Volume 19, Genius Go Road

The scene before her made Nina's go completely still, dazing her for a long time.

Why had things become like this?

One week, the Student Council had suddenly announced plans to hold a 'festival'. During the preparation period, various stores, clubs, and various interested people had quickly made preparations for the 'festival'. Acting, dancing, and music-related clubs enthusiastically rushed out to the city's various theaters and roads in order to find space for their activities, and other clubs also got involved in this battle. In order for the Student Council members ran around everywhere to mediate, and the Architecture Department students were working day and night to construct parking and other necessary furnishings.

The students who sat back and relaxed were all excitedly discussing what they would wear that day, or what guys or girls they wanted to deepen their relationships with.

That noisy week passed in the blink of an eye. Karian announced the official start of the festival, and that had been yesterday................ at least it should have been.

"........Why?"

Nina mumbled again.

This was the store that Sharnid came to often.

Nina couldn't think of why would she be in this store that partially counted as underground. The store was in a state of private use, and she couldn't find the female owner in any corner of the store, never mind behind the bar.

Also.

"Why?"

Nina mumbled again.

After looking at the people lying on the bar, floor, and tables, Nina mumbled that. Sharnid and Harley were fallen on the floor, and Layfon was moaning with a green face on the bar. Felli, Naruki, Meishen, and Mifi were folded over on the sofa around the seating area.

Turning her head to look behind the bar, she could only see Leerin sitting blankly on the floor.

Everyone appeared to be in a state where she couldn't tell whether they were sleeping or unconscious.

A sharp pain arose from her head, and Nina rubbed her temple.

She tried digging up her memories, but the pain stopped her, and her brain couldn't turn freely because of it.

"Urrgh...."

After moaning, Nina noticed that her mouth was very dry. Correct, whether she had woken up or become conscious, she had only opened her eyes because her mouth was dry.

Nina rubbed her temple while taking the glass cup placed by the bar - the place that she had just been sitting. The top of the bar was covered by glass cups filled with the remaining drinks, and there were also leftover dishes surrounded by the cups.

"Ugh...."

After drinking the liquid in the cup, Nina felt that her head became even more painful. She didn't know what had been inside, but the beverage had become warm because the ice cubes inside had melted, so the taste had become quite strange.

No, come to think about it, what kind of drink was this in the first place?

She could see a fridge inside the bar, and Nina walked over to find water to drink. Leerin was sitting on the floor, and the sound of her pained breathing entered her ears. After crossing over her body, Nina took some water from the fridge, and then poured it into her throat.

The water seemed as if it cleansed the annoying things from her head, and Nina felt that her headache had become slightly less painful.

After drinking a bottle of water, Nina took out another bottle, and sat back in the place that had been her original location. This time, she sipped silently while trying to rid herself of the pain deep inside her head.

"Well, why did things become like this?"

After murmuring this, Nina was assaulted by her headache as she dug through her memories.

Right.... The Student Council President had announced that the 'festival' had begun, and then....

◇

....The sudden 'festival' made Layfon have a sort of confused feeling.

It had only been a week since the Student Council President had announced this. With only a week, all of the preparation work had been easily completed.

Vendors lined up with Zuellni's largest road - Sanaji Avenue - as a center, and other activities also took place on other roads.

"Having everybody work on preparations as soon as it's announced is something that only a city whose residents are all students could do."

Sharnid explained this. Even so, Layfon couldn't keep up with such rapid changes.

Layfon blankly stared at the sea of people around Sanaji Avenue. The number of people hadn't increased. The people here would go to school every day.

"What are you doing?"

After being asked this, Layfon turned around. Felli stood there.

"Huh? Felli, aren't you not participating in the activities today?"

Today was the first day of the 'festival', so the platoon training was halted, and replacing it was a movie-watching activity that Sharnid had proposed.

"Nn, of course I'm not going."

The movie they were going to see was 'Psychokinesis Girl - Magical Magnet Hunter Felli' that the seventeenth platoon had acted in not long ago, and it was obvious without saying that Felli would never go watch that film.

"Uh, then...."

Things were clearly like that, so why would she appear in this place where everyone had gathered?

"My classmate has a stand nearby, so I'm coming over to see."

While Layfon scratched his head and showed a confused expression, Felli said this.

"Ah, that's how it is."

"....Does your class not have any stands?"

"My class doesn't.... Ahh, Ed said that he wanted to participate in the eating contest."

"Oh, that guy."

"Felli, does your class have any stands? Ah, if your classmate has a stand, that means...."

"No, the stand is her club's."

"Oh...."

As the two talked, Layfon clearly felt that she was becoming increasingly impatient, so he became very anxious. In the end, he couldn't really figure out what Felli wanted to do.

"....I can't believe you want to go."

After sighing deeply, Felli stared at Layfon.

"....Huh?"

"I'm talking about the movie. I think that film doesn't have any value."

"It's indeed very embarrassing."

Layfon had never watched himself on a big screen, but that sort of feeling was indeed very embarrassing. It felt like it would suit the style of the energetic Sharnid, who hadn't participated in the acting, better. Though he thought this, the other people who had participated in the acting - like Nina and Leerin - wanted to go, so Layfon had no reason to refuse.

"Huh, but you're very slow."

"How can you say that.... I would still feel embarrassed."

"Whatever, it doesn't matter."

Felli didn't want to hear Layfon's reasons, and suddenly pulled his hand.

"Huh?"

"You'll get found by other people here, so just come with me for today."

"Huhh? But we already promised to...."

"You don't have any reason to purposefully go over to get embarrassed, right?"

Being glared at, Layfon couldn't say any words of opposition.

Felli pulled Layfon to a somewhat strange-looking booth. The room looked like a tent, and the lights inside were dim. Layfon hadn't had time to pay attention to the signs hung outside, so he didn't even know what kind of store this was.

"Ah, Felli-san, you came."

A voice with a ghastly air made Layfon jump.

There was only a candle lighting the tent, and that candle had a bone as a candlestick. The melting candle was firmly fixed on top of the bone, seeming as if it had already been stuck there for many years.

The person making a 'huhuhu' laughing noise was a girl wearing a black robe that covered her from head to toe.

"The atmosphere is very outstanding, Eri-san."

"Really? Huhuhu, everyone turns back as if they were escaping, why is that?"

"Because they're scared."

historical

Felli's merciless words surprised Layfon. However, the robed girl who had been called Eri didn't seem bothered at all.

"Huh - If it's not this much, won't it be missing the atmosphere for divination?"

"You would be enough to make that atmosphere. Thanks to these small decorations and the lighting, you look like the devil pressing someone to sign a contract."

Layfon didn't really understand Felli's comparison. But, other than the table with the bone candle on it, there was also a large crystal ball and cards with mysterious pictures painted on them. Other than this, there were also disturbing pictures and words affixed behind her.

"A devil...."

Felli's words made Eri show an intoxicated expression.

"So, this place is a fortune-telling store?"

The situation hadn't progressed at all, and he couldn’t understand what was going on, so Layfon tried asking a question. It was almost the arranged meeting time, so maybe Nina and the others were already waiting for Layfon. Thinking this, Layfon felt bad, but he also didn't think Felli would permit him to go over.

But Layfon felt confused as to whether he was happy or not about this....

"Yes--"

Eri slowly responded.

"Huhuhu, in that case, do you want to have your fortune told?"

"Uh...."

"It doesn't matter whether or not your fortune is told. Fortune-telling is no different from talking to someone else about your life. It's enough if those words can improve your mood."

"It feels like you'd only be able to predict misfortunes."

"Seers and diviners are different."

Then, Eri loudly explained the differences between seers and diviners, but Layfon had no way of understanding what she was saying. Even Felli didn't plan on understanding Eri's explanation.

In that period of time, several people stuck their heads into the tent, but when they saw there were already customers.... no, probably because they saw Eri's gloomy-looking appearance as she spoke in front of the crystal ball, their faces stiffened and they left the area.

"Then, do you want your fortune told, or do you not?"

"Ah, why don't you tell it?"

Felli's words made Eri's tense face relax.

"Who wants their fortune? Felli-san or Layfon-san?"

"Tell Layfon's fortune."

"Huh? Why me?"

"Because if I want a fortune-telling I can get it anytime."

"But you always refuse me every time."

Felli ignored the surprised Layfon and gave a look to Eri that made her shut up.

"Uh, okay. Then Layfon-san, please sit."

"Nn.... Okay...."

Under Eri's instructions, Layfon sat down in front of her.

"Then, what kind of fortune do you want told?"

"Uh...."

Layfon tried thinking.

........There wasn't anything in particular to foretell.

Felli standing behind him seemed to be thinking of something.

"Then uh, I'll just divine what's going to happen today."

But Eri spoke first, and the atmosphere she gave off completely reversed, as she began shuffling the cards with extremely fast movements.

After letting Layfon choose a card from the shuffled deck, Eri placed the card facedown in front of Layfon. Next, Eri placed the cards one by one around the crystal ball in a mysterious order. To Layfon, this method of ordering seemed to have some kind of rules, but it also seemed disorderly. With many images arranged in front of him that were completely different from those on the cards that his classmates played games with, Layfon could only feel perplexed.

"Nn, nn, nn--"

Eri waved her hands, and not long afterwards collected the cards with another method that seemed both like it had rules to it and didn't, and moreover she carefully checked the pictures on the cards as she collected them.

Finally, she turned over the card that Layfon had chosen, and then carefully looked at the picture on it.

"Well-- huhuhu, um--"

....Why had she laughed in the middle?

Layfon had a bad premonition.

"Well, I'll announce the results."

"What do you mean, announce the results...."

She used such a confusing method....

However, Eri seemed completely unconcerned about that kind of thing, and looked at the cards remaining in her hand while explaining:

"First, after you leave here, please go to the rabbit building and find somewhere around there to eat lunch. Your lucky object is a green drink. Afterwards, please go to 'Hipshot Ball' to play. When evening comes, I believe that you will need only to follow the hands that guide you to keep from going wrong. Ah, Felli-san's lucky object is a red drink, and her object of destruction is a black drink."

"....What kind of thing is an object of destruction?"

"You'll know when the time comes. Also, Layfon-san."

"Ah, yes."

Being gazed at by Eri from underneath her dark robe made Layfon feel a bit tense.

"Be a bit cheerful."

Eri asked him to be a bit cheerful with that kind of tone, but she didn't sound cheerful at all.

◇

Layfon didn't really understand what Eri had talked about.

"Uh, what should we do now?"

So after leaving the tent, Layfon didn't know what he should do. Right now was already time for the movie to begin airing, and Nina and the others should have gone over. Since he had already missed his appointment today, Layfon didn't have anything to do.

"First, let's go to the rabbit building."

Felli seemed also to have nothing to do.

"But, what does that so-called rabbit building mean...."

"You'll see it after you pass 'Hipshot Ball'."

Layfon knew 'Hipshot Ball', it was an entertainment center a small distance from here.

In the end, the two of them decided to go there first.

As to which building was the rabbit building, the answer emerged quickly.

"Ah, it's this, right?"

After noticing that building, Layfon extended his hand to point at it. Two thin and long balloons were affixed on the not-very-tall building. They seemed to be balloons advertising whatever activities were going on inside the building, and they looked like rabbit ears.

Layfon looked at the clock tower for a second. The time right now was excellent, and though it was a bit early to eat lunch, it wasn't too early.

"I can eat lunch already, what about you, Felli?"

"No difference."

Though there were no festival booths nearby, there were unexpectedly many restaurants. Other than the restaurants, there were many clothing or jewelry stores clustered here, along with grocery stores. Hipshot Ball was an entertainment center that had just opened this year, and the surrounding stores had sprung up as if coordinating with it. In other words, this was a new downtown.

As Layfon though about what to choose, lunchtime slowly approached.

"Incredible."

Layfon had decided which store to go to with some difficulty. When they entered, Felli was already very unhappy.

"Sorry."

Layfon shrank back his body while apologizing.

Felli wanted Layfon to decide where to eat. Layfon had looked at the dishes while trying to check Felli's preferences, but because of that he had been slow in making a decision. While he was being hesitant and indecisive, people had begun flowing into every store, and the two of them had also missed the opportunity to enter because of this. Felli didn't want to go to a restaurant full of people, and as their options became fewer, when Layfon finally managed to find a restaurant without too many customers, the time had already become quite late.

"The reason your pressure is insufficient really is because of your lack of determination."

Layfon's body shrank even smaller when Felli said this with a cold tone.

"Have you decided what you want~ ....Ah."

After the waitress walked over and asked this, the two raised their heads in unison. The face that had appeared in front of them was one they had been acquainted with before.

"....You're from Captain's dorm?"

"Right right right, I'm Selina!"

"Ah, hello."

Layfon felt that he had seen this person.

"I've invested a bit into this store. So when I have time I come to help like this."

"Oh, is that so."

Felli showed a completely uninterested expression, but Selina wasn't concerned at all.

"Right~ Since you guys are Nina's friends, do you want to try a new dish for me, though it's only juice. If you try this drink for me, today's meal might as well be on the house."

"It's fine with me."

Led by the word 'free', Layfon nodded his head. Felli wasn't in a good mood so she refused the proposal, but Selina didn't seem bothered at all.

The thing she carried over with a smile was - a green drink.

"Can I ask what this is....?"

"It's a (partially) vegetable juice~"

"Did you just add something in a whisper?"

"It's your imagination, your imagination. Come come, drink it all!"

"Oh."

Since she was someone Nina knew, this cup of beverage wouldn't be poisoned. For the moment, Layfon drank a sip....

"Ah...."

Moving from his tongue to the back of his mouth and spreading along his throat, the sweet and cool feeling surprised Layfon.

"It's very good."

"Nnnnnn. Go ahead, drink it all, I can give you refills!"

"Okay."

Like that, Layfon downed the drink....

When he put down the cup, his vision became pitch-black.

At the same time as Layfon put down the cup, his forehead also crashed heavily into the table.

"........Huh?"

Even Felli had been unable to predict this situation, and she could only blankly look at that scene.

"What did you make him drink?"

Selina calmly inspected Layfon's pulse, and Felli glared at her with a sharp look.

"Ahaha~ It's just a small experiment!"

"........"

Felli silently took out her Dite from her bag, and Selina grabbed her hand with an unexpected speed.

"What are you doing~?"

"Nothing, but first I want to call the police."

"This definitely won't be bad for Felli~"

"What do you mean?"

Selina still held back Felli's hand, and Felli looked back and forth at her face and Layfon who was still sprawled on the table.

"This is a masculinity-awakening juice~"

"Ah?"

Felli didn't understand what Selina was saying.

"I inspected Layfon's brain matter~ It'll make him become more manly~ Or you could say that I awakened his masculinity~ Or sexual attraction~ Those kinds of things were increased with one gulp~"

"What are you trying to say?"

"I just wanted to invent a way to break down the walls inside people's hearts, and a drug that would make him coolly enjoy sexual intercourse with girls~"

"As expected, I still need to call the police."

"You~ don't~"

Rustle.

Just as another dispute arose between the two of them, a sound suddenly arose.

Layfon had straightened himself.

"Huh, what happened?"

"....Ah, nothing."

Felli sighed, gingerly putting her Dite back into her bag, and at the same time moving her gaze.

In the corner of her vision, Selina lightly made a fist.

"Hahaha, you're really weird, Felli."

Lay....Layfon was laughing.

He laughed with a hearty expression, and it felt like his eyes were glowing, and even his teeth seemed like they were flashing.

"....Layfon, uh...."

"Why aren't you calling me Fon Fon?"

Unimaginably, Layfon asked this. Selina who was listening from the side covered her mouth with an 'oh my'.

"If Felli doesn't call me Fon Fon, that name will be dead."

"........"

(What is this person saying?)

Until now, Felli had always naturally called Layfon 'Fon Fon', but she had some sort of feeling right now as if that would be a very embarrassing action.

"Felli."

"Um...."

"Come on, Felli."

"Umm...."

The current Layfon had a somewhat radiant expression unlike normal, nor did he have the menacing air he had when he fought. His expression was extremely normal, but his look was very tender, and he wore a smile filled with confidence, staring straight at Felli.

He clearly had the same skeleton and the same figure along with the same face, but the difference was this great.

"Come on...."

"........Fon Fon."

"That's great."

Layfon smiled at her. Felli had a feeling as if she had been humiliated, so she lowered her face.

"Why do you lower your head, my Felli, Come, let me see your beautiful face."

"Wah.... ah...."

(E....Eri-san....)

The day before, she had run into Eri at school, and she had said 'If you bring Layfon over to my place tomorrow, I'll lend you a hand', and Felli had agreed to that proposal. Eri had said she would tell Felli's fortune, so Felli only needed to bring Layfon to Eri's place and she would use that pretense to go on a date with him. That was the situation - Felli had thought. Well, Eri had also planned for that.

But, just as Eri's fortune had predicted, this store had truly brought a green drink and things had become like this.

(I hate you.)

Felli cringed under Layfon's pure gaze without the slightest bit of ill intent while cursing her robe-wearing friend.

However, if she knew she was being cursed, Eri would instead be very happy. On the other hand, she couldn't make the madly staring Layfon in front of her disappear even doing that.

The time it took for the food to arrive at the table was long enough to scare her.

Moreover, it was the same even after that.

"Then, next let's go to Hipshot Ball."

"No, it's way too stupid to act like the fortune says, so maybe we shouldn't?"

"Are you unhappy being with me?"

"No, that's not it, it's not like that."

"In that case, don't concern yourself with a fortune, don't you want to go have fun with me?"

"Um.... Al....alright...."

"Then let's go."

Save me.

Like that, the two of them played the namesake game of Hipshot Ball, a game where they used metal balls to knock over pins....

Crash.... roll roll roll.

"There are still pins left."

"Don't worry, leave it to me."

Crash, rattle rattle rattle!

"Well done."

"Haha (sparkle)."

"Ah....haha....ha...."

"I'll teach you how to throw it."

"P....Please....do."

Layfon guided Felli carefully and closely. He stood close behind supporting Felli, his hand overlapping over her smaller hand. Layfon's breath tickled her ears, and Felli turned her head to look behind, and his pure and innocent eyes also looked back at her.

"What is it?"

"N....nothing...."

"Hahahaha, you're weird, Felli."

"Ahaha....hahaha........"

Save me.

And then, it became evening.

After setting out from Hipshot Ball, the two of them rested a bit, and then played other games.... With that, it became evening....

"It's about time to go back."

The weary Felli only managed to say those words resolutely after gathering her entire body's strength. If it were the normal Layfon, he would definitely end the activities here.

However, today's Layfon was completely different from normal, an even his personality was different.

"Do you want to eat dinner together?"

"Eh?"

"Felli...."

However she looked at it, he had a look of 'just dinner won't be enough to satiate me', and Felli's entire body froze.

Until now, they had just proceeded according to the fortune's results. An object of destruction - Hadn't Eri said those words? Felli didn't know what it could destroy, but at the least it could definitely destroy something about this situation.

Guiding hands, where were the guiding hands?

"Huh - - Isn't that Felli-chan?"

They appeared.

"Ah, what are you doing in this kind of place!"

"Ah, Layfon!"

When she turned around, there were Nina and the others with Sharnid in front - the seventeenth platoon members - along with Leerin, and Naruki's friends Meishen and Mifi as well. Had everyone relocated after watching the movie?

"Layfon! What did you do after ditching us!"

Leerin reached out her hand to point at Layfon's chest, and Layfon grabbed her hand.

"What!"

She showed a surprised look because his face had suddenly drawn close.

"I'm sorry, Leerin. Though you're very important, Felli looked far too lonely."

"Huh? Ah....wah....Huh?"

Leerin became confused in an instant, and her entire body went rigid.

The other members who saw this scene had similar reactions. Nina had originally planned on also berating him from behind Leerin, but now she just showed an expression as if she had seen a ghost and stood stock-still behind her.

I've had enough.

Felli began feeling depressed.

She had only gotten everyone involved in this trouble.

◇

The scene changed, and they were now in the underground bar that Sharnid frequented and that they had held a celebration in before. Today the female owner seemed to be away resting, so she wasn't in the store. But Sharnid and she had a connection, so he borrowed the key, and everyone was able to enter the store.

They couldn't let Layfon stay in a normal store in his current condition, so everyone had come here.

"This is a good opportunity."

Mifi's whispered words made Meishen's face go red.

Everyone had already heard the chain of events from Felli's mouth. Because he had drank that cup of green juice, Layfon had become this unusual.

Right now, Leerin was making some food behind the bar, and Layfon was talking to her. She wore a dissatisfied expression and ignored Layfon's words. Nina and the others were sitting on the other side of Meishen and them, surrounding the weary Felli and talking about something.

"By op....opportunity, you mean...."

On the road here, Layfon had quietly spoken flirtatious words that he normally would never say to all of the female members, and he hadn't even let Dalshena go. She had dropped the words 'how uncomfortable', and then returned.

Maybe Dalshena-->>

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