Ritsuka looked at Rin as she explained what he would be doing during his visit to Schale.
He listened for a while, glancing at the documents she had prepared. The more she explained, the more his expression shifted from curiosity to confusion.
Finally, he raised his hand.
"Okay, so is this actually a school, or am I just here to do paperwork?"
Rin paused.
"...Schale is not a school, Ritsuka."
"Then why is it on my school visit schedule?"
"Because your schedule involves visiting important organizations and learning how Kivotos operates. Schale is one of those organizations."
Ritsuka stared at her.
"So, instead of attending classes, I'm learning how to run a government?"
"That's a rather simplistic way of describing it, but essentially, yes."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Dad, you never mentioned that your job involved this much paperwork."
Alexander, who had been standing nearby, gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Believe me, son. You have no idea."
Ritsuka looked at the stack of documents on Rin's desk.
Then he looked at the camera recording his livestream.
"Chat, I think I've discovered the true villain of Kivotos."
Chat:
PAPERWORK.
THE FINAL BOSS.
NO WONDER SENSEI NEEDS HELP.
Bro survived Red Winter just to get killed by administration.
Rin adjusted her glasses.
"I can assure you that paperwork is a necessary part of maintaining order in Kivotos."
"That's exactly what the final boss would say."
Alexander laughed.
Rin, meanwhile, looked as though she was reconsidering several decisions that had led to this moment.
"Ritsuka, if you're finished making jokes, I can explain the actual purpose of your visit."
He immediately sat upright.
"Yes, ma'am."
Rin adjusted the documents in front of her before continuing.
"Your visit to Schale has three objectives. First, to understand its role within Kivotos. Second, to learn how Schale cooperates with the various academies. And third, to observe how Sensei handles situations involving students from different backgrounds."
Ritsuka slowly turned toward his father.
"So I'm shadowing you?"
"Essentially," Alexander replied.
Ritsuka stared at him.
"Dad, you could've just said that!"
"You seemed to be enjoying the conversation."
"At my expense!"
Alexander chuckled while Rin continued her explanation.
"Schale is a special organization. Unlike the academies, it isn't bound to a single school's territory. Its authority and responsibilities allow it to assist students across Kivotos, regardless of their academy."
"So, while Valkyrie handles general law enforcement, Schale can get involved in problems that cross academy boundaries?"
"Correct. Although the exact circumstances matter, and Schale doesn't simply replace the authorities of individual academies."
Ritsuka nodded.
That made sense. During his visits, he'd already noticed how each academy functioned almost like an independent country. Their leaders made decisions, their students enforced their own rules, and their relationships with other academies could get complicated.
Schale was one of the few organizations that could bring people from those different worlds together.
"Okay, I get it. You're basically the guy everyone calls when their own government can't solve a problem."
Alexander scratched his cheek.
"That's one way to put it."
"Do you at least get paid well?"
"Ritsuka."
"What? It's a legitimate question!"
Rin pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Can we please return to the subject?"
"Sorry, Rin. Continue."
She gave him a suspicious look before moving on.
"Today, you'll observe a few of Schale's ongoing activities. You'll also have the opportunity to speak with students who visit the building and learn about the support Schale provides."
Ritsuka considered that.
"So, I don't actually have to do paperwork?"
"No."
"Wonderful. Best school visit ever."
"However," Rin added, "you will be expected to write a report about what you learn."
Ritsuka's smile disappeared.
"...I take it back."
Alexander laughed.
"Welcome to adulthood, son."
"I'm seventeen!"
"And already learning the importance of administrative responsibility."
"I hate it here."
Chat:
HE HASN'T EVEN BEEN HERE AN HOUR.
RIN GOT HIM DOING HOMEWORK.
SENSEI IS ENJOYING THIS WAY TOO MUCH.
Somebody save this man.
Ritsuka glanced at the chat.
"None of you are helping."
He put his phone down and turned back to Rin.
"Fine. I'll do the report. But I have one question."
"What is it?"
"Why am I visiting Veritas and Decagrammaton after this? Are they part of the same educational program?"
Rin exchanged a glance with Alexander.
It was brief, but Ritsuka noticed.
His expression became more serious.
"...Okay. Why did you two just look at each other like that?"
Alexander folded his arms.
"Veritas is a club at Millennium. Given your interest in technology and streaming, it makes sense for you to learn about their work."
"That part I understand."
"As for Decagrammaton..." Rin paused. "Your visit is intended to be observational. You'll be accompanied by people familiar with the situation, and you aren't expected to participate in any dangerous activities."
Ritsuka stared at her.
"That was a very carefully worded answer."
"Because the situation requires care."
"So, what exactly is Decagrammaton?"
Rin's expression grew more serious.
"An organization associated with the worship of an artificial intelligence and the mechanical entities known as the Prophets. Their activities and the meaning behind their prophecies are matters of concern."
Ritsuka glanced at his father.
Alexander nodded.
"That's the basic explanation. You'll learn more when you meet the people handling the situation."
Ritsuka leaned back.
"Right. So, after a normal visit to my dad's workplace, I'm going to meet hackers and then investigate a machine-worshipping organization."
"When you phrase it like that, it does sound rather strange," Alexander admitted.
"Dad, I spent yesterday at a school where the government changed because somebody blew up a statue."
"Ah. Red Winter."
"YES, RED WINTER!"
Rin looked between them.
"I see your visit there was eventful."
"Eventful? Rin, they had twenty-seven spare portraits of their former leader!"
Alexander took a moment to process that information.
"...Twenty-seven?"
"Twenty-seven."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Alexander sighed.
"Well, at least you got to experience Kivotos firsthand."
Ritsuka slowly turned toward the camera.
"Chat, I'm starting to think my school schedule was designed by someone who hates me."
Chat:
YOUR DAD APPROVED IT.
THE CALL IS COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE.
RITSUKA MORNINGSTAR'S SEVEN DAYS OF SURVIVAL.
DAY THREE: ROBOT CULT.
Ritsuka read the final message and went quiet.
Then he looked back at Rin.
"One last question. Is there any chance I can skip Decagrammaton and go home to my girlfriend?"
"No."
"Had to ask."
Alexander patted his son's shoulder.
"Come on. I'll show you around Schale before you leave for Millennium."
Ritsuka stood, grabbed his phone, and followed his father toward the door.
"Fine. But if I end up fighting a giant robot today, I'm sending the bill to the General Student Council."
Rin didn't even look up from her paperwork.
"Submit it in writing."
Ritsuka stopped in the doorway.
He slowly turned his head toward the camera.
"...She's joking, right?"
Alexander just laughed and kept walking.
Ritsuka hurried after him.
He had a very bad feeling about Wednesday.
Rin then continued explaining.
"Now, to help you, there are three people who will be working with you. They work directly with us, and let's just say... they have some rather unusual abilities."
Ritsuka blinked before pointing at his own halo.
"Aren't the halos unusual enough?"
Rin looked at him.
"Yes, but their abilities give them additional powers that most students don't possess."
"Okay, now I'm interested."
Rin pressed a button on her desk.
A few minutes later, the door opened, and two girls walked into the room.
"So, this is Sensei's son?"
"Oh my, he's kind of cute, don't you think?"
Ritsuka turned toward the newcomers.
The first girl had short brown hair, brown eyes, and a straightforward look. She wore the Tokiwadai Middle School uniform, with a backpack carrying some rather distinctive equipment.
The second girl had long blonde hair and golden eyes. She wore the same school uniform, along with white gloves, and carried herself with a confidence that made it seem as though she was already evaluating everyone in the room.
Ritsuka recognized their uniforms immediately.
"Wait. You're both from Tokiwadai?"
The brown-haired girl nodded.
"That's right. I'm Misaka Mikoto."
She gave him a friendly smile.
"And this is Shokuhou Misaki."
Misaki raised a hand to her cheek and smiled sweetly.
"Nice to meet you, Ritsuka-kun."
Ritsuka looked between them.
He'd heard of students with special abilities before, but seeing two girls from another school working with Schale was something else entirely.
Then a thought occurred to him.
"Hold on. You said there were three people helping me."
Mikoto and Misaki exchanged glances.
Ritsuka looked at Rin.
"Where's the third?"
Rin calmly returned his gaze.
"She's currently handling another assignment. You'll meet her later."
"Right. Of course. Why would anything on my schedule be straightforward?"
Mikoto laughed.
"You're pretty funny, aren't you?"
"That's what I tell myself."
Misaki giggled behind her hand.
"Oh, I think we're going to get along wonderfully, Ritsuka-kun."
Something about her smile made him suspicious.
He couldn't explain why.
He just had a feeling that getting along with Shokuhou Misaki might be considerably more complicated than it sounded.
And, judging by the way Mikoto was already looking at her, he wasn't the only one.
The two girls began showing Ritsuka around Schale, explaining the purpose of each room as they went.
Mikoto took the lead, pointing out the various offices and facilities. Misaki occasionally added details of her own, although Ritsuka noticed that she sometimes made the explanations sound far more dramatic than necessary.
"This is the monitoring room," Mikoto explained as they entered a room filled with screens and computer terminals. "Schale uses it to keep track of incidents around Kivotos and coordinate responses when something happens."
Ritsuka looked at the monitors.
"So, this is where you watch everything happening around the city?"
"Not everything," Mikoto clarified. "That would be impossible. We monitor relevant areas, review reports, and respond when we're alerted to something important."
Misaki smiled.
"Though, if you happen to cause any trouble, Ritsuka-kun, I'm sure someone will notice."
"Why does everyone assume I'm going to cause trouble?"
"Experience," Mikoto answered.
"You've known me for, what, ten minutes?"
"And yet, I already have a feeling."
Ritsuka sighed while Misaki laughed.
They continued the tour, with the girls explaining how to contact Schale's staff in an emergency, where to find medical supplies, and which communication channels to use if he encountered a dangerous situation.
Ritsuka listened carefully, occasionally asking questions and taking notes on his phone.
After they finished explaining the emergency procedures, he looked at both girls.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course!" Mikoto replied.
"Go ahead, Ritsuka-kun," Misaki added.
Ritsuka glanced between them.
"You two are also from outside the Angel Nation, right?"
Mikoto blinked.
Misaki's smile softened slightly.
"That's right. We're transfer students from Tokiwadai Middle School."
"I figured that out" Ritsuka repeated. "So, you're from outside Kivotos entirely?"
"Exactly," Mikoto answered. "Our school is in Academy City, which is a completely different place from here."
Ritsuka nodded slowly.
"That explains why Rin mentioned your abilities being unusual, even by Kivotos standards."
"Well, they're not exactly ordinary where we're from, either," Mikoto admitted.
Misaki placed a hand against her cheek.
"Oh, but that's what makes us special, isn't it?"
Mikoto gave her a suspicious look.
"Don't start."
"What? I haven't done anything!"
"You're doing that thing with your voice."
"What thing?"
"That thing!"
Ritsuka watched their exchange with growing amusement.
'Okay, so they already know each other pretty well.'
He turned back to Mikoto.
"Can you tell me more about your abilities? Rin made it sound like they're a big part of why you're here."
Mikoto glanced at Misaki before answering.
"I can manipulate electricity. Where I'm from, I'm known as an Electromaster."
She raised a hand, and a tiny spark of electricity danced between her fingers.
Ritsuka's eyes widened.
"Okay, that's actually really cool."
Mikoto smiled, looking pleased by his reaction.
Misaki, meanwhile, lifted a finger.
"And my ability is Mental Out. I can manipulate people's minds in various ways."
Ritsuka's smile slowly faded.
He looked at her.
Then at Mikoto.
Then back at Misaki.
"...You can do what?"
Misaki giggled.
"Oh, don't look so frightened, Ritsuka-kun. I wouldn't use my powers on someone without a good reason."
Mikoto folded her arms.
"That's not exactly reassuring when you put it that way."
"Misaka-san, you're hurting my feelings!"
"No, I'm not."
Ritsuka stared at the blonde girl for another moment.
Then he slowly turned toward the camera on his phone.
"Chat, I have just discovered that one of my guides can control electricity, and the other can mess with my brain."
He paused.
"Does Schale have a hazard allowance?"
Chat:
BRO IS WORKING WITH A WALKING LIGHTNING BOLT AND A MIND READER.
ASK IF THEY CAN HELP WITH YOUR HOMEWORK.
DO NOT LET THE BLONDE NEAR YOUR BANKING PASSWORDS.
MIKOTO SEEMS NICE THOUGH.
Misaki leaned toward the phone, reading the messages.
"My, my. Your viewers are quite entertaining."
Mikoto sighed.
"Just wait until they see what happens when she and I start arguing."
Ritsuka lowered his phone.
"...You two argue a lot, don't you?"
"NO!" both girls answered.
They looked at each other.
Misaki smiled.
Mikoto's eye twitched.
Ritsuka slowly raised his phone again.
"Oh, this is going to be a great stream."
To be continue
Hope people like this Ch and Give me power stones and enjoy