...
I rushed to Abydos the next morning, after Ayane texted me about an urgent problem.
I truly hoped it had nothing to do with Hoshino, but when I entered the Foreclosure Task Force club room, I only saw four girls.
Four, very sad girls.
Ayane wordlessly handed me a club resignation notice, an academy dropout notice, and a letter. I opened the letter and read the first of three papers.
To the Foreclosure Task Force,
Forgive me for doing this with a letter. It felt more old-fashioned this way, which suits me perfectly.
There's something I've been keeping from you.
A recruiter has been coming after me for a while now. Become a Kaiser PMC mercenary for life in exchange for Abydos' debt being paid off. That's the long and short of the terms.
Not too bad a deal, eh? They must value the skills of a wily old veteran like me.
I'll take care of the debt somehow. Maybe not all of it, but I should be able to lighten the burden on you guys.
I know I talked a big game at the black market. I'm sorry I couldn't keep my word.
And the Foreclosure Task Force will be fine. I'll have to leave Abydos and Kivotos all together, but it doesn't matter. This is what I get for being a stubborn old mule.
Let me take responsibility, as the final member of Abydos' Student Council.
So this is goodbye.
'Oh, Hoshino, you dummy...'
There was also a separate letter, written to me.
To Sensei,
To be honest, I've never liked adults. I didn't think they could be trusted.
Ever since I heard that Shiroko had to lead you here, I couldn't help but think "Damn. He must be useless." Heh. Am I wrong?
But in the end, you turned out to be... Well, you know. Besides, some things are better left unsaid, aren't they?
Sensei. I know it's selfish to ask, but there's a request I'd like to make. Shiroko is a good girl at heart, but she can be a loose cannon if you take your eyes off of her.
So if she stumbles, I want you to be there to catch her. Okay?
Please.
'Of course.'
Looking at the final letter...
To all of you,
Please look after our school.
It's just a desert now, but this is the only place left that has any meaning for me.
Also, if we ever end up facing each other as enemies...
Don't hesitate to destroy my halo. Please.
I put down the letters and hold a hand to my face as my other hand holds myself up via the table.
"What the hell...?" Serika says, quietly, before raising her volume. "After talking all high and mighty?! She's the one giving up just because the going got tough! Does she think I'll let her get away with this?"
Ignoring their venting, I look over the resignation papers. She signed them all perfectly.
"We have to think about where Hoshino is. Rescuing her is our top priority." Shiroko says, resolutely. "I'll go by myself if I have to. In fact, if the task force won't allow it, then..."
...She didn't sign one part, though.
"Everyone, be quiet!" Ayane shouts. "Now's not the time to fight amongst ourselves!"
In order to finalize these papers, a teacher has to-
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
An explosion nearby interrupts us all.
"Wh-Wha?!" The cat girl says.
"What was that?!" Shiroko yells, for the first time since I've met her. "It sounded like an explosion!"
"Close by too. It must be..." The elf girl looks at her laptop and her eyes widen. "What the...?! Hundreds of PMC troops are approaching!"
"What's happening?! I don't understand..." The cat girl says.
"We have to stop them!" Nonomi says. "It doesn't matter what their intentions are, we can't just let them assault Abydos."
"Nonomi is right. Now isn't the time to think about it." The wolf girl says.
"Fucking Kaiser." I growl. "Girls, get ready!"
"B-But there are too many of them! We can't fight an army this size all by ourselves!" Ayane pleads. "Besides, they're attacking anything and everything. We should focus on evacuating whoever is left in the city."
Our discussion is interrupted by a PMC soldier firing into our room. "Foreclosure Task Force spotted! This wa-!" He's interrupted by a shot to the head, courtesy of Shiroko. The robot falls down.
"Enemy scout." The wolf girl assesses. "They're already here."
"Multiple Kaiser PMC scouts have been sighted near campus!" Ayane alerts us. "They're already inside!"
"First, we have to take care of the enemies in the school." The cat girl says. "We're counting on you, Ayane!"
"Got it." The elf girl agrees. "We'll evacuate the citizens once the school is secure!"
"Well then,-" I say, loading up my rifle. "-Let's give 'em a warm Abydos welcome! Girls, divide and conquer."
"What about you, Sensei?" Shiroko asks
"I'm gonna get us some backup." I reassure her. "Ayane, keep us all posted on their movements."
The elf girl nods as I pull out my phone and dial.
Sensei? I'm surprised to hear you call.
"Yeah, I know. Look, I need some backup here in Abydos, your former employers are attackin' everyone here."
I... erm.
"This ain't gonna be for free, consider you and yours hired."
We'll be there right away, Sensei.
"Thanks, Aru." I turn back to Ayane. "Problem Solver will be here soon, so we've just gotta hold out for a bit."
"Problem Solver?" Ayane asks surprised.
"Yup. Now, keep me posted." I say, running into the hallways.
"Get your hands up!" Multiple robots block my path. Ignoring them, I rush onwards, grabbing a folding chair sat nearby and throwing it at them. Their vision obscured, I shoot them all in the head, one round each.
This process continues for what feels like hours. Run into a scout, shoot 'em in the head. Over and over. Thankfully, they're just scouts and not more elite soldiers.
After around half an hour of this, Ayane tells us over the comms that we're all clear.
We regroup outside the school. "All right then, priority is civilian safety, got it?"
"Yes!" The three girls shout as we run into the city.
—————
The Abydos district has gone a drastic change. The streets are empty, save for the robots prowling around, which are quickly taken down one by one. Rubble and glass litters the streets. Holes are blown into walls and the like. It's awful.
Serika sprays two with bullets. "Back off! Unless you've got a death wish!"
"Kaiser director's location confirmed!" Ayane announces over the comms.
It's close by. Running around the corner, we see him, as well as a small army of goons.
"My, my." He drawls out. "Have you really come all this way to greet me? You saved me the trouble of visiting your school myself."
"What is the meaning of this?" Nonomi shouts. "A corporation attacking a city? You have no right, regardless of how much of it you own!"
"More importantly, the school building is still Abydos property!" Ayane yells. "You're breaking the law, and the General Student Council won't overlook this!"
"Where is Hoshino? Was your recruiting her all a lie?" Shiroko accuses.
"Give Hoshino back, you bastards!" Serika yells.
The robotic CEO merely chuckles. "The General Student Council? How amusing. How many times have you petitioned for the General Student Council's help?" He asks rhetorically. "How many of those prayers have gone unanswered? All of them. There is nothing the General Student Council can do. For that matter, has anyone else ever given you their aid? The other academies, perhaps? I doubt it." He says, cruelly. "You have always been on your own."
The girls are silenced, unable to form a response.
"Takanashi Hoshino, the final member of the Abydos Student Council, has dropped out. That means that your student council no longer exists. You are nothing now." He growls. "Because Abydos no longer has any official clubs, no Student Council, or even a district of its own, it has been deemed unsustainable as an academy town."
"...So that's your plan." I say lowly, a terrible realization coming to me.
"Indeed." He confirms. "Which is why, as owner of this district, the Kaiser Corporation will assume control of the academy." The girls' eyes widen in shock and horror. "How does the Kaiser Training Academy sound? It's a fitting name for the new school."
"Wh-What are you talking about...?" Serika asks slowly. "That's nonsense! Even if the student council is disbanded, Abydos still has the Foreclosure Task Force! We're right here!"
"This can't be happening..." Ayane mutters over the comms.
"Ayane?" The cat girl asks.
"The Foreclosure Task Force isn't an authorized club." She explains over the comms. "The student council was long gone by the time it was created."
"What do you mean?!" The cat girl yells.
"She is correct." The CEO cuts in. "Unauthorized clubs don't appear in official documents. You lot might as well be ghosts. Look on the bright side, now you're finally free from that tedious debt." He laughs loudly and cruelly.
Rage boils in my blood, caused by him once again."You..." This time, I don't hold it back. "Goddamn..."
RICK YOU PIECE OF SHIT!
He's completely and utterly fit the bill of the type of person I hate the most.
"Worthless... FUCKING BETRAYER!!!" I shout with all of my wrath and vigor.
The Abydos girls jump a full meter back, afraid of my vitriolic shout. Even the CEO is afraid, as his goons point their guns at me.
"You..." I growl out. "You just fucking used Hoshino. Gave her a sliver of hope, and all she had to do was be a self-sacrificing idiot." I take a step forward. "If there's one type of person I loathe most in this world, it's those who betray others."
A beep interrupts the tension, as one of the PMC soldiers listen to their comms. "What?! Massive explosion detected to the north!"
Another reports. "Bravo squad was caught in the blast in their way in. They're not responding!"
"W-What?!" The CEO looks at them in shock, fear still evident in his voice.
As he does, an explosion rings out nearby.
Another soldier reports. "Mike squad was hit in the east! Massive C4 and explosion detected!"
"What's happening?" The CEO shouts. "The only people in that area should be Abydos residents!"
I let a savage grin find its way into my face. "That? Oh, that should be my backup."
"What?" His robotic head swivels back to me.
"What are you idiots doing?" Aru calls out from nearby. We all turn back to look at her, well I just turn my head slightly. The other three members of Problem Solver stand next to her.
" 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Forsake mercy and walk the path of chaos.' Wasn't that the Masked Mizuki Gang's motto?" She asks with a grin.
"You all..." Ayane mutters.
"There's no finish line in sight, you can't find a way to get there, and everything you do is failure after failure." Aru begins. "No one sees how hard you struggle, and the only things waiting for you are more hardships and rough days ahead... But who cares?!" She shouts.
"Huh...?" Ayane mutters, confused over the comms.
"Are you really going to let something like that get in the way of rescuing your friend?!" The boss yells, passionately. "You all are even stupider than you look!"
"Sheesh, Aru, lighten up a little." Mutsuki chastises. "Little Miser Four-Eyes is the neurotic type. She can't help it."
"Huh?!" The elf girl yells.
The imp girl laughs. "But making my adorable Little Miss Four-Eyes cry is a pretty serious crime. Which is why... I'm gonna rip these guys apart!" She shouts, with a savage grin.
Haruka, with an eerie grin on her face, chuckles menacingly. "I'm ready when you are, Aru. We have plenty of bombs left."
Kayoko just sighs. "Sensei, you had better be paying us good for this."
"Of course." I say, holding my anger back. I'm gonna let loose on these guys.
The pink girl smirks. "Our last explosives cut off enemy reinforcements. Now we can neutralize their commanded to break chain of command. Their soldiers will be completely disorganized." She explains.
I smirk. "Good work you girls."
Aru chuckles. "Now then. Let us show them how real outlaws fight. Light it up, Haruka." She says with a savage grin, her bangs shadowing her, now glowing, eyes.
The purple haired girl grins as she presses a button on a detonator. Yet another explosion rings out. As does another. And another, taking out their trucks, parked behind the CEO and goons.
"What in the world?!" Ayane shouts.
"Back us up, Sensei!" Aru says with a smile.
"Nope." I say, popping the p."I've got a lot of rage built up from these clowns, and I'm gonna let loose. You girls back ME up, instead."
Aru's eyes widen as a blush creeps onto her face. "A-Alright, then." She clears her throat. "Let's show the Foreclosure Idiot Force what it means to be hard-boiled!"
"Then let's tear 'em up!" I shout, breaking into a sprint, uncaring of what the other girls do.
My mind is clear, yet filled with rage.
Pure, unadulterated anger.
My objective is clear, kill these robots.
ALL OF THEM!
They fire at me, but I'm not holding back anymore, and am fueled by rage, so they all miss. Smacking one in the head with the side of my rifle, I grab it's leg as it begins to fall back. Turning, I toss the robot into the other ones and spray them with bullets. A robot rushes me, but I drop my rifle, and sling the sniper rifle from my back, swiping it to the side and taking its head off with the gun's barrel.
Holding the gun with both hands, I run forward and use it like a hammer of sorts, knocking the automatons to the sides. They fall like bowling pins. Seeing more behind me, I run into them, with the sniper in front of me, like I'm jousting. I ram one in the stomach and keep moving. My momentum carries me as I hit another and another. Four robots are held at the sniper's barrel by my sheer forward momentum.
I aim the rifle towards an approaching truck, filled with more robots. Jumping off the ground, I fire the sniper. It's round tears through the four robots and the truck, along with the legs of the robots in the truck. The recoil sends me back a bit, but I land clean.
Turning around, I see Haruka near me, staring in awe at my actions. "Got any more bombs?" I ask.
She nods with a grin and holds out a cluster of small explosives. I grab all of them and toss them into another group. Unholstering my pistol, I fire at a bomb, causing them all to go off, killing the group of robots.
An explosion rings out next to the CEO, as he shouts in pain while grasping his arm, barely missing the explosion. "You dare bite at the hand that feeds you?!"
"Shut up!" Aru yells back. "What makes you think that we ever want to work with you?! Sensei treats us way better than you losers ever did."
The imp girl laughs nearby. "What kind of villains would we be if we didn't stab our employers in the back? You should've seen this coming!"
"They have a point." I hear Shiroko say.
"Aru's pep talk was true too." Nonomi speaks up. "That was just what we needed. We can't be wasting our time here."
"Right! Hoshino needs us!" Serika says. "Who cares if we're unauthorized, or whatever. Whether we're above board or not, if we don't rescue Hoshino, then..."
"That's right. Saving her is our top priority. Nothing else matters." The wolf girl agrees.
"You...! It's useless to resist. How dare you?!" The CEO yells.
"You..." I growl, causing him to jump. "You kidnapped one of my students. You betrayed her. That is something I cannot, will not, stand for." I step forward. "Nothing, and I mean nothing, will stop me from rescuing her."
"D-Don't be ridiculous. You're just a teacher!" He stutters, holding his arm in pain. "You don't have the right to..."
He stops as the girls walk up. Shiroko and Nonomi look determined. Serika's red eyes are glowing. Mutsuki and Haruka have manic grins. Kayoko looks annoyed and Aru looks surprised.
I glare at the robotic man, venomously. He takes a step back, before holding his arm and hissing in pain.
"Director! Your wound." A robot warns. "You need to be treated immediately."
The CEO looks at us, and makes a decision. "I'm pulling out! Reorganize our forces!" He orders. "You...!" He growls. "You'll pay dearly for this!"
They, as one, retreat deep into the city. Shiroko moves to follow. "Don't." She stops. "Let 'em lead us to her."
"Now THAT is what third-rate goons sound like." Mutsuki quips.
"Exactly as planned." Kayoko says.
I let out a long sigh. "Y'all ready to head back?"
"Yes." Ayane agrees. "The battles have only just begun. We should expect harder ones ahead. Let's regroup and think of a way to rescue Hoshino."
"Good plan." I say. "Though, we need some backup..." I stroke my chin, before hearing my phone ring. Pulling it out, I'll see I've received a text, from an unknown number.
But this text...
"Better yet, I think I'll catch up with you guys later." I say.
"Oh, alright." Nonomi says.
"Let's meet up at Abydos tomorrow." I turn to Aru and group. "You girls too."
"This means extra pay, then." Aru says smugly.
"Naturally." I joke. "Later."
This text... I can only assume it's from this 'Black Suit' character.
Welp, better to see what he wants...
—————
I arrive as the sun sets, at a building in a city. I don't know which district I'm in and I don't care.
Riding up the elevator, I arrive.
Waiting there, is a man behind a desk. He wears a black suit and tie, and a white undershirt. His suit's collar has gold buttons on it, a white handkerchief peeks out from his pocket. A watch rests on his hand, peeking out from his sleeve. His skin and head seem to made of a black material. His head is cracked, so to speak. A white crack is where his mouth should be, it's similar to a manic grin. A white hole is where his right eye should be, wisps of black and white 'flames' emanate from it. Cracks spread from the hole across the other side of his face.
He resembles a strange alternate version of Slender Man.
"I've been waiting for you, Sensei. Or should I say, Joshua Birkin?" He says with a vile voice.
"Joshua is fine, as well as Sensei, if you'd prefer." I say, shrugging him off. He's intimidating, but I've seen worse.
"Please sit. I'd like to have a word face-to-face." He says, leaning on his hands. His elbows resting on his desk.
As I sit down in a chair, he begins to speak. "We know who you are. An enigmatic individual chosen by the General Student Council president. "Owner of the artifact known as the Shittim Chest. The Sensei of Schale, the Federal Investigation Club."
"Well, you've certainly done your homework. I'm impressed." I praise.
"Indeed. Others tend to underestimate you, but we won't make the same mistake." He continues.
" 'We' as in Gematria?" I ask.
He nods. "First, I'd like to make something clear. We have no interest in a conflict with you." I feel my eyebrow raise. "In fact, we want to work with you. Because otherwise, you represent the largest obstacle to our plans. Wiping out an insignificant school like Abydos is child's play. However, we'd rather avoid the consequence of starting a war with you in the process."
He's... serious about this. "So who is Gematria, really?" I ask.
"Well, we are outsiders to Kivotos, same as you. Though, we aren't from the same place. For now, we've found a suitable name to borrow. Please call us Gematria."
"The name of a type of cipher. Fitting for a mysterious organization like yours." I say.
"I'm also fine with going by 'Black Suit', Sensei. I've grown quite fond of that name." He says, in that same sickeningly sweet voice. "We, Gematria, are... observers, explorers, and researchers. You could say that were enigmatic beings, much like yourself. So allow me to formally ask."
He leans forward. "Do you have any interest in working with Us? Gematria?"
"None at all." I say, instantly.
He mulls over his next words. "The let me ask you this: What is it that you are pursuing in Kivotos? We can elucidate all manner of secrets and truths should you accept our proposal."
"The only thing I'm interested in is gettin' Hoshino back."
He chuckles. The man has the nerve to chuckle. Right in my face.
"Do you believe you behavior to be justified, Sensei? That you're in the right? And you wish Hoshino to be released as well?" He asks.
"Whether my actions are justified or right is irrelevant." I correct. "Right now, I just want to get my student back. Justifications or morality be damned."
"Hoshino is no longer a student of yours." He points out. "Have you not read her disenrollment papers?"
"Oh, I have." I say. "She filled out everything perfectly, leaving no room for error. However, disenrollment papers can only be finalized with a teacher's signature, of which, she never received nor asked for."
"Hmm?"
"Furthermore, I'm her club's advisor. She would require my signature to abandon the Foreclosure Task Force, yet she once again, did not ask not receive my signature." I explain.
"Let me make this clear, Black Suit." I say, standing up with my hands on the desk. "You have kidnapped my student, a student of Abydos and a member of its student council, a member is the Foreclosure Task Force, and someone I care dearly for. That is something that would, ordinarily mean death. However-" I stand up straight. "You, not Gematria, have her captive, only Kaiser does. Therefore they deserve my wrath, provided you lot are not holding her. But, if you are holding her-" I release some killing intent. "-then I will eradicate all of you."
"...I see." He says, finally. "You're their teacher. Major changes in your students' lives must have your approval. The logic is easy to understand." He holds a hand to his chin. "Teachers... academies and their students... Hmm. How bothersome."
"Bothersome? ...I see. You're looking at this though a lens of logic, not emotion." I begin to pace around the room. "Logically, the girls could have given up, despite their debt, as it was not their own. The old students of Abydos could have left once the desertification started, instead of fighting against it and taking the loan. I could have ignored my students by joining you. But here's the thing." I stop pacing and stare at him in his 'eye'. "You deceived my students. You trampled on their hearts. You took advantage of their suffering and betrayed them."
"Indeed." He admits. "We have used the misfortune of others as stepping stones for our benefit. I won't deny that. What we've done can be construed as evil.
Evil, but within our right.
Don't be mistaken, Sensei. The disaster that struck Abydos was not our doing. The sandstorms that struck the school were unusual, but not outside the realm of possibility. Such is the nature of natural disasters. We merely took advantage of the opportunity. Imagine providing water to someone dying of thirst in a desert. Would it not be fair to expect that person to repay you with their life?" He asks. "This is no different. Such stories are commonplace. What we're doing is not unprecedented, nor can we be held accountable. We're not responsible for those natural disasters, and they certainly wouldn't disappear if we left.
Those with power exploit those without. Those with knowledge exploit those without. Every adult knows that to be true. Isn't that right?" He asks.
"...Yeah. People on top seem to live to cause the little guy suffering." I say.
"So walk away from Abydos, Sensei." He says, causing me to glare at him again. "Give up Hoshino and the school will be spared. Kaiser PMC's forces pose no challenge for us. Your students can continue attending Abydos to the best of their meager abilities. Isn't that what Hoshino wanted?" My blood boils... "What do you say?"
I look dead at him... and smile.
"Nope." I make sure to pop the p.
"...Why?" He asks, his voice full of confusion. "Why are you so desperate to stand in our way? You are powerless!" He shouts for the first time. "How do you plan to fight us?!"
"The same way I've fought the whole world for the past five years." I put my hands on his desk again. "If there's one thing I hate in this world, it's betrayers. And you betrayed my students trust."
I reach into my pocket, pull out my wallet and throw my credit card on his desk. My special credit card. One left to me by the General Student Council president. One Arona warned me to never use when I picked it up. "There."
—————
Back when I was stuck doing paperwork for Schale, not long after I arrived in Kivotos. I woke up, one of those days to find a box on my desk, addressed to me.
Slowly, I opened the box. Inside was just a card.
"Who the hell would send me this? Rin already gave me a card..." I say.
Arona suddenly pops up on a screen. "Sensei. Be careful using that card." She says, more serious than I thought she could be.
"Why?"
"That card uses your life force to pay."
I step back and drop the card on the desk. "The fuck...? Why?"
"I... I don't know. Sorry, Sensei." Arona says.
"No, it's... It's fine." I carefully pick up the card and put it in my wallet. "Let's hope I never have to use it."
—————
"...An interesting weapon of choice, Sensei." He praises. "I've never concerned myself with such quotidian matters, but I understand the rules to its system. The more you use it, the more it eats away your life and time. Is that what you want?"
"My life's got little meaning nowadays. I've struggled these last five years just to survive, but if I can use it to help someone who actually cares about me? So be it." I shrug.
"Put your card away, Sensei." He says. "Despite your words, you have your own life to live. You need to eat, ride the subway, pay rent, and deal with trivial, mundane things like that. In fact, that's all we ask of you. Live your life and take care of your responsibilities. Any of those matters much more than the struggles of these children. So just leave it be. None of this concerns you."
"Oh, I'd say it does. Those girls have their whole future ahead of them. What do I have? Nothing." I say seriously. "That's why I accepted this job in the first place, to ensure the students of Kivotos don't end up like me."
He remains silent. "Why...? Why? ...Why? Why? Why?! WHY?!" He shouts, standing up to my height, or at least a few inches shy. "I don't understand. Why? I can't fathom it. Why would you refuse? Why, Sensei? For what?"
"Because no one else is willing to help these girls."
He recoils from my words, as if slapped.
"Barely anyone has helped me these five years. These five, long years." I drawl out the second 'long', my voice sounding more tired than I believed. "But, I'm better than those people. Those who turned a blind eye to me, those who turns a blind eye to them. If I have to suffer to ease their suffering, so be it."
"...You... You can't be serious." He steps back, shocked. "So you're going to offer to? You're not their guardian or their family. You're a stranger. You wandered into Abydos on business that happened to lead you to meeting those children. Why on earth would you go through so much trouble? Why put the onus on yourself?"
"Because I don't want any more suffering!" I shout. "Yes, it's juvenile. But, I've had my fill of it. The world has had its fill of it, and then some! I am sick and tired of people fucking over others for no reason other than that they can!" I rant and rave, letting my emotions free. "But, the ones who deserve most of all to not suffer, are children. It's the responsible thing to do, dammit."
"...Oh. Now I understand." He speaks after a moment of silence. "You're saying that an adult is someone who takes responsibility. No, Sensei. That's where you're wrong. Adults are the ones who transform society, set rules and laws, designate the norm, and define the boundary between ordinary and extraordinary. Adults rule the aimless with authority, the ignorant with knowledge, and the weak with power. That is what it means to be an adult." He adjusts his tie. "Someone like you. You could have ruled over all of Kivotos. You had it all for a brief moment: unfathomable power and authority over this city, its Mystics..."
Mystics...?
"Yet you threw it all away without a moment's hesitation." He continues. "I don't understand. Tell me-" He places his hands back on the table. "-why make such a choice? Truth, influence, power, riches... Your choice left you with none of those. So why?!"
I merely sigh, finally understanding his dilemma. "Even if I told you, you could never understand. You see the world through a lens of logic, not emotion. Therefore, you and I can't see eye to eye."
"Very well." He says, sitting back down. "These negotiations are over. I did like you, but you've left me with no choice. Do you wish to save Hoshino, Sensei? She being held in the lab of the PMC base at the center of the Abydos Desert. Mimesis has shown us the dark side of what a Mystic is capable of: terror. Now we shall see if the same of true of a living student through experiment."
Mimesis...? One of his associates?
"Mystic? This has something to do with their halos, yes?" I ask.
"Indeed. It is a mystical power derived from various sources in Kivotos." He explains. "Each and every halo contains some. Hoshino is our guinea pig to use however we want. And if she doesn't produce results, we'll move on to the wolf god. Though, even that doesn't seem to be a feasible option at this point."
Wolf god...? More strange terms.
"Rescue your kidnapped student if you can." He looks right at me. "Joshua Sensei. Gematria will be keeping an eye on you from now on."
My eyes narrow. "I see." I pick up my credit card from the table. "Good night, Black Suit."
I walk out towards the door. "Oh, right. If you threaten my students again..." I look at him from the corner of my eye, pumping all of my killing intent at him, causing him to freeze solid. "...I'll kill you."
I leave the room.
—————
I get back to Abydos, the halls lit by the moonlight. Yet the Foreclosure Task Force room has its light on.
Knocking on the door, it's opened by Shiroko. "Welcome back, Sensei." She greets with a small smile.
"Hey, there you are!" Nonomi says cheerfully.
"Sensei!" Serika says.
"Welcome back!" Ayane says.
"Hey, Sensei." Kayoko says.
"Glad to see you again, Sensei!" Mutsuki says.
"H-Hey there, Sensei." Haruka shyly says.
"Hey there." Aru says.
"What's our next move?" The wolf girl asks.
"Tomorrow, we go to the center of the desert and save Hoshino." I look around the room. "All of us."
The wolf girl smiles. "We're with you, Sensei."
"Agreed." The punk girl says.
"And we ain't gonna stop 'till we get her back." I say.
"Yes!" The elf girl agrees.
"Y-Yeah!" The shy girl says.
"Then, we're gonna give her a piece of our minds. Especially after that self-sacrificing act today." I continue.
"That's right!" The blonde agrees. "She went back in her word and needs to be taught a lesson! A super scary lesson!"
The imp girl giggles. "I'm all for that!"
"We're gonna save her and say somethin' like 'Welcome back.', and she'll say somethin' like 'I'm home.'" I add on.
"Uh..." The cat girl begins. "What?"
The fixer's boss just laughs at my antics.
"What, too cheesy?" I ask, with a smile.
"No, I'll do it." Shiroko says.
"You will?!" Serika asks in disbelief.
"I'll do it too!" Nonomi adds. "You don't have to join, Serika. More for the rest of us."
"Are you serious?" The cat girl yells.
"I-I'll have to consider it..." The elf girl says. "But it does seem like the appropriate thing to do."
"Help yourselves! I have too much dignity to stoop that low!" Serika shouts, causing us all to laugh, even myself.
"Then it's settled." Ayane says. "Let's all rest up for tomorrow."
"But how are we going to defeat that army on our own?" Shiroko asks. "Is there anyone we can call for backup?"
"Hmm... I might know a few people." I say. "Let me make some calls. I'll see you girls tomorrow."
"Okay, then." Ayane says.
"Night, Sensei!" Mutsuki yells.
"G-Good night!" Haruka calls out.
"Bye now!" Nonomi says.
I just smile, my body filled with a warmth.
At the entrance of Abydos High School, I begin to make my calls.
The phone rings.
Hello?
"Hey, are you busy?"
Just finishing up work, why?
"Sorry for interrupting. Listen, I need a favor, Hina"
What kind?
"Long story short, you were right about Kaiser. They kidnapped Hoshino and want to experiment on her Mystic out in the center of the desert."
What?!
"Yeah. Look, we're gonna assault 'em tomorrow. Can you help?"
...Very well.
"Really?"
Yes. Kaiser has been nothing but suspicious for the longest time. If it means putting a stop to their ambitions, I'd be happy to help.
"Thank you, Hina. You and yours can meet us tomorrow morning, I'll send you the details later."
Okay then, goodbye, Sensei.
"Bye."
Now then, for that other call. I hope Hifumi's still up.
Hello? Sensei?
"Hifumi, I need a favor."
What is it? Is it serious?
"Those Kaiser guys kidnapped Hoshino to experiment on her. They're holdin' her out in the center of the desert."
Wh-What?! Seriously?
"Yeah. Us, Problem Solver and the Prefects are gonna raid them tomorrow. I wanted to see if you could pass this along to the Tea Party and see if they can help. I'll owe them a favor if they do, naturally."
O-Of course! I'll let them know right away!
"Thanks, Hifumi."
Anytime, Sensei.
Pocketing my phone, I begin to walk back to Schale.
Well, looks like I've got a busy day tomorrow.
And a friend to save.
...Huh.
This feels nostalgic.
Being worried about someone else.
It's not a bad feeling.
—————
AN
After finishing this chapter, I thought about splitting it in two.
Then I said 'Nah.' and kept it like this.
Josh has a seething hatred of betrayal... wonder what that's about...
Next time, we begin the final assault on Kaiser!
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and look forward to the next!