Afternoon arrived.
The girls of the Foreclosure Task Force had already returned to school, scattering across the campus.
When I entered the library, Ayane was sitting alone in the sunniest spot, reading a book with deep concentration.
I cleared my throat softly. "Ayane, may I bother you for a moment?"
Ayane closed the book and stood politely to greet me.
"Yes? Sensei, what did you need from me?"
"The other day, I made a quick trip back to D.U."
As I spoke, I pulled a book out of my bag and showed her the cover.
"Look, Ayane, guess what this is~"
"That's the recent bestseller, [Guns, Charm, and Zeal]! And it's the collector's edition!" Ayane exclaimed in surprise. [1]
"It even has the author's autograph. I asked someone to attend the signing event for me. They stood in line for two hours."
In truth, I had simply used my wallet's power and bought it for a high price from a stranger online. But a little embellishment never hurt.
"Amazing… I've been wanting to read this book for so long, but none of the few remaining bookstores in Abydos had it. Even when I finally managed to slip away to other academies' districts, it was always sold out…"
Her eyes shimmered with envy and longing.
Then, with some hesitation, she asked, "Sensei, would you lend it to me after you're done? I promise I'll be very careful with it!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
I put on a stern look and shoved the book into her hands. "This was meant to be your gift from the start."
"Eh?"
Flustered by my deliberate buildup, Ayane repeated, "A gift… for me?"
"Of course. I saw the news about this bestseller on TV, and I thought you might like it, so I made sure to get one. And it seems I was right."
Ayane bit her lip lightly, torn between desire and unease.
"But… I've never been much help to you, Sensei. You've always taken care of me… is it really okay for me to accept such a precious gift?"
She felt she hadn't earned it.
I put on a mock-serious expression.
"What are you talking about! You've always been helping me, Ayane. Every time I see you working so hard, I feel inspired and energized."
"U-uh! C-calling me… cute or something like that…"
The well-behaved girl's face flushed red. Her eyes darted nervously before she murmured in a small voice,
"…I understand. Then I'll accept it. I'll treasure it."
Perfect, her affection level had risen noticeably!
I nodded with satisfaction.
Ayane hugged the book tightly to her chest, lowering her head shyly.
"Um… I have another request, if it's okay. Would you read this book together with me?"
I gladly agreed. "Sure, when we have some free time."
After parting with Ayane, I found Shiroko jogging laps around the track, sweat glistening as she ran.
I waited on the sidelines until she finished her exercise, then pulled her into the grove. We whispered close, replenished her energy, and I gave her a set of workout gear for home training.
Next was Serika, who was keeping the club accounts in the activity room. I had prepared a retro wind-up music box for her.
Though she grumbled, "Unsolicited gifts usually mean trouble," she still accepted it happily.
After that, I found Nonomi in a classroom.
She was watching a school-idol-themed anime on her phone with great interest. When she noticed me, she even invited me to sit beside her.
As she gushed about the anime and described her long-considered, whimsical yet surprisingly fun idea for an Abydos Academy Idol Project, I presented her with a set of well-regarded cosmetics.
Nonomi accepted them joyfully.
And in return, she offered me something rare: her lap pillow, which was usually monopolized by Hoshino, along with a bonus head-patting/ear cleaning service. [Available in DLsite for anyone curious]
Resting on her soft, smooth thighs, feeling her slender, fair hand gently brushing through my hair, I was overcome by a boundless sense of comfort and acceptance.
"Speaking of which."
Looking up at the fruit hanging above me, I suddenly remembered that Nonomi, aside from Hoshino, was the most senior student. So I asked casually,
"Nonomi, do you know anything about the disbanded Abydos Student Council?"
"Hmm… it would be better if Sensei asked Hoshino-chan directly."
"I see."
Nonomi thought for a moment. "Although Hoshino-chan doesn't like people bringing it up, it should be fine if it's you, Sensei. Actually, she used to be the Student Council's Vice President."
That revelation left me a little stunned.
Could it be… Hoshino is Abydos's traitor?!
Just kidding.
Not only had Hoshino dedicated herself to Abydos's revival, she was still sacrificing her sleep every day, patrolling through the night to protect the academy.
With only five students left, the Foreclosure Task Force wasn't the official Student Council, but in practice, it filled that role.
As its leader, Hoshino was essentially the Student Council President.
And what Student Council President could possibly be a traitor?
If something like that ever happened at an academy, that school would be doomed sooner or later.
What I couldn't figure out was whether Hoshino, as the former Vice President, had known about the Student Council selling land to Kaiser.
If she had known, had she kept it secret for the same reasons I would?
If she hadn't known, then the matter became even more suspicious.
Perhaps the sale of Abydos's land concealed a deeper secret.
In any case, with this unexpected piece of information, I temporarily abandoned the idea of asking Hoshino by who, in my eyes, was the most mature, rational, and strong, about it.
Hoshino was trustworthy, but given her connection, I couldn't predict how she might react.
The more mysteries there were, the more careful I needed to be.
With that in mind, I closed my eyes and quietly continued to enjoy Nonomi's tenderness.
I thought, maybe I was just…
Suddenly, an urgent notification tone rang out.
Nonomi picked up her phone. "Huh? It's an emergency assembly notice from Ayane? Sensei, that's it for today. Let's hurry to the activity room, we'll continue this next time~"
There was no helping it. Duty came first.
Regretfully, I left with Nonomi. On the way, we ran into Hoshino, who was wearing an unusually serious expression.
When we arrived at the activity room, Ayane was already explaining the situation.
"We've detected a large force approaching about 15 kilometers south of the building!"
"Could it be the Helmet Gang?"
"No, not the Helmet Gang… mercenaries! Freelance mercenaries!"
Hoshino raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So someone went to the job market first thing in the morning. They must have spent quite a bit."
I thought to myself, this must be Kaiser again.
"We can't let them get any closer. Sensei, please give the sortie order!"
Looking around at the girls, I could feel their deep trust in me reflected in their expressions. My own tone grew calm and resolute.
"Then let's move out!"