"Fufu~♡"
"Haha… we actually came," Hifumi says nervously.
"Ugh…" Koharu groans.
"Yup," Azusa nods.
"Here we are," Mash says, rolling on an ab roller.
Trinity's downtown shopping district, usually bustling, is quiet at this hour, with only lit and unlit areas distinct.
"Isn't this fun already? The thrill of doing something forbidden, plus the comfort of friends—it's perfect!" Hanako beams.
"Hm, so this is a midnight city… livelier than I expected," Azusa observes.
"There are tons of 24-hour shops!" Hifumi adds.
"Open all night? Oh, a sweets shop… and a café," Azusa notes.
"There's a Momo Friends goods store nearby, and across from it, a hidden shop for limited-edition stuff!" Hifumi says excitedly.
"What!? Critical intel!" Azusa exclaims.
"As expected of Hifumi-chan, so knowledgeable," Hanako teases.
"Haha… ha…" Hifumi sighs.
"What's wrong, Hifumi-chan? Not into it?" Mash asks, still rolling.
"I've lost count of how many times I've had to retort… Time to do my job," Hifumi mutters.
(Did she call retorting a job?) Mash thinks.
Hifumi checks for passersby, then spins to face Mash and yells, "What's with the ab roller!?"
"Ab roller," Mash replies.
"Why here!?"
"…Felt like it?"
"Why the question!?"
"There's the classic Hifumi retort. Feels incomplete without it," Mash says.
"Only to you!" Koharu snaps.
"You've been rolling the whole way here… I didn't know how to retort, so thanks~♡" Hanako says.
"Hifumi-chan's the retort master from now on," Mash declares.
"I reject that title!" Hifumi protests.
Mash, in his usual work clothes, rolled here on an ab roller, somehow keeping pace with walking. Don't question it.
"If Hasumi-senpai saw us, she'd be furious…" Koharu frets.
"Got a disguise mask. Want it?" Mash offers.
"No thanks, bad vibes," Koharu declines.
"Got it."
(He was totally gonna pull out a Shu-kun mask, wasn't he? The choux cream couple gang's seen as vigilante heroes, you know, Sensei?) Koharu thinks.
"Hasumi-san's supposed to be kind to underclassmen… is she that scary?" Hanako asks.
"Of course she's kind! She's perfect—martial, scholarly, elegant! But when she's mad, it's terrifying…" Koharu says.
"Something rile her up lately?" Mash asks.
"Y-Yeah… I was there once…" Koharu shudders, recounting.
"To sum up, Hasumi visited for greetings, got called 'big woman' by Makoto, head of Pandemonium, and snapped," Mash recaps.
"The meeting fell apart, and Hasumi's been skipping meals, worrying us…" Koharu adds.
"Understandable. No one could stay calm after that," Hanako says.
Mash thinks, 1000% Makoto's fault.
"Totally the other side's bad," Azusa agrees.
"Maybe I'll help Hasumi diet again," Koharu muses.
"Again? You helped her before, Sensei?" Hifumi asks.
"Yup."
"Hasumi-senpai said, 'That wasn't training… it was torture. Never again!'" Koharu recalls.
"What did you do!?" Hifumi gasps.
"Just… diet training?" Mash says.
No way it was just that, but let's ignore the urge to retort. Koharu respects Hasumi, despite the talk.
"But Hasumi-senpai's strong in every way! She's kept her promise to herself and kept going!" Koharu says.
"Don't overdo it, though. Collapsing defeats the purpose," Mash says.
"It's up to her willpower. Tricky," Hanako adds.
Mash would help Hasumi diet if asked, but won't force it if she's unwilling.
"A sweets shop! Choux cream parfait!?" Azusa spots.
"Let's eat!" Mash pulls out his wallet instantly.
"Like a beast spotting prey," Hanako laughs.
"Charge!" Mash calls.
"W-Wait!?" Koharu stammers.
Azusa and Mash rush in, followed by Hifumi, Hanako, and a flustered Koharu.
"N-Nobody's watching, right…?" Koharu whispers.
"Welcome—'Choux cream parfait, please!' Whoa!?" the clerk yelps.
"Sensei, Azusa-chan, don't crowd her!" Hifumi scolds, pulling them back.
"F-Five? Take any seat. Ready to order?" the clerk asks.
"Are limited parfaits still available?" Hifumi asks.
"Limited parfait?" Azusa echoes.
"Sounds good," Mash adds.
"Sorry, the last three were bought earlier," the clerk says.
"Oh…" Hifumi sighs.
"A step too late… but choux cream parfaits are still here. Sensei, wallet ready?" Azusa asks.
"Locked and loaded," Mash says, flashing a thumbs-up.
The others browse the menu when—
"Oh?" Hanako notices someone familiar.
"Sensei…?" Koharu whispers.
"Hasumi-san," Mash says.
"Hasumi-senpai!?" Koharu panics.
"Are those… limited parfaits? So many…" Hanako observes.
Koharu freaks at the encounter. Mash marvels, Three parfaits… solo?
"Sensei, Remedial Class, what are you doing here—?" Hasumi starts.
"A-Ahh…" Koharu stammers.
"Nice coincidence, Hasumi-san~♡ Midnight, three parfaits… aren't you on a diet?" Hanako teases.
"H-How did you—!? T-This is…" Hasumi falters.
"You succumbed to midnight cravings, right?" Hanako smirks.
"E-Evil desires!? N-No, it's…"
"Sounds naughty~" Hanako continues.
"Mind if we sit?" Mash asks.
"Uh… sure…"
Mash sits at the next table, and the Remedial Class follows.
"S-Sensei, I know I'm no better, but isn't the Remedial Class banned from leaving camp?" Hasumi asks.
"Needed a break," Mash says.
"Very Sensei-like…" Hasumi sighs.
"Here's a deal, Hasumi-san," Hanako says.
"What?"
"If Tsurugi-san finds out, it's Spartan training again."
"Eek!"
(Her face shrunk!) Hifumi thinks.
"Let's pretend this never happened," Hanako suggests.
"…Fine. No choice!" Hasumi agrees, dreading Tsurugi's training.
"Hasumi-senpai…" Koharu starts.
"Koharu, studying hard?" Hasumi asks.
"Uh, well…"
"Koharu-chan's scores are soaring!" Hifumi says.
"She's close to passing!" Hanako adds.
"Really?" Hasumi smiles.
"Uh, yeah…" Koharu mumbles.
"You can do it, Koharu. I told you so," Hasumi says warmly.
"Hasumi-senpai…"
Flashback: That day, Koharu and Mash returned forbidden books to the Justice Task Force. Alone with Hasumi, Koharu trembled.
"Are you managing in the Remedial Class?" Hasumi asked.
"Y-Yes… I think…"
"Don't forget your goal. I'm not just talking about studies. I want you to thrive in the Justice Task Force."
"But… I feel so out of place. Raising my grades that fast… I want to stay with you, but it's too hard!"
"No!" Hasumi snapped.
Koharu knew she was falling behind, losing confidence, ready to give up. Hasumi's shout shattered that.
"Sorry for yelling… but Koharu, we need you to try now so we can stay together."
"Hasumi-senpai…"
"Mash-sensei will help you, fully. To meet his expectations, study hard. That's your job now."
"Y-Yes! I'll do my best!"
"I'm counting on you."
Recalling that moment, Koharu smiles shyly. Hasumi nods warmly, watching her fondly.
"Keep it up, Koharu. I can't wait for you to rejoin the Justice Task Force," Hasumi says.
"Yes! I'll try hard!" Koharu vows.
"Youthful," Mash nods, munching his choux cream parfait. The vibe's great, making the parfait tastier… until—
Beep. Hasumi's phone interrupts.
"Yes, Ichika? What's wrong?"
"Sorry to call late, senpai. There's a problem. Where are you?"
"Out for… business. What's the issue?"
"Gehenna students, we think, trespassed near campus, firing randomly and attacking Trinity facilities."
"An attack…?" Hasumi tenses.
"At this time?" Mash stops eating, standing.
"A night raid? Gehenna's Disciplinary Committee or Pandemonium showing their true colors?" Hasumi asks.
"Uh, no…"
"Whoever it is, they're likely targeting the Eden Treaty. I'm heading there. Enemy numbers, location, facility details?"
"Calm down, senpai. It's not the Disciplinary Committee, just four students."
"Four? Not Disciplinary?"
"Yup."
"Four… not Disciplinary… Wait, bad feeling…"
"The attacked site is the aquarium," Ichika says.
"The aquarium? Why there?"
"They stole the rare Golden Tuna and fled."
"Golden… Tuna?"
"It's super expensive. Probably planning to sell it. Oh, more info—"
Hasumi grips her phone tighter. A sigh and rustle of clothes follow.
"Sensei…!?" Koharu gasps.
"Hmm… got it…" Crack, crack.
"Sensei?" Hifumi whispers.
"He's… intense," Koharu says.
"He's shedding clothes, warming up… He's serious~" Hanako smirks.
The Gourmet Research Society, once subdued by Mash and sent to work in Gehenna's cafeteria, has escaped and caused chaos.
"They say even a Buddha's patience runs out after three strikes…"
Mash glares.
"For me, there's no second chance."
That day, everyone present learned: Sensei gets truly angry when pushed.
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