TL Note: Name changed from "Alice" to Aris (Arisu, how its pronounced) and "Key" changed into "Kei."
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"Umm… I'm still really worried…"
Looking at Aris's innocent face, Midori frowned deeply. "Disguising Aris as one of our club members… is that really okay?"
I completely understood why she felt this way.
After analyzing, Aris answered as follows.
"Confirming the meaning of [okay]… estimated as [a state where the situation is not bad and no problems have occurred], affirmative."
"…No, no, you can't affirm that! Talking like that will definitely make people suspicious!"
Midori turned to Momoi, who had proposed the idea. "Wouldn't it be better to give up?! This plan won't work!"
Momoi thought for a moment, then shifted her gaze to me. "What does Sensei think?"
There were still two months left until the final deadline.
Having Aris become a club member was indeed the simplest and most feasible way to meet the required number of members at present. Although there was still leeway to look for other solutions, for the entirely homebody Game Development Department, whether they could actually find one was a big question mark.
So, personally, I believed we could not rely on luck in any regard.
I glanced down at my phone, pondered for a moment, then asked.
"Do you know how Millennium's transfer procedures work?"
"Ah, regarding student roster registration and student ID issues," Momoi paused, "I'll figure something out."
There was no need to dig deeper. From her tone alone, it was obvious that Momoi was planning to pull some kind of illicit operation, like asking the Veritas Department to hack into the student system.
However, there was no need to do that at all.
In fact, from the moment they brought Aris back to the club room, the decision was no longer in their hands.
"No, you misunderstood. What I mean is, you can just check the specific process later and take Aris directly to handle the transfer procedures."
I stated plainly. "I've already talked to Rio. She agreed to let Aris enroll in Millennium as a new student."
As soon as I said that, the room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Momoi stared wide eyed. "…Eh? Could it be that Sensei was quiet just now because you were secretly chatting with the president? You told the president everything about Aris too?"
I looked at her strangely. "What else did you think I was doing?"
After all, Aris's situation might be glossed over temporarily, but in the end, it would absolutely be impossible to hide it from the head of the Seminar, who held the highest authority in Millennium.
Rather than gambling on luck, it was better to be upfront with Rio from the start.
"And that cold blooded woman actually agreed?!"
Momoi shouted in disbelief.
I coughed awkwardly. Perhaps because the shock was too great, no one seemed to recall a certain thing that was not very easy to bring up.
"S-s-so that means President Rio knows about us sneaking into the ruins?!"
Yuzu said shakily, barely able to stand.
It was clear that Rio had left a rather terrifying impression in Yuzu's heart.
"Not only did she not pursue responsibility, she even allowed Aris, whose identity is unknown, to enroll and join our club…"
Midori speculated uneasily. "And it was that President Rio who made the decision… no matter how you think about it, there has to be some kind of scheme…"
On this point, I was equally surprised.
I had originally thought I would need to appeal to Rio with reason and emotion, but after confirming that Aris was a being we brought out of the ruins, she readily agreed.
When I asked whether she knew Aris's origins, Rio seemed to have some thoughts but could not confirm it yet. She only told me she would maintain a wait and see attitude for now.
It was hard not to let the imagination run wild.
But thinking about it was one thing, saying it out loud was another.
I coughed again. "It's not that serious. If Rio really wanted to do something to the Game Development Department, she has plenty of other methods."
Midori froze for a moment, her unease easing considerably, and nodded. "That's true…"
"Anyway, it's good news for us!"
Even Momoi's cyber cat tail swayed excitedly. "Who would've thought President Rio, who looks like that, would actually be surprisingly reasonable sometimes! Maybe she's actually a really nice person~"
What do you mean by "looks like that"?
I was really about to lose it, and desperately wanted to point out the fact that Rio was very likely listening in right now.
But thinking positively.
Maybe after hearing the first few comments, Rio had already lost the desire to keep listening?
With that thought, I could not help but open Momotalk again.
Me: Rio.
Rio: I said I do not mind.
…I haven't even said what it was yet. Aren't you a bit too impatient?
I had to say, this was probably one of Rio's lesser known cute traits.
It felt like discovering a hidden treasure.
Me: It's fine, I trust you.
Rio: …
Rio: Please reserve words like that for other students.
Rio: Also. That machine the Game Development Department has named [Aris].
Rio: Her identity must be kept confidential for now.
Rio: In order to avoid arousing other students' suspicion, her manner of speech must be adjusted.
Rio: This matter will be entrusted to you and the Game Development Department.
Such blunt wording that showed little regard for others' feelings was likely the primary reason for her reputation.
Me: Okay, no problem. Leave it to us.
Rio: Then, that is all.
"Then that settles Aris's identity issue. Next we need to deal with weapons?"
The girls of the Game Development Department were discussing the remaining necessary matters.
After I relayed Rio's request, the three of them looked at each other, troubled.
"Her way of speaking… when you think about it, how do you even learn that? Normally you just watch videos and imitate the people around you, and you naturally pick it up, right?"
After some thought, Midori suggested, "…Umm. How about we look up some videos for kids online?"
Momoi objected immediately. "That's way too boring!"
"Hah? Then do you have any good ideas, sis?!"
Momoi shook her head and said matter of factly, "I don't, but I'm sure there's a better way."
It was the daily routine of the Saiba sisters contradicting each other.
Yuzu hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Um… how about we ask Aris what she thinks?"
Everyone turned their gaze toward Aris, who was looking around curiously.
Soon, Aris's eyes fixed on something. "Unknown object detected. Proceeding to confirm."
And when they saw what had captured Aris's curiosity.
Every member of the Game Development Department broke into delighted smiles.
Only I turned pale in shock.
I... whoa! Yamete!