[Youth I]

Gunshots could be heard from outside and the classroom windows were broken.

Even so, the students of Class 2A were somewhat calm about the situation. The reason for this was the presence of Okuda-san. Having witnessed the wonder girl taking the initiative, the students were disgusted by the idea of following in her footsteps. 

They did not want to be on the same level as her. 

As a result, all the classmates barely kept their composure, when they would have been in a state of confusion. Fortunately, no one was injured.

On the other hand, several students who understood Nishino-kun's situation, such as Inchou, Takeuchi, and Nora, were not at peace with the situation. In the past, they have been in similar situations, and it has been a chilling experience for them. 

After a short wait, the gunfire ceased. 

Nishino immediately turns to Rose and Gabriella.

"I'm sorry, but I'm gonna need all the help I can get."

"Is that okay with you?"

"This is getting out of hand."

"I like living here...."

The Futsumen spoke with a blank expression on his face, no different than usual. Rose was the one who showed a gesture of concern for his feelings. Gabu-chan, on the other hand, expressed his honest feelings with a sorrowful look on her face. 

Many students looked at Nishino quizzically, wondering what he was talking about. However, since the conversation was not with Okuda-san, but with Rose and Gabriella, no one raised an accusing voice. The important thing was that the Wonder Girl was curled up on the floor with a pale face. 

Meanwhile, there was a response on the classroom speakers. 

It was the school's internal broadcasting equipment, placed above the blackboard alongside the clock. 

It made a buzzing noise and then emitted a chime. The students' attention turns to the speaker, none of whom are exceptional, wondering if it is a call from the school in response to the gunshots that have just been fired. 

The chime was soon followed by the sound of human voices.

"This is a message from the broadcast room. Nishino-kun of Class 2A, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, please come to the broadcast room immediately. Repeat, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, please come to the broadcast room immediately."

It was the voice of a man who seemed to be an adult. 

He spoke fluent Japanese.

"If you do not follow the instructions obediently, we will not guarantee the safety of students and faculty on campus."

It was an ordinary student call. 

At the end of the broadcast, the last part of the message was unrealistic. 

The eyes of all the students in the classroom turned to the Futsumen. They stared at the problem child of the class as if to say, What in the world is going on? Some of the students were suspicious, wondering if Nishino had put him up to this. 

Nishino, in response to the attention, muttered to himself.

"Apparently, the report I submitted the other day was not good enough."

He said this while lifting his hands to his shoulders and posing blatantly. 

He thought he was trying to deceive well. 

His classmates thought he was making fun of them. 

The fact that he went to the trouble of calling it a report instead of a homework assignment is also irritating. The sound of gunshots coming from outside, the broken windowpanes, and the broadcast inside the school, all lead one to suspect that Nishino was acting on his own. 

The extremely ordinary face deviation of the parties involved makes even such a situation less convincing due to the sense of crisis. If it had been Takeuchi who had been called by name, the classmates might have been able to panic. 

Regardless of the reactions of those around her, Rose said to Nishino.

"Hey, Nishino-kun. I'm going with you."

"Why?"

"From what I heard, they are probably after you, right? If that is the case, I think it would be easier for you to move if you have at least one more person with you. They didn't tell you to come alone."

"I can't involve you in this."

"Are you that worried about your classmates?"

"I'm worried, but you're also a student attending the same school."

"That's nice to hear. I'm flattered to hear you say that. "

"I'm sorry, but I didn't mean to make a joke."

"It's not unnatural for you to want to help your classmates because you go to the same school, right? With the damage on campus still unclear, wouldn't it be a shame for me and these kids to remain in the same place? "

" ...... "

Hearing Rose's statement, the Futsumen looks troubled. 

It seems that even she has her own thoughts on the matter.

"I think the classroom will be fine with these kids."

Rose says with a glance at Gabriella and Nora. 

The former, who wields the same kind of power as Nishino, would certainly be able to protect her classmates, even if they had guns in their hands. And the latter has fought well on her own in the past against not only the Futsumen but also against three others, including Rose and Gabu-chan.

"You can go with sister. Instead, we will keep the peace in the classroom."

"Nishino, I agree with Rose."

With that in mind, the Futsumen decided to accept Rose's suggestion. 

It was not hard to imagine that her assistance would be invaluable to any student or faculty member who needed help until they could be moved to the broadcast room. Also, she would have no problem taking a few bullets.

"All right, I'm sorry, but I need you to come with me."

"Yes, leave it to me."

Being asked to do this by Nishino brings a small smile to Rose's face. 

"Rose-chan is acting like Nishino and Okuda-san. "

"Gabriella and Nora seem to be communicating normally."

"The most important thing is that Okuda-san is shaking so badly, isn't it unsettling to see her?"

"She was shooting an air gun like crazy just a while ago."

For students who did not know what was going on, everything was a mystery. 

There was no end to the questioning of Nishino's group. 

Also, Takeuchi and Inchou, who normally would have taken the initiative to speak up, simply watched the exchange without saying a word. They seemed to have decided that it would go better without any intervention. This was an odd sight to the other students. 

A Futsumen was standing right now in the center of Class 2A.

"Sorry to be so one-sided, everyone, but I need you to be calm and quiet for a moment."

Leaving behind another irritating line, Nishino departed from the classroom. 

Rose chased after him with a smile on her face. 

Their footsteps soon moved away from the classroom and disappeared down the hallway.

 

◇ ◆ ◇

 

Departing from their Class 2A classroom, Nishino and Rose headed straight for the broadcast room. 

On the way there, they encountered a man with a gun in his hand in the hallway. 

At first glance, the man's antisocial background was apparent. He was in his 20s. He has a carefully shaved skinhead and a beard around his mouth. He has tattoos on his face and neck. He wears a dark jacket and jeans.

"Oh, there you are. An unprecedented bounty hunter."

When the man saw Nishino and Rose, he immediately raised his gun. 

The next moment, several bullets were fired in rapid succession. The shots were all aimed at the Futsumen. It seemed that he had checked his appearance in advance, and there was no hesitation in his finger pulling the trigger. 

However, all of them were still just before touching him. 

In the meantime, Rose's hands, which were approaching ahead of him, were entwined around his head. The hands on the back of his head and chin were twisted as if they were turning like a wheel. Immediately afterward, there is a thumping sound, and the man's neck bends in the wrong direction. 

Her hands let go, and the man slumped to the corridor. 

After that, she waited for a while, but did not move even a twitch.

"As ever, you're very skilled.."

"With [Normal's] support, anyone can do it."

After confirming the man's demise, they ran back toward the broadcast room. 

They did not encounter any students during the move. It is likely that someone like the one they just dealt with has entered the school and is herding the students into the classrooms. The magnitude of the other party is still unknown, but it is a view shared by Nishino and Rose that it is not likely to be just one or two people. 

After some time, they arrived at the front of the broadcast room. 

The door was somewhat stern in design compared to those of the general classrooms lining the corridor. Above the door was a light that indicated that a broadcast was in progress. The soundproofing system prevents any sign of life in the room.

"Hey, Nishino-kun. I'm sure it's a trap."

"But even if it is, we can't just sit back and watch."

In front of a hesitant Rose, Nishino reached for the broadcast room door. 

It was unlocked and pushed open easily. 

The broadcast room is double-layered, as is the case in many schools. The space immediately after entering is a sub-control room with a mixer and monitors, and one more soundproof door leads to a recording booth with sound equipment.

"There's no one here."

Looking at the sub-control room in the foreground, Nishino muttered to himself. 

It is not a very large room, so one glance at the room reveals that it is unoccupied. He looked at the recording booth through the partition wall with a large glass window, but could not see anyone in that booth either. The only thing left unattended was the power supply for the equipment. 

The microphone was switched on and the input lamp was lit.

"Is he hiding somewhere?"

Rose approaches the equipment and shuts down the main power switch. 

All the lights on the equipment are turned off at once. 

Now their exchange does not echo throughout the school. 

At the same time, a change is seen in the sub-control room. 

A large shelf in the corner of the room. From one of the rows of cardboard boxes displayed there, a bullet pierced the side of the box and flew out. It was aimed in a straight line at Rose, who was just now touching the power switch.

"......!"

Surprised by the sound of gunfire, she turns around and sees a bullet resting in mid-air, right under her nose. 

Just as he had caught the bullet earlier. 

In front of Rose's wide-eyed face, the bullet, which had lost its momentum, dropped to the floor.

"Thank you, Nishino-kun. You've been very helpful."

"I was prepared."

"I wonder if they had time to do anything in such a short period of time?"

"They probably snuck onto campus and made preparations in advance."

"I'm curious about the other party's reasons for going that far."

"If I follow what your boss has told me, the defector has made it a condition for us to be persuaded. However, considering the situation our school is in, it is conceivable that they may have been misinformed."

"Maybe he's getting desperate."

"I would expect the culprit to make a reasoned decision, right up to the very end."

A short time after the gunshots rang out, a chime sounded from a speaker installed in the sub-control room, announcing the start of the school's broadcast. It was one of those set up high on the wall, not far from the entrance door. 

Immediately following it was a voice that they had heard earlier in the classroom.

"The following is a message from the staff room. Nishino-kun of Class 2A, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, please come to the staff room immediately. I repeat, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, please come to the staff room immediately."

The same phrasing of things. 

However, the caller was different.

"If you do not follow the instructions obediently, we will not guarantee the safety of students and faculty on campus."

The complaint that followed is similar. 

However, the credibility of the reported threat goes up a notch after the presence of an outsider with a handgun is confirmed. In a situation where the entire school had been taken hostage, Nishino turned on his heel and headed down the hallway. Rose followed his lead.

"It seems they know everything we do."

"They must have cameras inside the school. Nishino-kun, you're right, they were definitely prepping in advance. Once the situation is under control, it might be a good idea to check out the contractors who have been in and out of the school."

"Yeah, I agree."

They left the broadcast room, solemnly exchanging words.

 

◇ ◆ ◇

 

It has been a while since Nishino and Rose headed for the broadcast room. 

The students could still be seen in the classroom of Class 2A. Nishino gave them the order to wait, which would normally have been met with an inevitable backlash. The reason why they are still there is because Okuda-san showed everyone the presence of a bullet left in the ceiling. 

Inchou and Risa-chan, who had also sensed the situation, suggested a group action. 

They said that it was dangerous to act separately in this situation. 

Many of the students who were about to call the police were surprised to find that the phones in their hands had no signal. Apparently, a communication suppressor had been installed. The campus network had also been shut down, and all means of communicating with the outside world were completely lost. 

While this was going on, gunshots were heard from what seemed to be inside the school. Thanks to this, not a single dissenting voice was raised. The uproar that had broken out just a few minutes before was gone. Everyone was united, huddled together and quiet in the classroom. 

However, there were some students who felt uncomfortable with the current situation.

"I have waited for a while, but there is no sign of the enemy."

"I would be happier if they didn't keep coming. "

"But isn't it frustrating to be left with nothing to do but to be attacked?"

It is Gabriella. 

She lets out a disapproving voice against Inchou. 

Apparently, she is stressed about the waiting situation.

"I think it's best if this just passes without incident. "

"I'm going to go take a look around on the same floor for a bit."

"Eh ….. "

The Inchou was at a loss for words at the answer that followed so easily. 

At the same time, she recalled the image of Gabu-chan when she first met her. She was also rather aggressive, though it was easy to forget since she looked so ladylike and was so quiet these days.

"Gabriella-chan, if possible, I would like to do as Nishino says."

Takeuchi, flustered by her statement, let an honest thought slip out. 

He is a handsome man who is convinced of the presence of someone armed. 

Gabriella tells him as if to admonish him.

"Don't worry. As long as Nora Dagu is there, there is no problem. "

"Eh, why Nora-chan?"

"Not only sister and I, but even Gokyou Nishino took a step backward at least once. If you think you can break through her defense on the first try, you'll have to launch missiles at her from a distance to do it."

"I-I see."

Suddenly, Gabu-chan started talking like Okuda-san. 

People around her stared at her with a shocked look on their faces. 

Takeuchi also could not imagine such a scene. 

Nora responded with a small nod, having received attention from everyone.

"Leave it to me. I'll protect all of Nishino's friends."

"He himself has said this too."

To an ordinary person, it was too far-fetched a suggestion. Takeuchi knew the background of Nishino-kun and the others, however, so he did not think they were telling a lie. It was the imagination of a bright and handsome man that this girl might have been the cause of the shark fiasco in Guam. 

Still, in front of his classmates, he spoke in generalities.

"Even so, if you wait quietly, the police will be here soon. If you hear so many gunshots in a row, even one of the neighbors will call the police. A student from the sports club who was out on the field went to the police station to ask for help."

"The sirens should have already been heard. "

".....Maybe there's something else?"

The common sense that I conveyed, hoping that it would be so. 

However, it was quickly swallowed up by insanity.

"Earlier, he was in contact with the outside world. In other words, the situation has been communicated.  Considering the fact that the old lady who bring Nora Dagu to the country, I don't expect that the situation will be left as is, but there is a slight possibility that the police will have to wait for their intervention."

"Could that mean something about Nishino?"

"I think the same applies to him, as well as to me, my sister, and Nora Dagu. It is also possible that for political reasons, the problem may be left to him to solve. I, for one, am guessing that is the most likely scenario."

"I-I see........."

Although he wondered what the political reasons were, Takeuchi nodded his head honestly. 

In the past, he has witnessed many similar extra-judicial measures. He had lived his life without even knowing that supernatural powers existed until just the other day. It was not difficult to imagine that someone was covering it up. 

In fact, he himself has been repeatedly threatened by Francisca over the handling of poison.

"So I will go check out the floor. I like living here, although not as much as the man who just left. I'd like to go and see what I can do for myself."

"Well, in that case, can I go with you?"

"I don't mind, but why?"

The Inchou called out to Gabriella as she was heading down the hallway. 

The person in question also raised a question.

"If what you just said is true, this is the safest place to be, right? If I see any kids in trouble while I'm checking on them, I'd like to show them to the classroom. If you're on your own, you might not be able to do that, right? "

"I see."

"Inchou, let me help you, too."

"Me too! I'm coming with you. "

"And may I come with you?"

At the same time that the Inchou appealed, Takeuchi, Suzuki, and Risa-chan responded. One of them raised their voices out of the goodness of their hearts, while two others asked to accompany the Inchou. One was Suzuki, who wanted to show his goodwill to Shimizu, and the other was Risa-chan, who was genuinely concerned about her. 

Then, following them, Matsuura-san blurted out.

"Then maybe I'll go with you."

"Eh, Matsuura-san too?"

"Inchou, why are you looking at me with such a surprised face? "

"Because it's Matsuura-san, how can I put it......"

Inchou blurts out with a quizzical look on her face. 

Not only her, but Takeuchi, Suzuki, Risa-chan, and even her classmates are all staring at Matsuura-san with suspicion. No one thinks of her as someone who would do anything for others. 

In fact, they even suspect that she might be thinking of some devious scheme.

"I worry about other people a little, too, you know?"

It is a complete lie. 

Matsuura-san is a firm believer that the safest place to be is next to Gabriela. 

She insists on accompanying them, as if she can't bear to be left behind.

"I understand. Well, now that you mention it, let's all head out together."

Gabu-chan nodded, and the impromptu survey team departed from Class 2A.

 

◇ ◆ ◇

 

Gabriella and the others went out into the hallway and passed by the other classes, Class B and Class C. 

A glimpse of students can be seen in the classrooms 

Meanwhile, the hallway was deserted. 

The students who remained inside the classrooms all seemed frightened. No injured students who had been restrained could be seen. On the other hand, there is none of the after-school bustle. The Inchou walking down the corridor received anxious glances from those in front of them.

"Seeing these members in action reminds me of the graduation trip fiasco."

"It's very emotional to see the former enemy character on our side."

"By enemy character do you mean me?"

Matsuura-san and Gabu-chan responded to Inchou's casual remark. 

Recalling those days, Takeuchi and Suzuki followed suit.

"In that case, though, you're missing a hero role."

"Takeuchi, you're still pushing for Tarosuke, aren't you? "

"Inchou, where did you stay on the day you arrived there on the trip?"

"Ah, no, that's..."

The group, led by Gabriella, moves around the floor, passing several classrooms in a row. Because Class A is located at one end of a straight corridor, the group peeks into classrooms of the same grade from one corner to the other.

"There are some bullet holes in the hallway."

Gabu-chan muttered as she walked. 

As she pointed out, there were bullet holes in the walls and ceiling where she was staring. Since they had already seen similar marks in the classroom, there was no need to doubt the authenticity of the marks. Suzuki and Risa-chan were astonished.

"Oh, come on, you mean something bad just happened to be right around the corner?"

"The window next door was broken just like ours."

The other classrooms called out to them in rapid succession as they saw the upper caste students in the hallway. Most of them were concerned about this. Replying that they were fine, the students continued on their way.

"It's a blessing in disguise that none of the students are hurt."

"It seems to me that they didn't intend to injure them in the first place."

Slowly moving down the hallway, they reached a staircase at the end of the corridor. 

Gabriella looked at the staircase, which extended up and down, and suddenly muttered to herself.

"Since I'm here, I think I'll go check out the other floors."

"What? Not just this floor?"

"I would like to kill at least one of them."

The Inchou asked her about it, to which the leader responded gruffly. 

Gabu was full of enthusiasm. Before the other members could say anything else, she began to stagger down the stairs to the lower floor. Halfway down the stairs, in front of Shimizu and the others, she stood on the landing in the middle. 

At the same time, they heard voices coming from downstairs.

"Hey, there's silver hair coming from above, watch out!"

"I'll use this, move out of the way!"

It was the rough voices of men. 

Immediately after, there was a thud. 

At the same time, the staircase landing where Gabriela was standing collapsed. 

A cloud of dust instantly filled the air and covered everyone's vision. It was as if she had been caught in a sandstorm. The blast, which extended up and down the staircase, shook the Inchou and the others who were standing at the junction with the corridor.

"........"

Gabriella did not expect this. 

Caught in the explosion, she was forced to fall to the floor below. 

After a few moments, the sound of repeated gunfire began to echo.

"Shoot! If you don't want to be killed, shoot! "

"Go back to the classroom. I'll be back in a moment."

Inchou and the others turned on their heels in a panic after receiving instructions from downstairs. This was no time to be talking about the students in the other classes. Nodding to each other, the members of Class 2A rushed out into the corridor from which they had come. 

However, their footsteps came to an abrupt halt before they had gone more than a few steps. 

A man with a gun in his hand appeared in front of them. 

He was coming from the opposite side of the stairway that had just collapsed, a stairway located near the classrooms of Class A of the second year. He must have heard the explosion and moved across the floor. The person ahead of them saw the girls at the end of the corridor and ran up to them.

"Inchou, what are we going to do!"

"Up the stairs!"

Risa-chan is mortified. 

Inchou shouted without a moment's pause and ran as if leading the way. 

Everyone followed behind her. 

The five of them quickly turned and headed for the upper floor in the opposite direction of Gabriella's fall. Fortunately, the up stairs had not collapsed and they were safe. The girls ran up the stairs in a rush of pattering and scurrying to the one floor above. 

When they checked the hallway, they did not see anyone there.

"Inchou, could we continue down the other staircase?"

"I was thinking the same thing as Risa, but I don't know. "

"Whatever it is, let's go! I hear footsteps behind me, they're coming!"

Prompted by Matsuura-san's comment, everyone began to move. 

They ran down the corridor that crossed the building. 

Then, in front of their faces, people appeared from everywhere they went. 

From one of several classrooms in a row, someone appeared, opening the door with a gust of wind. 

It was another man with a rough appearance. It was a different person from the one we had seen downstairs. He has a gun in his hand, and his finger is on the trigger. He makes his way toward the Inchou and the others with a cautious step.

"I found those kids from the instructions. I need another one to come in."

The response came from the other end of the line, having spotted the Inchou and the rest of the group in the hallway. 

The man was wearing headphones that doubled as a radio receiver and began contacting them over the intercom. Witnessing his organized behavior, the Inchou and the others were forced to shiver more than a few shivers down their spines. 

Immediately after, the man they had encountered downstairs came up the stairs. 

They were trapped between the front and back of the room.

"Inchou, what should we do? ......"

"..............."

An anxious voice escapes Risa-chan's mouth. 

Inchou could not come up with a reply. 

Takeuchi and Suzuki's faces were all tense. 

By the way, Matsuura-san, who loves FPS, was wondering about the equipment of the other party. 

The person they encountered on the same floor was walking up to them at this very moment. 

Why is he wearing headphones? He was wearing a pair of headphones that looked like the kind of ear muffs used for shooting, but with a much harsher design. I thought that earphones would be sufficient for communication. 

It was something that looked like a stun granade taken out of the man's pocket. 

".........."

In a great panic, she turned away from the man, covering her ears with both hands.

At that moment, she saw in her vision the presence of a person who was approaching her from behind. 

Right now, he is in the same position as Matsuura-san.

Convinced by the other man's behavior, she ran out like a rabbit. 

The man, holding his ears with both hands, turned his back to her. Passing by him, she runs straight down the corridor she just came from. Then she slides into the stairwell just ahead. 

The man tries to raise the gun in his pants, but gives up. 

At the same time, the sound of a stun granade popping and light shook the floor.

 

◇ ◆ ◇

On the same day, Tarosuke accompanied Alice Kurusugawa to the high school Nishino and his friends were attending. 

The reason for the visit was to observe the school in preparation for her entering high school. 

The contents of the visit were exactly what the comical person had overheard in the conversation between the teachers. 

Considering the relationship between the two, this would have been an impossible occurrence. For Tarosuke, Alice Kurusugawa is one of the many cases he is dealing with. But he was still taking care of the junior student in this way. Because there is someone at the school that Tarosuke is very concerned about. 

Today, they are both in the principal's office, meeting with the principal.

"..... and that is the reason for her strong desire to do so! .''

"I understand what Ogataya and Kurusugawa are saying."

They are sitting side by side on a sofa. The principal sits alone opposite them. 

He is in the same place explaining the situation prior to the tour of the school. 

Naturally, the principal voiced his doubts.

"However, I think it's not right for me to tell you this, but I suddenly find it hard to believe that our school is that attractive to Alice Kurusugawa. Is there any other reason?"

For him, the visit of the two is nothing short of suspicious. 

The school is an ordinary public high school. It does not excel in higher education, nor does it have outstanding results in club activities. The school itself is not unique, and there are no celebrities among its students. 

What is of interest, then, is the existence of a certain student who has recently moved to the school. 

Without stating it explicitly, the principal cites Gabriella's presence. 

She was one of the few people at this school who was somewhat informed by Francisca about her situation when she moved to the new school. Sweetly, he told her that if anything happened to her, the entire staff would be out on the street, not to mention the head of the school. 

Alice Kurusugawa, who has no way of knowing such circumstances, tells him in high spirits.

"I came here because I was attracted by the school culture here! I would appreciate your cooperation!"

From the principal's point of view, it was completely outrageous. 

This girl is definitely suspicious, he said. 

In the midst of these interviews, a sound even more suspicious than her presence echoed through the principal's office. It was the sound of a series of gunshots. At first hearing, it sounded like a pistol used by the track and field team to signal the start of the race. 

Immediately afterward, the speakers in the room activated.

"This is a message from the broadcast room. Nishino-kun of Class 2A, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, please come to the broadcast room immediately. Repeat, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, please come to the broadcast room immediately."

Without even needing to repeat it, Tarosuke's ears were drawn to it. 

Not only did they share the same last name, but even the same grade and class. He had even visited Nishino's class performance at this year's festival. Confident that the person who had been summoned was an acquaintance, Alice Kurusugawa and Taro's attention turned to the speaker. 

Then, the speaker continued with another disturbing remark.

"If you do not follow the instructions obediently, we will not guarantee the safety of students and faculty on campus."

It was a statement similar to the introduction of a crime scene in a suspense movie. 

Tarosuke was taken aback and asked the principal about it.

"Excuse me, but are there any events going on on campus? "

"No, I haven't heard anything like that.... "

The principal was in a state of panic, wondering what this was all about.

Normally, he would have asked the teacher with whom he was having the meeting to go over the matter with him. 

However, since today's topic seemed to be a complicated one, the principal was alone in dealing with the guests. 

Not wanting to be the victim of any strange intuition, he took the initiative and broached the topic.

"Putting aside our school's broadcast, I was wondering if you could tell me something about you, Kurusugawa-san."

"Can you explain your reasons a little more carefully? "

"Yes, I can! Let's see........"

At Tarosuke's urging, Alice Kurusugawa began to chat frankly. 

It was something she had thought about beforehand, how she decided to enroll in the school and whatnot. Naturally, she does not mention Nishino. Instead, she used Matsuura-san's presence to put up some made-up reason, such as the fact that there was an idol candidate she respected. 

Then, after a few minutes or so, the speaker again makes a response.

"The following is a message from the staff room. Nishino-kun of Class 2A, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, please come to the staff room immediately. I repeat, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, please come to the staff room immediately."

"Nishino-kun of Class 2A, seems to be very popular! "

"This time, you're called out from the staff room."

Alice Kurusugawa, interrupting her chat, muttered as if she were talking about something else. 

The murmur naturally escaped Tarosuke's mouth as well.

"If you do not follow the instructions obediently, we will not guarantee the safety of students and faculty on campus."

And immediately afterwards, as before, the same peculiar complaints continued. 

This was met with a reaction from the principal.

"Excuse me for interrupting, but may I take a moment of your time?"

"Yes, that's fine........"

"The staff room is right next door. I'll go check it out."

He looked as if he couldn't stand any more nonsense in front of his guests. 

At the very least, he was anxious to turn off the speakers in the principal's office. 

The principal sat up from the sofa and turned to the staff room adjacent to the principal's office, which was separated by a door. Both rooms were accessible without going through the hallway. Naturally, Tarosuke and Alice Kurusugawa's attention turned to the destination. 

The staff room is revealed through the door frame. 

There, all of the staff members were unconscious and lying limp. Some were lying on the floor, others were prone on their desks. Not a single person could be seen standing on his or her own feet. 

Even the principal was surprised. 

He was surprised for a short time, and then he said in a calm tone.

"Ogataya-san, I'm sorry, but I need you to make an emergency call."

"Yes, I understand."

Seeing that Tarosuke nodded, the principal headed down to the faculty and staff. 

With this in sight, Tarosuke and the others attempted to contact the police and emergency services. 

However, when they finally reached the phone in their hands, the signal mark had somehow disappeared.

"Taro-san, Alice's phone it's out of range. "

"Ah, same here."

They never dreamed that the communication inhibitor was in operation. Thinking they were in the wrong place, they got up from the sofa and walked around the principal's office. The situation was an emergency, so they walked left and right to try to get a signal. 

Then they heard the sound of someone falling down from the staff room. 

When they turned to look, they found the principal, who was on his way to take care of the teachers and staff, lying on the floor.

"......"

The word poison gas was the first thing that popped into Tarosuke's mind. 

It was the handsome man who understood that the school announcement that had just been delivered was by no means a student prank. Moving quickly, he grabbed Alice Kurusugawa's arm in a panic and escaped the principal's office to keep his distance from the staff room.

"Kurusugawa-kun, this way!"

"Y-yes."

If you're in the hallway, don't forget to close the door tight. 

Tarosuke huffs and puffs and breathes hard with a serious look on his face. 

Alice Kurusugawa looked at him and said.

"Could it be poison gas? "

"I am sorry for the principal and the staff who collapsed, but I can't go to check on them. For now, let's get out of here as quickly as possible. The only thing we can do is to call the police or emergency services somehow."

Tarosuke's heart was beating so strongly that it hurt. 

This is absolutely impossible, he says. 

Still, he desperately feigns unconcern and runs off with Alice Kurusugawa. 

He recalls the cynical, smug person he admires so much. Remembering that scene, Tarosuke inspires himself. He recalls the past uproar and says, If I were him in this situation, I would do this. 

This is surprisingly cool. Whatever his intentions inside, Taro is a tall, thin, macho, good-looking man in a suit. Alice Kurusugawa, feeling that she could rely on his words, nodded her head and followed his instructions. 

Then, after running for a little while, she saw something strange in the direction she was going.

"Taro-san, is there someone down?"

".........."

As Alice Kurusugawa said, there was a person lying in the hallway. 

It was not a student. He appeared to be in his 20s. He had a carefully shaved skinhead and a beard around his mouth. He was dressed in a rough outfit, uncharacteristic of a teacher, and could more aptly be described as a yakuza or a gangster. 

He is the intruder that Nishino and Rose knocked down as they were on their way to the broadcast room. 

Combined with the earlier school announcement, Tarosuke had a vague idea of the situation the school was in.

"He's still a rock star.."

"Um, Taro-san?"

Alice Kurusugawa frowns as she looks at him, who has just uttered something strange. 

In front of her, Tarosuke picked up a pistol from the man's hand. 

He holds it up with both hands and mutters nervously.

"Don't ever leave me, okay?"

"Taro-san, do you like this kind of thing?"

Immediately afterward, a loud explosion was heard. 

 

◇ ◆ ◇

 

Immediately after Tarosuke and Alice Kurusugawa departed the principal's office, some students visited the area. 

They were Nishino and Rose, who were on their way to the staff room in accordance with the school announcement. 

The corridor was straight, and while Nishino and Rose were coming from the same side, Tarosuke and Rose were going in the opposite direction, so they were on different sides of the corridor. When the former visited the same place, the latter was already nowhere to be seen.

"What was that explosion we just heard?"

"I don't know the details, but for now I have to trust the two people we left behind. "

"I can't help but think that one of them might be the epicenter."

"...... I don't deny that possibility."

They walked down the hallway and stopped in front of their destination. 

The staff room, where they had been summoned by the school announcement just a few minutes earlier. 

Looking at the closed door, they exchanged a brief glance with each other.

"It's awfully silent."

"Let's check the room."

The door to the staff room was opened by Nishino's hand. 

Without a moment's pause, the gas that had filled the room leaked out. 

Tasteless and odorless, it would normally be impossible to detect. However, when he saw the fallen faculty member ahead of him, he immediately activated his mysterious power. He takes a step back and blocks the outflow of gas from the room into the hallway. 

Something invisible instantly separated the staff room from the hallway.

"........... Is this gas?"

"Yeah, looks like it."

The Futsumen checks the staff room through the door frame. 

It is the same scene witnessed by Tarosuke and Alice Kurusugawa. 

The principal, who had collapsed as he went to help his colleague, can also be seen. His hand was extended toward the windowpane. Also, as far as he could see, everyone was moving their chests up and down to breathe, fortunately. 

Soon after, the school's internal broadcast began to play again.

"The following is a message from the gymnasium. Nishino-kun of Class 2A, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, please come to the gymnasium immediately. I repeat, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, Nishino-kun of Class 2A, please come to the gymnasium immediately."

The tone of his voice is the same as before. 

There is no doubt that he is checking the movements of Nishino and his group every step of the way.

"If you do not follow the instructions honestly, we will not guarantee the safety of students and faculty on campus."

The words are as noisy as ever. 

Hearing this, the Futsumen could not make a bad move. 

Witnessing the devastation in the staff room, they are particularly alarmed.

"I'm sorry, but could you take this spot? "

"Yes, I understand."

"I'm sorry to bother you. "

"You don't have to apologize. That's why I came along."

"Even so, it doesn't change the fact that you saved my life."

"I'll catch up with you as soon as I take care of this place."

After separating from Rose, Nishino ran off to the gymnasium alone.