The Witch Trial Begins with the OO Buckethead Zombie

It's good to make mistakes, it's good to be wrong, it's good to let your animalistic instincts run wild.

It is this utterly wicked self that needs to be killed by your own hands.

You agree, right? Meruru... no, Miss Witch.

......

A plan is just a plan. Although he had already sketched out the final scene in his mind, what was more important for Hoshino Utsunomiya was to advance the current progress to the final result.

In other words, the problem has come full circle.

How could he possibly make contact with Meruru on Ice under these circumstances?

Let me apologize first.

Let me just give you a brief introduction.

"call."

Hoshino Utsunomiya got up and walked straight to Meruru on the ice.

Just as he was about to apologize, Tachibana Sherry, as if she had seen some lecherous ghost, pulled Ice Meluru behind her.

"Given Hoshino's recent misdeeds, she is hereby sentenced to be forbidden from speaking to Meruru!"

Sherry Tachibana waved her hand and delivered the verdict.

"Stop messing around." Utsunomiya Hoshino ignored him and waved his hand, saying, "Go away, go away."

The act of driving them away, the casual manner.

This immediately made Shirley's eyes widen even more.

"Well, you, the inherently evil Hoshino Utsunomiya, dare to drive away the righteous great detective!" Her aura rose steadily, her posture straightened, her voice was righteous and indignant, and she proclaimed loudly:

"—An even more serious offense!"

If we can't get through to each other, let's break it down.

Hoshino Utsunomiya raised his hand, trying to pull Sherry Tachibana away from her by grabbing her shoulder.

But before her outstretched hand could fall, it was blocked by Shirley Tachibana's outstretched hand.

As their palms met, Hoshino Utsunomiya gradually increased the force in his hand, but no matter how much he increased it, it seemed impossible for him to get past that hand.

Utsunomiya Hoshino: "...?"

No, this strength...?

"Hmph, I'm much stronger than you think."

Sherry Tachibana wore a smug and self-satisfied expression.

This isn't something that can be explained simply by a large amount of force, is it?!

Hoshino Utsunomiya was a little confused.

If he remembered correctly, his strength was not some superficial power gained through training.

It's not that it's a superhuman magic power that comes from the system's solid stat-boosting rewards!

Even though it was specifically noted that the range was within the limits of human capabilities, it's still not like they couldn't even defeat a girl like Tachibana Sherry, right?!

Hoshino Utsunomiya was somewhat skeptical, so he reached out his other hand and reached towards Sherry Tachibana's other shoulder.

"Slap, slap, slap, slap—"

Parry, pull back, reach out, parry.

A series of crackling sounds followed as every probing 'attack' from Utsunomiya Hoshino was blocked by Tachibana Sherry.

???

He seemed to be hallucinating the sound of "mu da mu da".

No, how can you use so much force?

It's such a soft little hand, but why does it hurt so much when it hits someone?

No, it seems I can't get past Tachibana Sherry.

As she stretched out her arms to the left and right, an aura of insurmountable obstacle emanated from her.

Before Utsunomiya Hoshino could make any further probes, Hasumi Ryoya waved to him.

"Alright, although I really want to say something to Hoshino-kun, judging from Meruru's behavior, she probably isn't in the mood." She sighed, waved her hand, and took Meruru's hand on the ice: "Please save your apology and any other words you want to say for now."

"Although the evening seems to have plenty of time according to the schedule, considering the rule in the Witch's Compendium that hot water is only available at this time of day..."

"I think we should finish eating early first, and then prepare to wash up."

"Otherwise it will be too late."

With that, she pulled Meru on the ice out of the courtroom.

Utsunomiya Hoshino: "..."

Otherwise, wouldn't it be too late?

...If I can't be chosen as the witch's target, then it's really too late.

Hoshino Utsunomiya wanted to catch up, but Sherry Tachibana stood in his way like an iron wall, blocking his path.

A slender body, thin arms, and strange strength.

"Why are you stopping me...?"

Hoshino Utsunomiya was in a real bind.

Hasumi Ryoa and Ice Meluru walked away.

Nikaido Hiro grabbed Kinosaki Noa again and approached him.

"Stop fighting, let's eat."

With that, she pulled Noah along and walked out of the courtroom.

Sherry Tachibana and Hoshino Utsunomiya exchanged a glance, and Sherry quickly raised her hands.

"Reconciliation! Ceasefire! Hoshino, please have dinner with me!"

Sherry Tachibana, who was just stopping him, is now shamelessly reaching out her hands to him.

To put it bluntly, setting aside her youthful energy and pretty face, disregarding Shirley Tachibana's thick skin, and ignoring the atmosphere of her being by my side all day, let's ignore her youthful energy and pretty face.

It's a matter of fact.

He really had the urge to punch her in the face.

In the end, you're not familiar with me, are you? And you're not familiar with Meruru either.

Miss Witch cried. She really does cry a lot, and when she cries, she really does look like a victim who needs comforting.

but......

"I don't want to swear." Facing Tachibana Sherry's outstretched hand, Utsunomiya Hoshino simply warned coldly, "So that's it. You go eat your meal, I'll go eat mine, and we'd better not contact each other again."

This was arguably the first time he had so directly expressed his 'malice' to a young girl.

But Hoshino Utsunomiya felt that the fact that he didn't slap away the outstretched hand showed that he was calm enough.

He didn't want to say anything swearing.

I had no interest in arguing with Tachibana Sherry anymore.

This girl, who calls herself a great detective, has been shrouded in an inexplicable aura from the very beginning.

"Eh eh eh eh—"

Sherry Tachibana's expression quickly fell; she looked genuinely surprised.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, Hoshino, Hoshino, Hoshino, Hoshino, Hoshino—"

The girl's smile vanished, her eyes filled with sadness, and her expression grew increasingly anxious.

Ignoring Tachibana Sherry's rapid-fire cries, Hoshino Utsunomiya avoided her outstretched hand that tried to stop him, his face cold, and walked past her without pausing for a moment as he left the courtroom.

What do you not want? What are you in such a hurry for?

Do you think you're joking with me?

Are we that close?

Sherry Tachibana was extremely anxious to catch up, but Emma Sakuraba, who hadn't left yet, stepped past her first, passed through the courtroom door, and naturally approached Hoshino Utsunomiya.

"Hoshino." Emma Sakuraba tried to strike up a conversation with Hoshino Utsunomiya in a low voice.

Upon glancing over and seeing Emma approaching, Hoshino Utsunomiya's expression softened considerably.

He responded softly, "What's wrong?"

"Um, if Hoshino really has something to say to Meruru-chan..." Seeing that she didn't receive the same treatment as Tachibana Sherry, Sakura Emma breathed a slight sigh of relief. She clenched her hands and whispered:

"You can tell me, and I'll try to secretly pass the message on to Meruru!"

Even though the world is so cold, seeing Emma being so careful and hardworking still makes Hoshino Utsunomiya feel much better.

Unfortunately, it wasn't appropriate for Emma to relay what he wanted to say to Meruru privately.

......wrong.

It seems possible.

“…Then…” After thinking for a moment, Hoshino Utsunomiya said, “Could you please arrange for Meruru to meet me alone in the flower field after dinner?”

If it's just about conveying a message to meet, it shouldn't be a problem.

"Huh? Alone? Hmm, I see..." Sakura Emma was a little surprised. She hadn't expected that Utsunomiya Hoshino would actually ask her for this favor.

While feeling happy to be needed for being able to help her friend, she quickly noticed the details of Hoshino Utsunomiya's request.

To meet alone.

After a slight hesitation, she nodded.

The two turned and walked into the cafeteria side by side.

Only Tachibana Sherry, who had just come out of the courtroom, remained, watching the two figures disappear, speechless.