‘To meet Laurent, I should head to the Disciplinary Committee room.’

Conveniently, it was also the time of the scheduled Disciplinary Committee meeting at 9 AM.

I moved to meet Laurent in the Disciplinary Committee room.

However, I ended up meeting Laurent in the Main Building hallway, not the Disciplinary Committee room.

“Good morning.”

“Hello.”

I greeted Laurent as soon as I saw her.

There was no need to ask where we were going. It was obvious we were heading to the Disciplinary Committee room, so we naturally matched our steps.

“Laurent.”

“Why did you call me?”

“Could you spare some time after the meeting?”

“...”

A question mark appeared above Laurent's head.

“I can spare some time, but why?”

“Well...”

I hesitated with my words.

To be honest, I intended to say something like, ‘I'll give you a boost to get stronger quickly.’

It was easy to predict her reaction to that.

‘She'd probably dismiss it as nonsense.’

What would be appropriate to say in this situation?

I pondered for a moment before blurting out whatever came to mind.

“It’s no big deal... I’ll tell you after the meeting.”

“If it’s no big deal, we’ll see.”

At least we arranged a meeting.

As I walked, contemplating how to give her a growth boost with Starlight without it seeming strange, we arrived in front of the Disciplinary Committee room.

‘Let’s think of a method later.’

I straightened my clothes before entering the Disciplinary Committee room.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you going in?”

Laurent looked at me strangely.

Before she could speak further, I quickly grabbed the door handle and turned it.

Then I shouted, “Hello!!! First-year squad leader Gardner has arrived!!!"

"Oh my... listen to that voice."

Laurent exaggerated her annoyance, covering her ears as if my enthusiasm was grating. Her expression seemed insolent, almost questioning what kind of person I was.

‘This is all part of social life.’

This was nearly the first meeting with the seniors from the Disciplinary Committee. It was important to establish myself as diligent and passionate.

Despite my attempt to make an impression, there was only one senior present in the Disciplinary Committee. That one senior spoke up.

"So, you're a first-year... your name is Gardner, right?"

"Yes, that's correct, Senior Eilee."

"You know my name?"

Of course, I did. Her blue bobbed hair, pinned at the front with a black hairpin, framed a pale face punctuated by her distinctive two-colored eyes.

Heterochromia of red and purple—there was only one person I knew who had that.

The right-hand and closest confidant to the Head of the Disciplinary Committee. Third-year Eilee.

She stood with her arms crossed, giving support to her chest, and one leg extended casually outward. She seemed quite prickly.

"This first-year seems to have some sense."

She smiled as she said this.

"The second-years... were full of people who were out of their minds," she added.

"Hello, Senior. I'll just help myself to a snack."

At the moment when Senior Eilee was creating a warm atmosphere with her praise, Laurent couldn’t resist and approached the meeting room table to grab a snack.

The cookies prepared for refreshments crunched as Laurent popped one into her mouth.

-Crunch, crunch crunch.

"Delicious!"

"I take back what I just said."

Senior Eilee shook her head as she looked at Laurent.

Before Laurent's image could plummet any further, I defended her.

"Laurent might not have the best manners, but isn't she cute?"

"So, are you asking me to overlook it?"

"She's adorable enough to balance out any annoyance, so can't you give her a pass?"

"Sigh... alright, for your sake, I'll let it go."

After reaching an amicable agreement with Senior Eilee, we sat around the conference table.

As the meeting time approached, only Senior Eilee had arrived.

'Everyone's a bit late.'

At the very least, they should come before the Head of the Disciplinary Committee so as not to delay the meeting.

While I was worrying about the meeting, one more person opened the door and entered.

It was the Head of the Disciplinary Committee.

Everyone stood up to greet her before sitting down again with her.

As she sat down, the Head of the Disciplinary Committee asked, "Is everyone here?"

"All first-years are present, but three second-years and one third-year are absent."

"One second-year is in the hospital, while the other two are on duty, and the third-year is commanding in the field; they were with me until just now."

"Then, we're all set."

"Alright, let's begin the meeting."

It was almost a meeting with only first-years except for the two key members of the Disciplinary Committee.

Though it was called a Disciplinary Committee meeting, it seemed more likely to be a session for explaining the current situation to us first-years.

The meeting was conducted under the leadership of the Head of the Disciplinary Committee and Senior Eilee.

The agenda was nothing special.

To control cadets from wandering around the areas being rebuilt, Rose Hall and Vermilion Bird Hall.

And due to the broken security system, magical creatures and wild animals were intruding, necessitating the assignment of security duty, and discussing how to deploy the guards effectively.

The session felt more like an educational briefing rather than a meeting.

The meeting concluded in under an hour.

At this point, the Head of the Disciplinary Committee began to speak.

"Gardner, I heard you have to go to the division this time."

"Yes, I've been told there's a medal award ceremony."

"Do you know when you'll be going and when you'll be returning?"

"I'm leaving this evening... I think I'll be back in about a week."

"Alright, then we'll need someone to cover your role."

I agreed with the Head of the Disciplinary Committee.

Handling all the tasks alone would be difficult for Laurent. Since the attack by the Violet Giant, the workload had doubled.

We need a substitute.

As I was pondering who could take over for me, a name came to mind.

A member of the Disciplinary Committee and a 5-star character whom I met briefly during the Parasite Subjugation Battle.

"Sirius, if it's her, a fellow first-year, she could fill in for me."

"Sirius... I'll consider it."

After wrapping up all the agenda items, the Disciplinary Committee meeting came to an end.

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee and Senior Eilee left the committee room citing busy schedules.

That left just Laurent and me in the room.

Laurent spoke up first.

"So why did you ask me to make time?"

"Just a moment."

Without hesitation, I placed my fingers between her collarbones and did the same thing I had done with Hiro.

A strengthening buff. Once I confirmed that it had settled correctly, I removed my hand.

"What is this?"

"It's a farewell gesture... from my homeland."

"All of a sudden?"

"We're not going to see each other for a few days, right?"

"Uh?"

I had concocted an excuse using all my mental energy. Laurent was flustered by this sudden farewell.

It wouldn't have been strange for her to be bewildered, but there wasn't anything overtly odd about my actions.

I quickly turned to leave before Laurent could catch on.

Questions like what this gesture meant or where my homeland was would only lead to my lie being exposed quickly.

"Well then, I'll see you."

"...Wait a moment."

Just as I was about to turn my back and leave, Laurent grabbed my shoulder.

Then, mimicking what I had done, her pale fingers pressed between my collarbones.

"What are you doing?"

Startled, I asked, and Laurent replied.

"It's to wish you a safe trip. It's your farewell gesture, isn’t it?"

...It was just an excuse, after all.

Her sincerity made my heart ache.

My conscience felt so guilty that it was bleeding profusely, metaphorically speaking.

For a moment, I almost felt like confessing everything and collapsing into my seat.

Then Laurent asked.

"But how long am I supposed to do this for?"

"...Just until you feel like stopping."

It took quite some time before Laurent finally removed her hand.

Apophis from the Newspaper Club.

Chasing a scoop, she had been trailing Gardner and filled her notebook with observations.

He was coming out of the health teacher's private room, accosting classmates while they were meditating, and even flirting with Laurent, the Disciplinary Committee Executive.

Even after that, it seemed Gardner wasn't content with just his peers; he was meeting seniors—specifically, seniors from the Punitive Squad.

How much more of a playboy could he be?

According to what Apophis had written in her notebook, Gardner seemed determined to win over every female cadet at the academy.

"This is... going a bit too far."

Apophis thought.

Such scandals involving this many people—could it really be true?

Maybe she misunderstood something?

Even Apophis herself harbored doubts like this, so the public would think even worse.

Publishing such an article might lead to backlash from the public, accusing us of maligning the Disciplinary Committee.

"We need evidence, solid proof."

If it's true that Gardner was crossing the line with excessive physical contact with female cadets, capturing that in photos and publishing it alongside the article would serve as undeniable proof.

Luckily, there should be a camera funded by the club in the clubroom.

Apophis, dragging her aching body, was about to head to the clubroom.

But then.

As she turned the corner.

Gardner appeared.

Gardner looked down at the girl in front of him.

Her short hair was dyed gold, and her eyes were yellow.

She seemed familiar, but he couldn't recognize her face due to all the bandages wrapped around it.

Her leg was in a cast too... She must be a patient.

If she's in a cast, it must be a complex fracture and she's likely in a non-combat category with low healing capabilities.

I spoke to the girl, unsure if she was a senior or a classmate.

"You seem to be a patient, so why are you walking around?"

"Oh, um, I just needed to stop by the clubroom for a moment..."

"The clubroom? Rest should be your priority as a patient. If it's not something urgent, I'll inform them, so you should rest in the Medical Room."

"It's... really important..."

If it's important, there's no helping it.

"I can handle it for you then."

"Uh... well, I really have to go myself..."

I paused to think.

It wouldn't be right to send a patient with a cast on her leg and bandages around her head off alone without help.

I supported her by placing her arm over my shoulder and said, "I'll help you get to the clubroom."

"Oh, uh… you don't really have to..."

"How do you plan to go alone in your condition?"

Ignoring her protest, I escorted her in the direction she wanted.

Then, we arrived at a clubroom.

[Newspaper Club]

"Is this really the right place?"

"Ah, yes..."

I looked back and forth between the club name and the girl, lost in thought.

Among the Newspaper Club members, there's someone with short golden hair and yellow eyes.

I think I might know who she is.

Wasn't it Apophis?

"..."

If it's Apophis, then she's one of those pesky journalists.

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