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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 6 Chapter 1.5

「If you don’t like it then you’re going to have to use that Nanana collection to find the culprit quickly.」

「Yeah yeah. I’ll do my best.」

I thought again as I glanced at the great detective sitting next to me.

She is a strange person who acts selfishly and calls herself a great detective, without any regard for the trouble she’s caused others. She is also hard headed and has a bad temper. Despite this though she is focused on improving herself and has a strong will that will not allow her to compromise on her aspirations.

She really is an amazing person.

「H..hey you! Don’t pet people’s head like it’s a normal thing to do!」

I smile and apologize saying ‘my bad’ to the great detective who is angry at me. I honestly think that I don’t want Tensai to win and receive the《Nanana’s Sword》. And so I plan on defeating her.

Even with that kind of spirit though one fact still remains.

The great detective Ikkyu Tensai. This person will be the most difficult opponent in the 《game》.

4

15 minutes before the start.

After transferring street cars we arrived at our last tram to 10th Street. After killing some time a convenience store In front of the station, we set out for our destination.

West Star Crossing Plaza was located downtown. The plaza is cobblestone paved and has a fountain with a unique design. It feels like a great place to relax in the middle of the city.

But that’s only during the day time.

There are streetlights here and there so it’s not completely dark, but even so the plaza is surrounded by dormant buildings which sets a dangerous mood. Normally this isn’t a place where I’d like to be. But tonight there are a few people to be seen around this place. Of course they aren’t the type of people that would commonly be called delinquents though, as might be expected.

Considering the day and time that it was, there is no doubt that everyone here is a Nanana collection owner, and participant of tonight’s 《game》.

「Hmph, I see some familiar faces.」

Hearing the words of Tensai next to me, I turn my gaze beyond her.

The group that caught my eye were the members of the 7th High School student council, who I met at the Tanabata Festival the other day. The group included the student council president, Asumi Nishi-san, and the vice president, a blonde delinquent Taisei Amagi also known as the 《strategists》.  There is also Masaaki Kishitani, Misao Imawano, and two other unknown faces. One was a woman with unusually long bangs. She also has ash brown hair and eyes… she seems to be a foreigner right? Or maybe I’ve seen her somewhere before… or is it just my imagination? I don’t’ know…

Nishi’s community seems to own a large number of Nanana collections, so unlike us they must have been selective in choosing which ones to bring. I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of collection items they must have brought with them.

「You know that person over there don’t you?」

When I hear this I look around and spot Yukihime-neesan standing in the corner of the plaza.

Yukihime belongs to a group of righteous thieves called 《Matsuri》 that my family has run for generations. She is also my childhood friend/older sister, and even a martial arts master.

It seems that she also noticed me but turned her head in the other direction. I guess it’s because Yukihime-neesan is our enemy, so she doesn’t have anything to say to me.

I have a feeling I know which nanana collection Yukihime-neesan brought with her. 《The Sun God’s Wedge》, a golden wedge that manipulates chains of light that can absolutely bind an opponent. It’s the one I gave her before. Well I can’t say that for sure, it’s possible that she may have acquired another Nanana collection. If that is the case though, it would not be surprising if her partner (who is an expert of disguise) was here, but I can’t find him. If he was in disguise though I wouldn’t be able to tell.

Instead there was someone I didn’t like near Yukihime-neesan.

The person talking with other participants was Hiiyo Ikusaba. He attended my high school until last year when he graduated. Like our current president, he was a member of the first adventure club and former head of the club.

I couldn’t help but look at Ikusaba’s feet and sure enough he was wearing those familiar black boots. The 《Shadow Swimming Wet Boots》 are a very troublesome Nanana collection that allows him to swim freely through shadows. I can’t forget the struggles I’ve had with it in the past.

「That was fast.」

I heard that voice and turned around. The person who had approached me with the same refreshing smile on his face was President Yuiga, who I had left in the clubroom after school. Of course he is wearing 《Gilbert Balam’s copying glasses》.

「Thank you for your hard work」, he said with a slight nod.

After that, people who appeared to be participants continued to arrive one after another. There seems to be about 20 people who were gathered in this plaza.

I glanced at the clock tower in the plaza and saw that it was now 11:50PM.

「It’s finally time,」 said Director Yuiga sounding excited.

Another shadow approached us. At first glance he appeared to be a dangerous man, with a sword dangling proudly from his waist. However, I know that inside he is a sincere person.

Tetsu-kun, also known as Tetsunoshin Tsujimi. I knew he was coming but it still made me happy to see his face. However, despite that there is one thing I have to accept.

「Juugo, long time no see.」

「Yeah, long time. If you are here then Batako-san must have sent you.」

「Well aren’t you smart?」

「Eh, sorry about that.」

I sincerely apologize for not being able to talk to him about various things until now.

「Don’t worry, I mostly understand the situation.」

I am grateful to hear him say that.

「Did you join in this event to try to make contact with Yun-chan.」

Tetsu-kun was worried about Yun-chan’s sudden disappearance. I can’t imagine he has any other purpose than to bring Yun-chan back.

「No, I came here to win the game on my sister’s orders.」

That was a completely unexpected response from Tetsu-kun.

「Huh? But Yun-chan….」

「I just wanted to greet you, I have nothing else to say.」

With that said, Tetsu-kun glances at President Yuiga, turns his back on us, and leaves.

「I guess he hates me now.」

President Yuiga was relieved. I don’t know what that means but I do know this. Tetsu-kun has realized that President Yuiga is the reason for Yun-chan’s disappearance.

Even as I feel a nagging uneasiness the time is ticking away. The meeting time is almost here.

In the meantime the number of participants continued to grow, eventually reaching 30 people.

「There are so many people who own Nanana collection.」

The fact that so many people are searching for and acquiring the Nanana collection is astonishing.

「And there are probably even more people with Nanana collections who aren’t participating this time.」

「No way!」, I was surprised again by President Yuiga’s words.

This makes me wonder. The Nanana collection are hidden treasures with mysterious powers that Nanana-chan had collected from all over the world. Just how many of them exist?

Before at the hospital, Yuiga-san had said he thought there were a limit of about 100-200.

I mean, it made me a little nervous. Since there are so many people, there may be someone who already has a Nanana collection that can be used to find the person who killed Nanana-chan. When I think about it, I’m curious to know what kind of Nanana collection the participants here brought with them.

Gradually the plaza becomes more noisy.

The clock tower says the time is now midnight. This is the start time for the 《game》 announced by organizer M.

「Yo, look!」, said someone pointing.

「That’s a … streetcar, isn’t it?」

A streetcar pulls up just in time, as if by coincidence.

The last tram had already finished its run and should not be pulling up now. Its headlights shone brightly and the interior was pitch black. It slowly made its way along the street that stretched across the plaza, eventually stopping in the center of it.

As everyone watched, a girl stepped out of the open door of the tram. She was a petite girl wearing a strange mask to bring out her eyes, and a cloak that sparkles like it’s studded with stars.

All the participants here knew who she was.

Masked Girl M is the organizer of this 《game》.

「Now let the games begin!」

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

There were two groups of people watching from a distance as the students gathered in the plaza. One is the Three Skulls, who rule Tsukuyomi Street, which is said to be the snowdrift of Nanaejima. Leading the way with his ill-mannered subordinates is Sansa Kurosu, one of the Great 7.

「Well then, let’s have the kids lead us to the Nanana collections.」

Her mouth widens into the grin of an animal hunting its prey waiting for it to make the first move.

The other is Nanaejima General Security, the absolute shield and sword that protects Nanaejima.

「Adviser, there was movement in the plaza.」

Inside a trailer, which is the mobile headquarters, Captain of the Central Special Forces of the Nanaejima Comprehensive Security Forces Kiyomi Hanami got up from the sofa to greet Maboro Shiki, the honorary advisor to the Nanajima General Security who is wearing a pantsuit.

She’s usually a good-for-nothing who drinks beer and lays around during the day, but tonight she looks like a whole new person. Unlike usual she seems determined, like someone who is reliable to get the job done, and even her assistant is surprised.

Maboro Shiki declares to her subordinates, “Well then, let’s go. The Nanaejima Comprehensive Security Forces under the command of Maboro Shiki, the Central Special Forces are dispatched.”

The Central Special Forces is a special division within the Nanaejima Comprehensive Security Forces that is formed to conduct special operations online in emergencies.

They have two main tasks. One is to monitor and respond to Kurosu Sansa, a Claass S dangerious person who started a rebellion 5 years ago. The other thing is to solve problems that sometimes occure on the island that are beyond human knowledge and are beyond human comprehension.