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New Chapter here!
Glad you guys are enjoying this story a lot more than I see. I was expecting less than 300, but...
500 views is this amount? Thanks a lot. It would be appreciated if this story is shared to others. For now...
Enjoy this chapter!
In the morning, a robot in a dark gray suit has taken a large briefcase, handed by Nonomi alongside Ayane, Hoshino, Shiroko, and Serika.
After examining the case, "Seven million, eight hundred eighty-three thousand, two hundred fifty yen in cash has been confirmed." He announced. "No issues reported. Thank you again for doing business with Kaiser Loans. See you next month!"
He heads into the van and drives off. The halo students watch it go, then their smiles they had now have faltered.
"Well, thanks to Sensei... We've managed to make it another month." Hoshino remarked. Sensei comes out of the wall fence.
"Sensei, why have you decided to hide from him?" Nonomi wondered.
"I would not recommend the loaner to know myself." Sensei replied. "Though I am curious, why pay in cash?" He asked.
"Who knows, that's how they prefer." Serika shrugged. Then she noticed Shiroko staring at the way the truck had headed. "Don't be thinking about it!" She glared.
"Nn. Fine." Shiroko looks back at the group.
"Well, we should head back inside." Ayane suggested. With everyone agreeing, they walk back to the school building.
Going through the main doors, they go upstairs and onto their committee room. Once arrived, Ayane begins her announcement.
"Okay, Sensei has done so much to help us pay this month's debt. And right now we need another way to settle our debt without needing Sensei's help again." Ayane stated, "So I hope anyone can be reminded that we are having Sensei attending today, so I hope for more decorum than usual..." She recalled.
"Okay!" Nonomi smiled warmly.
"Nn." Shiroko nodded.
"You're acting like we're actually gonna take this seriously." Serika sighed.
"Well, glad we are having this meeting with Sensei." Hoshino smirked. "Maybe he'll give us his thoughts on our ideas." Sensei has his arms crossed as he nodded in confirmation that he will listen.
"Okay... Then let's begin." Ayane acknowledged. "How do we settle the debt? Any ideas?" She advised me.
"Ooh me!"Serika raised her hand, gaining their attention.
"First year Kuromi Serika. May you display your strategy?" Ayane perked up.
"Ugh, again with the formalities?" Serika groaned.
"Well, this is our chance to prove it to Sensei about our capabilities as a task force." Ayane replied, gesturing to Sensei.
"Yeah, it'll be a nice change of pace for this meeting." Hoshino yawned as she smiled.
"Like a proper Task Force!" Nonomi beamed.
"Okay okay, I get it, can I continue now!?" Serika fumed out for a moment. Then a moment of settling down, she begins, "Alright, we have eight million yen each month, we need a quicker and more effective way to repay the debt quickly. So I got something big!" She claimed.
"Big?" Ayane curiously wondered.
Serika nodded with a prideful look, "Here!" She took out a flier saying, "I got this from downtown!" She stated.
Ayane and others look at the paper... Hoshino takes a closer look and repeats what's on the paper... "Ready to become a billionaire? Get rich quick with the... Germanium Granite Bracelet Network?" She questioned.
"With these, we can get each of them and become billionaires!" Serika speaks with determination. "These cool people who gave me those bracelets told me that they cleanse your aura and bring good luck."
"..." Ayane started with disbelief, along with the rest of others.
"...What?" Serika noticed their stares, with the exception of Sensei given the fact he wears his mask helmet.
"Um... Serika...?" Ayane nervously sweats drops, "Have you ever heard of a Pyramid scheme?" She asked.
"It's a scam." Shiroko stated.
"What?!" Serika exclaimed.
"Um, yes." Ayane adjusted her glasses, since Serika just got slammed by the truth instantly. "I'm sure this luck thing isn't true. But even if this is a great business plan... Why would they give it away for free?" She questioned.
"B-but, I bought two of them!" Serika flabbergasted. Then a huge puff occurs, "I even skipped lunch to get these..." She sniffed.
Nonomi came in and comforted Serika with a hug, "There, there, don't feel bad about it Serika. I can provide you with lunch!" She assured me.
"...Nonomi..." Serika sniffed, not even bothering by the position she's been embraced.
"Ah, Serika, to be so naive and gullible... Such a life of a youngster." Hoshino sighed with humbleness.
Ayane laughs nervously, glancing at Sensei's unfazed reaction. His crossed arms haven't been dropped, so far, she's worried by the reputation of this meeting being witnessed.
"Okay... Since Serika's suggestion isn't good... Does anyone else have ideas?" Ayane calls out.
Hoshino lazily raised her hand, "I got one." She called out.
"Ah, President Takanashi Hoshino. Let us hear it." Ayane hoped to hear her suggestion to be good. Her status could be a good sign...
"How about we get more students?" She advised me. "The more of us the school grows bigger and the debt will be quickly paid with more support."
Ayane perked up by this, "That sounds plausible, but how can we get more?" She asked.
"...We abduct a school bus from a different academy." Hoshino stated.
"Excuse me!?" Ayane screamed in shock.
"We hijack a bus, hold the students hostage until they agree to transfer their enrollment to our school. Simple." Hoshino added.
"Interesting..." Shiroko noted down. "So what academy should we hit? Trinity? Gehenna? Or Millennium?"
"Stop!" Ayane shouted. "If we do this, we could stir up trouble for other Academies!" She noticed Sensei's continued silence. "Hoshino, can you please take this seriously?"
"Ah, now I think about it... It may not be a good idea..." Hoshino softly chuckled.
"Ugh..." Ayane feels annoyed, especially the carelessness of their President... Then she noticed a raised hand, from Shiroko herself. "Second year, Sunaookami Shiroko. Do you have a better idea?"
"Nn." Shiroko nodded, as she then took out something underneath the table. Placing it on top, Ayane's expression goes to exclamation, upon seeing masks and large bags. And her next words made her body stone cold, "We rob a bank." She stated.
Sensei slightly perked his head with the idea. Ayane shifted a bit by his movement.
"It's an effective plan, and our target isn't too far. We can hit the First Central Bank downtown." Shiroko takes out a blueprint map of the bank itself. "I even mapped out the routes, blind spots, and security positions."
"Have you planned this lately!?" Ayane questioned. "And when did you have time to make the masks?"
"Nn. Once we hit the bank, we can make one hundred million yen per heist." Shiroko puts on her blue robbery mask with a number two.
Nonomi tried out the green mask with a five. "Wow! I look like a luchador." She beamed in admiration.
"Well... To get a big hit, you gotta take a big risk!" Hoshino smiled. "I think we should do this."
"No way! We can't do this!" Serika exclaimed.
"She's right! We can't be criminals! Sensei won't like this!" Ayane pointed this out. Shiroko glances at Sensei, still being silent by this. She looks a bit down by this and seemingly this idea is denied. Then the hand is raised which Ayane noticed and signed, "...Second Year Izayoi Nonomi. Please can yours not be a scam or law breaking."
"You got it!"Nonomi nodded. "So I have an idea, pop idols!"
"Pop... Idols?" Ayane raised her brows.
"More like school pop idols. Our school could be revitalized as a pop superstar industry!" Nonomi is crowded. "It'll be just like the anime!"
"Denied." Hoshino simply replied.
"What?" Nonomi gasped. "Is it a bad idea?"
"Yep. I'd rather not have creeps following me, no thanks." Hoshino reasoned.
"But I got some ideas of how we can do our pose..." Nonomi demonstrated herself, making her stance. "Christina of the Mizugi Girl Gang!" She beamed.
"...Really!? The Mizugi Girl Gang?!" Serika yelped. "No way!"
"I worked so hard on this..." Nonomi feels a bit saddened by this dejection.
"Enough!" Ayane calls out the group. "These ideas are getting more ridiculous than ever! Can't no one find a better idea?!"
"Eh, let's ask Sensei!" Hoshino suggested. "Let him decide which plan we should go to. I'm sure what he chooses will be right."
"No way, it won't make sense!" Ayane fretted.
"So, Sensei, what will you choose?" Nonomi wondered. All eyes sent on himself.
Sensei gazes at the students, so there are only three choices, Hoshino's enrollment plan, Shiroko's bank heist, and Nonomi's idol industry... He makes his decision.
"None of them." He stated.
"!?" This caused a surprised look amongst all of them, with one of them being relieved that of Ayane, hearing that he denied these suggestions.
"As much as these ideas have the potential, none can truly easily get the results you seek for." Sensei explained. "Hoshino, your idea will stir other academies. Shiroko, your robbery will gain the attention of other forces and allow more enforcement on the rest of the banks. and Nonomi, your idol industry will exhaust more resources than what we already have." He reasoned each plan.
"..." Everyone remains silent on his words. They do understand what he is saying...
"Rest assured, this meeting isn't in vain." Sensei replied. "I've learned a lot about your perspectives, and now considering hearing it, may be beneficial for later in the future." He assured me. "Consider this meeting a step up, not everything can be done in one easy shortcut"
"So, what you're saying, what comes around goes around for us?" Hoshino assumed with a grin. Shiroko grew a bit hopeful on hearing what she said towards Sensei's response.
"Your boldness proves it, Hoshino." Sensei stated. Just then, he shifted up, which gained notice from students.
"Sensei?" Ayane wondered.
"...I got a call from Aru. It seems Problem Solver 68 has found something you should all know..." Sensei acknowledged, which gained curiosity from them.
Arriving downtown, outside the bar location of W's residence, the Problem Solver 68 awaits them. And upon their perspective, they see Sensei and the Abydos Task Force arrive with concern expressions.
"Aru, we are here." Sensei said.
"Are you sure it's the same truck!?" Serika questioned them, which her sudden demand slightly jumped Aru.
Kayoko sighed, "We even double checked it, it's a Kaiser Loan truck. And by our assumption, it's the same one." She explained. "Heading straight to the route where the black market is."
"Why would they be heading down to the black market section?" Nonomi wondered.
"Well, we should all go and find out right?" Hoshino suggested.
"Ahem, follow us Sensei." Aru cleared her throat as she led the way alongside her group. The rest follow on as they walk past the streets.
Pedestrians walk past, though they can't help but glance at a group of eight students with a drone and an adult looking like a robot.
Mutsuki joined next to Sensei, "So, Sensei. Have you ever taken your helmet off?" She grinned, with a tint of curiosity. Going a bit too close to his side.
Ayane's hologram appeared, "H-hey, please don't go near Sensei like that..." She was worried.
"Come on, four-eyes." Mutstuki teased, "Can't a young maiden wish to know this knight?" She asked.
Ayane blushed at her words, though it's rarely seen due to the blue graphic hologram, "My name isn't four-eyes! It's Ayane!" She yelled in embarrassment.
"Well, it's not like Sensei can share much..." Nonomi remarked. "He's very secluded."
"Don't you find it suspicious?" Kayoko questioned, gazing at the appearance of Sensei.
Shiroko shook his head, "Nn. Despite his appearance, he's been kind to us, nearly to all of us." She said, They can't help but mentally nod along, with his actions clearly showing carness.
Hoshino still glanced at Sensei with a keen eye. While it's true, what reason or purpose does he have?
Meanwhile Sensei hears the conversation, Arona speaks in his hud, "Sensei! You should respond to them for being kind to you!" She pouted, not liking him being very silent.
"...Thank you all for sharing your thoughts." Sensei speaks out, as Arona puffed in pride with his words.
Everyone hears the sudden response but gentle from Sensei, they feel a sense of warmth by his words. Especially his gentle and calm tone.
They continue on, heading to the trail towards the city...
"Is this supposed to be the black market?" Serika is surprised to see the large city district filled with many stores and more. "It looks... Packed."
Packed with buildings, the place has never been so busy with no tints of nature.
"I never realized this unauthorized district would be so big and busy..." Shiroko gazed.
"That's where our office usually is. To simply hide out from the Perfect Team." Kayoko explained.
"Perfect Team? From Gehenna Academy?" Ayane's hologram perked up. "So that's where you're from." She noted.
Hoshino raised her head a bit, but was lower by Ayane's glare. There goes her idea shooting down, till later...
"Yep." Mutsuki smiled. "I'm sure you know the school's reputation. BUt hey, this is our boss' dream, right?" She calls out to Aru.
"R-right! In order to become the greatest outlaw group of Kivotis, we may have to break a few eggs!" Aru postured herself, trying to look like a proud figure.
Kayoko sighed deeply while Mutstuki giggled, and Haruka admires. Seeing the three looks, caused a bit of confusion for the Abydos Team seeing the mixed reactions of her members. However not all are confused...
"Nn. I see..." Shiroko nodded.
"Shiroko..." Ayane muttered with distaste, "You better not be thinking what I think you're thinking..." She glared at the wolf-ear girl.
"...Yes, Ayane..." She slowly quivers down, trying not to make Ayane angry...
Suddenly gunshots occurred, raising everyone's attention.
"Stop right here!" A female voice shouted from a distance.
"Please stop chasing me!" Another voice cries out. Then the reveal occurs, a young girl in a white uniform and sneakers with a dark blue skirt, yellow bow, black pantyhose, and a white backpack that looks like a chicken.
Suddenly, she runs past the group, unintentionally bumping into Sensei, knocking her down on the ground. He looks at her, seeing her appearance up close. She has light brown twin tails tied with a yellow-black ribbon and has bright yellow eyes.
Just as she looks up and her facial looks are shocked realizing who is the person she bumped into.
"Hey!" A shout interrupted her, she turned to see two girls in thug-like outfits with masks and as usual their halos. "What are you doing with-"
"Wait!" The other girl with blonde hair and black mask stops the dark hair and white mask. By simply grabbing her shoulder, "That's him..." She whispered to her ear, gesturing to Sensei.
"..." The girl in the white uniform quickly stood up and went behind Sensei. The others then noticed the look of the uniform.
"That uniform..." Ayane noticed, "That's Trinity?" What's confusing is how did she get here?
"Erm, Sensei!" The thug girl steps front, trying to act friendly. "We were just trying to catch up to our friend for business!" She speaks.
"No! I don't have anything for you!" The Trinity student spoke aloud, seeing their glare made her slightly shiver.
"Oi!" The thug shouted, but stopped due to her outburst. "Uh, come on, don't be like that, we promise not to go reckless..." She tries to persuade the girl.
All of a sudden, the two thugs sensed a shadow over them. Turning to see Nonomi and Shiroko standing and immediately getting knocked out by one swing. Both of them are on the ground flat and unconscious.
"Good work, Nonomi, Shiroko." Sensei complimented them as the two nodded. Nonomi smiled while Shiroko remained blank.
"Thank you... Sensei..." The girl in Trinity uniform spoke out, as she moved out to give him space.
"No worries, may I know your name?" Sensei asked.
"Um, Ajitani Hifumi! Sensei." The girl introduced herself.
"What are you doing here in the black market?" Kayoko questioned her.
"Yeah, usually Trinity Students don't occur on black markets..." Hoshino remarked.
"Um... It's a long story..." Hifumi fretted shyly. Suddenly they hear more incoming noises.
Ayane's drone flies out for a moment before quickly joins back "Enforcers are coming!" She announced.
"We have to go now!" Hifumi worried.
Hearing this, Sensei nodded, "We heard her, we must go." He stated. Everyone complied and they headed out to a different direction.
Afar from the incoming trouble, they are once again in a different area of the city. They are taking a moment hidden through the vast alley.
"Jeez, these enforcers are really active once trouble starts up..." Serika sighed, glancing to see if anyone had found them. "Hang on... How come the black market has them?"
"Since the expansion of the black market..." Hifumi explained. "They even have their own bank and police force..."
"What!?" Serika exclaimed. "That can't be legal, right?"
"I can't believe how big the organization is..." Nonomi whispered worryingly.
"Say, for a Trinity Student, you know a lot about the place." Hoshino noted.
"Well, I looked up the place before I went, since they have something I need..." Hifumi muttered aloud.
"Is it weapon modifications?" Shiroko asked.
"Explosives?" Mutsuki asked with a smile.
"Eh? No. It is a limited edition plush from the Peroro and Ice Cream franchise collaboration!" Hifumi beamed, showing her phone opened, a screen image of a white cartoon-looking chicken having a stuffed chocolate and mint ice-cream stuffed in its mouth. "Isn't Peroro cute?" She asked.
The girls look at the plushie. "Erm..." Shiroko stared at it. Haruka is only curious about it while everyone seems confused. Expect...
"Aw, he's so cute!" Nonomi gushed on the image, "Though I am a fan of Mr. Nicholai, personally." She added.
Hifumi's eyes brighten up, "I also like him too! I even have the recent first edition of Reaching Beyond Good & Evil!" She beamed.
"...Does anyone know what they are talking about?" Hoshino gazes at the small talk between Hifumi and Nonomi.
"Well, you never cared about the cutesy stuff..." Serika remarked.
"Yeah, you're right." Hoshino admits, "This old-timer has no time for those moments." She yawned.
"But... Aren't you're a third year?" Kayoko reminded her.
"Trust me, I tried to say this..." Serika murmured, agreeing with her confusion.
"Ahem..." Aru tries to call out the situation. "We should go and find the Kaiser Loan truck."
"Ah, right, good boss Aru! keep reminding us of our objective!" Mutsuki smirked.
"Right... Almost forgot why we're here..." Hoshino muttered.
"Eh!? Even if we told you that it carries the loans you've paid?" Aru exclaimed. She was told who these girls are, how they just forget their objective.
"Eh? You're following Kaiser Loans!?" Hifumi perked up.
"We were told that they are heading here in this city." Shiroko explained.
"You know them?" Ayane's hologram appeared again and asked her.
"Yes." Hifumi nodded, "I mean Kaiser Loans are already considering the infamous branch of the Kaiser Corporations. And they are already shady... They tried to share business with the Tea Party Council..." She explained.
"We should go now..." Kayoko reminded them.
"Wait!" Hoshino called out. "We've been walking a lot, can't an old timer take a break for five more minutes?" She lazily smiled.
"We are practically the same age! Stop calling yourself old!" Serika refuted.
"How about we eat something?" Nonomi suggested, "There is a taiyaki stand over there!" She pointed out that the nearby stand is here. "I can buy you all one, my treat!"
"You know what? Why not? I needed some energy." Hoshino yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. She agrees with the suggestion.
"Yeah..." Mutsuki nodded, then she leaned on Aru. "Wouldn't you say to the boss that we should get a small snack? After all, your finances did not give us enough purchase on food..." She is teasing her leader.
Aru blushed in embarrassment, "Hey! Don't mention that Mutsuki!" She huffed, then saw her best friend giggling. "...Fine! We'll try some!" She pouted and crossed her arms.
"Hehe, Aru has gotten sour." Mutstuki chuckled. "Come on, let's cheer her up. We haven't had taiyaki for a while."
"Okay! Rest assured!" Nonomi beamed and took out her golden credit card.
"Mmmmm! So good!" Aru is taking a first bite of the taiyaki. Her previous mood has instantly lifted away by a good treat.
"It's so delicious..." Haruka mumbled happily, her smile faint but noticeably warm. She continues to chew gently on the taiyaki.
"Agreed!" Hifumi is also eating it and enjoying it as much as others.
"Ah, so tasty!" Serika sighed in relief, after finishing her snack.
Sensei watches these girls admire their food. Nonomi came to Ayane, "Sorry that you can't get one, Ayane." She apologized warmly.
"It's okay, Nonomi." Ayane assured.
"Sensei..." Shiroko tapped Sensei's arm. He turned to see her holding out a second one. "Try one."
A moment passed, he accepted, "...Thank you." He nodded, his lower part of his helmet opened. He takes a bite of it.
Shiroko gazes at the lower part of his helmet. She's not the only one, everyone gazes at his face. They cannot see it, only just seeing his mouth and chin.
He noticed them staring at him, but he did not mind. They are curious young minds.
Soon... He'll tell them... Just... Not yet.
He then noticed something passed by on the road, "Everyone. The truck is here." He called out.
They all turned to see a familiar truck passing them by on the road, heading away.
"H-hey! After it!" Serika pointed at the truck and ran for it.
"Serika, wait up!" Nonomi follows her. The rest quickly picked up the pace and they all chased the truck.
After the continuous running, they stopped by to see the truck had arrived. At the large building itself.
And it seems Hifumi recognizes it, "That's... The Stygian Bank." She revealed the name.
"Is there something special about that bank?" Shiroko asked, noticing the bank on the title.
"It's one of the largest banks of the black market... About fifteen percent of the illicit profits of criminal activities flows in the bank..." Hifumi informed me.
"And we used to go there..." Kayoko mentioned.
"Wait. What are Kaiser Loans doing near a bank like that?" Ayane's hologram wondered.
Just then, the truck driver exited out. It's the same robot person who took the debt, he opens the back, carrying the same briefcase of cash. A person outside is waiting in front of the bank.
"What took you so long?" The person growled at the arrival of the robot.
"Sorry, there is some traffic delay, but here it is." The robot hands the briefcase to the person.
"Alright, sign these transport papers once again." The person hands the notes. The robot accepts and scribbles onto the paper.
After that is done, "Thank you for the business." The robot nodded and returned back to the truck and drove off.
Witnessing all of this, the Abydos team is in shock. "Huh!? Did that same guy who took our debt just gave it to the criminal bank!?" Serika exclaimed.
"...We've been funneling our cash payments to the bank..." Shiroko muttered.
"No wonder they asked for cash only..." Nonomi recalled the debt payment. Hoshino remained silent when hearing this conversation. The rest of others hear this tension unfold.
"Wait, we can't be certain. We need to at least know where the truck is going, at least we need to figure this out..." Ayane tries to settle the situation.
"Figure this out? That's our own money! We worked hard for that, and just then Sensei gave his share on this payment today!" Serika chided. "I can't believe this!" She stomped her foot on the ground.
Silence occurred for the school group, "...Ayane, can you at least get a bead on that truck?" Hoshino requested.
"Huh? Oh yes." Ayane's hologram disappeared. Then for a moment, she appeared, "No, their network is closed, I can't pick them up." She shook her head sadly.
"Should've known..." Hoshino sighed.
"Wait, what about the transport papers?" Hifumi suggested, "The employee should have the records there." She said,
"But the records are inside the bank..." Nonomi remarked, recalling the employee took the signed papers.
"Not to mention, it's the most heavily armed guarded bank." Kayoko stated. "Even all of our firepower combined won't be enough."
As everyone remains quiet on the situation... Until...
"...We have no choice." Shiroko announced, they all turned to see her in the blue mask. "We are robbing the bank." She holds out the rest of the masks.
...Everyone gazed at her, confused by the fact she had the mask... But most notably, her suggestion to get the paper records...
"...Eeehhh!?" Serika shouted in shock.
Word Count - 4116
Originally the scene would go further, but now, here's a cliffhanger to maintain the word amount.
As you'd expected, the next chapter will be the famous bank heist. This time the Problem Solver 68 will be joining them!
Do not expect what this bank heist will about, just you wait...
Stay tune for it, as I will take a break writing this story. Gonna be focusing on another project now...
Have fun.