Act 2 Vol. 2 Ch. 2 Ep. 10: The Resistance

"I take it you're all already acquainted?"

...Seriously? THIS is the team...?

So by "joining forces," you meant with...the Prefect Team and Pandemonium Society...?

Wait, hold it! Why should we trust them?

Their upperclassmen are the ones causing all the trouble.

Ooh! Harsh, blunt, but speaking truth to power...!

Hey, Heritage League. You've got some nerve talking like that.

You're every bit as suspicious, you know.

Really? What's wrong with us, Iori?

Weren't you the ones constantly blabbering about "glorious Gehenna"?

Given what happened, how could you not be involved?

Hey! We didn't want this to happen and we didn't cause this!

Everyone, please find your composure.

After all, Sensei spoke with each of us and brought us together.

That alone should vouch for each of us.

...Hm.

...That's true.

Sensei... You certainly command a great deal of trust. I think we all know why...

The point is that we're all aware of what's going on in Gehenna. And we're here to stop it.

By the way... Didn't you girls have another member?

Ah...

...Shouko experienced a...difference of opinion.

Hmm... Well, the Prefect Team's pretty divided too.

...Brainwashing...? That's an actual thing...?

That's why the third-years changed so drastically...?

H-Hold on. NK Ultra is REAL? What? How? Why?

Yes. Absolutely.

By the way, how do you..."unwash" a brain?

We're...looking into that.

...Is it possible?

I'm not sure about the exact mechanism, but I wouldn't declare it IMPOSSIBLE.

But what happens if we can't undo this?

...

I can't support the current Gehenna, even if we conquer all of Kivotos!

This isn't a school worth being proud of!

I wanted to create a Gehenna where I could stand proud and unashamed before anyone, not an academy that steamrolls others with "blood and iron"!

No matter how strong or "glorious" we become, it'll never be okay!

Yaha! That's right! Just because we're armed doesn't mean we can just shoot blindly, right?

You've got some spirit... I like it.

I agree with President Mayumi.

Iori and I joined the Prefect Team to protect the line that must not be crossed.

That line is rarely clear-cut, so one must often exercise judgment.

That's right. And if Gehenna itself is trying to cross that line, I will stop it even if I have to fight the whole way.

Even if it was with my last, bloodied breath, I would scream not to cross the line.

...The Head Prefect and Senior Administrator...

Eureka, ladies! I found a clue!

A Pandemonium member?!

Wait, isn't she a third-year?

Ah, I knew you were all invited but... I suppose I didn't expect everyone to be on time.

Didn't all the third-years turn weird?

No, Satsuki's always like this. As I said earlier, she's immune, probably because she's been researching NK Ultra.

...Right. Sorry, she scared me.

Hmm, so Chiaki's joined the resistance...

That's right! I couldn't just watch Makoto act like that.

Though I didn't expect Satsuki to be on our side! What a treat!

"Our side"... That might be a good way to put it.

Wait... Did you leave Ibuki alone?

...

Well. Ibuki is too young to be here.

Besides, this would actually be more dangerous for her. We're the "Traitors' Club," aren't we?

"Traitors"...

Perhaps it's better for Ibuki to stay in the dark.

Satsuki, you mentioned finding a clue?

Ah, right. Fufu.

I explored the concept of "frequency" until I came to a revelation. Now, everyone listen closely!

We all know that each human's neural network exists on its own unique resonance frequency, right?

...No? At least I didn't.

Oh. Then allow me to explain.

Let's say that the real NK Ultra Project, meaning the one with the Tyrant Emperor's brainwashing, forced an individual's unique brain frequency to synchronize with an external frequency.

Now, ponder this question.

If someone's brainwave was forcibly locked into a specific state, could that be undone with a destructive interference of said waves?

...Um... What now?

In theory, it's possible! We could!

But here's the real problem.

To do so, we'd need to uncover the exact frequency used for the brainwashing...

The thing is, I'm not sure how to find it. It's not like we can ask whoever did this to attempt another hijack...

...Wow, Satsuki! I understood almost none of what you said, but I think I might have a hunch!

Do enlighten us, Chiaki.

Wouldn't it be in the broadcasting room?

Makoto's speech was processed through the new broadcasting room equipment, wasn't it?

And there were all those weird noises and words coming from the speakers, or equipment, or whatever...

So we might uncover something if we search the broadcasting room...

...

Oh, did I say something wrong?

No! Not at all, Chiaki! Why didn't I think of that?!

That was quite sharp, Chiaki...!

Aha, oh... Just my reporter's instincts.

Does that mean we can fix this once we get inside the broadcasting room?!

There's no telling until we arrive, but we should at least get a clue after we analyze the equipment.

I'll require a device that extracts carrier waves and...

"I have a good feeling about this...!"