Welcome back. It’s elective time, which means math time.
“Coo…”
(Zzz…)
“And now we can draw a line perpendicular to the… … zzz.”
Is this math class or nap time!?
Maybe it’s both!
Tera leveled up! Wisdom increased by 5!
There’s probably a bamboo tree in the plaza this year, too… I think I’ll go make a wish.
You wouldn’t think it, but the protagonist does find that Shuu has posted a wish… of sorts.
As before, we choose our wish. Since we’re focusing on wisdom, we wish to rule the world from the shadows.
“I wish to take the reins of power through clever schemes and rule the world from the shadows!”
She makes her way back home, bumping into and brushing off Kazuaki on her way.
A few days later, another math class.
“Hmm… hard to say. It might never help you at all, Thielle! But, only studying things that help you in life is tiresome. Think of it as educational candy.”
Integral calculus is educational candy!? I’m not prepared to accept this…
I never found integral calculus all that delicious.
Tera leveled up! Wisdom increased by 5!
Suddenly, Ryouta flags us down.
“Tera!”
“What is it? I’m in a bit of a hurry…”
“Nothing much. Just… have you heard of the seven mysteries of St. Pigeonation’s, Tera?”
“This school even has its own horror stories? Do tell.”
“Yeah. Well… there’s one that says that sometimes students will disappear in the infirmary only to show up again as food in the dining hall and quill pens in the school store.”
“Sounds like an urban legend to me.”
“It does, but… Doctor Iwamine is pretty suspicious. Be careful, okay?”
“Pretty suspicious” is kind of underselling it.
“You go to the infirmary a lot, right? Has he ever done anything to you?”
“No, but… Well, you’re a girl, Tera. I’m a little worried.”
“That’s true. I’ll be careful.”
That’s a lie. We’re not going to be careful.
Ryouta always has been one to overthink things. Anyway, can’t keep Yuuya waiting!
Huh? Yuuya and the doctor are talking about something.
Drama is unfolding.
“You sure look like you woke up on the wrong side of the nest. What are you talking about?”
“I shouldn’t have to explain. You know exactly what I’m talking about. I have told you never to touch my desk, haven’t I?”
“And what makes you think I ever have?”
This doesn’t look too good.
“Umm…”
”! There you are, mon amie! Tera can back me up on this. We were in the courtyard together until a few minutes ago. She said she was going to the restroom, so I should go ahead. I only just got here. In other words, I haven’t had time to go rifling through your stuff, doctor. Right, mon amie?”
Seems a little off.
Just what is going on here? It sounds like the doctor suspects Yuuya of having searched his desk while he was out… I came straight from the classroom to here, so Yuuya’s obviously lying.
We can back Yuuya up, or maintain that we were in our classroom. Yuuya’s advances are a little unwanted and Shuu seems like the type who admires throwing people under the bus, so that’s what we’ll do.
I don’t even know what’s going on yet. I can’t just lie through my teeth!
“No, I was in my classroom until just now. Ryouta was there, too. Yuuya is lying.”
“… shit.”
Eloquent.
“Well done, miss Thielle. I am glad our new assistant is so astute. What a pity, Yuuya. It would seem that you are somewhat lacking in basic truthfulness. I think we need to have a long, serious discussion.”
“… alone. I’m sorry, miss Thielle, but could you leave? This is important.”
Yuuya’s face looked pretty bad. Doctor Iwamine praised me, but… What on earth is going on?
We have no idea how deep this rabbit hole goes. Well, I do, but y’know.
Our Wisdom stat is only growing, so our exam performance does too.
“Thielle!”
“Sir!?”
“Well done! You’ve gotten even better. Keep up the good work!”
“Yes, sir!”
Success!
Let’s coast on out ‘til the summer!
Sometimes it seemed long and sometimes it seemed short, but either way, it’s summer now! I should probably find out if I need to come to school to clean the infirmary at all.
“Well, I will be here just about every day the building is open… but there isn’t any real need for you to come too.”
“There’s nothing I could do to help?”
“No. Was there anything else?”
We can leave it there, or probe Shuu a little about the suspicious rumours we’ve heard. Since we live dangerously, we’re going to ruffle Shuu’s feathers a bit.
I kind of wonder about what Yuuya said last week… Maybe I’ll test the waters.
“Umm, sir? I heard that sometimes students disappear after coming in here, and…”
“Who told you?”
Way to act not-suspicious, Shuu.
“No one in particular… Everybody’s talking about it. It’s kind of like a school legend, or something.”
“So you believe in urban legends?”
“What? No, not really. Just that it would be kind of cool if it were true…”
I really, really worry about the protagonist’s lack of self-preservation instincts.
“Then we shall leave it at that.”
”???”
“That it would be ‘cool’ if you were to disappear. … or something like that. Hohohoho.”
I guess I shouldn’t have expected a straight answer in the first place. I never can tell what the doctor is thinking when I talk to him…
Well, at least we should be able to keep ourselves safely away from Shuu over the summer. A few days later, after an extended jog and a curious encounter, we find the protagonist pondering the merits of a summer job.
Maybe I should apply for a part-time job, since I have the chance?
We’ve seen it all before. That’s a lot of work.
Hmm… I think I’ll wait until I’m in college. That way I can skip lectures to go to work. Slacking off and having fun is more the highschooler thing to do. Wheeee!
There’s the kind of responsible thinking our protagonist is known for.
We’ll be inviting Shuu along for the ride, of course.
“Waaaaaaaah! It’s the doctooooor! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
Now, this is a more sensible reaction.
“…… Is that all? I’m going home.”
“S-sorry! I just… hadn’t thought you’d actually come. But I didn’t have anything better to do, so I decided that even if it was a 0.05% chance it was still worth trying.”
“You invited me based on a chance like that? Fascinating. I think I want to try studying primate ethology next. That aside, what did you want?”
“I wanted to go to the festival with you!”
“A festival? Forgive me, but I don’t ascribe to idle superstition.”
“I think 99.95% of the people there will be there just for fun, not religion…”
“… very well. I shall accompany you. In exchange for your left arm, of course.”
“M-my left arm…!?”
“Oh, would that pose problems to your active and youthful highschool lifestyle? I shall accept a lock of your hair instead, then.”
“U-umm… okay.”
Yup, he’s a pervert. Yippee.
Frankly, I think we shouldn’t be surprised at this point. The evening’s firework display starts up.
“You mean even you like fireworks, sir!?”
“Naturally! Such potential… If only I could be so grossly incandescent. Hohoho.”
Yup, he’s a memester. Yippee.
I’m not sure I want to know what he’s thinking about.
“I enjoyed myself tonight. Thank you, miss Thielle.”
And so he left, a satisfied expression on his face. I’m a little worried that he was trying to study me, but I’m glad he had fun!
The protagonist is a pure soul, but I fear for her naivete.
I think I’ll get some udon and go home before I get life counseled.
Before we leave, though, a familiar face is spotted in the darkness.
“Good evening, doctor!”
“……! Ah, it’s you. Is this any hour for a highschool student to be wandering about?”
Huh? There’s mud on his wing.
“Little of this city’s nocturnal entertainment is to be admired. Perhaps you should go home.”
You’d think it were a threat. We can obediently go home, or ask Shuu what he’s doing out here. And we do love to take an interest in Shuu.
“Umm, sir…?”
“Yes?”
“What are you doing out here, sir?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all. I was on my way home. I just happened to pass by.”
Honestly, I don’t believe Shuu lives outside the school.
“But… if you were just walking around, how’d you get all muddy?”
“…… … I had forgotten that primates retain their keen vision in the dark… Informative, indeed. Thank you, miss Thielle. Good night.”
“W-wait! You didn’t answer my question!”
“… throwing something away.”
“Huh…?”
“I was disposing of some things I no longer needed.”
Not suspicious in the slightest.
And so he hurried away into the night. Throwing something away? What? Littering is bad, doctor!
Oh, dear. We’ll head home and leave it there for the summer. Later, when school resumes, we can make more ill-advised decisions. Until next time, everybirdie!