Chapter 27 Six (side A)

"No one... came to help... ah chirp!" Chitanda sneezed. Thinking that she didn't say she was afraid of the cold at all, I thought it was okay, but it really didn't work.I'm a man and I haven't worn a kimono, but no matter how you look at it, the performance of the clothes in keeping out the cold is not much better. "Are you OK?" Hearing my uninspired question, Chitanda smiled awkwardly and said, "Fortunately... It would be fine if I put on Taoism." "Does it work?" "That's right. It's the black crepe one." Oh, it's that coat.It turned out to be Daoxing?It's really full of Japanese style.

"I regret not coming here in my coat, too." "It's...it's still a bit cold here." It's not just "a little bit".Let's be honest, I'm almost frozen to the limit.If I didn't have a warm pack in my pocket, I would have given up resistance and called for help directly. Now, besides the warm pack, I have many other things in my pocket: thousand-yen banknotes, small change, and CD store loyalty cards. Throwing out my wallet was a very bold decision on my part.In fact, Chitanda's wallet should work better.If I tied my murder lottery to her wallet, Ihara would probably be puzzled too.Then, maybe she will realize that something is wrong.

But I hesitated.The wallet Chitanda was holding was not the one she usually used to buy bread at the school canteen.Does the purse also count as part of the New Year’s dress?When Chitanda was throwing sesame oil money, I caught a glimpse. Today, her wallet seems to be a high-end product made of real leather. As long as the content is cleared, even if the wallet is stolen, the loss will not be too great.But I was thinking too simply——Chitanda's wallet looked like it contained a lot of money.If it is picked up by someone other than the helper, they are likely to take it for themselves without even looking at it, which is troublesome.

I had no choice but to empty my wallet, and then tie a lotus sign to emphasize that "this item belongs to Oreki Houtaro".Now that you have paper, why not write a message like "Come to help"?I thought so, but there was no pen around, and I couldn't find any substitutes.Although I scratched those words with my nails for the time being...but the murder sign tied to the wallet is already wrinkled, and the handwriting should be unrecognizable.Folding the sign and putting it in the wallet will not wrinkle, but it is not obvious that "the wallet belongs to me".Which side should I choose?I hesitated for a while.

As it turns out, I seem to have picked the wrong one.The wallet should have been passed to Ihara, but she didn't come to help.First Chitanda's handkerchief, and then my wallet, she should have started to wonder... But, it's not enough to make her stop her work and come to find out. "...Sorry, Chitanda. Maybe it's over." If I put my own clothes on Chitanda who is suffering from the cold, I would probably look very self-sacrificing.But I'm also cold.If I took the sweater off, I could actually get hypothermia. Chitanda smiled at me and said, "Where is it? I should apologize for letting you accommodate my willfulness for so long."

"That's not capricious, it's a responsibility." "...Although what you said is true, it's not a reason to implicate Oreki-san. Let's call someone. There's nothing we can do to spread some gossip." It's a pity that I have endured the cold for so long.But I'm also at the end of my rope.If you can't think of a way, it's useless to procrastinate.I nodded. However, at the very end—— "Ah, Fukube-san should have arrived." Hearing Chitanda's sigh, I remembered a forgotten method.That's right, Satoshi should have arrived.It's been so long, so he should be here.

In order to escape from the miscellaneous house, I first considered the physical method.I didn't think it was feasible, so I tried to get in touch with Ibara instead.However, Ibara is not the only person who can be contacted.And Satoshi!If only Satoshi would do! Ah, but there is no tool! "Chitanda, do you have something like a rope!?" Scared by my sudden surge of momentum, Chitanda said tremblingly, "Rope, rope?" "It's about this long... Fifty centimeters is enough. As long as I find the rope, I can definitely convey the predicament we are in." Chitanda started patting herself up and down—she was looking for the rope.

"The straps of sandals..." "Too short." "Ah, there's string on the bag!" I shook my head: "That won't work, the handbag still needs to be used." Probably confused, Chitanda tilted her head.Having said that, she put the question aside first. "How about Oreki-san's shoelaces?" "...Yes, there is another trick!" I looked at my feet complacently, but was immediately discouraged.Naturally, the usual sneakers are fine, as long as the shoelaces are removed.However, today I wore boots without laces.It's not that I want to pretend to be mature, it's just that the remaining snow in the shrine grounds is still there, and it will be very dangerous if you don't wear stable shoes.The house leak happened to rain overnight, which was unlucky in the final analysis.

"If it is really necessary..." Chitanda put her fair hand on the belt: "Perhaps...you can use a belt." "Is it the rope?" "yes." Chitanda, who nodded, turned her face away for some reason.I didn't pay attention to these details, and continued to ask: "Is it troublesome to take it apart?" "Well, it's about right, it takes a little effort." Asked here, a sudden flash of uneasiness. "I said Chitanda, I don't know much about kimonos—" "..." "If you take off the belt, will the clothes be okay?"

Chitanda's reaction was rather rough.She lowered her head and whispered, "The belt... probably will... loosen..." "What kind of fun is it - that must not work!" "Sure enough...isn't it okay? Indeed, it will take a lot of work to fix the belt again..." Not that question.Even if my name is Satoshi, if Chitanda is disheveled then, uh, how should I put it, it will look too inappropriate.Then, all the worries we are doing now will be completely meaningless. "The other ropes..." Let me think about it. In the miscellaneous house, there are a bamboo broom, a shovel, a long stick for filling coal, a taiko stand or something like that, a long pole with a flag hanging on it, and a cardboard box with a lot of the same pattern bowl.All I have to do is find a piece of string in these things... if I have a knife, I can cut the twine that holds the broom in place.Can it be cut with a shovel?No, the rope wasn't long enough after all.

Probably unable to bear the silence, Chitanda timidly asked, "Excuse me... why can we ask Fukube-san for help with the rope?" That kind of thing doesn't matter at all, what matters is where is the rope?I'm almost freezing.