Chapter 16: A Cut Above Reason

“Fufufu, needing Kaoru-san’s sword… So, you want to borrow Kaoru-san’s strength for something, is that it?”

“…Given the timing, I can’t exactly agree to that easily.”

Hanako, interpreting Haruna’s words as a metaphorical request, and Sensei, who seemed to share the same thought with a slightly hardened expression.

…I don’t think that’s what she means.

Unlike the two of them, who appeared to take the terrorist girl’s request with grave seriousness, I, the person in question, was merely dumbfounded but unfazed, casually asking for clarification.

“Fufu, mind telling me what you need my sword for?”

Even though the Gourmet Research Society was notorious as a terrorist club throughout the original story, their motivations were always straightforward and simple.

“…Kaoru, we don’t know exactly why these girls came looking for you, so you don’t have to answer too hastily.”

“…Fufu, don’t worry, Master.”

“…?”

As Sensei gave a slightly puzzled look at my whispered reassurance, Haruna answered my question with a bright smile.

“Of course, I’ll explain. We came to Trinity today because we heard the Gold Maguro was on display in the aquarium.”

Pointing to the dazzling, golden fish loaded onto their wrecked catering truck, she continued.

“It’s my first time seeing such a creature. It’s intriguing—possibly a bioweapon, so stay alert,” Azusa remarked.

“Eek… Azusa-chan, it’s definitely just an ornamental fish. I read about it in the school paper; it’s super expensive…” Hifumi chimed in.

“Fufufu, exactly, Hifumi-chan. I believe this exhibition was only possible thanks to a bold decision by the Tea Party~” Hanako added.

“S-So… you came to steal it? I knew you were up to no good!” Koharu exclaimed.

Faced with the surprisingly large fish, the Supplementary Lessons Department members reacted in their own ways.

“Oh my, no. We simply found it heartbreaking that such a splendid ingredient was being wasted as a mere display. If turned into sashimi, it could surely produce a heavenly flavor,” Haruna said.

“I-Ingredient…? Sashimi…?” Sensei muttered, bewildered.

The Gourmet Research Society, however, acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Fufu, tuna sashimi sounds exciting. There’s plenty to go around, right?” Akari chirped.

“Hmm… I think it’d taste good no matter how it’s prepared!” Izumi added.

“Both of you, quiet down!” Junko snapped.

“Of course, Fuuka-san here is more than capable of handling the Gold Maguro. We’re always indebted to her exceptional culinary skills,” Haruna continued, ignoring Fuuka’s protests.

“…If you know that, why do you keep doing this?” Fuuka grumbled, still bound beside her.

Unfazed by Fuuka’s complaints, Haruna pressed on calmly.

“But no matter how skilled Fuuka-san is with ingredients, when it comes to sashimi—where the slightest difference in cutting precision can drastically affect texture—a true swordmaster can bring out a unique flavor.”

“Uh… you mean… no way…” Koharu’s eyes widened as she finally caught on.

With a voice brimming with excitement, Haruna looked at me, her eyes sparkling.

“So, for that heavenly flavor, we ask you to slice this Gold Maguro we’ve secured with a single stroke of your blade, Kaoru-san…!”

…Figures.

Sigh… There’s no way I can do that. I’m not even a swordmaster—I don’t know the first thing about handling a blade.

“…”

Glancing at the rare sight of even the sly Hanako at a loss for words, I sighed inwardly and promptly declined Haruna’s request.

“Hmm… I’m sorry, but my sword wasn’t made for that purpose. It’s a bit difficult.”

I offered what I thought was a reasonable excuse.

But Haruna, as if she’d anticipated my response, stepped closer and handed me something.

“Fufu, no need to worry. I wouldn’t ask you to use a tool unfit for the task. Here, use this instead.”

“…What’s this?”

A well-maintained sashimi knife, stamped with Gehenna’s mark.

“That’s our catering department’s equipment…! So you stole it?!” Fuuka shouted, a mix of shock and anger on her face as Haruna gracefully placed the knife in my hand.

The oblivious silver-haired girl, ignoring Fuuka’s outburst, urged me with gleaming eyes.

“Fufufu, come on, Kaoru-san. Show us your skill! One clean strike will do.”

…What do I do? I don’t actually have any skill.

“Hmm…”

“Ahem, Haruna, was it? I understand what you’re saying,” Sensei interjected, stepping in to save me as I stared blankly at the knife.

“Oh my, are you Schale’s Sensei? I’ve heard so much about you. It’s an honor to meet you,” Haruna said.

“…Thank you for saying so. But Kaoru can’t fulfill your request right now.”

“Why not? Pairing fine ingredients with a master craftsman is only natural.”

“Well…”

Sensei, ever the diplomat, tried to resolve the situation through calm conversation, but her efforts were cut short by shouts in the distance.

“They’re over there! Surround them!”

“We’ve located the fleeing robbers! Location: Annex 7, requesting immediate reinforcements!”

The commotion caused by these terrorists had finally spread, and the Justice Task Force, clad in black uniforms, came rushing in.

“Oh my, I can’t allow uninvited guests to obstruct the path to gourmet bliss. Please wait a moment,” Haruna said, turning without hesitation to aim her gun at the Justice Task Force.

Bang!

But, as expected from Haruna, who seemed to lack any sense of reason or conscience, her actions led to an unforeseen mishap.

Flop!

“Oh my…?”

Shockingly, the Gold Maguro, still alive, thrashed violently at the gunshot’s noise, its massive body leaping into the air.

“Eek?!”

Its heavy frame hurtled toward Sensei, who stood defenseless.

Danger…!

In a panic, I instinctively reached out—

Bang!

…Thud!

A single gunshot rang out from behind us, and the maguro’s body hit the ground with a dull thud.

“Ah.”

Turning around, we saw Azusa holding a smoking gun pointed our way.

“Hmph, threat neutralized,” she said.

“G-Good job, Azusa-chan!” Hifumi cheered.

“Sensei! Are you okay?” Koharu asked.

Phew… Thank goodness Azusa acted first.

Relieved that I’d thought I was too late, Hanako approached to check on me.

“Fufufu, you’re alright too, Kaoru-san~?”

“Of course, thanks for checking.”

Rat-a-tat!

BOOM!

Meanwhile, the battle between the Gourmet Research Society and the Justice Task Force was escalating.

“Sensei? And you…”

“Hasumi?”

“Fufu, we meet again?”

The Justice Task Force’s vice-leader, with her striking figure, had arrived on the scene.

“Yes… but this isn’t the time for pleasantries,” Hasumi said, briefly surprised to see me and Sensei before resuming her serious demeanor and urging us to retreat.

“We’ll handle them. Please take shelter indoors.”

“I-I can fight too, Hasumi-senpai!” Koharu protested.

“Koharu, protect Sensei and the hostage. You can do that, right?”

“Y-Yes…” Koharu nodded, blushing slightly at Hasumi’s faint smile and request.

“Uh…? The hostage is me?” Fuuka asked.

“Fufufu, Fuuka-san, was it? Shall we head inside and have an interesting chat?” Hanako suggested.

“Y-Yeah…”

“Fufu, Master, shall we head in too?”

“Uh, yeah, alright, Kaoru. Oh, be careful with that knife.”

Oh, right. I’m still holding it.

“…?”

Following Sensei’s words, I glanced at my hand and tilted my head slightly, noticing something odd.

Wasn’t I holding this knife the other way around?

Though brief, I was sure the blade’s orientation had reversed from when Haruna handed it to me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Fufu, nothing, Master.”

…Must’ve flipped it by reflex in the chaos.

I’ll return it to Fuuka later.

With that casual thought, I carefully carried the sashimi knife and headed into the annex.

Some time after Sensei and the Supplementary Lessons Department students took shelter indoors:

“Such a shame… it seems today’s journey toward gourmet bliss ends here.”

“Bummer~”

“Ugh, I’m hungry… Got any snacks?”

“…This was a reckless plan from the start!”

Led by Hasumi, the Justice Task Force successfully subdued the entire Gourmet Research Society.

Their truck was half-destroyed, and the members were surrounded in the narrow annex garden.

“…Causing such dangerous trouble at a time like this… Your fate will be decided by the Justice Task Force soon,” Hasumi said coldly, then turned to her team.

“Good work, everyone. Have we secured the stolen Gold Maguro?”

“Yes, Vice-Leader. But it seems to have died from a stray bullet…”

“…No choice, then. Recover the body for now.”

“Yes…!”

Following Hasumi’s orders, the Justice Task Force students moved to retrieve the unfortunate fish, now with a bullet in its head.

Thud.

“Kyaa?!”

“What the—?!”

Before they could start, the students screamed in shock.

“What…?”

As two students tried to lift the maguro’s heavy body, it split cleanly in two, sliding apart vertically as if by magic.

“Oh my? Fascinating~” Akari remarked.

“Whoa, it’s already sashimi? Gimme some!” Izumi cheered.

“Wait! When did that happen? A bullet doesn’t slice a fish in half!” Junko protested.

Watching the scene while bound by the Justice Task Force, the Gourmet Research Society members voiced their varied reactions.

“Fufu… As expected, I came to the right person,” Haruna murmured, nodding with admiration as she gazed at the eerily clean cut.

“You truly are a remarkable swordmaster, Kaoru-san.”