Chapter 4

Well done ♪ You didn’t overlook any of my clues. If you were simple-minded like Baru-kun, I’m sure you would have fallen for it.

You really are my fated enemy, Sally-kun ♪

And just to be sure you’re aware, your beans did hit me. I’m no longer a demon—I’ve become your ally.

Don’t be too aggressive with me; I’d like to be treated as a prisoner of war ♪

I’m gonna throw a few more beans at you just in case you’re lying. Out with the demons~ …Okay, I’m satisfied now ♪

How astute of you. Ahh, that was fun. It’s not all that bad to get some exercise in once in a while ♪

You got hit so easily… You were never trying to escape even from the start, were you? You let yourself get caught on purpose.

Well aren’t you a smart cookie. This may just sound like I’m being a sore loser, but I didn’t actually plan on winning this time.

Of course, I also didn’t intend to throw in the towel this soon.

But if everything continues the way Rei-nii-san planned, there will be no problems ♪

Tell me what Sakuma-senpai’s trying to do. I just can’t lie down and accept all this… It’s probably pointless even saying it, but don’t lie to me.

Ahaha. If you don’t want me to lie, you’ll have to cut my tongue out.

But as a reward for all your hard work, I’ll give you a smidge of truth. …I’d like you all to help if you can.

That boy is Sora’s dear friend. I’m only doing this out of good will, but I’d like to help solve his problems.

That boy…?

You already know, don’t you? It’s Setsubun, and our main character is a demon.

This time, our protagonists will be the demon children who were unlucky enough to be born into the world of humans—2wink.

(…Mm, Sakasaki-kun contacted me.)

(A message from the in-school social networking service, using a phone that was made to appear as if it had self-destructed… apparently.)

(As usual, he does things in the most roundabout way.)

Hinata-kun. We’re moving to another location. Get ready.

Huh? Sure, but what happened? Did the staff figure out we’ve been hiding in the secret room?

It’s only a matter of time before they do.

It appears Sakasaki-kun has been hit by beans. He’s our enemy now.

That boy will without doubt follow the rules of the game. Now that he’s changed sides, he will crush us without mercy.

This secret room is Sakasaki-kun’s domain, so we mustn’t stay here long.

That’s true… Then what’re we gonna do? Find another place to hide?

It’s not like we have any way to fight back—All we can do is run around… Seriously, we’ll just have to somehow lead them around by the nose as we move from one hideout to another.

We’re like spies during a time of war. Such is the nature of demons who live within the human world.

…Hm, just what is that noise? It’s unsettling.

Umm? Oh wait, you’re right. It sounds like something’s being dragged around…?

And footsteps, too. Oh crap, you think they’re already here?! What do we do? There’s no way out of this room if they barge in!

Hm… Outside this room is an archive. We’ll need to jump out on the count of three, then try to escape while ducking behind the bookshelves to avoid the beans.

One of us may need to sacrifice ourselves; if it’s unavoidable, we should abandon each other and flee on our own. After all, the beans can’t kill you even if you get hit.

Setsubun Festival is a solitary event. We may have been working together thus far, but in the end you have only yourself to rely on.

Yeppers, and I’m crazy good at making a getaway~ But your body’s pretty big, Sakuma-senpai. Won’t you have a hard time avoiding the beans? ♪

I’m still quite agile. However, the sun hasn’t yet set; I’m feeling a bit lethargic.

But we’ve got our strategy. There’s no time to delay—Let’s move.

One, two, three… Let’s gooo~ ♪