"I'm done! Why does the Chief get to lounge around all day while I slave away twelve hours handling documents?"
Fujiwara Chika slammed the desk in frustration, her pink hair swaying slightly, her ample chest jiggling—an attribute far beyond a typical third-year junior high student. Even Samuel's eyes were unwittingly drawn to her.
Men, right? Totally normal.
"Hey! Hey! Chief, are you even listening?"
Chika's fair, lovely face twisted in irritation, both at Samuel's distraction and her workload's weight.
"Oh! Sorry, I zoned out. As for your issue, Secretary Fujiwara, I think it's because… I'm your boss?"
"Ugh, don't say it so plainly! Whatever, I'm not doing it today."
Chika clutched her chest, feigning hurt, then slipped into a full-on tsundere tantrum.
"If you don't want to work today, fine."
"Really?"
"Sure, do it tomorrow."
"…"
Chika's face fell, her cheeks puffing out. "That's not the point! This workload is insane—I'll get wrinkles! Do you know what happens to a girl with wrinkles? No one wants her! Will you take responsibility?"
"That's an option?"
"Even if no one wants me, I wouldn't marry a jerk like you, Chief!"
Seeing Samuel's expression, Chika snapped back fiercely.
Samuel just smiled, exuding confidence.
"I don't care—I demand someone to share my work!"
After all that, Chika finally revealed her true goal: more staff.
"Sigh, as expected from a politician's daughter—making a fuss to get to the point."
A bit about Fujiwara Chika's background: she hailed from a political dynasty. Her great-grandfather was a former Prime Minister, her uncle the current Osaka Minister, her mother a diplomat, and her father a leading Prime Minister candidate.
There were four candidates. Three major factions each backed one. Chika's father was supported by a powerful international coalition.
Rumor had it the fourth, a local candidate, was found dead a month ago—stabbed dozens of times with a foreign military knife, shot with foreign bullets, and bludgeoned with a brick. All weapons were found at the scene. Experts ruled it an "accidental death."
Samuel knew the truth but didn't care. Academy City minded its own business, and he had no interest in outside affairs.
"I don't care! Get me help, or I'm done!"
Samuel sighed, watching Chika throw a fit, heedless of her image even with others present, giving him a headache.
And his eyes kept wandering.
"Hm… hm?"
Suddenly, Samuel's gaze landed on Iino Miko, fidgeting as if unsure whether to stay or leave. He flashed a sincere smile.
"Miko-chan, tell me, are you ready to take on more responsibility for this city's order?"
"Of course… but… what do you want me to do?"
"No questions! You're reassigned to headquarters. Chika, this is Miko—she'll help with your work. But don't let me catch you bullying her."
"Hehe, would I do that?"
Chika sprang up, a peculiar smile on her delicate face.
What did it matter to Samuel?
The irresponsible Chief was already debating whether to head home or roam the streets.
"You… you're Fujiwara-senpai?"
"Huh? You know me?"
Chika blinked, puzzled, as Iino gripped her hand excitedly.
"Of course! You won gold at the Pythian Piano National Competition!"
"Oh, that was in fourth grade."
"You speak multiple diplomatic languages!"
"Well, my mom's a diplomat…"
"And you're a top student at Shuushiin with consistent grades!"
"Uh… that's…"
Samuel watched from the sidelines as Iino rattled off Chika's achievements like a fan, feeling like a spectator munching popcorn.
"I've studied piano since I was little and always admired you, Fujiwara-senpai. You're the genius I'll never match."
"Hehe, keep the compliments coming!"
"No… I'm just stating facts."
"Alright, Miko-chan, let's get you started. No heavy lifting at first—just learn! Hehe…"
Things weren't going as Samuel expected, but no matter. As long as the work got done, he didn't care.
"Hey, Konori Mii, why not stay too? I'll be your backing from now on."
"I can't leave Miko here alone with you."
Samuel's offer got that response. She agreed…
She knew Iino wouldn't quit Judgment, at least not yet, so her concern kept her by Iino's side.
"Man, Academy City's the best! There's probably no place more suited to me."
Samuel gazed out the window at the cityscape. In his vision, colorful AIM Diffusion Fields shimmered, converging on an unseen point.
Those lights were AIM fields, and that point was one of the Chairman of the Board of Directors's chess pieces.
Samuel, too, was a key piece in the Chairman's game.
He was among the strongest in this world, but not the strongest—just an important pawn.
A counterbalance to the magic side, his opposite was Fiamma of the Right—a foe he'd have only a 17% chance of defeating, even with all his computational capacity and armaments.
"I must reach Level 6 before that guy's plan unfolds. I have about a year to collect at least two more Level 5 programs and prepare for other worlds. I need to move fast!"
***
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