San'ya, Part 2

Time passed as the Creator attended her classes for the day. The lectures she would normally listen to, albeit loosely, went in one ear and out the other. She didn't even notice a few being self-study or canceled outright. After all, her main focus was on that song she was writing. Everything else was secondary.

"CHARLOTTE!!!!" a voice screamed right next to her ear. She lost her concentration, nearly falling out of her seat.

"Agh! What the heck, Microwave?!? What was that for???"

"Didn't you notice that class ended already?" Microwave sighed, glancing around the room.

"Huh." Just as it said, the lecture hall was surprisingly barren -- chairs unmoved and display wiped clean. If she had been using a working watch, she would've known this was one of her canceled classes. However, the black box on her wrist remained undisturbed. It'll be working in a few days anyway. "Still, you didn't have to yell in my ear for that," she pouted.

"You didn't hear me when I tried to get your attention earlier," it said, well aware of its master's antics. It knew she wasn't mad from the gleeful smile on her face. She likely finished arranging another part of her song, or at least polished it quite thoroughly.

"Oh? But that still doesn't mean you can!"

"Then what else am I supposed to do?" it rolled its eyes.

"Something else!"

"Like?"

"Something!"

"..." The perfect response to redirect for someone so unreasonable. "Well, we should get going."

"Going where?"

"...did you forget already?" it groaned. "We're heading to San'ya, remember? To search for the student who bought the magnesium cans?"

"Ah, right, right," she banged her fist against her palm. Then, in one swift motion, she packed her bag, tossing it to Microwave, before climbing atop its back. "Now, let's get going!"

"...and why are you on my back?"

"So I don't get lost!"

"...there are many other ways to prevent that."

"But this is easier. Now giddy up!" she yelled, slapping her feet against its side. All it could do was sigh as it carried her all the way to San'ya.

The streets were pretty dead the last time the pair came, allowing the salesmen to easily swarm and coer-- market their products effectively. Today, however, it was around 17:00 -- just after most classes ended but before clubs met up for the day. The perfect time for students to go shopping on their limited budget. And as such...

"Try out this n-- agh!"

"Need a-- wah!!"

"Looking for-- woah!!!"

"S-- I didn't even say anything yet!!!!"

The salesmen were swept up in the rush of students threatening to trample them. They barely had enough time to take an order, much less hawk their products. Actually, a few of them had already collapsed, not that anyone cared. It was a mad house, one where the two needed to search for a needle.

"So... how are we supposed to find the culprit again?" she asked, hopping off its back.

"Seriously? Were you not paying attention?"

"That's a dumb question to ask. Of course I was(n't)!"

"Haah... we need to find the vendor who sold the cans," Microwave repeated. "The easiest way is to split up and ask around."

"Hmm... sounds good! I'll start on this street then."

"Then I will head to the other side."

She and Microwave split the ten or so streets evenly, starting on either ends to find the merchant in question. It seemed like it would be a rather quick task, aside from all the jostling. However...

"Ah! Yes-- wait! Don't take that!"

"Sorry what are you-- oh yes, that dog food-tasting human food is on sale!"

"A metal can? I've got metal brushes."

"How about a metal book?"

"A metal picture?"

"Just metal."

The merchants and salesmen either didn't know about who sold metal cans or instead advertised their own products. Metal cans were very common objects, and common objects were rare in San'ya. As for the students...

"Metal cans? There are some at the convenience store."

"Check a supermarket."

"Metal cans? In San'ya?"

"Are you sure you're not looking for something that's normally in a metal can?"

"Oh yeah, I saw someone selling metal cans."

The students don't seem to know either--

"Wait. You saw someone selling metal cans?!? In San'ya?!?" she quickly grabbed the hands of the student who just spoke to her.

"Huh?!? U-um, yeah. C-can you back up a bit first?!?"

"Just tell me already!!!!" she pressed.

"T-three streets down!"

"Right!" She broke out in a speed walk through the side streets, following the direction the student pointed. Finally! Now we can get this over with! If they're actually an arsonist, maybe they'll provide some inspiration as well! I can just think of all the ideas flowing int--

"Ugh!" "Ah!" Clank clank clank clank.

Not paying attention, she bumped into someone and fell to the ground, but that wasn't important. She heard cans. Metal cans. Which means...

On the ground across from her was another person, cans scattered around their body. An umbrella laid off to their side, shining across a dancing light. But that seemed normal compared to the person in question. The illuminated part was a young woman wearing frilly clothes. However, the non-illuminated part was a man wearing a lab coat. A man she should've known, not that she noticed.

"It's you Ms. Igita!" they began, not even bothering to stand up or move. "Perfect! I have improved my original spell by tenfold! Now it can greatly surpass yours!"

"Oh? Really?" she repeated, not realizing who she was talking to or why they knew her. The only thing she gathered was that their words were an insult, but one that peaked her curiosity, barely winning out over her task. Well, I can take a few moments to see this so-called spell. Maybe it's based on one of mine.

"Yes! Watch!" They held up their index finger, something that should've triggered an alarm bell. After all, they were the same professor who bragged about his AI-generated research to her. The one who cast a fireball spell, only to have it immediately taken over. By itself, it wasn't a cause for concern. But with the cans... well...

The professor manifested the fireball.