chapter2 · 015-ep15

Episode 15: The Restless School

The next morning.

Thanks to yesterday's nationwide emergency broadcast, the air at school had been a little giddy from the start.

Fair enough.

The government had come out of nowhere and announced it was starting this "Awakener Development Program" thing.

There was no way this ended without touching our lives. None.

Hallways, classrooms — it was all anyone talked about.

"Think they'll actually do it at school too?"

"They aired a whole broadcast about it yesterday. Obviously they're doing it."

"D'you think the SDF's gonna show up?"

"Wait, is it Awakeners only?"

Voices like that were flying around everywhere from morning on.

The teachers were restless too, in their own way.

A weird number of them were pacing the halls before homeroom, and every time a classroom door opened, you could feel it — like today had already started rolling in a different direction than everything up through yesterday.

Well, sure.

It was the day after a nationwide broadcast.

Even the school couldn't exactly put on a "nothing to see here" face.

The stuff I'd been leaning forward at the TV over yesterday had suddenly sidled up into reality, and my heart hadn't caught up.

I was busy with those thoughts when our homeroom teacher came into the room.

His face was a little stiffer than usual.

"Before homeroom, one announcement. First period will be an emergency all-school assembly. Everyone, head to the gym."

There it was.

The classroom erupted into a buzz at once.

It had already been jittery thanks to yesterday's broadcast, and now with it made official from the school's side, it was total uproar.

I stood up too and slipped into the flow.

Even the hallways on the way to the gym were noticeably louder than a normal class change.

When we filed into the gym, a fair crowd had already gathered.

We got sorted into lines by grade, teachers adjusting positions up and down the rows.

The air was abuzz, but there was more tension in it than a normal all-school assembly.

Probably because everyone knew this was yesterday's story, continued.

After a bit, the principal and vice principal mounted the stage — along with a man in a suit I'd never seen before.

Ah. So this isn't a school-only matter.

I could tell that much, somehow, right there.

Standing at the mic, the principal started talking in a slightly stiff tone.

That in light of yesterday's nationwide emergency broadcast, the school would now be holding an official briefing.

That amid such rapid changes in society, they wanted to share necessary information with students and parents as quickly as possible.

Up to there, it was preamble.

The real subject came next.

The unfamiliar suit began to speak.

Forty-ish, give or take.

His manner was calm, but there was something about him a little different from a schoolteacher.

"As covered in yesterday's broadcast, the government intends, going forward, to roll out in stages an 'Awakener Development Program' targeting those who have Awakened."

The gym stirred a little.

It was a word I'd heard yesterday, but hearing it said again, officially, in the school gym — it carried different weight.

The program's purpose: letting young Awakeners safely get a handle on their own abilities, and learn the knowledge and techniques they'd need.

Built with the post-Gate situation in mind — for future crisis response and self-defense — and being put together jointly by the national government, local governments, defense-related agencies, and educational institutions.

"First thing I want to make clear: this program will not halt your normal school life."

The man went on.

"Classes will proceed as usual. The program will make use of after-school hours and designated time slots, and is planned to move forward on the assumption that you balance both."

Hearing that much, even I thought, huh, they've actually got this organized.

But wait — doesn't that just mean we Awakeners simply get busier?

I mean, that's "balancing schoolwork and the Awakener Development Program," you know?

Suddenly this is starting to feel like it's going to be brutally rough.

"Also, at this point, not everyone will be taking part. We will confirm each individual's wishes, and those who wish to participate will join in order."

This time a different kind of murmur spread.

Voluntary, in other words.

Some would be relieved by that; others would be leaning forward hard.

"Additionally, out of consideration for personal information, we intend to confirm intent to participate later in each class, using a method with a high degree of confidentiality."

Oho. Very official, this government program.

Their compliance game is on point.

And the suit closed with this:

"The opening orientation for the Awakener Development Program is scheduled for next Monday, after school."

For an instant, the gym's air stopped.

Then the whole crowd swayed with a buzz.

Next Monday.

That's — the second the weekend's over, isn't it?

Sooner than I thought.

I'd assumed it'd be further off.

Around me, small voices were zipping back and forth.

"Next week?"

"They're starting already?"

"Isn't that fast?"

Amid all those voices, I alone leaned slightly forward.

They gave an actual date.

Which means it's really, truly happening.

Something that had been vague and floaty up through yesterday had suddenly landed inside my calendar.

After that came explanations for parents, fine-print addenda, and so on — honestly, not much of it stuck.

Next Monday.

The Awakener Development Program.

Those two things alone stayed strangely, sharply printed in my head.

The assembly ended, and the students started funneling back toward their classrooms.

I was walking along in that stream when—

"Himura-kun."

A voice from behind.

I turned.

It was Mibu Iroha.

"...What?"

"You're joining. Obviously, right?"

What do you mean, "obviously"?

Why is this coming across like a soft obligation?

"Well... probably."

"Figured."

When I answered, Mibu gave several small nods.

"What about you?"

For the record.

I checked, for the record.

"I'm one of the involved parties, remember. Attendance's mandatory for me."

Involved party.

Mibu said it like it was nothing.

Well, she did say her weekends were dungeon time, so that tracks.

"Huh. Got it."

"...I'm looking forward to it."

Mibu flashed me a smile, half from the side of her eye, and strode off ahead at a quick pace.

The notorious Mibu Iroha — who normally doesn't so much as change expression, let alone chat with people — smiles at me and only me.

My processing of this fact, and what emotion I'm even supposed to hold toward it, still isn't finished.

No — I've kind of got it, actually.

A beautiful girl's smile snags my heart for a second,

and then the bizarre creepiness and the uncomfortable feelings come at me afterward.

It's, how do I put it. A weird feeling.

While I was mid-thought, other voices drifted in from up ahead.

"No question — I'm signing up."

"Obviously."

"Honestly? Been waiting for this."

Around us, gleeful, excited voices, and—

"Dunno what I'll do..."

"Kinda scary, no?"

"But skipping it feels like a loss too."

voices trading anxiety on the other side.

Actually — anxiety felt like the majority, honestly.

Fair, though.

From where I stand it's like a new event dropping, and I'm a little hyped — but think about it normally, and the question is whether to join some unfathomable system the government's involved in.

And with an ordinary sensibility, nobody's exactly volunteering for combat.

"...Well. We'll see what it's like."

I muttered it to no one in particular.

What the Awakener Development Program starting next week would actually be like,

whether I could get stronger than I am now,

and whether I'd get to enter a dungeon again.

Honestly, the curiosity outweighs the anxiety by miles.

Or rather — it's plain excitement, mostly.

Next Monday, huh...

So far away.

Way too far away.

Hurry up and get here, seriously.

Grieving internally, I headed for my classroom.