Chapter 367: Tsukikage, Kurono, and Edelweiss!
Beside the banquet hall, there was a smoking area that had been specially set aside.
This area clearly would not be used during this banquet.
Although the representative competitors all counted as adults because of the independent regulations applied to Blazers, in the end, they were still a group of teenagers.
Among them, no one smoked.
Even the few from Akatsuki Academy were the same.
However, at this moment, a man stood inside the smoking area, which theoretically should not have been used.
Through the window, he quietly watched Luke and the others causing a commotion inside the venue.
Before long, a voice from behind him broke the silence and revealed the man's identity.
"It seems there are still some poorly raised students in your new school, Tsukikage-sensei."
That was right.
This man was the current Prime Minister of Japan, and also the director of National Akatsuki Academy, Tsukikage Bakuga.
Hearing someone call him, Tsukikage shifted his gaze away from the window and turned around.
After seeing who had arrived, he greeted her happily.
"Oh my, how rare. Isn't this Takizawa?"
"It's been a long time."
When Shinguji Kurono heard Tsukikage call her "Takizawa," her body could not help pausing slightly.
The tone he used when calling her by her maiden name was exactly the same as when Tsukikage-sensei had taught her during her student days.
It was exactly the same as the great teacher Kurono had once respected and admired.
"…"
The fact that her mentor had not changed in the slightest made Kurono feel irritated.
She took a forceful drag from the lit cigarette, as though trying to soothe her emotions that way.
Then she spoke.
"Sensei, my surname is Shinguji now."
"Ah, that's right… We haven't met since your wedding. How have you been lately?"
"Thanks to you…"
"I see. That's wonderful. Peace and safety are best, yes."
Tsukikage seemed truly happy.
A heartfelt smile appeared on his face.
And after sensing this, Kurono's heart grew even more bitter.
She was not so dull that she could not distinguish whether Tsukikage's attitude was sincere.
But precisely because of that, Kurono felt puzzled and irritated.
'It would have been better if he were completely different from before.'
'It would have been better if he showed obvious hostility and intent.'
Otherwise…
'Why would that Tsukikage-sensei do something like this? Why?'
Kurono was nearly suffocating under this question.
"I… truly didn't want to reunite with you in this form, Sensei."
"Hehe, that's true. It's only natural that you would be angry. After all, I used your school as a stepping stone."
"Why would you do these things?"
"…I believe I already made myself very clear at the press conference."
Facing Kurono's question, Tsukikage was very calm.
"Blazers are now the most important power of a nation, yet at present, forget the right to issue licenses, we don't even have the freedom to invalidate them."
Tsukikage's answer was nothing new.
It was entirely the same reason he had once given at the press conference.
Naturally, these answers could not satisfy Kurono.
"I don't believe that is the entire reason. Sensei, you must still be hiding some important reason."
"Your actions have already exceeded the scope of what I can understand. I will acknowledge the reasons you gave for the time being, since they are still within the range of common sense."
"But only one point is different!"
"You hired a criminal organization. That is an illegal method!"
"Hm? Criminal organization? Given my position, the most I can answer you with is, 'I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.'"
Tsukikage playing dumb made Kurono fall silent.
And just as she thought Tsukikage would not reveal anything more to her—
"However, sometimes, there are indeed things only 'illegality' can accomplish."
Listening to those slightly cold words, Kurono completely understood.
She had not come to confront Tsukikage recklessly and without preparation.
Before this, Kurono had done a thorough investigation.
And she had also reached the most likely conclusion.
"Sensei… so that really is what you intend?"
To be honest, this conclusion could be called terrible.
Kurono truly hoped her guess was wrong.
"Oh? You said 'really'?"
"Tell me then. How did you guess my actions?"
Kurono looked at Tsukikage in a slight daze.
Looking at the gentle smile on his face, it was as though she had returned to the days when she had accepted his guidance.
"'Taking back the right to educate Blazers' was an extremely strange goal from the very beginning."
Kurono steadied herself and looked at Tsukikage seriously as she spoke.
"The method you used was far too roundabout."
In the end, if that was truly the final goal of this incident, then taking back the right to educate Blazers was not difficult in itself.
Although Japan could not be considered a major power on the world stage, within the League, which was made up of smaller countries banding together, it was already an indispensable powerful nation.
As long as they formally negotiated with the League and used withdrawal from the League as a bargaining chip, a demand on the level of taking back the right to education was basically feasible.
Therefore…
"Colluding with a criminal organization over something of this level, and even causing a nationwide disturbance, is completely illogical."
"So 'using illegal methods' was not the process you used to achieve your goal."
"Sensei, you used 'taking back education rights' as an excuse in order to achieve the result of 'using illegal methods.'"
"Although I don't know your motive, you clearly don't want to negotiate with the League."
"Your goal… is to make Japan completely and irreversibly leave the League!"
"As expected of you, Takizawa."
Tsukikage looked at Kurono and smiled with some emotion.
"You've been very clever since long ago."
Tsukikage admitted her idea very readily.
And just as he was about to continue speaking, he suddenly looked toward the window with a face full of astonishment.
It was not only Tsukikage.
Even Kurono looked through the window toward the banquet hall in shock.
Others might not recognize her, but Tsukikage and Kurono would absolutely not mistake her.
Even with Seisenjutsu concealing her, the two of them still saw through the identity of that pure-white woman dressed as a server at once.
"H-How is that possible… How could she still be here?!"
"Didn't she already go back??"
Compared to Kurono's shock, Tsukikage quickly recovered after his surprise.
Watching Edelweiss carry Sara away with great interest, he stared at Luke and revealed a thoughtful smile.
The small interlude quickly passed.
Tsukikage and Kurono also returned to their confrontation.
But compared to before, the heavy atmosphere had unknowingly vanished.
Kurono silently sighed and asked the final question of this conversation.
"Do you truly believe that our country, after leaving the League, can continue existing while surrounded by so many great powers?"
This time, Tsukikage did not answer her immediately.
He looked at this former student of his, and what flickered in his eyes was a certain firm and heavy will.
"It seems you cannot understand… That's fine. I never expected your understanding to begin with."
"You may be disappointed or criticize me as you please."
"But the one leading this country forward now is me! This country's future will be decided by me, and no one can stop me!"
"Not even fate!"
Tsukikage's firm words made Kurono understand that saying anything more would be meaningless.
"This matter is too important for a mere educator to interfere in. Takizawa, you need to understand your current position."
Tsukikage's tone, as though he were lecturing a student, made Kurono's heart feel bitter.
She knew that from this moment on, the two of them had officially parted ways.
Kurono turned back and left the room.
Before she left, she left one sentence behind.
"Your ambition is indeed not something a mere educator like me can interfere with. However… Akatsuki Academy will never win. My students will completely destroy your ambition."
Tsukikage watched Kurono's departing back and fell silent.
After a while, a sigh suddenly sounded.
"Looks like she doesn't know about your ability."
"Do you not plan to tell her, Tsukikage-sensei?"
The one who appeared along with the voice was none other than Edelweiss!
…
(PS: Vote for more chapters this week. If this fanfic reaches 100+ powerstones, I will increase the daily upload frequency. Also, don't forget to write a review!)
---
Read more than 20 chapters in advance:
patréon.com/tom22
Replace "é" with "e" on your web browser.
---
For Audiobook:
youtube.com/@animefic22