Labyrinth of the Blue Witch Read Online Free PDF Page A

larger commotion in the classroom.
    “What?!”
    “The transfer student?! Then it’s really the transfer student? Aiba’s just for pretend?!”
    “No, wait! That’s…!”
    “It can’t be! The Saint of Middle School…?!”
    The one calling Kojou’s name was Yuuha Tanahara of the same class. A girl with almost translucent silver hair stood behind her back, as if she was hiding behind it.
    She wore a long-sleeved, long-necked undershirt under her middle school uniform, which made her come off almost like a nun. In a certain sense, her beautiful visage stood out even more than Yukina’s.
    She was Kanon Kanase, a third-year student in middle school. Also known as “the Saint” for her looks and the air of kindness around her, she had many fans even among the high school boys. Though not public knowledge, she was also a princess of the Aldegian royal house. No doubt that accounted for the sublime elegance that made her difficult to approach.
    And just like that, Kojou casually spoke to Kanon, not even noticing the looks they were getting. “Kanase? You came to school, huh?”
    “Ah yes. I’m sorry to intrude upon your class, but…”
    “No, that’s totally all right. You’re feeling better now?”
    “Yes, I left the hospital the other day.”
    Kojou and Kanon were having an intimate conversation, as if they were old acquaintances. The students in the classroom hung on their every word and action.
    Rin Tsukishima lowered her voice and whispered into Asagi’s ear. “How did they become acquainted?”
    “There’s no way I’d know something like that!”
    Blood rushed into Asagi’s head as she replied. She knew that Kojou and Yukina had gotten wrapped up in some kind of trouble involving Kanon Kanase not long before. However, Kojou’s excuses glossed over all the details; she still didn’t know
why
he’d been involved in an incident like that. And not even noticing that Asagi was glaring at him, there was Kojou, standing next to Kanon and making a frivolous smile.
    “So you came all this way to say hi?”
    “Yes. Also, there is a favor I wanted to ask you.”
    Kojou seemed surprised as he replied. “A favor? Me?”
    Kanon bashfully lowered her eyes a little. “Yes, ah…”
    As the silver-haired girl’s voice hesitantly trailed off, Kojou’s classmates held their breath, waiting for her to continue. Finally, Kanon strongly raised her face and asked Kojou in a voice full of tension…
    “Could I go to your place and…stay over tonight?”
    That moment, what seemed like a cold silence came over the classroom. Only Asagi had an expression of complete shock as she raised her voice in a “Wha—?!” Then…
    Kojou’s demeanor was casual as he accepted Kanon’s request.
    “Sure, I don’t mind at all, but…”
    Asagi’s eyes opened wide and froze like that as her shoulders shook as if she was touching a live wire.
    “Wh-wha—?!”
    Watching from beside her, Yaze made an exasperated-looking shake of his head.
    Rin strongly grabbed Asagi’s wrist and dramatically raised both of their hands together.
    “Hold it right there!” The classroom was shaken once more as if there was an earthquake happening. Even Kojou and Kanon were compelled to notice the odd aura and look over. Rin grinned as she informed Kojou of the resolution. “We will be joining you. You don’t mind, do you, Akatsuki?”
    Kojou had a stupefied look on his face as he replied with a question. “Huh?”
    Asagi still had no idea what on earth was going on as she glanced between the bewildered Kojou, the pleasantly smiling Rin and the others, and her own hand raised up high; then, she shouted…
    “Whaaaaat?!”
    There were two days left until the Hollow Eve Festival. Signs of the rising festive mood came into sharper and sharper perspective.
3
    Island South was Itogami Island’s southern district full of residential neighborhoods. Here the Akatsuki siblings lived in an apartment building built on top of a gentle artificial