Chapter 12: Investigating the Cause Squad

After leaving the cafeteria, we headed to the library.

Although I didn’t think exorcist facilities were used all year round, they still had a dedicated library.

When I heard that Aya-chan was doing her summer homework there, we decided to go.

“Why did Aya-chan lose her ability to use magic? Um, Itsuki-kun, have you heard anything about it?”

“…No, I haven’t heard anything. Aya-chan also said she doesn’t know.”

“I see…”

“Is this kind of thing common?”

When I asked Shirayuki-sensei, she groaned, “Hmm.”

“It’s not uncommon for someone to lose their ability to use magic. For example, in cases of PTSD… um, to put it simply, people who have been emotionally scarred from battles with ‘ma’ are unable to use magic.”

“…………”

It hit close to home because I could understand that example very well. It reminded me of Nina-chan.

“There are other reasons… yes. People can go through slumps or suffer from yips…”

“What’s the difference between a slump and yips?”

“A slump is when you can still perform the movements, but the results don’t come. For example, you can perform ‘Kaijutsu,’ but ‘Shijutsu’ doesn’t work the way you want it to.”

“I see…?”

“Yips, on the other hand, is when you can’t even perform the movements. You can do ‘Kaijutsu,’ but not ‘Shijutsu.’ Or you can’t do ‘Kaijutsu’ at all. That’s why you lose the ability to use magic.”

“Oh, I see…”

I couldn’t help but marvel inside when I learned the difference between slumps and yips, which I only vaguely knew the words for in my previous life.

“Perhaps Aya-chan might be experiencing yips?”

“W-Well, it’s a possibility… But slumps and yips usually happen to experienced exorcists with some history. It’s a bit hard to imagine a 6-year-old experiencing them.”

Indeed, now that I think about it, most athletes who go through slumps or yips have accumulated quite a career. Of course, there might be cases of middle school or high school students experiencing them, but it’s a little hard to imagine Aya-chan, who has only been studying for a few years, experiencing them.

So, why did Aya-chan lose her ability to use magic?

The mystery deepened, and I tilted my head in confusion. Shirayuki-sensei continued.

“However, if we ‘Resonate,’ we can find out the reason. Let’s give it a try.”

Before entering the library, Shirayuki-sensei knocked on the door a few times. Aya-chan replied from the other side.

“Yes!”

“We’re coming in.”

Together with Shirayuki-sensei, we entered the library. The first thing that struck my nose was the scent of old books.

Although it was called a library, the room was very small. It was about the size of the room I lived alone in my previous life. So, it was probably around 6 tatami mats.

Along the walls of the room, there were steel racks about 180 cm tall, filled with old books. The room’s center had three chairs that were exactly the same as the ones in the audiovisual room. There was a slightly larger desk, and Aya-chan had spread out her summer homework drill on that desk.

Rather than a library, it felt more like a storage room for old books.

When Aya-chan looked up from her drill and saw us, she widened her eyes in surprise after looking at Sensei and then at me.

“Eh, Itsuki-kun!?”

“Long time no see, Aya-chan.”

“I’m glad. Itsuki-kun came…”

Aya-chan let out a sigh of relief, as if she was relieved.

During that moment of silence, Shirayuki-sensei stood up and blushed, stepping forward to introduce herself.

“Nice to meet you, Aya-chan. I’m Shirayuki Ruri, an exorcist who uses ‘Resonance.'”

“I-I’m Aya-chan! Are you the exorcist Papa was talking about, Shirayuki-san?”

“Yes. I came here at Renji-san’s request.”

Shirayuki-sensei’s response made her look completely different from the timid Shirayuki-sensei in the classroom.

Shifting her gaze away from Shirayuki-sensei to me, Aya-chan tilted her head.

“But why are you here too, Itsuki-kun?”

“Why do you think?”

“Ah! I know! Itsuki-kun is taking Shirayuki-san’s class.”

“Yes, you got it! I’m currently practicing ‘Resonance.'”

Aya-chan immediately understood my answer, and I nodded. Although she might have heard about it from Renji-san or someone else.

After a brief chat, Shirayuki-sensei stood between us and began questioning Aya-chan.

“Aya-chan, I heard that you lost your ability to use magic… When did it start?”

“I-It started about a month ago.”

I listened intently to Aya-chan and Shirayuki-sensei’s conversation. However, there was no new information that came up.

It was the same story I heard when she came to celebrate the completion of our new house.

According to her, about a month ago, she accompanied Renji-san on a job and realized that she couldn’t use magic anymore.

That was all. Aya-chan didn’t know anything beyond that.

“I see. Okay, let’s… see… Aya-chan, please lend me your hand.”

“Y-Yes.”

As Aya-chan obediently offered her hand as instructed by Shirayuki-sensei, the “Guiding Thread Silvite” extended from Sensei’s arm, connecting Aya-chan’s hand with Sensei’s.

The “Guiding Thread Silvite” remained entwined around their arms, emitting a rainbow-like glow. It was resonance.

“Aya-chan, excuse me for a moment.”

“Y-Yes.”

After saying that, Shirayuki-sensei closed her eyes, and suddenly, my vision went completely dark.

Eh, why!?

Without understanding the meaning, I panicked as my vision slowly opened up… and the next thing I saw was a lush green rice field.

“…A rice field?”

Looking around, I realized that I was standing on a desolate road. There were scattered houses, and nothing but mountains and rice fields… it was a rural landscape.

The sun was shining brightly, and the clear sky was almost blinding.

“Where… is this?”

“Wha-why is Itsuki-kun here!?”

Perplexed, I muttered to myself, and at the same time, Shirayuki-sensei, who was next to me, let out a surprised voice.

“Ah, Sensei. Where is this?”

“I-It’s Aya-chan’s inner world… but why are you here, Itsuki-kun?”

…Huh?

I tilted my head.

Well, it’s not surprising to suddenly find myself in someone’s mental world. I’ve experienced it before.

What surprised me was that, unlike Shirayuki-sensei, I hadn’t interacted with Aya-chan through “Thread Silvate.” In other words, I hadn’t resonated, yet somehow I ended up in Aya-chan’s mental world.

“Why am I here?”

“I-I don’t know.”

However, it wasn’t just me who was unsure. It seemed that Shirayuki-sensei was equally puzzled, as a bewildered expression appeared on her face.

But she quickly switched to a serious expression and said,

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it. Let’s proceed with the practical training. Please follow me, Itsuki-kun.”

“Yes, understood.”

And so, the real practical session began unexpectedly.

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