Act 2 Vol. 2 Ch. 2 Ep. 5: I Quit

Chairman Makoto. Two representatives from the Heritage League request an audience.

Hm. Approved.

Understood. We will allow them in.

...

Uh...

Hmph. Furihata Mayumi and Myouraku Caren, what brings you here?

Um, well. So...

Chairman. I'll skip the small talk and cut to the chase.

Kihehe... That was incredibly brash, but I am gracious enough to tolerate such rude behavior. You may speak.

Ugh... For real?

So, like...were you actually serious about everything you said in your speech?

I'm always serious.

So you genuinely want to start a war...? And begin Gehenna's conquest of Kivotos...?

What brings about all this doubt? The sincerity of my voice should be evidence enough.

It's only...well. It was a bit much to suddenly pivot to devastating war and all that.

And the Pandemonium Society and Prefect Team are being so forceful with the students. I saw them confiscating privately-held ammo. Like is any of this necessary?

I personally issued that edict. It sounds like it is proceeding smoothly. Kihe.

Th-That's...

Hmph, are you frightened by the recent reforms? Changes are always uncomfortable at first.

But behold. The Pandemonium Society and Prefect Team have come together! All students have united under the Gehenna flag.

Furihata Mayumi. Isn't the glorious united Gehenna you dreamed of staring right at you? Kihehe.

...But Makoto, what about free will? When we dreamed of a glorious Gehenna, we thought everyone would join willingly.

President, will is ultimately nothing but a product of the environment.

And we are merely correcting the existing environment of disorder to one of strictly-controlled order.

Shouko...

Then allow me to ask you two. Are YOU serious?

A-About what?

I am asking if you are prepared to conquer Kivotos for Gehenna. Do you think this is necessary to restore glory to Gehenna? Yes...or no?

Is this not what you had grandstanded about? A unified, gestalt Gehenna. A glorious Gehenna, as it once was.

...

Now is the moment. You said you wanted to return to the Gehenna of the past.

And now, as it was back then, everyone is moving toward a single goal under a united mind. What do you think of that?

But Chairman...

You said you liked the way Gehenna was. You said it was functioning just as you intended.

That's what you told us when we met with you, when you went on about the value of freedom, even if it was chaotic.

Yeah. What made you change so suddenly? And not just you, but the other upperclassmen as well...?

Kihehe... That was merely a rhetorical argument from before I realized the truth.

Haphazardly-granted freedom is unpredictable and inefficient. What Gehenna needs is absolute order maintained through perfect control.

Didn't you debate me about this? You argued that my Gehenna's so-called freedom only resulted in meaningless chaos.

Th-That is the gist of what we said...

I promise you this. After the war, Gehenna will shine brighter than you could ever imagine.

All you need to do is to follow me.

...

Okay...for now. We'll get going.

Kihehe. And make sure to consider your next moves very carefully.

What is it, Iroha? If you have something to say, then speak.

Makoto... You're serious about this, right?

This question again? I am not one to speak idly.

...

In that case, I quit the Pandemonium Society.

What?

The Makoto I know may have blurted out foolish ramblings, but she never would've said anything like this.

And I don't want to be around...this version of you.

I-Iroha...?

...

Iroha...?

...Is that so?

Yes.

Then do as you will.

...

Hmph... I thought you might one day lead the Pandemonium Society...

But I suppose this is where all things come to an end, Iroha.

Yes. Thank you...so damn much for our time together.

...

Iroha...

Iroha, you're going...? You're not in the Pandemonium Society anymore...?

U-Ugh... Wh-What should we do?! Iroha is...!!!

Hush.

Eh, but!

Right now, Gehenna is at its biggest turning point in history. If we are to succeed, everyone must work together like cogs in a precise machine.

Now is the time for us all to devote ourselves to restoring the glorious Gehenna! There is no place for a loose screw or rusty cog!

...Makoto, you meanie!

You can't say that about Iroha! That's bad!

...No, Ibuki. Now is not the time to focus on personal relationships.

You may not understand because you're young, but to make our vision come true...

Whatever! Ibuki doesn't know any of that, but Ibuki knows that Iroha is upset!

Tch...

...Satsuki, Chiaki. Help Ibuki calm down.

Shouko, you're on wartime inspection duty. Refer to the inventory documents.

Understood.

...

Makoto...

*sob*

W-Wah... Waaaah...

I-Ibuki! I'm sure Makoto and Iroha were just kidding!

R-Right! Do you want some pudding? I'm sure some sweets will help!

Don't wanna... Waah... No more fighting... No more mean things... *sob*

We won't! No one's doing that! Now, let's take a breath and...

Iroha...

...

Chairman.

...

Do you plan on letting her, Natsume Iroha, leave like that?

...What about it?

Natsume Iroha has made it clear that she will not follow your leadership, Chairman. She is a dissident.

We can't overlook someone undermining Gehenna's unity, can we?

We should designate her as a person of interest, and depending on the severity of our findings, charge her with treason...

Enough.

...

I will decide what we do with her.

Igarashi Shouko. I will listen to your advice, but do NOT cross the line.

...Yes. Pardon me.

...Let us get going.

...As expected. I can't control every thought.

But I suppose this will have to do. Fufu.