Liar Liar Volume 5 Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Languid Eyes of the Former Strongest

It was Tuesday, two days after the conclusion of the Second Quest in the Unique Star Conquest.

I was peering at my terminal in the living room of my private quarters, accompanied by Himeji, who was dressed in a maid outfit.

The progress so far was as follows: the first quest, Mano’s request, was taken by Saionji, but I managed to reclaim Asamiya’s quest in return, making the overall score one-to-one, an even match. With the outcome of the next quest determining the fate of the “Purple Star,” I was waiting for the quest announcement with a certain degree of tension.

No, I was waiting—but then.

“…What’s this?”

Staring at the screen displayed before me, I couldn’t help but mutter under my breath.

The reason, naturally, lay in the contents of the Final Quest that had just been presented on《Diaskript》. It was quite different from anything we’d seen before… or rather, to put it bluntly, the quest’s description was incomprehensible.

It read:

[Unique Star Conquest: Final Quest]

[Client: Minami Shizuku — Target: Both Players]

[Quest Details: I’m too popular and it’s troubling me. Please do something about it.]

[Victory Condition (Shared): Completely resolve Minami Shizuku’s request.]

That was it.

“Well… there’s a lot to unpack here, but let’s break it down one by one.”

Shaking my head slightly and muttering with a sigh, I glanced at Himeji. Nodding as her silvery hair swayed lightly, she began explaining in her cool, clear voice.

“Yes. Let’s start with the client—Minami Shizuku-sama. Minami-sama is a second-year student at St. Rosalia Girls’ Academy in the Fourteenth Ward. She participated as a selected member in the May Inter-District Tournament《Astral》, so you may have some passing acquaintance with her, Master.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Though, all we did was clash in the final skirmish, so I don’t remember much of a conversation… but she seemed like a cool, kinda languid type, if I recall.”

“Indeed, I share a similar impression. …Additionally, while Minami-sama was a Single-Color Unique Star holder with a 4-Star rank at the start of《Astral》, St. Rosalia’s overall ranking ended at sixth place, resulting in the loss of her Unique Star. She currently holds a Normal 3-Star rank.”

“Hm… now that you mention it, what happened to her Unique Star? I haven’t heard anything from Enomoto, and it doesn’t seem like it came to Eimei, at least…”

My thoughts drifted to that point, and both Himeji and I tilted our heads in puzzlement for a moment. …Regarding Minami’s Unique Star, it was supposed to have been transferred to one of the top five schools in《Astral》—Eimei, Ouka, Tsuyuri, Otowa, or Shinra—but I don’t recall hearing the outcome. Well, it’s not something we can figure out by thinking about it, so I’ll just ask the headmaster next time.

For now, the focus is on Minami Shizuku.

“As for other information—let’s see. While she was a former Single-Color Unique Star holder, her data doesn’t show anything particularly outstanding. Her win rate in《Duel》is roughly 20% in promotion battles against higher ranks and 70% in defense battles against lower ranks. Both are perfectly average figures.”

“Got it. Well, Unique Stars are rare, sure, but getting just one by chance isn’t unheard of. Like, when I snatched the ‘Red Star,’ it was practically an accident…”

Given the fundamental rule that a Unique Star holder loses their star upon defeat in a《Duel》, Unique Stars don’t necessarily circulate only among top-rankers. The real challenge is holding onto one. In fact, it seems Minami only acquired her Unique Star a few weeks ago.

“Anyway, that’s about it for Minami. …Now, about the actual quest details.”

Running my right hand behind my head, I turned my gaze back to the《Diaskript》screen.

[I’m too popular and it’s troubling me. Please do something about it.] —Well, if I stretch my imagination, I can accept the quest itself as “that kind of thing.” Thinking back, Mano’s quest was [I want to confess to Fujishiro], and Asamiya’s was [I want to get closer to Enomoto]. While the direction is opposite, Minami’s request isn’t too far off the mark.

The issue, however, is the frustratingly vague victory condition—namely, [Completely resolve Minami Shizuku’s request]. Unlike previous quests, which had specific conditions to meet, this one offers no clarification. It’s impossible to know what needs to be done.

For reference, the attached “quest message,” as usual, went something like this:

“The quest… it’s exactly as written.”

“Lately, I’ve been in a popularity boom… guys are hitting on me so much it’s like a line of people waiting to confess. …Kidding. That’s a bit of an exaggeration.”

“Anyway, it’s a hassle… If it were girls, that’d be fine, but I’m not thrilled about guys liking me. So, please do something about it.”

That’s all she said before abruptly ending the recording. As you can see, it provides almost zero additional information about the quest.

“…Perhaps,”

Himeji, who had been gazing at the screen with her clear blue eyes, suddenly spoke in her cool, melodic voice. Shaking her silvery hair lightly, she looked directly into my eyes.

“Part of this quest might involve identifying those specifics. Figuring out the exact nature of Minami-sama’s request and resolving it completely… And since the victory condition is shared between you and Rina, it’s essentially a race to see who can do it first.”

“Got it… So, we need to make her spill the details first, huh?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

As Himeji nodded firmly, I brought my right hand to my chin. …The Final Quest of the Unique Star Conquest: Minami Shizuku’s love consultation. I won’t deny feeling a bit thrown off by the quest’s unusual vibe compared to previous ones, but this is the last battle. Winning this quest will secure the “Purple Star,” and beyond that lies the《Diaskript》Game Master—the person I’ve been searching for.

…It’s almost time.

Muttering those words deep in my chest, I resolved to steel myself once more.

♯

The next day, as soon as school ended, Himeji and I moved to another ward and stood in front of the gates of St. Rosalia Girls’ Academy in the Fourteenth Ward, where Minami attended.

St. Rosalia Girls’ Academy—a rare all-girls school on the island, ranked eighteenth in last year’s school rankings. It’s known for its relaxed atmosphere, not particularly fond of conflict. Rather than talent, it places greater emphasis on family lineage and pedigree, making it a so-called elite school favored by the upper class.

St. Rosalia occupies a massive plot near the center of the Fourteenth Ward, and students from other wards are generally barred from entering… or rather, male students specifically are prohibited. To gain entry, one must “be a blood relative of a current student, have a clear appointment, and be accompanied by security” at minimum. Most students live in the on-campus dormitories, which apparently makes getting close to St. Rosalia girls a major aspiration for male students across the island.

Well, putting such idle chatter aside for now.

“—Minami Shizuku-sama, is it? Could we have a moment of your time?”

About thirty minutes after we began our stakeout, Himeji stepped forward as a figure emerged from the school gates. The girl, her path blocked, stopped in her tracks and slowly raised her face with an exasperated gesture.

“…What?”

Minami Shizuku—if I had to describe her in one word, “languid” would be the perfect fit. Her blue hair, neatly trimmed at shoulder length, was adorned with a small white hat, and her sleepy eyes were paired with a flat tone. She was slightly shorter than average, with a decently noticeable chest… though her refined uniform kept exposure minimal. While her natural charm was evident, there was a shadowy, subdued air about her—frankly, she didn’t stand out.

“……”

Regardless, Minami was clearly annoyed by our sudden appearance, casting an irritated glance our way. According to Kagaya-san’s investigation, “she always stops by a convenience store or bookstore after school,” so having her routine disrupted likely put her in a sour mood.

Ignoring her reaction, I met her drowsy gaze and spoke up.

“Hey, Minami, I’ve got something to ask you.”

“Calling me by name right off the bat… creepy… Wait, how do you even know my name? Stalker?”

“Because it’s not our first meeting. We had a similar exchange during《Astral》, you know.”

“Don’t remember… I’m heartbroken right now. I only stopped because a cute maid girl talked to me, but I got tricked…”

“Sorry about that. But you could at least hear me out, right?”

“…Maybe you’ve got the wrong person.”

“That excuse won’t work at this point.”

Despite her low-energy stubbornness, I shook my head with a faint sigh. If I kept indulging her, we’d be stuck at square one forever.

So, I decided to push the conversation forward, half-forcefully.

“Ugh… Fine, I’ll start from the beginning. I’m Shinohara Hiroto. I’m not here because I’ve got the wrong person or because I’m a stalker—it’s about that quest you submitted to《Meteor》. You haven’t forgotten about it, have you?”

“This guy’s not listening at all… sigh…”

As I brought up the quest, Minami let out an even more exasperated breath. Shaking her blue hair, she lifted her face as if to firmly reject me—then, she seemed to finally notice her surroundings, her shoulders twitching slightly.

“P-People are watching…?”

—Exactly.

Truth be told, the rumored strongest of Academy Island and a silver-haired maid waiting at the school gates had already drawn a small crowd before Minami even appeared. They were watching our conversation with keen interest, buzzing with anticipation about what might unfold. For Himeji and me, this was a familiar reaction, but for Minami, it was probably the most uncomfortable situation imaginable.

She hesitated for a moment but eventually let out a reluctant sigh.

“…Come with me.”

Turning on her heel, she began walking, leading us forward.

“—First, let me say one thing.”

Himeji and I were led to an alley two streets away from the main road.

Shaded by residential buildings, it wasn’t well-lit, but being near the school, it was kept clean. There, Minami turned to face us and spoke.

“I don’t like that kind of thing. You’re really famous… just talking to you makes me stand out. I hate standing out.”

“Oh? So that’s how it is. My bad, then.”

“…You don’t even seem sorry… That’s the worst…”

“I’m properly reflecting on it, okay? I’ll make sure not to draw attention next time. …So, anyway.”

Shrugging lightly at Minami’s accusation, I pulled my terminal from my pocket. With a sly grin, I stepped closer to her.

“Like I said earlier, I’m here about your quest. [I’m too popular and it’s troubling me. Please do something about it.] …You’re the client, right?”

“…Yeah.”

Showing her the《Diaskript》app screen, I asked, and Minami nodded with a voice that sounded utterly indifferent. As she did, her long bangs brushed over her sleepy eyes.

“Lately, I’ve been insanely popular… Like, invincible Mario-level popular. So, you’re probably head over heels for me too… In an alley like this, you’re definitely plotting something naughty.”

“…Is that so, Master?”

“No way. I’m not plotting anything, and I’m not head over heels either.”

She’s cute, sure, but that’s about the extent of my feelings right now. …No, wait—

“Look, Minami, about your quest—can you give me a bit more detail? Like, who’s doing what to you, and what exactly you want done about it? Without that, there’s no way to solve it.”

“Mm… I don’t really want to talk about it. Like I said, you’re famous… If you get involved, it’ll turn into a big deal. I’d rather you not dig too deep.”

“Then we just keep it from becoming a big deal, right? Relax, even if I’m a 7-Star, I’m not being hounded by《Libra》like some documentary show 24/7. I can handle this without causing you any trouble.”

“…Surprisingly persistent…”

As I refused to back down from her full-on rejection mode, Minami let out a resigned “sigh…” and began fiddling with her terminal, pulling it from her bag. Moments later, a small projection screen appeared before me, displaying her call history. At the top was a vaguely familiar name.

“…Yuikawa Kanade?”

“Yeah… She was in《Astral》too, a strong player from the academy. She’s been aggressively coming onto me… It’s honestly a bit threatening. So, make her stop.”

Minami explained the situation in her usual low-energy tone, surprisingly forthcoming despite her earlier reluctance. Yuikawa Kanade, from the Fifteenth Ward Academy—a seemingly refreshing, handsome type who revealed a nasty personality during《MTCG》, the ace of Ibara.

But… there wasn’t any connection between Yuikawa and Minami during《Astral》, at least not that I saw, right? And that guy usually puts on a perfect act…

The more I thought about it, the more questions arose. …Still, with this information, it was time to act. There was no point in sitting idle.

And so.

“—Got it. I’ll handle Yuikawa’s issue pronto, so look forward to my report.”

“Okay… I’ll be waiting.”

With that, Minami turned her gaze away, and we left the alley behind.

♯

A day later, the following night.

“…What’s going on, Minami?”

Sitting on the living room sofa, I spoke into my terminal with a dumbfounded tone.

The person on the other end was, of course, Minami Shizuku. It wasn’t a video call, so I couldn’t see her face, but she seemed slightly surprised by my words.

“You’re that stalker… How do you know my ID?”

“Because you told me yesterday. And I’m not a stalker. …More importantly, don’t just lie to my face so casually. I checked with Yuikawa, and she didn’t know anything about it.”

I threw the fact at her with a sigh-laden tone.

That’s right—just earlier, I had《Company》’s network investigate Yuikawa’s surroundings, and not a single connection to Minami came up. The call history? Apparently, it was from when Yuikawa, curious about who got Minami’s Unique Star, contacted her on a whim.

“I even tried baiting and prodding her, but she didn’t react at all. She’s too busy trying to recover her reputation after that《MTCG》fiasco to be bothering anyone right now.”

“…Mmph… Too fast, you already figured it out…”

Minami’s voice carried slight disappointment as I pressed her. …As expected, she was deliberately lying. It wasn’t a misunderstanding or a mix-up—she had told an outright lie.

“Geez… You’re the one who made the request, so why hide the details? You want something done, don’t you?”

“Mm… That’s true, but… I didn’t request you specifically, I requested《Meteor》. I didn’t know a flashy guy like you would show up… And I have no reason to trust you.”

“…Trust?”

“Yeah. If you can absolutely solve my request, that’s fine… But if you can’t, you’ll just make me stand out. That’s the worst… So, I don’t want to say. I’m the opposite of an attention-seeker—a new sensation, a ‘leave-me-alone’ girl.”

“That’s not exactly a new sensation… By the way, are you saying the same thing to Saionji?”

“Saionji? That ‘Empress’ girl? Yeah, I am… She’s cute, so she’s a hundred times better than you, but I still don’t trust her. …That’s how it is.”

Don’t bother me anymore—with that whispered tone, Minami hung up. As the empty dial tone buzzed, I looked up at the ceiling. Before I knew it, Himeji had approached and placed a cup of tea in front of me.

“Here you are, Master. …It seems things didn’t go well?”

“Thanks, Himeji. …Yeah, she’s completely shutting me out. She even lied about Yuikawa to throw me off, so it’s no surprise, but there’s no sign she’s willing to share anything.”

“I see, she’s quite stubborn… But perhaps that’s understandable.”

At Himeji’s words, I raised my face slightly with a “?”. She shook her silvery hair and pulled out her terminal.

“Actually—I was curious about how much Minami-sama dislikes ‘standing out,’ so I asked Kagaya-san to look into her background. The results just came in.”

“Oh, you did that? …But, Himeji, didn’t we already check her info before? There wasn’t anything unusual, right?”

“Yes, that’s true, Master—since she started high school.”

Cutting herself off there, Himeji swiped her gloved finger across the terminal screen, opening a text file. Prompted, I began reading it from the top.

…The contents, to put it bluntly, were shocking.

As Himeji agreed, Minami Shizuku has been an unremarkable presence since starting high school. But the key lies further back. Minami transferred to Academy Island when she entered high school, and it seems the middle school she attended was quite unique. A so-called Special Guidance Division—a prestigious mainland integrated middle-high school with a ranking system modeled after Academy Island’s star-collecting game. While simpler than the island’s system, it’s produced notable results, churning out future elites.

Her record there? Undefeated.

From enrollment to graduation, she blazed through middle school without a single loss.

In Academy Island terms, she was akin to an “Empress.” An undefeated record was unprecedented since the school’s founding, and her peers practically deified her. In short, Minami Shizuku was that strong, and everyone expected her to dominate in high school as well… but.

“At the time of middle school graduation, she suddenly quit that school and moved to Academy Island. Instead of joining a powerhouse, she enrolled at the low-ranked St. Rosalia… huh.”

Suppressing my shock, I spoke slowly.

Yes—despite her overwhelming achievements, Minami Shizuku left the academy’s high school division without hesitation. It’s not unusual for standout middle schoolers to transfer to Academy Island, but choosing St. Rosalia, a school that doesn’t prioritize《Duel》, is baffling. On top of that, her performance plummeted after arriving on the island, with no trace of her middle school dominance.

“It’s perplexing… but looking at the information like this, a pattern starts to emerge.”

Displaying Minami’s《Duel》records on another screen, Himeji murmured in her cool voice.

“Most likely, it’s intentional. Her history shows losses to much weaker opponents and victories over high-rankers without batting an eye… As a result, Minami-sama’s rank consistently stays between 3 and 4 Stars. It can only be deliberate.”

“Hm… So, it’s because she doesn’t want to stand out? Back in middle school, she was constantly in the spotlight, and whether she felt pressured or just fed up, she moved to this island. That’s why she’s keeping a low profile here… Is that it?”

“Yes, that’s likely the case.”

Himeji nodded firmly. …It makes sense. Avoiding me and Saionji is a natural reaction given that context.

But—that doesn’t mean I can just back off. The Unique Star Conquest with Saionji is tied at one-to-one. If she gets ahead here, all my efforts will be for nothing.

“So, the question is how to get her to open up… I think we’ll have to earn her trust. If she believes the benefit of ‘maybe they’ll solve it’ outweighs the risk of standing out, she might share the quest details herself.”

“Indeed, that’s almost certainly true. Since she went to the trouble of submitting a quest, Minami-sama definitely wants it resolved.”

Himeji nodded in straightforward agreement. In summary: the key to the Unique Star Conquest’s Final Quest lies not in the request itself but in gaining Minami Shizuku’s trust. Convincing her that we’re worthy of her confidence.

“However… from that perspective, Rina might have a slight advantage. As a girl, she can enter St. Rosalia’s grounds openly, and her charm likely makes Minami-sama lower her guard faster. She’s probably already made contact a few times.”

“Yeah. So we’ve got to catch up somehow. …Though, since the quest is about ‘being too popular’ or whatever, it doesn’t feel that urgent… Wait, huh?”

At that moment, my terminal, resting on the table, vibrated softly. Reflexively picking it up, I saw a notification from《Diaskript》. With a hint of caution, as always, I opened the app. A cheerful [New Item Unlocked!] message appeared, followed by this order:

[Order: Tomorrow after school, tail Minami Shizuku to a certain location and participate in the mock《Duel》she’s hosting. If you win, you will earn Minami Shizuku’s ‘trust.’ However, if you lose, or if your tailing is exposed before reaching the destination, the order will be considered a failure.]

““……””

The timing was so perfect that Himeji and I couldn’t help but exchange glances. …What’s going on? It’s almost as if someone’s eavesdropping. The pinpoint accuracy of the order sent a slight chill down my spine.

And then,

“The details are a bit unclear too. Fine, tailing I can handle, but why does that lead to a《Duel》? And winning it earns her trust…?”

“Indeed, it’s puzzling… Tailing her seems like it would make her dislike us even more.”

Himeji murmured curiously, her hair swaying lightly. We racked our brains, but the order’s intent remained a mystery—though, frankly, that didn’t matter. Whether we understood it or not,《Diaskript》orders are absolute. There’s no room for hesitation.

“Tch…”

With that, I contacted《Company》to strategize for tomorrow.

♯

The key to successful tailing is ensuring the target doesn’t suspect they’re being followed.

If they’re on guard, wondering “Is someone tailing me?”, the chances of getting caught skyrocket. Since the tailer doesn’t know the target’s destination, they can’t afford to lose sight of them, meaning they have Ascending the stairs, I had to stay relatively close. If the target keeps looking back, the tail is already as good as failed.

So, I decided to approach this creatively.

“—Master, Minami-sama has turned the corner. Her walking pace is normal, and her alertness remains at 0%. Please resume pursuit slowly.”

“Got it.”

Following Himeji’s voice through my right ear, I resumed walking after pausing.

My field of vision didn’t include Minami Shizuku, the target of my tailing, at all. But my terminal displayed her location on a simple map in real-time, and photos of her—likely hacked from shop surveillance cameras—kept pouring in, along with constant updates through my earpiece.

Yes—this was my chosen method of stalking, dubbed the《Company》-style tailing technique by Kagaya-san. It eliminated the biggest risk in tailing—being seen—by relying entirely on “numerous illegal methods to continuously track the target’s whereabouts.” Ideally, for maximum safety, I’d be even farther away, but that could jeopardize the order’s completion, so this was the compromise.

This should make getting caught impossible… but it’s a pretty criminal setup, isn’t it?

Staring at the covert footage on my terminal, I let out a small sigh. …Criminal? No, it’s straight-up illegal. Tailing a seemingly quiet, beautiful St. Rosalia girl only heightened the stakes, making my heart race in more ways than one.

“Phew…”

“Minami-sama is entering the rotary. It seems she’s boarding a train. …By the way, Master? Your breathing has been a bit heavy. Are you perhaps… excited by this situation?”

“No way.”

I shot down Himeji’s slightly teasing tone instantly. My heart was pounding, sure, but not for any weird fetish reasons.

Still, a train, huh… Where’s she headed?

Tracing Minami’s steps, I tilted my head slightly. According to《Company》’s reports, her usual range was limited to nearby convenience stores or bookstores. She wasn’t the type to venture far.

“Meeting a friend or lover is a possibility… but given the timing, it’s probably something with Saionji.”

“Indeed. If Rina has received a similar order, joining her for a《Duel》makes sense. Though, what kind of《Duel》it might be is still unclear—Master, you should hurry slightly. Minami-sama just passed the gate, and the next train leaves in two minutes.”

“Got it. Thanks, Himeji.”

There were plenty of unknowns, but completing the order was the priority. Cutting the conversation short, I quickened my pace toward the station. Using a different staircase from Minami’s, I reached the platform and boarded the arriving train with utmost caution.

“Tch…”

Scanning the carriage as I entered, I noted it wasn’t crowded. Despite the after-school hour, when students typically head to dorms or hang out, St. Rosalia’s train was sparse, with only a few girls in matching uniforms aboard.

“Good work, Master. It looks like you can rest a bit.”

Himeji’s calm, comforting voice came through my earpiece. Being consoled by a high school maid for stalking a high school girl was absurd when you thought about it, but tailing was mentally exhausting. The constant tension made time drag.

Eventually, lulled by the train’s gentle sway,

“—Minami-sama is getting off at the next stop. Prepare yourself.”

She disembarked in the bustling heart of the Fifth Ward, similar in scale to the Fourth. The after-school energy filled the air.

Minami slipped into a small building’s ground floor near the station, marked by a familiar karaoke chain logo. This was apparently her destination.

“Hm…”

With the goal identified, the “don’t get caught” restriction lifted. Exhaling softly, I stepped inside. There, Minami’s uniformed back was visible as she stood at the counter.

“Welcome! Are you here alone, or meeting someone?”

“Meeting… and I have a reservation. Name’s Minami…”

“Thank you! Minami Shizuku-sama, reservation for three, two hours? One of your party is already here, so please take the mics and head to your room!”

“…Huh?”

Minami raised her face slightly at the clerk’s words, her voice tinged with confusion.

“Three…? No, it should be two—”

“—No, three’s correct.”

Cutting into her exchange from behind, I spoke up. Minami whipped around, shoulders jumping, and her face soured as she recognized me.

“…Why are you here?”

“Why? To join your so-called《Duel》, obviously. I’m even listed in the reservation headcount, aren’t I?”

“I don’t know… I didn’t invite you. Forcing a girl into a karaoke box… Are you after my body? And with three people, no less…?”

“What are you even talking about?”

Exasperated, I reached past Minami to take the mic basket from the clerk. The reservation had likely been altered by the《Diaskript》Game Master, and the clerk didn’t seem suspicious.

And then,

“Hey, Minami, standing here too long will draw attention, right? Let’s head up.”

“…Ugh… So manipulative…”

Minami grumbled but eventually muttered a reluctant “Fine” and gave in.

♯

At Room 502, a single occupant awaited us.

“You’re here, Shizuku. And… Shinohara too.”

Sitting on the sofa with arms crossed, a girl with ruby eyes smirked faintly—Saionji Sarasa. She must’ve been informed of my arrival via an order or something, as she showed no surprise. Also, she was already calling her “Shizuku.” Despite barely knowing each other before, they’d clearly grown close in just a few days.

Following the one-drink rule, we ordered drinks and took our seats, arranging ourselves triangularly around a slanted rectangular table.

“…Hm…”

After sipping her iced tapioca milk tea, Minami, seated diagonally across, lifted her face. Her sleepy, dubious eyes locked onto me.

“I’ll ask again… Why are you here? I came to have a《Duel》with the Empress today… but I didn’t invite you. I even asked the Empress not to tell you.”

“True. My order included keeping it from Shinohara.”

“…Order?”

“Yes, an order. Simply put, the ‘Game Master’ who assigned us your quest tacks on extra instructions… something like that.”

“Huh…? I don’t get it, but… you’re here now, so whatever. Out of pity… like a first-time login bonus… I’ll let you join.”

“Oh? That’s pretty generous.”

“It’s too much hassle to kick you out now… Besides, I’m the host here. Win or lose, it’s all up to me…”

“……”

“…? I made a joke, so react properly. Minus points.”

“That was hard to catch.”

I couldn’t help but complain at Minami’s low-energy quip. Still, it seemed she was genuinely letting me join the《Duel》. My presence was clearly unexpected, but it didn’t seem to disrupt her planned rules.

“Alright, I’ll explain…”

Shaking her head slightly, Minami began twirling the straw in her glass with her right hand. Staring at it with her blue eyes, she spoke quietly.

“We’re about to play a《Duel》. But doing it normally would leave a record of ‘me vs. the Empress vs. the 7-Star,’ which would be a big deal. So, we’re doing it all analog. Your task is to guess the details of my request.”

“…The details? You mean the ‘too popular’ thing?”

“Exactly. I’m a sinfully popular girl… Guys are hitting on me, and I’m troubled, but I haven’t shared more than that. I don’t want to. Yet, you both want to know. It’s a contradiction. So, let’s make it a《Duel》. If you beat me, you’ll learn the details automatically—a genius setup.”

“Uh, yeah, it’s not a bad idea… but how do we guess? Like, who’s hitting on you, or what you want done? There’s so much to figure out. You’re not saying we do it with no hints, right?”

“I wouldn’t say that… I’d get tortured or something.”

“Heh, always so dramatic.”

“? That wasn’t a joke, I meant it. Both of you ganging up, doing this and that…”

“We’re not! And your jokes are still hard to get.”

Saionji crossed her arms under her chest, shaking her hair as Minami’s timid gaze met hers. Minami seemed briefly deflated, muttering “Really…?” but soon lifted her head to continue.

“We’re short on time, so I’ll keep explaining. …You’ll guess my request. Not without hints, of course. Do you both know what a lateral thinking puzzle is?”

“…Lateral thinking?”

I tilted my head at the unfamiliar term. Saionji, however, nodded with a smile, clearly familiar with it.

“Lateral thinking puzzles—yes, I know them. They’re a well-known game.”

“Really? Nice… Then explain it.”

“…What, you asked just to make me do it? Fine, whatever…”

Passed the explanation duty by the thoroughly lazy Minami, Saionji sighed and turned her ruby eyes to me. Gathering her thoughts, she began.

“A lateral thinking puzzle is a type of ‘reasoning game’ that doesn’t use props. It’s occasionally referenced in Academy Island’s《Duel》. I believe the《Board Treasure Hunt》you and Akizuki-san played in Eimei’s《Ward Selection Battle》incorporated its methods. Specifically… Let’s make it clear with an example, shall we?”

“An example? Alright, go easy on me.”

“Fine. Here’s a classic one. Question: ‘A man stopped by a seaside restaurant and ordered turtle soup. When the waitress brought it, he took a sip, looked shocked, and asked, “Is this really turtle soup?” She confirmed it was. He didn’t drink more, paid, and left. That night, he killed himself.’ …Why?”

“Huh…? Why?”

“I’m asking why he killed himself. You need to explain not just the reason but the whole story behind it.”

Saionji’s playful tone taunted me, her sly smile egging me on. I could only grumble silently. It sounded vaguely familiar as a famous puzzle, but that was it. No matter how I wracked my brain, the story felt too disjointed to make sense.

“Heh, giving up already? Seeing you stumped is kind of refreshing.”

“Keep talking, Saionji. …Wait, you haven’t even explained the basic rules yet, have you? The《Board Treasure Hunt》with Akizuki was about using【Questions】to pinpoint the opponent’s location. If this is similar, there’s gotta be something like that, right?”

“Oh, sharp as ever, Shinohara. Exactly—lateral thinking puzzles let you ask the questioner ‘YES or NO questions’ about the game. For the example, you could ask, ‘Was it really suicide?’ or ‘Was the waitress lying?’ You keep asking to get closer to the truth. Typically, multiple answerers tackle one questioner. Lateral thinking means looking at things from different angles, so it’s harder for one person to break through alone.”

“…Got it.”

The questioner poses a problem, and the answerers try to solve it. The problem is nearly unsolvable on its own, so answerers use questions to gather info—that’s the gist.

“I understand the rules. So, what’s the answer to that example?”

“Not telling. …Heh. Let it bug you so much you can’t sleep, and when you look it up, you’ll feel both satisfied and defeated—just like I did once.”

“Talk about twisted…”

I muttered, exasperated. It wasn’t that nagging, but I’d probably check later.

With Saionji’s explanation done, Minami lifted her face again.

“The lateral thinking puzzle is just as the Empress explained… What we’re doing is a tweaked version of a《Duel》. Simply put, we’re all questioners and answerers. All three of us pose problems, and all three answer them. That’s the vibe…”

“Got it… Your problem is your request, right? [I’m too popular and it’s troubling me]—we figure out the truth of that. But what about me and Shinohara?”

“Of course, I’ve got that covered… ‘Prepared Minami’ is my middle name.”

Spouting nonsense effortlessly, Minami rummaged through her bag and pulled out two cards, the size of playing cards with a stylish pattern on one side.

“These are spare trump cards, one per deck, with blank backs. You’ll write a name on the blank side. The condition? The girl you’re most curious about right now… Yeah, that’s it. Like a school trip vibe, right?”

“Curious about… huh?”

…Interesting indeed.

Saionji’s gaze and Himeji’s whisper through my earpiece caught me off guard, but I couldn’t react. To cover, I turned to Minami.

“I’ve got a lot to say, but fine, I get the ‘write a girl’s name’ rule. But can it be anyone? You might not know them.”

“True… So, limit it to Academy Island students. I should know most of them. If it’s someone else, introduce me later?”

“You know everyone on the island? That’s kind of wild… Anyway, not just Shinohara, but I write a ‘curious girl’ too?”

“Yep. I don’t know any guys, so…”

Minami nodded at Saionji’s question. Picking up her untouched iced tea—ordered alongside her tapioca milk tea—she placed it in the table’s center and continued.

“The person holding the iced tea glass has the right to ask a question. They pass it to whoever they want to question and ask anything. The questioned person answers with a yes or no, truthfully. This way, the info you want is laid bare… and I’ll figure out who you both like. If I get to your answers first, I’ll leak them anonymously to STOC. Emergency scoop… scandal… If you’re trying to expose my secrets, you should face some risk too.”

“Risk, huh… Fine by me.”

Unlike Minami, who hates attention, gossip like that is routine for Saionji and me. It’s no big deal, but failing to win this《Duel》means never learning Minami’s request’s truth—reason enough to take it seriously. If we can’t crack her here,《Diaskript》ends.

“…Any questions? If not, write the names… We only have this room for two hours.”

Done explaining, Minami slid a black marker toward us. Before taking it, I glanced at Saionji, locking eyes with her ruby gaze for a split second.

Almost simultaneously, we grabbed pens and, seconds later, placed cards with a female student’s name face-down in front of us. …It’s almost comically analog compared to a normal《Duel》. No terminals, no abilities, no cheating. For me, that’s a hefty handicap.

But I’ve got no choice but to do it—and I’ve got Himeji as my brain, so…

Thinking that, I nodded once to steady my breathing.

After a fair dice roll, the《Duel》began with me going first.

“Alright, let’s get to the questions.”

Picking up the iced tea glass—the《Duel》’s “question right”—I turned to Minami. She nodded slightly.

“Okay… Feels kinda like an AV interview. Kinda nervous… maybe.”

“Don’t be. And don’t say it if you are.”

“By the way, my chest is a C-cup…”

“I didn’t ask!”

Minami’s risky remarks came in her usual listless tone. Resisting the urge to glance down, I pressed on in full Academy Island strongest mode.

“First, your request—[I’m too popular and it’s troubling me]. Is it true that guys are hitting on you? Not just your imagination or anything?”

“That’s harsh… I wouldn’t make that up. The request is real…”

Shaking her head, Minami affirmed my question. …Her first bit was dubious, but since lying about answers is forbidden, the request itself wasn’t fake.

Taking the glass from me, Minami turned to Saionji.

“My turn. Empress, did you write someone from Ouka?”

“No. I’ve got lots of close friends there, but the one I’m most curious about isn’t one.”

“Bummer… I wanted a junior calling you ‘Onee-sama’ or something. That sisterly vibe is just… so good…”

“Oh, that? I’ve actually got a few juniors at Ouka who do that.”

“Amazing… Perfect… Thank you.”

Minami nodded contentedly. I, meanwhile, muttered with a wry smile.

“Saionji as an ‘Onee-sama,’ huh…”

“…What’s that, Shinohara? Got a problem? Unlike a 7-Star with your bad personality and attitude, I’m actually well-liked at school.”

“I’m not denying that, but bad personality? That’s mutual, Saionji. If you were truly a pure, delicate ‘Onee-sama,’ you wouldn’t be called ‘Empress’ in the first place.”

“Tch…”

Saionji pouted, crossing her arms irritably. Turning away, she slid the glass back to Minami and spoke.

“Ignoring the clueless one, next question. Shizuku, the guys hitting on you—are they Academy Island high schoolers?”

Oh… Nice one.

I inwardly praised Saionji’s question. We’d assumed they were peers, but that wasn’t confirmed. They could’ve been kids or even old men.

Minami nodded, ruling that out.

“Yes… The guys hitting on me are high schoolers from this island. Probably not repeaters either. …My turn.”

Whispering flatly, she turned the glass and her body toward me. Her blue eyes, slightly darker than Himeji’s, locked onto mine.

“You’re easier than the Empress… You’re so flashy, it’s obvious who you’re with. It’s the maid, right? That silver-haired cute girl always with you.”

…Oh?

Right after Minami’s question, a quiet, intrigued voice—obviously the maid herself—came through my earpiece. As Saionji stifled a giggle, I shook my head with a grimace.

“Nope, not her.”

“? Really…? I was so sure. Are you… a player?”

Is that so, Master?

“…No, I’m not.”

Minami’s reaction and Himeji’s slightly sulky tone prompted a defensive denial. Shirayuki Himeji was a perfectly valid choice for “girl I’m curious about,” but since everyone knows we’re always together, picking her here would be too obvious.

Anyway… Time to narrow things down.

I brought my right hand to my chin, thinking quietly.

From earlier, the guys hitting on Minami were Academy Island high schoolers, and per her message, her popularity spike was recent. That suggested a possibility.

“Question, Minami. …The guys hitting on you—were they《Astral》participants?”

“! …Yes, correct… Surprisingly sharp.”

Minami’s eyes widened briefly before she nodded, her bangs swaying. This narrowed the pool significantly—but it wasn’t time to panic yet. She toyed with her straw, then asked me again.

“If it’s not the maid, the answer’s obvious… You wrote the Empress. Final answer.”

“Oh, me? Really? Heh, what’s this, Shinohara? More honest than usual.”

“Huh? No, how’d you get there?”

“Simple—encounter frequency. Even as rivals, meeting a cute girl like her daily would naturally draw you in. Plus, they say hate breeds love a hundred billion times over…”

“That’s not a saying. …Look, think logically, Minami. Sure, we meet often, but we’re always trading direct jabs. You don’t start crushing on someone you bicker with like that. It’s the least likely option in the world.”

“Really? That’s surprising…”

“Hmph… I don’t care who Shinohara likes.”

Saionji turned away, arms crossed and visibly annoyed. …This topic was starting to feel like a minefield. If she’s doing this on purpose, she’s a master strategist.

Anyway, the question right returned to me. We’d confirmed the guys were《Astral》participants, but the next step was key.

Since Minami was a St. Rosalia selectee, her team had no guys. But by the time we clashed in《Astral》’s endgame, she was under《Chameleon》’s command…

Recalling that, I brought my right hand to my chin. …In《Astral》’s final stages, Minami teamed up with two players from other wards: Kugasaki Seiran, a 5-Star “Phoenix” from Eighth Ward Otowa Academy, and Kirigaya Touya, a 6-Star “Absolute Monarch” from Seventh Ward Shinra High. Both were top-tier, famous, and, crucially, male.

But… love or romance? That felt iffy. Kugasaki’s a devout Empress follower, calling Saionji his “goddess”—unlikely to chase another girl. Kirigaya’s love life was a mystery, but he seemed more duel-obsessed than romantic.

“…Still waiting? Boredom level, 97…”

Minami’s impatient comment cut in. I could’ve ignored her, but I was taking too long. Better play it safe with a neutral question.

“Uh, are there multiple guys hitting on you?”

“Yes… If it was just one, I wouldn’t call it a popularity boom.”

Minami affirmed instantly.

Smoothly sliding the glass to Saionji, she fired off a specific question: “Is your person a second-year from《Astral》?” Saionji’s “YES” response brought her dangerously close to a correct guess.

But… if my hunch is right, Sa aurely wrote the same name as me. And if so, I can’t lose.

—Yes, exactly.

That fleeting eye contact with Saionji before the《Duel》started? We’d aligned on the name to write. “Most curious girl” didn’t strictly mean romantic interest—it could mean “intrigued” or “want to know more.” In that sense, both Saionji and I would pick【Minami Shizuku】first.

That’s likely the perfect answer here. Even if someone guesses it, Minami, who despises attention, would never say her own name aloud, especially with her rule about leaking answers to STOC.

She must’ve realized that, being the rule-maker…

I glanced at Minami. …Her expression remained calm. Saionji asked, “Just to rule it out… the guy hitting on you isn’t him, right?” pointing at me. Minami replied, “I’d love to say yes, but no…” shaking her head. The glass returned to her.

“Hm… What to do…”

Glancing at the clock, Minami tilted her head. I thought she’d keep pressing Saionji, but she hadn’t dug into my answer much. After long deliberation, she aimed the glass at me.

“Did you write someone from Eimei?”

“Nope, sorry. It’s someone from another ward.”

“Really… Quite the challenge.”

Her disappointed words lacked any real disappointment as she shook her head. Watching her blue hair flow, I took the glass to plan my next question—then, a sudden doubt hit me.

…Wait. Wasn’t that a bit off?

Frowning, I sank into thought. …No, the question itself wasn’t wrong. It was the order. If she’d asked that first, she could’ve ruled out all Eimei students, including Himeji, right away. Sure, she could focus on pinpoint questions to rush the answer, but then she’d need to stick to that strategy. Otherwise, she’s wasting moves.

So… is she not even trying to guess my answer?

Her lack of progress made me wonder if she’d had a sudden change of heart, but that seemed unlikely given how hard she’d hidden her request. Unless… was she stalling for time?

That’s it… The《Duel》’s end condition is just time running out.

Grasping something, I brought my right hand to my chin. …Right. This《Duel》involves guessing each other’s answers, but no one said it ends when someone gets it right. The only clear condition was the two-hour room reservation. Once that’s up, the《Duel》ends. The iced tea—our question right—can’t leave the room.

A glance at the clock showed less than thirty minutes left. With Minami eating time each turn, we had maybe two or three more questions.

Reaching that conclusion, I spoke slowly.

“Hey, Minami—correct me if I’m wrong, but this《Duel》’s end condition is tied to the room’s time limit, right? Can we extend that?”

“! …You mean, like, the karaoke system?”

“No, I mean the《Duel》rules. Would you allow it?”

“Hm… Then, no.”

Minami shook her head firmly.

“This room’s booked for two hours… That’s the time limit. If it runs out, I’ll chug the iced tea… Then, no more questions.”

“You’ll choke.”

“I’m fine with that. It’s my wish.”

Minami’s gaze was unwavering. …She was adamant about no extensions. It was a wasted question, but sharing this with Saionji made it worthwhile. Lateral thinking is about tackling problems from multiple angles. So, in this《Duel》—despite being rivals in《Diaskript》—Saionji and I are allies.

“……”

Minami stared at us, her clear eyes probing my intentions. Eventually, she looked away and slid the glass to Saionji, saying,

“You… Did you talk to that person today?”

“…Yes.”

Her approach sharpened suddenly. …She’d known from the start, hadn’t she? With those rules, it was obvious we’d both write “Minami Shizuku.” She’d set this up to test us—our ability to grasp the《Duel》’s mechanics and find a way through. To see if we were trustworthy.

“Hm… Alright.”

After staring at her glass, Saionji lifted her face. Her ruby eyes met Minami’s directly.

“Let me ask something fundamental. The guys hitting on you… Are their feelings toward you really romantic? Do they seem like they want to date or be your boyfriend?”

“…? That… I can’t know someone else’s feelings.”

“Fair. Then, your perspective is fine. You can tell that much, right?”

…What’s that?

Saionji’s question puzzled not just Minami but me too. …Asking if they have romantic feelings? Isn’t that obvious? We’d confirmed multiple guys are hitting on her. The answer should be “YES.”

—But,

“They don’t…”

What…? She denied it?

Against my expectations, Minami shook her head. Saionji murmured “As expected” with a satisfied tone, glancing at me with a look that screamed payback. Lateral thinking. A new angle.

Wait, then…

My mind raced, and I brought my right hand to my chin. …If the answer’s “NO,” the premise shifts. Guys are hitting on Minami, but not out of love. They’re after her for a different reason.

That makes sense. I can solve this. …The only issue is time.

Thinking that, I tapped my earpiece, sending Himeji an instruction. Saionji’s glancing eyes suggested she knew my plan. The only way to secure more questions without extending the room’s time—if this didn’t work, we’d lose.

“……”

Minami, meanwhile, seemed to have switched to full stall mode. Holding the glass with both hands, she spoke slowly in her usual low-energy tone.

“I see through you… You wrote the name of the girl you’re talking to now. You want to mess her up… probably.”

“…Oh? Is that a question?”

“No… Still my turn. You were one step short… You didn’t reach my request’s truth.”

“Why past tense? The《Duel》’s not over yet.”

“It’s as good as done. There’s three minutes left… You took about five minutes thinking earlier. So, I can take that long too… Total victory.”

Minami’s leisurely tone delivered a brutal verdict. She had no intention of moving until the time ran out. I couldn’t complain, but that meant the《Duel》was checkmate—normally.

“—Sorry for the wait!”

“Eek!?”

At that moment, a cheerful voice burst from the door, startling Minami, who was facing away. As she looked around, confused, Saionji and I calmly stood to accept drinks we’d ordered via《Company》—two more iced teas.

Sitting back down, we flashed sly grins.

“Heh… The iced tea glass grants question rights, right? No one said it had to be that glass, and I didn’t hear anything about not adding more.”

“Exactly. This way, we can keep taking turns. —Ready?”

I placed my glass in front of a stunned Minami with a thunk. Saionji did the same, smirking as I continued.

“Let’s recap. Your popularity spiked after last month’s《Astral》. You’re at a secluded girls’ school, so an event like that could spark sudden attention. But, from earlier, those guys aren’t after you romantically.”

“Right. So, what does ‘hitting on you’ mean? Recall《Astral》—you survived until the brutal fourth day, when only high-rankers remained. You showed strength. Probably not on purpose, but you revealed a glimpse of talent. Shinohara knows this too, right?”

“Obviously. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here. …Right, Minami? You hid your strength, but let it slip during《Astral》, and your teammates saw it. Not St. Rosalia’s crew—your late-game team: Kugasaki Seiran and Kirigaya Touya.”

The moment I named them, Minami’s face visibly tensed. Convinced we were on track, we pressed on.

“Those two saw your power and zeroed in on you. Kugasaki has his《Freestyle Knights》, and Kirigaya’s tied to some shadowy group. A dark horse like you? They both want you.”

“Yeah. You called that ‘being hit on.’ You were popular, alright—two high-rankers fighting over you. But for someone who hates attention, that’s not fun at all. So, you requested ‘make it stop,’ disguising it as a ‘popularity problem’ to keep it quiet.”

“Exactly. Your real request is: [Kugasaki Seiran and Kirigaya Touya have their eyes on me, and it’s troubling. Make them stop recruiting me.] …How’s that? That’s our answer.”

Saionji summed it up, smirking triumphantly.

Minami froze, eyes downcast, but eventually pulled out her terminal and extended the room’s reservation. Looking up, she met our gazes and spoke slowly.

“Perfect… You’re both amazing. I didn’t think you’d get it…”

“Thanks. So, does that mean you trust us a bit now?”

“Of course, I trust you… You’re worthy. …But.”

Nodding readily, as if her earlier reluctance was a lie, Minami’s expression shifted—slightly peeved.

“I’m… a little annoyed, maybe.”

A fleeting glimpse of a strong aura in her pout made me catch my breath.

“…So, by the way.”

Minutes later, having extended the room, we stayed in the karaoke box, sitting more casually now.

Sipping the new iced tea, I posed a question to Minami across from me.

“What were you like in middle school? I know the ‘strongest’ and ‘invincible’ stuff from research, but I can’t picture it.”

“Hm…”

Minami’s bangs swayed as she reacted, seeming to weigh whether to answer. Deciding to trust us, she spoke quietly.

“My middle school used a system almost identical to Academy Island’s… There were《Duel》-like mechanics and rankings. It was fun, so when I started, I honed my skills just for myself. I thought, innovated, and worked hard to never lose… And I got stronger. I never lost.”

“Yeah.”

“It was fun at first. I liked the praise. …But partway through, I started hating it. Not me—the way people looked at me changed.”

You’d understand, she added, and I nodded slightly.

“Yeah, makes sense. If one standout shines among average folks, they get attention—good and bad. People project all kinds of emotions onto them.”

“Exactly. Strangers’ expectations, excitement, resentment… I didn’t vibe with that. My world was self-contained, but suddenly, tons of people were watching. Once I noticed, everything felt pointless.”

“…You burned out? Not crushed by pressure, but something deeper?”

“Yeah, something fundamental… I was grinding for me, not anyone else. So, I didn’t want them claiming it or sharing it. I’m not yours. …That’s why I chose a faraway high school. Somewhere no one would notice me. Mainland schools would’ve carried my reputation, so I picked Academy Island.”

“Got it… So, you chose low-ranked St. Rosalia for that too?”

“? No… I picked St. Rosalia because it has lots of cute girls.”

“…Oh, okay.”

I let out an exasperated chuckle at Minami’s predictable reply. Then, Saionji, who’d been listening quietly, shook her hair and spoke.

“Can I ask something? You avoided attention, but why join《Astral》? And you had a Unique Star.”

“Ugh… That was my biggest mistake. Last month, a girl with a Unique Star challenged me to a《Duel》. I tried to lose but won… Then, during《Astral》’s selection, I hit 4-Star with a Unique Star. My life’s greatest failure… From now on, I’ll check details even for cute girls’ requests.”

“…I see.”

If such a fluke led to Kugasaki and Kirigaya noticing her, that’s just bad luck.

Finishing our questions, Minami shifted to the request.

“So… that’s why I never wanted to be someone’s expected ally. That’s what this request was about… But.”

Hesitantly lifting her gaze, Minami’s blue eyes wavered with unease as they met ours.

“Saying I didn’t trust you wasn’t your fault… Kugasaki Seiran and Kirigaya Touya are both trouble. Getting them to back off won’t be easy…”

“Oh? So you were worried about us?”

“Basically, yeah… But you beat my《Duel》. You proved your strength. So… can I trust you?”

Her voice mixed equal parts hope and anxiety. Uncomfortable with others’ expectations, she was likely equally unused to relying on others.

Her concerns were valid. Minami Shizuku, with her hidden potential, was likely more valuable than she realized. Kugasaki and Kirigaya were probably dead serious, and this could escalate into a major《Duel》over her.

If that happens, it’s bad… Wait, huh?

My terminal vibrated in my pocket, halting my thoughts. It was a《Diaskript》notification. The “earn Minami’s trust” order was marked “achieved,” and a new order appeared with [New Item Unlocked!]:

[Additional Order: Tomorrow at 1:30 PM, meet Kirigaya Touya at the Seventh Ward station and convince him to give up on Minami Shizuku. However, you must not use a《Duel》as a means.]

“…This is an ‘order’?”

Showing Minami the updated《Diaskript》screen, she tilted her head. I nodded with an “Yeah.”

“Think of it as a mandatory condition to clear. No matter how crazy, I have to achieve it to beat Saionji. …Speaking of, Saionji, what’s yours? Kugasaki?”

“Yep, exactly. To explain for Shizuku—basically, I handle Kugasaki, and Shinohara handles Kirigaya. That’s the victory condition.”

“Pretty much. It’s creepy how they knew our《Duel》would end now and sent these orders, but it’s not all bad. From experience,《Diaskript》orders are never physically impossible. That means, no matter how tough, there’s always a way to achieve what’s written.”

Staring at my terminal, I spoke. …From the Unique Star Conquest’s setup to Rainbow Patisserie’s rules, the double date, and Minami’s《Duel》—all were foretold by《Diaskript》. This order should be achievable too. It’s just a race between me and Saionji to finish first.

…So,

“Relax, Minami. …Your request is as good as solved.”

Meeting her anxious gaze, I spoke with brimming confidence.

♯

The next day, I sent Kirigaya a message from Minami’s terminal saying “I want to talk” and headed to meet him, arms crossed and deep in thought.

I said it’s as good as solved, but… what now?

My concerns hadn’t changed since yesterday.

As I told Minami, I didn’t believe《Diaskript》orders could include “physically impossible” tasks. That was no lie, but “possible” didn’t mean the path was clear. The Game Master might see everything, but I didn’t.

Normally, this feels like it’d lead to a《Duel》over Minami. Solving it with just persuasion? Can that work? Kirigaya’s such a battle nut, it’s hard to picture him chasing Minami as an ally…

No matter how I thought, I couldn’t progress. I brought my right hand to my chin.

And… the real issue is speed to complete the order.

Himeji’s clear voice came through my right earpiece.

Given Kirigaya-sama’s nature, even if you avoid a《Duel》and reach a point of persuasion, he’ll likely demand conditions. Meanwhile, Rina… her target, Kugasaki-sama, worships her. She could wrap it up instantly.

…Yeah, exactly.

I sighed faintly at Himeji’s assessment. …She was right. Both Kugasaki and Kirigaya were tough, but “Saionji Sarasa” was a trump card against Kugasaki. As a diehard Empress fan, he’d obey her every word. Saionji had even smirked yesterday, gloating, “Too bad, huh?”

The odds were stacked against me, but I wasn’t giving up.

“…Phew…”

Spotting Kirigaya at the meeting point, I exhaled softly—.

“—Yo, long time no see, Kirigaya.”

Seventh Ward’s station front, lined with eclectic buildings and eateries.

Approaching Kirigaya, who leaned against a shop’s show window, he turned with a puzzled “Huh…?” His attitude screamed annoyance, but recognizing me, a feral grin spread across his face.

“Hyaha! Shinohara Hiroto, ain’t it? Fancy meeting you in my turf. What’s up?”

“Up? What, I need a reason to enter the Seventh Ward?”

“Hell nah, you’re welcome anytime. Strength’s everything here.”

Kirigaya ruffled his hair, tossing out a belligerent taunt. Keeping my tone flat, I replied, “That so?” and cut to the chase.

“I’ve got good news—Minami’s not coming. I sent yesterday’s chat.”

“Huh…? Oi, what’s that supposed to mean? You hangin’ with that chick?”

“Hanging’s not quite right, but close enough. Got a situation here—I need you to stop trying to recruit Minami.”

Stepping closer, I flashed a slight smirk. His slicked-back, intimidating vibe was unnerving, but I wasn’t the type to show it. I faced him with surface-level confidence.

Kirigaya went silent briefly but soon shrugged and spoke.

“Recruit, huh? …Nah, you got it wrong. I don’t do lame shit like that. Not once in my life.”

“…Not once? But you contacted Minami after《Astral》, didn’t you?”

“Sure did, personally. But that was to《Duel》her. That spark of talent she showed in《Astral》—I wanted to see if it was real with my own eyes.”

“…A《Duel》…”

I muttered under my breath. …That tracked. Thinking about Kirigaya Touya, that made way more sense. He saw Minami’s hidden strength and wanted to crush it, not claim it.

“—But.”

Kirigaya shook his head, visibly irritated, stuffing a hand in his pocket as he continued.

“I looked into her past—middle school. You know, Shinohara? She was on your level back then, a top dog. But she ditched it all… and for St. Rosalia? Screw that, it’s just running away.”

“…? So what?”

“Hyaha! That’s everything, dumbass. Once you run, you’re done. Dueling a husk like that? It ain’t gonna satisfy me!”

As he spoke, Kirigaya leaned in close, his ferocious grin twisting wide.

“It’s gotta be you, Shinohara Hiroto… You’re the one who gets my blood pumping. Makes me shiver with excitement.”

“…Don’t say creepy crap like that.”

“Hell yeah! Not many can keep that attitude in front of me. I’d love to go straight to a head-on《Duel》right here and now, but…”

I half-expected him to fire off a《Duel》request without missing a beat, but Kirigaya suddenly cut himself off. Pulling his terminal from his pocket, he brought up a new topic.

“Shinohara Hiroto—ya know about the summer event?”

“Event? …Nah, no clue.”

“That so? It’s one of the biggest《Duel》events on the island, neck and neck for the top spot. Hype, attention, everything’s maxed out. And guys like you and me? We’re guaranteed to be picked as players. How ’bout we settle things there?”

“…Huh. Didn’t peg you as someone who could hold back like that.”

“Hyaha! What kinda dumb talk is that, 7-Star? A showdown between you and me? Ain’t no way it’s happening in some lame-ass place like this. We need a proper stage for it. …And besides.”

As he spoke, Kirigaya shoved his terminal screen right in my face. It showed his profile, managing his rank. There were four plain Normal-colored stars, one Unique Star—《Black》—that he’d shone with in《Astral》, and another… the《Gray Star》that Minami Shizuku had lost in《Astral》.

“Tch! …Of all people, it went to you?”

“Yup. The 7-Star slot’s locked up by you, so one of my Normal stars just turned into a Unique one. That makes me a Double-Color holder now. But I haven’t even figured out how to use it yet, so like I said, I ain’t challenging you to a《Duel》right this second.”

“…”

“Hyaha… So, look forward to it, 7-Star. When we do this, I’m gonna tear shit up, go wild, and end you. A toy this tough? Be a waste to break it too quick. I’ll play with ya till I’m bored, then crush you. …You better remember that. The next event’s gonna be your graveyard.”

Flashing one last savage grin, Kirigaya turned on his heel. His boots clacked as he walked off—probably already scheming for that summer event. He doesn’t half-ass things when it comes to his fun. That’s what makes Kirigaya, Kirigaya.

Watching his back as he left, I quietly brought my right hand to my mouth.

Sure, it feels like a new headache’s been dumped on me. But at the very least, doesn’t this mean Kirigaya’s backed off from Minami? Doesn’t that mean I’ve met the order’s conditions…?

…Wait, what about Saionji—

Snapping back to reality, I calmed my racing pulse and opened《Diaskript》. Of course, I couldn’t check Saionji’s order status from my terminal—but glancing at the bottom of the page, I saw a bold [Congratulations!] message alongside text declaring that I’d won the Final Quest.

I won…? But how—

“Congratulations, Master,” came Himeji’s voice suddenly through my earpiece.

Her first words praised me, but she continued in a vague, hesitant tone, offering an answer to my question.

“As for Rina, we’ve had Kagaya-san keeping tabs on her, but the situation is… well, how should I put it? It’s turned into Kugasaki-sama openly begging Rina, heedless of onlookers, saying something like, ‘In exchange for backing off from Minami Shizuku, please accept a《Duel》with me.’”

Ah… got it.

I nodded slightly, understanding. …It seems the downside of being worshipped reared its head. Unlike Kirigaya, who backed off easily due to his battle-maniac nature, Kugasaki’s reaction was the complete opposite.

Well, whatever the reason—Saionji hasn’t cleared her final order yet. Judging by《Diaskript》’s display, it’s safe to say I’ve won the Final Quest.

And so, the Unique Star Conquest, spanning over three weeks, ended with my victory.

♭

“…Hehe.”

“As expected of Hiroto. No way you’d lose in a place like this, right?”

“But since we’re here, I’d love for you to stick around just a bit longer.”

“Keep pushing until the end to meet me—okay?”

♯

“…”

Hours after wrapping up the “negotiation” with Kirigaya and the Unique Star Conquest drawing to a close.

I sat in my living room, facing Saionji Sarasa across the table. She was disguised in a hoodie.

She’d arrived about twenty minutes ago. After somehow dodging a《Duel》with Kugasaki naturally, she’d returned home exhausted, changed, and come straight here. Unwilling to admit defeat, she propped her cheek on her hand, puffing out her cheeks in a sulky hmph.

“Ugh… Why can’t I win? When I saw the final order, I was sure I wouldn’t lose. What kind of magic—cheating—did you pull, huh?”

“Nah, I didn’t do anything this time. Plain and simple, Kirigaya was already losing interest in Minami.”

“Kirigaya… So that’s how it was. If my target had been Kirigaya instead of Kugasaki—ugh, no. Thinking like this after losing is just pathetic.”

Saionji slumped onto the table, shaking her luxurious red hair as if scolding herself. …Honestly, if the targets had been swapped, she probably would’ve won easily. But with the Empress’s pride, she couldn’t use that as an excuse. As always, her personality’s a handful.

Not that it’s directly related, but…

“Well… I gotta say, winning that《Duel》with Minami was kinda thanks to you.”

“…Tch, idiot. I didn’t ask for your pity.”

Saionji snapped back brusquely, turning her face away at my words. Her blunt tone almost ticked me off, but then a faint “…But, thanks” brushed my eardrums, and I couldn’t help but fling my gaze somewhere far off. …That was a bit unfair. She’s already cute enough—being honest like that out of nowhere is too much.

“Uh, um, Saionji—”

“…Excuse me for interrupting your flirting, but can we get back to business?”

““—!””

Himeji’s voice cut in from the side, making both Saionji and I jump. Blushing, we tried to cover our embarrassment with coughs and such. Himeji, shooting us a slightly sulky, half-lidded glare, spoke calmly.

“As you both know, Master has claimed victory in the Final Quest of the Unique Star Conquest, Minami-sama’s request. Her popularity boom has officially ended. I received a message from Minami-sama earlier, and apparently, Kugasaki-sama has already sent a lengthy apology letter.”

“Sounds like something he’d do… Kirigaya, though? I bet he won’t even bother with a follow-up.”

“Indeed. …Regardless, the Unique Star Conquest between Master and Rina has concluded with a 2-1 victory for Master. As a result, the staked《Purple Star》officially belongs to Master. Additionally, regarding the core gamebook—《Diaskript》—a new page has appeared upon clearing the Final Quest. This is likely the final page, but… Master.”

Prompted by her clear eyes, I nodded slightly and pulled out my terminal. Opening《Diaskript》, I found a single sentence on the latest page—an order:

[Order: Tomorrow, June 10th, at 1:00 PM, go to “■■■■■” and meet the《Diaskript》Game Master face-to-face.]

“…Hmm?”

Saionji, peering at it, leaned forward slightly and spoke.

“Meeting the Game Master… That’s your victory reward, right? Feels like the true final order.”

“Yeah. …Oh, by the way, what was your victory reward, anyway?”

“? Isn’t it obvious? To have《Meteor》boost my love—w-wait! It’s a secret, okay? I’m not obligated to tell you that much. Besides, shouldn’t we be focusing on your childhood friend?”

Saionji half-slipped but quickly clammed up, invoking her right to silence. I was curious, but her ruby eyes glared at me, so I gave up and steered the conversation back.

“Anyway, it’s clear I’ll meet the《Diaskript》Game Master tomorrow afternoon. But the key detail—the location—is blacked out. I’ve got no idea where to go.”

“Yes, that’s correct. From a brief analysis, it doesn’t seem to be a bug. It’s likely an intentional feature of the app.”

“So, Shinohara’s childhood friend is deliberately hiding the meeting spot? I don’t get it, but… can’t Yuki’s cheating team do something about it?”

“It’s《Company》, Rina. …No, of course we considered that option.”

Himeji glanced at me as she spoke, her eyes tinged with slight apology. I shook my head slowly and picked up her words with a sigh.

“It’s no good… Not even Kagaya-san or anyone else is reachable. Everything was fine until the Final Quest ended, but now there’s no one on the other end of the earpiece.”

“No one…? Did they just go home after the job was done?”

“No, that shouldn’t be the case… But it’s undeniable we can’t get《Company》’s support right now. I could crack simple programs on my own, but《Diaskript》has some seriously tough protections…”

“It’s uncrackable,” Himeji said, shaking her silver hair. As《Company》’s leader, her PC skills still fall short of Kagaya-san’s.

“…No choice, then. I’ll have to go straight to the headmaster—wait, huh?”

Just as I moved to contact Eimei’s headmaster, Ichinose, who also employs《Company》, my terminal on the table blared with an incoming call. Glancing at the caller ID, I saw none other than the headmaster’s name. The timing felt suspiciously perfect, stirring a bad feeling, but I signaled Saionji to stay quiet, cleared my throat, and answered.

“Hello, Shinohara speaking.”

“Heh… Hey, Shinohara, been a while, huh? I heard about the Unique Star Conquest results from《Company》. Impressive work. Even with《Company》’s help, holding your own against the Empress? That must’ve taken a toll on your nerves, right?”

“Yeah, I’d say so. It was a long haul, and I’m pretty worn out.”

“That so? Then get some good rest tonight. I’ll transfer the《Purple Star》around midnight. That’ll make it your fourth color—heh, one step closer to legend, eh?”

“Legend… Sure, whatever. …Anyway, Headmaster.”

Brushing off her cheerful remarks, I dove into the main issue. I explained the situation concisely: the Unique Star Conquest ended, pushing《Diaskript》to its final page, but a special mechanism obscured the designated meeting location. I wanted《Company》’s help, but for some reason, the connection was cut.

“Hmm…”

The headmaster murmured quietly after I finished. …But it wasn’t a serious or troubled tone. If anything, it sounded like she was thinking, That’s an interesting tidbit, if I wasn’t imagining it.

“I see. So, what you’re saying is this: You wrapped up the Unique Star Conquest with the Empress, but you still haven’t met your childhood friend. You’re dying to see her, so you want《Company》to keep helping you until the end… Right?”

“Ugh… That translation’s dripping with malice, but yeah, basically.”

“Hmm, got it, got it. …Heh… Heh, ahahahahahahaha!!”

A burst of amused laughter erupted through the phone, forcing me to pull it away from my ear. Confused and frozen, I heard the headmaster continue in a high-energy tone loud enough to hear without speaker mode.

“I get it now! That explains everything! The puzzle’s finally solved!”

“Solved? I’m more lost than ever here… What are you talking about?”

“Oh, it’s just that I got a message from《Company》’s contact account earlier. The sender was listed as ‘anonymous,’ but the signature showed everyone except Shirayuki agreed. The message went like this: ‘We’ll help until you get the《Purple Star》, but Hiro-kun’s gotta find his cute little childhood friend on his own! The big sisters are taking a break!’”

“!? That’s definitely Kagaya-san!”

“Heh, not even trying to hide it—adds some charm, don’t you think? …Anyway, joke or not,《Company》is on strike. Looks like you’ve earned quite a bit of their ire, huh?”

“Ire? I didn’t do anything to—!”

“Like, say, going on a lovey-dovey date with Shirayuki?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Too many memories flooded back, shutting down any rebuttal. …Sure, it was remote, but I could only imagine how Kagaya-san felt supporting that pseudo-date. And their stance is reasonable. With the Unique Star Conquest over,《Diaskript》has no stakes left. Using《Company》just to reunite with my childhood friend does feel like abusing authority.

“Heh… Well, that’s how it is. Good luck, kid.”

“W-Wait—!”

Ignoring my protest, the headmaster mercilessly ended the call. I sat there, stunned, gripping the terminal, before suddenly snapping my head up.

“…You both heard that, right!?”

“Y-Yes, of course.” “Naturally, Master.”

“Then, Himeji! You said it was ‘uncrackable,’ but what about using《Company》’s equipment? Like that tablet Kagaya-san brought!”

“No… Even that wouldn’t work. My skills aren’t up to par, and besides, being the only one not signed on that message means I’m on the ‘enemy’ side in this mutiny.《Company》’s accounts are likely locked.”

“Tch… Then, Saionji! Can’t you do something!?”

“M-Me? No way! Yuki’s way better at tech stuff than I am.”

“Then use some kind of Saionji family influence to force a breakthrough!”

“Absolutely not! Besides, if I helped you achieve your goal alone, I’d be in trouble. Our partnership only holds because we both have lies to hide. If that falls apart, it’s over.”

“Huh!? No, look, even if I achieve my goal, I’m not just bailing on you!”

“Hmph, yeah right. I don’t trust that. You’re a liar, after all.”

With that, Saionji turned away with a huff. …I get where she’s coming from. Our partnership is built on mutual lies, so if those lies lose their purpose, it gets shaky. That’s why she won’t help—but…

Yeah, makes sense…! If I were in Saionji’s shoes, I wouldn’t help either! Same with the headmaster! What is this, a checkmate…!?

Pressing down my spiraling thoughts, I quietly brought my right hand to my mouth.

At that moment, Himeji spoke softly from beside me.

“Master… Perhaps, just this once, you should give up?”

“…Give up? After coming this far?”

“Yes. You’ve already achieved the goal of obtaining the Unique Star, so stepping back now doesn’t mean everything was for nothing. And… I know I’ve said this before, but I admire you from the bottom of my heart. Normally, even if you were chasing someone you love, I’d never suggest ‘giving up’ and would support you fully. …But may I say something odd?”

“Odd…?”

“Yes. From the start, I’ve had this question—Is the《Diaskript》Game Master really your childhood friend? Planning such an elaborate《Duel》game, issuing orders that see through everything… No ordinary high schooler could do that. It feels almost eerie. …So, I’m sorry, Master, but I’m against it.”

Himeji’s blue eyes fixed on me, her tone utterly sincere.

And sure—her point about the eeriness isn’t lost on me. No matter how you slice it, these feats are beyond a regular high school girl. Her argument that she doesn’t want me meeting someone so mysterious makes sense logically.

But ending it like this? That’s just incomplete combustion…!

That’s what I thought deep down—but I’m in a corner. The headmaster laughed off helping, Saionji turned her back, and Himeji’s practically begging me to stop. I’m hailed as Academy Island’s strongest, a 7-Star, but all I’ve got is bluffing. Without someone’s help, there’s no way I can break through this.

But someone with《Company》-level skills, who’d help me without taking a hit, and would even be eager to do it—someone that convenient…

“…Wait?”

—There might just be someone.

As Himeji and Saionji exchanged puzzled looks, I sank quietly into thought.

♯

The next day.

Himeji and I visited the headmaster’s office at Eimei Academy. There, Headmaster Ichinose sat elegantly on a sofa behind a glass table, sipping wine.

“Heh… Well, look who’s here. Have a seat, I’ll get some guest glasses.”

“…Drinking in broad daylight? As lofty as ever, Lady Fox.”

“Oh? No, you’ve got it wrong, Shirayuki. I’m not drinking in the daytime. To be precise, I’ve been drinking since last night.”

“That’s even worse. Honestly… Did something delightful happen?”

“Obviously, it’s your master’s achievement.”

Smirking, the headmaster shifted her gaze to me. She wore her usual office suit, but her eyes were slightly glassy from the wine, and her subtle gestures carried an extra layer of carelessness—frankly, she was alluring.

“The Empress of Third Ward Ouka Academy, Saionji Sarasa—your Unique Star Conquest against her ended in your victory, Shinohara. You’ve earned your fourth Unique Star. As you know, its effect is data duplication. Pretty handy, right?”

“Yeah. …By the way, could it, say, duplicate a Unique Star?”

“Impossible, obviously. …Listen, Shinohara. The protections around stars in Academy Island’s system are especially tight. If the《Purple Star》could break that, every headmaster would be hunting it down. One star like that could let you rule the island.”

“…Yeah, fair point.”

I was just asking. No way I’d actually try it.

Shaking my head slightly, I met the headmaster’s cheerful gaze head-on.

“Truly, an incredible streak. You always surprise me—how about a little history lesson? Eimei producing a 7-Star is a first in about a decade. Back when I was a student here… Eimei topped the school rankings three years running. When people said ‘powerhouse,’ they meant Eimei. Ouka, Shinra, Suisei—none could compete.”

“Huh, Eimei had a time like that…”

“Yes, a golden era, you could say. We were on the verge of true dominance. Eighty percent of the 6-Stars were Eimei students, and over half the Unique Stars were under our control. All orchestrated by the 7-Star known as Eimei’s Demon. …But, Shinohara, this year might rival that leap forward. You’re just a liar now, but three more Unique Stars, and you’ll be a true 7-Star. And if you reach 8-Star—something even that demon couldn’t—you’ll rewrite history.”

“…You’re really drunk, Headmaster.”

“In more ways than one.”

Chuckling softly, the headmaster set her wine glass back on the table. Her glassy eyes turned to me again.

“But enough teasing—let’s get to the point. It’s about《Diaskript》, right?《Company》ditched you, so you’re crawling to me for help?”

Her teasing tone irked me, but I shot her a half-lidded glare.

“…Even《Company》goes on strike, huh?”

“Hey, don’t blame me. I’ve done my part, so I don’t deserve the grief. If you don’t know where the Game Master is, just run around the island looking.”

“I’d be at it till sundown… Geez.”

Sighing, I brushed off her suggestion. …My reaction seemed to catch her off guard, as she raised a brow slightly.

“…Hmm. You’re awfully calm for the situation, Shinohara. I’d expect more panic, facing an impossible order.”

“I hate to agree with Lady Fox, but I was thinking the same. Master, do you have a plan… A way to turn this around?”

The headmaster across from me and Himeji beside me both voiced their doubts. Nodding with a quiet “Yeah,” I quirked a slight grin and continued.

“It’s the same logic as the Final Quest’s end.《Diaskript》orders are always physically achievable. You said it’s impossible, Headmaster, but that’s not true.”

“Oh? Confident, aren’t you? What’s your basis for that? Don’t tell me you’ve got someone to help you in this mess?”

“Yup, right here in this room.”

At that, I stood from the sofa. Hearing Himeji murmur, “…So that’s it,” behind me, I walked to a door at the back of the headmaster’s office, separate from the entrance, and turned the knob.

Beyond it was a small room. Smaller than the headmaster’s office, with similar furnishings but a stronger sense of lived-in warmth. On a sofa in the center, a black-haired girl in a luxurious negligee curled up, sleeping with an angelic “kuu-suu.”

“Geez, still asleep this close to noon… Shiina.”

That’s right—Shiina Tsumugi. The pure monster who single-handedly created Academy Island’s first fake account, catching the eye of Kurahashi Mikado. I’d run into her here on the first day of《Diaskript》, and last night, I messaged her to confirm. She replied she hadn’t moved yet. Meaning, I could find her here—a true genius who might outshine《Company》alone.

“Oi, Shiina. How long you gonna sleep? It’s almost noon.”

“Mnn… munya, unyu… Two more days…”

“Your credits are screwed. …Geez, if you don’t get up, I’m gonna have to get rough.”

Sighing, I approached the sofa where Shiina slept. Crouching quietly, I poked her cheek gently with my index finger.

“Funya!? …M-Mm… unyaa.”

“Shaking your head won’t help. Come on, wake up already, Shiina.”

“Wake… up…? Wake… wa… nnu?”

Shiina grumbled and squirmed under my prodding, but gradually, her consciousness stirred. Her heavy eyelids fluttered open, revealing her odd eyes—jet-black and crimson—locking onto me clearly.

“Fue? …O-Onii-chan!?”

Her first words burst out as she sat up on the sofa, clutching a Cerberus plushie to her chest, her face lighting up.

“You came, Onii-chan! Hey, hey, can we play games today!?”

“Uh, calm down, Shiina. Also, real talk—stop sleeping with your contacts in. What if your vision gets worse?”

“Ugh, sorry, Onii-chan, I stayed up late and just… Wait, no! I’m happy you’re worried, but these are real! My heterochromatic eyes, gained through a pact with an evil dragon, give me like 150% vision! …But, okay, I’ll be careful from now on!”

“Yeah, do that.”

I didn’t quite get what she meant by “careful,” but I let it slide as a matter of courtesy. With the tangent settled, I pulled my terminal from my pocket.

“So… Shiina, I came here today with a favor.”

“A favor… from you to me? What, what!? Like, sharing my dark powers!?”

“Nah, not this time, sorry. There’s this app on my terminal—《Diaskript》. I need you to tweak it a bit. It’s got some annoying protection, and a key part isn’t displaying.”

“Mmm? Where, where?”

“Here. …Though, for some reasons, I can’t hand over my terminal. So I’m thinking we’ll transfer a copy made with the《Purple Star》to your terminal for you to work on.”

I hedged a bit but said it casually. Reasons? My terminal’s a mess of lies and illegal abilities—no way I’m letting anyone touch it.

Shiina stared intently at the screen I held up, her odd eyes fixed. …Normally, this’d be a no-brainer. Cracking protections on a mystery app? No way a middle schooler could do it.

“…Um, that’s it?”

Her shocking response came with a tilt of her head.

“That shouldn’t take long… Wait, does that mean if I do it, you’ll hang out with me!?”

“Uh, yeah. Today’s tricky, but I can spend the whole weekend with you. …But can you really do it?”

“Yup, no problem! Put it on my terminal!”

I took the terminal she offered, copied《Diaskript》using the《Purple Star》, and handed it back. Shiina hopped back onto the sofa, humming as she worked. No special equipment—just her fingers dancing across countless projected screens around her.

“Here, like this… Then it goes clunk, so you gently muni-muni… Slip through the round part, and yoink it out!”

“…”

“After that, just a little twirl-twirl, and snap it in with a click… Done!”

“…You serious?”

I couldn’t help but blurt out a stunned response at Shiina’s declaration. …Done? She said done? It hadn’t even been thirty seconds since she started…!

“H-Hey, Shiina. I’m not in the mood for jokes right now—”

“It’s not a joke! Mmph… Look, Onii-chan!”

Puffing her cheeks, she thrust the terminal at me. Sure enough, the previously hidden [Meeting Location] was clearly displayed.

“…This is it, right?”

“Yeah… Great job, Shiina. Perfect.”

“Wanya!? W-Why’re you patting… Funyaa… Ehehe.”

Shiina’s proud face clouded just a bit, too cute for words, and I couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke her glossy black hair. Her small frame jolted at the touch, then relaxed, leaning into it. She was like a friendly cat, her legs occasionally kicking like a little animal’s—adorable.

…No, no, focus! This isn’t the time!

Snapping back, I shook my head and stood from the sofa. I’d have loved to keep patting, but alas, duty called.

“…Fue? Onii-chan, you’re leaving already…?”

“…Yeah, sorry. Like I said, I’ve got something to do today.”

“Oh… Okay. Then let’s play tons this weekend, Onii-chan!”

“Yeah. …Thanks, Shiina. You really saved me this time.”

With those final words of gratitude, I left Shiina’s room and returned to the headmaster’s office. I was greeted by two starkly different expressions: Himeji, waiting with a mix of shock, admiration, and more, and Headmaster Ichinose, smirking with a sly grin across from her.

“Heh… Well done, Shinohara. That was the right call. Someone with no conflict of interest and《Company》-level skills? Shiina’s the only one who fits.”

“…Thanks.”

I shot a wry look at the headmaster, who clapped lightly. …Himeji and Saionji aside, the headmaster, living with Shiina, must’ve known this option yesterday. Yet she neither moved Shiina nor hinted at it. Neutral, fair… She’s always a tough one to pin down.

Adjusting her glasses with a clink, the headmaster continued slowly.

“Now—Shinohara, you’ve earned the right to fully clear《Diaskript》. Shirayuki, no objections at this point, right?”

“…Yes. I’ve never had objections to Master’s choices. But—one thing, Lady Fox. Who is the《Diaskript》Game Master? Are they really the childhood friend Master’s searching for…?”

“Oh? You sound like you think I know everything and I’m just not telling.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. When《Diaskript》’s contents were first revealed, you reacted like you knew something. Are they an acquaintance of yours?”

“Who knows? Call me Natsume-neesama instead of Lady Fox, and I might consider answering.”

“…”

“Heh, don’t give me that look, Shirayuki. I might develop some weird tastes.”

Clearly teasing, the headmaster prompted Himeji to let out a faint “Hmph…” and shake her silver hair. Then, she said:

“If that’s your stance, fine. …I’ll see for myself.”

“Good choice.”

Nodding cheerfully, the headmaster glanced at her watch to check the time. With her usual fierce, almost sadistic expression, she took a sip of wine, then grinned and said:

“Well, you two, it’s about time to get ready. No need for gifts, I’d say—but give her my regards, alright?”