The duration of a Ferris wheel ride is usually proportional to its size.
The one we were on had a little over thirty cabins and, from what I heard, a ride time of about twenty minutes. Just looking at it, you could tell it was massive, and twenty minutes is an objectively long time for an amusement park ride.
But that twenty-minute span can feel endlessly long or incredibly short, depending on the person.
You don't even have to look far for proof; the two people in this very cabin are perfect examples.
For someone like Hifumi, whose social skills are so potent she could chat away for hours with the right person, twenty minutes is, with a little exaggeration, gone in a flash.
For Haruka, however, those twenty minutes could feel like an eternity of awkwardness, each second ticking by with agonizing slowness. It's a good thing Aru is here; if she were separated from her, she might have actually tried to die. Put her in that situation, and it wouldn't be surprising if she walked out of here with a brand-new case of claustrophobia.
So, what conversation topic could possibly satisfy everyone?
Simply gazing at the scenery as the sun sets over the park isn't a bad option, but it feels like a bit of a waste of twenty minutes.
Hifumi is easygoing and will engage with almost any topic (except maybe Momo Friends), and I'm not particularly picky either.
That means it's probably best to focus on the other two. Any talk about Gehenna Academy is a minefield for Haruka, so that's out.
Well, isn't Aru the only topic left?
The only problem is that I intentionally forgot to tell my group about Problem Solver 68…
"Um, Ms. Aru?"
"Hmm? If you have a question for the great Aru, feel free to ask! Except for our trade secrets, of course."
"Trade secrets…?"
While I was still debating how to handle this, Hifumi, who had been studying Aru intently, seemed to have decided on a conversational path. And I had a bad feeling about it.
"Um, you and your friends, you're all in the same club, right…?"
Hifumi's question, posed after a moment of confused head-tilting at Aru's words, was aimed directly at the one piece of information I had tried to hide: the truth about their business.
Aru, we agreed to keep this a secret for today. So why do I have zero faith in you right now?
Anxious, I tried to poke her in the ribs to give her a signal, but it was too late.
"Ufufu. Not a club, but the same company… Eek?!"
"…Ms. Aru? Are you alright?"
"Ah, ahh. O-Of course, I'm perfectly fine! It's just… an old bullet wound from our recent war with a rival crime syndicate started acting up. It's a medal of honor from a hard-won battle! Isn't that right, Employee Haruka?!"
"Y-Yes! I, a worthless grunt, should have taken that bullet for you, President Aru! I am so sorry for my failure! Should I die? I should, shouldn't I? If I jump from here—"
"Th-That won't be necessary!"
Wow, Aru. She can spin a lie with a straight face and a dash of bravado on the spot. All I did was jab her in the side with my finger.
You know, sometimes I think I'm too trusting. What was I thinking, believing Aru could keep her mouth shut for a single day? The problem might be that I can afford to trust people. If someone tried to backstab me physically, I could fold them in half. If they tried it non-physically, I could solve it with the authority of the Tea Party Host. Most of the time, blind trust doesn't cause me any major trouble.
Now that it's come to this, I have no choice. I'll have to clean up the mess again. I can already see Nagisa getting a headache. First a terrorist group, and now a private problem-solving agency?
In my defense, if I'd let these girls out of my sight, they could have caused a disaster of epic proportions. Keeping them close was the best option. I made a rational choice. If I called Rio right now and asked her if my decision was logical, she'd agree. Probably.
"Aww… A war with a crime syndicate? Is it… a dangerous company…?"
Our dear Hifumi, who in the near future will make a name for herself as the infamous leader of the Masked Mizugi Gang, looked shaken.
Don't lose heart, Hifumi! You'll be just as formidable one day!
"Hmph. Dangerous work for dangerous times. The problem-solving business is deeply connected to Kivotos's underworld, after all!"
"The underworld… Just hearing about it is scary… Aww…"
"But the agents of Problem Solver 68 are the best in the business! We have the skills to handle any dangerous request without batting an eye. Which means that no matter how dangerous the job, to us, it's not really that dangerous at all!"
Aru flashed a confident grin that, on the surface, looked genuinely villainous. She had the hard-boiled look down, even if her core was soft-boiled.
Hmm… but I'm still not sure what "dangerous" even means here. What's truly dangerous to students who can get shot, hit by anti-aircraft fire, or run over by a train and still be fine? It's a question without an easy answer.
"Th-That's amazing. So, Ms. Aru, what made you start a problem-solving business? There must be an incredible backstory, right? Like the secret of Lord Peroro's tongue!"
"L-Lord Peroro…? I'm not sure what that is, but of course there's a heart-pounding epic behind the founding of my agency! Hmph, just try not to be too amazed when you hear it!"
I don't know how to describe this. It's like watching a grandmother listen to her excited grandchild tell a wildly exaggerated story, cooing, "Oh, is that so? Goodness, you're the best, my little munchkin!"
Hmm…
I wonder if Nagisa is doing okay.
Even if this conversation goes well, there are still plenty of others who are after me…
I guess I'll have to be the one to draw the line, won't I? I just hope the other girls don't get too hurt. But somehow, I doubt things will go that smoothly.
"That day, I resolved to start living the life I'd always dreamed of—the life of a stylish and cool outlaw who does whatever she pleases. Huhu, if you want to hear the rest of the story, I suppose I could tell you. Interested?"
"Yes, I'd love to hear it!"
As I half-listened to Aru's surprisingly captivating story, I found myself staring blankly out the window. I can't help but feel that the atmosphere in the other cabin is probably a world away from ours.
Maybe I should have just gotten on my knees and begged Hifumi for forgiveness so I could have ridden with Nagisa.
(Nagisa's POV)
I cross my arms, staring down at the little stray cat who's been clinging to Mika for some time now, and the little demon who appeared out of nowhere to declare her interest in her. What can I possibly say to get these two away from Mika?
"So, Ms. Angel, when are you going to get to the point~? I mean, I have nothing to lose if we just let this drag on. But you, my jealous little angel, are a different story, aren't you? Kuhuhu♡."
That girl… Asagi Mutsuki's words are close to the truth.
Knowing Mika's fickle nature, I can't expect her to coldly push away the girls who cling to her. I believe having a lot of love to give is a good thing, but someone like Mika, whose love overflows to a fault, is a problem.
If only she would focus all that love on me alone, I would be overjoyed. But I fell in love with her precisely because she wasn't that kind of person. Even if she were, I'm sure falling for her would have been inevitable. It's for that reason that I can't help but feel a little disappointed.
"…You're right. I suppose it's time I explained why I gave up my seat next to Mika to arrange this meeting with you two."
"I think it's pretty obvious even without you saying it. But fine, I'll humor you. Kyahat!"
"I agree. Your intentions are clear."
My hand instinctively searches for a teacup, but I manage to stop it. Without any calming black tea, it is entirely up to me to keep my composure.
"Ms. Azusa, I'll skip over the fact that you and the rest of Arius Squad have pledged your blind loyalty and adoration to Mika, as I'm already aware. But Ms. Asagi, why… why are you so forward with your affection for Mika? Weren't you two strangers until today?"
"Aah~, what a boring question. I was hoping for something a bit more… explosive!"
"And let me be clear, I will not accept an answer like 'it was love at first sight.'"
"What? Where's the fun in that~? Ms. Angel, are you trying to say Mika isn't charming enough for that? If so, this Mutsuki might be a little disappointed!"
She's deliberately changing how she refers to Mika to provoke me. Her personality seems even more mischievous than Mika's ever was. She's a tricky one, able to draw her opponent into her pace with the slightest misstep.
However, through my activities with the Tea Party, I pride myself on having some skill in concealing my emotions. It will not be so easy to shatter my composure with such a shallow trick, Asagi Mutsuki.
"Of course, as you say, Mika possesses more than enough charm for that. The people who practically worship her are proof enough. But, based on my observations of your personality, you are not the type to be swayed by mere appearances. Is that not so?"
"Waoh… Hearing you say that gives me a strange feeling~? What's wrong with falling for Mika's looks!"
"I never said there was anything wrong with it. I only said that you don't seem like the type."
"…Kuhuhu."
Hearing my words, Ms. Asagi let out a laugh that reminded me of Mika after she's played a prank on me. Does this mean I've hit the mark?
"You're right! Just as you said, Ms. Angel, I'm not just clinging to her because she's pretty. To be precise, my current impression is more like, 'This person is exactly my type,' you know?"
"…In what way?"
"Hmm? Well, she's obviously kind, but she's also full of mischief—she's my ideal type! And it seems like it would be super fun to tease Aru together. Heehee!"
Even as she says that, the blush on her face tells me there's more to it. I'm sure Mika was flirting with her nonstop. At this rate, unless I teach that loose woman the meaning of fidelity, this sort of thing will never end…
The main problem is that I don't have it in me to correct such a bad habit.
What should I do? Should I get on my knees, cry my eyes out, and beg her to only look at me?
I don't know. Even if I made it clear who Mika belongs to, there's no guarantee those vixens would back down. Especially Kurodate and Sorasaki… sigh.
…Come to think of it, Ms. Asagi is also from Gehenna. Perhaps Mika is just the type to attract bad girls from Gehenna.
"Ms. Asagi, allow me to be perfectly clear. Mika is my precious partner, with whom I will spend the rest of my life. Please do not treat interfering in our relationship like a game. Please do not try to sabotage us simply because it seems fun. I… implore you."
"…Heeh. So that's the kind of person you are, Ms. Angel~? I'm a little impressed."
"Mika is stronger than anyone, but she is also more fragile than anyone. She is an idealist, dreaming a dream that would be overwhelming even for someone with everything, so I worry she might stumble if I'm not there to support her. I am not so immature as to act like a child when my partner is like a saint who dreams of everyone's happiness."
In fact, at this point, it no longer surprises me that more and more people are drawn to Mika. I became certain of it after seeing how she treated Ms. Azusa just now.
This is all just a byproduct of Mika's journey to achieve her dream. That is the conclusion I have reached. The problem, in the end, is Mika's bad habit of prying open people's hearts and making a home inside. The only thing that makes it unique is that she is completely unaware she's even doing it.
For Arius Squad, who had walked through a lightless mire, I cannot begin to fathom what kind of existence Mika, the one who guided them into the light, has become. But I have a vague sense that she might be more precious to them than their own lives.
Kurodate's true intentions are still a mystery, but… Prefect Sorasaki's feelings are something I can guess at, and even understand. The paragon of Gehenna, who has taken it upon herself to maintain order in a school teeming with delinquents. It's impossible that Mika would have simply passed by someone like that.
Mika knows better than anyone that when someone shines so brightly… it wouldn't be strange for their shadow to be twisted and warped beneath them. It is Mika's way to soothe the wounds of such people, so Sorasaki, too, must have been drawn to her warm light.
…Though, there is a distinct difference between them. Unlike Sorasaki, who must clean up after others, Mika creates most of her own messes.
"Jealous? Of course, I am. I, too, am just an ordinary person filled with the desire to have my beloved all to myself."
It's not as if I'm so magnanimous as to welcome other women clinging to Mika. Today alone, there were more than a few moments when my insides were boiling.
"But at the same time, I am also someone who can face reality."
I was the first to love Mika. And though she beat me to the punch, I am the one she accepted. And I am, of course, the only one with whom she has shared her deepest, most hidden secret.
"I wish for nothing but happiness and blessings in Mika's future, Ms. Asagi."
Because I love her, I will not dare to put a leash on her. If you cage the bluebird meant to deliver happiness to all, the bluebird itself will lose its own happiness, and eventually, its true light.
I am not strong enough to break the one I love just for the sake of possessing her. It's a little frustrating, but… yes, that is the truth.
"Mika is, in truth, just a timid coward, and she is afraid of hurting someone over something like this. The words she chose when she told Ms. Azusa to sort out her feelings were surely picked because she didn't want to be hated."
As her partner, it is infuriating, but I am no match for Mika. I suspect she feels the same way about me, which is why I can never win. Even if I wanted to shape her to my liking, she is already a flawless gem. The very parts of her that drive me mad are born from one of her most brilliant qualities. How could I, for my own selfish reasons, dare to take sandpaper to that?
"Love makes a fool of people. There is not a shred of falsehood in that statement. As living proof, I know this better than anyone. Love has made me a fool who wishes only for Mika's happiness."
"That's the same for our squad."
"Huhu… I'm aware. It's just that, when I heard Ms. Atsuko's words, this was a topic I didn't want to think about. Would you want to face the fact that the person who just became your partner is surrounded by countless admirers?"
"…No, honestly, I'd hate that."
"Precisely, right?"
Oh, dear. We've already reached the top. The view of the amusement park at sunset is so dreamlike. And yet, I, who kicked away the chance to sit with the one person I wanted to share it with, am now allowing others to approach her. I must be the biggest fool in the world.
I want to resent you, Mika, for turning me into such a fool. But I resent myself even more for being unable to do so. It's truly ironic.
"So, what is it you want to say to me? Ah, no! That's not it. What is it you want to hear from me, you foolish Ms. Angel~?"
"…Unless someone can become a fool who lives only for Mika, I will never, ever allow them to get close to her. That is all I wanted to say to you."
"Hmm. That sounds an awful lot like a religion, doesn't it?"
"Perhaps. It might be. But what can I do? I love her so much that I've been blinded."
I wonder if you, riding in the cabin that passed the summit just ahead of us, have any idea just how much I am giving up?
It doesn't particularly matter if you know or not… but still, I hope you understand just how much I've agonized over this. That alone would be a great happiness for me.
"Asagi Mutsuki… can you prioritize Mika above all else? I want to know if you have the resolve to be that devoted to her."
"…Even so, prioritizing your Angel over my Aru might be a tad difficult, don't you think?"
"You're disqualified."
"Eh."
Why does she look so surprised? As if I would give a chance to someone without that much resolve.
Huhu, with this, the students from other academies should be more or less sorted out. I offered a compromise, and it is their problem if they cannot meet it…
"Fine, then I'll just make Aru a fanatic for your Angel, too~♪."
"…What?"
Why, when you only met her today? Why would you agree to such an absurd condition…?
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