Chapter Forty-Seven: Extra Plans
I'm surprised how accurate I've been so far with the usage of technology and realizer.
When going over the source materials, I'm surprised how accurate I've been.
Saturday,
12:17 A.M.
"That guy, he's not bad. I like him."
Kotori removed her Chupa Chups from her mouth, pointing it at the screen.
"Yes, I agree, his parameters are far beyond that of Shidou's. Though his looks are average at best."
Kannazuki gave that assessment of Morgan with arms folded behind him with a serious expression.
His usual playful or masochistic demeanor was no longer there, replaced by an attitude befitting a vice-commander.
Just as he finished that…
"He looks to be the ambitious type. I've gone over his records, and they're unusually spotless."
From her desk, Reine also gave her assessments with her usual dazed expression.
On her monitor were several series of interfaces displaying information pertaining to one person.
Morgan.
She had gone over his institutional records, and from the looks of it.
"High grades so far, even in Raizen high, he's building quite the reputation."
Vice-president of the kendo club also.
The ones currently in their nationals. It would be a big deal if they won.
Yet, it made her curious as to why someone so highly valued wasn't participating.
While it was true that events like this are no longer that popular, there is national recognition behind them.
In fact, there was even a scholarship as a prize for the best, and even the top two after that.
"A golden goose."
Kotori muttered.
If this were a male dating sim, he would be a target that would be rated fairly high due to his records alone.
"Yes. And I'd say the influence of a close friend means more to him than anything we can offer."
While holding his chin, Kannazuki gave that assessment.
Of course, it depends on Shidou, and Morgan himself.
"Then again, we can't disregard Shidou-kun."
Even so, there were people willing to stand by Shidou.
Dimension Breaker, with his glasses tilted upward, glowing a white sheen, voiced that opinion.
"Someone like Sinclair-kun? A girl might struggle to keep up with him, just from what I've seen."
Deep Love • On Probation.
Kozue Minowa added that with a wry smile, turning her chair to face Kotori.
As expected of someone who has stalked her lovers to the point of having the government involved.
She gave a very accurate assessment of him with a somewhat weary smile.
That's right.
It's because it is Shidou, that's why it's only possible with him.
Rejecting oneself.
Thinking one will never be loved.
In a way… that was Shidou.
Not only had he been 'seemingly' abandoned by his biological parents.
There was more to it than that.
Kotori remembered.
That guy was troublesome to the level that he looked like he might just go and commit suicide.
For someone of the age of ten, a parent is a necessary existence.
Luckily, a year after that, he seemed to recover from it.
Maybe that's why she believed that, despite how he looked now.
If there was someone with such a melancholic expression–
Even if it was a complete stranger, he would probably go help them without a second thought.
Thinking along that line,
Kotori nodded.
"You're right. He really is that type of person."
Resting her elbow on the armrest and leaning her head against it, Kotori kept her eyes on the monitor.
Still, at the very least.
Kotori hoped that brother would learn a thing or two, or he would have it coming for him.
'Be more confident, onii-chan.'
Down below.
Morgan came to a stop. Without turning back, his eyes were drawn away.
'They're watching me.'
Ever since that time, he had grown sensitive to things like this.
Mana, waves, vibration.
By 'tuning' himself to his atmosphere, he could sense 'changes' around him.
Much like a perception-type ability.
Of course, his was limited, however,
He could even use mana to form fire or water completely out of thin air.
Though it was as expected.
Like any other wizard, it wasn't anything spectacular or impressive.
He was also limited by what the natural wizards of this world could do.
One could say it was the natural limit imposed by 'the World'.
However, sensing his environment was child's play.
'Objects hidden with optical camouflage… Fraxinus? Are they watching Shidou?'
That might be the case.
With that in mind, he shrugged and followed after the boys until—
They finally arrived.
At an entrance shaped like an arc, with the word 'Welcome' displayed across the top.
Decorations and balloons framed the structure.
Crowds filled in and out from the entrance after making a stop at the checkpost.
Morgan and the others easily spotted the girls waiting near the security post to the left of the gate.
They approached.
"You guys, what took y'all that long?"
It was Ai waiting with hands crossed while glaring at the rest of them.
But they shook it off.
"Come on, cut us some slack. It's not that late, mind you."
Morgan checked the time; sure enough, it was just mid-afternoon.
Shielding his eyes with his right hand, Morgan raised his head to the sky.
…Right.
"Well, I guess… anyway."
Putting her hands into her bag, she removed some tickets and handed them to the rest.
"So, it really is just opening."
Tonomachi muttered.
No wonder he didn't recognize this place; it had just been built.
"Well, aren't we lucky."
Ai stopped and cringed at their replies, but ultimately ignored it.
She casted a glance at Morgan who was all smiles.
It made sense that something must have happened.
"Well, in any case, let's go enjoy ourselves more."
With that, Ai and the girls headed toward the entrance, leaving the boys behind.
They watched them walk off.
Shidou looked at the rest of them and let out a relieved sigh.
For now, he really couldn't take any more of Origami's intensity, so Ai pulling them away had been a lifesaver.
But…
"So, what now?"
"For the moment, let's just walk around and see what's here."
"Since they just opened, there should be some kind of guide. I'm betting there's an arcade."
"If there is, we're stopping by."
"Agreed."
Just like that, the five settled on a new plan.
Their original schedule didn't matter anymore, now it was just some males who wanted to have fun.
In the end..
Nothing beats a good game with the boys.
Even Shidou found himself nodding along.
"I heard some new multiplayer FPS titles dropped recently. We could do a 5-v-5."
"That depends. Don't drag me down."
Yuto said, tugging at his round-neck collar like a tough guy.
Morgan and Tonomachi pointed their thumbs at him immediately.
"Get a load of this guy."
"I don't want to hear that from someone who lives in otome games."
"Hey! It's worked out for me, hasn't it?"
"Ghck—!"
Like that, mock verbal insults flew across, from one to the other, until—
Vrrr!
Morgan, walking with them, felt his phone buzzing in his pocket.
He pulled it out and read the message on the screen.
"…So it's time, huh?"
[Nia Honjou: Just like the Employer said—Princess has shown up, and without causing a spacequake.]
[Nia Honjou: I'm using
That was quick.
Morgan's brows tightened slightly.
He glanced left, and as expected, Fraxinus's optical cameras were still tailing them at a steady distance.
Now then…
'How to gaslight both Fraxinus and DEM…'
Morgan thought while inputting commands onto his phone before clicking send.
Far away from there.
On a certain water tank top.
Nia, who had returned to her lazy posture.
Lay across the water tank's top like a discarded ragdoll.
The clouds she looked at drifted without a care in the world.
'Hmm. The clouds today also look good.'
Nia coped.
As expected.
Even
To be precise, she had become capable of pinpointing every major Spirit's position on the Sephiroth Tree.
He had even supplied her with their codenames.
Was he planning to steer future events however he pleased?
Keeping up with that would be troublesome.
Not that she was incapable of it.
However…
Nia's abilities only covered the past and present.
Even her "all-knowing" power couldn't peer into what had yet to happen.
If she didn't know better…
She might've suspected he had an Angel of his own.
"Hey,
Nia reclined on the tank.
Though heated to several degrees by the sun, thanks to her Astral Dress, she felt rather cool.
She shielded her eyes with the book as she stared at it.
As expected, it didn't respond.
"Tsk. Completely useless~"
With that, she pushed herself upright and summoned a pen.
Extending her hand, the book dropped neatly into her waiting palm.
She tapped her forehead with the pen, pondering.
After a moment—
"Let's say she shows up out of curiosity. She is clueless about human culture, right?"
"Then she wanders toward the contractor because of the attractions nearby."
Finishing her notes, she murmured thoughtfully and rubbed her chin.
An ability that borders on broken.
One that allows her her to manipulate the future simply by illustrating it.
Whatever is drawn there becomes the truth. However, it was limited.
Nia has to draw the desired outcome, and that alone costs time.
In a fight, it's practically unusable.
It's the kind of power meant for setup, not direct confrontation.
Nia would have to draw the conclusion before anything else, as well as what would lead to it.
Such an ability would be more fearsome if the future could be observed.
One could see the future and change it as they wanted. …that would be true omnipotence.
But this was all she could do.
Finishing the last stroke, she stretched her arms as if she'd completed a mountain of work.
"Haaah. That should do it. I deserve a break."
"Come to think of it… does the employer even realize that girl is hiding in his shadow?"
She noticed it.
Thinking about it once more, she shrugged inwardly.
'Meh, it's not my problem.'