Chapter 59

Time had passed, and it was now mid-October.

It was a holiday known as Sports Day, and the day of the cultural festival at the military academy.

While it might seem odd to hold a cultural festival on Sports Day, since more than half of the activities at the military academy were physical education or training, no one really minded.

There had been some concern that the number of visitors would decrease because the team battles, which were the main attraction of the cultural festival, were not being held—after all, if there were no team battles, there was no need to go all the way to Oume when Ichigaya would suffice. However, it was now believed that the number of visitors would be similar to previous years, based on reservations and traffic volume.

This was undoubtedly a good thing, but for some students, it was also a bit of a mystery.

"The number of people was supposed to decrease, but it doesn't feel that way, does it?"

There are always people who pay attention to such things. Specifically, Miss Itoh, who has recently developed a habit of overthinking everything, perhaps influenced by someone.

However, this time it wasn't that complicated.

Therefore, the answer came from nearby.

"Of course. Even the individual battles are fun to watch, and there's an experience corner with simulators. Besides, we have Kawaue this year."

When in trouble, she always appeared. Emi Sakazaki, Shoko Itoh's attendant and friend.

"Oh, right. He is a hero, isn't he?"

"Yeah. Although he's treated as a pervert by some people in Far Eastern Russia who started calling him a hero, he's undoubtedly a hero."

A great ace who has defeated 14 large, over 70 medium, and hundreds of small enemies. He is also celebrated as a hero who saved a princess from an allied country, so it's no wonder he attracts attention.

While the hero, Kaita Kawaue, is holed up in a garage to avoid assassination and thus not exposed to the public, it is said that a lookalike will be prepared.

"At the time, I thought it was exaggerated, but it wasn't at all."

"Yeah."

Shoko, who had laughed at the announcement of the lookalike, now understood that their concerns were not unfounded in the face of the unexpectedly large number of visitors.

"...There are coexistence supporters among them, right?"

"Yeah. Not just ordinary people, but also some of the guests seem suspicious."

"Meeting comrades from the continent, huh? No wonder they're more active."

"Exactly. The military is also setting up a net to catch them."

"Right. That's true. What do you think, Miss?"

"That's true. ...I think it's quite dangerous if we don't achieve something here."

"Right."

Sachiko Muto, the top student of the year, had naturally joined their conversation.

The integrated headquarters had instructed all divisions to cooperate with the First Division, regardless of faction. Therefore, the Muto family, Sachiko's family, was not only willing to cooperate but was offering to do so with full effort.

"All of this is our own doing, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

Neither Shoko nor Emi tried to comfort Sachiko's self-deprecation.

Cold? No, because it was the truth.

Sending reinforcements who refused to follow orders to fire, and creating the situation that led Kaita to go to Far Eastern Russia, were all the doing of the Third Division. The result was the freezing of the reconstruction plan, which was literally their own doing.

However, strictly speaking, some families, including the Muto family, were not involved in these matters. But doing nothing was also a form of cooperation, so the Muto family was seen as being in the same boat as the others.

"To be honest, I don't want to be associated with them."

"I understand."

"I understand."

The three of them looked in the same direction. There, two men, who had just been referred to as 'them' by Sachiko, were shouting at a staff member.

If one aspires to be a leader of a faction, there is a certain attitude that is expected. Shoko wouldn't go so far as to tell her peers to always be composed and elegant, but at least she would prefer they not make a scene where visitors can see and hear them.

"So, what are they doing?"

However, if it was a matter of life and death or something that a warrior could not compromise on, it would be different. Even then, she would think it was inappropriate to make a scene, but she could understand.

Shoko, hoping it was something serious, asked for confirmation, but unfortunately, the reality was cruel.

"...They're complaining about the pairing and order of the individual battles."

"Pathetic."

"Oh, they're so stupid."

The answer from Sachiko, who frowned, was something Shoko had not even considered.

"Wasn't their first-round opponent Kasahara?"

"Yes. They don't like it."

"Why? They're both from the Third Division, so wouldn't Kasahara let them win?"

"Yes. If he doesn't, they won't win anyone... or rather, they'll lose in a one-sided manner without a proper fight."

"Right. It wouldn't do for the grandson of the late General Moguro to suffer a one-sided defeat. But we can't inconvenience the other divisions either."

"Of course. If I were told to let them win, I would refuse. I would argue that even acting, losing to them would be a disgrace to a warrior."

"First, the current Third Division faction doesn't have the power to get their way with other divisions."

"...Yes, that's true."

Even Shoko, let alone her attendant, was being mocked.

And not in secret, but directly.

Normally, this would be a humiliation that would make one challenge to a duel. But the current situation of the Third Division requires them to endure even this.

(At least it's better than just being sarcastic.)

Especially since the other party is the Sixth Division, who were directly inconvenienced by the same faction in the previous battle. In Sachiko's position, she couldn't let her anger take over.

Of course, Emi understood this and was sarcastic to Sachiko.

Not only Emi, but everyone who was involved in that battle believed that if the Third Division had fought properly until the end, the damage would have been much less.

Worse still, even if the machines of the survivors had been usable, the Third Division might have been able to save face.

However, the result of the growth of their machines was a degeneration called evolution. They had shrunk, as if afraid of large monsters.

It was understandable that those who participated in the battle would mock, "Is this the result of sparing their lives?" and be angry, "Did our comrades die to save these people?"

For the Third Division, the current situation is truly a bed of nails. In the midst of this, the direct descendant, who aspires to be the leader of the faction, is causing problems. The mental strain on Sachiko and the disgust felt by those around her are immense.

"So, what are they complaining about?"

The shouting could be heard even from a distance. It was becoming annoying to Shoko, but since it involved the individual battles, she was not completely uninvolved. When she asked, the answer was even more disappointing than she had expected.

"Apparently, this pairing is a conspiracy to pit Third Division members against each other and deprive us of the opportunity to shine."

This statement was made about a request that the Third Division had made and had been granted.

"Huh? Are they sane?"

"That's incredible."

Naturally, there was no mercy in the reactions of the two who heard this. It was only natural.

They had no need to show mercy to someone who brought harm to themselves and tarnished the reputation of those around them.

"..."

Sachiko was completely taking the blame for being in the same faction.

One might think that if she was so embarrassed, she should stop them by force, but they represent a prominent family in the faction, so strong measures were not recommended. Moreover, she had been instructed by her family to keep her distance from them to avoid being seen as one of them.

Therefore, Sachiko could only endure the shame and do nothing about their actions.

"So! This pairing is unfair, so change it!"

"Yes! At the very least, they should be seeded!"

(Please, just die.)

Of course, Sachiko understood that her inaction was seen as tacit approval by those around her.

This only deepened her shame.

(I know it's tough.)

(But it's their own doing.)

Unfortunately, the two who were there did not have the kindness or softness to support the embarrassed Sachiko, who was looking down and trembling.

The ugly exchange between the men, which was tiring for everyone, continued for about 10 minutes until Shizuka, who had heard the complaints, arrived at the scene.

Thank you for reading.