The negotiations with the Theater Troupe Actor had ended in failure.
However, despite the lack of a deal, the fact that the Theater Troupe Actor had shown itself was apparently a big win for the exorcists. That's what the black-suited man explained on the car ride back.
As we listened, the car continued driving through the night, the headlights cutting through the darkness, illuminating the road ahead.
Inside the steadily moving vehicle, Nina-chan, having heard everything, muttered discontentedly.
"But we still don't know where the Theater Troupe Actor is, right? Is that really okay?"
"Yes, the important thing is that the existence of the Theater Troupe Actor as a 'demon' has been confirmed," the black-suited man responded without taking his eyes off the road.
"So, up until now, you didn't even know if it was real?" Nina-chan asked.
"You're exactly right, Nina-sama."
The black-suited man responded while still looking straight ahead.
Indeed, until now, the Theater Troupe Actor was just a name that monsters were throwing around. It could have just been a rumor, or worse, some kind of misinformation spread by the monsters.
But today, that was cleared up.
"And since they initiated contact with us, there are things we can do," he added.
"How?" Nina-chan asked, her curiosity piqued.
"We'll use the stuffed toy we retrieved."
The stuffed toy he mentioned was the one the Theater Troupe Actor had used to communicate.
"If they used the stuffed toy to connect with us, then it's likely a form of 'resonance magic.' If that's the case, there are ways to trace it."
"Are you going to call Shirayuki-sensei for that?" Nina-chan asked, thinking of the exorcist skilled in such magic.
"No, Shirayuki-sama is very busy, so a different exorcist will likely handle it," the black-suited man replied.
I was a little disappointed that we wouldn't be seeing Shirayuki-sensei again soon. I was hoping we'd get the chance. Still, if there was a way to trace the origin of the connection, I definitely wanted them to pursue it and, if possible, exorcise the Theater Troupe Actor for good.
That weird "Smile Plan" the Theater Troupe Actor mentioned didn't make any sense, but given that they were creating monsters, it was clear that nothing good would come from it. I hoped they'd deal with the situation before it escalated.
"Stretching? Mama does that too, but do you do it every day, Itsuki?"
"Yeah. Dad says I should," I explained.
"Really? Then maybe I should try it too," she said, looking curious.
Dad always said that consistent stretching was important. He said it wasn't the time to focus on building muscle yet, but stretching was something that should never be skipped. Loose, flexible muscles are more effective in movement than stiff, tight ones, he often explained.
As exorcists, we have access to body enhancement magic, so I was never sure if stretching was necessary, but I trusted Dad's advice. He's survived in a profession with an incredibly high fatality rate. If he says it's important, then I have no reason to doubt him.
"Do you stretch, Nina-chan?" I asked.
"Sometimes, with Mama," she admitted.
So, she does stretch. And even Ireena-san does it.
If two highly skilled exorcists both make stretching a daily habit, then it's probably something I should definitely keep doing. After all, my flexibility had improved, and I even got an 'A' in the flexibility test during the physical fitness assessment in second grade.
But enough about stretching.
"Why did you come to my room, Nina-chan?" I asked, still stretching my legs.
"Oh, um..."
Nina-chan hesitated, standing awkwardly in the doorway of my room, before she spoke again, this time a little shyly.
"If it's okay with you... could I sleep in your room tonight?"
"Sure, I don't mind," I replied without thinking too much.
It wasn't until after I had already agreed that I fully processed what she had just said.
Wait... What did she just ask?
Before I could really grasp the situation, Nina-chan's face lit up with a bright smile.
"Thanks! I'll go grab my futon!"
With that, she left my room, leaving me sitting there, still in my stretching position, too stunned to take back my answer.
I remained frozen in place, realizing too late that I might have just agreed to something unexpected. I was so stiff, I almost hurt myself during the stretch.