I used my room key to open the door to Hina's room.
I stepped inside as quietly as possible, and what met my eyes was a silver-haired girl in a swimsuit, sitting on the bed with her knees hugged to her chest, facing the balcony, seemingly gazing out at the vast, endless sea.
Since she wasn't asleep and wasn't doing anything inappropriate that she wouldn't want me to see, I spoke without hesitation.
"Hina, sorry to keep you waiting."
"Ah, sensei," the Prefect Team president turned her head and gave a serene smile. "Welcome back. Have you finished your work?"
I gave a slight nod and answered cheerfully, "Pretty much all taken care of."
As long as I didn't confine our own strength to the Prefect Team without Hina, suppressing the Helmet gang and the delinquent group was practically effortless.
Summoning elites from various academies and using force in other schools' territories was already one of Schale's powers that exceeded ordinary law.
Of course, I couldn't abuse that power. When actually carrying it out, I had to have at least a legitimate reason.
And assisting the official Gehenna Prefect Team in suppressing the impending riot in Gehenna territory was a reason no one could reasonably object to.
Except for the picky Ako.
Let's go back to when I first suggested using Schale's power to everyone.
"You mean you plan to temporarily summon students from other schools?"
Ako frowned, thinking for a moment, but shook her head. "No. The geography of this Alaba Beach is too remote. Even Abydos High, Valkyrie Police Academy, Hyakkiyako, and the Wild Hunt Academy… they couldn't arrive in time."
Four hours remained until the decisive battle. Even if students began gathering to watch before then, there was still enough time.
"Besides," Ako said angrily, "are you seriously planning to let other schools and the rest of Gehenna students who find out about this underestimate our Prefect Team's strength!?"
I felt this was the main reason.
After all, the opponents this time were just a few unknown delinquent girls, normally handled internally by each academy.
Greedy Ako wanted to stand on top and still complete the plan.
But I never said we needed students from outside Gehenna to help, did I?
"Huh!? Using our own school's students would be even worse!?"
I comforted her tactfully, "Don't worry, the students of Gehenna won't change their opinions just because of something like this."
After all, in the free and equal culture of Gehenna, few paid attention to the Prefect Team beyond Hina anyway.
Once this harsh truth was pointed out, Ako was momentarily speechless, and Chinatsu and Iori looked a bit unpleasant.
"…But, sensei, the students you can call on are all lawless delinquents, right?"
What else could they be?
If anything, in Gehenna, the well-behaved kids with decent strength had mostly already become members of the Prefect Team.
Ako strongly opposed. "Working with those outlaws is absurd! If they find the president absent, they'd definitely turn against us!"
"But why would we need to cooperate?"
I asked curiously. "Isn't giving them a reason they can't refuse to fight enough?"
To be clear, I wasn't referring to myself. Though the effect might be stronger, I am pure and virtuous, and I never serve with my body lightly.
As for the specifics… that depends on my understanding of each Gehenna student, applying the right approach for each.
If I remembered correctly, the hotel manager said the ongoing hot spring development in this hotel had also been affected, right?
After confirming that the "obstacle to free hot spring development" wasn't the Prefect Team but just a group of ordinary delinquents, Kasumi mumbled for a bit, then cheerfully said they'd have nearby staff help.
Moreover, the hotel manager mentioned that nearby stores, including restaurants, had closed and fled because of the looming full-scale battle, right?
Haruna, who had previously shown interest via the "EAT or DIE Official" club account on Gehenna's school account, was deeply saddened by this situation.
At the same time, such large-scale chaos was a perfect chance to make a name for oneself, right?
Then it's decided! President Aru!
In short, under my influence, the Gehenna students who lusted after me were easily persuaded and decided to come lend a hand.
The Prefect Team only needed to "happen" to arrive to suppress the riot and stand on the stronger side this time.
Even if the hot spring development club, gourmet research society, and Problem Solver 68 held grudges against the Prefect Team and might rebel later, with proper management, we could drive off the Helmet gang and the delinquent group, ensuring the remaining three hours of marching training could proceed smoothly.
This was my perfect plan to let the tiger consume the wolf.
"Speaking of which, it's getting noisy outside again…" Hina furrowed her brow, unaware of the situation. "Do tactical exercises really need this many firearms?"
I chuckled. "Since we're at the beach, it's normal for everyone to be a bit more enthusiastic, right?"
"I see, that's good."
Hina seemed unconcerned and sighed, "Thanks to sensei and everyone, it's been a long time since I could relax like this."
Feeling strangely moved, I etched her expression into my mind and said softly, "Then, take this time to rest properly."
"Mm… but," Hina hesitated, "I can only stare blankly out the window… Though having sensei nearby feels nice… still, being at the seaside but stuck in the room feels a bit strange."
Hearing that, my heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding spreading. "You mean…?"
"…Um, sensei, I feel a little sorry for Ako, so please keep it secret from her."
Hina stepped closer, lifting her slightly flushed face, embarrassed. "Can you come with me to sneak out? Just the two of us, to the beach?"
I couldn't help but take a deep breath of the sweet air.
To everyone out there fighting hard,
If nothing goes wrong, it seems… something's about to happen.
"About this…"
I stammered, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and looked at the slightly anxious Hina seriously. "I've got it! If we're going out, we need to prepare first!"
"Eh?"
Hina blinked her innocent eyes.