宅男天堂

\'...Feels like the air\'s been let out of a balloon.\'

Elodie had always been exceptionally sensitive to mana. She couldn\'t let the air of relaxation inside the train escape her notice.

When the train departed, Elodie had already predicted that something had happened when she witnessed the tense expressions on the teachers\' faces.

The tension swelled inside the train as if a giant balloon had been stuffed into it, so pervasive that it seemed it might burst at any moment.

However, the balloon didn\'t burst, and instead, the opening was untied, allowing the air to escape back out.

In other words, the feared event did not occur, and everything was resolved well. That\'s one way to think about it.

"......Teacher."

"Hmm? What\'s up?"

...Even without paying much attention, the voice was different. It had become much more relaxed and calm as the teacher approached Elodie.

"How much longer until we arrive?"

"To our destination? Hmm, about an hour?"

"Thank you."

Elodie finished talking with the teacher and looked at Aster.

By coincidence, Aster was also looking at Elodie with a meaningful gaze.

For Aster, the tension inside the train was less concerning than the phone screen Lunia showed her when they were on the bus.

\'Frondier\'s information is overly exposed in Cropolis.\'

One would have to visit Cropolis to know for sure, but it\'s likely that most of Cropolis\'s citizens now recognize Frondier\'s face.

Furthermore, the frequency at which the teachers checked their messages simultaneously was notable, and just earlier, a civilian was reprimanded by a teacher and taken somewhere.

Above all, Elodie was looking at him now.

Their thoughts were nearly identical.

\'There has been an incident at Constel that the students are unaware of, and Frondier is involved.\'

It was still just a suspicion. There was no concrete evidence, so it might be closer to conjecture.

The way to confirm it was simple.

To arrive in Cropolis and find Frondier.

If they couldn\'t see Frondier there...

\'He went off to some dangerous place without saying anything again, didn\'t he?\'

Elodie\'s eyes blazed with fire.

Of course, not due to any magical power, but metaphorically speaking.

* * *

After arriving in Cropolis, the students were escorted to their accommodations to unpack their bags.

Each class cheered at the announcement of free time after the teachers had given them their instructions.

Since the main purpose of Cropolis’s school trip was for students to relax, it was a free period for the most part.

As long as they didn’t stray too far from the premises, they generally didn’t interfere with what the students did. As long as they arrived back by the time dinner was served, that was all that mattered.

—That’s why helping a friend with his volunteer work could be considered a healthy activity during free time, if anything.

Thinking that, Elodie looked for Jane, the homeroom teacher for Class Five, and found someone who’d gotten there before her.

“So, where is he? Mr. Frondier?”

“Well, that is…”

It was Aten. Aten’s transparent eyes stared straight at Jane.

Jane avoided Aten’s gaze. Aten’s expression was hard to read, which made it all the more difficult for Jane.

“He’s supposed to be here at Cropolis doing volunteer work, but I haven’t seen him at all since we arrived.”

“Ah, Frondier, is it? I heard he got punished for doing something bad at Constel. This was his volunteer work as a punishment.”

“I suppose, but surely you could tell me where he is?”

Aten’s face drew closer, and Jane drew back in response.

‘She planned this from the start, didn’t she?’

Jane guessed, feeling Aten’s immense force of will. She’d seemed docile enough on the bus and train, but it was clear she’d had this in mind ever since they arrived at Cropolis.

“Oh, well, that’s… Ah! Elodie!”

At that moment, Jane spotted Elodie in the distance. Here came her savior!

“Elodie! Back me up here! Frondier’s currently doing volunteer work as part of his punishment!”

Elodie approached at Jane’s shout.

Elodie smiled and said to Jane,

“I’m curious where he is too. Frondier, that is. Since we’re friends, I’d like to help him with his volunteer work.”

She wasn’t a savior; she was enemy reinforcements.

Jane forced a smile as cold sweat trickled down her back.

“…Why don’t the two of you go play at the beach or something?”

“Yes. After we meet up with Frondier.”

“That’s right. After I help Frondier out.”

Their answers didn’t even register with her.

Suddenly, a humming sound came from afar. Hmm, hmm~ At the familiar tune, Jane turned her head once more.

This time, she thought it might be their savior, but it was Sybil. It was her unique way of walking, as if she was dancing to a rhythm.

"I knew that tune sounded familiar!"

Jane regretted turning her head on her own accord.

"Ah, Sybil! Here you are!"

That\'s when Elodie called out to her.

"Hmm?"

Sybil responded oddly.

"What\'s up?"

"We\'re looking for Frondier. Aren\'t you curious where Frondier might be?"

Elodie knew well that Sybil had a crush on Frondier. They had gone through the cabin incident together; it was impossible not to know.

At Elodie\'s words, Sybil\'s eyes sparkled, and she nodded.

"Yeah, I\'m curious! That\'s why I\'m on my way!"

"Right... Wait, what did you say?"

When Elodie asked again, Sybil repeated herself.

"I\'m on my way. To Frondier."

"Huh?"

"What?"

"Hmm?"

This time, even Jane couldn\'t help but make a noise. Aten\'s head snapped toward Jane, and Jane quickly turned her head away, pretending to be distracted.

Elodie asked.

"Do you know where Frondier is?"

"No, I don\'t."

Sybil answered as if it were obvious.

It sounded like her response didn\'t make sense. But Sybil\'s next words perfectly tied it all together.

"I just have a feeling that if we go that way, we\'ll be able to meet him."

And Sybil pointed in a certain direction along the coast.

Elodie and Aten looked at each other.

Anyone else might think this was nonsense. But since it was Sybil who said it.

"...Let\'s follow her."

"Me too."

Elodie and Aten didn\'t take long to decide.