Takeshi walked down the high school hallway while checking the message Merwyn had sent him that morning. It only contained a time and a classroom number. No context or explanation.

’Typical of her.’

It wasn’t the first time Merwyn had summoned him without giving details, and he didn’t expect her to start now.

He turned the corner into the west wing and found the designated room, a small meeting room the student council used for internal discussions, with a rectangular table in the center and chairs arranged along the sides.

When he opened the door, he saw there were already two people inside besides Merwyn.

Aoi Mizuhara was sitting with her back straight, arms crossed on top of the table, staring ahead, while Nyx sat at the opposite end with an open book in front of her, though she wasn’t reading it, and Merwyn stood by the window, checking something in a notebook.

"You’re right on time."

Merwyn said without looking up.

"I just showed up when you told me to."

"Good boy."

Takeshi walked in and sat in the only seat that still had some distance from both of them, which was the middle of the table, across from Merwyn. He checked their stats out of reflex.

[MIZUHARA AOI]

[Life: 100%]

[Sanity: 81%]

[Trust: 93%]

[SOLYNMAR NYX]

[Life: 100%]

[Sanity: 90%]

[Trust: 100%]

’Nothing alarming for now, I guess.’

"Is it just the three of us?"

Takeshi asked.

"I thought the student council had more people."

"It does..."

Merwyn replied as she closed the notebook.

"But they’re busy with other matters. Still, I do plan on introducing you to them eventually."

"And when exactly will that be?"

"When it’s convenient."

Takeshi decided not to push that topic any further.

Merwyn sat down at the head of the table and looked at the three of them.

"Tomorrow we’ll be going to a shrine about twenty minutes from here. The priest in charge wants to speak with me, and I need the three of you to come along."

"Why us three specifically?"

Nyx asked, closing her book.

"Because you’re the people who are available."

"That’s an incredibly vague answer..."

Aoi said, and Merwyn immediately replied.

"It’s the answer I have right now."

Takeshi leaned back in his chair.

’This is going to be a very long conversation.’

"What does the priest want to talk to you about?"

He asked.

"Shrine matters."

"And you need an escort for that?"

"I just need you to accompany me, which is not the same thing." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"What’s even the difference between those two!?"

Merwyn looked at him with an expression that clearly said her patience was running out.

"The difference is that company doesn’t have to do anything specific. Just be present."

"Then you could bring literally anyone..."

Takeshi said, only to get the response:

"And I am. You three are that literally anyone."

Nyx spoke before Takeshi could continue.

"Is there any risk during the trip or inside the shrine?"

"Not that I know of."

"Will we be carrying weapons?"

"That won’t be necessary."

"But if we wanted to bring them, would there be a problem?"

Merwyn considered that for a second.

"Inside the shrine, yes. Outside, no."

Nyx nodded and wrote something down in a small notebook she pulled from her pocket.

Takeshi thought about Nyx’s questions.

’Why are her questions so weirdly specific!?’

"What time are we leaving?"

Aoi asked.

"Eight in the morning, and don’t worry, I’ll pick all of you up."

"So we’re all meeting in one place to wait for you?"

Takeshi asked.

"Yes, it’s the most efficient option."

Aoi nodded and then, without looking directly at him, addressed Takeshi.

"I can pick you up beforehand, Takeshi, so you don’t have to wait."

"That’s not necessary..."

He replied.

"If we’re all meeting in the same place anyway, it’s basically the same thing."

"It’s not the same, since Merwyn will choose whatever route is most convenient for her, and I can adjust to your schedule."

Nyx looked up from her notebook.

"The shrine is north of here, right? If you go to Takeshi’s apartment first and then come here, you’d just be making an unnecessary detour. I think the most direct option is for Merwyn to pick everyone up according to the route."

Aoi looked at her.

"I didn’t ask you what the most efficient route was."

"That’s true, you didn’t ask me anything..."

Nyx replied in the same calm tone.

"But if you’re going to make a logistical proposal, it should at least make sense."

"It makes sense to me!"

"To you, maybe. Not to everyone else."

Takeshi watched as the tension between them started becoming noticeably obvious.

At that moment, the floating chat text appeared in his field of vision.

[And here we go]

[Nyx vs Aoi round 2]

[The protagonist looking off to the side like nothing’s happening lol]

Takeshi looked away from the chat.

’I don’t think stepping in would be a good idea.’

"The three of you will be riding in the same vehicle."

Merwyn finally said, cutting off the exchange.

"And that’s the end of the discussion."

Aoi didn’t respond while Nyx went back to her notebook.

Merwyn continued.

"Once we’re at the shrine, I want you to pay attention to the place, and after I’m done speaking with the priest, you’ll tell me what you observed."

"What kind of things?"

Takeshi asked.

"Whatever catches your attention."

"That’s extremely broad."

"Exactly."

Takeshi frowned.

’She always has a reason for not giving reasons.’

"How long are we going to be there?"

Nyx asked.

"That depends on how long the meeting with the priest takes, but assume at least two hours."

"Is there anything we shouldn’t do inside the shrine?"

Aoi asked.

"Acting like reasonable people should be enough."

"Does that include not bringing certain people into places they shouldn’t be?"

Aoi asked again, and even though her tone was completely neutral, the direction of the question definitely wasn’t.

Nyx slowly closed her notebook.

"Is there a specific place you’re referring to?"

"In general."

Nyx replied.

"In general, if the priest doesn’t place any restrictions, the shrine should be accessible to everyone."

"That depends on who counts as everyone."

"That depends on the shrine’s standards, not personal opinions."

[Is Takeshi even listening to them?]

[He has no clue]

[Bro’s staring at the wall]

Takeshi was actually looking at Merwyn, waiting for her to intervene, but she merely watched them with a completely indifferent expression, like someone waiting for the rain to stop.

"Any questions about the actual plan?"

Merwyn finally asked.

Silence was the only response she received.

"Good. Then tomorrow at eight."

She stood up, picked up the notebook, and tucked it under her arm.

"Don’t be late."

Aoi stood first and left the room without another word. Nyx slipped the notebook back into her pocket, briefly nodded at Takeshi, and left as well.

Takeshi remained seated for a moment.

’What the hell was all that!?’

Merwyn hadn’t given any real details about why she needed the three of them, why the priest wanted to see her, or what exactly she expected them to observe at the shrine.

And at some point during that conversation, Aoi and Nyx had some kind of exchange he still couldn’t fully process.

’Were they fighting?’

He shook his head and stood up.

The chat was still active when he stepped out into the hallway.

[Tomorrow’s gonna be interesting]

[It’s gonna be a disaster]

[And what’s the difference?]

Takeshi ignored the comments and started walking back toward his classroom.

’I hope this nightmare ends soon.’