Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

Following the information provided by "future Aoko", they rescued "past Aoko" at the designated location.

The statement that the person was saved is not actually accurate.

Even if Shirou hadn't appeared, Aoko should have been able to defeat the enemy under those circumstances.

It was just that his arm was injured by the aftershock of the magic bullet he had fired, and he was only slightly bruised.

Since the plan is to "rescue the damsel in distress and gain trust," let's choose this point of intervention.

The general director, Aoko, made the final decision; the lead actor, Shirou, had no say in the matter.

Of course, timing is also very important.

Tonight's battle in the forest is Aoko's maiden battle, and also the battle in which she truly awakens as a magician.

If Shirou strikes too early, "the past Aoko" won't be able to awaken smoothly.

So Shirou appeared at the perfect moment, fired an arrow, successfully averted the crisis, and left behind the story of "a hero saving a damsel in distress."

"It's so troublesome..."

The boy is now on the run in the forest.

This is also a requirement of "Future Aoko"—

"Listen carefully, Shirou... After you save me, don't stay where you are, run away immediately."

"why?"

"Shirou really doesn't understand girls' hearts."

"Please enlighten me, teacher."

Shirou has recently noticed that most of the girls he has met so far are not "human".

Witches, fairies, dragons, androids, succubi, tigers...

Come to think of it, there's not a single person around me!

Sakura...you're so special! (Touched)

Shirou thought that this would be a good opportunity to learn how to get along with human women in the pan-human history.

Aoko began to explain with great seriousness.

"To become popular with girls, being gentle isn't enough, you know? Although I do find that appealing..."

"what?"

"...It's nothing. Anyway, a very important thing to be popular with girls is mystery!"

It needs to project an elusive sense of mystery, as well as an unpredictable, sometimes warm, sometimes cold distance.

"I see... Human women's preferences are really hard to understand. I think it's probably unlikely that I'll be popular."

Shirou kept the words of the magician firmly in mind.

He decided to create a mysterious and aloof image for himself within the past timeline.

Because we're from the future, this is a rare opportunity—

To be honest, Shirou himself got a bit more motivated.

"Huh...huh...huh..."

In the winding forest, Shirou used his magically enhanced legs to run at a speed exceeding 80 kilometers per hour, quickly leaving Aoko and Aoko far behind.

After observing from the shadows for a while, Shirou confirmed that Aoko and Arisu had given up the pursuit.

If they were both 25 years old, Shirou probably wouldn't have been able to escape so easily, but unfortunately they are both 17-year-old girls now.

That said, Aoko's breasts were already that big when she was 17.

No, no, no, that's not the point!

Aoko-nee was really cool in high school too...

Despite it being his first real battle, he was able to launch a counterattack under those circumstances. His willingness to sacrifice his arm was truly remarkable, and Shirou was deeply moved.

If I hadn't known beforehand, given Aoko's nature of carelessly leaving her underwear lying around in her room...

Sigh, sometimes knowing too much isn't a good thing.

Miss Yuzhu hasn't changed much in 8 years; she's still as pitiful as ever... um.

Lost in thought about all sorts of things, the boy left the forest.

The first task issued by the mage has been completed.

Although Shirou still had some doubts: Could he really gain the trust of "Aoko from the past" like this? No matter how you look at it, I seem super suspicious tonight, don't I?

However, Shirou didn't have time to think about that now; he needed to find a place to stay quickly, or he would have to sleep on the streets.

Aoko casually brushed off the part about Shirou's life experience.

……

……

Aoko and Aoko chased each other all the way to the edge of the forest before stopping.

"Running, running so fast... Is that a speed that humans can achieve?"

Aoko bent over, her hands supporting her knees.

As the girl gasped for breath, her proud breasts heaved violently.

Yuzhu stood quietly to the side, looking nothing like Aoko, who was panting heavily.

In fact, the higher Ariel's magical talent is, the worse her athletic ability is.

Not only can he not ride a bicycle, but he can only do a simple dog paddle when swimming, and he can't do a single pull-up. He basically just acts as a spectator in physical education class.

The delicate witch, of course, couldn't possibly walk on her own; she chased after him riding a fairytale monster—even so, she couldn't catch up.

...That was indeed an astonishing escape speed.

Yuzhu never got a clear look at the other person's face, but judging from the back, he seemed to be a young boy.

"Was that child... an accomplice or master of the Slit-Mouthed Man? Were they silencing him?"

Yu-zhu gazed at the distant city lights, a somber expression settling on her cold, dignified face.

"...Now, the troublesome things have increased again."

……

……

What happened in the forest last night kept Yuzhu on edge all day, and she didn't even go to school today.

The witch's intuition told her that the boy was very dangerous and had ill intentions.

There was a commotion in the entryway; it was Aoko coming home from school.

"...How's the investigation going?"

The chestnut-haired girl asked.

There was no sense of urgency or crisis in the voice, but her glassy black eyes reminded her of the importance of this matter.

Aoko took off her colorless coat, hung it up, and sat back down on the sofa.

Yuzhu sat down across the table from him.

"Where are you?"

"Not good. We only had seven reconnaissance missions in the past, and that's all we have. There's no time left for preliminary operations."

Yuzhu's gaze quickly swept over Aoko before returning to the box on the table.

"Weren't there any guys monitoring the streets that night? The street surveillance should have been perfect, right?"

"That only applies to daytime flights; nighttime flights are too dangerous."

"I can't even do a basic support job properly," Aoko sighed helplessly.

This morning, Yuzhu dispatched a fairytale monster for reconnaissance, "Six Sing Chocolate".

Those were 24 grey starlings made from cocoa liquor, cocoa powder, and bone meal, which are usually displayed as chocolates in an exquisite box.

With zero combat capability, their main responsibility is to monitor the city and search for enemies.

During operations, approximately ten birds die each day after crashing into telephone poles, making nighttime operations impossible.

Yuzhu frowned unhappily: "...So what about you? You were acting all high and mighty this morning."

"Hmm? Ah, I'm doing it according to plan. I should be able to find the child by tomorrow."

Misaki Town is so small, and there aren't that many boys around twelve or thirteen years old. If he shows up on the street, there will be eyewitness reports.

Is it really that simple to do?

"We can do it! Don't underestimate the power of the student council! All those voluntary labor efforts we do aren't for nothing."

"Really? You're as capable as ever."

A look of surprise crossed his eyes.

We've been living together for almost two years now.

Aozaki Aoko, who once decides to do something, has experienced it firsthand many times.

"Well, I didn't expect the student council president to be so useful. Ah, this is what they call being prepared."

Yuzhu felt that something was wrong—

Although Aoko is usually somewhat carefree and unrestrained, her frivolity today has reached a record high.

Then Yuzhu asked, "Moreover, what do you think was the boy's purpose in appearing before us last night...?"

"Of course! That child showed up to save me!"

Aoko answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and Arisu's indifferent gaze turned serious.

"Why do you think so?"

Aoko blinked in confusion: "Why...why would anyone think that way if they were in that situation last night?"

Yuzhu sighed in disappointment: "Too naive, just as naive (sweet) as chocolate."

"what?"

A sense of tension spread through the living room.

Having lived together for two years, they both knew very well that this was the prelude to an argument.

Sensing the hostility from her roommate, Aoko retorted calmly, "What exactly do you want to say, Arizu?"

The witch declared in a flat, monotone voice, "...that child is the enemy."

If he wasn't an enemy, how do you explain his hasty escape?

"Well... is he a shy child?"

Yuzhu said coldly, "Stop making a scene. Last night, that child only showed up to silence us."

Aoko retorted, "The Slit-Mouthed Man was already about to kill me at that time. Did he have any reason to silence his own people?"

"No, if things had continued as they were, you would have won, and—"

He probably intended to kill you and the Slit-Mouthed Man together.

"No such thing."

Aoko said, "He reminded me before I shot that arrow."

"Isn't this just your imagination? You turned around because you sensed the enemy's killing intent, and that's when he launched his attack."

"That's not it! I definitely heard it! The child told me to move to the right!"

Yuzhu remained silent for a brief moment.

"I'm asking you... how did the other side know beforehand that a battle would take place in the forest? Did they wander into such a place after dinner?"

Aoko was speechless, and Yuzhu pressed her advantage.

"Even my barrier failed to detect the hidden third enemy, yet he reacted."