Chapter 76

Shoko Iketani stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter given to her by her mother.

Shoko Iketani thought that she had been assigned a personal machine because of something Keita had done—or perhaps thanks to him—but in conclusion, Keita had done nothing.

Of course. No matter how well Keita got along with the president or engineers of Saigo Heavy Industries, and no matter how much he was hailed as a hero, he was ultimately just a major. There was no way he could prepare a machine that cost over 50 billion yen.

Of course, from the perspective of Saigo Heavy Industries, Keita was not only the only tester who could move the prototype but also someone who had significantly boosted the company's stock by performing well even with the enhanced exoskeleton. If Keita were to ask for something 'absolutely necessary,' they would probably do him a small favor.

However, that was only if he were to ask. And to reiterate, Keita had really done nothing, so Saigo Heavy Industries had no reason to do him any favors.

In other words, it wasn't Keita who had arranged for Shoko's personal machine. Of course, it wasn't their new battalion commander, Shizuka Kuwabara, either.

Then who had arranged for Shoko's personal machine? There was no need to confirm. The name of the manufacturer said it all.

"Hehe. With this, the Prototype No. 3 can finally see the light of day."

The one who said this while looking at the roster of the newly established Instructional Battalion was none other than Takafumi Saigo, the president of Saigo Heavy Industries, a top-notch perverted engineer, and a man whom Keita also acknowledged as a pervert.

---

The day after hearing about the establishment of the Instructional Battalion.

"Ugh."

"Even if you say 'Ugh' in frustration, it won't help."

Near the entrance of the classroom, I was on top, and Shoko Iketani was on the bottom.

No, we weren't doing anything inappropriate.

The moment I entered the classroom, Shoko suddenly shouted "Uraaaa!" and lunged at me. I restrained her and was just listening to the reason for her attack.

Shoko seems to be quite strong, but I'm not so senile that I would lose to a girl of the same age in a physical fight.

I grabbed her outstretched arm, applied a reverse joint lock, swept her feet, and gently brought her down to avoid breaking her arm. Then, I mounted her back to complete the restraint.

I might be accused of going too far, but I think it's merciful that I didn't use my feet to clamp her head before bringing her down.

Of course, I didn't expect her to suddenly attack, so I ended up applying the lock quite strongly. But she's a tough one. In the short time between being grabbed and being brought down, she must have realized that resistance would break her arm. By not resisting and letting herself be brought down, she successfully minimized the damage.

As a result, Shoko was lying on the ground with a joint lock applied, and I was on top of her.

If Shoko had the strength of the strongest creature on Earth, she might have been able to reverse the situation by hitting the floor, but unfortunately, she's just a regular military aspirant and doesn't have such unreasonable strength.

Let's get back to the topic.

"…You really didn't do anything, did you?"

"Even if I did something, do you think it would result in a personal machine being assigned?"

Upon hearing the details, it turned out that among the members of the Instructional Battalion, only Shoko was given a personal machine, and she was quite envied by the others, who then gave her a hard time.

Shoko hadn't done anything, but because she hadn't, she couldn't prove it. It's like a devil's proof, so it's understandable that she couldn't.

In the end, the three troublemakers were stopped by the boss, but it was only to the extent of "Don't cause a commotion in front of a superior officer." The jealousy in their hearts remained unaddressed.

If it were just jealousy from classmates, Shoko might have dismissed them with a "It's your fault for not getting a personal machine," but unfortunately, Tago and the others would be her comrades in the same battalion.

It's not good for there to be cracks in their relationship from the start of the battalion, especially if it's due to a misunderstanding.

So Shoko wanted to clear up the misunderstanding, but the others were convinced it was her fault.

In this situation, Shoko, thinking she would be isolated and possibly even attacked from behind, decided to confront the person she thought was the culprit to get a testimony that she hadn't done anything, or at least to understand the reason for her being given a personal machine.

Yeah. I'll set aside the questions of "Why am I the culprit?" and "Why did you need to attack?" for now. I can kind of understand why Shoko was given a personal machine. It must have been that guy, after all.

"How do you know? You must have done something!"

"I didn't, I didn't."

I can understand why you might think I'm suspicious just because I know the details, but I really didn't do anything and don't know anything. So all I can do is speculate. I think my guess is pretty accurate, though.

"Because it's not that difficult."

"…I'll listen."

Despite her bad mood, she seems willing to listen, which is a relief. The biggest problem would be if she refused to listen. Anyway.

"First, let's talk about the basics. Originally, Mr. Saigo was looking for a test pilot for the Prototype No. 3."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

This is a serious matter. After all, a machine is useless without a pilot.

In the worst case, he planned to ask me, but I was busy with the Prototype No. 1, the enhanced exoskeleton, and various mass-produced models. So he planned to find someone else unless it came to the worst.

But the situation changed.

"Preferably, he wanted a highly capable pilot. But the military prioritized the rebuilding of each division."

"…Right."

The military, or the divisions? It doesn't matter. Up to this point, we have a common understanding, so there's no problem.

The problem starts from here.

"Even with the machine, there's no pilot. If this continues, the Prototype No. 3 won't even be able to conduct performance tests. That's a problem."

"Of course, it's a problem."

For a military factory, the budget comes from taxes, and for a zaibatsu-affiliated company, there might be some leeway. But Saigo Heavy Industries is a new civilian company. The money from selling the Prototype No. 2 went into the development of the Prototype No. 3, and the enhanced exoskeletons are still in the order stage, so there's no payment yet.

"Saigo and his team can't afford to let the machine sit idle. They want to sell it to the military. At the very least, they need experimental data. So Saigo thought, 'Maybe a student would do.'"

"No, that wouldn't work."

"Normally, it wouldn't."

That's true. A test pilot for a new machine is a crucial role that can determine the future of the company. Normally, this role would be given to someone closely associated with the company or someone exceptionally talented.

But Saigo is not normal. His wife, who runs the company, has normal values and sensibilities, but even she couldn't stop Saigo this time. The cause, of course, was me.

"Here's a successful example of scouting, right?"

"…Ah."

Right. When I first entered this school, I was the third-ranked student, showing considerable talent, but as a commoner, I didn't belong to any faction, making me a safe and promising choice for the company.

So, just hearing this, it might seem like there was no problem with Saigo choosing me as a test pilot.

But it's different. Not belonging to a division means not receiving support from a division.

For example, if it were Shoko, even if she stumbled in simulations or experiments, she would have support from her family or the Sixth Division, giving her some leeway in time and budget. But I, without such a background, was different.

I couldn't afford to take too much time. If I failed, that was it. As a military academy student, I couldn't be forced to do it.

Assigning a new machine to such a person was a huge risk for Saigo Heavy Industries. For Saigo himself, it might have been manageable, but for his wife, it must have been a precarious gamble, to the point where she might have considered hanging herself.

However, Saigo won that gamble. He won it.

Because of this fact, even his wife, with her realistic values and sensibilities, couldn't strongly oppose Saigo's idea of "students are fine too."

"So, while Saigo was lowering the bar for test pilots, the new personnel assignment was proposed."

I'm a soldier, so if I receive a formal order, I can move to a new post without any fuss. But Saigo is a civilian. Considering the maintenance of the machine and other factors, he must have been contacted in advance.

"There are plenty of things to do with the establishment of a new battalion and the revision of maintenance plans. That's when Saigo learned that the Instructional Battalion was short of machines. Even the Kusanagi and Yawata models were in short supply. Normally, mass-produced models would be the last to be manufactured and deployed. Saigo saw an opportunity there."

"So, that led to the provision of the machine?"

Exactly. Technically, it's not a provision but a sale at a low price, but it's a minor point.

"The military must have thought, 'It's a problem that there are no machines for a battalion designed to increase the number of people who can operate mass-produced models.' They couldn't refuse Saigo's offer to provide the machines."

If Saigo hadn't provided the machines, the battalion would have had only one machine, excluding the boss's. I think the military is making significant concessions in terms of data and other things, not just money.

They must have thought it was better than keeping the mass-produced models idle and wasting the promising students of each division.

"…I see. Then why did I become a test pilot?"

"Simply because you've trained with me the most."

"Ah, right. That makes sense."

"Training with you more means we have more data on you. That's a sufficient reason for the engineers, don't you think?"

Saigo would prefer someone with data over someone with no data.

Moreover, you're the fourth-ranked student and won the cultural festival. You're considered a very promising student.

If you were given a new machine, the Sixth Division might provide support when they learn about it.

You can get data, money, and connections. No matter how it turns out, it's a win for Saigo.

"…I see."

After explaining all this, it seems Shoko has understood and her earlier aggressiveness has disappeared.

"So, do you understand that I didn't do anything?"

The calm Shoko asked this with a smug look, and the classmates who had been watching us—Tago, Hashimoto, and Ayase—responded.

"Indeed, it seems so."

"Ah, I misunderstood. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, really sorry."

"Lightly! And casually! …But, I guess it's fine."

(Is it fine?)

It might seem like a strange treatment from my perspective, but for Shoko, clearing the misunderstanding and getting a casual apology is enough. She looked relieved, so I decided not to comment further.

The only problem might be our current state.

"By the way, Kawagoe? How long do you plan to keep Shoko restrained?"

"Ah! Right! You! Let her go already!"

"I'd love to, but…"

"What do you mean!?"

No, really. I don't have a fetish for restraining high school girls, and I'd like to release her as soon as possible. But there are reasons I can't.

"Ah, maybe it's that, huh?"

"What, what is it?"

"You don't have to pretend. Kawagoe is a boy, after all."

"What!?"

"Hmm, maybe that's true."

"That's understandable."

"…(Lowest)."

Tago nodded smugly, Hashimoto and Ayase blushed and said something incomprehensible, and Shoko, who was being restrained, seemed to misunderstand.

I could feel a look of disdain from Muto, who was watching from a distance.

"Th-this is harassment! This is harassment! Didn't you suggest installing surveillance cameras because you hate this kind of thing!?"

"That's true, but everyone is watching this scene."

"S-so what?"

"Does that mean harassment is unavoidable?"

Are you saying there's plenty of evidence?

"Exactly!"

She must think I'm restraining her to enjoy the feel of her body. Shoko, who was desperately trying to get free, but unfortunately, that's not the case.

"Shoko."

"W-what!?"

Let me explain.

"Even though you're a student, if a military officer treated as a lieutenant is assaulted by a warrant officer, what do you think will happen?"

"…Ah!"

Right. I'm a formal major. Shoko, as a warrant officer, shouldn't assault me, even if it's a misunderstanding. And everyone here has witnessed it. So, it can't be covered up.

Just because you're a student doesn't mean you can get away with it. Especially in a military academy, rules must be strictly followed.

Moreover, they are officially part of the Instructional Battalion.

So, they should be treated as soldiers, not students.

And they volunteered, not being forced to join.

If I had said it was fine, it would be different, but since she attacked me without saying anything, I have to address it.

"I see."

"…Yeah, the restraint is justified."

"Will you be sent to solitary confinement? Or the brig?"

"It's your fault, you know!"

"…(You brought this upon yourself. Including when you excluded me)."

They're treating it like it's not their problem, but that's unfortunate.

The military—school—is not that lenient.

"Of course, violence is not allowed. But what do you think would happen if you falsely accused a superior of harassment, even as a joke?"

"…Ah!"

"…Ah!"

"…Ah!"

"…Ah!"

"I asked for the cameras to be installed because I hate that. To falsely accuse me of harassment, knowing that, is quite bold."

"A, ahahaha. Is a joke not allowed?"

What a funny thing to say.

"I, I didn't say anything, right?"

"Same here."

"…(Me too)."

"That's unfair!"

"Tago, you're not taking it well!"

Since the punishment is certain, Shoko is trying to drag others down with her.

"Indeed, Tago and the others didn't say anything specific."

"Such a shame."

Hashimoto and Ayase, and Muto, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking they had escaped.

But it's too sweet. Sweeter than chocolate.

"Do you know the term 'joint responsibility'?"

"Ah!!"

Right. Since they are in the same unit, the moment Shoko attacked, their punishment was also decided.

"Serve them right."

"Hehe."

"Ugh."

"Trouble."

"…(I'm not involved. I was excluded)."

"…What is this situation?"

The women, damaged in various ways.

Shizuka Kuwabara, who appeared in the classroom for the HR, was confused and couldn't understand the situation.

And…

"What am I seeing?"

"Who knows?"

"Shoko with a personal machine? Now? Kasahara, do you know anything?"

"…I'll investigate."

The male students, who knew about the establishment of the Instructional Battalion but not the details, were also confused by the comedy unfolding before their eyes.

Thank you for reading.