Chapter 40: Magic Paper Crane

Part One

Cola munches on her unheated braised pork onigiri, holding her parasol in one hand, strolling leisurely along the street.

“By the way, Liuli.”

“Mm—?”
Liuli tilts her head slightly, her short hair pinned with a red clip, each strand distinct in the breeze.

“Class Prez says she plays drums.”

“Eh—?!”

“Totally doesn’t seem like her, right?”

“Totally!”

“She said she was in a band before, but it broke up.”

“Class Prez in a band… Expressionless while drumming? Can’t picture it…”

“Me neither. But if you wanna start a band, you could ask her to join.”

“Eh, she’d never agree, right? She’s probably super skilled… My piano playing’s just average…”

“Is it? Sounds pretty good to me.”

“Piano’s fine, but a keyboardist has so much to do—sometimes adding sound effects and stuff.”

“But she already said yes.”

“No way?!”
Liuli covers her mouth, eyes wide in disbelief.

“Yeah, she even told me to add her on LINE, said to contact her when we’re ready to start the band…”

“Then we just need a bassist and guitarist…”

“She told me to learn bass, but I can’t even read sheet music.”

“Eh—Cola on bass? Hmm… maybe guitar suits you better?”

“Why?”

“‘Cause… guitar’s more passionate?”

“Either way, buying an instrument costs a ton.”

“Or just be the vocalist for now? The keyboard can cover some low-end sounds.”

“Maybe it could even mimic a bass?”

“It can, but it won’t sound as lively as a real bass…”

“So, thought of an official band name yet? Can’t really call it Quantum Band.”

“Eh? Why not?”

“‘Cause it makes me sound like the leader.”

“Please, you have to be the leader!”

“Really? Me, a total newbie, as leader…”
Cola smirks.

“But… isn’t the leader’s main job communication? I’m terrible at that…”

“My communication’s just average.”

“Still better than mine!”

“Band leader, huh? Never even crossed my mind.”
Cola chuckles.
“Worried I’ll mess it up.”

“Didn’t you say you won’t know till you try?”

“Sure, but actually doing it makes me wanna back out.”

“Right, right?!”
Liuli beams, like she’s found a kindred spirit.

“No, no, my backing out’s not like your constant backing out.”

“But this time… this time I’m mustering courage!”

“So the band’s officially formed? Should I message Class Prez?”

“Mm! It’s formed now!”

“Feels so casual.”

“Yeah… should we throw a celebration? Design some band merch?”

“Nah, let’s keep it low-key for now. Don’t wanna go big and crash hard.”

“You’re already thinking of failure before we start?!”

“Just planning for the worst…”

Part Two

Maybe it’s the heat, but Maebashi’s streets aren’t busy. Rarely do cars get stuck at intersections for two traffic lights.
The izakayas are shuttered during the day, making Cola curious about the lively nighttime scene—especially since she’s heard there are hostess clubs nearby.
As a foreigner before, she couldn’t enter; now, as a minor and a girl, she’s locked out again.
Just curiosity—honest!

Even in the city, faint summer cicada chirps hum, making the sunlight feel harsher with each buzz.
In just half an hour, the oolong tea from the convenience store’s gone lukewarm. Sweat drips into Cola’s eyes, and she shakes her head hard.

They reach the Gunma Prefectural Office. No need to park, so they head straight through the main entrance.
A few suited old men stand by the door, nodding slightly as the girls pass.
The building’s quiet, almost solemn.
Liuli, who was chatty on the way, now whispers in Cola’s ear.

“C-Cola-san, we take the elevator over there…”

“Okay, but why so quiet?”

“Public places like this… you’re supposed to be quiet to avoid making noise.”

“Just talk normally, no need to whisper.”
Cola raises her voice slightly—louder than usual.

“I-It’ll bother people…!”

“I mean, just talk normally. It’s not a library…”

“Still better to be quiet…”

Liuli cautiously grabs Cola’s hand, pulling her into the elevator.
It’s a glass elevator, offering views of the shrinking buildings and streets as it rises, far more relaxing than staring at floor numbers.
The ascent’s deliberately slow, giving Cola plenty of time to enjoy the view.
Liuli snaps a photo with her phone, then sneaks another while Cola’s distracted.

“Hey, you got me in that one, didn’t you?”

“Eh? N-No!”

“Caught me, it’s fine. I don’t mind.”

“Candid shots are better…”

“Take more at the top then? We’ll get a group shot.”

“Mm—!”
Liuli’s voice is soft, but her face brims with excitement.

“You’re not here for the first time, are you?”

“No, I came with my parents twice, but with a friend? First time…”

“What’s the difference?”

“With friends… it’s freer? You can go where you want, leave when you want, and chat about shared stuff!”

“Speaking of shared stuff… oh, right, I got that 3DS. Should’ve brought it. Forgot…”

“From the secondhand shop?”
Liuli blinks.

“Yeah, pretty cheap.”

“I’ve got game cards you can borrow!”

“No need, I cracked it.”

“Eh?! You hacked it? T-That’s not good…”

“It’s an old console with dead servers. Cracking’s just easier.”

“But… it just feels wrong… I have tons of 3DS cards! The servers still update games, s-so you don’t need to play pirated ones… I can give you my cards…”

“Ha—? I went through all that trouble to crack it. No need to be so serious.”

“Cola-san, please play legit games!”
Liuli’s dead serious.

“Fine, fine… Guess I’ll bug you for some games then.”

“Mm! No problem!”
Liuli nods eagerly, beaming.

The elevator dings, and they step out in sync—one after the other.
This is the top floor, the observation deck.
The wraparound glass windows offer a free view of the scenery.
Since Maebashi’s buildings are mostly low, you can take in the whole city at a glance.

“Mm—let’s see… Cola, Cola, my house is that way!”

“There?”
Cola squints by the window, then coughs.
“Can’t see a thing.”

“Do vampires have far-seeing magic?”

“Not far-seeing, but… there’s see-through magic, I think.”

“S-See-through—?!”
Liuli panics, clutching her chest, dodging Cola’s gaze.
Her loud reaction draws side glances from nearby men.

“Hey, I haven’t used it on you! Keeping it on hurts my eyes.”

“S-So you’ve used it sometimes…?”

“No, no, never! I haven’t used it once!”

“Then how do you know… it hurts if you use it too much…?”

“It’s in the built-in manual…!”

“Cola, you absolutely can’t use that magic on other girls—!”

“I won’t, okay…?”

“I-If you really have to… just look at me…”

“I said I won’t—!”

“T-Too loud…”

“Shouldn’t have brought it up.”
Cola rubs her forehead helplessly.
“But with a camera that zooms dozens of times, you could probably snap our neighborhood from here.”

“My parents took our camera out today…”

“Hey, since we’re up high, wanna learn a fun magic trick?”

“Eh? What magic?”

“Can you fold a paper crane?”

“Yup!”

“Then we need a sheet of paper…”

“My diary’s in my bag… Can I tear out a page?”

“Blank one?”

“Mm! Blank, no grid.”

“That’ll do.”

Liuli hurriedly pulls a cute diary from her bag, carefully tearing out the last page.
Cola takes a pen, drawing a perfect six-pointed star magic circle on it.

“Freehand circle? So cool…!”

“Piece of cake. Just find the pivot and spin—now fold it into a paper crane, Liuli.”

“O-Okay…”

“Then… let’s see, no, let me think…”
Cola holds her head, pulling up inherited memories.
“After folding the crane, channel magic into the circle, then draw two eyes with blood… uh, cola works for you.”

“O-Okay…”

“Then toss it from a high place—this window doesn’t open, huh?”

“There’s a ventilation window in the hall.”

“Throw it from there, close your eyes, and you’ll feel like you’re falling. You can control the crane’s wings to glide, but it can’t fly, so don’t let it hit the ground too fast.”

“Wow, I see it!”

“In theory, a paper airplane might work too…”

“Whoa—!”
Liuli suddenly crouches by the window, yelping.
“It f-fell!”

“Just the crane fell, not you.”

“The wind caught it… Such a weird feeling…”

“Now try looking far. Focus hard, and it should zoom in.”

“It zoomed! I-I see our neighborhood… Wait, nothing now…?”

“Probably out of your magic range.”

“Eh—flew too far…?”

“Yup, then the leftover magic burns it to ash. Apparently, it was used for secret messages since it needs little magic and isn’t easily noticed.”

“Cola-san…! Can I try again?”

“Sure, try a paper airplane this time…”