Chapter 46 The Main Body in Twenty Days
The corridor outside was deserted. I held onto the handrail at the end of the stairs as I went downstairs, but I didn't see anyone for a short time.
I don't know who I'll meet. Maki and the others? Or Gojo-sensei?
It's impossible to say for sure, and I don't even know if they're still inside the college at this point in time.
Unlike regular high schools, students in vocational colleges spend a significant amount of time off-campus.
Although I haven't been back for a long time, I still remember the layout of the college. After going down the stairs and walking through the path shrouded in light and shadow, I arrived at the playground.
The playground was deserted, but the sun was shining brightly and it was warm, so I walked around the rubber track twice by myself.
As I walked, it suddenly occurred to me that the moment I woke up I should have gone to find Ms. Shoko first, at least to ask her why I had returned to the vocational high school.
If Ms. Shoko knew I'd woken up and wandered around the high school on my own, she'd probably scold me. Thinking of this, I guiltily touched my nose and decided to leave now to find Ms. Shoko.
"——Edagawa?"
I recognized the voice; it was Maki.
I stood on the red rubber track and turned to my right. A few steps up the stairs, Zenin Maki stood there holding her magic implements.
Beside her were Thorn, Panda, Hui, and a little girl with short orange hair whom I didn't recognize; I guessed she was a first-grader.
My gaze swept over them one by one, and I couldn't help but smile slightly, restrained by my emotions: "It's me, Maki."
Maki's shock faded, and she took several steps down before stopping in front of me. She smiled and said, "Long time no see."
A gentle breeze blew by at that moment, and I saw Maki's bangs swaying lightly. We faced each other, both with smiles on our lips and joy on our faces, just like when I first met Maki at the Tokyo subway station a long time ago.
However, this atmosphere could not be maintained, because the next second I was pounced on and hugged by Panda.
With a "bang," I felt myself bump into a furry embrace, and then I heard Panda shouting above my head, "Woo woo woo, or, you're back, long time no see."
Before I could even speak, Maki shouted for me, "Let him go first!"
"Ah, okay." Panda let go of me and then rubbed his head against mine.
Thorn also appeared beside me; it must have run over with Panda.
I smiled at him and said, "Long time no see."
He said, "Salmon."
I pointed to his smooth, sleek short hair: "Still this hairstyle."
"salmon."
"It seems to have grown a little longer, and become a little cuter, Thorn."
"salmon."
Engage exclusively with the Spellcaster and immediately receive a triple salmon attack.
As a spellcaster, Dog-Turtle Thorn possesses magical power in his language, so he always communicates with people using the names of foods, with salmon representing affirmation.
Of course, besides salmon, there are many other terms, such as dried bonito, wasabi, and kelp. We generally refer to these as dog rolls.
Then came Fushiguro Megumi, who slowly walked up the steps. He looked at me and nodded slightly: "Edaka-senpai."
I nodded and greeted her, "Hui."
Behind him was the orange-haired girl I didn't recognize. She enthusiastically introduced herself to me: "Hello, senior. I'm Kugizaki Nobara, a first-year student who just enrolled this year."
I also introduced myself politely: "Nice to meet you, I am Edakawa Isamu."
Apart from Panda, the others were all dressed in casual sportswear. I looked them over and asked, "Are you guys going to practice?"
Maki nodded.
Then I saw Panda defeat two heroes on the playground.
I:"……"
I asked, "They're only in first grade, right? Are they already working this hard from first grade?"
Maki sat next to me, holding her magical artifact, while Thori sat on the step in front of her, but that didn't stop him from joining our conversation at any time.
Maki said, "Because my friend passed away, I vowed to become stronger in my first year."
"Hirohito Khajiitsu?"
Maki suddenly turned to look at me: "You actually know him?"
I said, "No, it was only Mr. Gojo who mentioned it to me."
Yuujin Itadori, the boy who swallowed Sukuna's finger but did not become a curse.
He mentioned it when I woke up in the hospital that day and saw Gojo Satoru.
Maki nodded and continued, "Another reason is the exchange meeting, the exchange meeting."
"An exchange event co-hosted with Kyoto?"
"Yes."
"But aren't exchange meetings usually for second and third-year students?" I asked.
Just like I didn't participate in my year. Only Yi Gu went in our year, but Yi Gu is not an ordinary sorcerer, so we won't consider him for now.
Maki bluntly stated, "There's no one left in the third grade, and the three of us in the second grade aren't enough, so we have to drag in the first graders."
I:"……"
"Speaking of which, Zhichuan, what are you doing at the vocational college?"
"have no idea."
"?"
"I was in Yokohama before I fell asleep, and I was in the vocational high school when I woke up," I said. "Actually, I should have gone to find Ms. Shoko or Mr. Gojo to ask about the situation after I woke up, but I forgot."
Maki: "..."
Seeing the helpless look on Maki's face after hearing my answer, I smiled sheepishly and continued, "I just happened to run into you guys when I was about to go find Ms. Shoko."
She said, "I thought you were coming back."
I was stunned for half a second by her bluntness, and then I couldn't help but think, "As expected of you, Maki."
“Maybe not right now,” I said, “but that day will come.”
Is this a lie?
She said, "Your knife is still with me."
I said, "I know, I gave it to you back then."
Maki said, "But to me, it will always be your cursed tool."
On the playground, Kugizaki Nobara stopped practicing, saying she needed to rest for a while.
Panda suggested that someone else go up, so Maki stepped forward, carrying her magic tool, and went up to meet Megumi.
After Kugizaki Nobara was substituted, she also took over Maki's position. On the field, Maki and Megumi were fighting back and forth, while Kugizaki suddenly nudged me from the sidelines.
I turned my head, blinking in confusion, "What's wrong?"
She leaned closer and asked me in a low voice, "Senior, is your hair dyed?"
I:"?"
I shook my head and said, "No."
"I see." She nodded in understanding, then commented, "I think that's cool."
I was both amused and exasperated: "Thank you."
I originally planned to go find Ms. Shoko, but I happened to run into Maki and the others, so we stayed on the playground together. Therefore, when I finally saw Ms. Shoko, five or six hours had passed since I woke up.
Fortunately, she was unaware of this, and only raised an eyebrow slightly when she saw me: "Edakawa? You're awake."
“Yes, Miss Shoko,” I asked. “Did I sleep for a long time?”
Miss Shoko didn't think for long; she gave her answer almost immediately after turning her head: "Two and a half weeks, starting from the day you arrived."
Two and a half weeks.
I have a pretty good idea of how long this timeframe went. In those two and a half weeks, Fyodor and I went from being ordinary cellmates to living partners in three days, and then in the last five minutes we became mortal enemies.
The extent of this relationship shift is even more exaggerated than what others achieve in two and a half years.
I continued, "I remember I was in Yokohama before, so why did I wake up in a vocational high school?"
"Because of Gojo Satoru," she stated bluntly.
But actually, I wasn't surprised at all that Ms. Shoko would say that name.
Back when I was talking to Dazai Osamu in Yokohama, Dazai Osamu hinted that my true form was in Tokyo. At that moment, I knew it was related to Gojo Satoru, but I didn't know why Gojo-sensei would do that.
I looked at her intently, waiting for her to continue.
Shoko Ieiri was looking at me, but then looked away halfway through. She said, "You had a fever while you were asleep. Satoru Gojo brought you here, but he didn't have time to take you back afterward, so you've been here ever since."
I frowned: "A fever?"
"Hmm." Miss Shoko looked up at me. Her eyes were always very calm, but at this moment there was a slight hint of doubt. "Don't you know? I thought you had fainted from the fever."
I shook my head and said sincerely, "No."
Ieiri Glass: "..."
I asked, "Is Mr. Gojo here?"
"He's not here, he went out." She asked me in return, "Are you looking for him?"
"Oh, no, I was just asking."
What I mean is, do you want to see him?
"Huh? Hmm... a little."
“Gojo Satoru.” She repeated the name, paused, and said, “That guy should be back soon.”
I nodded obediently: "Oh."
Miss Shoko asked me, "When are you going back to Yokohama?"
"...Huh?" This question was completely unexpected, and I was stunned.
Help!! I forgot!!
I completely forgot I had a job at the Armed Detective Agency!!
Although I only visit the Armed Detective Agency from time to time, Mr. Ranpo and the others have always been quite used to my absence.
...But this time, the absence has been far too long.
Within a few seconds of our eyes meeting, I blinked blankly, and then a storm raged in my mind.
Seeing that I didn't answer, she spoke again: "Hmm?"
I touched my nose: "Probably when Gojo-sensei comes back...?"
She nodded: "Mm."
After I left, I thought about it and contacted Ranpo again.
"Hello--"
Edogawa Ranpo's voice trailed off after he answered the phone. Before I could even speak, he said, "Yes, or no."
"Yes."
He asked me, "What's wrong?"
“I just woke up and realized I hadn’t been to the detective agency in a long time, so I contacted you. And now…” I looked around, “You might not believe it, Mr. Ranpo, but for some strange reasons, I’m currently in Tokyo.”
Edogawa Ranpo said, "I believe you."
"Or are you worried about something again?" he said. "Or are you just being a fool."
"Huh?" I asked, puzzled. "Why are you suddenly saying that, Mr. Ranpo?"
"Because I already said there's nothing to worry about. Especially the detective agency, there's absolutely nothing to worry about." As he spoke, Ranpo's tone suddenly revealed a hint of hesitation. "But the famous detective still misses you a little, so remember to come back and see me."
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