“This is Saijou Kaya-san, Leo’s older sister.”
Before the question could be asked, Erika introduced them to the
young woman. Her identity was just as Tatsuya and company had
surmised.
Kaya rose and respectfully nodded to Tatsuya’s group in greeting.
While not particularly graceful or well-rehearsed, it was still a degree
of solemnness that students were unable to emulate.
After everyone inquired as to Leo’s health, Kaya took the flower vase
and left the room. While she excused herself to change the water, the
unstated reason was because she wanted to give them some privacy.
“What a gentle older sister.”
Mizuki murmured once Kaya disappeared through the doorway. These
were her true feelings, not just some social rhetoric.
Tatsuya shared similar feelings, and no one seemed to visibly
disagree.
Still, Leo revealed a slightly conflicted expression, reminding
everyone that every family had its dirty laundry.
“Man, this sucks.”
Hence why Tatsuya didn’t inquire any further. After all, Leo’s family
situation had nothing to do with Tatsuya.
“I can’t believe you guys are seeing me in such a state.”
Leo said in embarrassment. There was no longer any trace of conflict
on his features.
“Now that I look at you, you don’t seem injured.”
“I’m not that much of a pushover. It’s not like I wasn’t resisting.”
“Where were you hit?”
At Leo’s fearless grin, Tatsuya brought up the obvious question.
With that, Leo’s smile vanished.
“That’s where I don’t understand……”
That being said, this wasn’t because he was getting moody. His
expression declared that he hadn’t given up, but he was honestly
uncertain what happened.
“At the moment of contact, I suddenly felt like I lost all my strength. I
mustered my will to deliver one last attack, to which the perpetrator
fled, while I was keeled over on the ground until Erika’s older brother
found me.”
“Were you poisoned?”
“Well, no matter where they looked, there’s no sign of laceration or
puncture on my body. Nor is there any foreign elements in my blood.”
Truly, a particularly weird situation. Tatsuya also tilted his head while
Mikihiko chimed in.
“Did you see their features?”
“Well, I did see something. They wore a hat, long overcoat with
carbon armor underneath, and a mask. There was no way to tell facial
features or physique, but……”
“But?”
“I got the feeling that it was a woman.”
“……A woman has the wrist strength to go toe-to-toe with Leo?”
“That’s hardly unheard of.”
Erika immediately retorted at the wide-eyed Mikihiko.
“With the right medication, even an elementary girl can strangle an
adult male.”
“That’s true…… But.”
“But?”
“There’s also the possibility that you weren’t up against a human
being in the first place.”
“Eh? Miki…… Are you telling me you buy into that stuff like
vampires?”
Hearing Mikihiko’s low muttering, Erika immediately shot back with
her eyes bulging out.
“My name is Mikihiko.”
His tone remained light, but he still stuck to rejecting that nickname.
Mikihiko seemed to have that automatic response prepared. On the
other hand, Erika’s response wasn’t her fault either. While the subject
was interesting in casual conversation, but people who actually
believed in vampires, even among Magicians, was in the extreme
minority.
“Do you have any ideas?”
However, Tatsuya’s reaction did not belong to either the majority or
the minority. Tatsuya didn’t believe in demons and ghosts either, but
nor did he rule out the possibility of an inhuman creature.
At Tatsuya’s question, Mikihiko hesitated briefly before confidently
addressing the question.
“I think there’s a chance that Leo ran into a “Parasite”.”
“Parasite? You don’t mean literally, right?”
Seeing Erika tilt her head in one direction, she didn’t seem to think
Mikihiko’s words were ridiculous. This time was likely out of genuine
curiosity. His mood likely buoyed by such a sight, Mikihiko lectured
on