Chapter 72 Hope's Peak Academy North District Reconstruction Plan…

After dinner, they rested for a while, and when it was almost time, Wang Ma Xiaoji, Tsukino, and Chiya arrived at the North District of Hope's Peak.

Sure enough, probably because we had informed the school in advance, the North Area, which was usually patrolled and guarded by security guards to prevent students from accidentally entering, was now empty, making it very convenient to move around.

"Ah, what a great opportunity to play a prank."

Wang Ma Xiaoji sighed dramatically, and taking advantage of the fact that there was no one around, he began to complain without restraint... no, if it were him, he probably would still have complained without restraint even if there were people around.

The purple-haired boy's tone was filled with deep sorrow, and his expression was full of regret. He said regretfully, "We could have taken advantage of this time to secretly write 'Get out of this academy immediately or I will go on a killing spree' on the blackboards of all the classrooms, or secretly post a notice on the school bulletin board saying that the Phantom Thieves were coming to steal someone's heart... or something like that."

Tsukino and Chiya gave a fair assessment: "As far as pranks go, I think they're quite fun." But it's hard to say what other people at school will think if you do that.

"Right, right? Kazuya Kozue thinks so too, doesn't she~!"

Like a child who gets excited after receiving recognition from others, Ouma Kokichi suddenly became excited. Then, in the next second, he, who was always good at changing his expression, put on an indignant look.

"But it's all those damn weirdos' fault! If it weren't for them, I could have spent a carefree night with Kozuki! Damn it! I'll make those weirdos pay! I'll teach them not to underestimate my bond with pranks!"

...So exciting?! But I don't know what's exciting about it! And shouldn't it normally be about "the bond between me and my companions"?!

Tsukino and Chiya met Ohma Kokichi's expectant gaze. He thought for a moment, and finally said, "Then... let's do our best together?"

Wangma Xiaoji pouted, seemingly dissatisfied with the answer: "Seriously~! Kozuki Kazuha's reaction wasn't funny at all. A blank, expressionless face is so boring... I don't like that type."

However, it's quite interesting to try to get Kozuki to change her expression or tone of voice on her own initiative, and Ouma Kokichi doesn't dislike such challenges.

"Really? But I'm not the kind of person who would easily change my public persona."

Tsukino and Chiya stopped in their tracks as they looked at the old school building so close by.

"However, I think that since Wang Ma has been able to cooperate with me so calmly until now, he shouldn't dislike me. Or rather... aside from his expression and tone, there must be something else about him that pleases you?"

Wang Ma Xiaoji's face was gloomy, and his tone became low: "No, actually, cooperation and friendliness are all an illusion. I lied to you. Kozuki Kazuma is such an idiot—he didn't even know he had been vetoed and eliminated early on. Actually, I hate you the most... Ah, wait a minute, I should take back what I just said. It sounds like the kind of lines a tsundere character would say. Thinking about it, it's a bit too cheesy and not really suitable for me."

Tsukino and Chiya glanced at the purple-haired boy who seemed to have gotten goosebumps from their words and was stroking himself with his arms crossed: "Actually, I don't think it would be strange for you to say anything, Ohma... after all, you are Ohma Kokichi."

Of course, it just means they wouldn't find it strange. As for the veracity of what Wang Ma Xiaoji said... that depends on what the speaker and the listener actually think.

Wang Ma Xiaoji seemed satisfied with those words: "Hehe, nothing I say will seem strange, that's the level a con artist should reach~ I'll accept Xiaoyueye's praise!"

Hearing the cheerful voice of Ouma Kokichi coming from behind, Tsukino and Chiya took out the key they had obtained from the middle-aged man in the conference room earlier.

Normally, besides the guards, the fence surrounding the old school building also blocks other people's way to the old school building... But with the key to open the fence gate, there's no need to worry about these little things.

"This is bad!"

Wang Ma Xiaoji, who was watching the key unlock the door, suddenly felt a sense of crisis.

"Huh? You're kidding, right? Aren't I a lockpicking NPC? Are you going to take away the lockpicking quests I get every time I open a new dungeon?"

Tsukino and Chiya pushed open the gate: "Um... well, because Ohma's price is too high, I can't afford it, so I can't let you unlock it anymore."

Wang Ma Xiaoji stroked his chin: "Hehe, I didn't expect Kozuki Kazuha to still remember this setting. Considering Kozuki Kazuha's financial situation, it's actually quite reasonable?"

As they spoke, after closing the gate again, Tsukino, Chiya, and Ohma Kokichi walked into the old school building.

Not long after they disappeared into the old school building, a light drizzle began to fall, and gradually the rain intensified.

Large raindrops pelted the sign hanging on the old school building, their force so intense it seemed to want to completely repaint the sign. A flash of thunder illuminated a line of text printed on the sign in the darkness—

"Hope Peak Academy North District Renovation Site - No Entry".

*******

Although entry is now prohibited, the scene inside the old school building is not as bad as Tsukino and Chiya had imagined.

That's true... It's said that although the students have all moved to the new school building, the school didn't initially intend to completely shut down the old one. But then that incident happened over a year ago... to prevent further accidents, they banned other people from entering.

The old school buildings, which could have been used until the new students arrived next semester, were abandoned prematurely and completely.

Two footsteps echoed in the empty, dark corridor; apart from the footsteps, the surroundings were eerily silent.

Wang Ma Xiaoji shone his flashlight into the window of the nearest classroom and peered inside: "From here, it looks like just an ordinary classroom, but it's possible that something like what happened in the preparatory school building—blood scattered on the floor under the desks. Kozuki, would you like to go in and take a look?"

Tsukino and Chiya: "This..."

After a brief moment's thought, Tsukino and Chiya shared their ideas: "As for me... I think we should take a general walk around the school building now. What does Ohma think?"

After all, although it was also located in the school building, the situation was different from the cloth strip incident. This time, their search covered the entire school building, unlike the cloth strip incident where the unlucky student Natsukawa led them to the top floor of the school.

The scope of the investigation is too broad... It seems a bit too time-consuming to check every room one by one, starting from the first floor.

So Tsukino and Chiya's idea was to first walk around the corridors of the school building on several floors, prioritizing places that were obviously unusual, and then spend the rest of the time exploring the other rooms one by one.

"Of course I'll listen to Kazuo Kozue~ After all, you're the expert! I'm the kind of person who values ​​my life a lot, so every time I get a cut on my finger, I obediently follow the doctor's advice and never cause any trouble!"

Tsukino and Chiya: "...Here we go again." And what does this have to do with the doctor's orders? Are they saying they'll listen to paranormal experts like they listen to doctors?

Wang Ma Xiaoji: "Hehe, Xiaoyueye has stopped arguing. It seems that if you keep repeating the same thing, one day even those who didn't agree will gradually become acquiescing."

So, you see—

Just like the countless jokes and lies he had told before, Wang Ma Xiaoji said with a grin in a tone no different from usual, "Isn't this proof that if someone keeps saying 'I like you' to the person they have a crush on, one day the person they have a crush on will accept their feelings?"

“First of all,” Tsukino and Chiya calmly analyzed, “if someone you have a crush on keeps talking about you like this every day, then it’s probably not a crush but an open crush.”

"Mmm-hmm." Wangma Xiaoji nodded repeatedly. "That makes a lot of sense. And then?"

"Then……"

"..."

? !

What... is going on...?

Just now, while chatting, the two of them had walked to the end of the corridor on the first floor.

At the end, all they could see were white walls. As they walked, while seemingly chatting without any tension, they hadn't forgotten to observe their surroundings—but it appeared there was nothing unusual on the first floor. Even if there was, it wasn't the kind of unusual thing that would be easily seen.

So the two decided to take advantage of the situation and go up the stairs next to them.

However, the instant he stepped onto the stairs—

Tsukino and Chiya's consciousness was interrupted for a moment.

The next second, he found himself standing alone in the corridor.

Is this...another spiritual phenomenon?

Realizing something was wrong, Tsukino and Chiya instinctively tightened their grip on the flashlight.

He has an impression of this place.

Not long ago, he and Wang Ma Xiaoji had passed through here together—this was the middle of the first-floor corridor. Walking further ahead would lead to the stairwell where the problem had occurred. And walking back would take them back to the school building's main entrance.

Apart from Tsukino and Chiya, there was no one else around; there seemed to be no danger or anything unusual.

Tsukino and Chiya quickly regained their composure and loosened their grip on the flashlight. Just then, they heard footsteps that were neither too loud nor too soft to be concealed.

...Is it Ouma?

The idea had barely crossed their minds when Tsukino and Chiya themselves rejected it.

No, it wasn't him.

This is not the sound of Wang Ma's footsteps.

The black-haired boy raised his eyes expressionlessly, looking in the direction from which the footsteps were gradually becoming clearer. In the darkness, he could vaguely see a standing figure walking towards him.

Without hesitation, he immediately shone the flashlight at the figure.

"Hey, hello there."

This was a voice that Tsukino and Chiya had never heard before, but it was very clear and probably not strange.

At the same time, with the appearance of this voice, Tsukino and Chiya were able to see the person's true face by the light of their flashlights.

Even when suddenly exposed to the light, the newcomer remained calm and composed, as if nothing in the world could harm him, and as if safety and life and death were not so important to him.

The person illuminated by the flashlight casually waved towards the light source.

"You're Tsukino Kazuki... right?"