The Clumsy Sister and the Magician of the Library 4
"Because of those brats, if you want cake you have to trek all the way to the slums and pay some ridiculously inflated price."
"How could they… Food is something everyone should be able to enjoy and share, isn't it?"
"Aigoo, people are the same wherever you go. Where the hell did those little punks learn such rotten habits?"
Rodya said, her voice rising a little as old memories seemed to surface. The children hadn't exactly shaken anyone down for cash, but buying up stock just to resell it at a premium was clearly something that should never be done.
"Well, once the word 'limited' gets slapped on something, calling it 'for everyone' gets a bit awkward."
The yellow-haired girl shrugged, then her expression turned serious again.
"Even so, doing this not because you want to eat the cake yourself but just to flip it for profit? Unforgivable. It's an insult to cake itself—an insult!"
She was trying her best to look furious, but stomping and fuming at that tiny height only made her look adorable.
"Hoh! It would seem thou harborest a most profound interest in justice! I, too… ahem… find myself in agreement with the yellow-haired student's words!"
The focus was a little off, yet Don Quixote's eyes sparkled all the same. She had tried to recall the girl's name, but having never heard it, she simply substituted a physical trait. Unable to watch any longer, Dante typed a question into the PDA.
After reading Hinata's reply, Dante paused the footage and checked the personnel files, but found nothing on the quartet.
"It would appear that a direct message must be left for a file to be created," Faust reasoned. Dante nodded and resumed the video. According to Airi, that was why the cake-lovers had gathered and were fretting over what to do. Unfortunately the kidnappers had locked the truck inside a slum building and sealed off the entire area, leaving ordinary civilians—who were neither the military nor the Justice Realization Department—with no real options.
The moment the words "Justice Realization Department" appeared—something Don Quixote would normally adore—Dante half-expected her to beam and start hopping in place. Contrary to his prediction, she only wore a wistful little smile and said nothing. Perhaps the word "realization" had snagged somewhere in her heart.
While the people on screen were still clutching their heads, Natsu suddenly spoke up with absolute conviction.
"No… maybe this problem's already been solved."
"What are you talking about?"
Ignoring Yoshimi's confusion, Natsu turned to Airi.
"Airi, what does an organized army need?"
"Huh? Um… guns? Tanks? Lots of people?"
"…A commander. Aha, I get it."
Kazusa nodded as if she understood, and after a moment's thought Yoshimi let out an "Ah!" and opened her mouth. The Sinners grasped it as well.
"A commander to whip those ragtag amateurs into shape. She's clearly talking about Sensei."
Outis said. Just as she predicted, Sensei found himself appointed commander of the Cake Recovery Expedition before he quite knew what was happening. When he asked Hinata for her opinion she answered brightly, "Well, if someone's in trouble, of course we should help!" and declared her intention to join. With the army thus assembled, Yoshimi shouted "Move out!" and sprinted off. Natsu delivered a legendary line—
"We shall not be slaves to hoarding and price-gouging! We shall become the masters of dessert!!"
—then gave the charge order and charged alongside the other two. Left standing awkwardly behind, Hinata finally managed a rather deflated battle cry of "W-waaaaah…?!" and dashed toward the battlefield. Sensei went with her.
And that is how Sensei and I arrived at the slums with the members of the After-School Dessert Club—ah, I never properly introduced them, did I? Those four ladies belong to the After-School Dessert Club, a group dedicated to enjoying desserts—where the truck was said to be.
The slums that Hinata and Sensei's party reached were, at a glance, thoroughly rundown. Building entrances were sealed with sheet metal, and graffiti of every kind covered the walls. Inside, helmeted students who looked every bit the delinquents were laughing among themselves. When Natsu strode up without a shred of fear, one of the thugs recognized the pink-haired girl and called out.
"You here to buy Miracle 5000 too? Then you know the rules, right? Pay up."
"Money… money, huh…"
"Yeah, money. And just so you know, no negotiating—"
Natsu didn't even wait for the scalper to finish. She simply opened fire. The Sinners recoiled at the violence, yet the student who took the bullets only groaned and collapsed without any serious wound. Then Natsu delivered a line worthy of a Western hero.
"…Will bullets do?"
"Scared the hell out of me… I thought she was actually trying to kill someone over not getting cake."
Sinclair said. Dante finally understood what Ui had meant, in their first meeting, when she had casually remarked that Sensei was "physically fragile, unlike us." The students of Kivotos were abnormally sturdy.
Startled by their fallen comrade, the other delinquents snarled and called for backup, and battle erupted at once.
"I-I'm so sorry!"
Tears welling in her eyes, Hinata pulled from the suitcase she always carried a massive grenade launcher. Not content with that, the girl wore a genuinely sorrowful expression—as if she truly regretted that things had come to this—while she swept the enemy line with the launcher and wiped out the delinquent students. Watching Hinata leap about freely in high heels while lugging something that heavy, Dante was left speechless.
Ui's message drew a short, genuinely puzzled addition from Hinata. When the video resumed, the girls and Sensei had already rescued the truck and the cake baker; the delinquents had fled in terror. Then Natsu approached Hinata and began staring at her intently. Flustered, Hinata asked,
"W-why are you looking at me like that…?"
"No reason. Just never seen a Sister fight before. Wondered if they all do it that way."
Natsu seemed the type to drop formal speech the moment she got comfortable. When Hinata failed to grasp what "that way" meant, Kazusa apologized again.
"She doesn't mean anything bad. She just thought you looked cool."
"Seriously! Blowing the front gate sky-high with a grenade machine gun was pure catharsis! Felt like every bit of stress just melted away!"
Yoshimi chimed in. Natsu formed a V with thumb and forefinger, pressed it to her chin, and nodded.
"You were our core firepower. Felt less like a person and more like a siege tank…"
"A s-siege tank?! No! I only… I had my reasons for wanting cake… Wait, have I really been giving off that kind of image this whole time?! Truly?!"
Somehow still unaware of just how strong she was, Hinata flushed scarlet with embarrassment. When Kazusa glared, Natsu offered a sheepish apology.
"Hinata is pure, isn't she. Extremely so."
Ishmael remarked. The Sinners began to wonder privately whether someone with less-than-pure intentions had once convinced her that her rather… distinctive outfit was ordinary nun attire. On screen, Natsu was holding a cake out to Hinata.
"Th-this is…"
"Here. Last of the remaining stock. We all wanted some, of course, but Sister said she had her reasons earlier. Plus she was our biggest asset in the fight… Anyone got a problem with that?"
Natsu glanced at her friends; they answered as if on cue.
"I'm for it!"
"Truck's free, old man's free—no rush."
"It's fine, it's fine! We waited five days; one more won't kill us."
"Everyone…"
Just as Hinata was moved by the Dessert Club's loyalty, someone approached the girls.
"No need for that."
"You're…?"
The newcomer—no, the animal—was a dog wearing a baker's hat and a trench coat. Not only did it speak, it walked upright on two legs as naturally as anything. Hong Lu turned to Dante.
"Ui said most of the adults are robots or animals, right? So is that dog the kidnapped baker?"
The truck owner looked delighted to finally be free.
"Thanks to all of you I'm free, and those punks kept me from baking so my hands have been itching… Perfect! I'm in a great mood—I'll make a whole mountain of them!"
"For today only, Miracle 5000 is back to regular price!"
The moment the words left his mouth the Dessert Club girls reacted, and students who had been waiting by the riverside—where they had come from, no one knew—surged forward with a cheer. Watching them, Natsu gave a quiet little smile.
"…Truly a 'Miracle,' isn't it."
She was the sort of girl who left a lingering aftertaste with every line.
And that is how Sensei and I secured Miracle 5000. But of course, the refined sugar and water-moss glue still remain…
"Pretty spectacular over there. First time I've ever seen a shoot-out just to eat cake."
Heathcliff said. Rodya laughed and answered,
"Maybe that's what youth looks like in that place. Fighting over silly little things, making weird memories."
"Shooting guns is still a bit much… but I think I get what you mean."
Sinclair agreed. Amid the bleak life of the City, the stories of girls from another world offered the Sinners even the smallest measure of comfort.