Act 2 Vol. 2 Ch. 1 Ep. 7: Caren

Yo, sup?

Yeah! We're talking to you!

Wh-Why? What's wrong?

Well, it's just that I hate you Gehenna girls...

...to the point where you could say I'm allergic!

Just one look at you, and I'm already breaking out in spots. See?!

Hm? They're gone now.

Damn, must be that water-based ink. Pass me the...

Now look here! Seven inflamed spots. I'm breaking into hives! Don't you think I'm...entitled to financial compensation?

But you just drew that with a marker! Right in front of me!

I'm not playin'! I said you make me sick, so it's true! Now fork over the cash!

No! This is nonsense!

Hey, you lookin' to eat a grenade? Just shut your trap and pull out the wallet.

Ugh... Y-You...

Hahaha! You Gehenna punks always make for easy targets! Always travelin' alone.

Gehennans never team up, and your Prefect Team only cares about what happens INSIDE their walls.

So help's not comin'! Pay up before you get hurt!

Step forward.

"Hm...? Isn't that..."

Yaha! Look at this little tableau! Absolutely hysterical.

Huh? What did you say?

And who are you?

Who's this, another Gehennan? She's all frilly...

Sure am. I'm proudly from Gehenna.

So...

How about you take your paws off my classmate and get lost?

Wha? What was that?

Haha! Nice manicure, funny girl. Who do you think you are? I don't see a Prefect Team armband...

Hey, is she a friend of yours?

Eh, no... Not really...?

Well, we're friends now. Get used to it.

Whoa...

Ha! This princess thinks she can handle us on her own? Sounds like she's due a lesson on the real world.

Yeah! Let's show her how ruthless Kivotos can be!

"W-Wai...!"

Urgh! Sh-She's...

Ouch! That stings...!

W-We got GOT!

Sh-She beat them all down in the blink of an eye...

Are you okay?

H-Huh...? Yeah, I'm all right...

Why are you cowering? You seem unscathed...and it looks like you kept your bag!

Oh, thank you so much. They would've taken everything from me...even my magazines!

It's like I said. We're friends now. And I'm not about to let ANYONE bully one of my girls.

S-So cool...

Ah, by the way, have you ever heard of the Gehenna Heritage League?

...Maybe? Isn't that the club that everyone's been talking about?

You bet. I'm from there.

Wait, really? NOW I'm interested! I was thinking of joining a club!

Is that so? You should join us, then! Yahaha!

Here's my MomoTalk. Message me if you run into trouble.

Unlike the Prefect Team, the League protects Gehenna students even if they're outside the district, just like today.

Ooh... How reassuring.

Okay! I'll hit you up if anything happens! And I'll also look into joining!

Glory to Gehenna!

Yeah, glory to Gehenna! Got it!

Yaha, all in a day's work.

Hm? Sensei, is that you?

Wow! Sensei, in the flesh?

Whatcha doing? Where are you going? Did you see what I just did? What'd you think?

Wow, so you DID see it!

It's not like I do this to impress anyone...but knowing that YOU saw it makes me feel especially proud.

Then bring on the head pats! Good work should be rewarded, right? But watch the hair.

Mm! That feels nice! Yahaha!

"Does this happen often," you ask?

Hmm... Somewhat?

The Prefect Team runs patrols, so it's rare to see this stuff inside the district. But once we step outside, yeah... It can get a little rough.

Lone Gehenna students tend to be easy targets. Well, I suppose it's the same for any academy.

But if I catch sight of trouble, I like to intervene. I don't want ANYONE thinking they can mess with our students.

Oh... I mustn't "overdo" it? I should just "ask you for assistance"?

You're too kind, Sensei. It's been a while since anyone offered to step in for me.

But I'm pretty tough. I can take on a few punks at once.

And if I can't...then I flee and then ambush them individually later! It's what they deserve.

And as you've clearly seen, this is hardly a safe area. Someone like you shouldn't be walking alone.

Since we're already together, I'll escort you until you finish your errands!

Oh, it's fine, please! It's not like I had any plans!

"Thank you for today, Caren."

Yahaha! That's what I like to hear.

I enjoyed walking around with you, Sensei.

By the way... People seem to have it out for you. Just today alone...

Then you should feel free to call me if you need some security!

Here, I'll give you my MomoTalk. You can message or call me, both are good!

And...there! It's done! Yaha!

It's nice to be connected, isn't it?

This is my first time going on an outing like this with an adult. It's pretty fun...

Ah, I think I better head back.

Hmm, Sensei, is there anything you'd like to ask me before I go?

Just for today, and only for you, I'll answer anything. ANY question, Sensei! Yahaha!

"Why are you in the Heritage League?"

Huh, oh? THAT's what's on your mind?

Well...

It's because I like Gehenna, I guess?

That's probably the primary reason! Yaha!

And it's a blast doing things with all the other members. And as you saw, they're all funny people...in their own ways.

"Why do I like Gehenna," you ask?

...

Hmm... Mmm...

That's a really hard question. There are SO many reasons.

For starters, it's the straightforward atmosphere!

I really hate hypocrisy. People acting nice in public, then badmouthing in private. Ugh, they make me sick.

But Gehenna has a different vibe. We're direct and wholehearted. And we wrap things up cleanly, with everything on the table.

We have a culture where you can be yourself. I like this sense of freedom.

Oh. You don't think that "sounds like what the Heritage League wants"?

Ah, I suppose. We're trying to implement order and control in Gehenna...

I know the word "control" sounds a little harsh, but that's kind of just how Shouko talks. She's the brains of the group.

So, yeah, you're right. That's what we're trying to bring forth.

Honestly, I like the complete chaos, but I stay because I'm curious to see what Mayumi will do.

Out of everyone I know, Mayumi loves Gehenna the most! You can see it!

She has so much spirit and drive. I'd like to see what she can do with the academy.

Sure, she's a little reckless. She acts first and thinks later, but I like that about her.

And yes, Shouko says weird things once in a while, but she also loves Gehenna.

How could you not be intrigued? Wouldn't it be cool to see a united Gehenna?

Like a school where everyone coordinated and was set on the same goal instead of running in a hundred directions!

Frankly, it's beyond my imagination! So I'll have to see it for myself.

Yahaha, anyway, that's the reason I stay in the Heritage League with my friends.

Did that answer your question? I feel like I was all over the place. Look, I'm not great at presentations!

Ah! And I should also say something.

Thank you for helping us, Sensei.

It would've been rough all by ourselves. You're the reason we've made any strides.

We've also had so many students joining the club lately. It's all so amazing...

Anyway, we'll keep in touch, got that? Yahaha!