After nearly two hours, I finally satisfied Kasumi's insatiable desires.
Although it was in a way I hadn't wished for.
"This is it! The final candidate site!" Kasumi shouted. "Alright! We're going here! Even if sensei objects, I'm going! All the other sites were rejected! This is the only one left! And time is running out!"
I was momentarily dazed, recalling the candidate sites she had suggested earlier, all of which I had rejected one by one, and I couldn't help but feel speechless.
The basement of a department store, a subway transfer station, the ring highway, the plaza in front of the Pandemonium headquarters… all of them, except the last one, were either densely populated areas or places with heavy traffic.
If an explosion went off at the Pandemonium Society entrance, even without considering the political fallout, Hina would definitely be recalled to Gehenna immediately.
I strongly suspected that she had deliberately been suggesting impossible locations just to tease me.
Judging by the markings on the map, Kasumi had clearly come well-prepared.
Perhaps she was taking this opportunity to monopolize my time and, at the same time, irritate Hina....
Hina had already sent several messages checking in, all of which I had brushed off with excuses. The other Prefect Team members seemed to have finished their battles and were on their way back.
"So, where exactly is this final location?" I asked.
"Hmph hmph hmph~ it's... here!"
Kasumi extended her fair, delicate foot, pointing to a spot on the map… her gesture seemed almost deliberately provocative.
Following her motion, I hesitated. "Is this… the clearing on that deserted mountain?"
"Hahaha! Exactly!" Kasumi laughed heartily. "What do you think, sensei? Why does your expression look more complicated than before~? Is it better than the previous sites, or worse?"
"I think this location should be fine."
"Good! At long last, we've finally agreed on the final site!"
Kasumi stood from the bed, hands on her hips. "Then let's not waste time and start preparing! I'll contact you once there's a result! As a token of thanks for sensei helping me, I'll bring you a good report! I'll be off now!"
With that, she jumped off the bed, perfectly stepping into her sandals, and left the room, full of energy.
…That's it?
I stared blankly at the closed door, then at the map still spread across the bed, which Kasumi had trampled on with her feet for nearly two hours, and fell into thought.
So… was this a gift for me?
Just as I was pondering how to deal with the map, the sound of a door opening reached me.
The black-haired girl hurried in, muttering.
"Oh, almost forgot the map… huh, sensei, you're still here? If we don't hurry back, the Prefect Team president might start crying, you know?"
So it really was intentional.
I sighed in resignation, replying dryly. "If Hina knew the full story, the one who would be crying wouldn't be her."
Hearing this, Kasumi shivered instinctively. "Hmm… please don't say anything. You know, we're partners in crime now, right? Sensei, you wouldn't betray me, would you?"
"Well…" I didn't answer directly. "Hehe. Probably not."
"Oh, don't sound so scary. We'll have plenty of chances to interact in the future!"
If I really wanted frequent interactions, that would have to wait until later.
Kasumi rolled up the map and smiled at me. "Then, goodbye!"
With that, she strode out again.
I collected my thoughts, but didn't return immediately to Hina's room. Instead, I headed to the temporary operations command room.
As I had expected, Iori and Chinatsu, having just endured several fierce battles, were in miserable condition.
Not only were they covered in dust, but their clothes were in tatters, urgently needing my comfort~
"…You actually came to see us!"
Iori, who had ruthlessly kicked me out before finishing her change and swapped clothes with Chinatsu, said bluntly.
I asked with concern, "What's wrong, Iori?"
The tanned girl ground her teeth, glaring at me with her crimson eyes.
"The people you called in were far more troublesome than a few delinquents! Do you know how much effort it took for us to control the chaos? If we had known it would be like this, we might as well have handled it ourselves!"
Was that my fault?
Clearly, it was Gehenna's local conditions at fault.
"Sigh… well, that's not entirely fair," Chinatsu offered a different view. "Iori, the soaking Helmet Gang and their ruined equipment were far superior to what the intel suggested. Without the students sensei brought, just those heavy weapons from who knows where would have been more than enough to overwhelm us."
"That's true… so does that mean it's really Ako's fault?"
Iori paused, puzzled.
It felt like she just needed someone to blame after all the stress she'd accumulated.
"Did someone call me?" Ako's voice suddenly rang out, then her image appeared. "Anyway, despite some twists and turns, the operation was successfully completed. Good work, everyone. Sensei, you've been keeping the president company this whole time, so she hasn't gone out, right?"
I replied calmly, "Of course I've been doing my utmost for Hina's vacation."
Whether I had physically been at Hina's side…
Even if Kasumi had taken over my body through her scheming, my heart had always been with Hina!
Unaware of anything unusual, Ako nodded with a smile. "Then, there's still an hour before the walking training begins, so…"
At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
It was the enthusiastic hotel manager, who, after sincerely thanking the Prefect Team for their help, presented them with a voucher for the hot spring when it opens.
After receiving the gift, Ako continued. "During this time, everyone should rest well. Sensei, please return to the Prefect Team president quickly, and don't let her get suspicious!"
"Understood."
I nodded, then told Iori and Chinatsu to contact me immediately if anything happened again, and quickly headed back to the room I'd been away from for over two hours.
When I pushed the door open, the white-haired girl sitting on the bed looked up at me and instantly gave a relieved smile.
"Sensei, you're finally back."