Authentication

(Finally, the first day of Ev3ns’s training trip is here…! I hope this trip is a chance for everyone to get along better.)

I’ve just finished checking in… It’s almost time for everyone to be here.

I’m excited to try out Beppu’s¹ hot springs!

If I remember correctly, Nayuki-kun, the job you got for them was… Ambassadors of Hell²?

…Hell is the perfect place for criminals that just got out of prison.

(Nayuki-kun’s being pretty harsh on them…)

Natsuyaki-kun and Kinouchi-kun will stop by a cafe before coming, and it seems like Domeki-san just left the massage parlor.

Raito-san was going to join us after he ate some ramen, right?

Was someone like that supposed to show up? I haven’t heard from Azekawa-san at all…

(He’s completely ignoring his older brother…)

…Um, hey, Nayuki-kun. I heard about it. Raito-san’s… lifespan, that is.

…!

(Sigh)… Oh. So he told you.

Yeah. He said he… knew he was expected to die at twenty-eight.

…Could you keep it a secret, just in case? I know that idiot probably didn’t think anything of it when he told you, but this is something even our parents don’t know about.

I get it. Honestly, it’s hard to believe he’s fated to die so soon…

What do you think, Nayuki-kun?

There’s a fortune teller that politicians, nobles, and business people alike often visit discreetly…

A fortune teller…

(Come to think of it, Raito-san mentioned that his prediction was made by a fortune teller that’s never been wrong.)

Raito, whoever that is, went to their mansion with me… when he was twelve years old.

It was right after a new successor took over as the head of the family. Once the head of the family laid eyes on Raito… something changed. It was like he’d lost all reason.

And so… Raito was shown his “Death Prophecy”.

“Death Prophecy”…?

Although it isn’t public knowledge, it seems the head of the family personally delivered “Death Prophecies” to those who could never escape the fate of death.

Does it… definitely come true?

Raito and I investigated when those who had a prophecy died.

It may have been classified info… but based on what we found it was 100% accurate.

(No way…)

After that, he started acting strange.

He attempted suicide; and when he understood even that wouldn’t kill him, he changed his whole attitude and suddenly started saying he’d enjoy life…

He started acting recklessly without considering how anyone around him would feel.

I got so mad at him that I left him then and there. I considered my brother already dead to me…

Raito-san said he wanted to get along with you, though…

I wasn’t kidding. I’ll carry out my responsibilities as a manager, but I can’t do anything beyond that.

But he’s got good leadership, doesn’t he? He’s pretty bright and easy-going.

Is he now… I wouldn’t get my hopes up. They are a group of criminals, after all.

…

(It’s true that everyone was imprisoned for their crimes… but are they really bad people?)

(Maybe we’ll find that out during this trip.)

Oh, right… Raito-san said that in his prophecy, he saw his own body.

If you were with him… then did you see it too, Nayuki-kun?

…I did.

He died with a horrifyingly agonized look on his face. I wondered just how horrible his death would be.

…!

Well, it’s not really any of my concern anyway.

(That’s not what Raito-san told me. He told me he saw a peaceful expression, but to Nayuki-kun he looked like he was in pain…?)

(I wonder if there’s anything I can do about the discord between them…)

Oissu-chii~! Chii and Taotao, preseeeeent!

Hello… Thanks for having us.

The airport’s ramen was delicious. Is there going to be ramen in Beppu, too?

I took the time and loosened everything up…

Thank you for coming, everyone. We’re only waiting on… Kinari-kun, right? Where is he?

Oh, true. I haven’t seen Kinyari since this morning.

I did see him leaving the dorms…

That adorable little plüss³? Maybe he was checked in as carry-on luggage?

This is cutting it kind of close…

I’ll go and look for him! You all can go on ahead and board!

Chief, do you need a hand?

No, I can’t have you being late. Nayuki-kun, I’ll leave them to you!

(Come onnnnn! Where is he?! He did come to the airport, right?!)

Oh, up on the terrace…! Kinari-kuuuuun!

…

Kinari-kun! (Pant, pant)… I’ve been looking all over for you, jeez…

Come on, let’s go. We’re going to be late!

…

…? Kinari-kun? What are you looking at?

(What a distant look… Is something wrong?)

Are you running a fever? Let me feel your forehead really quick.

What?! I already told you my name. I’m Kaede Hamasaki!

Kinari-kun? Wh-What’s wrong?

Do you feel sick?

What should I do…? For now, I’ll call Nayuki-kun…

Master.

…! Kinari-kun?! You finally looked at me.

Your command.

Huh? Let’s hurry to the gate for now!

Yes, Master.

What? Huh?! Why are you carrying me princess-style?! WaaaAAAAAAH!

(Why is he suddenly carrying me like royalty?! We made it just in time to the gate, but people are staring! It’s embarrassing!!!)

Master, please issue your next command.

(By “Master”… is he talking about me…?!)