Kisou Academy had been officially sanctioned due to its defeat in the territorial war.

Its resources were to be managed through division among the other three major schools.

It sounded decent, but in reality, it was nothing more than becoming a puppet.

Furthermore, if the school were closed, hundreds of thousands of students would be left homeless, so maintaining the facade of Kisou Academy was necessary.

From now on, free dungeon raids would become difficult, and the number of students would likely decline.

However, until then, a leader to organize things was needed.

“…What a pain.”

Rokuhara had drawn that losing lot quite spectacularly.

The student council room was in chaos from the usual internal conflicts.

While complaining in this worst-of-places space, he worked on paperwork.

Next to him, Eina, already bored with paperwork, was playing by posing in front of a mirror.

On her arm was the armband certifying her as a member of the student council.

“Leader, look at this! Ehehehehe… now I’m on the ruling side too!”

“Just shut up and work.”

Rokuhara was a diligent man.

Thanks to his experience as a disciplinary committee member, he wasn’t bad at paperwork.

Right now, he was reviewing and redistributing the budget, which the student council usually assigned haphazardly.

“We can’t earn like before. We gotta cut where we can. Seriously, what does that student council even do all day?”

His S-rank physical ability was fully on display as he quickly finished the documents one after another.

Watching this, Eina munched on some rice crackers and sat down on top of a fallen student.

“I’m bored. Leader, since you’re proxy, let’s go somewhere and have fun.”

“Shut up. If you’re bored, make some tea for me.”

“Okay~”

Eina walked toward the kettle, stepping on the students collapsed all over the floor.

Just then, the student council room door opened and someone rushed in.

“You’re the proxy student council president! If I defeat you, I’ll control this academy—‘Shut up!’ —Myyaa!?”

Before he could finish speaking, Rokuhara’s flying kick exploded onto the boy’s face.

After knocking him down in one move, Rokuhara grabbed the student’s head and threw him into the corner.

The student council room was thus filled with students defeated by Rokuhara.

“Dealing with weaklings is boring… seriously boring…”

“Some tea, please.”

Rokuhara snatched the offered tea and gulped it down, then returned to paperwork.

Eina, now restless, started poking the student who had attacked earlier for fun.

“I’ve heard rumors, but seriously, the student council is crazy. I’ve knocked out fifty people today alone. Look, I got wallets too.”

“If you beat the student council president, you become top, that idiot declared… Hey, return those wallets. No, don’t even take a single bill.”

Stopping clearly immoral behavior, Rokuhara sighed.

“Where the hell did that idiot go…? Don’t tell me he’s dead somewhere.”

Thinking so, Rokuhara quickly dismissed the idea.

He well knew how terrifying that guy’s abilities were.

“I want him to come back soon and act like the big boss again.”

Rokuhara glanced at the clock.

It was past noon, but he still hadn’t had lunch.

Meanwhile, Eina was eating alone in the cafeteria.

By the way, Eina was trying to expense her lunch to the student council budget.

Of course, Rokuhara wouldn’t allow that.

“Hey, why are you suddenly checking the time, Leader? Hungry? Want me to order pizza or sushi?”

“Why are you trying to eat too? No, it’s not that. Well, I’m hungry, but…”

Just then, the student council room door opened again.

Eina struck a fighting pose despite not wanting to fight.

“Excuse me. Um, is Rokuhara-senpai here…?”

The one who entered was a girl with black hair tied small on the side.

Seeing her, Eina shouted:

“Ah, you thief cat!”

“Who are you calling a thief cat!”

Chaaki Sakagami glared at Eina.

Then she puffed out her chest.

“Hmph, whatever. Unlike you, I’m the vice-chair of the disciplinary committee. I don’t care about small fry’s words.”

“Huh? I’m also the Leader’s partner! The one and only! Right, Leader?”

“…………Oh.”

“Leader!?”

Her reply was clearly delayed.

Eina turned sharply, but Rokuhara quickly averted his eyes.

Then, looking at Chaaki, he showed the first smile of the day.

“Good to see you. I’ve been waiting.”

“If Rokuhara-senpai calls, I’ll come anywhere.”

Blushing, Chaaki said that.

“You’re doing paperwork instead of the student council, right? If it’s with Rokuhara-senpai, then… um, I’ll really try my best.”

“With me? We’re not playing at paperwork! Leader, fire her!”

“You’re the one playing around.”

Rokuhara dismissed Eina’s words, stood up, and approached Chaaki.

“Huh, Rokuhara-senpai?”

“Chaaki, I have a favor to ask.”

Rokuhara placed his hands on Chaaki’s shoulders and looked straight into her eyes.

“Wha- your face is so good…!”

“Listen, Chaaki.”

“Y-yes!”

“Stop that! Don’t make a female face towards the Leader!”

The noisy onlookers were already out of Chaaki’s mind.

She stared at Rokuhara, waiting for his next words.

Then Rokuhara said with utmost seriousness:

“Take care of all the remaining paperwork.”

“………Eh?”

Before she could understand his meaning, Rokuhara’s feet were covered by something glasslike.

The next moment, Rokuhara grabbed Eina by the scruff and dashed out of the student council room.

“I’m doing a favor for Yukihira! It sounds way more fun, so I’m off!”

“Hahaha! As expected of the Leader! Going out, huh!”

In that brief 0.1 seconds,

Chaaki was left alone in the student council room with a mountain of paperwork.

“Eh… huh?”

Unable to comprehend what had happened, Chaaki looked around wide-eyed.

Then, slowly grasping the situation, she spoke.

“—He really is cool… I love him…”

Chaaki Sakagami, vice-chair of the Kisou Academy Disciplinary Committee.

Her serious work often made her play the losing role, but many admired her.

However, behind that face was:

“I’ll brag about this to the fan club…!”

She was number two in the Rokuhara fan club.

■

When that girl woke up, there was no one around.

Only herself floating in a water tank, all alone.

For a young girl, the space was a little too big and lonely.

“…?”

She tilted her head.

The girl understood nothing.

Her origin, and everything up to the present.

Without knowing what could be called life, the girl had awakened.

She understood nothing, remembered nothing.

But there was one thing she did understand.

“I’m hungry.”

Hunger was a problem to solve immediately.

So, the girl decided to go outside.

Only the use of her ability was instinctively remembered.

The girl easily broke the water tank using her ability and fell to the floor.

“Ugh, that hurts…”

It seemed she cut her fingertip on glass shards.

But holding back tears, she started walking.

“I want something sweet to eat.”

Muttering that to no one in particular, the girl left the room where alarms were blaring.