"Clear—area secured," an Arius student reported.
"…Too quiet," another murmured.
The Arius squad advanced through the safehouse corridors, expecting minimal security. Dim light and empty rooms greeted them—no Justice Task Force members in sight. The mismatch with their intel sparked unease.
"Safehouse clear… but it's—"
"An empty shell."
"Someone got here first?"
"Likely."
"…Could that intel have been true?"
Disappointment tinged the squad leader's voice—Agent 270, Nina-Na-Zero. She pointed at a door.
"Switch plans. Search the area."
"Understood."
"What about the spy rendezvous?"
"No contact yet—"
A sudden voice crackled through the earpiece.
"Team IV, we're under attack…!"
"Oh?"
Tension gripped the squad. The leader, Nina, responded.
"Team I here. Attack? If it's the Justice Task Force—"
"No—it's not them!"
"What?"
"Impossible… this can't be real! It's a nightmare!"
"Calm down! Explain!"
Gunfire and panicked screams flooded the comms, followed by an eerie chant.
"Cream Puff Party, Cream Puff Party, Cream Puff Party… Cream puffs rule! Say it with me!"
"What nonsense—"
"Gotcha!"
"Argh!"
The bizarre chant and chaos baffled Nina. Her team exchanged confused glances.
"Captain…"
"Stay calm. Don't falter—Azusa Shirasu, you betrayed us?"
"That's you, 270? Hurry up, I've got an exam to take. The Justice Task Force has been tipped off—run while you can."
"Think you can take us alone?"
"Alone? Maybe tough."
"Then—'Listen to the end.'"
"I said alone, didn't I?"
"Who's helping a traitor like you!?"
Nina's voice rose, unprofessional but driven by the chaotic shift.
"My dear friends and someone utterly reliable."
"Friends? That's—"
"'All is vain'—I'm tired of hearing it. Come if you dare. We're at the dormitory gym."
"Taunting us? Think we'll fall for it?"
"Come or don't—it's your choice. But you have to come, because…"
Before Azusa finished, the deputy shouted, "Captain! Reports from other teams… casualties!"
"What!?"
"Teams II, III, IV… and V… wiped out."
"What!?"
"One survivor barely reported…"
Nina couldn't comprehend it—most Arius teams decimated in moments. Azusa's voice came from Team IV's comms, meaning someone else attacked the others.
"What did you do!?"
"Not me. I only handled Team IV."
"Damn it!"
"What now? Call reinforcements? They'll take time. What'll you do—stand there?"
"You…!"
"Come if you dare—I'll take you on." Click.
Fury erupted. Nina barked orders.
"Team I, we're heading to the dormitory gym."
"Captain! We don't know what destroyed the others—or if it's even human! We should retreat—"
"And say what? 'A mystery wiped out our teams, so we fled'? We'd be eliminated."
"…"
"Let's go. Whoever they are, they'll regret mocking us. Recall the rear guard—we outnumber them. Crush them."
"Understood."
Team I sprinted toward the gym.
BOOM!
"Alright, go!"
"Roger!"
The gym doors exploded inward, Arius students storming in, clearing the area and forming ranks. They aimed at a lone figure.
"It's over, Azusa Shirasu!"
"Been waiting."
Nina scanned the room—no allies, no traps. What's her game? Why lure us here?
"Think you can beat us alone? Overconfident?"
"I don't get cocky in a fight."
"Then what's that attitude?"
"Not cockiness—confidence."
"Fire!!"
Bullets surged toward Azusa. Nina, certain of victory, planned her capture. As triggers were pulled—
"Sensei!"
"What?"
CRASH!
"What!?"
"Nice to meet you, Arius folks."
Mash burst from the floor. The squad redirected fire, but he leaped, dodging mid-air with flailing legs.
(Flying!?)*
"Don't focus on me—everyone!"
"Charge!"
"Reinforcements!?"
"Take that!"
"Here! ♡"
The Remedial Class Club emerged, hurling grenades supplied by Azusa.
"Gah!?"
"Argh!"
"Damage report!"
"Six injured!"
"Injured, fall back! The rest, deal with them—"
"Not so fast!" Pop!
Azusa deployed a smoke grenade, clouding the area. Nina rallied her team.
"Damn tricks…"
"Numbers left?"
"About 14!"
"That's enough! Prepare—we take at least one!"
"That one?"
"The mystery man without a Halo…!"
"You—"
"Triceps Magic: Knockdown Chop Rush!"
Mash's hand strikes felled Arius students one by one. Nina dodged, firing—but Mash, as usual—
"Hmph-hmph-hmph!"
"Catching bullets barehanded… You're the one who wiped out the others—Mash Burnedead!"
"Bingo. How about surrendering now?"
"Shut up!"
"Alright—Azusa-chan."
"!"
Nina turned, firing at Azusa, who charged with raised fists. Too fast to track, Azusa's punch sent her flying—knocked out.
"…Guess punching is faster," Azusa said.
"Told ya!" Koharu grinned.
"Only for you two…" Hifumi muttered.
"That's everyone, right?" Koharu asked.
"Probably. Just the reinforcements left," Azusa replied.
"Koharu alerted the Justice Task Force, so we're likely fine!" Hifumi said.
"Yep. Case closed," Mash declared.
But it wasn't.
BOOM!
The gym's side wall exploded.
"!?"
"Dangerous!"
Mash punched away debris, standing protectively before the club, fists ready. Arius reinforcements flooded in.
"More!?"
"Impossible… even their sabotage team?" Azusa muttered.
"One, two, three… a billion?" Mash counted.
"Not quite," Azusa deadpanned.
"Right."
"A battalion—nearly half of Arius!" Azusa estimated.
"So many, inside Trinity!?" Koharu gasped.
"With all this noise, where's the Justice Task Force!?" Hifumi cried.
"…I see," Hanako said grimly.
"Hanako-chan, what's that mean?" Mash asked.
"Sensei, what's coming… it'll be the hardest for you."
"No… it can't be…"
The Justice Task Force wasn't moving—couldn't. Only the Tea Party could issue such orders. Nagisa was unconscious, and Seia's Halo was destroyed. That left one answer.
"That was the plan, wasn't it? Misono Mika-san."
Click, click. Heels echoed. A familiar laugh—"Haha! ⭐︎"—rang out. Mash prayed it wasn't true, but reality was cruel.
"Wow, Hanako-chan, you're amazing… Number two on my 'don't cross' list!" Mika said.
"…Mika-san," Mash whispered.
"Hey, Sensei! Been a while—two weeks? Not that long, but I missed you!"
"As expected… it's you," Hanako said.
"Yep, the big bad's here! ☆"
"No way…" Mash muttered.
"Sensei…" Hifumi murmured.
Mash stepped forward, head lowered, voice trembling.
"Mika-san… you're kind. You said you'd unite Arius and Trinity, save everyone, make them smile."
"…"
"That Mika-san… the mastermind?"
"There's a reason, right? Something special—"
"Haha… Fufufu—AHAHAHA!" Mika laughed, head tilted skyward, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"God, that's funny… You really trusted me, Sensei. Completely fooled."
"No…"
"You were tricked—by me."
Wings spread, arms wide under moonlight, she declared, "I'm the true traitor of Trinity."
Hifumi and Azusa froze in shock. Koharu stood bewildered. Hanako's face twisted in disgust.
"…Sensei, are you mad? At this awful student?"
Mash…
"…I'm shocked." Sigh.
Super shocked. His expression stayed neutral, confusing Mika and the others.
"Uh, Sensei?" Mika ventured.
"Wow… so shocked… heavy…" Mash clutched his chest.
"You serious? Your face hasn't changed!" Koharu exclaimed.
"No, really… too shocked, face froze… ugh, so heavy…"
"Uh…" Mika faltered.
"…"
"Heavy… really heavy…"
(Not the reaction I expected…) Mika thought.
"It's heavy, so…" Mash stood.
"I'm sleeping… zzz."
"…Huh?"
"He's asleep!?"
Unable to handle the mood, Mash pulled out a futon and dozed off.
"No way, Sensei! Sleeping in this atmosphere!?" Koharu yelled.
"The Arius students are… confused," Hifumi noted.
"Of course! It was all serious, then he naps!" Koharu snapped.
"Too meta, Koharu," Hanako said.
"Snooze… zzz," Mash snored, nose bubble forming.
Everyone, including villainous Mika, was baffled.
"Hey, wake up! I was being cool, and now I look stupid!" Mika protested.
"Snooze… huh?" Pop.
"Oh, you're up," Hifumi said.
"Nope, still reality," Mash groaned, still in his futon.
Mika pressed, "Sensei, mad? Wanna hit me? Kill me? Or is your mind broken? Not my fault—you trusted me!"
Whoosh!
"Wah!?" (A futon?)
"Mika-san being the traitor… yeah, it hit hard. Like a bullet to the heart."
"Phew! Then—"
"But it won't break me. Because…" Mash stood, hand over his heart.
"My heart's made of orichalcum."
"Oh? I've got ways to hurt it," Mika taunted.
"No matter how you try, it's pointless."
Mash beckoned provocatively, fingers waving.
"I'm invincible. Bring it on."
"Nice guts! ⭐︎"
Mash challenged her.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
If you want to see it, then why not?