Web of light. Part 2. part 8

Entry 6th

Mmm, lunch! On the roof or on the territory it would be generally gorgeous, but — winter-s. We have to make do with desks pushed together — there are always a lot of people and a lot of noise in the dining room.

"I just can't get used to these transitions," Rinko complained to me, picking up the lid of the container, "either we get involved in the story of the abandoned base, brr, it still gives me the creeps, or we treat the yokai spider for a split personality, or that's how we got involved in the battle against the attackers of Kashi and Shinji. And the next day, I pack my briefcase, take a bento, tell my mom "see you later" and go to school as if nothing had happened. And at school — peace and quiet, no youkai, clans, squabbles and politics..."

"Just the physics club, you know!" Mizuchi agreed, pulling out her lunch. "You just hardly ever come to the club with us, otherwise you wouldn't say that "everything is normal."

"Yeah, and Yokai's not at school at all," Hiroe supported her with a smile, nodding at the neighbor with the scythe.

"It's not quite usual at the Magic Club either." Yu chimed in, unwrapping the rice balls. "Hey, folks, would anyone like to share this wonderful stew? Do I give you onigiri?"

"So you're wrong," I set aside half of my Shimomuro meat and picked up a white bun with stuffing. "Life is a whole thing, everything is interconnected in it, there is no separate peaceful life and separate wars of clans and spirits. But life doesn't end with these events either! People build houses, earn money, sail on ships, send satellites into space, descend into caves, grow crops... And that's all — life! I can't imagine it right away. So there are a lot of contrasts anyway — even if we didn't know about "mysticism"... So, are we sharing the news?"

"Come on, we haven't talked since the holidays." Hiroe dabbed her lips with a napkin and, taking a bag of cherry juice, began to tell:

"Mother, after you left, she didn't sleep all night. And how she explained herself... no, not about the offer. I didn't know, but someone from the younger family of Jinguji had "arranged" a place for her father. How she "watered" this aunt — I've never heard half of the words like that... and even more so from her.

"Didn't she scold you that we split up so late?"

"No. She said that in those conditions we really did everything we could. Father... such a position is not so easy to get, especially for an outsider. And he can't just leave like that — the "entrance" to the government structures will be closed. And it would be frankly stupid to lose additional leverage over the local committee. She explained that to me this morning. Dad... You know, this job is really important to him. If you tell him everything, he will go to sort things out with Kouji-san instead of resigning. Mom understands that."

We ate in silence for a minute, then Yu took the floor:

"I brought new ingredients. Palm tree wood, sand. A few dried starfish — they are mined there. And then the magician sorts it out."

Seeing our puzzled looks, the girl explained:

"We lived in the Bungalow Plaza, which is a hotel made up of detached houses. Right next to the beach. Actually, they have a sorting office right next to the hotel. They did the same thing that we did — the magician gives mana and looks at the expiration. I didn't stare for long, and then I took a picture."

We bent over the outstretched phone — in the frame, taken, apparently, with a zoom, an elderly man was slowly doing something with wooden blocks. Black curly hair, flattened nose, dark skin — an obvious Polynesian.

"Basically, I've seen three more, but the range of glasses is limited, you know. The most interesting thing is at the airport. We have some structures built into the floors right in the arrival and departure halls, and one of the customs officers was a magician. Weak. When he looked through his glasses, I saw how his eyes were glowing. It's good that I'm used to such things with you and didn't twitch." Yu proudly straightened up and looked around us with a demanding gaze. "Am I good?"

"A scanning spell, a familiar thing." I nodded. "You're definitely doing great! I hope you enjoyed the gift from the company? Were there any problems at home?"

"That envelope made me much more surprised than the Filipino magicians." Shimomuro chuckled and smiled "significantly." "Dad said that if all social initiatives are so profitable, then he probably lost his first profession. By the way, he asked if it was possible to buy our Quadra in patrol configuration, but after a number of media reports, they also raised the issue of helicopter drones. Therefore, Dad was surprised, but, as he himself said, "not as much as he could have." And after I told him about the university's participation, he calmed down and praised me. However, then he sarcastically asked if it was really necessary to be a member of the "Special Street Magic" club to participate in drone tests."

We laughed knowingly.

"Now it's my turn to tell the story," I said. "Yesterday, Rinko, Shizuka, and I were negotiating with our new finance specialist..."

"And she got so emotional that she adopted Yuto on the spot!" Kuzaki snorted.

"Rinko..."

"She just couldn't resist your charm, you know," Shizuka asked with a completely serious face, and the girls giggled in unison.

I couldn't smile easily-even Hiroe and Shimomuro snickered at my forced grimace.

"Stop laughing! It's not funny because it's almost true... Girls! Damn it! I won't tell you anything until you calm down... Can I get you some water?"

"Okay, okay, tell me already, it's interesting!" Hiroe calmed down first. "I take it my mom went to meet her now? Kotegawa Tsuchigume. Mom said she was very surprised that we were able to establish contact with an accountant of this level."

"Right. I think she'll be even more surprised when she talks." Oh, I feel like we're missing an interesting conversation! All right, listen up...