Vol. 1 Ch. 2 Ep. 12: Secrets

Ta-da!

Look, Hoshino! I was finally able to get my hands on this old Abydos Oasis Festival poster!

The oasis used to be as big as a lake! Here, you can have it as a souvenir!

It's incredible, isn't it? If we had some kind of miracle, people might start coming back here! Just imagine it!

Miracles don't exist.

Something like that isn't going to happen!

O-Ow...

Who the hell would wanna visit some spot in the middle of a desert?! For once in your life, stop daydreaming!

S-Sorry, Hoshino... I-It's because I'm a dummy…

...!

Miracles, luck, fortune...

You're president of the Abydos Student Council! You need to take your position more seriously!

...

Seriously! What the heck are we gonna do?!

Just what is the Kaiser Corporation up to out there?

It looked like they were digging something up... That so-called "treasure"...

That can't be right. There's nothing but desert out there.

No oil, no underground resources, nothing of value. That was confirmed ages ago.

Then why take the land...?

No!! That's not the issue here!! What about our debt?! They want it paid off by the end of the month?! How are we supposed to do that?!

Kaiser Loans has already sent a reminder and requested a deposit. We have to come up with 300 million yen by next week.

I'm going. I need to find out what they're doing out there.

W-Wait! Shiroko?! Where are you?!

To that PMC facility. I shouldn't have any trouble infiltrating it if I'm thorough. I'll get to the bottom of what they're using it for.

That's only going to make things worse, Shiroko! We should be focusing on how to pay off the debt!

...

That debt isn't going to be paid off by doing what we've been doing. Now's the time for drastic measures.

N-No! If you go off again...

...No, enough of that! What's the point of getting emotional?! If we lose the school, it's all over! I'm in!

What?! N-No way!

Huh?! Serika! Are you seriously going against Hoshino?!

That's not what I meant! I just...

You're the one making things worse, Serika! Are you planning to become a criminal now?!

I-I...

...

All right, all right. Settle down, everyone.

You're all so heated, I swear the room's getting warmer.

U-Um...

...

...

You're right. I'm sorry...

I-I didn't mean to get so desperate... My bad.

Oh, I know, I know. I couldn't stay mad at you, Shiroko.

...

Come on. Let's call it a day.

We're done here! Let's cool our heads and meet up again tomorrow. Consider that president's orders.

What's up Shiroko? Not going home?

Do you have a moment?

Sure. Is there something you wanted to say to me?

Oh. You too, Sensei?

But I'm so beat from today. A lot happened.

Can it wait until tomorrow? I think I already know what this is about.

O-Oh, okay. Got it.

Sensei?

In that case...

Well, well, Sensei. When did you and sweet little Shiroko become close enough to understand each other just through eye contact?

Wow, guess I shouldn't underestimate you after all, Sensei. This old-timer is starting to feel a little left out here!

"Be honest with me, Hoshino."

Hmm? About what?

Oh. Isn't this...?

Ack! When did you...?! Wait, this is Shiroko's doing, right?

Oh, come on, Shiroko. You can't go digging through your president's bag!

And you, Sensei! Shiroko's sure to become a supervillain when she's your age if you keep advocating the cool crime of robbery!

...

...

So that's how it's going to be.

...

You've really got me by the short ones, huh?

*sigh* Fine.

Mind going on a walk with me, Sensei?

*cough* *cough* The sand's piling up here too.

There aren't enough of us to keep a building this big clean...

If only the sandstorms would calm down...

Pretty messed up, huh? Isn't it a bit too cruel that this old-timer's entire high school life was just...sand?

What makes you think that?

They say this place used to be a massive, powerful school before the desert took over, but I wouldn't know anything about that.

All I remember is a mess, a school in ruins, nothing in order.

The school I first walked into all those years ago is now buried under sand, and all of the upperclassmen I looked up to are long gone.

This isn't even the school's main building. It's just an annex that we ran to after every other building was lost to desertification.

Then again, I wouldn't have met Shiroko, Nonomi, Ayane, and Serika had I not come here.

*sigh*

Heh. I guess I am somewhat attached?!

Can I be honest with you, Sensei?

I've been receiving offers from some weird people for two years now.

The Kaiser Corporation.

I guess you could call it headhunting. They've contacted me multiple times since I came to Abydos.

Recently too...

I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse.

Half of Abydos' debt will instantly be forgiven if you agree to drop out of school and join the corporation I manage.

Heh heh heh. So, do we have a deal? Yes? Then go ahead and sign here.

How many times do I have to say it? No. My answer's still no.

...

It was a tempting offer, no doubt. But back then, I kept refusing, because I knew if I left, Abydos would fall apart.

But you know... They look like they're recruiting talent for their PMC.

I don't know either... I just call him Black Suit...

Something about him gives me the creeps. I've never seen anyone who looks like that in Kivotos.

He's suspicious, no doubt... but he hasn't caused any trouble, yet.

One thing's for sure, though. Even Kaiser's executives seem to fear him.

...Oh.

...Well, it's not like I haven't had my doubts for a while now. Maybe this is just a trace of that hesitation.

Let me see that. I'll throw it out.

Heh. See? Now it's in the trash.

Looks like I caused some unnecessary suspicion. But there's no use dwelling on something this unsettling.

But they are my underclassmen, and I do owe it to them. I'll tell them the whole thing tomorrow.

It's not exactly a happy story, but I know I shouldn't be keeping secrets from them.

I have no idea how to go about this...

...

Maybe. Anything can happen...even miracles.

...

All right. We've talked about this long enough.

See you tomorrow, Sensei.

Bye.

"Hoshino!"

Yeah?

...

Heh. Did I look that down?

Okay, Sensei. Thanks.

*sigh* Hello everyone. Ayane, coming in.

Am I the first one here...?

Huh?

I-Is this...?

...

Kyaaaaaaah!