Act 2 Vol. 2 Ch. 2 Ep. 6: Hot Springs Department

...are the chairman's orders. Understood?

...Haha. Ridiculous.

What?

Since when have we listened to the Pandemonium Society? We never have, even if you all tried asking nicely for once.

And then there's these funny little details. You want us to build EIGHT level-M military supply depots in a week?

We dig hot springs. We're not the, uh...Menial Civil Construction Club, or whatever. Hm? You get me?

That doesn't matter. You were given an order, so you must carry it out.

Haah...

Do you intend on refusing the Pandemonium Society's decree while our crusade against Kivotos is imminent?

Such an action is verboten. You will be branded as traitors to Gehenna, and I think you already know what happens to traitors.

Your kindness brings tears to my eyes.

Oh! Is it more work? Did we get a request?

Megu...!

Correct. This is an über essential job for the glorious Gehenna.

Okay! Then we have to do it! Yay! Finally!

Megu, you shouldn't just...

Didn't you hear, President Kasumi?! She said it's an "über essential" job!

Well, um...

President Kasumi, you would know this better than me, since you're so brilliant! To restore glory to Gehenna, we must... Um, what was it again?

...

Yeah, you get it! The point is, we're conquering Kivotos, right? We're going to war against other academies!

So we should pitch in too, and everyone'll do their part! It might even be more important than digging hot springs!

...Megu...!

Then I will file that as "enthusiastic acceptance" and be on my way.

Naturally, we will dispatch personnel every afternoon to audit your progress.

Sure! We're good at construction, so don't even worry about it! Heehee.

...

Huh? President Kasumi, you don't look really happy.

...D-Did I do something wrong? Mmm?

...No, you're fine. Of course.

And, hey! If Captain Megu wants to do it, then that's what we gotta do! Haha! Isn't that right?

Yay! There's that enthusiastic Kasumi I know! Thanks a lot!

...Yeah.

Then we better head back and prep the materials...

Megu.

Hm? What is it?

Would you seriously prefer building this...over digging hot springs?

...

Yeah!!! For now!!!

Because...we need all this to help with the war!

...And conquer Kivotos! Right?

...Yeah. That's right.

That means this work is all for the glory of Gehenna, so I really want to do it!

I hear you. In that case, let's start prepping the site.

Okay! Everyone, gather around!

...

"Kasumi."

Oh, Sensei.

Look at me, I was so wrapped up that I didn't even notice a VERY important guest had arrived. Haha.

...Wait. Sensei, should I call a bellhop to help with those bags under your eyes? Seriously, you look...bad.

Ah... Well, why wouldn't you be losing sleep? Gehenna is a total mess these days. And NOT the good kind.

I bet you really have your hands full...

...Oh, I seem to have a lot on my "plate" as well?

There never was any point in trying to hide things from you, Sensei...

Well... It's not that big of a deal...

And since you're so BEAT, we can talk about this later! Catch some z's. Haha. If you'd excuse...

...

Honestly. YOU'RE the one people should be worried about...

But fine. If you INSIST, maybe I'll bore you with my trivial worries.

"Well..."

...I'll do anything Megu asks, after all.

It's like that despicable, ah, excuse me, as that brilliant little Miss Shocking said.

But what Megu's saying right now...

It's her face and her voice, but I can look right in her eyes and still be unsure if this is what she wants.

The Megu I know...MY Megu...wouldn't say these things.

...But I also kept thinking.

"Is it right for me to judge Megu so hastily?"

"Is it right for me to assume what Megu believes and interpret that as I please?"

You already know this, but Megu is extremely honest with her feelings.

As such, her actions match her words.

That means what she says, and what she intends to do, are truly what she wants.

Yeah.

She wasn't her usual self. The Megu I knew wouldn't... I THINK she wouldn't...

...

And that's why I'm a little lost right now! Hahaha!

So, what should I do, Sensei? I'm not known for my good judgment.

It's best to do what Megu wants, just like I've been doing, right? Yeah?

...

Megu's changed...?

And "not just Megu, but almost every third-year" too...?

...Sensei. Is this a joke?

UGH! I knew something was off!

First, there were Makoto and Hina squeezing hands and whispering sweet nothings about conquest...

And now the other students falling in line, going with it like they'd been wanting war for years.

Sensei, do you know what caused this?

...I see.

All because of the Tyrant Emperor's reheated leftovers... Yeah, that explains a lot.

Using a trigger to alter students' perceptions en masse. Quite incredible.

...Sensei. I don't want to see Megu suffer like this.

And, at this rate...

This academy is going to turn into something I despise.

You know what I hate the most? Being coerced by someone else's will and not my own autonomy.

Following commands without a second thought while cowardly whining, "I was just following orders."

...Believe it or not, I was once someone like that. I thought that was only natural.

I lived mistaking the voice someone planted in me as my own.

Haha... You know, it's a long, dreary story.

If you really want to hear it... Maybe I'll tell you after we save the day.

...Yeah. I'll keep that in mind.

The important thing is that now I know.

I can't just sit here and let my precious friend stay as some empty shell, right?

"For Gehenna? For conquest?" Haha! No way. Megu wouldn't want those stupid things.

The real Megu only wants to feel the surge of hot water bursting from a dig site. She doesn't care about trivial violence.

...I won't let the shadows of the past darken this precious life I've made for myself.

Sensei, let me know how I can help.