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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 7 Chapter 1.2

2

The meeting with Baba-san was finished quite briskly.

The briefings were super casual, just explanations of the simple steps written in the script that had hardly any substantial content, with ‘make it exciting’ written at the end.

「Well then, shall we move to the site?」

Under Baba-san’s lead, we were to move to the grand hall of this castle. This was to be the filming location.

「However, that explanation was rather off the mark.」

While everyone was walking at their own pace, Tetsunoshin Tsujimi (currently my ally) was walking beside me and mumbling complaints. To sum up Baba-san’s explanations:

1. Firstly, we’ll do a Doki Doki Love Attack for the team division, so please act excited. Preferably form male-female pairs if possible.

2. After that, we’ll have you get into costume. Leave the coordination to us.

3. And for the 「Sugoroku de Pon」, everyone will be playing. We’ll have Organizer M explain it to you right before the game starts.

4. Just make it exciting. We’ll do anything for good ratings.

That’s all.

「Aren’t people involved in TV always like that?」

「What do you think about what Hiiyo Ikusaba said earlier, Juugo?」

「You mean asking if Baba-san is a Leprechaun?」

「Yeah.」

「Umm, to be honest, I’ve started to think he isn’t.」

Looking at Baba-san’s light-hearted demeanor, it seems he’s genuinely trying to make the program exciting. So, is Baba-san just a producer and unrelated to the Leprechauns? Then, how are M or the Leprechauns getting Baba-san and his team to cooperate?

Despite how influential the Leprechauns seem to be, their true nature remains completely vague.

「If that producer Baba were a Leprechaun, I’d have tried to get everything out of him.」

「Don’t say scary things while looking like a killer, please.」

But, well I can understand how Tetsu-kun feels.

His goal is to bring back Yun-chan. It’s clear that Yun-chan, who had been missing since the incident where she stabbed the club president, has reappeared as the organizer M and is acting as a part of the Leprechauns. However, the reason for her actions remains unclear.

Tetsu-kun’s theory is that the Leprechauns are blackmailing her in some way.

Tonight, watching Yun-chan acting as Organizer M, I can sense the presence of someone else behind her actions. A being behind Yun-chan.

But what I fear the most is the deduction made by President Yuga that Tetsu-kun told me about: Yun-chan is already dead.

That conclusion was drawn by President Yuga after putting together incidents surrounding the 《ruins》 at South Red Mall. But even so, here she is in front of us walking normally. That can’t be right.

Yet on the other hand, it’s also true that I can’t fully deny it.

Since coming to Nanaejima, I’ve met a girl’s ghost and learned about the trove of century’s old treasures she collected from around the world during her lifetime.

Ryugajou Nanana and the Nanana collection. A collection of treasures said to grant any wish if all are assembled. Now that I know they exist and have even acquired and used them, I can’t say that such an unrealistic notion couldn’t happen.

「If only we could ask Yun-chan directly…」

「…and if only she’d talk to us.」

Tetsu-kun’s profile, looking a bit burdened with thought, caught my attention.

「Yama-kun, it looks like you’ve also managed to advance.」

In the midst of this, the student council president of Seventh High School, Asumi Nishi, approached us with a bright smile and began walking next to me.

「Hello Nishi-san. About… uh, Taisei.」

It was extremely awkward to bring up Taisei Amagi, Nishi-san’s teammate who had been eliminated in the first stage, but she gave a wry smile when I mentioned his name.

「I’ve heard the report from Misao-kun. It seems that your club president really did a number on him.」

「A report? How?」

Misao Imawano, a member of Nishi-san’s group, was also eliminated in the first stage and shouldn’t be here.

In response she laughed and said, 「Let’s call it a trade secret」, which gave me a hunch. Most likely, it has to do with a Nanana collection’s power that Nishi-san’s group possesses.

「It seems like your club president is quite the schemer.」

「I’m really sorry about… you know. Even though it was our president who pulled the stunt, I just don’t have the words to respond.」

「Don’t sweat it. This is just the nature of competition. More importantly, Yama-kun, about that guy beside you…」

She pointed at Tetsu-kun who was facing away, next to me.

「Oh, what about Tetsu-kun?」

「I’ve been curious since the tram, but he is indeed Tsujimi-kun, right?」

At her words, Tetsu-kun reluctantly stopped walking, and so Nishi-san and I also stopped.

「It’s been a long time, Nishi.」

「It’s been a long time!? Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you.」

She approached Tetsu-kun with a very serious expression.

「Why?」

「Because… because you dropping out was… my fault…」

Tetsu-kun let out a deep sigh.

「Don’t flatter yourself, Nishi.」

「Huh?」

「I didn’t drop out because of you. It was just the result of me following my own beliefs」

Tetsu-kun’s tone was somewhat dismissive.

「But…」

「I’ve come to think that things turned out for the best.」

「For the best? You were expelled from the Fifth High School! That can’t be right! The misconduct at that time… it’s inexcusable!」

Nishi-san was seething with anger and frustration, but Tetsu-kun remained calm.

「I see the futility of the title of ‘correctness.’ And the realize that justice doesn’t exist in this world.」

「That’s not true, justice does exist! Righteousness should be recognized, and wrongdoings should be corrected!」

In contrast to a somewhat cynical Tetsu-kun, Nishi-san was fiercely holding onto her beliefs.

「Either way, it’s something I’ve lost interest in.」

「Please don’t say such sad things. Because you were there, I was able to… we were all able to fight back then. And even now, I can keep trying my best.」

Nishi-san looked down, and Tetsu-kun turned away awkwardly.

「So I heard you became student council president at the Seventh High School.」

She looked up in surprise at his words.

「…You knew?」

「It’s not a big island. When you become that famous, it’s hard not to hear your name.」

Tetsu-kun answered bluntly, but looked at Nishi-san with a kind expression.

「You’ve done well.」

The moment she heard Tetsu-kun’s words, tears sprang to Nishi-san’s eyes.

「Yeah, I’ve done well.」

She nodded repeatedly, acknowledging her own efforts, which made me feel misty-eyed.

Good for you, Nishi-san.

「Wait, hold on a second… I’m sorry to interrupt this touching reunion, but are Nishi-san and Tetsu-kun… are you two acquainted?」

He seems pretty close with a cute girl who is a student council president from another school. As a classmate and close friend it makes me very curious.

「Yeah, Tsujimi-kun and I were classmates back at Fifth High School.」

「I see, former classmates. You seem quite close. …Wait a minute, doesn’t this seem strange?」

「? What’s strange, Yama-kun?」

「Because Nishi-san, you’re a third-year in high school, even though you’re petite, right?」

「It’s not about height! Don’t say things like Taisei! …By the way, I am a third-year, what about it?」

「Well, I’m currently a second-year in high school.」

「They say you look menacing.」

「My fierce look is irrelevant! Don’t talk like Tensai! You’re just retaliating for earlier. So what if you’re a sophomore?」

「Well, Tetsu-kun is my classmate, you know?」

At that instant, every emotion drained from Nishi-san’s face. Then, with a mechanical gigi sound, she turned her head towards Tetsu-kun. I also directed my gaze at Tetsu-kun. Seeing our glares, Tetsu nodded with a grim expression.

「That’s right. I’m doing my second year in high school again.」

Upon hearing that, Nishi-san, who had just stopped crying from the earlier touching moment, burst into tears even more profusely than before.

「It’s my fault, I made Tsujimi-kun repeat a year! I turned him into a dropout in life!」

「Who’s a dropout in life? That’s a rude assumption of those who have repeated a grade.」

「But, but…」

「Originally, I had no intention of going back to high school. But as things happened, I ended up going one more time. So you don’t have to worry about it, Nishi.」

「Really?」

「Yes. So, stop crying. I’ve told you before, I don’t do well with women’s tears.」

Tetsu-kun took a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to Nishi-san.

「I’m sorry.」

Receiving it embarrassingly, Nishi-san wiped the corners of her eyes with apparent joy.

Seeing their interaction, I nodded deeply.

「…It seems you went through a lot, Tsujimi-senpai.」

「Oi, Juugo. Why are you suddenly speaking so formally?」

「Well, that’s not how it is, Tsujimi-senpai. I have always been polite to you.」

「Don’t lie! And stop reacting like you just found out your classmate was actually a sempai because he repeated a grade! It’s kind of hurtful!」

「Anyway, I can’t come to terms with it. Why does Tetsu-kun know so many cute little girls? Does this mean he’s a real lolicon?」

「Don’t say things that can be misunderstood!」

「Shut up! I’m jealous, damn it! Whether it’s Yun-chan or Nishi-san, both are tiny and super cute! And Nishi-san actually a beauty with a hidden bust that is much larger than it looks! She tricks people with bras that make her look smaller! Seriously, I’m so jealous!」