A cool evening breeze swept through the empty streets, carrying a faint chill.
Under the streetlights, the girls and I waited anxiously for the arrival of the handover, monitored by the Millennium students.
Among us, Fuuka and I could be considered hostages, waiting to be freed once the Prefect Team arrived. As for the Gourmet Research Society, soon to face punishment, they seemed strangely eager, for reasons both absurd and fitting to their usual behavior.
"Ah∼ why haven't they come yet? I'm so hungry, I just want to eat the Prefect Team's pork cutlet rice right now…"
Izumi complained for what felt like the hundredth time.
I had the odd impression that, whether this plan succeeded or failed, the Gourmet Research Society wouldn't be at a loss.
At that moment, the roar of an engine approached from afar, growing louder, and a black ambulance that was clearly speeding far beyond legal limits screamed down the street, coming to a steady stop a dozen meters away.
Before it even stopped fully, the passenger door opened, and a girl stepped out. She wore a blue-and-white nurse outfit paired with thigh-high heeled boots, her white hair and golden eyes giving her an icy, indifferent expression.
Judging by her outfit, she didn't look like a member of the Prefect Team. Though she wore an armband on her left arm, it didn't bear the characters for "Prefect Team" but instead displayed a yellow heart with demon wings and horns, an X-shaped cutout in the center.
The unknown girl approached us directly, scanning us before confirming with the Millennium students:
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Are these the corpses?"
Her tone matched her cold, composed demeanor, but that wasn't even the most unsettling part.
It was the content of her words.
"Eh? Co… corpses?" The Millennium students jumped in fright, flustered.
"…My apologies. I must have mixed them up. I should have said injured students instead."
Wouldn't explaining it like that just make it even scarier?!
I had no idea how anyone could confuse "corpse" and "injured students."
The Gourmet Research Society, however, seemed completely unfazed.
Akari smiled without reservation and asked, "Oh, are you from the Medical Emergency Club? I'm a bit hurt, seems like a bone is out of place, can you help me?"
"Patience. Let me finish the delivery first." The nurse pulled out a clipboard. "Let me see… four fresh injured student and two hostages. That's what the delivery list says."
"Fresh… student…?"
That was definitely phrasing used for corpses, not people! And if you're going to correct it, why not correct both words together!
I had always considered myself good at keeping a stoic face, but even I couldn't help flinching at her carefully unsettling choice of words.
While the white-haired nurse conducted the handover with the Millennium students, another girl I had just met earlier that morning stepped down from the ambulance.
"By the way, who are you?" The nurse looked at me, the only adult present, puzzled. "Why is an adult here, caught up with innocent citizens?"
Before I could answer, the girl who had just stepped out approached the nurse and spoke for me.
"Chief, this is Schale's Sensei."
"Someone you know, Chinatsu?"
"Eh… sort of?" Chinatsu replied uncertainly, then looked at me with concern. "Sensei, are you alright?"
I nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."
"Hehe∼ don't worry∼ we respect our Sensei very much∼"
"Shut up." Chinatsu frowned, glaring at Haruna, who had spoken out of turn. "Once again, the School Lunch Club's member has been kidnapped, including an unrelated Sensei, and these two hostages were dragged into another academy's district… Do you realize how chaotic the student cafeteria is now? Do you know how much damage has been caused to Millennium? Do you know how much trouble this brings for Sensei?"
Chinatsu was clearly angry, and I realized I had played a significant part in this incident.
Haruna remained unfazed. "For the record, most of Millennium's losses were actually caused by their own people, you know?"
I couldn't help but recall Neru mentioning their knack for handling these events, and seeing it in action. Haruna's words, strangely enough, were actually true.
But saying it now was pure provocation. The atmosphere around Chinatsu was practically freezing.
I hurriedly changed the topic and looked at the white-haired girl.
"By the way, who is this student?"
Chinatsu paused her anger to answer. "Ah, this is…"
"I'm Himuro Sena, head of the Medical Emergency Club. Pleased to meet you, Sensei." Sena introduced herself quickly, then continued in a businesslike tone, "If there are any dead… I mean, injured student, please contact me. I don't charge delivery fees."
She nearly slipped again with her choice of words, but I decided it was better to ignore it.
I shook hands with the girl obsessed with corpses. "Nice to meet you."
After receiving the keys from the Millennium students handling the handover, Chinatsu personally unlocked them for me. She squinted slightly during the process.
"Sensei, how did you hurt your wrist?"
Startled, I looked at my wrist. It was just a small scrape, probably from earlier when raising my hand during the vote. The pain was minimal, so I hadn't noticed until now.
Before I could say it was nothing, Sena swiftly grabbed an alcohol spray from her bag, gently moved Chinatsu aside, disinfected my hand, and carefully applied a cute bandage.
Sena nodded in satisfaction. "There, all set."
I thought it would have been fine even without treatment, but I thanked her anyway.
After unlocking Fuuka, Chinatsu said, "In any case, Sensei, we've taken our students. This area is a bit remote, do you need a ride?"
"No, you focus on your duties. I'll get back on my own."
Chinatsu nodded. "Alright, then excuse me. Next time you come to Gehenna…"
"Sensei, thank you for your care. Next time you come to Gehenna, I'll make sure to treat you to something delicious."
Haruna, walking toward the ambulance, suddenly called out loudly as if remembering something.
Chinatsu's unfinished words stuck in her throat. With the interruption, she could only redirect her attention to the Gourmet Research Society:
"Stop dawdling, get in the vehicle."
Akari waved at me. "See you next time, Sensei∼!"
Then, the four Gourmet Research Society members, along with innocent Fuuka, all got into the black ambulance of the Medical Emergency Club.
After bidding me farewell, Chinatsu and Sena drove the ambulance and disappeared at the end of the road.
Since the Millennium students had already withdrawn after the handover, the street was empty, leaving only me. I exhaled, thinking to myself how long and eventful this day had been.
The three academies formed a triangular geography around D.U. The handover location wasn't far from Schale, and a short bus ride would take me home.
As I checked nearby stations on my phone, I received a new Momotalk message.
Fuuka: Sensei, next time you come to Gehenna, please come to the cafeteria first.
Fuuka: I'll make time and do my best to entertain you properly!
Just reading the words conveyed her heart, and I couldn't help but feel a warm current flow through me. I thought, how amusing it would have been if Fuuka had said this in front of Haruna earlier.
After a brief reply, I followed the navigation to the nearest station. A short ride later, I finally arrived near Schale.
The thought of reaching a warm, cozy home, enjoying a hot bento, and then soaking in a bath to wash away the day's fatigue made me relax, my heart filled with anticipation as I stepped toward Schale.
But the next moment, my hair stood on end.
"Eh? Sensei?"
A familiar, puzzled voice reached me.
I turned to see a pale pink-and-white figure not far off, her delicate face lit with surprise.
Serina tilted her head, squinting her eyes, and gave me an angelic, pure, and adorable smile.