Next Day, Summer Fall High — 12:00 p.m.
Principal's Office
"Miss Hoshinova, do you have any idea why I've called you here?" Miyaru asked, her hands resting on the beautifully carved glass table, its surface etched with the image of a graceful, goddess-like woman.
"No… Miss Principal, I don't," Rin replied softly.
Miyaru crossed her arms, leaning her face closer with a sharp glint in her eyes.
"In that case," she said smoothly, her tone carrying both weight and warning, "allow me to enlighten you."
She uncrossed her arms and leaned back slightly. From the drawer beneath the table, Miyaru pulled out her phone and slid it across, the screen glowing.
Rin's eyes widened the moment she saw it. Fear and shock rippled across her face, her expression twisting.
On the screen played a video—the fire at the convenience store where she worked. Her face was clearly visible, as was the uniform she wore.
"Well now, now, don't be like that—and please, don't try to hide anything or lie," Miyaru said as she closed the video and set the phone down on the table. "Nevertheless, I hope you have a good excuse as to why you were working at a convenience store, taking a part-time job, when you clearly know it's against the rules of this school."
"I know... but there was a reason I was working there!" Rin admitted quietly.
"Was? You got fired?" Miyaru pressed.
"Yes."
"And the reason you were working there... let me guess—your financial condition?"
"Yes."
Miyaru paused, her expression unreadable before she finally spoke. "That doesn't make any difference to me. You broke the rules. So, I'm going to expel you."
"Expel?!" Rin's voice cracked, disbelief flooding her face. She had known, deep down, that things might come to this—but hearing it out loud still crushed her. Still, she swallowed the weight in her chest. At least she still had a way to support herself and her sister, thanks to Ezakiel.
"Yep. Now please leave. I'll have your certificate prepared soon," Miyaru said flatly.
Rin lowered her head and quietly left the room, her expression clouded with sadness.
"Don't you think that was a little too harsh?" a voice said out of nowhere. A shimmer rippled in the air, and Yuki appeared inside the office.
Miyaru exhaled slowly, unbothered. "You're only saying that because you had to trouble yourself finding her just to fill the scholarship quota for students from economically weak backgrounds."
"True," Yuki admitted with a casual shrug.
"Since you're here," Miyaru continued, her eyes narrowing, "did you find anything about the black centipede I asked you to investigate?"
"Nah, not a trace of the BBC yet," Yuki replied.
"Big Black Centipede…" Miyaru repeated, her tone flat and deliberate.
"That's what I said—BBC, Big Black Centipede. It's not big black co—" Yuki stopped mid-sentence as Miyaru's piercing stare froze her in place.
"Relax, relax," Yuki raised her hands quickly, half-grinning. "I was just joking."
"I will be… if you come out as your true self, Marie," Miyaru said calmly.
Yuki's eyes widened at the words. In the next instant, her form wavered, and the illusion peeled away—revealing Marie in her true form.
"How did you figure out it wasn't Yuki? I thought I had perfectly masked her energy signature and mannerisms," Marie said.
"True," Miyaru replied, her gaze sharp. "But I have my ways. Not that I even needed them. While Yuki is usually neutral in her actions, she sometimes throws in a dirty joke or two—though that's very rare. And this is the one place she would never do that. Not to mention, you forgot to mask the aura of your mana. You copied her energy signature perfectly… but not her aura."
"My bad," Marie said with a clumsy face, sticking her tongue out.
"Nevertheless, tell me—why are you here and not Yuki?" Miyaru asked.
"Yuki is busy trying to focus on the energy and mana of the BBC, so she couldn't come to report. She sent me instead. The most intriguing part is… the monster is inside the school," Marie said.
"Huh? How is that even possible?" Miyaru's brows furrowed.
"No one knows—at least not yet. We'll only find out once we kill the monster and study it from the inside out," Marie replied, placing a thoughtful hand on her chin.
"I see… very well. Go to your class," Miyaru said, leaning back in her chair.
Marie vanished into thin air.
I never thought I would encounter one of those again…
Miyaru could never forget that day, back when she was only twelve. She had fought against one of those creatures called Unique Monsters—beings born from men who had turned into monsters through overwhelming, corrosive negative emotions. Only men could become them, and the terrifying part was that they could completely mask their energy and mana, making themselves indistinguishable from ordinary humans.
Not many magical girls were told about their existence. If the knowledge spread, some might recklessly start hunting men at random out of fear, which would only make things worse. Killing too many men could trigger the rise of even more Unique Monsters—sometimes two, three, or even more at once, since their creation often required interference or involvement from a magical girl.
She could never forget the face of the unique monster, the very one that was also the reason for the scar behind her back.
The six tentacles, the head of an eagle, with hundreds of mouths, and the countless dead bodies of magical girls.
I may be stronger than I was back then, but that doesn't make me feel much better… Though why did the big black centipede run away after attacking with that nuclear blast? It should have had more than enough power…
This doesn't make any sense.
If was an ordinary monster from the many species of the monster realm, then it would have considering those monsters,would never let the change of killing a magical girl go if they knew they are stronger than the magical girl they are trying to kill.
Unless it was weaker…
Which meant there was a new breed of monster, something just like a unique monster, but perhaps a little weaker.
Which means that the strength of the monster shouldn't be S, but more like A rank, on the lower high end of A.
Fortunately, she knew its existence only within her branch.
It must never be leaked to anyone. It was truly a good idea to tell only Yuki and Marie about the big black centipede. As for the triplets, she would simply tell them to keep out. And anyone else—if they ever found out—would have to be silenced.
Though she believed it, now that the time had come, she would tell Yuki and Marie about the existence of unique monsters, and this new type. But the news of this type would be confined only to her branch for now.
...
School Canteen/Cafeteria
Time: 12:45 PM
"What happened, Rin? Why do you look so sad?" I asked her, noticing her sad expression as she left her ramen untouched on the table.
"Ezakiel… I was called in by the principal," she said.
Miyaru? Why would she call Rin?
"Why though?"
"You know the fire from yesterday?"
"Yes…"
"My face was on the video. The principal saw it… and expelled me," Rin said.
"I see," I said.
Well, I was kind of expecting that. Most of the people recording the scene were my men. I wanted her to get expelled—it was part of the fourth phase of my plan.
Rin continued, "I was at least hoping to finish my education through college, to have a chance at getting a good job for my sister. That was my original plan, and it would've broken my heart since I only managed to attend this school because of the scholarship scheme. Without a college degree, it wouldn't be possible… but not anymore. Since you gave me the job offer—and let me teach you some of the subjects—it doesn't feel so hopeless now."
"That's good to hear. But let me make one thing clear—this won't be your last day at this school. I'll change that expulsion order," I said. This was my chance to deepen my bond with Rin, and there was no way I was letting it slip away.
"Huh? How are you going to do that?" Rin asked, her face full of disbelief.
"By paying the school a huge load of cash," I replied casually.
"You're… going to bribe the school?" she said, wide-eyed.
"Exactly. The school's been desperate for funds to buy a new patch of land for their second branch. I'll cover the entire cost in exchange for reversing the order. If you want a college degree, then you'll have it."
Rin lowered her eyes, confused. "I… don't understand. Why are you helping me so much?"
"Well… the thing is, I love you," I said, my voice dropping into a deep tone.
"You… love me? Me?" Rin stammered, her face suddenly turning red.
"Yes. I do. From the very moment I first saw you. And even if you don't love me, that's fine. I wouldn't do anything out of revenge, or take away my help just because you reject my confession. I'm not a vain man," I said firmly.
Flustered and embarrassed, Rin quickly turned and ran away.
"Now where the hell is Yuta?" I muttered, noticing he wasn't sitting with us today. I then smirked to myself. "Perhaps he's getting bullied? Sad… but honestly, he really shouldn't have been born that way."