When I stepped out of the interrogation room, I found Kanna leaning against the wall nearby, holding a cup of coffee.
"Sensei, are you finished?"
"Mm."
I nodded.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Not at all."
Kanna spoke into her radio, calling one of her subordinates over to escort Miyako back to her cell.
In truth, the interrogation hadn't taken very long.
Although Miyako remained composed from beginning to end, perhaps because all of my questions had been relatively unimportant and easy to answer, she had been quite cooperative throughout, allowing me to obtain the information I wanted.
A sense of justice that would never change regardless of time, place, or opponent. In other words, a justice that would never compromise, one that could only be realized within SRT Special Academy.
That was what Miyako pursued, the fundamental reason she wished for SRT to continue existing.
It was almost identical to the motivation behind every one of Yukino's actions, as well as what she had once said during a public interview.
And from Miyako's words and demeanor, I could feel her sincerity.
The girl's somewhat childish, yet pure conviction, one that almost seemed to shine, naturally made me like her even more.
Unfortunately, she still seemed to harbor some prejudice against me.
Looking on the bright side, perhaps she simply didn't know how to express her goodwill properly, and that awkwardness was all it had been.
Then what reasons had the other members of the RABBIT Squad had for opposing the General Student Council?
Filled with anticipation, Kanna and I returned to the office together and began reviewing the interrogation recordings.
"I'd rather be a wolf that survives proudly in a harsh environment than a dog that enjoys freedom but lives a lazy life."
On the screen, the short-haired girl proudly lifted her chin, speaking to the camera with open disdain.
Watching the scene, I couldn't help falling silent.
Sorai Saki's reason was that even Valkyrie's Public Safety Bureau, which valued rules more than anyone else in the academy, lived far too casually. Once work was over, they were free to spend their time however they pleased.
At SRT Special Academy, however, strict regulations had to be followed at all times. Even after classes ended and they returned to the dormitory, they had to remain prepared for emergency training or unexpected situations at any moment.
That was precisely why, before Yukino decided to attack the Sanctum Tower and defect, she had so few opportunities to meet me outside.
She actually didn't want a life of her own?
My conclusion was that she'd simply turned out this way because she hadn't met me sooner.
Still... there seemed to be a slight contradiction between what Saki claimed and what she'd actually done, one that Kanna, who was conducting the interrogation, immediately noticed.
"If rules matter that much to you, then why didn't you stop another squad member from wasting all of your ammunition?"
The moment she heard that, Saki's imposing demeanor completely collapsed.
Blushing, she mumbled,
"I'd never wasted ammunition during training before... I just wanted to try it once..."
Such an adorable reason. You didn't have to answer honestly, Sora-san.
After finishing the recording, I rubbed my forehead, suppressing the urge to sigh, and asked Kanna to play the next one.
"Missiles that can flatten an entire district... Ammunition that even tank armor can't withstand..."
The bespectacled girl with twin tails licked her lollipop, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Only SRT gets to use that kind of overwhelming firepower whenever they want, right?"
- Moe
At that point, I couldn't help twitching at the corner of my eye.
Dangerous as that wish was, somehow, in Kivotos, it felt strangely innocent.
Still, if she'd managed to pass SRT's entrance examination, then Moe must have possessed a heart devoted to justice as well.
"SRT, just like Valkyrie, exists to protect the safety of civilians, yet you're saying weapons are more important than anything else..."
Kirino, who was conducting the interrogation, questioned her sternly.
"For you, Kazekura Moe, does the safety of civilians mean nothing at all?"
"Mm."
Moe nodded nonchalantly before sticking out her tongue and licking the bright red candy again.
With that, another interrogation recording came to an end.
"Kanna."
After a brief silence, I turned to her.
"Do you know what SRT Special Academy's admission standards are?"
The blonde girl with the shark teeth shook her head.
"I don't. It seems every single SRT student was personally approved by the General Student Council President."
At that moment, Arona suddenly spoke in an oddly self-satisfied tone.
"I think she could see through people and recognize their sincere hearts."
I wasn't convinced in the slightest.
What did Arona know about SRT?
It was obviously just based on whatever mood the General Student Council President happened to be in!
"Just like how the General Student Council President chose you to become Schale's Sensei."
Suddenly, Arona's explanation sounded surprisingly convincing.
"And lastly, the recording of Tsukiyuki Miyako's interrogation, which was conducted by Sensei himself..."
"Hold on."
I interrupted her, picking up the disc that had been sitting conspicuously on the desk.
"We haven't watched Kasumizawa Miyu's yet, have we?"
"...Ah, sorry."
Kanna looked embarrassed.
"I must have been so busy with work that my mind blanked out. For some reason, I almost skipped over hers."
Not paying much attention to such an insignificant mistake, I merely reminded her to get some rest before, holding onto my last bit of hope, I started the final recording.
However, I'd barely watched the beginning before I almost lost my composure.
"P-please spare me! I... I'll tell you everything I know...!"
I'd already noticed it before, and the files sent over by the General Student Council had mentioned it as well, but seeing someone's mental fortitude this weak inevitably reminded me of an old acquaintance who was currently freeloading in Trinity's prison.
After that, Miyu obediently confessed why someone as timid as herself had chosen to join the demonstration alongside her teammates.
She was shy and had little presence.
She wasn't good at interacting with people, yet at the same time feared being forgotten, overlooked as though she didn't exist.
Quite a contradictory set of feelings.
It was precisely because she wanted to change that version of herself that Miyu had chosen to join SRT.
How should I put it?
Compared to the others, she was actually the easiest to understand among the three besides Miyako.
Granted, that was only by comparison.
After seeing these girls first, when I looked at the recording I'd made myself, even the way Miyako had glared at me with hostility somehow seemed a little cuter.
"...That concludes the complete record of this incident."
Kanna bowed to me sincerely.
"Sensei, thank you very much for taking the time to help us despite your busy schedule. Thanks to you, we've been spared quite a bit of trouble."
I waved my hand casually.
"Don't mention it. By the way, what kind of punishment are they expected to receive?"
Just as Kanna was about to answer, the sound of a door opening came from nearby.
"I'll answer that question for you."
Turning toward the voice, I saw a pink-haired girl with perpetually smiling eyes (Snake eyes) walk into the room, wearing a gentle smile.