“So did you need something from me?” Frire asked.
“Yeah, I thought I’d ask if something happened while we were away,” Shinichi said.
This question wasn’t just for Shinichi, it was for Myuhi too.
“Nothing in particular happened. At most, we’ve just finished arranging the schedule. Please take a look.”
The one who answered was Aristel. She slid a finger across the screen of her foster, and the schedule appeared on their terminals.
One that clearly summarized the location, time, weather, means of transportation, and traffic conditions, complete with pictures.
“You’re such a huge help,” Frire said.
“Ari-chan, what a reliable woman you are!” Myuhi said.
“N-Not at all…” Aristel said.
When Aristel received such sincere praises, she couldn’t help but blush and shake her head from embarrassment.
Shinichi turned to them and bowed.
“Thank you for bearing with me despite all my selfish requests.”
“You didn’t really have to, but I’ll accept your gratitude. Though it was definitely a selfish request to ask a teacher to ignore a student slipping out in the dead of the night,” Frire said.
“Huh, Icchi? you asked her that?” Myuhi said.
“It’s a well-earned reward. It would be meaningless if they couldn’t make it, right?”
“I only agreed because you said you would watch over them, but it was really quite a hassle.
I had to distract the other teachers and students to get them out.”
“Fufu, it was really quite amusing.
Supporting a target attempting to escape from a facility without letting them notice – what an intriguing task.”
Aristel thought back to that moment with a cheerful smile. It was a situation that had never been simulated in training before, so she found it rare and exciting.
Meanwhile, Frire wore a puzzled expression.
“The older one didn’t notice, but the younger one seemed suspicious,” Frire said.
“He’s always been the sharper of the two of them, so just leave that to me,” Shinichi siad.
Perhaps it was due to his natural talent, but having constantly supported his proactive older sister, the younger brother had developed an unusually sharp sense for such things.
However, when it came to his older brother, that keen perception seemed to dull slightly. Was it due to his deep trust?
Or was it blind devotion disguised as admiration?
Shinichi found himself quietly troubled, wondering if his brother could ever properly become independent.
“Is there anything else?”
However, deciding that it was irrelevant for now, he kept his expression unreadable. As Shinichi confirmed the situation while keeping his thoughts to himself, Frire lifted her gaze as if trying to recall something.
Her eyes met his.
“Right… I suppose it would be best to talk about the incidents up to this point.”
“Incidents?”
“You know, the countless messes you’ve somehow resolved wherever you go?”
But Shinichi just frowned in confusion, wondering what she was talking about.
The teacher sighed in exasperation, while Aristel smiled, then Shinichi finally realized what they were talking about, “Ah, right, those.”
“Sigh… Let’s go through them in order. Regarding the airport incident, all of the accomplices have already been arrested. The investigation is still ongoing, but there appears to be no hidden mastermind or additional background,” Frire said.
“My own findings match that. They were just wannabe revolutionaries, just a bunch of nuisances,” Shinichi said.
“So, the reason you two were delayed was because of another incident, after all,” Frire said.
“The Tokyo Tower case wasn’t directly connected to us, so it was handled normally,” Myuhi said.
“Yeah, from an outsider’s perspective, that one just looked like self-destruction,” Shinichi said.
“Next is Nyazdaland, but… that’s the most complicated one, so let’s save that for last. By the way, what exactly did you do at that inn? Afterward, the landlady sent a message thanking you and Safina.”
The teacher gave him a pointed look, expecting an explanation.
But Shinichi just shrugged and answered casually,
“We just went to pick up a lost child, Teach.”
Shinichi grinned widely, brushing it off as if it were nothing.
However, even Frire couldn’t take that at face value. That smile was just too suspicious.
But she knew that that was the most information he was willing to give.
“Hah… Fine, let’s just leave it at that. Anyway, I made sure that everything in Osaka would be attributed to me. I figured it would be more problematic if people started suspecting that the Mask was involved,” Frire said.
Attempted student abduction.
Attempted group assault.
Attempted occupation of Osaka Castle, or possibly unlawful assembly with weapons.
Each of these was a serious crime, but having the Mask involved felt slightly off.
While Shinichi’s own perspective might differ, there was indeed a concern that these incidents might attract unnecessary attention.
“So that’s how you handled it… I did take steps to ensure the Mask wouldn’t be noticed, but having a clear explanation for who was responsible is important too. Still, you…”
The reason Shinichi had properly reported those incidents to Frire – unlike the inn case – was due to how the aftermath needed to be handled.
The Osaka incidents could be dealt with publicly without issue, but that wasn’t the case with what had happened at the inn.
Both situations involved students being targeted or nearly dragged into trouble, but in the latter case, Shinichi had left the cleanup to a local underground organization.
It had been the cleanest, least problematic solution. However, explaining everything would inevitably lead to issues – just like what had happened in Nara Park.
At the same time, if he tried to hide the truth, he had a feeling that Frire would investigate on her own and press him for answers anyway.
Seeing her actively taking steps to downplay the presence of the Mask only confirmed such concerns.
“What? Did I mess up?”
“No, I appreciate it… but don’t push yourself too hard because of me, okay?”
With her high level of authority and ability, not to mention her innocent and straightforward nature, Frire has been helping Shinichi for a while now, and many times without even realizing it. It was certainly helpful, it also worried Shinichi that she might push herself too much. Of course, he also didn’t want to shackle her, but…
“Heh, you’re the last person I want to hear that from.”
Of course, from Frire’s perspective, this was a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
“Ugh,” Shinichi said.
Shinichi had no rebuttal. He was just too guilty.
“Called out, huh?” Myuhi said.
“Beat it,” Shinichi said.
Apparently, everyone else thought so too. And when he responded in a sulky tone, everyone else looked at him with amused affectionate smiles.
“…Anyway, what about the Nyazdaland incident?”
Feeling a strange sense of embarrassment, Shinichi quickly steered the conversation forward.
“Fufu, right.
You probably have some information of your own, but for cases like this, you need information from a related personnel, so listen well.”
With a nod, Frire prefaced her explanation before adjusting her posture slightly and continuing.
As you know, after resolving the incident, Padyuel and I, as representatives of the academy, reported the situation to the Nyazdaland officials. And with their cooperation, we discreetly contacted the police, public security, and government authorities,” Frire said.
“I thought acting recklessly would only cause confusion, so even during the trip, I had several discussions with everyone about how to handle the aftermath,” Aristel said.
“To make the long story short, it was decided that the official stance will be that nothing happened,” Frire said.
“Fudonecchi, you’re so blunt,” Myuhi said.
“It’s the safest approach.
Since the situation was prevented before it escalated, and no one besides those directly involved noticed anything, there’s no benefit to making it public,” Shinichi said.
“You expected this result, huh. You make it sound so simple, but as always, your abilities are terrifying,” Frire said.
The incident had been stopped before it could unfold, and all the perpetrators were arrested.
No one else was seriously harmed.
By all accounts, it was the best possible outcome.
But that didn’t erase the fact that a major terrorist attack had almost occurred.
Even though it was resolved before any damage could be done, making it public now would only increase the number of people facing criticism.
The investigative agencies that failed to gather intelligence on the development of dangerous explosives, Nyazdaland, which not only failed to prevent the intruders or the bomb placement but also chose to cover up the incident, the academy students and teachers, who acted on their own despite having no official authority, and, most controversially, the decision to keep the guests inside even after discovering the existence of explosives – how many people could actually understand such a decision?
Even if they explained that it was the best course of action to ensure the perpetrators remained unaware that they had been discovered, the general public would never accept it.
“Pathetic as it is, preventing a major disaster before it happens only leads to unnecessary finger-pointing, and things that shouldn’t be criticized end up getting dragged into the fire… It’s ridiculous. Really.
Unless someone really screws up, the ones to blame should always be the perpetrators,” Shinichi said.
Shinichi understood the logic, but he still found himself irritated at how the blame was being misplaced.
The victims of terrorism, as well as those who just happened to be caught up in it and resolved the situation, would likely be the first ones to be criticized if they made the incident public.
“Ah, damn. I forgot. How’s Kimura doing?” Shinichi asked.
“You mean the only person on the Nyazdaland side who cooperated with us?
He got chewed out by his higher-ups for acting on his own. He seemed prepared for it and handled the situation maturely, but… it’s still frustrating to see,” Myuhi said.
“…Should the Mask make an appearance?” Shinichi asked.
“Shinichi, don’t worry. I personally expressed my deepest gratitude and praise in front of the relevant officials. I made it clear that without his cooperation, there would have been casualties. I also told them that the Paduel family would not forget this debt. Of course, our teacher followed up as well,” Aristel said.
“Our family name still carries some weight, after all, and this is exactly the kind of situation that calls for it,” Frire said.
“Wow…” Myuhi said.
What an impressive display of authority disguised as gratitude.
The Nyazdaland officials had probably been left speechless, their faces twisted in discomfort.
Myuhi could easily imagine it, causing her voice to come out dry with amusement.
She wasn’t alone, as Shinichi too chuckled at the thought.
“They backed down right after that and the negotiations went smoothly,” Frire said.
“I also gave him my contact information in case anything else comes up.
If he faces any unfair treatment, our family will support him, whether it’s legal defense or helping him find a new job,” Aristel said.
“Well played… Honestly, I feel bad for dumping the aftermath on you two at first. Handling all of this while still on a school trip must have been rough. Good work. I’m really glad to have put my trust in you,” Shinichi said.
They had spent a considerable amount of time on this, taking away from their own moments of fun and rest.
Shinichi wanted to at least acknowledge that and show his appreciation.
Hence, those words had come from the heart, carrying a warmth and kindness the he wasn’t even aware he was capable of, complete with a genuine and gentle smile.
Unfortuantely, for one particular girl, that was just too much praise.
“Ah! Those words, that smile, it’s all too much! I can’t endure it anymore!” Aristel said.
A shrill voice left Aristel’s lips as she writhed about, but then gazes gathered on her, and she remembered where she was, so she got her wits about her and coughed.
“*Ahem… I’m sure Earth has its own way of doing things, but I didn’t want to see someone who helped us Garestonians solve a problem be in trouble. That’s all. Really.”
“Ari-chan. I’m so sorry to say this when you’re trying so hard to put on a serious facade, but there’s just no fixing that earlier outburst of yours,” Myuhi said.
“Please just forget it already, Myuhi-san!”
Aristel’s face blushed beet red as she cried out in protest, but Myuhi just laughed and teased her even more. To this, Aristel could only puff up her cheeks and groan. But of course, such an act only fanned Myuhi’s flames.
“So, can we hear what really happened now?” Shinichi said.
“Huh?” Aristel said.
“Huh?” Myuhi said.
While in practice those words ended up saving Aristel from her awkward situation, Shinichi meant those words when he asked them.
“As sharp as ever,” was all Frire could say as she shrugged her shoulders. “That’s right. Up until now, everything we’ve discussed is just what Nyazdaland is already aware of. I see you’re as sharp as ever.”
“Yeah, well, a cover up out of fear of criticism just seemed too weak of a justification.
Corruption is an inevitable part of any organization, but as someone born and raised in this country, I’d like to believe it hasn’t gone that far,” Shinichi said.
It was both a conviction that there had to be another motive and a hope that this wasn’t just a case of systemic decay.
As he spoke, he glanced at Frire, who nodded in response.
“It seems the investigative agencies had their own reasons for wanting to keep this under wraps.” Frire said.
“I didn’t hear anything about it either though,” Aristel said.
“I find it strange as well.
Even if I played a role in preventing the incident, there’s no reason I should have been given access to investigation details.
And yet, for some reason, I was the only one informed…” Frire said, tilting her head in confusion.
But before anyone could respond, an unexpected source provided the answer – her very own foster.
“Hmm, I see.
So that’s what they were after.
…Wait, then why didn’t you tell me before, Shirayuki?!”
“Why are you only mechanical about things like this?! You’ve been acting however you please lately, Shirayuki!”
As Frire fumed, declaring that she was going to give her creator an earful, Shinichi found himself torn between laughing and sighing.
Even an AI had been able to pick up on the hidden intent behind the conversation, yet this teacher completely missed it.
“…I can never tell which parts of Frire are sharp and which parts are dull.”
“That’s rich, coming from you,” Myuhi said, who at some point had taken the seat next to him.
Shirayuki had apparently been analyzing the exchange, offering a possible explanation in what could almost be considered an attempt at defending Frire’s honor. Unfortunately, it only made everyone pity her more.
“Oh… So they were trying to bait her into revealing something she knew, but since she didn’t understand the implication, she dodged it without even realizing… Sucks to be them,” Shinichi said.
Never in the wildest dreams of those people would they have guessed that their target was just too innocent to catch onto their hints.
Meanwhile, for everyone else, it felt like they had just caught a glimpse of how Frire Doneju was able to keep her innocent nature hidden all this time.
“Ahaha… So, Teach, let’s get back to the main topic. What really is going on?” Shinichi asked.
“Hm? Oh, well, it’s not really that complicated.
The guys who showed up at the end and got taken down by the mascots – after some investigation and interrogation – well, it turns out they were underground mercenaries operating on both Earth and Garesto.
Apparently, they were hired by someone to assist the perpetrators,” Frire siad.
However, since they were just pawns, they had no idea who their employer actually was.
That one addition was enough for everyone present to immediately understand what came next.
“So, this whole thing is to track down the client, then?” Aristel said.
“Exactly.
That’s why they don’t want to make this case public and cause a commotion.
There’s a possibility that creating chaos was one of the client’s objectives to begin with.
Since the mercenaries were restrained before they could act, they were able to secure a considerable amount of evidence during the operation,” Frire said.
“I see. So that’s how it is.
They’ve found a lead on the true mastermind, and thanks to the unexpected and complete prevention of the attack, they’ve gained both crucial evidence and time.
Now, they want to push forward with a classified investigation, so any unnecessary public attention would only be a hindrance.
It’s a case where all involved parties have a common interest in keeping things quiet,” Shinichi said.
“From what I was told, that’s about right,” Frire said.
As Frire finished her explanation, she took another sip from her cup and emptied it, while Aristel nodded, satisfied.
At this point, both of them were ready to push this matter out of their minds and leave it in the hands of Japan’s investigative agencies.
“Nyazdaland… it’s ‘that’ group, isn’t it?” Shinichi said.
“Probably exactly who you’re thinking, Icchi.
Leaving behind just enough of a trail is their specialty,” Myuhi said.
Her quiet confirmation came without hesitation.
For a moment, Shinichi debated whether to say anything, but he quickly came to the conclusion that there was no need to hesitate.
So, raising his hand as if answering a question in class, he spoke up without a hint of doubt.
“Teacher, I know who the mastermind is!” Shinichi said.
“Hah?” Frire said. “Huh?” Aristel said.
“This guy,” Myuhi said.
Both Frire and Aristel were, of course, shocked by the sudden revelation, while Myuhi, discreetly elbowed Shinichi.
He had already anticipated her doing that, so it didn’t hurt, but he did straighten his face.
“…The one pulling the strings is, with near certainty, ‘The Snake.’”
“What!?” Frire said.
“The Snake?” Aristel said.
However, their reactions to the name were complete opposites.
Frire’s eyes widened in disbelief, while Aristel simply looked puzzled, as if the name meant nothing to her.
The reason was simple, Frire recognized the name, and thus heard it in its original Garesto term.
Meanwhile, Aristel, having no knowledge of it, only heard the Japanese word for “snake,” which held no particular meaning to her.
“Even someone in your position doesn’t know about them, huh, Alice?
I only learned about them two days ago myself, but apparently, they’re a secret organization that has been operating behind the scenes in both worlds under the same name, long before the worlds connected.
When the relationship of the two worlds were still just in the negotiation stage, they shocked both worlds by merging across dimensions,” Shinichi said.
“…I feel like this shouldn’t surprise me anymore, but you know, that’s classified at a pretty high level,” Frire said.
She was now looking around nervously, even sweating a little.
It was a bit too late to worry about secrecy now, but in reality, Shinichi had already deployed a barrier to ensure that nothing leaked beyond this space.
“I didn’t know that…”
Aristel clenched her hands tightly as she listened to information she had never heard before.
The way she bit her lips suggested she was holding back some kind of emotion.
“You haven’t officially taken over the Padyuel family yet, and while you’re here, you aren’t directly involved in its affairs, so it’s only natural that you wouldn’t know.
As for me, I only learned about them from his excellency long ago, and fortunately or unfortunately, I never encountered them directly during my time in the military,” Frire said.
Hearing this, Aristel grimaced but quickly – albeit reluctantly – nodded in acceptance.
“…Right.”
“So, Nakamura, why do you think, the Snake was behind that?
And you only learned of them a few days ago? Just what did you do after you visited an acquiantance’s grave?” Frire said.
Frire nodded and was about to ask him to continue when she suddenly realized what Shinichi had been doing recently and made the connection.
Shinichi laughed.
“Fu fu, sharp Frire is here!”
“Don’t try to joke your way out of this. Answer seriousy,” Frire said, her eyes sharp.
Shinichi nodded, but before he could answer…
“Oh, it’s nothing, really. He just flirted with a beautiful older sister, right, Icchi?” Myuhi said, as she casually wove words that were neither truly true nor truly false.
Shinichi immediately made a face as though he’d eaten a fly, but it was too late, all eyes were on him now.
“…Hina, are you still angry at me? Seriously?
Alice, don’t make that face that looks as though it’s begging for all the details.
Frire, don’t look at me like that! I didn’t do anything bad!
And Shirayuki, stop openly sighing!
Shinichi joked at every one of their reactions, but the girls didn’t so much as budge.
Although their reasons differed, every one of them stared at Shinichi and refused to budge.
Shinichi could only sigh as he forcefully steered teh conversation away.
“Sigh… I just ended up encountering some of their agents,” Shinichi said.
That was not something anyone could just brush off.
Even Myuhi, who usually joked around, stayed silent, and the others all took on serious expressions as they waited for him to continue.
Of course, Shinichi figured that Myuhi’s concern for her friend.
“I’ll skip the details, but that’s when I found out they were targeting the songstress, Monica Chantal,” Shinichi said.
“Monica Chantal… If I recall, she’s a famous half-blooded singer, isn’t she?” Frire said.
“Yes, I’ve met her several times at ceremonies and official events… Wait a moment, she was at Nyazdaland that day!” Aristel said.
“What?” Frire said.
“That’s right!
The last bomb was placed right near her!
Could it be… was the entire incident actually targeting her?!” Aristel said.
“Yeah, I heard it directly from one of their higher-ups during our little chat.
They said that some idiot’s bomb plot was supposed to be a cover for their real objective, which failed,” Shinichi said.
“A smokescreen for an assassination, huh?
If she was just one of many victims in a large-scale attack, no one would suspect that she was the real target.
I understand it’s a common tactic, but it’s disgusting nonetheless,” Aristel said.
“A truly chilling thought,” Frire said.
“I feel sick just thinking about it,” Aristel said.
Perhaps it was because they had seen the joyful faces of the crowd that day up close.
Or maybe it was the sheer callousness of a plan that would have sacrificed everyone present just to kill one person.
Regardless, none of them made any effort to hide their revulsion toward the secret organization, whether they had been aware of it before or not.
“I really like that part about you guys,” Shinichi said.
Feeling the sincerity in their emotions, Shinichi couldn’t help but smile.
Different backgrounds, different experiences, different personalities, but deep down, they all shared something fundamental.
Maybe that was why he had come to like them.
“But is that singer safe?
From what I’ve heard, the Snake isn’t the type of organization to give up after a single failure…” Frire said.
“There hasn’t been any news about her, so she should be fine… But now that I think about it, she had a live concert yesterday, and just like us, she’s in Hokkaido right now… Ah,” Aristel said.
“Nakamura, you…” Frire said.
Seeing the two pairs of eyes staring at him in disbelief, Shinichi saw no reason to deny it and simply nodded honestly.
After all, the only reason he had brought this up himself was because there was no point in hiding it, and he wanted to avoid unnecessary hassle later.
“As you’ve guessed, I fought in the backdrop of that live concert as well and settled the matter quietly.
For the time being, the Snake won’t be able to make a move.
Within a few days, you’ll hear about the aftermath and other details through official channels.
That’s pretty much it,” Shinichi said.
Since these two were in a position to receive intel regarding Monica’s protection, they would inevitably learn about the information he had leaked.
And given that they had already pieced together his connection to the Mask, there was no way they would ignore it.
Rather than dealing with separate explanations and questions later, it was more efficient to lay the groundwork now.
However, that approach seemed to have exasperated Frire instead.
“You really have no self-awareness, do you? …You haven’t even considered how those two are going to react when they find out,” Myuhi said so quietly Shinichi didn’t hear it.
“Huh? Did you say something?” Shinichi said.
He thought he had heard a quiet remark from the side, but while he had been paying more attention than before – unlike when he got elbowed earlier – his focus wasn’t entirely there.
As a result, he missed most of it – especially the second half.
“Fufu, oh, nothing at all~” Myuhi said.
Noticing that he hadn’t caught her words, Myuhi grinned mischievously.
That expression alone sent a strong wave of unease through Shinichi.
—Wait… Did I screw up again?
His instincts, honed through experience, told him that he definitely had.
The fact that he didn’t even know which part of his actions had caused this only reinforced that notion.
But before he could figure it out, he was abruptly reminded that his calculations had been far too naive.
“────Nakamura.”
“Hm?”
“This isn’t funny.
What the hell is that sequence of events supposed to mean?”
Her tone was firm, almost as though in an interrogation.
But despite the harshness of her words, her expression carried nothing but concern.
Shinichi found himself blinking, unsure of how to interpret her conduct. However, the sheer weight of her gaze spoke louder than any word.
He knew exactly what Frire was trying to say.
And he understood the unspoken worry behind her question.
The way she carefully phrased it so the other two wouldn’t catch on was almost endearing, but for him, it was just frustrating.
Had he really been so oblivious that he failed to even notice how much she had been worrying for him?
“Haha, it’s just the usual. Does seem exhausting though, no?”
He had overlooked something that should have been obvious.
Frire was a woman who couldn’t just keep calm knowing that one of her students was struggling.
He had seen proof of that firsthand.
And in the first place, it was he who had taught her ‘that truth’.
Suppressing his own irritation toward himself, he tried to deflect with a casual remark.
“You…”
“That’s why, Frire.
You know I’m just a D-Class bottom feeder. I can’t do much on my own. So, help me.”
There were many things he simply couldn’t handle because he had no official status, no track record to back him up.
Though he said it in a joking manner, he meant what he said. He needed her help.
Frire fell silent for a moment before replying.
“That’s not the issue.”
“Huh?”
“I said, that’s not the issue.
I’ll help you. I’ll support you however I can. That much is obvious.
But if this keeps happening… when will you ever be able to rest?”
Myuhi and Aristel audibly inhaled when she said those words.
Even Shinichi was completely caught off guard.
She did not question the absurdity of his situation, she did not point out the irrationality of it all.
No. She was simply worried about his well-being.
If incident after incident kept drawing him in, then where was his peace?
There was even a faint trace of reproach in her voice, as though to scold him for not considering this himself.
He had anticipated some concern, but this was a step beyond that.
And only now did he realize—
Frire Doneju was too pure, too straightforward, sometimes making her thoughts and actions harder to read than anyone else’s, but in a completely different way from a certain noble girl, she just might be his nemesis.
And yet, for some reason, the thought of that made him strangely happy.
As a sigh escaped from his lips, he found himself looking up in surrender.
“…She got me,” he muttered quietly before saying out loud, “—Well, times like these are fairly frequent.”
“What?” Frire said.
“I mean, you already know that I’m always dozing off, right, Teach?” Shinichi said.
“Oh, so that’s why.”
While she couldn’t pick on the indirect probing of the agency, she wasn’t so oblivious that she couldn’t pick up on a hint when given so obviously. In response, she wryly smiled and shook her head in exasperation.
“Good grief, what a troublesome student you are. Now I can’t even scold you properly for napping in class,” Frire said.
“Heh, that was kind of the plan actually,” Shinichi smiled.
“Well, at least try to keep it to a minimum in front of me,” Frire said.
To which Shinichi naturally replied, “I’ll do my best.”
Frire might complain about how troublesome Shinichi was, but evidently, she found him endearing too.
And the smile on her now, that relaxed and warm smile was already one that has forgotten her role as a teacher and an adult.
It was so pure it was almost childlike, showing just how much she had come to trust Shinichi.
Unlike him, who simply took it in stride, the people sitting on either side of them were utterly stunned.
“…She really stole the show at the last moment, didn’t she? And yet she’s completely oblivious to her feelings. At this point, she’s actually even worse than Tomotomo,” Myuhi said.
“Haha… But the teacher’s words were reasonable. A formidable opponent indeed,” Aristel said.
She felt ashamed that she failed to show the same level of concern for the boy, but she did not let it make her feel inferior. Instead, she felt an even stronger determination to compete with this romantic rival.
Myuhi just glanced at her and sighed, completely oblivious to the envy that laced her own eyes.
—You know, that’s really not the kind of face you should be making when you’re sitting right next to the people you’re thinking of.
Of course, Shinichi was gentleman enough not to say anything, but he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
After all, he understood better than anyone who their affections were directed toward.
At his core, Shinichi was simply not used to being the object of such feelings.
More often than not, he teased people for fun, partly as a hobby, partly as a way to cover up his own embarrassment.
“What is it?”
“Got it. Alright. I know it’s a bit sudden after just now… but Nakamura, come with me.”
Upon receiving Shirayuki’s report, Frire shifted into her teacher persona and stood up. When she turned to Shinichi, the expression on her seemed somewhat apologetic.
One moment, he was asking her for help, but now she was the one asking him for help, so it was a bit awkward.
That being said, Shinichi wasn’t bothered by that, and he just nodded.
“Sure. It’s partly for surveillance since I’m a problem child and also a basic check, right?”
“Yes. Alright, the rest of you, get back to your classes!”
After her straightforward words of gratitude, she commanded the students back with a loud voice.
In response, the students almost immediately shot to their feet, as if acting on reflex.
Shinichi was slightly puzzled by their reaction but followed suit nonetheless.
Even though her true self was becoming more apparent, the students’ ingrained respect – or perhaps fear – of the “demon teacher” persona was still firmly in place.
“…So, it’s finally time to head to Garesto, huh?
It’s been about a month and a half since I transferred in… Feels both long and short at the same time.”
As the entire group left the lounge together, Shinichi glanced out the window, gazing at the gate – essentially, a door to another world.
How many people, if any, noticed the deep contemplation in his expression as he stared at it?
“…Once we depart, we’ll arrive in less than an hour,” Frire said.
“Wait, it takes that long?
Isn’t time supposed to be nonexistent within dimensional space?” Shinichi asked.
“Oh? A firsthand account from our dear Icchi? Well, you’re not wrong, but…” Myuhi said.
“With our current technology, interdimensional travel requires special energy fields that shield the vessel or tunnels that connect worlds to prevent any adverse effects. Because of that, time still applies during transit,” Aristel said.
“There are researchers trying to find ways to take advantage of that property, though.
Imagine a storage unit where time doesn’t pass, or a naturally occurring cold-sleep chamber.
If we could make it work, it would completely rewrite what we know as reality!” Wernher said.
“Whoa, whoa, that’s still just a pipe dream.
The biggest hurdles are:
How to move freely within dimensional space,
How to create a stable space that retains its properties,
And how to properly link that space back to the real world,” Ryou said.
“You’re pretty knowledgeable, Ryou… But doesn’t that mean basically none of it is feasible yet?” Tomoe said.
As expected of students from Garest Academy.
From one simple question, a short conversation quickly branched into deeper discussions, raising not only answers but also related issues and challenges.
Shinichi was quietly impressed.
Their insights were really educational.
“So, well… not that it really matters, but there’s nothing much to do during the trip. Nakamura, you could take a nap, though I suppose you won’t.”
Frire’s expression was basically screaming at him to sleep, but she knew he wasn’t the sort to do so.
“Of course not.
It’s my first time on this kind of vessel, my first time experiencing a scientifically-based interdimensional journey.
And on top of that, my destination is an entirely new world for me. No way I can afford to let my guard down.”
“Haha, well, when you put it that way, it makes se—… wait, what!?”
They had more or less anticipated the first part of his reasoning, but the final part of his statement made every single person in the room snap their head toward him in unison.
He met their gazes without a hint of fluster, a mischievous crescent-moon grin playing on his lips.
The sight of it made their expressions stiffen.
“Uh… S-Shinichi-san?
DIdn’t you just say something really crazy, right now?” Aristel said.
“A-ahh, nope, nope! I heard nothing! NOTHING at all!” Wernher said.
“Wait, that’s why he’s so clueless all the time!?” Ryou said.
“I had my suspicions, but who just casually blurts that out!?” Tomoe said.
“It’s a huge scoop, but one way too dangerous to even touch!” Myuhi said.
Wry smiles.
Hands over ears.
Stunned disbelief.
Complete and utter shock.
Confusion.
Each one reacted differently, but all were clearly shaken by the bombshell he had just nonchalantly dropped.
Meanwhile, Shinichi, rather than being concerned by the uproar, was instead surprised at how quickly they had accepted his words as truth.
With a calm expression, he quietly took a step to the side.
“Damn it, stop dodging like it’s nothing!
Nakamura, I’m begging you—stop dropping these truth bombs out of nowhere!
My heart can’t take it!” Frire said, her attempted punch missing completely.
Still, rather than anger, her face was filled with a desperate plea – please, just stop.
Of course, Shinichi, finding their reactions amusing, only chuckled.
“Ah, darn it! Let’s just get going already!”
Realizing that he had neither any remorse nor any intention to change his ways, Frire grabbed his arm and, without hesitation, dragged him to the boarding gate.
“You lot, make sure you head back to your class’s designated meeting area, got it?”
She barked her orders sharply, turning only her head to glare at them. However, behind her, the boy being dragged away simply waved lazily and called out, “See ya,” with a carefree smile.
Faced with that, the students could only exchange wry smiles.
As their figures disappeared from view, the boy’s expression changed. All races of emotion drained from his face, as though a switch had been flipped.
Of course, the teacher pulling him along didn’t notice.
“…Please, just let what will happen happen only to me.”
That was a whisper so quiet that not even the empty corridor carried its sound.
A wish spoken to no one, yet still undeniably his own.
Of course, he knew such a wish couldn’t come true, yet still, he wanted to believe.
Because – whether by accident or fate – he has already brought the seeds of chaos with him.
It was all he could do now to pray.
After all, there was no way nothing was going to happen.
Then, was it arrogance or selfishness to wish that, at the very least, whatever happened would happen within his reach?
Every action was accompanied by a reaction.
No matter how carefully he treaded, there would always be consequences to his choices, and often the ones most unexpected.
He knew this all too well.
“And yet, even that’s not all there is to it – Oh, it’s here.”
He nearly chuckled to himself, his face still blank.
From now on, they were headed to a completely unfamiliar land, a completely new world. And the more he focused on that, the stronger the strange familiarity – that unmistakable scent of possibility – became.
That vague, inexplicable sensation of impending chaos was frustrating.
He could only be certain that something connected to him was waiting ahead.
Should he take solace in the fact that at least he could mentally prepare?
Or should he lament that that was all he could do?
Ah, no wonder he could never have a moment’s rest.
Was that why?
With a smirk, he suddenly shifted his grip, entwining his fingers with Frire’s as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
With that bold move, he confidently took the lead, walking toward the boarding gate himself.
Of course, when they arrived, the boarding staff gave them a brief, questioning glance.
Flustered, Frire tried to play it off but failed miserably, fumbling over her words.
And standing right beside her, Shinichi enjoyed the scene to the fullest.
〈─────── 〉
Meanwhile, someone – or rather, something -silently recorded the moment.
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