Chapter 62: Choice

"Y-you… are you… from Arius…?"

"!?"

Shock. An utterly unexpected turn of events.

But the girls reacted instantly.

"Asiri, watch out!!"

"Ah—kya!!"

Gunfire burst toward Asiri. Her eyes locked with Shirasu Azusa’s for the briefest moment—and in that instant, she understood.

Run. She knows about the Arius Branch School.

That was what Azusa’s gaze conveyed.

Heeding that silent warning, Asiri grabbed the medical kit and Suou, then fled the scene.

"…Looks like they retreated."

"Th-thanks, Azusa-chan… they took the medical kit, though."

Asiri gripped Shirasu Azusa’s hand and pushed herself upright. Her legs trembled—not from fear, not from nerves, not even from anger.

"Those girls just now…"

A strange mix of joy—and frustration.

"They were from Arius Branch School… I won’t let them get away! No matter what, I won’t! I’ll find my sister and that person…!!"

This wasn’t like before, when she’d been with Shirasu Azusa.
This time, it was pure joy—finally encountering members of the Arius Branch School—and the crushing regret of letting them slip away before she could act.
Those two emotions collided violently within her.

"I’ll catch them… I’ll catch them and hear their story. That’s the whole reason I’ve worked so hard all this time. I’ll definitely, definitely find them. Azusa-chan, let’s go after them!"

"Asiri…"

Azusa called her name softly, noting the feverish intensity in her voice.
But Asiri didn’t seem to hear.

"Follow me."

"Asiri!!"

"Ah—!!"

The second shout—Azusa’s raised voice—finally snapped Asiri back to her senses.

"Calm down. Don’t lose sight of what we’re supposed to be doing right now."

"…"

"We’re basically the advance team—you and I. I move fast, and you support me. We were supposed to check on the teacher’s condition first. That was the plan."

Oh right… that was the plan, wasn’t it?
Asiri blinked, her thoughts still scattered.

After that explosion, they had decided to rescue their teacher.
Originally, Azusa was going to go alone and the rest would follow later—it was faster that way.
But Asiri had insisted on joining. She’d had a feeling… that the explosion, the entire attack, might have been caused by the Arius Branch School.

"But still—we have to go after them…!! If we don’t, the clue we need will disappear—!"

"Get a hold of yourself. There’s no way to chase them now."

Azusa’s tone stayed even as she reasoned with Asiri, who was still trembling with frustration.
But even Azusa herself wasn’t entirely calm.

They didn’t understand the full situation.
Fighting echoed in the distance—Arius students were still engaged in battle, that much was certain.
And those sounds… they were eerily familiar. The same kind she’d heard a year ago—during the battle with Mika.

Which meant—Misono Mika was fighting Arius students right now.

And on top of that, Kirihana Suou had been badly injured. That alone was enough to unsettle anyone—but why?

"More importantly, remember this. Those two back there are still alive. That unconscious one—she was strong. I could feel it. She’s stronger than me."

Azusa continued, hiding her own unease behind a calm tone.
She wasn’t lying—but part of her simply didn’t want Asiri getting any closer to the Arius students.

She knew it was selfish. But even now, the thought of everyone discovering her true identity terrified her.

In any case, they needed time—for the others to escape. That was why she had volunteered to go ahead in the first place.

"You can still hear fighting over there. The Arius Branch students are still engaged. Let’s head that way—that’s our best move."

"But—!"

"Asiri."

"…Yeah. You’re right. Sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight."

A rash decision, driven purely by emotion.

She scolded herself inwardly, steadied her breathing, and turned toward the source of the noise.

"!?"

"!!"

A thunderous boom followed—louder than the one that had shaken the annex earlier. Both girls froze for a heartbeat.

"T-that sound…!"

"…Let’s move."

It was the sound of someone’s attack—most likely Imashino Misaki’s.

Feeling a mix of dread and inevitability, Shirasu Azusa sprinted toward the source of the explosion.

"Haah… haah…!"

──That was close.

Breathing hard, Saori didn’t even have the breath to say it aloud.
Right after shoving Mika toward the mines, she had immediately pulled back.

Even so, Misaki’s blast had tremendous range—one of her trump cards.
There was no dodging it completely; Saori was still caught by part of the explosion’s shockwave.

"Saori!! Are you okay!?"

"Sacchan!!"

"Misaki… Atsuko… don’t let your guard down yet…"

Saori scolded the two who had rushed to her side—but inwardly, she felt a flicker of relief.
Even that monster wouldn’t walk away unscathed after an explosion like that.

"With that…!"

"You think we got her?"

"—!!"

A voice came from behind.
Without even looking, Saori kicked off the ground to gain distance.

"Cough… yeah, that was really something. I was almost done for too."

"Ghh—!!"

"Leader!"

But even wounded, the opponent was still Mika. Shaking her off wouldn’t be easy.
A shot rang out—Saori’s leg was struck by a submachine gun round.

Atsuko instantly raised her own SMG, barrel aimed squarely at Mika.

"You’re too slow!"

"—!!"

But she never got the chance to pull the trigger.
Mika’s fist slammed into her, sending her flying several meters back.

"What the hell, Mika… how did you survive that!?"

"Hm? Ah, that? Oh, that’s simple."

Mika lifted her right arm—charred black and shredded.

"I punched the explosion ☆"

"—!!"

That was her answer.

"See, Suou-chan used the blast to move, right? So I figured, hey, maybe I can do the opposite! Guess I wasn’t wrong!"

"You monster…!!"

Saori’s insult only made Mika puff up in irritation.
She stomped forward, the ground cracking beneath each step.

To stop her, the Eighth Squad opened fire—rifle bursts, Misaki’s rocket launcher, and Saori’s mystic-infused bullets all flying toward Mika.

"Okay, this one I’ll catch. That one’s bad news. Oh, and that one’s the worst—better dodge that!"

She batted, absorbed, and evaded the barrage almost casually as she advanced.

"Cough…!"

Even Mika’s stamina wasn’t limitless. In truth, she was nearing her limit.
Standing upright was already a miracle.
That was why she focused only on neutralizing the attacks she absolutely couldn’t afford to take.

Compared to Kirihana Suou, Mika’s body was far less durable.
The only reason she was still standing was her own extraordinary resilience.

"Haaah!"

"—!!"

She hurled back several of the bullets she’d caught, knocking out two squad members.

All that remained were Saori—battered and barely holding on—Atsuko, reeling from her earlier hit,
and Misaki, the only one still standing strong as rear support.

Misono Mika kept advancing.

"…Yeah, looks like I’m out of options."

"We’re not done yet…!!"

Saori tried to raise her gun again, but Mika looked down at her coldly—then kicked her with all her strength.

"Come on, give it a rest already. You’re being way too stubborn. I planted a tracker on Suou-chan, so we can find her just fine."

"Ghh—!!"

"Misono Mika! Over here!"

"Oh, here—take this! I swiped it earlier."

"—!!"

Mika tossed a grenade she’d stolen from Suou, its shell glowing faintly with mystic energy—right toward Misaki.

"Misaki!!"

"You really think you’ve got time to worry about someone else, huh!?
Geez, Atsuko-chan, can you still fight?"

"Guh—uugh…!"

"Ahaha! There it is! Finally heard a cute little sound outta you."

"—Mika!!"

One by one. Then another.
Slowly but surely, Mika was cutting down the squad.

"With this, finally…"

And just as her shadow loomed over Saori—ready to strike—

"Wh-what is this…!? What’s happening here!?"

Amagawa Asiri and Shirasu Azusa arrived at the scene.

"…"

Mika paused, thinking.
Azusa’s arrival wasn’t part of her plan.

Capturing Shirasu Azusa wasn’t necessary—not right now.
The one she truly needed to catch was Kirihana Suou.

She’d only gone this far because she knew the Eighth Squad wouldn’t abandon Suou.
That was the only reason.

As for Azusa, she still had an escape route—the Trinity Integrated Academy.
No need to push for a capture.

"Azusa-chan, and you’re… Asiri-chan, right? We just repelled the attackers. So, be good and stay put, okay?"

If they stayed out of it, Mika would let them go.

Even without fully understanding the situation, Azusa caught the meaning behind her words.

"With this…"

"W-wait…"

"What is it, Azusa-chan?"

"Azusa… chan…?"

Azusa felt Asiri’s piercing glare on her.

She knew.
Asiri’s earlier words—she had recognized from the uniforms that Mika and her partner were from the Arius Branch School.
And most likely, she had already noticed the emblem Azusa wore—the same as theirs.

She had been suspicious all along.
That Shirasu Azusa might be a student of Arius Branch School.
And now, even the smallest slip could expose her completely.

"What’s wrong? You’re so quiet all of a sudden."

Then why?
Why had she stopped them—knowing full well the risk?

That contradiction. That unease.

She understood it. Shirasu Azusa understood it perfectly.

There were only two choices before her—and soon, she would have to decide which one to take.

"Haa… haa…"

"…If you’ve got nothing to say, then I’ll make the first move. We don’t exactly have much time here."

"…!"

Azusa didn’t even have time to resolve that inner conflict before she was forced to make a choice.

Her vision narrowed, her consciousness dimmed, her breath came ragged, and her trembling hands tried to raise her weapon—

"—Gah!?"

But before she could pull the trigger, Mika was suddenly knocked sideways, sent flying by a violent blow.

"Eh…?"

"!? Mika-san!?"

Taking advantage of that brief opening, Saori moved.

Close-quarters combat was risky, but against someone this worn down—it was worth the gamble.

"Don’t move!! Or I’ll fill her mouth with lead!!"

"Agh!!"

Saori pinned Mika to the ground, shoved her gun barrel into Mika’s mouth, and used her as a hostage to threaten Asiri and Azusa.

"Damn it…!!"

"Asiri, don’t move recklessly."

"Ugh…!"

Azusa exchanged a glance with Asiri. The two gave a subtle nod, careful not to make it obvious.

That shot earlier—it had been Hiyori’s sniper fire. Mika must’ve taken a direct hit from that rock bullet and suffered severe damage, yet she’d still managed to create a crucial opening.

They couldn’t waste it. They had to escape now—get Azusa and themselves away from that yellow-haired woman.

With that intent, Saori began issuing orders—

"All right… slowly back away, return to your original posit—!"

Her words were cut short by a sudden bullet whizzing toward them.

"Wha—!?"

"That’s far enough!"

"Y–you’re…!!"

A girl with long platinum-blonde hair and white wings stood before them. Beside her was an adult man in a white coat—Sensei—and behind them, a unit from the Justice Realization Committee.

Saori had never seen them in person, but she recognized them immediately—she’d heard their descriptions from Suou Kirihana.

"Nagi-chan!? And… Sensei!?"

"Honestly. I heard the sounds of battle, so I came to check—and of course, you’re right in the middle of it again. You really are a handful."

His voice was gentle—not scolding, but warm, even relieved, as though reassured to find them safe.

"…Sorry."

"…Well, fine. Thanks to you…"

But his tone suddenly changed—turning sharp and cold.

"…You two are from the Arius Branch School, aren’t you?"

"…!!"

His icy gaze pierced them as he spoke.

"This facility is surrounded by the Justice Realization Committee. I’d appreciate it if you surrendered peacefully."

"Guh…!!"

Just when it seemed the tide had turned, the situation flipped again.

Mika could no longer fight. And against the Committee’s forces—even with support from the First, Sixth, and Seventh Squads—the Eighth Squad’s strength was barely comparable, if not weaker.

Their stamina was gone. Escape was hopeless.

And then—

"Azusa-chan! Asiri-san! Are you okay!?"

"…!"

"Everyone!? What are you all doing here!?"

"Of course we came! We were worried about Sensei!"

Even the Supplementary Lessons Department and Volunteer Service Club had arrived at the scene.

At this point, the Eighth Squad’s retreat was completely impossible—except for the two who had escaped earlier with Suou Kirihana.

"Mika-san, just to confirm—those two over there?"

"They’re uninvolved. They came because they thought Sensei was in danger."

"…I see."

From Nagisa’s perspective, both of them—especially Shirasu Azusa—had looked suspicious. She had almost assumed Azusa was behind the incident. But whether she fully trusted them or not, it seemed—for now—she was mistaken.

"Well then… please, drop your weapons."

"…"

There was no way out for any of them.

Saori made her decision—to at least let as many of her squad escape as possible. She reached for her gun—

"…I’m sorry, Hifumi. Everyone…"

"Eh…?"

But a voice echoed from somewhere unseen—stopping her cold.

"The ones dropping their weapons… are you, Kirifuji Nagisa."

"—!?"

Nagisa turned toward the direction of the voice.

A familiar figure—long white hair.
Someone whose tail she had tried to catch time and time again.

"Azusa…-chan? Why are you…?"

Shirasu Azusa was pointing a gun at Ajitani Hifumi.

At that same moment, inside a certain facility within Trinity.

"This one was totally weak, huh?"

"Yeah…"

"Ugh… ngh…!!"

Hiyori, covered in wounds from head to toe, was bound by the Justice Realization Committee.

"Why did this have to happen…!"

She’d pushed herself too hard after being injured by Mika.
Because of that, she couldn’t move after the sniper attack, and before she knew it, they’d found and captured her.

Ah, it hurts… it’s hard to breathe… why me, of all people…
Those gloomy thoughts filled her mind, yet her body remained frozen.

"For now, I’ll handle support. You deal with her—"

"Hey."

"…!"

Suddenly—the sound of shattering glass, gunfire, explosions.
She curled up, bracing for impact, when she felt her restraints loosen.

"N-now’s my chance…!!"

"Excuse me."

Just as she tried to slip away, her right shoulder was firmly grabbed.

"Hiiee!? I-I’m sorry! I wasn’t trying to escape, really…!!"

This is it, I’m done for. I wonder if prison food is any good.
Such thoughts flashed through her mind as she shut her eyes tight—
but the blow she expected never came.

"It’s me. Calm down."

A familiar voice reached her ears. Slowly, she opened her eyes—
and there stood the white-haired squad leader she knew well: Kirihana Suou.

"S-Suou-san!? You’re hurt—"

"I’m fine. Thanks to everyone."

"…!!"

It was an obvious lie.
Though the hole in her left arm had closed, several other wounds still marked her body.
She was far from recovered.

"B-but, um… right now…!"

"Yes, I understand the situation. …Sorry I’m late."

"N-no…! But what should we do…!"

Honestly, Hiyori wanted nothing more than to run away.
But Saori, Misaki, and Atsuko were all still in danger.
The thought of leaving them behind kept her from taking even one step back.

"…Hiyori."

Kirihana Suou met her anxious gaze with calm, steady eyes.

"From now on, I’ll tell you something important. Can you… tell everyone for me?"

Her expression carried a quiet sadness as she spoke those words.