Cultural Festival

The sphere in Huo Lin's hand lasted only a few seconds before bursting. It was unstable.

But Kurumi was already convinced that magic really was a science. Huo Lin's actions had at least proved that it could be reproduced.

"So my power is magic too?"

"Yes. Actually, my understanding of magic isn't all that deep either. It all comes from books. I've never encountered a power like yours before, but it feels like it should be a branch of Mental Magic."

Even the Book of the Night Sky, which supposedly recorded countless spells, contained very little information about Mental Magic. It drew its power from human faith, turning the "legends" of history into strength.

To both Kurumi Kusakabe and Sakura, Huo Lin's claim that her understanding of magic wasn't particularly deep was far too modest. She was the most knowledgeable mage they had ever met.

More importantly, Sakura thought Huo Lin was exceptionally good at developing things. She simply loved research, whether it was Devices that could change her outfit or the disguise and voice-changing Devices she used to pose as a little boy for some reason.

"I could give it a try. Once I'm more familiar with this power, I could see if I can make you some weapons."

"Make me weapons?"

"You're fighting demons, aren't you? Having nothing but that sphere might not be very handy in a fight."

That was true. Being pestered by the police was no big deal, but battles with demons didn't always go smoothly. She had already found herself in danger several times.

"Do demons really exist?" Sakura cut in. She looked rather pale. To her, this was practically the end of the world.

"As I said earlier, this power is something like Mental Magic, so demons should be something similar. They probably come from human malice. Just think of them as a kind of magic."

Huo Lin's explanation made Sakura feel much better.

What frightened her was the unknown. If she knew that a Clow Card was behind something, for instance, there was nothing to be afraid of.

If demons were a kind of magic too, then thinking about it... hmm, they were still a little scary!

Fortunately, her job was to capture the Clow Cards, not fight strange things like demons.

"Give me a week, and I can try making some weapons. What kind are you used to? A gun? A sword? Or should I make a dagger?"

Put on the spot about her preferred weapon, Kurumi couldn't come up with an answer.

She had never used any weapons before.

"Would a ribbon work?"

"A ribbon? What do you mean?"

"The kind used in rhythmic gymnastics."

In fact, Jeanne had tried fighting with a ribbon before. After all, it was what she was most familiar with. But it had been an ordinary ribbon without any special effects.

"You're a gymnast, Jeanne? That explains it."

No wonder she had been so nimble while leaping around earlier. It made sense if she was a gymnast.

Huo Lin had offered to make her a weapon because she was curious about Jeanne's power. That was also why she hadn't asked for payment. She didn't need any.

Whenever Huo Lin encountered something unknown, she wanted to try studying it. And she had enough magical power to spare.

Studying magic-that unknown world was fascinating.

"In that case, a week might not be enough. Give me two weeks. I should have it ready by the Sunday after next. Come to Shinjuku then, and we'll meet at the Takashimaya Department Store."

After arranging her next meeting with Jeanne, Huo Lin didn't linger-it was already late, well past the time when children should still be out on the streets.

She, Sakura, and Tomoyo all needed to go home and sleep.

Huo Lin was new to the world of magic, and everything fascinated her.

She had promised to make Jeanne a weapon, but Huo Lin would be busy over the coming week. The School Festival was approaching, and there was plenty of preparation to do.

"Our Literature Club has to organize an event of its own too?"

On Monday afternoon, after spending hours helping his class prepare for the School Festival, Sugisaki had thought he could finally escape to the club and relax. Instead, he learned that the club had preparations to make too.

"Of course! The Literature Club hasn't been getting any new members. The School Festival is a great chance to show everyone what we do!" Amano said enthusiastically.

Although a transfer student had joined a little over a month ago, Eriol Hiiragizawa from Britain was already in fifth grade. He was a "senior" who would graduate soon, so his arrival hadn't really solved the Literature Club's shortage of members.

"President, what do you think?"

Huo Lin, whom he had addressed, was still off in her own world. She propped her head on one hand, half asleep.

After staying up all night "cultivating," she was never very energetic during the day.

But while other people's late-night "cultivation" involved video games, hers involved magic.

"President?"

Eriol, who sat beside Huo Lin, chuckled and answered for her.

"I think it's a good suggestion. I'm quite interested in the Island Nation's literature myself, so I think we could start a Book Club."

"Who asked you?" Sugisaki muttered.

He didn't like Eriol. He even regretted recruiting the transfer student into the Literature Club.

What annoyed Sugisaki most was that this transfer student always sat beside the president, and she never objected.

"A Book Club? What Book Club?"

Huo Lin had only vaguely caught that one phrase and repeated it in confusion. She yawned. After dozing for a little while, she felt slightly more awake.

"Don't listen to the transfer student's nonsense. We could do something else."

"Transfer student... right, why don't I just transfer?"

"W-what do you mean, transfer?"

Sugisaki Ken felt as though he couldn't keep up with the president's train of thought.

Huo Lin was thinking about the swimming lessons they had been having in PE lately. She had already asked to be excused several times. After too many requests, the teacher had refused to approve any more, and she had even hypnotized them.

There would probably be more troublesome situations to come.

She wasn't particularly hung up on whether she was male or female. But being listed as male in her records while actually being a girl had caused very real problems in her daily life.

Once her body developed further, there would inevitably be even more trouble. There would be no hiding it.

So she could just transfer schools.

She couldn't hypnotize everyone who had known her before, so she could go to a school where nobody knew her. Changing one personal record would be much easier than altering everyone's memories.

"President, are you really going to transfer?"

"It's just an idea."

"Please don't! What will happen to the Literature Club without you?"

"It'll still have you, won't it?" Huo Lin stood up, walked over to Sugisaki, and patted his shoulder. "Ken, I'm leaving the Literature Club in your hands."

Sugisaki felt as though his world had collapsed.

"Amano, please talk her out of it!"

"Huh? What does that have to do with me?" Amano Touko was crouching in a corner reading a book. Hearing Sugisaki call her, she looked baffled. "I'm already in sixth grade. I'm graduating this year too."

"What? How can this be? Then, transfer student, what do you think?"

"Me? I don't mind either way. I only transferred here temporarily because of my parents' work. I might leave next term."

That part was true. Eriol had come to Tokyo because of the Clow Cards. Once Clow's trials were over, he would indeed leave and return home.

So, as far as Sugisaki Ken could see, he would be the only person left in the entire Literature Club?

"President, you were joking about transferring, weren't you?"

"Yes, I was joking."

Oh well, Sugisaki looks so pitiful. I'll comfort him a little.

And so Sugisaki was happy again.

"Hmph, transfer student, hurry up and transfer somewhere else." He planted his hands on his hips, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.