Chapter 23

While taking a civics class, a certain worry filled my mind.

"Family register and resident card... huh."

The worry was about Rin's family register and resident card. Rin is a shikigami, but unlike ordinary shikigamis, she shows no signs of disappearing.

I even asked the class president's father through Kuro, but since there's no precedent for this, he doesn't know how to make her disappear.

That means she will continue to live with me. If that happens, a situation where identification is needed will inevitably arise.

"What should I do... Is there a technique to manipulate memories or something...?"

I've watched many videos on hypnosis, but I couldn't master it. It seems that prior suggestion is an important skill, and the information I got from the videos wasn't enough to learn it.

I thought about asking the class president's father about yin-yang techniques again, but I've already troubled him too much. It would be too much to ask for more help without revealing my identity.

Well, for now, it's not a problem, so I'll deal with it when the time comes.

"Kousuke, you don't even know how to handle such a problem? Wow..."

"Shut up, I can handle this much!"

While I was pondering over the homework printout, Takigawa misunderstood the situation.

"Be quiet, the next class is about to start."

"Classes are so troublesome."

"Next class... Ah!"

I was reminded by Ishida. Takigawa doesn't seem to have noticed, but the next class is a comprehensive one—

"—Everyone, please take your seats. I will explain the upcoming 'Overnight Recreation'."

The classroom became noisy when the class president mentioned 'Overnight Recreation'.

The 'Overnight Recreation' is a two-night, three-day stay that takes place one month after the start of the school year, at the beginning of next month.

Our high school has 'Overnight Recreation' and 'Marine School' in the first year, 'Forest School' and 'Study Trip' in the second year, offering a rich variety of overnight events. The school's stance is to have grand breaks to balance the hard regular classes. This is one of the reasons I chose this school among many in the city.

"According to the handout, I would like to form groups today. Five people per group, with at least two males and two females in each group."

The classroom became even noisier.

Oh, the 'Real Life' team is already making moves.

"Let's team up."

"Tomokun! Sure thing!"

Led by the 'Real Life' team, other groups started to form one after another.

"Kousuke, Seikou. We need to quickly ask some girls to join our group..."

"Calm down, Takigawa."

"Ishida is right. Calm down, calm down."

Assuming we three will be in the same group, we need two more girls. But there's no need to worry. Our class has 20 boys and 20 girls, totaling 40 students. In the end, the leftover girls will likely approach us.

"If you take your time, the cute girls will be taken!"

"Hmph, what are you saying now?"

Ishida is right. What is this guy saying now?

The boys in this class can be roughly divided into four groups, with an implicit class hierarchy.

The highest-ranked group, with the most influence, is the 'Real Life' team, consisting of various members from playboys to the one who gets teased.

Next is the 'Sports' team, centered around the baseball club. Then comes the 'Otaku' team, a gathering of various hobbyists... and lastly, our group, the 'Miscellaneous' team, consisting of the three of us.

Therefore, even if we invite girls, the result won't change.

"Damn, why this group..."

"Let them go."

"Takigawa, take care."

"I'm happy to be in this group!"

By the way, just because we're at the bottom of the hierarchy doesn't mean we get bullied. We can still talk normally with the 'Real Life' and 'Sports' team members.

It's just that in situations like this group formation, we end up being the leftovers.

"Mizukami, would you like to join our group?"

Wow! Defying the dark organization's gaze, one member of the 'Real Life' team invited the class president!

By the way, the members of the dark organization are evenly distributed among the teams, so their scale is unknown.

"Thank you for the invitation, but I have someone I want to invite, so sorry."

"!!!!?"

The classroom fell silent for a moment.

Immediately, the conversation resumed as if nothing had happened, but all you could hear were insincere exchanges like "What a nice day" and "Yeah, it is."

While pretending to talk, everyone's attention was on the class president.

"Mizukami... the one she wants to invite?"

"Stay calm. We are an organization that wishes for her happiness. No matter who the person is, it is our duty to watch over it with a broad heart."

From the many conversations, I heard a cool line. It was probably from the dark organization.

Looking around the classroom, I saw various reactions: some were full of hope, others were frozen in disbelief.

What an interesting class.

"Ai, sorry."

"It's fine, I was planning to team up with Rinchika anyway. So? Who are you going to invite among the boys?"

The class president and Ai, also known as Aihara Eika, started walking.

Standing nearly 170 cm tall, with short hair and excelling in sports, Aihara is a popular and handsome girl among the girls. Her occasional cuteness adds to her appeal, making her highly popular among the boys as well. She is the No. 2 in this class, after the class president.

Still, when the two walk together... it's impressive.

"Moses' Ten Commandments."

Takigawa is saying something strange, but it's exactly right. The crowd parts to make way for the two, and the boys who are left behind bow their heads in disappointment.

"Huh?"

It seems the class president is heading this way. Like the other classmates, I quietly make way for her.

"Y, Yuki, Yuki-kun."

"H, huh?"

The class president stopped in front of me and called my name.

"Um..."

Aihara patted the class president's back, as if to say "Go for it."

"Um. Can I join Yuki-kun's group?"

"Uh... sure, sure."

"Thank you!"

Hearing my response, the class president smiled broadly. I can't quite grasp the situation, but she's cute.

"Damn, I'm jealous, but good job, Kousuke!"

"Including Aihara, that makes exactly five. Our group is set."

Takigawa and Ishida seem to agree, so our group is decided.

More importantly, the reactions around us are bothering me.

"Wow! Rinchika is bold."

"... Kill."

The girls are screaming, and the boys are glaring with tears in their eyes.

What's going on? It feels like déjà vu.

"Yuki... you're amazing."

"Looks like it's not about appearance, huh."

I heard some rude comments from the 'Real Life' team...

"Yuki."

Huh? The leader of the 'Real Life' team, Tomokun, also known as Sato Tomoyuki, is talking to me.

"I acknowledge you, Yuki. I'll leave this class to you."

"... Huh?"

On that day, the 'Miscellaneous' team became the top-ranked group in the class hierarchy.

◇

"Tourito, Tourito. Hey, look, look."

"What's up, Yui?"

At a road station in western Japan, inside a parked camper van, a girl was excitedly looking at a computer screen.

"Right now, I hacked into the organization's activity records."

"You... there are 'Cyber' ability users on their side too, you know?"

"It's fine, it's fine. I won't lose to those B-rank beginners. It was close, but I managed to get the activity records."

Tourito looked at Yui, who was casually performing an act that could shake their current life, with a bewildered expression.

"Anyway, look, look."

The young man called Tourito peered at the computer screen.

"Is this... the organization's people are in Japan!? And in Sapporo?"

"Yeah... where Nagisa and the others are."

Tourito's expression twisted.

"Should we go and help them right away..."

"No way! Look, there are two B-rank and three A-rank members. Tourito is strong, but you can't handle all five."

"But if we do nothing, they might be captured. If that happens, this world could fall into the organization's hands."

Tourito muttered with a regretful expression.

"Before that, look, look."

The girl called Yui turned the computer screen back to Tourito.

"Apparently, a black cat with abilities took down two B-rank and one A-rank member in an instant."

"What!?"

Tourito was shocked by this fact.

The report states, "They were caught off guard and exploited a weakness..." but Tourito knows that these three are not the type to be instantly defeated by such a minor mistake.

"That's not all. A high school student, who seems to be the black cat's companion, took down Dies."

"Dies!?"

Dies, an A-rank member, is usually lazy but is one of the top combatants in the organization. Tourito himself would need to be fully prepared to defeat him.

"Also, it seems they were already in a detention center when they realized it. The police who arrested them can't remember the details or the reason for the arrest... as if they were forced to make up a story."

"That means..."

"Yeah, it might be 'Event Rewriting'."

Yui spoke seriously. Tourito's eyes widened, and his voice became harsh.

"The organization's goal, 'God's Ability'!"

"Maybe, maybe. So, I'm thinking of asking this high school student to help Nagisa and the others."

"What!?"

Tourito started to shout, "What are you saying!" but fell silent. He understands that Yui is not the type to make casual suggestions when it comes to important decisions.

"It's okay, it's okay. I've thought it through. This high school student, Yuki, has a normal background. No matter how I investigated, he seemed like an ordinary, average person."

"... Could he have used 'God's Ability' to rewrite his background?"

"That's possible, but if he's acting as an ordinary person, I don't think he's a bad person. If there were restrictions or conditions, he could easily achieve things like being rich or having a harem."

"I see..."

If a person with malicious or selfish intentions had 'God's Ability', it would be unlikely for them to act as an ordinary person. Considering this, Tourito reluctantly agreed with Yui's words.

"Well, it's all speculation. But what we know for sure is that Yuki has the power to help Nagisa and the others and is an enemy of the organization. We don't have the power to help them. That's the situation, right?"

"Are there no other options..."

After hearing Yui's explanation, Tourito thought for a moment and decided to agree with her proposal.

"Then, I'll ask this person for help."

"Understood. But if anything happens, I'll take action too."

If the organization gets 'God's Ability', our current life will surely be destroyed. Tourito, who values the moments he can talk with Yui, quietly resolved to act.

"Don't worry, Tourito. We won't let anyone take our freedom. No one, ever."

Yui's hand gently enveloped Tourito's clenched fist.

The true identity of Dies is the 'dangerous criminal' that the protagonist