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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 10 Chapter Epilogue 4

Those words were so sudden.

「Does that mean you’re going to stop trying to get Nanana collection?」

「I intend to continue, but I’m going to put an end to the current situation. I intend to make a clean break.」

Those words were filled with determination, and what’s more, President Yuiga’s expression was pure serious. It was almost as if he was glaring at me.

I wanted to say that if he was going to continue then we should do it together, but I stopped myself. This was because I remembered what President Yuiga had said at the Community gathering during the first half of summer vacation. Haruto had filled me in on it the other day.

More than anything, we’ve been together for this long, and I understand President Yuiga’s stance on the Nanana collection. There’s only one person who can get the Nanana collection. He’s betrayed me enough times for me to know this.

「I understand. We’ll discuss what to do next.」

So that’s the only thing I could say.

「If you wish to continue as the fourth generation Adventure Club, please come to me again. When you do, I will give you the key to this room.」

It seems he’s really going to put an end to the Adventure Club… or rather, stop searching for Nanana collections within the framework o the Adventure Club.

「Yama-kun, can I ask you one last question?」

「What is it?」

「Why exactly are you looking for the Nanana collection?」

Seated in his chair, President Yuiga asks a serious question. Come to think of it, I haven’t told him that yet.

So I answer honestly, 「The reason I’m searching for the Nanana collection is to find Nanana-chan’s murderer.」

The next moment, president Yuiga looks at me blankly.

「Is that all?」

「Yes.」

「Really?」

「Yes, really.」

「You… you’ve risked your life to challenge the <<ruins>> and even started that company just for that?」

President Yuiga looked as if he couldn’t comprehend it.

「That’s a great way to put it.」

「Huh?」

「My goals must seem pretty pointless to you, President Yuiga.」

I grinned as I responded to President Yuiga, making him flustered.

「No, I didn’t mean it that way…」

「It’s fine. Well, the old me wouldn’t have been able to stand it. I hated being looked down upon by other people’s standards like that.」

That’s why, until now, I’ve hesitated to tell anyone about this. Because I didn’t want to be rejected. Because I didn’t want those feelings that are so important to me to be belittled. So, if it had been the old me, I probably wouldn’t have been able to bear President Yuiga’s reaction.

But now I can laugh and respond., 「Yes, that’s right. I’ve worked hard all this time for something that seems so trivial to you President Yuiga. I will continue to risk my life in the future. Doing what I want. For Nanana-chan. That’s the new Juugo Yama.」

And then, to the speechless President Yuiga, I conclude, 「Can I say something to you too?」

「What is it?」

「What’s with that nonsense before? ‘You’re saying it’s embarrassing to have dreams?’ And now you are judging me like that?」

I recall one of the first big interactions they shared. As Yuiga looks like he’s remembering it now, I conclude with these words. ‘People never lose their dreams.’

「…..」

「Well, see you later.」

And with that, I leave the Adventure Club’s clubroom.

Now, what should I do? As I walk down the hallway, I wonder what will happen next.

This is a turn of events I had never expected. If President Yuiga is quitting, then Ibara-senpai and Tsurezure-senpai will probably quit as well. If that’s the case, then the remaining members will have to choose a new president. Me, Tensai, and D’ark. And the new members Tetsu-kun and Yun-chan.

Besides, there’s Rakuichi Rakuza, and I’m busy with other things, so what should I do? Well, whatever the case, I’ll have to discuss it with the remaining members. That said, D’ark left early…

「…That guy and Tensai weren’t even at school today, anyway.」

**************************************************************

The second semester begins today for the middle and high school divisions.

Students arrive at school, excited to reunite with classmates they haven’t seen in a long time, submit their summer homework to their homeroom teachers, and head to the gym.

The great detective, Tensai Ikkyu, is in a certain place. The VIP-only prison in the basement of Nanaejima Police Station.

「Hello, it’s been a while, my beloved sister.」

From behind the iron bars, Kanata Ichijou smiles broadly. This is Tensai’s brother-in-law. Looking at the expression on her beloved brother’s face as she stands on the other side of the bars, Tensai notices something.

「Kanata, don’t you look a little haggard?」

「It’s tough being in prison all the time. There’s a huge shortage of ice cream. Please tell Yuuya to bring a lot of it next time.」

「Understood.」

「By the way, Tensai. If I’m not imagining things, isn’t today the opening ceremony for the second semester?」

「I skip those things.」

「I’m not really impressed by that.」

「To me, the time I spend with Kanata is far more important and valuable than the opening ceremony of high school.」

「You’re saying such nice things. I feel like raising my arms in celebration. So, what exactly do do you want from me, Tensai?」

Kanata had asked Tensai first, and Tensai could only chuckle.

「Same as always, Kanata.」

「Your face always shows what you’re thinking.」

「Only you can see that Kanata.」

「Is that so? It seems like men in this world have really bad eyes. They can’t even see through the quirks of my adorable little sister.」

He gently strokes her cheek and it tickles Tensai.

「So?」

「I wanted to ask about Kasumi Konjou.」

Kanata laughed happily at the name.

「Oh. That’s a nostalgic name.」

「Are you sure the friend you told me about here before is Kasumi Konjou? Or was it Ruri Kanna?」

「We’re both comrades in arms, but the friend I introduced the other day was Kasumi.」

Kanata offered Tensai a chair that had been prepared outside the bars, and sat down in one of his own. He moved it closer to the bars.

「So, what do you want to ask about Kasumi?」

Tensai then got to the point.

「From your perspective, how close has Kasumi gotten to finding the culprit who killed Nanana-dono?」

After meeting with Kanata, Tensai sits lost in thought at a coffee shop. D’ark Hoshino, who was on her way home from school, opens the door and enters.

「Welcome」, the waiter greets D’ark, who tells him he’s meeting someone and heads to his seat. He then spots Tensai, who is motionless in thought, like a stone statue. The waiter, realizing that Tensai is the one he’s meeting, whispers to D’ark, 「We haven’t received an order form that customer yet.」

「Did she just arrive?」

「No, she’s been like this for nearly two hours now… I called out to her, but she didn’t respond at all, so I was wondering what to do…」

D’ark was surprised by the troubled look on the waiter’s face, and apologized. He ordered an iced café au lait for Tensai and an iced tea for himself. He then sat down in front of Tensai.

「…..」

Tensai doesn’t move at all, just stares intently at something, deep in thought.

When the order comes, D’ark calls out, 「Tensai.」

Tensai’s eyes then turn to D’ark in front of her.

「Here, an iced café au lait. I’ve put in plenty of syrup.」

A glass with a straw inserted was presented to Tensai, and she sipped from it.

「…By the way, D’ark. When did you get here?」

「You seem to have been thinking for quite some time, which is unusual for you, Tensai. What exactly were you thinking about?」, D’ark smiled and asked.

Tensai replied by slurping her iced café au lait full of syrup through the straw.

「I was searching for a way to defeat Juugo.」

「You mean in the showdown to find Nanana’s murderer, right?」

「Yeah.」

D’ark had heard all about Juugo’s challenge to Shunju Ikkaku. He heard it all from Tensai. She had officially become Juugo’s challenger, and is competing against him.

Hearing this, D’ark saw Tensai poring over something unusually serious, so he asked her, 「What’s wrong, Tensai? You only just officially decided to face off on the day of the fireworks festival, right? And yet, you seem to still think you can’t win.」

The moment he voiced his honest opinion, D’ark gasped and instinctively shielded his face. He was sure that saying something like that, Tensai would slap him across the face and say, ‘There’s no way I’ll lose.’ But contrary to his expectations, Tensai nodded without changing her expression.

「You’re right. If this keeps up, I’ll probably lose to Juugo.」

D’ark’s eyes widened in genuine surprise at the unexpected answer.

「W..what’s wrong? That’s not like the usual Tensai to say something like that.」

「There’s no other way. After all, Juugo has already put Nanana-dono’s murderer under siege.」

D’ark’s eyes widened at Tensai’s words.

「Huh? Why?! Has Juugo already started on a trail to find Nanana-san’s murderer?」