Eiji couldn't help but glance back at the orange-haired young man multiple times.
As if sensing his gaze, the orange-haired young man also turned to look at him.
However, by then, both Eiji and Aozaki Aoko had already vanished from the infirmary, leaving only the faint sound of footsteps on the tiled floor echoing from outside the door.
"The screening has begun..."
He lowered his head and murmured softly.
His expression showed no trace of joy or anger, as if he were utterly indifferent to everything.
***
After leaving the infirmary, Eiji recounted everything that had happened the previous night to Aozaki Aoko.
Including how he had encountered a certain magus at a dessert shop, only to be attacked that very night.
However, of course, he didn't mention Aozaki Touko's name, instead referring to her as "the magus with dark red short hair."
After all, he had never left this town and knew next to nothing about the world of magecraft—it would be strange if he were familiar with Aozaki Touko's name, which would only arouse Aoko's suspicion.
"An outsider magus used puppets to attack you and even destroyed Alice's familiar?"
Aozaki Aoko fell into thought.
Moreover, Eiji wanted to use their methods to track down that magus, intending to nip the danger in the bud.
In other words, he was seeking an alliance.
It did make logical sense.
However, it was too early to jump to conclusions.
"I'll discuss it thoroughly with my companion when I get back. I should have an answer for you by tonight."
Aoko gave a cautious response.
She didn't readily agree to the alliance.
So far, their conversation only proved that he was indeed clueless about magecraft, but it didn't rule out the possibility that he was acting on his own behalf—a staged attack wasn't out of the question.
Infiltration under the guise of an ally, only to dismantle their workshop from within, was a common tactic in magi conflicts.
In battles between magi, the slightest carelessness could lead to devastating consequences.
So they had to be careful, cautious, and then even more cautious.
Eiji hadn't expected Aoko to trust him after just one conversation.
For a first contact, this outcome wasn't bad.
By noon, the two of them finished their discussion and parted ways at the school gate.
"Damn it, I forgot to punch him!"
It wasn't until after they separated, as she walked back to the mansion, that Aoko suddenly remembered.
She had only slept for three hours before waking up, and had been repeatedly infuriated throughout the morning. Normally, she would've thrown a punch long ago!
But then they started talking about serious matters, and she forgot.
Well, next time, then.
Just thinking about his face made her teeth itch and her fists clench again.
She absolutely couldn't forget next time!
...Still, he probably wasn't a bad person.
He gave off a completely different vibe from those shady, scheming magi.
She considered wandering around outside to clear her mind, but drowsiness weighed heavily on her eyelids, so she decided to return to the mansion for a nap.
"Alice, what's wrong?"
As soon as she stepped into the mansion, Aoko saw her housemate standing in the entryway, holding a letter delicately between her slender fingers.
Her housemate didn't speak, simply handing the letter over.
Aoko took it curiously and quickly skimmed through it.
Then, her expression tightened slightly.
"What do you plan to do?"
Her housemate cast a cold glance her way.
"...I'll handle it."
She took a deep breath, her resolve hardening.
***
After returning home, Eiji checked every corner of the house, ensuring nothing was amiss before finally relaxing.
Magi usually avoided acting during the day or in crowded places, so his home should be safe for now. That was why he'd seized the chance to contact Aoko earlier.
Evening came.
Okita Souji and Minamoto-no-Raikou returned home together. After dinner, the three of them retired to their respective rooms to sleep, while Eiji waited for a response.
Tap tap tap!
Around ten at night, a rhythmic knocking sounded at the window.
Eiji, who hadn't slept yet, opened the window to find a pitch-black starling perched on the railing outside, a letter clutched in its beak.
It dropped the letter onto the ground, then took off into the sky.
"Familiars are so convenient!"
Eiji couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
They could surveil, deliver messages, and save magi a lot of unnecessary effort—truly a must-have for the lazy.
He'd definitely have to try making a familiar later!
Though it was likely he wouldn't be able to learn any magecraft or magic at all... but what if?
People must have dreams, right?
Eiji bent down to pick up the letter and unfolded it.
"Meet at the amusement park. We need to talk."
The signature was Aozaki Aoko's name, written in a flamboyant scrawl.
Whoosh!
Within seconds, blue phosphorescent flames erupted from the letter, reducing it to ashes in an instant.
"The amusement park, huh..."
Eiji gazed toward the city outskirts, lost in thought for a moment.
A short trip outside shouldn't be a problem. If there was danger, his intuition would surely warn him.
"Then let's go!"
***
In the southwestern suburbs of Kinoko City stood an abandoned amusement park.
Built over a decade ago, the park was intended to serve as a landmark for the then-emerging Kinoko City. It had consumed vast amounts of manpower, materials, and funds, covering an enormous area.
Unfortunately, after its completion, visitor numbers were dismal, and within a few years, it was shut down and left to decay. Now, it was practically devoid of human presence, with only a few stray cats and dogs making it their home.
Eiji arrived at the amusement park's main gate, effortlessly vaulting over the locked entrance and stepping inside without hindrance.
At a glance, the entire park was shrouded in shadows, with rusted metal structures scattered everywhere. Whether it was the roller coasters or the Ferris wheel, all were covered in rust, and a single breath could stir up clouds of dust.
One might mistake the place for having been abandoned for decades.
"But speaking of which, where does she plan to meet in such a huge amusement park?"
Eiji scratched his head as he surveyed the sprawling park.
Since Kinoko City only had this one amusement park, the meeting spot had to be here. But the place was so vast that finding someone would take considerable effort.
Well, magi had eyes everywhere—let them come find me!
With that thought, Eiji simply stood still and waited.
Before long.
A rhythmic set of footsteps echoed through the amusement park, and soon after, the slender yet curvaceous figure of a girl emerged from the shadows.
She had changed out of her school uniform into casual wear, her shapely legs now clad in black stockings, her skirt fluttering in the night breeze.
Not bad at all!
"What's so important that we had to meet at night? Couldn't we have talked at school tomorrow morning?"
Eiji complained as he walked forward.
He hadn't slept well these past few days—catching up on sleep during the day and running around like a night owl. His body clock was all messed up.
"At school, we could only talk."
Aoko stood with one hand on her hip, one eye closed.
Compared to her demeanor during the day, her face now lacked its earlier impatience, replaced instead by a sense of rationality—or perhaps coldness.
"But some things can only be settled by meeting in person... like a fight."
***
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