"Kakko. How is the investigation going?"
"We are currently investigating."
"What about Hisui?"
"Like Kakko-sama, we are still investigating."
"I see."
"Hey!" Chiaki waved her hand excitedly as she rode on the attraction.
"I'm sorry, but it seems like an urgent matter. I'll wait for the report tonight."
"Understood."
I pressed the end call button. I had asked these two to investigate something urgent for me - the whereabouts of the two remaining magic eye owners, excluding Komachi.
We were in the Onogoro tourist district at Chiaki's request, surrounded by families and couples.
Trying to earn some goodwill, I switched to host mode and laughed dryly while waving at Chiaki.
"Am I entertaining you well?"
<<-- I felt someone's gaze on me. -->>
"Huh!?"
Again!?
I sensed a hostile gaze and became more alert.
I stood up, ready to take out my weapon at any time with my Arts, and looked around.
Crowded streets.
Just a peaceful everyday scene.
A mascot was handing out balloons to children. That's not it.
A janitor was cleaning up trash. That's not it either.
Families and couples... That's not it either.
"What's wrong? Is it just my imagination?"
"Huh? What's up? You look scared."
Chiaki had gotten off the attraction without me noticing and was calling out to me.
"...No, it's nothing."
This is bad.
I must be feeling unnecessary paranoia due to lack of sleep.
Next week, there will be class battles and written exams.
I had snuck into the school last night, so maybe my lack of sleep is catching up to me.
I was confident in my toughness, but relying on youth is not a good idea.
"Okay, let's have lunch! I'm starving. Hmm... I want something junky at the amusement park."
Looking around, Chiaki pointed to a sign with an old man wearing a ten-gallon hat.
"A fancy burger is the best part of an amusement park. I want to eat that."
"Ah, I see. Whatever you like."
I regained my composure and switched back into entertainment mode.
"The hamburger on top of the plate is pretty good, isn't it?"
"I'll treat you."
"Huh!? Are you sure? Cool~"
Chiaki whistled, teasingly nudging my side.
"Because a man must be generous."
I showed my wallet and grinned.
"Hey! You're doing great. I'll cancel out the creepy points from earlier."
"What creepy points? That's the first time I've heard that. Is there really such a thing as points for being creepy?"
"Don't you know? Points accumulate from creepy comments and actions. It's common sense around the world!"
"It's common sense? By the way, how many points do I have now?"
"Um...with that last comment, it's balanced out. So, it's about 100 million points."
"100 million...by the way, how impressive is that?"
"Well...ordinary people can only accumulate about 100 points over their entire lives, so it's pretty impressive."
"That's ridiculously impressive!?"
"That's right. You're still accumulating points even now. But since Suguru-kun is a little cool now, I'll subtract 1,000 creepy points for you."
"That's like the points of 10 regular people...damn it!? Can't you say 'creepy' more!?"
"Heheh. You're still creepy. Creepy creepy."
"How many points did I just get!?"
"100 creepy points!" Chiaki spun around in front of me, pointing her index finger and smiling.
.
.
.
/three-person viewpoint/
"Senpai. Did Amachi senpai have a girlfriend?"
"I don't know."
"What kind of person is Amachi senpai?"
"I don't know."
"Why is that person playing happily?"
"I don't know."
Maria and Komachi.
The atmosphere between the two was chilly.
The two who were tailing Amachi watched a man and woman laughing and having fun from the Ferris wheel, radiating a killing intent.
"That guy who is ignoring our guidance and playing around. Should we beat him up?"
"...It's not yet time to panic. Ambush has a higher chance of success."
Maria gave an evil smile.
"...Are you going to ambush them?"
Komachi peered slightly apprehensively at Maria's face.
"For my future...I can't forgive Ayaka-san, the female fox. And Amachi-san may also need to be punished. It's troublesome for his future bride to deal with such a sly person."
"Um, what are you talking about? Female fox? Future bride?"
Maria cleared her throat.
"No, that's another topic."
(What the hell is going on? Why are Amachi and Ayaka having secret meetings? Don't they like me? According to Claire, someone who avoids affection should be in love... What happened to our promise? I was supposed to convey my feelings in the letter. Haven't you read it? Could it be...?)
"Maria senpai...your face is scary."
"Homura-san, it seems that Amachi-san is taking their lunch."
"I see."
Komachi saw Amachi and another woman walking towards a restaurant.
"Let's go there too."
.
.
.
We had our meal and went to various attractions in the amusement park.
I encouraged Ayaka and we had a blast.
It was already evening, and the season was approaching early summer. The warm breeze of the season brushed against our cheeks.
"Suguru-kun, do you want to take a break?"
"Yeah, I'm a little tired too."
We sat on a bench with a view of the water attraction.
"Today was really fun."
Chiaki expressed her thoughts as the sun began to set.
"Yeah, it was."
I checked my watch without being noticed.
It was already 6 pm...
I wanted to hurry back home and continue my training. I also had to share information with Kakko and Hisui later.
We were urgently investigating the whereabouts of two eye magic users out of the three that existed in Megashuva, excluding Komachi.
These eye magic users had the ability to steal unique skills and arts from others, and could copy them at will.
They could even steal unique magic and specialized equipment, and copy them freely without any aptitude.
We were looking for the two people who possessed this eye magic.
It was already 8 pm... no, maybe 9 pm...
I wanted to be back on our way home by 10 pm at the latest.
We didn't achieve the mission of giving out presents made of precious metals, nor did we complete the Saburo Ramen mission.
I hadn't even bought my glasses yet.
I guess we scored around 20 points...
My internal AI reported that it was in the "danger zone" of being in a bad mood.
While I was thinking about these things in my head...
"You know, Suguru-kun, I've never really had any friends or anything. My situation has always been a little special."
Suddenly, Chiaki declared something.
"Hmm?"
"I'm really strong, aren't I?"
She rolled up the sleeve of her One Piece and flexed her muscles.
Her arms didn't seem very muscular, but in this world, there were magical things.
Her punch was much heavier and more powerful than the iron fist of a huge man.
"Yeah, definitely."
"Why do you think I pretend to be weak at school?"
"Why?"
That was something I wanted to ask too. While I lived a mob life and succeeded in the Phantom Intruder Plan, there should be no reason for her to do so.
"To avoid hurting anyone...maybe. No, that's just an excuse. It's really to avoid getting hurt myself."
"Huh?"
"If you who defeated me can understand... being too outstanding makes people afraid of you. Those who are too abnormal become lonely."
"..."
"There was a lot of jealousy and sarcasm. It was tough, but that's not what scared me the most. What's much scarier is being alone. That look, directed at me...it was terrifying."
"I see."
"The eyes that look at you like you're a monster. That was scary. Being alone was scary. So I pretended to be weak, to play the role of a weak and unremarkable person so that no one would be afraid of me."
"I see. Well said."
She was such a powerful person. She was too irregular for this world. Eventually, she began to be looked at with awe.
She continued to be isolated.
I don't know what happened.
That's not my life, But I could sense it. She was just a girl.
"I may be strong, but... I'm much weaker than that. It's a contradiction, isn't it? Hahaha."
She had a melancholic expression.
She must be recalling something unpleasant.
Now, should I cheer him up?
No, I don't know what to say to encourage her.
Should I sympathize and empathize with her?
I'm not skilled enough to do that.
I don't have the vocabulary to say anything fancy and dressed up in cliches.
Then, it's better to add humor.
I can only make cheap jokes and puns.
I'm just a jester, a mob character, after all.
All I can do is to make an effort to bring out a smile.
That's my only unique ability.
The unique ability of the jester trump card that I have always desired in this life or the previous one.
The ability to make people smile.
He created a wicked smile on his face and said, "Chiaki is weaker than me, of course. He's a small fry. He was too weak to even compete with me, But I guess I'll train harder. Because I am strong."
He made a smirk and told a joke.
Chiaki chuckled and smiled.
"That's right,You've always been strong, You're physically strong, but most importantly, you have a strong heart. That's why people gather around you even if you pretend to be weak. You have a mysterious charm. You're a unique person with an invisible power that I don't have. That's why I'm glad I lost to you. The world is vast. I met you, who was not afraid to be with me even after seeing my full strength.Someone invited me to be their comrade. I'm no longer alone. I'm glad I came here. That alone was worth it. I was saved."
Chiaki closed his eyes and smiled quietly.
"That's over the top."
"It's not over the top."
There was a moment of silence.
What's this atmosphere?
It feels like something is about to happen.
I should have only acquired 20% of the goodwill points, but it might be a good time to ask and report naturally. Maybe I have earned more goodwill points than I thought.
I put on a solemn face and with determination, I opened my mouth, "Chiaki-kun, I have a request and a report for you."
"Me? W-what is it?" Chiaki's voice trembled, and he became suspicious.
"What's wrong? Why are you so agitated?" Anyway, let me explain the party members first," I said.
Chiaki stopped moving his eyes that were rolling around and looked up at the sky, "What's that? A new attraction?"
I stood up with a clatter.
＜＜ （ EYES ） ＞＞
A magic circle resembling a huge eye.
An eyeball the size of the sky.
A large pupil appeared in the sky like a whirlpool-like magic circle.
"That is..." I looked up at the sky and saw the true identity of the Unique Magic.
I know it. I know it.
---Clairvoyance---
Eye Technique Jutsu.
The unique ability of the individual itself.
Why is it activating at this timing!?