The second-floor corridor bridge of the laboratory.
Su Yuzu and Saionji Sagara stood shoulder to shoulder.
From their angle, they could take in everything inside the laboratory at a glance. Su Yuzu could see Soga Yura and Mihou Sakai looking up at her with expressions full of worry.
Casting a look that said "don't worry" to the girls, Su Yuzu sized up the Assault Department Head beside her, known to the students of the academy by the name "Rakshasa".
Honestly, Director Saionji was actually a very upright and tall beauty.
When Su Yuzu stood next to Saionji Sagara, she only reached the woman's chest.
"The sound here is completely blocked; you don't need to worry about what they... or your sister might hear." Resting her hands on the railing of the corridor bridge, Saionji Sagara's gaze fell upon Mihou Sakai.
Su Yuzu bit her lip.
She had thought that Director Saionji might guess Zero's whereabouts, but this near-showdown behavior from the Director was truly somewhat beyond her expectations.
"I discovered that invading Aberrant inside my dormitory room." Su Yuzu laid her cards directly on the table.
Saionji Sagara nodded.
Although she looked as calm as an ancient well with no waves on the surface, Saionji Sagara was internally somewhat amazed by Su Yuzu's honesty.
For a student who hadn't even graduated yet, the girl's composure exceeded her expectations.
This was good.
"Roughly when did this happen?"
"Yesterday afternoon... around four o'clock," Su Yuzu said, every sentence the truth, only... ignoring a few things.
For instance, her own [Operator System], and her purpose for returning to the dormitory.
"When I returned to the dorm, I found Zero... that is, that Aberrant girl, appearing in my room."
"I don't know how she invaded my dorm."
"But the injuries on her body were very severe."
"She was in critical condition."
"My God-Hunting Arrow pierced her waist and abdomen; it's already beyond my expectations that she survived." Saionji Sagara did not intend to hide anything regarding Zero, nor did she seem to have any intention of blaming or reproaching Su Yuzu.
"As for how she invaded your dorm..."
Saionji Sagara looked down at the laboratory. "I originally intended to capture her."
"But I didn't expect her to actually have a 'Subspace Escape Device' on her."
Su Yuzu had heard of that kind of device.
It was also a product of "Epiphany Manufacture".
It possessed the function of transmitting the user to the nearest space anchor in a single use.
But... as equipment for emergency use, the "Subspace Escape Device" did not have the ability to autonomously lock onto a space anchor.
It could only teleport to the nearest one.
That meant... the user was very likely to teleport directly into a subspace vortex and be torn to shreds, or perhaps crash directly into a prison or encirclement prepared by the enemy.
It was a considerably perilous device.
"Last time, Hayabusa from the Fourth Action Division likely set an anchor in your dorm, so she teleported directly there."
Su Yuzu's lips twitched.
Miss Hayabusa?
Probably not... in the previous Chimera Amalgam event, Miss Hayabusa herself was also a victim who had been "ravaged".
The real culprit was likely the [Operator System] on her own body.
"Her condition looks very special," Saionji Sagara explained to Su Yuzu.
"Completely different from most Second Sequence Aberrants."
"It seems like she can communicate."
"So I originally wanted to try capturing her. It wasn't until she used the 'Subspace Escape Device' that I shot the God-Hunting Arrow."
"Indeed... she can communicate, and is very obedient." Recalling the well-behaved little kitten in the dormitory, Su Yuzu forced a faint smile.
Privately harboring an Aberrant—for a strict teacher like Director Saionji who had come down from the battlefield, this should be a very serious matter, right?
"Is that so?" Completely contrary to Su Yuzu's expectations, Saionji Sagara's face, which could be called serious to the point of being terrifying, actually squeezed out a smile. "Then let her live at your place for now."
"If you need any medicine, just tell Unohana directly."
"When her body gets a little better, bring her over for a checkup." Saionji Sagara placed heavy emphasis on the word "little".
Su Yuzu looked at Saionji Sagara's expression as if she had seen a ghost.
She had imagined all sorts of situations, but the only one she hadn't anticipated was the current one.
Director Saionji was... going to help her raise Zero?
And she even looked like she was going to cover it up.
"Is there a problem?" Saionji Sagara frowned slightly. "I'll teach you later how to treat the injuries from the God-Hunting Arrow."
"If she is still alive now, given an Aberrant's constitution, she should have already passed the critical period."
"No... n-no, nothing." Su Yuzu shook her head repeatedly.
Director Saionji's straightforwardness even gave Su Yuzu the illusion that her "ultimate lady-killer" ability could work on people too.
That she could involuntarily wrench people directly over to her own faction.
Looking at Su Yuzu's stunned appearance, Saionji Sagara couldn't help but sigh. "Aberrants are not all completely uncommunicative either."
Her expression was a bit unpleasant, making Su Yuzu want to shove a microphone into Director Saionji's mouth: "Please tell your story."
However, Su Yuzu couldn't beat Director Saionji right now, so she could only drop it.
She let Director Saionji put on that deep, contemplative act found in stories—claiming she used to be an adventurer until she took an arrow to the knee—while keeping things hidden and tucked away.
"Moreover..."
"With an Aberrant invasion event occurring, someone from the Investigation Bureau will come to 'assist' the investigation." Saionji Sagara placed a contemptuous stress on the word "assist".
Then... as if thinking of something, she suddenly smiled. "Guess who the person coming to 'assist' the investigation is."
Su Yuzu's mouth twitched slightly. "No... it can't be..."
Saionji Sagara rarely revealed such a light, mocking look, as if preparing to watch a show. She shrugged her shoulders. "She knows Keigunen Private Academy very well."
"And she just evacuated from Keigunen Private Academy recently; why wouldn't it be her?"
Su Yuzu knew who Director Saionji was talking about.
The overlapping images of the girl's once gentle yet chilling smile... and finally, her well-behaved appearance in front of Yuzu, allowing Yuzu to fasten a collar on her.
Who else from the Investigation Bureau would be very familiar with Keigunen Private Academy?
It could only be Kujou Katora.
But... associating Kujou Katora's attitude of bitter abhorrence toward Aberrants with that well-behaved kitten in her own dormitory, Su Yuzu instantly felt a headache coming on.
She seemed to already see the image of Kujou Katora tilting her head, looking at her with a face that said, "Lady Yuzu, why did you betray me?" and then cradling her own head while driving a boat away into the sunset.
No wonder Director Saionji handed Zero over to her so cleanly and efficiently... In front of Kujou Katora, Zero was truly... a scalding hot potato of a cat.
Director Saionji knew that if Zero appeared in the laboratory, probably even she wouldn't be able to handle Kujou Katora.
So she might as well let Zero continue to recover from her injuries at Yuzu's place.
Wait until Zero's injuries recovered a "little" bit, and Kujou Katora left Keigunen Private Academy, before bringing her over for checks and questioning.
This...
"This time, I will try to arrange for her to stay a bit further away from you." Saionji Sagara made a "fighting" gesture to Su Yuzu.
Su Yuzu felt she could almost see Director Saionji's eyes saying... Do your best, little sister who can tame dogs.
The future of Keigunen Private Academy, and the future of your pet, you must grasp them!
________________________________________
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