Chapter 39: Where the Ash Settles

“Mmm…?”

On a makeshift bed inside an ambulance, a young woman wrapped in bandages slowly opened her eyes.

“You’re awake, Sensei,” said a stoic girl in a nurse’s uniform, staring down at her.

“Uh… Sena…?” Sensei murmured, recognizing the familiar face despite her grogginess.

Sena, Gehenna’s Emergency Medicine Club leader and the ambulance’s operator, nodded calmly.

“Thank you for remembering. Your injuries have been treated, but please avoid excessive movement.”

“Injuries…?” Sensei’s eyes widened as memories of the moments before she lost consciousness flooded back. She shot upright.

“Wait! The others…?!”

“Fufu, I’m right here, Master,” came a soft voice from beside her.

“…Kaoru?” Sensei turned, bewildered, to see the lavender-haired girl with her usual mischievous smile.

“Hina woke up earlier and left. Unfortunately, the Arius kids got away,” Kaoru added.

“Got away…?” Sensei began, then froze, noticing the unsheathed sword gleaming on Kaoru’s lap.

Realizing Kaoru had wielded it to protect her, she asked cautiously, “Kaoru… did you remember how to use your weapon?”

“Yes, to some extent. I don’t know why it came back to me now, but it let me protect you, Master, and save the others here,” Kaoru replied.

“Others?” Sensei asked, puzzled.

Sena answered this time.

“Yes, those… bizarre creatures attacked us, putting us in danger. Thankfully, Kaoru cut most of them down with that sword. The Chronos News Club members who were with us were saved too.”

“Oh my, really? I didn’t know,” Kaoru said, surprised.

“Indeed. You likely made quite an impression on them,” Sena noted, omitting that the Chronos crew’s gazes held both awe and fear.

Kaoru smiled at Sensei.

“Fufu, Master, I’ll explain more while we move. Sena, can you take us to Trinity’s central district?”

“Understood,” Sena replied.

“Kaoru, is something happening at Trinity? Don’t tell me…” Sensei’s face darkened, sensing trouble from their brief exchange.

Kaoru’s smile turned bittersweet.

“Yes, probably.”

In a confinement cell within Trinity, designed to hold high-ranking students, Misono Mika sat silently, ignoring the garbled shouts outside, lost in thought.

Is Nagi-chan okay?

The cell’s TV allowed Mika to grasp the situation: the terrorist attack on the summit, the assaults on Trinity and Gehenna’s delegations, and the ensuing chaos.

Sensei’s probably fine, since that girl with her seemed unharmed.

Mika recalled a brief clip from Chronos News showing monstrous blue figures attacking the terrified crew, only for a lavender-haired girl to sweep through them in a flash.

Though the broadcast cut off seconds later, Mika, a formidable fighter herself, recognized what happened.

Kaoru drew her sword and took them down.

“Haha, outsider-chan, no wonder you were so confident,” Mika muttered with a hollow laugh.

“—Mika-sama!” A loud shout broke through her thoughts, forcing her to open her eyes with a pout.

“Geez, can you keep it down? You’re gonna burst my eardrums,” she grumbled.

“Mika-sama! Are you listening? We need you to…” The voice came from one of dozens of Pater faction members who had stormed her cell, urging her to act.

“Yeah, I heard. You want me to lead a declaration of war on Gehenna, right? Their leadership’s in shambles, so it’s the perfect chance to wipe out those horned freaks,” Mika said, summarizing their plea.

“Yes! Only you can lead us through this crisis and start the war, so please…” the faction member pressed.

“Hahahahaha!” Mika burst into laughter.

“Mika-sama?” The faction member faltered, stunned by her reaction.

“Sorry, sorry,” Mika said, wiping her eyes.

“But don’t you think it’s weird to ask me? I’m locked up here, and even with Nagi-chan out, Seia-chan’s awake and handling things, isn’t she?”

“…” The faction members stared blankly.

“So that’s why you all came here with those dumb faces?” Mika said, her tone now openly mocking.

“W-What…?” one stammered.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? You barge in, begging me to get mad and hate for you. Like brainless lemmings jumping off a cliff!” Mika’s voice dripped with scorn.

“Let me be clear: I’m not joining your war games. Stop wasting my time and go find someone else to hate for you. I’ve got better things to do than hang out with idiots.”

Her venomous words stunned the war-hungry Pater faction.

“You… how dare you call us idiots!” one shouted.

Thwack!

“Ugh…?” Mika winced as the lead faction member struck her with a rifle butt.

“That hurts,” she muttered.

“Some clueless rich girl! We honored you, and this is how you repay us?!”

Thud! Thwack!

More faction members piled on, raining blows on Mika.

She groaned softly but didn’t fight back.

Seia-chan must’ve been in so much pain too, she thought.

Since their brief encounter, Seia hadn’t visited her once.

I guess I’m unforgivable.

Not that I expected her to forgive me.

Thud!

This is just the punishment I deserve.

The pain dulled her guilt toward Seia, so she endured it silently.

“You! Stop it!” A new voice interrupted the assault.

“What are you doing?!” Koharu, appearing out of nowhere, rushed in front of Mika, flailing her arms to stop the mob.

“Who are you?!” a faction member barked.

“No bullying! This… this is unforgivable!” Koharu shouted, trembling but standing her ground.

“You know what’s happening, first-year? Get lost!” the faction member sneered.

“Ugh…” Koharu shrank under their menacing glares but held firm.

“I’m with the Justice Task Force! I won’t let this slide!”

“Tch, stupid girl… take her out too!”

Click.

“Eek…?!” Dozens of rifles aimed at Mika and Koharu.

Mika closed her eyes, resigned.

Why’s that girl getting involved for no reason?

But no gunshots came.

Instead, a light grab and a crisp tick—like a trigger jamming—echoed.

“…?” Mika opened her eyes, stunned to see Kaoru standing beside Koharu, casually redirecting a rifle with two fingers.

“Fufu, that’s dangerous,” Kaoru said.

“Kaoru…?” Koharu gasped.

“Hey, Koharu. Pretty cool move,” Kaoru teased.

“What strength…?” the faction member muttered, stepping back.

“You…!” another shouted. “An outsider dares interfere?!”

“Fufu, yep, I’m an outsider,” Kaoru replied, smiling as always.

“And because of that, I don’t need to hold back, do I?”

“W-What…?” Despite their numbers, the faction froze under Kaoru’s calm confidence.

Step.

“That’s enough, Kaoru,” a low voice said as another figure entered the cell.

“Schale’s… Sensei?” Mika gasped.

“How’s Sensei here…?” a faction member stammered.

Bandaged but carrying an undeniable weight in her steps, Sensei spoke calmly, her voice laced with quiet anger.

“These are all my students. Please, stop the violence and leave.”

“Ugh…!” The faction wavered under her gaze.

“Oh my, defying Master?” Kaoru said, flicking her sword menacingly.

“Eek…!” The dozens of faction members scattered like ants.

“Sensei…!” Koharu ran to Sensei, who hugged her and stroked her pink hair.

“Koharu, you were amazing. Truly the Justice Task Force’s ace,” Sensei said warmly.

Mika, stunned by their arrival, stammered, “Sensei… outsider-chan? Why are you here…?”

Kaoru grinned playfully.

“Oh, Mika, didn’t you ask me yourself? You said you’d wait for us to save you, fufu.”