Chapter 52: Reunion

"Alright then… guess it's my turn to move out!"

Leaping off the rooftop, she kicked off the building’s outer wall and vaulted toward the next one. Repeating the motion, she gradually slowed her descent toward the ground.

"…There they are."

She sharply accelerated toward the spot where Azusa and the others had been moments ago, then delivered a side kick to one of the delinquent students.

"Guah!?"

"Y-you again…!?"

"What the hell are you people?! Who the hell are you!!!"

Dodging the thug’s wild swing, she swept his legs out from under him and fired a shotgun blast straight into his skull.

"Gh… guh—!"

Before he could lose consciousness completely, she slipped a bomb into his jacket and quickly backed away.

"H-hey, are you—gah!?"

The bomb detonated almost instantly, engulfing several nearby punks in a fiery blast.

"What the hell are you supposed to be…?"

Straightening her black, sailor-style outfit—different from her usual gear—she pulled her helmet down tight.

"…We’re the Helmet Gang!!!"

"Listen up, you worthless trash! What the hell do you think you’re doing on our turf!?"

…Yeah. That was an entirely different level of intimidation.

Bringing Sau along had definitely been the right call.

That was the general outline of this operation: Azusa needed to pass her academic exam and remain embedded as a spy within Trinity. However, they couldn’t let anyone discover Arius Branch’s existence, so they disguised themselves as the Helmet Gang.

Because of that, she couldn’t rely on her usual fighting style—no hair-rope swings or bomb-assisted acceleration this time. If someone on Mika or Tsurugi’s level appeared, it would be a problem, but there probably wasn’t anyone that strong around here. It should be fine.

"…Hmm. Looks like there’s no one left in this area."

"Then let’s hurry to the rendezvous point. I’ll move toward Azusa’s location. Our time and manpower are both limited."

For this mission, only the 1st and 8th Squads were under my command. With them here, our fighting strength wasn’t an issue—but we couldn’t afford to go all out either, which made things tricky.

…Still, there’s that one thing.

"Alright, you lot! Move out, now!"

"Y-yes, ma’am!"

"Good. …Hm? Squad Leader, what’s wrong?"

No, it’s just… this outfit feels weirdly breezy. Do Helmet Gang members always wear skirts this short?

"These short skirts are making it hard to focus…"

"…"

"Ah, there they are… Looks like Azusa and the others are… hmm, arguing."

When I finally caught up to Azusa’s group, they were in the middle of a shouting match with Gehenna’s Disciplinary Committee.

"Well, that’s… within expectations, I suppose."

Nagisa really does come up with some nasty plans, huh…

"Now then…"

Sneaking closer, I spotted the members of the Supplementary Lessons Department: Koharu, Hanako, Hifumi, and Azusa herself.

"Why would a Trinity student come to Gehenna’s territory just to take an exam!? At least come up with a more believable lie!"

"Th-that’s… fair… auu…"

"H-Hifumi-chan, don’t give up!!!"

…And besides them, there were a few unfamiliar faces.

Azusa had mentioned them before—the students who didn’t exist in the “Blue Archive” I knew, or in the “Eden Treaty Arc.” The members of the Volunteer Activities Club.

That trembling girl with the yellow hair, half in tears right now… she must be that odd one—the club president, Amakawa Asiri.

"And just who exactly are you people supposed to be…?"

When Azusa first told me about them, I’d been seriously shocked. They were too far removed from the original story and from the memories of my past life—completely unpredictable, total irregularities.

That’s why it was such a stroke of luck that Asiri and her group came along to take the exam.

"Alright then…"

She wore her yellow hair in a low ponytail draped over one shoulder. Her uniform was the standard Trinity sailor outfit. She was tall—probably a third-year—and wielded an assault rifle. Her personality seemed fragile, her tear glands way too loose. Just as the reports described.

"…!"

As I studied Asiri more closely, I noticed something.

"Wait—that’s…"

Attached to her bag was a keychain strap. A Momo Friends one—Pinky Paca, if I remembered right.

I’d seen it before. Ten years ago.

"Y-yes! M-my sister… she’s a high schooler, but where could she be…!?"

During the civil war… back then.

"…That’s right. The girl I rescued… and my little sister too?"

That time when I’d let someone die.

"Uu… i-it’s fine… I’m okay…"

…There it is again.

Alright, calm down. Breathe. Stay composed. As fast as possible.

"…Haa."

Taking a deep breath, I thought about Asiri’s true identity.

At first, I’d been shocked—but also a little hopeful. Someone who didn’t exist in the original story. An irregular, just like me. Someone who might be able to change this world’s fate.

…I wondered if maybe, just maybe, one of the Volunteer Activities Club members was also a reincarnated person like me.

If that had been the case, I was planning to make contact. Right now, Azusa’s academic performance was far better than the version I remembered. Which meant not just Azusa—but the entire Supplementary Lessons Department—was receiving help.

If one of them had been a reincarnator, an adult, I could’ve sought their cooperation.

But reality proved otherwise.

That strap… if my memory was correct, the girl wearing it ten years ago was the one searching for her sister. Ten years ago. A survivor connected to Arius Branch. Someone whose actions diverged from the knowledge I had of this world. A person who didn’t exist in the original story.

…In other words, those kids were the ones Cyan, Anna, and the others had helped escape back then.

"I see…"

They weren’t reincarnators. They didn’t know the original story. They were simply the children everyone had protected.

"I’m glad…"

Cyan, Anna… everyone’s actions hadn’t been in vain after all.

It was disappointing, certainly.

If there had been someone in Trinity who understood the “situation,” things would have gone a little smoother.

But either way, true cooperation would’ve been impossible. Getting them involved might have led to their deaths.

So there’s no problem. Nothing’s changed. It’s just the same as always.

That’s why, right now… the fact that traces of everyone still remain in this world—that those kids are living proof they once existed—that alone makes me genuinely happy.

Those children who escaped that day… they’re still out there, enjoying their youth, living peaceful lives.

My actions back then… they weren’t entirely wrong. Even if only a little, I managed to help protect what those kids wanted to protect.

I couldn’t fulfill my promise to Cyan, but Anna’s wish—to let everyone escape—at least that much came true.

And that alone… means more than anything.

"Report to command! The Justice Realization Committee is attacking!!"

"W-wait, it’s a misunderstanding! Seriously! And of course, she’s not answering her calls at a time like this…!!"

"We have no choice. Take them down."

"…Tch, this is bad."

This isn’t the time to stand around brooding. If this keeps up, Hina might show up—and even if I went all out, I’m not sure I could win.

…This is probably the only chance I’ll get to talk to Azusa. I can’t let it slip away.

If I remember right, in the original story, the Gourmet Research Society should be arriving soon—and they’re about to blow the Disciplinary Committee sky-high with bombs.

Which means the Disciplinary Committee, the Supplementary Lessons Department, the Volunteer Activities Club, and the Gourmet Research Society—all of them will be here. Plus Fuuka. I’ll have to hold off every one of them.

…Maybe I should’ve requested more people on this end. Well, whatever. I’ll make it work.

"…Wait, speak of the devil!"

A bomb came flying from behind the Supplementary Lessons Department.

And beyond that, I could see students from Gehenna in a car—the Gourmet Research Society.

"Hmph!"

I threw a stone at the bomb, knocking it off course and detonating it midair.

"!?"

"W-what the hell was that explosion!?"

"Oh my, a malfunction… no, it seems someone deflected it."

…Figures Haruna would notice. She was the one who threw it, after all.

"Y-you Gourmet Research Society scum!! Taking advantage of the chaos—!"

"My, what a rude thing to say. We merely walked through an open door, that’s all. With a little help from our friend, of course."

"Mmff!! Mmm—mmph!!"

…Poor Fuuka.

"Damn it…!"

Ah, crap. They’re trying to call for reinforcements.

Even if it’s all a misunderstanding, this “Trinity assault” situation is bad—if Hina really shows up, it won’t be a laughing matter.

"At Area 13, the Gourmet Research Society, the School Lunch Club, and the Justice Realization Committee have launched an atta—!"

"T-the communicator’s been destroyed…! When did that happen!?"

"…! Over there!"

"I-I don’t even know what’s happening anymore!!"

…Well, this is just great. A straight road—no chance of kidnapping Azusa here.

In that case…

"There’s only one way forward—straight through!!!"

"W-wha—what now!?"

I poured every ounce of my Mystic power into a bomb and hurled it, blasting the paved road apart completely.

Using the dust cloud as cover, I scattered multiple smoke grenades and closed in on the Disciplinary Committee.

"Guh—what the!?"

"H-hey, what’s—kyaa!!"

A quick jab to the jaw dropped one of them instantly. I took out a few more before enhancing my vision and hearing with Mystic energy.

"—Waaaah!? Is everyone okay!?"

"My, my… this is quite the surprise."

"Wait, I just got here! What even is this situation!?"

Amid the chaos, I heard a familiar voice.

That soft, still slightly childish, yet adorable voice—my beloved little sister’s.

I ran toward the sound, enhanced vision cutting through the haze until I spotted her white hair.

Unlike mine, it was beautifully translucent.

"…Azusa!!!"

"…! S-suo—!?"

Confirming it was really her, I leapt forward and pulled her into a tight hug before I could stop myself.

"W-what are you doing all of a sudden—"

"Shh… quiet. Let’s talk in sign."

I whispered softly into her ear. Azusa nodded, going still.

…The faint click of a gun’s safety being released before the transmission started was probably just my imagination.

『I’m sorry. After all this time, this is the first thing I have to tell you.』

『It’s fine. You did it to avoid drawing attention, right… this uproar was your doing too, Suou?』

『For this particular mess, yes… but as for the others, not entirely.』

The main cause was the so-called “hot spring development project,” which was really just terrorism and destruction under a fancy name.

…Nagisa probably knew about that too. Her sense of humor was truly awful.

『There’s a lot I’d like to talk about, but time is short, so I’ll keep it brief.』

『Alright.』

『First, about the exam. Don’t worry. Until it’s over, we’ll be supporting everyone in the Supplementary Lessons Department. Do your best without holding back.』

『…Thank you. I didn’t think permission would actually be granted.』

…Honestly, neither did I.
Even using Azusa’s ongoing spy assignment as justification, Beatrice agreeing to it had been a fifty-fifty chance at best.

But if Azusa managed to pass the exam, at least one of our major concerns would disappear.
That’s why I took the gamble to get approval—but the price was steep.

『Yes… but because of that, we’ve run into trouble. Serious trouble.』

『…What kind of trouble?』

『Don’t worry about it.』

…Damn. I shouldn’t have mentioned that.

『It’s not something that’ll affect us immediately. Besides, it’s still manageable.』

『…』

『So don’t worry. Leave it to your big sister. Azusa, focus on the exam for now.』

At this point, the results hardly mattered.
No matter how things turned out, the members of the Supplementary Lessons Department wouldn’t be expelled.

…But still, that’s that—and this is this.

『Your big sister and everyone in the squad are cheering for you. Give it your all.』

『…Thank you. I’m not your sister, though.』

『……』

Hmm… I thought that might slip through, but no luck.
Oh well.

『Azusa-chan!! Are you alright!?』

『Ah.』

Looks like Hifumi and the others made it through the smoke. I should get moving before they start getting suspicious.

『The smoke will clear soon. We’ll talk about the rest later—tonight, perhaps. For now, let’s each do what we can.』

『Okay.』

As Azusa turned to leave, I instinctively reached out and grabbed her arm.

"…?"

"Well, um… it’s just that we haven’t seen each other in so long. I really, really missed you."

"…!"

…Yeah. It was important to say that.
You have to tell people how you feel while you still can.

"I see. It’s been unusually peaceful for me too. I haven’t woken up to find a suspicious person standing by my bed in the morning."

"Ugh…!"

Oh right… that did happen once, didn’t it!?

"But… yeah. I missed you too."

"…Azusa…!!"

…Yeah. I know I shouldn’t be thinking this, but… I’m really happy.

『Over here! I heard Azusa-chan’s voice this way!』

"Uh-oh… this is getting bad."

"Yeah… I have to go."

Turning her back to me, Azusa started running toward the sound of Hifumi and the others’ voices.

I watched her go, then started to move as well, to back her up—
but just then, Azusa suddenly turned around.

"Well then… I’ll be going now!"

"! …Take care!"

…She said it with a shy little smile, and somehow, I found myself feeling shy too.