Sweet Sixteen (1) - 5

-Wooooooooooong.

 

 

"Hyaaah?!"

 

 

I woke up startled by the creepy, ticklish sensation just above my lower abdomen.

It was my phone, which I had left on my stomach after using it last night, vibrating with the morning alarm.

For some reason, I felt my face getting slightly hot.

I turned off the alarm and checked the date.

 

 

March 2nd, the day of the long-awaited entrance ceremony.

 

 

"Haaaah... Then, shall I go?"

 

 

I went into the bathroom, washed thoroughly, and dried myself again.

I changed into the blue SRT uniform and checked once more to make sure I was wearing it correctly.

Unlike the other day, this time I was properly equipped with standard gear such as knee pads, shoulder straps, and a headset resembling rabbit ears.

I packed the necessary items into my crossbody bag, and once I was done, I folded the cot and placed it in a corner to make it easier for the landlord to handle later.

And then...

 

 

"Do I... have to carry this?"

 

 

I hesitated for a moment in front of the awfully large and heavy gun.

 

 

"It's not like I can't carry it at all, and I'm taking the train anyway, and it's not that far... I guess I have to deal with it."

 

 

I slung the gun on my back with a strap, gathered the remaining guns and magazines, went to the entrance, put on my uniform shoes, which were like safety shoes, and stepped outside.

 

 

My school life finally begins.

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

"Huff... Haaah... Huuuff..."

 

 

As I climbed the stairs one by one, making struggling noises, the eyes of other students were drawn to me.

Why the hell don't these train stations have escalators or elevators!

I could do nothing but endure with grit, recalling the hellish march training I had done in the military in my past life.

 

 

"Ughhh..."

 

 

"Huh?"

 

 

Just then, I felt the weight lighten a bit, and when I looked back, I saw a white-haired student with a similar outfit, slightly lifting the gun I was carrying, helping me move it.

Oh, could it be...?

 

 

I knew this student's name, but I had to be careful because if I called her name without knowing what kind of relationship I had with her, it could lead to big trouble.

 

 

"Thanks for the help."

 

 

"It's nothing. It's natural for squad members to help each other."

 

 

Miyako called me a 'squad member'. It seemed that the Rabbit Squad already had some acquaintance with each other.

I thought it was good to know this information and that I could use it well to act naturally later, and together with Miyako, I finished climbing the stairs.

Finally reaching the platform, we waited for the train to arrive and had a little chat.

 

 

"By the way, didn't Miyu... come with you? I thought you two were always together."

 

 

No, I told you, I don't know.

 

 

"Well... I don't know either. I didn't get any messages, and I didn't see her on the way here, ...wait a minute."

 

 

I looked around, and sure enough, there was a suspicious-looking spent ammunition collection box.

I opened the lid, and of course, Miyu was inside.

 

 

"H-Hello, Nanna-chan. And Miyako-chan too..."

 

 

"Miyu? What are you doing in there?"

 

 

"I tried to take the train alone... but th-there were too many people..."

 

In short, she was hiding.

 

 

"If that's the case, you should have called me. What would you have done if you hadn't met us...?"

 

 

"S-Sorry... I was going to ask you to come with me, but I thought Nanna-chan might be em-embarrassed because of that incident—"

 

 

"Aaaak! Stop! Stop! That's a forbidden topic—!"

 

 

I quickly cut off Miyu's words.

 

 

"That incident...? If you don't mind, please tell me too. There shouldn't be any secrets or embarrassing things between squad members."

 

 

"No! It's really nothing! A-Anyway, the train is coming soon, so let's hurry and get on. We have to go to school!"

 

 

"...Yes, you're right. Let's go, then."

 

 

Miyu, Miyako, and I hurriedly got on the train.

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

As expected, SRT had quite specialized and large facilities.

However, perhaps because it was a school for a small number of elites, the number of students itself didn't seem to be that large compared to the huge schools represented by Millennuim.

 

 

"I can smell youth..."

 

"S-Sometimes Nanna-chan talks like an old man..."

 

 

"..."

 

 

Strictly speaking, that's true, but it still hurts a little...

 

 

"The entrance ceremony starts in an hour, so shall we go to the dorms first and drop off our things?"

 

 

"Let's do that. Honestly, my shoulders are starting to feel like they're going to fall off..."

 

 

"Nanna, with that small body of yours, why did you choose such a heavy weapon when you're struggling so much..."

 

 

Right. If I could, I'd like to ask that too.

 

 

We headed to the dorms as Miyako suggested.

I made sure to remember the direction and room number of the dorm so that I could find it on my own later.

When we opened the dorm room door, Saki was already there, sitting and maintaining her gun.

 

 

"Hello, Saki."

 

 

"You're late, Miyako. As the squad leader, can't you even be punctual?"

 

 

"What? We're not late, are we?"

 

 

"Haaah? Are you stupid? Sure, there's still some time left until the entrance ceremony, but the actual correct arrival time is 30 minutes earlier."

 

 

"Wasn't there no mention of arriving on time for the entrance ceremony in the first place?"

 

 

"If you came to SRT with that kind of attitude, you're going to be weeded out."

 

 

"Ughhh... G-Guys..."

 

 

Just then, Miyako stepped in between me and Saki, mediating the situation.

 

 

"Stop it. It's not good to have discord among squad members. Saki's not wrong... Yes, let's make sure to be on time from now on."

 

 

"...Tch."

 

 

"..."

 

 

Although there was still a bit of awkwardness, Saki went back to what she was doing without another word, and I went to my spot and unpacked the luggage that the moving company had brought yesterday.

 

 

"Come to think of it, one person is missing... Where's Moe?"

 

 

"That girl went out to buy something. She'll probably be back soon."

 

 

True to Saki's words, Moe came in not long after.

 

 

"Kuhihi, hello~. What? Everyone's already here?"

 

 

"Hello, Moe. You seem to be in a good mood?"

 

 

When Miyako asked, Moe took out an item from what appeared to be a convenience store bag and held it up.

 

 

"Ah... I got a good item. Look at this, it's a state-of-the-art smart bomb~?"

 

 

Moe seemed to like the item a lot, rubbing it against her cheek repeatedly.

 

 

"If I do this... like this~ Kuhihi..."

 

Uh, uh? Isn't that dangerous?

 

"H-Hey, stop that right now!"

 

"J-Just wait a moment! The entrance ceremony is about to start...!"

 

While Saki and I were shocked and Miyako was desperately trying to stop Moe from detonating the bomb, Miyu was, once again, hiding in the trash can.

Just as we were all bickering like this, an announcement was broadcast throughout the dormitory.

 

[Ahem, ahem, this is an announcement to all new students. The entrance ceremony will begin shortly in the auditorium, so all students should gather in the auditorium. You may leave your personal equipment and firearms behind...—]

 

"Tch... It was just getting fun."

 

"Huff... Huff... Please don't try to set off bombs in the dormitory again, Moe..."

 

"Miyako's right. ...Besides, other than personal firearms, explosives are prohibited in the dormitory! Put it back right now!"

 

After a small commotion, we all left our personal equipment in the dormitory and headed to the auditorium.

Except for one person.

 

As the four of us were walking, I suddenly felt something was off, so I spoke up first.

 

"...Hey, guys. Where's Miyu?"

 

"...Huh? Now that you mention it?"

 

"...I think I saw her going into the trash can earlier."

 

"I-I'll go get her!"

 

 

I quickly ran back to the dormitory and pulled Miyu, who had been left alone in the trash can, out.

It was also my job to comfort Miyu, who was dejected from being forgotten by everyone.

 

*

 

Back in the auditorium. We sat in our seats, waiting for the entrance ceremony to begin.

 

 

[The General Student Council President will now enter.]

 

 

I put aside the thought of 'Oh, she's still here,' and carefully watched the General Student Council President walk in from one side of the stage.

 

 

It was then.

 

 

-Smile.

 

 

"...Didn't she just smile at us?"

 

 

"It's probably your imagination. Just focus."

 

 

I thought our eyes met just now... Was it really my imagination?

 

 

The Student Council President stood in front of the podium, took a deep breath, and—

 

 

[-Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz—]

 

 

'Kyaaaak!'

 

 

'Th-The sound!'

 

 

'My ears!'

 

 

The amplified noise caused the focused students to cry out in pain.

 

 

["O-Oh, why is this happening? Ah, it's, it's working now."]

 

 

The flustered Student Council President stumbled for a moment before regaining her composure and continuing.

 

 

["I apologize for the brief confusion. As you all know, I am the General Student Council President of Kivotos—"]

 

 

I am ▒▒▒▒—

 

 

 

...? What was that? There was some kind of noise when she said her name.

 

 

Thinking it might be a microphone issue like before, I looked around, but the other students were calmly listening to the Student Council President.

 

 

["In order to ensure the peace and justice of Kivotos, I would like to express my encouragement and gratitude to all the students who have passed the rigorous entrance exam of SRT and are now standing here...—"]

 

 

The Student Council President's speech ended up being shorter and simpler than expected.

After that, other student council members took turns conducting the entrance ceremony, and finally, it was the turn for the top and second-ranked students of the year to take the oath.

 

 

["Then, will the top-ranked student of the year, Sorai Saki, and the second-ranked student, Youka Nanna, please come forward."]

 

 

Huh? Me?

 

 

"What are you doing? We practiced. Let's go."

 

 

"Uh, uhhhh...."

 

 

Uh?! Wait a minute, I don't know anything about practice! I've only been in Kivotos for three days!

 

 

But before I could even think about it, Saki grabbed my hand and dragged me onto the stage.

Everyone's eyes were on me and Saki.

I was extremely nervous under their gaze, and finally—

 

 

"Then, please proceed with the oath."

 

 

The staff member delivered the death sentence.