The Former Swordmaster Who Pretends to Be the Worst, and the School’s Top-Ranked Chairman’s Daughter Who’s Way Too Sweet in Public, It’s a Real Problem
“My, my, Saito-kun, you really are popular! To have two cute girls come visit you in the hospital… I wonder which one is the one you really like?”
“Is that really a question for you to ask, Ryotaro-san…?”
――A little while after Rika and the others left.
Ryotaro, the school’s chairman and my childhood friend’s father, had come to visit me in my hospital room. And the fact that he asked me something like that right off the bat made it impossible to tell what he was really thinking.
Faced with his carefree attitude, I could only give a wry smile.
There was no way Ryo-taro would have come just to pay a simple visit.
“So, did you manage to get any information?”
“…Yeah. Let’s get right to the point.”
When I asked him that, Ryotaro shrugged his shoulders and began to speak.
“I’m sure you’ve heard from Rika and the others, but Nishimiya, the mastermind behind this, was a spy from Novozarsk. It seems he infiltrated Japan through a meticulously planned cover-up and was siphoning off research results.”
“So, is that about the ‘designer babies’…?”
Midway through, I deliberately interrupted.
Ryotaro shook his head from side to side and continued.
“That research is just one of many, after all. Nishimiya was the leader of that project, but… even if we protest through the government, they’ll probably just play dumb.”
“So, in the end, we’ll never know the real objective?”
“That’s right. But we should be able to root out the other collaborators who infiltrated Japan one by one.”
“…I hope it’s that simple.”
There was also that incident at the detention center the other day.
If there were spies within the police force, there was no telling when they might silence him. Of course, if they went that far right away, it would be tantamount to admitting Novozarsk’s involvement. We should have a little more time.
“Ryotaro, is it okay if I ask you something?”
“Yeah, sure.”
And so, after that important exchange had come to a close.
I asked him this.
“What’s going to happen to Takanashi from here on out…?”
That was because I was concerned about the future of my own bad friend.
It was almost as if she had been blackmailed, but she was one of the spies too. Depending on the circumstances, she might even face legal charges. If that happened, there was no way she could continue living her school life as she had before.
However, in response to my earnest question, the chairman looked taken aback for a moment—
“—Whoa, that’s news to me.”
It was far too contrived.
He feigned ignorance while casting his gaze in a completely different direction. Seeing him like that, I couldn’t help but let a slight smirk cross my face.
It seemed this chairman intended to use his influence to sweep the matter under the rug.
“Takanashi Azusa is a valued student at our academy. Of course, I expect we’ll be having various conversations with her going forward, won’t we?”
“……I see.”
Having received the strong endorsement of the academy’s highest authority, I was finally able to let out a sigh of relief. To be honest, I’d been far more worried about that than about Nishimiya or the spy business.
But Ryotaro probably understood that all along.
Seeing the deep relief on my face, he smiled, his eyes narrowing.
“You said you wanted to protect your own peace of mind, didn’t you? I’d be happy if you thought of this as a small reward from me to you.”
He spoke as if it were no big deal, but to me, it was undoubtedly the greatest reward of all.
I’ve drifted a little away from the peace I’d envisioned. But anyone who wishes for the unhappiness of those around them is, quite simply, no good.
I, at the very least, could never join forces with such people.
Just as I was thinking that—
“Come to think of it, there’s something I’ve always wondered.”
“—Hmm, what is it?”
Ryotaro spoke these words with a deeply contemplative expression.
“The Sword master from another world is more human than I ever imagined,” he said.
He had hit the nail on the head.
I was so surprised I lost my voice and couldn’t say a word in reply. That, more than anything, served as proof of the truth, and he nodded as if convinced that this was exactly what he’d expected.
Then, he said quietly,
“Don’t worry. Of course, aside from Rika, no one else knows.”
“No, but why…?”
Ryotaro spoke calmly.
But I was a little flustered as I asked him back. Then,
“I don’t think you need to worry about it, Saito-kun. At least—”
He opened his narrowed eyes slightly.
“‘For now’… right?” he added.
◆
“Phew… I guess we’re safe for the time being. Still, it must be about time for ‘them’ to start making their move.”
He spoke as he walked through the hospital, having just left the ward.
Ryotaro recalled his conversation with Saito and said this. Then,
“I can trust Saito with Rika. Besides—”
He suddenly stopped and turned around.
Gazing at the ward where Saito was, he muttered,
◆
‘—this world,’
Ryotaro’s words lingered in my mind.
But my resolve remained unshaken. If there’s no such thing as a mission—
“I don’t need anything extra. I’ll protect the peace I cherish—that’s all that matters.”
—And so, one incident came to an end.
At that moment, I didn’t know.
What that choice would bring.
Maiban