"Wait? That's it?"
Shizuko could not help asking, "It ended just like that?"
I countered, "Then how complicated did you want it to be?"
Not long after we took down Masamune, the girls, who had fought with unprecedented stubbornness against Street Mouryo, hurried over. What they saw was Masamune tied up tightly and tossed aside, while Izuna and I crouched next to the machine, studying it with great interest.
They were confused about how Masamune had been captured, and curious about the machine's purpose, so I gave them a brief explanation.
"That's not what I meant," Shizuko waved her hands, struggling to find the words. "It's just… Sensei, you thought through so much, and then it was solved all at once…"
"The President thinks something is missing too, doesn't she."
Pina seemed to share that sentiment, her face showing clear dissatisfaction. Kaede wore a similar expression.
Realizing they simply found the story insufficiently dramatic, I laughed and shook my head. "Isn't this better? Besides, it's because we prepared properly that it turned out so easily."
As I spoke, I pulled out something and handed it to Shizuko.
"This is…!?"
Looking at the object, which resembled a remote control with a single oversized button, Shizuko's expression changed drastically.
I shrugged. "If I had overlooked this possibility and charged in recklessly, by the time you arrived, you would've only found Izuna and me unconscious."
And that was the optimistic outcome. Who knew how much explosive Masamune had buried under the floor.
As for why he didn't detonate it earlier, or press the button the moment Izuna threw the smoke bomb, all I could say was that he was too greedy. He wanted to wipe out all of us in one go, while also foolishly believing his disguise was flawless and would never be exposed.
"He really planned to send all of us to the hospital…"
Shizuko gritted her teeth, clenched her fists, and glared at Masamune, who was crouched in the corner shivering.
To be fair, Shizuko was a girl of her word.
She said she would give Masamune a solid beating to vent her anger, and the moment she saw him, her fists became her greeting. She punched him until he wailed like a child, his face swollen and bruised.
The poster girl's tiny fists could be used both for cuteness and for delivering justice.
By the way, Pina and Kaede also joined in, landing a few kicks for good measure. That was why Masamune's black kimono was now covered with dusty shoe prints.
Seeing Shizuko look his way again, Masamune immediately forced a smile.
"Now, now, as the saying goes, enemies should let go of grudges rather than cling to them. I already admit my mistakes, so please, let us resolve this peacefully, yes?"
"You think someone who tried luring us into a trap room to blow us all up gets to say that!?"
"Eeeek, y-yes, that was out of line… but based on our past ties, at least spare my face…"
At least Masamune knew when to grovel, though he was disgustingly obedient about it.
Shizuko looked away in distaste, rubbing her arms through her sleeves as though she had broken out in goosebumps.
"Haa…" Tsubaki let out a long yawn, though her words didn't match her lazy tone. "Since the mastermind has been caught, let's finish the job and clean up all remaining stragglers."
Mimori added gently, "We cannot allow them to disrupt the Cherry Blossom Festival."
"Then I'll leave that part to you," Shizuko sighed. "Because of this guy's mess, the Festival Operations Department is way behind schedule compared to previous years. I need to hurry back and finish the final preparations. We'll thank you all properly afterward."
Mimori nodded. "Yes. You've worked hard. Leave the rest to us."
Shizuko then asked, "Speaking of which, how should we handle this holographic projector? Should we confiscate it as evidence?"
By coincidence, the machine was identical in appearance to the one I had seen the Millennium Engineering Department working overtime to finish last night.
"What evidence?" I asked, genuinely confused. "Didn't the projector get damaged by Masamune himself during the fight?"
Considering how much trouble Masamune caused the Festival Operations Department, I felt it would not hurt for Shizuko to quietly keep it as compensation.
"Hold it right there! That's a custom-made machine I paid for with my life savings! You cannot do this! You absolutely cannot!"
Sadly for him, no one acknowledged Masamune's cries.
"Hmm… we should still hand it over to the Yin-Yang Club as criminal evidence," Shizuko decided after a short pause. Then her expression twisted into an oddly scheming smile. "Hehehe… and while we're at it, this is the perfect chance to make those infuriating Yin-Yang Club people owe me a favor!"
I doubted her chances, but seeing how happy she looked, I didn't have the heart to ruin it.
In any case, that marked the end of the matter.
The mastermind Masamune muttered something like, "Why was I born a cat in the same age as this Sensei…" as Pina dragged him away to the Yin-Yang Club. Since they were not a formal student council, Masamune would likely be transferred to Valkyrie afterward.
I wondered whether Kanna could, or would, offer him any special "treatment."
No deeper meaning behind it. I simply wished to express a little gratitude to the man who buried explosives beneath my feet and fully intended to detonate them himself.
With the Cherry Blossom Festival nearing its peak, Shizuko, as the president, naturally had her hands full and returned alone to Momoyo Hall to handle the remaining tasks.
As for the Inner Discipline Club, they continued what they considered their club activities, hunting down any remaining troublemakers to protect the festival.
Everyone had their own duties, and after agreeing to meet again later, they each said their farewells and departed.
In the blink of an eye, only one person remained at my side.
"…Izuna."
I called her name softly.
"Yes? Sensei, what is it?"
"I'm sorry for deceiving you."
Meeting Izuna's wide, earnest eyes, I apologized sincerely. "When I saw you being chased by the Inner Discipline Club, I suspected you were involved in the Cherry Blossom Festival disturbance. That was why I approached you under the guise of being a ninja. Even if my intention was to pull you back onto the right path, I still lied to you. I'm truly sorry."
It was shameless, but I hoped she would understand and forgive me. I genuinely wished our relationship could return to what it once was.
However, Izuna blinked in confusion.
"Sensei, didn't we already talk about this earlier?"
…Was that her gentle way of saying she knew but would never forgive me, that what was broken could not be mended?
Betrayal truly could force someone to grow quickly. Izuna had originally been much more straightforward and innocent.
A heavy guilt pressed on my chest.
What could I do to mend the rift between us?
"Sensei! Sensei!"
Izuna shook her fox ears and tail eagerly, looking at me with excitement. "Izuna's performance just now was totally that of an outstanding ninja, right!?"
I stared at her, blinked once, and suddenly realized I had been overthinking things.
She was exactly the same endearingly foolish girl I remembered.
Feeling a little stunned, I hesitantly asked,
"Izuna, were you…?"
"Ah! Izuna was remembering Sensei's teachings and thinking super hard, and then she succeeded in entering the legendary post state clarity. Nin nin."
I did not really understand, but since she seemed completely untroubled, it was the best possible outcome.
Izuna beamed at me with an open, defenseless smile. She folded her hands behind her back, leaned forward, tilted her face up, and gazed at me with those bright shimmering eyes, looking both cute and impish.
"Sensei, praise Izuna, please? Praise Izuna."
Even her affectionate mannerisms had not changed. Actually, she was being even more affectionate than before.
My heart softened, and I reached out to stroke her silky hair, speaking gently as though comforting a child.
"Izuna, you were amazing. I knew you could do it. You were practically a super ninja."
"Mmm~ ninjas don't have ranks like that."
Izuna rubbed her head against my hand playfully and added in a clingy tone,
"Sensei still doesn't know enough about ninjas. Looks like Izuna will have to teach you. Nin nin."
I paused, then smiled. "Alright. I'll look forward to it."
"Mm hm!"
Izuna answered with a radiant smile like the morning sun.