Wink Killer
The Secret Behind the Seal Chapter 1
Heh–hehehe-heh ♪
(I’m over the moon~ I never would have thought I’d get an offer to do a large-scale event about ninjas!)
(The project director strongly nominated me too — they said I was just the person to have when it came to ninjas.)
(Is it because my activities as a ninja idol have finally begun to bear fruit?)
(If my love of ninjas has become known to loads of people, I’m really glad ♪)
(If things keep up at this rate, as a ninja idol, I could kick off ninjas becoming all the rage around the world.)
(... Mnn, I can’t just rest on my laurels.)
(This is my chance to convey the charms of ninjas to loads of people! I absolutely cannot afford to fail!)
(I’ll show the best performance ever so that everyone can fall in love with ninjas!)
(I was told that for the event, they wanted me to make use of the stage as much as I could and show the appeal of ninjas)
(So, if I demonstrate some flashy ninjutsu, it should certainly make everyone interested in ninjas too ♪)
(When it comes to ninjutsu onstage, I’ve done it before for RYUSEITAI events1, but…)
(If I’m going to the trouble already, I’d like to demonstrate even more advanced ninjutsu than I did those times~)
(But, it’s not my field of expertise, so… Yes. I’ll try looking into it from there before anything else.)
(... So, I came to the library on a mission to find some ideas.)
(It doesn’t seem like there’s anything that sticks out in the “New Books” corner, huh~)
(At this point, I’ve got no choice but to put in the work to search for books that seem to be of use.)
(Luckily, it seems like everything in the library is categorized really simply, by genre, so I should be able to find it… quickly?)
Mm, what should I do…
(That voice is…)
As I thought, it was Shino-kun, hm?
Ah, Sengoku-kun. I don’t often see you here in the library. Are you looking for something?
That’s right. I’ll be on a stage showing off the charms of ninjas soon, actually!
I wanted to make the show stage great for the people who come to see it, so I came to see if I could find any materials in the library that seemed useful for it.
There must be materials for stage direction put in here, I’m sure of it.
I see. I suppose that’s why you look a little happy, then, huh, Sengoku-kun.
If you’re looking for books about stage direction, I believe you’ll find them on the shelf over there. Let me take you there.
Really? If you’re sure, I’ll take you up on it then!
Come to think of it, Shino-kun, didn’t you say something was troubling you a second ago?
I distinctly heard you say “What should I do…?” while you were squatting down over there!
Ehehe, I didn’t notice you had overheard.
It’s not all too big a deal, but… Could you take a look at the back of this shelf here?
At the back? What could be in a place like this?
Uuu, it’s so dark, I can’t see it really well. It doesn’t seem like something fell back here either…
You see, there are these strange markings drawn onto the wall hidden behind this shelf.
Markings… Ohh! There really are some markings. Nicely spotted!
I happened upon it by chance while I was cleaning, you see.
I don’t know how long it’s been there, but if it’s been there since I began living at Seisokan Apartments, I’d think I would have noticed it sooner…
Someone must have drawn it recently. But these markings are too intricate to be considered graffiti, so I was wondering if it’s alright to erase them…
M~mn, it does just seem like ordinary graffiti. I feel like it wouldn’t be an issue to just erase it…
I wish I could lend you a hand, but I have work scheduled after this…
Even if there was a reason for it, I just don’t think it’s right to just draw on the walls like this, so I’d like to caution whoever did this against it…
I guess I’ll just have to ask around to figure out who drew it?
If they don’t feel guilty about it, you might get an answer out of them, but…
Graffiti scribbled in such a weird place like this… I don’t know, it feels like they don’t want it to be found for some reason.
That’s true… Hmm, erasing it is simple enough, but what should I do…
… If that’s how things are, please leave this to me.
You’d do that, Sengoku-kun?
Mhm! I’ll try using these markings as a clue to look into whoever drew them!
That’d be a great help…! But, what about the books you need for stage direction?
Don’t worry about it. After this matter is investigated, I’ll come back to borrow them another time.
Besides, as a member of RYUSEITAI, I can’t just leave you to your troubles, Shino-kun!
Hehe, alright, got it. I’ll be counting on you then, Sengoku-kun.
Don’t worry about a thing.
I’m a ninja, so this kind of investigation is my specialty!
You can rest easy; please leave this to me ♪
The Secret Behind the Seal Chapter 2
Narration: At the same time
Thanks for coming by the agency office toDAY, Little Kitten.
MhM. Your documents were easy to follow as usuAL. I’ll try to add my own additions from heRE, so look forward to iT. ♪
That’d really help you oUT? You did have a lot of meetings scheduled for todAY, didn’t yOU?
HmM. Still busy as evER, even after departing from the P-Association and going independeNT, hUH.
That being saID, the fact you're depended on for a variety of things even after going independent is also proof that you have successfully built a strong reputaTION, Little Kitten.
I can tell that you’ve built up a lot of truST. Those bonds you’ve forged will surely be of help in times of neED.
WeLL, that being saID, it’s not good to take on too many burdens eithER.
FortunateLY, compared to the paST, you’ve seen to have learned to rely on othERS, so there might not be much reason to woRRY.
YeS, I have every document you’ve shown me committed to memoRY. If NewDi finds someone suitaBLE, I’ll reach out to yOU—
Narration: The phone rings
(That alaRM—)
(Quietly) I thought the location I’d picked would be inconspicuOUS…
Hm? Oh nothING, just talking to myseLF. Pay no miND.
More importantLY, are you good on tiME? Didn’t you say you had a meeting after thIS?
I’m glad I’ll be able to be of heLP. Don’t hesitate to reach oUT. Bye-bye. ♪
…Now, let’s see here.
(It appears someone has taken notice of a seal I drew at Seisoukan ApartmenTS.)
(If anyone speaks in proximity to a seAL, their voice will be automatically recorded and transmitted to my smartphONE.)
(HmM. Listening to the recording, it seems that Hajime-kun and Shinobu-kun were the ones who noticed one.)
(To begin with, those seals were simply for visual clariTY, so it’s not a big deal if it’s erasED.)
(But in any caSE, I’d prefer to avoid having the matter be spread to other peopLE.)
(Those seals are to indicate the location of a hiding place for objects that can be used in times of emergency…)
(In other worDS, there are fakes used to obscure the truTH.)
(Among thEM, one of these seals indicates a secret room—one that I prepared here at Seisoukan ApartmenTS).
(It took some tiME, but I finally managed to finish it without anybody noticING.)
(And it took a lot of hard woRK.)
(There’s no such thing as being too preparED. It’s an inviolable domain that can be used if there is an emergenCY.)
(Having the existence of such a shelter becoming public knowledge is something I’d like to avoid at all cosTS.)
(After I finish up my business at the agency office heRE, I’ll fabricate a reason for Shinobu-kun to give up on investigating the seal as a countermeasURE, aND… Hm?)
Narration: The phone rings
That alaRM… It seems someone is speaking right beside a seAL?
(This tiME, it appears to be in a different place than where Hajime-kun and Shinobu-kun were talking earliER.)
(Could it be that Shinobu-kun has already discovered another seAL?)
…mi-senpai, I wonder what these are?
What are these markings here? It appears to be some graffiti.
These voices are…!
Kitchen
… You were right. It’s just as you said, Fushimi-senpai, this coffee goes down nicely.
I can hardly pick up on the bitterness at all. It’s just like drinking juice.
I’ve had coffee once or twice since I came to the city, but this is the first one I’ve tried that has such a refreshing taste.
Fufu, if it suited your tastes, then I am pleased. ♪
I just happened to pass by, and ended up troubling you by getting treated to sweets and coffee.
Oh no, it was by my invitation, so do not worry yourself.
It was unexpected, though. I had the impression Fushimi-senpai usually prefers black tea.
It’s as you say, Hiiro-sama; I frequently drink black tea, however…
I had visited a storefront during a photoshoot, and the coffee there was quite delicious. Since then, I have developed an interest in coffee.
These coffee beans in particular were recommended to me by Shiina-sama. They are said to have a mellow, bright acidity comparable to that of the famous “Geisha”2.
I have heard that it’s a rare bean grown in South America. I use it often and blend it in my own way to make it easier to drink…
Moreover, I aimed for a shallow roast so that the original aroma and flavor of the beans can be enjoyed.
It was a little complicated to follow, but I’ve come to understand these beans are rare. Is it really okay to give some to me?
It’s no problem at all. …If anything, I am grateful for the opportunity to have it sampled before I serve it to the young master.
…Truth be told, this is the first time I blended the coffee myself.
I’m embarrassed to say I had been a tad worried about whether or not it would be something I could serve to the young master.
So, seeing that you liked my coffee, I feel that a weight has been lifted off my chest, Hiiro-sama.
If I was of good use to Fushimi-senpai, then that’s a relief ♪
I don’t know much about coffee, but I guarantee to you that this blend was absolutely delicious.
Above all else, it’s because it really conveyed how much you care about Tori-kun, Fushimi-senpai.
I hope Tori-kun takes a liking to it.
I as well. As it is a rare blend, I’ve decided to call it “KEU3 Blend” to reflect its rarity. ♪
Well then, I hope you will make yourself at home, Hiiro-sama. I will go and clean up the dishes.
If that’s the case, I don’t know if it’d be enough to express my gratitude for the sweets and coffee, but I’d like to help.
Hmm. In that case, could you start by bringing your dishes here?
Alright. Please leave it to me!
… Hm?
Is there something wrong, Hiiro-sama?
Fushimi-senpai. I wonder what these are?
What are these markings here? It appears to be some graffiti.
I wonder who on earth would scribble them down in a place like this?
Indeed. I don’t believe someone here in Seisokan Apartments would draw this out of mischief…
That being the case, there is a chance that the person who wrote this was an outsider, Fushimi-senpai.
I’ve been watching variety shows with Aira lately. On one of them, there was a burglar who left graffiti when robbing a home?
I see. So you think this graffiti may be left by an intruder as a sort of a burglar callsign…
It’s a good perspective, but I find it to be unlikely.
Seisoukan Apartments is a place where many idols reside, and as such, the level of security is quite high.
It would be extremely difficult for an outsider to do something like break in, and if there was someone suspicious wandering within the vicinity of the apartments, the security guards would have reported it.
Moreover, if a burglar were to mark a building, wouldn’t they leave it on an exterior wall, rather than one indoors?
Now that you mention it, I remember something about patterns being added to household nameplates on TV.
Nevertheless, an improbability is still a probability. We should ask the security guards, just to be certain.
I do not know for what purpose this was drawn for, but defacing a wall is not something to be praised.
Perhaps this will need a little looking into.
The Secret Behind the Seal Chapter 3
(SiGH… Things have gotten a bit complicatED.)
(Hajime-kun and Shinobu-kun asiDE, to have Butler-kun look into the seals is quite unfavorabLE.)
(If someone like him finds out about the secret roOM, it’s very likely that he’ll report it to that old faRT.)
(I ended up rushing back here to put a halt to the investigatION… WeLL, let’s see where to staRT.)
(Fortunately, no alarms went off signaling any more seals were fouND. WeLL, I had placed them in areas not so easy to fiND, so that’s as anticipatED.)
(FirST, erasing the seal that indicates the secret room is of top prioriTY, then I’ll make my way erasing the rest of the seals before they are discoverED.)
Sakasaki-dono! Did you happen to get back just now?
…!
HeYA, Shinobu-kun.
(I didn’t expect to be noticed so quickly… Now, while I’d Iike to find a way to split away so I could erase the seals…)
(If I raise any suspicIONS, it’d cause even more trouBLE. So I’ll find a way to deal with this appropriately heRE…)
Oh, that’s right! There’s something I wanted to ask you, Sakasaki-dono!
…Just what am I being shOWN?
Do you recognize these markings?
(Is this a copy of the “seal” I’ve drawn scrawled onto a notePAD?)
(Perhaps he has been going around questioning others to try to see if anybody else has seen seals like this one.)
(…There’s no way he’s trying to apply pressure onto mE, could hE? There’s no evidence that’d support the claim that I’m behind the drawing of these seals at this point in tIME, after aLL.)
S—Sakasaki-dono? That’s a really long stare you’re burning into the markings, what’s the matter?
…It’s nothiNG, I just thought these markings looked rather peculiAR. I was simply going back through my memoRY.
That being saID, I don’t think I’ve seen these befoRE. Should I be recognizing these markings as somethiNG?
No, it’s fine if you don’t know! Please excuse me for asking you something so strange.
Hm, saying that is making me curioUS, thouGH?
Maybe I could be of heLP, so if you could elaborate more to mE, I’d be haPPY. ♪
(I, too, am curious as to what he thinks when it comes to these seaLS, after aLL.)
Mmnnn, but…
No. It wouldn’t be fair for me to just be the one asking questions; it’s not like you would accept such a one-sided arrangement either.
I can’t reveal the client, but… The truth is, these markings were written somewhere in Seisoukan.
The client didn’t know who wrote down the markings or why they did it and was wondering if they could erase it, so they requested for me to take on this investigation.
Wow, now that’s intriguING. Have you made any breakthroughs in your investigation so fAR?
Well, actually—
Hm? Shinobu-kun— Natsume-senpai, too? That’s quite an unusual pair, hm.
Not just Hiiro-kun, but Fushimi-dono too— have you both returned just now?
Yep. There was something we wanted to ask the security guard, so we stepped out for a bit.
You had questions for the security guARD? This is starting to sound like quite a serious mattER.
No, I wouldn’t say it’s anything to that degree…
Sengoku-sama, what’s that paper you have in your hand there?
Ohh, this is exactly what I needed, actually. Do the two of you recognize these markings?
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this before…
We were just in the midst of investigating those markings.
What?! I actually happen to be investigating these markings as well!
So you, too, have noticed those markings in the kitchen, huh, Sengoku-sama?
No, I found them in the library. Are you saying the kitchen has the same kinds of markings in it?
Mhm. We happened to see markings with that same pattern on the backside of the refrigerator.
It’d be fine if it were someone in the dorms scrawling them as a prank, but we had thought that they might be the work of someone outside the dorms.
We were just asking the security guards if they’d seen anyone suspicious around.
Fortunately, they have not seen anybody suspicious in the past several months.
In other words, these markings were more or less certainly drawn by someone within Seisoukan Apartments.
Scrawling strange graffiti upon the walls of a dormitory where living is communal is nothing to be proud about.
Before they are erased, I would like to figure out who is behind these markings.
I was just now asking people around the dorms if any of them knew what these markings were, but everyone said they didn’t recognize them from anywhere.
In that caSE, whoever made these markings probably aren’t the ones currently at the dorMS, rigHT?
Either that, or… Someone is lying.
H~m. I don’t really want to be suspicious of people, but it’d be better to consider that as a possibility too, huh.
(…Controlling the course of the conversation is proving to be quite difficuLT, hUH? Butler-kun is proving to be quite troublesOME.)
(WeLL, I doubt he’s considered the fact that the culprit is in front of his very eyES.)
(In any caSE, it is a relief to see the investigation hasn’t made much progreSS.)
(I need to erase these seals without them noticing before this commotion gets any worSE.)
If there’s more than one pattern then it’s getting more likely that it’s not just ordinary graffiti.
Maybe… There might be markings in other rooms too.
How about we work together— everyone here— and try to hunt for other markings?
Yes, I think that as well.
Ohh, adding new members to the investigation— everything is working out as desired! I would absolutely love to lend my help!
…Does this perhaps include me as weLL?
Mhm! I think having a lot of manpower would be better, don’t you!
Of course, if you have other things to do, I won’t force you to.
(Hmm, what should I dO…)
(I feel the best course of action would be to say that I have things to dO, and then discreetly go around and erase the seaLS, but…)
(If they’re investigating these seals, then there'd be a high chance of me running into them agaIN. That would make me look suspicioUS, wouldn’t iT?)
(…ActuaLLY, how about the converSE?)
Got iT. I’ve already gotten involvED, so I might as well lend my cooperatION.
I owe you my gratitude, Sakasaki-sama.
Mystery Graffiti Investigation Team, assemble ♪
(If running into them poses a riSK, then I should simply keep them on my radar.)
(AnD, with my objective to locate the seaLS, I can then erase each seal before they can discover thEM.)
(The strategy is a bold onE, but it is by no means impossibLE.)
(FuFU, allow me to benefit off you all’s investigatiON ♪)
The Secret Behind the Seal Chapter 4
…We’ve investigated the Japanese-style room and the common room, but we haven’t found any more markings anywhere.
The pattern itself is small, so it’s hard to find the places they’re scrawled onto.
It’s not going to be easy finding them even with the four of us looking.
We’re not even guaranteed to find markings in the rooms we investigate in the first place.
They don’t appear to necessarily be in every room. Could there be any significance to them being in only the kitchen and library?
I wondER. Does it make sense from a feng shui perspectIVE?
…Regardless, we still lack enough information to make any solid deductions as we are now.
We need to search for a few more clues.
(That is correCT. HowevER, none of you will be finding any more seaLS.)
(As you all were searching around the rooMS, I’ve been erasing them whenever I find possibLE ♪)
(If I immediately start investigating the location each seal is aT, the rest of you become inclined to search elsewheRE. That waY, none of you run into aNY.)
(I do appreciate that our level of trust is to the point we can each be left to our own investigatiONS. At this raTE, I should be able to erase every seAL.)
(NoW, where to guide them neXT…)
If we consider the rooms to be ones everyone usES, then how about the theater roOM?
There’s a good chance there could be markings hidden behind the soFA, or the shelvES.
That’s right. Let’s go and see if there’s any there, Fushimi-senpai.
Yes, let’s do that.
…
Hm~m, it doesn’t look like this room has those markings anywhere.
I haven’t spotted any strange graffiti over here, either.
(AlrigHT. With thAT, I’ve erased the seal that was in this roOM. The final remaining seal is in the hallwaYS…)
Sakasaki-dono~! Was there anything on the back of the sofa?
…! No, there was nothing here eithER.
… There wasn’t anything there?
HuH? YeAH, there wasN’T?
…
What should we do, Fushimi-senpai? The only rooms we have left to search are the dorm rooms.
That’s true. But it might be good to keep looking just in case…
If those markings have only appeared in two locations, then it might be a good idea to examine the locations we found them a second time.
Around where the markings were? They were just someone’s scribbles, weren’t they?
Not quite. I had briefly checked them out. The markings on the wall seemed to be quite intricately drawn.
Although nothing happened when I touched them, perhaps that means there is some sort of switch hidden nearby.
For you to pick up on something like that… It makes you seem kinda like a detective, Fushimi-dono!
Fufu, this isn’t anything worth praise.
(I didn’t realize he was so observaNT… It was the right call to hurry back to the dorms when I felt wary about hIM.)
(That being saID, while figuring out the secret behind the mechanism is eaSY, figuring out the mechanism itself will likely take some tiME.)
(While they wrestle with thAT, at the minimum I have to erase the seal upon the secret roOM—)
…!
Natsume-senpai? It looks like you got a notification on your phone.
RigHT. Let me excuse myself for a momeNT.
(This sound means that someone’s noticed a seAL.)
(The only seals remaining are in a couple places around the hallwaYS… And among those is the seal that leads to the secret roOM.)
(FortunateLY, it appears the one that was discovered isn’t the one that leads to the secret roOM, but instead is one on another floOR…)
No way, there was some sort of device like this on the wall—
(Is this Yuuki-kun’s voiCE?)
This is called a slide puzzle, right? I wonder how long this has been here.
... Alright, solved it!
(No wAY, does this mean he found the mechanism as weLL? How frighteniNG, even if it was by chaNCE…)
H~m, the wall opened… I wonder what this liquid is?
(…What should I do, I wonder.)
(Should my priority be to follow up with Yuuki-kun, for the time beiNG? No, perhaps I should prioritize erasing the seal that leads to the secret room while the others aren’t arouND…)
(AhH, damn iT…! How come so many people had to notice them today of all daYS?!)
Sakasaki-dono, you’re scowling. Is something the matter?
(…! They’ve already exited the theater roOM?)
Huh? What’s everyone doing here together?
Good day, Yuuki-sama.
Actually, we’re inspecting around a little after discovering some strange graffiti on the walls around Seisoukan Apartments.
Strange graffiti… Are you talking about the thing that was here, maybe?
Could these markings be…
That’s it, Makoto-senpai! These are the markings we were looking for!
That’s Yuuki-dono for you! Picking up on the markings in a place like this!
…WoW, so that makes thrEE, hUH?
Ahaha, I just happened to find them by chance, though.
While you’re investigating, could you figure out what's inside this bottle I found inside the wall?
Huh? Bottle?
The Secret Behind the Seal Chapter 5
Hmm. Is this the mechanism Yuuki-dono was talking about?
And you said when you solved it, that bottle came out of the wall…
I didn’t even notice there was a pattern on the wall at first. I just happened to bump into the wall by chance when I tripped.
It seems like my foot hit something, which set off the mechanism.
It startled me at first, but it was an interesting mystery to solve ♪ It totally made me think of an escape room, and I solved it pretty quick.
Escape room… So you’ve had experience escaping from somewhere, Makoto-senpai?
Oh, no, these escape rooms were browser games on the internet. I think interactive escape rooms set in real life might be becoming more mainstream lately.
Still, how curious. What is this bottle from within the wall exactly?
I can’t say I have much familiarity with green-colored liquids, but I find it unlikely that it is a sort of soda or cocktail.
It’s pretty to look at, but it’s definitely no ordinary liquid.
Is that so? It doesn’t look particularly dangerous, though.
Still, when I think about the fact it was stashed inside a wall, I’m kinda hesitant about opening it.
Indeed. There’s the possibility that opening it might unleash an odor that could harm our health. If we are to open it, it at least should be done outdoors.
(…It is simply a liquid used for special effecTS, thouGH. I’m thankful that they are overly cautious on their own accoRD.)
(There should be no reason to suspect I am the one behind this with only this muCH.)
Still, I wonder who in the world made this kind of intricate device?
You guys were looking into these markings, right? Was there anything you discovered?
No, unfortunately, we have not made any significant progress with our investigation.
The little we know is that Hiiro-sama and I discovered these markings in the kitchen, and Sengoku-sama discovered these markings in the library…
We were searching other rooms to see if we could find any other markings of this sort.
I see. … If that’s the case, how about going back to places like the kitchen and the library and trying to find any hidden mechanisms alongside the markings?
There might be a chance that something could come out of this device, like how the bottle came out of that other device.
Even if we don’t know the motive behind it, this could reveal something about the hidden culprit themselves.
I agree. I’m interested in knowing why that graffiti we found was hidden.
I have no objections either.
I see. In that case, since we’ve already investigated much of the dormitory, let’s see what information we can glean from the markings we have already discovered.
Are you guys fine on your oWN?
AlAS, this is where I’ll have to call it quiTS.
Could it be what you were contacted about earlier?
YeP. I have an urgent matter to attend tO, so I’ll have to leave the rest of the investigation in your hanDS.
Understood. If anything, we are grateful for your cooperation with us this far.
Yes! Please leave the rest to us!
We’ll definitely uncover the person behind the markings.
AhaHA. Well thEN, I anticipate getting to see the results of your investigatiON. See yOU.
…
(It seems that they are first headed towards the kitchEN.)
(SiGH. Why did this have to turn into such a paIN…)
(Now, not only Shinobu-kun and the otheRS, but Yuuki-kun too has joined in to search for the seaLS.)
(What’s moRE, they’ve discovered one of the mechanisms and the objects stored inside by pure chanCE.)
(Inside the kitchen and library’s secret compartments are only items for my convinienCE, so it won’t cause any trouble even if the mechanism is unsealED, bUT…)
(If I continue to stand by like thIS, there’s a possibility the secret room will be found oUT.)
(This is my only chance to erase the markings for the secret roOM, while everyone is in the kitchEN.)
(… There it iS. By erasing this seAL, at the very leaST, the existence of the secret room will not be revealED.)
(This will dO. The worst case scenario has at least been avoidED.)
(Now I just need to figure out a way to get those guys to give up on their investigatiON…)
(Should I divert them with a cover uP…? Or maybe I should manufacture a situation that renders the investigation impossible to continUE…)
(I’d like to render them away from the dorms for an hour at minimum to prevent them from activating the seal’s mechaniSM.)
(No wAY, have they already solved iT?)
(It appears I’ve misjudged their abilitiES. I will have to take immediate actiON.)
(There’s no time for me to frET. FirST, I’LL…)
—HeYA, Little Kitten. I have just one request for yOU…
RigHT. So, among the projects we discussed todAY, there was one about a special feature about ES idols who are cloSE, yES?
YeS, that oNE.
How about asking Tohri-kun and Butler-kun to participaTE?
I don’t know about Butler-kun’s scheduLE, but Tohri-kun mentioned that he has work at ES todAY.
At first I hesitated suggesting it as they were idols from another agenCY, but you looked like you were having troubLE, Little Kitten.
I thought that I might as well let you knOW,
…I sEE. So you were hoping to invite Tohri-kun tOO, hUH, Little Kitten?
No, don’t apologiZE. I’m the one who should be apologiziNG, dropping this on you so suddenLY. Well thEN, I’ll see yOU.
(If all goes as plannED, Tohri-kun will then reach out to Butler-kun. Just him leaving Seisoukan Apartment will make things much easier for myseLF.)
(That being saID, there’s no guarantee that the Little Kitten will reach out to Tohri-kun immediateLY. I can’t count on this to be a solution to everythING.)
(If I stand by and do nothiNG, they will continue to solve the mystery surrounding the seaLS… Until they eventually find me to be the one behind thEM.)
(… Meaning, will they stop once they solve the mysteRY?)
(I sEE, now that’s one way to do iT.)
RigHT. With an approach like thIS, I might be able to deal with even Yuuki-kun and Shinobu-kun. Let’s sEE, shall I show them a little magic triCK?
(—All secrets are kept for a reasON, you knOW ♪)
The Secret Behind the Seal Chapter 6
How’s it going, Makoto-senpai?
All fine. Uhh… this gets connected to here, and then if I do this to this… There we go!
The wall has opened up, hm? You possess truly impressive skills, Yuuki-sama.
And some kind of tube with an elaborate pattern came out…
It’s like the kind of item you’d get in an RPG, huh. I wonder what you use this for.
It’s not very heavy. Maybe it's something used to store something inside, like a thermos?
Hm… Hiiro-sama, could you lend me that for a moment?
There appears to be a curious gap in the cylinder here. If I twist this section while giving it a slight pull…
Ooh, the tube lit up!
I see. So this was a lighter!
Yes, it appears to be so.
That being said, we have a green-colored substance and an intricately patterned lighter… I do not see what connection these two objects may have.
Hmm. I can’t think of anyone who uses a lighter like this.
It feels like the mystery just got even deeper. What kind of person would hide something like this?
Ahh, thank goodneSS. You’re still in the kitchEN.
Sakasaki-dono? Didn’t you have some sort of business…?
It’s been dealt wiTH. More importantLY—EveryoNE, could you follow me for a momeNT?
Why have we returned to the theater room, Sakasaki-sama? Haven’t we already investigated this room?
YeS, that is trUE. HowevER, the graffiti was tugging at the back of my miND, so I came back here after taking care of my busineSS.
That’s when I happened upon some markings behind the sofa by pure chanCE.
So there was a marking in a place like this, huh…!
What’s the matter, Shinobu-kun?
Huh!? Nothing, really!
Well then, all that's left is to activate this mechanism and solve it.
No need to worry about thAT. I’ve already figured the mechanism oUT. All you have to do is thIS…
Oh? That is oDD. Shouldn’t this be hOW?
Sakasaki-kun, don’t you have to move that part first for the mechanism?
You’re riGHT. Thank yOU, Yuuki-kun. —TheRE, now it’s openED.
And what is inside is… A wooden box?
Huh? What is that paper that’s stuck to the box? Could it be…
? It looks like some sort of talisman…
Of course it’d be something like that! Definitely the kinda thing that’d come out in something like a horror movie!
How awfully creepy! I feel like we shouldn’t touch it!
Really? Sure, the box can’t open because of the talisman stuck onto it, but if we just tear it here…
Wait, wait, Hiiro-kun! I feel like you shouldn’t open it so carelessly!
That’s right! If you open it, you might let loose a curse!
There is no scientific backing to concepts like curses… This isn’t fiction, after all.
No, we had an old man who we called a shaman back in my hometown, so I wouldn’t even doubt there being a curse.4
…Even if we were to assume curses exist, I wouldn’t consider this to be a cursed object.
Besides, inside this there may be clues required to pinpoint the culprit, you know?
That might be so, but I can’t help but judge a book by its cover here…
(FufuFU. They’re reacting exactly as I had predictED, to a satisfying degrEE. ♪)
(This here is the “cursed box” I made long aGO. It has such an off-putting appearance that people hesitate to lay a finger on iT, which makes it a perfect container for temporary storaGE.)
(I went and placed the box into the mechanism that was heRE, and allowed the others to discover iT.)
(If you stumble across something clearly suspicious when pursuing a culprIT… NaturaLLY, you would hesitate to get yourself involved furthER.)
(You know what they sAY, “curiousity kills the cAT”. Sticking your nose too deeply out of curiosity will lead to one’s own downfaLL.)
(NoW, will you all dare to continue this investigatiON, even after discovering such an objeCT?)
This box, something about it… I feel like it really resembles this wooden box from this one rumor I heard.
A rumor…?
Yeah. It’s a real well known story on occult websites.
To summarize, the person who opened that cursed box was afflicted with a curse that plagued their entire family line!
I, too, have heard that stoRY.
From what I’ve heaRD, several such boxes were created and stored away in various locations around the country so that nobody would touch thEM.
And you believe this wooden box is one of them? That’s quite difficult to believe.
But if such a tale is true and this was meant to be sealed away, then it’s possible the small bottle and lighter we discovered earlier might also be objects with a similarly ominous history.
True, like Fushimi-kun says, we shouldn’t just assume that the wooden box is so far as a famous cursed item., but…
Still, this is… Yeah, I’m definitely still hesitant to even open this.
Be plagued with a curse, huh? It’s one thing if it’s just me being cursed, but I don’t want to inconvenience Nii-san and the rest of my clan with one.
(Goodness gracious… I do not mean to deny that curses exist, but this box is clearly a replica made to appear like it is cursed.)
(The culprit’s true intentions or why they hid such a thing, I do not know, but… I have a feeling that abandoning the investigation here would be playing right into the culprit’s hands.)
… Beneath this roof lives the young master as well. As his butler, I cannot simply ignore something as suspicious as this.
That being said, I do not intend to put you in any danger by doing so. I shall conduct the investigation alone from here on, and…
Oh, do excuse me for a moment.
Young master? Yes, I am perfectly fine, is there something the matter?
I do not currently have any plans after this, but… Oh, Anzu-san did?
I see… Understood. I will be there at once.
Was that from Himemiya-kun?
Indeed. Anzu-san has a job she’d like the young master and I to do. She asked us both to come to ES as soon as possible.
S-So suddenly?
…WeLL, I’d say that’s for the beST, in a wAY.
There’s something about these objects you all have found that just doesn’t feel right…
Sakasaki-kun, don’t say something so frightening…
My bad, my bad. ♪
Errr, well then, is this where the investigation ends, then?
That appears to be the case. And if it resumes, it will be myself conducting it alone at a later time.
We still have the markings of the bookroom left, though… What should we do?
And these objects we’ve found, should we put them back where we found them? If possible, I don’t want them on my person…
In that caSE, allow me to take care of iT. I know how to deal with cursed objects such as theSE, after aLL.
Really? Well, if it’s Sakasaki-kun, I feel like it’s okay…
Yes. Even when we saw the wooden box, Natsume-senpai was so calm he didn’t even raise a brow.
… FuFU, an observant oNE, aren’t yOU?
Oh, riGHT. Just as a precautiON, it’d be best to avoid those seals from here oN. It would be terrible if anything bad happened due to doing something you shouldN’T.
…
The Secret Behind the Seal Chapter 7
Umm, and Sengoku-kun is…
I’m over here~ Hi, Shino-kun.
I’m so sorry, did I keep you waiting?
No, not at all. I just got here too.
Hehe, meeting up for an investigation report like this is kinda making me feel like I’m a character in a drama. ♪
I definitely get that feeling! It’s so exciting, like a clandestine meeting of spies!
… Well, as for the results of the investigation, I can’t really say anything definitively.
Is that so? Well, it hasn’t really been long since I requested it today…
Whatever the case, you’re doing me a favor by taking the time to investigate, Sengoku-kun. First off, let’s begin with your story.
… Alright then. Well, let me start from the beginning…
S-So hidden amongst those markings was a cursed object…?!
If I were going just by the looks of it, I definitely felt like it was certainly an object with an ominous history behind it.
Although I have to say, the first two objects we found didn’t really give off “cursed” vibes or anything.
To think something so terrifying was hidden at the Seisoukan Apartments…
We’ve lived here without giving it much of a thought until now… Could this place actually have an ominous history behind it?
I don’t think that’s the case? They said Seisoukan Apartment's a relatively new building, after all.
Umm? Does that mean the person that hid away that cursed object was someone who lives here, then?
Hmm… Thinking about it like that makes it all the more unsettling that the culprit hasn’t been found yet.
… That’s so, huh.
Awawa, I’m not blaming you, Sengoku-kun!
Honestly speaking, I feel guilty having asked you to conduct this investigation for me like it was nothing.
I’m starting to wonder if I’ve gotten you involved in something dangerous, Sengoku-kun.
No, that’s not it at all. I was the one who proposed to do one.
Besides, as far as cursed objects are concerned, I don’t particularly believe in them either.
Sure, I was shaken when I saw the object, and even now, I still would hesitate to even open it, but…
If anything… I’m happy you entrusted me with this, so it’s all alright, no need to worry about me.
I’m glad to hear that, in that case, but…
From what you’ve told me, you said that Sakasaki-senpai will be taking care of the cursed objects and the graffiti around the building, right?
So it seems we don’t have to worry about the graffiti anymore in a sense, right?
Thank you so much for having looked into this for me, Sengoku-kun.
…
Sengoku-kun? Is something wrong?
Shino-kun, could you stay and hear me out a little longer?
… There’s still something bugging me about the graffiti.
To be completely truthful, some graffiti I had been investigating– actually vanished while I wasn’t looking.
Graffiti… vanished? What do you mean?
Well, it vanished in the literal sense of the word; it was gone.
After I parted from you, before I started investigating the graffiti with Fushimi-dono and the others… I had been investigating Seisoukan Apartment alone.
During that time, I’d found graffiti earlier in places aside from the library.
I-Is that so? And then, that graffiti just disappeared, which means…
I noticed it when I came back together with Sakasaki-dono and Fushimi-dono and the others, and we investigated the room again.
By the time we all were investigating, the markings I’d seen before were completely gone.
That sure is strange, isn’t it…
Umm, so thinking about it logically, that means that while you were investigating other rooms, the graffiti that you had found was erased by the culprit, right?
… Or maybe… There’s the possibility that they were erasing the graffiti while they were pretending to investigate with us.
That means… The culprit might even be Fushimi-senpai, or Sakasaki-senpai, or, say, Hiiro-kun?!
I think that it is really, really likely. If the culprit had been going around erasing them, there would’ve been a high likelihood we’d have run into them. But nothing of the sort happened.
I don’t want to arbitrarily decide that the culprit was one of us based just on that, but…
When we were investigating, there was always one person who was the first to investigate the locations that I had found graffiti in.
I’d say he did it to try and keep everyone else from finding the graffiti first.
I think that the culprit boldly pretended to help us look around all while erasing the markings right in the open before our very eyes.
…The way you speak of this sounds like you already have the culprit figured out. Do you?
I have a pretty good guess, but I don’t have conclusive proof.
I looked around after, but the markings I saw were completely gone.
But I don’t have any proof that that person is the mastermind…
… Sengoku-kun.
I’m not sure if there’s any evidence we can find, now that the graffiti will be gone, you know?
In these situations in dramas and such… Usually they try to lure out the mastermind and catch them red-handed, but…
Lure them out…?
That’s perfect, Shino-kun! I’ve got just the way to do that!
The Secret Behind the Seal Chapter 8
SiGH…
Oh? That’s pretty rare, seeing you take such a big sigh like that, Natsume-chin.
AhH, weLL, today’s been somewhat of a busy dAY.
I finally feel like I can breathe now that everything’s settled doWN.
Definitely. You were still at your desk even after I got back~
… Does it have to do with the object on that table?
FuFU, you’ve noticed them tOO, huh Nii~chan-senpai?
I mean, when you’ve got a freaky-looking wooden box in the room, there’s no way not to notice them, you know~?
But I get the feeling this is something I shouldn’t be poking my nose into, so I’m not here to ask for any details…
ImpressiVE. I would also advise you to stay out of thIS.
I believe the treatment should be complete, but who can say what will happen if an ordinary person touches it?
D-Don’t say such scary things, Natsume-chin!
AhaHA, I’m just jokiNG. You have no need to worry as long as it's in my caRE, after aLL.
(StiLL, I’m seriously exhausted from todAY…)
(I didn’t expect not only Shinobu-kun, but also Butler-kun, Hiiro-kun, and Yuuki-kun to begin investigating those seaLS.)
(Once I confirmed Butler-kun went off to ES, I went around and erased the remaining seaLS, so I no longer have to worry about them being looked inTO.)
(And the wooden box has looked to be hugely effectiVE, with Yuuki-kun and those with him seemingly forfeiting the investigatiON.)
(… StiLL, leaving those seals around the Seisoukan Apartments sure was a mistaKE. It appears some of my habits from my time at Yumenosaki Academy lingER.)
(There’s quite a number of children with a sharp intuition heRE, so it’d be best if I avoid leaving landmarks that are too obvious from here oN, hUH.)
(Whatever the caSE, I’m relieved that the secret room hasn’t been uncoverED. All that’s left is to give Butler-kun a plausible explanation regarding the entire matter once he returNS, and—)
… Natsume-chin? What’s the matter? Your phone’s ringing, you know~.
R-RigHT…
(A notification from someone speaking near a seAL… No, this is something differeNT.)
(Someone’s figured out the mystery behind a seAL?! What’s more, it’s the seal for the secret roOM!)
Ooh?! Why’d you get up so suddenly, Natsume-chin?
UmM… I suddenly remembered I have something to dO, so I have to head oUT.
I-Is that right? Well, it’s pretty late already, so be careful on your way out.
(Who on earth could have figured out the seal’s mechaniSM…?)
(Butler-kun? He didn’t seem to have been convinced to forfeit the investigatiON, so there’s a good possibility that it’s hIM.)
(But hOW? I should have erased the seal that leads to the secret roOM! Nobody should have figured it oUT…
Waaa!?
! Yuuki-kun?!
You surprised me~ Sakasaki-kun?
What are you rushing around at this hour for?
(Was it he who figured out the mechanism behind the secret roOM?)
(No, this isn’t where the mechanism iS. The secret room is located on the first floOR.)
(In that caSE, then wHO…)
Uhhh, Sakasaki-kun? Are you really okay? That’s quite a look on your face, what’s the matter?
AhH, I apologiZE. I was just lost in thought for a momeNT.
I’m glad~ I definitely thought it was something to do with that one wooden box, y’know.
FufuFU. Please do not worRY, a curse of that level cannot defeat mE.
Is that so? I guess I’m just a natural-born worrier, so… Wait, what?
So you mean to say that box was a real cursed item after all?
LoOK, I apologiZE, but I’m in a hurRY. I’ll talk to you another tiME!
Huh? Hold on! Sakasaki-kun!?
(I’ve arrived at the location of the seAL, bUT…)
(There’s nobody heRE? Could it have been a malfunctiON?)
(No, according to the notifications on my phoNE, the mechanism appeared to have been disarmED.)
(In other worDS, could the culprit already be inside the secret roOM?)
(…I’ll cheCK, just to make suRE. I’ll activate the mechanism heRE, and to this heRE…)
(TheRE, openED—BuT…)
(I’ll look for any signs that someone has passed through heRE. I sEE… NoNE. Could it have been a malfunction after aLL?)
(WeLL, if I’m worrying over nothing heRE, then I’ll take iT.)
…SiGH. SeriousLY, it’s either this or that non-stop todAY.
… Just like I thought, so it was you!
…?!
Hup!
…Shinobu-kun.
(So you were be lurking above the ceiLING... I had only noticed the wall that had the sEAL.)
Nin nin ♪ Stuck the landing!
… Now then, tell me everything.
The mastermind behind the graffiti, Sakasaki-dono ♪
The Secret Behind the Seal Chapter 9
… To think you had hidden yourself in the ceiling, waiting to ambush mE. I certainly didn’t see that comiNG, that’s for suRE.
Heheh ♪ Above the ceiling is the best hiding place for a ninja after all!
(Given that I’ve already solved the mechanism in front of hIM, there’s no way I can deny it nOW, can I?)
What made you think I was the one who drew the graffiTI?
Before I started investigating with you and the others, I’d found a few of the markings on my own, actually.
After that, as we all were investigating, you were always the first one to start investigating the places I found the markings.
(I sEE. If the seals had been discovered in advanCE, then that explains how he knew to ambush me heRE.)
We had meant to be searching for places the seals could bE, yet I was saying there were no seals anywheRE.
By thEN, you were suspicious of mE, weren’t yOU, Shinobu-kun?
I thought I had been mistaken at first, but by the time the markings suddenly were erased in the theater room, I started to have my suspicions.
And the one who placed that one box was you too, wasn’t it, Sakasaki-dono?
That way, we wouldn’t want to keep looking for the seals anymore. You planted something that would make us not want to investigate anymore.
Right on the maRK. Redrawing a seal after having already erased it was risky after aLL, hUH.
Thinking back on it nOW, there was something about your reaction in there that had struck me as oDD. …Perhaps I should had done that not in the theater room, but at another location with a seAL.
NonetheleSS, I notice that you kept quiet about the seals you had fouND.
Given how you aRE, I would have expected you to have told Butler-kun and the others about the graffiti you had found before joining in on the investigatiON.
I-I… went back and forth on that.
Fushimi-dono and Hiiro-kun were my companions in investigation, after all. I did think about whether I should share the information I had with them at the very beginning, but…
But this time, it wasn’t my call to make. I was fulfilling a request for Shino-kun. I wanted to avoid recklessly sharing too much information.
I felt a little bad about that, though…
AhaHA, weLL, as a result of that silenCE, you managed to set this trap for mE, so guess it paid off in the eND, hUH?
I’ve been outsmartED. I had set up a system where a message would be sent to my phone if anyone had either solved a mechanism or made a sound nearby a seAL, bUT…
You never made a sound upon discovering a seAL, hadn’t yOU, Shinobu-kun? So I had no clue you had discovered any seaLS—
I–I was being cautious, but– the mechanism really did have something like that, then!?
At most, I was thinking that activating the mechanism would send some kind of alert to the culprit, but I never would’ve guessed it was voice-activated…
I’m glad I played it safe and just memorized the places where the seals and mechanisms were, without ever activating them…
And thUS, this time you activated the seal to lure me oUT…
Brilliant woRK, Shinobu-kun. It appears your operation went completely as plannED.
Heheh. It was just good luck. I didn’t think things would go this smoothly.
Just good luck or nOT, you still managed to outmaneuver mE. You’ve earned the right to be proUD.
I-Is that right? I feel a little embarrassed hearing you of all people praise me like that, Sakasaki-dono ♪
(… Never have I expected in a million years that the person to discover the secret room wouldn’t be Butler-kun or Yuuki-kun, but hIM.)
(I knew he liked ninjAS, but I had thought whatever espionage activities he’d do was limited to mere imitations for RYUSEITAI.)
(But it seems like I was one-upped here. The number one thing I had to reconsider was my perception of him, hM?)
Sakasaki-dono. The reason you were going around erasing all the seals was to hide the existence of the seals… and what was hiding beyond them, right?
…So you’ve realized that as wELL.
YeS, that is correCT. I had gone around erasing the marks behind your backs in order to hide the existence of this secret roOM.
I really had not expected four people to join together to investigate these seals simultaneousLY.
You must knOW—do not reveal the existence of this secret room to a single soUL. Because if you dO…
Of course, I understand completely! I won’t tell anyone about this room!
... Oh, is that sO?
You do know that this does not only apply to Butler-kun and the otheRS, but to your clieNT, Hajime-kun tOO, yES?
When it comes to Shino-kun, all he said he wanted was for the person behind the graffiti to stop.
I think it’s fine if I don’t go too deep into the explanation. … Of course, I’ll have told the culprit that they shouldn't cause trouble for others.
(Now that was surprisiNG. I’d thought since Shinobu-kun is so sinceRE, he’d be sure to explain the full extent of the situation to everyone else involvED…)
Nobody can know about the existence of the secret room— that’s what makes it a secret room after all! There’s no point in revealing it to people.
The same goes for the traps in ninja hideouts. There’s no use in having mechanisms anyone can just figure out, right~?
Only a ninja could understand the meaning behind it! I love things like this too ♪
But to make a secret room in Seisoukan Apartments… you really are a regular boy too, hm, Sakasaki-dono!
…FuFU.
Hm? Did I say something funny?
Oh, nO. I just thought that was very like you to sAY, is ALL.
(Sengoku Shinobu-kun… You seem to have grown quite a bit since your first year of high schoOL, bUT…)
(Deep doWN, you are still quite the good little bOY, aren’t yOU. ♪)
It does help me that you agree to keep quiET… HowevER, I cannot rely on a verbal promise aloNE.
Huh? Well, what do you need me to do then?
We’ll make a deAL. In return for you keeping quiET, I want you to make a request of ME.
All you need to do is say the wORD, and I shall lend you my strength for whatever might ail yOU.
I’m a little on the spot here…?
I’m really grateful to get to ask something of you, Sakasaki-dono, but I can’t think of something off the top of my head…
— Ah!
There is something! There’s something I want you to do for me!
Very weLL. NoW, what is iT?
You are the one and only being who has ever reached the magician’s hideoUT, after aLL.
The Secret Behind the Seal Chapter 10
Whoa!? Look, Nagumo! Did Sengoku just multiply into five!?
You don’t gotta say that, I’m watchin’. Is he using holograms?
Hm…? But the other Shinobu-kuns are fighting against the other actors too… Huh? What kinda stage trick is being used here?
HaHa~♪ There are so many Shinobu-chans!
Whatever it is, you look so cool, Sengoku! You’re glittering and shining right now!
Don’t get caught by the bad guys! Don’t be defeated, Sengoku!
… This guy always gets really noisy when we watch things like this. I’m real sorry we’re a noisy group, Sora-kun.
Sora doesn’t mind~! Besides, Sora understands Blazing Oniisan’s happy feelings!
Ahaha, it’s not like I don’t understand the feeling, y’know.
I get the feeling that Sakasaki-senpai really pulled out all his stops. You seriously can feel Shinobu-kun’s passion for ninjas from this stage show.
Yes! Sora can tell Shisho~ and Shinobu-chan both had a lot of fun preparing for this today~!
It feels like I’m learning a lot about stage production just from watching the show. I’m glad I came ♪
I wish Takamine and Kanata could have come as well, though. They had work, though, so it couldn't be helped.
Ah, look at that! Shinobu-chan jumped up super high, huh~? Flew into the air, just like a birdie!
Whoa! This time, fire blazed up. Is this the Blazing Escape technique?!5
HiHi~! The fire’s color changed! So amazing~! ♪
(Heheh. Judging by the audience's reactions, this stage show ended up being a huge success!)
(Everyone must have felt the charm of ninjas conveyed to them...!)
HeY, Shinobu-kun. Great work todAY.
Thank you for your hard work as well, Sakasaki-dono!
I’m pleased to see the performance turned out to be more exciting than imaginED. WeLL, it was due to my heLP, so I suppose that much should be a givEN.
Mhm! It’s all completely thanks to your carefully curated stage production for me that everyone was so fired up!
… What a pure soul you aRE, Shinobu-kun. It’s hard to react when I’m being agreed with so straightforwardLY, you knOW.
It was so exciting to see the flames change from red to yellow to blue to orange for the Blazing Escape technique!
And after, it felt like I was using a real Summoning and Shadow Clone technique6, and it felt exhilarating when you used the wire for the Flying Squirrel technique!7
It really made all of the kids’s eyes twinkle in the audience, so I’m as pleased as can be!
Once again, I thank you so much for lending me your services for this stage ♪
FuFU, if you are pleased then I am as weLL.
It gave me the chance to experiment with production techniques I wanted to teST, tOO.
NoW, our debts are evEN. If you ever tell anyone about the existence of the secret roOM, thEN…
You might end up as my next test subject for my experimenTS, so careful not to let anything sLIP, got iT? ♪
U-Understood! My lips are sealed from here on out!
Come to think of it, how did you explain the matter to Yuuki-dono and the others?
It seemed like Fushimi-dono LINE...
AhH, about thAT. I passed it off as a prank show in where I was the conspiratOR.
Something about how I had set up mechanisms within Seisoukan Apartments that led to a cursed item being fouND, and filmed iT.
HowevER, the end result turned out to be similar to other participants in the prank shOW.
And since a prank show was recently filmed in the dormitory alreaDY, they decided to shelve iT.
So you disguised it as a fake program, huh… And they believed that?
Yuuki-kun and Hiiro-kun believed me without batting an eyeLID. As expectED, Butler-kun, howevER, was suspicious until the very eND, bUT…
No follow-up investigation was done in the eND. I suppose you ocould say he doesn’t pose any threat as of nOW?
AnyhOW, the matter is resolved one way or anothER. And fortunateLY, you and I have become accomplices in those who know about the secret roOM.
When you say “accomplice,” it feels a little shady, somewhat, but…
Well, it has a cool feeling to it too.
WeLL, I do plan to tell Sora about it soON, so it wont just be a secret between just you and I once I dO.
But that being saID, I hope to continue being on good terms with you now that we are fellow accomplicES.
… I’ve been astonished by your information and intelligence gathering skills throughout this entire ordeAL, after aLL.
It’s possible that I’ll need your services some time in the futuRE.
Heheh, that’s a really big honor to hear something like that coming from you, Sakasaki-dono!
Of course, if you ever have a problem, please feel free to call on me!
Ah, but I am a ninja of justice! So I cannot lend a hand for anything sinister!
Hm? WhAT, do you think I’m involved in evil thinGS, Shinobu-kun?
Huh? That’s not what I meant! Really!
…FufuFU, you really are an interesting oNE.
Once agaIN, I look forward to working with you in the futuRE… Reliable Ninja-kun ♪
Translation Notes
- ↑ Likely referencing Ninja Association activities like the performance at a historic village in Scroll of the Elements and performing an AR live in Ninja Clan.
- ↑ This is a real variety of coffee[link], with flavors of jasmine, chocolate and honey.
- ↑ KEU, from 稀有 (keu), meaning "rare".
- ↑ Hiiro uses the word 呪術師 (jujutsu-shi) here. Ainu shaman, or tuskur, are spiritual practitioners and community leaders in the indigenous Ainu culture. They serve as healers, diviners, and mediators with kamuy and the spirit world.
- ↑ The Blazing Escape jutsu uses fire to escape from enemies. Chiaki performs the Blazing Escape Technique for the Scroll of the Elements live show.
- ↑ A ninja technique used to multiply via creating shadow clones.
- ↑ A ninja technique used to escape, where the ninja spreads their arms and glides through the air.