Part 3One of the most popular uses

Part 3

One of the most popular uses of a cellphone for high school students, was sending text messages to communicate with friends.

But amongst the people close to Godou, none of them made effective use of this function.

Take Erica Blandelli for example, who preferred to chat directly over the phone rather than texting. On the other hand, Liliana Kranjcar loved to write letters. The day she arrived in Japan, she proposed to Godou "from now on I can send you regular reports by letter three... no, six times daily... may I...?" But Godou cautiously refused.

As for Mariya Yuri, she probably didn't even know how to send a text.

When she first began to use a cellphone, Godou had taught her briefly how to use it, but so far, he had never received a single text message under her name. If that's the case, what was going on with this current text message?

Titled 'Can we meet tomorrow?' The sender was 'Mariya Yuri.'

It was already late autumn in the earlier half of October, on a Saturday night.

Resting at home, Godou received the following text message on his cellphone.

'If you are free, could you meet me tomorrow? If possible, let us meet at the school gates at noon tomorrow, please.'

That was the content of the text message. Godou pondered in puzzlement.

Why would Yuri send a text like this to me? Wanting to ask her directly, Godou dialed her number.

No answer... With no other choice, he replied to her by text messaging.

After a few tens of minutes, he received a brief reply saying 'Thanks. See you tomorrow.'

"That fellow Mariya, what could she be thinking?"

Completely without a clue. Come to think of it, meeting a girl on Sunday was basically like a date -- no, no, just as this thought entered his mind, Godou shook his head intensely to dispel the notion.

The next day on Sunday, Godou left his house at eleven in the morning.

It only took fifteen minutes to reach Jounan Academy on foot. The reason why Godou set off early was because he had nothing to do and wanted to take a stroll nearby before heading over to the meeting place.

However, this decision brought unexpected encounters.

"Ah, it's Godou, you're just leaving?"

Just as he stepped into Hongou Street, he was surprised to hear his name being called.

The forceful yet beautifully comforting voice belonged to Erica Blandelli. Turning his gaze towards the direction of the voice, Godou found Erica riding a red-framed bicycle.

"What happened to you...? To have gotten up this early!?"

For Godou, the current time was not early at all, but it was different for Erica.

On weekends, she never got up from bed until noon had passed. That was her habit. But the one standing before Godou right now, was the girl from Milan.

"There's some anti-noise construction going on next to the apartment, and it was too loud to sleep, so I decided to go out."

Godou nodded at Erica's explanation. If one had to disrupt the habits of the [Diavolo Rosso], extreme measures were the only way.

"However, thanks to that, I was able to meet Godou here. Based on this outcome, it's not bad at all, if you are free... No, even if you're not you have to accompany me, for that is the required duty of Erica Blandelli's partner."

Erica suddenly made her declaration.

Today she was wearing a red sweater with black jeans, a very casual outfit. In spite of that, she still gave off the airs of a sporty high class lady, which was on the level of cheating. When Erica wore jeans, it made her legs look very long and slender. This one aspect alone made her stood out from most Japanese women.

"Don't say something difficult like that. Just as you observed, I am in the middle of going out."

He was just going to praise her for the rare achievement of getting up early... But true to form, she brought out her troublemaking skills, so of course Godou could not let her have her way so easily.

Just as he was searching for an excuse to placate her.

"Good morning, Kusanagi Godou, it is too fortunate to find you here... Perfect, if not for the regrettable extra person here. Good morning, Erica."

Another voice was heard.

The first half of the greeting was spoken with the awe-inspiring expression of a female knight, but the latter half had tones like meeting an annoying old friend. The owner of the voice was Liliana Kranjcar.

Her long silver hair tied in a ponytail, it was the girl who resembled a fairy.

"Actually I made too much cake yesterday, and was going to bring some to your house."

Liliana showed the basket to Godou. Today she was wearing a black long-sleeved t-shirt with a blue jacket, as well as a miniskirt and over-knee socks.

As a side note, Erica's choice of red and black, as well as Liliana's combination of blue and black, were the representative colors of the respective magic associations they belonged to.

"To go so far as a cake, you take things too seriously... Lily, I give up on you."

Erica stole a glance at the basket carried by the blue and black female knight.

Compared to the time when she suddenly intruded into the Kusanagi home to cook for him, Liliana was much calmer and in control nowadays, and would never do anything so sudden and awkward.

However, she continued to regularly present Godou with the fruits of her labor and well wishes, just like today.

"Making a pound cake on a weekend afternoon is nothing... Erica, are you thinking of stealing and eating it right now!?"

"It doesn't have to be right now, but today's weather is great, so it would be nice to have a picnic in the park with this."

While Liliana guarded the basket in her hand, the girl known as the devil laughed.

"If you're going to offer me the food, I shall allow you to share it in our company."

"Why do you have to act like you are in a superior position? Have a little pertinence."

"Ah, I'm not saying you are getting in our way, it's because I approve of Lily's cooking skills that I made a concession, oh? Unless you don't want to come with us? A picnic with Godou?"

"Uh... That..."

The red knight's speech left the blue knight at a loss for words.

As Godou watched this frequently repeated scene unfold, he interrupted to refuse them.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I was on my way out."

From the red and blue knights came an intense gaze.

"The cake you brought, I will eat it later... W-What's with you two, why are you staring at me so strangely?"

The red knight looked as if she had found something interesting, while the blue knight seemed deep in thought. Their gazes made Godou frantic.

"Hmph hmph... Trying to put me and Lily aside, Godou, where do you think you're going?"

Erica smiled with a seductive expression. This was the witch's expression that took joy in the misfortunes of others.

"Your reason for going out, must be related to a female friend, right? Am I correct?"

Upon Liliana's fairy-like features, there was a sudden expression of darkness. It was a complicated expression encompassing doubt, worry and unease. Come to think of it, she had been wearing such an expression quite often lately.

"To have the gall to plan a date on a weekend, I am truly surprised. If only you were this capable with respect to me."

"To be meticulously prepared only in these situations... You really are something."

Reproached by the girls, this was merely blind baseless speculation.

That's what it should have been, but unfortunately they guessed correctly this time.

Godou was about to curse his pitiful luck when he suddenly had an idea. Wait a minute, I already agreed with Yuri beforehand, what is there to hide? Just come clean with it openly.

"You two, stop speculating rubbish over there. Yes, you are correct that I am meeting a girl, but that's nothing out of the ordinary. You two should behave, and stop talking like I'm some sort of playboy."

Puffing his chest out and holding his head high, Godou reminded himself honesty was the most important thing.

"I am meeting Yuri later, see, there's nothing strange."

"Yes yes, not strange at all. So let me ask you, the one who asked to meet up, was it you or Yuri?"

Allowing Godou to begin explaining, Erica then posed a question.

Her eyes were laughing, it was the same kind of joyful smile like a predator chasing its prey.

"Hmph, clearly it's Yuri. But that girl will definitely not take initiative on her own like that... There must be someone secretly advising her."

Godou was rendered speechless instantly. To be described that way. Though he wanted to defend his honor, he felt like he would be digging his own grave. So Godou quickly said:

"S-So, I already agreed with her on the time, I have to go now."

"Sounds very interesting, then I will come as well. It should be fine, right? Me, Lily and Yuri are all the same, we are all your close friends."

Erica spoke as if playing a joke on Godou, while Liliana looked as if she had thought of something.

"...Then I will accompany as your knight. This is to verify there is nothing indecent going on between you and Mariya Yuri. Is that fine?"

She took the opportunity to follow as well, Godou felt it was unbelievable and sighed.

When Liliana first came to Japan, she often acted out of control. It has already been a month since, and Godou just realized that she had improved a lot.

Many problematic actions have been reduced substantially. Even from an objective point of view, one would conclude she had become more composed.

On the other hand, she seemed to have become unexpectedly quiet, always calmly and silently thinking about something.

It gave the impression that she was gathering all sorts of information and performing some kind of analysis.

Anyway there was no time to ponder all this, as Erica and Liliana chose to act in unison, so Godou walked with them to Jounan Academy. Somehow he felt like he was being cornered into a dead end, and it felt rather surreal.

Walking roughly fifteen minutes on Hongou Street, they reached the front gates of Private Jounan Academy.

Godou stole a glance and surveyed the surroundings but