After taking care of the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang members who had been attacking them, Han Seol-guk found himself in a predicament.
Why a predicament? It was a simple matter.
Because...
"Sensei."
Shiroko was standing right in front of him, emitting a terrifying aura.
"Y-yes. What is it, Shiroko?"
"Where did Yami go?"
"Uh... um... well..."
"It would be better for Sensei to tell me quickly. Otherwise..."
Clang. The muzzle of a gun was aimed directly at Han Seol-guk's head.
"You know, right?"
He gulped.
"H-He..."
"He?"
"He told me not to tell..."
Bang!
"Eek...!"
The bullet missed, hitting a potted plant hanging on the wall behind him, shattering it.
If he didn't speak properly, Han Seol-guk would end up just like that broken pot behind him.
"He?"
"...He went to the abandoned factory!!! I'll send you the location on your phone!!"
Yami, I'm sorry. I don't want to die just yet.
Looking at her phone based on Han Seol-guk's words, Shiroko pinpointed the location, grabbed her bike, and sped off towards it at full throttle.
"Haah..."
"Uhehe? You told her?" Hoshino said from behind him, a sleepy expression on her face.
"What else could I do? She was aiming a gun at me with that terrifying expression... Students might not know, but this Sensei is a Sunfish.* You guys can hit me lightly, and it's still a critical injury to me."
*(Note: Sunfish are often described as being fragile or prone to dying from seemingly minor causes.)
"Ahaha~ Is that so?"
It is. Yuuka actually hit me, and I got a bruise.
"Really... at times like this, I envy the Halos you all have."
"Ehh~ Don't say that. It just makes things more miserable~"
That's true. Envy is losing.
"But where did Serika go? I don't see her."
"She said she was going out somewhere?"
"Really?"
Then Serika must have gone off to a part-time job. To pay off her debt. Really... she's such a commendable student, living a hard life.
"Ho~shi~no-senpai~"
Nonomi, who seemed to have finished dealing with the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang, ran towards Hoshino and hugged her tightly.
"Uhehe~ Nonomi-chan~ Things like this are tough on an old man, you know~?"
"But you enjoy it on the inside, don't you?"
"You shouldn't say things like that out loud~ You might get caught if you're not careful~ This old man might~"
Momotalk~!
While Hoshino and Nonomi were having fun, a Momotalk message arrived on Han Seol-guk's tablet.
"Sensei, you should put it on silent at times like these~"
"Sorry, sorry. But this is from Yami?"
"Eh? From Kouhai-kun? What did it say?"
"Let's see..."
[Yami]
[Sensei. I'm almost finished cleaning up here. If there's anything else that needs handling, please call me.]
"It seems like they took care of all the enemies at the abandoned factory?"
But how did he know my Momotalk account?
[I told him when I gave him the location!]
"Ah, I see."
I thought he had hacked it or something, but if Arona told him, there's nothing to worry about.
"By the way, Hoshino. Do you need Yami for something? They said to call if there is."
"As expected of our kouhai~ So thorough. It's like looking at myself when I was younger."
"Huh? When you were younger?"
If Hoshino was younger... was that when her senior, Yume, was around?
"No~ It's not really good to talk about this old man's past. And yes, call them."
Certainly, as she said, her past wasn't exactly a good thing.
"Okay."
Agreeing without saying anything here was the right move. He didn't want to get on the bad side of Hoshino, after all.
[Sensei? If you're calling, does that mean there's something that needs to be done? What is it?]
"No~ Kouhai-kun, this old man just called to thank you for bringing the resupply items here~"
[Is that so. Senpai. And please don't mention it. I'm actually troubled that I couldn't do more.]
[Kwaak!! Let go!!!]
"...Huh?"
What was that scream?
[Just a moment. Handling it.]
[Meow~!]
[W-wait a minute!! Let's talk... Gurgle...!!]
"..."
"Kouhai-kun?"
[Ah, I'm sorry. A bug was making noise, so I shot it.]
"...It sounds less like shooting and more like beating it up...?"
"This old man thinks so too. You're not doing anything dangerous, are you?"
[Oh, of course not. Why would I be crazy enough to attack the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang's hideout in the abandoned factory by myself? I just reported it. It looks like those people caused trouble in Gehenna too.]
"Is tha~at so? If the junior says so, then it must be. But Kouhai-kun, there was one thing this old man forgot to tell you."
[What is it?]
"Shiroko-chan went there."
[...]
"I recommend running quickly."
"Survive, Yami."
[Sensei, you just wait and see later.]
"W-wait a minute?! Yami?! How did you know I told her?! No, they hung up?!"
Cursed by Yami, he tried to call back, but he didn't answer.
"Haa~awm. Shall we go take a nap?"
"Let's go together~!"
***
Meanwhile, Yami, who had hung up after cursing Sensei...
"Yami, I found you."
"Goz!!! Start the train!!!!"
Meow~? (Destination?)
"To Millennium!!"
Meowww~!! (As ordered~!!)
"Get back here!!!!!!"
A chase began with Rider Shiroko.