On the flight back, the atmosphere inside the helicopter was unbearably heavy.
The girls of the Foreclosure Task Force hung their heads in gloom, while the members of Problem Solver 68 sat stiff and uneasy, as if on a bed of nails.
Even among allies, watching someone else's team fall into internal conflict was just plain awkward.
Meanwhile, I sat there holding Hoshino's shotgun, lost deep in thought over a single question...
I might have said, carried away by the mood, that I would definitely save Hoshino. But… how exactly was I supposed to do that?
First of all, saving her was a given.
Even though she didn't trust me, lashed out at me, and refused to listen to a single word I said, my goodwill toward her had already been almost completely worn away.
But the reason I had to save her had nothing to do with personal feelings or what Hoshino herself thought.
Doing so would raise my standing within the Foreclosure Task Force and, at the same time, prevent the temporarily hostile Kaiser Corporation from gaining a new top-class asset.
More importantly…
Even if she was an arrogant, foul-mouthed brat who sorely lacked discipline, she was still someone worth saving.
After trampling all over my sincerity, she thought she could just run away on her own?
I would never allow that.
"Everyone," I finally broke the silence, drawing the girls' attention.
"About how to rescue that idi... how to rescue Hoshino. Does anyone have any good ideas?"
Shiroko blinked and raised her hand.
"Good, go ahead, Shiroko."
She stood up and asked, "Sensei, were you about to call Hoshino-senpai an idiot just now?"
I frowned. "I'm no saint, I do get angry. So what's your suggestion?"
Shiroko's tone was earnest. "I just wanted to say, there's no outsiders here, and I also think Hoshino-senpai is an idiot. So please, feel free to say it outright."
"…So what's your idea, then?"
"Haven't thought of one yet."
And with that, she calmly sat back down.
I was speechless at first, but after a moment I realized something. After her little interjection, the mood among the Foreclosure Task Force girls had softened noticeably. No one voiced it aloud, but their faces all said "we totally agree."
Even the members of Problem Solver 68 seemed to relax a little, thanks to Shiroko's "there's no outsiders here."
Truly, Shiroko was amazing.
Feeling the tension ease, I said,
"Alright then, back to the main topic. How to save the idiot Hoshino. Let's hear some suggestions."
To my surprise, the first to raise her hand was Aru.
I was both startled and pleased. "Excellent, Aru, go ahead."
Aru spoke with some hesitation. "Um, could I ask… what exactly is going on right now?"
That question hit me like a bullet to the chest.
That was on me, I really shouldn't have expected too much from Aru.
"Wait a sec, why are you all looking at me like that! We just heard Hoshino and Sensei start arguing, and, uh, we didn't really have the nerve to listen any further!"
Aru defended herself energetically.
Kayoko nodded. "That's right. We're still not entirely caught up. Could you give us a brief explanation first?"
It was all Aru's fault. Her reputation in my mind was so low that I nearly blamed her unjustly, but after thinking it over, I decided it was still Aru's fault, and felt perfectly content with that logic.
So I gave Problem Solver 68 a quick rundown of the situation.
"…I see. So to protect her juniors and the school, she was ready to sign a virtual slave contract with the Kaiser Corporation."
Aru narrowed her eyes, scanning the Foreclosure Task Force girls. When she got serious, she had a sharp, almost cold beauty to her. She didn't look so airheaded at all.
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Merciless, proud, walking the path of madness. That's your masked swimsuit club's motto, isn't it? Why didn't you stop your comrade from rushing to her doom?"
I coughed awkwardly. "Uh… they did try. They just failed."
"Ahem! What I mean is!" Aru declared, "Since we know who's responsible, we gather our strength, storm their base, and drag our friend back, no matter what it takes."
Mutsuki chimed in cheerfully, "Aha∼ that's what Aru said~ Just go all out, there's no better option anyway∼"
"By the way," Kayoko added, "it'd be hard to cross this desert on foot. The Kaiser PMC facility wasn't far from where we fought. Hoshino most likely went straight there."
"If we turn back now, we might still make it in time."
I thought for a while, then shook my head.
"No. Our combat strength is still too low. Even counting Problem Solver 68, that facility probably has hundreds of tanks, hundreds of elite soldiers, and hundreds of tons of explosives and ammunition. Not to mention Hoshino herself will be standing on their side…"
Serika spoke up urgently. "But Hoshino-senpai won't stay there for long, right? This could be our best chance, if we miss it…"
Then Haruka, speaking softly but with a dangerous glint in her eyes, offered, "Wh-what if we infiltrate first, find where they store the explosives… hehe… and blow them all sky-high?"
Her laugh was a bit unsettling, but her suggestion was surprisingly practical.
"Not a bad idea. We'll keep that as an option. But the risk is high, Kaiser PMC's security is extremely tight. Infiltration might fail. We can only use that plan as a last resort."
"Then let me go," Haruka said, her smile faint but eerie. "I don't stand out much, I'm used to hiding in dark corners like a weed. And someone like me, someone worthless, wouldn't matter even if I died trying~"
Good grief. Where did this yandere come from?
Before I could say anything, Aru smacked her hard on the head.
"Haruka! What kind of stupid thing are you saying!" Aru scolded, frowning. "You're my precious clubmate! Don't ever talk like that again!"
Haruka's eyes welled up. "Aru-sama…"
Then Ayane spoke carefully.
"So in other words, to save Hoshino-senpai, we first need to know where she actually went. Sensei, do you remember the name of the person who invited her?"
"…You mean Black Suit?"
"Yes. I think he would definitely know her whereabouts."
I frowned. "But before that, we have to find out who this 'man in black' is, and where he's located."
Ayane nodded. "Then let's head back to the academy first. We can gather intel and rally our forces at the same time."
"We should also have a backup plan, in case we can't track him down."
Nonomi suddenly spoke. "If he's from the Kaiser PMC board, then the directors must know who he is."
At that, my eyes lit up. The thought of those foolish Kaiser directors suddenly felt almost… endearing.
Many heads together were better than one. As everyone spoke and debated, a framework for our plan gradually took shape.
At last, I finalized the first step.
"Tonight, everyone. Come back to Schale with me."