After finishing my eting with Kirifuji Nagisa, I returned to Schale carrying a trace of displeasure and confusion.
To be honest, on a rational level, I could understand her choice. In the end, it was the sa as Rin's.
Both were about sacrificing a small number of potentially dangerous individuals for the safety of the majority.
But as I have said before, emotionally, I could not accept it so easily.
When the critical mont cos, I will not hesitate. But now, without even having evidence in hand, to move against innocent students?
I could not do that. Even if only for the sake of eventually winning them over, I could not just stand by.
Perhaps, if this continues, one day I will pay the price for my greed.
But even if that day truly cos, I think I still would not regret my choice.
At least, I hope not.
In any case, if so student really betrays my trust, then in the end, the one who regrets it will probably be her.
Anyway, in order to try to persuade Nagisa, I planned to et Seia again to exchange information, though not tonight.
Before the training camp begins, the Tea Party had kindly given us two days as a buffer. Partly because activating the annex required certain procedures, and partly to give both and the Redial Club mbers ti to handle miscellaneous matters.
Of course, it was not as if I, the advisor, would be placed under any personal restrictions during the camp. It was just that the annex was relatively remote, making travel sowhat inconvenient.
To be safe, I planned to spend tomorrow "loafing around" on field work all day, visiting other places along the way and taking the opportunity to stop by Seia's hiding place.
That reminded of a prior appointnt.
After confirming that the other party was free, I submitted a leave request to Nanagami Rin.
As everyone knows, Chief Administrative Officer Nanagami Rin is a very reasonable person.
After learning of my situation, she took it quite seriously and insisted on resolving my difficulties even if it ant she had to work overti herself, no matter how much I tried to refuse.
…And then Rin worked overti to send over an entire week's worth of Schale's tasks in one go.
Staring at the fax machine that was still churning away, and the mountain of docunts piling up beside it, I was left speechless.
Was that not just a little cruel to ?
I had originally planned to complain and ask Rin to reduce the workload a bit. But after seeing the photo she sent, I suddenly felt that I could try a little harder.
So that during the training camp I could freely frolic with cute girls and thus better contribute my share to Kivotos, while also searching for solid evidence to persuade Nagisa, I worked diligently until late into the night.
The next morning, I got up early and prepared to head out. Thinking of the massive stack of unfinished docunts still in the office, I hesitated about whether I should push myself a little more first.
But then I realized that I had already worked ahead on today's portion last night, so I left with a clear conscience.
Not long after getting off the train, I wandered through an empty district and eventually arrived in front of an unremarkable building that even looked a bit run down from the outside.
After confirming the address, I stepped inside. Just as I climbed a few steps up the stairs, I heard a faint rustling sound.
I frowned slightly and deliberately softened my footsteps.
When I reached the second floor and looked through the open door, the sight inside made my furrowed brows relax, and a smile ford on my face without realizing it.
Inside the office, decorated in a way that felt very familiar, with a plaque on the wall that read "One Evil a Day," a girl with sharp white hair, dyed black only at her bangs and ponytail, dressed in her beloved black hoodie, was wearing headphones. She humd softly along to the music while sweeping the floor.
"…Hm?"
The next mont, she paused and looked sharply in my direction. The instant she recognized , the sharpness in her eyes softened.
Onikata Kayoko removed her headphones and greeted .
"Sensei. You ca earlier than I expected. If I had known you would arrive this early, I would have scheduled the office cleaning for another ti…"
"Sorry, it's my fault for not telling you in advance." I looked around and sighed. "This is almost exactly the sa as the office in Abydos."
Kayoko shrugged. "It suits the President's taste."
It seed Aru was soone who cherished the past. I thought I was too.
I nodded thoughtfully and looked at the wall. "By the way, I rember that this was not…?"
Several months ago, following a car accident caused by nightti driving without glasses, along with soone noticing sothing suspicious yet choosing to watch the fun instead of acting, half of Problem Solver 68's assets had been reduced to ashes in a fire.
That included the calligraphy piece Aru had been so proud of, the one she fantasized would one day be auctioned for a sky high price after she beca a legendary figure in Kivotos' underworld.
Kayoko followed my gaze. "Yes. Although the original was burned to ashes, Aru found ti to write another one."
Such resilience was clearly learned from .
"By the way, where are the other mbers?" I asked. "Are they not staying at the office like before?"
"Well, since the area was recently cleaned out by the Prefect Team, and it was originally sothing like a slum district, rent nearby has beco unusually cheap. So the President rented another apartnt in the vicinity. According to her calculations, it leaves just enough food money to last until the next commission."
At this point, Kayoko sighed, a trace of wistfulness in her eyes.
"After paying this month's utilities, though, we have been living on the cheapest bean sprout bentos from the supermarket. At least we do not have to split one between four people anymore."
…As expected of Aru.
I could only hope that when she did sothing foolish outside, she would not ntion having learned anything from .
"By the way, the other mbers were out handling a commission until midnight last night, so they have not co in yet."
Hearing that, my gaze sharpened.
Could it be that Kayoko had sacrificed her own sleep just to have ti alone with ? Or more darkly, had she concealed the fact that I was coming and casually pushed work onto her companions so they would naturally be absent?
Had my charm finally driven soone down the path of secret scheming… even Kayoko…
Heh, though it would be annoying if frequent, if it only happened occasionally, it would not be a bad spice in life.
I cleared my throat and asked with concern, "Kayoko, what about you?"
"…? I am fine. I am not the type who likes to sleep in."
Kayoko lifted the broom. "So when I co in alone, I clean the office like this first."
Choosing today specifically must have been so that I could see the neat and tidy office, offer polite praise, and then she could casually ntion she had done it all alone, presenting herself as diligent and tidy to earn my favor and outshine her companions.
As expected of Kayoko.
With that thought in mind, I deliberately asked, "Then why clean alone?"
"Well, that is true…" Kayoko said calmly. "But I think deliberately asking others to clean together feels too formal… and more importantly, troubleso. Besides, Aru and Haruka sotis tidy up the sses they make, so there is not actually that much to clean."
It was a watertight answer, very much in Kayoko's style, almost enough to make doubt whether I was overthinking things.
"Rather than asking others for help, it is easier to handle troubleso things alone."
Unfortunately, she had revealed a flaw right there.
As an adult, how could I calmly sit by while a student worked alone?
Kayoko must have said that deliberately, hinting for to offer help and clean together with her.
Since I had noticed her subtle and awkward maidenly feelings, how could I not respond to her expectations?
"If you do not mind, let help you."
I spoke sincerely.
Kayoko sighed as if exasperated, then raised her brows with a fierce expression and said coldly,
"…Sensei, were you not listening to what I just said? This is our matter. It has nothing to do with you. Or do you want to keep feeling indebted to you?"
At monts like this, I truly wanted to answer honestly, yes.
How could I not want to see Kayoko, who usually wore a cold face yet was actually so adorable, show a troubled expression?
But if I really admitted that, it would probably earn a vicious glare or even genuine anger.
After all, I knew that beneath Kayoko's indifferent exterior, she wasn't truly soone who didn't care about anything. She had her own small emotions and thoughts.
So I offered a gentle smile. "The sooner we finish cleaning, the sooner you can entertain , right?"
"But then that would…" Kayoko hesitated, then suddenly sighed. "No, arguing over sothing this trivial is ridiculous."
I smiled. "Exactly. So stop refusing."
Kayoko nodded lightly. "Although I don't like getting entangled with others, if soone reaches out first, I will not deliberately avoid them. Just like with this office's work, hehe."
With that, she seed to be in a good mood as she moved closer. "Then I will leave the heavy lifting to you, Sensei."
"…How about we switch?"
I recalled that just yesterday, rely shaking hands during prayer had drained several bars from the Shittim Chest's battery, giving a deeper understanding of my position in Kivotos.
"Hm? I do not mind either way. Let us get started."
Under our combined efforts, the not particularly large office soon looked refreshed and clean.
Just as we settled down on the sofa together to listen to music.
From the direction of the stairs ca the sound of several hurried footsteps.
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