Glitch Street: Chapter 7
The person on the other end of the phone is Iroha. What's more, in an extremely excited state.
According to plan. I have successfully made contact with Iroha.
First, I need to calm the overheated Iroha.
“From now on, I will personally handle the communication with the Prefect Team.”
I received the receiver from Aru.
“Iroha, it's me.”
A sound of swallowing saliva came from beyond the receiver.
- Senior? ······Senior! U, uh······!
Iroha calls out to me with a trembling voice, unable to suppress the intense emotions. There was even a hint of tears in it. A voice that the usual Iroha couldn't imagine.
“If there's a Prefect Team member nearby, send them out. I have something to tell Iroha.”
- ······Al, I know. Please wait.
Eventually, Iroha is alone.
“Iroha, the kidnapping is just a setting. It was a scheme involving the Problem Solver and a joint operation.”
I explained the reality of the kidnapping plot to Iroha.
- ······What?
Iroha let out a dumbfounded voice.
“Although a detailed explanation is difficult, rest assured anyway. I'm safe.”
The kidnapping was a means to divert attention from the [Eden Treaty]. A scam to confuse the signing ceremony.
- Makocchi-senpai, did you do something sneaky again?
Iroha's voice suddenly cooled.
- Treating my worries as nonsense. Did you even have the intention to go through with the Eden Treaty? What kind of conspiracy were you preparing?
Iroha shoots me with the coldness of a live tuna being frozen on the spot.
Still, it's fortunate. Iroha has returned to her usual self.
“That is to say······, sorry for the late contact! There were unavoidable circumstances.”
- ······I see. Anyway, it means you're safe. For now, I'll endure this much. For now.
Iroha complains to me with a tail-end remaining tone.
- Anyway, kidnapper pervert, Makocchi-senpai.
This is the second time I've been kidnapped. First was Hina, this time the Problem Solver. Somehow, it feels like I'm being treated as a captured heroine.
“The signing ceremony is dangerous. There's a possibility of terrorism at the Ancient Cathedral of Communion.”
I conveyed the main point to Iroha.
“Dispatch the available troops of the Prefect Team. To be able to deploy them immediately to the Trinity Autonomous Zone in case of emergency.”
There is sufficient justification to move the troops. Using the purpose of searching for the kidnapped Makoto.
“The teacher who attended the signing ceremony will be evacuated under the pretext of negotiating the kidnapping plot.”
Sensei will prioritize the kidnapped me over the [Eden Treaty]. A student in danger. Given Sensei's personality, he would help me.
'A benevolent trap. I have no choice but to call Sensei.' The kidnapping plot is a deception but unavoidable. The cathedral is dangerous.
“How are the movements of the Prefect Team? ······Hina? Has she not already departed for the signing location?”
And I asked Iroha the most worrying thing.
- The Head Prefect will depart soon. To arrive at the signing ceremony on time, it would be now······.
“Stop Hina!”
I urgently shouted to Iroha.
“If there's any excuse to restrain Hina, anything is fine. Don't hold back any means or methods to prevent Hina from leaving the Gehenna Autonomous Zone.”
It's difficult, but the only person I can rely on is Iroha.
“It's something I can't ask anyone else but Iroha.”
Iroha was silent for a while.
- I'll try. It won't be easy, though.
Eventually, Iroha responded to my request.
With this, I relieved a great worry.
“Thank you. As expected, Iroha is the most trustworthy person.”
- Haa······. It can't be a request to be glossed over with sweet talk. Dumping the task of dealing with the Head Prefect again.
Iroha let out a big sigh. A feeling of resentment transmitted through the receiver.
- When you come back, I won't let you off easily, Makocchi-senpai.
The cold Iroha hung up the call. A blunt attitude, but no worry. Iroha is a capable middle manager.
'I have to move for the things I have to do on this side too. ······Huh?'
A weary gaze from Kayoko. Kayoko watching me intently.
“Is this some kind of counter-terrorism operation, President Makoto.”
Kayoko infers my intention from the recent phone call content.
“You knew about the terrorist plan targeting the signing ceremony through some route.”
Kayoko tells me what she inferred from the circumstances.
“Joamae Saori, that woman is probably behind this terrorist. That's why she requested us to handle it.”
Kayoko, the cold-headed staff of Problem Solver 68, sees through me.
“But I don't understand. If the terrorist targeting the signing ceremony succeeds, Trinity will take a big hit. In some cases, the Prefect Team could be damaged too.”
Kayoko's thinking is reasonable. Trinity is Gehenna's enemy. The Prefect Team is also a thorn in the side of the Prefect Team.
“Then, it would be advantageous for you to ally with that terrorist organization.”
In fact, Makoto did ally. To deal with the Tea Party and Hina.
“Why didn't you do that?”
Because I'm Makoto's clone.
“It seems like an interesting deduction. However, it's not perfect.”
Kayoko didn't recognize Arius. Arius is a group that hates Gehenna. Allying would be an act of joining hands with enemies.
“I have someone I want to protect. That's all there is to it.”
I don't want to see Hina, who couldn't protect Sensei, regretting it. If Hina suffers, it would hurt my heart too.
“······I see.”
Kayoko briefly understood.
“People say not to believe rumors. President Makoto, the you that I've directly faced is a different existence from what I've heard before. I've seen it again.”
Kayoko re-evaluates me and raises my danger level.
“See, I saw it, Kayoko? We're collaborating with a huge bigwig!”
“Saa, it's not something to brag about. You took on a troublesome job because of that.”
In contrast to the excited Aru, Kayoko complains about the current situation.
“Ku fufu~ Isn't it good? Kidnapping play, thrilling and fun. If I trick Sensei like this, it would be even more fun!”
Mutsuki, full of mischief, giggles. Anyway, it seems satisfied since it's fun.
'I never thought I'd be treated like this.' I overlooked the political prowess of Trinity. The political arena of scheming that boasts history and tradition. That's Trinity. I need to come up with an alternative.
'This way, time is tight.' But the situation is urgent.
Bang. Bang. Gunshots from near the hideout. Then explosion sounds follow. A clash has occurred.
“Ah, Aru-nim! Intruders!”
Haruka, who was on guard, returned with a pale face.
“I tried to take out the enemy alone, but there were too many enemies, sorry sorry sorry! I'm sorry for not properly performing even the minor guard duty because of my poor performance!”
Haruka in overdrive. Amidst that, the gunshots and explosions get closer.
“Enemy!? If it's the Prefect Team, wouldn't Makocchi have dealt with it?”
“It wasn't Gehenna. The, the enemy in unfamiliar attire······. Something with a skull pattern······.”
Skull pattern. Haruka's characteristic description allowed me to notice the enemy's identity.
“Arius bastards.”
Bad luck piled on bad luck. After Trinity, Arius is also interfering with me.
“Ah, Arius?”
Aru asks me with a bewildered face. The tone of someone who heard the group for the first time.
“It should be a strange name. An expelled branch school from Trinity a long time ago.”
I answer Aru and pick up my gun.
Since the hideout is exposed, I have to get out of here.
“How big was the enemy's scale, Haruka-chan?”
“Well, at least a company size······.”
Even at minimum, it's company level. A fluctuating number.
- She said that you would be the most unnecessary obstacle to the plan.
Suddenly, Saori's words come to mind.
I seem to have been quite marked by Beatrice.
“The target the enemy is aiming for is you. Since there's already one failed precedent, they'll be more persistent.”
Kayoko sending me an explicit gaze. For Kayoko, it would be the most rational judgment to abandon me. It's ruthless, but that's the strategy for minimum loss.
But Kayoko can't execute the strategy.
“We're professionals. We don't abandon comrades even if the situation is disadvantageous like third-rate villains.”
“Indeed, it's Aru-nim! I, I will do my best to take out the enemy! Until death······ No, even in death, I'll follow Aru-nim!!”
Aru and Haruka loading their guns with determination.
“Ahahaha~ It's time to go wild~”
Mutsuki joins the battle atmosphere.
All members except Kayoko have completed combat readiness.
“Well, that makes sense. If it's the president's order, I have no intention of refusing.”
Even Kayoko, who lost the majority vote, eventually joins the flow.
“Let's go. We'll break through the weak point of the encirclement.”
“Roger.”
We move to evade Arius's pursuit.
Eventually, the time given to me approaches.
Kwaaaaaaaaang─────!!!!!
The Day of Fire and Ash arrived like fate.