"Come to think of it, why is Fou coming with us?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka, already standing on the snowboard Leonardo da Vinci had hurriedly put together last night—or rather, the rapid snow-travel device [Olerus Snowboard]—belatedly noticed a tail sticking out from behind Mash's hat.
"Ah! Fou!"
Mash jumped as well. It seemed she had not noticed Fou appearing behind her head at all.
"Fou!"
Fou lay sprawled across Mash's shoulder and gave a cry, looking as cute as ever.
"Well, it's obviously too late to send you back now."
With a helpless smile, Fujimaru Ritsuka tucked Fou into Mash's chest and pulled the zipper up a little farther.
"Fou."
Fou looked a little uncomfortable from being squeezed.
But he seemed to be in high spirits.
"Senpai, you could put him somewhere else..."
Mash's face reddened slightly, and she did not know what else to say.
"It's fine. This is safer, isn't it? Anyway, how did Da Vinci say we were supposed to use this again?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka patted Fou on the head, then Mash on the head, before looking at the [Olerus Snowboard] lying on the ground.
That should have been its name.
It looked like an ordinary snowboard, except it was rather large—large enough for Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mash, and Norla to stand on together—and black.
"This is meant to be used together with the Spirit Origin Exoskeleton, Ortinax, which will be available later. But the Spirit Origin Exoskeleton is not finished yet, so for now only Mr. Norla can use this."
Mash stepped onto the snowboard and fastened her boots into the bindings. Her position was at the very front, making her the first.
"Mm, Da Vinci already explained how to use it to me. Leave it to me!"
Norla looked brimming with confidence.
"Mr. Norla should stand at the