In the coming days, the GSC will always be trampled with upcoming works, with its own delegates diligently obligated themselves to serve Kivotos and her citizens. With the level of headache-inducing and necessary bureaucracy and legalities in the works, it's not hard to imagine how busy the office is. But in the past few days until now, their level of efficiency has skyrocketed by a large margin ever since the case of the dead adult emerged, and not in a good way. With the media going into a frenzy with the leak (much to Rin's and Aoi's chagrin), it was barely fruitless to convince the citizens to calm the hell down and stop interrupting the case was barely fruitless. At one point, a bunch of Trinities and Red Winters rioted at the GSC HQ to demand an overthrow of Hina's position until Sensei managed to convince them to leave by tossing at least two large boxes of Molotov Sandals (why the students are more scared of airborne-flaming sandals than guns, Rin doesn't know, and doesn't intend to find out further).
But today is a significant day. Rin has ordered an immediate meeting first thing in the morning to inform the head offices about the progress of the case. Except for Kaya, naturally. That circus of a conspirator is still in prison indefinitely, and until a new member can take her place, Kanna will double as the temporary Head of Defense Office. Once the necessary staff and invited head offices were in the room, it wasn't difficult for Rin to see how nervous everyone was. Even the laidback twin pigtails Momoka, the head of the Transportation Office, decided that this was not the best time to eat her favorite chips.
"Is everyone present?" Rin inquired.
"Looks like everyone is accounted for," Haine looked around, brushing the black edges on her left bangs. "So, Director Kanna will be acting as the current Head of Defense?"
"For the moment, yes," Rin glanced to her left. "Ayumu, Director Kanna, is everything ready?"
"Y-yes! The necessary papers are ready!" the blonde head office anxiously answered.
"Presentation is ready," Kanna finished fiddling her laptop. "Waiting for you to start, Acting President."
"Shouldn't we call Sensei for this meeting?" Sumomo, the petite white-haired demon-horned girl, asked, not feeling sleepy for once with the lack of bag eyes on her tanned face.
"Nah, no need. He got his hands full," Momoka lazily leaned onto the table, her cheek resting on her fist. "'Sides, he's been directly helping the case. He already knows everything that we don't know."
"I guess that is true," Aoi corrected her collar, then straightened her navy blue bob-cut hair. "Shall we start?"
"Yes," Rin looked at the other staff in the room. "Please begin documentation of this meeting."
"Right away, Acting President," the staff activated the camera and began filming.
Rin clears her throat and begins to address everyone in the room. "I thank you all for coming to this meeting. As we all know, the case of an adult's death at Jiramiagi Apartments has caused us a lot of storms these past few days, not to mention that ithas been intensified due to the misinformation propagated by the Pandemonium Student Council. It is imperative for us and Valkyrie as a whole to resolve this immediately before things get out of hand."
Everyone listens intently. Aoi, on one hand, scoffs at Pandemonium's action. Ayumu frowns at the mention of death. Momoka, Sumomo, and Haine straighten themselves uneasily.
"Fortunately for us, due to the due diligence of the Kivotos Student Police Department, Sensei's help, and Head Prefect Sorasaki Hina's confession, we can say with certainty that we are finally able to close this case for good."
A little murmurs from some of the staff inside while the head offices either keep quiet or nod slightly.
"I will warn you all right now. As I informed you a few days back, we have procured very few pieces of evidence, witness and suspect statements, as well as the on-hand recording of the whole event during that incident. Soon, Director Kanna and I will lay out the whole timeline and associate the evidence and statements in accordance with the events. Halfway in laying out the timeline, we will then show you the video evidence procured by Hina herself during that incident. Keep in mind that the video we will about to show you will be… extremely disturbing."
Haine gulps nervously. The others stare at each other with hesitancy before they all turn to her. "Understood, Acting President," Aoi answered.
"Director Kanna, first slide, please," Rin ordered.
"Coming up."
The first slide shows, and it follows along according to Rin's narration.
"Friday last week, Sorasaki Hina has discovered that the Pandemonium Society has scheduled a sudden audit on the Prefect Team, leading to the revoke of the Prefect Team's budget due to… arbitrary reasons under pretextual context. Furthermore, Pandemonium also demanded that the Prefect Team must meet their training quota while having zero budget in the next two months, including this month, which gave Hina an urgency to seek another way to procure the money for the training. The sum of the required budget would be 50 million yen, and preferably out of Pandemonium's prying eyes."
The second slide shows the re-enaction of Sensei and Hina's re-enaction during a business meeting.
"On that same day, Hina had met with Sensei and confessed to him about Pandemonium's recent stint. Sensei admitted that he wanted to give her the needed sum. However, it was being used for Schale's maintenance and future investments. It was during this moment that Sensei suggested that Hina should start looking for work. Hina has also informed Ako of this afterwards and was determined to start looking for a job during the weekend."
The slide changes to show the location of the slums.
"Entering Saturday, according to Hina's own statement, she began to look for work around the DU starting from early morning until the early evening to no avail. That is until she was informed by a group of delinquents about a job board found within the northwestern part of the DU, within the slums. I believe anyone in this room recognizes these slums?"
All the members inside looked on with confusion. However, the image of the location sends shivers within Haine and Sumomo.
"Oh God, that place?!" Haine exclaimed. "Hina went there?!
"Why are you so alarmed?" Momoka asked curiously. "You guys know that place?"
"T-that's the cursed slums of the DU," Sumomo stuttered. "Anyone who steps will be cursed with ill or bad fortune. How come some of you don't know that place?"
"I never heard such a place existed," Aoi responded. "And frankly, I'm not exactly superstitious to believe stepping into that location would be detrimental for us."
"Well, it is just a bunch of rumors. But if my officers have a reason to steer clear of that place," Kanna commented. "I would do the same too."
"Anyway," Rin interrupted. "These slums are where she found a job posting."
The slide shows the job posting, which the head offices look on with disbelief.
"A simple job..?" Ayumu asked.
"50 million yen straight?" Momoka inquired. "That's surprisingly straightforward."
"Not as straightforward as you might think," Aoi chimed in. "It didn't mention what kind of job he needed her to do."
"And that's exactly why she called the number on the paper after she returned home. He told her to come to Jiramiagi Apartments on Sunday, exactly 8:30 PM, at room number 414," Rin continued. "From what Hina told us, to put it simply, he wanted her to keep him in company for a while."
The mood in the room turns sour.
"Was it an unsavory business, Acting President?" Aoi asked firmly.
"No. Not necessarily, at least."
"Eeeh? What the heck do you mean by that?" Momoka asked.
The slide changes to one that shows a video format.
"Now, before she made the trip to Jiramiagi Apartments, she paid a little visit to Millennium to buy a hidden camera, as she suspected that the job she had taken was a scam. But once it was evening, that job took an odd turn. Now, we'll show you all the only video regarding that incident. Director Kanna, if you will."
"Putting it on full screen and… there."
And this is where the head offices must suffer the disturbing bizarreness that Rin had experienced from this video. While explaining a few points here and there, Rin is silently amused by the faces the head offices make, particularly Aoi and Momoka. They both scrunch their faces, confused about what the victim asked Hina to do. The others either stared at each other or uncomfortably shifted themselves in their seats.
"He wanted her to cli-? No," Aoi whispered to herself, shaking her head. "That doesn't make any sense."
Alas, for them, aside from enduring the monotonous clicking, they have to listen and watch every request the masked man makes to Hina, even forcing themselves to tolerate the overly charged and probing questions and ramblings he dropped on Hina during the duration of the video.
"This… this feels like sexual harassment," Haine, at one point, whispered to herself.
A sentiment that almost all head offices agree. If it wasn't for his creepy dialogues, then it was undoubtedly because of his occasional moaning. The clicking aspect didn't make a lick of sense for them as they failed to see what made it so special for him.
But it would be after half an hour that they would reach the climax of the video. All the head office members are basically on the edge of their seats as they watch how helpless Hina is in convincing him to stop his act. The tension in the room is so fragile that you could practically cut it with a knife. All windows had to be shut just in case anyone happened to pass by or fly by. Then the shot happens; everyone either yelps or jumps in their seats but isstill glued to the scene, Ayumu being the only person who looks away from that scene. The rest is history for them to witness.
Rin then lays out the timeline post-incident of what Hina did before turning herself in; this includes associated evidence and witnesses' statements regarding her behaviors, actions, and words.
"-And that concludes the entire timeline of the incident. Does anyone have any questions?" Rin addressed the whole room.
"Do remind me again, when will Hina be put on trial?" Haine asked.
"Tomorrow morning at 9 AM," Kanna leaned against her chair. "Since this is a special case no judge has ever faced with, the judicial system specifically requested Acting President Rin to be the judge for this case, with GSC officials being the jury for this case."
"That seems a bit much to even ask us to take their role for this case, no?" Aoi inquired. "While our laws regarding death are not well thought out for the current moment, Kivotos Judicial System should still be able to sentence Hina based on the available facts in that incident."
"It should have," Rin conceded. "However, the judge had spoken to me personally that she doubted that she and the rest of the judicial system were morally competent enough to judge a case as serious as this. That is why they requested us to take their role for tomorrow's hearing."
"Wait a moment, you're a judge," Momoka emphasized. "Should you be discussing this with us before the trial?"
"No, I shouldn't," Rin bowed. "However, with the public pressing our necks down, we may have a possibility of expecting chaos much worse than when the president is missing, andour hands are pretty tied for the moment. So, by this point, we are already enacting emergency procedures for the trial."
"But that would violate the integrity of the case," Aoi added.
"I know," Rin acknowledged. "This circumstance will be the only exception where we have to bypass the normal judicial system. Once this issue is resolved, I will rescind the order for such emergency powers."
"Uh, I know I have some problems regarding your conduct," Haine raised her hand. "But is it really a good idea to declare such powers? What if the public finds out?"
"If that issue arises, I will deal withthem myself."
"Besides," Kanna added. "At least you're not talking to Kaya."
Haine opens her mouth but immediately reconsiders. "Actually, you're right. Kaya was a bit nuts."
"Does Sensei will be present there tomorrow?" Ayumu asked.
"Yes, however, as a witness," Rin answered. "He said so as much since he has a small part within the timeline before the incident."
"Well, that's fair enough," Momoka smirked a little. "I kinda expected him to be representing Hina during the trial."
"Uh… what?" Sumomo misheard.
"That's unrealistic," Aoi disputed. "He does not possess the capacity to even act as a lawyer. To see him acting as a big-spender on many insignificant items seems more rational than that."
"I concur," there was a particular shine on her eyeglasses that Ayumu and Momoka could tell it was something not good. "But I digress; before we attend tomorrow's hearing, this will be the perfect time for us to discuss whether Sorasaki Hina is guilty of her involvement in this case. That way, when tomorrow comes, and after we hear what Hina and others have to say for us, we can ultimately make a decision with greater clarity based on what we discussed today. Does anyone oppose to this idea?"
"It's a sound plan." – Aoi.
"No objection, Acting President." – Ayumu.
"A good plan." – Kanna.
"Sure, why not?" – Momoka.
"I'm okay with this." – Haine.
"As long as this keeps me awake, I'm all in." – Sumomo.
"Great," Rin smiled. "Without further ado, let us begin the discussion then. What would any of you like to discuss first pertaining tothis case?"
Haine raises her hand. "Yes, Haine?" Rin noticed.
"Why don't we start by explaining why clicking is so important for him?"
Momoka groans. Kanna facepalms. Aoi almost slams her own head onto the desk—the staff deadpan on Haine. Rin… shares a concerned look.
"I'm… not sure what we can gain from that, but I think we can start from there."
Hours-long discussion ensued. And with Kanna present there, Rin wasn't short of coffee.
Cold. Languid. Isolated. Colorless. Killingly.
Those are the only words that come into her mind when talking about her cell.
How long has she been locked here? She didn't count the days and couldn't care less how long she spent here. The steel-blue color of her cell gives her a… heartless feeling compared to the dark purplish color pattern of Prefect Team's detention center. Despite having the necessary sleeping quarters, she could hardly sleep within this smooth-textured steel box. All she can do is sit motionlessly, stare at the ceiling indefinitely, or lie down and make herself as small as possible. Waiting for her eventual punishment.
Although she had been provided with sustenance, she hardly ate anything, not even a cracker could indulge her. Only when Kirino or Fubuki comes by to check and convince or 'force' her to eat something, just anything to prevent her from starving to death. The delinquents in other cells are surprised that she's even here, but Hina pays them no mind, even if they talk behind her back in guessing why she's here in the first place. Some officers that were stationed there were a little surprised to discover that the delinquents were concerned about Hina's well-being despite fearing her so much.
But on that day, Hina glances at her bars upon the sound of those familiar footsteps. Kirino stands by the bars, apprehensively assessing Hina's being before unlocking her cell.
"Is it my time?" Hina suddenly asked. Her voice… becoming apathetic.
Kirino frowns, gazing at her empty eyes. "I'm afraid so, Hina."
Hina nods slightly before walking over to her and turning around, presenting her hands behind her for Kirino to cuff. Kirino then holds her by the shoulder and escorts her out of the prison.
"But everything will be all right, Hina," Kirino assured her. "I'm sure of it. Just don't lose hope on me now."
It didn't matter to her, but she appreciated it. On this very morning, this will be the first time for Hina to be put on trial, regardless of how extreme the case was.
The proceedings of the case are slow but progressive. More than a hundred members, including Pandemonium officials and Prefect members, Kronos Journalism Reporters, Problem Solver 68, and even notable Schale members such as Yuuka and Hoshino, are all present as spectators of the trial. Sensei, Prefect Officials, and some Pandemonium officials sit on the witness stand. GSC Office Heads are placed in their jury stand just behind Rin, sitting on the judge's bench and looming over everyone in the room. Positioned in the middle of it all, was Sorasaki Hina, sitting all by herself with her appointed attorney. With how painfully intense the proceedings are, no one, even Kronos students, dared to say a single word.
They lay out the witness statements, evidence, timeline, potential motives, and even cross-examination and argue via her attorney to prove her innocence. Understandably, the spectators are more than baffled upon hearing Hina's job at that time was to click the clicker, which seems stupid to most of them. But they also publicly show the image of the dead masked victim, which emits a lot of shocked gasps from the spectators with how graphic it was, but also gives them a perspective on his death. Hina, understandably, shivers and freezes at the sight of him and still stays that way after they close the image. Rin had already motioned Hina to the stand to confess and lay out her own version of that incident with the assistance of her attorney since she kept stuttering and even stopping at remembering that horrid memory.
Thankfully, after hours of recounting the event, Rin has called for a jury deliberation. The jury retreats into a private room while Rin moves to rest in the available judge chambers. The witnesses, the spectators, and Hina, along with her attorney, can only restlessly wait for the decision. The spectators only whisper among themselves as Hina soon loses herself in her world of abyss.
Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock….
The jury finally returns to their stand, and Rin comes back to the bench. The audience falls silent once more as Rin looks over the courtroom.
Rin turns at the juror, Aoi, with firm clarity. "To the respected members of the jury, have you reached a verdict?"
"Yes, your honor. We have reached a verdict," Aoi answered.
Rin turns to Hina. "Will the defendant please rise?"
Hina stands, and her attorney stands up. Hina glances upon feeling the attorney's automaton's hand on hers, giving her a reassuring look.
"Answer me, juror," she addressed to Aoi. "On the charge of causing the death of an adult, what is your verdict?"
The whole room holds their collective breaths. Hina freezes, still staring at the table as though she is a few seconds away from having a stroke. A few seconds of silence passed….
"We, the jury, find the defendant… not guilty."
Hina lets out a shocked relief that her attorney has to keep her still from passing out. The spectators and witnesses soon che-
"However," Aoi cut in. "We found the defendant guilty of failure to report a death, as well as fleeing from the scene of theincident."
Hina barely looks up as the spectators and witnesses, except Sensei, begin to retort at the verdict.
"ORDER! ORDER!" Rin hit the mallet loud enough to pacify thecrowd. "Thank you, Ms. Aoi. Ms Hina, the jury acknowledges that you never intended to cause harm to the victim and recognizes that you attempted to help the victim to avoid his inevitable demise. However, you have made detrimental consequences in the process. I will admit. I would be more lenient if this were a case of vandalism or arson, but this? Death is not something even the lowest of scum is willing to overlook, and these are considered to be serious offenses in all of Kivotos."
Rin reads her notes, then back at Hina. Rin had to clear her throat subtly as she had to endure the lost color, the lost light within Hina's eyes.
"Despite all that, this court understands and recognizes the emotional turmoil you have suffered resulting from this incident. We all pity you for what has befallen upon you. No student should be faced with such horrifying circumstances for even once in their life. I will not impose you with such a heavy sentence since you have remained truthful to the authorities and willing to turn yourself in with good faith, however, you must still be held accountable for your poor decisions.
Hina could make a slight nod at Rin, something that was enough to make Rin feel guilty to sentence her.
"I hereby sentence you to 64 hours of community service, to be completed within the next month, and you will be required to attend counseling sessions to address the emotional impact you received from this incident. You are not allowed to continue your duty as the Head Prefect until you finish your community service. That is the only sentence I can grant you on account of your emotional distress as well as your complete honesty and faith to help us resolve this case."
Hina lifts her head but still says no word. The court could see a tear traveling over her cheek, but Hina failed to acknowledge it. Still blankly stares at Rin, but there's a spark of thankfulness and guilt in her eyes.
"Ms. Hina, I wish you luck and better health in carrying out your sentence. You are not alone, Ms. Hina. Sensei, your friends, all of Kivotos are here to support you. I encourage you to seek help and lean on them as you bear through your own hardship. You will need it more than you know it."
Rin exchanges a soft smile before addressing the court in her usual firmness. "In conclusion of this case, I, the judge and acting president of Kivotos, declare this court to be adjourned. I wish you all a good day."
*BAK*
The gavel strikes once more, and everyone leaves the court. Some are happy, some are sad, but most of all, glad that Hina will be alright. Hina is grateful for the weight of her sentence and to be given such a chance. Yet….
That guilt never fades… no matter how much she tries to put it aside.
"All that happened… over a clicker?"
Aru has done and seen stupid things, but to see such a thing turn into a tragic end and involve one of Kivotos' most strongest to be a victim. Aru couldn't describe how she felt about it, let alone what her group, Hoshino and Yuuka, felt, other than disbelief and shock. And the fact that they showed his body…. Aru has never felt more than thankful to see Hina has been given such a lenient sentence.
"Hah…. I really wish I could give him a piece of mind for doing something like that to my friend," the usual sleepy pink-haired Abydos student, Hoshino, gritted crossly.
"I agree, though I didn't expect to see another adult like Sensei," the purple-haired human calculator, Yuuka, added. "What's up with his mask, though? It somehow looks eerie than those oni masks."
"I don't know," Kayoko shrugged. "But it's a shame they didn't open it yet. I like to know what his face is like."
"Yeah, what he did to Hina-chan was horrible!" Mutsuki chimed in, serious for once. "It shouldn't have mattered if she had fled or something. They should have set her free instead of punishment. Her mind wasn't in the right place during that whole time!"
"B-but the law saw something wrong with what she did," Haruka spoke. "Isn't that the right decision for them?"
"Haruka, I know that we strive to be famous outlaws," Aru told her. "But sometimes, the law can be wrong, even if they are right."
"Huh?! Is that so?"
Kayoko sighs. "Never thought I'd hear Boss say something wise."
"Well, there's nothing we can do here," Yuuka shrugged. "We'll let the justice system take its course."
"Yeah," Hoshino looked over to Problem Solver. "I heard you guys taking over Hina's position for the moment?"
"That's correct," Aru nodded. "Fortunately for us, it seems that we won't have to wait much longer than we thought."
"That's cool. These kids these days," Hoshino spoke, befitting of an uncle. "How are you faring with the Prefect Members?"
Mutsuki rolls her eyes and turns at her playfully. "Boo, they're no fun at all. They are too stiff even to prank on. Still, I got some fun thrills messing around with Iori and that nuthead Ako."
"Hey, don't let Ako hear you say that," Kayoko warned tiredly. "Nonetheless, much busier than we anticipated. Delinquents are popping out of the woodwork and whatnot."
"But after this trial?" Aru shrugged, genuinely uncertain. "Probably the same but to a lesser extent than when Hina was arrested."
"Let's hope all this chaos finally dies down after this trial," Yuuka stood up. "I have caught some of Millennium students getting in trouble for participating ina few riots, and I'm not looking forward to suspending more students because of that."
"Sheesh, you've been doing that this whole time?" Hoshino asked. "I guess being an Abydos student isn't bad after all. Well, as long as we don't tick Ayane off."
"Uh, why is that?" Yuuka curiously asked.
"Nah, you kids don't need to know~"
"Wha-? I'm not a kid!" Yuuka took a deep breath. "Anyway, I think we're overstaying our welcome. I'll be heading out to Schale to attend my secretarial duty."
"Hey, tag me along too," Hoshino called. "I wanna sleep at my favorite spot there."
"Aren't you sleeping a bit too much, Hoshino?" Aru asked.
"Oh, I am," Hoshino smiled back. "My hobby is sleeping, don't you know?"
"Fine, but you better do your part in Schale!" Yuuka sternly said.
"Uhee~, okay, okay."
Hoshino and Yuuka bid their farewell to Problem Solvers. The group stays at the outdoor bench to watch the people leave the courtroom and rest for a while. Aru and Haruka take this chance to drink a can of soda and eat a croissant, respectively. They happen to see Kirino leave the courtroom, and she notices back. Kirino soon approaches the group with a happy wave.
"Look at that, it's our favorite clumsy Officer Kirino~!" Mutsuki mischievously greeted.
"H-hey, that's uncalled for!" Kirino exclaimed back, blushing a little.
"She's just making a greeting," Kayoko stuffed her hand in her jacket. "Is it still crowded in there?"
"The courtroom?" Kirino looked back. "Yeah, it's pretty stifling in there, but other officers are now herding everyone out. The trial was pretty unexpected, right?"
"Indeed, it was," Aru nodded. "I disagree with the jury's decision, but we don't exactly have any room to argue with them."
"It's hard to blame them when everyone's pressuring them to act fast, especially after Pandemonium's stint to defame her," Kirino joined them on the bench. "I know it's unnecessary to throw in punishment for the other charges, but that's how justice is. Anyway, how are you guys doing? Staying out of trouble, I hope?"
"Y-yes, as best as we can, I think," Haruka answered. "But we're going to expect more trouble by the time we return to the Prefect's office."
"Huh? Did you guys get on their bad side again?" Kirino slightly narrowed her eyes.
"No. On the contrary," Aru answered. "We are temporarily replacing Hina until she returns from her punishment."
"Oh, really?" Kirino was taken aback. "You're working in the name of justice?"
"More or less," Kayoko leaned against the bench. "Ako asked us to. We're getting paid for the trouble, too."
"And I get to play with my bombs whenever trouble pops up!" Mutsuki grinned, gesturing her arms as to imitate a large explosion. "Like I have my own garden of non-stop fireworks!"
"But the reparations are going to be expensive, though," Haruka added. "I hope we didn't overdo it."
"E-erm, don't worry, Haruka," Aru assured her. "Let Ako and me worry about that. I'm sure the damage we caused was minimal."
"Except for one," Kayoko eyed at Mutsuki, who gave a bratty tongue out in return.
"Wow, I'm glad to hear that!" Kirino beamed up. "And you're supposed to be outlaws. It's quite an irony, isn't it?"
"Y-yeah, ironic indeed. Not that we enjoy working with the good guys or anything!" Aru denied itso badly that she earned a snicker from Mutsuki.
"So, you're getting paid for that one?"
"A high one at that," Aru proudly answered but then frowned at realizing something else. "Actually, Ako said that you were involved in that case?"
"Oh, I am," Kirino answered. "You can't imagine the kind of pressure we have tobear with the moment we heard an adult had died, especially when Director Kanna is the one who oversees us personally."
"I can tell," Kayoko nodded. "Do you think you got all the evidence you need before this trial happened?"
"As far as I can tell, that is already all of it," Kirino nodded. "I hear Director Kanna is planning to publish a video of the entire incident for the public to see. Actually, I think she already gave a whole video to Kronos so they can stop asking us about the case."
"Is that so? Honestly, what's up with that adult?" Mutsuki wondered. "Sensei is an oddball sometimes, but that other adult was bizarre even for me."
"Oh, wait until you hear how that adult spoke to Hina," Kirino recoiled at that memory. "Just how he phrased it makes me feel dirty."
Kayoko raises an eyebrow. "It was that bad?"
"Yeah…."
Aru sips her drink again. "How is… Hina doing?"
"Well…, I can't really tell how she felt," Kirino frowned. "She just seems lost the whole time. I don't think I ever heard her say a single word, even after the trial. I'm… very worried about that. But Sensei managed to make her talk again, so I don't think it'll be that bad."
"Still, Sensei can't come over to check on her every day," Haruka answered. "Can the officers really take care of her?"
"Don't you worry a bunch!" Kirino assured with a beaming smile. "Kanna has put her under my wing and Fubuki's for the course of her community service. We'll be sure to let you guys know of her future situation."
"Then I can count on you, Kirino," Aru smiled with a tinge of sadness. "I think it will be a while until she can get herself together."
"That's what I'm afraid of, but I'll see what I can do," Kirino then stood up and looked at the crowd at the court's staircase. "I need to do a last patrol around the court building before I check up on Hina. Any of you fancy to accompany me during this patrol?"
Problem Solvers stare at each other, to which Aru finally stands up and wields her favored sniper rifle in all her glory. "But of course! Even outlaws take care of their own friends!"
"Hah…. Another problem to deal with," Kayoko then smiled a bit. "Then again, I won't mind if my boss said so."
They eventually depart on Kirino's last patrol, which they end up dealing with a few minor troublemakers before the group departs to their respective businesses.
By the time Makoto reaches back into her office, she immediately checks on her letters neatly prepared on her desk. Inspecting each of those letters, she soon inserts them into their respective envelopes. One for Ako, one for Hina, one for Kanna, one for Rin, and one… for Sensei. She knows such disillusioned cooperation is impossible by this point, but she wishes to mend the wounds she had made to Schale. It really helps that the office is now empty, and no one dares to bother her.
"Neee, Makoto."
Suppressing herself from jumping in fright, she turns to see Ibuki enter the office. Despite her demonic attributes, the adorable, innocent blonde sunshine is the true mascot of Pandemonium Society. Her lopsided twin-tail hair waves about as she saunters toward her desk. In this circumstance, however, the always prominent energetic smile is absent, replaced with a smile that Makoto can describe as… subdued, impassive even. The Pandemonium leader immediately feels the dreading pressure just from looking at Ibuki.
"I-Ibuki...," Makoto forced a smile. "What are you doing here?"
"Ibuki just wanna check on Makoto," Ibuki came over to her desk. "Are you busy right now?"
"Y-yes, I am," Makoto glued the envelopes. "I'm preparing for my speech soon."
"Really? Is it about that stunt to make Hina look bad?"
Makoto freezes up, looking back at the still-neutral Ibuki. "H-how did you..?"
"Iroha told me. She told me about what happened to Hina, too," Ibuki glared at Makoto. "And why Sensei was angry at you."
"E-eh, I-Ibuki. I can explain-"
"I hate you, Makoto. I hate you so much for that."
Makoto feels herself torn to hear that; not even a knife could compare how much hurt she felt in her own heart. Ibuki angrily pouts at her, and she swears that Ibuki is about to let out her tears. It is hard for Makoto even to move a muscle, but as she dreads to see her little Ibuki upset at her, she manages to gather herself to speak back.
"I-I know. I'm so sorry, Ibuki. I really am. L-look," Makoto showed her the letters. "I already went ahead and wrote sorry letters for them, including Hina. I already ordered my people to take down everything defamatory against her and-"
"Makoto," the little sunshine cut in, shutting her off. "Do you really mean it? I didn't understand why you hated Hina-chan so much, but after what Iroha told me…."
Makoto immediately drops into a dogeza, even startling Ibuki with how sudden it is.
"FORGIVE ME, IBUKI! I PROMISED MYSELF TO NOT DO THAT FOR YOUR SAKE, YET I BROKE IT! I'M SORRY, IBUKI! I'M SO SORRY! PLEASE DON'T HATE ME! I'LL DO EVERYTHING YOU ASK! EVERYTHING! FORGIVE THIS UPSTART OF GEHENNIAN'S LEADER!"
The little demonic blonde can only be in awe at how severely Makoto humbles herself for her mistake. Ibuki pouts for a moment, then knowingly sighs, rubbing her eyes.
"You don't need to do anything, Makoto-nee," Ibuki crouched to pat her head. "You're going to apologize to Hina, right?"
"Yes, I will!" Makoto firmly replied. "I will once she finishes her sentence."
"I'm glad to hear that," Ibuki finally smiled. "As long as Makoto-nee takes responsibility for your mistake, Ibuki is happy, and Ibuki forgives you!"
"Guh!" Makoto couldn't get enough of her bright personality, and she finally felt comfortable enough to sit up. "I… I'm going to buy you a lot of pudding to compensate for my mistake."
"Waah, really?!" Ibuki asked in disbelief.
"Of course, but first," Makoto stood up and took a paper from the desk, looking at it. "I need to prepare a speech for all of Gehenna to hear."
"Okay, Makoto-nee! I will accompany you to make you feel better!"
"…Thank you, Ibuki."
Makoto gathers her letters and her paper speech before they head out.
"Makoto-nee."
"Yes, Ibuki?" Makoto asked as they halted at the door.
"Iroha told me about the adult that Hina met. The one who… who has died."
Makoto's face turns grim. Iroha shouldn't be telling her that, but…. "Did she tell you more about it?"
"No, Iroha wasn't willing to tell Ibuki more about it. But, Ibuki is wondering, why did that adult want to die?"
Makoto glances off at the paper she's holding, then forward to ponder.
"Makoto-nee?"
"…. He tried to reach his dream yet failed. And… he already made peace with it."
"Huh? He knows he can't reach his dream? Then why he had to…?"
"I don't know, Ibuki. I don't know. But I think he is already happy with what he had."
Ibuki still didn't understand it but decided to keep it to herself for now. They both soon departed from the office to perform an important task.
In the late afternoon, Problem Solver 68 and Prefect officials have just come back from their Prefect drill and unwind themselves. Aru and Ako are the only ones who get to work on filing the drill result while the others sit down and do their own thing. That respite is interrupted, however, by one of the Prefect members, who announces that Makoto is about to make her speech live for all Gehenna. Ako and Iori curse and scoff at the news, while Chinatsu can only sigh. They happen to have a TV installed recently in the office to keep an eye out for any headlines. Kayoko instructs Haruka to turn on the TV and switch it to Pandemonium's Propaganda Channel (literally the name of the channel).
They see in the news that Gehenna students, delinquents, and Prefect members all gathered at the stage where the podium is installed, with the background of a prominent school facility in the background. Pandemonium guards formed a line at the bottom as Ibuki, Iroha, and Makoto herself stood at the podium. Satsuki nervously stands by the edge of the stage, whereas Chiaki is at the bottom stage, currently responsible for managing every camera in the vicinity. Makoto steps onto the podium, yet surprises everyone in the office that her expression is one of regret.
Everyone in the office watches silently as Makoto begins her opening. Her words are formal, yet uncharacteristically not regal nor haughty. As she addresses the crowd, she first talks about her responsibility within Gehenna's student council. Then, she speaks about the follow-up regarding the incident in which Hina was involved. Then she confesses her own campaign to defame Hina, subtly referred toas a protest of Hina's innocence. This especially surprises everyone since Makoto also adds that she was misinformed about the entire situation. And then, that situation with Sensei….
"-He was right. I was so clouded with my rivalry against the Prefect Team that I unintentionally disrespected the death of an adult. I disrespected the face of justice and the face of Gehenna as a whole. And for that, I deeply apologize for my actions."
Ako and Iori are both stunned by this development, and they can't help but feel awe at such live news.
"As the President of the Pandemonium Society, I must take accountability for what I have done. I have taken steps to remove everything defamatory against Sorasaki Hina and ordered my Pandemonium minions to cease any hostilities against the Prefect team. Soon, I will have to mend our broken relationship with Schale and contact Valkyrie to negotiate our compensation for our transgressions against their main station."
"Oh wow," Mutsuki jerked her head back. "Pandemonium's president being responsible for once? This is so surreal."
"At least something good came out of this," Chinatsu replied. "Even if it's too late for her to do so."
"-For the time being, at the conclusion of today's controversial trial, we ask that all students, including my subordinates, refrain from harassing the Prefect Team in the foreseeable future. We will await for Sorasaki Hina to return to our academy with open arms and offer her our apologies for our massive misunderstanding. Such a deed is important to reflect on our mistake, but also to maintain our integrity as respectful students of Gehenna in due relations with Trinity signed under the Eden Treaty."
The very last part of that speech sounds… odd, to put it lightly.
"It sounds rich coming from me," Ako admitted. "But since when did Makoto actually care about our school's relations with Trinity?"
"Actually, yeah," Iori voiced in. "Did Sensei slap her so hard that she changed her mind?"
"Doesn't sound like a bad thing, to be honest," Kayoko added. "Being spared from her crazy talk about conquering other schools is a bonus for me."
"I.. don't really mind getting along with Trinity," Haruka added. "I think Aru-sama will make some nice friends with how elegant and friendly they are."
"Hah!" Iori scoffed away. "As if."
"-That… is all I have to say for now. My fellow students, continue on with your studies and your duties. Be the proudful face of Gehenna. Hail to Gehenna Academy!"
And with that, the news broadcasted Makoto and her fellow officials leaving the stage. Afterward, the news shifted to another topic regarding new health and safety measures in Gehenna's cafeteria. Aru turns the TV off and sits down in Hina's chair. They see Aru is still processing what she heard before looking back.
"Are we sure that was Makoto?"
A fair question, considering they know what kind of leader Makoto is.
"That was indeed Makoto, Aru," Chinatsu nodded.
"Are we really going to believe that she'll keep her word?" Iori asked, pointing at the TV.
"I think we should," Mutsuki replied. "I'm not sure if you guys notice it, but I did see her people running around, tearing down every poster they can find around the school that denounces Hina's innocence."
"Oh, um, there were also some bad comments about Hina left on KivoSocial by Gehenna students," Haruka checked her phone. "But it looks like those have been erased as well just recently."
"Wait, really?" Ako checked her phone for a moment. "Oh dear, you're right. And it's not just Gehenna, but also the majority of students from other academies."
"Even Kronos dialed back on their misleading headline," Chinatsu added. "Good riddance, then."
*DAK-DAK-DAK*
"Excuse me, there's a member from the Pandemonium Society wishing to enter. Do I let her?"
Everyone in the office shares their hesitation with a glance, but Ako nods at Aru.
"Let her in," Aru spoke aloud, to which the Prefect member outside opened the door for a tall Pandemonium member who soon saluted the Prefect officials, including Aru's group.
She then looks at the blunette curvaceous student. "Administrator Ako?"
"Correct," Ako showed a gaze without ill. "What is your business here?"
The Pandemonium member places her rifle to her left and hands Ako the letters in her right hand. "These are letters for you and Head Prefect, Administrator."
"Is that so?" Ako raised an eyebrow. "What kind of letters, if I may ask?"
"A personal apology from our great leader, Administrator."
Everyone expresses a momentary surprise, to which Ako gestures to Haruka to place Hina's letter at her desk. The Pandemonium member uncomfortably clears her throat.
"You know, I was at the trial this morning."
Ako's face turns subtly irate. "Yes, and?"
"…. I don't have anything against the Prefect Team. When I discovered that the Head Prefect has gone through that kind of hell…. I offer you my deepest apology. I'm not speaking as a member of Pandemonium Society but as a fellow student of Gehenna."
Ako's expression softens, whereas the others frown but find comfort in her words. "…Thank you."
The Pandemonium member nods. "If there's nothing else, I will take my leave."
"Go ahead."
The Pandemonium member raises her rifle and rests it against her own shoulder, saluting them before leaving the office in an orderly manner.
"An apology, hmm," Ako walked over to Hina's desk. "I always dreamt to see the day they finally apologize to us, though not like this."
"It is better than nothing," Aru slipped Hina's envelope closer to inspect it briefly. "Considering how much grief they caused to your organization."
"Oooh~, our boss is sympathizing with the Prefect Team?" Mutsuki teased a bit. "Aru-chan is getting soft these days, huh~?"
"H-hey, is it really wrong to feel that way?!" Aru stammered back. "I know we caused the Prefect Team some trouble, but not as bad as what the Pandemonium did."
"We appreciate that you feel that way," Chinatsu smiled. "Though, I wonder. When Head Prefect finally returns, will things go back to normal just like we know it?"
"I sure hope so," Iori opened the rifle bolt to begin an inspection. "I doubt the Head Prefect will feel the same, though."
Silence occupies the room. Some, like Iori, Kayoko, and Chinatsu, are doing their own business while the rest remain idle. Aru suddenly sits straight as something dawns on her mind.
"Hina'll be back in a few days, right?"
"Yes," Ako answered to Aru. "Why do you ask?"
"We got some free time right now. Why don't we go out and buy something for Hina?"
"Huh?" Iori glanced back. "What are you planning right now?"
"I just thought we might use this time to find Hina a gift to commemorate her return by the time she finished her sentence. As a kind gesture to let her know that we are there to support her, no matter what she's going through."
"Now that's a good idea," Kayoko agreed. "I was planning to do a little shopping anyway."
"A gift…. I see. Count us in then," Ako smiled. "I have a few ideas in mind of what she might like."
"Are we all going too?" Haruka asked, hugging her shotgun.
"I don't see why not," Aru stood up. "We finished our work here anyway."
"Do I really have-?" Iori cut herself short, then relented. "Actually, nevermind. I'm in. It would be rude of me to not present her something in return."
"Are we going to use our Prefect budget for this little trip?" Chinatsu asked.
"I would prefer we use our own money," Ako replied. "I'm not going to give Pandemonium a reason to audit us when they found out a small amount of money is missing from our budget."
"Are you going to be that stingy?" Mutsuki complained. "It's not like the Pandemonium is going to nitpick you guys after that messed up stunt."
"It's better to be safe than sorry," Ako replied. "I'd rather not find out their unpredictability right now."
Aru tilts her head for a moment. "Why don't we use our money instead?"
"Huh?" the Prefect officials responded. "But aren't you penniless?" Chinatsu asked.
"Yes, but you haven't paid me yet," Aru explained. "Why don't we use the two million you promised to pay us for buying those gifts?"
Everyone is surprised by her decision, but Ako hesitates. "If we do as you suggest, then we can only pay you after we deduct it, and it will no longer be two million-."
"That doesn't matter, Ako. This is Hina we're talking about. We all won't mind having to cut down some money than originally promised. Besides, we all worried for her, aren't we?"
Other Problem Solvers smile in agreement. Ako shakes her head but returns a jubilant glance. "Very well then. That means we won't have to bother obfuscating our financial records. Iori, prepare us a transport, a truck if it's available."
"I'm on it!" Iori soon dashed out of the office.
"I'll prepare the money," Ako assured. "Grab your things, Problem Solvers. We're heading out."
Aru beams a professional smile. "Of course, Administrator!"
They soon leave the office, leaving a sign that tells everyone the office is empty. The next few hours will be spent on window shopping. To find something that Hina will appreciate.
"So, I do it like this…?"
"That's it. Keep scrubbing it that hard, and it'll be clean in a jiffy."
"And how many walls do we have to clean up?"
"Let's see… probably about three more blocks, then we can get you guys back to station."
"Mm."
In one part of the DU, Hina, along with four other delinquents, are currently cleaning up vandalized walls of homes and business complexes as a part of their community service. Their task is cleaning up the graffiti off the walls, whose contents are filled with abstract, ugly anarchism and insults, and… some rather naughty drawings one would expect to see if a female student has a wardrobe malfunction. To say some people do this out of mischief might put it lightly, even for Hina.
There are about six officers overseeing their punishment, one of whom is Fubuki, who had been put in charge of supervising Hina in her sentencing. Lazy as she is, she is surprisingly helpful in instructing Hina how to do her job. Other delinquents occasionally chat about miscellaneous things, but even they were wary of Hina's presence. They seem baffled even at the fact Hina is working together with them in the first place.
"Why is she here with us?"
"Didn't she get punished for the adult's death?"
"Erg…. I don't feel like bailing my sentence if she's here."
"I never thought I would see the Head Prefect get punished like us. That's some irony."
Hina hears their whispers but pays them no mind.
"Hey, quit the yapping already!" one of the student officers yelled. "Be like Hina. If you guys are as focused as her, you might get this job done much faster."
"Why don't you help us scrub these walls then?!" a delinquent asked. "There's six of you, and you got nothing to do anyway."
"Yeeaaaah, not our problem," Fubuki munched her donut. "Our job is to supervise you, you know? So don't try to get wise on us."
"Wait a minute, where did you get a donut?" her fellow asked in surprised incredulity.
"There was a donut store we passed by on the previous street."
"…. Actually, I'm gonna buy myself some donuts."
"Hey, me too!" another officer exclaimed.
"Wha-! You're supposed to supervise us, and you decide to buy some donuts now?!" a delinquent complained.
Whatever other banter they had, Hina didn't pay attention, nor did she care. This job isn't what she used to do, but she treats it like a chore she usually had in her duties. Despite the great effort she put into carrying out her sentence, she feels somewhat numb and even effortless despite the evidence. However, her presence alone actually motivated the delinquents to work much faster than before. Even then, the delinquents are more surprised that Hina is willing to help them clean up parts that are stubborn to vanish and share the cleaning supplies with them. Despite that, however, Hina's wordlessness during the whole sentence was eerie; even the officers agreed with the delinquents' sentiment. Fubuki might not show it, but she was extremely concerned about it.
Two more blocks are done, and they need to finish the last one. It's just the same dance as the previous blocks: scrub and clean. But with how Hina seems to work non-stop, a delinquent volunteered to take over so she could rest, but all she got was Hina's headshake. It was at this point that one of the officers realized she should've made a record of what was happening. That officer draws her notebook and clicks her pen to start writing down the events.
Hina's eyes twitch for some reason, but she shakes it off and keeps working.
That same officer, however, playfully presses her pen multiple times as she recollects whatever happened in the previous blocks. A delinquent is about to ask for her help but soon notices how uncomfortably irate Hina is, wincing and straining her lips all about. Fubuki takes notice and looks over to see the same thing, and she stops eating donuts.
"Hey, Hina. You good?" Fubuki inquired.
Hina refuses to say a word and keeps working on her duty. Yet, this also catches the attention of a few officers, including the one playing with the pen with slight curiosity. Hina hears the pen being pressed again and again. But Hina keeps going, though noticeably, at a slower rate.
And that officer keeps pressing it. Clicking it.
Again.
Again.
Again.
It sounded so innocuous, yet… for some reason, Hina finds it repulsive.
Hina immediately drops her brush.
"What the- Hina?"
She immediately dashes deep into the alley.
"Hey, stop!" an officer shouted.
But as they are about to chase her, Hina stops at the nearby trash bin and….
"BLUUEEEGH!"
Everyone, including Fubuki, jerks their heads back.
"Woah, woah, woah!"
"Oh God!"
"Jeez…."
"Is she ill?"
Fubuki walks over and pats her on the back until Hina lets out her last of the vomit. Soon, she drops to her knees, still holding onto the bin.
"H-hey, you good?" Fubuki asked.
Hina heaves for more breaths, but the repulsive, innocuous sound is still audible. "S-stop it…."
"What? What do you-?"
"The pen. Tell her to stop it…."
Fubuki raises an eyebrow but turns at that officer who's still playing the pen. "Hey, officer. Stop messing around with your pen."
"Huh?! Why?" the officer asked back.
"I think its sound making her sick."
"Huh? But it's just a pen! How can she-?!"
"I dunno, and I don't care. Put that thing away before you make her vomit again."
The officer looks at her comrades and the delinquents with disbelief, then stows away her pen with a head shake. "How am I supposed to write the records now?"
"Here," Fubuki threw a pen with a cap at her, which she caught. "You won't have a problem writing with this, right?"
"…This one's good to me," the officer then continued writing down her notebook.
Hina manages to stand up rather weakly. "I… better get back to it…."
"You sure?" Fubuki turned around with concern. "You can't even stand straight."
"She's right. You should rest, Head Prefect."
One of the delinquents worriedly suggested. The one person everyone didn't expect to hear from.
Hina shakes off the surprise. "B-but I still have work to do-"
"No, you should rest, Head Prefect!" the delinquent responded. "We can tell that you're sick. We'll take over the rest. There's not much left to clean up anyways, right, officer?"
"Well, yeah," another officer nodded. "This alley should be the last of it, and then we can head back."
Hina was baffled by their insistence, but Fubuki patted her back. "She's right, you know? C'mon."
Fubuki escorts her to the walls across the one they're cleaning and sits her down there. Fubuki stands a bit away from Hina to give her some space. Hina only stares blankly at the wall she's supposed to clean.
"Hey, Fubuki."
"Yeah?"
"Didn't you get involved with her case back then?"
"Yeah…."
"I missed out a lot on that trial, but what was the investigation like?"
"…. It makes your head feel violated the more you try to understand it."
"I-uh… okay?"
Their chatter goes over her head as she tries to feel something, anything, but all she feels are only pain and guilt within her. She hugs her legs and drowns her face to suppress her sobs. Fubuki pockets her hands as she observes Hina's breakdown, with no way of knowing how to comfort her.
"That's what happened?"
"Yeah, chief. She's hardly saying a single word by the time we get back."
Kanna shakes her head at today's summary from Fubuki. With how busy she is, she wishes she could visit Hina and ask her what's going on in her pained mind.
"How is her counseling progressing?"
"As you expected, not much improvement, but at least they were able to make her talk a bit more."
Kanna nods as she writes up the report for the GSC.
"Chief."
"What is it, officer?"
"Think she'll be the same after she's free?"
"…. I doubt it. With how shaken she is…."
Kanna knows what she's going to say but does not dare to finish it. It's a superstition waiting to happen.
"Until then, you and Kirino, keep an eye on her. I don't want something bad to happen while she's in this state."
"Got it, chief."
As usual, under the quiet night, the Schale is populated by nothing more than the sound of shuffling papers and keyboard inputs in Sensei's office. All lights, including his office, are extinguished by then, replaced with the light of the full moon shining through the windows. Sensei isn't particularly tired for today, but he has two mugs of coffee by his side, just in case. Arona, the blue-headed girl AI, is still awake at this time; Plana apparently goes ahead to sleep after trudging through many files and records to help summarize Schale's other businesses.
Sipping his coffee, he's inputting the last data in his monitor when Arona notices something in her tablet. "Huh? Sensei, I'm picking up a presence near our office."
"Really?" Sensei raised an eyebrow. "What business does Rin have for me tonight?"
"Uh, Sensei? It's not her. It also doesn't identify as a Schale member."
"Huh?" Sensei almost stood up. "Can you check the security cameras? I hope we're not being infiltrated."
"On it," he saw Arona wincing her eyes before she widened her eyes. "Wait, that's…."
"Who is it, Arona?"
"…. It's him. That adult."
It didn't take him long to know who she was talking about. "Very well, let him in."
"Are you sure, Sensei?"
"I know how to deal with him," Sensei looked at the door. "Start recording this event and keep low. While you're at it, find and determine how he can get inside in the first place."
"Got it, Sensei. Be careful."
He puts away the tablet, the papers, and the coffee before he sits straight and stares at the door with both hands clasped together on the desk. As expected, the door in front of him opens, and a figure greets him with his trademark businesslike smile. The 'adult' has a glossy, crystalline-like black skin, with noticeable cracks surrounding his head that emits a pale white glow. One of those cracks forms a large smile and a blinding right eye that continually emits a string of black smoke. True to his name, he is dressed particularly gentlemanly: dress suit, black lounge jacket, black pants, black shoes, and a black tie. If you tell him to stand in a dark corner of the room, you might not be able to see him even at a close distance.
"Greetings, Sensei. We have met again."
"Black Suit. Never thought I see the day you got the balls to step into Schale Tower."
"He hehehehe…. You are as welcoming as always, Sensei."
"Mind explaining how did you get into my office?"
"You see, Sensei," Black Suit steps over to his desk. "Now, you are not the only one who has the key to access Schale itself."
"That is very reassuring," Sensei sarcastically replied. "I have to admit, though, it's somewhat nice to see you all fixed up after all that Chroma business."
"Hehehehe…. I appreciate your concern. It took a while for me to recover from Anubis' wrath."
"Please don't refer to Kuroko like that."
Black Suit pointed at the chair. "May I sit?"
"Be my guest," Sensei replied, to which Black Suit did so. "Mind for a drink? I would've given you some coffee, but I have just run out. I do have cans of sodas, though, in my drawer."
Black Suit chuckles. "How generous of you, Sensei. Of course, I would like to drink such a refreshment par from the usual. It was a long journey to get here."
Sensei nods, drawing a couple of cans of soda for them both on the desk. "So, what brings a member of Gematria here? If it still exists, that is. You're going to make a deal with me like what you did in Abydos? Invitation to join Gematria? Other secrets within Kivotos? Same old crap?"
"That is rather presumptuous, don't you think?"
"I'm actually a bit displeased having to meet you again, especially after that affair with Hoshino. So, I ask again. What kind of dirty business are you bringing forth to me?"
Black Suit chuckles, popping the can open to drink for a moment. "Fortunately for you, I do not come with intent to make any business, nor do I intend to convince you to join our organization. Rather…."
Sensei can barely contain his astonishment to see Black Suit frowning at the moment.
"I came here because I wish to inform you about the Clickold."
Sensei looks at him strangely. "Click…. Clickold?"
"The adult that had died in Jiramiagi Apartments."
Sensei raises an eyebrow. "You know him?"
"Dearly so," Black Suit rested his arm on the chair, still holding the can. "It may come as a surprise to you, but he is a close friend of mine, long before he departed from Gematria. Long before you arrived in Kivotos."
He could tell Sensei was taken aback by how transfixed he was at him. "Could you please enlighten me with what you know about him?"
"Of course," Black Suit's smile returned. "Like both of us, he is an outsider to Kivotos. But from what I gathered about him, he had lived here long, long before you arrived. Perhaps even when Gematria was founded in the first place, it had taken us a while to discover that he, in fact, existed, and we extended our invitation to him, to which he accepted."
"Just accepted it? No negotiations or anything?"
"No. As a member of Gematria and one of the adults, he may do whatever he wishes with regard to Kivotos and her people. He is unique, however, not only in terms of his origin but also his role within Gematria."
Sensei slightly leans his head forward. "I take a gander that you asked where he came from?"
"I did. From what he told me, he came from where you might come from. A world called Earth. I should add, however, that he came from a different place vastly different than yours. A country called… the United States of America."
"I'll be damned," Sensei retracted his arms. "Not only just a fully-fledged normal human but also a citizen with a culture similar to Kivotos?"
"You know that country?"
"The Land of the Free, as many people around the world called. It is also the land where many of its citizens own a gun despite their lack of halos. Just imagine it as a mix of Gehenna and Valkyrie."
"Hehehe…. Very interesting. Do you know how large that country is?"
"As large as Kivotos itself if every academy district assimilated under one flag. There's a quote I remembered when discussing America's culture. 'Behind every blade of grass, there's always a rifle pointing at you.'"
Black Suit chuckles. "That quote itself applies to Kivotos as a whole. How fitting."
"Yeah. No wonder I got the impression that he was an American from how he sounded. Did he mention anything specific about his hometown?"
"He came from Chicago, or so what he said."
Sensei immediately frowns. "Damn…."
"Is there something wrong?"
"I've never been to that city before, but it's considered one of the most dangerous cities in the United States, particularly on the subject of homicide and shootout incidents."
"Really?" Black Suit widened his only eye. "I remembered he mentioned off-handedly that his neighborhood was nowhere as bright as any in this city."
"So, he lived a rough life. It's even a wonder how he made it this far."
"Hmm. It's a shame he never shared with me the intimate parts of his life, but everyone has their own secrets."
Sensei straightens himself. "What was his role in Gematria?"
Black Suit pauses for a moment. "How do I describe him…? I guess you can say he acted like a God."
"How do you mean by…?"
"Not as if he controls the fate of every individual in Kivotos, but more accurately, like one who observes his own creation blooming and realizing to life."
"Oh, so just a bystander?"
"Indeed. Also, taking notes of what he sees to his heart's content. I still fail to see how observing the simplicity and uneventful happenings of life could grant him a lot of satisfaction but perhaps this is something that even you might understand. Something you know more than I do."
"I can definitely attest to that, seeing how… exploitative you are to my students," there was a sense of distaste in Sensei's words. "But I digress. Is that what he only does in Gematria?"
"Unlike the other members of Gematria, like myself, he acted as the veiled enforcer within Kivotos."
Sensei creases his eyebrows. "Elaborate."
"Of course. Where others, like myself, have similar goals to discover the secrets and beauty of Kivotos, the Clickold's task is to ensure the safety of Kivotos from threats given by such secrets. A man who does not care about the secrets Kivotos has in store. Although such an event is rare, he did so with surprising efficiency. As to how he did it, I do not know, but he seldom asked me for information regarding a few anomalies to deal with."
"I guess it's from there that you get to know him that much?"
"Precisely. Hehehe…. An eccentric fellow, he was. It is… very sad that he has departed too soon."
"Guess of all Gematria, he is considered to be the most reasonable good guy within that organization?"
"Being good is subjective, but he is indeed rational. Perhaps calling him the most ethical of all Gematria would be correct."
Sensei sips his can of soda. "Why do you call him… Clickold?"
"That is rather simple, isn't it?"
"Just because he found the clicker?"
"After he had joined Gematria, although he found satisfaction in his role, he was directionless and lost. He was… still deprived of something that could fill the void within him. That was until he stumbled upon a clicker. Bought it for himself and started clicking. Again, and again, and again. It was thanks to that that he finally found a purpose. A motivation to encourage himself to keep going, whether be it his duties as a Gematria member or for his own personal desires. Then… something happened, he had a dream."
Sensei articulately and slowly places down his can. It's enough of an indication to let him know that Sensei knows what he's talking about.
"Ever since that dream, he became obsessed with it. He never said much about it. But once he made that mask, it all became clear to me how attached he was to that dream. That attachment alone was the primary reason why he had left Gematria."
Sensei rests his chin on both of his clasped hands. "Are you also implying that his family was the other reason he had left your faction?"
"An astute observation, Sensei," Black Suit corrected his collar. "Yes. Although I never personally met his family, he talked much about them and, at one point, showed me a picture of his happy family. After he left Gematria, I saw that he and his family had left Kivotos to make a new home out there. But, as of recent, a few months ago, he returned to Kivotos. What was the purpose of his return? None of us know."
"Did you ever try to call him after he came back?"
"Only once. We had talked plenty during that time. Even reminiscing about the time when he and I spent our time together for research or other tasks as a Gematria member. I tried to ask what the purpose of his return was, but he didn't give me a specific answer. Only stating that he's looking for something quiet, something clean, something or someplace… where things actually fit."
That's… definitely something the Clickold would say.
"By the end of it, he asked me to contact him no further, and I respected his wishes. I still check up on him from time to time with the available surveillance. Sometimes I found him, sometimes I don't. The most recent thing I found out about him was that he has been working for a while as an anonymous Jazz Vocalist for numerous clubs."
"Yeah, I did find out about that during the investigation," Sensei particularized. "If he had told everyone who he was, I would pay to hear him singing, despite how unsettling he is."
Sensei lifts his head a bit, realizing something.
"Say, did you happen to know that the Clickold was sick?"
"Sick?" Black Suit gave a curious look. "According to my surveillance, I only saw him go to the hospital once, and it seemed to be for a common cold. Is there another specific sickness you know about?"
"Nothing specific, unfortunately. He only said that he was sick, so much so that he couldn't click the clicker the way he was back in the day. The way how Hina can click it."
Black Suit places his can on the table across from Sensei and contemplates his answer. "Hmm…."
"Do you have any idea what kind of sickness he had?"
"…," Black Suit curled his mouth, then widened his only eye for a second. "Sensei, have you ever considered that maybe he says it not in a literal sense?"
Sensei stares as he processes his opinion. Soon, he rests against his office chair and looks at the ceiling. Gears are turning inside his head until a realization comes to life.
"So that sickness isn't just that, but rather…," Sensei paused. "The act of clicking itself is so repetitive that at the end of the day, no matter if you liked it so much, you crave for more than just clicking. You gotta need something different, something new, in order to enjoy what you are already doing. He never was sick, he was…."
"Getting too tired to keep it up," Black Suit continued. "And as he progressed on his clicking, he became doubtful of his own purpose and wants in the first place. He has to look for a new… variety."
"And Hina became a part of his new variety, albeit the last."
"Hehehehe…," Black Suit heartily laughed. "It seems we both would make a good team to solve this remarkable case together."
"That's what I'm afraid of," Sensei sighed. "And now, comes up the next question: why did he have to commit suicide?"
"…. Perhaps, at that very moment with Ms. Sorasaki, he may have realized he no longer has a purpose."
Sensei raises an eyebrow at Black Suit.
"You see, everyone in this world uses numbers for everything. Be it counting items, showing time, showing speed, counting money, and many more. Without going through advanced mathematics, the use of numbers has proved to be practical for our daily lives with only the numbers 0 through 9. And, of course, large numbers have been going very well beyond the trillions in the range of numbers. However, there's a certain aspect to it that can be attributed to the curiosity of the youth going a bit too far, but perhaps it does make sense if you give it another thought."
"What gives you that idea?"
"Think this for a moment, Sensei. Try to start counting from zero and keep counting up as far as you can. Just keep counting. It doesn't stop at nine. No, it doesn't stop at ten, one hundred, one thousand, a million, or even a billion. If the numbers involved nothing else but counting, the numbers seem limitless, perhaps so far akin to being in a loop."
Sensei leans forward the more he is invested in his opinion.
"The same can be applied to the clicker itself. However, there is one thing the clicker has that sets it apart from just simply counting it up with your mind or mouth."
"…. The clicker itself is the limit," even Sensei is baffled at his own answer.
"Four digits is never enough; I daresay impossible if you want to count beyond the threshold of our comprehension."
"So, the clicker is his comfort, yet doubles as his prison."
"Exactly, and he has to go through that over and over and over again. Forever be cursed to see the same numbers and end up to start from the beginning. And the only way to escape that loop is…."
Sensei's eyes shrink at the dark truth, and he shakes his head to himself. "Oh, Clickold…. It didn't have to be this way."
Black Suit frowns, taking a deep breath before exhaling. "I deeply agree with you, Sensei."
"…. Does his family know?"
"I notified them as soon as the trial ended. Tardy of me? Perhaps, but I need to confirm that it was indeed him who died in that incident, along with the dissipation of the current chaos. It is necessary in order to respect the grieving of his family."
Sensei sighs again, sipping his drink. "This is one of those times where I have to say… thank you, Black Suit."
"There is no need, Sensei," Black Suit shook his head. "It is something I must do in memory of him."
"…. You said you're a close friend to him. How well do you know him as a person?"
"Surprisingly close. In fact, I talked to him more than I would with Maestro and Decalcomania when we were outside of work, at least during his stay with Gematria. A reclusive man indeed, but a man cultured with the knowledge of philosophy as well as the arts of vintage music and songs. I do remember well that he fancied his sidearm, M1911, which was the only relic he cherished and brought from his old world. He is… well, to say he was blunt is technically correct, but I would call him unfiltered in his words. But when it comes to his clicker, well… he talked about it obsessively."
"That unhealthily?"
"That unhealthily. I didn't really mind, though. It keeps me engaged to understand how his mind works. The words he used to describe it for me…."
"Left so much to be desired, huh?"
"Correct," Black Suit chuckled. "I still remember his favorites. Pepperoni Pizza, Ki-Cola and black coffee, crime thriller novels, the sound of saxophone, antique weapons, and even most parts of the DU Shiratori City that shared the same resemblance of the, I quote him, 'good ol' Chicago.'"
"But still, he still kept a lot of things to himself, didn't he?"
"Yes, but it was already a long time ago. I do not see the need to know much about his past anymore."
"…. Did you ever know his name?"
Black Suit hums and frowns. "That's the odd thing, though. It always crossed my mind to ask his name if the opportunity presented itself, but… neither of us ever thought about asking his name, even if he was with us. I still try to understand why that even happened. Perhaps it has something to do with his own presence, the nature of his existence. Always fleeting but unremarkable."
That was the most jarring thing to hear, even from him. "How did any of you guys call him then?"
"We simply acknowledged his presence. Neither of us except Maestro thought of another name. Maestro called him 'The Nobody.' Fitting, given his nature."
Sensei nods at his sentiment, reclining himself deeper into his seat and facing away from Black Suit.
"If I may ask, will there be a funeral for him?"
Sensei shares a glance, then eventually nods. "I haven't been confirmed with the exact date, but it should happen within the next week or so. KSPD, GSC, and I will handle the fees and equipment needed for it."
"I see."
Black Suit places a card on the table and slides it closer toward him. Sensei picked up the card, which contained a phone number. Black Suit stands up and corrects his outfit once again.
"I'd love to tell you more about him, but I'm afraid that is all I have to tell you about him. Should I remember any more particulars about him, I will be sure to let you know."
"And the phone number?"
"…I wish to ask for your favor. If you happen to get the exact date of the funeral, I want you to call me through that number. I wish to pay my last respect to my dear friend and colleague."
Sensei snickers for a moment. "Here, I thought you don't understand empathy."
"It seems I'm starting to understand a bit more when you protest about my claim on Iron Horus, no matter how irrational it seems."
Sensei stares at the number before he tapes it on the nearby desk board and writes down Black Suit's name on it. "Don't worry. I'll be the first to let you know when the funeral will happen."
"Thank you, Sensei," Black Suit's bowed with a solemn smile. "And I apologize for disturbing your evening. I shall take my leave now."
Sensei nods. "Have a good evening, Black Suit."
"The same goes for you, Sensei," Black Suit took his canned drink with him and departed for the door.
"Black Suit."
The mentioned adult turned around curiously.
"Have a safe journey on your way back."
Black Suit smiles. "Of course, Sensei."
He soon leaves the office, leaving Sensei by himself with relief. Arona soon pops up again in the Shittim Chest.
"So, his name was Clickold…," Arona commented in wonder. "The hardships he had gone through sounded so simple yet convoluted at the same time. It makes my brain hurt so much."
"But now we know why he had to make that choice," Sensei sighed, putting his pen away. "Did you get all that?"
"Yeah…. I don't think I felt this sad before. To think that he was his friend all along…."
Sensei shakes his head, recounting the trial yesterday and how… voided Hina looked. He makes a mental note to see if there's anything new about Clickold's identification and his funeral and see if he has some free time in the future to check up on Hina's well-being.
"Sensei, should we tell Director Kanna about this?"
Sensei glances at his AI assistant. "No, let's keep this one for ourselves. I don't think they need to know more about him. Probably…, except for Hina."
"O-okay, Sensei," Arona nodded hesitantly. "If that's what you want…. I'll store the recording in the 'Dead Adult Folder.' Is that good for you?"
"Make a new folder and write it: 'For Sensei's Eyes Only.'"
"Got it. Aaaaand done!"
"That's my girl," Sensei moved the canned drink close to her. "Here, you can have the rest of them as a reward."
"Yay!" Arona immediately digitized the canned drink to appear inside the tablet, the mechanics of which he had yet to understand. "Thank you, Sensei!"
Sensei smiles and nods before he goes on another document to deal with. "So, did you find out how did he get in?"
"Looks like he wasn't lying," Arona answered. "He had an ID key on him with a signal similar to the one you're holding now."
"…. I have to update my security, am I?"
"Yeah, I think you have to."
Sensei shakes his head. "We can get to that later. Now…."
Sensei soon types data on his monitor.
"Sensei, it's already late. You should sleep right now."
"I know, Arona. I only have five papers left to fill in, then I'll get to bed, I promise."
"Fine…. But I'll stay with you until you finish your work!"
"Be my guest then, Arona. I like your company a little longer."
The atmosphere returns to its usual state: the darkness, the dim moonlight, the sound of shuffling paper and typing once again. But for this night, it will be brief.