“...Maybe it’s about time I went and got my Correction Bureau free pass.”
Haruta slowly quickened his pace toward the Student Council.
Before long, the building came into view. It was an absurdly massive structure, more than twice the size of the others around it.
“...Maybe it’s time I went and met the Student Council President.”
Haruta jumped toward what looked like the top floor of the building.
Crash!
“? Who are you!”
It was a familiar face. The Student Council’s administrator, Nanagami Rin.
“...”
Haruta stared silently at Rin’s face, then shifted his gaze to the Student Council President.
As he looked closer, the President’s expression brightened.
“...I’ve been waiting for you...”
“Right. First, I’ll apologize for coming in through the window.”
“...Then the reason you came is...?”
“I came to the Correction Bureau to live that wise prison life.”
For a moment, confusion clouded Rin’s face. The Student Council President looked equally baffled.
“...? Pardon? What exactly are you saying?”
“I said I’m going to the Correction Bureau to film a wise prison life.”
“...? Did you just say you’re going to the Correction Bureau?”
“Yeah.”
“...Then why not just join the Student Council?”
“I’ll pass. If I make an affiliation right now, it’ll only make things harder for you guys. Besides, I came here to make you into heroes...”
“Heroes?”
“Yeah. Right now I’ve smashed through the window, and in about five minutes SRT and Valkyrie will probably be on the move to catch me.”
“...Then that means...”
“Yeah. Either I wipe out SRT and escape, or I surrender willingly.”
“Yes... I understand your thinking.”
“Good. Then now FOX Squad will show up, right?”
“...”
“Then all I have to do is let myself get caught.”
“If you don’t mind me asking... is there a reason?”
“Two years.”
“Pardon?”
“Exactly two years from now, I’m breaking out.”
It was the kind of statement that could only be called a bombshell.
Who tells the highest authority in the city that they’re going to prison and then escape?
“...? You’re saying... you’re going to escape?”
“Yeah. I’m not getting released anyway, and I don’t want to rot in prison forever.”
Rin and the Student Council President were full of questions.
After all, this was the worst criminal in Kivotos, a man so infamous that people said they’d need to create a rank even higher than the Seven Beasts.
Anyone would be flustered watching that kind of criminal calmly announce he was going to prison. The Student Council President was no exception.
“So... you’re just going to turn yourself in?”
“Yeah. Problem?”
“Sigh... no, none at all.”
The Student Council President sighed and made a call to someone.
“All SRT forces, stand down.”
With those words, every unit outside the window withdrew.
“...I judged that unnecessary sacrifice would serve no purpose, so I ordered the troops to pull back.”
“Right... Well, I suppose a few visits at the Correction Bureau will be enough.”
“Yes... I’ll be sure to come.”
“...Is there a reason you’re going this far?”
“I’m disappointed.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
With words that made no sense at all, Haruta turned toward the window.
“Hey! Student Council President! Keep it a secret that I’m in prison!”
“...Yes... I’m sure you have some scheme in mind, but... I understand...”
“Oh, thanks. I’ll buy you a meal sometime.”
“Yes... is there anything else you’d like?”
“Hmm... just leave me the account number. There’s a lot of money in there.”
“...Yes.”
“Then I’m off!”
Haruta leapt straight through the window and fell outside.
“SRT OWL Squad! We’re initiating on-site capture!”
“SRT FOX Squad! Beginning the operation!”
Several unfamiliar squad names rang out.
“...Ah! I surrender! Just don’t tie my hands—take me to the Correction Bureau!!”
*
Everyone’s eyes went wide.
------------------------------------------
“Affiliation?”
“None.”
“...Then your name?”
“Takashi Haruta.”
“Good. Haruta, I’m going to interrogate you now.”
“I know that much.”
“Then I’ll begin.”
“Yeah.”
“Why did you turn yourself in?”
“No reason.”
“?...All right, for now...”
After that, it was just a formality.
And before long, Haruta was imprisoned in the Correction Bureau.
---------------------------------------
“Sigh... to think I’d have to rot in prison alone for two years...”
And so prison life began.
“Hmm... I’ve already hidden all my guns, so I can escape whenever I want...”
Haruta slowly walked around the room, running his hand along the wall.
The wall was concrete, so he could easily smash his way out if he wanted to, but if it were that easy, it wouldn’t be a prison.
“...Well, I don’t really care.”
Haruta grabbed the iron bars.
“...If I put a little force into this, I could break out right away, couldn’t I?”
Before coming to the Correction Bureau, Haruta had already made a plan.
He would simply attempt escape every day and gradually get used to his abilities.
That was the real goal. And since he also had Hoshino’s soul through the contract, he could talk to Hoshino too.
“Hmm... maybe I should try talking to her?”
“Hey! Guard!!!”
“...”
Only silence hung in the air.
“Hey!!! Guard!!!”
Haruta shouted and called for the guard.
“Tch. How boring.”
Haruta simply lay down on the bed.
Still, it was a more comfortable bed than he expected.
“...Well, I can sleep just fine.”
----------------------------------------------
“? Where am I?”
“I’m in a dream...”
“Sigh... Seia... seriously.”
“I don’t know either... I was simply called here by you.”
“Right. I probably summoned you with my own power.”
“...Yes, perhaps that is one of your abilities.”
“Yeah... anyway, I have something I want to say to you.”
“Something... I truly did want to see you...”
“I’m going to come back in two years. Until then, I want you guys to become Tea Party...”
“We are already the leaders of Sanctus Pater Filius, though?”
“??? What?”
“Thanks to our abilities, our backgrounds, and the efforts we’ve made in our respective factions, we’ve already achieved the youngest-ever rise to Tea Party executive positions.”
“...Huh...”
“Enough of that and come back right now! Mika is practically out of her mind! We need you now!”
“I can’t. I’ve got no cards left to play... Sorry.”
“...Is there really no way? If it’s you, surely it’s possible!”
“I’m not a god... Sorry, Seia. Then let’s make a contract.”
“I knew you weren’t just some ordinary Gehenna student...”
“Of course. Where else would you find a Gehenna student with four wings?”
“So, the contract?”
“Right... I’ll bring Mika and Nagisa here too.”
Haruta clapped once, and Mika and Nagisa were dragged into the black void as well.
“...Haruta?”
“Haruta?”
“Yeah. I’m the idiot who made the stupid, miserable choice to part from you for a while...”
“Haruta! Come back right now! That’s an order!”
“Haruta-san! Where are you? Come back immediately!”
“I’m asking you too... no, this is an order. Come back.”
“...Sorry. I can’t do that right now. Let’s meet again later.”
“Haruta-san!!!”
“Haruta!!”
“Haruta!”
“I’m sorry... I can’t do anything else now. Just wait a little longer. I’ll come back.”
“I’m sorry... and I love you.”
--------------------------------------------
“Hah!...”
It felt like something had been formed from consciousness within the dream, but one thing was certain: if he met them now, even he couldn’t guarantee what would happen afterward.
Mika would fall and become a witch.
Seia would eventually become a vegetable, unable to move.
Nagisa would no longer be able to endure it.
He knew their fates. This was clearly what would happen if he did not interfere with the scenario.
“Yeah... but the Correction Bureau... I can smash that however I want, right?”
And with a chilling smile, Haruta conjured black gloves onto his hands.
He drew his weapon.
He disliked the red covering his entire body, so he simply painted himself black.
He tried to make his hair into a slicked-back style with a completely black suit, but soon gave up.
“...Yeah. Let’s just break everything.”
Haruta held his own weapon in his hand.
Then he fused fear and mystery to forge a weapon.
“Aaaaaaah!!!”
Excruciating pain swept through his body.
“Haa... haa...”
“Damn it...”
In his hands were a single Durandal and a single katana.
He had burned away all his mystery and fear.
He definitely wouldn’t die, but he’d probably sleep for three days straight.
Thud
“Damn it...”
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