「... This is it.」
「Gehenna Academy.」
Subaru kept the conversation brief during the drive; he lacked the skill to maintain a long dialogue with the beautiful woman in the car. If he were to reveal his lack of social skills, he would only prove his unsuitability for this world, which seemed like a dating simulation game within a cyberpunk setting.
Since he had no supernatural abilities, he had to endure some difficulties.
「The sheer size is unbelievable!!」 (Subaru)
「This building occupies only a fraction of the self-governing district. However, the size of the Gehenna Academy district is the largest among the three major academies, equivalent to the area of several smaller academy districts combined.」
「The building opposite is the main headquarters for the Prefect Team. Truthfully, I had hoped to take you straight to the infirmary, but...」
Hina had told him that the discussion about his status and place of residence would take place at the Prefect Team headquarters. It seemed the status of a "person from the Outside" was more complex than Subaru had imagined.
Subaru sat down on a fountain in the city-like central square and began wiping the bandage on his leg.
The stares he received here hadn't changed, but he felt a significant increase in the amount of curiosity directed toward him.
Although he wanted to brag about suddenly becoming famous, he didn't want to attract bad attention while he was a guest... he didn't want that, although saying "didn't want" might be a lie, but he wouldn't do it.
Sena sat down next to him, and they conversed. The dialogue wasn't overly friendly, but they were from the same generation and a similar student phase, even if their respective fields differed.
Therefore, for Subaru, who had survived the nightmares of elementary and middle school, the mere existence of this common denominator (being students) allowed him to talk somehow.
From what he gathered, Sena was extremely busy. Although her appearance didn't suggest it, the workload at the Emergency Medical Department was almost the same as at a large civilian hospital.
It was absurd for Subaru, who had never worked a day in his life, to utter phrases like "That sounds like a tough job." He was completely stunned in the face of his peers, who operated like "adults" no less capable than actual adults.
「... I've been thinking about this since Hina spoke; there are no adults here, are there?」 (Subaru)
「Students leave Kivotos after graduation, and 'Adults' do not interfere with the activities of the academy districts.」
「It's like an enormous version of Kid's City.」 (Subaru)
Subaru was startled after blurting out this phrase. He realized he had misspoken.
Even the student councils in Japan seemed busy from a distance, so it was absolutely unacceptable to utter such a sentence in front of someone doing work indistinguishable from that of adults.
Since the words were already out, he had no choice but to look away...
「Kid's City... —」
「— Sena-san.」
「Oh.」
Before Sena could say anything, someone interrupted their conversation in front of the fountain.
When Subaru turned around in response to the voice, a shocking sight appeared before him.
Tacky handcuffs, a strange cowbell, and a seductive outfit, if one could call it that... And most importantly.
「N- n- n-」 (Subaru)
「N-? You are the person Commander Hina spoke of, aren't you? —」
「Naked...?」 (Subaru)
「... — WHO IS NAKED, YOU FOOL!!?」
Her side boob was exposed.
Although Natsuki Subaru was a man with instincts, this was entirely different. If one wore an outfit created by an idiot and worn only by idiots, it transformed from a seductive outfit into a farce.
Subaru felt absolutely no temptation from the person in front of him. In contrast to the attraction he felt toward the well-built Hina, Subaru saw nothing but a complete lack of intelligence in this outfit.
The handcuffs, a symbol of arousal, and the cowbell, resembling a costume prop, could only be interpreted as the wearer's own perverse taste. Subaru found it inconceivable that this outfit could be a Prefect Team uniform... — it was simply an absurd delusion.
「What part of me is naked?」
「No, but this... umm... It can only be considered nudity.」 (Subaru)
「I'm going to blow you away, you punk!!?」
「Calm down, Administrative Officer Ako, and you, Subaru, don't say anything more.」
「Okay, okay.」 (Subaru)
Her initial attractive entrance was completely dispelled, and she looked like a rabid dog baring its fangs and threatening Subaru's life.
However... Subaru smiled involuntarily whenever he looked at her prominently exposed side boob, which looked purely comedic, so he was forced to stare at her face—which had fewer comedic elements—while speaking (a very difficult task).
「Hah, hah... If you weren't Commander Hina's guest, I would have shot you. Now, hah, you are Natsuki Subaru, aren't you?」
「Yes, I am Subaru, the invincible, penniless genius... But this is the second time; I'll settle for that. And you?」 (Subaru)
「... I am Amao Ako, an Administrative Officer in the Prefect Team, and I provide support to Commander Hina.」
「— Prefect Team, then.」 (Subaru)
The irony! Why would you wear *that* particular uniform?
「...? What do those cryptic looks mean?」
「Nothing at all. Now... is it rude to ask why you came?」 (Subaru)
「That is correct, Sena-san. The Prefect Team will handle this person now. Thank you for the trouble of escorting him; you may return to your work.」
「Understood. I just received a report about a new corpse. I will excuse myself now.」
「You're going back without rest... Thank you for your help today, Sena!」 (Subaru)
「The next time you are injured, feel free to visit the Emergency Medical Department; you were a person worth treating.」
As Sena bowed and swiftly departed, Subaru turned to Ako, trying to keep her attire outside his primary field of vision.
— She was, after all, just a beautiful girl, if he only looked at her face.
「Alright, Natsuki Subaru, let's go.」
「You must behave with the utmost propriety here, so as not to harm Commander Hina's reputation. Commander Hina is busier than you can imagine, so do not cause us any further trouble.」
「Okay, okay, I understand. If the dark circles under that supremely beautiful and wonderful girl's eyes increase because of me, I would slap myself if I could split into two people.」 (Subaru)
「... Good, as long as you understand. And remember, Commander Hina is 'supremely' more beautiful and wonderful, so do not be inaccurate in your expression.」
「...」
It is said that sometimes, when a person sees someone stranger than themselves... they become calmer in comparison.
●○●○●
— The place he was escorted to was a massive, white, Western-style building, which one might mistake for a castle.
Amao Ako said this was the Prefect Team headquarters. This building alone would require significant effort, enough to construct a towering residential skyscraper, and it was too luxurious to be simply called an "academy."
Ako explained that the Gehenna Prefect Team is actually the body responsible for controlling and overseeing the administrative district. It is a comprehensive committee that must also handle the unreasonable demands of the General Student Council.
「That means Hina is the Commander... A truly great person helped me.」
「Commander Hina, please do not refer to her by her bare name. That is inappropriate.」
「... Are you an overly enthusiastic supporter? Are you suffering from an iron deficiency or something?」
「If you address Commander Hina in that manner again, I will kill you.」
「Oh, God.」
While walking inside the building, Subaru caught a glimpse of some documents being carried by the ordinary students wearing the same uniform as Ako, who were walking around.
The written contents were extremely difficult, even from a quick glance, and he did not want to believe this was the average level of intelligence in this world.
During this, Subaru was led to a reception room.
On the luxurious sofa and extravagant table in the reception room, a massive amount of documents and work was piled up, indicating that the place was in no way prepared to receive guests.
「I apologize, but I will have to speak with you while working here. We do not have enough time.」
「Don't worry about it. I have no right to say 'don't worry' when I'm the cause of the inconvenience, but don't worry about it.」
「Then let's begin immediately. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them as you wish.」
「Ask them as I wish...」
As he sat down and watched Ako enter a silent work mode, the previous sense of joking completely vanished. Subaru felt some tension due to the prevailing atmosphere.
Whether Subaru realized it or not, he had been performing adequately so far, commensurate with the opportunity afforded to him.
However, Natsuki Subaru did not possess the mental flexibility to adapt gracefully when suddenly presented with a free choice.
「Ah...」
「Wait, that is...」
「...」
「「...」」
He falls silent when asked to speak and speaks when asked to be silent. With this contradiction and selfishness, Natsuki Subaru is deemed to "have a communication problem."
— A cold silence filled the room.
「... Right! Since this is an academy, what do you study? It excites me to imagine Hina and others giving presentations in front of teachers, but there are no signs of that or any teachers here.」
「— You truly came from the 'Outside', didn't you? There are no teachers in the academies located in Kivotos, not just in Gehenna Academy.」
「Really? Then how do they study?」
「It is auditory and visual learning using educational Blu-ray discs. Lessons after receiving these discs are self-paced; it is fine as long as the student does not miss obtaining the required credits in periodic exams, and attendance is not counted at all.」
「Commander Hina and I rely only on the distributed e-books, dedicating most of our time to Prefect Team activities.」
「They really are the elite of the elite...」
This was astonishing. Even in university, attendance guarantees certain marks, but acquiring all academic credits solely through periodic exams is terrifying.
The difficulty level of the saying, "The more you slack off, the harder things get," is completely different here.
Was there anything Subaru could help with in a place like this?
*(Don't be weak, self. You are a guest. You must be more assertive... —)*
「...」
「Ako, is there anything I can help with... No.」 Holy moly, an immediate response!
「Of course not. Having someone like you, who lacks both a halo and intelligence, is merely a hindrance to the work. I would rather kick you out than have you as a mere guest.」
「That's true, but!... Isn't there a better way to phrase that!? More importantly, I don't want to hear 'lack of intelligence' from someone wearing clothes that lack intelligence!!」
「What!! What do you mean by 'clothes that lack intelligence'!? You have been incredibly rude since we met!!」
「Can't you notice it!? Doesn't anyone point out that matter... that... th- th- th- side...」
「Yes? What pointing out?」
「Ah...!! You *can* perceive it! That is something that can be perceived!」
「Then, what is it? What is the matter?! Ah! It's just hindering my work to deal with you... —」
As they exchanged shouts in a cat-and-dog fight, the door to the reception room burst open violently.
Due to the door opening forcefully, both their gazes were drawn to the person who entered.
「Ako.」
「There seems to be a noise. What happened?」
「C- Commander Hina!... You've returned already!?」
「Yes, if the matter is of this scale... So, what happened?」
「Ah, well, that...」
「Ah, it's alright, Hina, just a minor quarrel, or rather, a friendly conversation to deepen our friendship.」
「I see.」
Hina replied, but she clearly realized that Amao Ako and Subaru were arguing fiercely. She inferred who the instigator was, said nothing, and sat down next to Ako, across from Subaru.
Their eyes met. Despite the speed of her going and returning, she showed no signs of fatigue.
「Didn't Hina have work? Could it be that you came back just for me... — I'm just joking.」
「You bastard! That would certainly not be the case...」 (Ako)
「Generally, yes.」 (Hina)
「Commander!!?!」 (Ako)
Subaru nearly melted with joy at that sentence. If this world truly was a dating sim, he would have initiated a fierce emotional attack on Hina.
... But a question occurred to Subaru now: no matter how strange his existence was, there was no reason for someone as prominent as Hina to receive him like this.
Cooling his enthusiastic head, he asked Hina.
「I thought there was something; perhaps I have some hidden ability or something like that...」
「No, it's nothing of the sort.」
「Then, what is the reason?」
「...」
「The reason is...」
「Because of 'the message left by the Student Council President,' which included your description.」
●○●○●
— Two people were walking on a city street in the evening, as the sun began to set, the number of students returning home increased, and the shadows of passersby dwindled.
Natsuki Subaru and Sorazaki Hina were walking side by side as if on an after-school date.
This was not without reason; it was simply due to... the bleeding from Subaru's foot. Although the car brought them a certain distance, navigating between academies was like traveling between countries, and there were rules limiting where vehicles could enter.
They had reached another self-governing district: the D.U. area, managed by the Student Council Federation.
— Why were they visiting this specific place, coming from Gehenna Academy?
「A message left by the Student Council Federation President... what does that mean?」 (Subaru)
The question Subaru launched in the Prefect Team reception room was natural. What on earth was this?
— The Student Council Federation
This is the central organization that manages all administrative affairs for the giant Academy City of Kivotos. It is responsible for governing the academy city.
This organization consists of eleven departments divided into the 'Administrative Affairs Committee' and the 'Coordination Office' that oversees all of them.
... In other words, it is akin to a cabinet. Subaru understood that this organization was the equivalent of the cabinet in Japan, and the Student Council Federation President was the equivalent of the Prime Minister.
The Student Council Federation President is a mighty entity; not just a student, but an underage student who takes responsibility for managing an entity larger than a nation.
「The Student Council Federation President has been missing for six months.」
This was no joke. It was like the Prime Minister suddenly vanishing in Japan without submitting a resignation. When something like this happens in a world rife with crime and armed conflict... Subaru, despite his flaws, could imagine the magnitude of the resulting disaster.
But, in the message left by the Student Council Federation President...
「... Isn't this some kind of mistake? I'm just an unemployed coward who dropped out of high school halfway through. My words sadden me as I say them!?」 (Subaru)
「Therefore, the problem would be solved if there was another person in Kivotos who met the criteria: 'an ordinary child with black skin, black eyes, and black hair, possessing no halo.'」
The message contained phrases that matched Natsuki Subaru's appearance.
This was the reason Sorazaki Hina received Subaru as a guest; the final message left by the Student Council Federation President was only revealed to a few parts of the academies and had been kept secret.
「The more I listen, the more certain I am that it's me. But I really don't want it to be me.」 (Subaru)
「... Ah, what if it's not me, and someone else was the person meant by the Student Council Federation President? How can they distinguish between the intended and the unintended person? I don't want to get involved in a strange role due to a misunderstanding.」 (Subaru)
「That method is also clearly written in the message.」
「What a wise and well-prepared person the Student Council Federation President is!?」 (Subaru)
「That is why we came here. Haven't you noticed?」
The place they walked to together was a towering structure, incomparable to ordinary apartment buildings. It was the 'Sanctum Tower,' located in what could be considered the city center.
「What?... Is that right!? I was terribly mistaken in thinking Hina suddenly fell in love with me based on a flimsy hope...!」 (Subaru)
「... 'Garrulous.' Another characteristic has been confirmed in you.」
「Oh, dear. I'm implicated! ... This isn't the time to act rashly, self!!」 (Subaru)
「Well... our destination is the headquarters of 'Schale,' the Federal Investigation Club, a special operations agency established by the Student Council Federation President.」
「There is something there that can determine whether you are 'that person' or not... — And it seems they are about to appear now.」
「Appear... Ah? — A helicopter?」 (Subaru)
From behind the sunset, a helicopter emerged, flying with a loud engine sound.
It was not flying high; its trajectory was clearly directed towards them.
A ladder was lowered from the helicopter, and a figure descended from it.
「Well done, Sorazaki Hina.」
She was a tall woman, with black hair, pointed ears like a fairy tale elf, and blue eyes, wearing glasses. She did not look like a student at all.
Furthermore, she was wearing a white military uniform, which radiated the prestige of a commander. Her gaze, which was fixed upon them, conveyed the 'value' of the person herself.
「I am Nanagami Rin, the Chief Administrator of the Student Council Federation.」
「Natsuki Subaru, everything from now on hinges on whether you are 'that person' or not... Therefore,」
「I kindly request your cooperation.」
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