform spells at your request. In this case, we can't get to them that easily, even though we know the enemy. We have to consider our strength and the enemy's strength, as well as the compatibility between them.

 Yuto drank the tea Marion had prepared for him.

'Well, this might be overthinking it. It's just that spellcasters aren't generally suited for combat, so it's possible that they don't receive requests on their own. Like the presence of a bouncer.

 Yuto said, and smiled at Mizuho and Marion, who were slightly on the verge of turning over, and said to them.

''But, well, it's okay, Mizuho-san, Marion-san.

What?

 Mizuho and Marion stared at Yuto.

''Because who do you think we are? There aren't many people with the ability to stand up to Marion, Mizuho-san, who came through the line of death with that millimeter, right? Moreover, everything you just said is hypothetical. Absolutely, let's help Mizuho and her friends!

 

'Fufu, fufu, you're right. Seriously, Masato always has a bad character at times like this.

'Yes. It's great that you're already anticipating several different situations, but you always talk about the worst of it!

'Haha ... is that right?'

 Then Ichigo raises his voice.

'Isn't that it? His thinking is rotten because he's basically only the worst thing that can happen around him. Yuto's game of life is lightly in inferno mode.

What did you say?

 Nina blows up at the exchange between Ichigo and Yuto.

''That's what it looks like, Dou Dou Dou. You always seem to have no peace...''

'Oh, you understand, Miss Nina? The worst part about this guy is that he's going to let the bait go to us. So be careful, Nina. I'm in a very bad way.

Yes, yes, I'll be careful.

Hey!

'Well, fine. If you tell me it's going to be a fight, I'll riot without a care in the world. I'm going to make you truly regret messing with someone I know.

Yes, me too.

 Mizuho laughed wryly and Marion also made fists with her hands in front of her chest.

''At any rate, let's investigate first. I've already asked Meira about the Hougetsu family that Yuto told me about, so I'm sure we'll have the results of the investigation soon. What do we do after that? Yuto.

'Yeah, I think I'd like a list of the people in the academy who are absent, just in case. And also the cause and reason for it. Also, let's clean up Houzuki-san's friendships from scratch. Oh, and Marion-san.

Yes, sir.

'I know it's hard for you, Marion, but can you check the academy grounds for evil spirits? I'm not a curse specialist either, but maybe there's a relay point or a relay person for the curse.

'Okay, the grounds are a bit large, it'll take a few days. And the relay person?

'Yes, it's a curse I've experienced in the past, and it's common to use a person's possessions, hair, or other body parts to curse someone, but there are other times when they'll use their bad feelings towards the victim of the curse. In doing so, they may be reinforcing the curse. The person being relayed to us doesn't know it's happening, though.

Does that mean........you're going to look for someone who doesn't get along with Akiko-san or something?

That's the easiest way to understand it. It may not be very common among the students of the academy that these ladies attend, though. Well, it's fine if it's just a companionship survey for you, Houzuki-san.

I understand!

And....

Did we?

''Yes, Ichigo and Nina-san, please follow up casually so that we can move easily. I'm sorry for getting you involved in this, but........

''Don't worry, I'm used to you making a mess of things. Mr. Shirasawa and Ms. Mito are a problem for me, so I'll focus on that area and follow up with them. Besides, it's because this is a girl named Ms. Houzuki who's in pain. I can't forgive her for that. If it were a man, I'd make him put up with it.

'Yes! I'll keep an eye out for teachers and such.

'Thank you! Okay, let's move on with this first. If I get something, I'll share it with you. In some cases, I'll ask for help from Mizuho-san's Shitenji family, and I have some friends that I can rely on as well.

'What? Who are your friends, Yuto-san?

What? A friend who can be counted on by you? Who's that?

 Marion and Mizuho feel uncomfortable with the lines that they can't imagine from Yuto.
 As soon as they do, Ichigo, who is beside them, becomes unusually tense.

''You, you can't possibly........that's.......''

Yeah. No, just in case, you know?

What? Who is it?

 Mizuho couldn't help but be curious. Including Ichigo's reaction.

''No, how should I put it...''

 Marion is also curious.

'Tell me about it, Yuto.

Oh no, it's not ... well ... not human, is it?

""What?"

 Nina and others are taken aback.
 Ichigo covers his face with his hands and shakes his shoulders in a whisper as he responds on behalf of Yuto.

''.........they're the breathing troublemakers who are good friends with Masato. No, let's call them the walking trauma makers who made my black history........

'That's it? I can't say I can deny it, though.

 Mizuho and the others were even more confused by Ichigo's explanation.
 Later, Mizuho and Marion were astonished by the faltering explanation from Yuto.

''Oh, you........how insane are you!

I've never heard of anything like this ... even in the families of leading contractors.

 Beside her, Nina makes a thoughtful gesture.

'The saviors who appeared in Millmar... no way...'

 Yuto received Mizuho and Marion's gaze all over his body as sweat poured from his forehead.

''Haha........''

 In the midst of all of this, Yuto's face suddenly gets stronger.