Late at night, the normally bustling center of Trinity was ablaze, smoke curling into the sky.
Two groups of people stood as if separated by so unknown force, engaged in a silent standoff.
"Sensei!"
Finally, a sorrowful cry broke the silence, which, though objectively brief, felt interminable to .
A silver-haired girl in a military uniform fixed her gaze on , her expression rare and pained: "Even you… have betrayed us?"
A petite red-haired twin-tailed girl, dual-wielding assault rifles, scowled impatiently: "I've already told you not to trust him! Stop wasting ti and break through already!"
Among them, the tallest blonde girl smiled at warmly: "Hehe~ good evening, Sensei. Didn't expect to see you in a situation like this."
"Waaah! No reminiscing right now!" another silver-haired girl, holding a golden tuna in one hand, exclaid in panic, her predicant almost comical, "It's still slapping !"
Clearly, the four of them were not of one mind.
Then there was the last girl, with black hair, tightly bound in the center by the others, her mouth sealed with tape. She gazed at with watery eyes full of unspoken emotion, making muffled sobbing sounds.
…Even knowing roughly what was going on beforehand, seeing these girls and Fuuka in person made want to press a hand to my face and sigh.
If I could, I really wouldn't want to wade into this ss.
In truth, given the Justice Task Force's strength and the participation of Tsurugi, the top fighter of Trinity, practically on par with Nero, surrounding and capturing the Gourt Research Society should have been trivial.
The problem, however, was the sensitive timing: With the Eden Treaty about to be signed, if the Justice Task Force, one of Trinity's main ard forces, under the current Tea Party leadership, clashed with the Gehenna students, the repercussions could be severe.
Whether professionally or personally, I had no choice but to accept Hasumi's request:
Mission: Lead the Make-Up Work Club into battle under the na "Schale."
Yet I hadn't expected that the Gourt Research Society, previously launching indiscriminate attacks and fleeing recklessly, would imdiately halt upon seeing and Hasumi, dressed in Justice Task Force uniform, standing on the sa side, and respond as they did.
Even if one assud they were already enthralled by my charm, it was still absurd.
"Ah, Sensei," Hanako asked curiously, "are they people you know?"
I twitched my face and reluctantly nodded: "…Sort of, yeah."
Hasumi recalled: "Co to think of it, a few months ago I also t them once. You were there too, Sensei. If I had known sothing like this would happen now, I should have given them a lesson back then!"
Indeed, at that ti, Hasumi had not yet developed the current hostility toward Gehenna, and even tacitly approved the Gourt Research Society's disciplinary actions against unscrupulous rchants.
After a brief internal sigh, I forced a smile and waved toward the Gourt Research Society and the supply departnt head, once again abducted by them:
"Good evening, Haruna, Junko, Akari, Izumi, and Fuuka. What are you all doing here?"
Yet Haruna, now smiling, shook her head and replied:
"Hehe. Sensei, as our Gourt Research Society advisor, are you really asking that?"
Ah, so it's that reason again.
As expected, Haruna passionately raised her fists: "The golden tuna, the legendary tuna, is only for display? This is an outrage against food itself! Did you hear it? Its heart screams! It doesn't want to be treated as a re tool to make money!"
…All I could hear was the smack of the tuna tail hitting Izumi's face.
"Clearly," Haruna nodded gravely, "Its true wish is only to be cooked by an outstanding chef and eaten by us, who relentlessly pursue the pinnacle of culinary artistry!"
No way!? It's clearly struggling to escape, right!? It'd rather fall to the ground than end up in soone's stomach!?
Though I wanted to argue, they probably wouldn't listen.
"So, Sensei, it's ti to make a choice. Taking such a rare ingredient without informing you is our fault… but we had actually planned to contact you once everything settled, hoping to taste the dish made from this golden tuna together with you."
Haruna looked at earnestly, extending her invitation: "So, will you return to our side?"
Hearing such sincerity, I naturally felt a tug… Not really!
What is she even saying!? A test for Sensei!? Which Sensei could resist such a test!?
I felt even if she had unbuttoned a few buttons of her outfit, that might have been more persuasive.
While I hesitated, Akari, reading my troubled expression, smiled as usual, but feigned a sigh:
"What a pity… looks like this ti we can't enjoy the al with Sensei. We used to be so close, yet now we're on opposite sides... what a fickle twist of fate… even Fuuka almost shed tears over it."
Wasn't that because she was about to be rescued?
Besides, I'm not even that close to the Gourt Research Society, right!?
So their "affection" for has already gone so far they're inventing false mories… I truly am sinful…
"…No, Akari."
Haruna's expression suddenly beca serious: "Thinking carefully, it's strange from the very beginning, isn't it? Everyone, do you rember the last ingredient raid in the Millennium District? Clearly, Sensei's decision now confirms what I suspected back then. Among us, there is indeed a traitor. And the identity of this Gourt Research Society traitor… hehe, at this point, there's really no one else, right?"
At this, my expression changed slightly.
Could it be that only now has Haruna realized I was the one who notified the seminar and C&C?
I had assud she already knew and was just playing gas with .
Yet the next mont, Haruna spun around gracefully and demanded sternly:
"Fuuka! Why did you betray us!?"
In an instant, the air seed to freeze.
The School Lunch Club head, tightly bound and gagged, unable to speak, stared lifelessly like a dead fish.
SAUCE
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