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“Aichou speaking. What are you calling for?”
“Hello, it’s Joujou. I am speaking with Mr. Mitsuo, correct?”
“Joujou¹…? Oh, you’re Mr. Ayumu. How can I help you?”

Judging from his voice, nothing had changed about him. It didn’t seem as if he had any connection to the vajra on Earth.

“Uhm… I’m calling to verify a few things.”
“To verify something? Is this related to Anazumu?”
“Yes.”

Previously, Mr. Mitsuo told us that he didn’t remember anything from 100 years ago. Though it would be good to verify this once more.

“Just to make sure, you still don’t recall anything from 100 years ago?”
“No… If I had to say, all that I remember is the shock caused by the transfer.”
“I see.”

So, he doesn’t remember anything, after all.

“Bro, ask him about the vajra next,” Kanata whispered into my ear.

That was fine, but still…

“Alright, alright, but could you guys stand a bit further from me?”
“We have to be this close if we want to hear what he says².”
“Hm~.”

Isn’t all five of them crowding around me to listen to the phone call a bit much? It’s still stifling hot, although winter is only one or two weeks away. I guess it can’t be helped. I’ll put up with the heat and continue my phone call.

“I-In that case, don’t you know anything about the vajra Indra, the sealing tool of the Guide?”
“Is this vajra from Indian mythology? No… I can’t say I remember anything.”

It sounded like he still didn’t recall those things. I was also convinced that he was the Guide, but… if he couldn’t remember anything, he wasn’t of any help.

“Ask him next about the Jizou statue, Bro.”
“Alright. Do you know anything about Genten Jizou, the famous statue in this city?”
“Gen… ten? No, nothing comes to mind.”
“It looks the same as the Jizou statue I used to send you back to Earth, Mr. Mitsuo.”
“Oh, that one. That kind of statue… now that you mention it-“

That seemed to have caused a reaction. I was curious what it reminded him of, but I missed it due to someone else making noise.

“Roasted sweet potatoes! Get them while they’re hot!”
“-is what I think…”

“Gah…”
“Bro, ask him to repeat that.”

I didn’t expect the sound of someone selling sweet potatoes would make it impossible to hear the crucial part at this hour. On the other hand, this was a residential area in late fall, so people selling them would obviously come here. Though I hadn’t eaten any so far, this season.

“Uhm, excuse me. There was a baked potato seller making noise. Could you repeat that once more? The part about the Jizou statue.”
“Of course, it’s no problem. What I was saying-“
“Roasted sweet potatoes! The best you’ll ever find!”
“Roasted sweet potatoes! The best you’ll ever find!”

“God damn it!”

What’s with this awful timing?

The sound was even louder now. It made me feel like puffing out my cheeks. No choice, I had to ask him to repeat that once more.

“I’m really sorry, could you…”
“Wait a moment, Bro,” Kanata stopped me.

What now?

“What’s wrong?”
“It feels like there’s something off. Let me try something.”
“Uhm?”

Kanata looked uncharacteristically serious. Was I the only one who hadn’t noticed that something was wrong? Rir and Shuu were also surveying the area restlessly.

“I’m going to shout loudly for a moment. Cover your ears.”
“Huh, what?”

“Hah…”

My brother took a deep breath and then let out a shout.

“Woah!! That shocked me!!!”
“Woah! That shocked me!”

“Huh?”

The moment Kanata shouted about his surprise for whatever reason, you could hear his shout come back in a smallish voice from some distance away.

In other words…

“Kanata, I’ll search over there,” Rir said.
“I’ll also go look,” Shuu agreed.
“…S-Same here,” Sakura added.
“Ayumu, keep talking so Mr. Mitsuo doesn’t escape.”

Everyone was suddenly moving. It looked like I was the only one who didn’t notice what was going on. Maybe it was one of those things you didn’t notice when they were happening to you.

“Yep, just like Mika-nee said, please keep talking, Bro. I’ll search over there. Let’s go, everyone.”

At Kanata’s words, everyone was about to rush off. Only, to immediately come to a halt. As for the reason…

“Well… you found me, so I guess I have no choice.”

Mr. Mitsuo, in his clown make-up, emerged from the shadow of the opposite house. He wore what looked like a pitch-black coat.

1. He says “nariue” in the original, which I assume is an error.
2. They all know him, so why not put him on speaker?

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