I might be in for a massive scolding…

Mizuhi-senpai found out that I had come to Kiso Academy.

‘Hmm, I wonder how they figured it out. It should be impossible for anyone to track your location as long as I’m around.’

I don’t know, but the fact remains—I’ve been found out.

Apparently, Toa-chan’s coming along too.

All I did was shop for clothes for cross-dressing, and suddenly it’s a full-blown disciplinary issue across the Fectom Academy system!

Isn’t this bad?

I might lose all credibility from now on!

‘I have an idea.’

Oh? Let’s hear it.

‘I sense my younger sister’s presence in that building. Let’s steal that and present it as a tribute. That’ll smooth things over.’

That building? The spiky one?

No way. If you do that, Rokuhara-san will come flying in!

Anyway, Sorciera’s off duty today.

For now, I’m peacefully focusing on cross-dressing.

‘Is that so?’

And what about this Purification-chan hanging around me?

She’s bound to get influenced by my antics and go “Hyahha!” at some point!

I need her to behave until Touraku-kun’s main storyline event happens.

“Hey, hey, was it part of your plan for Fectom Academy students to show up here too?”
“…A trivial matter. This level of irregularity.”
“Haha, I see. As expected of you.”

Look at Purification-chan’s eyes.

They’re sparkling like she’s ready to explode something!

Now’s not the time to be picking out clothes.

Please, Purification-chan, go home already…!

‘…We should leave before the Fectom Academy students arrive.’

Agreed.

Let’s get out of the building first.

Costumes can wait!

“Shall we go?”

Bye, Purification-chan!

“Yes, let’s go.”

Why are you following me?!

In the end, I ended up waiting outside the building with Purification-chan for Mizuhi-senpai and the others to arrive.

Purification-chan… don’t you have your own things to do?

Look, I know it’s wrong to say this to a beautiful girl, but…

Could you go somewhere else?

‘Why don’t you just tell her to leave directly?’

Like I could ever say that to a beautiful girl!

And besides, a mysterious beauty never tells someone to “leave”!

Sorceria’s policy is to neither chase those who leave nor reject those who come—it’s inconsistent otherwise!

‘True enough…’

Guess I’ll have to keep up the mysterious beauty act and subtly make her leave.

Maybe I can hint at some upcoming events from the original story to steer her in another direction.

“Yes, that group… it’s them, isn’t it?”
“…Indeed.”

Too late!

I always miss the timing.

■

Mizuhi and Toa joined us at the base of a commercial building in the central district of Kiso Academy.

Amid the crowd, I spotted the familiar uniforms.

“Kei, so you were here.”
“…I’m sorry.”

As soon as we met, Kei lowered his head in apology.

He was apologizing for acting alone to rescue Miroku.

“How long has this been your plan?”
“…Since I was discharged from the hospital.”
“I see…”

(We were in the same hospital. He must have noticed the oddities right away. If only he had consulted me or Toa… What a stubborn guy.)

Mizuhi sighed inwardly.

But at the same time, she understood his feelings.

“Next time, trust us too. Toa and I both want to save Miroku just as much as you do.”

“???”

Kei looked up, puzzled.

“To rescue Miroku from Kiso Academy, all of us need to work together. Right, Toa?”
“Yeah. Kei-kun, you’re not alone.”
“…Huh?”

Kei’s voice was filled with surprise.

His expression reflected the disbelief of someone who thought he was the only one who could save Miroku.

(Kei… You’ve always fought alone, haven’t you?)

For him, the idea of having comrades seemed entirely foreign.

Mizuhi took Kei’s hand.

“Let’s save Miroku.”
“…Yes!”

■

Alright! Time for a quick meeting!

‘Understood.’

Something major is happening, and I wasn’t informed!

It seems Miroku-senpai is in serious trouble!

I thought I’d be scolded, but no—it’s much worse.

Still, I need to gather information.

Feigning knowledge, I asked,

“By the way, how much does Mizuhi-senpai know about the current situation?”

“Only that Miroku was kidnapped by Kiso Academy. And that she reduced her debt by offering herself as collateral…”

Wait, what?!

Now’s not the time to be celebrating a new outfit!

Also, why is Miroku-senpai being targeted?

Because she’s a beautiful girl? Is it really because she’s a beautiful girl?

“I don’t know why they targeted Miroku.”

Mizuhi-senpai glanced at me.

Wait… does she think I know something?!

Uh-oh, I don’t have a clue!

“Kiso Academy is conducting compatibility experiments with Demonsgear using external students.”

Wha—Purification-chan?!

“And you are…?”
“I’m Purification-chan! The idol of justice, at your service! Long time no see, Toa Tsukimiya-san!”
“Ah, hello.”

Purification-chan waved at Toa-chan before pulling out her phone to snap photos with Mizuhi.

Hey, you’re going to get punched for that.

“You must be meeting me for the first time, right? Though you might have heard of me.”
“You’re the one who broadcasted unauthorized streams at Fectom Academy.”
“That’s right! Oh, but don’t look so scary, please.”

With exaggerated gestures, Purification-chan smiled and handed a small USB stick to Mizuhi-senpai.

“All the kidnapped students were taken to the same location. This contains the location details and security data. Use it as you see fit.”

Isn’t this super-dangerous data?

And wait—this matches a professor’s storyline in the original work, doesn’t it?!

“…Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. After all, I’m Narou Kei’s friend!”

Purification-chan patted my shoulder before whispering in my ear.

“This should be fine, right?”
“…Maybe so.”

You think this is fine? The original storyline’s going to break apart now!

“Well then, I’ll leave the rest to you!”

Waving goodbye, Purification-chan disappeared back into the building.

She’s probably watching us charge in from the upper floors…

“Kei, is she a friend of yours?”
“Yes. She’s… a reliable ally, I suppose.”

Mizuhi-senpai seemed pleased by my answer and tightened her expression.

“Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
“…Understood.”

Something’s definitely off from the original story.

But first, we have to save that beautiful girl!