Chapter: 56. What is the Difference Between Her and Me
“According to the intel, the Moon Academy has already started to take action. Soon, they will send someone to take that item.”
“Finally… do we know who they are sending this time?”
“It’s hard to say, but based on the nature of that item, it’s likely that it will be someone very close to the professor. For example… one of his students.”
“What do you estimate their strength to be?”
“I hope you can let go of that idea. This time, the Moon Academy will probably send ACE along. You’re not in a position to confront ACE head-on right now…”
“I understand. I will try to take care of this matter before they arrive—”
“Ah, there’s not much time left. These next few days are the final deadline…”
“It’s fine, Director. I’ve already found a candidate.”
After the “man” hung up the phone, the starry pupils in her eyes began to flicker.
Whenever this silvery star emits its magical light, the memories etched deep into her soul flash through her mind—
—A white room.
“You did well,” the voices of adults praising her.
“Tsk, this one won’t do. The compatibility is too poor…” the voices of adults scolding her.
“How many vessels are left? There are fewer and fewer. We need to apply for more personnel from them,” the adults discussing matters.
“This is… the glory of the Master. It’s a success, finally a success, hahaha—!” the frenzied laughter of the adults.
“Number 99, do you remember your identity? Let’s start with an introduction—” The voice of the adults came from the speaker in the corner of the closed room.
In front of her stood a huge mirror; they were looking at themselves from behind this mirror.
And what she could do to survive was—
“I am—”
—The Elemental Sovereign.
The flickering candlelight illuminated her face, and the light in her eyes gradually dimmed.
“Good, good evening… who are you?”
At that moment, a boy’s voice came from beside her.
Turning her head in the direction of the voice, she saw a black-haired boy.
“Good evening. I’m sorry, did I disturb you?”
“Ah, no, I just felt thirsty and came to have a glass of water… May I ask what you are doing…” The other party’s reaction was somewhat restrained.
“Ah~ Speaking of which, this is our first meeting~ You must be… Tsuki no Kanade, right?”
“Yes, yes, how did you know…”
The girl smiled gently, slowly standing up from her chair.
The dim candlelight illuminated her slender figure, and combined with her long black hair, it was easy to conjure the image of a dark scabbard.
“Nice to meet you, my name is Nanjou Akane, and I am the dormitory head here. I look forward to your guidance~ Junior-kun~”
The starry pupils of her eyes reflected the boy’s silhouette.
—————–
“You… you are Nanjou-senpai?” Kanade looked at the girl in front of him in surprise.
He never expected that the senpai he had been searching for would appear in the middle of the night in this manner.
For a moment, Kanade felt at a loss.
Although he had many things he wanted to ask this senpai, their relationship as first-time acquaintances made him unsure how to start.
Just then, Nanjou-senpai, standing across from him, chuckled lightly, “What’s wrong? Just standing there? Aren’t you supposed to be getting some water, Junior-kun?”
“Ah, yes, you’re right…”
Feeling embarrassed as he was seen through by her, Kanade shyly turned and walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
“Um, Junior-kun, could you also bring me a glass of water?” Nanjou’s voice came from the living room.
“Okay, got it.”
While replying, Kanade’s mind began to race.
—Kanade needed to pull himself together; although it felt somewhat intrusive to ask someone he just met,
—But this matter was to protect Konagi… and time was running out.
His mind couldn’t help but recall the message he had just seen on his phone.
People from the Moon Academy would soon arrive at the Ark Academy.
If he couldn’t find out who the real culprit was before they arrived, both he and Konagi would have to face the inquiry from the Moon Academy—
Thinking of this, Kanade gathered his courage and returned to the dining table with two glasses of water.
“Um, Nanjou-senpai, I have something I would like to ask you about…”
“Ask me?” Nanjou took the glass of water, looking as if she had heard something interesting, and laughed lightly, “Have you not heard the rumors about me, Junior-kun?”
“Well, I’ve heard a little…”
“Since you’ve heard, are you still planning to ask me? How interesting~ I’m a perennial repeat student, you know~”
“Ah, no, but I think if it’s Nanjou-senpai, you might know—”
“Are you only wanting to talk to me? Or are you saying that you just want to seek help from the seniors?” Nanjou suddenly questioned him, cutting off Kanade’s words.
As Kanade felt puzzled by Nanjou’s question, the next moment, the sound of the door to the Shikikan could be heard.
“Nanjou-kun is joking; how could I dare call myself a ‘senior’ in front of you?” Seiryu’s figure walked in from outside.
“……President,” Kanade’s expression became wary the moment he saw Seiryu.
“Ah, it seems like President-kun is really envied by others,” Nanjou understood something in an instant upon seeing this scene and immediately stood up.
“If Junior-kun still wants to discuss something with me… then come find me at the library tomorrow~” Nanjou leaned in close to Kanade’s ear and whispered before leaving.
“Library?”
“……Ah, yes~ the Noah Building~”
After Nanjou finished speaking, she waved her hand with a smile to say goodbye to Kanade and Seiryu before turning and walking up the stairs.
Once her footsteps faded into the distance, Seiryu slowly walked towards Kanade.
“Kanade-kun, it seems you have quite a few troubles, huh?”
“This has nothing to do with you, President,” Kanade replied coldly, not even knowing why he was showing such an attitude.
“I can understand your hostility towards me,” Seiryu continued, seemingly unfazed by Kanade’s demeanor as a junior towards a senior, “But as for your wariness towards me… who told you something?”
“What do you mean?”
“Someone told you the truth about this Shikikan, right?”
The words of Teacher Kitano flashed through Kanade’s mind, but he decided to play dumb:
“Truth? What are you trying to say, President?”
“Nothing, I just hope you can calm down and think. Since you are on guard against me, why do you trust another senior?” After finishing, Seiryu directly walked past Kanade, heading toward the stairs.
“What is the difference between me and her? Or do you actually know who the real culprit is?” Seiryu said this without turning back as he ascended the stairs.
“……” After watching Seiryu leave, Kanade suddenly shivered for no reason.
—Yes, yes…
—Since everyone in Shikikan is a suspect…
—Why did I just think that Nanjou-senpai is someone I can trust?
