Chapter 9: Enforced Devotion【P1】

Mihaku

If we always punish those who violate the law, how will we ever escape the stagnation of progress that order brings?

By… breaking the rules?

“Morning, morning, Chief!” a voice drifts from behind me, fading before it even finishes.

Students stare up at the building like tourists. From this fifth-floor window, it looks as if they are searching the glass specifically for me.

With hands clasped behind my back, I lean in closer, testing if I can catch anyone’s eye through the reflection.

Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.

The rapid tapping pulls my attention down to my right. Again.

Motionless, she still sits reclined on the bench. Her expression cycles between small pouts and fleeting smiles, her thumbs drumming against the screen.

I doubt I would even recognize her if she was not constantly in conversation with someone.

Like an unstable rock formation, her knees splay forward as she teeters on the very edge of the bench seat. I watch closely, waiting for the inevitable slide onto the hallway floor—a consequence that somehow never comes.

A minor miracle.

“And a very good morning to you,” a boy calls out from my peripheral vision, tapping his card against the wall terminal before stepping through the threshold. I send silence back. His footsteps are already fading behind the wood.

Even during the new-semester break, this building sees no rest.

First-year rush…

“Oh, hey Chief!” A boy balances a stack of ledgers as he approaches. “Such lovely weather we’re—”

My head ratchets to him, eyes widening to the limits of their whites.

His eyes sweep forward, quickening his pace down the corridor before I can even turn back to the window.

“What’s up, dude?” the crumpled figure on the bench calls out after him, tossing up a casual hand without looking away from her screen.

The boy’s hurried footsteps skid before accelerating to double time.

Dong. Dong. Dong—

Muffled chimes echo from distant clocks through the panes. Below, the courtyard fountain shoots water into the air, celebrating the hour. Noon.

I glance back at the bench.

Unchanged.

She has truly mastered taking the ‘assist’ out of assistant.

“Kizuki!” I command.

Her eyes widen, her phone vanishing in a pocket as she jumps into a salute toward the ceiling. “Yes, Chief! Are you finally ready? We should have been moving by now!”

I grin with a huff. “Let’s get on with it then.”

My coat flares as I turn down the corridor. She jogs a half-step ahead with a bouncy stride.

“Did you hear how many newcomers there are this year? Not sure where the Housing Ministry is planning to stuff them all away.”

“Climb to the top, and you’ll see how many burial locations this place has, hah.”

“Think he still remembers what we look like with all these new faces arriving?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they actually did, seen worse being hidden…”

Her hand twitches toward her pocket before she restrains the habit. “I really tried forcing an earlier slot today, but the administration kept claiming the first-years intake workload makes mornings impossible. I just added it to the pile of excuses.”

“You should be the expert. I never worked at the Ministry itself.”

“Assistants don’t get to hear such secrets, Chief. We only get to schedule them… wait, what?”

“Don’t worry, he remembers. I ensured that the moment that weasel became important enough to warrant my attention. We’ll drag him out of bed next time. I’ll just make up the difference for today.”

Kizuki

Note to self. Step out of the blast radius when the Chief makes that look.

The blunt clack of her retracted skates against the marble flooring strikes with every step, drawing passers-by’s eyes down.

“Hey, hey, Miko!” I toss a quick wave.

“Eyo, Kizu!” Miko calls back with a smug grin as she passes.

An instant later, my hand shoots up again. “Tashi, Tashi! Busy again!?”

“W-what?” Tashi sputters, fumbling his papers as we leave him behind.

I really do love these halls.

The corridor quiets down as we near the grand wooden doors. These doors always make me feel like I am entering a fortress… or a psych ward.

I sweep the right door open, offering a playful bow. “After you, Chief.”

Mihaku walks past without a word, her gaze already deep into the room. Her coat catches the draft as I slip in behind her.

I scan the layout. He always redecorates the office like an eccentric gallery owner who cannot sit still. This time, a bizarre cow statue occupies the corner, and the odd fish painting is already gone.

The polished oak desk anchors the center of the spacious office, flanked by couches. A handful of students lounge on them, chatting and clinking glasses.

Behind the desk, the back of a leather chair swivels lazily toward us. A head lolls over its top, drawing modest laughter from the group on the cushions.

And here I thought personal offices were supposed to be… you know, personal.

One by one, the loungers turn their heads toward us.

The chair halts.

“Chief Mihaku, welcome!” a smooth voice rings out from behind the chair.

“President,” Mihaku counters in stride.

I keep half a step behind her until she stops at a distance from the desk even farther than normal.

The chair swings around, revealing Hasumi.

His palms press flat against the desk, his smile widening along with his eyes. “Do not be shy. Come, take a seat.”

He sweeps a hand toward the couches. Nobody moves to make room. The chatter on the cushions continues uninterrupted.

“How royal, but I will decline.” Mihaku stands tall with hands clasped behind her back, expression unreadable.

“Always standing up for another, are we, huh?” Hasumi sighs.

“Why are we here!? Twice a month is already far more than a human should bear.”

“Whew!” He wipes imaginary sweat from his brow. “Always to the point.”

He pivots slightly toward the cushions. “That is why they call her the Spearfish. Deadly in the water, but in an office, she just flops around.”

The group falls into sycophantic laughter.

Mihaku lets out a dry cough, shattering the enjoyment.

“Right, right.” Hasumi turns back with a tightened smile. “Do not want to be in your way, of course.”

Silence meets his words.

Not again…

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Discover what happens next in: Chapter 9: Enforced Devotion【P2】

Written by Limited_Infinity. Extras, official publishing platforms and updates are publicly available only on the Patreon page “_Limited_Infinity_”

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