I commute to school as usual. It's still kinda weird if I think about what kind of being I am, and that I just mingle here with everyone else. It feels a bit like I'm pretending extra hard to be normal while sitting here on the bus.

Eventually, I arrive. School still stands, which is a plus. Also, I got a lot more aware of that weave that I accidentally spread throughout the whole campus. It's a bit weird to think that I could control everything within this area, but I don't plan to abuse that. Who knows, maybe I can even prevent some accidents if I'm literally holding everything together here.

Class fortunately proceeds without any peculiar events. It seems even Chiaki noticed that I'm in dire need of some peace and quiet, and willfully reduced her antics to a somewhat manageable minimum. This leaves some processing capacity of mine free to deal with the stuff on my list. In general, aside from school, it's preparation day. The occultism club wants to go over their plan again and prepare for it during the breaks. I told them that I'm not all that interested in the planning phase, so I could arrange that they'd just brief me afterwards. Which means that, now that school is finished for the day, I'm met with a rather unexpected sight.

"Jounichiro and Zi-" (I)

Before I can speak that out loud, a death glare and a hand closing in on my mouth make me stop.

"How many more times do I have to tell you that it's 'Karin' in this place?!" (Z)

Yeah, I can't argue that I'm the one to blame here.

"Oh, sorry. I tend to forget." (I)

"I know." (Z)

She's basically deadpanning here.

"But how does it come that you two, of all people, are showing up here together?" (I)

"Ms., ahem, Caspers is our link to the others. We had to involve her to relay messages and general agendas. For our special project, she's of utmost importance, as abillionsoulsscreamingechoesthroughamyriadoftimes. Urgh. I still didn't get that out." (J)

"Yeah, that happens if you link your brain to an outer god's processing unit." (Z)

I'm a bit at a loss here.

"Still, I wouldn't have thought that you would have any interest in working together with them... Karin." (I)

"How wondrous, you're learning. And no, I'm not particularly interested. You're confusing motivation with requirement here. I'll say, the plan has merits. At least, once it concludes, we may finally have dealt with the whole school wonder issue for good. And afterwards I want to never again hear anything about it!" (Z)

Well, even if she says so, she's helping out and is quite helpful it seems. So I think it's admirable what she's doing.

"Spchhh"

"Damnit! Who shook my Coke?! The can literally exploded right in my face!"

"Then don't shake it so much before opening."

"I literally didn't even touch it till just now!"

Huh, that poor boy. Even if it dries, he'll be sticky till he gets home as badly as he got just sprinkled.

"Zi- Karin?" (I)

Why isn't she reacting?

"Karin?!" (I)

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"Y-yes?" (Z)

"Is something wrong? You looked absent with your mind, for a moment." (I)

Which means a lot given how terrified she was of me in the past.

"It's nothing. Just a whiff of negative emotion. That's all." (Z)

Oh right. Someone venting about having to clean themselves and being otherwise sticky for the rest of the day should be quite the treat for her.

"Ahem, to get back to our plan, as we told you before, we want to lure the most popular kids after school into the premises, where they'll meet the wonders personally." (J)

"So basically you want to do the extreme version of a haunted house. I like that plan. If those kids can actually retain their sanity, they'll make truly appetizing treats." (Z)

I don't even know if I can rebuke her for saying this, as this whole thing was kinda approved by me.

"We worked quite a lot to keep the new rumors as close as possible to the originals, while getting rid of the need for killing. Once we've established the different wonders in accordance with their new rumors, they should take effect. That is, if they don't reject them for compatibility reasons." (J)

"In general, they all agreed. Some of them are less enthusiastic about this than others, but it should be fine. The new rumors should fit them without a significant reimagination. So basically it only depends on you." (Z)

"Me!?" (I)

"Of course. You are the seventh wonder, our boss. Also, according to the plan, you'll have to guide them to the different stations. It's not like they'd go voluntarily." (Z)

Wait, I have to play horror tour guide?

"Why am I hearing of this just now?" (I)

"Because you regularly fail to listen." (Z)

"That has nothing to do with this! You said I'd have to make sure the ghosts won't suddenly opt for killing, nothing about being the tour promoter!" (I)

Jounichiro squirms back, but Zika seems unbothered, although still a little absent-minded.

"Mhm. If you've got a better idea, I'm all ears. You know it wouldn't work very well to explain how the kiddos all get along with the wonders. The very same are bound to their respective realms and, in addition, are rather unreliable. And I certainly won't do it if I already have to pose for them at my station. Of all the wonders, you are the obvious choice, as you don't claim a restricted realm." (Z)

She seems quite set on that idea. I'm sure I could somehow force her to do my bidding, but I don't want to be that kind of person.

"Sigh. Alright. You already got a date?" (I)

"We-we're working on it. Yet I think we'll be ready shortly." (J)

At least something.

"I-if you'd excuse me. I need to go. Hanako was asking for help because all the toilets broke at her place. In exchange for helping clean up that mess, she promised to tell me some great secrets." (Jounichiro)

"What kind of secrets? She didn't look all that impressive to me." (I)

"It's pretty interesting. Because she's such a widespread rumor, while individually weak, the different versions are connected on some level. They're not quite the same, but share their minds. Not quite like a swarm intelligence, but rather a mind council. So she knows pretty great trivia." (J)

So he leaves. Well, if washing toilet water away is his definition of a good time. Ehm, why did Zika get that look?

"Is-" (I)

"SPLSSSSSSHHHHHHHH"

Wha- Did the vending machine just explode right next to us!?

"Who put a bomb into that thing?! All the cans and bottles are ruined!"

"Look, it completely flooded!"

Huh, that's weird. It looks like all the containers simultaneously burst. Even the non-carbonated drinks. Yet I didn't perceive any paranormal power to be at work here. I should have, shouldn't I?

"Zi-, Karin? That's weird, right? Would you know-" (I)

She's gone! Suddenly vanished!

"K-Karin? Karin?!" (I)

She isn't coming. Damn, I can't call her real name here, and for some reason, my mental calls don't work. I still feel that she's kinda there, but she won't respond. Just what happened?

Weird. But it's not like I can summon that demon back here by force, right among all the students. Even I can't cover that up without outright mind control of everyone around. Well, school's out anyway, so I guess I'll just head home. Maybe I'll summon her into my room once I got there. Though I don't think there's much reason for concern. My general surveillance doesn't even show as much as a ping, and I can't find anything off, even with all my sensorial powers combined. Well, then, let's just get back home.

"Iori Nomia?"

Huh? From my absentminded state, I suddenly look at a girl my age. Well, maybe one or two years older, hard to say. She's got a tomboy look. Prince-like face, blue eyes, and reddish-purple hair. Hope there are no issues with school regulations. That being said, in contrast to her looks, her lifeforce is a calm blue one. Although she's wearing one of our uniforms, I can't recall ever having seen her around the campus.

She still looks expectantly at me, as if waiting for an answer. Oh, damn, right.

"Yes?" (I)

"Oh, I got it right! Great! I was already concerned if I'd have to ask every single girl leaving. Iori is only a girl's name, right? Oh damn, having to include all the boys as well certainly wouldn't have made this any less of a hassle."

Okay, I said I don't judge people based on their souls, but her personality is a total mismatch. That's by no means calm and collected. Is she playing an act?

"Ehm, do we know each other?" (I)

"Oh, no, we don't. I'm just here on some official business. On that line of thought, could you just sign this, please?"

She hands me some unassuming papers, basically a handout. Before I take it, I first look at her.

"What is this?" (I)

"Regulations. Just a copy of the rules and that you're going to abide by them."

School regulations? Since when do we have to sign them? Sounds kinda fishy.

Still, can't hurt to take a look.

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The moment I touch the surface, my whole being starts screaming at me to be careful of that thing. I feel a primal panic I never knew before. Instantly, I let go, and instead of the few handouts I took, an outright grimoire drops to the ground.

"Oh damn. No reason to throw it down." (?)

"Wha-wha-wha..." (I)

What the heck? Not even Switchy made me feel like this. Not even my future self! What just happened?!

What- What-

"Just what are you?" (I)

"Oh, sorry, I didn't introduce myself. My name's Veo, and I'm an agent of order." (Veo)

She looks at me, completely innocently, giving me a toothy grin.

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