Although Seia's statement was somewhat shocking, it was enough that her survival was confirmed. Matters for later can be left to later. For now, the mood was good. The foggy head cleared, and the tangled feelings were untangled.
So Kenji sat on the rooftop and smoked a few more cigarettes, then returned to his room, put on the cast he had taken off, and went back to the office.
In the office, Ha-yul and Yuuka were sitting. Come to think of it, the time was already close to noon. The work start time had long passed. Kenji sprayed the deodorant placed at the office entrance on his body and approached the two people gathered at Ha-yul's table.
“So! Here, you should write in Chinese characters, not numbers! Otherwise, it'll get rejected by the agency again!”
“Waaah! I hate documents! I hate numbers! I want to play too!”
“Don't act like a child!”
Yuuka pretended to scold with a stern voice. Ha-yul made a tearful face while clumsily correcting the documents, and upon seeing Kenji, she forced an awkward smile. Then she said.
“Hi, Kenji. Did you send Nagisa off well?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
Kenji smirked and nodded. With that, the conversation ended.
“……”
“……”
An awkward air flowed. Yuuka glanced at Kenji from the corner of her eye, and Ha-yul rolled her eyes alternating between the documents and Kenji. From that action alone, Kenji immediately realized that they were gauging his mood. It seemed that Yuuka had told Ha-yul about what happened a few hours ago.
There was no need for that. Kenji forced a bitter smile, but he could understand why Yuuka had told Ha-yul.
Anyone who has experienced social life knows that atmosphere is important in work. How the department's atmosphere and work efficiency change depending on the mood of the department head, how much people's actions differ based on emotions or mood—anyone with even a little experience in social life can realize this fact.
Since Yuuka is part of the student council, she must be well aware of this fact. Perhaps that's why she informed Ha-yul. Probably to tell her that since Kenji's mood doesn't look good today, let's not provoke him and smoothly move on.
It wasn't meddling. In Kenji's opinion, her measure was appropriate. It wasn't something that needed to be hidden anyway. If Seia's call hadn't come, he might still be smoking cigarettes with a decaying expression.
But now, his head was clear. There was no reason for the two to be cautious of him. So, to reassure them, Kenji put on a mischievous smile full of playfulness.
“Why is the atmosphere like this? It's not a funeral.”
“Uh, uh? That, that's right?”
Ha-yul's face brightened. Then, the awkward atmosphere instantly lightened. Yuuka had a bewildered expression at the sudden change, but for Kenji, who had been with Ha-yul, it was a familiar occurrence. The energy spread by someone as bright and positive as her couldn't be ignored.
Kenji laughed softly and pointed at the document Ha-yul was holding, asking.
“So, what document is that?”
“The expense claim from Abydos this time. I definitely sent it yesterday, but Rin rejected it! Because there's no Chinese characters next to the Roman letters!”
“Didn't it get rejected for that last time too?”
“I forgot!”
Ha-yul said with a hehehe laugh. Yuuka, who was assisting her, sighed while holding her forehead, and Kenji smiled bitterly as he ground coffee beans in the espresso machine.
Thus, the day began.
*
It was another day of processing documents with half his mind elsewhere. Kenji pressed his throbbing forehead and mechanically stamped the documents.
As always, most of the complaints that come to Schale are trivial. Like a lost cat that needs to be found, help with party preparations, or opinions on new cosmetics. Not all complaints are like that, but many are things that make you wonder why they're requested to Schale. That's why sighs kept escaping Kenji's mouth.
“Uhe, uhihi. Work! It's fun!”
Ha-yul had lost half her mind since her vacation was canceled.
The reason for the cancellation was absurd. When submitting the vacation application, she was in such a hurry that she didn't write her name. Since it was clearly Ha-yul's fault, the two had no time to rest, busy processing the documents pouring in for the enrollment period.
'I want a cigarette.'
Kenji thought so and unnecessarily put a pen in his mouth, turning his head toward the window.
The cherry blossoms that filled the streets had mostly faded. Instead, green leaves replaced their place. Spring wasn't over yet, but it strongly felt that summer was approaching. Of course, even if summer comes, nothing changes. Still buried in documents, only repeating the task of stamping.
At least, unlike before, recently there were many calls with Nagisa or Seia, so it was bearable.
Seia could only be contacted once a day as she wandered in dreams to check the future, but Nagisa called whenever she had time. They always talked for over an hour before bed.
What was disappointing was that he still hadn't met Mika.
The General Student Council President's attention was already shattered by the meeting with Nagisa. So, meeting Mika wouldn't make much difference, but because of Nagisa's words, he couldn't just go meet Mika.
-As I said, Mika doesn't trust anyone anymore. If it's to find the assassin who killed Seia, it might be different, but for now…….
-If I go meet her directly…….
-……She probably won't believe that you're real. Nothing will change. So, please wait until I somehow persuade Mika.
-How long do you think it will take?
-I'm not sure either…….
Kenji sighed deeply and spat out the pen from his mouth.
'I wish she'd contact me as soon as possible.'
Mika was the first of the three he met, but the reunion is last. What kind of fate's joke is this. Kenji rested his chin and watched the moving clouds, then stretched out like a mollusk in his chair.
Then, a document caught his eye.
[!+!+! Teacher, come to the Pandemonium Society right now! !+!+!]
It was an unusual form of title. Kenji, interested, stretched out his arm clumsily and read the content of the document.
[Teacher, look! How dare you move the Justice Task Force without the command of me, the Gehenna student council president! I will hold you responsible right now, so come to Manma-den the moment you read this!]
[Just in case you don't come, I'll leave insurance!]
[This letter starts from Trinity and has the power to curse you if you don't come to Gehenna. It's not superstition! It's real!]
[-Written by Iroha-]
Kenji smirked and stared at the document intently.
It was a very ridiculous content. The shortened version of a chain letter, and the fact that it's written by someone else. It was a letter where seriousness couldn't be found anywhere, but if the sender is the Gehenna student council president, the story changes.
What kind of place is Gehenna? Isn't it a massive academy referred to as one of Kivotos' three major academies along with Trinity and Millennium? Moreover, unlike the relatively moderate two academies, Gehenna is a place where incidents never cease. Would the student council president of such an academy have low authority? Kenji pondered for a moment and turned his head toward Ha-yul. No matter how he thought about it, this wasn't a document he could decide on his own.
“Teacher, there's a rather serious document here.”
“Uhi, uhihi, Ha-yul! Work is fun!”
“……Teacher.”
“Uhihihi…… U, yes? Kenji, what did you say?”
Ha-yul's dazed eyes returned to normal. Kenji sighed and flapped the document in his hand.
“The Gehenna student council president wants to meet you.”
“It's content that's been there before, right? Although Gehenna is the first……”
As Ha-yul said, student council presidents who want to meet and talk with her are more than expected. But Ha-yul refused all of them.
There wasn't a big reason; it's just that since student council presidents have high authority, if she meets someone, others might ask why she doesn't come to our academy. Isn't self-respect the basis of politics? If she meets some but not others, they might feel ignored. Ha-yul preemptively blocked this, avoiding meetings with student councils unless there's a justification.
But this document had a justification.
“It says it's dissatisfaction about moving the Justice Task Force arbitrarily.”
“Ah…… But we already paid the price for that separately.”
“It's probably because we paid the price only to the Justice Task Force, and didn't give any notice to the student council president. It's become troublesome, but to maintain good relations with Gehenna, we probably have to go.”
It's obvious, but the three academies classified as Kivotos' three major academies have that title not because they're large, but because their authority is the strongest in Kivotos. Therefore, maintaining amicable relations with them is essential.
'Trinity will be fine as long as I'm at Schale, and Millennium has Yuuka coming to help.'
Among the three major academies, the only one not closely related to Schale at the moment is Gehenna. Gehenna might not realize it, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious. Moreover, the justification is on their side. It's better to avoid annoying things happening by ignoring it.
“No matter how much Schale has supernatural authority, we can't arbitrarily suppress with power. Let's visit once.”
“Umm…… I want to do that too, but.”
Ha-yul said that and carefully handed the document she was holding to Kenji. Kenji tilted his head and accepted the document.
“What is this?”
“I have to go on a business trip.”
“Huh?”
“Ehehe.”
Ha-yul scratched her cheek with a bright smile. Kenji read the document she handed over and let out a hollow laugh.
[The Game Development Club is now on the verge of dissolution. With the student council's order to disband and ruin right before our eyes, the only place we can ask for help is you. Hero. Please save us!]
“Game…… Development Club?”
Kenji muttered. Ha-yul nodded and started packing her belongings hastily.
“I can't ignore a request for help. The club's dissolution! As a teacher, I must protect the students' dreams!”
“……Then Gehenna……?”
“My assistant Kenji.”
Ha-yul looked at Kenji with a blank expression and winked cutely.
“You go!”
“…….”
“While you're at it, go neatly! Get a haircut too! Wear a shirt and tie like me!”
“……Teacher, just asking out of curiosity, do you like games by any chance?”
“Yep.”
“……I like games too, so I'll go to Millennium. Teacher, you go to Gehenna—”
“Gasp! Arona, what did you say? If we don't move immediately, the Game Development Club is in danger? Grr, no choice. Kenji!”
“…….”
“I'm counting on you.”
With those words, Ha-yul quickly left the office. Kenji blankly stared at the table where she was sitting, then suddenly distorted his face.
“Fuck.”
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