Chapter 40

1.

Poik, poik.

Ssik, ssik.

“Hm! It’s clean!”

A girl with long beige hair and dressed in a neat maid’s uniform looked around the now tidy room and smiled cheerfully.

Her cleaning job had made the room shine so cleanly, making her feel incredibly refreshed.

“Senior Asuna, I’m done with this area.”

“Great! Let’s wrap it up quickly.”

At her side, another girl also busy cleaning, with black hair, darker skin, and striking golden eyes, dressed in a similar maid outfit but with a cooler demeanor, replied.

Two girls, ‘Ichinose Asuna’ and ‘Kakudate Karin’, opposites like light and shadow with different charms, worked as one unit while tidying up the clubroom as part of their daily routine.

Just as they were thoroughly focused on the cleaning, the door clicked open.

Both Asuna’s and Karin’s gazes turned toward the sound, and soon their expressions brightened.

“Leader!”

“Seniors Neru and Akane.”

Who had entered were none other than the president of their club C&C, ‘Mikamo Neru’, and the composed girl ‘Muroukasa Akane’.

Neru strode in with her usual unruly gait while Akane maintained her serene walk as always.

The contrast in their styles was evident but very familiar to everyone present.

“Hey, were you already cleaning?”

“You both had us waiting quite a bit, didn’t you?”

“Bu~ president~!”

“Y-You startled me, damn it!”

And true to form, there was Asuna enthusiastically hugging Neru.

“Did you have a good conversation with President Rio?”

“Yeah. So hurry up and get off me. You’re heavy.”

“Then let’s finish cleaning quickly and go play together later, alright?”

“Haa, what a hassle… alright, alright, so let go of me.”

As Neru, buried in Asuna’s ample bosom, replied with apparent irritation, Asuna seemed content with the response and immediately stepped back.

Neru sighed again, while Karin and Akane exchanged quiet smiles.

“Alright, let’s wrap this up quickly! We’ve got a lot to talk about!”

“Okay! Leader!”

“Yes, Senior Neru.”

“Sure, Leader.”

C&C, short for ‘Cleaning & Clearing’.

Their motto, being clad in maid uniforms while active, meant they took cleaning earnestly. Following President Neru’s orders, the members moved as swiftly as soldiers on a mission, rapidly eradicating the dust and grime from the room.

2.

“Cleaning the clubroom after being away for a few days really made the dust pile up, huh.”

“That’s true. It couldn’t be helped since the request we were on was as secretive as an undercover investigation.”

“Hahaha! Still, in the end, we did expose everything!”

“Hmm. It wasn’t an ultimate failure though.”

After spending a full hour and a half cleaning the clubroom, the C&C members sat around enjoying the tea brewed by Karin and the snacks provided by Akane, chatting happily.

From the previous operation to recent interests, internet discoveries, and topics on puppies, the conversations flowed smoothly.

Despite C&C being considered an open secret in the Millennium Academy, the dialogue between the members wasn’t much different from the usual Kiburos girls’ high schooler subjects.

“Oi, that bear of a guy. All those childish words he spouts should’ve been met with more bullets to his head.”

“Hohoho! At that moment, Leader was terrifying! In the short time I took down a few, you’d already defeated over ten enemies!”

“It was really tricky when the target tried to escape, but Karin’s well-timed sniping saved us.”

“Sniping is my role. Still, I’m a little disappointed that I had to fire twice instead of taking them down swiftly.”

Of course, they occasionally engaged in discussions befitting their special operations unit, but all these aspects proved the strong bond between them.

Since it wasn’t a frequent occurrence to have holidays, they were enjoying this peace thoroughly when Asuna suddenly exclaimed as if she had forgotten something.

“Huh! Come to think of it, didn’t someone say they were coming today?”

Asuna stood up abruptly, her eyes gleaming brightly as she leaned towards Neru.

So intense was her gaze, even penetrating through her parted hair, that Neru tilted her head in confusion.

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“You know, the person Leader mentioned earlier. The one who’d join us on the mission this time? Is it true? The one you said earlier, ‘I want to fight them again.’ Wasn’t it?”

“……Ah.”

As Asuna gave a detailed explanation, Neru’s expression seemed to click with recognition before she chuckled self-consciously.

“Indeed, we did talk about that.”

“I’m curious! Who is it?”

“I’m a bit curious as well. Since I’ve previously had no occasion, I couldn’t properly greet them.”

“I’m curious too.”

At this new topic, the members gathered around Neru like flies on fish paste.

Neru sighed, seemingly annoyed at the situation.

Then, after pondering for a moment, she gave a brief evaluation of the topic’s main character.

“Stubborn? Completely out of their mind? Something like that.”

“… Leader. Isn’t that a bit too brief?”

“Ugh. I’m starting to get worried now.”

“Haha! That makes me even more excited!”

A very sharp critique it was.

At this, Akane and Karin gave wry smiles, and Asuna’s interest piqued further, her eyes sparkling anew.

Having delivered his sharp commentary, Neru noticed something peculiar about his evaluation and was just about to amend it when—

“……Who exactly said I’m not of sound mind?”

The sudden voice from somewhere stole that opportunity away.

“W-what?!?”

“Gyah!”

“What the—”

“Ah! You scared me!”

The C&C members, having detected no presence, quickly sprang to action, taking up defensive stances from their seats.

Within a second, the four were already poised for combat, only to relax their postures in surprise when they realized that the owner of the voice was a girl who looked oddly familiar and was calmly gazing at them.

The first to react was Neru.

“You! You little— You scared us, damn it! Can’t you knock before entering?”

“That’s why I didn’t. Besides, Leader Senior insulted me first.”

“That…!”

Though Neru tried to take back her words, her voice faltered as she let out a forced chuckle and had no choice but to extend her hand to the other person.

Partly because she was at a loss for words, but more importantly because she instinctively realized how much her junior had grown.

Neru chuckled warmly and spoke to the other.

The other girl grinned back and took Neru’s hand.

“You’ve gotten much stronger, haven’t you?”

“Yes. I’m improving every day. Someday, I’ll even have to beat you, senior.”

The tone of Neru’s voice was almost a provocation.

And the response from the junior matched it perfectly.

“Hoh, making such a bold claim, huh. Shall we fight right now? Huh?”

“By your end today, I will have beaten you for sure, you must be okay with that.”

“Aah? What, damn it?!”

“I’ve prepared new equipment this time, and I won’t miss.”

“Hah? You wouldn’t dare… a shield behind your back?!”

The unperturbed junior with her white hair was teasing Neru.

Anyone who overheard would be shocked at how intense this conversation was.

“Who exactly is that…?”

“What is it? What is it? Leader seems really close with that person!”

The C&C members who deduced through Neru’s conversation that the junior was the topic’s central character they were just discussing, looked at the girl for another reason.

The fact that the junior was talking so casually with ‘that’ Leader, and the small display of skill just moments ago caught their attention.

“That child appeared silently just now, didn’t they?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Wow! How did they do that?”

The fact that she had appeared without a sound, and had evaded the entire C&C’s perception system, was impressive.

Certainly, part of their inattentiveness was due to a relaxed state, but even factoring that in, the junior’s skill was commendable.

The C&C’s members were known to have some of the highest combat capabilities at Millennium. While their strongest force was the president Neru, each of them was a top-tier specialist who wouldn’t fall behind from other academies.

Their perception alone was enough proof of this junior’s prowess.

“Hmph, she’s not too bad.”

“I think she’ll be a great help.”

“This looks fun!”

Their first impressions of the junior were good.

Each of them had a deep sense of ‘interest’ kindled in her.

The junior, unintentionally attracting the attention of the C&C members.

3.

“I’m Hiro Nanashi of the Supernatural Special Operations Unit.”

“I met you briefly before. I’m Akane Muroukasa. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Karin Kakudate. Nice to meet you.”

“Asuna Ichinose! Let’s get along well, Hiro Junior!”

“I’ll skip the introduction. You roughly know who I am?”

Neru wasn’t expecting any formalities.

I was about to nod casually but blurted out the nonsensical word Asuna just said.

What did she just say?

“Hiro Junior…?”

“Yeah! Hiro is a first year, right? I call my close juniors with ‘Junior’ added! So Hiro is Hiro Junior!”

“Umm… Well, it’s okay if it makes things easier to call me whatever you prefer…”

Are we friends already? I didn’t know that.

Also, it felt awkward when I became the subject of the ‘Junior’ suffix that girls used for one another in anime.

Since it was explained to me as a term of endearment, I decided against arguing and instead nodded.

“Haha! That’s so cute!”

Asuna found my awkward reaction amusing and pulled me into her embrace. Her massive bosom swiftly pressed against my face, leaving me no choice but to look up and meet her gaze while partially buried within.

Upon making eye contact, Asuna grinned broadly and spoke joyfully.

“Our eyes have the same beautiful blue color!”

“Indeed… they do…”

“Ahaha! My chest itches!”

I wasn’t getting any air, but resisting against Asuna’s grip felt inappropriate, so I chose not to struggle.

Not that it was entirely unpleasant because of the gentle fragrance and comforting tactile sensations.

No, really.

I swear!

It was several minutes before Asuna finally let go of me. No matter how much I tried to detach her during that time, she stuck to me like glue, which explains the nickname, “Goldfish” for Asuna.

“Oh! Look, my hair’s a mess. Let me fix it for you.”

“No need… please, there’s no need…”

“It’s no problem! Let me handle it!”

Just when I thought I was free, Asuna suddenly grabbed my hair, checking it, and then went off somewhere to fetch a comb.

I gave a bitter smile and addressed Asuna.

“…She’s really social.”

“Ah? I’m like this with everyone I want to get close to!”

“Umm… You’re right, you know. Asuna is always like that, so don’t mind her.”

Karin’s comment.

I knew a bit about Asuna’s personality, so I nodded.

Though why she considered me someone worth getting close to was beyond me, I acknowledged there was no harm in befriending her.

I brushed it off casually with Asuna handling my hair, planning to initiate more formal discussions.

My visit here wasn’t about friendship; it was for business.

“So then, Senior Neru.”

“Huh? I was having such fun with Asuna, why summon me now?”

“No, that’s not what I…!”

“Kick. That sure isn’t what you meant. Your smile’s reaching for the skies.”

Regardless, that wasn’t it.

I firmly clenched my quivering lips and pulled them downward. Neru’s mischievous grin grew wider.

She’s definitely teasing me on purpose.

I felt my face growing hot. Hiding my embarrassment by biting my lip, I asked Neru.

“Hmph. Rather, tell me quickly.”

“What?”

“This mission. Isn’t it that you nominated me for this mission? That’s what I heard.”

“Huh?”

According to Himari, this mission was assigned personally by C&C’s president to me, which is why I was curious.

Not only why I was chosen for such a trial but also what the actual mission was.

However, Neru’s response veered far from my expectations.

“That’s not me. I was asked to do it.”

“Huh?”

It sounded like someone else was subcontracting work from another.

“Our school’s Big Sister is curious about you.”

“Big Sister? You mean…”

Big Sister. A term exclusive only to Millennium Academy, not used in any other school.

And only one person wielded that title.

Which means…

“Yeah. Rio Takatsuki.”

The student council president Rio had, as it turns out, requested my services.

Upon hearing this, my pupils couldn’t help but tremble violently. Unsettling thoughts raced through my mind.

“Of course, it’s not what you’re thinking, so don’t worry.”

“Is that so?”

“Yup.”

Neru, reading my expression, offered an immediate response.

Though the answer was clear, my gaze remained fixed on her.

“Just consider it a power-check.”

“It’s not that I care about that…”

Then why is Rio interested in me?

In response to my question, Neru let out a wry laugh and answered composedly.

“Why ask me?”

“?”

“You better ask yourself, damn it. What’re you doing that even got the Big Sister to hear about you?”

That’s…

Hmm. Now I think about it, I’ve done quite a bit, haven’t I?

And so,

I’m even more confused. What exactly is the reason?

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