Trinity Outskirts, Ruins
Under the night sky, the Arius Branch School stood in formation, armed and ready, resembling an army. At their forefront was the Arius Squad, led by Saori Jomae.
"Gehenna and Trinity's forces remain strong—likely even stronger after this incident. Their leaders, Gehenna's Disciplinary Committee Head and Trinity's Justice Task Force Head, are still active… burning with anger toward me," Saori said, her hat pulled low.
The Arius students hid their unease. Facing both academies' strongest was daunting.
"But," Saori continued, "Shalle's Sensei is poisoned, likely dying. No one can withstand a toxin that destroys the body. The Apostles' counter is gone. We cannot lose."
The squad gripped their weapons, tension peaking.
"If we're caught, it's over. The moment we targeted Sensei, our fate was sealed. So, let's live as Arius until the very end," Saori declared, moving to the rear, raising her gun. "Vanitas vanitatum, et omnia vanitas…"
"Everything… is vanity," the students echoed.
"Good. Arius Branch School, advance!" Saori commanded.
United in purpose, they followed their leaders—for Arius, for breaking with the past.
Same Time, Dawn Approaching
"Azusa-chan's gone?" Koharu asked.
"And Hifumi too. No note, nothing," Hanako replied.
"Azusa… alone?" Koharu whispered, worried.
Mash spoke up. "They asked me to tell Nagisa-san and Makoto-san: 'The request is on track.'"
"Where are you going, Sensei?" Hanako asked.
"To find them. Probably the treaty signing site," Mash said.
"Arius!?" Koharu gasped.
"Why alone again!?" Hanako demanded.
"They likely know the request I made," Mash said.
"Request?" Koharu asked.
Mash's request to Gehenna and Trinity's leaders was his most vital goal: "Gehenna and Trinity students work together to stop Arius, then Shalle takes in the Arius students."
"!?" The room gasped.
"Take in Arius? Are you sane!?" Koharu exclaimed.
"That'd look like shielding terrorists who attacked two academies," Hanako warned.
"That's the plan," Mash said.
"Harboring criminals makes you a criminal," Hanako pressed.
"I don't care. I just want them to live normally. They deserve a chance to atone," Mash said.
Used as weapons, discarded when worthless, denied proper food or life, forced to suppress emotions—such a life was indefensible.
"Besides, I've already taken in Wakamo-chan," Mash added.
"The Calamity Fox!?" Koharu yelped.
"When did… Wait, she did visit you a lot," Hanako recalled.
"Rin-san's on board, though she was stressed," Mash said.
"No kidding…" Koharu muttered. "Sensei, Arius said awful things and tried to kill you. Don't you feel anything?"
"Sure, it stung, but I'm used to it. Doesn't linger," Mash said.
(Used to it?) Koharu thought.
"They don't know happiness, purpose, or meaning. I can't ignore that," Mash said.
"That's… incredible. I couldn't do it. I'm weak… and stupid," Koharu admitted.
"I'm stupid too. And you're not weak," Mash said.
"But—"
"Strength isn't just fighting. Everyone has different strengths," Mash said, flexing his bicep. (No saying 'lewd is bad, death penalty!' here.)
"My strength is my body. Hanako's got brains, kindness, and counseling skills—oops, sorry, got carried away. Azusa's clever with traps and strategy. Hifumi's action and spirit. Koharu, your justice, effort, and care stopped me."
"!" Koharu blinked.
"You've got plenty of strengths. Be confident. Helping doesn't need a reason—just do it," Mash said.
"Help because I want to…" Koharu echoed.
"I'm a musclehead who acts before thinking. My instincts are… weird," Mash grinned.
He prepared, tucking Proteus and a cream puff in his clothes. "I'm off."
"What should I do? I want to save my friends, but… that means helping Arius, who hurt you," Koharu said.
"Your choice. I won't judge either way," Mash said. "I won't fall apart again or sacrifice myself. Promise."
Mash left. Koharu and Hanako stood, emotions swirling.
"Can't beat Mash-kun," Hanako sighed.
Path to the Treaty Site
"Let me go, Hifumi. It's dangerous," Azusa said.
"No! If I let you go, you'll be in danger!" Hifumi protested.
"Everyone's in danger. I need to stop it before—"
"At least take help!"
"This is my problem from Arius. Please," Azusa begged.
"Azusa-chan…" Hifumi whispered.
Azusa aimed to relay Mash's request to avoid fighting, but Arius listening was unlikely—and risky. Hifumi tried to stop her.
"I don't want anyone hurt in this place I finally found… with friends," Azusa said.
Hifumi stayed silent.
"I told Sensei not to sacrifice himself, but I have to stop Arius," Azusa said, shouldering their sins.
Hifumi refused to accept it.
"Azusa-chan, you—" Hifumi tackled her. "Idiot!!"
"Oof!?" Azusa fell, Hifumi pinning her.
"I don't want anyone hurt either! That's why I'm stopping you!" Hifumi cried.
"Hifumi…"
"Even if Arius makes people judge you, you're my best friend! I love you!" Hifumi said.
"!" Azusa's eyes widened.
"Come with me. I'll prove you're not alone!" Hifumi urged.
"But… even together…" Azusa faltered, near tears.
A voice rang out. "We heard everything, you two!"
"Who…?" Azusa turned.
"We'll protect you!" a tearful voice cried.
"Crying!?" Hifumi exclaimed.
"Just allergies," another sobbed.
"Friendship's so precious…" "I've got a reason to fight!" "Relax, we're here!" a voice boomed.
The After-School Cream Puff Club appeared, wielding weapons and cream puff masks, crying over the duo's talk.
"Why're you all here!?" Azusa asked.
"We're… Cream Pals!" one declared, striking a pose.
"Cream Pals?" they echoed.
"We ate the same cream puffs! That bonds us. Sounds cheesy, but it's true," they said.
"Trinity, Gehenna, doesn't matter. Azusa's from Arius? So what!" "Friends don't care!" "We'd never abandon a friend in need!" "We'll protect you—as Cream Puff Couple Gang members!"
"Yeah!!" they cheered.
"Everyone… wait, Cream Puff Couple Gang?" Azusa blinked.
"Oops!" the club froze.
The infamous Cream Puff Couple Gang had slipped up. "W-What do we do!?"
Hifumi, wearing a cream puff mask, spoke. "Everyone… no, Cream Puff Couple Gang, lend us your strength!"
"That ribboned mask… You're the vice-leader Sensei told us about!" they gasped.
"What!?" Hifumi stammered.
"Yes!" a member confirmed.
"Hifumi!?" Azusa gasped.
"Let's show Arius the power of cream puffs… and friendship!" Hifumi declared.
"Yeah!!" the club roared.
"Uh… yeah?" Azusa joined, confused but warmed. Her fear and anxiety melted away.
They headed to the treaty site.
Vain thoughts, tragic ends, burning anger, endless gloom—such negativity would be overturned by force.
"Arona-chan, lend me your strength… so I don't fall again," Mash said.
"Leave it to me! Arona's got your back!" Arona replied.
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