Act 2 Vol. 2 Ch. 1 Ep. 17: Legacy of the Past

"I...NEED to find Hina."

Head to the Prefect Team room.

Ah... Sensei.

Sensei...

...You're here about what happened at the rally?

...No...

I am...also quite confused.

We know Hina wouldn't say things like that.

Shaking hands with Chairman Makoto is one crazy thing, but then talking about waging a war on Kivotos...? It was like a sick joke!

Surely she isn't serious? There must be some...inside deal that we haven't been made aware of.

Regardless, you're here at the perfect time.

We were building up to talk to her too. Let's go together.

Oh, Sensei. Welcome.

Today is a glorious day, and I'm grateful to share this joy with you.

Fufu. Did you see me in the plaza earlier?

Ah... Of course I did. I am not exactly the joking type.

...

Sensei, you seem more tense than usual... Is something the matter?

Head Prefect, is this some prank you're pulling? On ALL of Gehenna?

Did you and Makoto plan this all out as some surprise, or...?

Whatever do you mean, Iori?

Listen! None of this makes sense!!! "Conquer Kivotos"? You want to wage a war with all of Kivotos? Seriously?!

Just tell me it's a joke! I'll even laugh for you and let it go!

Sweet Iori, do you still not understand?

"Understand" what?!

The Prefect Team's true mission! The awakened purpose of Gehenna!

Our iron-blooded will must be directed beyond our borders! We shall expand our living space and enforce true order across all of Kivotos. What else would we be doing?

Senior Administrator Ako, are you serious?!

Ugh, this is so frustrating. Iori, Chinatsu. Why don't you understand?

If even that megalomaniac Chairman realized this truth, why are you two so slow...?!

What problem do you two have?

It's weird... How could you actually want to start a war with Kivotos?

We never talked about this. This isn't what the Prefect Team is about...

You... You said we are the ones who draw the line...

I hear you. You're right.

I made a vow to stop Gehenna from crossing the line.

But now, the line we draw becomes Gehenna itself.

If every centimeter of ground we tread upon becomes Gehenna, then no one will be crossing the line.

Th-That's...

Head Prefect...!

"Hina... Ako... Why have you changed?"

Sensei...

It seems you have not come to see the truth yet.

Well, I sympathize with your confusion. I only realized it myself today.

No, I suppose I should say I was "reminded" of it...? I'd always known.

...The resolve to unite Gehenna's power and conquer Kivotos.

...The great and glorious aspiration that was lying dormant within us.

Fufu... Yes. Same with me.

It feels like I've suddenly awakened. I honestly can't fathom how I failed to see our mission for so long.

It's so evident that even that dummkopf chairman sees it.

Gehenna united under a single banner will be unstoppable. Fufu.

...If you keep this up, I can no longer dismiss it as a joke, you know?

Chinatsu, do you think I am kidding right now?

If you are actually serious, then we have a bigger problem!

Ugh! REALLY?!

Has something gotten into you?! Why are you acting like you don't understand? We're supposed to be coordinated and aligned.

Isn't it only natural?! Isn't it obvious? You know what Gehenna must do!

Conquer Kivotos?!

We didn't pick up our guns so we could stomp on others like a bunch of dictators!

"To protect the students who want a proper and peaceful education"...! That's what we're working for, isn't it?!

The Hina I knew was deeply wary of those recklessly wielding power. Something is OFF about you two. You're not yourselves.

We're not doppelgängers, Chinatsu. But, yes. We may have changed.

My mind is clearer and more refreshed than ever. Now that I'm free of it, I finally understand the ponderous fatigue that previously weighed me down.

I suffered angst because I ignored our destined battlefield, instead focusing on maintaining menial order within these claustrophobic walls.

My wavering indecisiveness sickened both myself and Gehenna at large.

Head Prefect... Please...

Don't worry. Once the Gehennan flag flies in every corner of Kivotos, all conflict will vanish. Then the true order will begin.

...Head Prefect...!!!

"I'll take these two with me."

Please do, Sensei.

Do take good care of them, Sensei. They still appear to be confused.

...

...

I don't understand... Why, how... What is happening...?

Sensei... What...should we do...?

Mmm...

...This is like a horrific dream. I hate...when I can't wake from a nightmare.

What are you thinking?!

"...It's the same here..."

Enough stunts. You've gone too far. How could you spit such drivel?!

And over the academy's broadcast system! Every student must have heard your hegemonic nonsense!

Shut up, Iroha! What are you calling "nonsense"?!

So you think that makes sense? We should conquer Kivotos? It's Gehenna's rightful territory?

You should've just bragged about yourself like you always do, you megalomaniac! So much for "making history"!

Oh, you had a moment, all right! This will go down as the most outrageous, bloody blunder in the history of Gehenna!

I-Iroha... Calm down...

Iroha, Makoto... Are you fighting...?

...Chiaki. Take Ibuki outside with you.

...Right away!

Ibuki, let's step out so the two of them can talk. They're not fighting! It's...a play!

Not fighting. Fighting is bad...

Now, then. Iroha, did my sacred decision sound like nothing more than raving nonsense to your ears?

That's right! Forget sacred, you sounded insane! What do we gain by making all of Kivotos our enemy? Budget? Power? No, we get a suicide mission!

No, no, no! You're utterly foolish, Iroha!!!

Is that so?

Do you still not realize how Gehenna has rested on a shoddy foundation of shallow peace? It is a disgrace that Gehenna has wasted months fretting about offending other academies and bickering amongst ourselves!

That's normal diplomacy! Even if we don't always get along, we know not to cross the line.

Shatter this rotten, existing order and establish a new world ruled by the iron-blooded Gehenna! This is realpolitik. Can't you see that?

No...

...Makoto, why are you doing this? What's gotten into you today?

Kihehe... Iroha, it might appear strange to those myopic eyes of yours.

Today, I, Hanuma Makoto, have become "complete"and driven by a sudden, intense surge of will!

What are you...?

Didn't you see how even that dreadful Head Prefect Sorasaki Hina succumbed to me? She submitted to my grand cause.

That! That's the problem! She normally would've scoffed at your nonsense!

Just what did you do to her? Satsuki, did you finally actually hypnotize someone?

...!!!

...There's no way...

I don't see a better explanation...!

Hmph. What you saw was Hina finally opening her eyes to her duties.

Just you wait, Iroha. Your doubts shall soon vanish before the united power of Gehenna.

...So you're serious... Makoto...

I am always serious, Iroha. You know me very well.

Yes. I do. ...I do.

...

...

Tsk. Why is Iroha overreacting like that? I didn't even mention the blitzkrieg yet...

Gehenna's power must remain united. We are about to embark on a sacred conquest.

...

Walk away.

...

"Iroha."

Sensei.

...You were here. Did you overhear our conversation?

Ah. I see...

How did it turn out this way? I don't understand what happened...

Sensei, you know Makoto can be a bit scatterbrained and unreliable...but she's not... This isn't who she is.

*sigh* ...How can I even explain this to Ibuki...?

...She's not really going to go through with it, right?

...Please. I think you're the only one I can rely on right now...

"..."

"(I better see how the other clubs are doing.)"

Welcome, Sensei.

I apologize for not offering you a refreshment, but we have our hands full right now.

Ah, right. We are in the midst of coordinating preparations.

"Preparations for what"? I thought it was obvious.

Relief supplies for the Kivotos conquest. We need plenty, as we'll provide first aid to and transport bodies...NO, I mean..."patients" on the battlefield.

Aren't I always? One must be prepared. This war could go all the way to the hinterlands.

While I have no interest in and little knowledge of politics, I am delighted to see that the Pandemonium Society and the Prefect Team are finally synchronized.

Now that Gehenna is united as one, we will declare the holy war on Kivotos.

The glorious war of conquest will start soon. Please support us through this, Sensei.

Yes, please take care.

Ah... Sensei.

Sensei, this visit was short, but...know that I'm always grateful to have you.

"..."

Phew, I'm finally done stir-frying these onions.

...But is this really what I should be focusing on right now...?

...

Hmm... Whatever. We all just contribute what we can.

Ah, Sensei!

Yay! Hello there! Heehee.

Hiya! Welcome, Sensei!

Ah... Yes! Everything's lovely on our end.

Just crying over onions and preparing meals!

Ah... You must mean the one with Chairman Makoto?

Where she went on about conquest and expansionism? Yeah. I was just thinking about it, actually...

R-Right. I was surprised, to say the least. Even Head Prefect Hina...

What do you think, Sensei? It must've been ironic, or something? It's all staged, right?

...Though "staging" something would require the two to even remotely get along...

Why wouldn't we be "okay"...?

Did something happen?!

...

...

You're saying that some of the other students...are acting weird?

D-Does that mean... That broadcast was serious?

They seriously want to conquer Kivotos...? Really...?

Ah, okay! Thank you!

What the... It WASN'T a prank...?

...

W-We'll just keep doing what we can.

There's no sense in letting the student body go hungry.

Take care out there... Sensei.

Let us know if there's anything we can do to help!

About "that thing" earlier...?

Did you hear it too, Teach? I was like, "WHAT is going on?!"

They went on about conquest and war... The Pandemonium Society says a lot of funny stuff, but I didn't expect that from the Prefect Team.

I'm waiting for a "Surprise, gotcha! It was a prank, sis!"

...But that hasn't come out yet. Shouldn't they have said something by now?

What...? They were for real?

...That's really bad...

I can't believe our peers could flip like that in an instant...

Oh.

What's up, Eri? You got that look.

Before Chairman Makoto's speech...

Wasn't there a fast incantation? You heard it too, right?

Um... Yeah. I thought it was just some technical difficulties. Like they tuned into the wrong channel.

Maybe... But I feel like I've heard it somewhere before...

I'm way too confused. What do you make of it, Teach?

Yeah... Why was it only a few students? For the drama? So random...

Sensei, hit us up if you need help. This seems really serious.

...And take care.

What's the difference between people who changed and people who haven't...?

We're normal... What do we have in common? Anything? We don't even hang out...

We're all...not presidents?

Hair color...? Hair length...? Personality...? Star signs...? Blood types...? Height...?

They're all different! We don't have ANYTHING in common.

Ditto with Makoto and Hina. It's hard to imagine two people more different.

...

Third-years...?

President Sena from the Medical Emergency Club is also a third-year...

As is Ako.

...Satsuki too.

For now, that SEEMS to be the case... But why?

Why would only the third-years lose their minds...?

Excuse me.

Satsuki...?!

...

I think I know what happened.

Hm? What do you mean, Satsuki...?

Wait, maybe Satsuki's one of them too!

Tell me! Why does Gehenna need to conquer Kivotos...?!

Uh, I kind of disagree with the premise of that question. We don't need to. And I hate war. It's SO violent...and rather painful.

Huh?

Huh?

What?

"Satsuki, did you not change...?"

Oh, like Makoto and Hina?

No. I don't think "that" influenced me. And I also believe I know why.

What's the "that" you speak of?

Yes. It's the...

...NK Ultra Project.

"You're saying everything happened..."

"...because of the NK Ultra Project?"

"The one you always talk about?"

Right, Sensei.

What do you mean? Isn't that the fake hypnosis method you made up? It doesn't even work, right?

Well, only Makoto's gone through clinical trials. So my effectiveness is...inconclusive.

Wait, wait!

You're the one who brainwashed them, Satsuki?

No... I would have never wanted this to happen.

You see, this isn't "my" NK Ultra Project.

It's the predecessor.

"The predecessor"...?

Makoto and I tried to erase it from memory. We buried the original and rebranded... You see, the "real" NK Ultra Project was created by...

...the Tyrant Emperor.