Eden Treaty.
This is a treaty between Trinity and Gehenna that is not widely known but will inevitably be signed in a few months. The purpose is to ease the relationship between the two academies, which have been rivals, and if you only hear the explanation, it sounds like a simple, moderate promise.
But the Eden Treaty was absolutely not an event for making light promises. If it were just about making a simple promise, why would the word 'treaty' be attached?
What is a treaty? It's the most formal diplomatic document used to record comprehensive agreements on political and diplomatic basic relations or status. The power carried by the word 'treaty' was too strong for it to be merely about making a 'promise'.
Moreover, the academies signing it were two of the three major academies in Kivotos: Trinity and Gehenna. It was impossible to determine which was superior, and if they clashed, mutual destruction was the only outcome other than coexistence. The most powerful academies in Kivotos, excluding Millennium.
But contrary to their dignity, the content of the treaty they were signing was exceedingly simple and clear.
Let's get along? They're signing a treaty just for that? It's absurd. Of course, considering the positions of the two powerful academies, it was a treaty that could reasonably be made. It was somewhat understandable if it was to lay the groundwork to avoid mutual destruction.
However, was that really all? Kenji didn't think so. It was a kind of instinct. Something, something unsettling, kept bothering him. He didn't know what it was, but it was clear that if left alone, something would happen.
What was the real purpose underlying the treaty, what benefits did Trinity and Gehenna aim to gain through it?
Honestly, he didn't know. Nagisa, who had given him a hint about the treaty, had avoided giving a proper explanation. Speculating alone would just be baseless imagination, so he refrained from conjecture. Instead, he hoped for the treaty's perfection.
That was exactly what he had asked Hina for.
"Since the treaty is being signed, please make it end perfectly if possible. Without anyone getting hurt, without emotional exhaustion."
For Kenji, 'Trinity' didn't hold much value. Even though it was where he first opened his eyes and built memories, he didn't think he'd be sad if it collapsed. After all, he came from a place where even the concept of patriotism was vague, so why would he attach great significance to one academy disappearing?
However, instead of Trinity, Kenji valued the three people attending Trinity. Moreover, they were all the ones leading current Trinity. If Trinity headed toward ruin, they would likely face a similar fate.
He didn't want such an outcome, and thus hoped for Trinity's revival. And if the Eden Treaty proceeded without incident, Trinity would surely become more powerful than before. That was what Kenji wished for.
"……? What does the treaty have to do with someone getting hurt? It's not a fight."
But Hina tilted her head and expressed doubt.
Treaty and injury. Honestly, it wasn't a fitting combination.
Why would anyone get hurt in signing a treaty? It's not a negotiation table with guns and knives. The Eden Treaty is just an event where they hold talks and sign with pens. Of course, they'd bring guns, but no one would find that strange.
"Just in case. To prepare for any unforeseen events."
Kenji agreed with her words, but the unknown uneasiness kept amplifying his anxiety. The heightened sense he gained after experiencing fear was warning him that things shouldn't go this way. Kenji didn't ignore it. He had relied on this sense more often than not to dismiss it as mere delusion. For instance, predicting the trajectory of bullets by looking at the gun's direction was thanks to his sharp sense.
"Can you do it?"
"……It's not a difficult request. I also want the treaty to end safely. More than that, are you sure? Even if you waste your wish like this……."
"It's enough."
Kenji chuckled and said.
Hina, who had expected a request for money or backing, nodded with a somewhat blank expression at the much lighter request than she thought. After all, it was strange for her to argue when he said he was fine with it.
"Alright. I'll do that."
"Thank you."
Kenji smiled faintly and said so, then picked up and ate one of the bland cookies on the table. True to the discipline committee's high status in Gehenna, even the cookies brought for guests were crispy. The taste didn't matter much anyway.
"Now, since we've covered all the official matters, why don't we exchange greetings since we met after a long time?"
"……Is that okay? If you're from Schale, aren't you busy?"
"That's why I said it. I don't want to work."
Kenji said with a confident expression. Hina let out a dry laugh and crossed her arms. Then, she tilted her head at a sudden thought.
"But wait. How did you know about the Eden Treaty? It's something fewer than ten people in Kivotos know about yet?"
"Ah, that……."
Kenji was about to say that Nagisa had given him a hint, but remembering her warning not to tell anyone, he hesitated for a moment. Of course, it was fine to tell Hina. She was one of the few who knew about the Eden Treaty she mentioned.
But he wondered if mentioning Nagisa's name might make Hina pick on her. So, after a brief thought, Kenji decided to brush it off.
"Well, you see."
He said in a voice full of laughter. Bringing his index finger to his lips, he smiled like a mastermind and curved his eyes into arcs.
"It's a secret."
Hina's broad forehead wrinkled like a tic-tac-toe board.
*
He left the discipline committee head's office.
The bright sky had already darkened with dusk. The sunset light seeped into the room through the window, and the sun, half-hidden behind clouds, shyly peeked out. Kenji stared at the orange sky for a moment, then put the smartphone he was holding into his pocket. The incoming sunset light brightly illuminated his face.
'I should head back soon.'
He had achieved all his purposes for coming to Gehenna. Although he stayed longer than expected, he gained a lot in return. Excluding being told 'you're next' by the Gourmet Research Club terrorists, it was a fulfilling day. Kenji nodded satisfactorily and rolled his eyes toward where he had been feeling a gaze.
"……Ugh……."
There stood Amao Ako, clenching her teeth tightly.
It was a different appearance from before. Just a few hours ago, she had been smiling brightly, but now she was staring at Kenji with eyes as if looking at a mortal enemy. As Kenji tilted his head in confusion at her sudden change, Ako screamed.
"What's this! Why on earth are you having a friendly conversation with the department head! Weren't you here to handle official business related to Schale?!"
"……?"
"Was there a need to have a private conversation?!"
Ako thrust her face toward Kenji and shouted. Kenji, flustered by her face filling his vision, took a few steps back. Ako didn't follow him, standing still and breathing heavily.
"There shouldn't be!"
"Um…… Miss Ako? Why are you suddenly angry? Did I do something wrong?"
Kenji asked sincerely. No matter how he thought about it, he didn't seem to have done anything wrong.
After parting with Ako, all he did was talk with Hina inside the discipline committee head's office. Did he commit some rudeness there? But Ako wasn't even in the room. Even if she eavesdropped, he didn't say or do anything rude to her or Hina…….
"Wrong?"
But Ako, as if something displeased her greatly, glared at Kenji and pointed her finger at him.
"Of course you did! You use formal speech with me, but you used informal speech with the department head!"
"……Is that a problem?"
"It seems like you're giving special treatment to the department head! Not allowed! The department head is mine! Ah, no, the discipline committee's department head! I can't hand her over to you!"
Ako wiped the drool at the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand and continued.
"This won't do. Use informal speech with me too! No, just use informal speech with the entire discipline committee! Don't only do it with Hina, the department head!"
"……I think you're misunderstanding. I'm not giving special treatment to Hina; we've been acquaintances for years, so I speak casually."
"Ac, acquaintances for years?! How insolent!"
Ako became even more furious. She strode toward Kenji and stood before him, chest out.
Ding-dong. A clear sound echoed from the cowbell.
She looked up at Kenji with blazing eyes and said.
"This really won't do! Give me your number!"
"Huh?"
Kenji, not anticipating the flow of the conversation, asked in a dazed voice. Ako jumped in place and shouted.
"Use informal speech! And your number! You got the department head's number, right! I can't let you give special treatment to the department head, so leave my number too!"
"What kind of sophistry is that? And I said I'm not giving special treatment!"
"Who knows what might happen in the future! So you can't return to Schale until you give me your number! If you want to argue with me all day, then don't tell me!"
"How wicked!"
"It's Gehenna! We're demons! I'm the department head's loyal dog!"
Ako jingled her cowbell and hopped around in front of Kenji. Kenji gritted his teeth, trying to find an opening to escape, but seeing no possible route, he let out a groan. Ako looked at him wickedly and spread her arms wide.
"Try running away!"
"You demon-like girl!"
"I am a demon!"
"Fine. Here, my number."
Enough of this joke, discipline committee administrator.
Kenji thought to himself and handed Ako the business card he had kept in his wallet. While Ako was bewildered by his sudden change, Kenji chuckled and patted her shoulder.
"You're the first one I'm giving a business card to. Consider it an honor."
"Huh, what?"
"I'm off. Good work. Don't overdo the overtime."
Kenji said so and quickly walked out of the discipline committee room. Ako stupidly watched his back, then suddenly came to her senses and checked the business card in her hand.
[Momoko Laundry! We await your revisit!]
-Crunch! The 'coupon' was crumpled.
"Kenji!!!!!!"
"Eek. You check quickly."
Kenji, enveloped in terror, opened the window and leaped through it. Then, performing a perfect landing, he looked at the floor where the discipline committee room was. There stood Ako, leaning on the open window, glaring with blue eyes. Kenji laughed cheerfully and winked at her.
"Today's lesson! Always check the business card given by someone you just met right away!"
"Ugh! Is there no sane person in Schale?!"
"Me. Sane."
"How are you sane!"
"TOP."
"Kyaaaaaaah!!!!! I'll kill you, Kenji!!! I'll visit Schale!!!!!"
Kenji laughed frivolously and waved at the shouting Ako. Then, all the stress he had received today melted away.
"Thank you, discipline committee administrator!"
He meant it.
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