Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume10 A Day For You 01
A Day For You 01
Anytime she came across those words, Felli would declare without any
expression,
"Stupid."
It was the day known as Van Allen's Day. As a custom of another city,
there should be no connection to Zuellni. Last year however, every confectionery that had knowledge of Van Allen's
Day all went on a campaign.
Leading to this year.
Numerous posters with "Van Allen's Day" written in big, bold letters were
taken and affixed to the inside of every building.
Other than that, those poster's had, "To that person on your mind,"
and
"Send out those special feelings,"
and
"This is the taste of my feelings,"
and
"Spend some time with a bit more mature atmosphere about you,"
and……not only coffee shops and confectioneries, restaurants also put out
some of those posters and advertised ahead of time.
Van Allen's Day……A special day where sweets are given to that special
person of the opposite sex, and by those means, one's feelings are
shared.
Of course, those customs originated from the conversations and gossip of
another city.
Zuellni had no connection.
Though there was no connection, with an interest in love this season, the
youths gathered the information, as expected of an academy city. It's a completely simple matter for a craze to spread like fire.
"Stupid."
Felli once again muttered.
While taking her usual path home, she thought about what to do for dinner
while walking, and then those posters were everywhere in sight. She was fed up with it. In order to raise their proceeds, the business department devised a
collection of marketing tactics and rode them out. The ones they were not pleased with collectively were generally ruled
out by the campaign committees. Coffee shops, restaurants, and places with any relation to food and drink
were generally advertised with a male audience in mind. There was only a confectionary, bookstore, and a grocery store that
advertised with a female audience in mind.
Guys make Van Allen's Day reservations and invite girls out. On the other
hand, women were subjected to advertising for classes, etc on how to make
sweets.
Guys spend money while girls spend time, or so they say.
(Making a fool of me)
This time without words, Felli immediately directed her anger with a
glare at the nearest grocery store. If women could spend their time and immediately be able make delicious
treats, there wouldn't be any troubles. If men could spend money and still be at ease, there would also be no
worries.
(Good grief……)
Posters put up around the town were everywhere in sight, so one would
have to be an idiot not to remember that. Felli discretely let out a
sigh.
and……
"Fuu, bought a lot, didn't I~"
The nonchalant voice, along with its owner, emerged from the store.
The girl had her voice in a good condition and a carefree expression on
her face. Compared to that utterance, it merely took one arm to carry the small
bag, but she apparently was left with a satisfied expression on her face. But, Felli's eyes weaved their way to the back of the group.
"……so, you don't think this amount of food is too much for the dorm, do
you?"
Seeming discontent, with a bag full of cheap lettuce in each hand. It was
Nina.
"But it's finally the day you can openly try the food. You wanted to make
a lot of new things, didn't you", she declared optimistically after
turning her head. Nina frowned, feeling a headache forming.
"……Selina-san, isn't there some sort of misunderstanding?"
"No~t at all~"
To the person of the opposite sex you care about, a confession of love……
that intent of Van Allen's Day was disregarded, even to Felli.
"Whatever I've made before, you said you'd eat everything I placed before
you, so I can make a lot of things, can't I~"
"Selina-san……"
It appears that she intends to experiment on cooking something. Her
uniform was from the Alchemy Department, so there was no way she could be
wrong.
"It's too bad the Heartseer fruit hasn't arrived, isn't it~? The shops
had been commissioned to produce something or so I hear, so I thought the market would be caught up in that……cultivation's also
failed, I wonder?"
"That's kind of suspicious."
"It's nothing like that. We're talking about taste."
"It doesn't seem suspicious for even a minute?"
"However even if it's a small amount, when properly made, it has a
positive result on proper nourishment, recovery from weariness and
promotes an increase in appetite amongst other things.
"Which energy drink is that……?"
"Well~, that is something we'll have another chance to try, won't we~?
It'll be ok~. Since I'll be properly think of something so that Nina can
give a present."
"No, that kind of thing I wasn't planning on……"
"No~ way, it would be bad if you didn't give anything to the guy on your
own platoon, wouldn't it?"
"No, that's because……"
From then on, whatever conversation unfolded, Felli, whose legs had
stopped, became unable to hear them.
Felli stood still until she lost sight of Nina's dismayed figure weaving
in and out of the crowd. Meanwhile, she also glared at the newly
discovered rival before her.
He heard a clanking sound.
"Felli, what're you doing? This is……"
Having returned to the room just now, his nose assaulted by an offensive
smell, Karian entered the kitchen after blocking his nose with a
hankerchief.
His younger sister was standing in the kitchen.
Just because of that, there was already trouble
Going through the hankerchief, the irritating smell that had been
entering his nose once again managed to enter.
The clanking noise that was heard was from the pot. Why was it coming
from the pot?
Together, they were siblings who couldn't cook. Thus as one would expect,
he couldn't believe that the sound came from cooking.
"Felli……?"
"Be quiet"
Gazing at the saucepan, Felli's eyes were tinged with an earnest light.
Karian couldn't help but swallow his question as he held his breath.
"Just a little bit longer……"
With the clock grasped firmly in one hand, she alternated between
checking it and the pot, as well as adding a few drops from a small
bottle of liquid. The sound of the liquid vaporizing mingled with the other sounds, and the
irritating smell had changed.
"It's ready……"
"W, what……is?"
A trace of ominous, black smoke rose from the saucepan. If the
ventilation fan were not ventilating, the entire kitchen would be filled
with a black haze. As Felli lifted the pot cautiously, it was obvious that something had
been burnt black through overemphasized searing.
"Elder brother, please sample this."
What was placed onto a plate was then cut up with a kitchen knife, and
after placing some on a smaller plate, was presented in front of Karian's
nose without hesitation.
"Unh……"
"Please sample this."
Repeatedly. He had the strength to not say any words of disinterest.
Karian had, after taking several steps back, lost the ability to move his
legs.
"Please wait a moment. That's it! I remembered. I have unfinished work in
the student council room, really urgent, that is……"
With his own words, he pushed himself back and could finally move his
legs. In order to run from that strange black object releasing a
strangely irratating odor, Karian quickly turned around from his right.
However, his legs had stopped once more. Before you knew it, Karian's
surroundings filled with flakes.
"Sample this……"
Looking back, he could see Felli standing with her silver hair shining.
"If that talent were to fully manifest itself in another place, it would
greatly please me, wouldn't it?"
"Sample this."
As though to completely turn a deaf ear to his words, everything on the
small plate was being forced to him. From that smoke emitting, strange, dark matter, Karian averted his eyes.
Van Allen's Day.
Until recently, that name, which held no particular import, had in that
mind, rose to its surface.
(F, For the love of……)
Last year had Felli coldly disregarding the Business Department's
campaigns, and yet this year doesn't seem to be the case. The younger sister who harbored no interest in others was currently
interested in the opposite sex. It made him lonely, but happy at the
same time. Now, if I were to eat this thing, I would draw closer to my cold demise.
(Remember this. Layfon-kun)
"Come now……Sample this."
"Urgh, erm."
Felli stabbed the meat with a fork. Some charred portions had, under that
pressure, broken off. She could possibly force it into his frantically shut lips.
No escape. The surroundings continued to fill with flakes, enveloping him
to the point where not even an insect had room to squeeze through. Light
was let loose like lightning. A flake mine? Felli could make explosions herself, and in addition, there was only a
short distance between them. Just taking into account these factors, he
couldn't come out of this unscathed. Karian's time to sample drew near.
(I've resigned myself to this, haven't I……)
That's right. If this one bite is finished, it would be all over. The
anxiety about the thought of those prepared ingredients entering a
person's mouth shouldn't be felt much longer. In it existed the special qualifications necessary to label it as food,
but to obtain those things today was impossible for his younger sister.
(How's the taste? It seems edible!)
Upon realizing, Karian opened his mouth.
On top of his tongue, that piece of meat flopped down and rolled.
"Fgah-, Guo-!
He couldn't control himself from letting out the words he spat out. An
impact was delivered to the crown of his head. As he was losing
conciousness, Karian braced his arm on the table. Still, something on the inside of his mouth continued to feel like it was
splitting open. Each time he felt that small breaking feeling inside his
mouth, his tongue became weak. No, wait. This……This feeling, could it be the taste buds on his tongue
making up the palate breaking down one by one!?
"Ha, Ha……"
It was said that the taste buds on the tongue numbered about ten
thousand……why in the world would you lose them to that extent……? After thinking about it, his body trembled in terror.
"……It appears that it's failed, hasn't it?"
Felli's disinterested voice had turned toward Karian's skull.
"Well then, next sample this"
Felli said, while bringing out the next dish.
"What……did you say?"
A cold sweat poured from his head and the small of his back.
Van Allen's Day.
A name that he didn't worry about had, this moment today, carved a memory
of fear and became a cursed name.
Morning had come.
They had to call a cleaning service. The reason for this was that the
kitchen had fallen into ruin. Leaving this battlefield, Felli took a
shower and washed away her fatigue.
After sliding on the sleeves of her spare uniform, she undid the towel
coiled around her head, used to dry her hair. It was an easy habit to get
into, diligently brushing her hair to check her own appearance in a
mirror.
No problem. She grabbed her bag and left the room.
On the living room table were the fruits from yesterday's battle. Resting
on the palm of her hand, a small box sat neatly wrapped and tied with a
ribbon. In order to for it not to become ruined, she placed it in her bag with
great care and looked at her older brother's room.
"Well then, I'm off."
"……Try your best."
The moan-like reply came from the other side of the door. The voice
sounded rough. Did he catch a cold from being up all night? Since his movements weren't sufficient compared to normal, his body had
definitely weakened.
"Slovenly."
"……Sorry, but can you convey the message that I'm resting today?"
"I understand."
"I'm counting on you."
With that, nothing more could be heard from her older brother's room.
With nothing left to worry about, she left the mansion.
After being up all night till dawn, the sun's rays were intense. Felli
narrowed her eyes and, until they became adjusted to the light, stood
stock still.
(Now, the problem is……)
While viewing the slowly dimming early morning scenery with narrow eyes,
Felli began thinking.
The thing was completed. More time was spent than expected, but that was
settled by reducing the duration of sleep.
How to hand it over?
That was the extent of the problem.
To begin with, Layfon's year was different. If the year is different,
facilities would also be different, and the chances of meeting a student
of a different year would be small.
At any rate, Zuellni was one of those places said to be a city only for
students. The number of school buildings was nothing to be trifled with.
If there was any chance to reliably meet Layfon, it would be the
platoon's training hours. If it were left until after school, it would
come up at the military arts training facility.
(There is no other time to aim at but that one, is there?)
After finally being able to open her eyes, Felli set out.
However……
How should she time the handing over?
That was the next problem.
After coming to the training facility……it would probably be useless.
Surely, Nina would be faster than Felli, without a doubt. Above all,
Sharnid would be an eyesore. It was only a matter of time before she would be discovered, and if that
were to happen she didn't know if she could say something.
(In that case, it would be better to be seen by someone unfamiliar than
someone who was.)
In the even that someone were to see, it would be better if that stranger
didn't know her name as well.
For that to happen, she would have to go to the first year facilities.
It would be good if she could go. Sometime during school, at lunch break
would be when to go and hand it to him. There was no other time to spend
like that.
(Fumu……Let's go with tha……)
No, wait.
All appearance of reasonable thought had suddenly halted. Her legs
wouldn't stop. Calmly looking straight ahead while walking forward, her
previously halted thoughts restarted.
Going to the first year facilities. That's fine. Layfon would be there.
If she were to hand it over at the training facility, an acquaintance,
particularly Sharnid, would see her. It would be better to avoid that.
In that case, the first year facilities. That was the conclusion she
reached some time ago.
There she ran into an issue.
(Wait, Felli. You are forgetting something.)
Warning herself, why did she sense danger, she thought.
Who would be at the first year facilities? Layfon would be there.
However, it wouldn't be just him.
That's right……That girl was there.
(Meishen Trinden……!)
After remembering that person, Felli looked up towards the sky.
With that cowering camouflage, that deceiver of men was there. That girl
was there with formidable weapon-like cooking skills thoroughly
emphasizing her familial appearance.
(How absurd……)
In the classroom Layfon is in, that girl was there. Those two women who
protect that girl are there. If she were to hand it over, there would be
no doubt that she would be stopped by the gaze of those three. She couldn't think of Layfon flaunting the things he received from other
people, but if he were to face the curiosity of those three, what would
happen?
Layfon's weakness to pressure was first-class. They would be seen without
a doubt.
If that were the case, what would happen?
Meishen would see the sweets, or something like that. Gambling on
cooking, far outstripping Felli, Meishen had……
(Ku……)
How rediculous.
(Inside the school building, the gazes are too numerous.)
In this hopeless situations, Felli's mood turned somber.
As it was now, if a good idea didn't come to mind at this rate, she would
struggle on to school.
The restless atmosphere that plagued the classroom everyday had cleared
up. Though the boys would always chat loudly and idly, on the contrary
they seemed to prefer sitting motionlessly alone in their own seat today. Concealing their voices amongst themselves in a circle, the girls
exchanged conversation and glancing at the boys, who asserted an
unconcerned air.
Unprepared for the thick atmosphere that hung over the classroom, Felli
secretly let out a sigh.
Even though up until last night Felli held something like scorn for that
atmosphere, now she was joining in. After feebly greeting her classmates
while exhausted from betraying herself, Felli fell prostrated at her
desk.
(However, coming this far, it would be irritating to withdraw……)
How should she go about losing the public gaze while getting the chance
to hand it to him? In her mind, this continued to torment Felli.
"Errr……Loss-san"
With her name called, Felli came to her senses and then lifted her head.
"Yes?"
An unfamiliar female student stood nearby. The uniform, like her brother,
was from the Law and Administration Department.
Meaning she wasn't a student of this class, but not only that, she was
also an upper classman.
"What is it?"
"Well, Karian-kun isn't here today and so I was wondering, what's going
on? Everyday before class, he comes to the student council room, but it
doesn't appear that he will even come to class……"
"Ah, if it's about my brother……"
On that subject, Felli completely forgot about the message Karian had
entrusted her with.
"His physical condition is poor, and so he said he's taking today off."
"Eh, is that so? You say he's taking the day off, is it that serious?
The female student listened with an awfully flusterred look on her face.
"Is he alright?"
She probably thought it was just a case of lack of sleep.
"Oh, well……Karian-kun has a usual habit of pushing himself on the student
council work and so fatigue probably caught up with him."
It was her own thought however, the female student in front of her had
arbitrarily came to her own conclusion. Without the willpower to stop
her, Felli left her to her own devices .
"Hey. You and Karian-kun live together, don't you? I want to go nurse him
, would that be alright?"
Felli rolled her eyes at this girl's proposal.
"Ah, troublesome?"
It seems she had an unusual facial expression.
"Ah, no. I have no objections. Do you know the address?"
"Yeah. That's alright."
"Well then, do as you please."
"Thanks."
With something between smiling and laughing, the upperclassman, whose
name she did not know, left the classroom.
"I see."
Watching her from behind, Felli had come to an understanding on her own.
In other words, if there wasn't a chance for them to be alone together,
she would have to create a chance to be alone with him.
Afternoon recess. Felli turned up at the school building's rooftop. One
could say the rooftop was usually left empty, and with benches left
forgotten, this place wasn't very popular. Nearby, there was a park with
a better appearance. Unless a student took the time to prepare a meal beforehand, they
wouldn't come to this place.
But, of course today would be different from normal.
Each and every spot on all of the benches were completely filled.
Couples. Pairs happily chatting away while eating seemingly hand made
lunches that would end with the giving of sweets.
"Kuu..."
In order to not be caught in these couples' field of vision, Felli
concealed herself in the shadow of the entryway.
After restoring her dite, she realeased her flakes.
The place targeted was the first year facilities.
And yet, Layfon's figure was not in the classroom.
"Good grief, what am I doing."
Irritated, Felli broadened the scope. Within a corner of the hectically
processed malestrom of information, an image of Layfon eating Meishen's
hand made bento came to mind.
Before, there were times where she would disperse flakes as a diversion
and gather those images. By no means has she thought today she would be
searching for Meishen on her own perrogative.
She and those two noisy girls she called her childhood friends were
having lunch alone.
Layfon wasn't there.
In that case where is he? The thought of Layfon's absence putting Felli
at ease, she continued to broaden the scope.
(Good grief……)
After meeting Layfon for the first time, this phrase which had become her
favorite had once again come out, after which Felli thought.
(I am probably throwing myself at that hopeless boy.)
Even thought she thought that, she couldn't stop her search. Felli
sighted as she searched for Layfon's figure.
(There.)
Finally found him.
With a feeling of relief, she confirmed his surroundings.
Layfon was alone. However, a slightly tense atmosphere hung in the air,
as psychokinesis other than Felli's was in the vicinity. The warehouse district. At this place which stored provisions and things
produced in Zuellni, examining Layfon's side of the situation, he was
concealing himself.
"Fon Fon?"
[Uwah! ……Felli?]
Silencing himself in panic and checking the situation, Layfon timidly
responded to her.
"What are you doing?"
[This is for my part-time job with the City Police, however……]
At the reply made with a concealed voice, for an instant Felli had furled
her eyebrows, but immediately reconsidered this as a chance.
(If that's the case, it is possible to be alone together.)
Known as the warehouse district, the place did not have a good business
condition. The problem was the existence of another Psychokinesist, but if Felli
proposed to collaborate on this, the probability of her taking charge of
Layfon was high.
"With the city police……? What is it this time?"
[Well……this is. This incident concerns the illegal importation of
alcohol.]
"This again?"
[This time it is something different. It's seen as an ingredient in
cooking. Being targetted, it's being used to lure out the culprit……
Somehow in addition, there seems to be a somewhat strange group for
support, or something……]
And so, is he alone at that kind of place?
If that's the case, the proposing to collaborate would probably not be
strange.
"I see, shall I lend you a helping hand?"
[Eh?]
"……What is it?"
Somehow, Layfon's voice rather than sounding suprised, sounded more like
her presence was inopportune. Differing from her expectations, Felli felt
offended and asked in response.
"Would my involvement be useless?"
[Th, That isn't what I meant exactly. Errr, what I was saying, this time
there's something of a rather special circumstance, and so nothing would
come out of this if I don't use my own discretion………]
"Such a repetitive response……what is that for? If we talked it over with
that upperclassman, wouldn't it be fine?"
[That isn't quite the case……]
"Well then, what would you call it?"
[Ah, please wait one moment.]
The other psychokinesist addressed Layfon, Felli became sullen and kept
silent.
[I'm sorry, eh? Agh, is that true!?]
Suddenly, Layfon shouted.
[Aww, man.]
"What happened?"
[Sorry, I am in a bit of a hurry, so with this. ……Ah, it doesn't look
like I will be able to go to todays training, so please convey the
message for me!]
After saying that in a low voice, Layfon rushed from the area at high
speed.
"Ah!"
Flakes had yet to be deployed in Layfon's area. It may have still been
possible to pursue him, but in the blink of an eye, she lost sight of
him.
"Really………"
Allowing psychokinesis to flow smoothly at this range, even Felli would
succumb to exhaustion.
"Even though people have their own problems……"
If she were persistent, she would make an error, but today that feeling
wasn't there.
"Haa………"
Her body felt heavy even though the fatigue from the sleepless night
seemed to just set in. Along with a breath, whatever was driving her till
now slipped out.
When afternoon break met its end, Felli trudgingly returned to class. It
seemed in the time Felli was away, several Van Allen's Day struggles had
come to a close. Clearly, there was a divide between guys in good spirits and those who
weren't. They were in luck as almost all of the gifts guys gave to the
girls were high class reservations to shops. That approach directed the formation of a different atmosphere.
"Ur……"
From the seat positioned next to the door, a cheerfully speaking voice
could be heard, at which point Felli froze in horror. Up until now, she
could coldly brush it all away with the phrase, "Not interested." On the contrary, feeling the self she brushed aside, she felt miserable.
"Urk……"
Staggering forward through the stifling atmosphere where it would be good
if she could walk straight, she somehow managed to struggle to her own
seat.
"Haa……"
Really now……with that overlapping a sigh, Felli lifted her head. Come to
thing of it, this environment wasn't uncomfortable.
Upon lifting her head, she met the eyes of the female student sitting in
the seat next to her.
"Ah, good after……noon……………" ` After finishing her greeting, that female student had once again started
looking at the desk with vacant, drooping eyes.
With Felli feeling an overwhelming sense of failure, the student
unintentionally forgot about the situation and inquired further.
"What is it?"
The girl's name was Eri. With beautiful, long black hair, she didn't
think that image was bad, however usually she cut herself off from the
rest of the class and stayed in darker corners of the room. Similarly, Felli who didn't usually associate with other classmates, was
treated as equally eccentric.
"Fu, fu, fufu……" While looking at the desk, Eri leaked a voice with
laughter. "Sweets, huh? I lost them somewhere."
"Eh?"
"Fufufu……So many times remaking it, and working late into the night, the
sweets, huh? fufu, fufufufufu……"
"That is, how should I make this clear……"
"Fufufu, that is alright. It was clumsy of me. Fufufu…………At least today
is what I thought."
At long last, that dry laugh subsided.
"Ah……"
"Fufufu……Such a miserable conversation topic."
Eri also had someone she wanted to hand sweets to.
"Please don't be discouraged. Besides, if not today, there will be
another chance."
"No." At Felli's consolation, Eri shook her head. "The times you see me
summon up my courage, doesn't amount to just today."
"That is……"
"This personality of mine, I well understand that gentlemen do not have a
preference for it. I would also like to fix it, but by no means…………
Nevertheless, I thought it would be today, but……"
After sighing, Eri sank into silence.
After the upperclassman turned up, class began. Felli silenced herself to
allow class to proceed normally. While doing as such, she observed Eri's
situation. Sometimes, letting out a sigh and often seeing girls making hollow
glances, Felli would be infected by that feeling.
(At this rate, this won't be good.)
After blowing away the contagious feeling of losing, Felli said, "All
right!" and nodded.
"Eri-san"
At the end of class, Felli hurriedly cleaned up and spoke out to her.
"……Yes?"
In a depressed state, Eri had a slow reaction.
"We're going."
Eri slowly tilted her head. Felli seized her hand, forcibly pulling her
outside the classroom.
"Eh? Eh? Eh?"
Being a full head taller than Felli, Eri seemed to be stumbling as they
departed from the school building.
"Say, what are……?"
"We're going to go look for the thing you lost."
"Eh? But class has……"
"There is no meaning in a class you aren't listening to. Spacing out
there is a pointless waste of time.
"But……"
"……Eri-san."
As the time till the start of the next class approached, there was no
sign of life. When Felli stopped pulling on her, she turned to face Eri.
"I am reluctant."
"Eh?"
"I am being reluctant. However after watching you, because I will stop
giving up, you should not want to give up either."
"……I, am being unreasonable?"
"In any case, in that state, you were giving up. If that's the case, in
order for me not to fail, cooperate with me. Come, for the time being,
let's repeat today's actions from the beginning. Where is your room?"
"Fufu, as I thought I am being unreasonable."
With a dark smile, Eri followed after Felli.
Eri's place of living was an average one-room.
Even without saying it was average, practically before even walking in,
she knew it was the case. Beyond the corridor, found soon after opening
the door, there was a small kitchen and the interior contained the living
quarters.
After looking around the room which was left with a seemingly dark
impression, she turned to face Eri, having satisfied her curiosity.
"……Well then, let's try searching by reviewing today's actions."
"That would be good……, but I was thinking."
"What is it?"
"Felli-san is a Psychokinesist, so would it not be faster if I had you
search for the sweets I dropped using psychokinesis?"
"Talk of psychokinesists searching for lost articles, have you ever heard
of it?" Felli muttered while letting out a sigh.
"That talk of pride, could you leave it behind for now?"
"That was not what I was saying."
To Eri who thought the problem was the pride of a military artist, she
explained.
"Regarding psychokinesis and the psychokinesists that use it, there
exists the five senses, however on top of that, there is electromagnetic
perception, infrared perception, provisions people do not have. After checking those things, that diverse information can be gathered
up."
"Y-Yeah." Whether or not she understood, with a puzzled look on her face,
Eri nodded.
"Psychokinesists use flakes as an intermediary and extend Psychokinesis
over a large range. Whatever information is there is perceived. However,
that huge quantity is beyond the scope of normal human throughput. The braincells of a Psychokinesist are enhanced beyond a normal human.
However as I was saying that large quantity of information, furthermore
dealing with the whereabouts of an object created by people as a
standard, it wouldn't be strange for people to say it's not possible. For this
particular objective, electromagnetic waves and infra-red rays are
completely useless and meet their limit for these reasons."
"We……ll, in short?"
Of course, it appears she didn't understand.
"Therefore, if you have the exact material coating the sweets you
prepared, moreover the raw materials encasing it could be made use of, a
sample of the exact wrapping paper you used, the arrangement, how you
folded the paper, furthermore the ribbon you used, the things you used…… with that, by
memorizing these things, searching to an extent should not be difficult
but……Would it?"
"Y, Yes……"
"If I had those things stored in my memory, this topic would be simple,
but that isn't the case. ……Your explanation being easy to understand, if
you made that the basis of your search, usually the probability you would find it wouldn't have been zero."
"Wouldn't have been?"
Eri's eyes filled with hopeful luminance. Felli shut her eyes in
response.
"Today of all days has been a disaster, hasn't it? There is alot of
things out there like it."
"Ah……"
It seems Eri had also come to an understanding.
The boxes and wrapping sets from gift shops aimed at Van Allen's Day had
large quantities as a selling point. Eri seemed like that type to buy
things like that. Felli also did that so she understood well.
"Therefore, by whatever means necessary, you must search using your own
power. Do you understand?"
"Fufufu……It feels hopeless."
"Look at me! well then let us begin. First, when you woke up……"
To Eri who burst out in a hallow laughter, Felli began her inquiry in
what seemed to be forceful interrogation.
The lost item disappeared between the time she left the room to when she
entered the classroom……That was certain.
The sweets stored in her bag couldn't have gone anywhere by themselves.
Still, if Eri had simply taken care to not fall, it would still be in her
bag, or so they say.
If so, didn't some sort of strange event happened to that bag?
"So, this is the place, isn't it?"
"Yes."
Eri nodded.
After the two had left the room, they headed in the direction of the
nearest tram stop, their legs stopping only when they cleared the
straight path through the forest of Yuusuiju which was enveloped in a
white haze.
This place was the only city water purification plant in the area. The
sewage from the drainage system flowed into the underground reservoir
beneath the forest, where suction from the roots hanging down from the
Yuusuiju was applied. The roots of the Yuusuiju housed a filtration process, furthermore the
remaining waste in the roots would be broken down and converted into
nutrients which periodically would be replaced with soil from the
manufacturing district.
Yuusuiju had, like the name, a hole in the trunk from which excess water
would flow out. That water would flow into irrigation canals above ground
and collect, and from there go to the mechanical department for further
filtration. The clean water would leave to become public water.
"This place, you parted with your bag here, did you not?"
"Yes, something completely took me by surprise and……"
According to Eri's information, early morning at this place, along with
the sound of water, she heard the roar of of what sounded like a
dangerous beast. At the violent sound of water, Eri was taken by surprise and ran until
she reached the police station nearby.
At that time, at the sound of water, she was taken by surprise and
dropped her bag, it seemed.
"Really, I had no idea what was happening, so I became scared and soon
after left from here."
After returning with officers from the city police, they scattered
throughout the interior. While searching for the bag, the source of the
roar was nowhere to be found.
While listening to Eri's explanation, Felli surveyed the forest.
"……if you lost it at an irrigation canal, this would be over, wouldn't
it?" While gazing intently at the Yuusuiju forest, Felli muttered.
"Please don't say such unpleasant things."
"For the time being, we will search for the bag in the vicinity of the
location you dropped it."
Leaving the grimacing Eri, Felli entered the Yuusuiju forest.
"Felli-san?"
"If there is a way, we will know soon. The lost item has yet to be
reported to the police station. After reporting, into the forest."
The Yuusuiju forest had high humidity, probably also from the
decomposition functions of the bacteria, and the hot water gushing out
from the holes. Consequently, at that place, a public bath house and a warm-water pool
had been built. The white haze enveloping the Yuusuiju was from the
resulting steam.
While steam continued to rise from the irrigation canals, Felli's group
continued to search once more.
"I can't endure this any longer."
Brushing aside the withered grass of the earth's surface and forcing her
way through the weeds for a short while, Eri lifted her head and wiped
away her sweat.
As a consequence of moving around in high humidity, her breathing grew
harsh. Their long hair clung to their cheeks and necks with a sticky
feeling.
"The condition of the clothes we're wearing seems as though we just came
out of a sauna."
Brushing away the hair sticking to her forhead, Felli was also breathing
hard.
"Moreover, we've searched this much and still haven't……"
"If there's anything we could do here, it's only to search."
She tried to encourage Eri who looked as though in a state of fatigue,
but she quietly hung her head.
"Well……once again, it truly looks like it won't work out."
"Eri-san……"
Eri showed the same dispirited smile, but that was probably her
distinctive characteristic. The moisture on their faces somehow felt
refreshing.
"For the one box of sweets I was going to give, the me that worked so
hard to come this far, had made such an absurd memory."
That was something Felli too identified with.
Having just realized, Eri became flustered and shook her head for Felli
whose expression became sullen.
"Ah, you're mistaken. That wasn't what I meant……"
It was at that time.
Zaa……
"Eh?"
"Wha"
Suddenly, from above water poured down on them. High above, the Yuusuiju
leaves were covered in moisture such that they could barely stand the
weight. Then like a chain, it all came down at once.
That instance of a downpour had swallowed up their shrieks and abruptly
ended.
The aftermath left the girls dripping wet.
"What in the……":
Dripping wet, her condition hit her all at once.
"Ah, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
There, suddenly in a large voice, laughter had overcome her, to which
Felli, who wore a startled expression, lifted her head.
"Really, we look like idiots. One box of sweets, in order to give it out,
something like this, really………"
For sometime she stood there, dumbfounded, watching Eri doubled over
laughing, but before long Eri was able to stand.
"Felli-san."
Silently being glared at, Eri stopped laughing.
"I became defiant."
"What do you mean?"
"Because I somehow became fixated on the hand made sweets, I couldn't
move on. If I select good-looking sweets from a shop somewhere, it'll be
fine. Better than searching desperately for a lost box of sweets in this
kind of place, by far it would comfort me more to show myself in front of
that person and hand him a different box of sweets."
"Y, yes……"
"Felli-san, I've decided. I will confess to that person. Yes, I don't
have time to waste for that kind of thing. If I want to meet him today, I
must immediately buy another box of sweets. Felli-san, if you have
someone you want to give something to, you don't have time to spare at a
place like this, you know. If we don't take action,"
"……someone?"
Grabbing her hand, Eri who had previously expressed a dispirited smile
changed. Had Eri's melancholy been thoroughly washed away by by the water
from the Yuusuiju? Nevertheless, with her sudden change, Felli couldn't follow.
"Come, let's hurry. For now, about these soaking wet clothes."
That is to say, this time Eri grabbed Felli's hand and dragged her in the
direction of the forest's edge.
"Eh? Say……"
"Come, let's hurry. There's not much time left, you know."
At the sudden reversal of position, for meddling, Felli was at her
mercy.
They returned to Eri's room and showered. For the time being Felli
changed, afterwhich they left as if being driven out of the room and
arrived at the mansion.
After entering her room, once again put on her uniform. Given that the
one she was wearing today was a spare, she had to overlook the shoulder
of her usual uniform. It wasn't the uniform was conspicuously soiled anywhere, but this
morning, the enthusiasm she had during the time she was wearing it, gave
it the feeling it had been magnificently trampled.
The wet, crumpled uniform was currently in a paper bag. The clothes she
borrowed were placed together with her uniform and to take for cleaning.
(Eri-san, will everything turn out well for her?)
She had no idea who the other person would be, but with the vigor Eri
displayed previously, she felt Eri would successfully give it to him.
(I will……)
Upon thinking of it, she began making preparations. Changed into her
uniform, Felli brushed her hair once more, prepared another paper bag,
and put the clothes she borrowed inside.
(At any rate, I have no choice but to search for Fon Fon.)
Before that, she would need to return to school. Felli's bag was left at
school, and inside were the sweets.
(First of all, I must return to the classroom.)
After leaving the classroom, she dropped the clothes at a nearby dry
cleaners and headed for the school building. Eri said she had run out of time so she returned to school with a
tremendous amount of vigor, but Felli felt no such pressure.
She walked, tottering.
She always walked at her own pace, but today she walked with the timing
she had become accustomed to.
She finally arrived at the school building. With class having long since
ended, the classroom was bathed in crimson light.
"I have to search for him now, don't I?"
Her mood was not lifting, so the increasing futility of the sweets was
mortifying. Felli pulled out her Dite.
First, she needed to find him. Alone in the classroom, Felli released her
flakes.
"Senpai……Felli?"
After opening the window to allow her flakes to escape, a voice came from
behind.
"Fon Fon? Do you need something?"
Pinning down the impulse to turn her head, she turned to face him and
inquired. The flakes circled behind her. Somehow, she felt exhausted.
"Err……Well, I have a request."
With just that, She understood what Layfon wanted to say. Of course,
Layfon looked troubled.
"Why does it seem……you always rely on people?"
"You understand?"
Still troubled, Layfon smiled. She was probably already aware of this.
It probably had to do with his part-time work with the city police. Just
looking at Layfon's appearance, it was probably over.
The request he was talking about probably had something to do with
Felli's Psychokinesis.
"Rather than relying on people, it's wrong to use them, however, either
way overuse of that amiable quality is the real problem, don't you
think?"
"That is possibly true, however……"
Gazing at Layfon overwhelmed by the criticism, Felli dispelled all of the
resentment that had built up over the day.
"Well then, what do you need me to do?"
With a relieved expression, Layfon briefed her on the situation.
"……Okay, no problem."
The target of the request was to find Gorneo who was captured somewhere.
After raising an eyebrow at that detail, Felli nodded.
"That's good."
"However……"
"Eh?"
"Th-……"
With her head turned, Felli reached into her bag with her hand, and
stopped.
"Th- ?"
Puzzled, Layfon tilted his head.
(Realize you idiot!)
Holding her outbursts inside, Felli took a deep breath. In that instant,
she put a bewildering thought to work.
"This is……"
Layfon's eyes widened at the thing she took out of the bag.
"Something I made, and so sample this please."
"Ah, sweets……? ……………………Felli did?"
"What is that response?"
"Ah, no no no, it's nothing. Yes"
"Uu……yes."
Opening the sweets handed to him with caution, Layfon's face became
stiff.
"Ah, the appearance, it looks splendid."
"Is that so?"
"It would be rude, so I though it would be better to eat this as soon as
I get home……"
"That is not good. Please eat it now."
"Uu……"
Having lost to Felli's glare, Layfon put one of the sweets into his
mouth.
It made the sound of a crunch, to put it simply.
"Ah, delicious……isn't it?"
Somehow feeling relieved, that expression didn't last long.
He suddenly started convulsing.
"Guu……"
"What's……"
As she said that, before her eyes, Layfon's face looked as though it was
died violet, and he began heaving.
"Guu……ge, *cough*, gufu……n, ngh…………………………………………gokun"
After doubling over and making a large gulping sound, Layfon took a deep
breath and lifted his head.
"Th, that was delicious."
"Please don't tell lies."
With a bad complexion and his face trembling bit by bit, his smile told
everything.
"……Being unskilled, I know that at least."
"Uu……"
"I brought you trouble, haven't I? Well then, shall we begin searching?"
Upon turning her back to Layfon, Felli sent off the flakes she had
released flying in every direction.
(Well, this was probably decided from the outset.)
A lonely feeling passed by her chest.
She soon found the target. Somehow, she felt she didn't fully understand
the situation, but with her feelings in front of her, it didn't really
matter.
"I will lead the way. Please follow me."
"Okay, thanks."
Layfon lifted his head, and soon took to the air, leaving the classroom
behind.
Felli sighed.
"……Ah, that's right."
Though she thought that he had left, Layfon had stopped.
"If it's something simple, I can make it so next time we should make the
sweets together."
"……You don't have to do anything unnecessary,so hurry up and go."
"Yes."
This time for sure, Layfon had dashed off.
"……Good grief."
To learn how to make sweets from the person she wanted to give them to or
something……
Appearing both pleased and mortified……With a complicated disposition,
Felli muttered.
By the time Layfon arrived, Shante's group continued observing, however
by no means did they expect to see Eri's conclusion.
"What is she, that woman……Mukiiiii!"
"Wh, what are you……"
The one confused was Gorneo. The person on Eri's mind was him……that sort
of surprise wasn't just that instant.
Above all else, that situation was brought on by Felli alone. With the
exception of that surprise, it was nothing.
Gorneo was half naked. His set of clothes weren't incomplete, but he was
half naked. The Military Arts uniform he was wearing had been shredded
nearby, and had gotten scattered. His belt had also been shredded down the middle so they were on the verge
of slipping and falling off. One side of his shoes had fallen of
somewhere. Approximately half of his fastener had fallen off, so part of his
underwear they didn't want to see shown through.
If you think about the fact that this was the 5th platoon's captain, it
would be pitiable.
That Gorneo was down below. Although on that thick, tightened chest, were
red scratches finely cut into him. The girl who instigated this was
standing right there.
In that setting, Eri was present. By what nature of chance would she
managed manage to arrive at this place, they didn't understand, but she
was here.
Really, what in the world just……?
Just a short while ago, Felli's group was just at that place, the
Yuusuiju forest. Before, they didn't go very deep, however near the heart
of the forest was an open field. If someone thought about the benefits of the warm earth, this would be
great for one's health to have an afternoon nap here. ……If it weren't for
the zone of high humidity in the surrounding area.
However, an area where people normally keep away from would probably be
most suitable.
"Shaaaa!"
"Kiiiiiii!"
What kind of fight……
Eri could be called nothing but a normal person. Clad from her head to
her torso in Karenkei, the stark naked body of the beautiful woman
flickering like fire, she and Eri began a shouting contest in strange
voices. Meanwhile, they continued to glare at each other.
With the strained atmosphere amongst other things, even though that
unknown naked beauty would crush her if she were able to move for even an
instant, that thought didn't seem to exist even in a corner Eri's mind.
"Shaa! Shaa Aaaaaah!"
If she had a mane, it would probably be standing on end. For this reason,
this beauty looked like a beast. Perhaps, Eri had heard this so called beast's voice that morning and
thought it was probably part of her personality.
However, then, who is this?
"I can't excuse this!!"
Eri was attacked by the beauty standing before her.
What level of courage.
What level of recklessness.
Even though the origin may have been jealousy, for an ordinary person to
stand and face a military artist……
Felli was secretly, deeply moved.
She came to the conclusion that she probably had to be this reckless. If
that wasn't the case, that, she probably wouldn't have run to that
helpless, stolid, insensitive, thickheaded man.
Even if it was the craze, it was no good.
Even if it was misrepresented in a different form, it was no good.
Breaking through the wall consisting of that man's unmistakable
thickheadedness would be like fighting pollutant beasts barehanded.
Wouldn't that recklessness and for sure that foolhardiness be necessary?
Pechin.
"Hafun."
After receiving the strange beauty's strike, Eri fell to the ground.
"……Well, that's why, didn't I say a miracle might not happen?"
That was, however, in a corner of that man's heart, a fragment of the
feelings Felli wished for which probably wouldn't have appeared if she
didn't say anything.
Along with that, flushing that out was the largest problem, still, after
figuring that out, all that was left was probably to have courage, but
not being reckless or foolhardy.
What kind of inconsistency is that?
Layfon appeared in that place, capturing that strange beauty with a net,
and soon after rescued Gorneo.
After mentioning it, Felli had grasped an important lesson,
"Really, I will not try a second time."
It was that kind of place, don't you agree?
