"Big Bro, Big Bro! Forget the tea. You came here to ask Axel about that, didn't you?"
"Oh, right. Well… actually, there's a chance that Setsuna-san from our class is a spy for the Kansai Magic Association."
"...Huh?"
I honestly had no idea what Negi was talking about. Setsuna? A spy? While she was literally acting as Konoka's bodyguard?
"Uh… okay. First, tell me why you think that."
"Allow me to explain!" Camo chimed in. "First off, her name in the school register is written as 'Kyoto Shinmei-ryu'!"
"...Would a spy really leave their affiliation in a public register where anyone can see it?"
"A-And the chaos on the train! We think she was the one who used the shikigami to steal the Chief's letter!"
The shikigami on the Shinkansen? Wasn't that the work of the onmyoji disguised as the vendor? ...Right, I hadn't told Negi about her yet.
Regardless.
"I hate to break it to you, but your theory is dead wrong."
"Eh? Really?"
"Big Bro Axel?!"
Negi looked relieved, while Camo looked like his world had been turned upside down.
"See? I told you! There was no way Setsuna-san was a spy," Asuna sighed, her tension visibly draining.
"B-But Axel! What's your proof?!"
"Well…"
I debated whether to tell them Setsuna's real role. I could have asked Asakura, but she was currently face-down in a futon, sleeping off the sake. Still, if I didn't tell them, Camo would never drop it.
"To put it bluntly: Setsuna is Konoka's bodyguard."
"Whaaaaa?! Konoka-san's bodyguard?!"
"Yeah. I heard it directly from the Headmaster, so there's no mistake."
"Wait, hold on. I've been roommates with Konoka since our first year, and I've never seen her and Setsuna-san even talk!"
"There are… circumstances. Apparently, Setsuna feels like she shouldn't be getting too close to Konoka."
That's why I'd always classified her as a "bodyguard who isn't a bodyguard."
"And for the record, her name is written with the characters for the Kyoto Shinmei Style."
"Axel-kun, do you know that style?"
"Only by reputation. It's an old school of swordsmanship."
"Huh… sounds kind of cool. But why would she be Konoka's guard…?"
Asuna began to mumble some rather off-base observations, but the conversation was cut short as Minamoto approached us. ...Wait, did these guys know that Minamoto knew about the magic world?
"Negi-sensei, the faculty should finish their baths early. Axel-kun, you should go with them."
"Ah, yes, Shizuna-sensei."
"Me too?" I asked.
"Of course. We are at Mahora Girls' Junior High, remember? We can't exactly have you bathing with the female students."
"...Fair point."
Though I had a feeling Ayaka would have jumped at the chance.
"Well then, please make it quick," Minamoto said before walking away.
"Our group's bath time is coming up soon too. Let's finish this talk during free time tonight. Axel, is that okay with you?"
"Sure."
"Works for me," Camo added.
"I'm fine with that."
With that, our little meeting disbanded.
"Let's see, towel, change of clothes…"
I was back in my room, prepping for the bath, when I heard a knock. A knock on a sliding paper door? They probably knocked on the wooden frame. I set my gear down on the tatami and opened the door to find Kugimiya, Chizuru, and Natsumi.
"What's up? Unusual combo... though I guess not anymore."
In the past, Chizuru's group (Ayaka, Natsumi) and Kugimiya's group (Kakizaki, Shiina) hadn't been particularly close. But with me acting as a bridge, they'd become friendly enough to form a group for the school trip.
"Well, Misa and Sakurako are both down for the count thanks to that prank. Honestly, I didn't expect Sakurako of all people to fall for something like that," Natsumi said.
"Same with the Prez," Kugimiya added.
"So, we had some free time and decided to come see how you were doing," Chizuru finished.
It seemed they were worried about me being in a room by myself.
"Thanks."
"My, my. If Ayaka were here, she'd be having such a fun time teasing Kugimiya-san right now. What a shame," Chizuru teased.
"Hey! Naba-san?! Are you trying to lump me in with the Prez just like Misa does?!"
"Now, I wonder."
"Man, Kugimiya-san is like putty in Chizuru-nee's hands," Natsumi whispered.
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