"How's your body now?"
"Pretty good. I feel completely healthy. Even the doctors think it's strange."
A smile spread across Misaki's face.
She had no idea why her illness had suddenly disappeared.
This was her third day in the hospital. Ever since Isaac cured her leukemia, she no longer looked weak and pale. Her complexion had color again.
"Um…"
"What is it?"
"Has Rinji not come these past few days?"
"Oh, he's at school now," Isaac said.
He had come to visit Misaki in the hospital, mainly to check her recovery.
He had wanted Rinji to visit too, but Rinji refused, not wanting too much contact with people of this era.
Even going to school to investigate paranormal incidents, he avoided speaking with others.
"I see…"
Misaki's face showed disappointment, though she quickly covered it.
"Never mind. As long as he's still in Yomiyama, I'll run into him sooner or later."
"Though you never know when he'll leave."
Isaac smiled, then stood up.
"Focus on recovering. We'll talk about everything else after you're discharged."
"Okay… wait!"
"Hm?"
Just as Isaac was about to leave, Misaki called out from the bed.
"You and Rinji are friends, right?"
"I'm his father."
"You mean you're such close friends you can joke like that?"
"Think whatever you like."
Most people would never believe an eighteen-year-old could be the father of a sixteen-year-old.
"Then do you know if Rinji… has a girlfriend?" Misaki asked, blushing.
"I never asked. But as my son, I'd guess he's not popular with girls. Probably doesn't have one yet."
"Stop joking like that." Misaki laughed.
Even if the answer wasn't certain, Isaac's words made her happy.
"Then… do you know what kind of girl he likes?"
"No idea. Why ask?"
"I was just curious," Misaki whispered. "I just wanted to know what he thinks of me…"
"Oh, you want to know if he sees you as a beautiful, admirable girl?"
Her face flushed even redder, but she nodded.
"…Yes."
"I don't know why you'd ask, but in my judgment, definitely not."
"Eh?"
Misaki blurted out.
"How can you say that so decisively?"
"It's not hard to analyze. You're definitely not as beautiful as his mother, that's for sure."
"…."
Though she didn't know who Rinji's mother was, it was obvious Isaac's logic had gone off track.
"And to me, you're not exactly a beauty either. You're just a middle school kid—why are you thinking about this stuff all the time?"
"You don't have to be that harsh!"
---
"Akazawa-san."
"Good morning, Takamine-kun."
The next morning, when Rinji arrived at school, he went straight to Akazawa.
"Thanks for your answer yesterday. I have a clearer picture now of what's going on in the class."
"I'm glad. When the Countermeasure Group came, they told me you were a specialist in handling supernatural incidents, right?"
"That's correct."
"Could we talk? This is my first time handling the Committee's work. I've only had past students' records and seniors' experiences to rely on. I'd like to hear an expert's opinion."
"Sure."
In truth, Rinji had almost no experience. This was only his second paranormal case.
The last one, the creature in the sky, had been simple—just kill it.
But something like a curse, with no clear target, more like bad luck descending, left him completely at a loss.
…
Inside the library, Rinji and Akazawa sat facing each other.
"So far, no student or family member from Class 3-3 has died accidentally. Maybe this year will pass without incident."
"I think your intel still needs… forget it."
The fact that Mei and Misaki were sisters was unknown to outsiders, and Misaki was alive and well now. From appearances, no deaths had occurred.
"Just to ask—when you all moved into Class 3-3, were there extra seats in the classroom?"
"No. That's why I think this year will likely be safe."
'No extra seats, and you still voted Mei out? Should I call that cautious or just overkill?' Rinji thought.
Since everyone treated Mei as nonexistent, Rinji didn't bring her up.
"But it's not certain. Because of you and Sakakibara transferring in, the numbers that were perfect before suddenly increased. Now there are two extra people," Akazawa said. "Maybe you and Sakakibara were supposed to transfer in, and the 'dead one' is hidden among the remaining students."
She had already confirmed with Kouichi himself that he remembered his past. Rinji had confirmed through Tomohiko yesterday. So for now, suspicion of them being the 'dead one' was minimal.
"Two extra people in the class… meaning there might be two 'dead' who slipped into this year's group, is that what you're saying?"
"I don't want to say it, but… it might really be the case."
Akazawa's expression grew uncertain.
Originally, this year's class should have been able to get through peacefully, but the appearance of Rinji and Koichi shattered that calm, throwing everything into confusion again.
"In that case, how about adding an 'unexistent person'?"
"Huh?"
"If there are two 'dead,' then arrange for two 'unexistent persons' in the class," Rinji said with a smile. "Although nothing has happened yet, it's also a way to reduce the risk, isn't it?"
"That's true, but who should be defined as the 'unexistent person'?"
"Me."
"…Are you serious?"
"Why not?"
"There's nothing wrong with it, but…"
After hesitating for a moment, Akazawa looked at Rinji seriously.
"Will you be alright? An 'unexistent person' is treated as air, you'll have to endure loneliness."
"It doesn't matter."
Rinji kept his smile.
"I wasn't planning to get along with you all anyway. Not talking is fine by me."