A three-way meeting commenced between myself, the General Student Council President, and the student council president of Odyssey… or rather, the Admiral, as their position is called. Ah, with Wakamo included, I suppose it was a four-way meeting.
Of course, considering everyone's circumstances, we had agreed to conduct it via video call. This was a welcome suggestion for me as well; it was far more convenient than traveling all the way to the D.U. district and back to the festival.
[I was told you had a difficult night, Tea Party Host.]
"Mmm, well. Being on the front lines is something I'm suited for, so it was fine. Most of the hardship stemmed from other factors. And, Admiral Mitsurugi…? I must formally apologize for the tragedy that befell the Nereus."
[Ah, what?! No, not at all! The responsibility for escalating the situation with our lukewarm response, even after receiving a warning, lies entirely with our fleet. Please, do not bow your head. If anything, you are the one who should be receiving an apology from us, Host.]
"It's not as if an aggressive response would have changed the outco—Yes, I am sorry! My foolish actions have caused immense damage to your academy and nearly led to a result that can never be forgiven by any words or deeds! Even if I had a thousand mouths, I would have no excuse."
Just as I was about to speak freely, my hand moved toward Wakamo's forehead. She instinctively bowed her head and began to formally apologize to the Odyssey Admiral.
It was a sight I just couldn't get used to. It was so far removed from the Wakamo I knew. The shock was palpable on the faces of both the General Student Council President and the Odyssey Admiral; both were left speechless for a moment.
[Is… is that young lady the infamous Fox of Calamity, Kosaka Wakamo?]
Ah, right. He's probably just flustered because he doesn't recognize her without the mask.
"It is shameful to admit… but yes, I am."
[Somehow, you are quite different from what I imagined… In any case, I trust you understand that this is not a matter that can be forgiven with mere words of apology, Miss Kosaka.]
"I wouldn't call it repentance, exactly… but through the experience of last night, I have come to clearly understand just how dangerous the results of my impulsive behavior can be."
Wakamo placed a hand on her chest and spoke sincerely of what she had felt and learned. Her drooping fox ears and unwavering eyes seemed to lend sincerity to her words.
"I won't promise that I can erase the image of the person who was scorned by so many overnight, but I believe I can confidently state before you all that from now on, I will try to live my life with a different attitude. This change, of course, must begin with receiving forgiveness from those I have wronged."
[…How interesting. Miss Kosaka Wakamo, a first-year student from Hyakkiyako Alliance Academy. Before you seek their forgiveness, are you aware that you have a price to pay for your sins?]
Finding the situation quite amusing, the General Student Council President began to slowly pressure Wakamo, a faint smile on her lips. I wondered, was she deliberately calling Wakamo a first-year to get under her skin?
"I am not unaware, General Student Council President. However, I have no desire to show up only after their wounds have healed, adding fuel to the fire of their buried anger, nor do I wish to seek a half-hearted forgiveness that leans on their faded wrath."
Wakamo's response to the GSC President's pressure was, frankly, a little surprising. To willingly thrust her hand into the fire when their anger was at its hottest was a decision that required extraordinary resolve. There's a reason people say to "cool your head" when mediating a fight. A conversation with an irrational person is impossible. It's like touching a red-hot pot.
And yet, Wakamo was saying she intended to face these people head-on. It was a choice completely lacking in finesse. But for that very reason, I felt I understood just how seriously she was taking this incident.
[And what if I were to ask the Tea Party Host, right now, to cooperate in having you incarcerated in the Correction Bureau? In that case, Miss Kosaka, your personal intentions would have no place in the matter, would they?]
"Oh my, such a situation would be deeply troubling… but unfortunately for you, the person beside me seems to be quite interested in my 'rehabilitation.' It's entirely possible she might be uncooperative with such a request, don't you think?"
[Hmm… you have a point. The Tea Party Host is someone who makes no compromises when it comes to what she believes is right. Let's cut this fruitless conversation short. I'm not quite sure how you plan to gain the forgiveness of the sunken Nereus's students, Miss Kosaka, but… am I to take it that after you seek forgiveness, you are willing to pay the price for your past deeds?]
"...Fufu. I must deny that. After receiving forgiveness, I have something else I must do."
[Can that truly be called rehabilitation? To me, it sounds as if you intend to be forgiven for this incident alone, and then continue to live as selfishly as before.]
Indeed, with all the things Wakamo had done in Kivotos, her incarceration in the Correction Bureau was a given. Regardless of being forgiven for this incident, the fact that she had committed crimes deserving of immediate imprisonment was undeniable. In that sense, if Wakamo was saying she would go back to her selfish ways, I might be very disappointed in her.
"To say I will live as selfishly as before would be a misstatement. I simply wish to convey my warm feelings to my dear collaborators, who did their utmost to use me in this unfortunate incident to achieve their own goals. It is just that the only methods I know are those of the heinous villain you call the Fox of Calamity."
You know, drawing a line and saying "the you of yesterday is different from the you of today" with your own mouth is a little pathetic, don't you think? And that "heinous villain" expression, too.
Actually, the idea of her committing terror exclusively against Kaiser sounded rather tempting. Regardless of how much pressure the three of us could put on Kaiser, Wakamo's personal revenge was an appealing prospect. If you think of her as limiting her terrorism to those despicable tin cans, wouldn't Wakamo become a sort of righteous terrorist, like a modern-day Robin Hood?
Of course, it was also synonymous with her not letting go of her destructive tendencies, so it was hard to deny that it was a far cry from rehabilitation.
[I am in favor.]
"Wa-oh?"
[…Oh my, Admiral Mitsurugi?]
Surprisingly, it was the Odyssey Admiral who supported Wakamo's intention. Even Wakamo seemed a bit surprised, her ears perking up.
[The fact that you have clearly expressed your intention to seek forgiveness from the crew of the Nereus is reason enough for us to support Miss Kosaka's personal retribution. As victims who were both used by the Kaiser Corporation, do we not share a common enemy?]
[Admiral, you are discussing a dangerous ideology. Surely you must know that it is not a good look for the student council president of an academy to support private retribution—an act of terror that goes against the will of the General Student Council.]
[General Student Council President, if the worst-case scenario had come to pass last night, our Odyssey would have suffered an unprecedented number of casualties, up to 684 people. I hope you understand the immense restraint I am exercising by not declaring war on Kaiser this very instant.]
"Hmm. On this point, I have to agree with Admiral Mitsurugi. Once this incident becomes public, anti-Kaiser sentiment is guaranteed to form within Trinity, at the very least. If I don't take a firm stance then, I could face political backlash. Even the moderate faction wouldn't tolerate inaction when the mastermind of a terror attack on our district is revealed. The same goes for Gehenna, so if you factor in their cooperation, I believe we can get what we want without going to war."
And getting Gehenna's cooperation is surprisingly easy. It would be absurd for Hina to refuse to cooperate on this, and as for Makoto, I've pretty much figured out how to provoke her to get her to move as I intend. A little flattery mixed with a jab at her pride, and she reacts immediately.
"Ah, right. But I am firmly against personal retribution. I want Wakamo-chan to pay for all her past sins and be able to live again as a normal student. Yes. I don't know what Wakamo-chan thinks, but that's what I hope for."
[…I understand the positions of all three of you. Therefore, let us take a short, five-minute break before we continue this discussion.]
[You have yet to clearly state your own position, General Student Council President.]
[I will state that as well, shortly. I trust you all understand this is not a simple matter, and I ask for your generous understanding.]
A short recess was declared, and the GSC President disappeared from the screen. Was there some other reason for this? On the Odyssey Admiral's screen, I could see him muting his microphone and giving orders to his people.
He was likely doing his best to find ways to pressure Kaiser. The only problem was that the GSC President's active cooperation was essential for that.
Her negative reaction to the idea of private terrorism was likely due to her position as the head of the GSC, who cannot condone, much less support, criminal acts.
This situation, where she had a clear justification to bring down Kaiser, must be a welcome opportunity for the GSC President herself.
For Kivotos, the Kaiser group had become a necessary evil, indispensable yet excessively bloated.
The justification was more than sufficient. We could even expect the full cooperation of three academies.
If she showed a passive attitude in a situation like this… then I would have to revise my assessment of the General Student Council President.
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