Chapter: 41. Grasshoppers on the Same Boat
When Nagi and Erika changed back into their Star Academy uniforms and stepped outside, they realized they weren’t alone; Kanade wasn’t the only one outside.
“Hello, I am Hondo Jūrō.”
Dressed in a combat uniform, Jūrō presented himself with a gentlemanly demeanor and introduced himself to the two of them.
Nagi immediately realized that he must be here to escort Kanade and herself.
Although the only one who could have been reversed was herself, it was clear that their abilities were still affecting Kanade.
At this moment, Kanade should be temporarily reverted to the physical condition of an ordinary person, just like in the plot of the original game “Star Draw 2.”
However, another surprising piece of news for Nagi was—
She hadn’t sensed anyone else outside just now.
Either Jūrō had some special ability that allowed him to hide himself, or her own physical condition was worse than she imagined.
At such a close distance, she couldn’t perceive anyone else being there.
In facing Jūrō’s introduction, Erika reacted unexpectedly.
She altered her usually cheerful and sunny demeanor and introduced herself with some suspicion.
This took Nagi slightly by surprise.
And when it was her turn to introduce herself, she was cut off by Kanade before Jūrō could respond.
“The rest can wait until we leave the academy.”
—Ah, Kanade-kun… is he feeling jealous?
Nagi couldn’t help but think this, feeling a bit giddy inside.
But the next moment, she realized that her current identity was not “Nagi,” but rather a beautiful freshman who had just met Kanade less than a day ago.
—N-No, that’s not right, it should be… a flirt?
This giddy feeling instantly turned into anger.
—This doesn’t feel right either since she should already be dead…
However, it was evident that no one noticed Nagi’s calm exterior while her heart was in turmoil; instead, they quietly followed Jūrō as he led them out through the back door of the dormitory building.
—————–
On the other side.
The command center of Star Academy.
The command center, located in the core area beneath the main teaching building, is one of the most solid and secure hubs of Star Academy.
Even though the surface buildings had collapsed, the command center remained brightly lit and fully operational.
In the semicircular conference room, a huge three-dimensional projection floated in the air, displaying the thermal residue and energy distribution map of the attack area, with red and orange mingling like a flame that had yet to cool.
Around the circular conference table, the higher-ups of Star Academy and on-duty personnel at the command center were engaged in intense discussions.
Among them was one of the top officials present, dragging a returning secretary into a closed small room.
There were no cameras or audio equipment inside, making it suitable for discussing confidential matters.
“Have you contacted the chairman?” the elderly man asked first.
This situation urgently required that woman to take charge.
“No, not yet.”
“Damn it, what are they all doing! Such an event has occurred at Star Academy, and we can’t even reach the chairman or Mitsukage—” Just as the old man was cursing in frustration, he was interrupted by his secretary.
“—The S-rank has just contacted us.”
“What? We can reach Mitsukage?” The old man’s eyes widened in disbelief.
However, he hadn’t even had time to feel relieved.
What the secretary said next made him uneasy.
“However, it seems the S-rank has some bad news to report to you…” As the secretary spoke, he took out the terminal from his pocket and handed it to the elderly man.
This was the terminal that Mitsukage had previously used to contact them.
They didn’t know if they were being monitored.
The moment the elderly man took the terminal, it rang.
On the other end was Mitsukage.
“Let’s skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point.” The old man said bluntly.
“I understand. But first, let me confirm one last thing: In the absence of Mr. Amagi Shōkō and the chairman, may I ask if you are now the highest authority at Star Academy?”
On the other end, Mitsukage’s voice was hoarse and grave.
It sounded like his situation wasn’t optimistic either.
However, his question caused the old man to hesitate.
At this moment, the only contactable authority figure was himself.
If he didn’t grasp the situation, no one could take charge and resolving the current crisis.
“That’s correct.”
“Then, regarding the β system designed and developed by Mr. Amagi Shōkō, how much do you know about it?”
—————–
“We don’t have much time.”
As Jūrō whispered a prompt, everyone quietly passed through the dim path behind the dormitory building.
The night wind brushed past their ears, bringing with it the scent of salt and scorched earth.
A few minutes later, a medium-sized tactical machine, coated in black and treated for multiple forms of concealment, appeared at the edge of their vision.
It quietly stood in a hidden corner far from the main hangar, its body emanating a faint metallic luster, like a cheetah lurking in the night.
Seeing Kanade and the others return, the crew members standing by the tactical machine let out sighs of relief.
However, their eyes quickly shifted from Captain Kanade to the girl who was slowly walking behind him.
The sea breeze billowed her long hair; her jet-black, smooth hair danced in the wind, the slightly lifted strands resembling flowing ink across the night sky, brushing past her fair cheeks.
Her features seemed exquisitely refined, radiating two contrasting qualities of purity and cold beauty, particularly complemented by her slender yet feminine figure that even the female team member Sasaki couldn’t help but stare at.
However, it was clear that everyone present was a trained ability user.
They soon pulled their thoughts away from the beauty of the girl before them, but several team members couldn’t help but mutter under their breath:
“This girl looks even more beautiful in person than in her photo…”
“……So that portrait wasn’t retouched?”
“Ugh, how come Kyoka is not such a cute beauty but instead a foodie…”
“Huh? What did you say!?” Kyoka Sasaki immediately shot a fierce glare, causing the other two team members to hurriedly avert their eyes.
Captain Kanade paid them no mind; instead, he pressed a button on his wristwatch.
The tactical machine’s belly hatch slid open silently, and a soft guiding light illuminated the dark interior contours.
The cabin space was much more spacious than expected, divided into two sections: the front for driving and navigation, and the back serving as a simple rest area for operational personnel.
The silver-gray alloy floor had a slight shock-absorption feature, with embedded circular seats arranged along the sides, and weapon and equipment cases neatly stored beneath the seats; the control panels and interfaces glowed with a faint blue light.
The inner wall of the midsection was an information terminal wall, displaying the academy’s map and the current situational intelligence—
Nagi and Erika, who had boarded the machine, hadn’t had time to take a good look at the information on the screen.
Jūrō hurriedly urged the other crew members to board the machine; finally, he cautiously surveyed the surroundings before entering the cabin and closing the hatch.
The metal panels sealed shut, completely isolating them from the commotion outside.
“Target acquired, departing immediately.” Jūrō communicated to the crew in the cockpit via his earpiece.
However, neither he nor the other crew members displayed even the slightest relaxation; their eyes, illuminated with magical light, indicated they were on high alert.
“Instructions received.”
As the driver replied, the tactical machine’s engine quietly started up, with vibrations resonating from deep within the body.
The camouflage propellers retracted into the body, replaced by two protruding energy engines, all systems were fully activated, and the entire tactical machine began to emit a low and steady resonance sound.
An optical camouflage layer visibly covered the exterior at a rapid pace, while the airflow around the machine started to swirl due to the energy engines’ activation, stirring up small clouds of dust on the ground, as if the night was being disturbed.
With a low roar of the engine, the tactical machine shook violently and then silently lifted off the ground.
Throughout the entire process, Jūrō and the other crew members remained vigilant.
Until the tactical machine passed through the invisible barrier surrounding Star Academy—
“Exited Star Academy airspace.”
Jūrō and the other crew members let out long breaths, finally relaxing from their tense state.
“… Phew, I was really worried about being intercepted in Star Academy.”
“Jūrō, what happened?”
At this moment, Kanade finally asked his vice captain the question that had been weighing on his mind.
Nagi was also curious about the answer to this question.
Hearing this, Jūrō first glanced at Nagi and Erika sitting beside him, seemingly contemplating whether he should inform the two of them about this situation.
But thinking that from this moment on, they were all in the same boat, he dropped his hesitation.
With a serious expression, Jūrō sat down facing Kanade.
“Captain, the team you mentioned last night was attacked this morning.”
“Clearly, someone wants all those connected to ‘Amagi Shōkō’ to disappear.”
