After rushing between the General Student Council, Trinity, and Gehenna all day, it was already afternoon. I hadn't even had lunch yet, and hunger was beginning to gnaw at me.
I gently told Ako that her help was no longer needed. After a brief moment of blankness, she fell into dejection. Seeing she wouldn't recover anytime soon, I excused myself.
In the hallway, I ran into Iori, who was still loitering about. I greeted her, but she only rolled her eyes, gave a short hum, and walked away without another word.
Watching her back, I couldn't tell what she was trying to do.
After that, I headed to Gehenna's cafeteria, hoping to get some hot food to soothe my stomach, which was close to crying out in protest.
It wasn't mealtime yet, so I had to plead with the Gehenna School Lunch Club. The head, Aikiyo Fuuka, whose face and name seemed oddly familiar, though I couldn't recall where I'd met her as she was kind enough to make a special meal for me.
It was quite delicious. I made a mental note to eat here again whenever business brought me to Gehenna.
After finishing my meal, I returned to Schale.
Lately, the Engineering Department had been coming to Schale every afternoon after classes to carry out planned renovations of the office area. The work was nearly complete, and the finishing touches were being done.
But what I wanted to inspect today was another project entirely...
"Sensei! Please give us a few more days!"
Standing in front of Schale's entrance, Shiraishi Utaha looked at me pitifully, palms pressed together. "Three days... no, two! I'm so close to making a breakthrough! For the sake of technological advancement, please, you have to understand!"
Kotori and Hibiki were behind her, nodding frantically.
From the nearby Angel 24 convenience store, Sora peeked out warily, eyeing us like I was up to something suspicious again.
"No, I need it in the next couple of days," I said firmly. Then, softening my tone, added, "You can borrow it again afterward."
"Understood. Please, come this way."
Utaha breathed a sigh of relief and led me into Schale's main building. At the center of the lobby stood a lavish, gold-lit platform that hadn't been there before.
On top of it sat something draped under a black cloth, its outline faintly visible.
Classical symphonic music began to play, making the whole scene feel solemn, and expensive.
I took a deep breath.
"...Just what have you all been doing with my sponsorship funds?"
For the first time, I started to understand Aoi's pain.
"Please don't worry about those details!"
Flustered, Kotori pulled out a remote control and pressed a button. The golden light vanished. Following Utaha's glance, Hibiki ran up the platform, grabbed the cloth, and yanked it off, revealing...
A newly improved White Wolf bike.
"This bicycle contains technology we can't even begin to comprehend," Utaha said reverently. "I can't help but wonder who modified it, injecting an unknown form of energy. Some added components were violently rejected, while others integrated perfectly. In summary, after optimizing every aspect, this is the strongest form it can currently achieve—"
"...You just added a ram to the front!"
Compared to the original White Wolf, its so-called ultimate form merely sported a shiny, conical metal spike at the front.
"That's not a ram! It's a drill!" Utaha protested, waving her hands. "We connected it to the drivetrain, so the faster you pedal, the faster it spins! Combine that with the impact force, and if you hit someone head-on, they'll totally pass out!"
"And! Since the structure mimics that of a wind instrument, when you ride fast enough, it plays super cool music!"
How is that supposed to be useful?!
I was about to retort, but then frowned. Maybe this modification wasn't completely without merit.
Besides, I trusted the Engineering Department's skills.
So I gladly accepted their work, planning to take Shiroko out for a ride after dinner tonight to get used to it.
It hadn't even been that long since our last ride, but somehow, it already felt like ages ago.
A faint sense of nostalgia crept over me.
—
In the Abydos Residential District, a small figure walked steadily forward, her back to the setting sun.
After a full day and night of sleepless travel with no supplies, Takanashi Hoshino had crossed two hundred kilometers of deserted wasteland crawling with rogue machinery.
Her body was covered in dust, her halo dim, yet she was completely unharmed.
Still, the need for rest and food could no longer be ignored.
She had to return home for supplies.
At last, she reached her doorstep. Hoshino let out a long sigh, pulled out her key, and murmured softly as she unlocked the door,
"I'm home."
Naturally, there was no reply.
Placing her folded shield on the shoe cabinet, Hoshino kicked off her filthy sneakers, the white socks she wore nearly turned black, and left them by the entryway.
The pink-haired girl reached back to unbuckle her tactical harness with one hand while loosening her tie with the other. Barefoot on the cold floor, she walked toward the kitchen, shedding all her gear except for her shirt and short skirt along the way.
She filled a glass of tap water, downed it in one gulp, and let out a satisfied sigh. Then she pulled an almost expired bento from the fridge and put it in the microwave.
Once that was done, she headed for the bathroom.
Her white shirt and black plaid skirt landed in the laundry basket, a trace of pale pink between them.
Now free of everything, the girl stepped under the showerhead and turned the knob all the way.
Hoshino tilted her head back, eyes closed, as cold water poured over her small frame, washing away every trace of dirt and dust.
After a long while, she lowered her head slowly and opened her empty eyes. Through the strands of her wet hair, she saw the blurry outline of the floor.
For some reason, she felt like laughing.
"Heh..."
Hoshino shook her head, turned off the water, wrapped her hair in a towel, and another around her body. Still dripping, she walked straight out of the bathroom, leaving wet footprints in her wake.
By then, the bento was ready.
She took it out, grabbed a pair of chopsticks, sat at the dining table, and ate quietly until there was nothing left that could be eaten.
Afterward, she returned to the bathroom to blow her hair dry. Dressed in a simple yukata, she yawned and went upstairs, pushing open the door to her bedroom.
Her drowsy eyes widened instantly.
Rushing to the bed, she flung the blanket aside and froze in place.
"My... whale..."