The Witch Trial Begins with the OO Buckethead Zombie

That voice... I feel like I've heard it somewhere before.

Hoshino Utsunomiya couldn't pinpoint the exact location, but he could make a rough estimate of the girl's appearance.

Black hair, short stature, clear yellow eyes, orange cat-ear-like hair accessories—her overall look is cat-like.

Wearing headphones, it's unclear why they're allowed to bring headphones into jail, but considering that Noah Kinosaki also has a spray paint can and Anan Natsume has a sketchbook, Hoshino Utsunomiya chooses to ignore the issue for the time being.

The familiar collar—he had lost count of how many girls in this prison he had seen wearing it.

One shoulder was exposed, a white tank top with black and white stripes that leaned towards a prison style, or perhaps a jacket? The pattern was quite varied, and the staggered design seemed to just cover the hem of the skirt.

The skirt, which was only partially visible under the coat, was a very ordinary white dress. However, for some reason, it had decorative little devil wings that extended out from under the skirt.

She had a very unique stitched plush doll clipped to her waist.

As for her legs, one of them was bare and tied with a belt, while the other was wearing a black and white striped sock. Of course, both legs also seemed to be wearing separate bubble socks.

It's very thick.

Incidentally, she had two different colored manicures on her five fingers, and a small tuft of orange highlights on her forehead that Utsunomiya Hoshino had overlooked earlier.

It's hard to say whether it's fashionable or not, but the outfit is certainly quite unique.

"A woman who immediately becomes overly eager to show off and build connections; a woman who immediately points a gun and fires at someone; a woman who acts all mysterious and pretentious; a woman who clings to every man she sees..."

She immediately launched into a barrage of attacks, but she stopped talking the only time her gaze brushed past Hoshino Utsunomiya.

"I'm too lazy to argue with you guys."

With that, Ze Du Ke Ke pushed open the door and left without looking back.

Therefore, the only one who did not express a statement was Ice Meruru.

"Um, well, I, well, it's just that, ugh..." Under the spotlight, Meru was caught in a dilemma.

While Meruru was making soft moaning sounds on the ice, Hoshino Utsunomiya decisively spoke up:

There is no need to draw clear boundaries.

We can't wait for her to actually make any decisions on her own.

If Hoshino Utsunomiya hasn't chosen a target yet, it seems like a good option to turn around and try to win over Hanna Tono, who clearly has a good initial impression of him.

But he didn't want to change his goal.

“We will inevitably run into each other in the future, having to live in this mansion,” said Hoshino Utsunomiya. “I don’t want to have to avoid anyone I bump into wherever I go in the future.”

"We can act independently, but there's no need to escalate the situation to the point of hostility."

He said.

“However, personally speaking, I still have the intention to travel with Meruru.” Hoshino Utsunomiya changed the subject and walked closer to Meruru: “After all, it seems that Nanoha Kaori has a lot of misunderstandings about me.”

I probably won't be able to get close to her until the misunderstanding is cleared up.

"So, Meruru, do you want to come with me?" he asked.

Actually, he really wanted to use the lines from before the first time he went back in time.

From dialogue to actions, as long as the timing is right, even if the effect cannot be the same, it can be similar.

At least in terms of quickly building rapport, that formula seems to work quite well.

But the witch no longer kills, and saying such things without a declaration of murder seems too incongruous. With slight modifications, it would sound like a confession upon meeting.

Let's start by being friends.

Confessing your feelings right away doesn't feel like you're trying to be in a relationship; it just makes you a scumbag who preys on others' bodies.

Anyway, if the witch really isn't there, the rules really won't change this time, and there should be plenty of time.

"Huh?" Meluru on Ice was clearly taken aback, her pretty face flushing slightly as she hesitated a little. "If I could say that..."

She whispered her agreement.

"Whoa..." Hannah Tono, standing beside her, couldn't help but gasp in amazement at her reaction.

That's a very ambiguous statement.

"That's all."

Hoshino Utsunomiya turned her head and opened her hands.

"Disperse operations?"

"..." Hasumi Ryoya glanced at Ice Meluru, then at him, and nodded slightly: "Split up."

"There's a map in the Witch's Compendium, so let's explore it using the map as a guide."

She then revealed her next plan.

“I’ll go to the cafeteria with them for a meal,” Hoshino Utsunomiya replied.

No matter how many times I go back in time, the first thing I always have to do is eat.

......

"Reya is actually, well, not a bad person."

Continuing on the topic that had been left unresolved, Hoshino Utsunomiya said this to Hannah Tono at the dining table.

"Is she someone who likes being the center of attention, or someone who enjoys being watched? She's the kind of person who likes to be in the limelight."

I remember it was like that when I was attacking Tachibana Sherry in court. Maybe it's a common problem for stage actors? They always imagine themselves in the spotlight, and that's probably what it feels like.

"..." Tono Hannah gave a slightly strange look: "...I know she's definitely not a bad person, I just don't like her attitude."

Before the warden appeared, they had actually done a routine self-introduction at the suggestion of Ryota Hasumi.

Unsurprisingly, when introducing herself, Tono Hanna used her usual 'desuwa' verbal tic, and misspoke twice while saying 'Nice to meet you'.

Then she heard Hasumi Ryoua's laughter.

Hasumi Ryoga meant no harm and quickly apologized to her.

She just couldn't bear the thought, so she couldn't hold hands with Hasumi Ryoya in a friendly manner.

"However..." With great reluctance, Hannah Tono stuffed the sticky stuff into her mouth, her little face scrunched up in a grimace.

"It's amazing that you two can eat this stuff so nonchalantly."

Perhaps because the rules had reverted, the diet that the witch had changed had returned to the same unpalatable paste as the first time.

Upon entering the cafeteria and seeing the paste-like substance in the basin, Hoshino Utsunomiya immediately recalled the taste of it.

He was already mentally prepared, so he wouldn't hesitate and force the food into his mouth only to show a disgusted expression later.

He can eat a lot, but if he could, he still wouldn't want to eat.

Let's go to the warehouse and steal some canned goods or something.

What a waste of food.

but......

In my memory, Meruru would also frown and not be able to stand eating this stuff.

So, does that mean I can accept it now that I've already tried it?

Hoshino Utsunomiya didn't pay much attention.

"It's not as bad as I imagined. If you can't stand it, just swallow it. Anyway, you don't need to chew it."

After casually replying, Hoshino Utsunomiya turned to look at Meruru on the ice:

"Does Meruru not like talking while eating?"

He just asked that casually.

"Huh?" Listening from the side, Meruru on Ice was a little surprised to be called on.

She waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "No, no, no, that's not how it is."

"It's just... I'm a little unsure what to say."

What can I say?

What I want to say, what I want to ask, what is appropriate to say, what is appropriate to ask.

"It's okay, just say what you want to say, follow your heart." Hoshino Utsunomiya swallowed the last bite, put down his spoon, and rested his chin on his hand as he looked at her.

Meru hesitated for a while, glancing at Hoshino Utsunomiya and then at Hannah Tono.

"Well then, I'll ask you something..." She looked up: "Hoshino, you..."

"—Do you know any witches?"

......

Chapter 140 Kid, You Can Draw

Melulu on Ice didn't intend to ask directly.

Really.

But once he said that, she couldn't hold back anymore.

It seems like I can ask that.

It seems like we can get the answer.

So she couldn't help but ask.

Even though Hannah Tono was listening right next to her.

"A witch?" Hannah Tono glanced at Hoshino Utsunomiya's empty bowl and was slightly impressed, but her attention was quickly drawn to Meruru Hikami's words.

She thought for a moment, then a look of sudden realization dawned on her face:

"Oh, I understand, desuwa."

"Meruru is asking Hoshino if he knows Rhea, right?" she speculated based on her own understanding. "After all, Hoshino clearly seemed to know Rhea quite well just now."

It's like someone who likes to be noticed, enjoys being watched, and is happy to be in the limelight.

If you haven't been exposed to it, you probably wouldn't understand this kind of thing.

However, Rhea didn't seem to recognize Hoshino.