You’re Right, They’ll Expel Me if I Run into the Store with a Weapon!! - Chapter 28: Let's Begin

The morning of the Fourth Day in the Hotel

Hiroki, unable to return to his luxurious apartment, was staying in a hotel.

It wasn’t expensive, but he thought it was a good environment.

He enjoyed a leisurely life, using his laptop and renting DVDs.

All thanks to the living expenses provided by the combat academy.

Then, he received an email on his smartphone from a high-ranking combat academy official.

“Hey, Hiroki. Can you come to my room? There’s something important I need to talk about that can’t be conveyed over email.”

Hiroki used the monorail in front of the principal’s office in the afternoon.

(Yes, she’s here.)

He knew Shiori was behind this door. His survival instincts confirmed it.

(But I have no choice but to go.)

Without the right to refuse, Hiroki had no choice but to open the door.

“Hey, Hiroki, thanks for coming.”

“No… (I knew she would be here).”

He found Shiori sitting on the sofa, smiling.

Then,

“Sob… Sob… Sob…”

Haruna was sitting on the sofa opposite Shiori, crying with her face covered by her hands.

“Principal, Haruna is crying…”

“Oh, leave that for now.”

“Okay…”

The principal avoided Hiroki’s question.

“…May I sit?”

“Yes, please sit.”

Standing was tiring. Hiroki slowly sank into the old brown sofa, choosing the one near Haruna.

“……”

“Sob… Sob… Sob…”

Why the silence? Did I do something?

“Hmm! Hiroki, I called you here because there’s a mission for you.”

The principal, clearing his throat, conveyed the reason for the summons.

A mission is a job that students of the combat academy must undertake.

(I don’t want to…)

He truly didn’t want to. He understood from the last mission.

The missions of the combat academy were not voluntary. They were like tasks done by a police-like organization.

After completing the last mission, he saw the reward money deposited in his account.

Yes, he was happy.

But then he cried seeing the cost for “damage repairs” deducted.

“The repair cost for vertical bars” took out over 200,000 yen.

Net gain, just a little.

But it’s a job. A dangerous one.

“What kind of mission?”

“An infiltration into an enemy organization’s base…”

“Excuse me?”

“What!?!”

The principal was shocked, but it didn’t matter to Hiroki.

That’s it. The kind of infiltration mission.

No way. It’s the end. The end of life.

(I should consider submitting a withdrawal form…)

Standing, he thought about his future, mainly how to live a safe life.

Grab.

“…Haruna? Why are you grabbing my pants?”

He turned to see Haruna, still showing traces of tears, pulling on his pants.

“…Reimbursement.”

“Sorry?”

“I haven’t been paid for the weapon creation.”

“…It’s not free?”

“If it were free, I’d be in debt. It was a custom order. Very expensive.”

“…How much?”

“For the firearms, bullets, various parts, holster, concealed umbrella, and close-combat weapon ‘E,’ it totals 9 million yen.”

“…Isn’t that too expensive?”

“I discarded the market price. They’re my original custom-made creations.”

“What about returns?”

“Infrared fingerprint recognition device… it’s registered to your fingerprint, so it’s impossible to return or reset it. They were made specifically for you, Hiroki.”

Hiroki was given an amount to blow away his savings in one go. It was more than enough to put him in debt.

(It’s a scam! A downright scam!)

There was no written contract. It was supposed to be a casual agreement during a conversation.

“I think there was a contract for future equipment costs in the transfer documents…” said the principal, blocking any of Hiroki’s rebuttals.

…He had signed without reading anything. He couldn’t say anything now. But,

(There’s one billion yen. If I use it… use it…)

Paying for something he had never used…

(…It’s absurd. Pay 900,000 yen for this?)

It’s a small amount out of one billion, but 900,000 yen is a lot of money. Pay such a sum for this?

“…How much is the reward for this mission?”

He wouldn’t use the one billion. If he’s paying, it’ll be with the money they gave him.

“Well, depending on individual performance, but if you return from the mission, we’ll cover all equipment costs.”

“Even if I fail the mission?”

“Yes, just for this time.”

If failure was an option…

“Understood. I’ll participate in the mission.”

“Thank you! Let me explain the details…”

“No need.”

“What!?”

The principal looked shocked, but the reason was simple.

“I don’t need it.”

(I’ll just run away with all my might.)

He’ll participate, but that doesn’t mean he’ll work. He’ll escape with all his might.

“Okay…”

“Then, excuse me. Please call me on the scheduled day.”

“Understood.”

He stood up again, reaching for the exit, but remembered something he had forgotten to say.

“Haruna.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve been researching since the day I received your weapons.”

“?…”

“Your bullets, called ‘Disaster,’ can blow up a tank with a single shot… Is that true?”

“!?”

“I thought it was ‘impossible’ when I researched.”

His reaction gave it away.

“So, I’ll test if it’s true in this mission. But if it’s a lie…”

The rest was left unsaid but understood.

“Haruna, about those tank-blowing bullets and the 900,000 yen…”

The girl’s shoulders twitched, sweat beading on her face.

“If it’s an early-generation tank, maybe… The 900,000 yen is because… I included various functions and systems and a bit of new AI…”

“I see… I won’t say anything.”

He probably exaggerated the bullets to sell himself. It’s in her character. But it seems she failed with the cost. Where did she get such funds…

“Principal, the departure is tomorrow night, right?”

The girl, who hadn’t spoken a word before him, said.

“Yes, there was movement in the organization. We moved up the operation date. You’ll board a plane tomorrow night.”

“With me and Hiroki, it’ll be fine. The problem is with the others.”

Right. This mission was a joint operation. Combat students from various countries were being dispatched.

“The other branches, right? They said they’d send at least two high-ranking members. We’re sending one, so there were complaints.”

“You’ve hidden Hiroki’s information.”

“Yes, there are current issues. This operation will determine his future.”

If his power is revealed, he’ll become a target. That’s why he was included in this mission. To eliminate future concerns.

“I don’t know your plan, Principal, but I understand it’s for his sake.”

“Thank you. I was a bit refused, but I’m relieved he’s participating.”

“Not needing detailed information. When I heard that, I felt reassured.”

Indeed, he had said that as if the outcome was already clear. With him, success was certain. And so would be my plans.

“Yes. He can handle any situation. Maybe you’ll be the one holding him back.”

“I won’t make any more mistakes. It was a bit rough, but I’ve reflected on myself.”

“Waaah! Uuuu!”

The girl, previously sobbing quietly, now cried out loud.

Yes. I’ve been curious since they entered.

“I’ve been meaning to ask, why is Haruna crying?”

“She’s fine.”

“But…”

“She’s fine.”

“Okay.”

Better not to ask. Women are scary, no matter the era. But there was one more thing…

“By the way, you didn’t speak a single word to him. What’s up?”

“Nothing. …Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have preparations to make. Let’s go, Haruna.”

The girl stood up as if signaling that their necessary conversation had concluded. It seemed the principal had been overthinking. He had previously surmised that she held some significant feelings for Hiroki…

“Principal…”

The girl, about to leave with her friend, spoke as she reached for the door.

“It’s been a misunderstanding, so I want to clarify. I consider Hiroki to be a remarkable person. I have never encountered anyone superior to him.”

The principal’s assumptions appeared correct, but he couldn’t help feeling a chill. What were those intense eyes about?

“I admire, long for, and wish to be like him. I won’t allow anyone else to get close to him, and I won’t allow him to get close to anyone else.”

What was she saying? Why did she seem so pleased?

“In a virtual reality scenario, I was once killed by him. While having my eyes gouged out, my body was horrendously mutilated.”

Why were her cheeks flushed red? Why was her breathing so erratic?

“But, if you believe that I harbor any affection for him, you’re mistaken, Principal.”

Leaving those words behind, she disappeared beyond the door.

“…This mission seems likely to have some complications.”

Rather than the mission itself, the principal found his thoughts more preoccupied with something about Shiori.