Just let me rest... 32

We left the store.

Of course, Sensei paid the bill.

Was Sensei with us?

Of course.

He just wasn't talking.

"Nito-chan, are you okay?"

"Ugh... I'm okay..."

My mouth is numb from the spiciness.

My pronunciation has gone to the dogs...

"W-well, we'll be going now! Bye-bye!"

Aru and her friends ran away as if they were escaping.

"Nito-chan, please take care of us next time too!"

It seems I've become a good target for that mesugaki.

Thinking about the tiring days ahead, my vision is already starting to darken.

By the way, those guys will be invading Abydos High School soon...

It doesn't matter.

If I stay quietly in my room, it'll be fine.

It might be fun to watch, but I've had too many tiring things happen today...

I'll go home and rest...

"I'm going home now."

"Already?"

"Well... You must be tired."

"Yeah, bye."

"Bye!"

"Take care."

"Bye, Nito!"

Everyone said goodbye.

Sigh, I should go to sleep.

It's annoying to have to walk home, but I have to...

As I was heading to Abydos Station to go home, I saw four familiar figures.

"Haa... They were good people, weren't they?"

"...Aru, do you know where that uniform is from?"

"Huh? I don't know. Why?"

"Those are Abydos kids."

Ah, our paths crossed.

"Wh-what?!?! What did you say?!!!"

"Ahaha. That reaction."

"Haa... You really didn't know..."

"Huh? Th-then they're our target. Sh-should I go take care of them?"

Uh...

I should run away.

"Ahaha. Too late, too late. We're going to attack them in a bit anyway... Huh?"

To avoid the catastrophe that could happen if I was discovered, I was about to run away when I made eye contact with Mutsuki.

"Haha... Goodbye..."

I turned around and ran back towards the Abydos Countermeasure Committee.

"Ni-to-chan!"

"Ugh?!"

I'm caught.

"L-let go of me!"

"Aru-chan, what should we do with her? Using captured hostages to their fullest is the hard-boiled way of an outlaw, right?"

"H-huh?! Right...! Hehe, we can use her effectively in our fight against Abydos."

"A-as expected of the president! It's a perfect plan...!"

I desperately looked at Kayoko, the only one who seemed to have any common sense.

"Haa... I can't help it."

Why, why?!

"I can't stop her in that state."

"..."

Ah, seriously... Why is everyone doing this to me today!!

"Ugh..."

Since there was no one to stop Aru, who was getting carried away, and Mutsuki, who was excited to play a prank, I was dragged to Problem Solver 68's office.

"Aru-chan, what are we going to do now? If she's a hostage, should we... torture her for information?"

"Eek?!"

The atmosphere inside the office really fit the name of a problem solver, so even though I knew I wouldn't be properly tortured, I was terrified.

"T-torture? Uh, yeah!"

It's ridiculous that I start to lose my fear when Aru starts talking.

"Now, if you tell us everything you know about Abydos right now, you won't get hurt."

"Even if you say that, I don't know anythyek?!"

"Kufufu~ If you don't talk, I'll keep going~?"

I tried to say I didn't know anything, but Mutsuki started tickling me.

"Ah, I really don't know anythyat! St, stop...!"

"You really don't know~?"

"N-no, I don't hyot! R-reallyho!"

"Is that so~?"

"Uhyek?! Agh?! Stop! Please!!"

It's so ticklish that I can't breathe.

Tears are starting to well up in my eyes.

"That's what she says."

"Hmm..."

"Haa... Haa..."

Th-that crazy...

"...Then what are we going to do now?"

Kayoko, who was watching the situation, spoke.

"Me! I'll take responsibility and take care of her."

Mutsuki excitedly raised her hand.

I turned pale and shook my head.

"...That's the reaction we get?"

"Ahaha, Nito-chan is so shy."

Thinking I had to avoid Mutsuki at all costs, I grabbed onto my last hope.

I pulled on the hem of Aru's clothes, who was standing next to me.

Aru looked down at me with wide eyes.

"Ugh... Help me..."

I earnestly pleaded with Aru.

Then, Aru suddenly stumbled.

...Why?

Aru regained her posture and stood up.

"I'll take care of her."

"Aru-chan will?"

"Yeah, it's better if the president does it."

"A-are you going to torture the hostage yourself? Y-you're really like an outlaw!"

"Fufufu, this is basic stuff."

Uh...

Anyway, I'm glad it worked out.

"Now! Everyone except me and her, wait outside! We're going to attack Abydos soon!"

"Y-yes!"

"Hmm... Alright!"

"Okay."

Thunk-

And so, only Aru and I were left in the office.

"Thank you for saving me..."

I'm not even kidding, I felt like my life was in danger.

"Ah, yeah!"

Aru, you should at least keep up the act.

"Um... Shouldn't you go?"

"Ah, right. Hehe, you're a hostage, so you have to stay here quietly while we're gone. I'm going to lock the door, so don't get any funny ideas."

"...Yes."

And so, Aru went outside too.

Now, what should I do?

"Yaaawn..."

I'm sleepy, so I should close my eyes for a bit.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

"A large force has been detected 15km south of the school!"

At that moment, the Countermeasure Committee faced a sudden emergency.

"Could it be? The Helmet Gang?"

"N-no! It's not the Helmet Gang."

Just in case, Shiroko asked if it was the Helmet Gang.

"...It's contractors! Part-time contractors!"

"Heeh? Someone hired from the early morning labor market? They must be pretty expensive."

But it wasn't the Helmet Gang that attacked them, but part-time contractors.

"We can't let them get any closer! Sensei, give the order to move out...!"

"Let's go!"

To reduce the damage to the school building, they headed outside.

"A group leading the contractors has been identified at the front!"

"Huh... I saw them at the ramen shop..."

They really were the students who looked poor at the ramen shop earlier.

"Ugh."

It seems the other side didn't know about this until now either.

"If it isn't you guys!! We gave you ramen, and you're attacking us?! You ungrateful brats!!"

"Ahaha, thanks for earlier. That's that, but this is business."

"I'm sorry, but business is business. We have to do the job we were hired for."

"...I see. That business was Problem Solver 68."

"Really-! If you're student, you should do a more proper part-time job! What's a problem solver?"

As a teacher, I actively agree with Nonomi.

"It's not a part-time job! It's a proper business! We even have titles!"

Ah, is that what they were talking about at the ramen shop?

They didn't seem to care much about it, though.

"I'm the president! She's the manager, she's the section chief..."

"Haa... President Aru. You're just making us look worse."

The student with the unique hairstyle, who was listening to the student called Aru explain with shining eyes, interrupted.

"Who's behind this? ...No, you wouldn't answer."

Click-

"We'll have to force it out of you."

"Fufufu, that's a company secret, you know?"

It looks more like a club than a company...

"Everyone! Attack!!"

And so the battle began.

They were struggling with the enemy's unexpectedly high skill and large numbers,

Ding dong- Dang dong-

"Ah, it's time to go home."

"Right, the amount we received today is only until this time. Do whatever you want with the rest. Everyone, let's go."

The part-time contractors started to go home.

"Wh-what?!! W-wait a minute?!"

Aru tried to stop them in a panic, but they didn't hear her.

"Ah, time to go home."

"Should we get some soba on the way?"

...They get off work on time, so why can't I...

"Hey!! How can you do this! Wait! Don't go!!"

"..."

"This is bad, I didn't think it wouldn't be over by this time... Aru-chan? What do we do? Run?"

"Ah... Ugh... I-in that case, it's time for our last resort!"

Do they still have something left?

"What else could they have..."

"Fufufu, we still have our trump card. And that is... a hostage!"

"A hostage?"

"Yes! We kidnapped one of your Abydos students and are holding them hostage! Surrender now before anything bad happens to this person!"

"Huh? We're all here, right? Then the student they kidnapped is..."

As Serika said, all the Abydos students are here right now.

Then what they're saying is...

"Fufufu, you don't believe us? Then let me put you on the phone with the hostage."

Ring- Ring-

"...They're not picking up?"

"Huh? Th-that can't be! Call again!"

Ring- Ring-

Time passed, but the call wasn't answered.

It was a lie after all

Click-

"They picked up!"

"What?! Is there anyone here who just answered the phone?"

"Not me."

"Uhe~ Not me either."

"Not me."

"Not me."

"Then who is it?"

At that moment, a familiar voice came from the phone.

-Yaaawn- What is it?

"...Ni, Nito?!"

Even though I only heard her voice, I could automatically picture Nito rubbing her sleepy eyes and answering the phone with a yawn.

"D-did you just wake up? Did I wake you up?"

-Yawn... Yes.

"I-is that so? I'm sorry, go back to sleep!"

Click-

And so the short call ended.

"...You kidnapped Nito?"

"H-huh?"

"Lead the way."

"Huh? But then our hideout will be..."

"Lead the way."

"..."

With a tearful face, Aru led us to their office.