Chapter 16: A Day in the Life of Trinity Students

Many students bustled through Trinity Square. With no barriers between grade levels, everyone spent their lunch break however they pleased—yet the eyes of the crowd naturally gravitated toward a trio passing by.

Though only first-years, the girls wore their white Tea Party uniforms with refined elegance, carrying themselves with a dignified presence far beyond their age. As officer cadets under the Tea Party’s subordinate organization—and seen as the first-year representatives of Trinity’s three major factions, Pater, Filius, and Sanctus—they walked with graceful smiles, chatting as they headed somewhere.

"You're lovely as always today… Maiha-sama."

"Aika-sama… I can hardly believe we’re the same age. You have such quintessential Trinity poise."

"Maasa-sama… you’re simply adorable…"

To the other first-years watching, the three were objects of admiration. Many could already imagine them, two years from now, working hand in hand to lead all of Trinity.

Lately, whenever the three of us walk together, I can feel the stares. How should I put it… admiration? That kind of warm, intense gaze. We’re just normal first-years though—well, technically.

"The next day off looks like we’ll finally have some time to relax. Shall we go somewhere together?"

Most of our pre–summer break exams were done, and I’d been thinking it’d be nice to have a little “good work, everyone” outing. Naturally, I had no reason to refuse, so I started thinking about where to go.

"Maasa-san, you’ve been buried in paperwork for quite some time… How about the shopping mall by the station?"

"I’m in too~"

I’d been wanting to buy some accessories and other things, so a shopping mall with a few fashion stores sounded perfect. To me it was a cursed place—I’d been harassed by delinquent students twice before—but ever since I started hanging around with Maiha and Maasa, no one dared pick a fight anymore.

"Then it’s decided."

I was already excited for our next day off.

And so, a few days later on our long-awaited holiday, we met at noon and started with lunch at a café near the mall. Once our stomachs were full, it was finally shopping time.

"Shall we start by looking at accessories?"

"Yeah, sounds good~"

"I’m not particularly interested… but if the two of you are going, I’ll join."

"Should we pick out something cute that suits you, Maasa-chan~?"

"…Very well, please do."

"Hehe. Now then… this is the place."

Their back-and-forth made me smile without thinking. Nice—this is exactly the feeling of youth. It was wonderful.

It reminded me of the vow I made when I woke up seven years ago. …Yeah. I really am getting to enjoy my blue spring—my youth—here in Kivotos. I felt that from the bottom of my heart.

While browsing the accessories, wondering what to get, I noticed a familiar silhouette.

"Oh? Ajitani-senpai?"

Right—Ajitani Hifumi. A girl who loves the Momo Friends. An ordinary… ordinary? …well, a girl.

"Ahaha… It’s been a while, Aika-san."

"You know her?"

"Yes. We happened to work together during one of my officer cadet missions. It’s been about a month since then, I suppose."

"I see~"

"Ahaha… Wait, Aika-san, the charm on your bag—could that be…?"

Hifumi’s gaze went straight to the Adélie badge.

"Yes, it’s Angry Adélie. I’m a fan."

"You were a Momo Friends fan…!? You should’ve told me…!"

"At the time… well, the mission didn’t leave much room for that."

Back then all I could think about was taking down Kaiser. I completely forgot. And well, aside from Adélie, I’m not a particularly devoted fan.

"Peroro-sama! How about Peroro-sama…!?"

Without hesitation, Hifumi grabbed a Peroro accessory from the display and showed it to me.

"What is this? This duck looks like it’s on something—mmph!"

"Maasa-chan, some people like that kind of thing too~"

Maasa tried to give her brutally honest opinion of Peroro, but Maiha quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. Though calling it “that kind of thing” isn’t exactly gentle either.

"Ah, I don’t have much interest aside from Adélie-san… but perhaps it’s just the sort of character some people enjoy."

"Ahaha…"

The safest possible answer. Well, since Hifumi becomes a major figure later in the Eden Treaty, there’s a good chance we’ll interact again—so choosing my words carefully is wise.

After that, the four of us—now including Hifumi somehow—enjoyed shopping together. We even bought matching scrunchies in different colors.

"Well then, everyone… if the opportunity comes, let’s meet again."

"Yes, I would be delighted."

"See you later, Hifumi-senpai~"

"Goodbye."

After waving off the three as they headed home, I didn’t return to the dorms. Instead, I walked alone toward the station. My destination was…

〈The 16:43 rapid service to the D.U. District will soon arrive at Platform 1. Please stand behind the yellow line.〉

After several minutes rocking on the train, I arrived at a station in the D.U. District, closest to SCHALE. After grabbing a quick dinner at the station’s snack corner, I headed straight toward my goal.

"Sensei, are you here?"

I hadn’t been here since a few weeks ago, but today was the first time I’d actually been called in for duty. I’d said I probably couldn’t come because I wanted to go out, but Sensei told me it was fine to come after my plans were done—so I gratefully took them up on that offer.

"Aika? Yeah, thanks for coming."

"So, regarding my assignment as today’s SCHALE duty officer… what exactly am I supposed to do?"

"A few days ago, Valkyrie reported that some delinquent students have been causing trouble near the border between the D.U. District and the Trinity Autonomous Zone. The group’s too big for Valkyrie to handle alone, so they asked SCHALE to deal with it."

"Come to think of it, I do recall seeing some rather noisy individuals… so we just have to quiet them down?"

Is this what would be considered a standard mission in the game?

"Pretty much. I’ve called in a few other SCHALE members besides you, so work together and sort it out."

"And how will we get to the scene? I left my beloved weapon truck at the dorm today…"

Right, since I was going out with Maiha and Maasa, I thought it’d be fine to leave the Pom-Pom Cannon back at the dorm. That’s why I simply took the train here to SCHALE.

"We’ll take a SCHALE helicopter to the site, so that part’s fine. But as for your weapon… hmm."

"…Ah, that reminds me. The trouble spot is near the Trinity Autonomous Zone, isn’t it?"

Meaning—relatively close to the dorm where the Pom-Pom Cannon is stored.

"That’s right. …Don’t tell me."

"Yes. If you could drop me off near the Trinity General Academy dorms, I’ll head over with the truck afterward."

"Got it. Then I’m counting on you."

We waited until the other students arrived, and after everyone gathered, we boarded the helicopter together.

As for the others…

"Hey, are we there yet?"

"It’s only been five minutes, Serika."

"Sensei, how much work do you still have left? Once this is over, I’ll help, so let’s finish quickly."

"In that case, shall I make you both some late-night snacks?"

"That uniform… are you with the Tea Party? Wow!"

"Y-Yes, um… thank you."

Our frontline members were Kuromi Serika, Sunaookami Shiroko, Hayase Yuuka, and Morizuki Suzumi. In the backline were Akiyoshi Fuuka and me. If I remember correctly, everyone except me has an Explosion-type attack affinity… so this is an anti–light armor team, huh. If that’s the case, does that mean my Pom-Pom Cannon also counts as Explosion? Not that it feels wrong.

While I was thinking about it in game terms, Sensei called out to me.

"Aika, this area is near the Trinity dorms."

"Understood, Sensei. I’ll go retrieve my weapon."

From the helicopter hovering in place, I climbed down the rope ladder, headed to the dorm parking lot, pulled out the Loyalty, and drove toward the rendezvous point I’d been given.

Even though the sun had completely set, I could already hear loud chatter in the distance. Annoying. I was starting to think I should take care of them myself when I heard the thumping rotor noise above. Looking up, I saw a SCHALE-marked helicopter descending.

"So this is the weapon you went back for… wait, this is the gun you use?"

"Calling it a gun feels wrong… isn’t this a cannon…?"

"I have heard rumors of a first-year Tea Party student who wields a Pom-Pom Cannon… but this is my first time seeing it in person."

"Yes. I suppose calling it a gun isn’t quite right—it’s technically classified as an anti-air autocannon. But it is without question my beloved weapon."

Well, I figured this would be their reaction.

"Alright, let’s get this done before it gets too late."

"Yes!"

Okay then—time to begin the mission.

"Our odds of winning are pretty high. Let’s go in with confidence."

Using Yuuka’s voice as the signal, everyone except Sensei—who remained above in the helicopter—headed toward the rowdy delinquent students.

"Hey, hey, what’s your problem!? This is the territory of the Thud-Thud Helmet Gang! Anyone who gets in our way gets THUD-THUDDED!!"

…What does “thud-thudded” even mean? I sighed at the delinquent girl’s shout, loud enough to hear from the back, and loaded the feed belt into the Pom-Pom Cannon.

Alright, the four frontliners were already engaging. The enemy had numbers—around a hundred—but that was all they had. In terms of training and coordination, we held every advantage. Analyzing the situation, I prepared for rapid fire.

〈Sensei, firing preparations are complete〉

〈"Aika, go for it."〉

"Anti-air gunner, full alert! …Well, it’s just me, but still."

I turned the crank and fired anti-air shells straight into the cluster of enemies. Fourteen shots in a row. A single hit would knock out a normal student—so this result was only natural.

"Whoa…"

"They’re practically wiped out."

The only ones still standing were a dozen or so who had been far enough from the blast zone. The battle was essentially decided.

"Even this won’t make us run! The Thud-Thud Helmet Gang does not retreat! Does not bow! Does not repent!"

Since she started quoting some wannabe Holy Emperor, I decided to fire another full volley of 40mm two-pound shells at them.

"Guh—!?"

"N-No mercy at all… ugh…"

〈"A-anyway, that should finish things. Let’s leave the rest to the Valkyries who are standing by nearby."〉

"Okay—"

Once Sensei gathered the six of us, he climbed down from the low-hovering helicopter.

"Good work, everyone. No serious injuries, right?"

"Yes, we’re fine."

"No issues."

"Great. Then that wraps up the mission. We’re close to Trinity, so Suzumi and Aika—what will you two do?"

"I’ll head straight back. What about you, Aika?"

"I shall return to the dorm in this truck as well. Everyone, good work today."

"Alright. See you later."

After seeing Sensei and the others off as they boarded the helicopter, I was left alone with Suzumi.

"Um… Morizuki-senpai, you’re going back to the dorm too? …Would you like a ride?"

"Let’s see… then yes, may I trouble you?"

"Of course. It’s no problem."

And so, Suzumi and I rode the Loyalty back to the dorm together, bringing our day to an end.