Chapitre 18: Cleaning up
A tumultuous day passed, and the night turned into dawn.
The captive princess was safely rescued, and the villains were defeated and captured.
If this were a story, we could say it had a happy ending.
However, this story is not reality.
In reality, things don't always go as smoothly as in a story, and the ending is not always a happy one.
Even if the ending happens to be a happy one, it's not the end but a step forward.
In other words, what I'm trying to say is...
"So you're saying it was just a coincidence, Helga."
"Do you think I would be satisfied with that? Yuki no Shita Haruno."
The aftermath is not yet finished.
Let's go back to the night a few days ago.
After Yuki no Shita Haruno started wreaking havoc against the mafia and some time had passed, Hachiman reached his destination, a certain building.
Inside the building, he couldn't understand what was happening and witnessed the chaotic scene of the mafia members running around indiscriminately. Taking advantage of the chaos, Hachiman successfully infiltrated the building. No one noticed Hachiman, who concealed his presence and disappeared using star magic.
If the kidnapper took hostages, where would they be held captive?
Thinking about it, the first thing that came to mind was the basement. The staircase leading to the basement was quickly found, and Hachiman descended the stairs to begin the search.
And there it was, the room at the far end of the first basement floor. Hachiman confirmed the presence of two men guarding the door. There was no sign of anyone in the other rooms. It was probably the right place.
Hachiman activated his ability. Using the opponent's shadow as a medium, the darkness transformed into ropes that tightened around the necks of the two men. Although the men were from the Star Pulse Generation, their skills were nothing special, and they soon lost consciousness.
Hachiman neutralized the two guards and stood in front of the door. After calling out into the room, there was a few seconds of silence before a faint voice responded. Hachiman instructed them to move away from the door and then blew it away with a kick infused with star power.
Inside the room was a girl with golden hair, resembling Glue El.
She stared at Hachiman with an expressionless face, as if suppressing her emotions.
After explaining that they came to rescue her, her tense expression broke down. She then rushed into Hachiman's arms and started crying silently.
The two of them left the building, witnessing the destruction caused by the explosions and flames around them. After delivering the rescued girl to Quinverre, when Glue El saw her sister at the entrance of the school gate, she ran towards her and hugged her tightly.
And the two of them rejoiced in each other's safety while crying.
Feeling that they would be a hindrance to the two, Hachiman quietly left the scene and returned to the entertainment district.
As he approached the scene, he saw several mafia members lying defeated, presumably taken down by Haruno, and various buildings that managed to preserve their form despite being destroyed.
So far, there hadn't been any problems.
Suddenly, a loud noise resounded, and two women appeared in Hachiman's field of view. They gradually approached while fighting. One of the women was Yuki no Shita Haruno, but what Hachiman witnessed next surprised him.
Unbelievably, Haruno was overwhelmed in close combat. And when Hachiman saw Haruno's opponent, he made a judgment. She could be as skilled as Hoshiro.
Soon, Haruno was blown away and landed near Hachiman. Haruno, who confirmed Hachiman's presence with a sideways glance, smirked and told him.
"Hachiman-kun, cover me!"
Upon Haruno's request for help, Hachiman immediately responded to her.
"Understood!"
And following Haruno, Hachiman also confronted the woman.
Unaware that the opponent was Herga Lindval, the captain of the Star Hunting Security Squad.
And now, the two of them were being interrogated by Herga Lindval at the Security Squad headquarters.
"Well, we still have a long way to go if both of you were defeated."
"...I'm sorry."
"Heh, well, at least you're not at fault. Seems like you didn't know about me. The problem is this guy who didn't inform you."
Herga said that while glaring at Haruno. However, Haruno seemed unfazed and was in a good mood. Seeing Haruno like that, Herga let out a sigh and continued speaking.
"...Well, let me confirm again. Yuki no Shita Haruno. Why were you there and why did you crush the mafia?"
"I've been telling you many times. My underclassmen were in trouble and in a pinch with the Levov gang, so I came to help... Besides, this time it was the Security Squad, including Herga, who crushed the mafia."
Indeed, it was the Security Squad that actually apprehended the mafia. That much is true.
And if we translate Haruno's words literally, it would be like this: "I'll leave the credit for crushing the mafia to you guys. We have nothing to do with it, so leave us alone."
"...And you expect me to be satisfied with that?"
"That would be a more diplomatic way to handle it, in many senses."
"..."
Herga fell silent. Haruno's suggestion was advantageous to her.
The Star Hunting Security Squad held a position similar to the police in Asterisk. Herga was the founder and current captain, and she had solved numerous cases.
However, even the Security Squad had a hard time dealing with mafia organizations. That was because the mafia itself had strong ties with the Integrated Corporate Conglomerate. Even if evidence of wrongdoing was found, pressure would come from the Integrated Corporate Conglomerate, and the evidence itself would be destroyed. It was a common occurrence.
For Herga, who was frustrated with such a situation, this incident was a godsend. Under the guise of maintaining public order, she could forcefully raid the mafia organization. Over a hundred mafia members had already been arrested. Evidence of their crimes was found in the building, and if everything went well, multiple mafia organizations could be annihilated.
Moreover, with such a big commotion, even the Integrated Corporate Conglomerate couldn't secretly cover up the situation. It was a perfect opportunity.
And for the mafia, the fact that they were captured by the Security Squad was more convenient. It would be a huge blow to their reputation if it were known that a single female student had crushed their organization.
"Will you be satisfied, Helga?"
"...Well, fine. Let's leave it at that."
Reluctantly, Helga agreed and turned her face towards Hachiman.
"You've had a rough time too, being dragged into this by this idiot."
"Well, I'm used to it."
"...I see. You've been through a lot."
Helga sympathized with Hachiman. It seemed that Haruno's reckless behavior hadn't changed even in this situation.
"By the way, are you a Kairyuu Academy student? I believe I have a good grasp of the abilities of the prominent students in each school, but I've never seen you before."
"Yes. I came here for the first time yesterday."
"I see. What's your name?"
"Hachiman Hikigaya."
"Hachiman? Could it be... our scholarship student?"
A young voice interrupted Helga's words.
Helga was surprised to hear a voice that shouldn't be heard in this place.
When the three turned towards the voice, they saw Hoshirou Fan and a member of the security squad who seemed to be guiding him.
"Thank you for your guidance."
"Y-Yes. Excuse me!"
The nervous squad member replied to Hoshirou's words and then left.
"I've come to pick you up. Hachiman, Haruno."
"Oh my, it's unusual for Hoshirou himself to come to pick us up. What brings you here?"
"I was on my way to the Rikkakou Conference. I just stopped by."
Hoshirou lightly answered Haruno's question.
"Fan Hoshirou!"
"Oh, Helga Lindval. It's been a while."
Hoshirou greeted the old friend. But for Helga, it wasn't the same. She glared intensely at Hoshirou as if encountering an archenemy.
However, Hoshirou didn't pay her any attention. Ignoring Helga, he called out to the two of them.
"Let's go. Both of you. We need to hurry or we'll be late for the conference."
"Okay! Let's go, Hachiman-kun."
"Y-Yes. But... is it okay?"
"It's fine, it's fine. The conversation is over."
The two stood up. With Hoshirou leading the way, they were about to leave the place.
"Wait! Hoshirou Fan!"
"What's the matter, Helga? The conversation is already over, isn't it?"
"...Forget about that matter. Let me ask you one thing."
There was something that interested Helga far more than the mafia incident.
"You mentioned Kairyuu's scholarship student. What kind of relationship do you have with him, Hachiman Fan?"
"Me and Hachiman?"
Hachiman and Hoshirou had the same surname. And the familiar voice when he called out the name. Helga was convinced that there was no way they were unrelated.
In response to Helga's question, Hoshirou moved his right hand.
Bending all fingers except the index finger, he brought it to his mouth, and Hoshirou answered with that gesture.
"That's a secret."
The three of them left the security squad headquarters and continued their conversation in the car.
"You were quite hostile towards her..."
"Helga, you mean? I've fought her in the past. I can still remember. It was fun."
Hoshirou smiled at Hachiman's words.
Judging from Helga's behavior, it seemed that she had forced a fight.
"I also challenged her whenever I saw her. Well, I always ended up losing..."
"...Well, you'll be disliked for doing that."
If you forcibly challenge both your master and your disciples, it's no wonder you'll be disliked.
"By the way, Hoshirou. You mentioned the Rikkakou Conference. What is it?"
"Oh, I haven't explained that yet. It's a regular meeting where the student council presidents from each academy gather once a month."
"A regular meeting, huh. What kind of topics are discussed?"
"Well, it's not just about seasonal events and the progress of the Star Festival. Each academy submits their own agenda for approval by majority vote, but honestly, it's a way to feel each other out. Each academy tries to push things in their favor, counteracting each other."
"I see... I wouldn't want to participate in that meeting."
"I'm quite interested, actually. It seems fun."
"Oh ho, it might be fun for those who like that kind of thing. But I'd get bored watching it."
They continued their conversation while the car headed towards their destination.
....
In the central district of Asterisk, there is a skyscraper called Hotel El Nat, located in the commercial and administrative areas.
On the top floor of this building, there is a dome-shaped rooftop garden where flowers bloom in all four seasons.
The meeting of the Rokkaen Council is held here once a month, bringing together the student council presidents from the six academies.
"Sorry, I'm a bit late."
As Hoshimizu walks, he heads towards the central part of the garden. On top of a small hill that allows a light view of the surroundings, there is a Western-style pavilion set up. In it, there is a hexagonal table that seems to have been shrunken from the asterisk itself, and four out of the six chairs are occupied.
Hoshimizu takes his seat in the designated empty chair, filling the fifth spot.
"Welcome, Your Highness. It's unusual for you to be late."
The one who welcomes her with a gentle smile is Ernest Faircrow, the student council president of Seigaillardworth Academy, with his light blonde hair and well-defined features.
"Well then, since everyone is here, let's begin. We're all busy people, after all."
"But we still have one seat empty, don't we?"
Hoshimizu asks Ernest while looking at the empty chair.
"Arlequint is absent, as we received a notice from the academy. It seems the student council president is not feeling well."
"Well, they are in the midst of internal conflicts right now. They won't be coming."
Interrupting the conversation, Dirk Aberwain, the representative of Revolf Black Academy, interjects with a sour expression on his face.
"I see. However, today we have a rare guest, the Songstress."
Satisfied, Hoshimizu shifts her gaze to the usually empty seat and speaks.
"Ahaha, I have to fulfill my duties as the student council president once in a while."
Sylvia Lünheim, the student council president of Quinveil Girls' Academy, responds with a wry smile. She often misses the Rokkaen Council meetings due to her worldwide tours.
"Are you sleep deprived, Songstress? You seem tired."
"I'm... I'm fine. It was just a little hectic yesterday."
"I see. Don't push yourself too hard."
"Oh, uh, thank you."
Hoshimizu expresses concern for Sylvia's well-being, which surprises her. Sylvia didn't expect Hoshimizu to worry about others.
Next, Hoshimizu turns her attention to Dirk.
"You seem sleep deprived too, young lad. You have dark circles under your eyes."
"Tch, it's none of your business."
Dirk's complexion is poor, and he indeed has dark circles under his eyes. He probably hasn't slept at all.
"...By the way."
Then, the remaining person, Claudia Enfield, the student council president of Hoshidoukan, speaks up.
"I heard there was an incident in the redevelopment district recently. The security forces were involved, and many members of the mafia were arrested. As the leader of Revolf, you must be busy with various matters related to that, right?"
"...It's unrelated."
Dirk dismisses the conversation with indifference and remains silent.
Claudia, sensing that he has no intention of discussing it further, lets out a sigh and turns to someone else.
"May I ask you something, Princess?"
"What is it, Chimi no Me?"
"I heard that a student from Kairyuu Academy was involved in the recent turmoil. Is that true?"
"It is... What about it? Why are you so surprised?"
"I just didn't expect you to admit it so easily."
"It's true that one of our students was involved. Well, as a victim, though."
"...What do you mean?"
Claudia's eyes narrow.
"Well, one of our transfer students who was being shown around got caught up in a unfortunate mafia conflict. The security forces came to their rescue and protected them, that's what happened."
"...That's quite different from what we heard. We also received information that one student single-handedly defeated the mafia."
"You fell for some gossip. The incident was a result of a conflict between the mafia factions. That's the truth."
Hoshimizu asserts confidently.
Claudia stares at Hoshimizu, and their gazes meet. After a while, Claudia lets out a light sigh.
"...I see. Thank you."
"Very well then."
"It seems the conversation has come to an end."
Ernest, who had been waiting for the conversation to finish, speaks again.
"It's an interesting topic, but let's leave it at that. The security forces will make an official announcement regarding the recent incident. Now, let's go back to today's first agenda, which is about the Rokkamai School Visit held in the summer this year..."
With Ernest's words, the meeting officially begins.
...
Sigh
"What's wrong, Hachiman? You keep sighing."
During the Rokkaen Council meeting, Hachiman and Haruno are in a room at Hotel El Nat. Since the student council presidents' aides are not allowed to go up to the top floor, it's customary for them to wait in a separate room.
It has been about two hours since they were ushered into this room.
"...I can't relax in this room."
"Why is that?"
"For people like me who are not used to it, this luxurious hotel is completely out of our league. I can't feel comfortable at all."
Hotel El Nat is often used by VIPs and famous people from various countries. Naturally, the furniture and furnishings used there are luxurious items that I have never seen before.
"Hahaha, there's no use worrying about that."
Haruno laughs dryly and responds, her hands moving to pick up a cookie prepared on the table in front of her. But instead of bringing it to her own mouth, she reaches out her hand towards Hachiman.
"Hachiman, ahh~"
"I can eat by myself."
Hachiman refuses Haruno's offer.
"Come on, ahh~"
"No, I said I can eat by myself."
"It's fine, ahh~"
However, Haruno doesn't give up. She stands up, leans forward, and reaches out her hand across the table.
"...I'll eat my own portion by myself. Haruno-san should eat what you took by yourself too, right!?"
I'm forcibly fed a cookie. Once something enters my mouth, there's nothing I can do.
I chew on it, and it's a delicious cookie with a crispy texture and a moderate sweetness.
"Is it delicious?"
"Yes."
"I see. That's good."
Haruno smiles warmly. Hachiman finds himself captivated by her smile, and his cheeks flush slightly.
"What a lovely couple you make."
A voice is heard from the entrance of the room. As the two turn towards the sound, they notice that the door has opened, and Hoshimizu is standing there.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, both of you. The meeting is over, and I'm planning to return to Kairyuu soon, but before that, I brought a guest. They have something to talk to both of you about."
With those words, Hoshimizu enters the room. And following behind her, another person enters the room.
"!"
"Oh my, what an unexpected guest we have here."
What they see is a girl with vibrant purple hair.
Wearing the Quinveil uniform, the person is none other than someone Hachiman recently reunited with.
"Excuse me. I apologize for barging in all of a sudden. I had something important to discuss, so I came here."
"It's fine, but what is it? Sylvia Lünheim, right?"
Sylvia Lünheim, the student council president of Quinveil, makes her appearance.
"I came to thank you for helping our students in the recent incident. When I talked to Hoshimizu, I heard that you two were here."
"Oh, that matter. Well, um, can I call you Sylvia-chan?"
"Yes. And would it be alright if I address you as Haruno-san?"
"That's fine. If it's about that matter, you don't have to worry about it. I just helped out... But, yes. If you want to express your thanks, you should tell him. Without his request, I wouldn't have taken any action."
Haruno directs the conversation towards Hachiman. Agreeing with Haruno's words, Sylvia starts walking towards Hachiman.
Since it would be impolite to remain seated, Hachiman stands up from his chair as Sylvia approaches.
"Hello."
"...Hello."
They start with a greeting.
"Once again, let me express my gratitude for helping our students. It was because of you that we were able to save those two safely. Thank you so much."
"Are those two okay?"
"Yes, there were no problems with either of them. It's thanks to you."
Sylvia smiles happily.
She is genuinely happy that the students under her care were rescued, and her emotions seem genuine without any trace of falsehood.
"By the way, we didn't introduce ourselves earlier."
"That's true."
They only know each other's names.
But since their meeting that night was a secret, they are officially meeting for the first time.
"My name is Sylvia Lünheim. May I know your name?"
Sylvia introduces herself with a gentle smile and extends her hand.
Her purple eyes gaze at Hachiman, and her smile is filled with joy.
Sylvia Lünheim, who existed only on TV screens, is now looking at Hachiman in person.
Although he didn't pay much attention to it due to the intense events of the previous night, he feels nervous now that he's facing her directly.
Hesitant, he reaches out and takes the offered hand.
The hand of the supreme Songstress, the world's greatest idol. It feels warm and surprisingly soft.
But as he anxiously observes her joy-filled expression, concerned about the well-being of the students, Hachiman somehow realizes that Sylvia Lünheim is also just a young girl, unique in her own way.
This realization shakes his heart. He feels something deep within his chest. He doesn't know why, but he becomes flustered, and his cheeks grow warm.
And as a result--
"My name is Hikigaya Hachiman."
He bites his tongue.
.....
After some light conversation with Sylvia, they decided to part ways. Sylvia herself was very busy, and she had made time for this interview despite her packed schedule.
Just before saying their goodbyes, Hachiman and Haruno received Sylvia's private contact information.
"Feel free to reach out anytime. I can't guarantee I'll always be available, especially when I'm busy."
Her mischievous smile left a lasting impression.
The three of them then headed towards Kairyuu in a car, and during the journey, the sun began to set, turning the sky into a canvas of red-tinted clouds.
"We'll arrive at Kairyuu soon, Hachiman."
"Finally. Feels like it took forever."
Originally, they were supposed to arrive the previous day, but due to various troubles, they were significantly delayed.
"Now, Hoshimizu, what's the plan once we arrive at Kairyuu? It's already quite late."
"Well... for now, I think I'll introduce Hachiman to the important people. Haruno, I'm counting on you."
"Understood. I'll let them know."
Twenty minutes later, Hachiman and the others arrived at Kairyuu Seventh Academy.
The exterior of Kairyuu Seventh Academy was the most distinctive among the six schools in Asterisk.
Chinese-style buildings filled the entire campus, connected by corridors that resembled a labyrinth. Elegant gardens and vast plazas were scattered between the buildings, to the extent that one would lose their sense of direction without a map.
"We're attracting attention..."
Walking through the school with Hoshimizu in the lead, the trio became the center of attention.
Fang Xingluo, the first-ranked student in Kairyuu, and Yukinoshita Haruno, ranked third. It was only natural for people to be curious about the two prominent figures of Kairyuu, especially with an unfamiliar person accompanying them.
But Xingluo and Haruno walked without any particular concern. It was a usual occurrence for them, so they didn't seem bothered. Hachiman kept up with them without delay.
Finally, they arrived at their destination, a certain building, and entered it after Xingluo and Haruno.
The interior of the building was a spacious area, with numerous shining armaments placed along the walls. It appeared to be a training hall. With such space, it would easily accommodate over a hundred people training simultaneously. That's how large it was.
In the center of the training hall, about ten people were waiting. As the three approached, one of them stepped forward to speak.
"We've been waiting, Master."
"Yes, thank you for waiting... Torafune, are you alright? You collapsed earlier."
"Yes, I'm managing somehow."
The person called Torafune replied, but their complexion was notably poor.
"Welcome back, Yohane-nee. I was worried."
"I'm back, Cecily. Heh, Helga was a formidable opponent."
"Hahaha, you really fought against the Chief of Security, as Master said. So, did you win?"
"No way. We fought against her in a 2 vs. 1, but couldn't win. I still need more training."
"2 vs. 1? Isn't he with you?"
Cecily's gaze turned towards Hachiman.
"Oh, yes, he is."
"Oh, I heard about the transfer student coming. It's amazing that you challenged the Chief of Security on your first day at school. Nice to meet you."
"...It just happened."
Cecily admired him, but Hachiman couldn't give any other answer than "it just happened."
Haruno, on the other hand, was convinced it was a deliberate act.
"...You got involved because of Yukinoshita's request, right?"
"...Yeah, probably. It's unfortunate."
The twins, who had been observing from a distance, sympathized with Hachiman in a low voice.
"Now, since everyone seems curious about this guy, let's do introductions. Hachiman."
Hachiman stepped forward and greeted everyone.
"Um, I transferred to Kairyuu. My name is Hachiman Hikigaya. Nice to meet you."
Everyone was surprised by Hachiman's greeting. It was because they recognized the surname they heard.
"...Hikigaya?"
"Yes, that's right. He's my brother, by the way. Please get along with him."
"...Eh?"
Unbelievable words seemed to echo in their ears. Everyone questioned their own hearing.
And then, after a moment of silence, it happened.
"Ehhh?!"
Multiple voices of surprise rang out.
"W-What does this mean, Master?"
"Oh, he's Hoshimizu's family member? Nice to meet you!"
"So, he's a member of Xingluo's family. It's the first time I'm hearing this."
"...Her brother? The Master's...?"
"...Doesn't look like him."
"...Master's..."
Reactions varied between shock, acceptance, and confusion.
The surprise among those who knew about Xingluo's background was particularly pronounced.
――――It's impossible for Fang Xingluo to have any family members.
"Very well, it seems everyone is surprised. I was going to introduce everyone next, but..."
Satisfied with the reactions around him, Xingluo paused.
However...
――――I've changed my mind.
Without warning, Xingluo attacked Hachiman.
"What are you thinking, Xingluo?"
"Prepare yourself. I hope you haven't been neglecting your training."
Hachiman swiftly caught Xingluo's punch with his palm.
Xingluo was pleased with Hachiman's reaction.
"...I've waited for three months. I can't bear it any longer!"
An aura of intimidation emanated from Xingluo. The air grew heavy, and the overwhelming pressure affected not only Hachiman but also those around them.
The only ones unaffected were the top-ranked Wu Xiao Sui, Yukinoshita Haruno, and Umejouji Touka.
"Everyone must want to see your true abilities. Show me your full power!"
"...Haa, understood."
Words were not enough. In this state, Hachiman had no choice but to engage with Xingluo until he satisfied him.
With a sigh, Hachiman unleashed his star energy.
"Wow, this is amazing!"
"Oh my, quite impressive."
Voices of surprise could be heard from the surroundings. However, Hachiman didn't pay attention to them, focusing only on his opponent in front of him.
If he didn't, he would be defeated in an instant!
"Here we go, Hachiman!"
"Go easy on me!"
And then, the two clashed fiercely.
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