Student/s on duty:
Morizuki, Suzumi
Ajitani, Hifumi
These are the words currently written on a whiteboard plastered by the light of the morning sun from the window in the SCHALE office. Around the entrance of the office, a white-haired girl with red eyes can be seen standing beside it, keeping watch of her surroundings while occasionally checking her watch.
"8:26 a.m., Sensei should have been here by now," the girl muttered to herself. She glanced yet again towards the street, keeping tabs on the random passersby and citizens walking past. She can never be too cautious after all.
Another 10 minutes have passed as the girl kept on waiting for Sensei. She started feeling a bit anxious on what's taking so Sensei so long, not to mention the student who was supposed to be with her is also running late.
"I'm sorry! Sorry for running late!" a voice called out to her.
Just when she was thinking about her, said student had just turned around the corner leading to the entrance of the SCHALE office. Her light brown hair fashioned into twintails and white jacket as well as her Peroro brand bag made her recognizable among fellow Trinity students.
"Sorry for being late, Morizuki-san!" the student bowed her head as she arrived at the entrance.
"Please, just call me Suzumi. We're fellow students of Trinity after all, Hifumi," Suzumi pointed at her watch, "Besides, Sensei seems to be running late as well. That's why I'm still outside."
Hifumi raised her head and looked at the entrance. It's still locked which only added to her confusion.
"Ehhh? Sensei's still not here?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Suzumi replied.
The two then stood in silence for a moment, unsure of what to do as they wait for Sensei. If someone saw these two right now, they'd think these two are a rather odd pair. The somewhat popular and cheerful girl paired with a seemingly serious girl with a fierce glare is not something people would think that goes well together.
"Achoo!" Suzumi lightly sneezed, "I feel like someone's talking about me. That or they're watching me."
"Actually," Hifumi suddenly perked up, "why don't we go see if Sensei's home right now?"
"Huh?" Suzumi was surprised by her suggestion, "Do you even know where he lives?"
Hifumi nodded, "Yeah. He lives in the residential area for SCHALE," she pointed towards some balconies on the upper floors, "Have you never been there before, Mori-, ummm, Suzumi-san?"
Suzumi glanced at the direction she was pointing, "I've been on patrol around here before but I didn't know he actually lived there. Wait, how did you know?"
"Sensei invited me in there before," Hifumi replied.
"Eh?" Suzumi was surprised at her reply, "Like actually inside?"
"Yeah," Hifumi tilted her head in confusion at Suzumi's reaction, "he does have some nice tea and he even has a limited edition Wavecat pillow that is no longer sold anymore. Ahhh, I'm jealous of Sensei!"
"Ah, I see…" Suzumi heaved a sigh of relief, "Good thing Sensei's a decent person. If it had been others…"
Suzumi waved the thought away. No point thinking about it now since they still need to know what's making Sensei late.
"Let's go then, Suzumi-san," Hifumi took Suzumi's hand, "I'll show you how to go there!"
"Ah, wait!" Suzumi could do nothing but be led by Hifumi towards the SCHALE residential area.
The two students stood inside an elevator. More specifically, a cargo elevator along the backside of the office. Suzumi finds it odd that Hifumi somehow knows the location of the backup key to activate it. To say that this is concerning is a slight understatement, maybe alarming is a better word.
"Hifumi?"
"Yes?"
"How did you know about a back route to Sensei's place? You even knew where the key was hidden," Suzumi questioned.
"Sensei told me about it when I went there last night. The entrance automatically locks itself at late night so I had to use this to go up," Hifumi replied. She continued looking around the elevator in awe.
"Ah, okay," they both became silent for a moment, "EH?! Last night?!" Suzumi's surprise made her voice loud enough to reverb through the empty elevator.
Suzumi was aware of Hifumi's tendency to go to areas that could get her in trouble. It didn't help that she usually did so at a bad time. Still, she didn't expect her to be going outside late at night, much less going to Sensei's place at that time.
Suzumi could only sigh at her reply, "Hifumi, please don't go outside late at night again even if Sensei asked you to do so. You know Trinity students are among the most common targets of delinquents and gang members in Kivotos. As a member of the Vigilante Corps., I can't have another Trinity student getting hurt or bullied by them."
"Sorry, Suzumi-san," Hifumi bowed her head at her, "I promise I won't do it again."
"Apology accepted." Suzumi motioned for Hifumi to stop bowing. Hifumi raised her head as the elevator came to a stop.
"We're here," Hifumi said as she walked towards the door. Suzumi following close behind.
The elevator doors open, revealing a sleek, white hallway with blue outlines. There are a couple of doorways leading to some of its facilities. Suzumi admired the look inside as it is her first time here. Hifumi pointed at random directions, eager to show her companion what it looks like inside.
"That was where Sensei and I played some arcade games when we had free time before. It was very fun but the games were so hard," Hifumi exclaimed as she pointed towards one of the doorways.
"Umm, Hifumi."
"Yeah?" Hifumi looked at Suzumi when she suddenly remembered, "Ah, sorry. I forgot we're supposed to be looking for Sensei." She bowed her head yet again.
"Don't worry, I was mesmerized by this place that I kind of forgot too for a moment," Suzumi replied.
The two students then walked around the hallway for any sign of Sensei. The silence made Suzumi remember something she wanted to ask Hifumi.
"Hifumi, why did you go here last night? Was it a request from Sensei?" Suzumi asked.
Hifumi stopped walking and started to fidget upon hearing the question, "Ahaha… it's kinda embarrassing to say. Ummm, it wasn't Sensei's request. I actually requested to go here."
"Huh?" Suzumi recoiled a bit from the response, "So if it wasn't Sensei's request then why?"
"It's... well..." a slight blush formed on Hifumi's face as she fidgeted even more.
"Wait, don't tell me—" the thought Suzumi had earlier popped back into her mind.
"Sensei had a limited edition Pinky Paca pillow that he doesn't really use so he wanted to give it to me but I only managed to read his message late last night and Sensei had so much paperwork to do at the time so I didn't wanna bother him to deliver it to me so I insisted on going here so I could pick it up," Hifumi rapidly blurted out.
The amount of words Hifumi said in a short period of time took Suzumi a while to process. Once she fully understood, she gave herself a mental facepalm for even thinking about it.
"I see," Suzumi sighed, "Still, I know I reminded you plenty of times already but please don't do something so reckless again."
"I'm so sorry, Suzumi-san" Hifumi bowed her head once again.
Now that there's an understanding between the two, they resumed their search for Sensei in the hallway. The rooms and hallway having the lights turned off would suggest that Sensei is not around which worried Suzumi. If Sensei's not here then who knows where he could have gone.
"Sensei, where are you?" Suzumi muttered to herself.
"Hmmmm… ah," Hifumi looked towards one of the doorways they passed by, "I remember that Sensei was doing the paperwork in that room last night." She pointed to the doorway opposite to the game center.
Suzumi looked towards the doorway she was pointing at. There was a slight light coming through the doorway, presumably from an open window. "Could it be?"
Hifumi seems to understand what Suzumi is thinking as she walks towards the doorway. Suzumi only nodded at Hifumi's intentions. Hifumi then proceeded to open the glass door and went inside.
Inside, some plants were hanging on platforms by the wall, glass panes partially covered with curtains leading to a balcony where the light was coming from and a low table with papers strewn all over the top and around it. Hifumi pointed towards the table as she noticed the paperwork.
"That's where Sensei was doing his papers when I met him last night," She picked up one of the papers that fell off, "Ummm, 'Report regarding the seizure of illegally acquired armored mobile artillery'. Poor Sensei. Kivotos has had a lot of problems since the president went missing and he had to deal with all of these."
Suzumi approached the table as well and picked up another paper off the floor, "Hmmm, 'Monthly Financial Report on Resources used by SCHALE'. Sensei is a really busy person huh?"
While they're looking at the papers, the sound of slow footsteps started emerging around the corner leading further in the room. Both students heard it and immediately turned around towards the source of the sound. Suzumi instinctively chambered a round in her MCX assault rifle. Hifumi, however, held out a hand in front of Suzumi, motioning for her to lower her weapon.
"Sensei?" Hifumi called out towards the sound.
A figure emerged from the corner, revealing the groggy and disheveled form of Sensei, still wearing his work uniform although it became ruffled and messy. He rubbed the corner of his eyes and yawned. It took a while for him to register that he was called or that the one who called him is standing right in front of him. Once he regained his senses though…
"Hifumi? Suzumi?"
"Sensei!" both students exclaim as they approach him.
"What are you two doing here?"
"Geez Sensei," Hifumi pouted as she placed her hands on her hips, "You shouldn't worry us like that. You were running late and we wondered why."
"You were pretty late yourself, Hifumi," Suzumi said as she gave her a sideways glance and a smirk.
Sensei looked at Hifumi as she became flustered at Suzumi's remark, his lips forming a smile from seeing his students coming to see him. Wait…
"How did you two get up here?"
"We used the cargo elevator, Sensei. The one you told me about last night," Hifumi replied as she recovered from Suzumi's remark.
Sensei could only vaguely remember the events of last night. Only that his mind has been pretty occupied with calculating his expenses, his message to Hifumi offering her the pillow and showing her the way, and the mountainous pile of documents before his eyes. Documents?
His gaze then settled towards the table behind the students. The documents he was making and signing were scattered all over it. He now also noticed the papers in his students' hands.
"Sorry, but can you both help me arrange these documents? I was so tired last night from doing these that I just went straight to bed once I was done."
"Sure!" Hifumi cheerfully replied.
"I'm here to help Sensei after all," Suzumi said as she began picking up the documents.
Sensei knelt down besides the table and was about to do the same when Hifumi grabbed his arm. Slightly surprised by her action, he turned towards her only to see her examining his form.
"You should groom yourself first, Sensei. You're going to the Federal Student Council after all," Hifumi said with concern in her voice.
At her words, Sensei then looked at himself. With a ruffled uniform, probably messy hair, and probably not too great smell, he's only asking to be laughed at by Momoka from the FSC if he went there in this state. She'd probably laugh at him regardless but this will only add more fuel to her laughter.
"Don't worry, Sensei. Suzumi-san and I can handle this while you go fix yourself." Hifumi reassured Sensei with a smile.
"Yeah. Thanks, Hifumi."
Suzumi gave the two a glance while she's organizing the documents, "Hifumi, you can cling onto Sensei later. We need to finish this so we can go once Sensei is ready." She said as she picked up another document and formed it into a file.
Hifumi nodded at Suzumi's direction before letting go of Sensei's arm and walking towards the table to help her. Sensei looked at the two working together for a moment before going to the closet for his spare uniform. Checking himself once more on the mirror, he figured he needs to shower after all.
An elevator arrived on the ground floor of the SCHALE office. The doors open followed by Sensei and his two students stepping out into the lobby. The lobby is slightly dim as the lights have not yet been turned on but since Sensei is leaving, he doesn't see the need to turn it on. Hifumi and Suzumi followed behind Sensei as he moved to unlock the entrance of the office since it was still locked since last night. Suzumi noticed that Hifumi has been oddly quiet since they entered the elevator. That and she's been watching Sensei intently for a while.
"Hifumi," Suzumi called out to her.
"Eh?" Hifumi was slightly startled from being called, "Ah, what is it, Suzumi-san?"
"You've been quiet and looking at Sensei for a while now. Something in your mind?"
Hifumi gave another glance at Sensei before facing Suzumi, "Don't you think Sensei still looks a bit sleepy."
Hearing her response, Suzumi observed Sensei for a bit who is currently opening the electronic lock of the entrance. If Sensei is feeling sleepy, he's not showing it and she doesn't really see anything that would indicate that he is.
"Not really. He seems fine to me." Suzumi replied.
"I see…" Hifumi said as she placed her Peroro bag in front of her and clutched it. She seemingly contemplated something before she perked up and approached Sensei. Suzumi could only watch her in confusion on what she's planning to do.
"Sensei!"
Sensei turned around to see Hifumi opening her bag and reach inside it. She then pulled out a pink, circular pillow and showed it to Sensei. Upon closer inspection, it was actually the same Pinky Paca pillow Sensei gave to Hifumi last night.
"Hifumi? Is that…"
"Yes," she held it out towards Sensei, "I didn't get the chance to thank you before so I just want say thank you so much, Sensei! I had a wonderful sleep last night thanks to this! Since this was originally Sensei's, you can borrow it from me if you are feeling sleepy later. I want you to have a wonderful sleep too for your hardwork!"
Sensei smiled as he held the pillow for a moment before giving it back to Hifumi.
"Thank you, Hifumi. I don't need it now but I think I might borrow it once I finish submitting the documents to the FSC. Will that be okay?"
"Yes, Sensei!" Hifumi smiled as she replied.
Suzumi simply watched close by, smiling at the heartwarming scene unfolding before her. These are the smiles she want to protect. That's why she chose to be a part of the Vigilante Corps after all. She looked at her watch and noticed that Sensei doesn't have a lot of time left before his schedule. At this point, they're better off taking the subway instead of walking like they originally planned.
"Sensei, we should get going now. You woke up late after all." She reminded both of them.
Hifumi and Sensei nodded at her before proceeding to open the door, Suzumi following behind them. The late morning sun is basking them with sunlight as they walk outside the building. It's a beautiful day with clear skies and a light-hearted mood among the trio. The streets are devoid of citizens presumably since most of them are now at work and the sunlight produces a glare from the building opposite to them.
Wssshh~
BANG!
A bullet just whizzed past slightly to Sensei's right, where Suzumi would have been had she not immediately side-stepped seemingly from instinct.
"Tsk, I missed. Everyone, get her!" a voice echoed from the opposite building.
At those words, several helmeted gang members emerged from different alleyways and corners of the street wielding various firearms. A distant rumbling could be heard which suggests the presence of an armored vehicle among their formation. All of them are blocking every route ahead possible and they seem intent on not going down without a fight.
Suzumi motioned for Sensei to get down as she readied her assault rifle and flashbangs. Hifumi, meanwhile, immediately reached into her bag and pulled out a black disc that has LED lights around the rim and the word "FRIENDS" in the middle of a target emblem colored blue and yellow. She moved to throw it but she didn't notice the bag still in front of her feet causing her to trip and drop it. Conveniently, the disc landed in front of the crouched Sensei which immediately lit up and created a holographic form of the Peroro mascot. In the relatively open pathway, the Peroro projection will serve as Sensei's cover in the meantime.
"Sensei!" Hifumi called out as she recovered from tripping and prepared her own assault rifle.
"Your orders, please!" Suzumi shouted as she took aim at the first of the approaching gang members.
Sensei observed the impromptu battlefield in front of him as the bullets started flying. While only having two students won't make this easy, he has already seen a clear path to victory. He knew how these two students fight and he'll use it to his advantage. At least he now has an excuse for running late.
"Let's go!"
-BATTLE START-