Chapter 134 Related Chapter 134
Enoshima Shield?
Hearing the name from Hinata Hajime's mouth again, Tsukino and Chiya were not surprised, but a vague premonition arose in their hearts.
While it's understandable that Hinata Hajime would honestly recount his experiences before arriving at his current situation and mention this name when discussing what he did, Tsukino and Chiya felt that Hinata's mention of Enoshima Junko might not be so simple...
"Enoshima Shield?"
After easily crossing the barrier that was blocking their path, the three continued walking forward without stopping. Wang Ma Xiaoji, walking in the middle, made a seemingly carefree, puzzled sound.
"Who was it again? Could it be the neighbor lady who likes to help check the garbage sorting? Do you know Kozuki?"
Tsukino and Chiya didn't believe he really didn't remember this person, but they still answered seriously: "She was the culprit who caused the greatest and most terrible despairing event in the history of the academy and the greatest and most terrible despairing event in human history in that future. The strange creatures we encountered in the old school building, they used to kill each other there because of her."
"Hmm? Oh~!" Wang Ma Xiaoji pretended to think for a second, then looked like he suddenly realized, "I remember now, it was her."
"oops--"
The purple-haired boy put his hands behind his head. Tsukino and Chiya couldn't see his expression, but they could imagine his smiling face.
"It's been a long time since I've heard this name, so I didn't recognize it at first. But thinking about it now, it makes sense. Tsukino and I haven't encountered anything since we left the old school building, but Hinata seems to be running around everywhere. I'm sorry to have trouble. How about we share our findings while we're on our way?"
"After all..." the purple-haired boy's tone sounded helpless and innocent, "Kozuki and I don't really have anything to share. At most, we got some new information after meeting that amazing detective in Yokohama, but Kozuki has already told Kohinata about that, right? Hmm... what should we do..."
He withdrew his hand, which had been comfortably resting behind his head: "Ah, I've got it! In exchange, how about I tell Kohinata about my recent dating experiences with Kozuki no Kazuha?"
Tsukino and Chiya: "Aren't you worried that the guy behind the scenes is watching our conversation?"
Wang Ma Xiaoji: "Eavesdropping on dating topics? Hmm—that sounds a bit awkward."
Hajime Hinata: "It's okay, there's nothing I can't say."
Having gained partial memories of the future and acquired Ultimate Talent, Hajime Hinata became much calmer than before. This was specifically reflected in his ability to remain composed no matter what Shoji Ohma said or did.
Just like now, compared to the possible complaints he might have made in the past, Hajime Hinata is now able to calmly blend into the conversation, which is full of things to complain about.
Tsukino and Chiya initially thought it was all due to the Ultimate Talent, which allowed Hyuga Hajime, who had surpassed ordinary people in many ways and on many levels, to remain calm at all times. However, upon closer reflection, Tsukino and Chiya felt that it was probably more than just that.
Although neither side interfered much in the other's affairs after reaching a consensus, this does not mean that either side was unaware of what the other was doing.
Just as Hyuga Hajime, focused on avoiding the massive despair that the future would lead to, was aware of the results of Tsukino, Chiya, and Ohma Kokichi's trip to Yokohama, Tsukino, Chiya, and Ohma Kokichi also knew that Hyuga Hajime had been working with Komaeda Nagito to uncover the shadows beneath the calm surface ever since the incident at the old school building.
Komaeda Nagito… Tsukino and Chiya haven't seen him since the old school building incident. Unlike Ohma Kokichi, that undergraduate student wasn't exactly adept at sneaking into the preparatory course, and Chiya, as a preparatory student, wasn't allowed into the undergraduate program. Besides, the two weren't familiar with each other, so there was no way they would meet privately.
On the other hand, Ouma Shokichi and Komaeda Nagito have spent quite a bit of time together, after all, they are now classmates... cough, I'm getting a bit off-topic.
In short, although it had been a while since they'd seen Komaeda Nagito, Tsukino and Chiya still remembered him vividly. Why, you might ask... it would be strange if they didn't remember Komaeda Nagito well!
And it's not just Komaeda Nagito; according to Tsukino and Chiya, Ouma Shokichi's current classmates—who will become Hyuga Hajime's companions in the future—are all quite unique individuals. Therefore, for Hyuga Hajime, who has experience interacting with such a group of people, dealing with Ouma Shokichi in this situation shouldn't be too difficult, probably.
As for himself?
Tsukino and Chiya felt that they had no flaws whatsoever; they were just ordinary people, nothing special.
“We’ll be at the shrine in a little while.” Hyuga Hajime, who had already witnessed the diversity of humanity through his memories of the future, said calmly, “So I’ll just get straight to the conclusions that Komaeda and I have reached over this period of time.”
Hajime Hyuga: "There is a certain connection between Junko Enoshima and Aurora."
The brown-haired man with heterochromia stated his thoughts in a calm tone, casually dropping a bombshell. Tsukino and Chiya silently commented in their hearts: No wonder you can blend in perfectly with those guys who occasionally utter a shocking statement.
Wangma Xiaoji: "Mmm, oh, okay...wait?"
Wang Ma Xiaoji nodded repeatedly to indicate that he had heard, but sometimes, being too hasty or inappropriate can give people a sense of perfunctoriness.
The purple-haired boy, who had been nodding perfunctorily, seemed to realize something was wrong halfway through, and abruptly stopped nodding. He glanced at the person in front of him who had said nothing more after that sentence, then at the person behind him who remained as quiet as ever, and finally turned back to the person, pretending to be conflicted.
"Should I have acted a little surprised at this point?"
Tsukino and Chiya asked earnestly, "Why do you say that?"
Wang Ma Xiaoji analyzed in a serious tone: "Because, Kohinata is the one who released this news, so he is also the one waiting for our reaction. As for Kozuki and... well, I've never seen him change his expression, not even frown, let alone express such a difficult emotion as surprise."
At this point, the purple-haired boy's tone became serious: "It seems that now I am the only one left to bear the heavy responsibility of expressing surprise!"
In response, Tsukino and Chiya showed no mercy and ruthlessly denied it: "No, it's too late to express surprise now."
Wangma Xiaoji: "Oh, really? Never mind then. By the way, Kozuki and you have been denying me a lot lately, haven't you? That's going too far."
Tsukino and Chiya: "No."
Wang Ma Xiaoji: "Isn't this it?"
Tsukino and Chiya: "No way at all."
Indeed, as Ouma Kokichi said, Tsukino and Chiya showed no surprise after hearing Hinata Hajime's words. This was not only because his expression was always like this, but also because he was genuinely not very surprised by the news.
Because... this was already within his guess, and he figured it would be the same for Ohma Kokichi. But for Hyuga Soukai to say it so definitively at this time, it must be because he had evidence to confirm this guess, officially solidifying it.
In fact, Tsukino and Chiya had been wondering for a long time why it was Hope's Peak.
Those past parades of a hundred demons... whether it was the Death Mark incident or the later Sibito incident, all occurred within a certain area.
The dolls in the Death Mark incident are closely related to Kujo Mansion, and the dolls in the Sibito incident are closely related to Konoeen Academy, but... what is the connection between Aurora, who is also a doll, and Hope's Peak? If Hope's Peak has any connection with the dolls, then Hyuga Hajime, who has memories of the future, should know this.
Tsukino and Chiya didn't believe that the fact that many of the events during the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons occurred within Hope's Peak was purely coincidental. Especially... the strange incident in the preparatory course at the beginning—her death had absolutely nothing to do with Hope's Peak.
Yet that strange occurrence happened at Hope's Peak, which seems more like a deliberate result by Aurora. And this strange occurrence, unrelated to Hope's Peak, is linked to Enoshima Junko, whom Hyuga Hajime later mentioned.
From that moment on, the seeds of suspicion were sown. Even without concrete evidence, that doesn't preclude speculation and caution, does it?
Tsukino, Chiya, and Ohma Kokichi did not question the correctness of Hinata Hajime's conclusion... If even Hinata Hajime could make a mistake in his judgment, then the rest of them might as well just go home, wash up, and go to sleep.
“However, it’s not entirely certain what consensus Aurora and Enoshima reached.” Hyuga Hajime’s voice came from ahead. “I didn’t have a chance to formally meet and talk with Enoshima Junko before I came here.”
Then, like Tsukino, Chiya, and Ohma Kokichi, he spent a week in a peaceful and uneventful daily life, watching the two of them act as a couple based on their extra memories, feeling like he was inexplicably being fed wave after wave of dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection).
Until today, the peace was suddenly shattered without warning... No matter what the reason for this development is, even if there is another conspiracy behind it, they cannot sit idly by.
"arrive."
During their conversation, the abandoned shrine finally came into view.
It was still dark, and in the daylight, the shrine only looked a little dilapidated, but it lacked the eerie feeling that Tsukino and Chiya remembered.
Exploring potentially haunted places during the day was something Tsukino and Chiya hadn't done in a long time.
“Well then,” Tsukino and Chiya stepped forward this time, “I’ll lead the way.”
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