Chapter 70: Tactical Exchange Meeting (1)

It was a little while after I visited Yumeka’s house.

“Ugh…Monday came again this week without fail…”

“But all the big events are over, right?”

“For me…it’s still left…”

“Haha…sorry…”

Thanks to Mika…I had a reason to go to Millennium, so I was a little depressed…but what can I do, it’s already happened, and I don’t particularly want to resent Mika for this, so I decided to just let it go.

But that’s that, and I need to tease her a little. So that I won’t be put up as a prize next time, right?

As I was thinking about how to tease Mika, the time filled with small talk passed quickly, and it didn’t take long to arrive at the Tea Party office.

When I entered the office, unlike usual, Hanekawa was already sitting between Nagisa and Seia.

“Yes, I see, I understand. Hasumi, but…does it have to be her? No matter how I think about it, I think it would be better to postpone the tactical exchange meeting?”

“Nagisa, you know it’s impossible as long as she’s there, right?”

“Yes…I also wanted to move in the direction of postponing it…but the Prefect Team said that it’s difficult because of the pressure from Pandemonium Society, so it seems like there’s no choice.”

Hanekawa and Nagisa and Seia, who are always in their seats earlier than usual, were talking about the upcoming tactical exchange meeting.

“Sigh…that woman really…there’s no choice. When Sora comes…ah? She’s here just in time, Sora.”

“Yes, I’m here. Is there something wrong?”

“Wow? The Justice Realization Committee in the morning? I wonder if something happened? Huh?”

“I’m sorry to bother you in the morning, but…Sora, could you please follow Hasumi and visit the Justice Realization Committee? I will also follow as soon as I finish my work.”

“I will explain the details in person at the Justice Realization Committee. Sora, please cooperate…”

Was it because the timing was perfect? It felt like I was being dragged away, but in the end, this is also a task that needs to be done, so I decided to be dragged away without complaint.

Anyway, as soon as I entered the office of the Justice Realization Committee, Hanekawa asked me how much I knew about the tactical exchange meeting.

“You know about the curriculum of the tactical exchange meeting that the Justice Realization Committee and the Prefect Team will hold soon, right?”

“Yes, I know that it’s a counter-terrorism situation suppression and…a defense of key personnel that alternates between offense and defense…

and a mock battle assuming an all-out war, once excluding the Prefect Team Leader and Kenzaki, and once including them, for a total of two times.”

“You remember well, Sora But additionally, the 3rd graders of each school remain at the school to maintain the school’s security,

and the main purpose is to understand the level of the 1st and 2nd graders and improve their skills.”

As 60 to 70 percent of the actual military power of the two schools is invested in the event, it naturally came up frequently in the actual working meetings of the Tea Party,

and as I always work with them, I knew the contents to some extent.

However…basically, since this tactical exchange meeting only applies to the Justice Realization Committee and the Prefect Team, the Tea Party is not supposed to be involved except for the field supervisor.

So why me…perhaps…?

“I would like Sora to participate as a field supervisor and asymmetric force in that tactical exchange meeting.”

“…Yes? W-wait…Hanekawa?! What do you mean?!”

“…”

“Ahem…”

It’s a suffocating space.

The office of the Justice Realization Committee, now I was continuing a one-on-one conversation with Hanekawa.

There were other 3rd-grade members from the Justice Realization Committee around, but all of them were frozen and the only people who could move in this place were me and Hanekawa.

I wonder if it’s right for a 1st-year student to wield a 3rd-grade student, even if she’s a member of the Tea Party, but honestly, I think it’s reasonable.

“So…Hanekawa…are you telling me to fight one-on-one with that Prefect Team Leader now?”

“Yes, according to our data, if it’s Sora…”

“Are you crazy?! Are you telling me to die?! Yes?!”

Yeah, at least I know the strength of Kenzaki, who is treated as the ultimate weapon in this Trinity now.

Because I’ve had a sparring match with her before.

Even that sparring match was established because she held back a lot, but to fight one-on-one with the Prefect Team Leader who is evaluated as her equal? Without holding back? Are you telling me to die?

“Sigh…yeah…calm down…calm down….what’s the reason…?”

“Ahem…that…yes…first, could you please look at this?”

Well, what…I’m really, really dumbfounded by the crazy reality, but I thought I’d ask the reason, thinking that she must have a reason…when I opened my mouth, Hanekawa held out a file.

“June 23rd…patrol record….June 28th…report record….July 2nd, night patrol security record…”

The file that Hanekawa handed me was mostly patrol records of the Justice Realization Committee and some reports from citizens or general students.

And there were several common keywords in that document. ‘Hyakkiyako’, ‘mask’, ‘Sukeban group’, and among them, there was one familiar keyword and at the same time an unforgettable keyword.

That keyword pierced my eyes and the record sleeping in my head, ‘Calamity Fox’, that she appeared in Trinity, that she was trying to do something in Trinity, the documents proved.

“This…”

“Yes, Sora. She, who rampaged on the day Sensei came, has appeared in Trinity.”

After that, Hanekawa additionally handed out pictures. The pictures that Hanekawa handed out included many places that I knew, and the Calamity Fox that I saw that day was properly captured.

“I don’t know why she came to Trinity, but it’s clear that she has a purpose. Otherwise, there’s no reason to gather Sukeban so conspicuously in this Trinity.”

“Huh…that means…”

“Yes, originally, I was going to stay in Trinity and maintain security, and send Tsurugi to the tactical exchange meeting as originally planned, but…”

“Sigh…Kosaka Wakamo…the only one who can surely catch that woman is Kenzaki…”

“That’s right. So I wanted to postpone the tactical exchange meeting, but the answer from the Prefect Team was that it’s difficult due to the pressure from Pandemonium Society.”

“The reason is probably…the well-known chairman of Pandemonium Society dismissed it, saying that there’s no reason to adjust to Trinity’s circumstances…

and thanks to that, the Prefect Team had no choice but to break the adjustment of the tactical exchange meeting schedule with us. Right…?”

“Yes…that’s correct…”

That chairman really doesn’t help my life. I don’t know if it’s okay for me to say this at a time when the treaty has been signed…but I wish there was a coup d’état in Gehenna…really…

Still, I started to understand.

According to additional investigations after that day, when she rampages once, the damage to facilities and civilian property is so severe that it’s hard to imagine, so it’s definitely a convincing reason.

Considering her strength…it’s probably impossible to suppress her cleanly unless it’s Kenzaki, so it’s natural.

But there are still questions left. Fortunately…no…it was resolved in the direction I hate the most.

“You’re a little late. I’m sorry. The explanation…judging by Sora’s expression, it seems to be over…”

Nagisa came in late after finishing her work and opened the door of the office.

A little…I was really a little angry…so I decided to slightly change my expression and glare. Without saying anything to me…

to push me into the pit of fire so quickly and easily…I won’t really die…but anyway, I’m a little grumpy.

However, it’s a very harsh choice for me to really glare at Nagisa as if I’m going to kill her, so I act with a slightly sulky expression. Honestly, it’s more of a prank than really angry.

“Ugh…Sora…that…please know that I had no choice…that…that…”

Huh, Nagisa suddenly broke down. I’ve never seen that expression on Nagisa before…a little…no, calming down, I talk about the last question I have left and the last stumbling block of this matter.

“Well…I’m saying this now…but I’m a low-ranking attendant?”

“…Yes? What do you mean? Sora…? Nagisa, is that true?”

“Yes, on paper, she’s low-ranking.”

Yeah, I usually wear a armband as a bodyguard of the Tea Party, and thanks to the favoritism of the three, there are people who think I’m in a high position…but…I’m a low-ranking person on paper.

The problem with that is that this tactical exchange meeting is a part of diplomacy. In other words, as the field supervisor is also an executive, it’s not something that a low-ranking attendant like me can do.

“Actually, I came to solve that.”

Nagisa sat down in the seat across from where I was sitting and said something that made no sense…no, I think I know what it means, but it’s a story that makes me want to deny reality.

“It’s good that there’s a department that was created not long ago and happened to be created. Sora is also the first member of that department, so there’s legitimacy.”

Yeah…there’s a department that was suddenly created a few months ago…and it was actually created because of me…

it’s a department that doesn’t have proper ranks divided according to its importance…it’s a bit of a sloppy department…

Nagisa handed me a new armband.

It was similar to the armband I was originally wearing, but it had a little more gorgeous decoration.

“Congratulations on your promotion, Sora.”

I became the head of Trinity’s Special Security Department…

When I set foot in the Justice Realization Committee’s office, I saw Sora’s expression that I had never seen before.

It certainly wasn’t an expression of anger towards me…but it was an expression that exuded sadness, no matter who, where, or how you looked at it.

“…That…that…I had no choice…that…”

It was unavoidable due to the position and circumstances, but I made a mistake to Sora, so I couldn’t figure out how to relieve the sadness that exuded from Sora’s expression,

along with a slight feeling of guilt, and I ended up showing a face that was unlike me.

Fortunately, she wasn’t really angry deep down, or maybe it’s because Sora is trying to distinguish between public and private matters,

she quickly changed her expression and continued to talk about work.

“Well…I’m saying this now…but I’m a low-ranking attendant?”

“…Yes? What do you mean? Sora…? Nagisa, is that true?”

“Yes, on paper, she’s low-ranking.”

Sora had already heard all the explanations from Hasumi, so Sora conveyed the matter to Hasumi without me having to explain what the remaining problem was.

“Actually, I came to solve that.”

I missed the opportunity to explain because Sora’s gaze was still filled with bewilderment…but it’s enough to show a disgraceful appearance once.

“It’s good that there’s a department that was created not long ago and happened to be created. Sora is also the first member of that department, so there’s legitimacy.”

I sit down in the seat across from Sora and take out the armband I had prepared in advance. I don’t want to burden Sora any more than this, and I don’t want to buy Sora’s dislike, who won’t welcome this, but….

“Congratulations on your promotion, Sora.”

The water has already been spilled, I hand the prepared armband to Sora and congratulate her.

She won’t accept this as a pure congratulations…the aftermath…I’ll have to think about it later.

Still…Sora wouldn’t hold this in her heart for long…no…all I have left is to hope for that.

“Sigh…there’s no choice…the date is close, so I’ll get my equipment ready…Hanekawa, could you tell me if there’s anything I need to know separately after I finish preparing my equipment?”

“Yes, I will…th…thank you for accepting, Sora.”

She seemed to have gotten over it more easily than I thought, and started distributing the things she needed to do and know.

That’s right…she wasn’t the type to be discouraged by this kind of thing…that’s why I feel even more sorry and grateful to Sora.

“Nagisa, I’m sorry, but I’ll replace my work today with another squad…that is, a member of the security team.”

“Eh?!…Ah…yes, I understand. I’ll inform Saori about that, so please don’t worry and prepare.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I was momentarily embarrassed by the suddenly changed title again.

I wonder if she’s holding it in her heart…but I calmed down late, remembering that there were other members of the Justice Realization Committee around.

Sora also gave me a formal greeting and walked towards the door behind me.

I organize my somewhat disorganized mind by picking up the black tea that other members of the Justice Realization Committee had placed on the table without me knowing…

-Whack-

“Siiiigh….Haa….”

“?! W-wait, Sora?! What are you doing?!”

Surprise, Sora suddenly hugged me, who was sitting, from behind…and that…that…an act that I can’t dare to say with words…

“Heh…I’ll be busy in the future…and I won’t be able to see you for at least 4 days, so I’m charging up.”

“Charging up?! What is that?! Do you know how many people are around?!”

“Nagisa, Sensei said that. Everyone who knows already knows anyway.”

“That’s different from this, isn’t it different from directly coming out and just having circumstantial evidence?! Didn’t Sora say that yourself?!”

“Then it’s a punishment for deciding such an important matter without saying anything to me. Siiiiigh….”

“That…that…ueh…”

My thoughts are paralyzed by the sensation that I can’t get used to, which is felt on my head…on my scalp…

I don’t know where she learned it, but…she covered the surrounding gaze with her own unique, huge wings.

My already paralyzed thoughts creaked even more and stopped moving. It was the moment when I understood the fact that if a person stops thinking, they are broken.

In the end, that day…became a day when I showed a disgrace that I shouldn’t have shown…to the majority of my classmates in the Justice Realization Committee.

It’s fortunate…that the Justice Realization Committee there…are all classmates, so strange rumors won’t spread to the juniors.

…It was a little later that I found out that related rumors had spread throughout the entire Justice Realization Committee.