‘I checked in the kitchen and bathrooms. I wondered about them, since there’s no running water. So I checked over the taps and drains, but found nothing. I couldn’t find the entrance to the Wishing Room either.’

‘Really?’ Masamune gave Subaru a knowing smile.

‘Got a problem with that?’ Subaru shot back.

‘Nah, I just hadn’t thought that you would look so keenly. But now I see you were actually really into it. You’re bad, y’know that?’

‘And you aren’t?’

This back and forth made Kokoro a little anxious, but the two boys were smiling. They seemed pleased they could finally banter like this, freely open up to each other.

‘I have one request.’ It was Rion’s turn to raise a hand. He waited until he had everyone’s attention. ‘The Wolf Queen said the castle was open until March, but she also said that if we find the key and a wish comes true then it will close down instantly.’

‘She did,’ Aki agreed.

‘Then,’ Rion said, ‘I’ll join in, but since we’re all doing it together, could you promise one thing? Even if we find the key, we don’t use it till March? And keep the castle for us to spend time in until the very end?’

Kokoro caught her breath and looked at him.

She’d been wanting the exact same thing. Next April was the new school year, and even if she was able to move classes at junior high, the thought of going back made her so depressed she wanted to hide.

She’d been absent from school a long while now, and not even the prospect of a new class was enough to persuade her to go back. And Sanada would still be in the same school year.

She didn’t think she could make it till March, holed up alone in her bedroom. She was too frightened. She wanted the castle to stay just the way it was. She and Rion were on the same wavelength.

Rion said, ‘No matter whose wish comes true, could we all stick to our agreement? No one goes off on their own?’

‘Of course,’ Masamune said. He looked at the others, trying to read them. ‘We all want to stay here as long as we can.’

No one opposed that.

Not Subaru, with his bleached hair and civilized manner of speech; not Aki, with her older boyfriend; not Fuka, who had no wish; and not Ureshino, who’d come back beaten up, and still didn’t believe he’d been bullied.

They were silent.

‘Good,’ Rion said. He smiled brightly. ‘I’m relieved to hear it.’

‘SO, YOU’RE JOINING FORCES. How completely wonderful that you’ve worked out a strategy.’

It was then that they heard the voice.