As we looked at the Prefect Team, they looked right back at us.
"Stop!" one Prefect Team mob, wearing a red armband, shouted. "Entry beyond this point is forbidden!"
Another stepped forward: "There's a curfew on this whole street tonight! Go back—"
She dragged out the words but then noticed Hifumi's uniform: "…That uniform… Trinity?"
"Why are you here…!? What are you doing in Gehenna? What's your purpose!?"
The tone of both Prefect Team mobs instantly sharpened, and the rest of the members looked toward us warily.
Hifumi tried to explain:
"N-no, that's not it! We're really just passing through…!"
"Without a purpose, why would Trinity students come to Gehenna!?"
Hanako added: "But we really are just here for the exam, not to start any trouble…"
Her words only seemed to insult them further. The mob's anger flared: "Why would Trinity students need to take an exam in Gehenna!? If you're going to lie, at least make a draft first!"
Hifumi hesitated, unable to argue back: "I-I can't refute that… ahh…"
At that moment, the second Prefect Team mob furrowed her brow, stepped aside, and suddenly paled: "That one over there… isn't that someone from the Justice Task Force!?"
Koharu, the one pointed at, shrank back, her body trembling.
"What? It's… it really is!" the first mob-chan yelled in panic. "Enemy attack! A JTF member is here!"
"Report to the higher-ups immediately! The Justice Task Force has arrived!"
Though flustered, the mob chans immediately sprang into organized action.
Watching, I silently nodded at their training… though considering my current position, perhaps such admiration was a little inappropriate.
Koharu cried out to clarify: "Eh!? It's not that! That's true, but, I mean, it's not—ugh…"
Clearly, the Prefect Team wasn't interested in listening to her explanation.
Azusa reached into her pocket: "No choice. Let's take them down."
"Eh!? Won't that make the misunderstanding even worse!?"
Unfortunately, Hifumi's concern only matters if the other side is willing to listen.
From the current situation, Azusa's seemingly reckless and naive decision was actually the correct one.
I cleared my throat, about to speak and end their dispute.
Whoosh—! Boom!
Before I could even register, a thunderous explosion erupted, sending dust, flames, and screams outward from the center of the gathered committee members.
A Mob-chan on the edge of the blast, knocked to the ground, struggled to lift her head:
"T-these guys… really are…"
Before she could finish, she slumped over and lost consciousness, just like her companions.
"Azusa—!?"
"No, I haven't acted," Azusa clarified to Hifumi. "It was someone else."
Hanako confirmed: "Yes, the attack came from far behind us. But who… exactly?"
The question was soon answered.
About ten seconds later, screeching brakes announced a familiar, yet surprisingly well-kept yellow pickup truck with the words "급식" on the hood. In it were three girls I'd never forget.
Looking into the cargo bed, I saw a black-haired girl, tightly bound with rope and gagged, tears glistening in her red eyes, peeking out. My mind instantly went back ten days.
In casual conversation, Fuuka had excitedly told me she had finally saved enough money for a new car, imagining going on errands without enduring the slow speed and noise of her old car.
She had also invited me to one day see her real driving skills.
…Looking on the bright side, at least now I got to witness how fast Fuuka's new car could go under someone else's hands.
In the driver's seat, Akari had one hand on the steering wheel, the other on a grenade launcher, grinning at me:
"Ah~☆ It really is sensei!"
It was likely that the explosion just now, taking down nearly ten Prefect Team members with a single shot, came from her.
The Gourmet Research Society… only Haruna, Akari, and Fuuka… uh, Fuuka is a hostage!
I suddenly realized why Kayoko hadn't posted anything on Momotalk but had insisted I meet her instead.
As a result, we arrived at the bridge a few minutes later than planned, just in time to encounter two of the Gourmet Research Society members who should have been in the Prefect Team's custody, and Fuuka, once again innocently kidnapped.
Had I known it would turn out this way, I would've stationed Problem Solver 68 nearby instead.
But if I had, Hina might have personally intervened.
Haruna in the passenger seat smiled at me: "Jackpot. Hello there. What are you doing here, sensei?"
I gave Fuuka a sympathetic look and raised my hand in greeting: "Hello."
After a moment, I briefly explained to the Gourmet Research Society, now allied due to the earlier attack, why we were visiting Gehenna at night.
Haruna nodded thoughtfully: "I see. I roughly understand the situation. So we have to get to that place, right?"
"That's right."
"I understand the reason, but the timing is unfortunate…" Haruna said regretfully. "There's quite a commotion around here right now."
Akari explained: "The Hot Springs Department set off explosions downtown, so everything's chaotic."
Haruna smiled slightly: "Thanks to them, the Prefect Team scrambled… which gave us the chance to escape the prison, hehe~"
"Yes! And in this emergency, we also ran into Fuuka, who kindly let us use her car. ☆"
Hearing Akari say that, Fuuka bounced up with surprising strength, changing her sitting position and protesting loudly from behind her gag.
Seemingly oblivious, the blonde, blue-eyed girl remarked sincerely: "She even lent us her brand-new car… that's what true friendship is☆"
Haruna corrected: "Or maybe she realized betraying us to monopolize sensei was wrong, and lending the car is a symbol of making up."
"Mmm! Mmm, mmm mmm!!!"
"Yes, I know, you've realized your mistake," Akari pretended to wipe away tears. "Fuuka, we forgive you. Let's all start over and help each other☆"
Fuuka went quiet, lying back down, but suddenly noticed something amiss and grumbled symbolically to show her disdain.
At that moment, a walkie-talkie in the vehicle crackled.
"Haruna, Akari! Where are you!? I've broken through the encirclement, can we meet up!?"
Junko shouted anxiously. Nearby, Izumi screamed: "Aaah—! The Prefect Team's chasing us again!"
Haruna's expression turned serious, clearly concerned for her comrades.
She picked up the walkie-talkie: "Junko, cancel the escape operation."
"Eh, why!?"
Haruna looked at me: "Hehe, consider it a thank-you gift. Sensei, and all of you from Trinity, we'll guide you from here."
Akari nodded in agreement: "Yes☆ Please get in first."
Before I could speak, the walkie-talkie crackled again with a roar:
"Wait a second! So you guys didn't actually surrender on your own back then?! How exactly did that 'adult' take care of you!?"
"Obviously, among the three captured, one didn't surrender voluntarily…"
"What does that have to do with me?! I knew it! Haruna, you're the real traitor! And Akari, you're just going with the flow! Abandoning your comrades and gourmet food just to cozy up to Sensei?! You traitor, what are you acting so smug ab—"
The real traitor of the Gourmet Research Society smiled, though her pale face flushed slightly as she set the seemingly "powered-off" walkie-talkie down:
"Mm… Anyway, sensei, please get in the car."
I didn't immediately agree, but asked: "In that case, can you let Fuuka go first?"
"Why?" Haruna asked. "Fuuka is important to us… a friend, right? But, if it's sensei's request…"
"That has nothing to do with whether it's my request," I interrupted, looking at the two girls seriously: "Haruna, Akari. Even if I'm only asking, if you have even a little regard for Fuuka as a friend, can you let her go?"
I hadn't said this before, not because I didn't want to, but out of fear it might backfire. Now I thought I understood.
Even if it seems the timing isn't right… there's no better time than now.
The air suddenly became eerily silent.
I silently used Fuuka's authority, maintaining eye contact with Haruna and Akari.
"…Hmm. Maybe we went a bit too far," Haruna admitted after a long pause, looking away toward the back. "Fuuka, I'm sorry."
Akari didn't hesitate: "Yes… this time, it really had nothing to do with you, Fuuka. Sorry."
Whether from genuine remorse or respect for me, at least they were willing to do this.
Seeing this, I climbed into the cargo bed and quickly freed Fuuka.
She tore off the tape and breathed deeply.
Then she thanked me, jumped out, ran to the front, opened the car door, and grabbed Akari's surprised hand.
"This is my brand-new car I saved up for a long time!"
Fuuka shouted: "So now, I get to drive!"