Chapter 6 – ６ – Interrogation

Entrance Ceremony Arc

“First, name, age, birthday, and gender. You might wonder why I’m asking, but we don’t know where the effects of a first Masquerade might manifest. We’ll start by confirming the basics.”

“Understood. My name is Midorikawa Naruki. I’m 15, birthday is January 3rd. Gender is male.”

I answered the Public Morals Committee Chairman’s questions steadily.

There was no reason to doubt her. After all, I could feel it myself—that my own thoughts had been skewed by the influence of the Masquerade.

“Height? Just a rough estimate is fine.”

“About… 185 centimeters, I think.”

“Hair and eye color?”

“Hair is black. Eyes… I’ve never paid much attention to them, so I’m not entirely sure, but I believe they were brown.”

“Place of origin and family structure?”

“I’m from…”

And so, I continued to answer exactly as I was asked.

Every single piece of information was something I should naturally know if I am who I say I am… but the fact that she was bothering to ask suggested that, depending on the Masquerade’s influence, one’s perception of these things could become distorted.

If that were the case, it was actually a bit frightening.

“Alright, there are no major discrepancies with the records here. The Masquerade has been properly deactivated, and there don’t seem to be any strange lingering effects.”

“Phew.”

It seemed I had gotten off scot-free this time. A case of “safe and sound,” as they say.

“Midorikawa. Just so you know, the actual interrogation starts now.”

“Eh…?”

However, it appeared the “actual” part was only just beginning. I felt as though the Public Morals Committee Chairman’s gaze had become sharper than before.

“Midorikawa. What were you thinking when you Masqueraded? What went through your mind? Normally, this isn’t something we ask, but in this specific case, I have no choice. Your Masked Form was… quite peculiar in several ways.”

“Even if you tell me that… hmm…”

I explained how, upon activating the Device, I had been transported to a strange space where I met a woman who looked like the sun, and that things ended up the way they did because I followed her instructions.

“Deep subconscious? A woman like the sun? In that case, was there interference with the Device? No, but if that’s the case… could it be? Is such a thing even possible? Though, that would be the most likely explanation…”

“Uh…?”

As a result of my honest account, the Public Morals Committee Chairman pulled her knees up to her chest in her chair and began muttering something rapidly.

It seemed she had an idea of what had happened, but she looked as if she couldn’t believe it had actually occurred.

“Midorikawa.”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry, but this matter is beyond my pay grade. Therefore, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of that just now.”

“I see…”

I’d been erased from the record. Well, I suppose that’s fair. Thinking back, that sun-like woman was clearly not human. Combined with the Chairman’s reaction… even I could put two and two together.

“Also, to be honest—and it’s a bit cowardly to say this after the fact—what you think and feel during your first Masquerade is vital information that can lead to the discovery of your Masquerade’s weakness. Normally, it’s not something you tell even your family or friends. From now on, if you must speak of it, limit it to experts like Ms. Tarui. In your case, it seems likely to become a problem.”

“Oh, ah, yes. I understand.”

So, I obediently accepted her warning not to tell anyone other than an expert. In this case… that naturally included Suzu.

Keeping secrets from Suzu… is that even possible? I have a feeling that even if I stay silent, she’ll find out on her own eventually.

“Now, next is the handling of this incident.”

“Yes.”

“That said, it’s obvious to everyone that this was an accident resulting from a first Masquerade. Therefore, there will be no punishment. You won’t even need to write a reflection paper. If anything, the people around you are the ones who’ll be lectured. Heh, serve them right.”

“…”

The Public Morals Committee Chairman wore a somewhat wicked smile. I wondered if there was someone she disliked among those who suffered a disadvantage because of my incident. Well, regardless, it was none of my business. I decided not to dwell on it.

“However, that doesn’t mean there’s no problem. To put it bluntly, your Masked Form is a nymphomaniac. You were a naked woman without a single piece of underwear. Moreover, all the… parts… were properly attached.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Obviously, such an appearance is contrary to public morals and decency; it’s not something to be shown to others unless it’s in a special setting. If it happens a second time, it’ll be clear that it was intentional, and you’ll undoubtedly be arrested.”

“Right you are.”

“But Masquerading is fundamentally something done in front of people. Which means, as it stands, Midorikawa, you’ll be unable to use your Masquerade. In other words, some kind of countermeasure is necessary.”

The Chairman’s words were entirely correct, so I had no choice but to nod.

“Um, couldn’t I just wear clothes?”

“It’s possible. However, in an environment where one uses a Masquerade, ordinary fabric—or even full-body armor made of steel plates—is no different from rags. That would limit you to daily life at best.”

“I see.”

“Don’t worry. There are a fair number of precedents for Masquerades with forms that cannot be presented to the public like yours. Therefore, your lessons will proceed in a different order than the standard curriculum, and an expert will teach you using that method.”

“I see.”

Apparently, to become capable of using my Masquerade, I needed to undergo some sort of special curriculum. Ah, maybe that’s why she told me to only speak to experts like Ms. Tarui.

“Because of that, as the Public Morals Committee Chairman, there is only one thing I can tell you regarding the future: ‘Do not use your Masquerade unless an expert permits it.’ That is all.”

“Understood. I won’t use it until I receive instructions.”

And so, the interrogation was successfully ending… or so it should have been.

“Oh, right. Since we’re here, I’ll give you my contact info for the academy-exclusive SNS. No, I haven’t even introduced myself. I am Maruta Matsuri. It would be preferable if we didn’t associate in the future, but if you’re in trouble, feel free to rely on me, Midorikawa Naruki.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Chairman Maruta.”

I received something like a business card—no, an actual business card—from Chairman Maruta. It had an address and what looked like a phone number written on it. I wondered what this academy-exclusive SNS was, but I assumed I could reach Chairman Maruta by contacting this address.

It was the moment I tucked the card into my uniform pocket.

“Hm?”

There was a knock on the interrogation room door, and just as Chairman Maruta was about to respond…

“Naru!”

“…”

Suzu burst into the room before she could.

“Naru, are you okay?! Are you hurt?! Did anyone treat you violently?! Oh, about your Masked Form, it was absolutely beautiful! The hair and eye color were somewhat close to mine; I wonder if that’s because you were thinking of me? But your face and body were still you, and it was the kind of beauty that would charm anyone regardless of gender! It was so beautiful that I actually got scared that people might start thinking indecent things about you, but that didn’t even matter because your finishing pose was so perfect! Oh, wait, since you were in that form, maybe it’s more appropriate to call you Naru-dear instead of Naru? What do you think, Naru? That aside…”

Suzu clung to me the moment she burst in and immediately began her rapid-fire barrage of words.

Ah, yeah. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her like this. She should calm down once she’s said everything she wants to say, so I have no choice but to leave her be until then.

“Midorikawa.”

“Yes.”

“Who is this?”

“This is Minasono Suzumi, my childhood friend. I think she came all the way here because she was worried about me.”

“I see. It seems this year’s students of concern aren’t limited to the A-Rank Group…”

“Um, how do I put this… I’m sorry.”

“Nothing has happened yet, and you aren’t the one at fault, so there’s no need to apologize.”

And to Chairman Maruta: I’m sorry. This is just how Suzu is.

I pretended not to notice Chairman Maruta quietly adding a note to her ledger.

“Oh, Naru! I heard my Masquerade is happening in a different location, so let’s go together. Marie dear and Amaishi are apparently in the same place, so it’s perfect!”

“Uh…?”

“I’ve asked everything I needed to, so you’re free to go.”

“Thank you. Please excuse us.”

“Oh, me too. Excuse me, Chairman Maruta.”

Thus, I was liberated from the interrogation room and led away by Suzu to meet Marie and Amaishi—the two I had likely met during the entrance ceremony.