Chaos Mate ~Revenge In This Chaotic Academy~ - Chapter 53: End of First Tern

Chapter 53: End of First Tern

Two days after the holiday, it’s the last day of the first semester.

Entering the E-Class classroom, I notice one desk is gone. Sumeragi Reine’s.

The class doesn’t buzz with chatter; they just accept it as is.

I tap Motoki’s shoulder, the guy in front of me, and he turns with a carefree look.

“Morning, Madoka! What’s up?”

“Oh, uh… Reine’s desk is gone. Did she transfer to another class?”

“Reine…? Uh, who’s that? Was someone like that in our class?”

“Huh? You’re not joking, right?”

Motoki tilts his head, looking puzzled, and I can’t help but ask again.

But he’s not joking.

“Joking? C’mon, was there really someone with that name? I’m bad with faces, but I remember Irei-chan—she’s quiet but has a presence. Someone that forgettable? News to me.”

“…Sumeragi Reine.”

“Nope, full name doesn’t ring a bell.”

Her memory’s been erased? How…?

As Motoki and I talk, Naruse and Kumi approach.

“What’s wrong? Motoki-kun looks unusually troubled.”

“What’re Madoka-cchi and Motoki-cchi talkin’ about, nya?”

Motoki shoots Naruse a pleading look, and she crosses her arms, eyeing me.

“Madoka-kun, care to explain?”

“…First, Naruse, does the name Sumeragi Reine sound familiar?”

“Who? Sounds like a girl… Hold on, I’ll check.”

While Naruse searches, I ask Kumi, but she just tilts her head.

A minute later, Naruse shows me her hacked data.

“Sorry, no girl named Sumeragi Reine in the academy’s records. Were you dreaming?”

“No way…”

Asking everyone would raise suspicion.

If I trust these three, there’s only one possibility.

Sumeragi Reine was “erased” from the academy, existence and all.

Unlike Kikuchi, who was killed, even the fact she was here was wiped from everyone’s minds.

I don’t know how, but if the Scarlet Phantom uses abilities like mine or Mogami’s, it’s possible.

As I reel, someone tugs my ear from behind.

“Yup, Naruse’s right. You just had a nasty dream, Madoka. Useless dream talk won’t help, so don’t worry about it.”

It’s Mogami, giving me a half-lidded, exasperated look.

Motoki looks unconvinced, but Mogami’s “don’t ask” glare makes him turn away and shut up.

She keeps tugging my ear, says, “Borrowing this,” and pulls me away from the three, out of the classroom, and up to the rooftop.

“Hey, what’s going on? Why’s everyone forgotten Reine—ow!”

Still rattled, I protest, but Mogami flicks my forehead with a half-lidded stare.

“Calm down. I figured this would happen. Reine was linked to the Scarlet Phantom, so of course she’d be erased.”

“…Even with their memories wiped, they don’t feel anything off? I’ve heard being forgotten is worse than dying, and seeing it objectively hits hard.”

Feeling heavy, I get another forehead flick.

“Ow!! Stop flicking me every time!!”

“It’s your fault for moping over someone else’s sob story. Got it? Reine was our enemy. You know people who died because of enemies, don’t you?”

“…Yeah.”

Recalling an old friend, I take a deep breath to reset my emotions.

“This kind of thing will keep happening. You gonna let it hurt you every time? You’re surprisingly soft, pointlessly so.”

“That’s not it!! I just…”

I can’t put it into words, but I’m not okay with this.

Ignoring my tangled feelings, Mogami starts walking.

“Let’s head back to class.”

“Y-Yeah…”

Dwelling on Reine now won’t help.

Time to move on.

“…Thanks, Mogami.”

“For what?”

She turns, tilting her head with a puzzled look.

“You pulled me away because you thought I might lose it in front of them, right? Sorry for worrying you. Thanks… Hey, listen when I’m talking!!”

Mid-sentence, Mogami silently puts on her headphones and heads for the exit.

I catch her muttering softly.

“Don’t say weird stuff… It’s embarrassing, idiot.”

“Huh? What’d you say?”

When I ask, she turns, cheeks slightly red, puffing them out.

“I said you’re an idiot. Idiot, idiot.”

“Hey, c’mon…”

“C’mon, we’ll miss morning assembly.”

As if agreeing, the warning bell rings.

“Yeah, but before we go, can I ask something?”

“What?”

“You going home for summer break? If so, say hi to your dad for me.”

Mogami looks confused.

“…What? I’m not leaving the dorms. No plans to go home, like, at all.”

“Got it. …Well, I won’t be at the academy during break, so you can hermit in peace.”

“Where you going?”

“Thinking of going back to the Tsubaki house. So—”

“I’m coming!”

“…Huh?”

I give her an exaggerated half-lidded stare.

That was unexpected.

Mogami leans in, fists clenched under her face, closing the distance.

“I’m! Coming! With you!”

“…Why?”

“I’m worried about you.”

“Wait, what, you my mom now?”

“It’s my job to protect you.”

“Coming up with fancy excuses… What a hassle…”

Her sparkling eyes contrast with my bitter expression, and I sigh, giving in.

After a pointless closing ceremony an hour later, the first semester ends.