Inside Momoyo Hall, the renowned café of the district.
The girls from the Festival Operations Department and the Inner Discipline Club had gathered at my request.
With a loud slam, the petite and adorable maid mascot of the shop sprang to her feet.
"Unbelievable! To think the mastermind trying to ruin the Cherry Blossom Festival was that crusty old man! And I trusted him so much!"
As she said this, Shizuko was both furious and frustrated, grinding her teeth. It was as though flames were burning in her eyes.
For days she had carried the pressure of the festival possibly being canceled at any moment, to the point even her carefully maintained hair had lost two strands from stress, and the culprit turned out to be Date Meowru, who regularly visited them with words of concern and whom she had assumed was simply a sharp tongued softie helping from the shadows.
Looking back now, that man came only to probe for information, to keep track of their plans.
No wonder no one had seen the Street Mouryo all morning. Their employer had been sitting beside Shizuko and the others during their strategy meeting, casually listening and participating in the planning.
It was blatant betrayal… no, from the very beginning he had ulterior motives, treating Momoyo Hall's brightest and cutest mascot as a complete fool.
Shizuko's anger blazed, and the chivalrous waitress fanned the flames beside her. "Pina understands! This is infiltration espionage! He hid among us all this time without being discovered. The Head truly has the bearing of a kingpin! But why would he do all this?"
"He already hinted at it, didn't he? Something about people not accepting innovation, opposing our spending too much… His analysis sounded convincing, and he turned out to be one of them!"
The more Shizuko talked, the angrier she got. She paced back and forth, occasionally throwing punches into the air, her little mascot fists swishing with vigor. She looked ready to rush off and beat Date Meowru half to death to vent her rage.
I hesitated, unsure whether to tell them that I had suspected Date Meowru long ago but kept quiet for their sake.
After thinking a moment, I instead asked the most critical question. "The reason can wait. First, let's confirm Date Meowru's and the Street Mouryo's location."
"Yes. Once we beat the villains, we can worry about motives later."
Mimori echoed gently. As expected of my virtuous wife, always stepping in at just the right moment. Truly the ideal Yamato Nadeshiko.
"About that," Shizuko said, calming down, "we've already confirmed their location."
Pina followed with, "We just asked people attending the Cherry Blossom Festival if they'd seen anyone suspicious!"
Shizuko nodded. "Lots of people reported seeing the president and the Street Mouryo entering the ruins behind the shopping street."
"They stand out a lot to begin with… yawn…"
The one speaking in between yawns was Tsubaki, the Inner Discipline Club president.
So it had simply been a case of missing the truth right under our noses, plus being misled by the Street Mouryo. Once the blockage was removed, the evidence of their connection with Date Meowru became obvious.
"Well then!" Kaede raised her hand excitedly. "Now that we know where they are, let's head out! Let's defeat all the bad guys and settle this festival trouble once and for all!"
But then she deflated a little. "…Ugh, I didn't expect the final showdown to come this quickly. I thought it would be like in dramas, happening right when the fireworks reach their climax…"
"By then it would be far too late!"
Shizuko snapped. Then, after a deep breath, she regained her composure and spoke with worry.
"But do we really have enough people? Who knows how many forces Date Meowru and the Street Mouryo have in the ruins, or what traps they've set. Maybe we should wait for the Yin-Yang Club's support?"
Indeed, as Shizuko feared, this could be another deliberate feint by Date Meowru meant to lure us into their stronghold.
However…
"Sorry, I forgot to mention," I said regretfully, cooling Shizuko's mood instantly. "Learning that Date Meowru is the mastermind is the full extent of the Yin-Yang Club's assistance."
"Hah? Wait, you mean they've known all along that Date Meowru was behind everything and did nothing?"
Shizuko instantly pieced it together, furious again. "It's Niya, isn't it! Definitely Niya! She says she's maintaining balance, but she's just waiting to laugh at me! Ugh! Damn Yin-Yang Club!"
"Ahem, don't say it like that. Maybe they only just finished investigating…"
Even I didn't believe my excuse, but it made for a decent stepping stone.
"Tch… fine, I'll let it go for now. After this is over, we're settling the score."
With the fireworks show drawing near, Shizuko grew less mindful of her usual image, pouting loudly.
"Even if he's just a normal shopping district president on the surface, Date Meowru secretly has that 'Smug Professor' identity. Yet the Yin-Yang Club still isn't taking this seriously."
Hearing that, I couldn't help asking, "…Hold on. Why do you think Date Meowru is the Smug Professor?"
Shizuko looked confused. "Eh? Because that's the conclusion we reached together? Besides, his name already gives it away."
I blinked, then suddenly realized it. The reading for "Niyaniya" could also be read like "Nyanya," tying straight back to Date Meowru.
And considering how the Street Mouryo revered him… it wasn't impossible.
Date Meowru. Smug Professor. Professor Niyaniya. Evidence thin, but suggestive.
Pina nodded with admiration. "He used his real name to craft a laughing alias, while always keeping a sulky face so no one would connect them… In hindsight, the president is a true strategist!"
Honestly, using that logic, shouldn't we be suspicious of someone named Niya who is always smiling?
"Whether he is or isn't doesn't matter now. There's no time to waste." Shizuko cut the argument short. "Since the Yin-Yang Club won't give us combat support, we'll have to rely on ourselves. With Sensei here, we'll be fine. Let's act carefully."
Her firm trust gave me a bit of pressure.
Maybe I should call the Masked Swimsuit Squad to be on standby.
But if the students of Hyakkiyako could resolve this themselves, it was better not to involve outsiders. Even if Schale had the authority, it shouldn't be used unless absolutely necessary.
"Then let's prepare and head out!"
Shizuko clenched her fist and raised it high. "Defeat everyone who intends to destroy the Cherry Blossom Festival!"
"Oh!"
Soon, the girls finished preparations and set out toward the ruins where the Street Mouryo and the suspected Smug Professor, Date Meowru, awaited.