“There is a lot that I want to say, but I’ll choose just one: If you were going to pull Baba-san in, why didn’t you come to me for advice? This is a huge matter, isn’t it?”
“I mean, I didn’t want to burden you with this......”
“It becomes an even bigger burden if you don’t consult me. It is for times like these that I’m here, right? From now on, never be reserved about consulting me, all right?”
“All right. Sorry I didn’t do it this time.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same page now.”
Just when the conversation had wrapped up nicely, Baba interrupted with a smirk on her face, “Kaburagi, this charmer here was plotting on giving you a present to lift your spirits in the midst of your weakened state. A magical, what was it? Stick?”
“Oi, shush!”
“Oh, is that so? That makes me so happy!” Kaburagi-san smiled at me like a flower blooming. Kuahh, so bright! And what the hell you ratting me out for, you baba! Stop smiling like a grandma looking at two youngsters at a marriage interview!
“I’ll look forward to this present, then. It sounds like a lot has happened during the time I was away, but first things first, I’ll arrange for a Marineland citizenship for Baba-san. Let’s go with the story that she had completed the mandatory education by skipping grades then. I’ll make the arrangements so that the country would also back the story up if anyone ever digs into it, so rest assured.”
Kaburagi-san quickly changed topics and moved the conversation on at a brisk pace, so I also followed suit.
“One more thing from me. This is pretty much my nature or disposition, but my training fever is acting up again. I want to train to defend against the PSI drive so badly that I can’t help myself. When I get hurt by attacks made with a PSI drive, it feels like the attacks are penetrating my defense. They aren’t disabling my barrier or simply just phasing through. They penetrate. I think that after some ten or hundred reps, I might be able to acquire a certain resistance against the PSI drive. There’s a chance that it won’t work out, because the attacks are following rules of another world, but I still want to give it a shot. Baba, would you mind helping me with this?”
“Ah...... Sure. Yes, allow me to do so. I’m also quite curious how far the weapons I make can get through that iron defense of yours. At the moment, it merely feels like being stung by a mosquito, right?”
“If I had to say, it’s more like being slashed by a praying mantis. What about you, though? Is there anything specific that you want to try or want to find out?”
Baba quietly thought on my question for a short while. Then finally, she said, “The fact that all of the threats so far had been external pressure gives me slight pause.”
“External pressure?”
Kaburagi-san parroted her back, at which Baba nodded.
“These so-called ‘events’ of yours have all consisted of introducing an external enemy or threat, and then resisting and defeating said threat. Though I agree that such challenges are easy to understand and are considerably fun in their own way, that in itself is not enough. You also need internal pressure as well.”
“Internal pressure......which means an enemy from within? Are you suggesting a traitor event?”
“Indeed.”
Uhh, that’s a bit...... I mean, developments like there being a traitor within or an internal rift are indeed quite common among secret organizations, but would that really make for a “fun adolescence”?
“Baba-san, we aren’t playing around with Shouta-kun and Touka-chan. What we want is to let them have a good time.”
Kaburagi-san gave voice to my own thoughts in an admonishing tone, but Baba shook her head.
“An adolescence of fun alone is brittle. Those brought up to be wary against only external enemies are exceptionally susceptible to attacks from within. Trials and tribulations are equally necessary for a tree to grow strong enough to withstand even storms and earthquakes. After overcoming difficulties and learning to make compromises, they can eventually laugh about this when they become adults. Only by including this can their adolescence be said to have been fulfilling. Am I wrong in what I said?”
Kaburagi-san and I both groaned in thought. Baba had a point. No, I felt like it was more like thr—ok, maybe like five points front to back.
Internal pressure, was it? Interesting.
I was slightly hesitant, as the idea felt slightly like making two youngsters who were enjoying their adolescence suddenly having to come face to face with the dirty world of adults. However, this was indeed much better than allowing them to grow up sheltered in a greenhouse without knowing anything, and then one day leaving their homes to step into this shitty reality without being properly prepared. Now that would be the true tragedy.
Difficulties incite growth. This I understood. The same concept had been behind Shouta-kun’s unwinnable fight.
But still, even without us doing anything, soon enough suffering is going to pay them visits and reality is going to rear its ugly head. Do we really need to go to the trouble of preparing more suffering for them...... but maybe by giving them a gentler suffering with a safety net in place, it could help them gain some resistance against the hardcore sufferings of real life...... Hmm......
......Why am I stressing myself over this as if I’m actually raising a child?
“I think it’s a good idea. Although we would have to carefully fine-tune things so that they aren’t traumatized for life.”
“I shall keep that in mind. So we are agreed on this internal discord—nay, this traitor event? Allow me to take on the role of the traitor. I believe this should cause less psychological damage than it being either one of the two of you, who had already been here before they joined.”
“What do you think, Sago-san?”
While I was deep in thought, the girls had already moved the conversation along. When Kaburagi-san directed the conversation to me, I came to a start.
A traitor event, huh.
It sounds like it would be quite tough to pull off, but...... well, let’s do it! I would also feel bad rejecting the first idea proposed by the brand-new addition to our set-up team. In the first place, adolescence is made up of both tears and laughter. If I think of this as the “tears” part, then it’s actually quite in line with our goals.
Now that I’ve decided to do it, I’ll be giving this traitor event everything I’ve got. I can’t wait to get started!>