It looks like Hikari-chan and I won’t be able to attend the meeting.

Well, to be fair, we’re just ordinary students, so it’s not surprising.

So, we went back to the hotel ahead of everyone else.

“Bed~!”

Hikari-chan dove onto the bed.

She bounced on it a few times before she started breathing softly in sleep.

“Eh… Hikari-chan?”

“Mmmf—Hah! I’m not asleep yet! Gotta brush my teeth and then wash off this sweat in the shower…”

Wobbling as she got up, Hikari-chan opened her eyes wide and told me that.

She was obviously sleepy.

“I’ll take the shower first…”

“O-Okay. Be careful.”

Saying that, Hikari-chan headed into the in-room shower.

She believed I was a beautiful girl, so she acted without hesitation.

But that won’t do.

There’s no way it’s okay for me to be sharing a room with two beautiful girls.

Mizuhi-senpai trusts me way too much, and Hikari-chan thinks I’m the same gender.

It’s really nice to be accepted, but I’m not ready yet.

I’m still a beautiful girl-in-training.

I can’t stay here overnight.

Originally, I was going to sneak out in the middle of the night to hunt down imposters under the cover of darkness.

But things have changed.

More than anything, I want to join the meeting now!

『Are we getting a cool CG of Sorciera!?』

『CG…?』

Angel-kun, everyone has a gal-game system in their heart.

Quick loads, saving, CG gallery, hiding the message window—those things.

Use all of them to craft your very own Sorciera event.

『……?? Sorry, my lord. My language functions just broke down. Say that again.』

Make your own append disc!

『So it was my lord who was broken.』

『My only complaint is that they only release all-ages versions.』

『Wait, are you broken too…?』

I’m not broken!＾＾

One day you’ll understand too, Angel-kun.

Anyway, I’m going to sneak into the meeting with a strong character entrance move.

Let’s drop some mysterious key phrases and hype up the place.

『A true-born entertainer, huh＾＾』

『Isn’t that just annoying?』

It’s weird that Sorciera isn’t at the meeting when there’s a fake running around!

I’m S-Rank too, so there’s no reason I shouldn’t be there.

『My lord, leave the hard talk to everyone else. You should take a shower and brush your teeth, then go to sleep. It’s okay. Tonight’s storybook is your favorite one.』

Stop flip-flopping between sane and crazy.

Which one are you?

『????』

『No, he meant you. Don’t look all confused.』

Yup, everyone here’s nuts.

If I waste time talking to weirdos, I’ll be late for the meeting.

Gotta hurry!

Oh nooo! I’m gonna be late!

“Hikari, I’ve got a quick errand to run.”

As Sorciera, I called out from in front of the door.

She responded right away.

“…Fwaa~ okayyy.”

“Hehe, thanks for your work today. You did a fine job.”

“Y-You think so? Ehehe… I’m glad I could help…”

Even just through her tone, I could tell Hikari-chan was smiling.

『So behind this door, Hikari-chan is buck naked huh＾＾』

That’s not okay.

『Sorry…』

『I don’t know where the line is…』

Getting excited here is just wrong.

Because that’s not the real Sorciera.

If I got excited here, I’d rip open my stomach with a scythe and die.

And then I’d explode and die again.

『Hyeeek』

『I see… this is your bushido code. I’m impressed, my lord.』

『No, I don’t think that’s what it is.』

All I can do is quietly leave a lemon candy as a reward.

“Then, get some good rest.”

“Yes, thank you!”

With a calm heart like still waters, I left the room.

Getting excited over a beautiful girl in the shower? That must never happen.

『Her pulse really isn’t spiking…!?』

『My lord, are you even human?』

I’m a beautiful girl-in-training.

Now then, time to head to the meeting.

And scare that cocky Ryuuko-chan who’s acting all high and mighty after beating Sorciera’s imposter＾＾

『Yaaay＾＾』

『Why’s that girl always treated like that…?』

■

The Chroma Music Academy conference room, with its ornate decor, felt like an art museum.

Every chair and table was handcrafted by artisans, the paintings were worth billions, and holy relics—objects that could sway the fate of nations—were used as decorations.

To find value in relics beyond tools—

That concept led student councils from generations ago to build this absurd meeting room, whose doors now stood open.

Gathered here were those who bore the title of strongest.

It was the start of a meeting among rulers who held power and prestige fitting for this place.

“—Whoa, Leader, can we take those gems from the ceiling home? Even the shavings from these chairs could sell for tons. You can call me ‘Starpiercer’ if you let me carve some off?”

“Of course not.”

“President Daiya, can I go home now? …Oh, I can’t, huh. Yeah, figured. But see, Rei-chan can’t sleep without me… Huh? She’s sleeping like a baby in Chroma’s top-tier suite? Oh. Well… never mind then… yeah.”

“I wonder if Kei and Hikari made it back okay… I forgot to check in with Miroku.”

Each of them bore the title of strongest.

But none of them had a serious face.

Because they stood at the top, they were free to act however they pleased.

Well, technically, only Rokuhara was watching the one who’d convened this meeting.

Of course, his right hand was clamped tightly around Eina’s collar.

“—Thank you all for gathering here tonight.”

Even among the strongest, a certain royal girl stood out with her presence.

With a graceful smile, she sipped her tea alone.

“President Daiya, why don’t you sit with us? Don’t be the only one at the birthday seat.”

“…Watarai Ryuuko. That Hyakki Yagyō you used earlier today requires a report. I’ll need a full fifty pages.”

“Whyyy!?”

That’s what happens when an S-Rank says something unnecessary.

Using Ryuuko as an example, Daiya took a breath and continued.

“Now, let’s begin the meeting. That said, this is actually a rescue request from Chroma Music Academy.”

Rokuhara nodded at those words.

“The main event’s in two days. If those things are still crawling around, it’ll be a disaster. As the Board’s lapdog, I’ll handle it. What about you?”

Mizuhi didn’t hesitate in nodding.

“Of course I’ll help. It’s Fectom General Academy’s first Hinotsuchi Cultural Festival. We can’t let it be ruined. Besides, this is for Toa’s revenge too.”

“Exactly.”

“Wait, what about me? Don’t I get a say?”

“You’re Chroma’s S-Rank. No debate. You’re in.”

Ryuuko slumped in defeat.

Then she pulled snacks from her expanded space and began eating.

She didn’t seem that upset.

“Aww, I want some too.”

“You want one, Eina-chan?”

“Thank youuu~!”

Just as Eina reached for the candy on the table, a shadow swallowed it whole.

Seeing this, she immediately clung to Rokuhara’s back and shrieked.

“Eeek! Leader! It’s her again!”

“She’s been here from the start. What’re you scared of?”

“You could’ve told me…”

Before tearful Eina, a girl emerged from the shadows.

With sleek black hair, she sat beside Mizuhi and smiled.

“Mizuhi-chan, good evening.”

“Ah, Tatari. …Sorry, I don’t have any food on me right now.”

“That’s okay. I had tons on the way. So that’s what ‘Retort Sorciera’ tastes like~”

Nodding in satisfaction, Tatari began munching on the snacks.

None of the S-Rank members were surprised.

Only Eina and Daiya were.

“Wh-Why are you all so calm…?”

“Well, Tatari-chan shows up everywhere. I totally expected her today.”

“Besides, during the festival, there are tons of food stalls. A glutton hanging around Chroma’s normal. Get used to it.”

“Ugh…”

“President Daiya, these people are the weird ones. We’re the normal ones, okay?”

The fact that these S-Ranks were used to Tatari’s random appearances was clearly the strange part.

“S-So, once more. Everyone here is willing to help with defending the Hinotsuchi Cultural Festival, yes? Even you, Miss Tatari…?”

“All-you-can-eat plan, right?”

Daiya’s question was met with nods all around.

And then it happened.

“—You planning to just sit back and watch the whole time?”

Rokuhara muttered.

The space behind him warped, and black feathers danced.

“Y-You’re…!”

President Daiya stood up in surprise.

“Once in a while, us S-Ranks should just get along, huh?”

“…Ugh. I hate buddy-buddy stuff. Stars only shine because they’re alone. Don’t you think?”

A girl leaned against the wall, a scythe resting beside her.

Silver-blue hair and black attire—there was no doubt.

It was the real Sorciera.