06 Sato 2
Nagumo-san always kept that book carefully tucked away in her bag; it was unthinkable that she would drop or lose it.
It was likely the work of Takahashi-san’s group, who had arbitrarily decided to make Nagumo-san their enemy. It was obvious to everyone. Takahashi-san and her lot weren’t good at studying and were pointlessly aggressive, always badmouthing someone as a vent for their own frustrations.
Even when she realized the book was gone, Nagumo-san maintained a brave front. She searched around in silence and then reported it to the homeroom teacher.
During the end-of-day homeroom, the teacher asked if anyone knew where the book was. Takahashi-san said,
“Isn’t it her own fault for bringing things that have nothing to do with school?”—
practically a confession—and laughed with her cronies.
The teacher looked like he wanted to say something, but he couldn’t exactly suspect a student without evidence. Homeroom ended in the worst possible atmosphere, and after-school began.
Thinking back, has anything ever actually been solved in a school homeroom?
Usually, things just end on a sour note. Indeed, Takahashi-san and her group—the prime suspects—were already trying to leave. If things stayed like this, the case would remain unsolved forever.
However, that’s when Kobayashi-san spoke up.
“Takahashi-chi, let us see inside your bag for a sec. There’s a chance it might’ve gotten in there by mistake.”
“Takahashi-chi” was a nickname that only Kobayashi-san used for Takahashi-san. Even though it hadn’t caught on at all, Kobayashi-san’s heart must be made of steel for her to keep using it.
“What, Kobayashi? You suspecting us?”
Takahashi-san flinched slightly. In the class hierarchy, Kobayashi-san was higher up because she had many friends and connections with the upperclassmen.
“No, I’m not doubting you! But there’s always that one-in-a-million chance. Come on, Takahashi-chi. Look, if this becomes a problem tomorrow and ends up in an all-school assembly, it’ll be a pain, right? It’s better to prove you’re uninvolved now so it’s easier later. I’m planning to have everyone open their bags, not just you. Right, Sensei?”
“O-Oh…”
The indecisive, 30-year-old single homeroom teacher was easily pushed through by Kobayashi-san.
Hearing that, Takahashi-san thought for a moment and then abruptly opened her bag.
“See? A big book like that wouldn’t fit in here, would it?”
She showed the contents. It had a pouch, a hand mirror, a mini brush, and so on. It was almost empty, with no textbooks in sight. Honestly, isn’t that a problem in itself?
The other girls with her followed suit and opened their bags. Their contents were similar to Takahashi-san’s, though they did have the printouts we were given today, showing at least a shred of a conscience.
“OK, OK! I’ll vouch for the fact that Takahashi-chi isn’t the culprit. Sorry for stopping you while you were heading home.”
Seeing Kobayashi-san’s bright face, Takahashi-san and her group seemed to think they’d successfully established their innocence, leaving the classroom with smirks on their faces.
After watching them go, Kobayashi-san called out to Nagumo-san.
“Nagumo-san, those guys didn’t have it, so the book is still in the school.”
It seemed Kobayashi-san’s goal in checking their belongings was to confirm that the book was still on the premises.
“Thank you, Kobayashi-san. For checking.”
Nagumo-san thanked her with a slightly troubled expression. These two weren’t exactly “best friends,” but Kobayashi-san was always looking out for Nagumo-san in one way or another.
“Takahashi-chi and her group aren’t that bad, really. They just still have that elementary school vibe. They probably didn’t rip it or burn it; it’s likely hidden somewhere.”
“Then I’ll do my best to find it,”
Nagumo-san shrugged. Not angry, not lamenting—just composed. Even in a situation like this, she was a cool beauty.
“I’ll help too! Anyone else want to join this volunteer group?”
When Kobayashi-san said that in a bright tone, several energetic classmates raised their voices. Since I wasn’t that close to Nagumo-san, I didn’t know if it was okay for me to join. I hesitated and missed my timing.
I’m always like this. I can’t act reflexively; I can’t reach out a hand to someone in trouble, even when I know I should. But…
As my gaze wandered as if searching for an anchor, I locked eyes with Kobayashi-san.
“Sato-chan, you’ll help us look too, right?”
Kobayashi-san said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. This was the amazing thing about her. It was like she could read minds, saying exactly the words you wanted to hear. You could see why everyone liked her.
So, for the time being, we started searching the classroom thoroughly, but we couldn’t find it easily.
Just as we were about to expand the search outside the room, Shiba-san came to our class. A lot of other students were following her. They were probably all people from the reclaimed land.
“Sakurako, we all came to help!”
Shiba-san said with a playful wink. The disappearance of the book was a form of bullying, but she was the kind of bright person who could blow away that darkness.
Even so, Nagumo-san was surprisingly popular. Was the bond between the people from the reclaimed land that strong?
While I was thinking that, people from my own elementary school started joining in one after another.
Perhaps where someone lived didn’t matter all that much. It was just a line I’d drawn myself.
From there, it felt like a treasure hunt as we started searching the whole school.
Thanks to Kobayashi-san and Shiba-san cheerily egging everyone on, it became a competition to see who would find it first. From the classrooms to the toilets to the gym—every nook and cranny. We even looked in places where you’d wonder how it could possibly be there.
But we couldn’t find it. It was summer, but the sun was already starting to dip.
I thought about it. Takahashi-san’s group usually spent their time in the classroom or pointlessly loitering in the toilets. Other than that… oh, wait. I remember they used to act tough and occasionally go to the rooftop, which was off-limits.
Nobody had checked the rooftop yet, but that door was supposed to be locked. How on earth were Takahashi-san and her group opening it?
For now, I headed toward the roof. In front of the stairs leading up, there were two traffic cones with a bar between them. Physically, it was nothing. It was a psychological barrier. Feeling a slight sense of “naughtiness,” I stepped over the obstacle and put my hand on the rooftop doorknob.
Clack. The sound of a locked door.
“Figures…”
I muttered to myself.
“No, no. You’ve got a good eye for this.”
A voice suddenly came from behind, and I jumped. “Eek!”
It was Kobayashi-san.
“During the ‘bad old days’ at this school, a lot of duplicate keys for this door were made without permission and passed down through generations of students. I got one from a senior too.”
Saying that, Kobayashi-san pulled out an old, jagged key.
The “bad old days” likely referred to the time when schools in this city were banned from Kyoto. Apparently, some delinquent seniors—the kind you’d see in a manga—smashed up an Important Cultural Property.
Because of that, rumors said for a long time that we couldn’t go to Kyoto for school trips. I don’t know if it’s true.
Beyond the opened door was a dirty expanse of concrete surrounded by a fence.
“See? Nothing here. It’s not even a fun place.”
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Kobayashi-san was grinning. Indeed, there was nothing. No place to hide something.
But I’d expected this. Looking above the door we’d just walked through, there was a concrete ledge. I’d been on the roof once in elementary school, and I remembered there was a similar ledge there too. It was probably for rain protection or something.
It was a bit high up, but if I put my foot on the window frame, I could reach it.
I climbed up… well, not exactly “gallantly,” but I managed to scramble up and feel around the top of the ledge. Takahashi-san must have done the same when she hid it. Immediately, I felt the touch of hard leather.
“I found it!”
I shouted as I grabbed it and took a leap down.
I held the magic book high in the air. It felt like I’d just obtained a rare item in a game. I felt a slight urge to peek inside, but I hesitated.
“Great work, Sato-chan!”
Kobayashi-san smiled.
When we returned to our classroom, everyone who had participated in the search was waiting there.
I received what was probably the loudest round of applause and cheering of my life.
Walking into the circle, I respectfully handed the book to Nagumo-san.
“Thank you.”
Nagumo-san smiled, her pale cheeks flushing a faint crimson.
It felt like the first time I’d ever seen her smile.
“Gratitude has to be shown in a ‘tangible’ way, Nagumo-chan!”
Kobayashi-san, who had been calling her “-san” until a moment ago, took the opportunity to start calling her “Nagumo-chan.”
“By ‘tangible,’ do you mean… that?”
Shiba-san was the one who answered, looking a bit troubled for some reason.
“That’s right, that!”
Kobayashi-san smirked.
“Hey, Nagumo-chan. Rin here has been bragging to me forever, saying ‘Sakurako’s magic is the most beautiful in the world.’ Since she said all that, I’ve been wanting to see it for myself, ever since way back.”
“Haruka… wait, was that your goal for helping out?”
Haruka was Kobayashi-san’s given name. I hadn’t known, but it seemed Shiba-san and Kobayashi-san were close.
“Of course. You think I’d help for free? I’m not that much of a saint.”
Kobayashi-san put on a mock “villainous” face. But everyone there knew she was a good person.
“Hey, everyone wants to see it too, right? Nagumo-san’s magic.”
As Kobayashi-san egged on the other students, everyone started saying “We want to see! We want to see!” Their faces weren’t just in “hype” mode; they were genuinely, seriously interested. Of course, I really wanted to see it too.
I knew from TV that magic wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but even so, I wanted to see what it was that Nagumo-san worked so hard for.
“…I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Nagumo-san let out a sigh.
“But before that, one thing. Everyone, thank you for searching for my book today. I truly am grateful. I’m often told I’m expressionless, so it might not look that way, but…”
And then, she bowed deeply. Hearing her gratitude mixed with a self-deprecating joke, everyone was more stunned than amused. They were thinking, Nagumo-san can actually make jokes.
“Then, could someone turn off the lights? Atmosphere is important for this kind of thing.”
At her word, someone quickly flicked off the classroom lights and even closed the curtains.
The room was shrouded in a thin darkness.
Nagumo-san began to quietly chant an incantation.
They were words that sounded like they came from a distant, foreign land in the ancient past.
With careful intonation, Nagumo-san continued to weave the incantations as if she were singing or playing an instrument.
I didn’t know the meaning, but she spoke each word beautifully and carefully. It was the first time I realized that words could be this beautiful.
Above all, I felt a heat I could never have imagined from the usual Nagumo-san, who handled most things with such cool detachment. I didn’t know what would happen with the magic, but just hearing the chant, I could see the weight of everything she had built up until now.
Everyone held their breath, careful not to disturb the air of the room.
After a moment that felt both long and short, a tiny flame ignited in Nagumo-san’s hand.
A tiny, tiny fire.
Even so, a collective “Ooh!” escaped our lips.
Nagumo-san held out the flame with both hands, as reverently as a shrine maiden, showing it to everyone.
It had taken a considerable amount of time, and the flame only stayed lit for maybe ten seconds.
But even so, it felt like something truly amazing.
Even if it serves no practical purpose, this flame will probably never go out inside of me for the rest of my life.
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