The Witch Trial Begins with the OO Buckethead Zombie

...but she didn't.

Hiro Nikaido was surprised to find that she could no longer feel nauseous or vomit. Looking into those lifeless eyes, she couldn't say a word.

I... I think I really made a mistake.

This is the answer I perceived in a daze.

—If he hadn't clutched his chest with his eyes gradually regaining clarity as the owl began to explain the situation.

Nikaido Hiro felt he would probably admit his mistake at this point.

But why has he recovered now?

Did he finally manage to sort out his emotions after waking up, or did his brain's self-protection mechanism save him?

Or perhaps it was simply because he heard the warden's words, and the sense of danger he felt made his reason suppress his emotions.

Or is it...?

The questioning words, the step forward, the natural conversation with Rhea, and then the expression that seemed to turn into a headache.

Did I hit you too hard? Is your injury still not healed?

...No, no, that's not right.

Thinking too much, thinking too chaotically.

After introducing herself at the self-introduction event hosted by a woman named Hasumi Ryoua, Nikaido Hiro decided to sort out her thoughts and feelings.

After all, things can't continue like this.

Snow's death was irreversible, and it would be even more inappropriate to say that I would also die in this prison.

Witches and such, evil incarnations that bring disaster, Hoshino Utsunomiya and such...

One by one, do them one by one, one by one.

Take a deep breath, and then...

At the moment when Hasumi Ryoga suggested that they go together in pairs and then extended an invitation to herself.

He stepped to the side and reached out his hand to Hoshino Utsunomiya.

"Please let me go with him."

Nikaido Hiro said this.

The moment the words left her lips, Hasumi Ryoua's face crumbled as she smiled and reached out her hand to her, but she quickly put on a smile again.

"Um..." There was a slight hint of reluctance in Hasumi Ryoa's voice: "Miss Nikaido, he, is a boy?"

Nikaido Hiro nodded slightly:

"Ok, I know."

"—" An uncontrollable breathing sound came from Hasumi Rieya's throat. She turned her head and looked at Sakura Emma: "Then, does Miss Sakura Emma have no objections?"

If Nikaido Hiro steals Utsunomiya Hoshino away, then as his girlfriend, Emma Sakuraba would have to explore separately from him. Could she tolerate that? Could she accept it? Would she just stand by and watch another woman with her boyfriend?

Emma's words don't matter.

Rhea Hasumi's expectations were shattered by Hiro Nikaido's cold words, who spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and Emma Sakuraba did not refuse as harshly as she had hoped.

She simply gave Nikaido Hiro a pitiful look, appearing very soft and weak.

"Eh... Hiro-chan..."

There was a soft, mournful sound.

How could you be so pathetic, Emma Sakura!

"What about Hoshino? Hoshino would probably want to be with Sakura, right?!"

Without even using honorifics, Hasumi Ryoya hurriedly pressed Utsunomiya Hoshino for an answer.

Faced with Hasumi Ryoa's expectant gaze, Utsunomiya Hoshino simply shook his head:

"...There's no need for that."

Is it possible to abandon a girlfriend?

I misjudged you, Utsunomiya Hoshino! You betrayed my trust!

"Gurgle..."

The situation is getting out of control, and the image and reputation that were originally built seem to be rapidly disappearing.

The more I could feel my face being dragged to the ground and rubbed against it, the more clearly I felt that shame of being unable to back down.

Ryota Hasumi became increasingly impatient, and this impatience only amplified the embarrassment she caused.

It's embarrassing to confidently reach out to someone only to be rejected. It could have been less embarrassing, but her anxiety made the embarrassment even worse with her repeated attempts to make amends.

She felt she could only burrow into the ground and receive attention through this method, which was something she couldn't accept.

No, that won't do. Even so, I must at least maintain a calm expression on the surface. If I let shame overwhelm me, I will only be ridiculed by others.

This was something Hasumi Ryoya should have known long ago; as a member of the theater troupe, she should have encountered similar situations countless times.

This time it was just carelessness, a careless oversight.

Now, it's time to maintain your elegance.

Continuing to try to fix it would only make it look worse.

“...Alright then.” Hasumi Ryo shrugged and stopped insisting. “Although I really want to get along with Nikaido, well, let’s just call you Shiro, I really want to get along with you, Shiro, but it seems you’re more interested in Hoshino-kun than me.”

"After all, it's just exploring together, nothing serious."

Ryota Hasumi spread her hands, announcing Hoshino Utsunomiya's victory.

It seems that the three of them know each other. Emma and Hoshino have been inseparable from the beginning, Hiro and Emma call each other by name, and even Sakura Emma can tolerate being cheated on and sharing her boyfriend with her friends.

The relationship between the three seemed to be closer than they had imagined.

"In that case, would you please come with me, Miss Meruru?"

Since Nikaido Hiro, who was the highest-ranking candidate, did not choose her, she had no choice but to settle for second best and try to build a good relationship with Ice Meluru.

When Hayami Rieya suddenly spoke to her, tears welled up in the eyes of Hyokami Meruru, who had been keeping her head down.

"Waaaaah, me, me, me?" she asked in a trembling voice.

Hasumi Ryoya nodded: "Yes, it's you."

Before she could say anything more, Hoshino Utsunomiya, whom Hasumi Ryoya had assumed would be traveling with Nikaido Hiro, spoke up at that moment.

"Wait a minute," Hoshino Utsunomiya interrupted Rhea Hasumi. "I didn't say I was going to go with Heero, did I?"

Although I haven't wanted to disturb them before, I can't now.

No, sister, don't try to steal the witch from me!

I approached the witch to seek death, did you approach her to seek death?

In the end, I'm not familiar with Hiro, so no matter what, it shouldn't be her turn to follow me, right?

Although it seems that the situation has changed a lot since just now, such as the number of people, the composition of the personnel, the positional relationships, the dialogue, etc. have all changed.

The strategy guide that could be directly copied suddenly had many more variables, leaving Hoshino Utsunomiya somewhat at a loss, unsure of what to do.

But he quickly sorted out his thoughts.

Forget about the walkthrough, it's not important. What's important is that the witch is still here.

Since the witch is still here, it doesn't matter how the number or location changes, does it?

There is only one thing to do from beginning to end.

Approach her, get to know her, build rapport, then take the witch's hand and say the same things to her.

The gentle Meruru would cry and say that she couldn't do such a terrible thing, and then she would happily stab herself to death while revealing her identity as a witch.

All other changes are merely as astonishing as Nikaido Hiro's outrageous remarks at the time, but they do not affect the fundamental stumbling blocks.

Therefore, Hoshino Utsunomiya decided to follow Ryota Hasumi's suggestion to pair up and extended an invitation to Meruru on Ice.

He approached Meruru on the ice and reached out his hand to the girl whose face was streaked with tears.

"Miss Meruru, would you be interested in giving me the rest of your time today?"

The lines that had once been successful were uttered again by Hoshino Utsunomiya at this moment.

Ryota Hasumi: "...?"

???

ha?

Why are you such an annoying person?

So, if I get close to someone, you're going to try and steal them from me?

If I turn around and invite Emma now, will you go back and pull Emma away again?

Ryota Hasumi, who had already calmed down, was suddenly stirred up by Hoshino Utsunomiya's words.

Unfortunately, I wasn't moved, I was angry.

"Hey hey hey hey hey—"

Just as Hasumi Ryoya was about to say something, she opened her mouth again.

"- ...

Shouting at an incredibly loud voice, almost in a stuttering manner, Meruru bent over with all her might.

After letting the sound echo in the reception room for a moment, she straightened up again. Without bothering to observe the reactions of Utsunomiya Hoshino and Hasumi Ryo, she lifted her leg and took quick, shuffling steps past Nikaido Hiro, pressing her hands firmly on Kinosaki Noa's shoulders.

"Me! Me! I want to go for a walk with Noah!"

Without waiting for Noah Kinosaki's agreement, she grabbed his hand, walked around the square table, and slipped out from behind the door with a smooth motion.

"Click".

The door closed.

"...Huh?"