Hidan no Aria:Volume6 Chapter3

3rd Ammo: Caravan 1 -Field Trip-

Amdo's educational building is made up of 1 level above ground, and 3 levels below ground, the levels underground are wider than the level on top.

'Underground'. For Academy Island, which is an artificial island, that certainly is a curious phrase.

Passing through the rigorous checks on the first floor and continuing underground...I arrived at a corridor that was filled with display cases filled with an innumerable amount of guns.

This place...this is an empty space that makes me nervous no matter when I come.

With Reki and Haimaki, who were following me, I passed through the corridor, ringing the doorbell of Workroom B201, which was adorned with a plaque which "Hiraga Aya" written on it--

"I'm in! The door's unlocked!"

From inside, Hiraga-san's childlike voice reached my ears.

I opened the door, noticing that the inside seemed to be a temple devoted to Don Quixote, as there were things, things, and more things everywhere.

Tools of all sizes, components of guns from every era...springs, wrenches, the hundreds of screws in plastic cases, they were all mixed about, stacked until they reached the ceiling.

"Hiraga-san, it's me. Tohyama."

I shuffled sideways, taking care not to touch what had already become a forest of components, walking inside.

The workbench that was situated within the room had a DVD player and a TV, which was broadcasting a shoujo anime, on it.

Beside it--*KCCCHHH!* Having been welding something, Hiraga-san twisted her head towards me.

"Oohh!? Tohyama-kun brought Reki-san with him! You guys are getting along well!"

Shunting the protective goggles upwards, Hiraga-san used those innocent eyes to look between Reki and I.

"This is...I didn't bring her, she followed me herself. Also...Is it completed?"

I looked around, asking.

"Yeah, you guys are getting along well! You two really match!"

Said Hiraga-san, pointing two fingers at Reki and I.

"No, that isn't how this is..."

"Aha! You're getting along well!!"

...Is that all you can say?

"No we're not. What I'm asking is, is the object I contracted you for completed?" [1]

Hearing me ask again, the lightbulb above Hiraga-san's head flickered on.

"Aha! The contract is finished too! It's finished!"

Saying this, she went deeper into the tool rack...*Kcch*. Just like a squirrel entering a tree, she stuck her head and torso within.

It looks like, if she doesn't do that, she can't reach it.

"Uuu! Just a little bit more!"

Her SSS-sized uniform snagged by a nail on a shelf, Hiraga-san, only her bottom half visible, wriggled her hips, twisting them around, and those legs, as thin as an elementary school student's, were also struggling.

...It's amazing that you can remember where it is, at least.

Well, Hiraga-san is a genius girl, which even U.S. arms manufacturers scouted because of her talent after all. The structure of her brain is, most likely, slightly different from normal.

...*Kch, Kccch*

Ah, she came out.

"This may be a western blade, but it is a masterpiece that is no worse than the best of Japanese katanas. Tohyama-kun really has something good!"

Screw and springs stuck inside her hair, Hiraga-san, *Shh*

Handed over a double-edged sword which had a body which seemed to glow with a fierce light.

Ooh. It's been completely modernized.

What I had just received was the scramasax that Sherlock had used in EU.

At the end of the battle, I borrowed this to mount the ICBM...but because of its unnatural sharpness, I had been using it up till now. What I had contracted Hiraga-san to construct was something fitted for me, a reinforced rubber handle as well as a hidden sheathe--

I placed it in the sheathe behind my back. Yeah, it's completely hidden. As expected of Hiraga-san.

"Also, I also modified this, as you requested me to. I accelerated the speed of magazine release, added a three burst-fire setting, as well as full auto!"

This time, Hiraga-san used those small hands to hand over a gun.

*Click* This heavy, large pistol is--a Desert Eagle.

It is one of the world's most powerful semi-automatic pistols, my father's legacy.

Reki glanced towards the pitch-black body.

"The only person in Amdo able to modify it to such a level is Aya! Amazing, right!?"

Said Hiraga-san, thrusting forward her flat chest, no different from Aria's, with pride.

I raised the gun, aiming it towards the wall. In the sight, Jeanne, Vlad, Patra, Sherlock--the appearances of all the superhumans that we had fought till now appeared.

...Regretfully, I'm still a Butei High student.

EU, as a group, may have splintered, but its remnants are still on the run. So, it's practically certain that one of those ability users, just like in manga, will attack.

And, for the sake of resisting, of course I strengthen my equipment.

Following this line of thought, I found this Desert Eagle from out of my the things my father left behind.

The bullets that this Desert Eagle uses is a bullet that has three times the stopping power of the 9mm parabellum ammo that my Beretta uses, a .50AE.

However, guns...aren't like in games, where once they are equipped, they increase the user's power. To put it simply, the user has to undergo training for such a thing to happen.

Especially this Desert Eagle, whose barrel and recoil are both abnormally strong.

My father, who was a strong man, nearly 2 meters in height, could use it freely, but for me, it's a gun that is too heavy, and too powerful. If I want to be able to use it without impediment, I have to undergo more practice.

And as such, I temporarily--decided only to use it when I was in Hysteria Mode.

After all, even if I have a powerful gun, it's meaningless if I can't hit the target.

I sheathed the gun, slipping it into the holster that Hiraga-san had provided--one that was strapped to one's thigh.

Beside me, Hiraga-san's round eyes were glowing with an innocent light, and she looked up at me, saying

"Mmm, Tohyama-kun is really cool like this! A black Desert Eagle really fits a dark boy like you!"

Dark boy?

"Isn't that right, Reki-san!"

....*Shh*

Reki nodded her head in agreement.

"Reki-san, remember to buy the components for your armor-piercing bullets. I've already prepared amazing bullet tips, made out of reinforced tungsten carbide. Thanks for the patronage♪"

Her hands put together, brought up, touching her face, Hiraga-san flashed a large, salesman-like, smile.

*Shh*

Apparently also one of Hiraga-san's old customers, Reki nodded.

...Selling weapons to me as well as selling weapons to Reki, it looks like, the more we fight...the richer Hiraga-san becomes. And, she herself doesn't have to fight. Arms dealing, it's such a profitable job.

Her face may be innocent, but she's a terrifying person. Hiraga-san, that is.

A few days after I started to live with Reki--The Reki humanization plan that I had prepared for the sake of the Lima Syndrome received a small opportunity.

That day, we had swimming class, but Ranbyou-sensei, whose blind date appeared to have failed again, vented the full force of her rage upon the boys of class B, destroying the swimming pool. It was hard for me to imagine a lone person destroying a swimming pool with her bare hands, but ultimately, this is only something that the Vice-Director of Assault, the monstrously strong woman, Ranbyou, could do.

Repairing the swimming pool would take some time...so the swimming class that the girls in class C were going to have was pushed back till after school.

And after school--I didn't want it to look like I'm peeping, but I still observed the swimming pool--I noticed that Reki, also wearing the school swimsuit, was standing with the other girls by the edge of the pool.

(This means that I can temporarily move freely...!)

I immediately put my body into gear, burdened by one extra sword and gun--using the fish sausages as a lure, I locked Haimaki in the sports warehouse before running to the rendezvous point with the person that was going to aid me in my plan.

I arrived at a point close to the center of Academy Island--the tennis court by the second field.

*Bch. Bch. Shh.*

...Inside the fence, wearing white tennis outfits, the girls in the tennis club were sweating profusely.

Ignoring what they're like normally, in this kind of situation, they're fulfilling their time of youth, of vigor.

But, opposed to them, pressing himself into the fence, was someone, looking exactly like a prison inmate. Probably for the crime of peeping.

Ah! Jeanne-san!

I looked towards one side of the court, towards where the freshmen girls were shouting, and over there--*Shh!*

Two strands of hair hanging on either sides of her cheeks, the rest tied up with a ponytail, Jeanne delivered a sharp smash, currently in a furious match with a curly-haired member of the tennis club.

(Hey, that...)

Just now, I thought that I had seen it.

Jeanne's tenniswear--

That skirt, following in the wake of Jeanne's killer smash, had floated upwards.

*Bch, Whoosh*--

And every time she swung her racket...

Her pure white triple-layered, frilly underskirt would, for an instant, be completely exposed.

No. I understand. That isn't underwear. It's just sportswear, it doesn't matter even if anyone sees it.

What I had thought I saw was just a mistake my brain had made, unable to tell the difference.

But...that underskirt, almost like underwear, wasn't the only problem.

Having long, graceful legs which a Japanese person would be hard pressed to have, (well, now that I think about it, she isn't Japanese,) her thighs were full, and delightfully supple. Also, they were amazingly white, almost like snow.

Every time her skirt flipped up, those were exhibited for all to see, so the stimulation of arousal was hardly normal. This is too dangerous, right?

Damn it. Why is it that the girls' tennis outfit is designed such that it appears to be showing off their lower body? To the designer: Get the hell out here! I wouldn't mind using my sword to help fix your broken mind.

...Actually, now that I think about it, doesn't it really look like I'm peeking?

I just came here to find Jeanne...

For the sake of preventing any suspicion that I would be doing such a thing, I dropped my head, and as I fought an inner battle with Hysteria Mode, which was threatening to activate...the sound of the match stopped.

I jerked my head up, only to see a freshman kouhai shouting, "Please use this towel!", running towards Jeanne, who appeared to have achieved a landslide victory.

...Jeanne, you're pretty popular, aren't you. Even if among the female students. I may not know why, but it seems that she's a beautiful person that's just as attractive to girls.

With such splendor, she was received in a manner befitting a princess.

--In the time since the Plea Bargain that allowed her to transfer from EU to Butei High, Jeanne had already enrolled in Informa, joined the tennis club, and like now, she was living a fulfilling high school life.

And opposed to that, having been defeated by her in the underground warehouse last spring, I...am being restricted by a robot girl and a wolf.. What have I gotten myself into?

Not able to avoid spiraling into deep depression, I--

"--Tohyama."

Heard Jeanne, who had finally noticed my presence.

"Jeanne, come, quickly."

I waved towards her.

Her silver hair partitioned, hanging down her back, she had changed into her uniform, striding out of the clubroom for the tennis club...

At a distance around 2 meters away, *Tap*, she stood her ground.

"Don't come any closer. Tohyama."

"Why?"

"In the club activities just now, I sweated a little."

Said Jeanne, shifting the racket that was slung over her back, under her shoulder.

"But, because of your hurry, I did not have time to shower. As such, I only used a wet towel to wipe my body, and perfume to mask my scent."

...You're still so formal.

Also, did you say you used perfume? Even though you're still a high school student. As expected of the ojou-sama who holds the blood of nobles.

"There's no need to pay attention to that. Let's talk as we walk."

*Fyuu* A gust of wind blew past--and Jeanne's scent, a comfortable, grassy fragrance, wafted from her body.

Hey, you're not sweaty at all, are you?

Before, I had heard Nii-san...No, I should say Kana...say that just relying on perfume wasn't fully effective, and that only when perfume is mixed and melded perfectly with a woman's natural scent, will it be able to create a pleasing, moving fragrance.

And the Jeanne as of now had completely achieved this.

In Butei High, which is full of the acrid stink of gunpowder, you really are an unparalleled, fresh existence.

Jeanne frowned, a little hesitant--but she walked this way, keeping by my side.

Glancing at her, who was walking beside me, that skirt, following the school rules perfectly, was hiding a gun.

--A CZ100, huh? That's a good gun.

"The fact that Aria and you separated and that you're in a team with Reki now--has become quite big news in Inquesta."

"You're kidding me...Somebody like me isn't qualified to be a topic of discussion, right?"

"Tohyama, you yourself may not know this, but the students in Butei High, especially those in Assault, believe that you have excellent abilities in battle, and from the shadows, they respect and admire you. However, they're afraid of your reaction, so they aren't too open with their admiration. To tell the truth, after hearing about your induction exam, I looked at you in a new light."

Ha-have mercy on me.

And, up till now, whether it is a good or bad thing I'm not sure of, but I'm still looked up to by those in Assault.

"This is also written in the reports that Masters keeps. They said that, while there are some ups and downs with your status, you possess the greatest alternative power, your charisma, your leadership--you just lack integration with others, and there are some issues with your personality."

Issues with my personality, huh?

How troublesome.

"Mmm, well...there's no need to talk about me. Rather, let's speak about Reki. What have you found out?"

I thought about what Aria had said from back then--A battle between Butei is a battle of information.

What kind of opponent the enemy is, what are his weaknesses, what does he like, what does he hate...the first side able to grasp these characteristics has an overwhelming advantage.

But, if one acts by himself, he will be noticed immediately, and as such, contracting a third party is common practice.

The person that I had contracted in April was Riko from Inquesta, and the person that I had contracted this time was Jeanne, who had taught Riko how to sift through information. After all, the teacher should be better than the student, and jokes and false information tend to appear in Riko's reports.

"Elite snipers will often try to hide information about themselves, and Reki has this tendency as well. As such, the amount of information that exists about her is extremely limited."

Well, that's what I expected.

Even living together with her, I hadn't really figured anything out about her.

"Also, her past history is a blank. The success rate of missions after entering Butei High is 100%, an impeccable record. But, she is extremely selective with her missions."

"What does that mean?"

"Presently, all I can say is, Reki only accepts a mission under three patterns."

"Three patterns...?"

"The first, a teacher asks her directly to do so. Under certain, rare circumstances, Masters will assign the contract to specific, excellent students...although these cannot be solved outright because of special conditions, it is possible to earn a large amount of credits, nullifying the need to take an exam. You ran into something like this during your first year, right?"

Now that she mentions it...when I was in Assault, such a thing did happen.

I thought back to that situation, and thinking of buying a can of coffee, I slotted a coin into a roadside vending machine.

"--the second, missions with an LD Score of over 900"

"900...!?"

Shocked, my hand slammed into the button of the vending machine.

LD Score is a ranking system, assessing the difficulty of a Butei mission. I don't normally pay attention to it, but special, outside organizations will use the value as an evaluator for the compensation.

300~400 are commissions meant for student Butei, 500~700 are commissions meant for professional Butei, and that is basically how it's divided.

--But, above 900.

In even elite Butei organizations, they are missions that only the best of the best would ever dare accept.

"Ah...I was so surprised that I pushed the button for hot."

Yet, it's amazingly hot right now...So unlucky.

Grumbling, I took the black coffee out, and Jeanne, standing by my side, took it from my hands.

"...Recently, my magic hasn't been very stable. But, I can still do something like this."

*Pa*, the can of coffee that she threw back...had become cold.

Oh! The Diamond Dust Witch, Jeanne, can use her ability for something like this. How convenient.

"Reki...accepted several of those maximum difficulty sniping missions. And, speaking in light of the fact that she still has a 100% success rate, we can already determine that she is either an ability user or a sorcerer."

Despite the fact that she herself was an ability user and sorcerer, Jeanne still said those words with a look of awe.

"...You said that there were three patterns, right? What's the third?"

"It's 'Eagle Eye'."

"Eagle Eye...? Reki?"

This rather unexpected content made me tilt my head, not fully understanding.

The "Eagle Eye" in question is something that takes advantage of snipers' prodigious eyesight to observe a target from far away--a codename for a reconnaissance mission.

That mission, where both the credit and money compensation isn't high, is such that, usually, only inexperienced freshmen or trainees in Snipe accepts it...

"Tohyama. You've been observed before. At least two times before."

"...What did you say?"

"The first time, the contractor was Aria. The date was April the 2nd. She contracted Reki to be her "Eagle Eye", so she could figure out which entrance you leave Inquesta from, and lie in wait."

Ah. That past incident, where we went to Oumi to look for that kitten.

At that time, thinking of how to combat Aria, I took a mission, trying to escape outside--but Aria, lying in wait outside the Inquesta building, appeared before me.

So, that was Reki, observing me from afar, reporting to Aria?

She really sticks her head where it's unwanted.

"And in July, she accepted a mission from Masters, the content being, observe the third boy's dormitory. At that time, Masters had apparently been warned by the police, being told to observe an empty room...since it's Butei High, they have to strengthen their alertness. And, Reki accepted that mission."

I remembered that too. That was the time where Shirayuki saw Aria in a bunny girl outfit, and she went trigger happy on her M60. At that time, Riko was using the Dragunov's scope to observe my room.

"And, the 'Eagle Eye' missions that Reki accepts all fall under certain criteria. Only when it involves you, Aria, or Shirayuki, will she accept."

"Aria, Shirayuki, or I...?"

What kind of pattern is that? I don't understand at all.

But, I understand a little now...from the beginning, Reki has been paying attention to what goes on around me.

And the only person who didn't know--was me?

"The first time I investigated, I found some other pieces of information, but many of those were unconfirmed. This is all that can be reported. Alright--did you gather anything yourself?"

A few days ago, after Reki and Aria's battle...I had explained my situation under Reki's Sniper Restriction, as well as Lima Syndrome, which was my adopted plan of action, asking Jeanne for assistance...

At that time, Jeanne made one request: "As you're by Reki's side, give me a clue as to what I can investigate about her."

"What I have gathered is--sound."

"Sound?"

"Reki always wears earphones, hearing these mysterious sounds. Yesterday, I took advantage of the time she was in the shower, and borrowed her headphones and MP3 player...copying it into a mini-SVD card."

"Shower...? What kind of scene is that? That you two have."

Jeanne said, flashing a look of suspicion towards me. I'll just ignore that.

I plugged my earphones into my phone, handing one side to Jeanne.

"Listen to this, see whether you can understand it."

"Mm..."

We stopped talking, each of us wearing one side, listening intently.

Before this, I had tried listening to the sounds...It was slightly eerie, but it really was just the sound of the wind, playing endlessly.

"..."

Because the cord was too short, our heads slowly approached each other as we listened...*Shh*. Jeanne's long, silver hair, fluttering in the midst of the wind, lightly brushed my cheek.

Uu. This feminine sensation is really hateful.

But, I'll have to tolerate it.

"--Here. It may be extremely small, but I heard a small sound. Not wind. But, I can't make it out..."

"Mm..."

Jeanne closed her eyes, her expression firm, completely concentrated on the sound.

Waiting to see for Jeanne to comment, I looked directly at her face.

...

......

...Even so...she really is so beautiful. This girl.

Long eyelashes. A shining nose. Lips like the petals of a rose.

This cool image. Rather than a witch, she's more like an actress.

"I can't hear it. But, this is certainly a clue...Wh-what are you doing, Tohyama? Why are you looking at me?"

Widening those sapphire-like blue eyes halfway through her speech, Jeannne noticed that I was looking at her from an extremely close distance, and she pulled her head away.

"Ah, no, I was just waiting for your comments."

I said, taking off my headphones...and passed the mini-SVD card with the music file on it to Jeanne, waiting for her to speak.

Her face slightly red for whatever reason, Jeanne cleared her throat before saying,

"This might be a clue. I happen to know someone to go to."

Her arms folded in front of her chest, forefinger and middle finger stuck out, she gestured towards the SD-card in between them.

While using her own ice-blue cellphone to call that person she "happened to know", Jeanne brought me to see--Connect. Next to Informa, it's where students are taught to support those in the battlefield through the use of communicative devices.

Connect, huh...I've never really come here before.

"I get along quite well with the Nakasorachi here."

Hearing this uncommon surname, I suddenly remembered something.

--Nakasorachi Misaki.

Connect sophomore, although we were in the same grade, I couldn't remember what she looked like, but...I was very familiar with that voice.

The reason I say that is because, very often, she acts as the operator during Assault combat.

Butei--especially the Butei in Assault, need to be able to communicate with each other through wireless headsets.

When undergoing a large-scale operation, the people that keep the complicated messages from getting jumbled, are the operators.

The operator assumes command from Connect, accurately stating the team's status to all its members. Often, they will also report the ETA of reinforcements, the change in weather etc., informing them of information that Butei in the middle of the combat cannot find out for themselves.

In the bus-jacking incident in April, telling us which bus was hijacked, as well as informing us of all the situational reports before the reinforcements took action--

-was the operator, Nakasorachi. Which is to say, she was one of the people working behind the scenes, absolutely critical to the resolution of that case.

Nakasorachi's operating is perfect. She is always amazingly calm, able to follow separate conversations with several Butei, all speaking with hurried, unclear voices at the same time. In spite of all that, she is able to pass on each and every piece of information accurately.

Even more worthy of praise is her elocution, her voice is just as clear, as pleasing to one's ear as that of an NHK anchor. I had never heard her wrong, not once.

(But, I remember that, although she is such an excellent Butei, she was only ranked as B.)

I had only heard her voice, so I did not know what she looked like in reality.

She's probably seen me before, through the small camera installed in every headset, but as for me, it was my first time seeing her.

I can't be wrong that she's a girl. She must be an honor student, radiating a graceful air.

Thinking of this, Jeanne, saying "Follow me", hurried me onwards--[2]

We walked into the Connect building, which was like a telecommunications corporation.

Under Jeanne's guidance, I arrived at the audio classroom, and it appeared that, for the sake of keeping dust outside, shoes were forbidden inside.

Changing into slippers and entering the room...because school was already over, the classroom was empty.

I looked left and right, and audio equipment was neatly stacked all around me, just like a radio station.

Jeanne and I stood a while, in the middle of this classroom, full of the scent of machinery...

"--Jeanne?"

*Tap Tap* Several types of headphones piled up in her arms, a girl ran this way from the side...but because she was carrying too many, it didn't seem as if she could see in front of her--

"He-hey."

Not hearing my warning in time, *Thud*

"Hawaa!"

She smashed into me...*Thump* Her butt hit the floor.

*Whoosh* A pair of silver-edged glasses flew into the air--and beside me, who had reached up, grabbing it, *Gcch Gcch*

The earphones that she was carrying spilled out onto the floor, the tangled wires wrapped around her head, her arms, as well as her feet, which were wearing red indoor shoes.

"Haaa."

That girl's hair wasn't only long in the back, but in the front as well, nearly blocking out her eyes.

I remembered that the male protagonist in the galge that I had helped Riko buy, had this kind of hairstyle as well.

Could it be that that's what's popular nowadays?

(...Uu...)

--Because she had fallen down, she was at my feet, and her skirt, terrifyingly enough, was in a mess.

If it was a normal guy, he'd probably be feeling quite lucky. But, that isn't me. I have to avert my gaze, looking upwards, making sure that there isn't the slightest chance that I somehow looked between those thighs. After all, safety first.

"Are you alright, Nakasorachi?"

Jeanne, next to me, asked.

Hmm?

She is...Nakasorachi...?

I couldn't help but widen my eyes, turning back towards that girl, who was still tangled because, for some reason, the wires were uncannily linked, and she couldn't get them off.

This...This is completely different from the way I imagined it.

Hearing her instructions, I really felt that she was an extremely adept person.

That girl, named Soramachi, extricated herself from the wires with Jeanne's help, and waving her hands in the air, she shouted "Glasses, glasses!" Almost like in a manga, like a dog chasing its own tail, she crawled around, tracing circles on the ground, feeling for her glasses. Are you alright?

...Which is to say, I can understand that she'd be wearing her uniform while crawling around like this...

Bu-but, those breasts...they're majestic. Shirayuki-ranked.

Ignoring what kind of feeling she gives off and judging solely by her appearance, she's an extremely dangerous girl.

And those eyes, sometimes hidden, sometimes appearing from beneath her fringe, were definitely those of a beautiful person.

I felt as if I couldn't bear to speak, and so, all I did was, like giving a dog a bone, hand over the glasses I had caught just now...

Nakasorachi went "Feh!", taking the glasses and standing up, unsteady...

"...Wh...Who...is it...?"

Nn...? Frowning, she squinted at me. *Sh, shh*

Apparently not getting a clear image, she brought her face closer to mine, putting it so close that I could feel her breathing.

Is it that her eyes aren't good? Or is it that her fringe obscures her vision, making her vision hazy? Or is it both? Anyways, finally able to see my appearance, she,

"!!"

*Shuffle Shuffle Shuffle! Thud!*

Backing up hurriedly, she smashed into the soundproof wall.

"Ah, waa, it's, a boy, bo-boy, n-no, I'm fine! I'm fine! Bo-bo, like, I like! That's how, I really feel!"

*Whoosh*

Waving her hands around manically, she was panicked to the point where I could not understand what she was saying.

Her face, obscured by her hair such that I could only see the bottom part, turned red. Ooh, that's a rapid-blushing technique able to match Aria's.

"Je-Jeanne, suddenly, suddenlysuddenly, brought a boy with her...Awaahh."

Her back sliding down the wall...*Shh*

*Shhhh*...

For some reason, the girl suddenly became alert, and she suddenly straightened her legs.

And...is that how you straighten your legs? That's an amazing X-leg. Not even Shirayuki can match that.

Afterward, putting on her glasses gingerly...

"Gl-glasses, t-th-thathan, you very much..."

She couldn't even say "Thank you very much."

Is your articulation that bad?

"Isn't this the wrong person?"

I couldn't help but turn back, asking Jeanne.

"Nakasorachi is Nakasorachi. Are you unsatisfied with my choice?"

*Zcchh* Jeanne's eyes stared directly at me...

Helplessly, once again I...looked towards that creature, who appeared to be Nakasorachi.

"Hii."

But once I looked at her, she immediately used the headphones in her hand to block her face.

"So-sorrysorry! So-sorry!"

"No, I haven't sa..."

"I-I-I-I, Jea-Jeanne-san, Jeanne-san was alone, I thought that Jeanne-san was going to come by herself, no-not, a boy, I didn't think that a boy would come, I haven't prepared my heart yet! I'm too excited! Ah, I say excited, but it isn't a happy excitement!"

*Wave Wave Wave*

As if using sign language, Nakasorachi's hands gestured wildly, without pause.

"W-Which I've only seen from the incam monitor, he's so cool, I-I didn't think he would come here, moreover, Tohyama-kun! Aah..."

Is this some kind of english quiz, "Arrange the phrases in proper order to form a coherent sentence"?

Well, I didn't understand anything of what she said...

But, this voice does belong to Nakasorachi. Such a shame.

Hold on...can this girl communicate properly?

"Tohyama, Nakasorachi is the same as you, and she has some issues with her personality. Please go to that wall."

*Shhh* While looking at me, Jeanne pointed at one corner of the room. Saying "The same? How are we the same at all?", I grumbled while walking to the wall...

*Ba*

Nakasorachi had taken a cellphone out of the pocket of her skirt, and being told something by Jeanne, *Patatatata! Patatata!* With a speed that blurred one's eyes, she entered in a cellphone number.

...Who is she calling?

Just as I had thought that, the song, "Melody of Flowers" began flowing out of my cellphone.

Eh. Me?

"...Hello?"

I picked it up.

"--Hello, nice to meet you. Saying this is a little weird, but this is the first time we have met in person. I am Nakasorachi Misaki. Sorry for just now."

Just like a radio operator, a voice, enunciating each Japanese word with absolute precision, reached my ears.

Eh?

I couldn't help but look at Nakasorachi, but Jeanne had adopted a guard-like pose, standing in front of her.

"I have the bad habit of being easily excited...so, please forgive me, I can only speak with you like this, relying on the phone--Will this be fine?"

"Eh? Ah...It's fine."

Wh-what's with this? What's with this attitude switch?