The Daily Life of the Pandemonium Society (11)
Sorasaki Hina remembers that night.
Makoto had found her. She extended a hand to the seated Hina.
Thanks to that, Hina was able to stand up once more. She had gained the courage to move forward.
It was because Makoto hadn't left her behind.
'...... So that's it.'
It was thanks to Makoto that Hina had returned to the daily life of the Prefect Team.
She was in the Prefect Team Office.
During a short break, Hina placed a toy unrelated to her work on the table.
The object was the World's Most Useless Machine.
A gift from Makoto.
'I don't like it.'
Hina recalled her impressions of Makoto as if looking at a flower.
Then Hina pushed the lever attached to the machine.
The machine returned the lever to its original position in response to Hina's movement. It activates to stop operation.
'I don't like it.'
Hina threw the same question at the machine.
She moved the lever, but the result didn't change. A cat hand from inside the machine restored the lever to center.
Makoto was Hina's enemy. She always interfered with Hina.
As if whenever Hina moved the lever, Makoto moved in the opposite direction.
'That's why this device is a metaphor for our relationship.'
But the meaning changed because of Makoto.
'Because I exist, Makoto is finally completed.'
An unprecedented thought.
That because Hina exists, Makoto has meaning.
Thus, the perspective changes. The metaphor of this device is reconstructed.
'I am Makoto's ......'
Knock knock. A knock sounded in the Prefect Team Office.
Hina hid the World's Most Useless Machine.
"Come in."
Hina's permission for entry.
Soon, the figure that appeared was Ako.
"Head Prefect, I have an urgent report to make...... but is now a good time?"
Ako seemed uneasy for some reason.
Hina inferred the situation from Ako's expression.
'Is it a matter that can't be resolved with administrative discretion?'
Ako is the type of incident she can't handle.
If it could be handled from Ako's side, she wouldn't have come to Hina.
'Haa. I thought things were peaceful for now.'
Ako's urgent reports mostly involve the Pandemonium Society. Especially the troubles caused by Makoto.
But recently, there hadn't been any.
Because Makoto had changed.
"Alright, what is it?"
"Um...... the fox of the Pandemonium Society has revealed its true nature again."
Ako mentioning Makoto.
"Makoto?"
Hina flinched for no reason.
She felt like her inner thoughts were exposed. Just a moment ago, she had been thinking about Makoto.
"Yes, she got complacent thinking she had been quiet for a while, and started causing unreasonable trouble again. She's causing a ruckus about conducting mental education for the entire Prefect Team."
Odd timing. Why now? Hina wondered.
Perhaps because Hina hadn't met Makoto.
'Since then, I haven't been able to meet Makoto.'
It was also because she was busy, but the real reason was embarrassment.
The fact that she relied on Makoto's heart was embarrassing like a weakness. Makoto is the enemy of the Prefect Team.
'Makoto schemed to meet me.'
Makoto had been pestering Hina all along.
This time too, a conspiracy to bring Hina in.
It was Makoto's tantrum. The counterpart to the president of the Pandemonium Society should be the Head Prefect. That logic.
'...... Or it might just be self-awareness overload.'
She's thinking about Makoto again.
When Hina realized this, her face flushed.
"Head Prefect, your complexion doesn't look good. Are you alright?"
"N-no, don't worry. It's nothing."
Hina stood up from her chair.
"I'll handle it. The timing is perfect."
Hina has to step in. Only she can solve this.
Makoto is targeting Hina.
It's always been the case in Gehenna. The feeling is different from before.
"I'll be back in a bit, Ako."
Hina moved her steps to the Pandemonium Society Headquarters.
'Did I go to meet Makoto like this last time too.'
The trigger was similar to this time.
Makoto had wanted to meet Hina using the discussion on the Eden Treaty as a pretext.
'She probably didn't want to face me directly.'
The steps are lighter than before. Hina is being led by Makoto.
- I know better than anyone that Hina always tries and tries hard!
Suddenly, a voice from Makoto shouting at Hina came to mind.
'...... I always tried and tried hard.'
Hina's inner thoughts that no one had heard. Makoto knew Hina.
Perhaps Hina was expecting.
That Makoto would accept her whims.
'Wh-what useless thoughts.'
Hina's face blushed unconsciously.
But she wasn't particularly against it. She just didn't want to show it.
And Hina faced Makoto.
"Kyaa! What a surprise. Sorasaki Hina, I didn't expect you to come find me yourself!"
A tense laugh.
"Perfect timing. I've been preparing to engrave the Pandemonium Society's permanent superiority into the Prefect Team."
A face full of contempt for the Prefect Team.
'...... No.'
The one in front is Makoto, but not Makoto. Hina can tell intuitively.
The Makoto from that night had a different expression.
"President Makoto."
That's why Hina didn't delay. She immediately pointed her gun at Makoto.
"Eh, eh? What is this all of a sudden, Hina!?"
"What I want to ask is that."
Hina pressed Makoto with a fierce face.
"Y-you're committing an unforgivable act! Do you think you'll be safe after doing something like this!?"
Makoto's face pales instantly.
But as the Makoto in front opens her mouth, Hina becomes more certain.
"Where is the real one?"
"......!?"
Makoto reacts to Hina's question.
But the shaking is momentary.
"Pathetic. This Makoto is all equal! You can't distinguish the truth. Not classified as real or fake. Either way, this body is the best. That's the truth of Kivotos!"
Makoto declares to Hina.
"...... That means, there is more than one."
And Hina finds a clue.
"Wh-what!?"
Makoto is visibly startled. But she quickly regains composure.
"Kuha ha ha! Now that you've shown your hand! Hina, I'll specially tell you."
Makoto posing as the final villain revealing the conspiracy.
But her actions are fidgety. No dignified presence.
"I, Makoto, created another me to more effectively suppress the Prefect Team!"
Makoto's revelation shakes Hina.
The Double Makoto is an incomprehensible phenomenon. An impossible reality to accept easily.
"So, that's what happened."
But Hina accepts the situation calmly. The result she had subconsciously hoped for.
From now on, the Prefect Team will undergo indefinite mental education. Starting with you, Hina!"
Hina no longer hears Makoto's words.
"Where is Makoto?"
"Even with this body in front of me, you're spouting nonsense. How audacious...... Nuooot!?"
Makoto is thrown to the floor in an instant. Suppressed by Hina immediately.
On the floor, Makoto greets Hina's machine gun.
"Reminds me of the time I worked in the Information Department. Back then, we often did rough work on the field. Now it's just a memory."
Hina looks down at Makoto fiercely.
"U-uo oooo......"
Bullets closer than rules. Makoto trembles with eerie killing intent.
"Finally, say this."
Eventually, Hina demands of Makoto.
"I want to see Makoto."