CK 63

Chapter 63…

To Run or Not to Run
Maybe I’ve Misunderstood

The mid-July sun was mercilessly hot. Especially during the day, it was unbearable.
Because I had to take frequent breaks, my training efficiency had dropped.

I envied the Japan branch of the Association, with its indoor training facility.
I’m out here fighting to protect peace and secrecy, aren’t I? You’d think they could give me a little more support.

…Yeah, the current upper management at the Association is stingy.

Grumbling internally, I collapsed onto my back in the small patch of shade at the edge of the usual abandoned parking lot.

How should I defeat Scorpio?

I’d been moving my body while thinking about it, but still hadn’t come up with any decisive idea.

On top of that, there’s the chance Corvus might show up too.
…What should I do?

The sunlight made my eyes sting a little, so I covered them with my right hand as I thought.

Suddenly, something cold touched my forehead.
Reflexively, I grabbed it with my left hand.

My palm grew cold where I held it.

Judging from the shape… a plastic bottle?

Then, from above my head, I heard a voice say, “You’re scary when you react like that.”
Hanayama’s voice.

So it was Hanayama’s doing.

I moved my right hand away and opened my eyes.
There she was, crouched down, peering into my face.

After confirming she had moved away from directly above my head, I sat up and replied.

“Don’t just silently put things on someone’s forehead when they’re not paying attention.
Also, I thought you’d gone home.”

She’d come along with me when I moved here from my room.
But at some point she’d vanished, so I assumed she’d gone back.

“I went home to get a cooler bag, then bought that on the way back. It’s for you.”

I looked at the bottle in my hand—it was a sports drink.

…Well, I might as well accept it.

Still, was Hanayama always like this?
As I stared at the bottle, she spoke again.

“Would you have preferred something sweeter?
I figured this one was better, so I picked it.”
“No, that’s not it. …You’re surprisingly considerate, you know that?”
“…What exactly do you think I am, Insei-kun?
I just don’t go out of my way to get friendly with people.”
“I see. …My bad.”
“It’s fine.”

I’d always thought of Hanayama as the type who wasn’t interested in other people.
But maybe… I’d misunderstood her.

As I took a sip of the drink she’d given me, that thought crossed my mind.
Then Hanayama spoke up again.

“Can I ask you three questions?”
“…Doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
“Okay, first one. Why do you fight so hard?”

…That one gets asked regularly.
Actually, I think I told her before.

But since she asked, I’ll answer within the limits of what I can disclose.

“I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do.”
“Does it have to be you?”
“…In part, yes.”
“In part? So there’s another reason?”

I cut the conversation short with, “I’m not answering that.”

…No need to go any further.

Hanayama only said, “I see,” then took an ice pop out of the plastic bag she was holding.
She unwrapped it and took a bite.

…So she probably bought mine as a side purchase while getting her own ice pop, huh?
The cynical thought crossed my mind, but I decided not to say it—she’d already scolded me for my sharp tongue earlier.

After swallowing her mouthful, Hanayama spoke again.

“Second question. What would you do if you saw an ordinary crime happening?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean—would you help, or ignore it? Which one?”

So this is a follow-up to the last question?
Maybe she’s trying to probe my true nature from different angles.

…Annoying, but this one’s different enough that I’ll answer.

“It depends on the scale. In that area, I’m no different from a normal high schooler.
If it’s something like purse-snatching or theft, I’ll interfere with the culprit.
If it’s something bigger, I’ll call the police. That’s all.”

Hanayama said, “Hmm, I see,” and took another bite of her ice pop.

…She sounded awfully casual about it, but whatever.

After swallowing again, she spoke.

“Last question.
Can a person only use one constellation’s power?”
“For now, yeah.”
“Don’t you find that inconvenient? You’ve collected other ones too, right?”
“…There are times I wish I could use them.”

“‘Wish you could use them,’ huh,” she repeated, eating the last bite of her ice pop.
Then she put the stick back into the wrapper.

Meanwhile, I found myself slightly puzzled—this last question was different in direction from the first two.
But since it wasn’t something problematic to answer, I decided to let it go.

Instead, I asked one question of my own.
She agreed to answer, so I spoke.

“Why did you come all the way here with me?”
“Because I was bored.
And besides, if I’m here, I can tell you right away if the other two contact you, even if you’re not checking your phone.”

…That’s true.
When I’m adjusting magic, I probably wouldn’t notice my phone ringing.

“I see,” I said, and stood up.

Time to think more about countermeasures against Scorpio and Corvus.
But before that, I remembered something I’d forgotten to say.

“…Thanks for the drink.”
“You’re welcome.”

In the end, though, that day—no miasma, no Fallen Stars, and no constellation entities appeared.