The Witch and Her Companion: I'm Just a Normal High School Student, but I Became the Familiar of the Highest-Ranked Witch. Also, It Seems I'm the Only Guy in the Witch Organization I Joined - Chapter 106: Manual and Electric

Chapter 106: Manual and Electric

[Todoroki Ryuna]

—In short, the café was closed.

Not just closed for the day, but shut down for renovations. Like our Sanryuken, there was a sign on the door: “Closed for interior renovations until further notice.”

This place, on the outskirts of the hot spring town, wasn’t in our encirclement last time, so this is my first time seeing it.

It’s got a nice exterior, with all sorts of plants decorating the surroundings. It looks like someone just threw stuff together haphazardly, but maybe that’s what makes it stylish?

I’m the poster girl of a rundown diner, so I’m not one to talk, but it’s not a bad place. Just… the weathervane on the roof is slightly crooked. And on closer look, it’s not a rooster but a crow—not exactly great luck.

“…We risked coming all the way out here, and it was a total waste.”

“Renovations… maybe something happened at the shop?”

“Who knows? The building looks pretty new, so it’s probably not wear and tear.”

At Sanryuken, Kirisaki and Orca’s fight trashed a table, but a café like this wouldn’t have that kind of chaos, right?

“Ryuna, it’s been about an hour. Not to start over, but should I try linking with Hare again?”

“Yeah, I’m curious about that bangs-lady, and we might get new leads.”

So, why’s Hare overseas with a worker from a closed café? Any lead would help right now.

“…“

Fuu-chan sat on a small bench in front of the café and started linking. I kept watch, scanning the area.

Just a week ago, we ran into a Ravens witch here. I don’t know how they sniffed us out, but there might be a base nearby. This isn’t a place to linger.

“…I smell something sweet.”

Looks like the link worked, as Fuu-chan muttered.

“And the place… it’s different from before… a room full of books… huh!?”

“W-What’s wrong!?”

Fuu-chan, eyes still closed, suddenly twitched her shoulders.

“The woman… she’s crawling on the floor… probably the bangs-lady.”

“…What kind of situation is that?”

“Wait, Hare! Hare’s kicking her in the stomach!?”

“…!?”

Hare’s kicking a woman in the stomach!?

“…Ugh, whoa… phew, I’m done, that’s my limit!”

“Ehh!?”

“…Ow, ow… what was that just now?”

“Seriously, what’s he doing!? Could it be a mistake!?”

“No, he was definitely kicking her. Actually, he kicked her twice.”

“…“

Twice means it’s no mistake. What’s going on with Hare… He’s not the type to hurt a woman—

“A-Anyway, let’s head home for now. We should keep linking steadily to get a better grasp of the situation.”

“Got it! I’ll try to shorten the link intervals as much as I can!”

＊　＊　＊

“—H-Hare’s getting totally beat up!!”

On our third link of the day, Fuu-chan shouted.

“This is so confusing…”

“He’s, like, grappling with a woman in her underwear… ugh, he got stabbed!”

“Wait, what’s happening!? Is he okay!?”

“…Ugh, that’s my limit.”

“Tch, every time it’s so tantalizing…”

“You mean frustrating, right? Ow, ow, ow…”

An hour ago, Hare was kicking a woman, and now he’s the one getting pummeled. Retaliation, maybe? But why in her underwear—

“Is Hare really gonna be okay?”

“Yeah, even with healing magic, the woman seems like a witch too, so it’s a bit worrying.”

“…The woman’s a witch!?”

“Uh, yeah. She was making books or something fly around with wind, and that magic sword thing? She stabbed Hare with it.”

…Hare’s with a witch? What in the world is going on—

“Fuu-chan, is this witch the same as the bangs-lady from before?”

“…Probably. Her bangs were tied up, but the hair color and stuff were the same.”

“So, the café worker was a witch all along.”

Something’s clicking in my head. The café Hare and Fuu-chan visited, the witch worker, and the purple lightning witch Bubblegum Klondike who appeared before us…

“…Bubblegum.”

“What’s wrong, Ryuna? You really wanted that Special Bubblegum Sundae?”

“Huh? No, it’s not like that…”

Wait a sec. The Bubblegum Sundae… could it mean that?

Right… I’m pretty sure the weathervane on that café’s roof wasn’t a rooster, it was a crow… A crow, Ravens—

“Fuu-chan! Do you remember anything about the other workers at that café!? Like, anyone with gray hair and red eyes!?”

“…How’d you know? The person who brought the Special Bubblegum Sundae was like that.”

This is the worst—

That café’s probably a Ravens base or something. And dumbass Hare and Fuu-chan just happened to stumble in. After that, the purple lightning witch saw Fuu-chan possessed by another personality, meaning… there’s a chance the purple lightning witch thinks Hare’s part of the witch hunters.

In that situation, I left Hare behind. And if the purple lightning witch found him after that… it all adds up. The worst possible scenario.

Where Hare is now is likely another Ravens base, maybe even their headquarters. He’s probably being interrogated or held captive—

“Fuu-chan, we’re in trouble.”

“Huh? Why? Did you figure something out?”

“Hare’s probably being held by Ravens right now.”

“R-Ravens!?… What’s that?”

“…Starting from there, huh.”

I spent the next ten minutes explaining the basics of Ravens to Fuu-chan.

＊　＊　＊

[Hirata Masaki]

A rundown prefab house in the suburbs—the Andou siblings’ base. It’s good for staying out of sight, but the location, comfort, and convenience are absolute garbage.

“Been a while, Andou siblings. Still not fully recovered?”

By the way, that wasn’t aimed at the brother. It’s the sister. She’s sprawled on the bed, sulking, hugging some stuffed animal. Is that a killer whale? Did she hit up an aquarium or something?

“Yeah, tell him, Hirata! I’m totally fine, but Onii won’t let me go out at all!”

“Obviously. You need to rest through the week, or who knows what could happen.”

Seems she’s fine enough, just got an overprotective brother.

“Fufu, such a sweet big brother. Darling, you should spoil me like that too!”

“Alright, let’s get to the point. I need you to help with my job.”

“Hey, why’re you ignoring me?”

Kokoro’s pouting beside me, but that’s just her usual deal. Engaging her’s a never-ending trap.

“A job? Look, my sister’s still in this state, so it depends, but we can’t help right away.”

“I said I’m fine!!”

“So you’re willing to help?”

“Your jobs are never fun, but I owe you for being late last time. Spit it out.”

Andou’s grinding coffee beans with a hand-crank mill, making a gritty gorigori sound. For someone living in a dump like this, he’s got weirdly specific tastes. The beans must be high-end; a rich aroma’s tickling my nose.

“This job’s an order from that old fart Barnes. It’s about investigating and taking down the organization led by Vivian Hearts, the one we faced last mission. So far, Torayashiki and Anekitsune are on board. After you, I’m hitting up Leonardo.”

“Darling, should we get a coffee mill too? It smells amazing, and it’s got this… rustic charm!”

“Shut up for real… And if we get one, make it electric.”

“Oi, Hirata, you don’t get it. Hand-grinding’s what gives it the charm!”

I messed up letting Kokoro derail us. Andou’s going on about manual versus electric—doesn’t he have anything to say about a Cardinal’s order?

“But, like, grinding by hand every time’s such a hassle! I’m team electric all the way!”

“Orca, you too!? You guys really don’t get it!”

Andou’s grumbling but deftly scoops the freshly ground beans from the mill, setting them into a dripper with a filter like it’s second nature.

Right on cue, the pot in the kitchen starts boiling, making a gutsugutsu sound.

“Onii, this is why you’re single.”

“I don’t need to be popular, and I’m not that unpopular, okay? Just the other day at the arcade, I hit it off with this cute girl…”

“…Ara Ara, I love this kind of gossip! But please brew the coffee first so I can listen properly!”

“…Oi, calm down, you lot! The conversation’s going totally off-track!”

“Huh, yeah, you’re right… No need to get all worked up. Let’s have some coffee and cool off, then talk.”

Andou said that casually, carefully pouring hot water into the dripper. His pace is way too laid-back, but when in Rome, I guess. I’ll wait for the coffee.

Honestly, keeping up with their vibe is just too much hassle.

“…Fine, black for me.”

“I’ll take mine with sugar! One cube if it’s cubes, two sticks if it’s sticks!”

What’s with that specificity…? Kokoro usually brews our coffee, so I had no idea, but is this her usual thing?

“Got it, I’ll have it ready soon, so look forward to it! Oh, and about the job, I’m in—once Orca’s back to full strength!”

“…Weren’t we supposed to talk after the coffee!?”

I’m getting played, and it’s not like me. Their laid-back attitude’s honestly a pain, but they’re skilled, and for some reason, they’re willing to help. I’ll stop overthinking it.

By the way, that coffee was the best I’ve ever had in my life.

Maybe I will get a coffee mill—