Hot Winter - Chapter 2

[haranami]

Location: Kitchen

Izumi: (...I was planning on having lunch early so I could avoid the crowd, but I ended up shooting the breeze with Kuma-kun for too long.) 

(Oh, well. It’s no big deal — I don’t have plans for the rest of the day, and our little chat helped me let off some steam.)

(I’ve been kinda stressed and tired lately, so… It really felt like a breath of fresh air.)

(Besides, it’s not like having a late lunch is a bad thing. It’s past peak hours, so the kitchen’s empty, and I can sit anywhere I like.)

(Maybe I should take the time to cook for myself every now and then. I didn’t use my share of ingredients from Gardenia, so they should be right…)

(Here…? Wait a sec. My veggies are gone, and so are my fruits. There’s literally nothing left! Did someone take it all?)

(Ugh, right when I wanted to cook. This is sooo annoying!)

(Whatever, I guess… I can’t be bothered to go out and buy something, so I’ll just grab a pre-made meal.)

(“Winter-Exclusive: Creamy Chicken Soup”? …Looks like it’s got a bunch of winter vegetables.)

(It’s not, like, devoid of nutritional value, and it’s not as high-calorie as I expected. ‘Kay then, I guess this is as good as it gets.)

Location: Common Room

Izumi: (...Hm? What do we have here…?)

Tatsumi: ……

Madara: …… 

Izumi: (Kazehaya and Mikejima, huh? That’s not a combo you see every day. I wonder what they’re talking about?)

(On second thought, it’s none of my business. I better eat my soup before it gets cold.)

(...Huh, this is actually pretty good. I’m not a fan of how small the chunks are, but the seasoning is just how I like it.)

(Let’s see, it’s got carrots, burdock, onions, and daikon… I can buy some dashi while I’m here, and, aside from the burdock and daikon, I should be able to find the rest of the ingredients over in Florence.)

(Maybe I’ll try recreating this when I’m in the mood for Japanese food.)

Madara: …Nah, it looks like a secret code to me.

Izumi: (…A secret what now?)

Madara: Sure, it seems normal at first glance, but take a closer look — I think there’s sooome kinda pattern to it.

Tatsumi: Now that you mention it… The letters are in a similar sequence over here.

It’s only a small section, though; are you quite certain this isn’t merely a coincidence?

Izumi: (Excuse me? What’re they even talking about? It looks like they’re standing next to some kind of Christmas poster.)

Tatsumi: …Well, it is a holy image; perhaps this is a sign from God. 

Madara: You think? It looks pretty avant-garde to me.

Izumi: (“A sign from God”? “Avant-garde”? Ughhh, I’m dying to know what they’re talking about! I can’t focus on my food anymore…!)

Tatsumi: Although there was originally no connection between the nativity of Christ and Santa Claus, they are now both associated with Christmas.

That is why this poster of Santa Claus could be considered holy.

Madara: Does that mean you’d call a picture of Santa and Rudolph chucking presents from the top of a tree “sacred”? You sure are an odd duck, Tatsumi-san.

Izumi: …Literally what have you two been going on about?

Tatsumi: Oh, Izumi-san. We were sharing our opinions on this poster.

Madara: Dunno when, but someone must’ve put it up here. It’s almost Christmas, so I figured it was just to give the place some more holiday cheer… 

But doesn’t it feel a lil’ off when you take a closer look?

Izumi: “A little off”...? Are you talking about the letters and numbers that’re scattered all over?

Madara: Got it in one! I’d expect no less from you, Izumi-san. You’re sharp as a tack ♪ 

Izumi: Don’t compliment me for doing something that easy. It feels like you’re looking down on me.

Still, I guess you’re right — this does look like a secret code of sorts. Whoever made this didn’t use all of the letters in the alphabet, and it feels like they were intentional in where they placed things.

(...But that’s the extent of my understanding. I doubt I’d be able to pick up on anything else. I do know someone who’s good at this stuff, though…)

(Namely, Yuu-kun. On any other day, I’d have already sent him a message...)

(But I know he must be busy during the end of the year. Even I wouldn’t bother him right now.)

Tatsumi: …E… N… W… WS… 

Izumi: Um, hellooo? What’re you doing? You sound like some kinda rundown robot, and it’s freaking me out.

Tatsumi: Oh, pardon me. I think I’ve finally cracked the code.

Upon taking a closer look at the letters on the poster, it seems as though some, but not all, are paired with numbers. 

If you were to ignore those that aren’t, only the letters N, E, S and W — that is to say, the cardinal directions — remain.

Most of the numbers are two or three digits. If we consider these to be directions…

Madara: We might be able to figure out where Santa’s hidden his treasure…☆

Izumi: Isn’t that, like, totally out of Santa’s job description? In the first place, pirates are the ones who hide their loot.

Madara: Lemme take a quick pic with my phone… Alllrighty, let’s head out and track that treasure down ♪ 

Izumi: Wait, you want me to come?

Madara: Duh! You’re coming too, aren’t cha, Tatsumi-san?

Tatsumi: But of course. I’d like to discover why this poster was created.

Madara: Tell me about it! C’mon, let’s get to the bottom of this…☆

Izumi: Hey, I did not agree to this!  

Location: Courtyard

<One hour later.>

Izumi: We’ve searched every damn corner of the dorms, all the way from the first floor to the third…

And you’re telling me our final destination is the courtyard?! I’m never getting all that time and energy back, you know?! This freakin’ sucks! 

Tatsumi: It appears as though this tree marks the end of our journey, but nothing seems to be off about it.

Madara: It’s possible that the treasure got buried underground, but it doesn’t look like the soil’s been dug up at all.

Maybe this was all just a prank? In that case, I’ve gotta thank whoever set it up! It really felt like I was a lil’ kid again; I had a blast!

Izumi: Excuse me? Why’re you thanking them? They’re the absolute worst for toying around with us like this!

…Wait, did you hear that?

Tatsumi: Hm? Hear what, pray tell…?

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