The Preparations Pt. 2

「Shiba Tatsuya: I would like to confirm one thing. Do you know anyone by the name of 'Sayjou'?」

There was a brief period of silence after Tatsuya asked that question.

「Manaka Emiya: How did you know?」

「Tatsuya Shiba: Know what exactly?」

Tatsuya wondered why there was a pause in her response.

「Manaka Emiya: Oh, that they were my family? Isn't that what you're going to ask?」

「...」

「Tatsuya Shiba: I see...」

「Tatsuya Shiba: You mentioned 'were', so does that imply something happened to them?」

「Manaka Emiya: Yup, they are my family in past tense. They died in a nuclear meltdown 10 years ago.」

「Tatsuya Shiba: ...Pardon me for being inconsiderate. I shouldn't have asked.」

「Manaka Emiya: Ah, eh? W-was I supposed to feel bad about that? It's okay though!」

"Okay, she said..."

Tatsuya was taken aback by her nonchalance despite the fact that he couldn't feel strong urges. This wasn't the appropriate response you would expect from a person who had suffered from a loss, even Tatsuya himself was not an exception to this.

Then again, if his prediction was not incorrect, Manaka would be 7 years old by the time of the accident. He wouldn't put it past her to be so young to register the full effect of such catastrophe. It could very well be just her young mind unable to fully comprehend the death of her biological family as a coping mechanism to shield her from the trauma.

If that was the case, Tatsuya would rather bury the hatchet and lay it to rest.

But---

"Is that truly the case?" Tatsuya drew under his breath.

「Tasuya Shiba: Moving on. About the mission, I suggest we fulfill these tasks as soon as possible. It would present a great opportunity to relay my findings to the other chat members in person as well.」

The apprehension at the back of his mind was gradually creeping in as he thought about it. Tatsuya only intended to verify the difference he has perceived with Manaka Emiya judging from their previous interactions and the Manaka Sayjou that is currently reflected in his notes, but now.... he wasn't so sure anymore if there were "any" difference at all.

He has no choice but to get to the bottom of it.

「Manaka Emiya: But Tatsuya-san, isn't this a little too soon?」

「Tatsuya Shiba: Yes, and I have thought about that. However, putting aside daily necessities, there's not a lot we could do to prepare. Best case scenario, we can find something valuable in our world to exchange for that world's native currency. As for devices... I doubt there would even be akin to a cell reception considering the disparity and the lack of technological advancements.」

「Manaka Emiya: If you put it that way, I can't disagree... I trust your judgment, Tatsuya-san.」

「Tatsuya Shiba: Thank you. I will ask the other members after this.」

「Manaka Emiya: Then I'll see you later, Tatsuya-san!」

「Tatsuya Shiba: Likewise. Take care.」

After putting closing the chat group, Tatsuya narrowed his eyes at the ceiling. Is she more than she tries to suggest? Or is it that she wasn't aware of it yet? Either way, he felt responsible to find her true nature knowing how the original Manaka Sayjou was.

This is him grasping at straws, but perhaps this piece of information might be linked to this group chat as well. However, he wouldn't know for certain unless they met in person. After all, there could only be so much one can infer from mere words on a screen.

It was too early for him to hand out a verdict, but in the off chance that she presents herself differently...

Hopefully, the worst case scenario wouldn't come to pass.

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Like Tatsuya said in their conversation yesterday, there wasn't much preparation needed to be done. Aside from the furtive glances her brother sent her way while bringing back a suspicious amount of objects in her room, Manaka successfully completed her preparations without any disturbance.

As for clothes... she decided on the right amount in case their mission would be prolonged, enough to cycle different sets of clothing for three days and another set so she could have something to wear while the rest were being washed.

For an entire trip to another world, it wasn't actually much, but her decently-sized backpack was already filled to the brim with various stuff she deemed necessary to bring.

Although it would probably be wiser to carry a lighter load, it didn't feel right to remove some of the non-perishable food. Of course, taking away some of the clothes were a no-go either. Thus, her luggage ended up becoming bloated, leaving this poor backpack of hers on the brink of exploding.

"C'mon, you can do it!" Manaka cheered to no one in particular. "Huh. Actually, did they specify which time we're going?"

Manaka looked at the group chat to check, but aside from slight banters being thrown around and Gintoki making a poor showing of himself, nothing was mentioned about the mission specifically.

Thinking if she might have missed something, Manaka suddenly remembered that Tatsuya went to inform them personally. That would explain why they didn't seem to have any question.

Then, aside from her, they already knew which time they were going to embark.

"D-did Tatsuya-san forgot to inform me?"

As soon as voiced out her inner concern, an infinitesimal dark void opened in front of her. It was mostly circular in shape and looked as if it split the space around it as it manifested.

Manaka gulped.

If her expectations didn't deceive her, this would be the portal that will guide them to the world provided on the task, albeit Manaka couldn't help being uncertain.

There is no amount of mental preparation that could help her keep a calm facade in the face of such spatial anomaly right in front of her. Numerous thoughts clouded her mind in that instant. What if instead of being transported to the desired location, she ends up in the mouth of an eldritch horror?

"Here goes nothing...!"

Ultimately, with a mix of trepidation and suspense, she walked through the portal.

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『Mission Notice』

『Main Quest: The Demon Beast of the Mist. Completed!』

「Main Objectives: Assist in the raid against the Hakugei. Completed!」

「Participants will be rewarded 1000 points and 1x Random Reward Box.』

『Secondary Quest: The Gourmet Eate. Completed!』

「Main Objectives: Kill Lye Batenkaitos. Completed!」

「Secondary Objectives: Prevent anyone's name from being eaten in the span of the quest. Failed.」

「Participants will be rewarded 1x Random Template 」