After finishing my training session with Sumire, I headed over to the Game Development Department.
Only after my negative emotions had mostly faded did I return to Schale to deal with paperwork.
During that time, Hare sent me a MomoTalk apologizing. Having already sorted out my thoughts, I didn't hold it against her.
In the end, the real reason she'd failed to quit Monster MAX was that both Hare and I had underestimated just how dependent she was on energy drinks.
She had endured withdrawal symptoms so severe that she was barely coherent, all for the sake of a promise that relied entirely on her own self-discipline, with no one supervising her. And from the looks of it, she hadn't secretly broken that promise either. Wasn't that already enough?
It was already more than enough to show how much she cared about me.
Unfortunately, after consulting a professional, I learned that caffeine addiction was primarily psychological. Otherwise, I might have tried seeing whether my blood and my life could somehow cure it.
Still, perhaps this was for the best. Saya once told me there was an old saying from Shanhaijing:
"The medicine for a troubled heart can only come from the heart."
I couldn't agree more.
If I wanted to correct Hare's bad habit, I'd have to use both carrots and sticks. I'd need to fully encourage her own motivation while also imposing firm restrictions. Only then would I have a chance of succeeding.
I'd already worked out the specifics.
First, I'd appeal to her interests by offering rewards that would truly make her heart race.
For example, words of encouragement from me, a selfie of me, or even the opportunity every lovestruck girl in Kivotos dreamed of:
A date with me.
A stereotypical Millennium engineering nerd like Hare wouldn't be able to resist that kind of temptation.
See also: a certain celebrity-loving student.
Second, I'd win over Hare's friends.
Chihiro was upright and highly responsible. She acted more like Veritas's president than its actual president, so surely she'd care about Hare's health no less than I did.
Kotama had a rather eccentric personality, and her sense of morality was unlike most people's. But if I promised to sing into a recorder for her, how could she possibly resist?
As for Maki...
The only thing I expected from Maki was that she wouldn't make things worse. Having Momoi drag her off to play games would be enough.
With that, the plan was complete. All that remained was to put it into action and adapt as circumstances changed.
Unfortunately, the more you hope something won't happen, the more likely it is to happen.
The very next morning, just as I had organized my thoughts and was preparing to carry out my plan, an unexpected disaster struck.
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it the inevitable consequence that had finally caught up to me...
"Sensei? Is the wall that interesting?"
I reluctantly pulled my gaze away from the General Student Council emblem I'd been carefully studying on the wall.
Ignoring the sharp look from the blue-haired girl, I forced a somewhat ingratiating smile.
"Of course not. It's nowhere near as pretty as you are, Aoi-chan."
The Director of the Finance Office, Oki Aoi, who controlled the Federation Student Council's finances, including Schale's operating budget, looked even colder than usual.
"Please don't think you can smooth this over with flattery. I'm not that easy to deal with. Surely... there's something you'd like to explain?"
"Yes, absolutely."
I nodded repeatedly, doing my best to look sincere and open.
"Aoi-chan, you have to believe me. Every single credit from Schale's budget was spent exactly where it should have been!"
I could swear to the missing General Student Council President herself that I had devoted myself day and night to preserving peace and stability throughout Kivotos.
Every single unit of power consumed by the Shittim Chest was proof of my tireless dedication!
I never imagined even Aoi would doubt my sincere devotion, though auditing expenses was admittedly part of her job.
If she was this wary of me, it hurt my feelings too...
Apparently oblivious to my wounded pride, Aoi asked flatly,
"Really?"
Then she calmly produced several reports, complete with receipts, and began listing my accomplishments.
"Let's start with this week. You purchased a large quantity of expensive premium ingredients from Gehenna's shopping district. The reimbursement request states they were 'necessary consumable supplies for carrying out cleaning duty more effectively'?"
"Good food boosts the motivation of students on cleaning duty."
I tried to persuade her.
"If you want them to work overtime in the evening, you have to compensate them somehow..."
Aoi glanced at me before pulling out another report.
"Then what about the repair request for Schale's kitchen? I reviewed the damage inspection report. The damage was clearly caused by combat."
That inevitably brought to mind the monster that had inexplicably appeared inside the kitchen.
I answered sincerely,
"That was entirely an accident."
"It's difficult to believe those two matters are unrelated."
After calmly stating that undeniable fact, Aoi produced yet another document.
"Next, at Trinity's shopping district, you purchased Trinity General School's designated swimsuit, gym uniform, indoor shoes, and athletic shoes..."
You couldn't really blame me.
If anyone was at fault, it was Trinity. How could officially designated school supplies possibly be so expensive?
Forced to use Schale's budget to buy gifts for Mika, I defended myself.
"In reality, these were also necessary expenses to ensure Schale could carry out activities at Trinity more effectively in the future."
"...Even if I accepted all of the previous explanations, what about this?"
Aoi held up the final report, the one I'd submitted only last night.
"Surveillance equipment, gym equipment, new games, and you purchased five copies at once. Sensei, don't you think you're blurring the line between public and private interests a bit too much?"
"I'd say the opposite. If I kept public and private matters too strictly separated, that would actually be the problem."
I meant every word.
The extraordinary authority granted to the Federal Investigation Club, Schale, had originally come from the General Student Council President.
But by its very nature, the organization was inseparably tied to the person in charge.
The ones who truly empowered Schale had gradually become the millions of students living throughout Kivotos.
The fact that Schale had developed this far without being abolished proved that the students with influence had unanimously recognized and trusted my personal charisma.
At this point, saying "Schale is me, and I am Schale" wasn't an exaggeration in the slightest.
Under those circumstances, forcibly separating myself from Schale would be the real dereliction of duty.
"...Your argument does have a certain logic to it."
After listening, Aoi nodded thoughtfully.
"At least, with my limited understanding of Schale, I can't immediately identify any flaws or determine whether your reasoning is fallacious."
I quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
At least Aoi-chan wasn't going to keep interrogating me about my relationships with those students.
But the very next moment, she abruptly changed the subject.
"However, I believe I know someone who can."
While I was still standing there in confusion, the blue-haired girl swiftly dialed a number.
The title she spoke instantly wiped the composure from my face.
"Administrator Rin, here's the situation..."