Chapter 24: A little while later—

"Saori. I’m back."

Saori was sitting with her back against the training ground wall.

It was a rare sight—almost like she was showing a hint of doubt, a flicker of “weakness.”

"Suou…? How… was it?"

I shook my head in response to her question.

"…I see."

"Are you disappointed? About Azusa?"

"Wh—!? H-how do you know—"

"Because I’m your big sister. I can tell."

Saori, even in this world…

"When I heard that story… I don’t know why, but I thought it had to be Azusa."

I’d wanted Azusa to become the bridge between Arius and Trinity.

"I guess it’s just favoritism… Everyone should be the same, but…"

"Well, she is especially strong… and kind. More than anything, she has a personality that draws people in. Maybe you picked up on that unconsciously?"

"…Maybe."

Saori’s expression still didn’t brighten.

…I could more or less guess why.

"Misaki, Hiyori, Atsuko… They’ve all become much livelier since you came. The reason you panicked when you saw Misaki’s blood… When did you even see under those bandages?"

"…"

I couldn’t answer. It was knowledge from the original story. I couldn’t tell her that. All I could do was wear the usual smile.

"There wasn’t any warning. We’d been looking after Atsuko for about half a year, I think. Misaki was cutting her left wrist at the water’s edge, and I… I didn’t notice…"

"…I see."

"It was my fault… because I was too useless… Unlike you… I couldn’t protect her… That’s probably why. Why Azusa seems a little special to me, even among the squad."

"…"

"Sometimes I think… If it had been you from the start, not me… If you’d been there… Misaki might not have those scars now."

"…"

She’s probably been carrying this for a long time. Because things became brighter than in the original, these feelings grew inside her. But she’s wrong. Absolutely.

"You’re an idiot. There’s no way that’s true. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve failed?"

"…Huh?"

A dependable figure. A dependable “big sister.”

But maybe that’s become a burden for this girl. Because she’s strong—because her sense of duty and her desire to protect everyone are stronger than anyone else’s—she belittles herself, thinking she’s not fulfilling her role.

But that’s not true.

"If I’d been their sister from the start… nobody would be alive right now."

"…?"

I sat down next to Saori.

"You know? Because of my failures… I’ve killed people."

"…Wha…?"

Ah, crap. I can’t even keep up the act right now.

But maybe the only way I can face Saori now is by showing this weakness. Just a little.

"Don’t tell the others, okay? I’m really an idiot… weak… spoiled… a messed-up bastard. I honestly think I should’ve just died."

"…"

"The current ‘me’ exists on the backs of countless sacrifices. Until then, the one who protected everyone… was undeniably you."

"…"

"You saved Atsuko. You shielded Azusa. …Come to think of it, you even tried to protect them from me, didn’t you?"

"…I’m not apologizing for that."

"Haha… And how about now? Not just when I’m gone. Even now. You’re always the one protecting them, aren’t you? You’re the one who even helped with repairs to the house—though, okay, Misaki helped with that too."

"…Yeah, that’s right."

We’d drifted a little off-topic. But I’m sure what I wanted to say got through.

"I’m really grateful that you’re here with everyone, you know?"

"…"

"And! Even now the squad still won’t call me big sis, you know!? Even Misaki sometimes calls you ‘big sister,’ Saori!!"

"…Haha… You’re just too pushy."

"See? The answer’s already there. The squad probably thinks of you as their big sister, more than me. Isn’t that the result of everything you’ve built up?"

"…Maybe so."

It’s a frustrating thing to admit.

But no—I’ll definitely make them call me big sis someday…!! Absolutely…!!!

"…Sorry. For showing you such a pathetic side of me."

"No, no! Because I’m your… big sister!!"

"…You’re always like that."

"Because it’s true!! If Saori is the squad’s sister, then I—Saori’s sister—am also the squad’s sister!"

"Haha… Yeah, maybe so… You’ve always been a help to me—"

She’s awfully straightforward today. Normally she’d cut me off right away. Well, maybe now Saori’s worries will ease up a little…

"—Big sister."

"—Eh?"

…? What did she just say?

Big sister? Who? Me…?

"…!? Eh!? Wait, again!!! Say that again!! Please!! I’m recording it!!"

"L-like hell I will!! I worked up my courage to say that!! And you—!! …Ugh… Now I feel like taking it back."

"P-please, anything but that!!"

"…Anyway, I’m going home."

"W-wait!! Saori!? You just called me big sister, right!? I’m your big sister, right!? Saori!!"

"Can’t hear you."

"Uwaaaaahhh!!"

…Well, whatever.

For now, I’ll just be happy that Saori’s smile has returned.

"Anyway. Azusa, the transfer to Trinity has been shelved."

"…I see."

During a break in the next day’s training, at one corner of the training ground, I told Azusa—who was quietly reading something—the news.

"Sorry. I must have gotten your hopes up for nothing."

"It’s not like I was hoping for anything. Don’t worry about it."

"…Really? You’re not super depressed about it?"

That magazine she was reading… wasn’t it a Trinity school guide? The one Mika had dumped on us…

"Not really. …It’s just…"

"Hm?"

"…I just find Suou’s behavior a little strange."

"…!!?"

—Ah, crap.

No. Calm down. Cover it up.

"Strange? In what way?"

"Suou always has this tendency—not just with ‘her,’ but in general—to try and deceive the eyes of adults."

"…"

"So this time too, I thought the usual Suou would either keep it from ‘her’ entirely… or suggest sending her in as a spy."

…She’s sharp.

She’s noticed my usual approach—and how this time I deviated from it.

"Why? Sometimes Suou does things I don’t understand."

"…"

This isn’t the first time I’ve deliberately avoided altering the original story.

For example—Momofriends.
A character brand that exists in Kivotos.

Once, Azusa had noticed it.

『Hey, Suou. What’s that? It’s really cute.』

『Hm? …Ah—Sorry, I don’t really know either. It is cute, though… But personally, I think that bird is just gross. Absolutely.』

『R-really…』

Later, Azusa learned about Momofriends from Ajitani Hifumi. Of course, that was only the trigger, but it definitely became one reason their bond deepened.

If my plan went well, Azusa would transfer to Trinity just like in the original, and live there.
At that time, building relationships with Hifumi and the rest of the Supplementary Lessons Club would be extremely important.

That’s why I’d tried not to bring up Momofriends too much back then.
So this kind of cover-up isn’t new.

In other words—because I can’t reveal my knowledge of the original story, Azusa might already be noticing the inconsistencies in my behavior.

"It’s not that complicated. Sending a student without telling that hag isn’t impossible, but she’d definitely find out. Passing it off as a spy mission could work too, but you’d need the track record to back it up, right? Trinity’s intel leaking to Beatrice—that’s too soon."

"…Too soon?"

…What to do.

I’ll have to share a little of the truth.

Not the entire plan. She’d definitely oppose it. Worse—in the worst case, Azusa herself might be killed.

So, just a little.

"Yes. Did you hear about the other day? The ‘adult’ who came to Kivotos."

"…You mean Schale? I heard it was something like a handyman service."

"Exactly. You remembered well. To put it simply, I thought that might be… the key to helping everyone."

"…!?"

Schale—an extra-legal organization not bound even by the Federal Student Council.

Its actual work is close to that of a handyman, but they can summon students, and most importantly, they’re led by a teacher—an ‘adult.’

"Think about it. Do you believe there’s any other organization that powerful in Kivotos?"

"…That may be true."

"It comes down to military force… but the fact remains that we can’t change Arius with just our strength alone."

"…"

Truly—Beatrice’s power is still immeasurable.

The Arius teachers and the old extremists from ten years ago.
Her collaborator, Gematria.
And the monstrous power Beatrice herself wields.

Even weakened, the monstrous Beatrice had enough strength to face the Arius Squad under the teacher’s command.
Taking down Beatrice, the head of the organization, first—it’s just not realistic right now.

"That’s why we have to evaluate Schale first. See if they’re trustworthy, and just how much power they really have. That’s why acting carelessly now—drawing suspicion, or handing Trinity’s intel over to Beatrice—that’s the last thing we want."

Honestly, everything I’ve been saying up to now is just a front.

Schale… and Sensei—there’s no question about it—they’re on the students’ side. That much is certain. They’ll protect the younger girls for sure.

And as for information, it’s going to leak through Misono Mika anyway.

"…So, that’s the reasoning behind my actions this time. Does that make sense to you?"

"…Yeah. Sorry for asking something weird."

"It’s totally fine!! Don’t worry about it!"

…I really didn’t expect her to start doubting me like this.
I might need to be more careful.

"…But, someday. If something like this comes up again, I might have to ask you for help. When that happens… is it okay if I rely on you?"

"Of course. Anytime."

"…Thank you."

…An immediate answer.
She really is so kind… and so strong.

"Don’t worry about it. I’m often saved by you too, Suou."

"Well, of course! I’m your big sister after all!"

"That’s not true."

"Ugh…! W–well, setting the whole sister thing aside! Whether it’s family or friends… when someone close to you is in trouble, everyone tries their best to help!"

She’s that kind of person.
That’s why, in the original story, she tried to shoulder everything alone.
Tried to handle it all by herself so she wouldn’t drag anyone else in.

And then Hifumi and the rest of the Supplementary Class Department forced their way in, trying to stay by her side.
I’m sure that’s why, later in the original story, Azusa learned she could rely on everyone.

"Even if you’re not strong enough. Even if you live in a different world. No matter what happens, you’ll try to help anyway. So someday, when you’re in trouble, Azusa, you need to lean on me, on everyone… and on your friends too, okay?"

"…? Got it."

If my plan succeeds, that event might never happen.
There’s a chance Azusa will lose the ability to lean on the Supplementary Class Department.

That’s why, even if it doesn’t get through to her now… if possible, I want her to remember this.

Because if my plan does succeed, then I’ll no longer be able to teach her anything… or change anything.

"Break time’s about over. Shall we go?"

"Got it."

So I have to do whatever I can while I still have the chance.