Copano Rickey's trainer, Yoshino, needed to make an unexpected trip to the central district due to some paperwork.
"And as it happens, the students from Mizusawa Tracen will also be arriving later than planned because of some matters at their school," Symboli Rudolf explained to Manhattan Cafe.
"I hadn't expected the timing to line up so tightly. On top of that, there's a meeting at the central office I must attend as an observer. Your help is truly a lifesaver."
"It's just part of my duties," Manhattan Cafe replied.
As Rudolf had said, the timing was almost too coincidental, as if fate itself had stepped in to separate her from her 'friend'.
But even more than tomorrow's task, Cafe was worried about Copano Rickey.
Ever since she'd laid eyes on her 'friend', Rickey had been up to no good.
What's more, her words had left Cafe deeply unsettled.
Vanishing… Could it be that my friend might 'vanish'?
Manhattan Cafe had seen many spirits before, but most lacked clear consciousness, often drifting about on instinct alone.
Some lingered in one place for a long time, while others drifted aimlessly in some direction, no one knew where.
Of all the spirits that had been with her since birth, none except her 'friend' had ever stayed for long.
As for the first spirits she'd ever encountered—whether they had moved on, or… just vanished from this world for no reason, as Copano Rickey claimed—Manhattan Cafe had no way of knowing.
Her anxiety mounting, she wished she could confront Rickey right then and there.
Was she telling the truth? Or was it all a lie, crafted to shake her resolve?
Whatever her motive, letting her 'friend' stay near Rickey could only lead to trouble.
Just as Cafe was anxiously waiting for Rudolf to finish her sentence, a piercing shriek cut through the air from outside.
It was so loud it seemed to sweep across the entire Tracen campus, striking straight at her eardrums.
Manhattan Cafe's eyes widened.
She had heard a cry like that before.
Deep and terrifying.
That sound… It's a malevolent spirit!
Why would it appear in broad daylight?
"Huh? That's strange…" Symboli Rudolf glanced out the window. "Did you hear something odd just now?"
Without Cafe's heightened sensitivity to such phenomena, and unable to see spirits herself, Rudolf could only faintly make out what sounded like a wailing gust of wind.
And it vanished almost as soon as it came.
Was it just my imagination…?
"President Rudolf," Manhattan Cafe spoke up, "I understand the arrangements. If there's nothing else, I won't take up any more of your time."
Without waiting for a response, she turned quickly and left the student council room.
A bad feeling was slowly rising within her.
"Manhattan Cafe, wait— ah, she's already gone."
Watching the door close, Rudolf quietly returned to her seat, interlacing her fingers beneath her chin.
Hmm… I wonder, did I assign her too heavy a workload?
--+--
Despite clear school rules against running in the halls, Manhattan Cafe sprinted ahead, ignoring them completely.
The malevolent spirit's appearance was just too strange—completely unlike anything she'd encountered before.
In the past, even when evil spirits did appear, it was always close to midnight.
That was the hour when spiritual energy peaked, when the gates between worlds swung wide open.
Souls moved freely, spirits roamed unbound.
It was also the time when paranormal activity was most frequent.
But now? The noon sun was blazing, drowning out the starlight.
By all reason, this should be when spirits were at their weakest.
Yet here was a malevolent spirit, appearing now of all times!
And coming from outside, no less—right beside the open training grounds.
It was utterly abnormal.
Instinctively, Manhattan Cafe linked the incident to her 'friend' and Copano Rickey.
Only those two could possibly trigger such a bizarre phenomenon.
Her anxiety growing, Cafe quickened her pace.
Following the chaotic sounds carried on the wind, she tried to pinpoint their location.
Then, another scream.
Over here—!
Her focus entirely on the noise, she failed to notice the student rounding the corner ahead.
By the time she realized, it was too late.
Unable to slow down, she collided head-on.
With two soft thuds, both Manhattan Cafe and the other girl tumbled to the floor.
"Ow… Ah! I'm so sorry—!"
Realizing what she'd done, Cafe scrambled to her feet and offered a hand to the girl she'd bumped into.
Only then did she recognize her.
A gentle-faced girl with a slender nose, chestnut hair flowing to her waist, and soft turquoise eyes—her same-year classmate, Silence Suzuka.
"Are you all right, Silence Suzuka?" Cafe asked apologetically. "I was in too much of a hurry and didn't see you."
"It's fine." The green ear muff atop her head twitched slightly as Silence Suzuka took Cafe's hand.
She, of course, recognized the black-haired girl as well.
"We should go to the infirmary, just to make sure you're not hurt…"
Cafe insisted. No matter how she felt inside, she always took responsibility for her mistakes.
"There's no need, really, I'm okay," Silence Suzuka declined with a wave.
"Are you… really sure?"
"Yes. Please, Manhattan Cafe, tend to your own business. Don't worry about me."
Just from her tone, anyone could tell how anxious Cafe was.
And if something had Manhattan Cafe this worked up, it must be important.
So Suzuka didn't want to take up any more of her time.
"Then… please forgive my rudeness, Silence Suzuka."
After one more apology, Manhattan Cafe hurried off without further delay.
Once the other girl was out of sight, Silence Suzuka brushed the dust from her skirt.
Who would have thought that Manhattan Cafe, always so composed among their classmates, could be in such a fluster?
Suzuka couldn't help but reflect.
Though the two rarely spoke, Suzuka had noticed her before.
The reason was simple.
They were among the very few at Tracen who preferred their own company.
Both Cafe and herself.
They were fine just being alone.
Time to head back. There's still training to do.
Just as Silence Suzuka turned to leave, a dark green armband caught her eye, lying on the ground with the word '[League]' printed on it.
Strange, was that here earlier?
She thought for a moment.
It… couldn't belong to Manhattan Cafe, could it?
She looked in the direction Cafe had run.
The other girl was already on the far side of the training grounds.
Probably not.
Silence Suzuka shook her head and started to walk away.
A few minutes later, she turned around and came back.
Scooping up the armband—still lying there untouched—she hurried off in the direction Manhattan Cafe had gone.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.