Academy SP 〜An Ex-Mercenary Reincarnated as a Mob in a Gal Game. I Ditched My Bodyguard Job to Enjoy High School Life, but When the Ultra-Rich Heroines Were About to Get Killed, I Stepped In… and Somehow Built a Harem Powerful Enough to Control Japan〜 - Chapter 118 & 119

Chapter 118

Side: Yuuji

—16:24

After that, the guard team escorted Suiran and Eleanor back to the hotel where they were staying.

Naturally, the meeting between Chouichirou Kousaki and Vice President Hargrave was immediately canceled.

The incident became massive news across Japan—

No, across the entire world.

And after the investigation, cooperation procedures, and all sorts of formalities were dealt with—

“(ELEANOR!!)”

The moment Vice President Hargrave saw his daughter, he shouted her name with tears in his eyes.

“(Papa…! Papaaa…!)”

The instant she saw her father, Eleanor finally seemed able to relax, and she burst into tears again.

“Suiran, are you alright!?”

Chouichirou-san also rushed over as quickly as he could.

Seeing him, Suiran gave a bright smile.

“I’m totally fine! Not even a scratch!”

“I see… I see…”

The two of them didn’t hug.

But somehow, to me, that itself felt like a form of trust between them.

If Suiran said she was fine, then she was fine.

That was probably how Chouichirou saw it.

And Chouichirou himself likely treated the mentally mature Suiran less like a child and more like a trusted partner.

And besides…

Both Chouichirou and Suiran seemed more concerned about something else.

“(Vice President, more than anything, I’m simply relieved your daughter is safe.)”

He immediately prioritized Eleanor’s safety first.

Maybe deep down, he was panicking too.

A terrorist attack suddenly breaking out in Japan—a country that had been trying to maintain friendly relations with America…

No matter how you looked at it, the impression was disastrous.

The only death had been one terrorist committing suicide, and Eleanor herself wasn’t injured…

But if things had gone even slightly differently, it could’ve turned into the worst possible outcome—

Even a war between Japan and the United States.

“……………………”

The disappointment on Vice President Hargrave’s face was impossible to hide.

He probably never imagined his daughter would end up caught in something like this.

And at the same time, he also seemed shocked seeing Japanese people show such open hostility toward Americans.

—The atmosphere became dangerously tense.

But the one who changed it was Eleanor.

“(Papa… Sui protected me, you know?)”

“(Eleanor…?)”

“(I saw one of the terrorists trying to throw a bomb at us. My legs froze and I couldn’t move… but Sui moved to protect me. And after the shooting started, she stayed over me the whole time like a shield…)”

As she spoke, tears began spilling from her eyes again.

“(I… I couldn’t do anything. I almost lost someone precious to me. If Sui had died right in front of me… I… I…)”

Hearing that, Suiran’s eyes trembled slightly.

But she still smiled and gently hugged Eleanor close.

“(We’re friends… of course I’d do that much for you.)”

“(But… please value your own life more too, Sui…)”

It seemed Eleanor wasn’t crying just because she was frightened by the terrorists or scared by what happened in Japan.

More than anything—

She was terrified of losing her friend Suiran right in front of her.

Watching them, I couldn’t help thinking again that the bond between these two really was genuine friendship.

And apparently, Vice President Hargrave felt the same way.

“(Sui. Thank you.)”

He bowed his head to Suiran in a Japanese-style gesture of gratitude.

“(Chouichirou-san, I’m grateful for this beautiful friendship.)”

“(Vice President…)”

“(There may certainly be Japanese people who hate us. But there are also Japanese people willing to help us. Just like these girls, we too should continue reaching out our hands to one another. From now on, and far into the future…)”

“(Of course!)”

The two men exchanged a firm handshake.

For now, at least, it looked like this incident had strengthened the relationship between both sides even further.

Of course, there was no telling how public opinion would react—

But at the very least, the nightmare scenario of Japan and America going to war had probably been avoided.

“Secretary-General.”

After a knock at the door, a middle-aged man who appeared to be Chouichirou-san’s secretary entered the room and whispered something into his ear.

“Mm. Understood.”

Looks like the police had identified the terrorists who’d been taken into custody.

The details were then explained in English to Vice President Hargrave and the others as well.

“(According to the police investigation, the people behind this incident were members of an extremist group called the Anti-American Patriot Front.)”

“(An extremist group… I see. Unfortunately, I suppose Japan also has many people with beliefs like that.)”

“(Though I believe it’s rare for them to actually go this far…)”

“(I understand. America has people like that too.)”

“(We call them the ‘AJP.’)”

At those words, Chouichirou’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

“(They’re a crazy bunch that openly calls themselves the ‘Anti-Japan Party.’ Even I receive daily death threats from their supporters for being too pro-Japan. They call me a traitor as well.)”

“(Sounds like both of us have it rough.)”

After the discussion finally settled down—

A woman suddenly came running in from outside the room.

She gave off an intelligent impression with her glasses, and her long legs and curvy figure made her look…

…Well, honestly, pretty sexy.

“(Allison!)”

“(Lady Eleanor!)”

The blonde beauty and the blonde girl immediately rushed into each other’s arms.

“(She’s Reed, my daughter’s manager. She takes care of Eleanor’s daily needs, but due to family circumstances, her arrival in Japan was delayed by a day.)”

Vice President Hargrave explained that.

“(I deeply apologize for not being by your side during such a terrifying time…)”

“(It’s okay. I’m just happy I got to see you again, Allison.)”

From the looks of it, Eleanor trusted her quite a lot.

“(Ah, my apologies for the late introduction. Secretary-General Kousaki, I’m Allison Reed, Eleanor’s manager.)”

“(Not at all. More importantly, you’re a very beautiful woman.)”

“(She’s actually a former actress. And on top of that, she also serves as a reservist in the U.S. military. Beautiful, intelligent, capable—she’s the very definition of brains and beauty.)”

“(Oh my, Vice President, my actress days were ages ago already.)”

She looked like she was probably in her thirties, but honestly, she seemed much younger.

She had this cool, mature-woman aura, but at the same time she was charming and easygoing, and just her arrival alone brightened up the entire room.

“(What happened with this terrorist attack truly saddens me. But even so, we know the people of Japan are kind. I personally love sushi and sumo! I’d been looking forward to coming here so much!)”

“(I’m very happy to hear there are Americans like you who care so warmly about Japan.)”

Chouichirou-san immediately welcomed her warmly.

(Well… anyway. Looks like things finally settled down.)

Right as I let out a relieved breath—

Poke poke.

Someone started poking me in the back.

When I turned around, Suiran was standing there.

“Poke poke.”

“…What?”

“You’re staring really hard over there~. So guys really do love blonde beauties after all? Poke poke.”

“No, what are you even tal— wait, can you stop poking my cheek?”

“Fufufu. Your reactions are so fun, Yuu-kun ♡”

The atmosphere had become surprisingly peaceful.

Well… honestly, this outcome was a good thing.

Just as I was thinking that—

Another man suddenly rushed into the room in a panic.

He seemed to be one of Chouichirou-san’s associates.

Well, with so many important people gathered here, it made sense that people would keep coming and going.

I figured I was probably starting to get in the way, so I was just about to leave the room when—

“…T-This is bad.”

The pale-faced man spoke.

And the words that came out of his mouth were—

Shocking.

〇 Anti-American Patriot Front Office

14:10

A little earlier—

Right after the news broke that the assassination attempt on Eleanor and Suiran had failed.

“So those idiots screwed it up, huh.”

Chikuma, leader of the Anti-American Patriot Front, clicked his tongue while smoking a cigarette with an irritated expression.

On the television, a large headline flashed: [Terrorist Attack Attempt?]

It seemed the assassination plan had indeed been carried out.

However, as more reports came in one after another, it became clear the operation had failed, and one suspected terrorist had already been confirmed dead.

“It was probably Oumi. The reports said the suspect carrying the bomb committed suicide.”

Hearing that from one of the executives who knew about the plan, Chikuma hurriedly stubbed out his cigarette.

“The others have probably already been captured too. Once the police realize this was our doing, they’ll storm this place immediately.”

“—We’re getting out.”

With that order, Chikuma and the other two involved in the operation quickly stood up.

But then—

Right at that moment.

“Araa~? Isn’t this pretty awful~? Sending the youths off to the battlefield while the geezers run away somewhere safe.”

The joking voice came from beyond the door.

Startled, Chikuma and the others immediately tensed up—

And then a very familiar man stepped inside.

“It’s like seniority culture itself. That wonderful old Japanese custom where the elderly get priority over the young.”

“—You… Touma?”

Chikuma and the others stared in shock.

“Why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to be carrying out the assassination with Oumi and the others…?”

And more than that—

Something about him felt different.

The man who used to burn with loud patriotic passion now wore a mocking smile that felt completely out of place.

“Ahh. Actually… I ditched them.”

“What?”

“And the reason I came here is…”

That was when Chikuma and the others noticed it.

The black object in Touma’s hand.

“To kill you guys.”

The next instant—

VWOOSH!! VWOOSH!!

Sharp sounds sliced through the air.

“GYAH!?”

“GUH!?”

“AH!?”

Three short screams rang out.

Something warm splashed across Chikuma’s left side.

Bright red liquid.

Blood.

When he turned to look beside him, one of the executives had already collapsed onto the floor in a pool of blood.

Still frozen in shock, Chikuma slowly looked back toward Touma—

Only to find him smiling eerily.

“Sorry, but you guys are dying here. —Need to silence you, after all.”

Chapter 119

“T-Touma…! Y-You…!”

The other executive, still panicking, got shot too.

Touma pumped bullets straight into his torso, carefully aiming to make sure every shot landed.

There was barely any sound.

Looking closely, a suppressor was attached to the gun barrel.

“H-Hey…! What are you doing!? Why are you attacking us!?”

Still sprawled across the floor, Chikuma desperately crawled backward—

But the wall stopped him almost immediately.

The exit was blocked by the madman standing in front of him.

There was nowhere left to run.

“D-Do you resent us for sending young people like you on the mission…? I-I get it…! We’ll make sure you have a way out too! So just—”

“Hah? Ahh—? Ahaha!”

Touma laughed so hard his gums showed.

“No, no. You’ve got it all wrong. I’m one of those things you guys keep talking about—”

“—A ‘traitor to the nation.’”

“In other words, I’m on America’s side.”

“…Hah? W-What are you talking about…?”

Chikuma stared at him in confusion after hearing those completely unexpected words.

“The plan targeting Eleanor and Suiran Kousaki this time… The ones who actually put the whole plan together were the Americans. That’s why I’m cleaning you guys up before the truth gets out.”

“Wha…? Hah…? What the hell are you saying!? This was a plan created by us, the Anti-American Patriot Front, to restore Japan to its proper path—!”

“No, no. Think carefully, Chikuma-san.”

Touma grinned.

“The one who first brought up this entire plan… —was me, wasn’t it?”

Those words made Chikuma remember.

He thought he was the one who came up with the plan…

No, wait.

The very first trigger had been Touma’s suggestion.

—“If we use my connections, getting arms will be easy.”

After hearing that, the executives gradually became more and more intoxicated with the dream of a violent revolution.

And every single time—

Touma had been there.

That bastard had been…

Manipulating them from the very beginning.

“Starting to remember now? How I spent all this time slowly hyping up you geezers? Seriously though, you guys were ridiculously easy to fool. Oumi-san especially—he was acting like he’d regained his youth or something.”

Touma burst out laughing, openly mocking Oumi’s sincere patriotism and love for his country as if it were some kind of joke.

“Oh, by the way, Suiran Kousaki ended up included as a target in the plan, but the real objective was Eleanor. So Eleanor dying was the actual goal all along.”

“W-Why…?”

Chikuma could only ask in a trembling voice.

“America… trying to assassinate the daughter of its own Vice President…? T-That’s insane…!”

“There’s nothing strange about it, though?”

Touma casually shrugged.

“American politics isn’t some perfectly united machine either. Sometimes, Eleanor dying would be more convenient for certain people. In the end, it’s just business. Business. And hey, if I help them out with this, I’m supposed to get filthy rich too☆”

Even after hearing all that, Chikuma still couldn’t believe it.

Because he had watched Kazuki Touma this entire time.

“T-Touma! You cared more about Japan than anyone else here! I know you were prepared to do anything to change this country! You kept talking so passionately about crushing the traitorous… anti-Japanese… Kousaki conglomerate…!”

The moment he heard that—

Touma burst out laughing.

“AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

It was the kind of laughter that sounded like something inside him had completely snapped.

“Seriously, Chikuma-san, you’re way too pure. Your patriotism is honestly impressive.”

Still smiling, Touma slowly walked closer—

…and raised his handgun from a distance where he absolutely couldn’t miss.

“You should remember this properly in your next life. A real traitor doesn’t act in the super obvious way you imagined, Chikuma-san. If anything, they’re usually the ones screaming ‘I LOVE JAPAN!!’ louder than anyone else. You got manipulated because you were so blinded by ideology that you couldn’t accept people with different beliefs. So you slapped the label ‘traitor’ onto them to make yourselves feel better. And you still haven’t realized that? Man, you really are stupid, old man☆”

“T-Touma—!”

Pshh!
Pshh!
BASHH!

Several holes tore through Chikuma’s body.

And with that—

Touma’s job was complete.

“Well then. The police will probably be here soon, so I guess it’s time for me to disappear.”

In the end, Eleanor’s assassination had failed—

But the operation itself was still ongoing.

The plan had already shifted to Plan B.

“Well then, better send my report properly.”

Saying that, Touma opened a highly encrypted social media tool and sent a message.

The recipient’s name displayed on the screen was—

—“AJP”

〇

Side: Yuuji

Time passed once again—

16:38.

We received confirmed information through police channels.

Three members of the Anti-American Patriot Front—their leader Chikuma and two executives—had been murdered inside their office.

I happened to hear the report there as well.

“Is that confirmed? The media hasn’t reported anything yet.”

Chouichirou asked cautiously, but his subordinate answered with confidence.

“There’s no mistake. Based on the terrorists’ testimonies, the masterminds were identified as the Anti-American Patriot Front. The police raided their office and discovered the three victims shot dead inside. Apparently the entire scene was covered in blood…”

“So it was infighting…?”

“We still don’t know the details yet. However—”

And what came next was something I absolutely couldn’t ignore.

“It seems one terrorist escaped from the scene and remains missing. According to the statements from the others, he’s apparently a young man named Kazuki Touma.”

(…What?)

In the original story, the number of attackers involved in the operation should’ve been three.

But apparently, there had been one more.

That alone didn’t necessarily mean anything—

But I had a really bad feeling about it.

(Another development different from the original… huh.)

Come to think of it, even timeline-wise, Suiran Kousaki’s bad ending happened two years earlier than it was supposed to in the original story.

Maybe an entirely different storyline was forming somewhere beyond what I knew.

“The police are currently questioning the surviving members of the Anti-American Patriot Front, but… it seems this operation may have been carried out only by the upper leadership…”

“So getting new information will be difficult… is that it?”

Chouichirou-san explained the situation in English to Vice President Hargrave.

Then he made a suggestion.

“(Unfortunately, we still haven’t fully grasped the extent of the threat. So before the media catches wind of this, I believe it would be best if you immediately return to America on a chartered flight.)”

Chouichirou-san was prioritizing the lives of Vice President Hargrave and Eleanor above all else.

Which was the obvious decision.

But—

“(Thank you for your concern. However… I cannot do that.)”

The Vice President refused.

“(W-Why not?)”

“(Because if I run back home the very same day out of fear… it would damage my reputation.)”

Vice President Hargrave answered with a bitter expression.

“(I’m known as an extremely pro-Japan politician, and there are many Americans who dislike me for that. Some groups are probably even hoping I’d become the victim of a terrorist attack in Japan. Because then they could use it to convince my supporters just how dangerous and barbaric Japan supposedly is. …If someone like me immediately ran back to America just because a terrorist attack happened, I’d be torn apart by public backlash. It would practically be me personally proving that Japan is a dangerous country.)”

“(Vice President…)”

“(Chouichirou-san, this is exactly the moment we need to stand firm. At the very least, I need to publicly show that I’m safe while still here in Japan. That would benefit you Japanese as well. We must show the world that we will never yield to terrorism—and at the same time, demonstrate the friendship between our two nations here and now!)”

Chouichirou-san looked troubled all the way until the end—

But in the end, he was pushed forward by the Vice President’s determination, and they decided to prioritize the press conference while remaining in Japan a little longer.

“Oi! Call Shigenobu immediately!”

“Shigenobu? You mean Commissioner-General Shigenobu Kousaki from the National Police Agency?”

“Of course I do! He’s my nephew! At this point, we’ll use the full strength of the Japanese police to protect the Vice President’s life! Stop standing around and move!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

Filled with frustration, Chouichirou barked those orders at his subordinate.

This was a side of Secretary-General Chouichirou Kousaki the television cameras would never show—

A visibly shaken man under enormous pressure.

If anything happened to Vice President Hargrave on Japanese soil…

The worst possible outcome awaited.

(Damn it… so we’re back to square one after all…)

Just as I clenched my fist—

“(Eleanor, you need to return home immediately.)”

The Vice President firmly said that to his daughter.

“(Papa… but I…)”

“(You were the one targeted this time. I can’t allow you to remain exposed to the threat of terrorism any longer. Can you listen to your father this once?)”

“(…Okay. But Papa, promise me you won’t die.)”

“(Yeah. I know.)”

After discussing it, they decided Eleanor would return to America immediately.

Which meant the next important issue was—

Her protection.

“(Then we should move quickly while we still can. Before the media leaks this information, we’ll move in complete secrecy. We’ll have Kousaki personnel escort her to the charter flight as well.)”

“(Thank you for your consideration.)”

Chouichirou called the guard team over.

But then—

“Yuu-kun.”

Suiran called out to me.

“Hm?”

“If… only if you’re okay with it…”

She hesitated slightly before speaking.

“Would you join Eleanor’s protection detail too?”

“…Huh?”