nhp | (Sutamai) 'Placed Under a Spell of Popularity', Part 6

45.

Thus, the story closes with our heroine—who was not popular in the least—spending the rest of her blissful days together with her friends in her own unpopular way.

The End.

-Home-

Rei: Wait, you can’t just end it there!

I’m supposed to live happily ever after with my one and only true love!!!

…… W-What am I saying??

(I feel like I’m still dreaming within a dream……)

(Oh god, more importantly, I have work to go to! I need to wash my face, no, first I need to get the hot water running!!)

Rushing to get ready straight after leaving the bed was my everyday reality.

TV: “A good morning to all! Today’s date is October 31st and that means it’s Halloween, folks!”

—or so I had thought.

-Downtown-

Imaoji: …… Yes. Understood. Okay, bye.

Rei: (I honestly didn’t think that we’d end up having to carry out recon in the business district on Halloween day……)

Imaoji: Sorry to keep you waiting. I have instructions from Seki-san.

As soon as you can confirm that the target is in the clear, then you’re free to head on home, Rei-san.

Rei: Just me? What about you, Imaoji-san?

Imaoji: I have some small ongoing work with my other matters so I’ll be heading over there.

Rei: You’re leaving now? Don’t tell me it’s quite the high alert emergency……

Imaoji: No, not at all. It’s only a part of the recon step so no need to worry.

Rei: Wait, Imaoji-san……

Imaoji: Is something wrong?

Rei: N-No, nothing. Please make sure to watch out for yourself.

Imaoji: Well now, seeing as you’ve stopped me from being on my way, I wonder if you’ll allow me this opportunity to say a few words?

Rei: ?

Imaoji: I think that hairstyle you’re wearing today that shows off your ears really suits you.

Rei: Oh……

Imaoji: See you then.

Rei: (W-What was that about?)

(Even though he praised me, my heart didn’t so much as skip a beat. More like, what’s with this stirring in my chest instead!?)

47.

-Business District-

Seki: “Are you sure, Izumi? If you return to the office now, then you’ll be returning home late again today as well.”

Rei: Yeah, it’s fine! The paperwork has been piling up anyways, and I have to write the reports too.

About the case that I was doing recon on just before…… The target was in the clear.

So we’ll have to pin down a whole new suspect and all.

Seki: “...... You’re right. It’s true that I would be very grateful if you could come back to the office.”

“But you didn’t take your lunch break today either, did you? It’s best that you get some rest.”

Rei: Yes, I understand. Thank you for worrying.

[Beep Beep Beep……]

Rei: (Maybe I should take Seki-san up on his advice and have a short break……)

Pedestrian: YEEAAAHH!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Rei: (...... Yeah, doing it here is impossible!)

(Every restaurant looks packed, and it sounds like there are a lot of super spirited people around too.)

(Maybe I’ll take a break at a convenience store close to the Ministry……)

???: Trick or Treat.

Rei: !!

(Why is this person here??)

Kujo: …… Did that not come across correctly? I had thought that this greeting was popular even in Japan.

Shindo: She was probably just taken aback by running into you here at a place like this. The timing was too perfect.

Kujo: Indeed, if we were to consider how often I usually leave the mansion, then this might be seen as laudable.

Rei: Y-Yeah. So even you come out at night to the business district, Kujo-san.

Miyase: Sorry to have kept you waiting, Kujo-san. I’ve finished up with purchasing the liver, so let’s be on our way.

Rei: Even you were here as well, M-Miyase-san!

Miyase: Yes, that’s correct?

I was informed that Kujo-san would be going out so I’m having him let me accompany him.

Kaname: Why are you holding your head, Onee-san?

Rei: …… For some reason, it was out of reflex.

Shindo: So what’s your reply for Kujo?

Rei: Huh?

Kujo: I’m sure that I said, “Trick or Treat” to you. I’d love to hear your answer on that.

Rei: (Does this mean that Kujo-san is asking me for candy!?)

49.

-Business District-

Kaname: …… Why are you freezing up? Could it be that you don’t have any candy on you?

Rei: No, err, even if you suddenly ask, it’s not like I have candy with me……

Oh, I know!

(If I remember correctly, then in my bag there should still be……)

Kujo: What’s this? A pill case?

Rei: Hehehe, they’re mint tablets.

Kujo: So these are mint tablets. I’ve heard of them before, but I’ve never had the opportunity to eat them.

Miyase: They leave your mouth feeling refreshed so I quite like them. I believe that you will find them to your fancy as well, Kujo-san.

Shindo: It’s a cheap type of candy, but it’s probably new and different for you in particular, Kujo.

Rei: (Thank god, he’s taken to it better than I would've thought!)

Then you can have it, case and all, as a present! Sorry that it’s opened, but please accept it!

Kujo: …… Nothing’s coming out. Do you think that you can open this, Kaname?

Kaname: ……

Onee-san… Isn’t this empty?

Rei: Oh my god, what!? Let me see!

You’re right… No matter how much I shake it, nothing’s coming out!!

Shindo: Even being an idiot has its limits, you know.

Kaname: Well, it’s a typical butt of the joke for her.

Rei: I-I’m so sorry!

(To think that I would gift Kujo-san trash of all things!)

Kujo: I have grasped your intentions with clarity.

In other words, you have chosen “trick” instead of “treat”.

Rei: Err, umm…… Just what sort of tricks do you have in mind?

Kujo: …… Follow me and you’ll understand soon enough.

Rei: (...... He has a powerful aura to him as usual. I wonder what’s exactly in store for me……)

50.

-Private Room-

Kujo: ……

Shindo: ……

Kaname: ……

Miyase: Oh, Kujo-san, it looks like the food we ordered has arrived.

Waitress: Here are your orders! The Halloween Ghost Parfait and the Jack O’Lantern Pasta!

And also the Monster’s Mischief Burger, and the Witch's Welcome Juice!

Kujo: What a colorful spread. I apologize Go, but there’s one more thing that I wish to request.

Miyase: Oh, why of course, I understand. I will go have it prepared for you.

Please do excuse me.

Kujo: Now then, there’s no need to stand on formal grounds. Please eat your fill.

Rei: …… Kujo-san.

Just what exactly about this elaborate meal is a “trick”!?

You’re not going to tell me that everything here is a part of some Russian roulette with tabasco sauce in it or something, right!?

Kaname: (Oh, she’s finally had enough with holding herself back on the retorts.)

Shindo: (Oi, is that part really what you’re going to comment on?)

(The food isn’t “elaborate”, it’s “cute”, right!?)

Kujo: No, there’s nothing particularly prepared inside.

When I mentioned that I wanted to eat something with a Halloween spirit, Shindo offered to make a reservation.

Shindo: Kirishima has another matter to attend to today, so I was able to freely book an ideal place to eat.

Rei: I see. So this is your ideal place……

(I wonder how far I can take my remarks on this over-the-top fairytale esque dimension.)

Shindo: Your face says that you have a complaint of some sort.

Rei: Nope! Not at all!

I just didn’t think that Kujo-san was the type to look forward to Halloween, so it’s almost a little unexpected is all.

Kujo: I suppose. It’s been a while since I, myself, have come down to the business district.

But it’s not a bad idea to get lost within a bustling crowd of people every now and then.

That feeling was made stronger today.

Rei: Did something really good happen?

Kujo: I ran into you, of course. What a wonderful coincidence.

Rei: !!

51.

-Private Room-

Rei: Kujo-san…… Are you really that happy to have met up with me?

Kujo: Naturally. There’s no reason for me to lie to you.

Rei: Th-Thank you for your thoughts.

How do I put it, um, I feel really grateful and moreover, it’s an honor!

Shindo: (Ordinarily, Kujo doesn’t involve himself with people. Has his bad habit made a reappearance?)

Kaname: (No, this is……)

Kujo: If it’s you, then on top of not refusing my invitation to dinner, it’s a guarantee that you’ll eat the food deliciously.

Rei: (I’m someone to satisfy his appetite!?)

Shindo: Oh, right, so someone like a workout buddy who definitely won’t turn you down if you ask them to join you.

Kaname: There’s something off about that example……

Rei: …… Yeah, about that.

Kujo: Is there something else that you’d like to say?

Rei: N-Nope.

(Even if my mouth is pried open, no way can I tell them that it was an embarrassing misunderstanding on my part……)

Kujo: However, when all is said and done, it looks like I was able to have another meaningful exchange today.

Rei: A meaningful…… exchange?

Kujo: You said that you were on your way back from a recon investigation.

Taking into account this time of the year and this city, then in due course, the number of plausible cases are narrowed down.

Was there not a rumor going around amongst the health care professionals a little while back, Shindo?

Shindo: …… Are you referring to the matter of that epidemic where people are receiving injections of a dangerous drug in a back-alley clinic in Shinjuku?

Rei: Is that—! Could there be a connection between that and the medical representative we’re pursuing who went missing?

Kujo: As I had thought. I wasn’t mistaken in my reasoning.

Kaname: (I’m sure that his real intentions lie in wanting to shut down that risky company that his predecessor was investing in.)

(...... But jeez, he really isn’t being honest with himself.)

53.

-Private Room-

Kujo: …… That’s about all that we’re able to say on our end.

Rei: Thank you. I will report this to my superior once I return to the office and we will resume with the investigation.

Thank you very much for imparting such valuable information on us!!

Kujo: No need to mention it. This is, in my own way, a “trick” from me to you.

Rei: Huh? Which bit of it?

Kaname: Probably the part where even though it’s Halloween, there’s zero fun to be had from this conversation.

You started making your work face half-way through after all.

Shindo: You’ve also barely even touched the specially made Halloween food.

Rei: Oh, yeah, you’re right…… I was completely absorbed in everything else that was happening.

Miyase: And for Izumi-san, who’s always endlessly working, this here is a present from Kujo-san.

Rei: Miyase-san!?

Kujo: It’s a cake for you to take with you. Please eat it with your colleagues.

Rei: I can’t possibly accept this cake in addition to the information that you’ve provided us.

Kujo: No need to be modest.

As it would appear that I have mistakenly cast a spell so that you devote yourself to nothing but work.

Rei: Err……

Shindo: What’s wrong? You’ve suddenly started turning pale.

Rei: …… No, it’s nothing. I’m fine.

Even if it is Halloween, it’s not like I had plans outside of work to begin with.

(Why was I suddenly startled just now?)