Part 35: Sermon Time

In the classroom of second-year Class Three.

I sit at my desk with a solemn expression.

"Anyway, I found this."

Mr. Sasaki held up the revolver on the desk, his face grim.

"Yes."

"Also, my daughter's Pikanian, too."

Mr. Hibiya placed a hand on the doll.

"...Yes."

"Better say thanks. Without this, my daughter wouldn't sleep properly."

Please take good care of it.

— Congratulations! Your level has increased!

— Congratulations! Achievement "Armed Group" unlocked!

— Congratulations! Achievement "Something More Precious Than Life" unlocked!

Yay, I did it! (tears)

The four of them—Ms. Asakura, Ms. Sasaki, Ms. Asada, and Mr. Hibiya—stood solemnly in front of me.

Everyone has a uniformly annoyed expression. After all, we were woken up from sleep. No wonder they're upset.

"Nine-millimeter pistol. The 'W' mark on the cherry blossom means it's from the Ground Self-Defense Force. A specialized holster, and a large number of bullets... top quality."

"Mr. Sasaki. It's dangerous for an ordinary person to have something like this."

Mata, looking concerned.

"Even so, I'm not exactly a complete novice. I've fired a gun a few times before, when I was in America....But that's not the point."

All eyes turn to me.

Mr. Sasaki began speaking in a tone unusually restrained for him.

"Are you really not able to trust grown-ups at all...? You know, just how much?"

"Ah, no, I'm not saying I don't trust them or anything..."

"Since they stole our eyes and pulled off something dangerous, doesn't that mean they don't trust us?"

"Um... well..."

Ugh, how am I supposed to explain this?

I can't possibly go into detailed explanations about magic skills, now can I?

To be honest, you're strong—stronger than any of us. We've relied on that power quite a bit. I'll admit it....But just because of that doesn't mean you're free to do whatever you want.

"Huh, yes..."

"You said we need 'new rules,' didn't you? I completely agree. The world around us has changed utterly. Those without power are destined to die unless under the protection of the powerful... But—"

Ah.

Ugh.

"We are civilized people. We are different from those beasts out there. No matter how desperate the situation, we must prove that our reason will not yield to violence or primal impulses... even if the end result is a gruesome death."

Pierce, pierce, pierce.

Mr. Sasaki's words stabbed straight into my chest.

"Isn't that right, you think so too?"

"Y-yes... you're absolutely right."

Mr. Sasaki's words were more serious than ever before.

If English class were taught with this kind of intensity, I might have actually learned something.

"But... why would you do something so dangerous all by yourself?"

Maida asked in a tone that tried to ease the frozen air.

There was no point lying anymore.

"I... "

"Uh?"

"My stomach... it's empty."

"Huh?"

"I'm so hungry..."

But you, you're eating three times the usual amount...

"I just didn't have enough, so I really had to eat until I was full."

Blushing all the way to his ears, he said it.

I've never felt so embarrassed in my entire life.

As Mr. Sasaki said.

I gave in to my instincts.

He drooled and immediately lunged at the nearby mountain of rice.

As a result, I've worried everyone. Acting selfishly.

Isn't this exactly the same as that pharmacist who tried to forcibly hold me captive?

Ugh.

Ugh... ugh... ugh... ugh... ugh... ugh...

I'm so pathetic...

For several minutes, an awkward silence lingered.

Then,

"K,...kukkukkukkukku... "

Hibiya Norio let out a stifled chuckle, barely able to contain himself.

"Because I was hungry... you went all the way to that supermarket that's as dangerous as the bottom of a hellish cauldron... at midnight... all by yourself... without help?"

At that point, it seemed he'd reached his limit.

"Kukuku... fuhahaha! You're a unique one, you know that?!"

"Huh...?"

Even Ms. Asakura let out a deep sigh.

"You really are... no matter where you go..."

Mr. Sasaki, and even Matsuda, were both visibly stunned.

"In a world as mad as this, only you could remain so free-spirited."

That's what Koji said.

"By the way, is the area around 'Captain' secure right now?"

"Huh, well. I've more or less taken care of it."

"Good. Then let's go retrieve the military truck as soon as possible. The tires seem to have gone out, but there should be spares."

Mr. Sasaki spoke with a bitter tone as Koji stood up.

"Hey, Koji. We're not done talking yet."

"Sermons are enough. She knows why we're angry, and she's ashamed of it herself. Isn't that enough?"

"Hmm..."

Oh, unexpected backup from an unexpected place.

Thanks to Koji, the late-night lecture session ends under the guise of recovering "Captain's" supplies.

As they were leaving, Koji said with a smirk,

"Care to come be my son Koichi's wife?"

That's what he said.

For some reason, I think he took a liking to me.

"NO THANK YOU"

I'm not into those overly dramatic, NTR-style plot twists—definitely not that much.

I don't want to get stabbed in the back by Rika-chan.

When the lecture ended and we left the classroom, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Today, another day begins.