There are stories that depict a world where magic is reality. A world unlike our own, not dull but filled with excitement.

"If there are such worlds out there, it's up to us to find it! I mean, there's gotta be one out there right!?"

Such are the words from my senior.

She takes pride in being the president of the Other World Research Club. Though we're just treated as another occult club in others eyes. Some say we should grow out of it since we're in University. However having hobbies and someone to share it with isn't such a bad thing. It's healthy to say the least and opens up connections with others who share the same common interest. In other words, it's networking.

Perhaps she just watches too much detective shows, at times she'll spout quotes from famous detectives.

"A true detective never gets married."

That's what she said when we were talking about the topic of romance, we're both university students in our early twenties and yet we don't have a significant other. Of course I'm keen on finding someone to settle down with, but with her…

It's not so easily said when she thinks I'm her supporting pillar.

"You have the makings of a real detective baby black sheep."

At first I was considered white, but now I'm black. I assume that means I'm the rare one of the bunch, but she said it was left to me to figure it out.

"Hey, are you even listening to me?"

We were both alone in the clubroom, where the light of day never seems to shine in as she always had the curtains closed. She says it's easier for her to concentrate.

"It's not like there's anyone else to listen to."

I heave a small sigh and sprawl across the table.

"I'm bored…"

We already solved the mystery of the high school said to have children buried beneath it. As well as the mystery of the cellar of a rundown house. Even if the main objective of this club was to find if there's another world out there that one has not seen before. We mostly just investigate mysteries that haven't been solved. Because some things can appear bigger than what you'd think in the end.

"Where's Mari anyways?"

"She said she was feeling tired, so she went home to rest."

….

Silence fills the room as the only sounds that were present were the spinning of the ceiling fan above us and the club president spinning her hat on top of her finger.

"It's hot..~"

"Honestly you complain too much!"

"But I can't help it if there's nothing to do!~"

"Then start reading those novels I gave you!"

"I think I should just complete my assessment. I'll be going now."

"W-what!? Y-you're going to leave me alone?"

As I make my way towards the door, she jumps up from her chair in protest.

"Shouldn't you be heading back too, Senpai?"

"It's too early to go back now!"

The sun in fact was starting to set, it's like she has a lot of free time on her hands. Though she's taking physics major so I wonder how she does it. Well Senpai was always considered a genius with a few screws loose that is, she's bright but also very lazy when it comes to using her head on other things that don't involve solving mysteries.

When we when for camping a few months back with Maribel-san and Kuroi-chan, Senpai notified us beforehand that we didn't need a GPS nor watch. We thought of it as nothing but a joke but it turns out she was one hundred percent serious.

By using the stars and the moon, she could tell the time and the location. Of course we used our cellphones for reference and we were amazed that she was in fact correct. She has many names, and that includes a living GPS.

"Why don't you learn a thing from Maribel-san? Those who sleep early, wake up early. In other words, the early bird gets the worm. You could miss a big mystery if you sleep in."

"Yes but have you heard this, the early worm gets gut by the bird. In other words, I could die if I wake up early."

That's rather unlikely; in fact it's unhealthy to sleep in.

"I can't imagine you dying though, Senpai."

"W-what does that mean!? I'm just a fragile, helpless maiden!"

Maribel-san fits that category more.

"I can imagine you getting hit by an ongoing truck and roll a few meters and exclaim 'Wow that was quite a shock.'"

"Even I can die if you hit me hard enough!~"

I heave a sigh and sit back down.

"If I'm going to stay then buy me some ice-cream."

"What, ice-cream? No way."

"Oh right, I heard that all the sticks in the convenience store beside the DVD shop and grocer are all win sticks."

"…But if that's the truth then that means there'll be a shift in the amount of people visiting that store alone. If that's the case then all the other stores will lose customers wanting to buy their ice-cream."

"Where did you hear this from?"

"Ahh, a classmate.

"This could be a problem. The work… of no I can't say so for sure. How long have you known them, and do they have a habit of lying through their teeth?"

"Umm.. Since the start of the semester, and no I don't think they enjoy lying. She's a well-known person and she's trusted among her peers."

"So, on the word of a person who thinks they're top stuff."

"Ehh… No I don't think you're listening to me anymore."

"This is a job for the upcoming famous detective of Kyoto."

As she approves of this case, she places her hat firmly upon her head and adjusts it. Pulling down the rim, a small triangular cut was made on the front side of her hat. Usually you could her left amber eye glint.

"Usami Renko… Is on the case."

Proceeding out of the room, she pauses at the door and tilts her head, staring straight at me.

"Oh, I'll expect pay back in full when I return."

"…Ehe, and I expect this case to be solved when you do return, Renko-senpai."

Sliding the door closed, I now have the time to finish my assessment. Judging by the distance from this University to the convenience store, it'd take at least 20 minutes if she walks. However with her pace, she'll easily cut that time down in half.

Once Renko wraps her head around a mystery, she'll always get to the bottom of it. Figuring out almost everything once she spots all the fragments. In her head she's able to reform these fragments into a complete piece, or so she says.

In other words, this is nothing but childs play for her. Though it is something for her to do, and I'm getting ice-cream out of it.

…

All I had to do was add the finishing touches on this word document, assessing all the necessary data, compiling it, some error checks here and there.

By the time that was done, Renko-senpai walks into the room.

She slumps on her chair and heaves a sigh.

"Say.. Yuuki."

"Yes?"

"You knew all along about this, didn't you?"

With her head leaning back towards the end of the room, she tilts her chair in the same direction and rocks it back and forth. At the same time she begins her habit of twirling her hat.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Renko-senpai."

"The win sticks, you already figured it all out."

As an ice-cream enthusiast, I went to the bottom of it in an instant when I heard word of it.

"Oho, you caught me."

"Yuuki!"

Grabbing hold of her hat, she shoots up from her chair and slams her hand against the table. Accompanied by the sound of a package popping open, a blue liquid seeps out from beneath her hands.

"H-hey now, don't go getting any sticky substances over my notebook."

I pick up my notebook in a flash as I discover a white plastic package grasped in her hands.

"W-wait… Is that my ice-cream, Renko-senpai?"

"E-ehh…?"

It seems like she did it without realizing as she starts to fluster up. Jolting up in an instant, she hides it behind her back as though I wouldn't realize it. However the blue trail it lead, tells otherwise.

"I-I have no idea what you're talking about."

"…Woww.. Renko-senpai has blue blood. An alien, that's why she's so smart and intelligent."

"….I don't know if I should be insulted or glad as you're tone tells me you're being sarcastic."

"Oh woww, you have me all figured out Renko-senpai.~ Good job.~~"

"Ahhh stop that Yuuki! I can't handle you when you're like that!~"

"I'd stop being sarcastic but you crushed my ice-cream. That poor ice-cream hasn't harmed a single soul and yet. Such a cruel fate was bestowed upon it."

"I-It's not all totaled! Here."

She presents it towards me.

"…It's melting."

"You can refreeze it, no harm done."

You can't be saying things like that; you can't just simply re-freeze a treat such as ice-cream and say it'll taste the same. That's like saying you can drink milk that's been out in the sun, if you put it back in the fridge.

"I'm not paying you back for this, Renko-senpai."

"….If only this was a win stick."

In fact the rumor of every ice-cream had a win stick was a complete farce. The reason why the girl was talking about this convenience store was because her father actually owns it. They receive close to no customers as the grocer beside them has almost everything, and is also well known for lowest prices on fresh fruits and veggies. Most customers purchase milk from convenience stores, but of course being a grocer they sell milk in bulk. Snacks too can be purchased leaving no hole in your wallet.

As for magazines that convenience stores also have, DVD shops have them too actually.

So the rumor was quickly thrown together and all made up from the girl, in order for her father to have customers again.

…

After leaving my assessment with the instructor, we leave campus and make our way home. I was hoping to eat ice-cream on the way back.

"Black sheep, you have to make it up to me. Putting me on a case that's already been solved, and for it to be on a level that even you could figure out."

"I'm offended, Renko-senpai. Who was it that crushed my ice-cream?"

"Ice-cream's about 300 yen a piece. Putting Usami Renko on a case is over 10 times that amount!"

"Ha ha ha ha."

"W-why are you laughing, and in such an annoying tone too!?"

"That's why I love ice-cream, for only 300 yen it's a taste of heaven. Ahh the taste of it, eating it on the way home from a big day at University. Watching the sun set as you do so, what more could you want in life!"

"…Ahh, Yuuki's lost it."

…..

The way back home for both of us, is walking pass an old playground for children. However no children have been sighted ever since we attended University. I met Renko-senpai on first day of arrival; you may ask why I even joined such a club. It's because she was the first to reach out to me, she said I was destined to join her club alongside Maribel-san. Of course I soon realized it was just a lie to trick me into joining.

However as much as I don't want to admit it, I admire her.

"Yuuki, there's no children here today either."

"…Perhaps we just have the wrong timing."

"From day to night, the grounds are lifeless. The dirt been stepped upon for decades and I spot no tracks."

Renko steps into the playground.

"What are you doing, Renko-senpai? We're visiting Maribel-san right? We should hurry before it gets too dark."

In this district there aren't any street lights once it gets dark as it's quite old. So you could easily lose your way once that happens. However since Renko-senpai is a living GPS, that problem isn't present. Though that doesn't mean we can stay here any longer, I'd like to get back before dark.

"You can go back if you'd like, Yuuki. But there may be a reason no children play here."

I look forward as the road stretches onward, but I don't move towards that direction. It's not like I can't handle walking on my own, however when I said that Renko-senpai would get to the bottom of every mystery. She throws away her own personal safety and loses track of everything else. She gets so involved in it which worries me and the others.

I follow behind Renko-senpai as lips tugs towards a small grin.

…

We inspect the place from up to down, from left to right. The slide and other equipment have as much dust as the things you leave unattended for years.

"Yuuki, have you figured it out yet?"

"…The materials used… They're from somewhere else."

"Indeed, the woods and metal are of far poorer quality than the ones you'd usually see. It's old."

"But It could also mean this could have been build a long time ago and undergo maint- No wait, then if that was the case there shouldn't be as much dust as this. And there'd be tracks left behind."

"It rained the other day; the rain should have cleaned most of it off. And these metal bars should have rusted a long time ago."

"Does this place have a name?"

"….Yuuki, was it already dark when we came here?"

"Ehh what?"

It was only in the evening when we came upon this playground. Renko-senpai walked in to have a look and I joined her soon after. Did we lose track of time? Or…

I look up into the sky, thousands of stars were to be seen and the darkness of it. Was frightening, the moon itself seemed so close as if it would come crashing down. Obliterating everything in this world.

"R-Renko-senpai… W-what's happening!?"

I hurry towards her however I wasn't getting any closer. No matter how many steps I took, the distance remained the same. I start running however it was for naught.

"Renko-senpai!"

"Y-Yuuki where are you going!?"

The distance between us grows further. It's as if both sides of the playground were miles apart.

I reach out towards her fleeting hand, however I couldn't grasp it. No matter what I did nothing changed.

I…I'm going to lose her. I don't… I don't want to leave her side.

"Renko!"

"Yuuki! Reach out, grab my hand!"

Don't go… Where I can't see you…

…

Hours seem to have passed, perhaps even decades as I finally wake up.

Wake up? I don't remember falling asleep.

The sky seemed much further away than it did before; it was as though that incident never occurred. I was in a bad dream, and Renko-senpai woke me up. She'd probably say something along the lines of;

"Detectives shouldn't sleep when they're on a case!~"

I was ready to give a retort, waiting for her.

However...

"Renko-senpai..?"

I call out her name as I sit up straight; I was in some kind of forest. The playground was nowhere to be seen. Renko-senpai, was nowhere to be seen.

"H-hey Renko-senpai, this isn't funny. Come on out!"

"…D-Don't leave me… Renko-senpai!"

No response, no matter how much I called for her. Tears start running down the side of my cheeks, I don't… want to be left alone.