OST: Blue Archive OST 8. Shady Girls
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Amau Ako, as the Administrator of the Gehenna Prefect Team and the Head Prefect's deputy, naturally possessed exceptional administrative ability.
However, at the same time, she was a person of short-sighted view and extremely weak political sensibility.
While the Student Councils of the other two major Academies were trying to befriend me and extend goodwill, Ako, solely worried about my contact with Trinity, acted on her own to try and place me under house arrest at the Prefect Team until the Eden Treaty was signed. This was the best proof of her flawed judgment.
A prolonged house arrest, involving the missing General Student Council President's personally appointed head of Schale?
Where would that leave the respect & reputation of the General Student Council?
Ako wasn't truly stupid, and being in such a high position, even if she had held onto naive ideas before, the combination of Hina's reprimand and my guidance finally brought her to enlightenment.
"Sensei… you asked me before if we could reach a compromise…"
Ako's tone was awkward, laced with deep reluctance, yet carried a hint of hope. "Does that still stand?"
"Well, that depends on your sincerity."
I said meaningfully. My right hand, which had been resting on Ako's shoulder, reached forward to her chest.
It then landed on the bell-shaped decoration of her collar.
A gentle flick caused the clapper to strike the bell, producing a crisp sound.
I had thought it was just shaped like a bell, but it actually worked?
Regardless of her figure, her clothes, or even her accessories, why was everything so provocative? Where did this cow come from?
My interest in Ako grew stronger.
Ako spoke in a tone of humiliation but did not dare resist. "Guh...! What do you want!"
I tried to reason her. "Don't be so agitated. You want to help Hina and me repair our relationship, and I also want to form a friendship with Hina. Our interests are perfectly aligned."
Ako frowned, feeling like something was amiss, but couldn't quite pinpoint what. She nodded half-heartedly, reluctantly agreeing…
"So, persuade Hina for me," I coaxed the less-than-intelligent Ako. "Get Hina to take action for me just this once."
This was the roundabout path to victory.
From my understanding of Hina, she might be surprisingly averse to trouble. I had no confidence in persuading her to participate on my own.
But with Ako, who was essentially Hina's secretary, it was a different story.
"...What?! Are you asking me to betray President Hina!"
"How can you call it betrayal? This clearly demonstrates your loyalty. You could act against her wishes to protect her before, so why can't you persuade her to help me for her sake now?"
Ako looked troubled. "That… that's different…"
"How is it different?"
Ako fell silent.
After a long pause, she cautiously retorted, "Since it's the same thing, didn't you say what I did before was foolish?"
It was my turn to be silent. I was almost caught in Ako's meticulous logic.
"Well… there are still differences…"
"How are they different?"
Ako, how dare you use my own rhetorical tricks against me!
My thoughts raced. I cleared my throat and spoke without hesitation:
"Are you the expert, or am I? The former resulted in damaging the relationship between Hina and me; the latter will result in deepening the relationship between Hina and me. That's the difference in outcome. The intent, which is your consideration for Hina, is the same for both."
From my words, Ako picked up on the keywords and finally reacted, crying out in alarm:
"No! Why should I help you get closer to President Hina! You are clearly…"
Ding ding ding~
I shook the bell, cutting Ako off.
"Silence, Ako! Don't speak rubbish if you don't understand! Haven't you realized yet? This is not about personal gain, but solely to mend the rift between Schale and the Prefect Team! Have you forgotten that you were the one who caused this trouble in the first place!"
Tears welled up in Ako's eyes, and she let out a whimpering sound like a scared little animal. "Wuuu…"
"Furthermore, once Hina and I become close friends, do you think you won't benefit from it?"
I changed to a persuasive tone. "I can casually mention your efforts behind the scenes to Hina. She will surely be eternally grateful to you, and from then on, she will treat you not just as her most loyal subordinate, but as her most trusted confidante."
"Re-really?"
The fact that Ako even asked this meant she had essentially believed me.
I said sincerely, "Of course it's true!"
Under my combination of cajoling and deceit, Ako gradually equated the three fundamentally unrelated matters in her mind from "helping Hina," "helping me and Hina improve our relationship," and "helping me persuade Hina to take action," but she still harbored doubts.
"No… it's still not okay. You have to tell me what the matter is first. If you want the President to do something shady or unsavory, I absolutely won't help."
"What kind of person do you take me for…"
Ako puffed out her cheeks. "Definitely not a good one!"
Wow, she really has a strong prejudice. I'm hurt.
In any case, I started by roughly explaining to Ako the situation of Hoshino being caught in the Caesar Group's scheme.
However, Ako was surprised. "Takanashi Hoshino? The one from Abydos?"
I raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "You shouldn't have met her last time, right?"
By the time Hoshino arrived, Ako should have already been ordered by Hina to cut off communication.
"That's true… But it's nothing strange, is it? Anyway, if it's just this matter, I can speak highly of you to President Hina."
With this, I felt confident about securing Hina's participation.
I inwardly congratulated myself, then straightened up, walked around Ako to face her, pulled up a chair, and sat down to discuss the details of the pitch.
Just as Ako and I were talking enthusiastically, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
It was a reply from Hina.
Hina: Sensei, I was working just now.
Hina: Is there something you need me for?
Me: Yes, I wanted to ask you for a favor, Hina.
Hina: Ah… yes… okay.
Hina: Now? Or when?
Hina: I'm still busy in a moment… I can after I finish my work.
Me: You're agreeing without even asking what it is?
Hina: Um… I just felt that if it were Sensei, you wouldn't ask me to do anything that would put me in a difficult position…
Hina: But… I'm usually quite busy with work… I'd need to set aside time in advance…
Hina: So please tell me the time and location beforehand.
Hina: As for the specific matter… you can tell me first, and I'll look at it later…
I looked at the messages from Hina, speechless for a moment.
"Are you done chatting? Can we continue discussing how to talk to President Hina?" Ako asked, looking troubled. "The President is very hard to convince, we need to think of a good strategy."
"…You are so useless."
Ako became exasperated. "Huh?! If you're so capable, why don't you do it yourself! Why did you even ask me for help!"
I looked at Ako with pity, wondering how to break the cruel truth to her:
Heh! I am capable of doing it myself!