Takanashi Hoshino, the president of the Abydos Foreclosure Task Force, couldn't comprehend the situation unfolding before her eyes.
"My understanding is a bit slow, Shiroko-chan... Could you maybe repeat that?"
Shiroko had suddenly arrived, dragging along a student dressed like a sacrifice, bound to a bicycle with tape over their mouth and body.
"I... um... brought them. Found them collapsed by the roadside."
"Weren't you just about to say 'kidnapped'...?"
"Imagination."
"Haha... Is that... right?"
"Yeah. Just your imagination."
Her demeanor suggested she might throw a grenade if Hoshino disagreed.
Shiroko-chan... What a terrifying child?! Your senpai didn't raise you like this...
"Oh my, what's going on here?"
Just then, Nonomi, who had come outside curious about the conversation, saw the bound student and spoke.
"No idea~ This old man knows nothing~"
"Oh, come on~ Don't say that~ So, Shiroko-chan, what are you planning to do with this student?"
"Enroll them as a student."
"And... their consent?"
"Already got it."
"Mmmrpfh!!!"
"...You did consent, right?"
They're glaring over here with bloodshot eyes, though?
"They even stamped the contract here."
"Is that so? Well then, it must be fine~"
A new student is always welcome~
"Guh!!!!!!"
It sounded like they were screaming "No!!!", but everyone ignored it.
"Let's head inside for now. The rain has stopped, but it's chilly, you know?"
"Okay~ Shiroko-chan, let's move that student inside~ We've got to have a welcome party for the new student~"
"Got it."
"Uuuuugghh!!!"
A scream of "No!!!!!!" echoed through the school grounds.
"First, how about we introduce ourselves? This old man is Hoshino~ You can call me 'Senpai'~"
"And I'm~ Izayoi Nonomi~ You can call me 'Senpai' too~"
"Same here. Shiroko. Senpai. End."
"Oh, Shiroko-chan. That's not very enthusiastic~"
"It's fine. I already explained I'm 'Senpai' earlier."
"Is that so? So, what's your name, student?"
"Pwah!...You tie me up like this and then have the nerve to ask? And get off!! You crazy psycho!!!"
They struggled, trying to dislodge Shiroko, who was sitting on their knees with a hand on their stomach, but she didn't budge.
"Call me 'Senpai'."
"I've never had someone who just walked up, ripped off a bag someone else was using, kidnapped them, and then expected to be called 'Senpai'!!"
"Yes, you have."
"No, I haven't!!"
"Yes, you have. This contract is proof."
"That's a fraudulent contract!?"
"Heh~ Stop it~"
"Stop wha—"
The student stopped speaking as they turned their head and saw a gun barrel right before their eyes.
"If you keep fighting like that, this old man is going to use this, you know?"
"...Haaah... This is unbelievable..."
Eventually, the student stopped struggling and looked at Hoshino in front of them.
"Looks like you're ready to talk now. So, name?"
"...M-001."
"Like Gundam?"
What kind of name is that?
"No...senpai. If it was Gundam, I'd say MS."
"Is that right? This era is tough for this ola man, you know~ Do you maybe have another name?"
You can't actually call them M-001, right?
"...Another name is...Yami?"
"Why the hesitant tone?"
"The person who... made me? They were originally going to name me that, but they died."
Upon hearing the student say they died, everyone listening fell silent.
"...Were they your parents?"
"Shiroko-chan. That's rude."
Even if they kidnapped someone and were acting shamelessly about it, Hoshino thought, asking something like that was out of line.
"It's not rude. But 'parents'... You call your mom and dad 'parents', right?"
"...That's true. But it's strange you'd ask that."
"My common sense is still lacking. So, 'parents'... My mom is probably dead. My dad... I don't know if I should call him dad, but he's alive."
"..."
"This is... a bit..."
"..."
Everyone fell silent again at the student's words, unsure how to respond to the mention of death.
"What? Why isn't anyone saying anything? Are you planning to sell me somewhere this time?!"
"Do you usually think that way?"
"I told you, my common sense is still lacking. Isn't it natural to think that from the moment I was kidnapped here?"
"This old man is going to apologize. So please, please stop talking about being kidnapped..."
"Hmm... Okay."
"..."
"..."
With nothing more to say, they fell into thought.
'What are we going to do!?'
'Uhehe~ Even if you ask that... Honestly, this is the first time we've had a new student arrive like this.'
Even for Hoshino, having a student brought in by kidnapping was a first.
That made it even harder to find anything to say.
*Pat, pat*
While the two were thinking, Shiroko patted Yami's head.
"W-What are you doing?!!"
"I'm bored."
"If you're bored, let go of me and go somewhere else!!!"
"No. You'll run away. And it feels good. I'm going to pat more."
"Ugh... S-Stop it..!!"
Blushing, they tried to bat Shiroko's hand away, but she simply started patting the other side.
Seeing this, Nonomi...
"That's unfair!! I want to do it too!!!"
"Nonomi-chan?!?"
She suddenly rushed towards Yami and began patting their head just like Shiroko.
"W-What are you—?!!"
Yami was startled by Nonomi's sudden appearance.
"Kyaaa!! So cute!!"
"Acquired a comrade."
"S-Sto... Uggh...!!"
Now they were even hugging. The problem was that Nonomi was quite... large for a student, which made it hard for Yami to breathe.
"I don't know anymore~ Let this old man join in too~"
Not wanting to be left out, Hoshino also entered the fray.
And so, Yami's first initiation ceremony at Abydos was replaced by a head-patting session.
"H-Help meeeeeee!!!"
***
And the perspective shifts to the present.
"Um... Shiroko-senpai. Sensei is watching, could you please stop?"
"No."
"...Haaaah..."
Stubborn, aren't you...
Yami, whose neck was held by Shiroko while being forced into a lap pillow, thought to herself.
Then and now. She hadn't changed at all.