A second hand ticked forward. More often than not, that was the only sound to echo throughout that particular room.

The Index neatly tapped the papers in her hand on her desk to line up the sides, then fastened the right edge with a double clip before standing up. She walked a few steps away to reach Urachi Masamune’s desk, handing the stack over. The man was currently poring through his notebook, flipping back and forth between several pages.

Urachi looked over towards The Index as if sparing even a glance was a great effort. “What’s that?”

“A report containing data regarding Katagiri Honoka’s abilities as well as a detail of the series of events that occurred in the dream world.”

“It’s quite sizable.”

“Well, it’s two reports, one from Ukawa Sasane, and the other from the Ashiharabashi Service Club.”

The Service Club report was written under the name of Tsushima Shintarou, but it was really Asai Kei who put it together.

“Were the two reports contradictory?” Urachi questioned.

“Not that I could find.”

“Mm.” Urachi took the documents, placing them on the side of his desk.

And now it will never be used again, The Index thought. It was a real waste of paper.

Urachi turned his gaze back to his black notebook, clearly giving it the majority of his attention. With a listless drawl, he asked, “How much of it describes the Script?”

“A minor section of the Service Club report notes it, but it isn’t present in Ukawa Sasane’s version of events.”

“Make a copy of that section and print it out separately.”

“I have already done so. It is attached to the back.”

“Oh. Great work, there.”

“I was instructed to do so this morning.”

“Oh, yeah, that’s right.” Urachi continued flipping through his notebook.

The Index sighed internally, offering a slight bow before returning to her desk.

Urachi Masamune.

Half a year prior, he had been named the head of the Countermeasures Department. Large-scale changes were made to Bureau personnel following the death of the Nameless System, the Witch with the power to see the future. Amid all the chaos came his promotion.

The Administration Bureau effectively had two roles, which could be cleanly divided into investigating abilities and dealing with ability-related problems. But each role had several subdivisions, each with their own specialized departments. Systems were in place to ensure that appropriate departments would be automatically assigned to the tasks they were capable of controlling.

But of course, abilities could cause no end of troubles. Problems that couldn’t be given a specific assignment were passed on to the Countermeasures Department. Usually, if a problem couldn’t be assigned, it was for one of two reasons: there was no precedent, or the problem was too big for the first department.

Thanks to its unique role, the Countermeasures Department was allowed the highest authority within the Bureau for official ability use. To that end, the assistant to the head of the Countermeasures Department, a role filled by The Index for the last several years, was given access to the Bureau’s entire database on abilities.

The Countermeasures Department could, for example, request information on Katagiri Honoka’s ability, and if their reasoning was deemed sufficient, they could investigate for themselves.

Of course, that’s only to say what we could do. There was no strict need for them to do anything. Katagiri Honoka’s ability did not pose the type of problems that required the Countermeasures Department’s action.

“Moving to more important matters,” Urachi Masamune said, “I’d like to officially question Assai-kun through the Administration Bureau. We’ll need answers for what he was doing in the study with the Script transcriptions.”

“Arrangements are underway. We will likely receive approval before long.”

“Good. You take care of that, then.”

Just as he finished speaking, The Index’s cell phone rang.

“Go ahead,” Urachi waved.

Excusing herself with a small bow, The Index answered her call.

✽

Urachi didn’t bother paying attention to The Index after that. He was going through the information in his black notebook, reading up on the events that had happened prior to the reset.

But a few minutes later, The Index was once again beside him, without even having finished her phone call. “You have been asked for,” she stated.

“Oh? By who?”

“I do not know. She sounds like a young woman. She claims to be the one puppeteering Asai Kei.”

“How interesting.” It was certainly amusing. The very person he had been searching for apparently called him first.

Urachi took the cell phone. “How wonderful to meet you. I am Urachi. I hope you’re having a good day.”

The voice that answered him sounded less like a young woman and more like a child.

“Good day. Unfortunately, I can’t answer your introduction with my own.”

“Oh? Whyever not?”

“For several reasons.”

“Are you calling from a public phone?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Then you should know the Administration Bureau has installed microcameras throughout all of Sakurada’s public phones.”

“I don’t think I should, given you’re lying.”

“Hm. Well, a friend told me that back in high school. I suppose rumors always make their way around.”

“That’s also a lie,” the girl said with a laugh. Even her laugh sounded childish. Asai Kei was only a first-year in high school, but she didn’t even sound that old. “Now then, Urachi-san. I am calling to negotiate with you.”

“Hm? I’m listening.”

“I’d like to ask you to stop looking into my identity.”

“Would that include questioning Asai-kun?”

“Naturally.”

“If you tell me your name, and honestly, I won’t call him out.”

“Then I suppose I’ll tell you.” Her introduction came as a whisper, as though she were passing along some trivial message. “I am a Witch. The second Witch.”

“A Witch?”

“Perhaps you would prefer the Nameless System. I hold the same ability that she once did.”

Future sight. Urachi felt the corners of his lips twist into a smile. “How incredible. She was known as the most gifted ability user in all of Sakurada.”

If the girl was telling the truth, she posed a major problem. He couldn’t possibly afford to let that knowledge spread. It could utterly ruin his plans.

“So, up for negotiations?” she prodded.

“Well, that depends. What do we have to gain if we don’t look into your identity?”

“My full cooperation one month from now.”

“Why wait for a month?”

“That’s when your plan will come to fruition. Your rather grand plans, I might add.”

“What could those be? The surprise birthday party for my subordinate?”

“Well, that is one of them. But that’s not the one I had in mind,” she giggled. “You can’t deceive the eyes of a Witch. I know exactly what you want to do.”

“Oh, then please inform me.”

“In short, you want to remove all abilities from Sakurada. You want to wipe the slate clean of 40 years of abilities, and start everything over.” She sounded beat for beat like the moments when the Nameless System would speak of future events. Her voice overflowed with confidence. “You want to give Sakurada a reset.”

Urachi chuckled, keeping his voice low. “I see. That does sum it up well.”

“Of course it does. I did see Sakurada in that state, after all.”

“It must have been quite nice, especially for someone with an ability as powerful as yours.”

“You’re right. It was absolutely marvelous… So then, your answer? Do you agree to my terms?”

“Well, given that you have future sight, surely you know my answer, right?”

“Of course. I was only giving credence to formalities. Part of making good conversation is to add in questions with obvious answers.”

“Ooh, I should take notes.”

The reality was, Urachi hadn’t decided on an answer. His main concern was whether or not he could discover the girl’s true intentions.

“Well, I’m about to run out of call time. I’ll contact you again in three days.”

“What if I were to investigate your identity in the meantime?”

“Then I would be forced to get revenge. I might have to tell your subordinate that you’re planning on gifting a giant teddy bear for their birthday.”

“Oh my, that would be disastrous.” He was genuinely interested to see what kind of reaction he could get from the typically stone-faced Kagaya after pulling out a giant stuffed bear.

“Until next time,” the girl said, and the call then ended.

Urachi handed The Index her cell phone back. “You were recording that call, right?”

“But of course.”

“Make sure to delete the recording.”

She knit her eyebrows. “Are you certain?”

“Yes. It was a private call. Can’t have anyone else listening in on the contents.”

“Understood.”

An ability user with future sight. The concept was terribly troublesome, assuming it was true. He had been sure to take several precautions, but there was no real preparation against something of that nature.

“By the way,” Urachi asked on a whim, “Did what I just say come out as a lie?” About it being private.

The Index looked at him, shocked, then swiftly shook her head. “No. It didn’t look like a lie.”

“I see. Thank you.”

So I guess wanting to get rid of all of Sakurada’s abilities really is something I see as a private matter.

Urachi Masamune hated abilities, and they scared him.

He believed that was the natural, human reaction to their existence.

A One-Handed Eden – END