(I'm beat… so sleepy…)
After his tense meeting with Nagisa, Mash trudges back to the dorm, exhaustion etched on his face and body. Physical tasks never tire him—his stamina's monstrous—but mental strain, like strategizing or debates, drains him fast.
(Weird feeling. Body's fine, but I'm sleepy and worn out… too much brain work?)
All-nighters, studying, making materials, and caring for students—Mash, the superhuman, has been overdoing it.
(Barely slept… could pass out any second. That talk was rough—serious stuff's not my thing.)
Muttering to himself, he heads back for his students, his friends.
"Oh, right—let's grab choux creams as a treat. That'll wake me up!" Mash mumbles, yawning repeatedly as he heads to a choux cream shop.
"Phew, it's getting dark," Hifumi says.
"Time to wrap up?" Azusa asks.
"Yeah, don't want to burn out for tomorrow. Let's stop here!" Hanako suggests.
Day seven of camp ends. The Remedial Class sighs in relief after their final study session.
"Sensei's not here… kinda unsettling," Azusa says.
"Where is he?" Koharu asks.
"Handling important business at the main school since morning," Hifumi replies.
"Hmm…" Koharu stretches, setting down her pen, tense. "Just the second special exam left, right?"
"Yup! We've built enough skills to pass!" Hifumi assures.
"Yeah," Azusa nods.
"Totally~♡" Hanako beams.
"Right!" Koharu rallies, buoyed by their confidence.
"We'll pass, graduate proudly, and prove our efforts weren't wasted. Then, we'll part with smiles!" Hifumi says.
"Part…?" Azusa murmurs, clutching her Peroro Doctor plushie.
The Remedial Class exists to save struggling students. Passing means the club disbands.
"Azusa, why so glum!?" Koharu exclaims.
"Hehe, this camp's been fun, hasn't it?" Hanako says.
"Yeah… but meetings lead to partings. Everything feels…" Azusa trails off.
Empty, she almost says, but Mash's past words echo:
"Choux creams, friends, muscles—those keep things from feeling empty."
"Nothing's meaningless. Everything has purpose."
"As long as people act, something remains. As long as people find joy, as long as they live, nothing's truly empty."
"No… it's not over," Azusa corrects herself.
"Exactly! Even if the club disbands, we're still at Trinity. We can meet anytime!" Hifumi says.
"Yeah! I'm always at the Justice Task Force room. Drop by if you're free!" Koharu adds.
"Same here, though… we're schoolmates, not parting forever!" Hifumi continues.
"Come by anytime~♡" Hanako invites.
"Thanks, Hifumi, Koharu, Hanako," Azusa smiles.
She'll see Mash again—someday. But what look will he give her? The thought scares her.
"By the way, is the exam venue the same?" Azusa asks.
"Good point. Let's check…" Hifumi pulls out her device, accessing Trinity's bulletin board for exam details.
"—Huh!?" Hifumi freezes.
"What's wrong?" Hanako asks.
"Hifumi?" Azusa prompts.
"No way… this can't be real…!" Hifumi gasps.
"What's with the yelling?" Koharu says.
"Look—" Hifumi shows her trembling device.
"'Remedial Class, Second Special Exam Changes'…?" Koharu reads.
"Just a normal notice—" Hanako starts, then her voice hardens with anger.
"Exam scope tripled. Passing score raised from 60 to 90."
"What!?" Koharu shrieks.
"Ninety!? I've never even hit that!" Hifumi stammers.
"What's going on!?" Koharu demands.
"Just posted moments ago… right before the exam," Hanako notes.
Hanako deduces Nagisa, with her authority, learned of their mock exam results and altered the test to ensure failure.
"She got our mock results somehow," Hanako says.
"The one we all passed!?" Koharu asks.
"It was our materials, not official!" Hifumi protests.
"In Trinity, nothing escapes Tea Party's eyes and ears," Hanako says.
Nagisa's power makes spying on four students trivial.
"So blatant… she wants us expelled," Hanako scoffs.
"Expelled?" Azusa frowns.
"Expelled!? Wait, what!?" Koharu panics.
"I was about to explain…" Hifumi says, revealing more changes.
"Venue and time changed: Gehenna District 15, Area 77, abandoned building, first floor."
"Gehenna!?" Azusa gasps.
"An exam in Gehenna!? In a ruin!?" Koharu yells.
"Why take Trinity's exam there!?" Koharu adds.
"We'll fail if we don't go," Hanako says.
"I know, but—!" Koharu wails, tearing at her hair.
"What's happening!? Expulsion!? What'll happen to us!?" Koharu cries.
Hifumi confesses, "Fail the exam three times… and we're expelled."
"I see," Azusa says.
Clutching her clothes, Hifumi lowers her head. "I'm sorry for hiding it… I didn't expect this."
"What do we do!? If I'm expelled, I can't return to Justice Task Force!" Koharu panics.
As Hanako starts to speak, Azusa packs her bag with pens and supplies.
"I understand. Let's prepare and leave now," Azusa says.
"Now!?" Hifumi gasps.
"Exam's at 3 a.m. We won't make it unless we go now," Azusa points out.
Hifumi checks—11 p.m. already. They must move immediately.
"Shock, anger, despair—save it for after. Complaining won't change things. We fight to the end," Azusa says.
"Ugh…" Koharu whimpers.
"She's right. We move now," Hanako agrees, starting preparations.
The others follow.
"Gear up, including firearms," Azusa instructs.
"Guns!?" Koharu asks.
"Gehenna's lawless, and the Disciplinary Committee's busy with the treaty. We need self-defense," Hanako explains.
"Why is this happening…?" Koharu moans.
"No worries," Azusa says.
"How are you so calm!?" Koharu asks.
Hanako smiles. "Forgot, Koharu-chan? We have a reliable ally."
The classroom door opens, revealing their hope.
"Your reliable ally's here," Mash says.
"Sensei!" Koharu cries.
"The exam—!" Hifumi starts.
"I saw. Sorry, I should've noticed sooner," Mash says.
"It's their intentional move," Hanako says. "Where were you?"
"Had a big talk, then got choux creams for you all. Tried arranging transport—denied," Mash explains.
"Thoroughly planned," Hanako notes.
"No trains or taxis this late, so…" Mash strikes a muscle pose. "I'll carry you all!"
"Alone?" Hifumi asks.
"Four of us? Impossible…" Koharu says.
"Not with my body. You'll ride my cart," Mash clarifies.
"You made a cart in this time?" Hanako asks.
"Yup, looked it up online and threw it together," Mash says.
"Become an architect already," Koharu quips.
"Teaching's more fun. Cart's outside," Mash replies.
Using nearby wood (don't ask where), Mash built a cart to carry them.
"Time's tight. Ready?" Mash asks.
"Ready," Azusa says.
"Okay," Hifumi nods.
"P-Probably!" Koharu stammers.
"No problem," Hanako confirms.
"Good." Mash slaps his cheeks to fight sleep, grabs the choux cream bag, and declares, "To the exam venue!"
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