Chapter 4Umesato private middle school exists at a corner close to Oume street and Itsukaichi street, in the east side of Suginami ward in Tokyo.
It is small scale in that it only has three cla.s.ses per year, but its site area is pretty wide. North of the 300 meters track placed on the grounds, is the three story first school building which extends east and west, and that central section is connected to the sports building towards the north side. And then on the opposite side, is the again built east and west wards, the second school building. That is, the whole of it can be seen as a katakana エ letter shape.
Each year’s cla.s.ses and student cafeteria is gathered in the new first school building. On the other hand, for the somewhat old second school building, part of the first floor are lined with faculty rooms, princ.i.p.al’s room and student counseling room, with the second and third floor taken over by storage rooms and various specialized cla.s.srooms currently mostly not being used. That is, it is about equal to almost no student goes there. During his first year, Haruyuki used the second school building, third floor male toilet for a «Shelter» was because of this reason.
However, there is a place where students are even less likely to approach, or more like they are not even conscious of it. Further north side of the second school building, is a small and long s.p.a.ce squeezed between concrete walls and high fence wall.
Haruyuki, as a newly established caretaker committee member, went through that damp gap to the northwest corner, to gather at the Umesato middle school corner of corners.
“...This place, our school has one huh...”
While looking at that building, Haruyuki muttered.
It was way too small for a building. The floor was at most 4 meters length and width, and height was 2.5 meters. The left, right, and inside walls were built with natural wood planks even in this age, and the roof was probably slate thatched.
And then the front side was all formed by wire mesh with about 3 cm eye holes. That is, this is a cage. Of course, it is not something for locking up students that did bad deeds. It is a small rearing pen for taking care of animals.
However, not matter how much he put his face close to the mesh and narrowed his eyes, he could not see anything in the small pen. In exchange, there were thick piles of fallen leaves that went in through gaps in the mesh. Under that, without doubt a mountain of micro organisms live there, but they could not be taking care of those.
“There is a caretaker, and an animal pen, but the essential animal seem to be missing...”
t.i.tling his head, he once more talked to himself. Even if it will be transferred here later, he could not understand why this timing.
At that time, he could hear multiple footsteps on gravel from behind. When he turned around in surprise, he saw two students closing in from direction of the front yard. It was one boy and one girl. Their necktie and ribbon color was same blue as Haruyuki’s, but their faces were not familiar so they were probably from different cla.s.ses. This would mean, they were same as Haruyuki, newly appointed caretakers and colleagues, without doubt.
Haruyuki took a step forward to first at least greet them, but quicker than that, the male student shouted in a loud volume.
“Uee, this is so dirty! Leaves are super piled up!”
Continuing, the girl expressed her feelings fully.
“Righttt. It’s no use to clean this. For real.”
From the way they were speaking, these two people must have been selected by lottery instead of candidacy. Even saying so, Haruyuki himself was similar to them. Since he stood up for it on mistaken momentum.
Now matter how it came about, since he got here, he would have to carry out committee activities with these two people on friendly terms. Taking a big breath, but still a weak sound with that, Haruyuki called out.
“Ah... at least, we should decide positions.”
Reading the sent doc.u.ment file after he had became a member, he found out that there were two activities for today. First was to select the president, and the other was to clean the rearing pen. Until both of those are finished, committee members sign the diary file and sent it to school system server, they could not return home today.
Cleaning will be very troublesome, from just looking at the disaster of the pen, so he would like to at least finish selecting positions quickly. Haruyuki waited a few seconds with light expectation for either of those two to say ‘I will do it’. Committee activities is a factor for adding to performance data, and can influence high school entrance, so there are students who would actively like to have a history of being ○○ president.
—— However, at this point no one volunteered, so he understood that at this place no one was going after that point. After confirming that by waiting five seconds and those two people still had their mouth closed, Haruyuki said with a weak smile.
“...Then, I am allowed to be it right, the president.”
While waiting for annoyed response when he could not even say ‘I will do it’, the relatively dark skinned boy for a go home club, and the girl with hair permed to inside curve, quickly made relaxed expressions, and nodded at the same time.
“Sure.” “Yoroshiku.”
Three of them ran their fingers on their virtual desktop at the same time, opening the new committee activities tab, and in the positions column they set Haruyuki’s name, then touched the confirmation b.u.t.ton. With this, even in the school local net, Haruyuki would be recorded as the caretaker president.
He also checked the remaining two people’s names, with the boy being Hamajima, and the girl being Izeki. Since it was a three member only committee, there was no need for any position below vice president.
‘—— If it is like this, then I should have become something like library member at the start of school term.’
With that earnest thought, he swung his right hand once to wipe the window. Anyway this meant one job done. However the problem was the other job, cleaning of the rearing pen.
With another look at the pen, even though the walls were dirty, he thought that leaves piled up on the floor would be more troublesome after all. With some of the thickness over 5 cm, they could not do anything without tools. According to the doc.u.ment, they were allowed to use tools from the central courtyard cleaning equipment storage.
“Then, I will go get a bamboo broom and dustpan... will bring it back, please wait.”
After saying that with a mumble, he jogged towards the central courtyard sandwiched on the opposite side of the second school building. Compared to his first year, when he was a pasi going to buy bread, and from behind him came ‘You need to dash, dash!’, without that being said was way better, which Haruyuki thought about along with other things.
When they actually tried it, the rearing pen cleaning job was far more troublesome than they thought.
If the piled up fallen leaves were dry, then they could probably quickly brush it out with brooms, but this was rainy season even if no rain now. Furthermore it seemed to have piled up over many years, with bottom part mostly becoming muck that stuck to the floor. Old bamboo brooms —— as expected the materials were not natural, but hard plastic fibers similar to bamboo —— could only sc.r.a.pe the surface, not being able to bite into hard layers.
Still, after about twenty minutes of fighting with it, the girl called Izeki eventually said.
“Ah —— enough ——, my hands and back really hurt —— s!”
“Ehehe, like an old lady.”
When the boy called Hamajima mixed that in, he was glared at imposingly. Haruyuki was also given a look that turned him into a statue.
“I am really annoyed. Hey you, aren’t you just barely cleaning the same spot for a while?”
When questioned by Izeki’s half angry tone, this time Hamajima cursed.
“d.a.m.n, shut up. You too, aren’t you just roughly moving leaves I brushed outside? Isn’t that an easy job.”
“Ha? I don’t understand what you mean? Isn’t that a bad way to say it?”
During his colleagues’ moment by moment increased threatening conversation, Haruyuki could only sweat as he moved his broom with high speed. Before a real fight starts, he should interrupt and work it out, but while knowing that, far from being able to open his mouth, he could not even raise his head.
‘—— No. No matter what the process was, I became a candidate for caretaker, then also volunteered to become president. Here I should say something kick a.s.s to those two people. isn’t that my responsibility?’
“...H, hey!”
While that decision was in his whole body, Haruyuki made a sound. The one touch would explode Izeki and Hamajima, turned their glare on him at the same time.
“...H, hey...”
With a large breath of air, and putting strength to his lower stomach, Haruyuki forcefully said.
“...Since this, will not be finished even by time we have to leave school... That is, if you two sign the diary, you can go home already... I will remain for appearance sake...”
One minute later.
With his colleagues’ pure smile and thanks remaining, they escaped at high speed, leaving him alone in the small backyard, which made Haruyuki sigh deeply.
If he confessed in truth ——.
The other two members would be kind hearted girls who love animals, that would lead to his unbelievably heart warming committee activities, it could not be said that Haruyuki did not have at least a milligram of that expectation. But when he thought about it, if that kind of students existed, then a caretaker committee would have been formed way earlier, with this situation as a logical consequence. No, in the worse case, two members other than Haruyuki, could have been outlaw students that had bullied him during his first year. If he thought like that, then he should be thankful for being fortunate.
While comforting himself with those things, Haruyuki took another look at the rearing pen.
Of the fallen leaves piled on the floor, not even half were removed. The clock on his view’s lower right pointed to afternoon 4:15. Since the forced leaving school time is at 6:00, it could be said that he had time left, but against the black layer that almost became dirt, challenging that with just one bamboo broom would be useless. If he really want this pen to look pretty, but.
“...Well, this doesn’t really have to be finished in one day. Since there isn’t even an animal...”
Muttering, Haruyuki threw the broom on his right hand to the ground. Afterward he could just waste time with random game applications till time to leave school, showing appearance that he worked hard but could not finish, to be continued tomorrow. With that thought, he was going to sit down on steps at base of the outer fence, but before that.
‘—— That person also.’
That thought flashed, stopping Haruyuki.
That person, Kuroyukihime, for sure should still have not returned home. In the far away student council room, she must be processing tasks related to school festival that will be coming near the end of month with undivided attention. No, Chiyuri and Tak.u.mu were also like that. Each of them either on the ground or in the kendo arena, would be earnestly moving their body.
“...Everyone, everyday, after cla.s.ses would be doing this kind of things...”
While leaking out a raspy sighing sound, he stared down at his dirty hands. Working hard here, will not be praised by anyone, or get him anything. Then why, for what reason would someone do after cla.s.s activities?
Before, Kuroyukihime had said that she had student council activities so she could control the school local net as a Burst Linker, but he felt that was not all of it. That’s right, for sure, Kuroyukihime, Tak.u.mu, and Chiyuri also, wanted to continually prove something to themselves. Yet, Haruyuki who had decided to take everything seriously just a few tens of minutes ago, was dangerously close to dropping it.
“...Geesh, what a guy I am...”
After blowing out a deep breath, Haruyuki bent over, and picked up the bamboo broom from the ground.
With about 5 minutes work, Haruyuki cleared whatever fallen leaves he could from the pen, then he stopped his hand to think for a bit.
In the matter of efficiency, that was like slacking off. In order to deal with the muck layer before leaving school, more suitable tools and method would be necessary. He thought that large amount of water wash would be best, but the closest water supply was what looked like a tiny faucet set beside the pen for animal drinking water use only.
He tried by turning that, and for sure it only dribble out a slow and unreliable flow, that would take a long time to even fill a bucket. After concentrating with his head hard, he finally remembered that president of a committee, have the right to access a higher level of local net than normal students.
Haruyuki who called out the school map on his virtual desktop, first took water flow line from infrastructure information and displayed it as overlay. There was only one very tiny water color line leading to the rearing pen, but buried underground very closeby, seemed to be a much bigger pipe and supply valve. When he touched that spot and looked around, an AR down arrow pointed to side of the school building three meters away.
“Water flow is over there... so...”
While muttering, he reset the map once, then selected a more than 5 meters long hose from the school supply list and layered it’s position information. Doing that showed him that there was one located in a tools locker, in the male toilet on the first floor of the second school building in front of him. He clicked that point of light, and applied for permission to use from the popup window. Normal students are not allowed to touch supplies outside of their access rank, but one second later, he obtained approval response from the system, which made Haruyuki involuntarily spoke out.
“Oo... leave it to the president. What’s left are...”
He again scrolled the supply list. When he picked up a large shovel, that was in the central courtyard storage so no problem with usage. Finally, he searched for a deck brush. It was discovered in the front yard storage for tile cleaning use, which he obtained permission.
“This should be all. Well, let’s work hard one more time!”
If that was heard by a certain someone, then he would have said with angry sound ‘Don’t imitate me!’, Haruyuki first aimed for the front courtyard and moved out.
Using high pressure water from the hose connected to the supply valve attachment to attack fallen leaves piled up on the rearing pen floor, was an unexpectedly fun job, which made Haruyuki think of “Red type long range skills might feel like this huh” and other things.
However, the strict school system did not give him permission to use unlimited amount of water, so the permitted use water amount bar slowly decreased at the edge of his view. With serious aim, sticking parts were cut away one after another. Since he had to save some water for the final brush wash, he could not use up all the water, so Haruyuki stopped the facet when there was about 20% water remaining.
The floor of the rearing pen, was covered with wet old leaves dissolved from large amount of water, making him thought that the situation became worse than before he started working on it. He had one moment of regret, but with grim determination, he exchanged the hose with shovel, then stepped into the animal pen.
It was fortunate that he was wearing high cut sneakers made from water prevention materials against rainy season, so muddy water did not invade to inside of his shoes. Of course he would have to wash them thoroughly once he got home, but later things can be thought of later.
“Heave... ho!”
While putting out that sound, he thrusted the shovel into the muck, and the tip pa.s.sed through to the floor with almost no resistance. Sc.r.a.ping the floor like that, he scooped up a great deal of black mud. Even with the weight making him stumble, he managed take that out the exit and drop it down.
The less than 20 cm by 40 cm area, finally showed its original floor shape, which Haruyuki gazed at.
A mysterious kind of feeling covered his body. Different from when he completed difficult homework, or fell a boss that killed him many times, he felt the heavy challenge. Since thin tears were going to uncontrollably leak out, he hurriedly shook his head. It was way too early to taste success.
Holding the shovel tight, he took another scoop of the mud and dropped it off. Once more. One step forward, once more.
Just that hurt his shoulder and back, but as if pushed by something to move, Haruyuki continued his work. After taking out one mound, he felt lost of strength, but at the same time he learned how to use the shovel and move his waist, so efficiency slowly went up.
While repeating the steady task, he felt a sharp stimulation at the side of his memory. Before, sometime ago, did he do something like this? However, from childhood on he almost never touched real dirt, and house cleaning was left to his mother’s contracted once a week housekeeping service.
As he forgot even his back pain and earnestly dug in his memory, he finally realized it after about five minutes.
It was not a real world memory. In the accelerated world —— above even that, in the «Unlimited Neutral Field».
Two months ago, he was pushed to fall down the old Tokyo tower when he met Sky Raker the first time, and started his steady training so he could climb the 300 meters tall cliff bare handed. While imagining his hands as swords, he thrusted into the steel like hard walls thousands, and tens of thousands times. That was when the «Incarnate System» —— Brain Burst’s hidden ultimate power’s doorway, the moment he stood there...
“...?”
Suddenly ——.
His thought, somehow, he felt momentarily close to something very important, which made Haruyuki wrinkle his eyebrows.
Even while moving the shovel around, he wanted to catch the tail of that thought.
Incarnate System. Power of firm imagination move the reason of accelerated world, the logic to overwrite events.
In a word, that is tremendous power. A master’s mind power can overcome game rule’s bound, splitting earth and cracking sky. It is a matter of course, that was a supernatural power that should not exist in the real world.
—— But.
But, the real base of that. Was cause lead to results, that simple mechanism was, maybe...
‘Clang’, suddenly the shovel b.u.mped into the wall, which paralyzed Haruyuki’s hands.
“Ouch...!”
He hurriedly blew on his hands, then raised his head up as the pain went away.
After some time, old fallen leave lumps that were all around, had mostly disappeared from inside of the pen. In exchange, there was a small mountain that appeared on the other side of metal mesh, which even Haruyuki was hard to believe that it was all made by himself with just one shovel.
“...When I get to it, I can do it!”
With the previous thought blown away somewhere, Haruyuki stretched widely as he said that. His tense back gave out creaks, but he thought even that pain was exhilarating. Laying down like that would feel nice, but in order to do that, it was necessary to complete another task. There was remaining fallen leaf and dirt that he did not scoop up on the floor.
Haruyuki who came out of the pen, changed his right hand weapon from shovel to deck brush. Then he took the hose with his left hand. What’s left, was to use a bit of water while scrubbing with the brush, and it would become much more beautiful. The time was past afternoon 5:00, but since it was close to summer solstice, there was still plenty of light left. It was very possible to finish work before the 6 o’clock forced leaving school time.
After he returned to the animal pen with high spirits —— Haruyuki realized something.
For the hose’s water flow On/Off, the valve at the base must be controlled. However going back and forth to that faucet would be very inefficient. With that said, if he left water running, then he would soon use up the system allowed amount of water.
“...Hmm...”
He thought hard while looking back and forth between pen and base. However, just this once, a smart way to solve this did not appear. ‘If you are going to monitor water usage, then you should make it so that the valve can be opened and closed remotely!’, that was his afterthought.
If it was like this, then he would have no choice but to go back and forth between pen and base even if it takes more time... with that determination, Haruyuki stumbled towards the doorway.
Going around the dirt mound, a few steps forward —— at that time.
In the center of his view, a yellow radio wave mark icon blinked. Continuing, under it a [AD HOC CONNECTION REQUEST] was displayed.
Ad Hoc Connection was, between multiple Neuro Linker users, a function to connect wirelessly without going through a server. However that was mostly not used inside school. It’s connection speed and confidentiality was worse than Wired Connection, and more than anything, it was a useless function once you log into the school local net.
Wondering who would make this kind of request, Haruyuki looked around left and right, then finally turned around to look behind.
For a while, he could not understand it.
Haruyuki saw a child. There was no problem at that point. It was a girl. That was also not too rare.
However, it was a face he saw for the first time, which was clearly not a student of this school, and before that, no matter how he looked, that could not even be a middle school student, and above everything else, was dressed in pure white exercise wear for top to bottom —— with those, was a situation where it was no wonder that Haruyuki doubted normal function of his eyes and brain.
He rapidly blinked and shook his head, but even with those, the girl in front of his eyes did not disappear, so without any choice, Haruyuki lifted his right hand that was holding the brush, and extended a finger to touch the Ad Hoc connection icon.
At that moment, the radio wave mark and line of words disappeared, and in exchange, a somewhat large window and blinking cursor appeared. It was a chat window for exchange using text instead of voice.
The clearly younger than Niko, and looked to be younger than 10 years old little girl, quickly lifted up both hands after she received connection to Haruyuki’s Neuro Linker. Way too thin and small 10 fingers, slowly opened up and stopped in s.p.a.ce. The holo keyboard home position, as Haruyuki realized that, the next instant ——.
All her fingers flashed in smoke like speed, and right after, in the chat window in Haruyuki’s view, words shinning with pink color rapidly flowed.
[UI> Nice to meet you, and good day. You are Umesato middle school’s caretaker member right? I am Matsunogi school elementary branch fourth year’s Shinomiya Utai. For this time, thank you very much for accepting my emergency request. I am sorry for causing you a lot of trouble. It’s a bit late, but I also want to help with the cleaning.]
“...!?”
Haruyuki stood still after being hit with a huge shock. It was not from information in the text.
—— Fast!!
It was incredible typing skill. That many words were input, in just four seconds. If he did not see the input in front of his eyes, he would have to think that was a copy and paste of previously composed article.
Secretly, Haruyuki thought that his typing speed was first, no, he accepted lost to second since he nearly reached Kuroyukihime. At the very least, for information processing cla.s.s’ typing mock test, he was by far top of the cla.s.s. —— That not being something praiseworthy was partly due to Haruyuki’s virtue like thing.
However, in front of him, the little girl’s typing speed was clearly more than twice Haruyuki’s. Wondering what kind of training was needed to obtain that kind of technique, he intently stared at the opponent.
The little girl called Shinomiya, no matter how he look at her, did not seem to be a link skill master.
She had a small build even for an elementary fourth year. Limbs extending from half sleeve sports jersey, and above knee length half pants, were worryingly small. Her facial features were pure j.a.panese, with single fold eyes and nose, with the mouth like a cool fixture carved by a master woodcarver in one breath. The deep black front hair was cleanly cut to a line under the eyebrows, and the back was tied up at a high spot. A chic brown leather bag on her back, and a somewhat large sports bag on her left hand.
The refreshing looking shape that made him forget about rainy season humid heat just by looking at her, made him look at he in a daze for a while, then Haruyuki finally noticed the questioning look the opponent was giving him. That was right, he did not give any response since her greeting.
A least, he should say h.e.l.lo to her, but thought that he should also reply using chat here. He wanted to quickly call out the holo keyboard to type a reply, but since he was still holding brush and hose, he hurriedly put them on the ground. At the moment that he brought up both hands again, words again flowed in the window.
[UI> It’s okay for you to speak with real voice.]
“Ah..., I, I see...”
While his arms were raised in a subtle way, he leaked his first foolish sound.
Somehow, there were a lot of things he could not understand. Why was this little girl using chat to talk? What was the «Emergency Request» that she spoke of previously? In the first place, why was another school, furthermore elementary school student appearing in this place? What he somehow guessed, was only the [UI>] letters placed in front of her words in the chat window, which should be her name Utai’s shorthand, UI as a nickname.
While scratching his head with his right hand that had no other place to go to, Haruyuki spoke as he was having confused thoughts.
“Ah, Umm... Ni, nice to meet you. I am Arita Haruyuki... Umesato middle school second year, for the time being, the caretaker president... even saying so, that’s starting from today though...”
Then immediately,
[UI> Yea, I know that your caretaker committee was established today.]
That sentence was typed in high speed.
“Wha, is, is that so? How did you know? Also, why did you come from your school, just to help out...?”
[UI> That, was because a request for cooperation from Matsunogi elementary branch that started your committee.]
“Whatt, is, is that so!?”
Compared to the astonished Haruyuki, the strictly calm elementary student little girl, with more and more perfect keyboard handling, explained how this situation came about in an easy to understand way.
Umesato middle school existing in Suginami ward in the capital of Tokyo, was a private, and supposedly advancement school. However it was not managed by the school corporation, but by an educational type company that had its headquarter in Shinjuku. That company, other than Umesato middle school, also owned a girls elementary-middle-high all in one school in Suginami ward. That, was the Matsunogi school that Shinomiya Utai went to.
Umesato middle school had close to 30 years history, but that could not compare to Matsunogi, which became the 95th year for this year’s school opening. That was, to express it in one saying, a «Rich Girl School». However it could not avoid the whole country’s low fertility wave, and was sold to the current owner company ten years ago due to financial troubles. Afterwards, many rationalization were made, and as a drastic measure, finally this summer, part of its site was sold, and the profits were used to build a new joint elementary and middle branch, which was the decision that was made.
Since it was a traditional school, of course its guardians raised voices of opposition, but the management base was a corporation. The decision could not be overturned, and the elementary branch’s current school building will be knocked down after the first school term ended.
Even saying so, most students welcome a change in buildings. The new school building will start with high spec VR local net, which will lead into the same family of state of art electronic education environment that was being developed in Umesato middle school. However, since the school’s absolute area shrunk, there were also many facilities that could not be moved to the new school building. One of those was —— the old rearing pen built standing by the side of the Matsunogi elementary branch, that was the story.
[UI> Of course, I protested against teachers and management company. The caretaker committee, not only belong to students, but also to animals that were taken care of. Students may just transfer into other committees, but animals cannot do that. However the company only repeated “Animals that were taken care of will be dealt with according to laws and regulations” as a reply. That would mean, by killing them.]
Reading the indifferently spelled text till there, Haruyuki shouted “No way!” on reaction.
Even though it was the mission of public companies to chase after profit, killing animals that lost their rearing place was too much. It would probably be too much shock for children who took care of them for a long time. If they went that far... went, that far...
Haruyuki’s thoughts that were full of anger, b.u.mped into a thick wall there and stalled.
When they reached a point that need to shrink school site due to cost cutting, building a new rearing pen would be difficult, which he could also imagine the company side of things. He felt that then they could let animals be taken into student’s homes, but caring for animal is not possible without a lot of pa.s.sion and proper environment. And yet, releasing them in outskirt hills is out of question, and before that, it is also illegal.
Seeing Haruyuki silent as he bit his lip, the little girl with Utai kind of traditional name showed a slight troubled face. Then her fingers moved again, with text flowing in high speed.
[UI> No need to worry. There isn’t any animal that has been disposed of, yet.]
“What, is... is that so? I am glad...”
He involuntarily breathed out a sigh of relief. Utai’s fingers continued her explanation as if in a dance.
[UI> Seven Bantams[1] that we were caring for were taken in by a farm in Sayama who raise chicken in their yard. Two rabbits, were found by a reliable caretaker within the ward. Just... due to certain circ.u.mstance cannot search for caretaker, a child remained at the end.”
“Caretaker... not found, it’s not that, but cannot search... for?”
Utai nodded. Her hair tied by white ribbons, swayed somewhere above her shoulders. The helm was beautifully lined up, so instead of a ponytail, it gave the impression of the daughter of a samurai that came out of a period drama.
After a moment of thought showing on the same pure j.a.panese face, the elementary student ran her fingers on the holo keyboard. A long time has pa.s.sed since the start of this strange conversation, but there was not a single mistype up to this point, and words she selected were very mature.
[UI> That child, has a bit of complex circ.u.mstance. If it’s not from my hand, it won’t eat food. Once, to let it get used to other caretakers, I let them do the feeding, but its weight decreased as if it didn’t eat anything... More detailed explanation, will once more be given tomorrow when I bring it here, but with that kind of circ.u.mstance, it created the necessity to find a new rearing place within my daily walking distance.]
“I... I see...”
Haruyuki who finally understood the situation, said with his real voice that was three times slower than Utai’s typing.
“With that, the group’s Umesato middle school’s unused rearing pen was provided, and started a caretaker committee here also, but with main work being cleaning instead of caring, only three people were gathered... that, is how it is?”
[UI> Exactly as you said. Sorry to have troubled you.]
“No, not really, not that... But, I am surprised that my school amenably cooperated. This is just me saying, but our management department is pretty unfriendly... or I feel that they won’t do any extra work...”
‘Even though it is the same corporation, if it is willing to take care of other school’s raised animals, then shouldn’t it take more care of me when I was being severely bullied in my first year?’, when that which he could not say repeated in his mind, as if reading that, Utai said —— no, wrote.
[UI> Sorry, actually there is a situation related to that... I, know someone in the student council here, and got a little convenience.]
“Ah, I see.”
No wonder, he was convinced. Matsunogi elementary branch’s students mostly went escalator style to their middle and high branch, but for homes that are enthusiastic in exams, he heard before that their children could have gone to Umesato middle school. Then, it would not be strange for Utai to know someone who was enrolled in this school.
After hearing the explanation up to this point —— no, read, Haruyuki finally understood why he suddenly became a caretaker. Most of the reasons were, the same corporation’s Matsunogi school’s caretaker committee was abolished, and the reason for that was to streamline management, furthermore the reason for that is the could not be stopped low birth rate, which meant it was «Society’s fault». Of course, becoming a caretaker and cleaning by himself was Haruyuki’s own fault.
“I see..., that’s impressive, Shinomiya-san. For animals that lost their home, you protested to the company, searched for adopters, and came all the way to another school like this. When I was in elementary fourth year, all I thought about everyday were things like games, manga, anime, and snacks...”
After Haruyuki earnestly whispered that, Utai shook her head seriously, then as she took her leather bag down from her back, she skillfully tapped on her keyboard.
[UI> I also play games at least. ...With that, Arita-san should have understood the situation, then I want to help with cleaning of the pen...]
“Ah, is, is that so.”
He finally remembered that he was in the middle of his committee activities, so he hurriedly picked up the hose and deck brush at his feet.
He could not see a goal while he was cleaning by himself, but with various situations explained to him, and furthermore understanding that there was an actual animal moving in, meant that he should get into fighting spirit for this work. ‘Allright, I will do it!’, with that to reaffirm his decision, he looked towards the animal pen a bit away.
The cleaning, would be finished with light water flow cleaning of remaining leaves and dirt stuck to the floor, but he was troubled over how to open and close the faucet at the base. He was very thankful for a helper appearing at this timing.
“Then, can I leave it to you to open and close that valve?”
After Haruyuki pointed to the base of the hose, Utai tilted her head as if confused.
[UI> Should I be doing that job? In the first place, I came wearing exercise clothes that can get dirty.]
—— Right after reading those sentences, Haruyuki once again turned towards Utai’s appearance —— pure white half sleeves shirt with school badge on chest, and same white half pants that tightly covered her slim legs —— and stared, then hurriedly averted his eyes.
Other than Umesato middle school’s exercise cloth and pants being navy blue, they were about the same manufacture, and he should be used to seeing regular female students wearing those in school every day, but when the opponent was a Matsunogi’s rich girl, he somehow felt that it was bad to look. —— If those kind of thoughts were found out by Chiyuri, she would fire super powered beams from her eyes continuously without doubt.
“Ye, yea, all that is left is to scrub the floor with brush! So, when I give the word, please turn that valve three quarters of the way!”
After conveying that with somewhat raised sounds, Haruyuki jumped into the rearing pen with a heavy run. Think of starting the wash flow from farthest in, he held the hose and brush ready, then gave another shout.
“Go, go ahead!”
[UI> Opening.]
The response came by text instantly, and right after, somewhat controlled water was released from tip of the hose. While checking the remaining water meter at the edge of his view, he thoroughly wetted about one meter square area, then indicated with “Stop it!”. In exchange of a reply, he heard the valve’s screech from behind.
As he strongly scrubbed with the deck brush, stuck fallen leaves and dirt were easily removed, and ceramic tiles showed their faces on the floor. Fortunately, they seem to have a proper anti-corrosion coating, so there was no hole or crack even after long years of being covered by fallen leaves. If that was the case, then one day of drying should return its original shape.
Haruyuki skillfully repeated the work of soaking with water and scrubbing with brush. If he was opening and closing the valve by himself, then his work efficiency would be much lower, and before that, just thinking of working with someone who had the same seriousness mysteriously raised his motivation. While he was working with Hamajima and Izeki who showed a bothered expression in their whole body, Haruyuki also could not help but being fatigued.
“...Allright! With this, only finishing it is left...”
Twenty minutes later, Haruyuki who finished scrubbing all of the floor, made a big stretch and said that. He turned around, and said to Shinomiya Utai who was crouched near the valve.
“And then, washing the floor is last, so open the valve all the way!”
Hearing that, instead of nodding, Utai’s hands rapidly tapped in the air. Pink letters in his view, were spelled out somewhat reservedly.
[UI> Umm, if it’s not a bother, can I also help? It will be more efficient to wash and brush at the same time, and I also, feel like wanting to work a little...”
“Na, no way, you have already worked a lot... but, if Shinomiya-san said so, then...”
After Haruyuki mumbled a response, he raised his right hand brush to show her. Utai made a just little joyful expression, and nodded, then as her right hand held the valve, she skillfully typed with her left hand.
[UI> Well then, going.]
“Please!”
‘Screech screech’, the valve was fully opened, and base of the hose largely shook. As if to chase the water flowing inside, Utai earnestly came running.
The little girl that flew into the pen a few seconds after high pressure water vigorously spurted, accepted the brush from Haruyuki’s hand, then started single mindedly pushing water soaking the floor outside the wire screen. Matching the rhythm of that movement, as Haruyuki held the trying to rampage hose with both hands, he started washing the pen from inside towards the front. The remaining about 20% water meter was slowly closing in to zero, but as the deck brush moved vigorously with ‘Shaa Shaa’ sounds, ceramic tiles on the floor also returned to their beautiful light brown color.
Utai’s brush handling, was with her back to it, and was a sight to see. She was probably used this kind of major cleaning. As expected of a rich girls’ school, and even as he had that strange kind of admiration, Haruyuki also moved the hose around to push garbage flowing on the floor so he would not fall behind.
With just a few minutes, the floor surface became shiny beyond recognition, and at the same time, the system allowed water usage was almost used up. ‘Perfect allocation for me!’, with that kind of inner satisfaction, Haruyuki looked at Utai with a smile, and “Then the valve...” words he was going to say stopped still.
His comrade that was doing the open and close job, was inside the pen right now so could not reach the valve. And then on the other hand, even if the meter was used up, the valve was not on automatic control so water would not stop. That meant, if it remained like that, a few tens of seconds later they would be over their allowed water usage.
Of course, if that happened he would not be arrested or forcefully sent to a detention center, but in the local net for Haruyuki’s student data a «Minor Violation» would be recorded, and later a small talk from teacher degree of trouble would happen.
“Oh no...”
Haruyuki instantly held the hose tightly. The blocked water flow shook as if dissatisfied, but somehow the meter almost stopped. Utai who sensitively detected the situation from that appearance, without even typing she dropped the brush, then turned around and ran towards the valve.
A tremendous disaster happened, at that moment.
Haruyuki’s thumb that was putting force on the hose slipped, and the charged up water erupted with overwhelming power like a long range type acc.u.mulated attack ——
Towards exercise clothed Utai’s right shoulder to stomach with a ‘Splash!’ kind of direct hit.
Compare to Haruyuki whose brain overloaded due to enormity of the catastrophe he caused that stopped his whole body, the way younger elementary student stood still with a moment of surprised expression, then soon dashed outside. She bended down to the main valve three meters away at the school building’s side, and quickly closed it.
The water meter at the right side of his view, escaped over usage by having 0.2% remaining, but without noticing that, Haruyuki continued to be frozen while holding up the hose with his right hand.
In front of him, Utai returned with a small trot, and typed as numerous water drops fell from her upper body.
[UI> Please don’t worry about it. To prepare for this kind of situation, I changed to exercise clothes before coming.]
And then without changing her expression, she held up the hem of her shirt that sucked in a lot of water and was sticking to her skin, then wrung it with both hands.
With that defenseless gesture, he could not avoid seeing her bare skin’s whiteness, which gave Haruyuki’s idle thought transmission a hit that returned it to it’s proper position. Its revolution counter charged into red zone at once, and finally with increased perspiration, face becoming red, and heart palpitation kinds of normal reactions recovered, Haruyuki stood straight with a jerk and shouted in a turned over sound.
“So, sorry, sorry, I am sorry!! I, I am vevery sosorry!! Ababsolutely that was not on purpose my hahand slipped and then water, water splashed.”
Hearing that, Utai blinked a few times and tilted her head, then her fingers flashed once more.
[UI> I am fine? I also brought a change of clothes, so there is no problem.]
“Bububut, a direct hit with that force of water, Ne... Ne...”
Neuro Linker water immersion.
He was going to say that, as Haruyuki looked at Utai’s slim neck.
The Neuro Linker that is a usually worn type of device, no matter which model has wash and bath possible level of waterproof capability. However the direct connect terminal and camera len spin were always weak points, so being sunk in deep water or hit by high pressure water, it will have water immersion incident. Haruyuki was worried about that —— but.
Utai’s neck that was covered by wide hem ponytail, no matter how many times he looked, nothing was there. With only small water drops shining on tips of very fine loose hair, there was absolutely no existence of any kind of device.
“Wha...”
A different kind of shock from the previous one hit him, and Haruyuki leaked out a small sound.
Shinomiya Utai, was not wearing a Neuro Linker. But that was not possible. A few tens of minutes ago, she Ad Hoc connected to Haruyuki’s Neuro Linker, and they continued conversation through a chat tool right?
As he thought of that, Haruyuki finally arrived at a question that he should have had way earlier.
Why chat? The fearsome typing speed allowed for no lag conversation so he accepted it as it was, but thinking about it, after Utai appeared, she did not use her real voice even once. That should be, having some kind of reason or circ.u.mstance...
The meaning of Haruyuki’s stare, seemed to be sensitively guessed by Utai.
Looking straight at them, iris with slight red mixed in eyes looked right at Haruyuki, and the little girl’s right hand fingertip slid. At that moment, a vertical rectangle floated up in his view.
It was a name tag. Top center was the name [Shinomiya Utai], and a little smaller [Matsunogi school elementary branch fourth year violet group], [Born 2037 September 15] were displayed. However, the normally horizontal length residence net authentication name tag being vertical length was because of an unexpected reason.
Under the name display field, an unfamiliar certificate was included. Letters recorded in stern Mingcho font were —— [Medical use intradural indwelling type communications device usage permit]. Furthermore to the lower right, was the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare certification mark.
The line of kanji that was hard to understand at once, Haruyuki squinted his eyes and tried to grasp it from the tail end by going backwards.
Indwelling type communications device, is the type of microchip that is buried inside the body. And then intradural is probably, inside the skull, that is the membrane that covered the brain. Communications chip that is buried in the brain type... that is, that meant ——.
Brain Implant Chip. «BIC» in short.
“A...”
Haruyuki desperately resisted a whole body jerk to lean backwards.
Just two months ago, appearing in front of Haruyuki right at the start of new school term, was a first year student that took a lot of things from Haruyuki through fearsome scheming. He also, had a BIC in his brain. After long and painful fights, he —— «Dusk Taker» forever left the accelerated world, but the organization that he belonged to still remains today. In fact, during the previous week’s Hermes Code Traverse Race, the second would be a.s.sa.s.sin «Rust Jigsaw» abruptly intruded, and unleased BIC’s force boosted area type mind power attack, destroying the race itself.
The organization that Jigsaw belonged to, «Acceleration Research Society», would be increasing their attack on the accelerated world from now on, which was not hard to imagine. That was why Haruyuki could not help but be cautious against the first met BIC user, Shinomiya Utai. However, right before he showed that expression, his eyes finally rested on words at the head of the sentence recorded in the permit.
«Medical Use», was recorded there.
Dusk Taker, Rust Jigsaw, and then Black Vice group of Acceleration Research Society members, had their BIC illegally implanted through shady surgery. Of course, they should not have any permit from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Even if counterfit, the complex certification mark shining on surface of the tag could not be recreated by any cracker. In the past Kuroyukihime showed a name tag with changed name, but that was not creating a tag from zero, it was only rewriting coded name data. Just that, without doubt required extremely high degree of skill though.
That meant, according to the permit shown by Utai, she legally own a BIC for medical reason.
So then, what would that «Medical» thing be —— ?
As he thought of that, Utai sensitively read it from Haruyuki’s eyes, and touched her holo keyboard while maintaining a calm expression.
[UI> Sorry for the late explanation. Since Arita-san chatted so naturally with me, the timing for that escaped me... I, because of mobility type aphasia[2], cannot have a conversation with my mouth. That is why it is like this, using BIC for chat conversation.]
“Mo... mobility type?”
He mostly understood what «Aphasia» is, but could not scoop out the meaning of words before it, so Haruyuki muttered. Immediately, Utai’s familiar typed explanation flowed.
[UI> Aphasia, broadly speaking is divided into mobility type and sensory type categories. Sensory type aphasia is the condition of difficulty comprehending language itself, so in that case communication through chat won’t work either. On the other hand, mobility type aphasia is the condition of vocal organ movement to speak language being inhibited. Since language is understood, reading and writing words is possible.]
After reading the displayed text many times, Haruyuki finally understood the difference between those two conditions, then hesitatingly voiced a sudden thought.
“Let’s see... then, instead of BIC, with Neuro Linker direct connect thought voice, how... about that?”
Hearing that, as if Utai already expected that question, she immediately input her answer.
[UI> Thought voice from the Neuro Linker is actually not thought itself, instead mouth, tongue and face would be movement signals are read to reconstruct the voice. For people with light mobility type aphasia condition that is a possible situation, but for my brain, the signal for voice is totally cut off somewhere in neurons. Like this.”
At that point Utai’s typing stopped, then she moved her right index finger towards her mouth.
As Haruyuki stared intently, small pink lips softly opened. In between small drops of teeth shining like pearls, the tip of tongue slightly peaked out. A big breath was sucked in, that was going to be released as sound, right before that.
‘Crunch!’ kind of hard and sharp sound came up, as top and bottom teeth vigorously bit together. Small throat tendons floated up and shook in small steps, showing that tremendous force was applied to the jaw. Inner teeth that were clenched together contrary to her intent creaked, and color of pain floated up on Utai’s neat and clean face.
“So... sorry, enough, that’s enough!!”
Haruyuki unconsciously shouted, and took a step forward. He extended a hand towards her hard stiffen small shoulder, but hesitated to touch her, so stopped in a halfway position.
However fortunately, just a few seconds released Utai from her tense condition. After a moment of unsteadiness, she blew out a large breath, then the little girl lifted up her head and typed in just a slight halting manner.
[UI> Sorry, to have worried you. I was not seriously trying to speak, but maybe, I thought maybe I could speak, so... There is no way I could, and I did something stupid. I am very sorry.]
“No, you don’t have to apologize.”
Haruyuki fiercely shook his head. Just one minute earlier, he had doubted Utai for having a BIC, which he strongly regret, so he desperately continued to speak.
“I... I am the one who is really sorry for asking that question for interest purpose. Everyone should have known how thought voice worked... and I should have understood if I thought about it, so the stupid one should be me...”
Unable to look at the opponent’s face anymore, he deeply bowed down, and with evening light shining on the rearing pen floor tiles as a background, pink words gently flowed.
[UI> Thank you very much. I don’t mind anything, so Arita-san don’t need to worry about it either. Well, let’s put away tools. With it becoming this beautiful, the rearing pen cleaning is plenty. That child will for sure be happy.]
Haruyuki fearfully lifted his head up, and looked at Utai’s small face. There was, according to speech —— no, letters, at least no sign of unhappiness, so Haruyuki finally relaxed his shoulders and nodded.
“...Un. But, I will do the tidying up, you should quickly change. There is an emergency exit on that side of the school building, enter the hallway from there and a little ahead to the left is a toilet...”
After quickly saying that, he picked up the brush, and there was a somewhat swift refute.
[UI> I am fine. Please let me help till the end. I will the hose]
The letters cut off there, and Utai suddenly inhaled sharply ——.
Then a ‘Hekuchii’ kind of cute sneeze.
That, was the first flesh sound Haruyuki heard from Shinomiya Utai.
At afternoon 5:45, with the rearing pen’s cleaning and tools return kind of mission completely finished, Haruyuki opened the caretaker committee’s activity diary file, and behind the already two people’s saved authentication marks, he added his own name, then sent it to the school system.
“Fuu...”
After blowing out a big breath, he once more looked at the animal pen that was finished cleaning.
There were small water puddles remaining here and there, but the ceramic floor tiles with light brown color returned to them, was beyond recognition compared to the dirt covered floor before work started. The stainless mesh and board walls were still dusty, but tomorrow with brush scrub it will soon become beautiful.
Of course as the interior became empty, fallen leaves and dirt made a small mountain in front of the pen, but after that dried up, it could be stuffed into garbage bags to throw away. Fortunately from tonight to a few days, it was forecasted to not have much rain, so it would not take too long to dry.
“When I get to it, I can do it...”
After Haruyuki’s murmur, Shinomiya Utai who finished changing quickly typed.
[UI> Actually, I was shown this pen yesterday. At that time, I predicted that it would take three or four days for it to be useable, but with this degree, tomorrow I should be able to bring the child that was going to be raised here. The management section was in quite a hurry so this really helped. Thank you very much, Arita-san.]
“No, not really... If I had been more firm...”
—— And not let those two fellow members leave early, which he left those words out, as Haruyuki continued to mumble.
“...It would have finished a bit earlier. Setting that aside... what is the animal that is going to be raised here, I am very curious about it...”
When he glanced to his side, Utai who stood beside him, her big eyes with faint red mixed iris flashed roundly, and only her right hand index finger moved rhythmically.
[UI> It’s a Se, cre, t.]
“Is, is that so... then, I will enjoy it tomorrow...”
After the mumbled answer, he once more looked right beside.
Matsunogi school’s elementary brance summer uniform, was a white sailor collar, plump lined one piece. At a very high position on the waist, were two lines of wide tacks, giving it a somewhat old style hakama kind of look. The uniform that he had never seen so close up before, made his eyes involuntarily remained on it for a few seconds, before Haruyuki hurriedly looked forward and said.
“A, about ten more minutes will be forced leaving school time, so we should leave the school soon... Thank you for your help today.”
[UI> For me too. I look forward to working with you tomorrow also.]
That reply followed, however Utai typed another line of unexpected words.
[I need to go for a greeting at the student council room, so Arita-san please leave school first.]
“Wha...”
His body immediately turned right, and Haruyuki intently looked at Utai.
To be sure, earlier she said that she had an acquaintance in the student council here, but that was still going to a different middle school’s student council room alone, which was surprising courage for an elementary fourth year student. Utai who returned a rather unbelievable look at the round eyed Haruyuki, naturally typed then nodded.
[UI> So then, excuse me. Farewell, Arita-san.]
And then she turned around, and briskly walked towards the main entrance, so Haruyuki shouted towards that back half on reaction.
“U, umm, I will also go! I also, have an acquaintance in the student council...”
He did not know how many members remain in the student council room deep in the first floor of first school building, but there was a very high chance that Kuroyukihime would also be there. Just in case, against the BIC that Utai owned, Kuroyukihime might also have the same doubt that Haruyuki had. Utai who was not even wearing a Neuro Linker could not be something like an a.s.sa.s.sin from «Acceleration Research Society», and it was necessary for him to quickly convey that to her.
Looking at Haruyuki who lined up to her side after a small jog, Utai had a glimpse of strange expression floating up, but without saying anything, no, typing anything, nodded.
After he entered the school building from front stairs, and was changing his muddy sneakers, a warning announcement from the school system flowed into his sight and hearing. Within just five minutes if he did not leave school then a third degree school rules violation will be recorded in his personal file was mentioned, and that synthesized voice made him frown. Even a president’s authority, could not resist this violation. The only ones who could request leaving school time extension, are student council members.
He would have to somehow beg Kuroyukihime for the extension, but would she allow for this mix of public and private, as Haruyuki nervously walked in the first school building hallway, he looked beside and saw that Shinomiya Utai had her usual cool face.
‘—— When I was in elementary fourth year, I could not help but faint after taking one step into an unknown middle school site.’
With that kind of somewhat miserable thoughts going through his head, he saw the west side dead end. The door set into right wall was the student council room. Thinking about it, in one year and three months since entering school, he had not enter it even once.
After Haruyuki arrived in front of the closed white slide door and hesitated, Utai raised her right hand without any hesitation, and tapped a point in the air. She had displayed a holo window, and pressed the entry b.u.t.ton.
Two seconds later, the door lock released click sound echoed. Utai’s expression remained the same as she pulled the door open, and entered after a slight bow.
‘—— Um, umm, what should I do...’
Even at that point, Haruyuki was still thinking of those fretting thoughts as he remained standing in the hallway, then that person’s familiar sound reached his ears.
“Sorry, Utai. There is bit of lingering work here. The pen cleaning isn’t finished right? I will go help right now...”
—— What?
That sound right now, was without doubt Kuroyukihime’s. In her speech, she very naturally used «Utai» as a calling. That would mean —— the «Umesato middle school student council acquaintance» that Shinomiya Utai said, is the vice president Kuroyukihime herself... would that be it? However, what would these two people’s contact point be?
As the great confusion staggered his head and he stood still, in the chat tool that was still displayed in his view, new lines of words flowed. Somehow Utai seemed to have also Ad Hoc connected to Kuroyukihime.
[UI> Cleaning is finished. This person worked hard by himself to finish it.]
“...This person? Where is he?”
With Kuroyukihime’s doubtful sound, he thought that he could no longer hide in the hallway, so Haruyuki left the wall’s side in awkward steps and entered the room. He closed the door with his hand behind him while looking down, then fearfully lifted up his head.
The Umesato middle school student council room that he saw for the first time, was a lot wider than he expected. In center was an oval conference table, beside the inner window was placed an elongated office desk, and all of left and right walls surfaces were furnished with a lattice of wood racks.
All sorts of furnishings were of comfortable dark brown natural wood, a thick beige carpet covered the floor, and a large sofa set was just to the left of the entrance, which made it seem unlikely that it was a room in a middle school. In fact, this was a higher rank s.p.a.ce than the school princ.i.p.al room that he peeked in once.
Utai stood beside the conference table at the front, while Kuroyukihime was near the sofa set. There was no sign of other people here. Somehow Kuroyukihime remained to work overtime by herself, but the unexpected thing was how she was dressed.
“Se..., senpai, why are you in that appearance?”
Instantly forgetting the question about her relationship with Utai, Haruyuki raised that sound, then Kuroyukihime quickly moved both arms to cover the front of her body, in tight fitting black half sleeve T-shirt and navy blue half pants —— that was, hiding her exercise clothed shape. With her face becoming slightly red and sharp lips, she released louder sound.
“N, no, this is, well... I thought this would be a good appearance that can get dirty while cleaning that animal pen... or rather, before that, why are you here, Haruyuki-kun?”
“Why, you said... that is... let’s see... what was it again?”
With a moment of seriously could not remember, Haruyuki mumbled, then somewhat amazed words from Utai lined