In the special prison beneath the Prefect Team headquarters.
A nefarious terrorist had been imprisoned there for a full week. This was none other than the next head of the Onsen Development Department, Kinugawa Kasumi.
After a period of activity in Trinity, where they had been a thorn in the ETO's side, the Onsen Development Department had returned to the Gehenna autonomous district just before Christmas. Unable to shake their old habits, they had immediately started poking around the volcanic region and were promptly arrested by the Prefect Team, which led to Kasumi's current situation.
Though called a prison, it was practically a dormitory that one simply couldn't leave at will, and meals were served regularly. It was basically a lesser version of the Correction Bureau, and as long as Hina wasn't on duty, Kasumi treated the place like her own home. As it happened, Hina hadn't been in charge of the prison recently.
In other words, prison or not, Kasumi was treating the place as if it were her own living room.
"...Ooh, and who do we have here? If it isn't our proud guard, Iori-gun? What brings you to this dark and gloomy place on such a fine day?"
"...If it were up to me, I'd lock you in here for life, but you're being released."
"Wahahhat! What, has it been that long already? I was just starting to get attached to this place. It's a shame the release date always sneaks up on me right when I'm getting comfortable!"
"If you're so disappointed, I can assume you've already committed your future crimes the moment you're released and throw you right back in."
"Oh, Iori-chan, you know full well that's against the rules, don't you? What will you do if Hina-buchou scolds you for it? Huh? Huh? Hmmm?"
"...Hah."
"By the way, since Hina-buchou hasn't been in charge of the prison much lately, prison life has been quite pleasant, you know? It's the perfect place to study."
In the Prefect Team's special prison, studying was mandatory. It was an unusual practice in Gehenna, whose school motto was freedom, but there weren't many other ways to punish students here. This wasn't the Correction Bureau, after all.
Iori felt her head spin as she saw all the papers Kasumi had spread out on the floor of her solitary cell. She couldn't understand the contents, but it was obvious she was studying something related to hot springs.
"That's not the kind of studying we assigned you!"
"Wahahahhahat! My, my, Iori-chan. Have you already forgotten who the top student of our year is?"
"...Ah, whatever, just get out of here. The next time you're caught, I swear I'll beg Hina-buchou to take charge of this place, even if I have to grovel before her, so you'd better be aware!"
"Hmm... I thought you and I were bound by a strong friendship, Iori-ssi. Was it a one-sided feeling?"
"Huu... please, just take your package and get out..."
Feeling a nasty temper bubbling up inside her, Iori let out a sigh, opened the prison door, and half-threw a palm-sized package at Kasumi.
"Mmmmmmm... Still, you shouldn't just throw things like that. What if it was something fragile?"
Kasumi casually caught the box with both hands and ripped open the packaging.
"Double-wrapped, I see... Hmm. Hmmm. Oh? Hoho, what's this? The day has come when I receive a gift from someone in Trinity that I couldn't even get from my dear Ioring!"
"..."
Kasumi, focused on her gift, failed to notice Iori release the safety on her gun. Unaware of the muzzle aimed at the back of her head, Kasumi examined the present.
[We're making good use of the onsen you made. Thank you!]
[But if you keep causing trouble in Trinity, I'll make *you* like this, so you'd better know☆]
[Merry Christmas!]
Along with the note, one of the enclosed items was a metal chopstick. But it was a chopstick that had been tied into a knot at both ends.
Startled by the sight of the wildly bent chopstick, Kasumi shifted her gaze to the second item, presumably the real gift.
"...Hmm."
She didn't need a new walkie-talkie right away, but having a spare wasn't a bad thing, so it was a rather welcome gift.
With this, it seemed acceptable to suspend her activities in Trinity for a while.
Of course, this was purely because she had received a gift. It was absolutely not because she was scared of that crazy angel from Trinity, or a certain other angel who had just threatened to fold her in half if she messed around. Kasumi declared a mental victory.
"Wahahhat! Iori, look at this! To think the day would come when I receive a Christmas present! Wow~ Life can be full of surprises!"
As Kasumi flaunted the white walkie-talkie in her face, the finally enraged Iori put pressure on her fingertip.
*BANG!!!*
"Whoa, whoa, Iori-chan. Why are you so angry all of a sudden? You got a problem?"
"...You ask if I have a problem? The one at fault is the person who gave a normal gift to someone like you, and gave *me* something like foot shampoo!!!"
...The real problem is this world, where I can't take my anger out on *her*, Iori thought, as she pulled the trigger again and again.
Kasumi just barely managed to escape the special prison with her body intact.
Though rumors of the foot shampoo incident didn't spread... whenever Iori ran into Kasumi afterward, Kasumi would invariably tease her about it, causing Iori's blood pressure to skyrocket every single time.
***
"Kikit. Kikikikit. Kishishishishit—!!!"
"...Hah."
*It's started again*, Iroha thought, rubbing the bridge of her nose. How on earth did things get like this?
It all began with the excuse Mika had provided to cover up the 'one-week blank in Makoto's life.' The misunderstanding that arose from that had led Makoto to develop a one-sided affection for Mika, which then led to the delusion that Mika would surely support her journey to the pinnacle of power.
That delusion, which had been growing steadily, had reached its peak today after she received Mika's gift.
"Look, Iroha! From ancient times, gold has been a symbol of nobility! A solid gold nameplate, what a magnificent gift, perfectly suited for the noble Makoto-nim! Kitkitkitkit—!!!"
"Ah, yes..."
"Kikit. And what is the progress of that plan?"
"What plan would that be?"
"Hah? Is it not obvious I speak of the plan to overthrow the General Student Council's system and for me to ascend to the Heavenly Throne!"
"Ah, you mean the plan to ship Makoto-sunbae straight to the Correction Bureau..."
"Wh-Wh-What...?! That can't be! Mika, Trinity, they have declared they will come under my rule! With this level of charisma, even the General Student Council will have no choice but to submit!"
Listening to Makoto's nonsense, Iroha lightly caressed the watch on her wrist. Recalling the instructions in the enclosed user manual, she pressed a button, and the watch face opened.
"Kukuk. It won't be long now. The day when the flag bearing the face of the noble and great Makoto-nim is raised all over Kivotos!"
"...Is that why you sent that flag to Mika-ssi?"
"Indeed. It is only natural that my most ardent supporter, Mika, should have the honor of receiving the first flag!"
A light emitted from the watch and shone on the area around Makoto's neck. For about 0.3 seconds, Iroha wondered if this was really okay. But in the end, she couldn't overcome her desire and pressed the button.
*Pft.*
"Kikiki... kit... *snore*."
Iroha glanced back and forth between Makoto, who had started snoring in her seated position, and her own wristwatch, and smiled softly. No matter how you looked at it, the device seemed to shoot a diluted version of the anesthetic dart she and Hina had used before, which made it all the more convenient to use without reservation.
Without a doubt, it was the best Christmas present she would ever receive in her life.
Humming unconsciously, Iroha made her way toward her personal hideout.
It seemed the day of peace for the Pandemonium Society, and for Gehenna, was not so far away.
***
"Buchaang~! Look at this! It's a Deluxe Choco Burger model!"
"Fufu. A very sensible gift that suits you, Izumi-ssi. But, that mark on it...?"
"That's because I didn't know it was a model and took a bite..."
Izumi-ssi is quite cute, whining about whether she should be happy or sad to receive her favorite Deluxe Choco Burger as a gift, only for it to be an inedible model.
"Hah... fufu. Fufufufu..."
...However, Akari-ssi next to me, breathing heavily with a somewhat dangerous look in her eyes, is a bit unsettling. She's been like that ever since she saw her gift from Mika-ssi, so I'm curious and decide to ask her why.
"Fufufu. Buchou, we have a bit of a problem. I think I've fallen a little in love with Bubujang. What should I do~?"
"...What on earth did you receive as a gift, Akari?"
A wave of displeasure washed over me for a moment when I heard Akari-ssi's answer... but, of course, I have no right to feel such an emotion.
When I voice my question, Akari-ssi beams and holds out a notebook.
"I received none other than a list of all-you-can-eat restaurants in D.U. and Millennium. Isn't it just the best...?"
"It is... That's Mika-ssi for you."
I find myself agreeing with Akari-ssi's reaction. It wouldn't be strange for Mika-ssi to put that much thought into each and every gift. It's not why I fell for her, but I've known she was that kind of person for a long time.
I give a nod and place a box on the dining table.
"This is a gift Mika-ssi sent to our Gourmet Research Society. For your information, she said she made them herself."
Inside the box is a pile of madeleines. Perhaps she had help from Nagisa-ssi, who is said to have a hobby of baking, or learned from her?
I know Mika-ssi is a decent cook... but she herself said she only learned enough to prepare meals for one, so my guess is probably correct.
I carefully pick up a madeleine and take a bite,
"Mmm...!"
An exclamation escapes my lips. The taste itself is that of an ordinary madeleine, so it's not particularly special, but the level of satisfaction is the highest it could be.
It's not quite on the level of a gourmet experience with Mika-ssi, but it's not far behind. Someday, if Mika-ssi were to cook something just for me, I'm a little hopeful that I might experience even greater happiness then.
Does Mika-ssi feel the same way I do? I hope so.
I've been learning to cook from Fuuka-ssi recently... so maybe one day, I'll be able to see Mika-ssi's happy face as she eats a dish I made from scratch. It's a thought so happy it makes my tail want to wag.
As I drift into my thoughts for a moment, I notice that nearly half the madeleines have disappeared. As expected, Akari-ssi is inhaling them. It's a good thing I set aside my and Izumi-ssi's portions. I'll have to give them to Izumi-ssi later.
"Buchou! Did you get a separate present from Bubujang?"
At the question from Izumi-ssi, my voice unconsciously rises a little.
"Of course, I did."
"What is it, what is it?! It's gotta be the most delicious food ever, right? Maybe a fresh cream cake?"
"It's nothing like that, just a simple accessory. Here."
In place of the wing accessory I usually wear, a pair of platinum angel wings took its place.
It's a little, what should I say... embarrassing, as if Mika-ssi is leaving her mark on my body. But at the same time, it gives me a little thrill.
"Oh my. Does this mean she's marked her territory?" (TN: The literal phrase used is "spit on it to claim it," a common Korean idiom for calling dibs.)
"Ehh... I thought Bubujang would have prepared a more... sensible gift!"
...Wouldn't most people consider this the more sensible gift, Izumi-ssi?
Of course, the memory of eating food given by a loved one is a gift that lasts a lifetime, so it's certainly not inferior to an accessory. But as a token of a romantic relationship, an accessory holds a rather special value.
Our relationship isn't officially romantic yet, but I've already convinced Hina-ssi, and Nagisa-ssi is almost won over, so it's only a matter of time. Though I suppose I'm closer to the side that has given up on monopolizing Mika-ssi.
If I had pushed just a little harder that day, Mika-ssi might have become entirely mine... but isn't there a specialness in sharing a gourmet meal?
And the taste of sneaking little bites of what belongs to others... it has a certain thrill that isn't so bad. Fufu.
***