The rising white steam drifted over the dark surface of the coffee as I blew it aside.
I took a small sip. Before I could savor it properly, an eager voice sounded from beside me.
"Sensei, what do you think? This rich, mellow aroma is truly something rare, isn't it?"
I couldn't help but nod.
Excellent. I couldn't appreciate it at all.
The slightly sour bitterness was certainly unusual, and it left a distinct sweetness afterward, but honestly, to me, it was simply drinkable.
I felt... it'd be better with sugar, milk, and a handful of ice cubes stirred into it. At least it'd be more refreshing.
"Compared to the quality of the coffee itself,"
I set down my cup with a smile.
"What's truly impressive is how much your brewing skills have improved, Kaya."
After all, she'd spent all the time that should have gone toward work perfecting her hand-brewed coffee instead. If she liked it that much, maybe she should quit and become a barista.
Kaya looked thoroughly pleased.
"Hehe, you're too kind, Sensei. Speaking of which..."
Now that we were alone together again after so many days, it seemed Kaya wanted to pour out everything she'd been wanting to say to me in person.
She kept jumping from one topic to another, chatting nonstop, leaving me with no opportunity to steer the conversation toward the information I wanted to probe.
At first, I simply found her rather annoying.
But when she brought up the Eden Treaty incident, the irritation I'd been suppressing turned into something much more complicated.
...Kaya really was an ambitious schemer who would plot in secret and hurt others for the sake of her own desires.
At the same time, however, the concern she showed for me wasn't fake.
The reason I disliked her was equally complicated. Part of it came from the resentment of being deceived and manipulated the very first time we met. Another part came from worrying about the disastrous consequences her ambitions could bring, given her position and authority.
Even so, Kaya had taken the risk, however small, of exposing herself by sending FOX Squad to rescue me when I was in danger.
Whether I liked it or not, whether it changed anything or not, I had accepted that kindness.
Part of the reason I was spending time with her now was because of that.
And precisely because of that, I had to stop Kaya's plans before they reached the point of no return.
Eventually, Kaya seemed to have talked herself thirsty and picked up her coffee.
Seizing the opportunity, I said,
"By the way, I heard the closure of SRT Special Academy hasn't been going very smoothly."
The moment those words left my mouth, the pink-haired girl's square-pupiled eyes widened. A dark look flickered across her face before she let out a helpless smile.
"There have been a few minor problems, but overall it's actually gone more smoothly than expected. There's only one squad putting up particularly fierce resistance. They're only being reassigned to Valkyrie Police Academy and losing the authority granted by the General Student Council President to immediately take action against criminal activity anytime, anywhere. Is that really something worth resisting so desperately?"
Kaya shook her head in confusion.
"What gives authority meaning has always been authority itself. Why can't they understand something so simple?"
Even though those words came from Kaya, the statement itself did make a certain amount of sense.
After the General Student Council President disappeared, considering the state of both the General Student Council and all of Kivotos, the abolition of SRT Special Academy had become inevitable.
If I weren't the one in charge, Schale, an organization that existed beyond the bounds of law, would probably have met the same fate as SRT Special Academy by now.
"I'm sorry, Sensei. I ended up complaining to you without realizing it."
Kaya smiled apologetically.
"But those girls are only first-years. They're at that age where they're eager to assert themselves, so it's understandable they'd act this way. The Public Safety Bureau has already been dispatched. Once they've been arrested, it'll be time to reason with them... Hm?"
At that moment, a shrill ringtone echoed through the room.
After apologizing, Kaya walked over to her desk and picked up the internal phone.
"This is Defense Office Director Shiranui Kaya... What?"
Suddenly, I noticed an indescribable look of astonishment spread across her face.
Lowering her voice, she said,
"Administrator Nanagami, could you repeat that? I think I may have misheard you..."
I raised an eyebrow and activated my Authority.
From the other end of the line, Rin said,
"Director Shiranui, we urgently need to mobilize the Public Peace Bureau to suppress the SRT students currently demonstrating at Rabbit Park. Please approve the necessary documents as quickly as possible."
"...What about the Public Safety Bureau?"
"...They're SRT elites. Their firepower exceeding our expectations was, unfortunately, unavoidable."
Listening to their conversation, I fell silent as well.
Whether the problem was that the enemy was too strong or our side was too weak was a question worth serious thought.
After ending the call with Rin, Kaya called one of her subordinates, received and sent several faxes, busied herself for a while, and only then returned to the sofa.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Pretending not to know anything, I asked,
"Did something happen?"
The pink-haired girl shook her head.
"No, just the usual. The Defense Office occasionally has to deal with emergencies like this, but we can usually still guarantee our nap time and afternoon tea. If the day ever comes when even the Defense Office is running around in chaos, then there probably won't be a single peaceful place left in all of D.U!"
She said it as though anywhere in Kivotos was peaceful these days.
Even though I'd never experienced it myself, I found myself missing the prosperous era people spoke of, when the General Student Council President was still in office.
"I understand."
I nodded.
"If there's anything I can help with, don't hesitate to ask."
I figured that the Public Peace Bureau, whose specialty was counterterrorism, surely couldn't fail to handle a single SRT squad. According to Kaya, they were even first-year SRT students who had only recently enrolled.
Yet after hearing my casual offer, Kaya opened her eyes.
They still held those distinctive square pupils, but this time they contained a warmth completely unlike before.
"Mm. Thank you."
After that, I continued humoring her as she tried her best to keep finding new topics to talk about.
As time passed, the coffee in my cup finally neared its end.
I'd made quite a sacrifice.
Having decided that I'd finish this topic, drink the last of my coffee, and then take my leave, I found my spirits lifting slightly, whether from the caffeine or from the encouragement of finally reaching my goal.
Noticing that I seemed more attentive, Kaya apparently assumed it was because I'd become interested in the current topic. She grew even more animated as she spoke.
Then the sudden ringing of the phone interrupted her once again.
Frowning slightly, Kaya answered the call.
Her expression immediately fell apart.
"What!? Even the Public Peace Bureau!?"
"Pfft!"
The last mouthful of coffee I'd just taken was sprayed all over the polished floor.
The General Student Council never failed to give me an entirely new understanding of the unexpected.