Act 2 Vol. 2 Ch. 1 Ep. 1: Another Peaceful Day in Gehenna

"Another peaceful..."

I'm! Telling! You!

Well, I tried! There's only one way to settle this... Gunpowder!

"...day in Gehenna."

Both of you, hold it!

I-It's the Prefect Team!

Wait, chill out. I'm the innocent, reasonable, peaceful one. SHE started it!

What's the problem here...?

You see that curated pile of drum barrels over there? I put them together...for my art project!

And?

It doesn't look like much now, but I was going to set them all off at once. It was going to be a towering inferno! Think of the symbolism!

But SHE waltzed in here and started blasting before I even properly set the charges! Yeah, I'm talking about YOU. What's your problem?

I was just supposed to stand here? It was lined up perfectly. I saw a perfect shot, so I took it. Like you wouldn't!

Of course I WOULD. That's why I spent weeks planning it. And then you had to ruin all the fun!

Listen! No one should stack or blow up drum barrels in the plaza! Where do you think we are, Wildhunt?

Sure feels like it. The Prefect Team is such a drag...

Tell me about it. They're always on our asses. It's like we can't even breathe without getting reprimanded.

You can breathe just fine without committing vandalism!

I can't live on such petty, stifling wisps of air!

What are you even talking about...?

Honestly, what's all this fuss?!

As if we didn't have enough of a headache. Did you see this new order from the Pandemonium Society?

What is it this time?

They assert that the Prefect Team needs to be audited. They want us to conduct a full equipment inspection and surrender every round larger than 9mm by tomorrow.

What gives them the right?! I feel like we're dealing with children...

Ridiculous...

By the way...

Why do you always let the Pandemonium Society boss you around?

Boss US around?! You can't be serious!

I mean, doesn't the Head Prefect always get what she wants anyway? Sometimes it feels like she's just humoring all the chairman's demands...

*sigh* About that...

What if she won?

Huh?

What if Hina won? What if she overrode the Pandemonium Society? Then what?

What do you mean "then what"...?

Well, I guess if Hina won, then she'd be the boss and could do whatever she liked?

Yeah! That'd be so cool. Who wouldn't want that?

Let's say WE had all the power and could do whatever we wanted...

If the Prefect Team were running Gehenna, then you'd probably have a problem with us, no matter how we governed.

Huh?

What if our Head Prefect said that every Gehenna student had to wear the same uniform? Not that she would, of course.

And she forced you to tighten your tie, tuck your shirt, wear a jacket, and keep your hemlines low?

Would you still think that it was so "cool" that she's the boss and could declare whatever she wanted unimpeded?

Well, when you put it that way...

I mean, yeah, it's only fun when I'M free to do whatever I please. Of course I don't want someone else bossing me around.

"Though I have the power to do so, I don't act arbitrarily..."

"Even if I have the power to push, I know where to draw the line."

"Precisely because I possess power, I know which boundaries must be upheld."

This is the Prefect Team's motto.

Well said, Chinatsu.

H-Head Prefect...!

Ah, about all this... Please forgive my dramatics.

Don't apologize. Ako and I frequently recite the motto too.

I'm pleased that you hold it so dearly.

That's...

Th-Thank you, Head Prefect...

Furthermore...

I cannot tolerate people acting as they please simply because they have the power.

Nor do I intend to ever exercise excessive control over students.

It's only...

The Prefect Team's role is to keep a watchful eye on a free Gehenna, to keep it free, and to ensure that it does not cross the line.

...That's also my personal vow.

G-Got it...

That sounds pretty cool. Should I sign up for the Prefect Team too?

Please, you? How could a slacker like you survive the Prefect Team?

What? You don't think I could do it?!

Now, now. The Prefect Team's doors are always open. Just visit and fill out an application. We even have pamphlets.

Ah, you know what? That sounds like a lot of work. Pass.

Then don't! See if I care!

Kihehe, as ludicrous as ever.

You're...!

*sigh* Can't have one quiet day.

Kihe, for all your posturing, there are clear limits to your capabilities.

While you can suppress the will of the people through threats and violence, you cannot break their spirits.

In short, you, the Prefect Team, so quick to resort to violence, simply lack the generosity to embrace all, the way I, the Great and Magnanimous Makoto, do.

And here I was wondering what you were getting at. You're just trying to pick a fight...

You have no right to be lecturing us on generosity, Chairman Makoto!

You just issued this absurd order! You slashed the Prefect Team's quarterly budget, and you constantly delay approving our operational expenses!

I have no time for such trivial matters!!

How is that "trivial"?! If you, the acting student council, don't approve it, then who will?!

The Prefect Team's matters take low priority in the mountain of work plaguing the Pandemonium Society! The lowest! Subterranean!

Makoto... If that statement is actually true, then I don't know if I can let it slide.

Whoa, they're at it again.

Business as usual...

Hold on!!

"???"