As Hoshino was effectively banned by Ayane from working for a week, she decided that now would be a good time to drop by SCHALE. Apparently, Ayane really did mean it when she said that she should take a week off.

As this was Hoshino's first time in the SCHALE building, she took her time to familiarize herself with the different facilities. She made a note of the rather cozy lounge and how nice it would be to sleep on one of the comfy couches.

Eventually, she made her way to Sensei's office.

"Thank you for your time, Sensei." Hoshino heard an unfamiliar voice coming from Sensei's office. "Until next time, then."

Must be a student from another school, Hoshino thought. Sensei did mention a couple of times that students from other schools visit him from time to time.

Based on the flow of the conversation, it seemed that the other student's business seemed to be done, so she decided to wait for her to leave before entering.

"No problem," Hoshino heard Sensei reply. "Feel free to visit any time."

Hoshino saw the other student's appearance—a white-haired student with horns from Gehenna about her height—for the first time as the door to the office opened, though the other student seemed to be startled by her appearance.

"Takanashi Hoshino…?" The other girl muttered. "So you are still in Abydos…"

Hoshino raised an eyebrow. She gave the other girl a closer look and noticed that she was wearing the Prefect Team's armband.

"Yes? Have we met before?" Hoshino asked.

"No. We've never met before, but I read reports about you two years ago while I was still in the Intelligence Committee," the other girl said before she introduced herself. "I'm Sorasaki Hina of the Prefect Team."

Hoshino was a little concerned at first, but remembered Miyako mentioning something similar yesterday, so she decided it wasn't a big deal.

After exchanging a few more words, Hina left.

"Sensei~ I'm here to take a nap~" Hoshino said as she entered Sensei's office.

"I see you've met Hina," Sensei said as he lowered the document he was reading and looked at her. "Though this is a surprise. I was under the impression that you were busy based on your last message on Momotalk."

"I was, but then Ayane kicked me out of the office for 'working too hard'," Hoshino said as she scratched her cheeks. "Honestly, this old-timer couldn't do anything about it."

"I wonder how Ayane would react if she finds out that the reason you're so lethargic during the day was because you've been patrolling at night?"

"Uhe~ Sensei is trying to blackmail this old-timer~!"

The two bantered for a bit. Eventually, Hoshino brought up the odd conversation she had earlier with Hina.

"By the way, that girl earlier, Hina," Hoshino said. "She said she read some reports about me. Then there was also Miyako last night. And now that I think about it, Kurumi too that one time. Was this old timer somehow famous?"

"Not to most students, though I'm not surprised that the current President of the Prefect Team knows who you are since your districts are close," Sensei admitted.

"Ohhh, so that's why Hina's name was familiar to me!" Hoshino exclaimed. "She's that infamous Head Prefect huh? But she seemed alright while we were talking earlier, if a little timid."

Sensei seemed like had something else to say, but eventually dropped it in favor of asking a different question. "So what brings you here? I mean, aside from taking a nap of course."

"Sensei, you really have no tack~" Hoshino giggled. "Though there is one thing…"

Hoshino then relayed Miyako's concerns regarding her teammate Miyu while they were in the hot springs yesterday. "I was a little curious about it too, so I thought I'd ask you about it since you were looking into the inner workings of Kivotos Mystics."

"Miyu's ability to conceal her presence is incredible, to be honest," Sensei said. "But it also hadn't done her self-esteem any favors."

"Is there any way to help her with her problem?" Hoshino asked.

"I've been working on a few things, but it would be best if she could learn to control her Mystic's output like you do."

"But Sensei, my Mystic is mostly confined to my physical abilities, which is a lot easier to control if I just adjust the level of strength I use," Hoshino explained. "I don't have a clue where to begin when it affects one's presence."

"By the standards of where I came from I'm only a third-rate magus, so I wouldn't worry too much about it." Sensei said. "I'm not that knowledgeable about Kivotos Mystic either since it hasn't been too long since I arrived, but I do have my ways to gain information."

"Is there someone who knows more about this topic, Sensei?"

"Well, you could try approaching one of the Mystic researchers from Millennium. Speaking of which, weren't there some stationed by the oasis back in Abydos?"

"Oh. Oh…! It completely slipped my mind! I wonder why…?" Now that she thought about it, she didn't even consider it. She probably just forgot about it.

"Hoshino? Are you alright?" Sensei asked as he put a hand on her forehead. Your face is flushed."

"A…Ahaha, maybe it's just too hot outside?" Hoshino quickly excused herself. "I'm just gonna go lie down on the couch."

Hoshino turned away, ignoring the pounding on her chest.

…

…

…

Eventually, Hoshino regained enough of her composure to continue their earlier conversation regarding the Mystic.

"Ah, speaking of which, there was one other thing…" Hoshino said as she brought up meeting a suspicious adult last night.

The adult who one day showed up in front of Hoshino while she was on her way back home after visiting the hot springs. The adult introduced himself as Black Suit—the same one who made Hoshino a different offer before. He made it clear that while he was still interested in having her sign a contract with him due to his research into the Mystic, he was specifically here this time to research and possibly, if unlikely, obtain the sword in the oasis. In exchange he would make sure that Abydos' debt would be reduced. Hoshino told him to come back another day.

"He's suspicious, but should I agree to his offer?" Hoshino asked.

"Hoshino," Sensei said as he gave her a serious look. "The first thing you need to know when dealing with adults like him is to always negotiate the terms of the contract. He's the type of man who would offer you a seemingly mutually beneficial contract, but only one side would actually gain something out of it. A vague promise like 'ensuring that the school's debt would be reduced' could very well mean reducing it by half, or only by a single cent. And that is assuming that he actually has the means to ensure that it will happen."

Hoshino widened eyes when Sensei pointed it out.

"So he tried to scam me first thing…" Hoshino clicked her tongue. "As if he wasn't already dubious enough."

"Yet you think there was a chance you would have fallen for it, aren't you?"

"...Urk." Hoshino wanted to deny Sensei's words, but she couldn't. Deep down she had a feeling that if she hadn't seen the miracle Sensei made that night, she likely would have taken a similar offer from Black Suit.

She was reminded of why she distrusted adults prior to meeting Sensei. Honestly, if it weren't for the events of that night, she probably would have been wary of Sensei for a while longer.

"It's alright." Sensei patted her head. "Should that happen, I'll just have to find a way to break the contract and bring you back."

Hoshino put a hand over her chest before she giggled. "Geez Sensei…You're going to give this old timer the wrong idea if you keep saying things like that."

"Haha."

They spent a few more minutes bantering with each other before eventually returning to the topic at hand. Hoshino asked what Sensei would do in her shoes.

"If it were me, I'd get him to sign a contract that clearly stipulates what he can or can't do," Sensei replied. "Of course, any contract would have a loophole if you look closely enough, but it's not entirely a bad thing as you could also use it to predict the other party's activities after finalizing the contract."

"Wouldn't it be better to just cover said loophole instead?"

"If the contract is too one-sided, there's a high chance that the other party would reject it," Sensei said. "I want the other party to sign the contract because it would allow me to keep track of his movements since he's normally difficult to find."

"I see…" Hoshino said as she nodded.

"'Keep your friends close, and enemies closer', as a wise man used to say," Sensei said. "With that said, you could also just reject Black Suit entirely out of principle and that's fine too. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Your call."

"Hmmm…" Hoshino thought long and hard about this, but raised her hands in resignation. "I don't know, Sensei. I think I'll need to sleep on this one."

"Well, that's fine too. A delayed response could also work as a form of negotiation tactic," Sensei said, before adding, "But since you're already here, I did have one other thing I wanted to bring up with you."

"What is it, Sensei?" Hoshino asked.

"It has to do with making the Foreclosure Task Force an officially recognized club by the GSC."

"Is that really important?"

"In the eyes of the GSC, yes. As long as one member of the Student Council remains, then Abydos could continue existing as a school." Sensei replied. "Until now, the Foreclosure Task Force is operating under your authority as the Vice-President of the Abydos Student Council. Once you leave for any reason, the authority of the Council goes with you and would leave Kaiser free to take over the remaining lands of Abydos."

"!" Hoshino's eyes widened in alarm. She was reminded of Black Suit's first proposition to exchange herself to settle Abydos' debt before she relaxed as she realized that Sensei was only talking about the worst case scenario. "Jeez, Sensei. I'm still here so that won't happen just yet."

"I know, but I just thought I'd get this to your attention so that you can address this as soon as possible," Sensei said with a smile. "If needed I can always lend SCHALE's authority. Though I'm sure Rin's going to chew me out for using SCHALE's authority for the same thing twice."

He's probably referring to SRT, Hoshino thought as she remembered Miyako mentioning the similarities between their schools' situation.

"Then I'll have to keep troubling you, Sensei~" Hoshino said before she picked up a document on his table. "Is there any way I can help with your work?"

"Maybe not paperwork since I'm more or less done, but I could use a hand in the kitchen," Sensei said. "I've been meaning to have someone taste test some of the dishes I'll put up on the menu and was going to contact a few students, though I can start early with you here."

"Really?!" Hoshino exclaimed. She had no reason to reject trying out more of Sensei's cooking. She was already looking forward to it.

…

…

…

Eventually, Hoshino set a meeting with Black Suit in an office somewhere in the Black Market district after she drafted a contract with revised conditions with Sensei and Ayane's help.

"Greetings, Hoshino," Black Suit said as he was sitting at his desk. "Are you here to talk regarding the matter of yourself signing a contract with me in exchange for Abydos' debt or—"

"I'm here to talk about the sword in the oasis," Hoshino replied as she handed him an envelope from across the desk.

"That is just as well," he replied as he took the document out. "I see you came prepared."

Rather than an unspecified amount of reduction to the debt, he would instead have to pay a specified amount each week for as long as he was researching the oasis, and for his methods to stick to acceptable ways without disrupting the oasis' ecosystem.

"Interesting…I would not be allowed to obtain the sword as that would likely disrupt the oasis, but I would be allowed to research the sword in other ways," Black Suit said as he read aloud specific stipulations of the contract while going over it. "Did you perhaps ask Sensei's help to come up with this?"

"I don't need to answer that, do I?" Hoshino replied. Sensei also taught her not to answer questions unless absolutely necessary when negotiating, or give a non-committal one if possible.

"I'm going to assume he did. So even he knows the value of contracts in this city," Black Suit said. For what felt like minutes, the two remained seated in silence, with Black Suit occasionally humming in interest.

Eventually, Black Suit lowered the document.

"How very fascinating. Sensei is well aware of how the adult world works with how this contract is designed, and yet…" Black Suit trailed off as he pulled out a pen from his suit. "Very well. The terms are reasonable and I see no need to renegotiate them."

Sensei was right, Hoshino thought. Black Suit was willing to pay if it meant being able to research one of his swords.

After Black Suit signed both copies of the contract, Hoshino also signed both under her authority as the Vice-President of Abydos. Each of them received a copy of the signed contract.

"Are you sure you do not want to talk about the other contract I offered?"

"No. We're done here," Hoshino said as she stood up to leave Black Suit's office.

"I see, then I already lost my chance." Black Suit chuckled. "When you next see Sensei, do tell him that he has won for now, and that I am also grateful for being allowed to study one of his swords."

Hoshino stopped and turned around. She knew it would have been better to not linger any longer than necessary, but she was genuinely curious about something. "I thought you'd be more angry."

"I am, but to be an adult is to know not to let your emotions overrule your decisions and know when to compromise and admit defeat," Black Suit said. "You'd do well to remember that, Takanashi Hoshino."

"I don't need to hear that from a suspicious adult like you that was willing to deceive a naive teenager," Hoshino glared before her expression softened a little. "But thanks for those words anyway."

…

…

…

When she came back to the Foreclosure Task Force's club room, she was greeted by everyone including Sensei.

"Hoshino, you're back!" Ayane stood up as Hoshino entered the room.

"How did it go?" Nonomi asked.

"Uhehe~ It was really nerve-wracking," Hoshino said as she slumped on the seat beside Sensei. "That man was suspicious the entire time. Oh, and he told me to pass a message to you."

"I see. I'll listen to it later," Sensei said as he patted her head. "Good job, Hoshino."

"Nn." Shiroko nodded.

"I just left for my part-time job, and when I came back I found out that Hoshino was in the middle of negotiating with a suspicious adult. Talk about giving me a heart attack…" Serika grumbled. "Please tell me I didn't miss any other important announcement."

"You did," Sensei said.

"Damn it—Wait, you're obviously lying with that smirk of yours, Sensei!" Serika pouted as she stood up from her chair. "Stop teasing me!"

"Oh Serika, you're just so cute when you're like this," Sensei replied with a more genuine smile.

"C-C-Cute….!" Serika's face reddened as she was unable to handle Sensei's words. She slid back down to her seat in defeat.

"You know, I've noticed this for quite some time now, but isn't Sensei too used to handling women?" Nonomi said to Sensei as he was drinking the tea Ayane gave him. "Could it be that Sensei is…"

"A womanizer?" Sensei coughed a few times before he cleared his throat as Shiroko finished Nonomi's sentence.

After wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, he asked, "Where did that even come from? I just had a lot of female friends back home!"

"Female 'friends', he says," Hoshino murmured as she laid her head on top of a stuffed whale. "They definitely had a crush on him…"

"Hey, not you too Hoshino!"

"Um guys, I think you're bothering Sensei…" Ayane said, but even she couldn't hide her curiosity regarding Sensei's past.

It was at this moment that a knock was heard on the door. Sensei bolted to the door and opened it to escape the Abydos girls trying to grill him of his past experiences with women. He was met by Miyako, who explained that she was here to give her daily report for her patrols.

After Miyako gave her report, she stayed around when Sensei said that he had an announcement from the GSC.

"It's finally been made official," Sensei began. "The Foreclosure Task Force has been approved by the GSC. It is now Abydos High School's de facto Student Council."

There was quite a celebration to be had, as while it was merely for formalities in their minds, each member of the Foreclosure Task Force now had more say in official matters, such as school administration and when dealing with other schools and Kaiser.

Sensei sighed in relief. It seemed that the girls had completely forgotten about the previous topic thanks to the good news. He glanced at Hoshino, whose halo disappeared.

Ideally, he would have liked for the Foreclosure Task Force to officially become Abydos' Student Council, but this was only possible with the approval of the current Abydos Student Council President. While Hoshino could approve it as the Acting President, this would be seen as her officially taking over as the actual President of the Abydos Student Council, which Hoshino was reluctant to do at the moment.

There were a few reasons as to why the Acting President would refuse to officially take over the position, as was the case with Rin and the General Student Council. From what he could gather based on FOX Squad's description of her, the missing President garnered respect all throughout Kivotos. To officially replace the current GSC President, Rin would first need the support of the rest of the GSC and win in an internal election. Then there was also the issue of earning the support of everyone else in Kivotos to ensure that the transition of power goes smoothly.

Unlike Rin, Hoshino has everyone's support in the Foreclosure Task Force if she were to take over, Sensei thought. Is something else holding her back, then?

Sensei thought about it for a bit, but decided not to dwell on it further. Hoshino must have her own reasons. Perhaps he could ask her about the previous president when it's just the two of them.

Seeing as his business was just about done, he was about to excuse himself, but Miyako called out to him.

"What is it, Miyako?" Sensei asked.

"I was just curious about something, you see…" Miyako said as she stood between Sensei and the door. "About your past I mean."

Sensei had a foreboding feeling about this. But he decided to trust her anyway.

"What is it?"

Her next few words more or less confirmed it. "Just how many lovers did you have, Sensei?"

Et tu, Miyako?!

Those words, along with Miyako's smile, brought back the previous topic to everyone else's forefront, who were now eyeing him like prey except Hoshino, who was already sound asleep.

Wait no, she's still awake if her halo's still visible!

Sensei heard her giggling a little as he got hounded with questions.