The next day, early in the morning.
I tried to fix my hair in the mirror, changed out of my Schale uniform into some casual clothes I bought online, and after confirming my bag contained miscellaneous items like a handkerchief, towel, folding umbrella, and drinking water, I went out with a slightly nervous and excited heart.
This was my first-ever date.
Although Wakamo hadn't replied last night, having some understanding of her "heavy" personality, I knew she had shyly agreed by default.
The thought that Wakamo might be hiding and watching me right now was very cute.
To be able to have such a thought, I suppose I've grown up!
So, I walked leisurely along the street, sending messages to Wakamo on MomoTalk.
Me: I'm out now. Where should we meet?
Me: It's rude not to reply, you know?
Me: Are you following behind me? Or hiding in some corner?
Me: Or did you not wake up yet?
Me: Remember to reply when you see this. I'll wander around near Schale for a while first.
Treating this as a kind of fun, my nervousness about the first date gradually dissipated, leaving only relaxation and anticipation. I strolled aimlessly through the town, waiting for Wakamo to appear.
However, I waited until noon.
To fill my stomach, I went to the family restaurant Yuuka had once taken me to. While waiting for the food, I stared at the screen that still had no reply from Wakamo and fell into deep thought.
Where is Wakamo?
—
In a rarely visited suburb of Kivotos.
Inside a long-abandoned factory, the sound of intense gunfire echoed.
A girl in a kimono wearing a fox mask hid behind cover, reloading her weapon.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, Wakamo quickly rolled to the side. The next second, a sniper bullet accurately hit the spot where she had just been.
"Tch... so close..."
The sniper at the high ground cursed, packed up her sniper rifle to relocate, and transmitted a message to her teammates via radio.
Wakamo's heart was completely consumed by frustration and anger.
First, she was besieged by a large number of troops while trying to confess her feelings to her darling. Then, she was chased into a pre-set trap by a troublesome person who shouldn't have been there. And now, she had to deal with an enemy with rich special operations experience all by herself...
From night to day, one battle after another, forget sleeping or eating, there was barely time to breathe. Even with Wakamo's physical constitution, she felt a trace of fatigue.
But these were not the most critical issues.
The most critical thing was that she had been unable to use her phone for a full fifteen hours!
"Kosaka Wakamo, resistance is futile. You have nowhere to run. Surrender."
The gunfire temporarily ceased, and a cool voice came, making Wakamo even more furious—
"What an arrogant tone. Do you really think that just because you caught me once, you're stronger than me?"
"We could arrest you once, and we can arrest you a second time!"
Hearing this, Wakamo burst into maniacal laughter:
"Hahaha! Then come and try! Oh, fox of SRT, the biggest mistake you made was truly angering me! Anyone who dares to obstruct my meeting with that man must die!"
'That man'?
Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, the black-haired, fox-eared girl's normally calm face showed a strange expression, which quickly returned to indifference.
Then, Nanado Yukino calmly gave the order:
"FOX Platoon, all units, assault."
—
Afternoon.
I sat on a park bench, confirming a fact with a heavy heart.
Wakamo was missing.
The date being ruined didn't matter; it was my own decision anyway. I just assumed Wakamo wouldn't refuse me, but I never considered that she might have run into trouble and couldn't reply.
So, I was now quite worried and guilty.
"Sigh..."
My long sigh, regardless of the setting, attracted the attention of a girl who had been resting at the other end of the bench.
I quickly apologized, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
The girl's gaze, which had turned away, returned to me a few seconds later, now containing a hint of concern.
"Excuse me, are you troubled by something?"
"Eh?"
"...Sorry, that was presumptuous of me. Please pretend I didn't ask."
It was only then that I observed this girl I had just met:
Exquisite features, a petite and cute figure, and between her soft, snow-white hair were two pairs of purplish-black demonic horns. A pair of bat wings rested on the back of the bench.
She wore a cool uniform, with a matching overcoat covering her legs, and an astonishingly long firearm resting against her.
Finally, between her eyebrows, there seemed to be a thick, lingering exhaustion.
"I just feel a little powerless, that's all."
"I see."
"What about you?"
"Me? I... I'm just a little tired and wanted to rest for a bit."
"Ah... sorry."
"...That's not what I meant."
I felt that the conversation was a bit difficult to carry on, but I also felt that this wasn't so bad.
The girl paused for a moment, then asked again:
"Are you an adult?"
"Well, there are useless adults like me too."
"After becoming an adult, you're bound to encounter all sorts of difficulties and have to bear responsibilities you must bear, right?"
"That's right."
"How troublesome..."
Having this kind of aimless, meaningless conversation with the girl, I felt something in my heart.
I guessed that the reason she spoke to me, aside from being kind-hearted, was also due to her own troubles.
Troubles she couldn't tell her acquaintances and could only endure by herself. But when facing a stranger in a similar situation, because there was no overlap in their lives, there were no reservations.
"I often think to myself, why me?"
The girl's slightly abrupt question startled me—
Although it wasn't specifically directed, the weariness and confusion revealed in her words showed that this was her trouble.
Connecting it to what she said before, it was most likely related to responsibility.
I thought for a moment and offered some guidance:
"Because you have the corresponding ability, and a sense of responsibility that matches that ability."
"But... why me?"
"Because you are a very good person," I said sincerely. "A good person willing to show kindness to a stranger like me."
"A good person, huh... that's a very cunning way to put it."
"This is the way of adults."
"What a strange adult."
The girl remarked, standing up from the bench and putting her overcoat back on.
She seemed to be talking to herself, and also to me, "Break time is over. I should get going too."
I offered a blessing to the stranger, "Have a safe trip."
As the girl turned, I was suddenly struck by the sight of the two characters for 'Prefect' emblazoned on the left arm of her overcoat.
Gehenna has normal people too?!
Thinking about it, since she's a member of the Prefect Team, it makes sense.
So that's it. No wonder she's so tired. After all, she's a prefect in that Gehenna...
In any case, for me, this was just a normal chance encounter.
After sitting on the bench for a while longer, I went back to Schale.
In the evening, I received a message from Yukino.
Yukino: Sensei,
Yukino: Is Kosaka Wakamo a follower of yours?
Me: Why do you ask all of a sudden?
Yukino: Just now, FOX Platoon successfully arrested Kosaka Wakamo.
Yukino: If she is your subordinate, I will create an opportunity for her to escape.
Me: ...Why?
Yukino: Because I am a weapon that belongs to you.
Yukino: Please give me your orders, my Sensei.
I stared at these words, my finger hovering over the screen, unable to press it for a long time.
Finally, I made a decision.
Me: Wakamo will become an ally.
Inside the transport vehicle, Yukino put away her phone, walked over to the battered and handcuffed Wakamo with a calm expression, and looked down at her.
"I told you, we could catch you a second time."
Wakamo stared daggers at Yukino, only to see the other's lips move, seeming to say...
'Sensei says hello.'
Ten minutes later.
Kosaka Wakamo jumped from the vehicle and escaped.
-------
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