[67] The Unseen (7)
But after a moment, the students—feeling a strange, satisfying thrill welling up inside—burst into loud laughter.
"Puhahaha! This is a masterpiece! Yeah, you did it!"
"Right! Honestly, I've always been into this kind of thing! Put on more fun presentations like this from now on!"
"I actually worked up a sweat for the first time in ages. You guys won! Amazing!"
The teachers were taken aback by the sudden change in the students' attitude, but Shirone had expected it. Every rational person has a curiosity about essence.
Where did we come from, and where are we going?
Perhaps that is the most important question to humans. It is also exactly why the Paranormal Psychical Science Club should exist.
Alpheas nodded, satisfied.
"To show the invisible without making it visible. So there was a method like that. The children did admirably."
"Principal, then will you allow the Paranormal Psychical Science Club to continue?"
"Hmm. That's not solely my decision. Well then—if anyone wants to argue against their reasoning, let them do it now."
No teacher stepped forward. Even Shiina had to remain silent this time.
To be honest, she felt as if her students had dealt her a proper blow. The Paranormal Psychical Science Club ought to exist. Hundreds of students gathered here had proved that.
Sade raised an objection.
"But what about the parts where they broke school rules? There'll be backlash. I'm uneasy approving the club as things stand."
Several teachers, Shiina among them, had confirmed the illegal intrusion into restricted areas. As multiple people pointed out the same issue, an impromptu teachers' meeting was called.
Shiina spoke first.
"It's true the kids broke the rules. But I don't think that's directly tied to whether the club should continue."
Having led the push for disbandment a short while before, her defense of the club puzzled the other teachers.
But Shiina thought that was enough. It was a promise she had made. Shirone and his group had met the requirements, and all she had to do was acknowledge their achievement.
Away from the teachers' debate, the leaders of the school's underworld met in a dark corner of the park and whispered among themselves.
"Even a rotten fish is useful, huh. It's not over yet. The seniors left behind some pretty brazen kids."
"There won't be a war. The Paranormal Psychical Science Club will be strong for a while. Our Ant Language Club shouldn't get involved."
"Hmph. It's only Class Five. They'll reach senior year someday, but I won't be at the school by then."
"That's not guaranteed. If we fail this year, next year we might have to compete with those brats."
"What, so I'm supposed to run away because I'm afraid of them?"
"Enough. It's ridiculous for us—who don't even usually speak—to be doing this. If you want a fight, have one. But our Hide-and-Seek Club won't step in."
"You'll be watching their every move, though. You lot would crawl through shit to hide something, wouldn't you?"
"That's it. People are watching. Gathering like this only harms the club's reputation."
The shadow leaders agreed to stop there and headed for the senior-year building. Shiina's brow tightened as she caught sight of them moving together.
'Ugh, those pathetic bastards.'
Just seeing their faces made her sick. They had been the worst troublemakers, harassing Shiina from the low classes up through the advanced classes into senior year.
The reason she couldn't do anything about them was that they abused God-given talent and slipped away like ghosts.
'How many of those kids are at this school? It's because these absurd clubs keep getting approved.'
How could teachers contend with ingenious tricks passed down from senior to junior, then on and on? Shiina had wanted to cut off the root of that malice, which was why she had tried to disband the club.
'But in the end, this is how it turned out.'
Clicking her tongue, Shiina pushed through the crowd and shouted up at Shirone's group standing on the rooftop railing.
"I'll announce the result of the teachers' meeting."
The students' applause and cheering died down.
"The Paranormal Psychical Science Club was originally scheduled to be disbanded. There had been no official activity for a year and membership was insufficient. However, based on today's presentation and after discussions with Principal Alpheas and a majority of the teachers, it has been decided that the three-person group represented by Nade—the Paranormal Psychical Science Club—will be allowed to continue for the time being. But—"
Shiina choked, and irritation flared no matter how she tried to phrase it. She jabbed a finger and snapped.
"You three are suspended for one week! Suspended, you idiots!"
Wahahahahaha!
The students doubled over with laughter. The plan had been brilliant in proving the club's worth, but they were guilty of installing unauthorized mechanical devices on school grounds.
Shirone, Nade, and Iruki gaped. Then they looked at one another. Smiles crept onto their faces, and delight lit their eyes.
"We did it! It worked!"
"Uwahahaha! We did it! The club's safe!"
They paid no mind to the suspension. Watching his students hug each other in joy, Shiina was incredulous.
But they had no regrets. They had poured everything into this—there wasn't even one percent left—and they were genuinely happy with the result.
"Hahaha! Hey, congratulations! Keep it up!"
"Where's your lab? I'll drop by sometimes!"
Students offered their congratulations. Among them were Shirone's ardent followers, Mark and Seriel.
"Whoa! Shirone-senpai as always! I knew from the start it wouldn't end like that! You're a step above me—no, two steps above!"
"Told you. I never imagined the club's fate would hinge on this presentation. Anyway, you pulled it off in style, didn't you? Right, Amy?"
Amy, who should have been the happiest at this moment, wore an unexpectedly sullen expression.
"What's so great about getting suspended? Why pull such pathetic stunts? You should be studying harder to get into senior year."
Seriel looked at Amy's awkward expression with affection. She knew Amy's heart—she wanted to share senior-year school life with Shirone.
"But isn't it cool? I could never do it myself, but everyone thinks that once—wanting to shock the world."
Seriel looked at Shirone with admiration.
Shirone's face, bright with the students' cheers, showed not a trace of worry.
Longing filled Amy's eyes. The truth was she knew she was the one who most wanted to be standing beside Shirone now.
But she shook her head as if denying those feelings.
'No time for this if I want to graduate. I'll never look up to you.'
She wanted to be with Shirone. She wanted to climb high and laugh the happiest laugh in the world. Suppressing that thought, Amy turned and walked away.
'So—hurry up and follow me, you idiot.'
* * *
4:00 a.m.
Night-shift staff had gone home; students and teachers were all asleep in the deep night.
Shirone and his group lay in the grass of the central park where the historic presentation had taken place, staring up at the stars.
The cheers and ruckus had faded, but phantom echoes still seemed to ring in their ears.
Nade spoke, his voice hoarse.
"In the end, we did it."
"Yeah. But I feel a little bad for Shirone. I'm used to getting punished, but this is his first time, right?"
Shirone snorted. He didn't mind.
"But it was fun. It was so much fun."
"Yeah, the best. Will I ever have another day like today? I can't forget the cheers."
"We worked together as three—of course it had to be that good. Either way, we made new history at Alpheas School of Magic."
Shirone sat up suddenly.
"Besides, it wasn't all bad. We gained a lot. The photon output level of our setup shot up massively. At this rate, it should even work in senior-year projects."
"Same here. I learned about optical fiber, and more importantly, I experienced a mass-production process on my own. It was an incredible lesson. It's all thanks to you guys."
"Me too. Applying behavioral patterns to four hundred people in the field taught me a lot. If Shirone hadn't pulled in the Immortal Function, it'd have been impossible."
"What are you saying? You were amazing too. Without the Servant Syndrome behavior equation, the students would never have been fooled."
"If we keep arguing, it was Nade who did the hardest part. He installed hundreds of devices with zero error. That focus was incredible."
The three, excitedly bragging, suddenly realized something and fell silent. A cold breeze passed. Nade lay back down and said:
"Let's stop. What's the point of praising each other like this?"
"Right. We shouldn't be frogs in a well. Enjoy the results, but don't let your guard down."
Shirone gazed up at the glittering stars as if they were overflowing.
"I want to go higher. I want to be the brightest star."
Iruki felt the same.
"I think we've done everything we could while fooling around. It's about time we climbed. To senior year."
Nade sprang up with a tumbling roll.
"Good! Then let's set a new goal! Raise our class as fast as possible! And graduate together! Then go out into the world and have fun!"
Shirone and Iruki nodded.
"Right. Until then, we don't stop running."
"Heh heh heh. It's been a while since I felt this fired up."
The three clasped hands and shouted, "Fighting!"
They vowed to become the greatest mages someday. Looking up at the night sky, their eyes sparkled like stars.
The single brightest star.
The North Star looked down on them.
At the Top (1)
Back at the dorm, Shirone collapsed and fell asleep at once. A one-week suspension was unfortunate, but he was too exhausted—mentally and physically—to care.
The day passed.
The morning piano, the sun high in the sky—none of it concerned the suspended Shirone.
"Hey. Shirone. Shirone."
Someone shook his body, and Shirone opened his eyes with a frown. Two blurry figures swam into view, then Nade and Iruki's smiling faces.
"Ugh. What is it?"
"You're something else. Still sleeping?"
"I don't know. I'm tired. Go away."
"Ah, come on, get up. We can't attend classes anyway. Let's go hang out."
"Hang out where?"
"There's a casino Iruki knows. They give free drinks and there are plenty of pretty girls. Since it's come to this, let's make a proper haul."
The word "casino" alone made Shirone not even want to respond.
"Aren't you guys tired? I'm dead on my feet here."
"We slept all day too. You've been out for twenty-seven hours. Come on—rest for three days and then come with us. With Iruki's Servant power, making money will be instant."