Early in the morning, as I ate the breakfast Ako made, I did not hold back my praise.
"I didn't expect Ako-chan to have this kind of talent."
"Are you looking down on me!" Narrow minded as she was, she showed no appreciation and instead shot me a glare. "As an administrator of the Prefect Team, something like this is trivial to me! Also, please do not talk to me while eating!"
I nodded. "Oh."
After a while, I thought of a good topic and asked, "By the way, how are things progressing with the Eden Treaty?"
"I just said do not talk to me while eating! Were you not listening at all!"
Ako snapped in exasperation.
Was there a possibility that I had listened perfectly and remembered it clearly, which was precisely why I continued talking?
"Honestly, I still have to rush back to the Prefect Team later..." Ako muttered. Then she sighed and began explaining anyway. "It's the same as before. The grudges Gehenna and Trinity have built up over so many years are not something that can be resolved easily."
She took a bite of bread and continued complaining. "When that GSC President was still around, everyone was willing to believe in the vision she painted. But at the most critical moment, she disappeared. Once the treaty was put on hold, trying to push it forward again meant overturning all the previously agreed upon content and starting over. The difficulty of negotiation is even higher than before, and all kinds of new problems keep popping up one after another..."
After going on at length, Ako finally stopped with satisfaction and concluded,
"Now you understand how hard we have it, right! Not only do we have to scheme against the vipers of the Tea Party, we also have to guard against sudden backstabs from those tanuki at the Pandemonium Society for no apparent reason!"
"You really do have it tough..." I sighed sincerely. Just listening to part of what they had been dealing with was enough to feel some of the Prefect Team's hardship.
"It's good that you know!" The girl huffed and reminded me, "So as the person in charge of Schale, with authority beyond legal jurisdiction, please have some awareness. Do not get deceived by people with ulterior motives without even realizing it and cause trouble for President Hina, who is doing her best to push this forward!"
I humored her. "Don't worry. If I run into a similar situation again, I will ask you to advise me."
Ako smiled smugly. "Hmph. It can't be helped I guess. If you sincerely ask me, that is. But you must be grateful to me, understood?"
"Yes, yes. Ako is the best."
"Ugh! So disgusting!"
Though her words carried dissatisfaction, the upward curve of her lips she could not suppress made her true mood obvious.
After breakfast, she hurriedly took her leave without even resting a bit longer. Her serious and responsible attitude toward work rubbed off on me as well.
How could I let myself be outdone by Ako?
With that enthusiasm, I finished today's work in just one morning.
However, unlike usual, I did not have the leisure to rest a bit before heading to Trinity.
The first evaluation exam would begin right after lunch break, lasting ninety minutes. It would then be immediately sent to the Tea Party's supervisory department for expedited grading.
That meant the results would be announced the same day.
Compared to Trinity's usual efficiency, one could see how much importance the Tea Party placed on the Make-Up Work Club, and how much the host, Nagisa, cared for her underperforming juniors.
Of course, it was also possible that Nagisa was truly jealous and did not want me spending too much time with other students. In fact, that possibility seemed even higher.
After all, with someone as handsome as me, even a refined and composed young lady like her could not suppress the feelings growing in her heart.
Although I had recently developed some subtle doubts about certain situations, if nothing unexpected happened, I would see Nagisa tonight and speak with her face to face.
In any case, after lunch, I immediately headed to Trinity and arrived at the Make-Up Work Club classroom half an hour before the exam began.
When I arrived, I found that the members had all come early and were intensely reviewing for the final stretch.
Hearing my footsteps, the girls all looked up at the same time.
As my gaze moved, I took in their expressions one by one.
Koharu forcing herself to stay calm, Hifumi visibly uneasy, Azusa composed and steady, Hanako inscrutable...
Their personalities were on full display.
I couldn't help but sigh inside. This small club was filled with such vividly distinct and charming girls. Or perhaps it was precisely because of that that they had gathered together.
"Everyone," at a moment like this, there was little else I could say beyond the simplest encouragement, "stay calm and do your best."
Koharu jolted. "Of course! I will show you the true strength of an elite of the Justice Task Force!"
I looked at her, wanting to speak but holding back.
I could only hope that after this exam, the rest of the Make-Up Work Club would not develop any prejudice against the Justice Task Force because of that statement.
"Ah, ahaha... I will do my best." Hifumi laughed awkwardly, still looking somewhat worried.
Hanako smiled. "Hehe∼ okay~"
Azusa gave a final nod. "Preparation is perfect."
Seeing that they were all in decent condition, I exchanged a few more words before leaving the classroom ahead of time.
To avoid suspicion, the Tea Party had arranged their own proctors. Coming early, this was all I could do, and it was precisely what I had come to do.
During the exam, having nothing else to occupy me, I went to the Grand Cathedral, thinking I might see Mari and pray together with her, or perhaps Sakurako.
However, the Sisterhood seemed unusually busy today. As far as I could see, the nuns were all unfamiliar faces.
Just as I was about to leave, a nun with gorgeous black curly hair and crimson eyes, her well developed figure sharply contrasting with her innocent youthful face, and carrying a large suitcase, hesitantly called out to me and carefully asked if there was anything she could help with.
Curious why she was not busy and feeling that she looked strangely familiar, I chatted with her for a bit.
"Ah, so you are the Sensei from Schale. I, I am Wakaba Hinata... I am usually responsible for managing items in the cathedral and such, so for now I happen to be free..."
Having learned my purpose, the sister named Hinata hesitated before saying, "I-If you do not mind, how about letting me guide you in prayer? Even though I am not officially in charge of it, I practice diligently in private!"
There was no reason to refuse her kindness, so I gladly agreed.
Under Hinata's guidance, the prayer proceeded with a few stumbles but overall without issue.
With one exception.
After finishing the prayer and leaving the Grand Cathedral, I looked at the hand Hinata had held, then at the sharply reduced battery level of the Shittim Chest, and fell into deep thought.
...What exactly is going on here?