"Phew, huaaah… I really thought I was going to die this time. I've swallowed so much water all day… and my wings just won't dry… It's the absolute worst feeling."
Looking like a drowned rat, a black-haired girl trudged across the sand toward me, grumbling. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, she plopped down on the sunbed next to mine, her back to me, in the shade of the parasol.
If I had to describe this girl in one word, it would be "easygoing."
Aside from her distinctively closed eyes, she had perfectly ordinary hair color and style. With no frilly accessories, just a simple red hairpin and the Justice Task Force choker, she should have given off a plain impression, especially since she wore the same uniform as the JTF mob-chans.
But this girl… she has an incredibly beautiful smile.
And that smile is basically her default setting. She smiles so constantly that you'd think it was forced, but watching her now, that doesn't seem to be the case at all. The only time her smile vanished was probably when she was too stunned to do anything but fall into the water from Tsurugi's reckless driving. Plus, today she was in a rather revealing black bikini, so she definitely didn't look like your average JTF member.
"Ahaha, but once I dry them this time, we're done, right? You won't have to get wet again."
"That's true, but… I still hate getting wet. So I'll have to impose on you one more time, Mika-senpai."
"You're the only one who bosses their senpai around like this, Ichika."
Nakatsukasa Ichika. A first-year in the Justice Task Force, and the student scheduled to team up with Tsurugi for the water skiing event in the upcoming festival.
If you're wondering why Tsurugi is the one driving the boat, it's a matter of fairness. Part of the discussion Hina and I had involved restricting the participation of the three of us, including Tsurugi. The three of us are so overpowered that our very existence is basically cheating, so we agreed to refrain from directly competing in most events. I mean, if I played in the beach volleyball tournament, a regular ball would probably explode the moment I spiked it.
Therefore, a proper showdown between Hina and Tsurugi will only happen during the team battle, an event where the Justice Task Force and the Prefect Team can participate without restrictions. I'm personally looking forward to that quite a bit. It'd be great if Tsurugi wins, of course, but regardless of the outcome, I really want to see those two go at it.
However, one of the events not covered by these restrictions is driving the motorboat in the water skiing competition. I heard that originally, Ichika was supposed to compete in the jet ski event with another mob-chan, while Tsurugi teamed up with Hasumi for water skiing, but Hasumi couldn't get the hang of it at all.
Well, it doesn't matter. We have my Arius Squad for the jet ski event, so I'm not worried. Frankly, Trinity has an incomparably larger number of named students who are willing to cooperate in events like this. Of course, since it's a sport, there's always a chance for a mob-chan to shine, but that applies to Trinity just as much as anyone else.
Click. Whoooosh—
I held the cordless hair dryer and leisurely began to dry Ichika's black wings. It's obviously easier for her to have someone else do it, but the fact that she'd ask
me just shows how much nerve she has. We've only met two or three times before today. Any other student would have been too intimidated by my position to even dream of asking such a thing, but Ichika does it without a second thought.
"Haha! You were the one who told me not to hesitate if I needed help, senpai. And right now, the only help I need is for something as trivial as this."
"You know, Ichika, if Nagisa finds out I'm here drying your wings, I'm a dead woman. She'd probably try to eat me alive. It would be a total disaster."
"Come to think of it, you two are a couple, aren't you? Now I'm worried that my request might cause some unnecessary misunderstandings."
"Wa—ow… And yet, you still haven't offered to dry them yourself."
At my words, Ichika glanced back over her shoulder and grinned.
No, Ichika. If you keep smiling so brightly like that, you're going to bewitch the wrong person. I'm not talking about me, but still, you should tone it down.
"Haha. Well, if she doesn't find out, there's no problem, right?"
Wow, look at her. She's got more guts than I thought.
To be honest, I know almost nothing about the original Ichika from the game. Just what she looks like and a few lines from the Eden Treaty arc, and even then, I barely remember what she said. But meeting her in person, her presence is undeniable. I'm a little resentful that the PD didn't show more of a student like this in the story, but at the same time, I'm happy to have the chance to meet and get to know her for myself.
"Alright then~ Let's hear a word from our athlete, Ichika! For the water skiing event, are you confident you can bring home the gold?!"
"...Honestly? No."
"Eh."
Hey, Ichika. Wasn't that your cue to confidently declare that you'd wipe the floor with the competition and bring home the gold?
"Well, I got used to the water skiing itself pretty quickly. The problem is Tsurugi-senpai's reckless driving."
Ah. The Tsurugi issue. Can't argue with that.
"...Ahaha. You've got a point. I forgot about that."
"Tsurugi-senpai going berserk is a given. The real question is whether I can endure it… It feels like my true opponent in the actual competition won't be the other teams, but Tsurugi-senpai herself. Something like that."
"Well, on the other hand, that means if you
can endure Tsurugi's rampage, you can beat anyone. Alright! Ichika, I'm counting on you for the water skiing gold!"
"Ah, yes… If you put it that way, Mika-senpai, I'll do my best."
"Great, I'll be cheering you on… Ah, the battery."
After drying her wings several times now, it seemed the hair dryer had finally given up the ghost.
"Sorry, Ichika. I was so caught up in our conversation I didn't see the battery was low… I should have at least dried your hair a little."
"Haha, it's fine! I can just dry my hair properly after I shower in a bit."
Ichika's cheerful, hearty reply brought a small smile to my lips.
Aha… right. She can just dry it again after she showers. Of course. Right. I can't believe I didn't think of that. How foolish.
"...Which means, not just your hair, but your wings will have to be dried again after you shower. So why did you ask me to dry them, my dear junior?"
"..."
Ichika stood up silently and started wringing out her hair. It was obvious she was trying to dodge my question, but I didn't press her. I had a strong feeling I knew what was coming next.
"My apologies, Mika-senpai! You were drying my wings with such care that I couldn't help but indulge myself a little!"
There it is. Though I didn't expect her to be quite so honest about it.
"Alright, alright, I'll let it slide this one time! To be honest, I got to legally slack off at the beach, so I don't really care either way. But still, you were a bit naughty, so you'll have to forgive my little prank ☆."
"Haha… Hmm. You know, Mika-senpai, you're not at all what I expected. In a good way."
"Ahaha! What's with that vague compliment? But I'm glad it's in a good way."
"As long as you get the meaning, that's what matters, right? Well then, I'm off to take a shower. Looks like Tsurugi-senpai is here, too."
Just as Ichika said, Tsurugi, having handed over the boat to other JTF members, was walking over, looking completely drained. Was she that disappointed about having her boat taken away?
I raised a hand and waved, and Tsurugi looked up at me with vacant eyes.
"You have to win the competition, Tsurugi!!!"
I shouted with all the sincerity I could muster. For everyone else, losing to Gehenna would be a sleepless night. For me, losing to Gehenna means I
literally won't be able to sleep. I'd rather die than be subjected to… whatever that idiot Makoto has planned for me. Okay, I wouldn't die, but I still don't want to lose.
Tsurugi stared at me blankly for a moment, then raised her hand slightly to her chest and gave a small wave. Then, she suddenly jumped as if startled, spun around, and…
"KYAOOOOOO—!!"
…shrieked and ran off somewhere.
"Eh?"
"She's just embarrassed. Everyone's pretty scared of Tsurugi-senpai, you know. It's rare for someone to treat her as normally as you do, Mika-senpai. Mmm."
Well, I know that, but…
It's not like I'm completely comfortable around Tsurugi either. Especially when her expression gets fierce, she scares me too. That's why I'd never, ever fight her. If I saw that bloodthirsty look on her face in a fight, I think I'd just surrender on the spot.
"Well then. I'll be going now, Mika-senpai. The next time we meet, you'll be putting the gold medal around my neck, okay? Haha!"
"Ahaha…! Yes! That's the answer I was waiting for, Ichika! Go for it!"
Alright, one gold medal slave secured.
Makoto, whatever you have planned, you'll never overcome my trusty Justice Task Force and Arius Sq—
Ting!
"Hm?"
A MomoTalk notification chimed from the small pouch next to my sunbed. I opened my phone to check the message and saw a familiar name.
[Hina]
[You better be ready for this festival, Mika.]
That single line from Hina was all it took to send a chill down my spine.
What? Why the sudden message from Hina?
She and Makoto aren't exactly on good terms, so it's possible she's warning me that Makoto has something big planned. The problem is, Makoto thinks she has me kidnapped and locked away. This means it's unlikely Hina's message is a warning…
"Wa—ow."
No, Hina… you can't do this to me, not after everything.
If Trinity loses this festival, I become Makoto's slave. I'll have to spend a week chanting "All hail the great Chairman Makoto!".
What on earth has gotten Hina so fired up? As a Gehenna student, it's natural she wouldn't want to lose to Trinity, but…
Still, considering our friendship, couldn't you just go easy on me and let me win?
Feeling utterly defeated, I collapsed back onto the sunbed. A sense of betrayal washed over me, my heart turning to ice.
If this is how it's going to be… then two days from now, on the opening day of the festival, I'll crush you, Hina.
Let's see if you can still talk so tough after that.
Even as I made that silent vow, I found myself desperately praying that my girls would crush Gehenna. I don't think I've ever prayed so desperately for anything in my life.
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