What are you talking about? [Feature-length Novel] 15

When Enomoto returned to headquarters, Miyashita was waiting for him.

I thought you might be coming soon.
That doesn't mean you have to wait for me at the entrance.
I could hear your footsteps, Enomoto-san.
You can tell by the footsteps? Miyashita, are you okay?
Don't worry. It's just you, Enomoto-san. Your shuffling is loud enough to be annoying.
Oh, is that so?

Ignoring Enomoto's brazen remark, Miyashita said, "Take this," and handed him a memo.

This is... information on No. 874?
Yes. It seems there is a possibility that something quite dangerous is happening.
Something dangerous...
Yes. A pandemic.
What?Enomoto's eyes widened as he looked at Miyashita.

No. 874 was a virus. If this is the cause, it is highly likely that the infection is currently spreading.

That's right, I remember now. Enomoto placed a hand over his mouth. In the early days of the note town, such news had indeed circulated briefly. However, it was supposed to have ended as a false report. Why now? And to think that the cause of those guys' behavior might not be drugs, but symptoms caused by a virus. If that were the case, it would spread faster than any drug. There is not a moment to lose. If things go poorly, even we might be infected.

What is the route of infection? And are there any countermeasures?
I have summarized the information obtained from the General Affairs Department in this memo.
Enomoto looked over the memo he had received. I see, so delusions are the main symptom. As he read on, Enomoto couldn't believe his eyes.

You get infected just by looking at someone who is showing symptoms after infection!?

How could such a thing be possible? If that's the case, then we... Enomoto was at a loss for words.

Yes. However, there seems to be an incubation period, and they appear normal until the symptoms manifest.
I see. If we are infected, we need to settle this before the symptoms appear.
That is correct.
Is there a way to test for the virus?
It seems necessary to scan the person's eyes with a scanner built using a specific method.
Where can I get that scanner?
The scanner... we have no choice but to have it made according to the information in the memo.
What? You mean make it?
Enomoto frowned, and Miyashita nodded with his lips pressed together.Then, as if he had remembered something, Enomoto said:

If that's the case... then that department. Commonly known as NHK.

Huh? NHK? N for 'Nan no' (What), H for 'Hanashi desu' (are you talking about), K for 'Ka' (is it)?
No! That's not it at all!
That would be SWK!
What kind of skit is this? This is no time for DAIGO-ing! Or are you...
Enomoto looked at Miyashita with a gaze that seemed to suspect infection.I'm sorry, I was just playing around. So, what is NHK?

Note Development Division (Note Hatten Ka). Commonly known as NHK.

Eh, isn't that the Note Broadcasting Association?
Miyashita asked, drawing out the end of his sentence as if he were bored.
No, it is also the Broadcasting Association.Huh?Miyashita was confused. "What do you mean?"

NHK is the Note Development Division, and the Note Broadcasting Association is included within it. Educational broadcasting is also part of development.
I see, so if we go there, can we get a scanner?
The possibility is high. After all, they are the ones dedicated to the development of note. If it means saving this town, they won't neglect to cooperate.
That is reassuring.
Next is about virus extermination after infection.

The method of extermination is the use of tags. Back then, the town was still small, so they encouraged self-introductions and had people use self-introduction tags embedded with virus busters to try to bring it to an end. There was also a record that busters were embedded in several other popular tags.
However, it was said that first, one must identify the details of the virus with a scanner and create a virus buster suitable for it.

So the remaining means if it still cannot be exterminated is initialization?
Yes. At that point, we just erase them as soon as we find them.
I see, so that means we can go on a rampage as much as we want.
That is what it comes down to.
The two of them wore fearless smiles.

NextContinued