Chapter 16: Chapter 15: “Kaguya Shinomiya” Locked In
"Ha~"
At 8 o'clock in the morning, Isumi finally woke up, yawning softly.
The events of the previous day had taken a toll on her. Though she was an exorcist, at the end of the day, she was still a 13-year-old girl. Apart from her spiritual abilities, her stamina was no different from any ordinary teenager.
As she made her way to the hall, she was greeted by an unusual sight, Nagi sitting there with a red slap mark on her cheek. Nagi's eyes were slightly puffy, as though she had been crying.
This unexpected scene left Saginomiya Isumi utterly baffled. She couldn't help but ask with concern, "Nagi, what happened to you?"
"N-Nothing, hiss… It's nothing," Nagi stammered, waving her hand dismissively. "I was just… too excited when I woke up and accidentally bumped into something."
But even as she spoke, she winced in pain, her sharp intake of breath betraying her discomfort.
"It doesn't look like 'nothing.' Honestly, it looks more like you got slapped," Isumi remarked, narrowing her eyes.
The idea that someone had slapped Nagi seemed absurd. It couldn't have been Maria, could it? No, that was impossible.
Isumi ultimately decided to take Nagi at her word. "Alright Nagi, but you should really be more careful. Even if you're excited about your new powers, you shouldn't be so reckless when you wake up."
"I-I know… It was just a one-time thing," Nagi replied, clearly embarrassed.
As she tried to brush the topic aside, Maria entered the room, pushing a cart laden with breakfast items.
"Good morning, Miss Isumi," Maria greeted warmly. "I made milk tea this morning. Would you like a cup?"
"Thank you, Miss Maria," Isumi replied, gratefully accepting the offered tea.
The rich, creamy taste of the milk tea paired perfectly with the subtle bitterness of the black tea, helping Isumi shake off the lingering grogginess of sleep.
After a few sips, Isumi turned back to Nagi, her expression serious. "Nagi, didn't you have the bodyguards look into who else might have had a strong reaction yesterday?"
"Of course!" Nagi's mood shifted instantly. Her usual excitement returned, though she still winced occasionally from the pain on her cheek.
"The bodyguards reported that only two families entered the amusement park yesterday: the Suzuki family and the Shinomiya family."
"The Suzuki and Shinomiya families?" Isumi echoed.
"But the Suzuki family can be ruled out," Nagi added confidently.
"Why is that?"
"The second daughter of the Suzuki family went to the amusement park to accompany a friend. She was worried about her friend's date with Kudo Shinichi."
"Ah, I see," Isumi said, nodding in understanding.
Yesterday, she had seen a photo of Shinichi—though, at the time, he had already been transformed into a child. Now, she had only one question.
"How did someone on a date end up getting beaten up by members of some shady organization and drugged?"
It was a profound mystery, to say the least.
"If he was on a date, shouldn't his focus have been on the girl?" Isumi asked, genuinely perplexed.
"Exactly," Nagi agreed. "It's no wonder Miss Suzuki was worried. Shinichi is the type to attract trouble."
Nagi flipped through the report. "According to the bodyguards, the Suzuki family's car even sent her friend home after the incident."
"He left his date behind to chase after danger…" Isumi sighed. "He's not a bad person, but he clearly lacks consideration for those around him."
Shinichi's actions were brave, perhaps even admirable, but they came at the cost of neglecting the people closest to him.
"If he knew it was dangerous, he should have called the police instead of charging in by himself," Isumi said with a frown. "The police were already on the scene because of the roller coaster murder case. Why didn't he think to involve them?"
After venting her frustration, Isumi returned to the matter at hand.
"So, if it's not the Suzuki family, it must be the Shinomiya family?"
"Exactly," Nagi confirmed.
At this point, Maria produced a series of photographs. The images showed a motorhome with a frozen exterior.
Isumi studied the photos carefully.
"The photos were taken after noon, around the same time as Nagi's lottery," Maria explained.
"It seems Miss Shinomiya obtained special powers as well," Isumi concluded. "But unlike Nagi, her powers are even more uncontrollable, she froze the entire car."
The timestamp on the photos provided undeniable proof. It was almost certain that Shinomiya Kaguya, the daughter of the Shinomiya family, had gained extraordinary abilities.
"So, what are you planning to do, Nagi?" Isumi asked cautiously.
"Hehe~ Of course, I'm going to talk to her," Nagi replied with a mischievous grin.
"You're going to reveal your hand?" Isumi tilted her head in confusion.
"Is that really a good idea?"
"It's fine," Nagi said confidently, puffing out her chest. "We're not the right people to gather intelligence ourselves, but there's no harm in getting someone else to do it."
Isumi frowned. "Miss Shinomiya attends Shuchiin Academy. Even if you speak to her, it's unlikely she'll transfer schools. And even if she agrees, the Shinomiya family won't."
"Hehe~ I know that, of course," Nagi replied, unfazed.
She had already asked Maria to investigate the internal dynamics of the Shinomiya family. Armed with this knowledge, she was confident in her approach.
"That's why I need to meet Miss Shinomiya face-to-face."