Though it is the afternoon session, the third-year students already had
free attendance to school. Taking advantage of the fact that the
second-year students were bound in classrooms and practice rooms,
two third-year students, a man and a woman, secretly met in an empty
clubroom.
However, there was no sweet atmosphere there at all. Despite the fact
that both sets of parents regarded the pair as possible marriage
partners. (Though one might say that each of them had more than one
coupling candidate).
And of course, this secret meeting can only being described as "secret
meeting" instead of "date". Katsuto and Mayumi came to this place on
behalf of the Juumonji House and the Saegusa House, respectively.
"I wonder why we have to come specifically in a place like this."
"Sorry for that. I judged that it was the least outstanding way. As the
Juumonji House, I want to avoid stimulating the Yotsuba as a result,
for now."
"There is an ongoing Cold War status between our House and the
Yotsuba since last month. Geez, because that sly fox old man did
something unnecessary."
Turning towards Mayumi revealing a little grunt of disgust, Katsuto
chuckles.
"Even Saegusa can speak in such a way."
"Ara, Sorry. Was it vulgar?"
As Mayumi starting putting on a false coquettish air, Katsuto's
chuckles turned into a bitter smile.
"When I’m with you, I sometimes happen to wonder whether or not
I’m treated like a man."
"It’s a misunderstanding, you know? Juumonji-kun is, among my
acquaintances, the most manly. It's that simple."
"Can’t it grow into a relation between a man and a woman, now?"
"Since the entrance examination, we are rivals of three years."
After each laughed at the other in a hushed tone bout, the two people
changed their expression at the same time. Since even while laughing,
the heavy feeling of tension was drifting between the two people, one
can’t say that the atmosphere changed.
"Juumonji-kun. I will convey the message from my father, no, the
Head of the Saegusa House, Saegusa Koichi. The Saegusa House
expects a united front with the Juumonji House."
"How hasty. Not a 'cooperation', but suddenly a 'united front', huh."
Cutting his speech, Katsuto requested an explanation with his gaze. Of
course, even Mayumi intended to give an explanation so that the other
party could understand the circumstances.
"How much do you know about the Vampire event?"
"I don’t know anything beyond what is reported. Our House doesn’t
have as many henchmen as the Saegusa House."
To the words that could be taken as Katsuto’s humility, Mayumi’s lips
loosened a little.
"Well, matching for a thousand is the motto of the Juumonji House.
Whereas in the Saegusa House, as far as I know, it’s only the number
that is large."
Mayumi suggestively cuts her words.
And, before being urged by Katsuto, continued like this.
"The victims of the Vampire event are exactly three times of what was
reported. Twenty-four victims have been confirmed yesterday."
Even if it’s Katsuto, he could not help being surprised at this.
"…Is that only in this Tokyo neighborhood?"
"The metropolitan area of Tokyo, and moreover also concentrated in
the urban areas."
Katsuto crossed his arms and was quietly thinking.
Mayumi silently waited for him to speak.
"There are victims that the Saegusa House knows that the police don’t
know. Moreover, it’s in a limited narrowed area that damage has
occurred (the victim is still in place, being locked into a narrow area)
… Have the Saegusa officials been victims?"
"It’s half correct. The victims who the police don’t know are all our
magicians and those in cooperation with us. Even the victims who are
not are proven to be either magicians or those who possess the
disposition to magic. For example, like the students of the Magic
University."
"In other words."
Katsuto’s expression tinged with dreadfulness.
"That means the culprit is targeting magicians, huh."
"…Juumonji-kun, you’re a little scary."
But the stimulus of that expression seemed to be too strong for a high
school girl. Apart from whether it was his real intention or acting.
"Hmm… Sorry."
And even if it was an act, it had enough effect to dent Katsuto.
"We don’t know whether there are one or multiple perpetrators of
those serial murders; anyway, it is safe to presume that this 'vampire'
assumes magicians as targets."
For some reason, by calmly returning to the topic without a follow-up
to Katsuto, who started off the melancholy, the true nature of Mayumi
showed she was surely a "devilkin" after all.
"In chronological order, first off the Magic University students and
staff have been killed, the staff of our House investigating were killed
while trying to avenge the previous loss, and meanwhile the victims
had also increased, causing this kind of situation."
"Indeed, we can’t ignore it."
Leaving the damage received to the edge of the facial expression from
Mayumi, Katsuto nodded deeply.
"Are