Does Kivotos really have peace?
That was the question I found myself thinking about as I finished patrol with Fubuki and we enjoyed some delicious donuts for dessert after dinner.
Perhaps, for a city where every resident is effectively bulletproof, occasional gunfights and explosions could indeed be considered peace.
After all, the ones carrying out those acts, the delinquent girls, are still just students at the end of the day. Most of them do not harbor any real malice, it is usually just a matter of pride.
Like when I went to the beach with Hifumi and the others before, and we ran into that group of troublemakers. They simply thought Hifumi looked easy to bully and wanted to win once.
Or like the two suspected delinquents Fubuki and I encountered today.
In a way, it could be called an unintended success.
They looked quite suspicious, and by the Public Safety Bureau's usual patrol standards, we should have questioned them.
However, Fubuki firmly declared that you cannot judge a person by appearances alone. If you start with preconceived bias, everything will seem suspicious.
Although what she said made sense, her real intention was clearly just to avoid trouble.
But the two delinquents, unaware of that, were deeply moved.
"…You are the first person who didn't suspect us from the start and treated us so kindly."
"Up until now, everyone from Valkyrie Police Academy always assumed we were bad people right away…"
"Your words reminded us of something. We were not like this from the beginning. We want to be like you too… someone useful to society!"
As they said this, and upon hearing that Fubuki was on patrol, they enthusiastically offered to help, saying they were very familiar with the area.
Thanks to their enthusiasm, what was supposed to be a half-hearted patrol by Fubuki ended up continuing until sunset.
Moreover, with the full support of those first two suspected delinquents…
Nearly ten more delinquent girls joined along the way, shouting about turning over a new leaf and contributing to Kivotos.
Every time a new group heard about Fubuki's deeds from those who came before, they would tear up with emotion.
"Oh! What a kind Valkyrie student! To be trusted like this for the first time in our lives… we cannot betray that trust!"
And with that, they would join of their own accord.
I could not help but sigh in admiration. Even the Decagrammaton would not have such a power of reform.
In any case, everyone was full of motivation. In just one day, they managed to apprehend dozens of offenders in the act, realizing their self-worth through good deeds.
Only the instigator, Fubuki, looked completely stunned, on the verge of tears.
She really just wanted to slack off.
"…Sigh…" Fubuki let out a deeply pained sigh. "Why did things turn out like this?"
I sighed as well. "All I can say is, it is thanks to you setting an example. With this, everyone is bound to see you in a new light."
Instead of being pleased by the praise, the lazy girl pouted. Even the donut in her hand seemed to lose its appeal, and she looked like she was about to cry.
"Yes. We completed half a month's quota for the Public Safety Bureau in just one day. I am definitely going to be commended now…"
I did not know whether to say the Bureau's standards were too low, or that Kivotos was too chaotic.
"Isn't being commended a good thing?"
"But if I earn merit…" Fubuki frowned. "Won't that just mean being assigned even more work? I only want to be an ordinary window-side employee… If they mistake me for someone capable and promote me to a higher department like Security or Public Order, I will end up facing a miserable life without days off…"
A window-side employee refers to the kind of worker who is the least relied upon in the workplace, the kind who barely has to try and just coasts along.
…For some reason, I felt like I could understand her a little.
"The future really looks bleak…"
With a long sigh, Fubuki took a big bite of her donut, chewing as if to vent her frustration.
But as she chewed, her brows suddenly furrowed, then quickly relaxed. She looked at me with hopeful eyes.
"Come to think of it, I just remembered, I am still a Schale duty student!"
"…Setting aside whatever crooked idea you just came up with, I am actually surprised you even remembered that."
"Oh come on, sensei." Fubuki smiled slyly. "Do you remember why I volunteered to become a Schale duty student?"
When she said that, I remembered.
Haha, it was so she could get leave more easily and slack off. At least, that was what she said.
Thinking of that, I straightened my expression. "Wasn't it because you wanted to better carry out your sense of justice?"
"Eh, that is not what I said back then." Fubuki corrected smugly. "Hehe, let me remind you. I wanted to join Schale purely so I could better enjoy donuts and coffee."
"Oh really," I dragged out my reply ambiguously. "Let us go with that."
"What, sensei does not believe me?"
"It is not that."
"Then what is it?"
To my surprise, Fubuki pressed on with interest.
After a moment of thought, I answered seriously. "I just think that justice and loving donuts do not conflict with each other."
Fubuki's brows relaxed. "Heh, that is true. Everyone in Valkyrie loves donuts anyway. But does that not also conflict with slacking off? Or handling complaints without sincerity? Or longing for a laid-back life?"
"A just approach that gets by is still a kind of justice."
Just like how Fubuki being cute can also be considered a kind of justice.
"Sigh, sensei really is tolerant." Fubuki shrugged. "But instead of placing unrealistic expectations on someone like me, you should find someone else. Like Kirino, she is much more motivated than I am."
Kirino is indeed a serious and good girl, but people are different.
"I think what you said earlier was right."
"Eh? Which part?"
"If you start with preconceived notions, everything you see will seem suspicious. That is what you said, right?"
I continued calmly. "By the way, if you hate trouble that much, when those delinquents wanted to help, you could have just explained it clearly, no?"
Fubuki froze for a moment, then awkwardly explained, "Uh… you could say the situation made it hard to back out… It was troublesome, sure, but for the sake of eating delicious donuts, I had no choice."
She talks about wanting to slack off, but when there is actual work to do, she still steps up even if it is troublesome.
Such a contradictory personality, yet like some others, she cannot simply be summed up as lazy. She is a good girl.
"So," I smiled, "now it is time to enjoy donuts. The glazed donuts here are really good, right?"
"…Ahm."
Hearing that, Fubuki took a proper bite of her donut, followed by a sip of coffee. She let out a breath, and for some reason, her tone sounded much lighter.
"Yeah. Donuts always taste better after dealing with trouble…"
After saying that, she looked at me. Perhaps my face under the lights caught her off guard, because she hesitated before speaking.
"Sensei… um… well… anyway, do you want a bite of a donut?"
"…You mean the one in your hand, the one you already took a bite from?"
I asked hesitantly, though inside I was overjoyed and eager.
"…What are you thinking?" After some hesitation, Fubuki said, "If you really want it, I guess it is not impossible. Sigh, how should I put it, I kind of understand now why sensei has that kind of reputation online."
She must mean I am adored by everyone as a public idol, right? It must be a good reputation.
I firmly believed that and decided not to think further, just in case it would hurt.
"If the police are idle, that means there is peace. Thinking of it that way, for the sake of peace, it is better for me to slack off."
After saying something that sounded like twisted logic and an excuse, the blue-haired girl laughed lightly.
"So, sensei, next time I want to slack off, I will be counting on you."
I blinked and put on a serious face. "That depends on the situation."
"Haha, how heartless. Even after saying all that earlier. Well, it cannot be helped."
Fubuki narrowed her sparkling eyes.
"As a Schale duty student, if it is for sensei, I would not mind being a bit more serious sometimes. But afterward, you have to treat me to delicious donuts like today, okay?"
As expected, Fubuki must have feelings for me.
Thinking about it carefully, I did not say anything particularly special. Her attitude suddenly changing must mean she has liked me for a while.
"No problem, it is a promise."
"Hehe, here, this one is for you."
With that, smiling softly, her face slightly flushed, she really did hand me the donut with a bite taken out of it.
I froze for a moment, then reached out and accepted it, putting it into my mouth.
Maybe it was just psychological, but it did seem to taste even better.
"…I see." I shook my head. "No, as expected."
"Sigh, I will not ask what sensei is thinking. Anyway, even though there were many unexpected situations, thank you for accompanying me today."
"It is fine. I have already received it."
Subconsciously, I placed a hand over my chest and smiled.
"The best return gift."
I knew it. Fubuki must have fallen for me.