Chapter 23: I Want to Escape from the Prefect Team Chair – Part 2 End

"It would really help if you stayed still."

"Eeeeeek!!! I surrender!! Spare my liiiife!!!"

With A-ko from my gang prostrating herself on the pavement in disgrace, I wiped cold sweat as the pressure from the girl in front of me crushed down on me.

I had never seen her in person—but I had seen photos. I had heard the stories. Enough stories to make me sick of them. That’s why I immediately understood who this seemingly sweet, doll-like girl in front of me was. I understood—and that was exactly the problem.

"...What?"

The Gehenna Prefect Team’s chairwoman. Sorasaki Hina.

Gehenna’s strongest asset. A final weapon. The ultimate anti-Trinity measure. The Gehenna White Mop who ushers in the end times. A monster so terrifying that Hibana-chan and all my fellow Gehenna gang members practically broke out in hives whenever her name came up.

"A… n-no, it’s nothing…"

—That’s what I meant to say.

"A… no, I was just thinking you’re cute…"

"Kou-san?!?!"

What the hell was wrong with me? My mouth just blurted it out on its own. Idiot. I wanted to take a running start and punch myself. Nobody knows me better than I do, and I’ve always known I’m hopelessly stupid—but I didn’t realize it was this bad. Calling her cute? A girl I’ve never met? And this Sorasaki Hina, of all people?

My rational mind was screaming: Run before this monster kills you.

But the idiot deep inside me shoved that aside and leaned forward, yelling, "Oh my GOD she’s adorable, what is this perfect little doll, I wanna pat her head, she’s like a national treasure—someone call UNESCO, this is a world heritage–level cutie!!"

"…Cut the jokes."

Fortunately, she seemed to have a generous heart—and I had been spared by a hair. I honestly expected her to pull out a guillotine and declare, "Insolence. Death." But apparently that wasn’t happening. No, that wasn’t it. She didn’t even care. Like a giant dragon ignoring a tiny human, she simply didn’t see me as someone worth paying attention to.

"Heh… sorry."

"…I heard there was a runaway vehicle causing trouble. You’re not part of that group, are you?"

"Absolutely not. We’re the victims here. Our delivery truck got hijacked…"

I looked toward what was once our truck—now a blazing, exploded mess engulfed in flames.

"…I see. I’m sorry about that."

"No, no… better than letting them get away with it… and something might still be salvageable…"

"I hope so… Ah."

A huge flash erupted—and then, with a massive shockwave, it went KABOOOOOM.

"………"

"………"

"…Send the bill to the Prefect Team. We’ll compensate you."

"N-no no no, that’s way too much… I-It might still be intact…"

"With all due respect, that seems impossible, boss."

"Quiet, A-ko."

"Ow!? Why am I ‘A-ko’ now!?"

While offering commentary to the chairwoman staring blankly at the burning remains, I began to think… Maybe this terrifying monster is actually a long-suffering worker type.

I mean, among all the Gehenna students I’ve met—excluding those handyman weirdos—none of them ever showed this much concern for others. Even the other Prefect members would’ve said, “It’s your fault for getting robbed,” or “Don’t give us extra work,” and wouldn’t have offered compensation or sympathy at all.

And then there were those dark circles carved deep beneath her eyes. How many all-nighters did she pull for them to get that bad? Just standing near her, you could practically feel the exhausted, overworked aura radiating off her. She was like an office worker trapped in a black company.

"…If there’s anything I can help with, tell me. This was my mistake."

"No, no. I can’t trouble the Prefect Team’s chairwoman that much."

"It’s fine. A little more work is nothing. And I’ll say it again—this was my mistake."

"Even so, it’s really okay."

I kept rejecting her offer despite how apologetic she looked. She said it was her fault, but the truth was: the hijacking was our responsibility. Even if Gehenna’s public safety is trash, we chose to run deliveries here. I’m not rotten enough to dump the responsibility on a girl who’s already dead tired.

And honestly, even my idiot side—the one calling this monster an adorable doll—is screaming that staying any longer is dangerous. Sure, we’re victims this time, but we’re the Helmets Gang. We’re usually pitted against the Prefect Team. Nothing good comes from hanging around their top dog for too long.

"…I see. Then, could you lend me your phone for a moment?"

"Huh? Ah, sure."

"…Alright. I’ve added my contact information, so if you ever run into trouble, tell me. As long as it’s within what I can do, I’ll help."

"Ehh!? F-for real…?"

"Well then, excuse me. I need to get going. There’s still more work piling up."

"Ah, wait—"

She turned on her heel. I was stunned from unexpectedly obtaining something unbelievable, but more importantly, I remembered something I absolutely had to say.

"Um… thank you. For today. You really saved me."

"?!?!?!?!"

She spun back around, and the moment my words reached her, her expression shifted violently—so sudden it could’ve made a popping sound. All I did was thank her, but I immediately wondered, Did I mess up again? The reason became clear just moments later.

Her expression… and slightly above it—an unfamiliar object resting on her head. Tracing where it came from, I realized it originated from me. My hand was resting gently on her head, stroking left and right without messing up her hairstyle.

—Yes. I had started patting her head completely unconsciously.

Ah, I’m dead.

The moment my rationality recognized what I had done, it flatlined.

And when that happens, the idiot inside me takes full control.

"Really… thank you. You’re always working so hard to protect Gehenna’s order. Even getting dark circles like this. It must be tough, right?"

"Eh… w-what are you…"

"Thank you so much. But you know, it’s okay to rest sometimes. A cute girl like you shouldn’t be overworking herself nonstop. You need breaks too."

"?!?!?!?"

Driven entirely by my idiot side, I hugged Sorasaki Hina and continued gently patting her head.

"Sometimes it’s okay to lean on someone like this. I really think someone like you needs moments like that. If you keep sacrificing yourself nonstop, people break, you know?"

"………"

"So for now, you can lean on me all you want."

Like tucking in a child, I softly patted her back, pon, pon.

My rationality, having barely rebooted, registered the scene and nearly shut down again from sheer despair. Meanwhile, my idiot side made a face like, I regret nothing. Kids like this deserve to be pampered.

Cold sweat poured down my back.

Oh no. What do I do? Actually, there’s nothing to do. The only thing waiting for me now is death. It’s over. My future is already set.

…Or so I thought.

"………Mama…"

"…Huh?"

A tiny, fading voice slipped out, followed by quiet, steady breaths—su… su…—and the faint rise and fall of the body in my arms.

Sorasaki Hina… had fallen asleep in my embrace, looking genuinely peaceful.

"…Huh…?"

I looked between the sleeping girl in my arms and the spot where A-ko used to be, silently begging for help.

But she was already gone. She had run away.

The only ones left were me… the fast-asleep Sorasaki Hina in my arms… and the burning wreckage of the truck.

"W-What… is this?"