The new year kicked off with a schedule so packed it was enough to make me lose my mind.
First and foremost were the birthdays.
The first week concluded with a lineup starting with Hoshino, then Serina, and finally Hanako. The week after that had Hiyori and Misaki, and the week after that, Atsuko... ugh.
It was hard enough just getting Christmas presents for everyone, but I have no idea why so many birthdays had to come all clumped together from the end of last year to the beginning of this one, when I was already swamped.
Next up, the third-years' graduation ceremony and the closing ceremony for the school year greeted me. For other students, this would be the start of a short, two-week vacation... but for places like the student council, the Prefect Team, and the Justice Realization Committee, there was no such thing.
As for the graduation ceremony, which I was personally most curious about...
Ah, come to think of it.
I had planned on visiting Abydos once before chaos truly spread across Kivotos, but that plan was unfortunately scrapped.
The reason was a bit sudden: the sandstorms had temporarily gotten worse.
Hoshino insisted that I not come, and for her to be that adamant, I suspected something must have happened. If I had to guess, could it be Binah?
In any case. Amidst the hellish suffering ahead of the new semester, practice for our idol debut continued, and thankfully, by mid-January, I received word that the sandstorms had died down again.
So, I was thinking of scheduling another visit when I had the chance, but...
Today, the fourth Monday of January, was the day of the school's opening and entrance ceremonies. I had been fully prepared to leave the proceedings to Nagisa and watch leisurely from the back, but judging by the sudden phone call I received, it seemed I wouldn't have that luxury.
[Mika-nim... a matter has arisen that requires urgent discussion. Could you spare a moment?]
"Ahaha, for you, Kaya-chan, I'd feel like making time even if I had none... but the entrance ceremony is about to start, so I'll have to keep it short. So, what's up?"
[I will get straight to the point. Approximately 80 hours ago, the General Student Council lost control of the Sanctum Tower. We are doing our best to restore it, but it seems unlikely that the situation will be resolved in the near future...]
Oh boy... it's finally here. In the end, our dear General Student Council President cashed in on all the buildup she'd been creating and bailed.
[A gag order has been issued within the General Student Council regarding this matter, but as the Defense Chief, I've determined that I cannot simply stand by and watch. However, I cannot immediately hold a press conference, nor can I have a reporter release this as an article... so I have decided to contact you, the outsider I trust most, to seek your advice first, Mika-nim.]
"...Hmph."
[...What should I do in this situation? At this rate, the public order in Kivotos will be thrown into a state of uncontrollable chaos.]
"First of all, Kaya-chan, what's the fundamental reason the GSC lost control of the Sanctum Tower? There's no way you'd lose control of the facility that manages the administration of all of Kivotos overnight for no reason, right?"
Let's see just how honest our Kaya will be.
If I remember correctly, in the original story, the GSC kept the President's disappearance a secret for several weeks. The fact that they kept that part hidden even after it was revealed that Kivotos's administration was no longer under their control was, I personally surmise, Rin's judgment that the chaos from the President's disappearance would be even greater.
If Kaya reveals everything to me honestly here... I'm willing to believe her, no matter how outlandish her story is. Because that would mean she trusts me more than the will of the GSC.
[That is... Hahh. What I am about to tell you must, no matter what, remain known only to you, Mika-nim. The moment this information is leaked to the public, the GSC executives will start pointing fingers at each other, and the entire General Student Council will be torn apart by internal strife.]
Kaya, taking a deep breath on the other end of the line, announced the beginning of it all.
[Mika-nim, the reason we lost control of the Sanctum Tower is simple. It is all because... the General Student Council President has gone missing. As of now, we do not even know if this situation was brought about by the President's own will or against it. The Chief Administrator is temporarily acting in her stead, but...]
"In the end, it's all for nothing without control of the Sanctum Tower, right? I think I get the gist of what's happened. If you're asking for help maintaining public order in Kivotos without the fact that the President has vanished getting out... yeah, it's not a perfect solution, but it's not like there are no options."
[I-Is that so?!]
"Like I said, it's not perfect. Realistically, the Sanctum Tower is essential for managing the thousands of academy autonomous districts in Kivotos. However, I think just by giving a simple heads-up to a few academies I'm close with, we can give Valkyrie some breathing room. Yeah, most of them are quite large academies."
[By giving a heads-up, you mean...]
"Ah, I'm not going to reveal the President's disappearance! Yeah, just telling them that there's a problem with the Sanctum Tower and that things are about to get chaotic. I'll just tell them they should probably prepare for the worst, so you don't have to worry☆"
I've already told my acquaintances that the atmosphere at the GSC was unusual, so I'll just have to ask them to pay close attention to maintaining public order. Other than that, there's the issue of infrastructure... but that's not something we can do anything about even if we know.
"More importantly, at a time like this, I suppose moving the SRT Special Academy would be difficult, right? If we could just control the Black Market, it would be a great help in maintaining security..."
[...Yes, regrettably. At this point, SRT's authority beyond its role as the core of ETO is— Oh my. One moment. This... might be... possible...?]
"Oh, it is?"
[W-Well, umm. First, there is one thing you must understand: the General Student Council cannot exercise command authority over SRT. What you are suggesting would have to be carried out solely at SRT's discretion. In that case, I am sure you are aware, Mika-nim, that it could provoke backlash from other academies.]
The reason other academies don't push back against a military force that can trample on their autonomy and intervene is simple. It's because they all trust the General Student Council President that much.
But with the President out of the picture, any actions taken by SRT could be used as a pretext to tear them apart later, even after Sensei arrives.
Because of our connection through ETO, Hina and I publicly defending them in this matter would only be counterproductive.
But then, what are friends for?
"As long as it doesn't deviate from the pretext of strictly limiting items being leaked from the Black Market for the sake of public order, it'll be fine. There will definitely be allies who will side with SRT. Yeah, the real problem would have originally been moving SRT itself, but... as it happens, the person with the most influence in SRT right now is Yukino-chan, isn't it?"
Our fox platoon leader, who declared that the standard of justice is immutable and that she could enact justice according to her own judgment if necessary, is the de facto commander of SRT. As long as the Black Market is the most critical point in maintaining order in Kivotos until Sensei's arrival, there's no way Yukino won't cooperate.
The problem is that the vacuum created by those personnel leaving ETO will mean more hardship for Trinity and Gehenna.
Damn it. No choice. C&C is going to be incredibly busy for a while too, so I'll have to consider our idol debut for the new semester a lost cause. I'll have to postpone it. Honestly, the schedule was ridiculous to begin with.
"In that case, I'll persuade Yukino-chan to have SRT handle the Black Market... and Hina-chan and I will thoroughly lock down security in Gehenna and Trinity."
So long, my free time...
[Th-Thank you for your proactive cooperation! The Defense Office will also do its utmost to maintain public order in D.U. and throughout Kivotos, Mika-nim!]
"Yep, yep. I'm sorry I can't help more, Kaya-chan. I'm sure the GSC is flustered by this situation, but... if possible, I'd like you to resolve the current state of affairs as quickly as possible. Good luck!"
It's not like the GSC can accomplish anything on its own, but they just need to hold out until Sensei arrives. If I can succeed in minimizing the damage until then, then I'll have done the best I could.
...Sensei *is* coming, right?
***
"We pledge. We, the new students who have been granted admission for the year 20XX, will abide by the school regulations, strive in our studies, and live diligently without straying from the duties of a student..."
By the time I returned from my call with Kaya, the entrance ceremony had already begun.
Standing as the freshman representative was Iochi Mari. Our Sisterhood's lewd nun in training... no, that's not right. She is a nun so kind that a halo practically shines from her, a literal wingless angel.
Given Trinity's nature as a mission school, I judged that few would be as suitable as Mari to be the freshman representative.
After the freshman pledge ended, Nagisa stepped forward. It's not that I pushed the congratulatory address onto her because I was too lazy to do it... I just wanted to watch our noble Nagisa's form from a distance.
"To our beloved new students, I offer my sincerest congratulations on your admission. I hope that during your three years with our academy, you will learn to love others, and to love yourselves..."
Nagisa continued her address for some time before concluding it at an appropriate point.
Ahh... that benevolent smile, that relaxed atmosphere, and that overflowing grace. How could one not fall for her?
Most of all, what's so cute it's driving me crazy is that, contrary to that outward appearance, she's probably internally grumbling about me for dumping the speech on her, while also worrying if she made any mistakes.
It'll all blow over after the ceremony when I take her somewhere secluded, praise her for her hard work and for being so cool, and give her a few kisses... but still, I think that's what's most lovable about Nagisa.
***
*[Concerns are mounting as some infrastructure systems have ceased to function. This afternoon at 1 p.m., the traffic signal system throughout the D.U. district shut down for approximately four hours, causing chaos and fueling fierce complaints against the General Student Council. Amidst this, news has broken that SRT Special Academy has begun to take full control of the Black Market. The General Student Council President has yet to issue an official statement regarding any of these events—]*
***
*[We have news that the railway project by the Saint Nephthys Company, which was resumed late last year, is now nearing its final stages. As the sandstorms within the Abydos Autonomous District have recently intensified to an unprecedented level, opinions are emerging that Saint Nephthys's project may be accelerating the desertification process—]*
***
*[The General Student Council President, and the General Student Council itself, remain silent. Amidst the ever-growing voices of distrust, at 10 a.m. today, Gehenna Academy's Pandemonium Society held a surprise press conference. The society's chairman, Hanuma Makoto, proposed an impeachment bill for the current General Student Council President, strongly criticizing the GSC for having neither the ability nor the will to resolve the current situation.]*
***
*...We desire. The Seven Wails.*
*...We remember. The Thema of Jericho.*
***