Editing Tasogare-iro no Uta Tsukai:Volume1 2nd Play (section)

===Part 3===

A man wearing a coat passed the third-year school building and headed towards the fourth-year building. 

“……Is he that guy from before?”

Having just glimpsed him, Vendrell hid behind the fountain beside the passageway. 

Wearing a coat that was the color of dry grass, it was definitely the Reciter who had interfered in the duel. That guy was strolling in a carefree manner in the campus. 

But, where was that man headed?

Just when Vendrell was feeling suspicious, the man’s footsteps changed the direction he was going. As if he meant to enter the fourth-year building, he walked behind it. 

……Wait a minute. Wasn’t that the direction of the resources building?

It was a building that was locked year-round and never opened. Calling it a resources building was simply to make it sound good, but in fact, it was merely a storage room. Even students in the fourth year of high school didn’t know whether or not they would have a chance to go inside even once. Furthermore, only students who had received their teacher’s trust and were going to take something out had the opportunity to enter. 

He wrinkled his eyebrows while following behind the man. Because the two were separated by a distance, that Reciter shouldn’t notice him. In front of the rusted door, the man’s coat stopped swaying. After putting his hand on the doorknob and counting for a few seconds, the double doors opened outwards with a creaking noise. Then the man’s figure disappeared into the dim resources building. 

……The door opened?

He hadn’t made any movements similar to using a key to open the door. In other words, there was already someone inside? 

But then, why did that man need to enter the school’s resources building?


<div align="center"><nowiki>***</nowiki></div>


“Ahh. Like I thought, it’s impossible!”

Neight cried piteously, while plopping down on the grassy field and sighing. 

“Calling out a horse is really hard. Not only that, but I’ve only seen a real horse one or two times……”

[That’s an excuse.]

Arma, who was standing on Mio’s shoulder, narrowed his eyes. Was it because she didn’t call him a lizard? That Recited creature seemed to enjoy being with Mio. Mio also didn’t understand. Perhaps it was because she was accustomed to Recited frogs and tortoises, that she was able to handle this type of creature. Speaking of which, even among students of the Recitation School, probably the only girl who didn’t care about a lizard standing on her shoulder was Mio. 

[This so-called Recitation, it is only meaningful if you are able to call out something never seen before. If it is something you have already seen, that means you should be able to visualize it when you want to. The fact that you can’t even call out that sort of thing is really bothersome.]

Kluele cautiously used her fingertips to touch the preaching lizard. His skin felt rough, like she was rubbing a rock. Also, it was cold as if holding a piece of ice. 

“Hey, are you actually a high-level creature?”

[How have you come to that conclusion?]

The lizard seemed to be unusually interested, and turned so that the tip of his nose pointed at her. 

“Because you are able to talk, that means you are a fairly extraordinary creature, right?”

[I can be considered to be a creature of that category. But back to the topic……]

After the lizard leaped from Mio onto Neight’s shoulder, he proceeded to give a complicated answer:

[Even if the level of the Recitation is low, there are still creatures able to understand the human language. However, the opposite is also true— That is, even among the highest-level creatures, there are types that do not use languages. I only wish to remind you, it is best not to differentiate based just on this.]

This equaled to him implying that he wasn’t really an “extraordinary creature”. Did it seem like he said that? But if those words were used as an explanation, then didn’t it mean he was simply a lizard that was able to speak?

“……It’s already so late.”

Mio said while staring at her lengthening shadow. 

Because it was blocked by the school building, the horizon couldn’t be seen. However, there was red light shining from a gap between the buildings. Although they didn’t know the exact time, it was about time for school to be over, and the number of students on campus was gradually decreasing. 

“Mio, what do you plan to do today? Are you going to stay and spend the night at my place?”

Although she hesitated slightly, Mio still shook her head.

“No, I told my parents that I would return home today. Ah, but since we rarely have this opportunity, let’s go eat dinner together! Neight-kun should also come to the cafeteria with us!”

“Eh, but are pets allowed in there?”

After hearing Neight’s gentle tone, the lizard standing on his shoulder narrowed his eyes. 

[Mm, Neight, to dare to call me a pet, you must have some nerve—]

“Ah. Sorry, Arma! I didn’t mean that, it’s because that’s what other people will think at the sight of you. Eh…… that’s…… I mean……”

Even though the lizard was facing his master Neight, it was Neight who bowed his head in apology at the lizard. 

It felt like a back and forth relationship. 

Looking at Mio who stood beside her, she also showed an embarrassed expression and shrugged her shoulders. 


<div align="center"><nowiki>***</nowiki></div>


After he entered the room, the stifling heat that seemed like it could melt even bone marrow, changed into a comfortable cold wind that caressed his neck. In here were a variety of medicinal products, ancient books, and bones of animals he didn’t know the names of. In order to preserve these resources, there was controlled air conditioning in the room so that the summer heat could not reach inside. 

“—Is it forbidden sacred ground?”

As a student, it was impossible to set food in this type of resources building. In order to protect these precious resources, other than a few exceptions, no students were allowed to enter. Even teachers and administrative staff needed a permit. The one exception was the director of education, Jessica. Even she came in here at most once a month. 

……I see. The corners of his mouth curving slightly, Xins sighed. 

Rather than calling it gloomy, it would be better to say dim. Although it had seemed comfortable when he first came in, but after his sweat dried, the cold wind caused goose bumps on his back. Was it the scent of medicine, or the rotting smell of animals? A hard-to-describe smell assaulted his nostrils. It seemed like it wasn’t that nobody could come in here, but rather that nobody wanted to come to this sort of place. Rather than calling it a sacred ground, it would be more appropriate to call it a cursed place. 

With every step, his shoes tapping against the floor made a dry and hard sound that seemed to resound throughout the entire resources building. The floor was covered with a thin layer of dust. Moving his gaze away from the rising dust, he set foot on the staircase leading to the basement. 

The first floor seemed like a storage place for miscellaneous items, but starting from the basement, each floor was categorized by materials. From a cursory glance, the first basement floor was storage for catalysts used in Recitations. 

“So, why did you call for me?”

“Ah, I’m really happy you came. I was waiting for you.”

The short, elderly person standing in front of him showed a gentle expression. Because he was slightly hunchbacked, he wasn’t very tall. Therefore, rather than saying that he wore a brown robe, it seemed more like the robe had wrapped him up. His gentleness and lack of urgency made it hard for people to imagine that he supervised this large school of over one thousand five hundred students. However, even if he stepped back from the front lines, he would still be a Reciter that not many people knew of. 

Tremia Academy’s headmaster— Zea Lordfill. 

“Come this way, please follow me.”

The elderly man turned around while stroking his moustache. 

Located in the corner of the floor, shelves of catalyst displays filled the room. After walking to the only wooden table in here, the headmaster turned around and said:

“This.”

Xins moved his gaze to the five gemstones lying on the table. Red, blue, green, yellow, white were the colors of the five gemstones. By simply looking at it, they seemed to be ruby, sapphire, emerald, topaz, and opal. 

Even though they seemed like gemstones, they actually weren’t. Although they emitted a similar luster, they didn’t have the distinctive crystal structure of gems. In this world, are there oval-shaped rubies about the size of a chicken egg?

“This is……”

“You can pick it up and take a look. It’s fine if you hold it with your bare hands.”

Xins picked up the green gemstone. Just when he took hold of it, the object in his hands emitted an even more dazzling radiance. This light, it resembled something he had become used to seeing. It couldn’t be, the light from Recitations?

He hastily put the gemstone back down on the table. After shining for ten more seconds, it started to dim. 

“Headmaster, this is……”

“It is an artificial catalyst manufactured by a research institute I have connections with. The researchers call it an <Egg>. Although the purification was a success, they said that they couldn’t deal with it so they forcibly left it to us.”

With a gaze that could kill, he stared at the egg-shaped object.

“What do you think?”

“……It’s very dangerous.”

The elderly man nodded his head. 

Xins agreed with the research institute’s conclusion that they weren’t able to handle it. Even though it had only been a split second, he had already sensed that this catalyst was at least dangerous on two different levels.  

The first was that the catalyst was too effective. Those who are experts in Recitations could determine what level a catalyst is just by looking at the radiance of the Recitation light. From what Xins had seen, compared to the catalysts he was familiar with, this could be classified as having quite an astonishing effect. If an inexperienced person was to use this catalyst to call out a flame, a small mistake could lead to a huge fire. 

In addition, there was one other danger. It seemed that this kind of catalyst would “force a Recitation”. 

Essentially, so-called catalysts should only display their effects after the Reciter is ready. If a catalyst was to open a {{Furigana|Recital Gate|Channel}} on its own, then a Red Reciter wouldn’t be able to casually put on a Red dress.<ref>Meaning that if it was the catalyst who conducted the Recitation instead of the person, then the person has no right to call herself a Reciter.</ref> However, these <Eggs> possessed that characteristic. After realizing that fact, the Reciter would have to immediately shut off her consciousness. If she was a few seconds too slow, then the Recitation could possibly go out of control. 

……Really, what a bad person the headmaster is.

Without letting it show on his face, he smiled bitterly to himself. The elderly man was, in his own style, testing Xins to see whether or not he was a suitable candidate. 

“The problem is how you plan to destroy it.”

The elder pretended to act dumb and looked away. 

“Even if we wish to destroy it, because we don’t know what changes will happen to the energy inside the <Egg>, one wrong move could cause a large explosion. Thus, we can’t do that. If we were to bury it, we would only be delaying the consequences, so that’s off the list. Therefore, we can only follow the usual routine and slowly break it down. However, facilities that are near the school won’t work. We have to give it to a large research organization to do that.”

“So that’s why you called me?”

Xins interrupted impatiently. As he expected, the old man nodded his head. 

“Correct. Although the school’s workers are excellent, they are not sufficiently reliable. Among the people I am familiar with, the only one who can act immediately is you. Also, nobody should object if I entrust it to the Rainbow Color Reciter. I apologize for inconveniencing you, but would you like to help?”

“I don’t mind. I’ll take it to my friend’s research institute to break it down.”

Honestly speaking, he didn’t really want to get involved in this matter. However, he couldn’t keep such a dangerous thing inside the school. 

“Although it isn’t much of an exchange, but the day after tomorrow, could I stay and take a look around the recital contest?”

“Of course. I knew you would say that, so I’ve already prepared the guest room. You should just stay in the school for two or three days. There are many teachers in the school who wish to chat with you. If you have time, you should satisfy them.”

After agreeing, Xins gazed at the <Egg> in front of him. 

“Right, how should I deal with this? It’s okay if you leave it in my care now, but while I’m at this school, it’s probably safer keeping it here in this resources building.”

For someone to secretly enter his room while he was out at a meeting was already a common occurrence to him. Although most of the people were those who wanted to have a discussion with the Rainbow Color Reciter, the more extreme ones would even take his personal belongings. 

“That’s true. Then, I’ll invite you in here again the day after the recital contest is over.”

“I understand.”

“Then let’s go out. Truthfully, I don’t like the gloomy atmosphere in here either.”

After letting out a breath, the elderly Reciter walked towards the stairs. 

“Is it okay for the <Egg> to be on the table like that?”

“It would be rather inconvenient for it to be put into a cupboard and mix with other materials. Before it’s handed over to you, I will take good care of the key and make sure that nobody is allowed to come in here. This type of uncomfortable place, there shouldn’t be anyone intentionally running in here during the recital contest.”


<div align="center"><nowiki>***</nowiki></div>


“Oh no…… I left my wallet inside my backpack, which is in the classroom……”

Putting her hand in her skirt pocket, Mio grimaced. While entering the cafeteria, when she wanted to check the amount of money she had, this situation occurred.

“Mm, then I’ll pay for you.”

Kluele gave her a look that seemed to say “what are you saying now?” Although Mio wanted to accept her offer, she instantly remembered her personality. Afterwards, even if she wanted to return the money, Kluele would definitely use the excuse of “there’s no need, it wasn’t much money”. Not only by allowing her stay overnight, but if she also let Kluele lend out money, Mio would feel very apologetic in this kind of situation. 

“It’s okay, I’ll go back and get it. You guys can go get us a spot first.”

After saying that, she ran away before Kluele could open her mouth. 

The cafeteria was located between the second-year building and the first-year building. It wasn’t very far from the first-year building. She walked up a sloped road for a few minutes. Then, the first-year building could be seen in front of the setting sun. Although it must already be very late, because the sun set later during the summertime, the sky was still a reddish-brown color. It would still be a while before nightfall.

Entering the building, she confirmed with the clock hanging on the wall. Even if she did not need to run, she still couldn’t hang around for very long. She walked down the hallway at a leisurely pace. 

“Ah… The recital contest is only the day after tomorrow.”

She lightly crossed her arms. Did this count as being nervous? But she felt like it didn’t really matter. Because it was her first time taking part in this kind of contest since entering Tremia Academy, even she herself didn’t understand her exact mood. 

Only half paying attention, she walked past the other classes. There wasn’t a single person in the classrooms, which meant everyone else was doing some last-minute special training at other locations. 

Climbing up the stairs and arriving on the second floor, she passed classrooms E, D, and C in order. In the dark hallway, the light of the sunset that leaked out from classrooms hazily lit up her surroundings.

……Huh? Someone’s inside?

She suddenly stopped. Only the door of her classroom, 1-B, was open.

“You still haven’t left? Hey, I forgot something in here.”

In any case, it was surely a student from her class. After announcing her arrival, she didn’t confirm the situation inside the classroom and walked right in.

—At that moment, Mio stood motionless with her body fixed in position. 

Because, the person inside wasn’t a student.

……Eh?

It wasn’t a student, or a teacher. The man who was leaning against the window and basking in the light of the setting sun turned his head around.

It was the Reciter who wore a dry grass colored coat.

Eh, eh, wait……stop! Wha, what is this? Why would that person be in this kind of place?

“Is it……Xi……”

Although she had only seen photos, it was definitely right. The dry grass colored coat should be that Reciter’s trademark. Along with his youthful appearance, he had become a person of legend, the only person to succeed in studying all the Recitation Colors —the person she admired.

Ah, but why…… why couldn’t she call out his name? I’m an idiot……

“Oh my, I’m sorry. It would be best for this unrelated person to leave.”

Did he think her silence meant she was afraid? He put his hand down and away from the window frame.

No, don’t leave!

“P, Pl–pl…… Please wait!”

Facing the Reciter who was about to walk past her, she forced the sound from her throat. 

“Hm?”

“May, may I ask, are you Xins Airwincle-sama?”

Even though she couldn’t stop the trembling of her body, his name finally popped into her head. After hearing these words, his expression changed. Compared to before, it had become slightly gentler. Simply this action had nearly made her mind become blank. Pinching herself behind her back, she was just able to endure it.

“My, my name is Mio. Ah, eh…… I really respect Xins-sama…… Therefore…… I’ve always wished for an opportunity to talk to you!”

“That’s no problem, I won’t run away, so I would be grateful if you let go of me.”

Eh? Let go? She didn’t understand what he was saying. Mio followed his line of sight, and her gaze froze on his coat.

His right sleeve— Involuntarily, she had tightly grabbed onto it.

"I, I’m sorry!”

“No, it’s okay. That aside, there’s no need for you to be so nervous.”

The Rainbow Color Reciter concealed his sigh, and shyly waved his hand.

But, what should she do? There was so much she wanted to say and ask, she didn’t know where to start. Even more importantly, why would the Rainbow Color Reciter appear like this in a classroom after school? But if she asked him like that, would it be imposing his privacy? Ah, no! Feeling even more curious, the words that were on her lips were just about to be spoken.

“……Actually, this school is where I graduated from.”

Did he sense her question? He had hurriedly spoken. 

Eh? But, how could she say it?

If Tremia Academy was the Rainbow Color Reciter’s place of graduation, then it was a very important matter. It seemed that he wasn’t an ordinary student like her, but part of a small handful of elites who attended this overly popular school. However, at the school’s entrance ceremony, this kind of thing wasn’t really mentioned. Furthermore, speaking of which, there should at least be a bronze statue of him in the school. 

“No, to be precise, the school I graduated from used to be in this location.”

His following words dispelled her question.

“The school I went to was Elfand Recitation School. That place didn’t really consist of elites. In other words, it was just an ordinary school. About three years after I graduated, the school closed down due to operational difficulties. However, other than Elfand, there were no other Recitation Schools nearby. Therefore, the students and teachers were called here by the headmaster, and they established Tremia Academy.”

After he finished speaking, he sat on the window frame. He sometimes saw his students acting in an identical manner, but the inconceivable thing was, he looked more suited to this action than other students. This wasn’t because he was a Rainbow Color Reciter, but what he truly felt.

“When I was a student, my classroom was in approximately this location. Because it was very nostalgic, I couldn’t help but come here and take a look.”

“Here…… is it?”

However, just how many years ago was that? If the school building was obviously newly built, why would he specially choose this classroom?

“Is it the position of the sunset?”

The wind blowing into the classroom caused his golden-brown hair to ripple slightly. 

“Although it has already been some time, even so, I still remember the position of the sunset…… because the scenery back then was the same as it is now.”

Back then? When did this happen? When he had become a Rainbow Color Reciter? No, that’s wrong, that was after he had graduated from school. In other words, to this person, there was a memory more important than when he had become a Rainbow Reciter?

“What kind of Reciter do you want to become?”

Mio’s speculations were repelled by his sudden question.

“I, I want to be the same as Xins-sama……”

Rainbow Color Reciter. He had surely heard this type of response as many times as the number of stars in the sky. To him, it was a commonly-heard, poor and ordinary answer. Even so, he showed no hateful expression, but instead smiled at her.

“It’s good to set large goals. Don’t aim to be like me, but rather, to surpass me. However, I hope that you remember one thing…… The things you truly want cannot be obtained using Recitations.”

“Eh?”

The sudden change of topic made Mio’s eyes open wide. But, what did he mean by that?

“No, now isn’t the time to be talking about that kind of stuff.” After saying this in a low voice, the Rainbow Reciter interrupted his own words.

“Speaking of which, have you found the thing that you said you forgot in here?”

Suddenly, she felt a pain in her chest. Oh no— it had completely flown out of her head.

Kluele and Neight were still waiting for her. Could this be considered a good opportunity, or bad luck? To have the opportunity to talk alone with the Rainbow Color Reciter, there might not be a second time.

“Did you make an appointment to meet someone?”

No— Although she wanted to say that, she really didn’t want to tell a lie. Because I don’t want to betray my good friends Kluele and Neight.

Silently, she forced herself to move her head, which felt as heavy as lead, up and down. 

“I will be in this school until the day after the recital contest, so if you have something to say, you don’t have to say it now.”

“Re–Really!”

“I promise. You are Mio-san, right? See, I already remember your name.”


In a considerably hasty manner, the girl ran down the hallway without looking back. 

Alone once again in the classroom, Xins gazed at the palm of his hand. 

The things you truly want cannot be obtained using Recitations—

……However, perhaps that child still doesn’t understand this.

He himself had only discovered it after he had become a Rainbow Color Reciter. Or he should say, he had no choice but to admit it.

Even so, there will be a day when she realizes this, a time when she will become aware of it by herself. 

“Even speaking of my own situation, it is that lonely black witch who single-mindedly and stubbornly pursues a goal.”

He knew that nobody could hear him, and even if someone did hear him, nobody would understand. Nevertheless, Xins still spoke those words aloud. He hoped that someone would hear it, and hoped that someone would understand. At least, he hoped that someone would pass on this message to “her”.


<div align="center"><nowiki>***</nowiki></div>


……Did they leave?

After confirming that the headmaster and the Reciter who wore a coat had both left, Vendrell crawled out of the corner of the cabinet. 

After he had seen the Reciter enter the resources building, he had also sneaked in. Although he had eavesdropped on their conversation from beside the staircase on the first floor, he did not expect the guy who wore the old-fashioned coat to actually be the Rainbow Color Reciter.

He had imagined that Reciter to be older. After all, Rainbow Color Reciter was simply a name. Because he had always thought like that, he didn’t even know what the famous Reciter looked like. However, it seemed that he did have the same level of strength as his reputation suggested.

When Vendrell had been giving the Night Color Recitation user a show of his strength, it was unfortunate that he had been stopped by the Rainbow Reciter. But to escape uninjured from a duel with that monster, it could be called the luck within misfortune. 

“……They were saying something about an Egg.”

Although the headmaster had locked the door when he left, the unfortunate thing was, the lock could be opened from the inside. 

Because he had been eavesdropping from the first floor, he had only clearly heard about half of what they were saying. However, he could guess that it was a conversation about catalysts. In addition, it was a considerably important matter. The headmaster hadn’t discussed it with other teachers, but rather had specially called the Rainbow Reciter here. Exactly how important was that classified information?

—It would make anyone curious, wouldn’t it?

Although he could satisfy his curiosity just by looking at it with his own eyes, the process wouldn’t be that easy.

“Really, to put it in such a troublesome place!”

In order to protect the location of the catalyst, in the hundreds of cabinets, a numerous other catalysts were on display. As they say, “To hide a tree, put it in a forest.” He didn’t know how much time he would have to waste to find it. 

Because the sun was setting, it was becoming hard to see in the darkness. The light entering from a window on the ceiling was becoming considerably weak. But even so, if he were to turn on the light, it would give away his location.

……Oh well. Tomorrow and the day after, I can patiently look for it.


<div align="center"><nowiki>***</nowiki></div>


“Mio, you’re so slow!”

Kluele yelled loudly at the girl running at full speed. It had been about twenty minutes since she had left to get her wallet. Normally, the round trip shouldn’t take more than ten minutes. Why did she take so long?

“Were you unable to find your wallet?

Mio was breathing heavily and seemed like she was unable to speak. After taking several deep breaths, she shook her head at the two of them.

“……Tha, that…… Amazing, it was really amazing!”

“—What was amazing?”

Kluele shrugged her shoulders at her friend whose cheeks had turned red in excitement.

“He was there… Xins-sama was in our classroom!”

“Eh?”

She and the boy sitting next to her simultaneously let out a noise.

“Mio, I don’t understand what you mean.”

“And when you say he was in our classroom—”

Before Neight had finished talking, Mio raised both her arms and yelled.

“Don’t. You. Understand? Didn’t Kluele just say it? She met a strong Reciter wearing a yellow-green coat. That person was actually Xins-sama!”

After saying that, the clattering sound of her chair echoed throughout the whole cafeteria. 

The other students eating in the cafeteria all turned their heads to look at them. And not just the students, even the teachers and the cafeteria employees looked at them as if they were possessed. 

“Ah……”

Under the gaze of several dozen people, the girl who had excitedly raised her arms was now frozen in place. 

—What a stupid Mio. There was no need to yell loudly in this type of place!

With her chin resting on her hands, Kluele let out an exaggerated sigh. 

Squeezing through the crowd and approaching them were two female students dressed in sportswear. 

A girl who looked like a boy with tanned skin and short hair, and another girl who also belonged to the sports group with a tall figure. They were classmates Ada and Serges.

“Wait, Mio, you weren’t lying just now, were you?”

“Xins-sama is here? Where is he? Hurry up and tell us!”

The two of them both leaned forward on the table at the same time. Ada even picked up a fork and poked Mio with it. Instead of an inquiry, it could be called an interrogation.

“Uh…… um…… that’s—”

She should hurry and say she was lying. If it was now, not much harm would have been done. Although she tried to move her lips, Mio hadn’t mastered the art of reading lips. At this time, she could see more and more students gathering around her, whose mouth was hanging open. 

“Is it true? I also saw that person earlier. Was it really him?”

“Me too, me too! Around the fourth-year building, right? Although I’ve seen him in magazines, I never expected him to be in this kind of place, so I didn’t dare to call out to him! Wahh! How unfortunate!”

Kluele glanced at Mio, who looked like she was about to cry, and showed a pitying smile. 

“I’m guessing four minutes. Neight, what about you?”

“……I’ll say about this long.”

After sweeping his gaze around, the boy who sat beside her raised three fingers.

—Well then, surrounded by pressing questions, how long could Mio withstand it?


Both of their predictions were wrong. After only one minute, Mio was forced to confess the majority of everything that occurred in the classroom. 

Apparently the Rainbow Color Reciter was going to participate in the recital contest?

Merely through verbal gossip, after an hour, this rumor was spread throughout every corner of the entire campus.


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