That evening, thanks to Tsugumi's efforts, the television signal finally returned to normal. This meant everyone trapped inside the quarantine zone could finally learn what was happening outside. However, what they saw was a nationwide GHQ broadcast—
"—The investigation has determined that no survivors remain within Loop 7 apart from terminal cancer patients."
"Therefore... the provisional government and GHQ have reached an agreement to suspend all rescue operations and impose a complete lockdown for the next ten years."
Those attending the meeting were all senior GHQ officials and legislators from the so-called provisional government... The atmosphere was extremely formal.
"We must dispel the concerns of the international community. We intend to devote all our strength to eradicating the Apocalypse Virus and purifying this land for its rebirth!"
"As the newly appointed president of the provisional national government, I believe this is my responsibility, as well as the responsibility of our ally—GHQ."
Rumble!
Just as they had declared, immediately after the broadcast ended, this area of Tokyo—the boundary surrounding Loop 7, which had been contaminated by the Apocalypse Virus—was instantly sealed off by a towering wall.
The wall enclosed the entirety of Loop 7 like a cage. Dense security lines had also been established along it, guarded by large numbers of Endlaves and barricades. Not even an ant could escape.
—That was how things stood.
As luck would have it, the entire broadcast had been shown to everyone at the school. They were all stunned after hearing it. One could easily imagine the impact such news would have on them. Tonight was certain to be sleepless, and tomorrow would undoubtedly erupt into chaos as well.
Early the next morning... President Arisa was forced to convene a student assembly in the gymnasium. Standing before the podium, she looked down at the large crowd of dissatisfied students below.
"Please, everyone, calm down..."
"That's exactly the problem!! We don't need empty platitudes!"
The braided boy at the front shouted mercilessly at the blonde woman standing before the gymnasium stage, showing no concern whatsoever for her dignity as student council president.
"This isn't an empty platitude!"
Arisa trembled and raised her voice slightly in rebuttal. Even so, she maintained her composure and did not say anything improper.
"What I mean is that we shouldn't rush into action before we understand the situation."
She explained through the microphone once more.
"Tch—!" ×N
No one listened to her at all. Many even scoffed at her words. Last night's news had already destroyed their confidence, leaving them with nothing but unease.
"My grandfather and the Kuhouin family should contact us soon. So please, everyone, endure a little longer."
Yet Arisa continued trying her best to persuade them, saying everything she could. Cold sweat had even appeared on her forehead.
"You should open your eyes and face reality! They abandoned us a long time ago! They'll dispose of us as sources of infection! Everyone is going to die!! We're finished!!"
It was still the braided boy leading the crowd. He clamored recklessly, mercilessly spreading his pessimism through the silent gathering as though determined to drag everyone else into his rhythm.
After hearing his words, some of the girls were already crying in fear.
"Stop it!! We still don't know how this will end, do we?! Things might not turn out the way you're saying!"
Someone shouted at him.
"Exactly. Please stop shouting. As I said before, anyone who wishes to speak should take the microphone."
Arisa agreed.
Thump.
The next moment, someone received the microphone being passed over. The man adjusted his glasses and stared gloomily at the blonde woman onstage.
"I believe our greatest problem at present is our lack of information. Shouldn't we send someone to inspect the wall surrounding Loop 7?"
The man spoke.
"Exactly!!!"
"I agree!!"
"Nanba is right!!"
"Send someone! The student council has plenty of people, doesn't it?!"
"No! The area around it is too dangerous."
Arisa refuted them.
"Coward!!!" ×N
The crowd mocked her.
"..."
She pressed her lips together, her legs trembling.
"..."
In the shadows on the right side of the stage, the Shogun leaned against the wall with her arms folded, watching the scene unfold. She looked at the speechless girl, then glanced toward the students opposite her, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Meanwhile, everyone in the student council room was also watching the scene inside the gymnasium through Gneff's broadcast. Those present included Inori, Hare, Ayase, Tsugumi, Yahiro, and Souta.
"Why does Arisa have to take those people so seriously?"
Sitting on the edge of a desk, Tsugumi asked with an irritated expression.
"Is that what you call following the rules? Or is she just too honest?"
She could not understand it.
"She only wants to listen properly to everyone's opinions. What's wrong with that?!"
As though he had something against her, Souta rebutted her with an equally hostile attitude.
"That would be fine during peaceful times, but this is an emergency... Acting like this will only invite resentment."
Ignoring his attitude, Tsugumi shrugged.
"So what I feared most has finally happened?"
Yahiro sighed.
"Mio..."
Hare subconsciously murmured the name of the person in her heart.
"Hm? Speaking of which, where's Mio?"
Tsugumi asked.
"Mio is with the president."
Inori answered her.
"Meaning... she's in the gymnasium?"
"Mm... Perhaps Mio also predicted that Arisa-senpai would face this kind of situation today."
Hare answered as well.
"Heh—That really is like her."
Tsugumi smiled knowingly.
"But... everyone is falling apart."
Inori murmured.
"..." ×N
Everyone fell silent.
"No matter what, we expect the president to establish a clear course of action. 'Grandfather will come save us, so let's wait'—those aren't words a leader should say, are they?"
The bespectacled boy named Nanba looked wickedly at Arisa above him and mocked her mercilessly.
"Exactly. She's just like a child!"
"And this is our student council president? What a joke!"
"She really is just a spoiled little princess... Heh..."
The others joined in.
"Under Article 32, Clause 3 of the student council regulations, I demand a vote of no confidence against the current student council president. I also demand that we elect a new president."
Nanba deliberately steered the crowd.
"Exactly!!" ×N
"Get down here, you useless trash!!" ×N
The crowd began jeering, and the gymnasium instantly became deafening.
"Heh..."
Nanba revealed an evil smile, his plan proceeding exactly as intended.
"—///!!!"
After hearing the muttered insults from the crowd, Arisa pressed her lips together tightly. Humiliation spread across her face. Being mocked so mercilessly by everyone made the grievance in her heart swell until she wanted to cry.
"Haa..."
As expected, she had made the right decision by coming along this time.
Seeing this, the Shogun sighed helplessly. Her exasperation was directed at Arisa. She finally straightened from the shadows and walked forward. Passing beside Arisa, she took the girl's hand and deliberately drew her behind herself protectively.
"...!"
Mio...
When Arisa saw her approach and realized she had been shielded behind her, her eyes instinctively reddened. She suppressed her grievance while silently blaming herself for her own incompetence.
"..."
The Shogun stepped before the podium. Since Arisa was a full head taller than her, the microphone happened to be positioned directly in front of her eyes. Her gaze shifted aside adorably before she silently lowered the microphone to her mouth.
"Get down! Get down!!!!" ×N
Looking at the crowd already jeering before her, she was about to speak when she stopped. The uproar beside her was far too loud and would undoubtedly drown out her voice. Instead, she glanced at the clear sky outside the window as divine radiance gradually filled her eyes.
Whoosh!
The next moment, dark clouds covered the sky and gradually began rotating like a vortex. From the center of the vortex, a tremendous bolt of roaring lightning surged forth and mercilessly struck the ground outside the building.
BOOM!!!
The deafening thunder instantly filled the entire campus and drilled into everyone's ears. Dazzling lightning also illuminated the world outside the windows.
"Aah—!" ×N
The people below were uniformly terrified. Their bodies instantly froze, and they fell silent.
"Silence."
She restored her violet eyes to their original appearance and issued the command through the microphone in a cold, regal voice. Anyone familiar with her would easily recognize it as the tone she had once used as the Raiden Shogun.
"..." ×N
The entire gymnasium instantly fell silent.
"Whoa—! That's Mio for you. She took control of the entire room in an instant."
Watching the broadcast, Tsugumi shouted in immense satisfaction.
"Mm... She's still the same as ever, but... I like it."
Ayase also revealed an admiring smile without realizing it.
"Eh? Wh-What's going on? What just happened? Why was there thunder?"
Souta looked utterly bewildered.
"Yeah, why was that? Who could possibly know?"
Tsugumi shrugged and began acting smug.
After all, that was Funeral Parlor's top enforcer... At the thought, the two members of Funeral Parlor felt a trace of pride rise within their hearts.
—
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