A High School Sophomore Links with a Black-Crowned Night Heron and the World Moves 1mm [Episode 21] Reunion with an Arch-Nemesis

What should I do? The policewomen are coming to my house. And for some reason, the Amazoness is with them, too. Nine times out of ten, they must have figured out my relationship with Goicchi.

I had exchanged LINE contacts with Rariho so we could get in touch if anything happened. Since that incident, nothing particularly unusual had occurred, so I hadn't needed to, but then she suddenly asked if I was free this Saturday, which made my heart skip a beat.

I panicked and consulted Kimie, but she said she had a tennis match on Saturday and couldn't get out of it. Dealing with those three all by myself is too much to handle. On the other hand, having my mother, who knows nothing, sit in on the conversation would likely just make things more chaotic.

While I was thinking about this and that, wondering what on earth they were going to bring up, the day finally arrived.

On Saturday afternoon, the doorbell rang. My father and mother were at work, and my younger sister had gone out to play, so it was convenient for me.

Yes?

I tried to act cheerful as I opened the front door, and there stood the three of them, looking different than usual. Rariho and Bin-chan must have been considerate enough not to stand out; they were in casual clothes instead of their uniforms.

While one was in wide denim pants and a yellow hoodie, and the other was in skinny jeans and a loose gray sweatshirt, the Amazoness, Ms. Nanjo, was wearing a dress instead of her usual lab coat.

Please, come in. Is my room okay?

Sorry to intrude on your home. I thought it might be conspicuous at school.

Judging by how Rariho started the conversation, it seems the two of them went to see the Amazoness to talk about me.

Would you like tea or coffee?

Please, don't go to any trouble. We just have a few things we want to ask.

The Amazoness's eyes were serious when she refused, so I didn't serve any tea and hurried to my room.

Since it's my study and bedroom, there aren't really any chairs for them to sit on. The four of us sat on the floor.

Natsuki. I'm going to ask you straight. You know something about the Black-Crowned Night Heron Great Deity, don't you?

Huh? Why ask me? I saw the Black-Crowned Night Heron Great Deity on TV, so I went to visit the shrine. That's all.

There's no way I could tell them the truth, no matter what. If I said I communicate telepathically with a night heron or that I met Sugawara no Michizane, they'd just think I was 'possessed by a fox' again.

Suzakuzaka-san. You talked about being 'possessed by a fox' in the infirmary before, didn't you?

Realizing I was playing dumb, the Amazoness immediately brought up that matter.

Riho Miura and Toshiko Yada are graduates of Ramo High. They came to the school to consult with me the other day because they were worried about you.

I learned Lariho and Bin-chan's real names in full for the first time, albeit a bit late.

Bin-chan and Lariho explained why they went to ask Amazones about cases where humans and black-crowned night herons converse.

You know, when Sherbet-chan talked about how a bird saved her during the attempted kidnapping incident?

Besides, when I first saw Natsuki at the park, it felt like she was having a conversation with a black-crowned night heron.

I was also curious about how Amazones had explained it to the two of them, so I asked her directly.

What do you think, Dr. Nanjo? Is it something like being 'possessed by a fox' after all...?

According to Amazones, cases known as multiple personality disorder or dissociative identity disorder have been reported, and there are even testimonies of people being able to converse with animals in their minds.

The three of them seemed to have decided that they had said what needed to be said and that it was finally time to get to the heart of the matter.

Natsuki, can't you talk to black-crowned night herons?

And you know the secret of the Great Black-crowned Night Heron Deity.

Lariho and Bin-chan pressed me again.

I trust the two of them. Even so, they wouldn't understand even if I told them the truth. The best I could hope for is that they'd think I have multiple personalities.

Just as I was at a loss for how to answer...

Trrr-ring, trrr-ring.

My cell phone rang, and when I checked, it was Goro Kusano.

Excuse me for a moment. It might be an emergency.

I excused myself and answered the phone.

Mr. Kusano, what happened... What? The Great Black-crowned Night Heron Deity is in trouble... I understand. I'm coming right away, so please hide somewhere safe.

I finished the call and told the three of them about the situation.

It was from the landowner of the mountain where the Black-crowned Night Heron Shrine stands. They said a large group of people trespassed into the mountain and were heading toward the shrine in a very unusual manner.

Anyway, let's head to the scene. We can talk after that.

As soon as Amazoness said that, the four of them jumped into the minivan parked in the space in front of the entrance. It seemed to be Amazoness's private car.

The unexpected appearance of an arch-nemesis

I gave directions and we first arrived at Goro Kusano's house.

Mr. Kusano! It's Natsuki. Are you okay?

When I entered through the sliding door entrance and called out, Mr. Kusano came out from the back, looking terrified.

That woman was there too, so she probably came to get revenge for the other day. She went up the mountain with some burly men.

What should we do?

After hearing the situation, I thought we should seek the judgment of a police officer, so I looked back.

What are you doing! We're in a hurry!

Without waiting for a consultation, the three of them had already started climbing the mountain. I followed them with Mr. Kusano.

As we approached the area where the Black-crowned Night Heron Shrine stands, I could see about four men doing some kind of work.

The only woman among them, dressed in a pantsuit and wearing pumps, noticed us and raised her voice.

Ibuki Nanjo. I never thought I'd meet you in a place like this.

Amazoness stood up to her, speaking in a tone that sounded like a samurai.

Asahi Dozono. It's been a while since I've seen your face, but it seems you're not up to anything good.

It seems they are familiar with each other.

Teacher, do you know that woman?

Knowing the evil schemes of Asahi Dozono and her group, I couldn't help but be blunt in how I addressed her.

Asahi Dozono and I went to the same town kendo dojo in elementary and junior high school. We even went to rival high schools for kendo and crossed bamboo swords in tournaments, so you could say we're arch-rivals.

I didn't know the Amazoness practiced kendo, and Asahi Dozono gives off such a career-woman vibe that I never would have guessed. It's hard to believe those two are arch-rivals.

You were good at feints, and you gave me quite a hard time.

The Amazoness looked back on her kendo club days.

Oh, and you had height, so I remember that whenever you struck my head, the impact was so strong it brought tears to my eyes, even with the armor on.

Asahi Dozono also spoke as if she were reminiscing.

We've both grown up and walked different paths, but I didn't want to meet like this.

As the Amazoness let that slip, Dozono's expression changed.

I'm just doing what I have to do for my job. What business do you have coming to a place like this, anyway?

We don't have time to talk about that right now. The air between us is explosive, isn't it?

Hmph, you know that well enough, don't you?

It seems this reunion of arch-rivals is going to stir up trouble rather than blossom into a trip down memory lane.

You guys. Stop what you're doing for a moment and chase these people away.

When Dozono gave the order, the burly men stopped what they were doing and flashed fearless smiles.

The situation had turned volatile, but for the police officers Lariho and Bin-chan, they wanted to settle this peacefully.

This is the police. You are trespassing and committing real estate encroachment, so vacate the premises.

Bin-chan held up her police badge and issued a warning.

Dozono and her group were taken aback for a moment because they didn't think she was a police officer since she was in plain clothes.

Listen. I was cursed by the Black-crowned Night Heron Great Deity at Goro Kusano's house. I'm also a victim who has suffered mental anguish. That's why I'm making sure the damage doesn't spread.

However, they weren't the type to back down easily just because a police badge was shown.

The Amazoness seemed to have already entered a state of combat readiness, and Lariho and Bin-chan had no choice but to steel themselves.

Continues to [Episode 22]

← To [Episode 20]

All episodes of 'When a High School Sophomore Linked with a Black-crowned Night Heron, the World Moved by 1mm' are collected in this magazine.

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Image: 'photoAC Photo Material: Young Businesswoman with Hands on Hips, Author: TicTac'