Looking at the key suspect being escorted by two JTF members, one on each side, I could not help but feel the same overwhelming confusion as Hifumi.
The girl had pure white hair and a pair of wings of the same color, decorated with brilliantly colored flowers. She wore a fluffy high-waisted black dress, layered with Trinity's standard sailor uniform. From these aspects alone, she looked entirely ordinary, or rather, quite cute.
Yet at this very moment, she was wearing a gas mask on her face, producing muffled breathing sounds.
And this was the third member of the Make-Up Work Club we were looking for.
Shirasu Azusa, who, for some unknown crime, had been arrested just like Hanako.
Her appearance, like Hanako's, gave me an enormous visual shock, though in a completely different sense.
Could she be a delinquent in the truest sense? Like those helmet gangs?
Unlike Hifumi and me, Shimoe-san immediately relaxed upon seeing her companions return, greeting them in a more natural tone than before.
"Hasumi-senpai, Mashiro."
"Koharu-san, good work." The bob-haired girl responded, then noticed me. "Huh…?"
Hasumi also showed a surprised expression. "Sensei?"
I waved lightly and greeted them in a gentle tone. "Hello, it has been a while."
With two hundred members in the Justice Task Force, of course I did not know every single one. But the girl accompanying Hasumi and escorting Azusa back was someone I had happened to meet during a commission a few days ago.
Shizuyama Mashiro, a genius sniper affiliated with the Justice Task Force. What left the deepest impression on me was her two-meter-long large-caliber anti-materiel sniper rifle, which stood in stark contrast to her petite frame, as well as her endless eloquence whenever she spoke about justice.
Aside from that, my overall impression of her was still that of a relatively quiet and gentle girl.
At that moment, a somewhat muffled voice rang out, ethereal and clear despite the obstruction, yet filled with strong regret and unwillingness.
"…Such a pity. If it were not for the lack of ammunition, I definitely could have taken down a few more."
…Did this child just casually say something that would be considered outrageous even in Kivotos, right in front of the Justice Task Force members who arrested her?
I began to sincerely worry about the future of the Make-Up Work Club, and whether I could truly accomplish my mission flawlessly.
By the way, so Shimoe-san's given name was Koharu.
It actually sounded quite cute… huh?
I frowned, my expression turning strange as I suddenly realized that something was not right.
Meanwhile, Shirasu Azusa continued speaking harshly, though the emotions in her words shifted toward composure and resolve.
"Whatever, do what you want with me. But I have undergone training to endure torture. It will not be so easy to pry information out of my mouth."
Are your crimes really that serious!?
"Azusa-san, please rest assured. Even though you are suspected of committing violent acts on campus, resisted arrest, seized the teaching-use tear gas ammunition depot, detonated nearly one ton of tear gas, and held out for three hours, our Justice Task Force will not engage in the kind of behavior you described."
Perhaps noticing my odd expression, Hasumi explained in exceptional detail.
However, hearing this long list of impressive deeds only left me more shocked, while also giving me a sense of déjà vu. In the land of exceptional talents that is Kivotos, it was not entirely surprising.
But this was Trinity, not Gehenna.
After signaling Mashiro to escort Azusa into the cell, Hasumi turned to me.
"Sensei, you and this student came to visit, is there something you need?"
"Hasumi-senpai, they are here to find that pervert!"
Before Hifumi or I could speak, Koharu blurted it out first.
Hasumi took a moment to process it, then suddenly understood. "Oh? You mean Hanako-san? Could it be that this is about the Make-Up Work Club?"
As the second-in-command of the Justice Task Force and its tactical commander, responsible for receiving instructions from the Tea Party and other higher authorities and passing them down, Hasumi naturally knew about the establishment of the Make-Up Work Club.
"Y-yes, I am the president of the Make-Up Work Club…" Hifumi introduced herself somewhat shyly.
Hasumi nodded. "I have heard about this. Sensei as well?"
"Yes. Nagisa asked me to serve as the Make-Up Work Club's advisor during this period." I paused, then added, "In practice, it is similar to a homeroom Instructor's role."
"I see. I understand everything now. Hanako-san and the Azusa-san from earlier also seem to be members of the Make-Up Work Club."
With that, Hasumi turned apologetically to Mashiro, who had just locked the cell door and returned.
"Sorry, Mashiro. Could I trouble you to bring Hanako-san and Azusa-san out?"
"Understood."
Mashiro nodded briskly and immediately turned around again.
The handling of the matter was swift and decisive. The few words needed to take suspects away from the Justice Task Force stood in stark contrast to the tedious procedures required to establish the Make-Up Work Club.
But someone clearly had objections.
"Wait!" Koharu said in disbelief. "Senpai, they are vicious criminals! How can you just let them be taken away like that!"
Judging by the quality of that question, this child really did not seem very bright.
Hasumi explained patiently. "Koharu, sensei came here after accepting a request from the Tea Party as the person in charge of Schale. There is no problem with the regulations. Because sensei will be serving as the Make-Up Work Club's advisor and homeroom teacher."
"In other words, this is justice."
Mashiro chimed in as she reached the cell door.
"Eh, ehh?" Koharu looked unconvinced. "But if senpai says so… hmph, hmph! Well, fine then!"
After thinking it over, she actually became happy. "That way, we do not have to stay with those vicious criminals anymore. And besides, what kind of Make-Up Work Club is that anyway? So embarrassing!"
Without noticing that the expressions of Hifumi, Hasumi, and myself were all gradually turning awkward, Koharu pointed at Hanako and Azusa as they came out of the cell and laughed loudly.
"Ahahaha! Is this not great! A combo of a bad girl and a pervert, plus the title of 'idiot'. Just having to stay with them would make me die of embarrassment! Hahaha!"
Hasumi pressed her forehead and sighed. "Sigh, Koharu…"
Hifumi looked like she wanted to say something but could not.
"Um… Koharu-san," I confirmed, "your full name should be Shimoe Koharu, correct?"
Koharu's laughter stopped abruptly. Hugging her arms, she took half a step back and stared at me warily.
"W-what do you want! Do not try to get familiar with me, I am an elite of the Justice Task Force!"
But she would not be for long.
"Um, although it is hard to say…"
Hifumi hesitated, then stated a fact that was like a bolt from the blue for a certain someone.
"The final member of the Make-Up Work Club is… Shimoe Koharu-san."
Just as written on the list I had seen.
"…Eh, me!?"
Shimoe Koharu's pupils shook violently.
And with that, all members of the Make-Up Work Club had finally appeared.