For a moment, Shinji Hirako and Kensei Muguruma were at a loss for words.
It was one thing for team leaders to mess up, but to have subordinates behave even more outrageously?
What kind of people are these? Are they really going to become future members of the Gotei 13?
Still, in the end, everyone felt a wave of relief.
It was just internal conflict, not an actual Hollow ambush.
With three of them recovered, the other three shouldn't be too hard to find, provided they acted quickly.
The group of four, now with the three recovered first-years in tow, pressed forward.
They returned to the spot where the team had split up during their earlier squabble.
"Which way did the three go after that?" Kensei asked.
"That way," one of the students pointed.
Immediately, Shinji and Kensei's expressions darkened.
"What is it?" Shirō asked, a sense of unease creeping in.
Was it some kind of forbidden zone?
Surely not, they wouldn't hold an exam in such a dangerous or sensitive area, right?
Indeed, this wasn't a special or hazardous place.
But...
"You idiot! I told you not to wander off!" Kensei suddenly exploded.
Shinji shrugged helplessly. "How was I supposed to know people would leave? I was watching for Hollows, not humans."
That direction, was exactly where Shinji had been stationed earlier.
He'd been positioned there to guard against high-level Hollows entering the exam zone.
And those would be easy to sense because of their spiritual pressure.
But if something with low spiritual energy came, or if something left the zone instead of entering,
It wouldn't trigger any alerts.
Low-level Hollows? Nobody would stop them.
Three tiny "ants" wandering out? Who'd notice?
"Wasn't the perimeter clearly marked?" Soi Fon asked, frowning.
Indeed, the boundary was lined with visible signs meant to warn students:
"Beyond this point is outside the exam area."
It served two purposes,
First, to inform students not to keep going. They were almost out of bounds.
Second, to reassure them: If you encounter danger, flee this way, there are Shinigami stationed nearby.
But...
"You think those three would actually follow signs?" Shinji muttered.
Even without knowing the girls personally, based on what he'd heard so far, Shinji wasn't optimistic.
"In fact," Shirō said bitterly, "the more obvious the signs were, the more likely they were to go toward them."
He could already picture the scene:
Kuna Mashiro: "Ooh? What's that? Let's check it out!"
Hiyori: "Eh? That direction's off-limits? Great. Let's go!"
Isane, trying to stop them: "W-We can't! It clearly says we'll be leaving the exam zone!"
Mashiro and Hiyori: "Leaving the zone? Even better. Let's go!"
And just like that, the two dragged Hanatarō off with them.
As for whether anyone was guarding that boundary…
Would they even care enough to ask?
When they reached the exam perimeter, a long set of dragging marks across the ground confirmed Shirō's suspicion.
"They're out," Kensei muttered grimly.
"Yup. Really out," Shinji echoed, sighing.
Even if they didn't know the exact details, the fresh tracks told the story loud and clear.
"I've already reported this," Kensei told Shinji. "Someone will be dispatched to secure this spot. Then we'll head out to search for them."
He turned to the students.
"As for you, return to the exam zone and resume the assessment."
"I want to go too," Shirō said immediately. "They're my team members. And I know them best."
Soi Fon opened her mouth, thinking to volunteer as well.
But she still had three students to watch over, and she couldn't afford to make the same mistake twice.
"I say let him come along," Shinji chimed in.
"One more hand won't hurt. Besides, this kid's fast. He won't slow us down."
Kensei didn't argue. If Shinji vouched for him, that was enough.
Soon after, replacement guards arrived.
The three-man team, Shinji, Kensei, and Shirō, set off to track down Hiyori, Mashiro, and Isane.
Along the way:
"Hey, your speed's not bad at all," Shinji said with a grin.
"Didn't think you'd be able to keep up."
"Heh, well, I didn't have a choice. Kinda had it beaten into me," Shirō replied with a wry smile.
"By the way, what's your name?" Shinji asked.
"Emiya Shirō, future 5th seat of Squad Two and captain of the Inner Court Patrol!"
Shirō's voice carried pride, he was finally starting to gain recognition.
"Ohhh, so you're that guy. Yeah, I've heard about you," Shinji said, pretending to be impressed.
Shirō couldn't help puffing up. "Really? I'm that famous, huh?"
He had no idea what kind of reputation preceded him...
"Hah! You're a fun one. I'm Hirako Shinji. Just call me Shinji."
To Shinji, Shirō was a weird but interesting guy.
First, the captain-level chaos incident.
Now, the whole outdoor romance drama.
The guy was full of surprises.
Definitely someone worth keeping an eye on.
"I'm Muguruma Kensei," Kensei added coolly, before cutting to the chase.
"You think those three girls will stick together?"
"Come on, they're all just kids," Shinji laughed.
"If they split up now, at least one would be completely alone. They've got to be scared, right?"
"...I don't know," Shirō said slowly.
"I've got a really bad feeling about this..."
At that moment, the three of them all stopped short.
Ahead of them,
A single girl sat crouched on the ground, sobbing.
"One of them?" Kensei asked sharply.
"...Isane Kotetsu!" Shirō shouted in alarm.
Isane looked up with tear-filled eyes.
The moment she saw Shirō,
"Shirō-senpai!"
She leapt at him…
And tackled him flat to the ground.
Girl, with that tall frame of yours, acting all dainty just doesn't work!
"What happened? Where are Hiyori and Mashiro?! Don't tell me they just left you behind?"
Shirō asked urgently.
Still crying, Isane explained between sobs:
"H-Hiyori wanted to go this way, and Mashiro said she wanted to go that way...
I tried to convince them to come back, I really did!
But neither would listen...
They just stormed off in opposite directions…
And… and I was left behind…
Waaahhh!"
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150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter