"Hello, everyone watching from in front of your screens!"
It was a little past eleven in the morning. Unexpectedly free, I was watching a livestream on my phone.
A blonde, tan-skinned, blue-eyed girl with star-shaped pupils, whose top barely covered her ample chest, energetically spoke into a microphone:
"This is Kawaru Shinon, idol reporter from the Kronos School Journalism Club! Today is the day Gehenna Academy and Trinity General School officially conclude the Eden Treaty. I've arrived at the signing ceremony venue! Right now, I'm standing in front of the Sanctum of the Holy Passage..."
Kronos School was an academy focused primarily on training journalists.
As for Shinon, who was covering the Eden Treaty signing live, she was a familiar face from one of Kronos's streaming programs.
The problem was that despite studying journalism, she constantly went off-topic, and most importantly, she liked calling herself an "idol reporter."
It felt... a little off-putting.
"The atmosphere here is already overflowing with passion! Neither side is willing to give an inch, and the tension is extremely high!"
The scene shifted.
Before the magnificent ancient cathedral, honor guards from the Tea Party and Pandemonium Society had already arrived, each holding high flags bearing their respective school emblems. Red and yellow banners fluttered in the wind.
Yet, just as Shinon had said, despite being on the verge of signing the peace-representing Eden Treaty, almost every girl in the frame was glaring at the opposing side, their faces full of vigilance and distrust.
The broadcast then returned to reporter Shinon.
"Judging from the atmosphere on site, if anyone from either side makes a single wrong move, this could turn into a complete disaster! Can everyone feel this tension? Should I call it oil and water, or enemies sharing the same boat? This is exactly the Trinity and Gehenna we all know!"
Once the treaty was successfully signed, the grudges that had accumulated over countless years would surely begin to fade.
After all, Seia had already dreamed of such a future.
Just as I was thinking that, Shinon apparently either noticed viewers' comments or received a reminder from her superiors.
"...What? Stop talking nonsense? Honestly, what am I supposed to do with you people? Fine then, before the voices coming from off-camera turn into fists today as well, let's pick up the pace of the broadcast!"
The livestream switched back to the cathedral itself.
"What an overwhelming sense of grandeur! This is the cathedral where the signing ceremony will take place! As for why this location was chosen, according to certain rumors, it was proposed by Gehenna's leadership! Quite surprising, isn't it?"
Reading another piece of information from who knew where, Shinon continued:
"A viewer is asking whether it's because this was the site of Trinity's First Ecumenical Council? No, no, apparently that's not the reason. The actual explanation seems to be... 'For an event this big, of course you pick somewhere large and imposing.' In short, it's basically 'big equals cool'! I see, that's certainly easy to understand!"
I didn't even need to open the comment section to know how many skeptical reactions were appearing right now.
The problem was that it was actually true.
"Heh heh."
Sitting on the sofa in a cool pose, a silver-haired girl in military uniform let out a strange laugh, a trace of contempt visible in her eyes.
"How shallow. Chairwoman Makoto's plans go far beyond that."
Indeed, Makoto, who had insisted on holding the signing ceremony at the cathedral, had even purchased the newest model airship and lent cars to the Prefect Team, saying:
"In order to highlight us flying in the skies, you people can crawl over here on the ground."
When Ako brought up the matter, she had once again angrily complained to me at length, insisting it was obviously another conspiracy targeting the Prefect Team. It was clear she'd accumulated quite a bit of stress lately.
Not only that, Makoto had also gone out of her way to invite me to travel alongside the Pandemonium Society, and her reasoning had been surprisingly convincing.
Since the cathedral was Trinity's home ground, as Schale's representative, I ought to attend together with Gehenna in order to better demonstrate an absolutely neutral position.
I actually thought that made sense and had been about to ask:
Then wouldn't going together with the Prefect Team work just as well?
But Makoto had resorted to an especially underhanded tactic that left me completely unable to refuse...
"Hey, hey! Sensei! Sensei!"
A sweet voice rang out.
Looking up, I was greeted by an innocent and adorable smile.
Tanga Ibuki.
About the same age as Kokona, and like Kokona, who had become an instructor at Plum Blossom Garden at such a young age, she had been exceptionally promoted to a seat in the Pandemonium Society due to her serious personality and outstanding abilities.
The youngest member of the Pandemonium Society, she was so adorable that she was beloved throughout Gehenna. Even Makoto doted on her like a little sister.
A warm smile naturally appeared on my face.
"What is it, Ibuki-chan?"
With both hands hidden behind her back, Ibuki mysteriously said:
"Ibuki just drew a picture of Sensei! Hehe∼ Ta-da∼! Look!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she eagerly pulled out a drawing board displaying a crayon drawing.
Although somewhat rough and cartoonish in style, and though the simplified features couldn't possibly capture even one ten-thousandth of my handsomeness, it was remarkably expressive with only a few strokes.
More importantly, the feelings poured into it were priceless.
"It's wonderful!"
I said, deeply moved.
"Ibuki is so talented, this is gotta be me!"
Hearing that, Ibuki's smile became even brighter.
"Really? Then praise me, praise me∼"
So I patted her head.
"Good girl, good girl∼ You drew it so well∼"
If Makoto hadn't told me that Ibuki had been looking forward to meeting me the whole time, I would probably either be riding in Hina's vehicle right now or have already arrived at the cathedral ahead of schedule.
Suddenly, there was a click.
A black-haired girl holding an orange camera captured the moment.
"Ahaha∼ Ibuki-chan asking Sensei for praise is a million volts of adorable today too! I absolutely have to record this∼ Come on, Ibuki, Sensei, look over here∼ Say cheese!"
Motomiya Chiaki, a second-year Gehenna student and secretary of the Pandemonium Society, seemed to love photography. She had a bright and lively personality, with an appearance that was both cute and cool.
"Heh heh."
After Ibuki and I took a commemorative photo together, Makoto laughed smugly.
"Well, Sensei? Isn't it about time you officially cooperated with the Pandemonium Society?"
"Uh..."
I answered politely.
"Please forgive me, but I must decline."
"How could you!?"
Makoto's eyes widened in apparent shock.
At that moment, another voice eagerly chimed in.
"Makoto-chan, I have an idea. How about letting me use hypnosis on Sensei?"
The speaker was Kyougoku Satsuki, a member of the Pandemonium Society. She had a voluptuous figure and delicate features, but also a head of pink hair that immediately put people on guard.
And what the heck is hypnosis!?
Don't tell me she's planning one of those scenarios Koharu likes to read about!?
Also, what about my opinion!?
Just as Makoto seemed to be seriously considering whether it would work, a knock sounded at the door.
A red-haired girl then pushed it open and entered.
Iroha, who had personally handled all the preparations, brought the farce to an end in a tired yet calm tone.
"Everyone, it's about time we set off."