When I told Hanako that if all she wanted was a simple signature, I could do that now, the response I got was that she’d rather ask later. I wondered if she had some special paper for the signature or something, and while I let it slide…
After thinking it over, I concluded that while a stage name might not be necessary, I should probably prepare a more sophisticated and flashy signature.
Right now, I’m just mimicking the signature originally used by Mika, but to be honest, it feels cuter and kind of charming. I mean, if that’s the concept I’m going for, it’s all good, but too much adorableness is challenging for me on a biological level.
Hmm, this is something I can think about slowly in the future. Since I’ve also built connections with FOX Squad, after this Kaiser job is done, I’ll probably be able to roll out the ETO trial operation by mid-October at the latest.
After that, Hina should have some time too, and I’ll likely get down to the serious preparations for the project then. So until that point, there’s no need to overthink it.
Simply put, I can think of it as Hanako reserving my first signature…
Wait, hold on. What on earth am I supposed to say to Nagisa about this?
*
Separately from my wish for harmony between Trinity and Gehenna, the kids weren’t particularly proactive. It was unavoidable, so I wasn’t disappointed, but it was hard to hide my regret.
Not just Hanako and Hifumi, but most of the kids I knew were enjoying the campfire on the Trinity side with their friends, and honestly, if that surprised me, then that would be even stranger.
As twilight descended and stars began to twinkle in the night sky, I looked around for familiar faces, offering comfort and receiving it in turn.
What especially bothered me was encountering Tsurugi, who was staring blankly at the campfire, looking glum. Despite her fierce, occasionally even intimidating appearance, the way she slumped almost made her look like a sad puppy…
Fortunately, alongside that cute face, I could still find traces of her usual shy and affectionate personality, so after sitting beside her and talking for a while, she eventually perked up.
“Kyoooooo——!!”
…Sometimes I wish Tsurugi wouldn’t have so much energy, but honestly, it’s better than looking all droopy.
Most of the kids from Arius were actually gathered on our side. To put it plainly, expecting anything more from kids who’d been taught to hate and despise both Gehenna and Trinity is almost greedy, isn’t it?
The medal competition between the Pater Faction and Arius Faction saw Arius take the win, including the squad, but surprisingly the levels were quite similar otherwise. It showcased Arius’s strength to even come close to Pater, which holds significant sway among Trinity’s most hardline factions.
Notably, during the mock battle on the sixth day, Arius displayed combat prowess unmatched by most students, thanks to harsh training under the student council president, not just any previous student. There wouldn’t be any other group capable of outperforming Arius with a simple mob student versus mob student fight.
As I moved from one familiar face to another, encouraging them and giving out hugs for their efforts, running into the squad members was inevitable.
But… where’s Misaki?
“Hey, by now, Misaki should be basically withdrawn from the squad, right?”
“…Not really.”
“Yeah, not yet. But who knows what might happen soon.”
Contrary to Saori’s denial, Atsuko came closer and hinted at the possibility to me by burying her head into my shoulder.
According to Nagisa, the Arius squad pretty much implied ‘do whatever you want,’ but… how can people completely ignore that?
If they hadn’t set a stage at all, I wouldn’t have known; but since the stage is there, it feels even more burdensome. Especially since, with lives or emotional debts tied up, I can’t overlook the possibility of confusing admiration with affection.
You know, they say that admiration is the emotion furthest from understanding.
Aside from that, it’s also about whether I can reciprocate those feelings.
By the way, is Misaki really thinking about transferring to the rescue knights after living with them?
Personally, I see it as a welcoming change. The sticky Arius squad name is nice, sure, but these kids need chances to meet new people and opportunities to engage in things they might enjoy.
For Misaki, that meant the rescue knights, and for Azusa, it meant becoming part of a group that leads to the future supplementary lessons.
Atsuko also heard that her social connections in middle school are quite wide, so there seems to be no need for worry on that front.
I hope Saori and Hiyori find such connections too. I’m debating whether to try fostering it myself, or just wait for natural encounters to take place.
“You know, I think it’s not strictly necessary for you guys to maintain the current Arius squad. I wish for all of you to meet more people in your own niches and enjoy your school life as much as possible. Yes, and just because of that, it doesn’t mean the squad is no longer family, right?”
“Yeah, the squad is connected by heart.”
Just as Atsuko said, the squad is family.
And family isn’t defined by meeting new people or getting closer in distance; it doesn’t change even if there’s some space between us.
Since these kids can’t simply be bound by the concept of a club, there’s really no need to cling onto that framework. At least, that’s how I see it.
…The only surprising part is that it seems Misaki will be the first to actually put this into practice.
After discussing various topics afterward, the ones showing interest in joining different clubs from the squad members were Atsuko, Azusa, and of course, Misaki, who is yet to be here but is practically confirmed to join the future rescue knights.
Saori seemed to be completely indifferent, and Hiyori appeared to be held back by various self-esteem issues.
Thinking about introducing someone to Hiyori actually led to the unanticipated thought of one particular person, which means I’ll need to have a little chat with both of them later. Since I don’t have a close connection to that person, there’s no relevant topic to bring up right now.
“Oh, speaking of which. There’s something I’d like to ask of you all.”
“…A request, you say?”
“Just say it, Mika. No matter what you need, I’ll tackle it in no time.”
The Arius squad is effectively a special unit that can act in the direction I desire. Though that direction is aggressive in many ways, if it’s something I want, I can leave it in their hands.
When I started feeling guilty about asking the squad to handle this task, it stemmed from Seiya giving me a wake-up call.
Once I realized I was trying to mask retaliatory acts, it made me anxious about putting that burden on the squad.
“The recent terror attacks have links to Kaiser Corporation. We need someone to unearth their hidden, unsavory secrets and misconduct. I plan to operate a squad from SRT Special Academy separately, but the more hands we have, the more dust we can gather before Kaiser can respond. That said, I’d like to ask for your help with that.”
“I accept.”
With Saori’s sharp declaration as the starting point, the other kids nodded in agreement too. For now, I decided to stash away my prickling conscience and began expressing my gratitude to the squad who’s ready to help me.
“Thank you, everyone. Essentially, I believe the operation start date will be about four days later at the latest. Once we kick off the operation, it’ll be a race against time, so our current goal is to catch off guard those who might let their guard down through thorough preparations.”
“In that case, we’ll be ready to deploy at least two days ahead, and if you want, we can pitch in on the preparations too.”
“Ahaha, that’s fine. This is primarily about the technical aspects of the preparations, so just take care of yourselves and wait.”
I let out a light laugh at Saori’s overflowing enthusiasm before I subtly detached Atsuko, who didn’t seem ready to let go. Despite knowing it has nothing to do with being called a princess, there was a lingering sweet and subtle fragrance that made it hard to part ways. Is this what they call a shampoo scent that seduces without trying?
“Uh, Mika… are you really alright staying in Gehenna all by yourself…?”
“Hiyori, really, no need to worry. I’m not the type who’ll go get pummeled somewhere, and besides, with Hina, my only rival in Gehenna on my side, how can it be that dangerous? This is actually more like a vacation for me, so don’t fret☆”
“While you say that, I feel a bit reassured… eheh.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Hiyori. The accommodations and food in Gehenna won’t suit Mika.”
“Hey, Azusa. Where on earth did that slander come from? Every place people live is pretty much the same; how much different can the bedding really be? Plus, there’s Fuka in Gehenna, so food won’t be a concern.”
“W-Wait, does that mean Mika might have been lying just to keep us from worrying? It must be hard not being able to help… I’m such a useless and lacking person… eheh…”
“Ahaha… Azusa, why are you fiddling with Hiyori’s buttons and making me suffer? I know you want to extend our time together, but using Hiyori like that was not cool.”
“Tch.”
While hugging the self-deprecating Hiyori, I felt a strange sensation. Maybe I’m currently trapped by Azusa and Hiyori’s schemes and being toyed with.
Seeing Saori avoiding my gaze and Atsuko smirking made me feel a certainty that this isn’t just my imagination.
Before long, the sky was filled with stars, pouring their warmth across the world, as fireworks began to pop up one by one to decorate the final day of the festival.
Enjoying the flickering heat of the campfire with the kids who cherish the warmth of the starry sky, I had a lengthy appreciation for the stunning fireworks.
It wasn’t until a phone call came from Nagisa that I realized my schedule is essentially no longer mine.
It’s definitely my body, but not really mine… Speaking of which, it never really was, huh.
Anyway, while I’m incredibly happy, there’s a moment where I want to shout out ‘What a pitiful life!’
