When I told Hanako I could give her a simple autograph right now, she replied that she would ask me for it later, not now.
I figured she must have a specific piece of paper she wanted signed, so I let it go….
But after thinking about it, I realized that while a stage name might not be necessary, I probably should prepare a more refined and stylish signature.
I've been imitating the signature the original Mika used, but to be frank, it's more cute and charming than anything else.
That would be fine if I were going for that concept, but a persona that spams aegyo is physiologically impossible for me.
Well, this is a problem I can think about slowly in the future. Now that I have a connection with FOX Platoon, once this business with Kaiser is over, the trial run for ETO should be possible by mid-to-late October at the latest.
Hina should be able to make time by then, and that's when we'll probably start preparing for the project in earnest.
So, there's no need to think too deeply about it before then.
I can just think of it as Hanako having reserved my very first autograph… wait a minute. How am I supposed to explain this to Nagisa?
Separate from my wish for harmony between Trinity and Gehenna, the students weren't being particularly proactive.
It was only natural, so I wasn't disappointed, but it was hard to hide my wistfulness.
I could see most of the students I knew, including Hanako and Hifumi, mingling with their own friends at the Trinity bonfire. It would have been weirder if it had been any other way.
As dusk slowly settled and stars began to appear in the night sky, I went around looking for familiar faces, giving and receiving comfort.
The most difficult encounter was with Tsurugi, who was sitting dejectedly, just staring blankly at the bonfire.
In contrast to her usual fierce, sometimes even murderous, expression, the sight of the listless Tsurugi… well.
Yes, maybe it was because her face was so innocent, it felt like looking at a sad puppy.
Thankfully, just as her innocent face suggested, I was able to find a shy, affection-seeking side to her personality. After sitting next to her and talking for a while, Tsurugi had regained her spirits.
"RAWRRRRRR!!".
…Though there are times I wish Tsurugi had a little less spirit. Still, it was better than seeing her so down.
As for the Arius girls, I could find almost all of them here.
To be frank, would it not be greedy to expect anything more from children who were taught to hate and despise both Gehenna and Trinity?
The medal competition between the Pater and Arius factions, including the Squad, had been a victory for Arius. Excluding the Squad, however, the results were surprisingly similar.
This was a testament to the strength of Arius, who had achieved a similar result to Pater, the most powerful hardline faction in Trinity.
Especially in the mock battle on Day 6, Arius, having undergone harsh training under the former student-not-student council president, showcased a combat prowess that was incomparable to most other students.
If you were to pit mob student against mob student, I doubt you could find a group that could perform better than Arius.
I went around, telling the familiar faces from both Pater and Arius that they had worked hard and giving each of them a hug. In doing so, it was inevitable that I would run into the Squad.
But again, Misaki was missing.
"Hey, at this point, Misaki-chan has pretty much left the Squad, right?".
"...That's not true.".
"Mmm, not yet. But we don't know what will happen soon.".
In contrast to Saori's denial, Atsuko sidled up to me and hinted at the possibility, burying her head in my shoulder.
According to Nagisa, Arius Squad was basically allowed to do whatever they wanted, but… how could a person not be conscious of the expectations?
If a stage hadn't been set for them, it would be a different story, but with one set, it felt even more burdensome.
Especially in a relationship where lives and debts of the heart are intertwined, one cannot rule out the possibility that they have confused admiration or gratitude with affection.
After all, isn't there a saying that "admiration is the emotion furthest from understanding"?
Besides that, there was also the question of whether I could return those feelings.
By the way, is Misaki, after living with the Remedial Knights, now thinking of transferring there for good?
Personally, I welcome that change. A tight-knit group called Arius Squad is nice, of course, but these kids need the opportunity and the catalyst to meet new people and encounter things they might come to love.
For Misaki, that was the Remedial Knights, just as for Azusa, it was the group of girls that would lead her to the future Make-Up Work Club.
I hear that Atsuko also has a wide circle of friends in the middle school division, so I don't need to worry about her at all.
I hope Saori and Hiyori can find such connections as well. I'm debating whether I should make an effort or wait for a natural encounter to happen.
"You know, I don't think you necessarily have to maintain the current Arius Squad. I want all of you to find your own places, meet more people, and enjoy your school life to the fullest. Mmm, doing that doesn't mean the Squad stops being a family, right?".
"Mmm, the Squad is connected by the heart.".
As Atsuko had said, the Squad is a family.
And a family doesn't stop being a family just because its members meet new people and live a little further apart.
They are children who cannot be simply defined as a club, so I believe they don't need to be tied to the framework of one. At least, that's what I think.
…It's just a little surprising that Misaki seems to be the first one to put that into practice.
After talking with them for a bit, it turned out that among the Squad members, the ones interested in joining other clubs were Atsuko, Azusa, and Misaki—who, though absent, was basically confirmed as a future member of the Remedial Knights in my mind.
Saori didn't seem to have any thoughts on the matter yet, and Hiyori's self-esteem issues seemed to be holding her back in many ways.
I did think of one person who might be a good person to introduce Hiyori to, but that's a conversation for another time.
I don't have much of a connection with that person myself, so it's not something I can bring up right now.
"Ah, by the way. There's something I want to ask of you.".
"...A request?".
"Just say the word, Mika. Whatever it is, we'll get it done in a flash.".
Arius Squad is, for all intents and purposes, a special forces unit that I can move as I wish.
Though their direction is often aggressive, they are the type who would tell me to entrust them with any task I desire.
My conscience began to prickle about entrusting this task to the Squad after Seia's rebuke.
Once I realized I had been trying to sugarcoat a retaliatory act of terror, I became hesitant to entrust it to them.
"The Kaiser Corporation is behind the recent terror attack. I need people who can find the secret, dirty secrets and corruption they've hidden away. I'm planning on deploying a squad from the SRT Special Academy separately….
but the more hands we have, the more dust we can shake off before Kaiser can respond.
Mmm, in that sense, I'd like to shamelessly ask for your help.".
"We accept.".
Starting with Saori's immediate reply, the other girls also nodded.
I decided to bury my pricking conscience for now and thank the Squad for offering to help me.
"Thank you, everyone. The operation will likely commence in about four days at the latest. Once it starts, it'll be a race against time, so the current objective is to prepare thoroughly and strike at their weak points while they're off guard.".
"Then we'll be ready for a surprise deployment in two days, at the least. And if you wish, we can help with the preparations.".
"Ahaha, that's alright. This is mostly technical preparation, so you just need to take care of yourselves and wait.".
I smiled gently at the eager Saori and carefully detached Atsuko, who showed no signs of letting me go.
I knew it had nothing to do with her being called a princess, but a sweet, subtle fragrance wafted from her, making me reluctant to let go.
Is this what they call that subtly seductive shampoo scent?
"U-um, Mika-chan… Are you sure you'll be okay staying in Gehenna all by yourself…?".
"Don't you worry, Hiyori-chan. It's not like I'm the type to get beaten up wherever I go. And Hina-chan, who could be considered my only rival in Gehenna, is on my side. What's so dangerous about that? Mmm, this is actually more of a vacation for me, so put those worries aside☆".
"If you say so, Mika-chan, then I'm relieved… ehehe.".
"It's not a relief, Hiyori. The beds and the food in Gehenna won't suit Mika at all.".
Hey, Azusa. Where did that slander come from? A place where people live is a place where people live. How different can a bed be?
And besides, Gehenna has Fuuka, so I don't have to worry about the food.
"…N-no way. Don't tell me you were lying so we wouldn't worry, Mika-chan? As expected, being unable to help is so painful… It's all because I'm inadequate and useless… ehehe…".
"Ahaha… Azusa-chan, why did you have to flip Hiyori-chan's switch and make things difficult for me? I know you want to spend more time with me, but it was wrong to use Hiyori-chan like that.".
"Tch.".
As I pulled the self-deprecating Hiyori into a comforting hug, a strange feeling came over me. Could it be that I was being played by Azusa and Hiyori's scheme?
Seeing Saori avoid my gaze and Atsuko smiling serenely, I was sure it wasn't just my imagination.
As the stars filled the sky, scattering their warm light across the world, the fireworks that would mark the final day of the festival began to burst, one by one.
For a long while, I enjoyed the warmth of the flickering bonfire and the starry sky with the children I cherish, watching the spectacular fireworks display.
It was only when a call came from Nagisa that I was reminded that my schedule was, in fact, no longer my own.
It's my body, but it's not my body… Come to think of it, it was never my body to begin with, was it?
Anyway, I was incredibly happy, but for some reason, it was a moment that made me want to cry out about my pitiful life.
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