NOVEL NEXT The moment has come to really feel that a lot of time has passed.
It’s the day when the calendar flips to the next page.
Looking at the number 5 written on the calendar, I slowly tapped the desk. This month has a fair amount of plans lined up.
First off, I received a message from the Black Suit. It was about preparations for transferring Shinpi… asking for cooperation with the full-blown experiment.
Though it felt uneasy, I knew it was necessary, making it a hard proposal to refuse.
Next, in the second week, students from Gehenna are scheduled to visit Trinity. Following that, in the fourth week, students from Trinity will cross over to Gehenna.
By June, the formal signing ceremony of the Eden Treaty is expected to take place.
However, to finalize the Eden Treaty, the presence of the teacher acting as the Student Council President is essential. Therefore, I figured the teacher would also need time to get familiar with and understand the students from both Trinity and Gehenna.
I officially placed a request for the teacher to mediate between the two academies during this exchange student experience week at Shalle.
I haven’t received any acceptance yet, but… I don’t recall the teacher getting caught up in any major incidents around this time, so they might just agree.
Well, if they don’t agree… then that’s that; they can just show up for the signing ceremony, and that’ll be the end of it.
It’s just that I feel the teacher should know what they’re up to, you know? Hmm.
Just in time, an opportunity has arisen to visually confirm the relationship between our two academies, so making a proposal isn’t that difficult, right?
Aside from that… Oh, right. The exam results have come out.
And it makes you wonder if there really is a history that remains unchanged…
[2nd Year Return Club Shirase Azusa – Absent from Exams]
[2nd Year Return Club Ajitani Hifumi – Absent from Exams]
“Ahh.”
“…”
“Our little squirrel, got something to say?”
“Ugh… So, Mika-senpai…? Azusa-chan was, um, persuaded by me…! There was a guerilla event by Peroro-nim…”
“Ahaha, Hifumi-chan. I know you’re not saying that because I don’t know. Why are you acting like that, huh?”
“Ugh…”
Well, I mean, I know the situation.
Without a doubt, Azusa must’ve gotten dragged into it. You know, friends stick together through thick and thin or something like that.
So, what will our Azusa say——
“Sorry, Mika.”
“…What are you doing?”
“Granzer!”
Seeing Azusa suddenly stand on her hands left me dumbfounded.
She’s really giving Hifumi a tough time trying to hold her dress up so it doesn’t fall down.
More importantly, this… this is that thing that Saori taught her last year.
“Azusa-chan, can I ask you one thing? The Bamboo Grove…”
“Ah, not doing that.”
“Hmm… Okay, then let’s get back to normal first.”
With a graceful movement, Azusa stood up and dusted her palms while looking up at me. Her droopy eyes made me feel like, even if I wanted to scold her, my heart wasn’t in it.
“First of all, you both are confident you can pass if you take the exam properly, right?”
“…”
Wait, why are you two avoiding eye contact like that?
“Azusa-chan, you studied hard last year… Oh, no, that’s not it. What was it after you cleared the Bamboo Grove?”
“Uhm. I played some games with Hifumi-chan.”
“Ahaha…”
“…Why do I feel like looking at you two makes me think you’re both harmful to each other?”
So you escape from community addiction and now it’s games? This is ridiculous.
Maybe bringing Azusa to Trinity early turned out to be a mistake, I feel.
“Anyway, you two. Failing means you’re in danger of being held back if you can’t pass the retest. You understand?”
“Yes…”
But seeing the two of them gloomily respond like that makes me want to laugh for some reason.
Surprisingly, you both aren’t the only ones failing, you know.
“Mika-senpai, I’ve come from the Justice Realization Department~.”
And just like that, someone seems to have arrived.
“Yup, welcome, Hanako-chan.”
As soon as I permitted her, the office door swung open.
What appeared beyond the door were two entities squabbling for the supremacy of Trinity, with grand watermelon-sized egos—Hasumi and Hanako.
Looking at them makes me think of just one thing.
What else could they be but walking hentai?
With their overwhelming presence, a uniquely winged student, Shimoe Koharu, stepped into the office with a nervous gait.
As for her traits… she’s silly, noisy, and though she goes around saying “No lewd stuff! Death penalty!” she actually likes lewd things more than anyone.
It seems she might have been warned beforehand by Hasumi, as she’s behaving very cautiously…
“Wait a moment. You mean to say, that the esteemed members of the T-party…! That means this pervert isn’t a fraud?! You’re really part of the T-party…?!”
Oh, it wasn’t that, huh.
“Koharu?!”
“Oh my, what do you mean by that…? A student as righteous as me is rare to find in Trinity——”
“Then what were you asking about how far this line goes earlier and whether it goes back and forth to the back?! What kind of pervert are you to ask such questions!”
“…”
“Koharu, please. I’m begging you, quiet down. You need to be more aware that the person over there is the highest-ranking member in Trinity.”
“Oh, uh… uh?”
With a stiffened face, she glanced over here while scanning for cues, raising both hands to cover her face.
And Koharu, glancing between Hasumi and me, was in complete disarray.
Honestly, this scenario was so predictable that it was driving me mad. I can’t hold back my laughter.
“Hello, Mika. Sorry about the ruckus a moment ago…”
“How are you, Hasumi-chan? Don’t sweat it; I’m not bothered by that. And, Koharu-chan.”
“Ah, um, yes?!”
“Ahaha, what’s up with that? Why are you so surprised? I’m not gonna eat you, so you don’t have to be so tense☆”
Well, even though I say that, looking at Koharu, it seems she’s feeling the pressure of the status quite heavily.
“You’re cute, huh? Anyway, I called you all because I have something to discuss, so could everyone… please go sit on that sofa? Hasumi-chan, I have some matters to talk about separately, so… I guess you can snack on this while listening in!”
As Hasumi and the Justice Realization Department are now positioned to mediate disputes between our students and those from Gehenna, I have a few things I want to clarify regarding that.
“So then, let’s start with self-introductions… Huh? Hanako-chan, why are you—”
No way…! You were clearly shy just a moment ago, Hanako! Why are you all out there in less than a minute?
“Wha-wha-wha?! A swimsuit? Why on earth are you wearing a swimsuit under your school uniform? And why now? I don’t get it! Death penalty, death penalty!!!”
With an expression that seemed somewhat relieved, Hanako looked at me with eyes resembling a predator hunting for prey…
*
After a bit of commotion, everyone managed to introduce themselves, and we could finally get into serious discussions.
However… I feel like I’m going crazy with how close Hanako sat next to me unabashedly in her swimsuit.
Eventually, the monster that had been dormant inside me awakened.
No, that’s not right. I should say the monster that pretended not to be one in front of me finally tossed its mask aside.
And because of that, it became evident that my future life would radically change.
“…The reason you all have gathered here is simple. You’re among the few who failed this exam, the three of you.”
“I… failed?!”
“These two didn’t sit for the exam. And Koharu-chan… sat for the 2nd-year exam, recorded an average of 7 points, and failed. Given those scores, you’re also in danger, okay? I doubt you want to be held back… Did you really need to take the 2nd-year exam in the first place?”
“Uh, uh… Well, I wanted to skip a grade… since I’m part of the Justice Realization Department’s elite…”
“Yep, I get it.”
“Mika…?”
“Ahaha. Dream big, right? But if you end up being held back while trying to rush ahead, that would be a bit backward, wouldn’t it?”
“Ugh… that’s true, but…?”
“So, how about focusing on passing the 1st-year exam first and then aiming to skip a grade? Sounds good? Shouldn’t be too hard for someone who’s part of the elite in the Justice Realization Department, right?”
“Y-yeah, the elite can handle that…! If I set my mind to it, I’ll definitely pass…!”
“Wow, that sounds good! Yeah, that’s nice to hear. I’ll be counting on you, Koharu-chan!”
With that, I smoothly persuaded Koharu before scanning the other kids and delivering my decision.
“In that sense, until you pass the retest, you four will need to switch your affiliation to the ‘Supplementary Class.’ It’s really time for you to study properly.”
“W-wait. Does switching affiliations mean…?”
“Of course… it means bidding farewell to the Justice Realization Department.”
“…!!!”
Hearing such shocking news, Koharu stood there, completely dumbfounded, while Azusa and Hifumi accepted their fates peacefully. They probably figured they’d rather work together than prepare for the retest alone given their guilt.
“…Uh, Mika-senpai. I think there’s a bit of a misunderstanding. There are still three failing students here, right?”
Sharp as ever, Hanako.
“Yep, there are three. But gathering the three failing students together to study… how amazing a result do you think can come from that?”
Right? Who else would the fourth one naturally be?
“…Senpai, you’ll surely regret this.”
“Hanako-chan, are you threatening me right now? That’s troubling, huh. Where’s the precious junior I used to know? Now all I see is this reckless, headstrong junior… Ugh.”
“Mika-senpai… April 1st.”
“Huh?”
“If you thought I wouldn’t catch on, that would be most unfortunate.”
“…Huh?”
…Wait a minute. This wasn’t in the plan at all.
Hanako, how about we end this in a draw… No! I’ll surrender! I’m ready for a peaceful resolution, please…!