After leaving home, Ren wandered through the city, testing the abilities of the bracelet by planting "eyes" at various locations.
"Just as I thought, the planted eyes have no distance limit."
He had taken a bus from one end of the city to the other and walked through numerous streets, a straight-line distance of dozens of kilometers. Yet, the planted "eyes" remained active and fully functional.
Unlike the movable eyes, which could roam freely but were tethered to him, the planted eyes functioned as static coordinates. As long as they weren't recalled, they could continuously monitor the area. Furthermore, recalling them was effortless and could be done remotely, no matter how far away they were.
When recalled, the planted "eye" would return to the bracelet instantly, as though traveling through space.
"As expected of the power of Sefirah Castle," Ren muttered to himself, marveling at the spatial manipulation capabilities reminiscent of the Door pathway.
From this, it was clear that even though the bracelet was a small prop, it possessed certain extraordinary characteristics. However, its true potential could only be unlocked by someone capable of wielding such power.
While testing the bracelet, Ren stopped at a family restaurant for lunch, taking a moment to think about his diary entry for the day.
"What should I write today?"
The content of the diary remained crucial. Every entry tied directly to the lottery, and he wanted to experiment with a mundane diary to see how it would affect the outcome.
Suddenly, one of the "eyes" he had planted vibrated, signaling an event.
Ren shifted his attention to the location the "eye" was monitoring.
Through the eye, he saw a man in a baseball cap gripping a little girl by the neck and dragging her into an elementary school. The schoolyard was empty, it was the weekend, and there wasn't even a guard on duty.
"A kidnapping?"
The situation was obvious. Without hesitation, Ren put down his chopsticks and walked to a nearby public telephone booth to call the police.
Using his personal phone would leave a trace, and that was a complication he preferred to avoid.
---
[110 Emergency Services. How can I assist you?]
"I just saw a man wearing a baseball cap dragging a little girl into Futabashi Elementary School. It's the weekend, so there's no one there. I suspect it's a kidnapping."
[Are you certain?]
"The location is Futabashi Elementary School. Given the circumstances, I don't see any other explanation."
[Understood. Thank you for the report. We'll dispatch officers immediately.]
"Be careful, he might be armed with a knife."
[Noted. Thank you for the warning.]
After hanging up, Ren returned to the restaurant, sat back at his table, and resumed eating his lunch as though nothing had happened.
---
The Metropolitan Police Department immediately relayed the information to Inspector Juzo Megure, who was patrolling nearby.
"A kidnapping at Futabashi Elementary School?"
Megure frowned, glancing out the car window. The school wasn't far from their location.
"Sato, turn off the siren and head to Futabashi Elementary School. Notify nearby patrol units to assist."
"Understood," replied Sato Miwako, the female officer driving the car. She turned off the siren and used the radio to alert other officers in the area.
---
Meanwhile, Ren continued eating, keeping an eye on the situation through the planted "eye."
"The police are quite efficient when they're in the right mood," he mused, watching as seven or eight officers began sweeping the school grounds.
The elementary school wasn't large, and there were only a few places where someone could hide. It didn't take long for the officers to locate the suspect in the school's storage room.
Five officers moved quietly, their guns drawn. Within moments, they kicked the door open and stormed in.
Three minutes later, two officers emerged, escorting the handcuffed man. A female officer followed, gently comforting the crying little girl.
"Hmm, not bad," Ren muttered to himself, nodding in approval. "When they're not acting as background characters in a mystery drama, the police can be quite capable."
With the situation resolved, he recalled the "eye" planted at the school.
He had already decided on the theme for today's diary entry.
"I'll write about how I helped the police catch a kidnapper," he thought. "It's a mundane event, but it'll serve as a good test for the lottery."
With that decided, Ren finished his lunch and prepared to head home, concluding his day's experiment with the bracelet.
---
Elsewhere, the Shinomiya household was in a state of quiet tension.
Today, two unexpected visitors had arrived: Sanzenin Nagi and Saginomiya Isumi.
Their arrival immediately drew the attention of the entire household. Even Shinomiya Oko, the eldest brother and presumed heir of the Shinomiya family, couldn't ignore the implications.
Kaguya's sudden connection to these two prominent young ladies could shift the family dynamics entirely.
Oko's gaze darkened as he pondered the situation.
"How did Kaguya manage to establish ties with the Sanzenin family?" he muttered to himself.
No one had an answer.
---
In a private room of the Shinomiya mansion, Kaguya sat across from Nagi and Isumi. On the table between them was a photo—a photo that left Kaguya with no room for denial.
The atmosphere was tense. Only two maids stood nearby, silently observing.
Kaguya's expression was calm, but her mind was racing.
"So, Miss Sanzenin and Miss Saginomiya, your experiences are the same as mine?"
"No," Nagi replied with a sly smile. "Only you and I share the same experience. Isumi is just here to accompany me."
"Friends, then?" Kaguya asked, her tone neutral.
It was no secret that Nagi and Isumi had a close relationship, but Kaguya hadn't expected them to share such personal secrets.
"So, Miss Sanzenin, is this a confrontation?" Kaguya asked, her sharp eyes locking onto Nagi's.
***
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