291 She Knows When to Continue and When to Stop (1/2)

Mayuzumi slowly began recounting the tale.

The content of her story was basically the same as what Seiji had heard from Saki, but since it was from her perspective, there were some additional details.

Although she was afraid during the literature club's test of courage and storytelling game, she actually had a lot of fun being together with her good friend.

She just didn't expect such a thing to come out.

When Mayuzumi started speaking about how some entity seemed to have been summoned, she shivered intensely, and Saki, who was sitting next to her, clutched her hand tightly.

Seiji and Natsuya attentively listened to her tale.

Finally, she finished, and she laid weakly against the editor after doing so.

”Good job, Amami-san,” Natusya praised sincerely. ”Thanks for your efforts.”

”Sensei,” Seiji said admiringly, ”it was very brave of you to face your fears.”

The manga author smiled faintly.

”I understand the entire process of what occurred now. But I have a question: what happened to the literature club president and the other female student that also fell ill, just like Amami-san?” Natsuya inquired.

”Like Mayuzumi, they were struck with a long illness and suffered from nightmares every night. And, similar to Mayuzumi, they also ended up recovering in the end.” Saki continued to explain: ”That girl later ended up transferring schools, and the club president graduated one year later; we lost contact with both of them.”

Natsuya remained silent.

Seiji suddenly had a thought.

”What were the names of your club president and that female student?” he asked.

Saki looked towards him. ”The club president was named Hinako Haza, while the girl's name was... Risa Kobayakawa.”

”Oh...” Seiji muttered.

”Why did you ask about this?”

”Because I suddenly thought of a possibility,” Seiji replied.

Seiji told them about the result of Mai's investigation at Shouhei Hirai's residence, as well as how his niece Reo Tachibana seemed to be missing.

”The fact that Hirai attacked and that Sensei is having nightmares... while these two may seem unrelated on the surface, could there be some connection after all? Is it possible that this Hinako Haza or Risa Kobayakawa have some connection to either Shouhei Hirai or Reo Tachibana? It's just a sudden thought I had, and it might not even be on the mark, but... isn't it possible?”

Nobody spoke for a while as they contemplated Seiji's words.

”Indeed,” Natsuya agreed. ”You should tell Houjou-san about these two people, and perhaps she'll be able to find something out.”

Seiji immediately called Mai with his cell phone.

Mai picked up promptly, and Seiji told her about the new information. After Mai agreed to look into it, she hung up the call.

After saying that, she left.

Seiji took another sip of his tea.

”How will the treatment process work?” Saki asked.

Seiji gave her an explanation of the process.

”...And so, that's how it is. Last time, when that girl's soul was damaged, an intermediary was necessary in order to prevent additional damage. This time, there's no damage to Sensei's soul, so a direct examination should be possible. Of course, if it's required, I can be the intermediary again and assist in the investigation just like last time. After we find the root cause in Sensei's soul, we'll think of a way to eliminate it.”

Saki nodded in understanding.

After some time passed, Natsuya returned to the living room of the residence, dressed in her shrine maiden attire.

Her outfit astonished Mayuzumi and Saki once again. Mayuzumi was especially astonished; her eyes began sparkling when Natsuya walked into the room.

”It's time to begin; please follow me,” Natusya said.

She led Seiji and the others to the room at the end of the second floor.

The Yin-Yang diagram inscribed on the floor, the pentagram drawn on the ceiling, the lack of windows, white lanterns, and runes and spell formations etched everywhere... there was no end to the surprises for Mayuzumi and Saki, although Seiji had been in this room before.

Natsuya had Mayuzumi lie down on the reclining chair and then cast her spell.