Meanwhile, in a secluded corner of the Tennoz campus, Daryl Yan, who had infiltrated the school, was speaking with Segai over the phone—
"That's right... Inori Yuzuriha, everyone from Funeral Parlor, and that damned woman named Raiden. They're all here."
Daryl glanced at the school building above. Since all the shop lights had been extinguished and the campus was shrouded in darkness, his figure was extremely well concealed. Remembering the violet-haired woman who had been sitting on the eaves only a few minutes ago, he frowned and shrank farther into the dark corner.
He had spent the past few days carefully avoiding detection by those people and had only barely managed to infiltrate the campus. Not only was he wearing glasses, but he had also changed into this tight-fitting school uniform and restyled his hair.
"Hmph. Why go through all these pointless twists and turns? Wouldn't it be easier to hurry up and flatten this place? Is all this effort really necessary?"
He complained with disdain and impatience.
"That won't work. Besides, you couldn't flatten it even if you tried."
Seated in the director's office on the other end of the call, Segai merely smiled as he refuted him.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
Daryl was confused.
"The matter is currently under review. We cannot take direct action."
We cannot act directly... Mm, that's right.
Segai's eyes narrowed mysteriously, and the corner of his mouth curled into the triumphant smile of someone whose plan was proceeding perfectly.
"Tch... Those old fossils at the top are such stubborn bastards."
Daryl grumbled.
"In any case... we cannot act yet. Even if we did, Raiden Mio... As long as that woman is present, we cannot win. Do you understand?"
Segai deliberately emphasized the point.
"Is she really that ridiculous?"
"Whether she is or not, I believe you should understand better than I do."
"..."
As expected, Daryl fell silent. Remembering the beating he had suffered at her hands before, he bit his lip in frustration.
"That's all. Hang up."
Beep—!
After ending the call, Segai leaned back in his chair and propped both legs on the desk, settling into a comfortable position.
"What a troublesome situation."
The second-in-command who had followed him for years, Lieutenant Murabe—no, Major Murabe now—sighed in understanding when he saw him like this.
"Has there been any word from above?"
As usual, Segai was tapping away at a crossword puzzle on his phone.
"Yes. I heard approval should come within the next few days."
Murabe answered.
"Mm-hmm. Things will be rather boring until then. Why don't we take the opportunity to sneak a bite of something?"
Segai came up with an idea to temporarily relieve his boredom.
"Uh, please don't take your jokes too far. Our positions are different now, Direc... Director Segai."
He had nearly called him "Major" out of habit, even though he himself was now the major. Habits truly were frightening things.
"Haa... That's true. The two of us really have ended up in troublesome positions."
Segai closed his phone out of boredom, played some classical music on the computer, then lowered the back of his chair and reclined.
Indeed, after Shuichiro Keido's death, the position of director had fallen to Segai, whose past military achievements had been outstanding, with Murabe serving beneath him. Although a promotion was a good thing, being promoted at a time like this was rather awkward. Otherwise, Segai might have been able to amuse himself a little more freely.
"Director..."
"Heh... I still intend to have some fun, though not by doing it personally. Killing with a borrowed blade isn't a bad option either."
"Could it be that you—!"
"Mm-hmm~ There are plenty of people eager to get their hands on the prize that is Tennoz. Why not make use of them?"
He smiled sinisterly.
...
The following day marked the opening of Tennoz High School's cultural festival. Everything the students had prepared the day before had been for this occasion. Banners covered the campus, firecrackers occasionally burst in the distance, and countless food stalls, entertainment venues, and club activities filled the grounds. Great crowds gathered throughout the school, happily participating together.
For a time, the oppressive atmosphere that normally hung over the campus was swept away, replaced by a rare sense of relaxation and joy. Everyone let themselves go and enjoyed the festivities.
[To all living beings who can hear this song]~♪
[The truth lies within your hearts]~♪
Standing onstage in a pure white dress, Inori was singing a new song she had written into the microphone. Its tempo was fast and its rhythm powerful. Combined with the girl's captivating voice, it instantly drew in the audience. Everyone enthusiastically cheered her on, making the scene extraordinarily lively.
Standing within the crowd, the Shogun listened to her singing in a slight daze. When she came back to herself, she glanced around and realized that she had been completely surrounded by spectators. Finding the crowd rather stifling, she slipped through the gaps between people and made her way out. She stopped at a distance to watch the girl onstage. Inori's voice remained clear through the reverberation of the microphone, but when the Shogun spotted Hare helping serve curry rice at a nearby stall, she walked over.
"Here is your curry rice. Please enjoy~"
Hare scooped the rice onto a plate, skillfully poured the curry over it, then handed it to the customer in front of her.
"Thank you for your patronage~!"
After the customer left, she even bowed politely. However, when she looked up at the next person in line, she found a beautiful woman standing before her.
"Shopkeeper, what do you sell here?"
The Shogun pretended to be a customer as she questioned the girl.
"Pfft~ Curry rice, omurice, and all sorts of flavors. Please choose whatever you like."
Suppressing a laugh, Hare played along and introduced the menu.
"Give me whatever you recommend."
She answered.
"My recommendation~? In that case, tomato omurice."
Hare skillfully began cooking.
"Mm—Fellow student, what is your name?"
The Shogun asked with exaggerated seriousness.
"Hehe... Hare Menjou."
Hare answered while frying the rice.
"You seem quite skilled at cooking. Who taught you?"
"A teacher named Raiden taught me."
Hare replied while holding back her laughter.
"W-What kind of person is she?"
The Shogun asked curiously, even stumbling slightly over her words, nearly making the girl opposite her burst out laughing.
"Let's see. Teacher Raiden is a very gentle person. She has an exquisite face, violet eyes, beautiful long hair, and a lovely voice. She is the person I love most."
Hare spoke with heartfelt emotion as she continued frying the rice.
"..."
The Shogun froze, suddenly at a loss for what to do.
"Pfft..."
Hare finally failed to hold back and laughed as she looked at her.
"I didn't expect you to say something like that... How crafty."
The Shogun puffed out her cheeks and complained adorably.
"I merely took advantage of the opportunity, but I never expected little Mio to react so adorably."
Hare answered with a smile.
The girl was wearing a pale-yellow apron over her school uniform. It wrapped perfectly around her slender waist, revealing the curves of her body and giving her an exceptionally capable and domestic air. The Shogun realized that pale-yellow clothing suited Hare particularly well, lending her a warm and gentle temperament.
"That apron..."
"Hm?"
Hearing her sudden murmur, Hare glanced at her.
"This outfit suits you. You look very domestic."
She spoke frankly.
"...///! D-Do I...? Then does little Mio like it?"
Hare's face reddened. She immediately lowered her eyes and asked shyly.
"Mm... I like it quite a lot. It looks good."
She nodded in praise.
"Mm... That's good... I'm glad you like it.///"
Hare revealed a blissful smile and continued preparing the food in her hands with unmistakable affection. Once it was ready, she picked up the packet of tomato sauce and skillfully squeezed it across the surface of the omurice, deliberately drawing a heart before writing "Mio" beside it.
"Here~ It's ready. Hare's omurice filled with love."
After accepting the plate, the Shogun was about to find somewhere to eat. Hare immediately understood what she was thinking, pulled out the chair beside her, then came around and took her hand, leading her inside.
"Eat here..."
"Won't I get in your way?"
She asked after sitting down.
"No... We can even chat whenever I have a free moment."
Hare waved her hand before continuing to cook for the other customers who arrived.
"..."
The Shogun glanced at the girl working earnestly beside her, then stopped disturbing her and devoted herself wholeheartedly to eating.
[To every weeping soul in this world who can hear this song]~♪
[Hope lies within your heart]~♪
"Inori really sings beautifully..."
During a lull, Hare sat beside the Shogun and gazed at the radiant girl on the distant stage as she sighed admiringly.
"Mm... She is a professional, after all."
The Shogun carefully traced the edge of the heart-shaped tomato sauce atop the omurice with her spoon.
"Although I never knew much about Inori's group, Shu loves listening to them, so I occasionally heard her songs. Her voice truly is moving."
Hare looked away from the stage and unconsciously glanced at the person beside her. When she noticed the Shogun adorably repairing the edge of the heart on her omurice, she did not know whether to laugh or cry.
"Wait—hehe, little Mio~ That's not how you're supposed to eat it..."
Both helpless and indulgent, she took the Shogun's plate and evenly separated the rice and egg for her.
"I know how to eat it. You drew that pattern especially for me, so I wanted to save it for last."
After releasing the plate, she watched Hare's movements and explained.
"Pfft~ Hehe—!"
Hearing this, Hare finally covered her mouth and laughed.
"W-What are you laughing at?"
Embarrassed by her laughter, the Shogun asked in displeasure.
"Little Mio... Sometimes you really are just like a child."
In some ways, she possessed the same innocent simplicity as a child. She truly was... far too adorable.
"...Haa. Many people have told me that. My mother often treats me like a child as well. I'm going to eat now."
She suppressed her embarrassment, took back the omurice whose ingredients Hare had carefully portioned for her, and began eating.
"..."
Hare watched the Shogun eat, her eyes overflowing with affection.
—
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