CH 27

“There’s another letter today too…?”

It has already been a month after the defeat of the “Demon King of Dominating Herculean Strength” of the “Demon Fortress,” aka Labyrinth X-J1, at the hands of Kurokiri.

Although various things have transpired during that time, I’ll leave it to Houki to explain it (read the preceding chapter).

And now, what is distressing me is the thing stored in my shoe cupboard before my eyes. It is a letter with something in a rectangular shape. By now, I can recall sighting it 15 times over the past month.

Surely the reason for the rise in the number must be that Ichiko is gone and I, who was heartbroken on the sidelines, have begun to smile again, thus this is the opportunity for them to confess! Or anything along those lines. What a load of crap.

“Hey, look. Ryo-san is getting another letter.”

“How nice. I wish I could get one too.”

“But I bet Lady Ryo… will reject it this time too.”

“That is so trueー!”

I can hear the voices of jealousy all around me. Honestly, the recipient (me) has to go through the hassle of viewing the contents and refusing the offer, all for the sake of maintaining a good public reputation and avoiding any lingering regret.

I mean, why do boys have to write love letters? Why don’t you just confess your feelings in public like a man!

On top of that, there are even idiots who will start weeping or start a rampage in a fit of rage when I reject them politely! I’d much rather deal with Kurokiri, who has been clear from the beginning that I belong to him!

“Uh, I’ll have to check this out first.”

Taking out the letter from inside the shoe cupboard, I first confirm the front and back sides. There is no name of the addressee or sender. What’s holding the letterhead together is an ordinary frog-shaped sticker.

Then, I peel off the sticker and inspect the contents. Let’s see, the contents are…?

“Dear Nasu Ryo-senpai

I have something I would like to tell and discuss with you, senpai. Please meet me at the back of the gym after school.

Yaharai Chirito.”

“…”

Yaharai Chirito… ah, if I remember correctly, you are the younger brother of Houki-san, aren’t you? I believe he should have been a boy with a baby face, no taller than 150, even though he is in his first year of high school. That brings back memories… we often shared playtime together when we were little.

But he would know that if he wanted to confess to me, he would have to do it up front, which means that there is something that he is reluctant to convey… or rather, something that he can’t say in public.

“It can’t be helped. I shall head there.”

Ah, but just to be on the safe side, I should inform Kurokiri to have a couple of Fogs on the standby line since the entrance to the labyrinth is close by.

And here am I, at the back of the gymnasium. Chirito is standing in front of me, seemingly unsettled.

“U-uh, t-thank you very much for coming today, Nasu-senpai.”

“Since you and I are friends and there is no one else here, it is fine to call me Ryo onee-chan like you used to do.”

“Um… Ah, yes. Then there is something I would like to ask you first, Ryo onee-chan.”

“What is it?”

I knew it, this atmosphere; it’s not a confession.

“To begin with, the skill I possess is called ≪Personal Analyze≫.”

…! Analytical skill?

“I was aware of this skill when the presence of the skill was publicized last time. This is what I want to tell you. And what I want to discuss with you is about Houki nee-san.”

This is… not good.

“I took a look at Houki nee-san with this skill the other day. And it turned out… she’s not human.”

I knew it!!

“Ryo onee-chan. Do you know what has happened to my sister! If that wasn’t my sister, and if it turned out to be a demon in her skin…”

I don’t think I have a choice.

“Chirito, rest assured. That is undoubtedly your sister.”

“Is that true!?”

“Yes, it is. And you can use that skill on me.”

“Uh-huh. ≪Personal Analyze≫… Eh?”

“The Kirijin is not a single entity.”

“Eh, w-why is Ryo onee-chan…?

“And now that you know this much, I can’t afford to let you simply walk away.”

“L-lies. It can’t be… it can’t be…”

Chirito has his head in his hands in turmoil. Well, that’s a natural reaction. Two non-human beings have been present in his close company. Nonetheless, I cannot back down now that I have revealed all this to him.

“Chirito, be at ease. Even if the race has changed, it does not prove that the heart has equally changed. So for now…”

“Ah, uh…”

“Go to sleep. ≪Mist Slap≫!”

“Gah!”

When my ≪Mist Slap≫ strikes Chirito in the face, his body is blown away, causing him to pass out.

Now all that remains is,

“Fogs and the others. Quickly bring him into the labyrinth. Kurokiri. Is everything ready?”

“I understandー” “Aiaisaー”

“I’ve made preparations. I’d be grateful for the opportunity to convert him into a kin since analytical skills are valuable. Well then, I’m disconnecting.”

Thus, I am the sole remaining person in the back of the gymnasium. Perhaps tomorrow, Chirito will become a kin of Kurokiri and come outside.

Even so…

“I’ve done it too, haven’t I? This time, I completely cooperated with Kurokiri voluntarily… I can only hope that nothing like this will arise in the future…”