"Read."
I glance sideways from my game of Othello with Koizumi and see a small book held in front of me, at around eye level. Deviating from her usual routine of turning pages, Nagato had stood up and presented it to me.
"Why? Is there a secret message in it again?"
"There are no concealed textual additions from myself present within this volume. This text originated from a large city situated in the lower regions of a heavily populated island between the hypothetical markings around this planet known as the Artic Circle and Tropic of Cancer."
"Ummm?" Sometimes, I really feel that Nagato talks like that just for the sake of it…
"The location is more commonly known as London. This transcript was written in the English Roman alphabet, but I have used data manipulation to translate it into modern Japanese for your convenience."
"You want me to read it that badly, eh?"
"I hypothesise that it will be of great interest to you."
Wow, she's actually recommending me a book just for the sake of it? Nagato really is becoming more human… I guess I can't really deny her.
"Okay, then… I guess should start now. Hey Koizumi, game's off."
The esper leans back with a disappointed smile. We both know who would have won anyway.
I take a sip of the fabulously made tea by my side - made by the much more fabulous Asahina-san, I hasten to add - and begin reading.
After a bit of skimming through, my eyes widen and I start looking more closely.
Just… what is this?
A diary from early nineteenth century London, and in it…
Emma Starbright, the hyperactive weird girl…
Helen Willow, the silent reader…
Sarah Lockhart, the beautiful, pleasant, maiden…
Wolfram Edwards, the irritating young man with a penchant for philosophy…
And the boy who wrote the diary… a normal, sarcastic young boy who enjoys referencing Shakespeare… called John Smith.
No way. This had to be a coincidence. I refuse to accept such a chillingly creepy parallel!
I turned back to the diary and continued reading. It was extremely old, and I had to turn the pages delicately as I read.
"If any of you are vampires, demons, witches, or ghosts, then come find me! That is all!"
Nagato, just where did you find this…?