About two days had passed since the day Nagisa came to Schale.
"...Sensei? It’s raining today."
"Yeah... haah... if this were Korea, we’d have pajeon and makgeolli."
"...The way you say that really makes you sound like an old man."
"I am an old man, aren’t I? Well... I’m twenty-nine now, after all."
"...But Sensei, you keep charming girls who are basically your own age—no, almost the same generation as you..."
"Ahem. I’m the teacher, and they’re the students."
"...That’s a lot of students, though."
"Then how many do you have?"
"...Heh. Heh-heh-heh... Sensei has all of Kivotos, but I’m not like that, you know?"
"Well... enough about that. I’m getting hungry, so let’s go out and eat something."
"Ah... I don’t really feel like eating anything today."
"...? Suddenly?"
"Yes... ever since before, whenever I eat something on a rainy day, I just throw up."
"That sounds... rough."
"Ah, but if Sensei tells me to just eat with you..."
"Ah! No, no, it’s fine. We can just stay in today and eat later."
"...Still, I’d feel bad if you ended up starving because of me, so just go out and eat something."
"Oh, right. Haruta’s Gehenna business trip today..."
"...Ah... the enrollment thing?"
"Yeah, probably... until twelve today, I think?"
"Ah... yes. Then I’ll head out first."
After greeting Sensei, I headed straight for Gehenna.
"Hmm... using my ability might be a bit much, so..."
I decided to just go out and take the subway. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be able to find the way, but I had to make it work somehow this time.
"Then I’ll be going first!"
Once I left Schale, it was raining far more heavily than I’d expected, and my plan to just walk through it got ruined.
"...Well... Schale has plenty of umbrellas."
So I grabbed one of the umbrellas Sensei kept by the entrance and stepped outside.
"...Let’s see... so over there... no... is it that way...?"
The moment I tried to find my route, I felt completely lost. I’d already had a hard time memorizing the subway lines in the Republic of Korea, so I couldn’t afford to struggle like this here too.
"Mm... from here... to here... and then from here... if I go this way... that’s Gehenna Station?"
Even by rough count, I’d have to pass through twenty stations.
"...I should just use my ability once."
Clang!
"...? What the... why is this..."
Tch-tch-tch-tch
"...?"
Crack, crack
"...??"
Pzzzzzzzz!!!
"....?????"
Various worlds flashed past my eyes.
The first thing I saw was a robot in Joseon-era military uniform running toward a power plant.
I also saw a pale man with red lines drawn across his face swinging two blades.
And finally, what appeared in the portal was...
myself.
Haruta was lying there, bleeding on the ground, then he looked briefly startled when he saw that he had opened the portal himself, and soon after, he smiled as the portal disappeared.
"...What was that...?"
It wasn’t just one world I’d seen in an instant, so I had no idea what was going on. And then, at last, the portal opened again and showed me something.
"...Huh...?"
The portal showed Gehenna Academy.
"..."
But I had no idea whether that was really the Gehenna I knew. So I decided to test it.
"...Akashi? Is that coordinate over there..."
"Yes, this is the right place. You can go in with confidence."
The tension eased, and I peeked inside.
The interior looked no different from an ordinary dormitory. Just a perfectly normal dormitory.
"...? Where is this again?"
After checking the surroundings and confirming that no one was there, I quickly went inside.
"...Mm... yeah, this is..."
It was a normal Gehenna dormitory.
Or rather, not exactly normal. Certificates and trophies were scattered here and there.
"...Wow... what is all this... certificates and... trophies... even second place...?"
There was a lot piled up, but I doubted many people would actually display all of that in their room. Though if it were me, I might display it all without hesitation.
"Hm... there are a lot of certificates and things, but I don’t really feel anything in particular."
Swoosh...
I could hear the rain outside. The quiet sound of it was soothing enough all on its own.
Creak
"Haa... I’m exhausted..."
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
One of the many rooms suddenly opened, and...
"..."
Iroha popped out.
"...Oh."
She was wearing absolutely nothing.
"Kyaaah!!!!!!!!!!"
"W-wait a sec—"
Iroha screamed in shock.
"H-hey, wait! No, that’s not it!"
I hurriedly covered my eyes and tried to smooth things over, but it was already too late.
"Wh-who are you!... No... wait... Haruta-san...?"
Only after confirming my face properly did Iroha blush even harder and stare at me.
"...W-what...? Could it be... the Discipline Committee chief wasn’t enough...?"
"N-no, no, that’s not it."
I tried my best to clear up the misunderstanding, but it only got worse.
"...Please turn around for a moment. If you... if you so much as look back, then you’d better be prepared."
Nod, nod
With my eyes still covered, I nodded and turned toward the wall.
How long had it been? I really started wondering if I was about to be locked up in Gehenna prison and sentenced to death.
"You can... turn around now."
At those words, I slowly turned my head and looked at Iroha.
Thankfully, she was back to her usual self.
"...Haa... so... what was your impression of my body...?"
"...It was the best—"
Swish
In Iroha’s hand was something that looked very, very dangerous: a button.
"...Iroha...? What is that?"
"The explosion switch... No, why are you even in my room right now!"
When Iroha asked, Haruta explained the situation as if he’d been waiting for the chance.
"...So... out of all these dorm rooms... why this one of all places..."
"Yeah... I’m the one who got screwed over here..."
"This was definitely intentional."
"...No, and besides, why would I like you when I already have Hina...?"
"Hee...? Then if the Discipline Committee chief were standing here without a single piece of clothing on, would you like that?"
"Mm... but not right now, right?"
"Hm... all right, I’ll let it go once. And what exactly were you doing five years ago?"
"Mm... just... traveling around Kivotos...?"
"Haa... fine. I saw the news, and Haruta-san, you really were something else."
"...That’s... a dark chapter in my life."
"Well... we did have to meet today, after all."
"How am I not supposed to panic after this...?"
"Haa... well, since you said you didn’t get a proper look, I’ll let it slide."
"...Yeah. Thanks."
"No more after this?"
"Just keep this a secret from Hina."
"We’ll see."
"...Yes."
Why was I so unlucky? I should have just checked the place and taken the portal, but I had to get curious and walk in like this. That was the problem.
"Then let’s go. We don’t have much time."
"Yes... I have no objections..."
Once I stepped out of Iroha’s dorm, Gehenna came into view at once.
"...Oh... so this is Gehenna."
"Hee... is that your impression of Gehenna?"
"Yeah. Not bad, maybe?"
"Well... Gehenna’s buildings aren’t as old-fashioned as Trinity’s, but we still have plenty of buildings that are pretty cool, you know?"
"Yeah... anyway, where’s the Pandemonium Society building?"
"If you follow me from here, you’ll get there right away. And be careful not to get lost."
Just as Iroha said, I followed her, and the architecture immediately reminded me of a certain country.
"...Iroha...? Isn’t this a little dangerous...?"
"...? Haruta-san? Our Pandemonium Society doesn’t build things carelessly, you know? What are you talking about?"
"...No, that’s not what I meant."
"...?"
Confusion spread across Iroha’s face. No, I couldn’t exactly say it, and besides, the building really did remind me too much of that country.
"That’s odd... well, anyway, this is the Pandemonium Society building... the student council room of the Pandemonium Society... haah... just go in for now..."
"Mm... so the Gehenna student council president would be..."
"Yes... Senior Makoto."
The great and glorious Makoto, who always gave me a laugh in the game.
"..."
With high expectations for what she’d be like in real life, I stepped into the student council room.
Knock, knock
"Senior Makoto...? I’m here."
"Kishishit! Is that you, Iroha? Did you bring that fellow who was supposed to come today?"
"Haa... yes, Senior Makoto."
"You may enter!"
When I opened the door and went in, Makoto was staring at me with a solemn expression.
"...?"
"Haa... Senior, I told you not to do that kind of thing so many times already..."
"Iroha! I merely prepared to scout the new recruit, who was said to be extremely strong, for the Pandemonium Society!"
"...Yes... do whatever you want."
"So that’s why you want to skip work...?"
I understood immediately.
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