After Lingge stamped the process sheet and was about to head to the next interview location,
Kamui dragged Clara into the restroom near the training ground…
The only place in the entire Association Building without cameras was probably the restroom.
Clara had a rough idea what Kamui wanted to ask. She just hadn’t expected the other girl to be so petty—actually remembering the Inkstained Staff…
Back then, she had pulled it out and blasted Kamui away in mere seconds. After firing, the ink mist had lingered in the air. It was amazing Kamui could even recall that.
How should she explain this?
Kamui cornered Clara against the wall, pressing her short arm against the wall beside Clara’s head for a classic kabedon, and demanded, “Who gave you that Transformation Device?”
Huh?
The question caught Clara off guard.
That impostor?
Did Kamui not think she was the one who blasted her back then?
That made sense, actually—their appearances were completely different now.
At the time, aside from the different color scheme, Clara had looked identical to Kamui.
So in Kamui’s understanding, Clara had used a stolen Transformation Device, but she wasn’t the technology thief (Squill) from back then?
Why was there such a misunderstanding?
But right now, with Kamui pressing her face close for answers, Clara didn’t have time to think it through.
“I found it.”
She answered, though it was obviously a lie.
“Tell me the truth.”
Crap!
What do I do now?
‘Maybe she mistook Mossima the Minister, who was disguised as the impostor, for you.’
Clara’s mind was in chaos, but after Nyx calmly analyzed it, she drew that conclusion.
But that left some things unexplained.
From Kamui’s perspective, she could have reported this discovery to the Hero Association and used it to reverse her demotion penalty—yet she hadn’t done that…
Why?
Clara asked inwardly.
‘This is just speculation, but she might be thinking of you.’
“Huh?”
Nyx’s deduction made Clara open her eyes and look at Kamui, but the latter raised an eyebrow and leaned in closer…
For my sake?
‘So you can continue being a hero.’
‘If she reported this, even if you weren’t held responsible, Nyx—as the “god’s relic”—would definitely be reclaimed by the Administration Bureau.’
But why would Kamui be so nice to me?
Clara still didn’t understand, but Nyx explained, ‘Maybe Kamui is a rare type known as tsundere.’
What did tsundere mean?
As an old man at heart, Clara had no idea.
‘On the surface, she acts tough and proud, but it’s actually to hide her shyness and embarrassment. Though this personality type is outdated and out of style now.’
Clara was half-understanding and didn’t know why Nyx was so knowledgeable.
‘So, all you need to answer is: “It’s a gift from someone important to me.” If Kamui is as I analyzed, she’ll just complain a bit and won’t make things hard for you.’
Really?
‘Trust Nyx, friend.’
Oh, what sincere advice!
All this happened in a blink in reality.
Kamui didn’t wait long before Clara lightly moved her thin lips.
Since the communication between Clara and Nyx took place inside her mind—
“It’s a gift from someone important to me.”
Her voice was soft, but Kamui heard it clearly.
“So that mutant you live with, after all…”
Huh?
Live together?
Clara’s eyes turned into “O_O” from confusion.
‘She means your original body. Nyx knows where she saw you all.’
Nyx seemed to remember something.
‘That day when Miss Lucia came to the Cheap Rental Apartment to find you.’
‘When the three of you were chatting in the apartment, there was a flash of a figure outside the window.’
A figure?
Why didn’t she say anything until now!
Clara was a bit annoyed that Nyx had never mentioned it.
‘Minister Mossima probably noticed it at the time too.’
‘Thinking back now, that figure might have been Miss Kamui.’
Based on the information Nyx provided, Clara didn’t deny Kamui’s guess, but she didn’t confirm it either. She just asked,
“How… how did you know…”
Ha, she really was peeping outside the window?!
“I saw you.”
Even though the Cheap Rental Apartment was on a high floor, magic girls could fly—so flying up to peek wasn’t hard…
‘What are you going to do?’
Keeping to their agreement, Nyx wouldn’t decide for Clara, only offer advice she thought useful.
But making a decision now was just as hard for Clara.
Still, she absolutely couldn’t let it slip that she was Squill.
Otherwise, it was hard to say if Kamui would just drag her straight to the higher-ups.
After all, they were inside the Association right now—if any commotion broke out, she’d have no way to escape…
Kamui, still blocking Clara, had no intention of letting go. Clearly, she wouldn’t let Clara leave until she got a satisfactory answer.
What exactly was the relationship between her and “Squill”?
If they were siblings, the age gap was too big.
Even walking with Lucia didn’t make them look like siblings—let alone Clara, who looked just over ten years old…
If they were lovers, Squill should be thrown straight into prison.
Was there no answer left but “that” one?
But things always came with surprises.
Just as Clara was about to utter that answer, a familiar voice came from behind Kamui.
“Oh my? What are you two doing here?”
Ah, it was Lingge.
Heroes were human, and humans had bodily needs.
Since this was the restroom near the training ground, her coming here made sense.
She cupped her cheeks, watching Kamui and Clara’s interaction, showing an auntie-like smile as if she had just eaten candy, and asked, “Should I have knocked before speaking?”
“Huh? No, we’re not—”
Imagining what Lingge must be seeing, Kamui panicked and hastily lowered the hand she had pressed beside Clara’s head.
She tried to explain, but Lingge wore an expression that said, “No need to explain, I understand.”
Lingge walked into a stall on her own, leaving Kamui and Clara, who couldn’t continue that topic, in awkward eye contact.
“I’m interrupting. Please continue.”
“I—”
Clara tried to say something, but Kamui shook her head.
“No need to say more. I think I understand.”
She put on the same “No need to explain, I understand” expression.
Huh?
What did she understand?
Clara didn’t get it, but with the Superior Hero in the stall—who was likely pressing her ear to the door to eavesdrop—Clara couldn’t ask too much.
For now, she’d focus on the hero network interview.