"W-what are you two doing..."
"A-Ako...?"
The situation had been bad enough to make Ako misunderstand it. Of all people, she was the one who absolutely could not misunderstand this, and the one who absolutely could not find out about it.
"...So... the two of you... could it be...?"
"First of all, whatever you’re thinking, it’s not that. Really."
"Ahem... Chief...? I’m fine with whatever choice you make, but... that person..."
"Ako, I know. I know just how dangerous he is... and how... kind... he is..."
At this point, it might honestly be better for both of us to just confess outright. It would probably be healthier for everyone involved. But if I didn’t think before acting right now, my head might really come off.
"...Come to think of it, I’m a full-fledged Gehenna student now, aren’t I?"
"Mm... I guess so? On paper."
"...I’m never telling Tea Party about this."
"I saw nothing, even if the two of you did something while I was gone..."
"Haa... it’s not like that."
"...Anyway! I hope you’re both happy! Then I’ll be going now!"
Bang!
"...What even is her deal?"
"Ako gets like that sometimes."
"Right... I can see that."
Crack, crack...
I loosened up a little and put some strength into my arms. It hurt, but it was still bearable.
"...Ugh, my shoulders."
"Haruta... please don’t push yourself... I’m begging you..."
"If it’s just paperwork, I can handle it. And I’ve got Schale experience, too."
"Experience...? What’s that?"
Right. This wasn’t the Republic of Korea. I’d gotten so used to it that Korean expressions were just slipping out of my mouth.
"Uh... I mean, experience...? Something like that."
Hina’s eyes rolled strangely as she looked at me with a face that clearly said she didn’t buy it.
"Mm... you’re not insulting me, are you...?"
"No, come on... why would I insult Hina? I’d be better off praising you."
"...Thank you."
Even though Hina told me not to, I sat down at the desk to handle the paperwork, and immediately realized I had no idea what I was looking at.
"...Hey, Hina, could Ako maybe do this?"
"Uh... you could just ask me..."
"Honestly, I have no clue what any of this is, and I can’t even sort it out. Can’t I just go beat up some delinquents instead?"
"No, Haruta... this is the kind of approval paperwork I’m supposed to handle myself..."
"Ah... these are approval documents?"
"Yes... there are also some work reports mixed in, so I have to do it personally. The only ones who work directly in the field are me, Iori, and Chinatsu."
"...I want to do field work, too."
"Not yet. You have to wait until your body is at least a little better..."
"But if I don’t fit at all, wouldn’t that be fine...?"
Glare.
"...Yep... sorry..."
"Anyway, I told you to rest completely for at least a week, so... take it easy."
Then I looked out the window and realized more time had passed than I expected.
"...Mm. By the way, what time is it now?"
"Haruta, your body matters more than the time, doesn’t it?"
"No... I mean, something important might be happening."
Just in case, I checked my phone for a moment, and found thirteen missed calls from Sensei, all spaced thirty minutes apart.
"...Huh? Wait, I’m screwed."
Come to think of it, this was a separate phone I carried around, so if the calls came here, that meant it was a real emergency.
"...Momotalk. Right, Momotalk!"
When I opened Momotalk, there was a message saying that Sensei had met Arius Squad and was on the way to rescue Atsuko.
There was also a Momotalk message from Sensei saying that Mika had apparently broken out of prison and was tracking Arius Squad.
"...Hina? Do you happen to have any Discipline Committee troops available right now...?"
"...Right now... we can mobilize 300... no, more than that... but why?"
"This looks like a seriously bad situation...? I think we need to go rescue Sensei as fast as possible."
It was 8:56.
I’d heard that Sensei had gone into Arius to rescue Atsuko, and was resting with the squad girls for a bit.
"...Is this kind of a big deal...?"
It wasn’t even certain whether I could use spatial movement right now. And even if I could, even if I succeeded, there was still the question of whether I’d be able to use my ability again afterward.
"...Paradise Lost... with that level of power... I think it should be enough..."
"Paradise Lost...? What’s that...?"
"...It’s nothing! Hina, Sensei called me, so I need to go to Schale. I’ll head out first."
Hina looked at me suspiciously, but suspicion wasn’t going to change anything. I’d just cut through with my ability and get there.
"I’m going out first."
Creak...
"Bye, Hina."
"Haruta...?"
"Hm? What is it, Hina?"
"...If you’re going to fight... don’t push yourself."
"...So Gehenna people really can’t hide anything, huh."
"Promise me... that you won’t overdo it."
Had I really been that badly hurt? If not, then the fact that Hina kept insisting on it, kept bringing it up like that, meant I must have really been on the edge of death.
Clang!
"...Then I’m off..."
"...Come back safely..."
"Thanks."
Whoosh.
"..."
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