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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 5 Chapter 3.11

Nanana-chan, who tries to be completely neutral, will never tell you information that will only give you an advantage.

While I was frustrated, Tensai asked Nanana-chan a question.

「Nanana-dono, can I ask you one thing? 」

「What is it Tensai-chan? I don’t mind as long as it is something I can answer. 」

So you do know about this 《game》 after all, don’t you?

「Could it be that the 《Nanana’s Sword》 that is the prize refers to the sword in the old tale I heard the other day? 」

Nanana-chan stiffened with a smile on her face at that simple question from Tensai.

「My lips are zipped♪」

Here it is, a cute smile and a declaration of silence. ♥

I see, it’s just like when I carelessly told President Yuiga about the ability of the 《Magician’s Staff》 before. In other words, the grand prize of this 《game》 seems to be the sword that appeared in the old tale the other day. So that must mean the effect is that you will be able to see other people’s pasts. So it seems like this is a nanana collection that can help investigate Nanana-chan’s murder. Well, from the description here, it seems there are a few other abilities, so I’ll just have to bet on that…

「…Wait. 」

「? What’s wrong Juugo? 」

「No. It’s nothing, Nanana-chan. 」

She waved her hand and turned back to the screen.

「You need a password anyways. 」

 

After listening to our story, President Yuiga nodded and said, 「I see. 」

「Did you know about this already, President Yuiga? 」

「I already knew about the existence of the 《game》. The last one was held two years ago. I couldn’t attend. 」

「Two years ago? 」

「By the way, the one who won that time was Konjo-senpai. As a result, Konjo-senpai began a reign as the top challenger both in reputation and reality. 」

That’s surprising. Kasumi Konjo-san. She is also the founder and first president of the Adventure Club of 3rd High School which we are members of. Beyond that though, she is also a former resident of Room 202 of the Happiness dorm where I live.

「Is she the top challenger? 」

I had heard about her in many stories, and it seems like she is still an amazing person.

「But, I wonder how to get the password. 」

「There seems to be some kind of announcement, so I have no choice but to wait for it. 」

This is the end of the report. I finished what I came to do so it’s time to take some time off. Tsurezure-senpai is going to stay so I head to the door of the hospital room by myself.

「Ah, come to think of it President Yuiga, do you know anything about Yun-chan? 」

Tsurezure-senpai was startled. However, when asked President Yuiga kept his usual refreshing smile.

「This is sudden, Yama-kun. What do you mean? 」

「No, nevermind. Then excuse me. 」

I leave the hospital room and let out a sigh. I thought if I suddenly changed the topic like that I would catch him off guard and see some kind of reaction, but that plan failed. Or perhaps he is still trying to play it cool.

Well, anyways. A 《game》sponsored by a Leprechaun? This mysterious event was announced without warning. The winner will receive a rare nanana collection that is the 《Nanana’s Sword》. Thinking about this puts a smile on my face. I never thought I’d get a chance to get my hands on a nanana collection that might reveal Nanana-chan’s murderer in this way.

According to the explanation on the webpage, the sword has several abilities. Of these I only know one, the ability to see into the past of a person you cut with it. Then it occurred to me. What if I could peek into the memories of the murdered Nanana-chan?

According to the testimony Nanana-chan gave us before, the culprit has a dragon mark on the back of his neck. That is the only clue as to who did it, but the information is very vague. To be honest, just knowing that much isn’t enough. But what if we could use Nanana’s Sword to see Nanana’s memories as a visual image? We might be able to find more clues than just her testimony, and we might even be able to recognize the killer’s face.

I must get it at any cost. That said, if we don’t know the password than we can’t even start. Well there will be an announcement of some sort soon, so I have no choice but to wait for that time.

「In that case, the most important thing to focus on right now is the evil in front of me. 」

When I got out of the hospital and turned on my cell phone, I found a large number of missed calls and texts. All of them were from Yuki-neesan. I could tell even without looking at the messages.

I’m guessing that they are going to meet up soon and help prepare for the Tanabata Festival.

INTERLUDE

《Marmelo》, located in the center of the Nishi Ward, is a cake café popular with students. A lot of girls flocked there for a wide variety of delicious cakes, and many boys came to see the cute uniformed maids standing in the street.

Natsu Oshima’s skills as a pastry chef are top-notch, but her skills as the manager of 《Marmelo》 are also outstanding.

「Well, I earned it today. Earned it. 」

Natsu enjoys nothing more than calculating the day’s sales while drinking her favorite herbal tea at the table then entering it into the ledger in the closed shop.

「Come on, let’s get to work! 」

Recently, Natsu’s favorite thing to do is to manage the girl who cleans the store alone after closing time. The girl’s name is Saki Yoshino. She is the girl Natsu has been hiding recently. Saki’s job is to prepare cakes early in the morning and clean the store after closing time. Even now she is wearing a maid uniform and is busy cleaning.

「Um, Natsu-san. 」

「What is it Yun-chan? 」

「Why do I have to clean in a maid outfit? 」, Saki asked in a shy manner while mopping the floor.

「Because Yun-chan is a team member of this store, I decided that you have to wear it. 」

Hearing that, Saki’s eyes went from confused to looking a little happy.

「But… I mean, this uniform is a little embarrassing. 」

Natsu was startles by the sight of her fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. Well it’s only natural for Saki to say that. That’s because the maid outfit that Saki is wearing Natsu had intentionally shortened the hem of so that she can be entertained when watching Saki’s embarrassment.

「Oh Saki-chan is really cute ♥, so this is made for you. 」

She takes a bite-sized piece of cake from a plate on the table and throws it into Yun’s mouth. Saki’s expression immediately collapses into a wobbly smile.

「Sweet, and delicious. 」

「After you finish cleaning, you can eat the leftover cake. 」

「Oh! I’ll do my best! 」

Natsu smiles when she sees Saki start to clean cheerfully again.

About 30 minutes after that Natsu treats Saki, who has finally finished cleaning, to a cake.

「Enjoy your meal. 」

On the plate in front of Saki, who sat down at the table, are three colored cakes neatly lined up. Next to that was gelato ice cream and whipped cream, with a beautifully colored sauce on top.

「Wow. This looks delicious. 」

Saki faced Natsu, who was pouring herbal tea into a teacup with a cute design, and bowed her head saying ‘Itadakimasu’. She cut the cake with a spoon and took a bite.

「Mmmm, it’s delicious ♥」

Seeing Saki happy with a smile on her face naturally makes Natsu smile as well. At first when Natsu went into hiding her expression was much more depressed. She has come to start laughing like this these days. Natsu thinks it’s a very good thing.

Natsu believes that a smile is necessary for people to live. People can envision happy things when they can smile. It’s often said, ‘Where there is laughter, there is good fortune.’ In this way I can make someone smile with the cake I make. That was Natsu’s dream ever since she was little, and it’s her current pride and joy.

I naturally clasp my hands and feel grateful. Thank you so much God. And I swear. I want to keep making cakes that make the children who come to eat at my store smile.

「Phew, that was delicious. Thank you for the meal. 」

Saki has a satisfied smile on her face. However, her expression suddenly turns sad and horrified.

「What’s wrong Yun-chan? 」

「… I’m sorry Natsu-san. I’m not very helpful. 」

「Why? I’m so grateful to you for doing this every day. 」

「But I haven’t been able to help much with the morning preparations. 」

Saki knows that’s true and droops in her seat.

When Natsu asked Saki to help with the preparations for the first time, she asked her to cut the fruit for the cake. 「Please leave it to me」, said Saki full of confidence. But the moment she grabbed the knife she started trembling. I don’t know why but it seems that Saki can no longer hold a knife. She can’t even hold a small paring knife.

Because of this Natsu rarely asked Saki to help her. Saki seemed sad about this.

「I don’t’ mind. 」

「But…」