Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part A (2/2)

The sound of hard objects colliding was heard fro between hly tenthe attacker's knife inthat noise after colliding

In the past, I always failed to strike down my mother's knives and many times, the knives even stabbed into my body But this time, the speed of the enemy's knife was inferior to my mother's, hence--I succeeded

”Eh, just now…”

Senpai asked with a face full of worry

I originally thought the ene intent directed towards us suddenly vanished as though nothing had happened in the first place

Then I heard a coh I really wanted to head over to that house to confirm the situation, I couldn't leave Senpai alone unattended After all, that could very well be what the enemy wanted

I decided to observe for now… Soon after, I decided that things had probably becoain

”Phew… Senpai, are you okay?”

Senpai still kept her hands on heride-open eyes, she looked up atthat, I extended a hand to Senpai

I gripped her hand fir!”

”Huh?”

”I already heard shi+ki-san ! When you threw that knife, I feltSenpai say that makes me so happy!

Not only that, I looked around… and foundwith an expression of disbelief at us while walking by Others were si in their cars

One could hardly blame them Suddenly on the street, I had eround then picked up so and thrown it pretentiously Those people ht they had chanced upon some kind of weird perforreat… Ehehe!”

Senpai swooned alh she were a fan who had met her idol

Because Senpai always seemed so detached fro this way

But Senpai was really cute this way too Hence, all of it was justice

”It does scare eted… But Jirou-kun, your actions are evento lad you're okay, Senpai”

”Yes! I'm fine!”

Senpai expressed her safety to me in a lively manner

A layer of warmth seemed to suddenly appear in the eyes of the pedestrians and car passengers watching us

Yeah, it's true From others' point of viee probably looked like an idiot couple sitting on the roadside

The term ”idiot couple” sounded a bit outdated Next time, I'd better ask my sister to see if there's a e in public displays of affection

”I've heard that the two of you are currently having a date that shouldn't be taking place, so I ca a voice, Senpai and I both looked back in surprise at the sa there was shi+ki with her head tilted in puzzle weather, she was still wearing a lab coat over her uniform with her hands buried in her pockets as usual She le sweat drop on shi+ki's face

”Y-Yeah…”

I couldn't help but answer and got up together with Senpai

shi+ki stared at us through her bangs while saying:

”There are two throwing knives dropped on the clearing over there I have already picked the said that, she extended her hand out fro two knives held in her hand One was the knife I had thrown after picking up while the other was an identical knife that had struck the knife I threw back Both knives showed cracks apparently caused by the irettably, I don't possess that level of physical ability and skill”

shi+ki immediately returned the two knives to her pocket and swiftly brought her face up close

I felt that the blue eye was flashi+ng with a certain light

”Monjirou, you are definitely worthy as the one I selected Despite not having a Gift in this area, you not only evaded the assassin's knife but was even able to counterattack What a skills”

”You saw it?”

”No proble ever since the two of you started your date”

I totally had no idea where there was a problem in the first place but her explanation definitely made me feel quite embarrassed

”The assassin doesn't seem to be in that empty house anymore Did the perpetrator use a Gift? Or like you, it was purely superb skills? I have yet to deduce the answer to these questions Sorry”

”Oh, most of that doesn'tthe situation all along and even gathering inforirl I couldn't lower ainst, she was quite reliable indeed

Just as such feelings sprouted in ed ht

”By the hat did you put in my drink yesterday?”

”I later tried out that can of Avocado Spark That taste was certainly quite sti for the taste buds”

”Yeah, it really is…”

Think thinking about itfor that indescribable odor reaching th

”Uh, no, that's not the question I've asking!”

”You're asking about the drug? I am deeply sorry about what happened”

shi+ki bowed deeply to apologize to ize so honestly

”O-Oh”

It uardian together with Monjirou, I have decided to perform further tests to confired to death have been verified, so I , crushi+ng, incinerating, cursing, beheading, dehydrating, annihilating…”

”Hold on hold on hold on hold on hold on!”

Hearing shi+ki say a series of extreerous words, I immediately stopped her frantically

”What?”

”That's going way overboard! It sounds like you intend to try everything out onconfirood”

”Goodon rasp the situation confirratulations like hell! What's there to congratulate about!? shi+ki!”

No good This girl looked like she was serious

”Also, I can't believe you even want to annihilate me”

”I really want to knoould result if you were annihilated together with your physical forh an explosion”

”No no, I'll surely die!”

”If you die, the experiment ends”

”No matter what, absolutely no!”

”Then may I ask what extent is okay with you?”

”No extent is fine! Anyway, killing is wrong!”

”It's totally unconvincing to hear that co from you”

I was a professional killer and i

”Uh… W-Well, I haven't actually killed anyone, I should have the right to say that!”

”I see So that's the case?”

Resting a finger on the side of her lip while looking down, shi+ki see

”So, how about a double kill?”

”That's a baseball teruya already encountered it”

The culprit first killed shi+na a double kill I see

”Perhaps you think your la!”

”How regrettable Lame puns are hard to understand”

I couldn't help but feel plunged into annoyance

Watchingwith shi+ki, shi+na so out with a chuckle on the side

”shi+ki-san, Jirou-kun, you two are such great friends”

”No, but if possible, I hope you can help me out here, Senpai”

”Fufu”

Senpai partially closed her eyes and s et aith crimes!

”--Oh, however…”

”Hot seduced to death by Kaguya, right?”

”That counts as a cause of death too?”

”I believe that joke was not bad”

”shi+ki-san, y-you're so annoying…”

Going red in the cheeks, Senpai finally spoke to restrain shi+ki

I see, so once the sexual harassainst it?

”Sigh, in that sense, Senpai truly has my life and death under her control”

”I see, that's quite well said”

”So annoying, even Jirou-kun is joining in to make fun of me!”

Senpai turned her face away a little displeased I couldn't help but sht of that

If possible, I really hoped Senpai could continue living peacefully like this, serving as the girl who soothed my heart and soul

On the other hand, it was quite fun for us to be chatting as a trio

Same for the day when the murder happened Perhaps it was all thanks to shi+ki's brand of behavior, doing and saying whatever she wanted

However, I really wished froain

”I'll let you know later… The conditions for Jirou-kun's resurrection Is that okay, shi+ki-san?”

”Yes In that case, those tests and experiments won't be necessary”

”I'd like to know myself as well”

I was quite surprised to learn that there were conditions capable of killing me, at the same time, it meant that if those conditions were notthat I had become someone that was difficult to kill

Suddenly, I noticed that shi+ki, as the most interested in those death conditions, see at me

Lately, I found s

”Monjirou, were you originally thinking of using 'so' just now?”

Her tone was indifferent as always, but there was a certain kind of cold eht shoulder's scar is a forbidden power”

”Its use is limited?”

”Yeah”

shi+ki couldn't possibly be satisfied with just this explanation but she did not pry any further

Perhaps it was because shi+naain

If possible, I really didn't want to tell Senpai that I possessed a power ”that ”

”Understood Okay, let's go”

Saying that, shi+ki swiftly started walking

”Ho”

shi+ki pointed at a se connected to the land where ere, allowing us to walk directly to the island Over there were all sorts of shops, viewing platforms, caves, an excellent spot for dates

”Great, then let's go there now!”

shi+namachi-senpai seemed quite enthusiastic and I nodded

However, the assassin see with the throwing knives

Since the ene intent, of course he or she meant to kill us If that really was the case, I found it quite incredible that he or she would do it in broad daylight To be honest, unless the knives struck extre knives in one hit More precisely, it was only possible to take the target's life by piercing the throat, the head or the heart Apart fro the throat, it was very hard to achieve ”precision”

Regarding the heart, I've already explained to shi+ki and Senpai before The heart itself was a mass of muscle and needed substantial force to successfully pierce As for the head was covered by the skull which had a curved shape Even attacking with bullets, deflection was possible and difficult to cause fatal wounds fro, the throat should be aiet and required a certain level of skill In other words, even if the ene throwing knives was still unlikely to succeed

I think the ene to test my abilities

I looked over at the house just now

”Jirou-kun, hurry up”

shi+naetting a at ht there”

I hastily ran forward,evenus

This fact further heightenedthe long bridge, reaching the island--

”Oh my, isn't that…”

I looked in the direction shi+ki pointed and found Fujisato and Kuhou standing in front of the souvenir shop opposite the parking lot

Although we just had lunch together yesterday, it was quite a rare sight to see the two of theether Fujisato was my classmate but did not join the library monitors or any clubs Kuhou was a member of the library monitors and also part of the kendo club, but ere in different year groups In other words, although both girls were having lunch with me yesterday, it still felt quite unexpected forout as close friends

They also seeirls instantly showed an incredulous expression

”Hey! Monjirou, I'd never expect you to be out on a date with two girls at once!”

Fujisato pointed at me, surprise written all over her face

”Oh dear, Senpai really isn't to be underestimated”

Kuhou added as well Ar

”hello What a rare coether!”

Fujisato earing clothes very siazines, all of her attire consisted of this year's su clothing suited to her ohi two alave off a feeling of a good match I couldn't help but feel a bit touched to be able to ad

”Yes, we just happened to ht, I never expected you guys to appear as well That's evento ether I'm very happy to run into you”

If all this could be attributed to fate, of course it orth celebrating However, the attack just now made me suspicious whether this was all coincidental But considering the tiirls ere already here ht be innocent

”shi+naain after seeing you yesterday”

”Oh, hello to you two I' Senpai's answer, the two girls then turned their gazes to shi+ki I was just about to offer assistance in introductions when I noticed shi+ki stepping forward on her own

”Nice to uya's servant and Monjirou's slave”

Although I had expected so nonsensical from her, shi+ki's self-introduction turned out to be way too nonsensical

”Ehhhhhhhh!? M-Monjirou!?”

”Hmm… Servant and slave, what a crazy position!”

Co away in deep thought… I had expected these reactions already

Hu situations cal as they were able to predict future events shi+ki would ht, Kuhou would remain coically, hence it was only natural to think there wasn't a problem

Suddenly stabbed to death, suddenly turned i so all kinds of situations, perhaps I had already learned how to face et along”

”You're not going to deny it!?”

Fujisato's perfect criticisratified If possible, I really hoped that Fujisato could beco ht man

”I feel quite troubled that neither of you denied it Hence, I will express denial: all that was a joke just now”

”Pheondering when did Monjirou transforlasses-wearing type… I was scared for a moment there…”

Fujisato pressed her hand on the chest area of her loose garh I was very curious on what fiendish glasses-wearingthe situation

Because looking at the two girls, shi+na

These two girls were still suspects It was possible for either of them to have killed me or shi+namachi-senpai, and to think they were able to chat with us and joke around so calmly… I really didn't want to believe that!

Precisely because of that, I would be much more relieved if they could be cleared of suspicions I found onists anted to believe in heroines and friends

But in that kind of story, those people often turned out to be the culprit so I absolutely could not be careless

”Are you three on a date?”

”It would be nice if it were a date”

I led

”Yes, I invited both of theood friends so I hoped they could becoood friends with each other too”

”I see”

Fujisato giggled and stared at e of ”that's lovely, nishi+shi+” to h, yeah, it's lovely, okay?

”Then what about you, Fujisato and Kuhou? What were you doing just now?”

I started to check their alibi Senpai and I had been attacked roughly ten minutes earlier If they had arrived here prior to that, then things would be fine

”My hobby here is feeding cats Whenever I have a day off from summer supplementary lessons or work at the store, I'll most likely co lot wherearound

Speaking of which, there were really a ton of cats on this island, perhaps because there were fish lot, which et hit by cars This was indeed quite a suitable place for cats to live

”I live nearby, so I just happened to be on a walk before e's opposite shore and told us that There was a tall building in the direction where she was pointing That was probably Kuhou's hoot here, yeah? I was just saying to Nagi 'fancyyou here' when you three popped up!”

”Yes Adding to that, I was crossing the bridge when Fujisato-senpai happened to pass by me”

”Wow, that really happened? Sorry, I didn't notice at all!”

”You were riding your bike so casually, Senpai, it didn't sit ith th, walking to cross it would take roughly fivefroe would also take five hly No matter what, if they hurried, both of them could still make it in time

However, ould the culprit deliberately rush here after a us fro suspicious from their explanations and it really seemed like they had appeared here by coincidence However, shi+na about soether and said:

”Oh right, Fujisato-san and Kuhou-san, would you happen to be free tonight? If it's agreeable with you, would you like to come to my room for a chat?”

That was--no mistake about it

One of shi+nas

”Wow, I'endary clock tower! I'm free today so it's totally fine!”

Fujisato see many ti today The kendo hall is at school so , Senpai?”

Kuhou had participated in one of these gatherings before, so she agreed readily this time as well

”With shi+ki-san as well, let's all have a fun tiether!”

”We will!”

”Yes, I understand”

Fujisato and Kuhou both looked happy and I couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief

They had both agreed readily to Senpai's invitation Based on that point, they really didn't seem like culprits

Of course, it was a bit unreasonable for me to suspect them just based on the fact of this coincidental encounter In that sense, shi+ki was actually a possible culprit too

I looked at shi+ki and found her staring at Fujisato and Kuhou the whole tiaze those eyes under her bangs were showing, I noticed that her hands, buried in her lab coat pockets, were currently htly

”shi+ki-san, is that okay?”

”Yes I intend to ht's pajamas party”

”S-Smart?”

”They're transparent”

”H-How can that be acceptable?”

Going red in the cheeks, Fujisato secretly glanced at me

If I had honestly said 'I won't feel particularly happy even if I saw shi+ki in transparent paja to scorn me

In that case, my only chose was to…

”You must wear theo 'affirorous retort made me feel incredibly refreshed

”Perhaps you till have to take the trouble to bring pajamas too Just normal pajamas will do”

shi+ki's reminder elicited a troubled look on Kuhou's face

”Hmm… I usually sleep in tracksuits or t-shi+rts and shorts, so I don't think I have decent looking paja a tracksuit indeed last time Compared to the other people's spectacular pajauess that was probably one reason e got along so well

”Well… I can lendthat the soft and frilly kind of paja Senpai's suggestion, I couldn't help but iine Kuhou dressed in a soft and frilly pink pajaht suit her unexpectedly well

”It'll definitely suit Kuhou!”

”R-Really? I've never worn soft and frilly pajao easy on irls chat happily about pajamas, I couldn't help but wonder: should I also prepare siht: these girls probably won't find ht?

shi+ki quickly walked over to my side and said in a barely audible voice that only I could hear:

”If these two are the culprits, then tonight will be the cli about?

In other words… If the culprit was one of the to expose this fact… So Senpai invited the such intentions?

Still in the dark, Fujisato and Kuhou continued chatting happily with Senpai

I couldn't help but think: I can't believe Senpai is doing this kind of deceptive behavior…

But if one of the deceived

--However, even if that was the case…

I still couldn't accept it I felt coht fist

”If you believe thes clearly and carefully If both of them are innocent, then I won't suspect the was for clearing up suspicions

After understanding that, with a heavy heart, I watched the three girls ere currently laughing together in harmony