Midnight Meeting (1)
I was alone in the office, processing work after dark.
'I had already messaged Makoto that I'd be late...'
I stretched my stiff muscles and took a short break.
When I checked MomoTalk, there was a message from Sensei.
"I love overtime! I love it! I love it! Over 24 hours!"
Sensei must have fallen asleep from overwork.
I sent him an encouraging message.
"Makoto, fighting!"
Almost immediately, Sensei replied.
And he even sent a gacha screenshot. What a sneak attack. A limited pickup appeared after 10 years.
This guy is on slacker duty. I'll file a complaint at Schale.
"Heh..."
I looked at MomoTalk and chuckled. Adults must have it tough.
'It's like sharing warm words with a hardworking colleague after overtime. Building rapport with Sensei. This isn't youth anymore.'
My sparkling high school days were at Gehenna Academy.
'The promised time with Hina is approaching...!'
I wasn't just enduring overtime for nothing.
Tonight, I was meeting Hina.
To add a bit of exaggeration, it was a midnight date.
'Kyahaaaaah! A date! Bold. Pure selfishness. No matter how you look at it, I'm being too honest about my desires!'
Hina would think it's a business meeting, but I didn't.
Just the two of us at the empty Gehenna Academy after everyone left. So, it was a date. No denying it, even if it was a bit of a stretch.
'Uuuu~ My heart won't calm down.'
I fidgeted anxiously like a girl in love.
The more I became aware of Hina, the more my cheeks flushed.
'No, no. The more this happens, the more I need to coldly whip my reason.'
Arrogance is forbidden. This relationship could fall apart at any moment.
It's like walking a tightrope — dangerously precarious. After all, I'm just a clone of Makoto.
'I should head over soon.'
There was still time, but I moved first. To show my dedication.
I arrived early at the date spot to wait for Hina.
I walked to the designated meeting place.
A small garden inside Gehenna Academy.
The garden shrouded in night shadows was quiet and dark.
It was perfect for a secret meeting. Since it's managed by the Prefect Team, even delinquents wouldn't linger.
'I got here about 20 minutes early.'
I checked the time and sat on the bench.
Due to tension, I sat up straight.
While sitting decently, I kept glancing at the Prefect Team headquarters.
I carefully observed the only window with light coming in.
'Hina... Hina... Hina... Hina... Hina... Hina... Hina... Hina... Hina...'
The more I focused on Hina, the stronger my heart pounded.
Even if I tried not to think about her, my mind was flooded with Hina.
It was Hina's law of attraction. Any object with mass is pulled toward Hina. That's why I was drawn to her.
Soon, the lights in the Prefect Team office dimmed.
'She's coming. Ooooo she's coming!'
Soon Hina would arrive. My whole body was tense with anticipation.
It was trembling more than usual. No, it was trembling immensely. Like aspen leaves, shivering.
'...No choice. It's a secret meeting with just the two of us in a dark night.'
The other party was Hina.
Today, I had paid special attention to my underwear. ...What!? If Hina wanted it, I'd gladly let her step on me. I'm not bad. Please step on me!
'Don't get tense! To steady my mind, I'm counting Hina in my head.'
No, that would make it worse. Don't be cocky, heart.
'Huuu~'
I sensed footsteps. It had to be Hina.
I trembled like a herbivore about to be eaten by a predator.
Where would Hina sit?
The best seat was next to me. There was no bench opposite.
Actually, there's only one bench nearby.
'I can't be satisfied just facing Hina. Borrowing the night breeze, I'm bold!'
Of course, it was intentional. Because it's a garden managed by the Prefect Team.
I had rearranged the benches in advance. The authority of the chair is to abuse it like this.
Soon, Hina approached.
'...Hek?'
But Hina ignored the seat next to me and passed by me.
Hina leaned against the lamppost, keeping distance from me.
"Hmm. Early as usual."
Hina said with a flat tone.
It wasn't directed at me.
Her gaze was just looking at the night sky.
"Hah. No need to worry. I just got here too."
We shared the location as if we had no relationship and chatted.
Perhaps Hina was considering me.
'Hina is a famous figure at Gehenna, and if she gets too close to me, it would be troublesome. ...' That's what I'd think. Wow.
Like a scene from a spy movie, we had made contact.
If it were a movie, I'd want a refund on the ticket. Change the genre to romance.
"Then, bluntly, I'll ask, Makoto President."
Soon, Hina asked me.
"Why are you showing interest in the Eden Treaty again?"
It was a tone mixed with blame. It must be an unpleasant task for Hina.
The Eden Treaty was something Hina had promoted because I had left it behind.
Moreover, as the villainous president, I had committed a crime.
At that time, I was like that.
Because I wanted to provoke Hina, I challenged by reclaiming the rights of the Eden Treaty.
At that time, my mind was hasty.
I could have spoken more gently to Hina. It's a painful black history.
"It's a natural interest. It's just reclaiming the diplomatic work that Gehenna should handle. In other words, it's karma."
Karma. Meaning, a wrong done returns in the right form.
By role division, the Eden Treaty is something Gehenna should handle.
"Brazen behavior. Now you're interfering with the Eden Treaty?"
Negotiations on the Eden Treaty had reached the final stage.
I heard that the remaining procedures were just final adjustments. Thanks to Hina's hard work.
I was stealing the almost completed Eden Treaty from Hina.
Like a cherry picker stealing a cherry on top of a cake.
"The timing is not great, I'll admit. However, the word 'interference' is wrong."
Even if Hina gave a moral rebuke, the essence wouldn't change.
"Originally, the Eden Treaty is under Gehenna's jurisdiction, right? Rather, isn't it Hina who is obsessed with the Eden Treaty? I want to ask that."
Since Gehenna's representative presence is with Gehenna, Hina couldn't reverse the situation.
"I'm not asking about the original purpose, Makoto President."
Hina's voice became sharper.
"I want to know your real reason."
"That's..."
I couldn't tell Hina my true feelings.
On the surface, I acted like the villainous president, but my sincerity was different.
'Because I want to help Hina.'
If the Eden Treaty was handled by Gehenna now, it might relieve Hina's burden.
But to Hina, it would be unnecessary meddling.
I was only trying to create a point of contact with Hina under duress.
In the end, it was just my selfishness.
"If the Eden Treaty Organization is established, the Prefect Team will falter."
I changed the subject.
The Eden Treaty would have a tremendous impact, weakening the Prefect Team.
If the treaty was signed, the Eden Treaty Organization would be newly created.
Gehenna and Trinity General School would have a common duty to jointly resolve disputes between them.
The Prefect Team's work would also be transferred to the Eden Treaty Organization.
Because of that, the Prefect Team would have its role reduced and its authority weakened.
"The Eden Treaty will lower the Prefect Team's status. Having the Prefect Team leader take on such work. Isn't that a self-inflicted wound?"
"..."
"I want to know why you promoted the Eden Treaty. The real reason."
Hina was silent, but I already knew the answer.
Sorasaki Hina was not obsessed with the authority of the Prefect Team leader.
She just wanted to maintain Gehenna's order.
That's why she tried to complete the Eden Treaty.
If the Eden Treaty Organization was created, Gehenna would become a more orderly autonomous district than now.
Even if Hina wasn't the Prefect Team leader, it would be fine.
"Are you considering retirement?"
It wasn't using insight.
I wasn't a genius strolling around the school in just a swimsuit.
From the beginning, I knew that Hina wanted to retire.
Because I was a player of Blue Archive.
At this point, Hina wouldn't have told even Sensei.
"Retirement... Is that your wish?"
Hina didn't show her true feelings to me.
And,
Each one's sincerity didn't reach the other and was held back.