After tidying up the empty classroom, Uchiha Ryo quickly left Shuchiin's middle school division.
Not long after Uchiha Ryo left, Ishigami Yu was the first to wake up.
"My head hurts a little. What just happened?"
On the other side, Ogi Mitsuru also propped himself up using a desk.
"Ishigami-kun, why don't we just go back to class first? We're already late, after all."
"Ogi Mitsuru! You still haven't explained what you meant just now!"
Ogi Mitsuru looked at Ishigami Yu, and a sharp pain suddenly shot through his chest. A glint of the Sharingan flashed imperceptibly in the depths of his eyes.
"I... I will break up with Otomo Kyoko. Remember to delete the recording."
"...."
Ishigami Yu fell silent. But they were indeed late now, so they could only return to the classroom first.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Ryo returned to the high school division's sports field but couldn't find Shirogane Miyuki. He had probably gone to the student council room.
Uchiha Ryo chuckled lightly and pulled out the new light novel he had bought, Love Metronome.
"I'll just go to the clubroom to read."
He arrived at the door of the Classic Literature Club in the club building. It was still class time, so no one should be there, right?
Unfortunately, he was wrong. Just as Uchiha Ryo pushed open the door, he saw the girl standing by the window, holding "Hyouka"—Chitanda Eru.
"What a coincidence. Are you here to read too, Uchiha-kun?"
Chitanda had clearly noticed the copy of Love Metronome in Uchiha Ryo's hand.
"Mhm, I guess so."
Chitanda Eru put down the copy of "Hyouka" she had read many times and walked up to Uchiha Ryo. "What book are you reading? Can I see it!"
"I'm reading a light novel..."
Uchiha Ryo showed her the cover of Love Metronome. Works that looked like romance novels at first glance were generally not allowed inside Shuchiin Academy. But the disciplinary committee member was his club president, and Shirogane Miyuki worked in the student council.
Uchiha Ryo wasn't scared at all. Even if the principal found out, he could use genjutsu to get away with it without anyone noticing.
"Speaking of which, have you had any new leads on your uncle's matter?"
Chitanda Eru's smile stiffened slightly, and she puffed up her cheeks. "No. Based on 'Hyouka' alone, we can't find much useful information. The only way now is to get permission to access the school's archives."
But the records from thirty-three years ago, for some reason, had been sealed. Only the Shuchiin VIP group was qualified to view them.
"Right, but... besides investigating the records, there's another way to find out what your uncle said back then."
"What way?!"
Chitanda Eru stood excitedly in front of Uchiha Ryo, her large eyes sparkling even more.
"It's your memory from back then. If you can remember, wouldn't everything be solved?"
"Mmm...."
Hearing that this was the method, Chitanda became disappointed.
"I was only five or six years old back then. I can't remember anything now..."
Uchiha Ryo nodded. "Is that so? Maybe I can help you remember some of it."
"Eh?"
Uchiha Ryo pointed at Chitanda's forehead. "Actually, memories are very hard for humans to forget. Especially since you're not that old now, your childhood memories haven't disappeared, they've just been sealed away."
Chitanda Eru furrowed her brows in thought.
"Then how? How can I open these sealed memories!"
"That's simple. Have you heard of hypnotherapy, Chitanda-san? It's a therapy that uses hypnosis to help people feel relaxed."
Uchiha Ryo pulled over a chair and motioned for Chitanda to sit down.
"Next, I will help you relax. Then you can try to recall what happened back then."
"Is... that so?"
Chitanda Eru sat on the chair, her hands resting relaxed on her lap, her eyes naturally closed, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep.
"Good. Now, raise your head and open your eyes."
Uchiha Ryo guided her patiently, and the innocent Chitanda Eru obediently opened her eyes.
"Sharingan: Genjutsu"
With the activation of the genjutsu, Chitanda Eru instantly lost her consciousness, becoming a doll that couldn't speak or move.
"Tsk, tsk, Chitanda-san, I wasn't actually lying to you. Human memories are indeed hidden deep in the brain, but just relaxing your body isn't enough to recall them."
But it's a different story for me, who has the Sharingan! Before these eyes, everything about you will be transparent.
.....
"Class is finally over. I think I left my homework in the clubroom. I have to get it before the next class starts!"
Amakusa Shino hurried to the door of the Classic Literature Club. Just as she pulled the door open a crack, she saw Uchiha Ryo standing in the middle of the classroom, with Chitanda Eru sitting in front of him, doing something.
With a bang, Amakusa Shino slammed the door shut. She couldn't believe her eyes. What are those two doing? One is standing, and the other is sitting in front of him...
Could it be that they had an argument for some reason?
But why would they do this in the clubroom? Would it be more exciting! If that's the case, Amakusa Shino can understand... the hell she can!
Opening the door again, "Hey! You two, you should prepare safety... measures first."
Uchiha Ryo turned his head, smiled, and put a finger to his lips in a hushing gesture.
Only then did Amakusa Shino notice Chitanda Eru with her eyes closed, seemingly asleep.
"Uchiha... I didn't expect you to be so skilled. Has she already passed out?"
Uchiha Ryo gave Amakusa Shino a speechless look. "Chitanda-san just fell asleep."
Amakusa Shino walked over and looked at the porcelain doll-like Chitanda Eru, unable to resist poking her cheek with a finger.
"Oh, oh, Chitanda-san's skin is so well-maintained. Do you want to poke it too, Uchiha? Of course! Only with your finger."
Uchiha Ryo shook his head, picked up the copy of Love Metronome on the desk, and sat on the other side.
"We don't have classes this afternoon, so we came to the clubroom early. But you, Amakusa-senpai, should still have class, right?"
Amakusa Shino nodded. "That's right. But I came here to get my homework. I think I left it here after finishing it yesterday."
Seeing Amakusa Shino leave with her notebook, Uchiha Ryo glanced at Chitanda, who was still asleep.
"I see. So 'Hyouka' was just a simple word game... Now I just need to find a chance to solve Chitanda-san's request."