Welcome to My Extermination Department
"Are you for real? Are you really going to grant my idiot-like stubbornness?"
"I never go back on my word, Senior."
'Whew, thank goodness. I was even preparing to be hated by everyone.'
I had steeled myself to be hated by the one who saved my life, but
did I really want to be hated for real?
When I accepted with a smile, she let out a sigh of relief and then smiled as usual, but
thud
"!!"
Just that alone, I thought she might not be conveying her true feelings properly. I realized. Yukio grabbed my empty hands that were flailing in the air and stared at me intently. She continued. "I promise I'll keep it. I'll do anything. Just contact me anytime you're free."
"Ah, no, Senior. Suddenly grabbing my hand like this..."
"I want to convey my sincere heart with warmth. Did you know how much your choice meant to me?"
"Th-that's... too well conveyed."
"That's even better. Just keep holding like this—"
As Yukio said, we gripped each other's hands in a prayer-like posture to convey sincerity for three full minutes. thud
"Beep!"
"Ah, my phone."
'Who the heck is interrupting with no sense of timing.'
"Division Leader speaking. Why the sudden call... oh...!" I had forgotten about the morning meeting!"
'Well, I guess that's unavoidable.'
"Sorry, Hitoshi. Do you mind if I go first?"
"Ah, it's fine."
"I'll call this number later. Contact me anytime and I'll rush over."
If it hadn't been a call from Yuri, I probably would have let go of that hand that refused to leave. Yukio waved at me repeatedly and then ran toward the main building's exorcism division office in a hurry.
"Heh heh heh."
And left alone in that spot, with my school bag still slung over my shoulder, I was left standing there.
"Well, well, I've done it now."
For now, I decided to bravely face the reality that I had succumbed to my own private desires.
Yeah, I really did it.
Even though I had a clear target, I gave in to a momentary temptation and crossed the line.
My mind was blank, the plan was ruined, and a deep sigh came out naturally.
But do you know this?
"I have zero regrets about my choice!!"
Of course this choice would make my body suffer later. That much was undeniable.
But I could boldly say I felt no regret over that choice.
After all, what was the reason I wanted to see a youth ending?
'Was it to watch my favorites live completely happy lives in this game?'
Yeah, in other words, I wanted to rescue my favorites from the yaku-enjoyment ending and guide them toward a happy-happy pink-pink youth academy ending.
But one of my favorites gave me a pitiful look and said, "Can't you come to our division just once?"
And then I thought, 'Ah, those guys are too busy saving them to have time for this. I had to cut it off coldly.'
Could that really be the process of running toward my original goal?
'I cried now, but what's the difference if I don't cry later? I should have thought not to cry in the first place.'
Maybe I was wrong from the start.
If I join the information division, download the hypnosis app, and get the communicator,
could I really reach the goal I wanted easily?
'...Of course, even after thinking about it, it seems that way.'
Anyway, my point is that real effort is needed. Not just game cheat codes or rerun cheats, but actual footwork. Right?
This time, I decided to join as an exorcism division freshman, build up my stamina a bit, and try to change that gloomy image.
It might not be that bad after all.
'Don't misunderstand. I'm not doing this thinking Yuri will date me.'
Perhaps I was just imagining in my head the pinky-pink youth date with my favorite character from the screen.
I accepted without any plan and now I'm making up excuses to save face.
Please don't have that absurd, bad feeling of misunderstanding.
'...Of course I can't say there is absolutely none, but anyway.'
Anyway, as I roughly sorted out the situation in my head,
one by one, the new students beginning school appeared in my view.
I thought I had woken up early, but apparently I had talked to Yukio longer than expected.
Being late was a breach of student duty, so for now I stopped thinking and hurried toward the academy's branch building to attend regular class.
* * *
At the end of the general class schedule at Public Exorcist Girls' Academy, 2 PM.
"Sigh... There's really no one here."
I had shouted "No regrets!!" proudly in the morning, but
now that I hadn't entered the information division, I felt a bit regretful.
I kept wandering in front of the bulletin board with the acceptance list posted.
'It's really a waste... I didn't miss even one problem.'
Even the person who got first place seemed to have gotten a few wrong.
But I, who worked so hard, with my choice couldn't enter here.
'...Sigh, what can I do? It's my choice.'
I started turning my head and moving my non-stop feet.
The destination I had to go to with heavy steps was none other than the gymnasium of the main building.
A place a bit farther from the auditorium where the new student welcome party was held.
'It was like an orientation to check the newly selected exorcism division members.'
Following the map in the received guidance document, one by one, new exorcism division members like me appeared.
Most students were heading to the gymnasium, wearing katanas or light weapons.
'Should I have brought something?'
I only had the hypnosis app, so what could I bring? It was unavoidable that my empty side felt empty without a sharp blade or dagger.
'I should have brought even a folding umbrella. Then something would have looked there, right?'
After a pointless silly thought, I kept walking and arrived at the exorcism division's gymnasium.
I had refused to be noticed or bothered like yesterday, so I sat in the quiet corner and watched the situation.
'Hm. A few familiar faces... are visible.'
Some familiar faces I had faced while playing the game appeared.
But there were no favorites close to the yaku-enjoyment ending like Yukio right away, so
I decided not to interfere by drawing attention.
'Since we're all new students, we'll meet sooner or later. For now, I'll ignore...'
Anyway, I squatted in the corner waiting for a few minutes.
It seemed all the newly selected new students had gathered, the gymnasium door closed behind me,
and a few more familiar faces slowly climbed onto the distant stage in the gymnasium.
Sa...
On the stage, the center, the breathing of someone standing straight.
When the breath, light like falling cherry petals in spring wind but never soft, echoed,
the noisy hall fell silent in an instant.
The owner of that cold yet beautiful breath was Yuri Arasaki, the strongest exorcism division leader in the academy.
Even in a place where outstanding elites gathered, her presence was overwhelmingly strong.
It wasn't strange that the new students' mood, which had been relaxed thinking it was a casual orientation, was captured in an instant.
"......"
"......"
After a few tens of seconds of silence in the hall.
"New students, are you all gathered?"
"Yes, we are, Senior Yuri."
"Understood."
Yuri, who had a short conversation with Yukio standing beside her, stepped forward one step and slowly opened her mouth to the new students.
"From this moment onward, you are the exorcism division of the Public Exorcist Girls' Academy."
"......"
"Becoming a kind senior will be difficult, but I promise here that I will guide all of you properly so you can become sharp swords that cut through yokai."
"......!"
"I sincerely welcome your enrollment into the exorcism division."
Overwhelming skill here more than anyone else.
Yet a posture that is never authoritarian.
A heart clear in wanting to care for the new juniors.
A short, blunt speech without unnecessary fluff.
"Everyone, welcome. You don't need to be so tense~."
And next to her, the truly kind Capybara senior who eased the mood.
It was a simple, short orientation without any frills, but to the new students, it felt like a more certain message than any flashy pamphlet.
'Me remembering their yaku-enjoyment endings, that's how I feel, but how would he feel?'
Anyway, after the short orientation ended, the proper work as an exorcism division began.
I was thinking to train stamina first, but then
...
'What, what is this chill?'
My 'something-wrong-detector' that always activates before a bad thing happens suddenly triggered.
Slowly turning my head to check who the sensor detected, I saw entering my view.
"......"
"Hitoshi-kun! Here!! Please take good care of us from now on!"
Yuri's sharp gaze from the stage, Yukio's awkward greeting.
And countless new students' gazes directed at me toward Yukio's greeting.
No regret, but I couldn't deny that I would probably get even more tired.