Okusora Ayane faced the mirror with trepidation that particular morning. Her thoughts had been muddled by too many what-ifs, even in the realm of dreams.
What took her out of that mood was a notification over the request for aid she had sent out just last night. Somehow or other, it had received approval and placed in the priority list, likely during the time she was fast asleep. It was with a heady feeling that she rushed out of her home, nearly forgetting breakfast and fixing her hairdo. After that near-bout of embarrassment, Ayane all but flew to the bus shelter, schoolbag, first aid box, a set of toolbox and important items as well as a portable drone clattering against her back.
"Oh, young miss! You sure are hopelessly energetic today!"
"A-ah! Yes, we're about to have an important meeting at school today!" Ayane bowed to the driver, a mechanoid in charge of the sole remaining bus route around the district whose screen for head displayed an emoji symbolizing warm gaze. As she got on the bus, the same disheartening sight of empty seats greeted her, but Ayane dwelled in it for only fractions of a moment before she took a window-viewing seat. Her eagerness bled into her preference, as she ended up picking a spot near the door. "Umm, the same as always, to Abydos annex, please!"
"Right on! The wind forecast said it'll be stable today, so there's hopefully not going to be any strange accident on the road!"
Strange accident… aheh, certainly, it has been a busy two weeks. Not only the chaos enveloping Kivotos had come and gone like a stampede, the many forms of anarchy had also calmed down somewhat. Of course, in lawless places and areas fraught with many security loopholes, awful dealings must still be going on like usual. Ayane, however, believed that the city had regained its former equilibrium… At least, I hope this is because of the rumored teacher.
Schale. The newly formed, last-to-be-approved federal club which had started to function after the disappearance of the General Student Council's president.
Ayane wasn't too privy with the details. Aside from the fact that it was a club lacking any actual member, Schale sounded like a carefree place. Her school and close friends had always been her first priority. With everything else coming in a distant second, she felt like she didn't have what it takes to judge the new federal organization. It wasn't because she was acting callous, no, but considering the 310 years worth of debt to pay off, it was next to impossible for her to see the bigger picture. She even wondered if a brighter tomorrow would even arrive… wait, what was that just now?
"Umm! Excuse me," Ayane called out, her voice ringing out and traveling to the front which made the driver to glance up at the back mirror. "Say, wasn't there an unfinished industrial tower in the area over there…?"
"Hmm? Oh! That one collapsed last week. From top to bottom, entirely sank deep into the sand overnight, I heard. The desertification has likely gotten worse again." A sigh could be heard in the temporal pause. "Really, it just keeps on getting emptier around here. It also doesn't seem like the land plots are being used for leasing or any sort of business venture either. Makes us wonder why did Kaiser even bother to… oops, apologies. That was mighty improper of me, young miss."
"O-oh, it's okay!" Yes, this is fine… because it's the same as usual, nothing we haven't been able to handle. "Err, sorry for the strange question."
"No, no. It's good way to pass time. This old driver has been around the block for so long that he's starved for some chit-chat, you know. Why, it brings me to tears whenever I heard of students gossiping about television drama!"
Ayane wryly smiled. That was fair. Actually more than fair. She and her friends weren't the only ones who persistently tried to eke out a semblance of livelihood. There were still some people who chose to stay, people who decided to fulfill their obligations and those who devoted themselves to professional work conduct like this bus driver. Times and again, she sometimes forgot that it wasn't just about her school; this whole land was still alive, fighting and resisting against the inevitable.
Yes… we, we are not alone, so it's okay. She could still go on. She could still look forward to the future. She could still tell herself that there was more than just one reason for her to keep up the good fight. And today… I'm sure there will be something even better waiting for us!
Clenching her hands, Ayane lifted her head. As the bus soon reached her destination, she dropped off and walked into the school grounds with renewed vigor.
Thirteen minutes later, she felt her glasses fogging up as she listened to her senior's crime of having run over the VIP guest with her bicycle. The little Ayane inside her wondered why she felt like crying, and where had her renewed determination had gone off to… Well, maybe it would eventually come back. Maybe…
Auuu… how could this happen…
"So, there you have it. I'm a teacher, a club advisor, and also got health insurance that I can use in case of accidents." Vash the Stampede slurped on a hefty roll of cup noodles and munched down. "This is probably the highest I could ever reach in the entirety of my very long life. The peak of all peaks. We can only go down from here on out."
"Wow, he actually went on a weird tangent all of a sudden…"
"Why would he brag about health insurance? Doesn't everyone have it?"
Aww, I guess it's only me who got charmed by work benefits. Well, he supposed it was a fairly boring arrangement. In contrast to him who hailed from a more barbaric, senselessly savage time and place, the citizens of Kivotos enjoyed multitude of benefits simply for having official civilian identification and district affiliation. What he'd see as a ridiculously rare act of good will was just common courtesy around here. Well… wasn't like he had anything else to tell, and he had no interest in boasting about violent stuff like shooting six times faster than the quickest draw throughout human history. He could, but he didn't want to. Nu-uh. But I'm definitely proud of what I've become.
His 150 years long journey had eventually delivered him to a cushy semi-retirement life in a place where nobody knew about him. He literally got the blank ticket to a future he desired, and this time, it was for real. He was not just Vash the Stampede; he was the happiest Vash in the whole universe.
"Hm. Then, sensei. What should we call you?"
The ashen-haired girl with a blue scarf raised a good question. Vash snapped his fingers together, drawing the attention of the entire club members of the committee named as Abydos Foreclosure Task Force.
"Why, I'm just a laid-back adult. Quite sure you girls already have respective schedule and school routine to follow. No need to mind me." Vash paused. He set down the empty vessel of the cup noodle and took a large gulp from a glass of water nearby. "As for name, just call me Vash. Stampede is a moniker, but it kind of stuck after a while."
"Heh~… that does sound cool. Like an idol's stage name!" The girl with pale blond hair clapped her hands airily. "Does it mean anything, sensei?"
"Hm? Uuuh, well." Now that I think about it, why did they attach that when I already have the "Humanoid Typhoon" labeling? Vash pondered on but to no avail. In the end, he widely shrugged. "Probably because I often made a loud racket wherever I go?"
"Like… bank robbery?"
Excuse me, what.The adult stared blankly at the girl who had run over him with a sports bicycle meant for athletes. Vash swore he saw bright gleams in Shiroko's eyes, but it was probably just a mirage caused by the ungodly heat of the sun. He also lost his chance to react as her twintailed junior who sported feline ears dragged her upperclassman to the back of the club room, hands completely clasped over her mouth. There were grunts, hisses, squeaks and whines, but after all that, it became quiet. Let…let's just ignore that for now.
He genuinely, dearly hoped he didn't have problem children who wanted to become a criminal as her future career; there would be a thorough sermon otherwise.
"W-well. Moving on…!" Vash hurriedly changed the subject by going below the table, rummaging through his luggage to release various objects as per the request… though they were things that worried him and far too unfitting for kids their age. "Here's the stuff I managed to gather up. I honestly don't get why would you request ammo and combat supplies, though…"
"Ehh? You don't get it?" It was the pinkhead who surprisingly raised a question.
Vash gave her a side-eye before nodding once… no, twice. He didn't want to muddle things up, but there were things he didn't want to go back on. Particularly among them all was this one thing he didn't think would follow him even to another world.
"I dislike fighting in general," the adult proclaimed. "Gunfight is a really violent thing, way too brutal and high-strung with little rooms for rationale minds to negotiate. It'd be nice to have an everyday life without violence."
"Uhh… huh. You sure sound completely against the way this city works, then."
"Hmm, how should I put it…?" It took him a minute or two to get the right words registered in his mind, but once again, he held his tongue as his sweeping gaze brought up the reminder that he was talking to children. "Well, getting hurt is painful."
"Eeehh? What the heck's with that vague wisdom?"
"I suppose getting hurt does hurt." The ashen-haired girl bobbed her head down, though she tilted her head. "Then… just don't get hit?"
Then the girl with red-rimmed glasses chuckled. "Uhmm, that implies you still aren't going to go down without shooting. I doubt that falls in line with sensei's mindset."
"Or rather, can you even do that? In Kivotos, of all places?" The cat-eared girl brought up yet another painful reminder. "Ugh, don't get me wrong, teach. Getting through the day without a shootout is pretty much what everyone, we included, want most. But you confidently saying that shows you really are a proper Outsider."
"Aww, come on. Serika-chan, I think sensei here is just worried." The girl in a cardigan curved down her lips. "I mean, aren't adults different than us?"
"W-well, that might be the case, but…" The girl—or rather, Serika—eyed him, full of skepticism and cautiousness. "According to rumors, this adult here managed to kick away three cannon shells speeding right at him. Who's to say that's the truth?"
Ah, looks like my exploit has once again been exaggerated to hell and back. Vash sure was feeling a deep sense of deja vu. Furthermore, his achievement had fallen into the ears of very impressionable gun-toting teenage girls. It was troubling, but what else was he supposed to do? Do a crackdown? Issue a gag order? Perish the thought, rumors are said to only last for, what was it again… 72 days or something?
Deciding he could manage with that, Vash raised his hand and waved it vertically. "Nah, Nonomi here got it right. I'm squishy as I am soft like a cleaning sponge, so a bullet to the vital and I'll be a total goner. It only takes one good shot, really."
"That means you ran into a cannon's firing path while completely disregarding your own safety, then… are you stupid?"
"...like I said earlier, getting hurt is a painful thing."
"Hey! Don't look away, already! Aren't you supposed to be the responsible and mature one around here!? That's not the attitude of a proper adult, oy!"
"Let's set aside the trivial stuff for later." Vash ignored the mad hisses and barely-restrained screeches from the resident cat girl. He coughed into his fist, cleared his throat, and pushed the majority of ammo and supplies Abydos had requested to the center of the conference table. "Now that we've got the basics down, can we focus on your actual request, ladies?"
"Eh?"
"You girls are, for sure, upright students through and through." Vash smiled, softly and with a tinge of sympathy behind his orange shades. While he schooled his expression, the whole members of the Foreclosure Task Force visibly reacted, bar select few like the pink-haired girl and the ashen-haired wolf. "So, I don't get why would you need Schale to deliver you dangerous things you can easily purchase from the nearest convenience store. Just what are you all fighting against with?"
"W-well… that's—"
Vash had a hunch then and there. Though the whole picture was far from complete, he already had enough to create a conjecture with moderately high accuracy. Even so, he had this weird urge within him. He felt the need to ascertain the truth behind this school which sat so far out from the city proper.
And… that was when all hell broke loose. Starting with shattered windows, storms of gunfire, and the all-too-familiar smells of gunpowder.
Everyone couldn't react in time. It really couldn't be helped, to tell the truth. The day had only just started, but already, they were receiving unexpected news in more ways than one; if only the topic wasn't such a sore spot for Izayoi Nonomi and her friends.
The rumored adult of Schale. The long-awaited ammo and combat supply. The prodding which seemed as if it was merely trying to confirm the naked truth. And then…
A rude guest had just intruded their sacred school grounds. Her fellow classmate and her favorite senior were the first to move, flipping the tables to block the windows. As all basic school furnishing ought to be, all of them were designed and built with certain purposes in mind, such as practical combat classes themed around breaches, sieges, and indoor shootouts.
"Wa-waaah!? Enemy attack!?" Her lovely junior, Ayane screamed as she crouched low to the ground with her arms protecting the back of her head and neck.
Serika then yelled out, "get away from the window, Ayane-chan! Shiroko-senpai!"
"Here!" The ashen-haired girl tossed an assault rifle to her junior before she retrieved her own. Then she gave a glance at Nonomi, to which she replied with an understanding nod which allowed Shiroko to instead focus on shooting back at the assailants. "I can see a bunch of helmeted delinquents…!"
"The Kata-Kkata Helmet Gang? Aww, geez. Way to ruin this old-timer's nap time!"
"U-umm! Class is already in session since a while ago, Hoshino-senpai!"
"Ahahaha~ ! Guess they're getting bolder since last week…!"
"This isn't the time to laugh airily either, Nonomi-senpai!" Serika all but hissed, striding to the barricaded windows and shooting through the cracks after the barrage had let up no matter how brief it was. "Ergh, they keep pouring into the sports fields!"
"Uhh…! It'd be bad if we're getting boxed in, I think…!"
Yeap, that sounds about right. Not only would they have collateral damage to fix up, they'd also need to do after-battle cleanup operation. It'd interrupt their study, reduce their part-time work hours, and also inflict further troubles down the line. This was a bad situation all-around, and it had a fairly high chances of worsening things if they were to stand idly instead of taking actions. Hmmm, let's pick up my gun—oh?
"Huh? Arere?" Nonomi glanced around. The frantic club members and the reinvigorated exchanges of bullets had all but entirely fallen to the wayside as she discovered the sole one difference to their daily life today. "Ah… girls? Giiiiirls?"
What should I say… right, let's just cut straight to the chase.
"Say—did any of you see the teacher?"
" " " "Eh?" " " "
This was it. The decisive day had arrived. The stubborn idiots had been caught with their skirts down on the floor. If she were to immediately send out reinforcement after the initial barrage, any form of resistance would undoubtedly crumble; sure was great having friends in high places.
They must be panicking like headless chickens by now. The leader of her gang, the red-helmeted delinquent girl, scoffed with lips curved into a mocking grin. Heh heh he, how d'ya like getting the table turned against ya, huh?!
It was the best, easiest job they could have. By ousting these losers that didn't know when to quit, her gang would obtain a grander base of operations. No longer did they need to bunk together in their cramped hideouts. Heck, they'd have a roof to shelter in, ammo for days, and lots of things to sell and scrap. Their secret sponsor even promised to overwrite their school credits, meaning they'd get allowances again. Only fools would bother working hard for a living… and there was the annoying click of an empty magazine, ruining her mood somewhat.
"Tch, out of ammo! Hey, give me the next clip!"
"Here you go, chief! Fresh from the box!"
The gang leader gave her thanks, unloaded her spent clips, and then reloaded. She pulled back the hammer with her thumb and took aim—click!—wait, huh?
"What the…?! Oy, which idiot didn't even bother checking the clip's content before passing it off!" Are you making fun of me, huh!?" The delinquent glared back, but she soon heard various clicks from all around her. As sounds of bafflement replaced the sounds of gunshots, the rest of the gang members stared down at their new clips, seeing not a single bullet had been put inside any of them. "W-what the hell!? What the hell's going on, you bunches of braindead morons!"
Not one of them could answer her. Mood completely ruined, the girl in red helmet groaned and made a furious stomp to the back, going for the ammo box—and there she faced a guy in a white coat stuffing all of his pockets with bullets and bombs.
"Oh, sorry about that." Arms full of stolen magazines, his full-height made the gang leader take half-a-step back. He almost reminded her of that monster from Trinity's Justice-whatchamacallit, but this guy—this adult—was even taller than that mountain of a sweet-toothed birdbrain! "Please don't mind me, girls. I was just about ready to go back and finish my errand."
At that point, she felt her reasoning about to snap—only for a hard object hitting the back of her head. Hard. The incensed girl immediately turned around, mind ablaze with a burning vow for vengeance against whoever dared to—thunk.
What was—wait, that thing on the ground is…! "G-grenade incomin—!?"
Everything turned white… and then her everything hurt like hell.
Vash was not as upset as he thought he would be. He wasn't a stranger to violence, so his tolerance to shenanigans was pretty high… not that he was proud of it or anything. Be that as it may—
"You girls sure showed no mercy…" He couldn't help but state his thoughts out loud. The previously pristine sports field were now littered with bullet holes, small craters, broken guns, as well as the many groaning bodies of the helmeted delinquent gang. Apparently, their gang was named Kata-Kata, but it sounded too much of an onomatopoeia for rattling that he dearly hoped it wasn't the actual name. Anyway, he removed his gaze from the passed out trespassers and back to the group of five colorful students. "Was there a need to go this far, by the way?"
To his question, it was the pinkhead who answered. As she propped her chin on the scratch-marked riot shield made from layers of steel, she carelessly yawned and only put up her hand nearby as if the lazy gesture was good enough to cover her lips.
"Students from other schools may be permitted to visit your school ground in reeeaaaaally specific circumstances, you see. There's a procedure to everything." The girl then lowered her eyelids, her odd-eyed gaze sweeping across the field. "Well, this happens simply because our school can only do so much to maintain public order. It's no wonder that gangsters and criminals would move a lot more brazenly."
"Hmmh… But they've never done this before." Her listless junior by a year raised a follow-up that piqued attentions, mostly his interest and curiosity. "The Kata-Kata Helmet Gang… they brought their stronger cards to the table this time."
"Guess they really wanted to finish us off, huh~ "
"This isn't joking matters, Nonomi-senpai…! Some of them escaped! And we also spent the majority of our freshly acquired supplies!" Serika stomped on the ground once before straightening up and crossing her arms together. "What do we do, now? Aren't we back to square one!?"
"S-Serika-chan… calm down, please. I'm sure there's still ways left going forward…"
"Nn. Ayane is right. There's still a way out," Shiroko chimed in. However, the way she turned her gaze at him when saying that made him restless. "The teacher has a pile of bullets we can use as we please—and it's completely free."
Well, that's fair—no, it's not! "Hold up. I didn't mean to do that!"
"You have my respect, sensei. Your swiftness and lack of hesitation to cut the enemies at their jugular through robbing their supply is a true masterwork."
"Don't put words in other's mouths! And stop that raised thumb thing as if it's all part of the plan, hey!"
"So anyway. Ayane, what do you think?" Completely ignoring his protests, Sunaookami Shiroko looked back to Ayane. "Let's do it?"
"D-do what, Shiroko-senpai…?"
"I think… we can raid their base and loot their supplies."
Whoa, that's not how things should go! Glancing around, he saw the first-year girls taken aback while the other second-year student clapped in applause. The sole third-year yawned listlessly again, but she didn't deign any noise of disagreement to the wild proposal. Seriously, what was with this gung-ho attitude? None of them appreciates my concern for everyone's well-being!
Serika planted her hand on her face. "That makes us no different to gangsters…"
"No, no. I think Shiroko-chan does have a point here." And then Takanashi Hoshino raised her head from the propped up riot shield. "Not about the looting, by the way. I've got a plan. Wanna hear it?"
…
"Sensei, with all due respect, do you have a plan?" The resident catgirl turned to him with a look of askance, but what exactly was he supposed to say to that? "Please. If I were to choose between Shiroko-senpai's criminal idea, or Hoshino-senpai's plan even though she never took things seriously… I'd rather ask for your guidance."
"You sure have no faith in your seniors, Serika…" Vash muttered. He noted the canine ears on top of Shiroko's head flopping down while Hoshino slipped and stumbled away from her portable riot shield. "I certainly do not condone robbery and looting. Also, that's wrong, Shiroko. I didn't take away the bullets to sabotage and draw away the enemies' attention from you girls."
"Huh? Then what were you planning to do?"
"Good question, Ayane… I just didn't think it was right. The attack and all when there's not even a good reason for it." Vash kept the word "in the first place" inside his mind, locked up and thrown away. Rubbing the back of his neck, he sighed. "I wanted the conflict to get resolved peacefully. Preferably sooner than later. That way, there's less damage… or so I hoped."
Who'd have thought the general area the gangsters were in ended up getting absolutely pummeled by indiscriminate shooting.
The Abydos girls certainly were not unfamiliar to fighting. In fact, the way they neutralized their foes so effectively implied a long history of teamwork with tons of improvised moves backed with absolute trust in themselves and each other. Though it didn't feel like they were familiar with even bigger scale of conflicts, they did have this bearing about them when in regards to street fighting. Skilled, strong, independent, also willing to cooperate with each other like well-oiled gears.
Regardless, he did feel the need to ascertain another few stuff. "How much of a problem are the helmeted delinquents, anyway?"
The girl with pale blond hair, Izayoi Nonomi, drew a hum out to the air. "They regularly harassed shops, extorting money from passersby, blackmail, violent conduct, also a streak of failing grades, I think. Troublemakers all around. Bet we can get a small bounty if we turn them in to the Valkyrie. They've been nothing but pests around this part~."
"...I sure want to know where you got that info, missy. But fine, I'll let it slide for the time being…" Vash let out another sigh; this time a long one. It was with regrets and resignation that he made up his mind. One last thing to check, however, lied in the pink-haired girl who kept on subtly throwing glances at him with unreadable thoughts swirling behind eyes radiant like the sun and the moon. "So… what's your plan, Hoshino?"
The girl blinked. She tilted her head, considering, then she smiled.
"Aha! Thanksies, sensei. In this den of unruly, uncute kids who don't wanna listen to elderly wisdom, you're my only ally!"
Now she's laying it a bit thick… Vash could only hope that the coming days around this school district would not break his bones.
A/N: Sorry about the late update. Busy weeks up ahead.