by Sato Tsutomu
"No, energy this and magic that, you said it so naturally...... No, at this point."
Magicians were adept at perceiving psions and judging interference strength. However, Erika was getting tired of being constantly surprised by the depth of Tatsuya's knowledge. —Speaking of getting tired, Erika definitely wasn't the only one.
"Now that you mention it, Tatsuya, how bad was it yesterday?"
Seeing the storm pass, Mikihiko spoke with a much more relaxed expression on his face.
"Yesterday? Ah...... The news spread quite quickly."
Tatsuya paused for a moment not because he was playing dumb.
Regardless of whether it was Hirakawa Chiaki or Sekimoto Isao, he had handled both incidents yesterday, so it was hard to use "how bad" to describe them.
Given that Fujibayashi said "one or two days", the hackers would be captured today or tomorrow. This was as good as a fact for Tatsuya.
The Electron Sorceress — "Electric Witch".
Fujibayashi Kyouko's two titles not only signified her talent in electronic interference magic as a Magician, but also her ability to see information gathering on the Net as child's play.
Compared to manipulating the phenomena of the world, she was more adept at altering information on the network.
Just as Tatsuya could read the information that was written into an item in the past, so too could Fujibayashi Kyouko retrieve and reconstruct information that had been copied over from magnetic and optic memory units. And, unlike Tatsuya, she had no time restriction. In place of that, she had a limit where she couldn't retrieve the data if it had been physically deleted, but in an age where computers had linked the entire globe, completely eradicating data that had been recorded was practically impossible.
In other words, for her, so long as any trace of the electronic signal remained, she would be able to find it no matter where it hid.
Fujibayashi was the one who taught Tatsuya how to work the network, but in this field he had no chance of catching her in this lifetime. In Tatsuya's estimation, there were only a handful of network specialists who could rival her ability.
"Ah, the perpetrator has already been arrested, so there's nothing to worry about."
Hence Tatsuya answered Mikihiko in this manner.
Still, Erika and Mikihiko were unable to relax because they remained in the dark regarding Fujibayashi's movements.
"Just because we caught the perpetrator red-handed doesn't mean we're in the clear."
Erika said.
"This doesn't sound like a solo act, maybe there's some sort of organization behind this......"
Mikihiko also had similar concerns.
"How about we go interrogate him?"
Then, Leo abandoned his role of quietly listening to everyone and interjected with his normal overly optimistic tone.
It wasn't that simple. Setting Chiaki aside, Sekimoto was in the special detention facility. Nonetheless, this time Leo's comment didn't invite the usual retorts and backlash.
"You're right...... We should seriously pursue the individual's responsibility."
Even Erika, the one who usually retorted the most, expressed her complete assent.
"Really? But Erika-chan, Sekimoto-senpai is currently at......"
"He's probably held at the special detention facility. We can't just simply walk in there and meet him."
Mizuki's hesitant words were quickly supplemented by Erika's own. Of course, she wasn't going to change her mind simply because Mizuki was against it.
"It's not that we're completely out of ideas. Barring further options, we could just sneak in."
"Hey~ Hey~."
Hearing this, Tatsuya finally couldn't hold back any longer.
"Even if we don't do that, we can see him so long as we have a permission slip from the school. Currently, Sekimoto-senpai is still a student at First High."
Accidents were unavoidable during the course of magic training. Every year, several magic high school students would withdraw from school owing to accidents in training that led to the complete loss of magic. In a similar vein, so long as the perpetrator did not commit a heinous crime, expulsion was not a punishment granted often. While the crime Sekimoto committed was malicious in nature, it still remained at the attempted phase. Thus, Sekimoto's punishment was dependent on how repentant he was. Parole officers keep members of society with unique skills in the special detention centers to evaluate their progress, but students are still able to visit them.
"Eh~."
There was no way Erika was ignorant of this.
"That permission slip rests in the hands of the Public Moral Committee, I believe."
It was because Erika didn't want to use the legal methods that she proposed an alternate method that smacked of criminal activity.
"Regardless of how you put it, it's easier than trying to sneak into the detention facility."
However, Tatsuya frankly vetoed Erika's proposal.
Thus, after school in the Public Moral Committee HQ.
"No."
Kanon simply and clearly rejected the proposal to visit Sekimoto.
"......Can you give a reason?"
Since Kanon's reply was too concise, Tatsuya wasn't even sure where to begin.
"No is no."
Kanon stubbornly stuck with the word "No". Maybe this was her being emotional, but she appeared to be afraid that if they got into a debate she would be persuaded in the end.
"What I want to know is, why not? The permission slips for visiting the detention center are evaluated by the Chair of the Public Moral Committee or Student Council President, but the ultimate decision rests with the school. There's hardly any persuasive strength in just handing down a unilateral no."
Hearing Tatsuya's reply, Kanon furrowed her brows, a clear sign of her irritation. Her chilly attitude until this moment was blatant enough to cause people to wonder "if something had ticked her off" or some other ulterior reason. Yet, she couldn't just simply back down before Tatsuya, so Kanon's strategy seemed doomed from the onset.
"......Because this is going to be very troublesome."
Seeing no possible way to continue, Kanon reluctantly replied.
"Based on what...... First, what would be troublesome?"
Of course, this excuse wouldn't fly with Tatsuya. It was only natural that he would ask Kanon.
"Can you guarantee that nothing will happen with you guys just running around!?"
For some reason, Kanon's reply was a shrill question of its own.
"Seeing as you guys are all ignorant, allow me to put it bluntly! Shiba-kun, this sort of trouble always appears in your surroundings, yet you are either unaware or believe that you are blameless, but trouble still finds you on its own. With how busy we are right now, please stop creating trouble for everyone right now!"
Despite the stretch in logic, Kanon's words bore an indomitable force. —Also, Tatsuya was aware that Kanon's words weren't entirely wrong.
"Kanon, saying that about Tatsuya is going too far."
At this time, Mari, who had rarely popped into HQ due to her hectic schedule, arrived to break up the dispute.
"At any rate, Tatsuya-kun is still involved with the issue at hand. It stands to reason that he would want to understand the comings and goings."
"But, Mari-senpai."
"Well, OK, Kanon, it's not like I don't understand what you're driving at."
Do you really understand? Tatsuya thought. Nonetheless, since Mari was helping him out, he wasn't going to actually complain.
"Fortunately, Mayumi and I planned to visit Sekimoto tomorrow, so we can have him accompany us."
"Well...... If it's with Mari-senpai."
Looks like Kanon isn't someone that is overly stubborn as she reluctantly agreed with Mari's proposal.
"Is that OK, Tatsuya-kun? Coming along with your senpais, that is."
Truth be told, he wasn't satisfied completely, but seeing as this was Kanon more or less backing down, Tatsuya expressed his agreement in the
end.
◇◇◇
In a room with no windows, Chiaki sighed.
Honestly, she was quite bored.
Despite her status as an invalid, she wasn't injured. No, though she did suffer injury, it wasn't to the extent that warranted a stay in the hospital. Within the extent of her own feelings, she didn't feel that she was injured to the point that required bed rest.
She was stuck in this sickroom not because she was injured or ill, but for other reasons.
For her, this was like a luxurious prison.
Of course, she knew that her presence here was entirely her fault, hence she didn't complain about her loss of freedom. But this was simply too boring. Naturally, she wasn't demanding television, wireless terminals, models or other luxury items, even unconnected cheap e-books would do. Even if entertainment was out of the question, even physical activity would do. Anyway, she couldn't just sit here doing nothing.
Earlier, about two hours ago, the nurse who checked in on her said "visiting hours are canceled today". Supposedly, this was because someone attempted to break in yesterday. Likewise, it wasn't the fire alarm but the riot alarm linked to the police that rang out yesterday, so it must have happened.
Regardless, it wasn't like anyone was going to visit her — her older sister must hate her because of this — so canceling visiting hours didn't affect her much, so there was no need to worry. In reality, Chiaki surmised that the target of the "break-in" was herself because the door to this sickroom had been damaged. Obviously, she wasn't asleep during that time, so she knew this even if she didn't like it. In Chiaki's eyes, "those guys" were trying to silence her. However, there was nothing she could do about that and Chiaki had already given up. She was only their collaborator and not one of their companions. Since Chiaki understood this, the other side must think so too. It was perfectly understandable that they would silence her in order to prevent a leak.
In truth, her mood had already reached a "do as you will" phase. Right now, she wasn't even sure why she bore such intense enmity towards "that guy". Maybe rotting away in this empty, white sickroom was the best ending for her, Chiaki ridiculed herself.
At this time, someone knocked on the door. In spite of Chiaki's muddled state, she still had a grasp of her mental facilities. The afternoon check up was already over and she hadn't pressed the button for a nurse. There shouldn't be anyone coming to see her, and didn't the nurse say today's visiting hours were canceled?
The knocking continued despite her amazement, so Chiaki frantically — without thinking much — pressed the remote door control.
"How are you feeling? Miss Hirakawa?"
The one who came in was thoroughly unexpected — but she had a premonition, if someone was to come see her, it definitely would be this person.
"Mr. Zhou."
Once, Chiaki was unable to keep watching her sister wallow away in pain and despair, thus forcing her to flee onto the streets one night. At that time, it was this person who comforted her with kind and gentle words. The person who told her that they shouldn't have suffered like this and reinforced her dark thoughts. The person who prodded her to vengeance, not through murder, but to right a wrong. The person who allowed her to vent those pent up feelings. The person who gave her the tools of her vengeance.
The savior who saved Chiaki's fragile heart stood before her with a bouquet of flowers in hand.
"Why...... did you come? Visiting hours are canceled today......"
Gifts were no longer necessary, as there were a mountain of things she needed to apologize for. Chiaki utterly loathed how she was bound by these tedious emotions. Especially after saying those words, she wished she could slap herself.
"I used a few tricks."
Saying this, Zhou winked in a childish fashion, but his action wasn't particularly irritating.
"Tricks...... As in magic?"
"No, no, it's a little different than magic."
Based on her own understanding, Chiaki interpreted trick to mean magic.
Yet, Zhou shook his head at Chiaki's question.
"Even without magic, humans are still able to pull off a few miracles. Well, calling it a miracle is a bit of a stretch."
Zhou smiled once more and Chiaki finally managed to recover her wits (according to her).
"Then, Mr. Zhou, I...... You helped me so much, but I couldn't do anything."
Before Chiaki could get started with her apology, Zhou dropped the bouquet before her.
For some reason, the bouquet was filled with a mesmerizing beauty that managed to capture her attention with its brilliant luster.
"All of that is unimportant."
Zhou's voice seemed to come from far away.
Chiaki stared blankly at the bouquet and lent her ears to Zhou's words.
"If you feel regret."
Chiaki's eyes were glazed.
"If you feel the burden is too heavy."
Her consciousness was entirely dominated by Zhou's voice.
"Then just forget about me."
"Forget......?"
Chiaki involuntarily spoke these words; she wasn't even aware what she was saying.
"Yes, just forget about me."
"Forget...... Is it OK to forget......?"
Under Zhou's guidance, Chiaki allowed herself to forget.
"Yes, all you have to do is forget."
"Understood...... I will forget......"
Chiaki gave herself the order to forget.
◇◇◇
October 25th, the Tuesday after school. Tatsuya, Mari, and Mayumi went to the Hachiōji Special Detention Center where Sekimoto was held. There were only five days until the Thesis Competition, so this was really the busiest last leg of the preparation phase, but since Tatsuya's tasks were proceeding smoothly, he was able to spare two or three hours away from preparations.
In reality, Erika, Leo, and Mikihiko also wanted to tag along, but that was a little inconvenient for the upperclassmen. Mari only had reservations regarding Erika alone, but it was a little too challenging for innocent high school boys to associate with unfamiliar female upperclassmen. —Actually, the permission slip that Tatsuya handed in only had three spots anyway. Speaking of which, Miyuki was completely tied down with Student Council business, so she could only send the three of them off with an unsmiling "beautiful smile".
While there were all sorts of procedures at the door, there wasn't any hassle beyond the door. After handing them a LPS terminal as a guide, there wasn't even a staff member to accompany them, which was most likely the result of Mayumi leaning on the "Saegusa" name. Of course, Tatsuya wasn't certain of the veracity of that, nor did he wish to comprehend the reason behind their special treatment.
The room Sekimoto was held in wasn't a "cell" and there wasn't anything like metal windows or something like that. It was actually more like a second-class room in a hotel. Even then, there was a hidden room that could observe the contents of that room.
Mayumi and Tatsuya both entered the hidden room. Mari would be the only one to face off against Sekimoto. Although Mari was the one who proposed this arrangement, neither Mayumi nor Tatsuya voiced any disagreement. Tatsuya knew very well that even if Sekimoto proved to be violent, Mayumi was confident she could control him from the other room, although Sekimoto's talent was but a tiny fraction of Mari's own.
From the hidden room, they saw Sekimoto without any restrictive shackles. Of course, he was forbidden from leaving the room. Sitting obediently on the side of the bed, he was wearing simple clothes not out of place during a hospital check up. He probably had undergone a thorough full body search, so the chances he carried hidden weapons or a CAD was absolutely zero.
Under Tatsuya and Mayumi's watchful gaze in the other room, the door leading to that room opened. Needless to say, this was Mari. Sekimoto, nonplussed at the opening door, revealed his astonishment at this. However, in the next instant, his eyes were wary and suspicious. Sekimoto detected a hint of danger when Mari appeared by herself.
"Watanabe...... Why are you here?"
Subconsciously, Sekimoto rubbed at his left wrist from his seat on the bed, probably involuntarily looking for his confiscated CAD. Although his voice did not waver, it was filled with a nameless dread.
"Obviously, I'm here to understand the situation."
Likely due to his service as a Public Moral Committee member, Sekimoto knew what Mari was capable of. He must be downright terrified of Mari's ruthlessness.
"So...... Even you can't use magic here."
Sekimoto's accusation was correct. This was the place to detain adolescent Magicians who broke the law. Though there were no automatic anti-magic devices like "Cast Jamming" installed here, there were still devices that could detect magic invocation. Once magic usage was confirmed, disarming gas would be released along with rubber bullets from machine guns, followed by security bursting in wearing full protective gear.
"Is that so?"
—On the condition that the surveillance system was working properly.
Sekimoto finally comprehended the reason why Mari couldn't help but smile.
"We don't have much time. Just tell me the important details."
Seeing Mari's teasing grin (in Sekimoto's eyes), Sekimoto frantically stopped breathing. —But it was already too late, halting his breathing was insufficient to avoid magic.
Sekimoto's consciousness suddenly dipped into the fog. He wasn't even aware that he had succumbed to Mari's attack before starting to answer Mari's question.
"Is she using scents to control his mind?"
Tatsuya was perfectly clear on what Mari did after watching from the hidden room.
She was using various scents to directly provoke emotions and memory. This theory had already been medically proven in the previous century. Commercial aromatherapy relied on the powerful effects on emotions caused by smells.
Using the ventilation system, Mari sent perfume wafting through the nose into the olfactory cells, hereby combining a scent that lowered mental resistance and another which controlled the consciousness to create a literal truth serum.
"Tatsuya-kun, is this the first time you've seen this?"