Seventy-Second Spell: New Year's Assignment
Dōmeki was taken aback by Fue's statement. "But Prime Minister, you said—
"I said it wasn't a complete waste of time. But that doesn't mean it was worth my investment," said Prime Minister Fue in a stern tone. "What concerns me more is the item you have brought to this school in secret."
"Prime Minister, I assure you the item is perfectly safe here."
"Well, it had better. I understand the Boy Who Vanished is attending this school under the protection of your groundskeeper Rakurai Higa, a former member of the Shimono."
"Yes, that is correct."
"And you're sure neither the boy nor Higa will cause any issues in regard to the item's safety."
"If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't have entrusted the boy's life to Higa."
"Then I'll take you at your word. In the meantime, I'll do what I can to hinder the Kōsen's investigation into the Gaikin Bank break-in since they view your interference with Higa's interrogation as a sign that you're somehow involved."
"Your help is most generous."
As Dōmeki bowed respectfully to Prime Minister Fue, he stood up and left the Quidditch Cove with his two bodyguards that wore matching blue-and-black kimonos. Meanwhile, Hikari was too busy basking in the fame of winning the game for her team to realize Haru and Rui were no longer in the crowd. Once she found out, she was irritated by this and learned from Nayu where they were before marching over to the Healers' Wing. But after she learned what happened to Haru, her irritation turned to shock.
"My plan worked," Hikari murmured, sitting on one of the empty beds. "But I didn't think it actually would happen…."
"You should be glad Haru had enough self-control to stop himself," Rui said in a bitter tone. "Otherwise, we would have a dead prime minister on our hands."
"Our hands?" Hikari was insulted. "Weren't you watching Ryuji the whole time?"
"I was, but…then I got distracted."
"So why are you making me seem like the bad guy when you were there when Shō tried to use kotodama on Haru?"
As the two girls glared at each other, Haru felt the need to step in.
"Um, I think we're focusing on the wrong thing," Haru said. "If Shō-sensei really did use kotodama to control me, then why did I hear Warumo's voice in my head and not hers?"
"How do you know what Warumo sounds like?" Hikari questioned Haru.
"I saw him in-person when he killed my Manai family, and his voice was the same as the voice I've been hearing in my head for months."
"Could Shō have been channeling Warumo's spirit?" Rui suggested. "It's never been confirmed whether Warumo is still alive or dead."
"That is true. Necromancy is Shō's expertise, after all," Hikari realized. "Another possibility is she wanted to fool Ryuji into thinking he was obeying Warumo to goad him into doing what she said without question."
"But Shō-sensei is intimidating enough!" Haru argued. "Why go the extra mile to make me think I was hearing Warumo's voice?"
Rui suddenly snapped her finger. "Wait! Haru, didn't Popuri-dono discover the strength of your birthmother's seal is based on your emotions?"
"Yeah," Haru nodded.
"And you have been under a lot of stress since you started hearing Warumo's voice, right?"
"So?"
"Maybe Shō wants to weaken your emotional resolve, since Warumo killed your Manai family. And so she's making you think Warumo is talking to you in order to weaken your birthmother's seal—
"To make you more susceptible to her kotodama," Hikari concluded.
"Exactly!" Rui agreed. "I'm glad we're on the same page, Hikari."
"Don't try to flatter me, Rui," Hikari said sternly. "I still can't forgive you for almost letting Ryuji kill the Prime Minister when you were sitting right next to him."
Hearing that made Haru angry. "It wasn't her fault! Her twin sisters were pestering her, and that's why she got distracted."
"No excuses!" Hikari snapped. "Knowing what Shō-sensei is capable of, that means there's more to this mystery surrounding the thing inside the storage house."
"What do you mean?" Rui asked.
"If Shō just wanted the thing in the storage house for herself, why would she bother trying to control Ryuji using kotodama? But if she's trying to get Ryuji to steal the item for her, that means the thing in the storage house is not only important but also priceless."
"But we still have no idea what the item is, or who Mikoto Shinabe is," Haru pointed out.
"I know that, which is why we need to found out as soon as we can before Shō-sensei gets to the item first," Hikari grumbled. "Have you checked the library for information on Mikoto Shinabe?"
"I have, but I've come up with nothing," replied Haru.
"And you?" Hikari asked Rui.
"Not a thing," Rui said in embarrassment. "And I've looked through the library multiple times."
Hikari frowned. "Then that leaves one place we haven't looked: the Inner Library."
"We can't go in there," Rui said. "Only teachers and upperclass students are allowed."
"Even so, we've got to find a way inside. So on that note, do either of you have plans for New Year's?"
"My momma always makes time to celebrate New Year's with my siblings, even when she's busy, so I'll be heading home during Winter Break," Rui stated.
"I'll probably be heading home too," Hikari said. "Then it's up to you, Ryuji."
"Huh?" exclaimed Haru.
"You don't have anywhere to go, since your legal guardian Higa lives on this island all year-round," Hikari said. "Therefore, it'll be your job to get into the Inner Library during the New Year's holiday."
"Do I have to?" Haru didn't like the idea of possibly getting in trouble with Inku.
"It's not like we have much of a choice," Hikari insisted. "The longer we take to figure out what Shō-sensei is after, the more time she'll have to manipulate you into doing her bidding. And if she truly is assisting Warumo, it will put our school in jeopardy."
To be continued…