Episode 3: To the Most Exemplary Academy

Click, click, click, click. Click, click, click, click.

(What... is that sound...?)

"Hehe. Look at that face. He's drooling."

"H-hey now! Everyone, move aside!"

Voices reached me through the darkness. That had to be my best friend's voice. I opened my eyes.

"...Huh?"

There were a lot of boys and girls in robes. In a small room surrounded by countless clocks, they were looking down at me where I lay on the floor, giggling and trading gossip.

"Léa. Where is this...?"

"This is commonly known as the 'Clock Chamber.' It's one of the portal exits from around the world that lead to Caus."

"...I see. So, these people are...?"

When I asked while standing up, one of the robed boys laughed.

"Well obviously, Kotoyorozu. When a celebrity shows up, rubberneckers are gonna gather. And when said celebrity is passed out with his eyes rolled back, blowing nose bubbles in his sleep, of course it's already been shared on social media and gone a little viral."

"That obnoxious voice—"

There was a petite girl grinning mischievously. She walked up to me and slapped my back a couple of times.

"—Magina-senpai!"

"Hahaha, long time no see, Kotoyorozu! You're still making a huge spectacle of yourself!"

Magina-senpai threw her arm around my shoulders and forcefully pulled my head close.

"So what are you doing all the way at Caus?"

"Huh? I came to witness the 'Fire Ritual'..."

"That's the official story, right? But why've the Écraseurs got their eyes on you?"

According to Magina-senpai, the Écraseurs were an elite squad belonging to Caus, mainly handling Apocalypses that required combat solutions. Known as the militant faction, they were feared and given a wide berth by the other students.

"Getting tangled up with them means something serious is going on."

The color of Magina-senpai's emotions was showing anger and irritation somewhere underneath. Apparently she had some kind of history with the Écraseurs. At the very least, it was clear she didn't like them.

"M-Ma... Mama... M-Magina-shan...♡"

The one who called out to her was a petite girl in punk-style clothing—Danae. She hurriedly threw on a robe while approaching Magina-senpai with sparkling eyes.

"Huh? Danae. What're you doing here?"

"Hahh...♡ Hahh...♡ That icy cold stare as always...♡"

"I told you I hate you, so stay away from me, right?"

"I'm sowwy...♡ I wuv you...♡"

Magina-senpai looked fed up. Danae hopped nervously, then happily hid behind my back.

"...Then... let's go. Kotoha."

It was Magina-senpai whose eyes went wide.

"Huh? Why's Danae latched onto Kotoha?"

"...B-because... I'm... his escort...?"

Magina-senpai furrowed her brow and seemed to be thinking hard about something. She was clearly confused and troubled.

(What could she be thinking about...?)

Looking at Magina-senpai's expression made me anxious. Without being able to see people's hearts, I really couldn't understand anything. It felt like swimming in an uninhabited sea with no sense of direction.

"Kotoyorozu."

Magina-senpai moved her mouth even closer to my ear. Close enough that her breath hit me, and my heart jumped.

"...That girl is the captain of the Écraseurs. Don't let your guard down around her."

"What? Someone like her?"

"Yeah. Someone like her. I've got another mission, so I can't keep watching over you. Be careful."

She whispered at a volume only I could hear. Danae only sensed the contemptuous atmosphere and seemed delighted by it.

"Are you done talking? Then, Kotton. Put this on."

Léa produced a jet-black robe from somewhere and handed it to me.

"This is the proof of being a Chaos Institute student. If you don't wear it, the academy's defense system will restrain you, so students must always wear it."

"...Seriously?"

Léa laughed. Apparently, she was totally serious.

What I'd felt when visiting Corporations was "glamour." What I felt at Azure Academy was "chaotic disorder and freedom." And what I felt at Chaos Institute was—"the grandeur of history."

"W-whoa, this is incredible...!"

An absurdly wide atrium hallway with oak spiral staircases. I looked down into the atrium, but I couldn't see the bottom. They must have kept building layer upon layer hundreds, thousands of times.

"Gah! What the—!?"

Just a hair's breadth from where I was peering down, a winged creature covered in countless scales—what you'd call a dragon—swooped past. Several children were riding on its back.

"That's a dragon. Those are probably individuals from the kindergarten."

"They use dragons as kindergarten buses!?"

As I stood there stunned, people with fish heads passed by. The hallway got soaking wet because of them, but soon tiny lights gathered and dried the damp floor.

"It's rude to stare, Kotton. Those are Atlanteans. First time seeing them?"

Atlantis actually exists—that was my first thought. And that wasn't all. A jiggly-bodied woman was pushing a large cart, transporting a girl whose upper body grew from a flower.

"That's a Slime and an Alraune. Look, there are Harpies behind them too."

"What about those?"

"A Dracula and his thralls. Don't worry—they became thralls through legal consent."

Behind the noble-looking Dracula, zombie-like people with sickly complexions followed.

(What a place. The diversity is off the charts.)

It wasn't like Azure Academy had no other species or people from other dimensions. There should even be a Reptilian among the Student Council members. But Caus seemed to have more non-humans than humans at first glance.

"They're... not Apocalypses, right?"

"Correct. They are 'humans.'"

"Humans?"

"At Caus, all beings with qualia—subjective experience—are treated as 'humans.' Not by intelligence, not by species, but by 'heart'—that's how we determine whether someone is human or not."

That was something that couldn't happen at other academies. Azure Academy didn't even debate such things, and Corporations was harsh toward non-humans. It was a culture unique to Chaos Institute.

"Before we catch up, shall we head to the Chairman's office? He's strict about time."

Aimée-senpai urged us on and we began climbing the long spiral staircase.

After about ten minutes of walking, we entered through a large door. It was a massive memorial chapel. A broken stone statue, missing its right half and everything below the waist, was surrounded by countless flowers.

(Is that... the Angel of Slashes?)

It resembled the Angel of Gunscar at Azure Academy. It must be the angel statue that grants Slashes to Caus students.

"Don't you find it unreasonable?"

Standing before the angel statue was a tall man with pitch-black skin, wearing a pitch-black robe and pitch-black uniform. His stern expression and powerfully built frame made it obvious from his presence alone that he was no ordinary person.

"To the Apocalypse Stagnation Committee, gods and angels are nothing more than things to be used or eliminated."

"...Huh?"

"And yet we create things like this, and line them up."

The man in black stuck a small knife next to the Angel of Slashes. Looking closely, thousands of knives were stuck throughout the room. Those well-maintained blades had people's names carved into them.

(This is... a memorial.)

When a Caus student lost their life, their name was carved into a small knife and enshrined in this room.

"When humans die, nothing remains. The body returns to the earth, the Ectoplasmic Fluid dissipates. And yet we pray for their peaceful rest in the afterlife. Even though there may be no one to receive those prayers in the first place."

The man turned around and looked at me.

"You've come a long way from far away. Kotoyorozu Kotoha. I am the chairman of The Council at Chaos Institute. Chukwuebuka Nkemdirim. Pleased to meet you."

"Th-thank you for inviting me. Chu... Chukwebu..."

"Heh. Cheuxs is fine. Those close to me call me that."

Chairman Cheuxs. The stern man smiled faintly, then stared at me intently with obsidian-like eyes. Was I being... assessed? That's what it felt like. But I couldn't know for certain.

"So, what do you think? About these thousands of knives."

The Chairman's gaze fixed directly on me. It made me feel anxious, like a gazelle being stared down by a black panther. Perhaps noticing my state, Léa answered instead.

"I believe these knives exist for the sake of the living."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. To mourn those who have passed. To remember them whenever we see the names carved here."

After listening to Léa's words with interest, Aimée-senpai spoke next.

"I have a similar opinion. But slightly different."

"Oh? Is that so, Sister?"

"Even if we were to lose our lives somewhere, our names would be carved into a knife, and someone would remember us. Thinking that gives me courage. It makes me feel like I'm not alone."

Aimée-senpai gently touched a knife embedded in the wall. She too was surely a battle-hardened veteran. Countless sentiments must have been contained in those words.

"What do you think, Danae?"

Danae thought for a moment, then:

"These are the number of regrets. The number of mistakes. The number of people who couldn't be saved. The number of times we could do nothing. That's all."

She usually spoke timidly, but just then, there was no hesitation in her voice.

"...Heh. Worthy of one of Caus's aces."

Chairman Cheuxs laughed at Danae's words. Then he stared intently at me. As if asking, "So what about you?" I hesitated for a moment, then took a light breath.

"I... I think memorials do exist for the dead."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because, for example, if I croaked and someone prayed for me, that'd feel pretty good, wouldn't it?"

"You believe gods or spirits exist?"

"You can't say they absolutely don't exist, can you?"

"But the probability is infinitesimally low."

"But not zero. Because in this universe, there's no such thing as zero."

If that was the case, I couldn't believe that prayer had no meaning at all. If there was even a 0.000001% chance that my prayers might reach someone who had died, I would surely keep praying.

"......"

For a moment, Aimée-senpai's expression darkened. Or so I thought.

"I'm convinced. Bard and Poetry. That power was... born from that very sentiment, wasn't it."

I was taken aback by Chairman Cheuxs's words. Léa's shoulders twitched, and Aimée-senpai's gaze sharpened. Only Danae looked uninterested, yawning.

"How much do you know about the 'Skull-Masked Man'?"

"Huh? You mean the guy who ambushed Koito-senpai during the Tokyo Defense Battle?"

His objective was apparently not Koito-senpai but to send me to another dimension's universe. If that was true, I thought he had terrible judgment. Koito-senpai was obviously far more important than me.

(And there was also the thing about him trying to let Luna-san alone escape to another dimension...)

Azure Academy was also investigating, but his true identity remained unknown. But why was this coming up now?

"This is classified information, but Chaos Institute recently made contact with him."

"What!? Where?"

"On the day we annihilated Los Devotos del Silencio Eterno. We confirmed he fled while protecting the Maestro."

The Skull-Masked Man was with the Maestro? It didn't quite click, but I supposed that's just how it was between villains. But why had Léa's face been dark this whole time?

"Now then. I'd like you to think carefully before answering this."

Chairman Cheuxs's calm eyes sank into even deeper silence. He extended his arm to the side, and chains rattled down from it. At the end of the chains hung a dully gleaming scale.

[Human Scales (Born Freaks)] — Slash

A Slash that "enforces contracts." When Chukwuebuka Nkemdirim forms a contract with a target, he can select a penalty. The target pays the penalty if they fail to fulfill the contract. To ensure the target fulfills the contract—or to collect the penalty—a physical hawk monitors the target. These contracts must have legal basis or mutual consent.

"Wha—"

A single hawk soared like the wind. Instead of talons, its feet were long chains. The chains instantly bound my limbs and pinned me to the wall.

"...Chairman!?"

It was Léa who raised her voice. She immediately leaped in front of me.

"I apologize, Kotoyorozu Kotoha. Entering this academy's grounds means you agreed to a contract to obey Caus's laws, which gives me the right to conduct a legitimate interrogation."

"Wait, Chairman! This is nothing short of entrapment! To treat a guest this way—this isn't just lacking courtesy, it's outrageous!"

"You're correct, Léa Cœur de Lumière. You are always right. However, that applies in peacetime. You must have some inkling of what's happening."

Léa's expression twisted for a moment. Apparently, something I didn't know was troubling her.

"Léa! It's fine. Let me talk with the Chairman."

At my words, the Chairman let out a breath that seemed impressed. I didn't sense any intent to harm me in his expression. He was probably just doing what was necessary.

"From this point forward, lies are not permitted. If you make false statements, you will be detained according to Caus law. That is my ability. A fair contract. Is that acceptable?"

That was Chairman Cheuxs's Slash. A power suited for interpersonal dealings and politics.

"Tell me everything you know about the Skull-Masked Man."

"Well... He's probably a student from a different dimension's Caus. Right? He came from another dimension where the human world was destroyed by Azure Academy. He uses a Gunscar that revives the dead... He controls the ghosts of Léa and Magina-senpai."

Chairman Cheuxs looked at the hawk. The hawk simply sat quietly on my shoulder.

"Is that all? Hmm. So you truly don't know."

His obsidian-like eyes pierced my gaze.

"He is—Kotoyorozu Kotoha from another dimension."

I felt my heart pound violently. My instincts rejected it—that can't be right—but my reason had no way to refute it. Because I had noticed the inconsistencies.

(The only one in this world with a strong connection to Luna-san is me. Having such a creepy Gunscar. Being close to Léa and the others. And...)

"Kotton. I heard it. The Maestro called the Skull-Masked Man 'Kotoha.'"

Well, if you looked at just the circumstantial evidence, I was extremely suspicious. Of course Chairman Cheuxs would resort to such forceful measures. I thought for a moment, then murmured:

"...I seriously considered defecting to Caus once."

"Oh?"

"When I resolved the Viscera Apartments incident. Léa invited me to come to Caus—"

I had turned her down, I recalled. But why? I thought about it, and the answer came immediately.

"—Luna-san."

"Huh?"

"I couldn't leave her alone. That's why I went back to Azure Academy."

As long as she existed, I would definitely have returned to Azure Academy. Which meant—

"The Skull-Masked Man is me from a dimension where Luna-san died..."

Ah, I could hear puzzle pieces clicking into place one by one.

"D-during the Tokyo Defense Battle, the Skull-Masked Man tried to repay his debt to Luna-san... I-I wouldn't do that. Because we're one body and soul, equals, and we know we need each other."

That was the relationship I'd built by spending time with Luna-san. There was no debt between us. All there was between us was pure love. But if we hadn't spent that time together—

(For example, if Luna-san had died at the Goddess's Temple...?)

Having been saved by her life, I would want to somehow repay that debt. Even if it was a Luna-san from another dimension, I would wish to help her. Because that's the kind of person I was.

"I... see. That guy is... me..."

[No. 8590: "Skull-Masked Man"] — Stage 4: Excitatio

Nature: Parallel Law — Brahman-Atman Unity

Details: Kotoyorozu Kotoha from a dimension where he enrolled at Chaos Institute. His objective is believed to be the destruction of Azure Academy. Currently in a cooperative relationship with the Maestro of Los Devotos del Silencio Eterno. His mask is a sign of subject-object reversal. He is believed to have spent an extremely long time in high R-value locations.

History: Due to unknown circumstances, humanity and Azure Academy became enemies in his dimension. Kotoyorozu Kotoha, who was affiliated with Chaos Institute, fought against Azure Academy but was defeated. He is said to have fled to another dimension.

"But isn't there one contradiction?"

Fluttering her prince-like long eyelashes, Aimée-senpai raised a question.

"If the Skull-Masked Kotoha-kun enrolled at Chaos Institute, why does he have Bard and Poetry—a 'Gunscar'? If he was a Caus student, he should have a 'Slash.'"

Indeed, Chairman Cheuxs nodded. But I already had the answer to that question as well.

"I think... it's the same reason I came to Caus this time."

"Hmm."

"During the Tokyo Defense Battle, my Gunscar 'noapusa' was destroyed."

At the edge of the universe, "someone" had destroyed my Gunscar for me. Only that warm feeling remained in my chest. This was surely something I needed.

"So I came to Caus—to obtain a 'Slash.'"

That was Ter-senpai's idea. According to him, even humans who could no longer use their Gunscar due to age or other reasons could sometimes receive a different angel's Gift by spending time at another academy.

"! I see. The Skull-Masked Kotoha also initially had a 'Slash,' but—"

"...It was destroyed for some reason."

He probably had a Slash called "noapusa" too. But that was... probably destroyed by being loved by someone. I somehow understood that.

"The masked me also obtained a 'Gunscar' from another angel statue. Just like I'm trying to do now."

"And that's Bard and Poetry..."

A Gunscar that limitedly resurrects the dead. What a blasphemous, twisted yearning. He should have fully understood it was an act that defiled the value of life. Yet, having lost everything, I would surely wish for it too.

(If I... if another dimension's me... trapped Koito-senpai and tried to kill everyone...)

How much would you have to hate people to become that way? At least the current me couldn't imagine it. But the grief, anger, and hatred of losing someone precious—that I understood.

"......"

The more I thought about it, the more nauseated I felt. Because I wasn't on the side of justice or anything. I was just fighting because I wanted to be with everyone, because I wanted a place to belong—

"Chairman!"

The voice that cut through my spiraling thoughts was Léa's.

"So what if that's true? The him from another dimension and the Kotton standing here are different people. If this is the only reason you have to continue such rude interrogation of my friend—"

Her eyes blazed like silver.

"I don't care who you are or where we are—I will not allow this!"

Her voice struck my heart like a blow. There was no ulterior motive in it whatsoever. Only pure nobility. Only the will to protect a friend. I thought I saw pure white light behind her back.

"Chairman. A word from the Vice-Chairman as well. I think we should proceed with this conversation more courteously from here on. He bears no guilt and has been cooperative with the investigation. Certainly the Maestro is dangerous. The day of the bonfire is approaching. But we mustn't lose people's trust by being too hasty."

After Aimée-senpai's words, Chairman Cheuxs closed his eyes as if thinking deeply.

"Then let me ask one final thing."

Those cold eyes like a black panther's stared at me.

"Kotoyorozu Kotoha. Can you swear that you are hiding nothing from me?"

I was hiding something. My other objective was to investigate the Library Mandala. It wasn't the kind of thing I should tell Chaos Institute's highest authority.

"...Ugh."

I wavered. What should I do? What did this man want? Damn it! If not for these glasses, I could precisely understand his intentions! Think... think... then suddenly:

"Kotton."

Léa was quietly looking at me. Her eyes told me she would back me up at any time. Just that gave me courage and helped me calm down. This was something I needed to say.

"...I do have something I'm hiding."

"!"

"However, is there some heartless law at Caus that forbids any hidden matters whatsoever?"

"...Hmm."

"What I'm hiding has nothing to do with the Skull-Masked Man or Chaos Institute's security. It's my personal secret, and at least as long as I'm only thinking about it, it shouldn't violate any laws. Am I wrong?"

Chairman Cheuxs watched me quietly. This man's emotions were completely unreadable from his expression. Just being looked at by those eyes made me anxious. He curved his lips slightly and smiled.

"...You've seen your share of battles, it seems."

The chains binding me vanished in an instant. I dropped from the wall where I'd been pinned.

"—I apologize. Let me make amends for my discourtesy."

"W-wait, you don't have to go that far! Please raise your head!"

Chairman Cheuxs knelt before me like a knight. He was surely a fair and honest man. The Skull-Masked Man was such a dangerous existence that even he would go this far.

"This isn't meant as an apology, but feel free to enjoy yourself while you're staying at Caus. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Please leave that to me. The Lumière family will take full responsibility for showing Kotton the finest hospitality!"

Léa puffed out her chest, and Chairman Cheuxs nodded silently.

By the time I'd told Chairman Cheuxs everything I knew about the Skull-Masked Man, the sun was already setting. When I left Chaos Institute, I was completely drained. The conversation with the Chairman had been exhausting, and the long journey had worn me out in body and mind.

"Ahaha. You okay, Kotton?"

Léa smiled gently in front of Chaos's large castle-like gates. She really had saved me today. Her integrity gave me courage. That was why I liked her.

"Well then, shall we head back to the mansion for the day? I've had a room prepared for you."

At Aimée-senpai's words, I thought Léa's expression fell just slightly with disappointment. I wondered what that was about, but my exhausted brain couldn't work it out, and that was frustrating.

I'd never ridden in a dragon carriage flying through the sky before, and it wasn't exactly a pleasant experience. The thing shook so much I got motion sick, and I made such a fool of myself that Léa laughed at me the entire way.

Still, the beauty of District 9 at dusk seen from above was something I'd never forget for the rest of my life.

"Welcome back, young ladies. Welcome, Kotoyorozu-sama. Danae-sama."

In front of a charming mansion that looked straight out of a movie, six servants lined up and bowed to us. I was just as dumbfounded as when I'd first seen the dragons, and followed after Léa, who was clearly enjoying every second of it.

"Well then, Kotton! See you at dinner!"

Léa swept off into the mansion in high spirits, skirt swishing as she went. Watching her obviously giddy mood, Aimée-senpai leaned close to my ear.

"Heh... My little sister seems absolutely delighted that you're staying over."

"Haha. A friend's privilege, I'd say."

"Friend? Just that?"

Aimée-senpai's beautiful eyes held mine for a moment. It was hard to read her exact intention. She laughed at me blinking in confusion, then followed Léa into the mansion.

"S-so... let's go... Kotoha...♡"

Danae took my hand and started walking. Wait, was Danae going to show me to my room? Something felt slightly off, but just as I was about to follow her, one of the maids hit Danae.

"Kotoyorozu-sama, you must not be deceived. This person cannot be trusted."

"Th-that's not true...♡"

Those pink eyes found mine. I shuddered. This woman had been casually trying to take me to her room. It was genuinely terrifying, and I couldn't help giving Danae a contemptuous look.

"Hyaaah...!♡ That look, I love it...!♡"

This person was well and truly hopeless.

"Kotoyorozu-sama, please use this room. We've placed it as far as possible from Danae-sama's room."

I watched Danae being carted off in a full nelson—she looked enraptured—out of the corner of my eye as I stepped into the room I'd been assigned.

"...Phew."

When I sat on the bed, the exhaustion came flooding out. I must have been more on edge than I'd realized. If Léa hadn't been there, this mental strain would have been several times worse.

"I knew she was from a good family, but a huge mansion with maids and everything—I never imagined it'd be like this."

I muttered to myself, though come to think of it, I had a maid too. Since I'd been neglecting to contact that particular maid, there were over seventy unread messages waiting in my messaging app.

"Hello, Luna-san? Sorry I couldn't get in touch."

Luna-san on the other end of the Ringphone call was angry, a bit tearful, and obviously hiding how lonely she was. I was secretly pleased, but I kept that to myself.

"So, how is it? Léa-chan's place. You like it?"

"The room's huge. The bed sheets don't have a single stain."

"...Huh? I change Master-chan's sheets every night too, you know?"

"...Luna-san's bedding is still my favorite."

"What's that supposed to mean? What a weird thing to say."

She said that, but she sounded a little pleased. She really was adorable.

"What about the bath? Is it big? That area's shower culture, right?"

The bath in this room? I was curious about that too. In a casual room-tour mood, I opened the door without thinking.

"Heh—"

The soundproofing in this high-class mansion was, apparently, excellent.

(Ah, if only I didn't have these glasses, I would have sensed her...!)

—A naked woman was taking a shower, and she'd frozen the moment her eyes met mine.

"Yii..."

In the steam-filled bathroom, a long-haired woman was showering. A drop of hot water slid down her smooth skin and fell to the floor.

"This is bad—"

Next to the bathtub were what appeared to be her underwear and change of clothes. I desperately tried to cover my eyes—

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

The girl struck my solar plexus with one precise, fluid motion, and knocked me out cold.

The first thing I felt was a faint breeze against my cheek.

"Ugh... You're gonna have to wake up soon, my leg's going numb here..."

I opened my eyes. There was a stylish-looking girl. She was peering down at me with a worried expression, managing a troubled smile.

"Oh, you awake?"

I'd been sleeping with my head pillowed on her slender thigh. The moment I realized this, I rolled over and fell off the bed, smacking my face on the floor.

"Guhh..."

"Ahaha. You okay?"

The small mercy was that she found it a little funny. I'd racked up yet another humiliation.

"I'm so sorry! I totally decked you, Kotoyorozu-san!"

It was coming back to me now. I'd walked into the bathroom and run into this girl while she was showering. She'd knocked me out before I could even apologize.

"...N-no. I'm at fault too for peeking at your shower."

"No, no, that's not... It was my fault! It was an accident... Haah, I'm really sorry. I've always been rough like this. My grandpa's scolded me about it so many times."

So she was a grandpa's girl. I felt a flicker of kinship.

"Then at least let's call it even."

"Thank you. Kotoha-san... you're really kind."

That smile nearly pierced right through my chest. I got embarrassed and looked away.

"N-nah, that's not..."

"Oh. I'm sorry! Kotoha-san, calling you by your first name suddenly like that..."

"N-no, that's totally fine?"

"Ehhh?♡ You're so niiiice!♡"

Her sweet, melting voice tickled my ears. Wh-what was this? My heart felt all tingly!

"Also, Kotoha-san? You've actually got some pretty impressive muscles, don't you? Like, do you work out? Oh, can I touch them? Hehe, I was already feeling you up while you were asleep though, lol. Ahh, so cool!♡"

She was smiling as she ran her hands all over me. I felt my body heat up, but I couldn't afford to give another embarrassing show to someone I'd just met, so I pulled myself together.

"...S-so. Who are you, exactly...?"

"Oh. Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm a friend of Léa-chan's—name's Kanna Nana."

"Nice to meet you. ...I'm Kotoyorozu Kotoha."

"Hehe. I know. I hear about you from Léa-chan all the time. She says you're a wonderful person."

Her eyes narrowed softly as she gave that honeyed smile, gaze holding mine the entire time. She was, how to put it, really cute.

"I've been wanting to meet you, Kotoha-san."

"I-I'm honored. ...What kind of stuff has Léa been saying?"

Kanna-san smiled mysteriously.

"—I'm the one who asked Ter to send someone trustworthy, you know."

I was momentarily dumbfounded, then it clicked. Kanna Nana. A Japanese name. It wouldn't be strange if she had roots in District 12. She was the client who had secretly summoned me to Chaos.

"I see... So you're the one... But why?"

"Hmm... I can't trust anyone from Chaos, you see. On the other hand, a man like Termibek Janebekova is simple, isn't he? Honest, hates organizations and politics, prefers to act alone."

True. Nobody I knew was less likely to be scheming than him. Among the big names at Azure Academy who'd hate working behind the scenes, about the only ones I could think of were Koito-senpai and Platinum-senpai—but the former was too lawless, and the latter, as head of an organization, would inevitably have some kind of agenda.

"My request has two objectives. First, ensure the Fire Ritual is completed successfully. Second, find the traitor within Chaos. Priority is first over second."

"I understand the first one. But what's this about a traitor...?"

"You know the Skull-Masked Man, right?"

"...Yes. The other me, from a different dimension."

"He's currently hiding within Chaos Institute."

"What—"

"This is a report from Chaos's intelligence agency, 'Cryptaires.' Chaos has the strictest security of the Three Great Academies—there's no doubt he has a collaborator on the inside."

She was still smiling, but her gaze alone was sharp and pointed. This was probably her true self. I'd seen people like this often during my time captured by the Mexican Mafia. Gentlemanly and kind, sociable—but not trusting anyone.

"On top of that, the enemy is quite skilled. They've already made a preemptive move."

"Preemptive move?"

"Those glasses."

Kanna-san gently touched my glasses.

"These are seriously cutting-edge equipment. Not available to the general public. Not easy to get hold of. When they heard you were coming to Chaos, they must have rushed to prepare them—to prevent you from reading minds."

"...Seriously? But the people who knew I was coming beforehand—"

"Aren't many. So the options are: either someone with connections to an organization that can intercept communications, or someone who could have known in advance that you were coming. One of those two."

Making lists of possibilities seemed to be her habit as she spoke.

"Also, I'm certain our unit captain, Danae Whitmore, is involved."

"...Huh?"

I was surprised first that she was Danae's subordinate, and then that she'd voice her suspicions without any hesitation despite that.

(Right, the 'Écraseurs.' Kanna-san belongs to that unit too...)

"In the recent battle against the Maestro, Captain Danae deliberately let the Maestro and the Skull-Masked Man escape."

"Something like that happened? Then isn't Danae the traitor?"

Kanna-san's gaze wavered for just an instant.

"...I've known her a long time. That girl's been training at my grandpa's dojo since way back. And, well... how do I put it... she's not the type who could do something like that."

She laughed it off. Even without my Apocalypse, I could tell that laugh was hiding her real feelings.

"But she's dangerous, and she's not the brightest, you know? So... I think someone's using her. That's what my gut says. ...But I can't officially make that claim."

I had a question. If there was a traitor, why was she investigating alone? Why had the request come to me, a total outsider? The answer was simple.

"You like Danae, don't you."

"Huh? I dunno about 'like.' If anything, I'm closer to hating her. But, well... we go way back. I want to do something for her."

That was her reason. If Kanna-san started moving openly, suspicion would turn to Danae. But Kanna-san believed Danae was innocent. So she wanted to work behind the scenes and find the truth.

"Good."

Digging into someone's secrets—I was glad the purpose behind this request was a kind one. I never had any hesitation to begin with, but a wholesome reason motivated me a lot more than a shady one would.

"Let's protect everyone. Protect Danae. I'll cooperate with everything I have."

"Huh? Oh... Ahaha. Kotoha-san, you say some pretty embarrassing things, don't you."

She tried to tease me. But it was obviously just embarrassment on her part, and I couldn't help but laugh a little. She scratched her head uncomfortably and continued.

"The Maestro's goal is to reach the Land of Bonfires."

"Why is that?"

"First, the 'Tower of Babel' he's after is in the Land of Bonfires. Second, entry into the Land of Bonfires is relatively easy from Chaos. If they're hiding in Chaos, those are the only explanations."

The Tower of Babel, huh. I didn't know what that was. The Maestro hated language and held the delusion that humanity was being controlled through it. He believed the mastermind behind it all was in the Tower of Babel.

"'Find the traitor and ensure the Fire Ritual succeeds.' That's my mission then. Understood. Have you heard from Ter-senpai about my payment?"

"A connection to the Library Mandala, right? I've got plenty of connections, so that's no problem at all."

She squeezed my hand tight and gave a sugary smile.

"I'm counting on you, Kotoha-san!♡ Let's do our best together!"

"Haha. Right. I'll do my best to be worthy of that trust."

"Huh?"

I was starting to get a read on her. She was sharp, smart, incredibly capable, and had probably dug up everything there was to know about me. There was no way she'd accidentally get caught in the shower.

"You hid a bug or something in the bathroom, didn't you?"

"..."

"You didn't go into the wrong room. You broke in. I came back earlier than you expected, so you made a scene to cover it up. Am I wrong?"

"Ehhhh! That's not true! I was really embarrassed, you know!"

"Your clothes were folded next to the bathtub, right? Don't you normally undress before you get into the bathroom?"

When I asked, she stared at me silently for a moment, then immediately broke into a smile.

"I think we're going to be great friends!♡"

After removing the bugs from all over my room and calling back Luna-san—who had panicked when the call suddenly cut off—to calm her down (she'd gotten so worried she was about to illegally enter Chaos), I had dinner.

"Wh-what is this? Léa. This is way too good."

"Well, you see, this here is duck pâté, and this one's liver..."

The dining table surrounded by the Lumière family, who radiated an overwhelming aura of nobility, was quite nerve-wracking, but I was even more overwhelmed by how good the food was. Ingredients more luxurious than anything I'd ever tasted, combined with supreme culinary technique. It was unbelievably delicious.

"Hahaha, eat your fill, young man."

Léa's father laughed, his beautiful silver Kaiser mustache gleaming. Léa's parents radiated such powerful noble auras they were almost blinding. When this family lined up together, it looked like nothing less than a royal banquet.

"...Phewww."

After dinner, I stepped out onto the balcony. A large garden, a well-maintained fountain. I felt completely out of my depth, but I used the cold air to gather my thoughts. There was no small amount to think about.

"—Kotton!"

Léa suddenly appeared from the shadows of the garden. Her silver hair drifted in the night breeze as she came to stand beside me.

"How was it? Your first day at Chaos Institute?"

"It's a nice place. Everything's so beautiful, I liked it."

Chaos Institute was full of vibrant brick buildings and roads. But there were also modern skyscrapers and towers that looked like something a wizard would live in—there was no shortage of things to see.

"You liked it? Then how about defecting right now?"

"But I've got Koito Dorm back home. My friends are waiting for me."

"My, but your best friend is right here at Chaos, isn't she? You could live in this mansion if you wanted."

Having that food every day? That was a tempting proposal that made my heart waver. As I laughed at her joke, she clouded over for just an instant, then looked at me as if she'd made up her mind.

"...Kotton. Actually, there's something everyone hasn't told you about that Skull-Masked person."

I was a little surprised, but I waited for her to continue. Her cheeks were slightly flushed.

"That Skull-Masked Kotton... he was wearing a ring. A... wedding ring."

Huh, not bad at all. The other me had dated someone and even gotten married. For someone like me who was completely clueless about romance, it sounded completely out of reach.

"And, you see... The ghost of me... was wearing the exact same ring."

I froze. Seeing my expression, Léa's face turned even redder. Wait, so that meant—what. What did that mean? If me and Léa were wearing matching wedding rings, then...

"...I had the image analyzed. That ring... is one that's been passed down through the Lumière family for generations."

"...So that means..."

Léa's face was so red steam might come off it as she looked away.

(The me from another dimension... married Léa...?)

If I had enrolled at Chaos, that could have been a possibility. Seriously? I mean, I'd liked Léa from the very beginning, and there's no one else I get along with this well. Seriously?

"...Nice work, other-dimension me."

"N-nice work!?"

"I-I mean, think about it!"

He'd been loved by someone this beautiful and noble, and vowed to spend his life with her. That's amazing. He must have overcome all kinds of obstacles—otherwise it wouldn't have been possible. I was genuinely impressed.

"I see... Then, that guy..."

"Hm?"

"Was the me who was loved by Léa and couldn't protect her."

So he was. Poor guy. He must feel so hopeless. He must want to kill everything in sight. More than anything, he can't forgive himself—he must be screaming inside.

"..."

Suddenly our eyes met, and we stared at each other for several seconds. I couldn't believe someone like her, like a princess straight out of a storybook, had built a life with me. Or maybe, perhaps, there was still—

Ping-a-ling!♪

"Whoa!"

Suddenly my Ringphone buzzed, and Léa and I both jumped.

"Oh crap! I forgot to check in with Luna-san again! I've got 50 notifications piled up!"

"...Hmmmm."

Léa stared at me with narrowed eyes.

"...Cheating on her?"

"How is that cheating!"

"Player."

Léa was teasing me, but her cheeks were still red. She was embarrassed too, and just making jokes to cover it up.

"Luna-san's all 'Kotton, I love you so much!' right? Aren't you gonna date her?"

"Luna-san isn't like that. ...She's just someone I'll be with forever."

"Huh?"

"We're two halves of the same whole. We'll die together—that's what we've decided. So... love or romance... it's not really that kind of thing."

Sure, living with a beauty like that around the clock, impure thoughts did cross my mind sometimes. But she was so precious to me that none of that mattered. I was sure she felt the same way.

"Then, Kotton. Is there anyone you like right now?"

"Huh? ...Well, no. How about you, Léa?"

"I-I don't either... Not right now."

Our gazes locked. Neither of us saying anything, we just looked at each other.

"..."

We were surely both thinking the same thing. That there was a possibility. That we both knew it. Skull-Masked Kotoha had loved his dimension's Léa until death, and surely still loved her even now.

How difficult it must be to find love that deep. Neither of us could even imagine.

"W-well then! We're going to the Land of Bonfires tomorrow, so we should sleep!"

"O-oh, y-yeah!?"

I had to say goodnight to her. That felt unbearably lonely. I wanted to stay together longer. But I was in the middle of an important mission, and tomorrow would surely be a difficult day.

"Then... goodnight, Léa."

So I said it. Léa looked sad for a moment, then opened her mouth as if she'd just realized something.

"W-wait... Kotton. ...There's something I want to tell you before you go."

"Huh—"

"Actually, you know... I thought you'd have free time this afternoon, so I was thinking... you know? That maybe we could... go sightseeing around Chaos together."

I see. That's why she looked a little sad when we decided to head back to the mansion.

"B-but! You have work starting tomorrow, right? So..."

She smiled. An elegant, lovely expression, like a lily of the valley.

"When you get back—let's go hang out together!"

A whole day sightseeing in Chaos with Léa. That sounded like so much fun. I was already looking forward to it. When I nodded, she scurried back to her room, face still red.

"..."

I watched her beautiful silver hair retreat into the distance, stunned.

(That beautiful, noble person... the Skull-Masked me was loved by her.)

They must have had irreplaceable days together. And he must have lost all of it.

(It must be painful. It must be sad. It must be agonizing. But—)

No one understood his feelings better than me. That's exactly why.

(—If you try to destroy my precious days, I'll kill you.)