Authentication

(It’s finally time for the Ev3ns study trip! I hope everyone can get closer through this experience.)

We’re all checked in…now we just have to wait for everyone to arrive.

I’m really excited to go to Beppu!

And the team will be working as…ambassadors for the Hells of Beppu,¹ right?

Hell is the perfect place for a group of criminals fresh out of prison, after all.

(Nayuki-kun treats this team pretty harshly…)

Natsuyaki-kun and Kinouchi-kun said they’d stop at a cafe first before coming here. Domeki-san just finished his massage appointment and is heading over.

Raito-san said that he’s gonna meet up with us after having some ramen, right?

Who are you talking about? As for Azekawa-san… I haven’t heard from him yet.

(So he’s just going to ignore that I mentioned his brother…)

……

Um, Nayuki-kun, I heard everything from Raito-san… About his life expectancy.

…!

*sigh…* Is that so?

Yeah. I know how he’s going to…die at 28.

Could you please keep that a secret for now? That moron probably told you without thinking first, but even our parents don’t know about it.

Really? To be honest, if I got a prediction about my own death like that, I’d probably find it hard to believe.

What do you think about it?

…There’s a certain fortune-teller whom a lot of politicians, business people, and members of powerful families visit in secret.

A fortune-teller…

(I remember Raito-san mentioning something like that. He got his prediction from a really accurate fortune-teller.)

So when this “Raito” person was 12…he and I went to visit them at their manor together. It was right after the head of their family had been changed.

When their head saw Raito…his demeanor changed. It was as if he had lost his mind.

And then, he told Raito about his death prophecy.

Death prophecy…?

This isn’t public knowledge, but the head of their family occasionally foretells prophecies for people who carry the fate of an inescapable death.

And do they…always come true?

Raito and I looked into the deaths of other people who received the same prophecy.

The whole matter is a closely-kept secret, but…according to our research, the accuracy rate is 100%.

(Oh, my god…)

He’s been completely out of his mind since then.

He tried to commit suicide, and when he realized that he literally couldn’t die, he defiantly decided to just live life chasing amusement…

He does whatever he wants without thinking about the effect his actions have on others.

I grew sick of it, so I cut him off. I decided that my brother was already dead…

But Raito-san said that he wants to be on good terms with you…

Don’t start with that. I’ll do what I have to as their manager, but nothing more.

But he seems like a good leader. He’s pretty friendly and down-to-earth.

I’m not so sure about that. Don’t get your hopes up. We’re still dealing with a group of criminals here.

……

(He’s right… I mean, they were all in prison because they committed crimes.)

(But are they really all that bad? Maybe I’lI find the answer to that question during this trip.)

One more thing…

Raito-san said that he saw his own corpse when he received his prophecy. Since you were there too, did you also see it?

…I did.

He died with a frighteningly pained expression on his face. I can’t even imagine what awful thing could’ve led to a death like that.

…!

But none of that concerns me.

(That’s not what Raito-san said. He said that he died happily, but Nayuki-kun’s saying that he died in pain…?)

(Is there anything I can do to patch things up between these two…?)

Hello-hiii! Chii and Taotao on the scene!

Hello… Thanks for waiting.

The ramen in this airport was quite good. Is there going to be ramen in Beppu too?

My muscles have been thoroughly relaxed. Every single one of them.

Thanks for coming, everyone. We’re just missing…Kinari-kun. I wonder where he is?

Yeah, Chii hasn’t seen Kinyari since this morning.

I saw him when he left the dorms…

Oh, that adorable little plüss? Didn’t someone here check him in as their carry-on?

We have to board soon…

I’ll go look for him! You can all start boarding!

Chief, would you like any help?

It’s okay, I don’t want you to miss your flight. Nayuki-kun, I’ll leave everyone in your care!

(What?! Where is he?! He at least made it to the airport, right?!)

Ah, is that him out on the terrace…? Kinari-kun!

……

Kinari-kun! *pant, pant…* Gosh, I was looking for you…

Come on, let’s go. We don’t wanna miss our flight.

……

Hm…? Kinari-kun? What are you looking at?

Chain of command not in order… Flaws found in data analysis…

Please establish a chain of command…

(He’s completely zoned out… What’s going on?)

Do you have a fever? Here, let me check.

Accessing admin privileges. Please state your name.

Huh?! I thought I already told you… I’m Hamasaki Kaede.

Commencing voice authentication. Please register three phrases.

Kinari-kun? A-Are you okay?

Kinari-kun, a-are you okay.

Are you sick?

Are you sick.

Oh no, I should contact Nayuki-kun…

Oh no, I should contact Nayuki-kun.

Fingerprint authentication clear. Voice authentication clear. Master registration complete.

Master.

! Kinari-kun?! You finally looked at me!

Awaiting order.

Huh? Let’s just hurry to the boarding gate!

Yes, Master.

Wh⁠— Ahh!! Why are you bridal carrying me?! Waaahhh!

(Why did he suddenly start carrying me and running?! I mean, at least we’ll make it to the gate in time…!! But people are staring! This is so embarrassing…!)

Master, awaiting next order.

(Master…? Is he talking about me?)