"Can I ask you something?" "Sure, what is it?" "What?" Neither of them changes their posture or attitude in the slightest. "If I said I'm not going, would you return home?" "Of course. You're the leader, after all. We acknowledge that, so naturally, we will abide by your decision." "Yeah, that's how it is." They both nod as if it's the obvious course of action. There doesn't seem to be any deceit. "But you'd come back again even if we all went home right now, wouldn't you?" Probably so. "Hmm..." Ichinose-kun seems intrigued. "You know us well, huh?" Kichi-san maintains a smile. "Well, it's just a hunch. Aren't you supposed to follow the leader's orders?" "We'll follow them. Thus as a team, we won't act. After that, we act as individuals. I'm aware it may look like trying to trick you, and I regret that. However, I hope you understand that both my family and Yuusei's family have reputations to uphold. Saying we'll turn back because it's dangerous and leave it to others... that's not really an option... I don't know what you've heard from Kirigaya-san, but our families don't exactly have the best relationship with the association." So there's animosity, after all. And the issue of saving face... Naturally, a family with history and a new association would think differently. "Then, we don't have any other options, do we?" "No, if you insist we shouldn't go, I'll abide by that. But Yuusei-kun is likely to go." "Why won't you go?" "Because you said so." Kichi-san gives me a wide grin. "I don't quite get what you mean..." "Well, it doesn't matter. What are you going to do? I'm fine with either, and so is Yuusei-kun, I bet." "Well, you know..." The answer is already obvious. "It wouldn't be right to leave it all up to Ichinose-kun, right?" "That's so badass. That's our leader for you." "Ahhh, I've always wanted to say that... I really should have taken on the role of leader." I'm kinda embarrassed. "If we do it, then we three should stick together, right?"

"Right, exactly." "Shall we go then?" The two of them stood up from our seats. Leaving the classroom, we made our way to the multipurpose hall in the back. "Kichi-san, are you all good?" I called out to Kichi-san in front of me, who was walking like usual again. "Oh, I'm fine now. I've placed quite a strong suggestion, so I’ll probably pass out when it's lifted." "Is that really okay?" "It’s better than being afraid. Actually, I fainted once in a haunted house at the amusement park during a middle school trip." Ehhh... "That was hilarious." Ichinose-kun burst into laughter. "Well, it's scary, after all. That's part of youth too." I try my best to follow along with the conversation. "Youth, huh? I wish youth was a bit sweeter. I really do..." Kichi-san stopped and looked at the multipurpose hall's door. "Kyouka, what's wrong?" "What's going on?" Kichi-san stared intently at the door. "So, is this good luck or bad luck..." "Luck, what do you mean?" "The good luck is that Yuusei-kun didn't die alone. The bad luck is that it's possible all of us could die." Right after Kichi-san said that, I sensed an incredible magical power coming from the other side of the door. "A danger level of B, maybe A... Neither Yuusei-kun nor I are a match for it. But, they’ve noticed us now. And they won’t let us escape. What should we do?" Kichi-san was still smirking. "Why are you laughing?" "There's nothing else to do but laugh in a situation like this. It's do or die. Simple as that." You're acting cool, but weren't you the one cowering and crying just a moment ago? "Well then, shall we go then?" "Yeah, let's do it." "Looks like we can't run away after all." I stepped forward and opened the door. It was pitch black inside, so I turned on a light. The multipurpose hall seemed incredibly spacious, possibly as big as three classrooms put together.

In the center of the room, a man dressed in pitch-black clothes was seated. "Good evening." The man greeted us while looking our way. "Good evening. Are you a devil, by any chance?" "Yes, indeed. I am called Filman." He seems quite the gentleman. "A named devil, huh?" "That too...?" Named? "Is having a name a problem?" "It means he's a high-ranking demon." "They are very rare, or rather, they normally don't show up." Is that so... So, my Miriam is also a high-level demon with a name. "Why are you at school?" I ask the demon named Filman again. "Why? I don't really understand either. I thought I was called by someone, but there's no one here." He was called? "What do you mean?" "Hmm? Well, I don't understand, so I've decided to wait here. There's plenty of good snacks anyway." "Snacks?" "Human children. I'm a demon who eats people, you know." A bad demon. No way! "Please stop doing that." "Are you telling me to die? If I don't eat, I'll die, you know." Ah... well, I guess that's how it is. "Well, that's a bit of a problem, isn't it?" "Of course, I understand. But if you want to blame someone, blame the person who called me like this. Now, let's have a meal." After saying that, Filman stood up. Exactly the next moment, Kichi-san and Ichinose-kun attack from the left and right. "Oh... magicians. I see, I see." Filman seems impressed yet makes no move to act. And so, the two of them launched an attack on Filman.