Gin Toudou and Takako Kobuchizawa—using the alias 'Ms. Ozawa'—arrived at the inn driving a van emblazoned with the 'Antarctica Challenge' LOGO. The vehicle was packed to the brim with study materials to be distributed to the girls, as well as outdoor tents and sleeping bags needed for the day after tomorrow. However, this wasn't everything; due to the van's limited capacity, the remaining supplies would be delivered tomorrow.
Kanae Maekawa and Takako Kobuchizawa walked into the makeshift classroom carrying two cardboard boxes. Everyone had been summoned.
"Everyone, the study materials have arrived. Come up and grab a copy, one per person."
"So cool! It's a base map!"
"Vignette, look quickly, it says 'Internal Material' here. Keep it safe, it feels so high-level!"
"Then you'd better be careful not to lose it."
The girls chattered excitedly as they flipped through the materials. Kanae Maekawa opened her laptop and connected it to the projector.
"Based on that material, you will next undergo a condensed version of the curriculum that other team members study over the winter and summer seasons. Pay special attention to the safety section—you must read it carefully and memorize it. You only live once; this is not a joke."
Kanae's expression turned serious.
"Regarding the final assessment: if anyone fails to pass, even if Mr. Jhin pleads on your behalf, it will be impossible for you to join this Antarctic scientific expedition. Please keep this in mind."
"Before we begin, Captain Gin Toudou will say a few words to everyone."
Gin Toudou, dressed in a sharp black women's suit, walked to the front of the group and spoke solemnly.
"I am Gin Toudou, Captain of the Antarctic Expedition Team. Let me be blunt upfront: whether you are accompanying members or researchers, I treat everyone equally. There is a mountain of work to be done in Antarctica. Even though you are high school students, if the need arises, you must accept tasks like laundry, cooking, and manual labor."
She scanned the room with a stern gaze.
"Are my words clear?"
"Yes!"
Hearing the girls' synchronized response, Gin Toudou nodded in satisfaction. That was until she spotted the younger version of Jhin hiding among the girls. Her stern face almost cracked; Kanae Maekawa likely hadn't told her about Jhin's condition just to see her shocked expression.
Kanae, don't you dare leave later!
Gin Toudou glared at Kanae Maekawa without being too obvious, then took two steps to the left to make way.
"Originally, I was responsible for educating you, but Ms. Ozawa, whom Mr. Jhin recommended, is exceptionally skilled in this area, so she will be taking over."
"Hi everyone, just call me Big Sister Ozawa." Reunited with her old friend and her daughter, Takako Kobuchizawa's lively personality had recovered significantly. With just a single sentence, she eased the tense atmosphere in the air.
"Without further ado, let's start class immediately."
"Antarctica, as the only uninhabited region on Earth, contains a vast amount of resources..."
Nymph sat in Jhin's lap. With her Stealth and Anti-Cognition System turned up to maximum power, she allowed no one to perceive her presence—except for her master, Jhin.
"Nymph, how come Gabriel and the others didn't detect you this time?"
"After being observed by her previously, I specifically performed an iterative upgrade on the Anti-Cognition System targeting such high-energy individuals."
"So that's how it is."
The little Angeloid belonged to the type who wouldn't bother communicating with others unless necessary. She actually kept her Anti-Cognition System active constantly while following Jhin. Jhin wouldn't force her to interact with the other girls either; forced melons aren't sweet, after all.
"By the way, Takako Kobuchizawa is teaching this class quite well."
"Master, you don't need to lean close to whisper in my ear. I have already expanded the Anti-Cognition System; we won't be perceived by others."
"Oh, okay."
Jhin straightened his body, his lips—carrying their warm breath—departing from the edge of Nymph's mechanical ear, leaving her feeling a bit reluctant to let him go.
If I had known, I wouldn't have told Master that.
Nymph only thought such things internally; she would never hide anything from Jhin.
"After Master told me about the Antarctica plan, I notified Takako Kobuchizawa in advance to prepare the relevant knowledge. It seems she took it very seriously."
"So she did her homework." Jhin rested his chin on top of Nymph's head as he listened to the lecture.
The day's study time passed quickly. When it came time to allocate rooms that evening, however, a small dispute arose among the group.
"Bocchi-chan, you should share a room with Jhin!"
"!? M-Me?"
"But that leaves them one person short. I'll go over to supervise them!"
"Denied!" Nijika made a big 'X' with her arms. "They are a couple. What exactly are you going to supervise?"
"Impure interactions between the opposite sexes!"
Ryo's deadpan answer made Nijika blush bright red, causing her to pull out tape and seal Ryo's mouth shut immediately.
"Don't ruin our Kessoku Band's reputation outside!"
Because the total number of people staying was twenty-three, and each room held four, Tamaki Mari's group would certainly form one set. The current problem was which two girls Jhin—the sole male—would share a room with.
If only Kessoku Band members were present, Hitori Gotoh would have been quite happy to share a room with Jhin. But now, sharing a room with him in front of a double-digit number of girls, Hitori Gotoh—lacking any self-awareness as his girlfriend—began to panic and wanted to sleep with Nijika and the others.
"I'm Big Brother's little sister! I'll do it!" Irisu Makina raised her right hand high, confident that she was the best candidate. However, she hadn't taken two steps before she saw Nymph silently standing beside Jhin, having deactivated her Anti-Cognition System.
Makina's raised left foot hovered in mid-air, and the corners of her mouth, previously turned up, drooped down.
"I... I'll just room with Amane-nee."
Compared to herself, who constantly switched between the identities of daughter and sister, Nymph—the nominal sister character—had thoroughly defeated her.
"Following that logic, then it's Kazuki, Jhin, and Nymph rooming together?" Suou Amane reached out to comfort Irisu Makina, who had been defeated in the sister role, and turned to look at Kazami Kazuki.
"No, I'm staying with Yumiko and the others this time."
"You guys have been discussing for so long, have you got a result yet?" Jhin was surrounded by the girls like a trophy. He just wanted to get the rooms sorted and go to sleep. "If all else fails, let's just draw lots to decide."
His idea quickly determined the chosen one—Kato Megumi.
"Ah, looks like I won," Kato Megumi said with a flat expression, raising the small wooden stick painted with red at the tip.
"Megumi, if you aren't willing, you can swap with someone else."
Kato Megumi looked at Jhin with a puzzled expression. "I never said I wasn't willing."
Well then. His room had instantly assembled an Angeloid with a built-in Anti-Cognition System and a 'Grand Assassin' with scarce presence. Three people living together would be no different from living alone.
Still, this is better than rooming with Raphiel.
Jhin noticed the regretful look on Raphiel's face at having lost a chance to cause trouble, and he secretly raised his guard.
____
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