Hypnosis and Hypnosis
Chiaki sighed in the windowless hospital room. She wasn't here for illness or injury—just sheer boredom.
"So dull…"
She knew she'd done something that could've landed her in jail, so she didn't complain about her restricted freedom. Still, the idleness was unbearable. She didn't need luxuries like TV or games; a cheap, offline e-reader or even forced labor would do. Anything but this aimless sitting.
"Visitation's banned today, so no one's coming to chat either…" she muttered, recalling the nurse's earlier explanation. Yesterday's attack had prompted the restriction—understandable, since the emergency bell connected directly to the police, not the fire department.
"Why was I so hostile toward Shiba-kun?"
In the calm, Chiaki questioned her animosity. Her sister Koharu had withdrawn from the thesis competition, and Tatsuya was chosen as a substitute due to Koharu's recommendation and Suzune's decision—not his own doing. There was no proof he'd noticed Koharu's involvement in the Kobayakawa incident either. Yet, despite her hostility, Tatsuya had been kind. She vividly remembered the comfort of him patting her head.
"Excuse me, how are you feeling, Chiaki-san?"
A knock came, and Chiaki remotely unlocked the door. To her surprise, it was Zhou—the very person she'd hoped might visit.
"Zhou-san? How… I thought visitation was banned?"
"I pulled some strings," he said, presenting a bouquet.
"Strings… magic?"
"Not quite. You don't need magic to work miracles. Though this is a minor trick."
"Zhou-san, I… you helped me so much, and I still messed up…"
Before she could finish her apology, Zhou held the bouquet closer. Its eerie, captivating beauty stole her focus, and his voice seemed distant.
"Don't worry about it. My help doesn't matter. But if it weighs on you, forget it all."
"Forget?"
Her own murmur sounded foreign to her.
"Yes, forget. Forget me, forget hating Shiba Tatsuya."
"Forget… that's all I need to do?"
"Yes, just forget."
"Alright… I'll forget."
Chiaki commanded herself to erase it all—Zhou, her grudge against Tatsuya—and let them slip away.
October 25, Tuesday, After School
Tatsuya, Mari, and Mayumi headed to the Hachioji Special Detention Center, where Sekimoto was held. With five days until the thesis competition, Tatsuya's tasks were on track, giving him a few hours to spare. Erika, Leo, and Mikihiko had wanted to come, but Mari's tension with Erika and the boys' unease around less-familiar upperclassmen girls made it impractical. Besides, only three authorization letters were issued, so their presence was impossible anyway.
Miyuki, stuck with student council duties, was likely turning the council room into a blizzard, but Tatsuya wasn't concerned.
Mayumi and Tatsuya entered the room next to Sekimoto's, while Mari went to face him directly.
"Watanabe, what do you want?" Sekimoto asked, rubbing his left wrist, likely searching for his confiscated CAD.
"To hear your side," Mari replied.
"Y-you can't use magic here!"
He was right, in theory. The facility, built for detaining underage magicians, was rigged with magic-detection devices. If magic was used, neutralizing gas, rubber bullets, or Anti-Knight-equipped guards would intervene—if the system worked properly.
"No time to waste. Get to the point," Mari pressed.
Sekimoto held his breath, a futile gesture against the magic at play.
"Mind control through scent?" Tatsuya asked.
"First time seeing it, Tatsuya-kun?" Mayumi replied.
"Yes. Troublesome if used openly."
Mayumi nodded. Magic was heavily regulated, and this technique bordered on brainwashing. Its casual use would cause problems.
While talking, they didn't miss Sekimoto's confession. Tatsuya's ears pricked at Sekimoto's admission: he'd planned to steal demo machine data and search Tatsuya's belongings for a "jeweled holy relic."
"Tatsuya-kun, do you have that?" Mayumi asked.
"No."
"But…"
"I was researching relics tied to the Philosopher's Stone before the election. He probably misunderstood."
Mayumi, recalling his earlier excuse, didn't press further—not because she fully believed him, but because a blaring alarm suddenly echoed through the Hachioji Special Detention Center.
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