Volume 7.5, Me and Real Motive and Summoned Beast(1/3)
“Haha, that’s really a masterpiece.”
“What’s the matter, principal?”
“Ahh, Takahashi-sensei. I was just trying out some changes in the controls of the summoning system.”
“Are you talking about the control system?”
“I’m trying to let it remain in semi-automated mode. If the settings up till now can be said to ready the controller’s consciousness, this will read the conscious and unconscious states of the controller, and will act independently to a certain extent. It can act according to what it wants.”
“Conscious and unconscious states..that’s the subconscious state, right?”
“It’s somewhat different from what Frued said about the subconscious state, but that’s about it.”
“I see.”
“Don’t worry too much about the psychological definition. Anyway, because of the changes in the controls, the summons’ actions have become interesting.”
“Interesting?”
“Yes, they got interesting. No matter what, I want to summon the summoned beasts and collect some data.”
“I don’t really understand, but if you just want to collect data, I can help out.”
“No. In this experimental phase, your score’s too great. I’ll be troubled if there’s any mishaps.”
“Do you want me to get a lower score?”
“I don’t mind, but after you get a low score, you need to take another test to get it back to normal. Wouldn’t that be too troublesome?”
“It’s not troublesome, but it’s a bit inefficient.”
“Right? Instead of that, we might as well—”
“AKIHISA YOU IDIOT! WHY DID YOU SNEEZE AT SUCH AN IMPORTANT MOMENT! WASN’T IT ALRIGHT UNTIL THE MOMENT YOU SNEEZED, YOU BIG IDIOT!?”
“AREN’T YOU THE SAME AS WELL, YUUJI! YOUR STOMACH RUMBLED LIKE THAT! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING! WASN’T EVERYTHING ALRIGHT BEFORE YOU MADE THAT NOISE!? YOU FILTHY BASTARD!!”
“THAT’S ENOUGH YOU TWO! HURRY UP AND GET BACK TO REMEDIAL!”
““DAAAMNNNNNN IIIIIITTTTTTTT!!!””
“—We might as well use those low scores idiots to test this out. That’ll be more efficient.”
“I see. So that’s what you were planning.”
☆
“““Summoning test?”””
“Yes. I want you people to test this out.”
On a certain day as summer vacation was about to end, after F class' special remedial (on a side note, Kirishima-san attended this on her own will) ended, we were talking about the photos we took when we went to the beach, and the principal suddenly walked into the classroom and told us that.
Summoning test..
“Why us?”
Minami asked the principal as she kept the photos on the table.
“What do you mean by that? It's because you people are most suited to test it. Your scores aren't too high, and you're adept at controlling your summoned beasts, right? Besides—”
“Besides?”
“—This can be considered punishment for a few certain idiots who tried to run away from remedial classes.”
““..(looks away)””
As the topic was suddenly turned on us, Yuuji and I subconsciously turned away. Was the reason why we weren't punished further after skipping classes and getting caught by Ironman something to do with what the principal wants us to do?
“Excuse me, exactly what do we need to do in this summoning test?”
To direct the question back on track, Himeji-san raised her hand to ask the principal. Himeji-san, good job!
“Nothing really special. Just summon the summoned beasts and make them move. Besides, we can't test if they don't move..”
“Ah, we just need to summon the summoned beast? If so, I should be able to do so.”
Himeji-san clapped her hands together as she heaved a sigh of relief.She believed the principal's words so easily, yet I smell a rat (and I think Yuuji thinks the same too). Summon the summon beasts? For punishment, that's something way too simple for what the old granny would do.”
“I'm willing to help, principal.”
“..Me too.”
Unlike me, who had a bad feeling about this, Himeji-san and Kirishima-san requested to help out without saying further. I can see their exemplary character from the way they were willing to help others without doubting.
“No, you two won't do. Your scores are too high.”
But the principal rejected their kind intentions without thinking.
That's true, I remembered that when we got the platinum bracelets, there was a case of rampancy because the scores were too great. If it was just a test, we do have to consider the dangers and exclude the ones with high marks. I guess it couldn't be helped that the principal would exclude these two who are the top of our year.
“That's how it is. So, this test will be taken by Yoshii, Sakamoto, Tsuchiya, Kinosheeta and Shimada. The subject's Ancient Literature. I'll leave it to you people then.”
The principal named us as her lab rats, and the subject's Ancient literature. The ones taking part are me, Minami and Muttsurini—oi, hold on! Putting me on the same level as these guys!? Isn't this too saddening!?
“Wait a minute, old granny principal! I'm not happy about being associated with these guys!” (14 points)
“That's right, principal! Please don't put me on the same level as these idiots!” (6 points)
“..I am very very unwilling!” (9 points)
“You guys..where did you get the self-confidence to say say a thing..”
“Even with your scores added together, you can't even meet 1/10 of Himeji or Kirishima's scores..”
Thinking about it, my summoned beast has a lot of points worn off because I had to do all sorts of chores for the teachers (and that's extremely important). Right now, my marks are a little too low, and it can't be helped that I was chosen as a test subject.
“Wait a sec, old granny. My score shouldn't be that low, right?”
“I don't care whatever happens to you.”
“Is this what an educator should say?”
Yuuji's summoned beast won't cause any troubles even if it goes crazy. I guess that can be a correct judgment.
“Anyway, that's how it is now. The test will last for 1 hour from now. The summoning field for this test will be extended to the whole school, but I hope that you try not to leave the classroom as much as possible, since it'll be somewhat troublesome for me to get data. If the test goes well..how about some canteen and book vouchers? I'm willing to help you get these for free.”
“““Ohh!!”””
historical
The moment the principal said that she was rewarding us, Minami, Muttsurini and Hideyoshi couldn't help but exclaim excitedly.
“I'll leave it to you people then. I'll give you the reward you deserve—so don't stop midway through.”
After saying this, the old granny left the classroom.
“Forget about the choosing of people..the principal sure is nice sometimes, to even prepare a reward for us. I just so happened to have a few books I wanted to read. That's great.”
“..Having lots of book vouchers isn't a problem.”
“I do think that the canteen vouchers are useful too.”
“That's great, everyone.”
“..I'm a little envious.”
Minami and the rest were chatting away happily, but I just couldn't open my heart and feel happy about it.
That's because it's too weird. That principal would actually reward us for doing a simple summoning.
“..”
Glancing aside, I see that Yuuji has the same suspicious attitude as me as he had a thinking look.
“Let's hurry up and begin then.”
“That's true. Things won't progress if we just stay around like this.”
“..Understood.”
Just when we couldn't tell what the ploy was, Minami and the rest were ready to summon their summoned beasts. Mu..should we think more and be more careful?
“You three, wait—”
“““Summon!”””
Before I could speak up and stop them, the three of them said 'summon' in unison.
Then, there were some familiar patterned arrays at our feet, and the summoned beasts slowly appeared from there. Is, is it really okay now?
I looked at the summoned beasts that were in front of me warily. Mu..
“That's great, the summoned beasts have reverted back to their own sizes.”
“As expected, this look is more suitable.”
“..The ears and tail are the same as before.”
Like what they said, based on appearance alone, they did revert back to the summoned beasts we were familiar with. The monster shapes from before don't exist now, and the summoned beasts' aren't too much of a trouble here.
“..They don't have any weapons.”
“Their uniforms are just like the school uniform.”
“Didn't the principal say that she wants to readjust the summoned beasts' equipment? I guess that's the reason.”
Kirishima-san and Himeji-san joined into the conversation too.
They're right. If there's a need to say what's different about the appearance of the summoned beasts, it would be that these summoned beasts are wearing the uniform of Fumitzuki Gakuen. They don't have any weapons in their hands, and since these three summoned beasts are in a similar state, it means that they haven't decided on the basic design of the equipment.
“At least we haven't found out anything suspicious up till now.”
“It's too early to relax now, Akihisa. According to what the old granny said just now, the changes this time should be more on the controls. The important point is when they move.”
“Un. If that's the case, I'll try moving it for a while.”
After checking that there wasn't much changes in the appearance, Hideyoshi got ready to command his summoned beast.
At this moment—
“Maybe I should jump on Akihisa and scare him.”
“““EHHHH!!???”””
A kid's sharp voice suddenly rang inside the classroom. Wha, what's going on? Who's talking now?
“Wh, what..was that just now?”
“It seemed like a kid was talking..”
Looking around, there wasn't anyone else in this classroom other than us, let alone a kid. Then, where did that voice come from.
“Speaking of which, our summoned beasts did change into monsters. Was it because of that there's this unexplainable supernatural phenomenon?”
““EHHHH!!!???””
Himeji-san and Minami cried out at the same time. Uu, supernatural phenomenon..
“But isn't this weird? This has nothing to do with the change of controls.”
“That's true. Then, the voice just now wasn't a supernatural phenomenon, right?”
“..Maybe it had nothing to do with the summoned beasts.”
Just when I was discussing this with Yuuji and Muttsurini—
“Where did that voice come from?”
We heard that voice again.
Mu? “Where did that voice come from?”. Isn't that..
“That mannerism..was that Hideyoshi?”
“No, I didn't say anything at all.”
Hideyoshi shook his head to indicate that he didn't open his mouth. But,
“That sounded like how Hideyoshi would talk..”
The voice sounded immature, but the tone and manner of speech was Hideyoshi's. But Hideyoshi said that he didn't talk at all,
“Wha, what!? A monster? Uu..that's scary!”
“..This voice belongs to a kid who hasn't had the voice broken.”
Besides the voice just now, we now heard the voices of other children. What's the situation now?
“Some, someone must have hidden an audiospeaker in the classroom!”
“Tha, that's right! That must be true.”
“..I don't think so.”
Muttsurini immediately shot down Himeji-san's and Minami's view. Since Muttsurini, who's an expert on this, made such a judgment, that should be the case. And besides, the voices just now didn't sound they they came through a machine to me.
I widened my eyes to look around as I try to find the source of the voices.
At this moment—
“..The summoned beasts were talking.”
Kirishima-san muttered. Eh? The summoned beasts were talking..
“Speaking of which, that's really troubling. How should I end that incident this morning..”
“It;s scary, it's scary! I hate stuff like monsters~”
“..A look from a lower position would be fine.”
As I looked closely, the summoned beasts' mouths were moving slightly, and we could hear the voices of the kids with the lip movements.
“Tha, that's true! The summoned beasts are talking!”
“Heh ~ that's rather interesting.”
I widened my eyes and watched the summoned beasts in front of me. One had his hands folded, one had her head covered as she squat down, and another was looking up to look at the scenery above. Each of them were acting according to their own consciousness.
“An, anyway, at least it doesn't look like a supernatural phenomenon.”
“..fuu..that's great..”
Himeji-san and Minami, who are completely useless against things like ghosts and monsters, finally relaxed. They could finally relax after understanding that there's no supernatural phenomenon in the classroom. That's great.
“But well..instead of improving the controls, it felt more like automating the summoned beasts. Did they do this because you told them to?”
“..I didn't tell the summoned beast to do anything.”
“I didn't tell my summoned beast to do such a thing too.”
Up till now, the summoned beasts were either sighing, putting the hand on the chest, or lying on the chest.
And then,
“Good thing it's not some monster..or else I would end up so scared I couldn't sleep like the test of courage tournament the last time. I even had to sleep with Hazuki..”
“I got confessed to by a guy from a nearby middle school..if Akihisa knows of this, he'll treat me like a girl. I have to reject that person privately..”
“..I can see the secrets under a girl's skirt no matter when!”
The summoned beasts started talking. Eh? Did I..just hear something?
“Minami. The summoned just said that..you've been sleeping with Hazuki-chan after the test of courage tournament because you were scared of ghosts..is that true?”
“Kinosheeta-kun..you were finally confessed to by guys outside school?”
“Muttsurini..oh well, you're no different from usual anyway.”
The three of them shook their heads to deny our questions.
“Aki, wha, what are you saying!? Those summoned beasts were saying things I never even thought of before! How can I be afraid of ghosts!” “Not just sleeping time too. I've been bathing together with Hazuki because it's really scary to wash my hair alone in the bathroom!”
“Shimada's right! No matter what, how can I be confessed to by a middle school guy when I'm a guy!? There has to be a draft before you lie!” “And it's the third one this month..”
“..I have no interest in girls' upskirts.”"Deep beneath the skirt lies a man's romance, dreams and hopes. Tights, mini-skirts, long skirts, flare skirts, pleated skirts, all sorts of skirts have their own allure, but I don't consider culottes as skirts. Culottes have their own charm, but the defense's way too high.."
Is this what it means by shooting oneself in the foot?
"But thinking about this carefully, this may be a pity. If I didn't act so tough and be honest in saying that I was scared, maybe Aki would hold my hand or something.."
"Wa, wait a minute!? What are you saying all of a sudden!?"
Minami hurriedly leaped at her summoned beast as something she did not want others to know was revealed. But Minami's summoned beast slipped out of her hands, and for some reason, came to grab my legs. Is this summoned beast thinking of using me as a shield?
"Eh? That's strange? Minami's summoned beast can touch me.."
The summoned beast that wasn't supposed to touch humans and physical objects is now holding onto my leg tightly. That's strange, except for my own summoned beast, the other summoned beasts shouldn't be able to touch anything..
"Is this something that old granny came up with? I think she messed up on the adjustments or something."
"Un~..I feel the same."
Yuuji's right. The principal must have messed up on the settings or something. The proof is that we haven't seen the scores of the summoned beast up till now.
"Forget about that! Aki, hand that kid over to me!"
"NO! I WANNA BE WITH AKI!"
Minami's summoned beast declared her own will as it was unwilling to move from my leg at all. She looked just like a kid.
"Eh? Did Minami's summoned beast just go against her master's will?"
"..The principal said that the summoned beast is now following the master's subconscious will."
"I see, so the summoned beast will follow its own will instead of what it insists on."
Yuuji's side is discussing about something difficult. What subconscious action will be more of their own nature, being self-conscious as they're automated, personality being like a kindergartener..un, I really don't understand what they're talking about.
"Eh, anyway.."
"..These summoned beasts have the self-awareness of a child, and their actions are no different from children."
"In other words, the summoned beasts will now say the true thoughts out, and they're somewhat like a child version of the summoner."
"I see. A child version of the master, so Minami's summoned beast would do such a thing."
"Aki, huggie~"
"Stop hugging! Why are you playing around? That's enough, let go of Aki!"
"NO!"
Minami continued to try and pull away the summoned beast that's holding onto me. Mu, this situation's rather interesting.
"It's okay, Minami. Don't mind. I'm used to it anyway."
"Eh? Aki, you're very used to this sort of thing?"
"I don't understand why, but I've been rather popular with kids ever since a long time ago."
"Maybe that's because your intelligence level are about the same as them."
"Shut up, Yuuji!"
As I reached my hand out to pat the summoned beast's head, Minami's summoned beast seemed to enjoy it as it closed its eyes. Ah, this really looks like Minami's little sister Hazuki-chan.
"Aki, aki, listen to me!"
"Hm? What is it?"
"I've been doing a lot of overboard things to you, actually, I li--"
"KYAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"GYAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Minami suddenly did a wrist twisting attack on me. What's going on!?
"Oi, what are you trying to say!? Why are you trying to do such things that'll trouble me even though you're my avatar?"
"Are you alright, Aki? Does it hurt? Sorry~"
"Oi! Are you listening to me!"
If possible, I would like you to explain to me what's going on too.."
"That's really bad. No matter how much I tried to explain that I was a guy, that boy just wouldn't believe me."
"--Skirts are full of charm, but the thing that's most worth mentioning are the kind hope that can be seen inside!"
"Muu..I really want to remove this summoned beast.."
"..The summoning area was too big. We can't go out of it."
Hideyoshi and Muttsurini's summoned beasts summoned to have their own will, and these talkative summoned beasts seemed to be troubling them.
Even if they want to remove the summoned beasts before they say anymore of their true thoughts, but the summoning field covers the entire school, so they can't remove them as when they want to. Besides, since the summoned beasts can move on their own, Hideyoshi and the rest don't dare to look away from it, which makes it even harder for them.
"But that's really amazing. Let alone Muttsurini, we hardly get to hear the secrets Hideyoshi wants to hide."
"That's right. Because Kinosheeta-kun's most adept at making poker faces."
"No no no, Yuuji, Himeji, what are you saying? I'm normally hon--""They're praising my acting skills. I'm so happy."".."
Hideyoshi's summoned beast was jumping about happily. That's interesting. I should try this too.
"Oh yeah, Hideyoshi.."
"Wha, what is it, Akihisa?"
As he was wary about me, Hideyoshi stuttered for a moment. Let's ask him some interesting questions.
"Hideyoshi, have you been confessed to by guys?"
"HOW CAN I BE CONFESSED TO BY GUYS!""It's been every day recently."
"""EVERYDAY!!?"""
"WHA, WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU SPOUTING! AKIHISA, THIS GUY'S SPOUTING NONSENSE! ACTUALLY, I--""Especially on Fridays and Mondays.""I SAID NO!"
Hideyoshi continued to look flustered as he tried to hide what his summoned beast said. But Hideyoshi thought too much as this little thing won't change our thoughts on him, Besides, I already know that Hideyoshi was popular with the guys anyway.
"Then let's talk about Muttsurini. What should we ask him? Muttsurini, you--"
"..Do, don't ask me, I, I'm thinking about skirts."
"..Sorry"
"..!(shakes head flusteredly)"
I see..he's that concentrated on such a fantasy world..
Even if we hear Muttsurini's words, it doesn't seem any different from usual. Let's just ignore him for now.
"Then, finally--"
"--It's Shimada's turn."
"Wha, what?"
On feeling the stares from me and Yuuji, Minami looked extremely awkward. Then, she seemed to be trying to buck herself up as she coughed once before saying to us,
"Let me say this first! I don't have anything to hide! No matter what you try "Actually, yesterday, I got a confession from a first-year girl" NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
""".."""
I haven't asked anything yet..it seems that Minami's not good at hiding secrets subconciously.
"Tha, that's too despicable, Aki! Using such a method to ask about my secrets!"
"No, I think it's that you just revealed it yourself, Minami.."
"Stop trying to defend yourself! Anyway, summon your summoned beast out and share your true thoughts with everyone!"
"True thoughts? As in the person I like? Actually, I like--"
"SHUT UP, YOU IDIOT!"
She wants me to summon my summoned beast? Even if it's Minami's request, I won't agree to that at all. In this situation, if I summon my summoned beast, it'll become an all-out confession. It was because I was wary of the principal's words that I managed to avoid self-destruction, and I won't summon my summoned beast no matter what.
"..It will say the true thoughts, is it.."
Just when I was thinking about how to avoid this calamity, Himeji-san, who was standing beside me, muttered to herself, and took out a pen and paper before writing some kanji. What is she trying to do?
"Well, Akihisa-kun.."
"Hm? What is it, Himeji-san?"
"Do you know how to read these words?"
"Let's see. 'Gap Problem', right?"
"Yes, that's right."
After hearing my answer, Himeji-san seemed to be rather happy as she smiled sweetly.
What did that question mean--
DON<--My summoned beast appeared.
"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNN IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!"
"I'm sorry, Akihisa-kun, but I have something I want to know no matter what."
That's too cruel! Himeji-san, what did you do to me!
"Haha, you're really an idiot, Akihisa."
"Yuuji, who wrote 'De l'esprit des lois'?" "
"Montesquieu."
DON<--Yuuji's summoned beast appeared.
"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNN IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!"
Yuuji and I ended up summoning our summoned beasts because of their tricks. Ha! Yuuji has no right to call me stupid like that!
"Nice job, you two! Answer honestly, Aki! Who do you like!?"
"Listen to me, listen to me, I like--"
"No one will treat you as a mute if you don't speak! Hurry up and answer, Aki!"
"A, Akihisa-kun! I want to know too!"
"..Yuuji, how do you view me? Tell me now."
The girls are now looking at Yuuji and my summoned beast. As their stares closed in, our summoned beasts,
"AKIHISA, YOU IDIOT! IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR NAME THAT MY SUMMONED BEAST APPEARED!"
"YUUJI, YOU MORON! THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LAUGH AT OTHER PEOPLE'S MISFORTUNE!"
Our summoned beasts started fighting for some reason. Ahh, so those were our true thoughts.
"AKIHISA, YOU IDIOT! IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR NAME THAT MY SUMMONED BEAST APPEARED!"
"YUUJI, YOU MORON! THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LAUGH AT OTHER PEOPLE'S MISFORTUNE!"
On a side note, we started fighting each other as well.
"Eh, Akihisa-kun, please ignore Sakamoto-kun for now and say who you like, okay?"
"That's right, Aki! You can't ask other people for their secrets and try to care about something else!"
"..Yuuji, tell me your true thoughts."
"ARRRGHHH! YUUJI YOU IDIOT!"
"DAAMMNNN YOU! AKIHISA YOU MORON!"
"DIE, YUUJI! BE RESPONSIBLE!"
"YOU SHOULD DIE, AKIHISA! GO TO HELL!"
"AKIHISA-KUN!"
"AKI!"
"..Yuuji..!"
Just when we were fighting
"Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone~ eh, what's going on? What interesting things are you doing? Let me take part too!"
Kudou-san, whose club activity ended, came to meet up with us after being late for so long.
What do we do now? I have a bad feeling about this for some reason..
☆
"Heh~, summoned beasts that can say true thoughts out~ That seems interesting."
"""NOT AT ALL!!!"""
After knowing the reason, Kudou-san said that happily. It's because Kudou-san didn't summon her summoned beast, she found this interesting.
"Then, let me try and see if the summoned beasts will say its true thoughts~"
"""..(Looks away)."""
Everyone looked down to avoid being targeted.
At this moment, Kudou-san unhurriedly spoke up and chose the one she wanted to test,
"Muttsurini-kun."
"..(shocked)."
"I have something I always wanted to ask you~"
Kudou-san stared at Muttsurini and gave a smirk. Great! The victim's chosen!
"Hey, Muttsurini-kun, I want to ask you something."
"..I have nothing to--"
"..I'm very willing if it's ero-stuff."
"..Nothing to say to you."
The summoned beast immediately went against Muttsurini's will and spoke on its own. Is that really alright?
Ignoring our worries completely, Kudou-san just continued to look at Muttsurini in the eyes and said mischievously,
"Haha, we can talk about that, but this seems to be a little different from what I want to talk about~..ne, Muttsurini-kun."
Kudou--->>