Kotetsu Ayane also questioned, "Director Amamimon, please explain why Muguruma Kensei fell into a coma due to an overdose of sedatives after receiving treatment from your department?"
Department Head Nakano followed up, "Indeed, Director Amamimon, it's hard not to suspect—someone's trying to sabotage the competition!"
Everyone in the audience already knew the Tsunayashiro family was eyeing the position of Swordsmanship Department Head.
Nakano was the Hakuda instructor from the Onmitsukidō and a direct affiliate of the Shihōin line, so he had no fear of the Tsunayashiro family.
"I'm not entirely clear on the details either," Director Amamimon said seriously. "However, if this incident truly involves the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy's Kaido Department, I will make sure to provide an explanation."
The group headed to the temporary medical ward to assess Muguruma Kensei's condition.
Director Amamimon summoned over a dozen Shinigami responsible for treating the injured students.
"Who was in charge of treating Muguruma Kensei?" Director Amamimon asked calmly.
A Shinigami in a white coat stepped forward. "Director, I was the one who treated him."
"Your name is Yasuda, correct?" Amamimon asked sternly. "Tell me, did you inject Muguruma Kensei with a sedative?"
Yasuda replied in a textbook tone, "Muguruma Kensei had lost a lot of blood and was unconscious. I judged that he needed a transfusion, and blood tonics require sedatives for proper administration, so I injected him with a sedative."
Director Amamimon scolded, "Incompetent! Blood tonics only require a trace amount of sedative. You injected him with an excessive amount, causing him to fall into a deep coma!"
Yasuda trembled. "Director Amamimon, please forgive my mistake!"
With a faint sigh, Director Amamimon turned to Kotetsu Ayane. "Dean Kotetsu, I sincerely apologize. I had hoped to use this live-blade competition as an opportunity to give some of our new recruits more hands-on experience treating injuries."
"I didn't expect such poor judgment to lead to this outcome."
"Rest assured, I will take full responsibility. The Shin'o Kaido Department will compensate Muguruma Kensei with a nutritional stipend, and Yasuda will be suspended and placed under review for three years."
Azashiro Kana interjected, "This isn't about compensation—Kensei might not make it to the Losers bracket!"
Nanatsuki nodded. "Muguruma Kensei has poured his heart and soul into preparing for this match. It's terribly unfair that an accident like this would prevent him from competing. Dean Kotetsu, please postpone the loser's bracket match."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada grinned. "Well, guess he's just unlucky. Postponing the match is out of the question. You'd be wasting everyone else's time!"
Vice Director Tsunayashiro added slowly, "The Shin'o Kaido Department staff are very busy. It's already generous of them to spare time today to treat the injured students. Katori-sensei, we can't expect the entire department to wait around here for one student."
Director Amamimon nodded. "We have other duties to attend to this afternoon."
Without the Shin'o Kaido Department, the live-blade competition couldn't continue.
Kotetsu Ayane thought for a moment and said, "Then how about rescheduling the Losers bracket for another day?"
Director Amamimon immediately rejected the idea. "The schedule is already finalized. Delaying the losers' bracket would disrupt all following rounds. We've already coordinated with the invited guests. We can't make changes so easily!"
Captains and nobles were invited to the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, so the schedule had been locked in long ago and couldn't be casually altered.
Suddenly, Nanatsuki spoke up. "Since the Shin'o Kaido Department is so busy, why not hand over the medical responsibilities for the live-blade competition to Squad Four?"
"I believe Squad Four can guarantee the safety of this event—perhaps even better—and we won't have incidents like this one."
Director Amamimon's face turned red. "What do you mean by that… Are you questioning the medical expertise of the Shin'o Kaido Department?!"
"I've spent time with Squad Four, and I've never seen anyone misjudge the dosage of a sedative," Nanatsuki shook his head gently. "Frankly, even students from the Kaido Advanced Class at the academy wouldn't make such a mistake."
"If the academy no longer trusts us, then we won't participate in future competitions." Director Amamimon flung his sleeves and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Vice Director Tsunayashiro scolded, "Katori-sensei, apologize to Director Amamimon immediately! They're important guests for this event—if they leave and someone gets seriously injured, what then?"
If the Kaido Department left, how would he rig the matches afterward?
Nanatsuki smiled. "Don't worry, Vice Director Tsunayashiro. I'll be sure to invite Squad Four to ensure the safety of this event."
Seeing that Kotetsu Ayane had no intention of stopping him, Director Amamimon had no face to stay any longer. He left with the Kaido Department in tow.
Enraged, Vice Director Tsunayashiro pointed at Nanatsuki. "You've driven them away! If anything happens during the competition, you can forget about staying on as a teacher!"
Nanatsuki remained unfazed. After they tried to play dirty, he certainly wouldn't let them continue sabotaging things. Keeping the Kaido Department here might've caused even more trouble.
Better to bring in Squad Four and replace them altogether.
"Nanatsuki-kun, are you sure this is okay? I heard Squad Four has been tending to war casualties lately. Do they have time to treat students?" Kotetsu Ayane asked.
"Don't worry. I'm very familiar with Squad Four's recovery status. Most of the wounded have already been discharged," Nanatsuki replied.
Given his standing in Squad Four, calling in a few people for help wouldn't be a problem at all.
"Alright then, the losers' bracket match will be held this afternoon," Kotetsu Ayane nodded. "I'll leave contacting Squad Four to you!"
After everyone left, Nanatsuki first worked on purging the excess sedatives from Muguruma Kensei's bloodstream.
Once the drugs were dealt with, Kensei woke up in under ten minutes.
"Why does my head feel so foggy..." Muguruma Kensei muttered, rubbing his temples.
Nanatsuki handed him a specially prepared vial. "That's the side effect of an overdose. Drink this—it'll help clear your head."
Still confused, Kensei took the medicine and drank it. Almost immediately, he felt a jolt of clarity. He was fully awake.
"The Losers bracket hasn't started yet, right? I didn't miss it again, did I?" Kensei asked, déjà vu creeping over him.
"Let's see… you've probably missed a few rounds by now," Hirako Shinji said, pretending to count on his fingers.
"What?! I missed it again?!" Kensei shouted in disbelief.
"Hahaha, he's messing with you!" Azashiro Kana laughed.
"Kensei-nii, you really should thank sensei. If not for him, you would've been disqualified for sure!" said Kobane Jin'emon.
After they explained everything, he finally understood what had happened. If it hadn't been for his teacher's intervention, he would've been eliminated in the first round again!
Realizing Nanatsuki had even risked offending the Pharmaceutical Department just so he could keep competing, Muguruma Kensei was deeply moved.
"I won't let you down, Sensei!"