Today, Haruta once again handed Schale over to Akashi and Arona for a bit and went for a walk in the park.
“I don’t really have anything to do today, so... what should I do?”
“H-Hey!! Haruta! Please take a little more responsibility!!”
“Aaah, I can’t hear you.”
“Ah, Haruta, by the way, Sensei just sent you a message.”
“Oh, hold on.”
Haruta immediately opened Momotalk and checked what Sensei had said.
“...The Game Development Department...?”
“Just asking for help from Millennium... I think?”
“Yep! It looks like they’re having a hard time with something.”
“Hmm... Akashi?”
“Yes?”
“Then we should go right now!!”
Haruta tore open space and stepped inside.
“Wah!!”
“Ugh... the distance is the distance, so... my head hurts.”
“That’s what you get for using that ability so much!!”
“No, but it’s convenient.”
“Even so, no means no!”
“Fair enough.”
Haruta didn’t know exactly where he’d been sent, so he just came out and looked around.
“Oh, this does seem like Millennium.”
In front of him, countless trains and robots were moving about.
It was definitely the most advanced technology in Kivotos.
“Wow... this is insane.”
Haruta had only ever seen Millennium in games, so he hadn’t realized it was such a huge, impressive academy.
“...Ahem... well, anyway, this is Millennium, right?”
“?”
Haruta turned toward the sharp gaze he felt from the side.
“What?”
“Haruta! What are you doing here?”
“...Well, I’m technically with Schale right now, so I had no choice but to come?”
It was Yuuka. The moment Yuuka saw Haruta, her face turned red and she grabbed him, dragging him into the Millennium building.
“W-What is it?”
“Haruta! Do you even know what kind of position you’re in right now?!?!”
“No... I mean, Sensei asked me to, so if they tell me to do it, I do it.”
“...Haah... fine, I get it... So you’re heading to the Game Development Department?”
“Yeah. As long as I don’t run into that C&C thing?”
“What?! It’s only because C&C’s department head is out on a business trip that this is lucky for you! If she were here, you’d be in real trouble!”
“What, Neru? Was it? I can still beat her easily enough.”
“No...”
“So don’t worry about me and just go back already.”
“Y-You don’t even know the way...!”
“Hmm... then guide me.”
“Haah... fine.”
“Oh, thanks.”
Haruta watched Yuuka, her face still red, and followed her as she led the way. Soon, he entered the Game Development Department’s club room.
“Aah! We were so close to winning!!”
“?”
“Sis... Sensei is here too...”
“Aris thinks Sensei is amazing!”
“Hehe, Sensei has always been good at games!”
“Ugh... uaaah...”
He could hear voices, but he ignored them lightly and stepped into the Game Development Department’s room.
“Excuse me...?”
“Ah! A new member?”
As soon as Momoi and Midori looked at Haruta, they immediately knew who he was. Honestly, it would have been stranger if they didn’t.
“Sis! Th-that person is...”
“A... ah, s-sorry!!!”
Yuzu nearly fainted the moment she saw Haruta.
“Aris is curious who this person is!”
“Ah... s-sorry! Our Aris is a little rude...”
“Oh, Haruta.”
“Hello, Sensei.”
“Huh?”
They were shocked. From the articles they had read, he was supposed to be the worst kind of criminal—an obnoxious thug who picked fights with everyone he met.
Honestly, Haruta felt wronged too. He hadn’t really done anything wrong, and yet the whole world seemed determined to chew him up and spit him out.
“...Seriously.”
“Th-Then... why are you here?”
Yuzu asked cautiously.
“Haa... obviously I came to help you guys.”
“Whaaat????”
Twenty minutes later
After finishing all the explanations, Haruta sat down and asked Sensei, “Sensei, why me?”
“Ah, well, our g.bible... we need to translate that, but we’re short on people...”
“...If I keep fighting more right now, won’t that just ruin my image?”
“That’s why we’re doing it quickly while Neru is away from C&C.”
“Ah... I’m really sorry, but I’m kind of curious about that C&C thing, you know?”
“Don’t tell me... Haruta? No, right?”
“Can I go take a look?”
“Haah... you’re a criminal who could be arrested right this second and nobody would have a thing to say about it, you know?”
“But I’m with Schale right now, so you can’t just drag me off by force, can you?”
“I’d still have to deal with that myself...”
“Then I’ll just go look around for a little bit~”
“Haah... fine, go look, but only for a little while!”
And so I left the Game Development Department’s room and set off to find C&C.
One hour later
“Damn it...”
Haruta had forgotten that he was terrible with directions and couldn’t exactly ask anyone for help.
“Haah... isn’t this really bad?”
As he kept walking like that, Haruta found a strange-looking door.
“Oh? Is this it?”
There was nothing written on the door.
“Nice, let’s go in right away.”
“Hold it right there. Who are you?”
“Huh? Oh, you are...”
It was a familiar face. He knew who it was—Kakudate Karin.
A second-year from Millennium, and a sniper in C&C.
“Put your hands up and surrender immediately.”
“No... isn’t that a little harsh for someone you’re meeting for the first time?”
“You...”
“Ah, um...”
Karin quickly drew her sniper rifle and aimed it at his head.
“Akane, bring Asuna over here right now.”
Karin relayed the situation over the radio at speed.
“...No, wait a second.”
Bang!
Thud.
“You just... caught the bullet.”
“Ugh... no, I didn’t even do anything and you just shot at me?”
“You are Kivotos’ worst criminal. I’m arresting you immediately.”
Just then, Akane and Asuna appeared.
“Yoo-hoo! Karin, who’s that person?”
“Karin-san? That person is...”
Akane pointed her gun at him and glared.
Only Asuna didn’t raise her weapon, looking completely lost.
“Haa... whether you shoot or not, that’s your problem, but hold on a sec.”
Haruta raised his hands and reached into his pocket.
Bang!
“No, wait, it’s just my phone.”
He took out his phone and showed it to them, then called Sensei.
“Sensei! Save me! These girls are trying to kill me!!!”
“What are you doing right now—”
“Huh? What are you doing?”
“What is that?”
I explained the situation to Sensei as loudly as I could.
“Haah... so... you’re currently acting as Sensei’s aide... and secretary?”
“Yeah. I’m just here for a bit because Sensei asked me to come.”
“So you’re not an enemy?”
“Wasn’t it your fault for deciding I was an enemy and opening fire in the first place?”
“I apologize... for our rudeness.”
“Sorry...”
“No, my whole purpose here was to meet you guys, anyway.”
“? Us?”
“Yeah. Originally I had something to discuss with your department head, but...”
“...?”
Everyone’s faces were full of question marks.
“Well then... see you later.”
I just handed over my contact info and left. After all, we might end up fighting tomorrow—or even today.
“This is starting to get interesting.”
---------------------------------
“Sensei, wait a second... so I’m not fighting?”
“Hmm... well, even if you don’t want to, you’ll probably have to.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
“Right? Then you’ll...”
“I met Asuna, Ayane, and Karin a little while ago and just took a quick look, but it seemed manageable.”
“Okay, then Haruta will handle Asuna and Akane.”
“But the number of participants in this...”
“Yeah, you know that too.”
“Yes... the Engineering Department and Veritas... so three groups, right?”
“Yeah. The Engineering Department and Veritas might be wary of you, so Sensei will try to persuade them as much as possible.”
“Got it. Then I’ll head to my operation point.”
“Yeah, and contact me immediately if anything comes up.”
And so Haruta waited on the rooftop assigned to him.
“...It’s been a while since something actually felt exciting.”
Haruta fiddled with his sword, feeling the tension in the air.
“Hmm... the moon’s not very visible tonight.”
Then the order to move in came down.
“Nice. Then shall we go?”
Haruta rushed into the building at high speed. Then he started smashing everything apart with explosives and his sword.
Boom
Bang!
Kraaaang!
“Good. Let’s begin.”
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register