After that, I busied myself with all sorts of tasks, taking care of Mari while she was sick.
Although at first she worried that indulging herself might be unbecoming for a nun, she quickly surrendered to her desires under my coaxing, completely absorbed in getting spoiled by me with no time to think about anything else.
On the other hand, while I was running around helping her, every time I saw that adorable girl smile, I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, and unconsciously enjoyed myself in the process.
It wasn't until Mari, exhausted, fell asleep again that I quietly left her dorm and returned to Schale.
While handling official duties, I reflected on the events of the day, particularly noting the power I had gained from Aru, which had clearly helped me a lot.
Although the case studies were still limited, from several uses, it seemed the power's true effect matched my initial speculation.
Rather than simply "enhancing persuasion," it's more accurate to say it "lowers self-control" or "amplifies existing desires."
In other words, if the target doesn't already have such desires, the power's effect is limited.
Even so, it's already more than enough. A trial that costs almost nothing to use.
I can only say, the president of Problem Solver 68 is competent in everything except brains.
Hmm… even compared to the other pink-haired girls, maybe even the brains.
Anyway, since the intense 24-hour ordeal with the girls from Problem Solver 68, I hadn't seen them for a long time, though we stayed in touch.
After such an experience, it's natural that both sides would need time to adjust to this new relationship.
Enough time has passed now. Once the summer camp ends, I plan to ask Aru out as a token of appreciation for all her help.
If the date runs late, staying at their office overnight would be perfectly normal, right?
I'm sure everyone would welcome me warmly and promptly make up for the powers I'm owed.
With this in mind, I completed my work at Schale and prepared for the trip.
The weather forecast promised several days of clear skies.
Thus, the Gehenna Prefect Team's summer camp officially began under such conditions.
However, it seemed that from the very start, this camp diverged somewhat from my expectations.
"…Chinatsu, why?"
"Hm?"
The team's health officer looked up at me in confusion. "What?"
Having just arrived at the beach, I took a deep breath and exclaimed in dismay.
"Why aren't you wearing a swimsuit!?"
Summer, the sea, swimsuits, and beautiful girls... these words are supposed to go together.
Yet Chinatsu spoiled the mood, wearing her usual full-coverage uniform, long sleeves, gloves, stockings, and boots... all sealed tight, clearly roasting in the heat.
Meanwhile, Iori wisely changed into a revealing swimsuit and was holding a megaphone, directing the other team members, who were wearing sailor tops but swapped their inner layers for school swimsuits, as they prepared for training on the beach outside the hotel.
I looked up at the blazing sun, puzzled. Does Chinatsu not care at all about overheating?
Then again, perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing for me…
"Well…" Chinatsu sighed lightly. "There's a reason that's not easy to explain…"
Judging by her complicated expression, I pondered and realized.
Chinatsu probably didn't have a proper swimsuit and wanted to ask me (her secret crush) to go shopping for one with her. But her shy, introverted nature made it impossible to ask, leaving her conflicted until now…
Ultimately, it was my fault again. I failed to notice her sensitive heart, and I looked way too handsome.
"Hmph," Iori snorted mockingly. "I think Chinatsu didn't wear a swimsuit on purpose, to prevent you, the pervert who keeps thinking about young girls in swimsuits, from getting what you want!"
I asked in return, "Then Iori, did you wear a swimsuit just to let me get my way?"
Iori froze for a moment, then her tanned face flushed bright red. "N-No, it's not for you!"
Chinatsu pushed up her glasses, staring thoughtfully at her companion who was rushing to explain herself.
At that moment, a gentle female voice came from nearby.
"Oh my, sensei, you're here?" Ako walked over, smiling. "The temporary operations command room seems to be ready. Please head over… Hm? Why are you looking at me like that?"
I silently examined the administrator in her usual uniform.
"Why aren't you wearing a swimsuit either?"
"…Huh!?" Ako was furious. "What weird thing are you saying!? Are you harassing me in public with your authority!?"
Her reaction was so extreme… She can't possibly think I meant that cow-print swimsuit, right?
Honestly, I'm the one being harassed here.
A short while later, the three girls gathered in the command room. A luxury hotel room set aside for this purpose.
By my estimate, the bed could comfortably fit five people.
"This is quite a nice place," I said.
"Yes," Ako replied, misunderstanding me. "The Alaba Coast is famously quiet in Gehenna."
Quiet? In Gehenna? Really?
Curious, I asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Ako smiled confidently. "On average, fewer than a hundred incidents happen here per year. Recently, it's only been things like eating without paying at beach houses, loud concerts, or illegal construction on the beach…"
…Even by Kivotos standards, "quiet" seems a generous word.
"Anyway, on the surface it's a summer training camp, but the real goal is to let President Hina rest properly! As for the mock training for the Prefect Team, we can handle it no matter what… But speaking of which,"
Ako suddenly glared at Iori. "Why are you already in a swimsuit? Are you only thinking about playing?"
"Huh? N-No, that's not it…"
Seeing Iori flustered and friendship on the verge of crisis, I stepped in to help.
"Ako, you misunderstand," I said sincerely, giving Iori a reassuring look. "Iori's dressed like that entirely to satisfy my urg—"
"I said it's not like that! You pervert! You just think bad things!"
Iori, now motivated to defend herself, said, "It's just that training happens to be at the beach, so I adapted a little… In summer, dressing unnaturally by the sea can make problem students suspicious…"
However, with everyone else in regular uniforms, her excuse sounded weak.
I had also brought a swimsuit, but hadn't changed yet.
"Enough, let's end this fun chat!" Ako didn't dwell on it. "I understand everyone's excitement about being at the beach, but the main goal this time is not your summer fun!"
"I told you, Ako, you misunderstood!"
Ignoring Iori's defense, Ako raised her fists, radiating an incredible aura.
"Remember! The purpose is to ensure President Hina can rest! Consider yourselves pieces in achieving this goal! In this plan, no thoughts or words are needed! This summer, give your all to be the gears that let the President rest!"
When it comes to matters even slightly related to Hina's safety, loyal but paranoid administrators often get fired up.
Even when training the dogs, it's the same.
A bit… extreme.
Iori muttered, "D-Do we really need to take it this far…"
Meanwhile, Chinatsu had that knowing expression that made my heart skip a beat.
Could it be… the real reason Chinatsu isn't wearing a swimsuit is…
No, impossible! Absolutely impossible!
Ako continued passionately.
"We will zero out anything that troubles President Hina! No noise or problem will reach her ears!"
But then I noticed another problem. "By the way, where's Hina herself?"
From when I arrived at the beach until now, there was still no sign of her.
"She's already at the hotel," Ako explained. "She'll stay in her room for four hours… I told her this. After four hours, the afternoon tactical training ends, then comes walking training. We'll call her out then. But 'walking training' is just a name, it's really just leisurely walking along the beach!"
Just like the walks I had with Hina a few days ago.
But even if my pseudo-work dates are excusable, will Hina really stroll leisurely during official training?
Observant Iori voiced the same concern.
Ako, however, was ready.
"Walking is still training. I've already convinced the President! So before that, we need to finish tactical training quickly and clean the beach."
Then came my "date" with Hina.
Good, Ako, nicely done!
"By the way, administrator, I have a question," Chinatsu said. "Why is it so quiet around here? On the way here and during prep, we hardly saw anyone…"
Now that she mentioned it, she was right.
I assumed the Prefect Team had cleared the beach for training, but it turns out they didn't.
"Isn't that a good thing?" The silver-haired, tan-skinned girl said casually. "Just a coincidence. Nothing happened."
Chinatsu sighed lightly. "Iori, do you know what 'disaster comes from the mouth' means…?"
At that moment, a crisp notification sound rang.
Ako answered. it was a team member reporting.
"Administrator, while preparing materials for the camp, we checked near the hotel and found no stores open… What should we do?"
The situation had escalated.
Immediately, there was a knock at the door.
"Excuse me, I'm the hotel manager. May I come in?"
The robot manager entered with permission, first confirming the girls' identities, then reacting excitedly.
"Oh… I couldn't believe it when I heard… I didn't expect the Gehenna Prefect Team to really come! You… came because of our rescue request, right?"
Clearly, they hadn't.
The manager, misunderstanding our purpose, explained the situation to our worried but alert group.
The local helmet gang, who had occupied a nearby slum, clashed with recently appeared thugs. The conflict escalated into a large-scale fight.
Simultaneously, the incident went viral online. Curious onlookers arrived, even placing bets, while nearby residents and shopkeepers fled upon hearing the news.
This explained why the team noticed the unusual situation.
If students drawn by curiosity got caught in the gang fight scheduled to start in four hours, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Ugh… We were trying to create a hot spring for training, and this happens…"
The hotel manager's face display instantly changed from a crying emoji to a joyous one.
"Just when all hope seemed lost, the Prefect Team arrived! Please stop the full-scale battle!"
The command room fell into a heavy silence.
The girls, wide-eyed, cried in unison.
"Full-scale battle!?"
Whether it's Iori's jinx or Ako picking the wrong location, it didn't change this sad fact.
In four hours, at the time I was supposed to be on a leisurely walk-date with Hina, this beach, arguably the quietest in Gehenna, was about to become the center of conflict.
So I say.
This summer camp was probably problematic from the very start.
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