Kayoko raised an eyebrow, and for some reason, my heart skipped a beat as well.
"W-what is it?"
I asked while pretending to stay calm.
The girl did not answer. She simply walked over silently, placed a hand on the shoulder of me, who had subconsciously stepped half a step back, then stood on tiptoe.
I stared at her focused face from such close range, and for a moment found myself wondering whether speaking now would somehow be rude. Then I wondered if she was trying to steal a kiss. Then I seriously considered whether taking the initiative first on this nearly empty late-night platform would also be inappropriate...
But very soon, she stepped back a few paces and muttered:
"There's more white hair than before, somehow."
To actually tear her gaze away from my handsome face and notice something wrong in a single glance, such powerful willpower and sharp perception really was worthy of Kayoko.
After quietly sighing in admiration, I straightened my expression.
"If I said I actually wanted matching couple hairstyles with you, would you belie... Alright, alright. I was just joking."
Kayoko, who had just glared at me, sighed helplessly again.
"Honestly... Even at a time like this, you still have the mood to joke around."
Rather, it was precisely because it was a time like this.
After all, the attack on me happened during the Eden Treaty signing, which had already drawn enormous public attention and was livestreamed from start to finish. The incident caused a huge uproar, especially among the people around me.
Only later did I learn that besides the Abydos Foreclosure Task Force, FOX Squad, and C&C whom I had called in advance, many students I knew had also rushed to the Old Cathedral on their own after hearing the news. They either arrived too late or unfortunately ran into the Justina Council.
Problem Solver 68 was among them.
The fact that they came to help already made me feel deeply gratified.
However, for the sake of maintaining stability, only some of the upper leadership within Trinity and Gehenna knew that I had been seriously injured.
Even after waking up, I had not proactively told anyone, so as not to make them worry.
Kayoko was one of the very few students who somehow learned roughly what happened. That was why I asked her to accompany me tonight, hoping to reassure her.
"It's just that too many things happened today, so I'm under a bit of pressure."
I smiled.
"Besides, don't you think this is kind of rock and roll?"
"...Hah."
Kayoko sighed once more and advised me:
"Anyway, Sensei, please don't push yourself too hard. Even if you're Sensei, there's no need to carry so much pressure. That isn't something you're obligated to bear."
Logically, she was right.
But I felt that if there was something I could do and chose not to, then my future self would only regret it.
Just like how I now looked back at my past self.
"Don't worry."
I answered seriously.
"I know my limits."
"You'd better."
After saying that somewhat irritably, Kayoko walked to my side, wrapped her arm around mine, and calmly said:
"Let's go."
I nodded.
"Yeah."
Thus, supported by the girl, I slowly walked toward the station exit.
...
Inside the abandoned building, the chase continued.
Relying on her small frame and the agility granted by her wings, Azusa successfully maintained distance from Saori.
However, before the overwhelming difference in ability, this was the most she could do. She could not even find an opportunity to counterattack.
"Not bad judgment, Azusa! You know you can't beat me head-on!"
Saori shouted from behind while relentlessly pursuing her.
"So all you can do is keep running..."
At that moment, Azusa pressed the detonator. With a thunderous explosion, a booby trap planted directly along Saori's path detonated.
Since there was no opportunity, then she would create one herself.
Yet in the next instant, Saori, who had anticipated it long ago, burst out through the smoke and completed her sentence:
"And aim for my openings, right!?"
Just as Saori said.
The traps prepared in advance were Azusa's only hope of defeating someone stronger than herself.
"Hah... hah..."
While sprinting at full speed, Azusa's thoughts became even clearer.
"Get around the next corner, then...!"
But as though she had been waiting there the entire time, a purple-haired girl wearing a gas mask and holding a submachine gun stepped out from around the corner.
Saori and Azusa were not the only ones who understood each other.
Before Azusa could take any effective action, Atsuko, who had already circled around ahead of time, pulled the trigger at her.
The continuous impacts quickly threw the small and lightweight white-haired girl off balance, forcing her down onto one knee.
She looked up and could not help saying:
"Atsuko..."
The girl respectfully called the "Princess" by Arius students, however, did not take advantage of the opportunity to press the attack. Instead, after hesitating briefly, she made several hand gestures toward Azusa.
Unlike before, near the Ancient Sanctuary, when she tried persuading her to surrender, this time Atsuko merely hoped Azusa would stop this meaningless fight.
But the response she received was even firmer words.
"...I refuse."
The moment she spoke, Azusa swiftly stood back up, pulled a detonator from her clothes, and resolutely pressed it.
Using the booby trap as cover, she escaped once again before Saori could arrive.
Seeing from afar that Azusa actually dared attack Atsuko, Saori's anger flared even further.
"Azusa!!!"
"Wait, Leader."
Misaki quickly grabbed Saori, who was about to continue chasing after her, and suggested:
"At this rate, this'll never end. Let's call the Justina Council over."
However, Atsuko shook her head.
Saori explained:
"The Justina Council only intervenes in conflicts between Trinity and Gehenna... And Azusa could potentially be interpreted as 'not belonging to Trinity.'"
"...Hm. What a troublesome system."
Atsuko nodded deeply in agreement.
"That's not all."
Saori continued.
"If Azusa gets interpreted as 'a member of Arius Squad'..."
Then Azusa would also become part of ET0, and in name would likewise possess authority over the Justina Council.
Misaki could not help sighing.
"...Well, in the end, rules and commandments really do depend on interpretation. But considering we only obtained this power ourselves by exploiting a loophole, restrictions and backlash are only natural."
"Yeah. Which is exactly why we have to handle this ourselves."
Saori coldly declared:
"That girl's fighting style, her way of thinking... I taught her almost all of it. Only I can defeat her. Let's keep going."
With that, Saori took the lead once more and continued pursuing in the direction Azusa fled.
"...Then I'll flank from the opposite side."
Misaki said.
"I'll leave the other route to you, Princess."
But just as she finished speaking, Misaki suddenly felt a violent tremor like an earthquake.
"What is this, an earthquake...? No, don't tell me..."
Misaki stared in shock.
"She's trying to bring down this entire floor...?"
Even as they spoke, the upper floors had already begun collapsing.