We entered the school building, turned on the lights, and started the search from the first floor. I thought that the fear would dissipate once the lights were on, but the partially dark areas stood out, making it even more terrifying due to the brightness. Furthermore... "Yamada-san, don't even think about scaring me. I really hate that kind of thing." The high school girl trembling in fear and clinging to me is scary. Some of you may see this as an advantage, but this child is Slasher Kyouka-chan, holding a drawn sword in one hand. I feel like I'm about to be stabbed. Or be beheaded. In fact, sensing some kind of fear, Miriam got off my shoulder and started walking on her own. "I can't sense any magical power..." Ichinose-kun is completely ignoring this situation. "Kichi-san, if you're scared, it's okay to wait outside, you know?" "What are you saying? If I end up being alone in this situation, I'll become the first victim, won't I?" Ah, ... that might be true. That's the usuall pattern. "But in stories, girls are saved." She's the only girl here, so she automatically is the heroine. "We should talk about reality, though." Well, didn't you start talking about it? "Kyouka, do you really sense any presence?" Ichinose-kun completely ignores our exchange and asks Kichi-san. "There is definitely something. No mistake about it. I wish it would show itself soon." "Hmm... could it be here?" Ichinose-kun enters the classroom, and we follow, but find nothing. We continue to search the first and second floors, but nothing shows up. I'd like to check with Miriam, but Kichi-san clinging to me makes it impossible to talk privately. But seeing her cowering and teary-eyed, I can't bring myself to tell her to let go. "Our classroom, huh..." Ichinose-kun stops in front of a particular classroom and murmurs. "Ichinose-kun, how about we take a short break?" "Ah... Yeah, that might be a good idea." After Ichinose-kun looks at Kichi-san and nods, we all enter the classroom. Once inside, Ichinose-kun settles down at a desk by the window, likely his own. "Where is your seat, Kichi-san?" I lead Kichi-san to the indicated desk in the middle and help her sit. "Are you okay?"

I squat down and look into Kichi-san's face. "I-I'm fine!" Has the self-suggestion worn off? "Hey, Kichi-san, gaze at the sword and self-suggest yourselve once more." After I said that, she took the sword and revealed the blade. "I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid." "That's right, there's nothing to fear." "I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid. Yamada-san is by my side. Yamada-san is here, Yamada-san is here, Yamada-san is here... Yamada-san, Yamada-san, Yamada-san..." I'm getting scared... It looks like I'm dealing with either a yandere or someone who resents me. And on top of that, they're armed. I stood up and walked over to the teachers podium and look at the two. "This brings back memories. Reminds me of my days as a student." That was nearly 20 years ago. "I can only picture you as a teacher." "Indeed. You don't look like a student." Huh? When did Kichi-san get recover herselve? "There's nothing wrong with reminiscing about our youth. If not for such occasions, we'd never set foot in a school." "Yeah, you're probably right." "Should I bring you back here once more? Heh..." Excuse me... But Kichi-san's behavior is quite obviously odd, isn't it? "...Finally, I can talk, meow. Yamada, they have been cleverly concealing their magic, but there's a devil in one of the back rooms." Miriam, perched on my shoulder, whispers to me. Well, I did go over to the podium so i could talk with Miriam after all. "What's the room at the end of this floor?" Having learned from Miriam about the presence of a demon, I decided to seek confirmation from the others. "Back there? Maybe it's the multipurpose hall?" "Right. That room that we don't know what to do with yet. Want to check it out?" A multipurpose hall, huh. "I have a feeling something's there." As I said this, Ichinose-kun straightened up from his slouch, and Kichi-san stood up, fixing her gaze in the direction of the multipurpose hall. "Really? I don't sense anything." Ichinose-kun probed. "I'm not sensing any magical power either. It's like a sixth sense." "Ohhh... Like a premonition? Kyouka, what do you think?"

Ichinose-kun turns to Kichi-san for her thoughts. "Hmm..." Kichi-san slowly turned to look at me, eyeing me intently. "What's up? By the way, are you not scared anymore?" "I'm not afraid anymore after such a strong self suggestion. But, keep in mind, the effect will wear off if I can't see you, Yamada-san, so don't go off on your own." Is it because she repeated my name so much... ? "So, what's the verdict? Is there something there?" "Yeah, I have a feeling that something's there. I only noticed because you mentioned it." "Well, Kichi-san was quite preoccupied, after all." It must not have been a priority at the time. "Just like that? Hehe, Yamada-san, what was your last job?" Kyoka asks with a mischievous smile. "A salaryman, why?" "Does your family include an exorcist by any chance?" She's asking some pretty intense questions. "My grandfather was an exorcist with the association. He passed away recently. Actually right around that time Kirigaya-san visited me and that's when I was scouted." "Kirigaya... Yamada... I see." Kichi-san grins broadly. It's kind of frightening. "Seriously, what's up with you?" "Don't worry about it. There's no need for Yamada-san to be concerned. All you need to do is make a choice." A choice? "What kind of choice?" "That would be, of course, m—" "Kyoka." Ichinose-kun cuts off Kichi-san's words. "What is it? Yuusei Ichinose-kun?" "We have a job. There must be something in the back multipurpose hall, right?" "That's also true. So, shall we quickly take care of it? The problem is that a demon capable of concealing its magical power is no small fry." "Right. At the very least, it's D or C level..." I can't gauge how strong D and C levels are. "Yamada-san, it's your call what we do next. Whether to take this information back or to proceed from here. I'll follow your lead." "Well, Yamada-san is the leader, after all. That seems fine, doesn't it?" Kichi-san is smiling, staring at me intently. Ichinose-kun is looking bored while picking his ear. Now, what shall we do?