Chapter 18: After the Rain—

…After thanking the girl for the information, I rushed to the courtyard—only to find Yumetsuki-san and the others looking like they were on the verge of tears.

No, not “de gozaru.”
This wasn’t the time to joke around.

The mood was honestly pretty bad, and I started to panic a bit.
Still, I managed to suppress the anxiety and put on a calm voice. Whether that came from the past month of noble lady training, or just a habit etched into Reicia-chan’s body—this cold, poised tone—I wasn’t sure.

…But that hardly mattered now.

『……You are…!』
『As you know, Reicia Blackguard. The head of this faction.』

As I introduced myself, the girl standing in front of Yumetsuki-san shrank back a little, like she was being overwhelmed. …I didn’t intend to intimidate her that much, but maybe the tension showed on my face? I guess even students outside the faction are still haunted by the fear of Reicia-chan… Though, judging from the girl I passed earlier, it’s not to the extent of those in GMDW.

Still, judging from the flow of the conversation, it seems the general gist matches what I heard.

…After the “suicide incident,” GMDW slipped from my—Reicia-chan’s—control. As a result, some research institutions stopped functioning, and now someone is trying to exploit that to forcibly strip GMDW of its rights.

Technically, they’re using polite terms like “transfer” or “merger,” but the essence is the same. In the end, GMDW’s technological assets are being taken.

And it’s not just unused research facilities at risk here—there’s even a chance the very labs they’ve been using for development will be taken away. …In an elite school like Tokiwadai Middle School, that would be a devastating loss.

What’s worse is that the other side isn’t even doing this out of necessity. They just think, “If we have some advanced and edgy tech, maybe it’ll help us break through a future research deadlock.” Like they’re collecting puzzle pieces.
It’s a “just in case” mentality, a cane-before-the-stumble mindset, and they’re trying to take away their rights based on that alone.

…Then, I’ve only got one thing to do.

『…What do you want now?』

The girl from the other side asked, her voice trembling with nervousness—yet, oddly, she still wore a smile.

『Just because the head shows up, the rightful owner comes back, you think that’s enough to settle this? After abandoning us for so long, you really believe that reasoning will fly!? The world of factions we fight in isn’t governed by strict logic—it runs on rumors and whispers! If there’s no “justification,” then your words carry no weight!!』

『And?』

I listened to everything she had to say—then tossed back that line with a sideways glance.
The girl was too stunned to respond.

Well, her argument only holds if I just sit here and let the rumors wash over me.
Just because someone’s standing still doesn’t mean you get to land a dozen combos on them. That only works in theory. I’m not some easy-to-read NPC—you bet I can counter.

…Besides, if I’m being honest, I never cared about her logic to begin with.
The moment I stepped into this situation, none of that mattered anymore.
What’s important isn’t her argument.

…………What matters to me is the group from GMDW—the ones who were cornered by this girl.

How do I get them to accept this? That’s what it all hinges on.

『…What… are you playing at?』

When I turned toward them, Yumetsuki-san quietly murmured those words.

『Why show up now of all times!? …Don’t tell me this was all your doing!? I thought it was suspicious from the start! You pulled out just in time for this chaos to erupt! You foresaw all this, didn’t you!? You wanted to force us into a position where we had to turn to you, so you could sweep in as a “kind and reformed ruler of justice” extending a helping hand!!』

…………………………

Well, yeah. That’s a fair suspicion.

If you assume I’m still the same villain as before, then this timing is way too convenient for me.

After all, the only solution left to them is to turn to me for help—in other words, submit once more to Reicia Blackguard.
From their perspective, it makes perfect sense to believe I orchestrated the whole thing.

Heck, apparently there were already rumors before our last encounter. Maybe their wariness back then was all part of this thread, too?

…………Seriously, talk about good luck or bad timing.

When things end up this perfectly balanced, you almost start to suspect some divine manipulation behind it.

『So you don’t trust me?』

『Of course not! What part of this makes you trustworthy!?』

『…In that case, I suppose there’s no helping it.』

With that, I pulled a bundle of papers from my bag and held them out to Yumetsuki-san.

With a flap, the documents unfolded in front of her.

『Then how about I overturn the entire premise?』

『……………………………………Huh?』

Yumetsuki-san’s expression briefly turned blank—utterly neutral and devoid of emotion.

『You believe my “goal” is this: to create a problem that you can’t solve on your own, manipulate you into begging for my help, and then reestablish control over the faction with me at the top. That’s it, right?』

『…Eh, uh… yeah…』

『Which is why I said—I’m overturning that premise.』

As I spoke, I handed the bundle of documents to Yumetsuki-san.

The ones I spent four grueling hours compiling, starting just past 11 a.m.

『These are the documents required for the transfer of all rights related to GMDW’s facilities.』

At that moment, not only Yumetsuki-san—but also Rinka-san and the rest of the group—widened their eyes in shock.

『I’ve already signed on my end. Now, as long as someone on your side signs as the representative, the rights to GMDW’s related facilities will be fully transferred to your control. …The paperwork was a pain, and even at max efficiency, this was the fastest I could get it done.』

With that, I turned my gaze toward the opposing girl.

『By doing this, the authority of GMDW will transfer from me to you, Yumetsuki-san and the others. You claimed that they couldn’t use the facilities because they didn’t have permission from me, the faction’s leader… but let’s not forget, I’ve recently been hospitalized, gone missing, and stuck doing punishment cleaning. There was barely any contact between us. Surely, you’d agree that they weren’t exactly in a position where applying for access was feasible? Whether or not the faction’s leader was doing her job, the fact remains they were the victims of that chaos. If they take over as the new leaders and continue using the facilities, there shouldn’t be any problem, should there?』

This is where Reicia-chan’s infamous reputation finally becomes an asset.

In other words, if a “useless, incompetent leader” transfers full authority to more capable subordinates, then every excuse the other girl raised gets wiped clean. A reset of everything.

『……Tch.』

She must have realized she’d lost.

Or maybe she figured that pushing any further would only end up putting her side at a disadvantage.
Either way, the opposing girl turned and left, wearing a bitter expression.

…Looks like our problem is resolved, at least for now.

Chapter 2 – Don’t Worry About Failing
Crazy_Princess.
Episode 15 – After the Rain—
Insignificant_Settlement.

『A-Are… you sure… about this?』

Yumetsuki-san asked, still dazed.

The issue, of course, is that I—Reicia-chan—have now given up all authority. But that was the entire point from the very beginning.

It was because such authority existed… because there was an “above and below” dynamic… because there was a “ruler and ruled” structure… that Reicia-chan’s friendship with them became so twisted.

…………Seme-san once told me this:

That she’d allowed herself to remain a victim, just going along with the easier path.

From her perspective, maybe that’s how it looked. I had also been struggling with the question of whether it was really fair to blame everything on Reicia-chan alone.

But I think… it’s something that couldn’t be helped.

After all, think about it. To Seme-san, I—Reicia-chan—was also her employer. No matter how justified she might be, it’s not easy to confront someone in that kind of position.
What if she lost her job?

Besides, who would seriously be willing to put themselves at risk just to call out the personal flaws of someone they aren’t even close to?

That’s no different from the members of GMDW.
Reicia-chan held all the rights to their research facilities. Their futures could be completely altered just by her mood. How could they go up against her directly in that environment? Knowing what Reicia-chan was like? There’s no way.

They say “taking the easy path of playing the victim”—but you try “taking the hard path of facing someone as an equal” and see how unbearably hard it actually is.
I’m not some hero—I’m just an ordinary person. I know exactly how hard that kind of decision is.

Sure, not standing up might be a form of “weakness.”

But that weakness isn’t a crime.

That’s why I believe:

If this whole power structure hadn’t existed—
If Reicia-chan hadn’t held all the authority, and people like Seme-san, Yumetsuki-san, and Rinka-san hadn’t been stuck just following her lead—

Then maybe Yumetsuki-san and Rinka-san could’ve called her out.
And maybe, through some bumps and clashes, Reicia-chan could have changed—bit by bit—for the better.

Maybe they could’ve built a future where everyone could laugh together. Even without me.

A future where no one needed to assign blame or argue about who was weak or strong, who was right or wrong.
Where there was no need for some pitiful villain to carry everyone’s sins on their back.

That’s why I have no hesitation in giving it all up.

Because I believe I can offer her a future worth that much in return.

『I don’t mind, you know?』

『…But—but that means you’ll never make a comeback! You won’t be able to suppress our complaints with authority anymore! If you do this, no amount of scheming will ever let you control us again!』

『And that’s why I said—I’m overturning the premise.』

With that, the premise has been shattered.

The idea that “I’m trying to regain control over them” no longer has a leg to stand on.

Every wall standing between me and reconciliation with them—smashed to pieces.

…Originally, I only intended to do this to remove those obstacles. But the fact that it also helped resolve a bunch of the problems they were dealing with…

Whether that’s a stroke of good luck or bad luck, I honestly don’t know.

I can’t help but wonder: if this had happened earlier, maybe our last encounter could’ve gone more smoothly.

『With that said… I have one request.』

Saying that, I looked at each of them again—one by one.

This time, not a single one flinched.

They weren’t seeing me as some terrifying tyrant anymore.
They were looking straight at the person in front of them—at me, Reicia Blackguard.

『Please… let me be one of your comrades, too.
Not as a “faction leader” or anything like that. As an equal.
I want to start over from zero… and this time, I want to become your friend.』

Saying that, I smiled.

I don’t know if it was a perfect smile... but I believed that, this time, it would surely get through.

"…………Why…"

It was a quiet murmur.

Rinka-san, who had been standing beside Yumetsuki-san, whispered softly.

"Why are you going so far for us? Even though we’re the kind of people who… even after everything you’ve done for us, still can’t completely trust you! You already have friendships with people like Misaka-sama and Shirai-sama. There was no reason to fixate on us—you could’ve chosen to get close with them or other students who aren’t burdened by a bad reputation!"

Her voice steadily grew louder and more forceful.

"And yet... and yet, why!? Why are you choosing a path so uncertain, one that involves reaching out to people like us!?"

Hearing that, I let my thoughts wander again.

To the true reason why Reicia-chan chose to take her own life.

The clues were all already there.

Losing to Mikoto—that was definitely one of the triggers. But at the same time, Reicia-chan wasn’t some arrogant fool blind to reality. She had shown signs of understanding that she could never beat a Level 5 esper.

『The dorm supervisor stepped in, so we had to settle it then—but once I become a Level 5, I’ll put that girl in her place.』

『Last year, I fell behind both Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki, but that won’t be the case this year.』

Reicia-chan was certainly proud, but not the type to break just because she wasn’t as powerful as someone else. That kind of mental instability always turned into fuel—motivation to improve herself.

Then why did she break?

『…Lately, I’ve noticed the members slacking off. I suppose it’s time to tighten the reins a bit.』

『Recently, the faction members have been acting rather defiant toward me.』

…What shook Reicia-chan the most was undeniably the attitude of the GMDW members. Instead of becoming motivation, it only made her mood more unstable—so much so that it began negatively affecting the entire development team.

That’s how close her heart was to them.

Her diary had entries filled with joyful memories of her time with the faction members.

Of course, to them, it might’ve just been terrifying—a horrifying experience more than anything else, fueled by her arrogance.

And yet… in her own twisted way, Reicia-chan had started to feel something like friendship for them.

But in the end, the faction rejected her. And then she lost. …If she’d won, even forcibly, maybe she could’ve stayed. But having lost, Reicia-chan lost her place entirely.

…That’s why Reicia-chan cried. That’s why she chose death… or rather, escape to “somewhere that wasn’t here.”

Somehow, I can say that with absolute certainty.

"…………You’re asking me ‘why’?"

There are plenty of reasons. Because I thought mending the rift between them and Reicia-chan would help heal the wounds in the hearts of the GMDW members. Because I simply found something admirable in their emotional strength. Because I hoped that reconciliation could restore Reicia-chan’s standing.

I could go on listing logical reasons forever.

But I’m sure… that’s not really it.

It was something much simpler—something so honest, it might even sound cliché.

Just… a plain, earnest wish.

"There’s nothing noble about it. I just… wanted to see a future where you’re all smiling together. A future like that… I wanted to be part of it, too."

"…………That’s enough."

Cutting in, Yumetsuki-san spoke up.

Then she pushed the documents I had handed her back toward me.

"We don’t need something like this. I’m giving it back."

"But—"

"I—said—we—don’t—need—this—any—more."

There was a slightly embarrassed smile on Yumetsuki-san’s face.

As if to say: there's no need to go so far as to throw away your position—because trust has already begun to grow between us.

"This whole mess started just because we weren’t in proper contact with each other. That gave others an opening. But now that you and we have reconciled so publicly, they’ve lost their excuse. Just look at how panicked they are. No matter what they say, it’s obvious, isn’t it?"

"……That… may be…"

I began to reply, but Yumetsuki-san spoke again, cutting me off.

"…………We can’t just forget the past. That’s impossible. …But you’ve done enough that we can believe in a ‘future’ with you. You don’t need to do anything more. From here on out, it’s our turn to reach out."

Then Yumetsuki-san stepped forward and grasped my hand firmly.

"…Looking forward to working with you, Re-i-ci-a-san."

Yumetsuki-san smiled.

So did Rinka-san beside her, and the rest of the GMDW members lined up behind them.

In other words…

That was a conclusion.

The resolution I had wished for. The shape of closure. The beginning of an ideal future.

……No, no, no seriously.

This is so unlike me, but my vision’s starting to blur.

Ahh, maybe it’s because I’m in a girl’s body now—I’ve become more emotional… No, let’s just be honest.

I’m really, really happy right now.

I failed once.

I was harshly rejected. I got depressed. I was lost, unsure of what to do.

But because someone gave me a push—because I didn’t give up and kept moving forward—I’ve made it here. Toward a future where I can laugh together with them.

"…………Yes!"

With all my emotions packed into that single word, I nodded.