Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 6 Chapter 4 (section)

===Part 1===

“Well then, for everyone’s hard work put into the Sports Festival – Kanpai!”<ref>A toast (like ‘Cheers!’)</ref>

『Kanpai~!』

Hijirigasaka Academy Student Council Vice-President Kajiura Rikka, who was also the president of the Organising Committee, called out, and the people at the table echoed in unison, lightly tapping each other’s glass cups.

The people in the Organising Committee from the Student Council this year, numbered four.

Right now, this dinner party, is their celebration.

--the celebration for the Organising Committee itself, was held recently not too long ago.

However – the Student Council members who was in charge of the students’ school life were different from the normal students who could return to their usual school life after being done with the matters of the Organising Committee. They had to review the activity reports of every department and check if there were any deficiencies during the preparatory processes of the entirety of the Sports Festival, picking out on points that needed to be reflected or improved on and prepare a Student Council activity report, for consideration in the coming year.

Of course, when they were attending to the matters of the Organising Committee, they also had to deal with the daily matters of the Student Council at the same time, as well as their Finals. Hence, if any of the past second years couldn’t finish settling the after-event matters of the Sports Festival in the second semester, it’ll become a headache-inducing problem; thus the student council members who participated in the preparations of the Sports Festival, would customarily finish it in the last day of the second semester – in other words, they would keep themselves busy until December 25, and hold a celebration on that very night.

The time right now is a little after five in the evening, and they were at an Italian restaurant that only connoisseurs know about near the station – at the innermost seats. There were only four from the student council that participated in the Sports Festival, yet there were six chairs, and they were all filled.

That was because other than the student council members, Kajiura had also invited two other persons.

One of them is the stunning infirmary teacher that no one in Hijirigasaka Academy doesn’t know of – Hasegawa Chisato.

“—Hasegawa-sensei, thanks for your help on that day.”

Kajiura put down her glass cup down on the table, and expressed her thanks with a shallow bow.

“No need to thank me again after so long, it feels weird… looking after you is part of my daily work, so it wouldn’t become something special just because it’s during the Sports Festival.”

Hasegawa gave a slight smile, and at that moment not just the table Kajiura and the other were at, the atmosphere of the whole restaurant raised immediately.

''…I had thought that I knew the extent of the beauty of this person.''

Kajiura Rikka once again became surprised at the beauty and presence of Hasegawa who sat opposite her towards her left.

--tonight, Hasegawa wasn’t wearing the usual white robe Kajiura and the other students would usually see her wearing in school.

Instead, she was wearing a ring-necked evening dress that daringly had a big hole at the front of the dress showing her breasts, and with the addition of long black tulle gloves, she was extremely glamorous. Occasionally on television shows there would be exquisite girls advertising high-class hotels or clubs; right now Hasegawa is radiating the dark beauty of a night butterfly, that could take the breath away from even the Hollywood Stars in the Oscars Avenue of Fame. Since she was beautiful to that degree, Kajiura couldn’t be jealous even if she wanted to, she was completely moved. She was already beautiful enough with the white robe she usually wore—

''…This way surpasses from when at school.''

When they left the school after classes ended, Hasegawa had already changed into this. According to some of what Kajiura has heard, some students had saw across her in the corridors and seen her enter a taxi before speeding away from the staff entrance became very excited, causing a small commotion.

“I-It’s okay… We students do usually receive sensei care after all.”

The expressing of thanks for the [Duties] that Hasegawa said, was referring to Tachibana Nanao whom anyone would think that it was a female wearing the male’s uniform. Indeed, not only did Hasegawa just contribute greatly as a support staff during the Sports Festival, during normal school days, everyone in the school including students and staff were all cared for by her.

“That’s why… Hasegawa-sensei, we are really grateful for you usually taking care of us.”

Nanao thanked Hasegawa somewhat shyly. At a gathering with few people, Nanao would inevitably attract everyone’s eyes; the reason the introverted Nanao still said that despite knowing that, is because the physically weak him regularly entered the infirmary and received no less care from Hasegawa. After that, the remaining student council members sitting on Kajiura’s left and right… first-year student Takei Touko from General Affairs, and second-year student Kanou Santa from Accounting added:

“That right. The one looking after the whole school, is just only sensei.”

“Thus we want to give a reward to sensei, on behalf of the students.”

Kanou said as if from the heart:

“To have a meal with Hasegawa-sensei who is worshiped by the most number of people in our school, and to be able to see you dressed up… to us, that is the greatest Christmas gift! Right, Tachibana?”

“Y…Yes, Kanou is right.”

Hasegawa giggled seeing Tachibana awkwardly nodding while answering, and Kajiura hurried tried to smooth things over:

“…I’m sorry, sensei. Kanou is speaking loosely again.”

“Don’t worry about it… I was just remembered something someone had said to me a long time ago.”

“Eh? Does that mean that sensei has had a meal with a man somewhere before?”

“…Well, what do you think?”

Hasegawa said carefreely, dodging Takei’s excited questioning.

“Speaking of which, today is the last day of the second semester, and I’ve heard that the staff would also hold a gathering every year… Is sensei coming here really fine?”

“It’s fine… interacting with the adults there with alcohol, doesn’t really go with my personality.”

Hasegawa gave a bitter while replying Kanou, and her smile suddenly changed into a mischievous one.

“Actually, you inviting me really helped me. Usually for gatherings like those, I would make up some reason for not going… but the principal and dean had been nagging me since last week for me to at least just show up at the end of the banquet, so I had used this gathering today as an excuse to escape.”

For a great beauty like Hasegawa, simply just attending the staff meal would cause some troublesome or unpleasant things. Wearing such an outfit, is to add more weight to the excuse of this gathering. For sensei to prepare herself to this degree, Kajiura who was the vice-president really wanted to give her as much hospitality as possible, hence—

“Sensei… thank you for thinking so much about our small gathering, I hope sensei will enjoy herself.”

Kajiura said pleasantly to Hasegawa who was tasting the red wine, and then turned her line of sight to straight ahead – sitting opposite her and sandwiched between hasegawa and Nanao, is the second person the student council had invited today.

Like Hasegawa, Kajiura and the others felt that this person had also contributed greatly to the success of the Sports Festival.

Hence, Kajiura Rikka’s thanks, -- came from her heart:

“Toujou-kun too, thank you for your help… It was that with your assistance, that everything was as smooth as it had been.”



Hearing Kajiura who sat opposite him say so honestly:

“No… I didn’t really do a lot.”

Toujou Basara was flattered. It was not modesty… Despite how he had taken up the task of the student council like Kajiura and Nanao to supervise the Sports Festival’s Organising Committee’s work due to circumstantial reasons, what he mainly did was just sorting out and checking through the documents, as well as occasionally confirming the progress of the various departments and doing some errands for the staff and clubs when there was a need, and had done nothing that was really worthy of receiving an invite from the management group; besides, Basara had already participated in the Organising Committee’s celebration with Mio and Yuki, as well as Sakaki and AIkawa.

“…Additionally, I had caused some trouble with those third-year senpais…”

During the preparation period, Basara had a confrontation with the males from the respective Factions, causing a small commotion.

--of course, it was something that couldn’t be helped. The third-year students – especially Donoue’s harsh words towards Kajiura, Basara couldn’t pretend that he hadn’t seen them.

…But.

Basara’s conflict with Donoue and the others, was just merely his sense of justice for not overlooking Kajiura being insulted by them.

Back then – when Basara was on his way back from Hasegawa’s apartment, someone had controlled the normal civilians to attack him; but couldn’t find any leads on that perpetrator and was only able to merely just put Donoue on his suspect list. Basara’s active provocation, is mainly to observe Donoue’s reactions.

…However.

Similarly, Basara could not deny that his actions had implicated Kajiura and the others managing the Organising Committee. If it was a student who wholeheartedly wanted the success of the Sports Festival in his place, that student would have chosen an even safer way – since there were many such ways to handle the situation. Yet—

“P-Please don’t think that way!”

Nanao by his said suddenly said loudly. Seeing the frail Nanao reacting like this, everyone present looked at him, shocked; because of that, Tachibana seemed to suddenly realise what he had just done and his face reddened, yet he still said while looking into Basara’s eyes:

“…Because what Toujou-kun has done has helped us a lot, right?”

“I-Is that so…?"

It’s great if that is the case. But, Tachibana… why are you so cute today?

As Basara’s heart was unconsciously moved—

“Tachibana’s right. That Donoue-senpai suddenly becoming so obedient after that, is because you were there in the first place.”

“No… You’re giving me too much praise.”

And that was true. Even if Basara did teach a lesson to those defiant third-years in the organising committee, the real reason they became peaceful was due to Nanao using the demonic eye, with Basara’s teacher Sakazaki controlling them to attack Basara; yet in the eyes of those who didn’t know about it, it seemed as if like Basara had intimidated Donoue.

“All I did, was just make Donoue-senpai even more angry…”

“—you’re mistaken, Toujou-kun.”

Kajiura gently interrupted Basara, and said while shaking her head:

“Indeed, directly confronting Donoue-senpai isn’t an action really encouraged… but, if you hadn’t stopped them back then, the organising committee would’ve been thrown into a mess because of them, and there would be no room no salvage the situation.”

“………”

“Then again – even if that situation didn’t happen, I feel that you had contributed a lot. Because you were there to settle the miscellaneous tasks, you had lightened our workload by a lot!”

“That’s right. Toujou-kun does things really smooth and quick, and not only can you do the office work, you are also really strong. It feels as if… not only can you make decisions really quick, you seem to also be able to predict what’ll happen next.”

Takei added on to what Kajiura said, causing Basara to give a forced smile.

Predicting what to do next, and continuously quickly making minute decisions – these words, were just as if describing the way a {{furigana|speed-type fighter|Infinite Slayer}} like him fights.

“Thank you, everyone… for thinking of me so greatly.”

Although Toujou Basara no longer has the identity of a Hero, his past experiences – obtained from his time spent with his companions, still remains with him solidly to this day. Thanks to that, he could protect Mio who was implicated in a dispute and fight alongside her. Originally he was supposed to be satisfied with just that; but if could have a normal life where he could also help others—

''…That would also be great.''

Even if it was impossible to return to the past – he could leave his painful memories behind along with it.

Those precious moments in the past, can create their own value for things other than battle—

To Toujou Basara, this is a form of salvation.

『……………』

Basara’s expression and tone unconsciously turned solemn, causing him to naturally become imposing. Shit, this is a rare celebration with everyone happy, I can’t mess up the atmosphere.

“—but, is it really fine? I mean, reserving the whole place”

Basara said hastily while looking around the interior of the place. Even if this is a small restaurant with less than twenty seats for customers, reserving the whole place should probably require at least ten people. Not every couple would have time to be together on Christmas Eve, and adding on that it is the season for year-end parties and that this place is near the station, the number of potential customers aren’t small. To this question—

“Ah, it’s fine. This restaurant, is willing to let us book the whole place every year on this day… and at a low price too. If anything, it seems that this has happened for almost twenty years.”

Kanou smiled while saying that, and Kajiura added:

“It started seventeen years ago to be exact. The legendary vice-president at that time was highly capable, completely revolutionizing our school’s originally neat and orderly<ref>i.e. boring, routine</ref> Sports Festival and Cultural Festival to be as lively as it is now in only just a short period of time after transferring to our school. The unisex three-legged obstacle race that Toujou-kun had participated in, was originally his idea too.”

“Heh… I didn’t know that it had such a long history.”

I had thought that ''that'' was something thought up recently by person on a whim.

“I had heard that he was a mass of charisma and had many worshipping him, and that many people had joined the student council because he joined, causing the student council of that term to have an extraordinary amount of people. Soon, the boss of this shop got on well with him, and began to let our student council rent the place to host the celebration for the Sports Festival at a low price.”

“If I remember correctly, Azuma was the person’s surname, right?”

Takei asked, and Kajiura nodded with a ‘Correct’, and said:

“Azuma Takehito-san – unfortunately, he soon transferred schools again and there was no contact from him anymore after that.”

“ ! –Gaha, Koho…!”<ref>SFX of chokes and coughs from while drinking</ref>

Upon hearing that name, Basara who was holding a glass cup and drinking Oolong tea suddenly choked.

“To-Toujou-kun!? Are you okay?!”

“I-I’m fine… I’m sorry, it seems it accidently went into the trachea<ref>i.e. choked on the drink</ref>.”

Basara thanked the worried Tachibana who was helping him pat his back, and thought—

''…What the hell were you doing playing around, dad!?.''<ref>to put it another way, he is thinking something like [WTF, dad!?]</ref> 

Basara suddenly wanted to bury his head in his hands. The name Azuma Takehito, is the pseudonym frequently used by his father Jin. Just by changing the readings and positions of the phonetics, the name {{furigana|'''東'''城迅|'''Tou'''jou Jin}} would become {{furigana|'''東'''丈人|'''Azuma''' Takehito}}. It was incredibly sloppy, but his personality in the first place thinks that things like this would be better if it was made simple.

He had not expected that the three-legged obstacle race was something that Jin had created. Hearing their explanation just now, he had thought that the idiot was from a long time ago, but he didn’t expect for that idiot to be his father; and the son had participated in that race as if to repay the debt the father had incurred. History is indeed really scary.

''…If that’s the case, my dad would be my senior.''

According to history, seventeen years ago would be the end stage of the Great War in the Demon Realm. Since the fighting was beginning to end, it is possible that Jin would become a student of Hijirigasaka Academy for a mission; if he had to return to the battlefield mid-way, an excuse for quickly transferring schools again could be created. Jin becoming friends with the boss here, was probably due to frequently making contact with each other during the undercover mission.

As Basara thought about Jin’s past, he steadied his breathing with Nanao’s help. Just then—

“—say, Toujou-kun, do you want to join the student council?”

“Eh… you mean me?”

Kajiura’s sudden question, caused Basara to ask back, shocked.

“Seeing you become this surprised is making me become embarrassed… As I said just now, you performance this time had really helped us a lot; that’s why I think that you’ll definitely be able to show even more of your worth after joining the student council, and I had also heard that you didn’t join any clubs! How about it?”

Kajiura then continued:

“We, plan to continue to remain in the student council for the next year. The four of us including you that organised the Sports Festival, will become the core members of the Student Council… If we can draw on your strength, we can feel more secure.”

Unconsciously, Kajiura’s expression became very honest. Not just her, Nanao, Kanou and Takei also earnestly looked at Basara, showing that it was not just Kajiura who thought that.

''…I see, so…''

To tell the truth, Basara could somewhat guess the reason for being invited to the celebration; Kajiura having him sit at the seat opposite her, was to make it easy for her to speak to him.

''This is really touching.'' In Basara’s heart, being regarded this highly by Kajiura and the others, made him truly happy.

“Speaking of which, the preparations for the Cultural Festival that will be held in spring usually begins in the winter break from the previous year… Toujou, do you have anything on during the winter break?”

“…I’m sorry, Kanou-senpai. From tomorrow, I’ll be going somewhere far for something.”

Basara apologised with a shallow bow, and Hasegawa who sat beside him holding red wine asked:

“Somewhere far, is it… You’ll be going overseas with Naruse and Nonaka?”

Basara nodded while replying: [Yes, that’s it] and brought the topic to a halt. Since he can’t say out the truth, it’ll be better to not let the topic develop.

“Uwa~ A person with a real life…”<ref>Takei says [Riajuu-san], Riajuu – short for riaru juujitsu </ref>

Takei said while making the whites of the eyes show<ref>rolling eyes</ref>, and Basara could only smile bitterly while scratching his cheek.

--from a certain angle, Takei was right.

For the winter break this year, Basara and the other’s ‘real life’<ref>text says their ‘juujitsu’, from riaru juujitsu</ref> will become even intense.

''…Since.''

Later – Basara and the others will be heading to the Demon Realm with Maria’s sister Lucia guiding them.

“So, I’m sorry… I’m not able to help during the winter break.”

Seeing Basara apologise with his head lowered, Kajiura’s eyes met with Kanou’s with a self-blaming look, and then said:

“Don’t worry about it. In the first place, asking you to help out during the winter break when this is the first time raising the topic is already inconsiderate… Kanou, you only just wan to slack off a bit more, don’t you?”

Kanou laughed unapologetically with a [Well…], and Kajiura sighed.

“So, Toujou-kun… I’m not asking you to decide now. If possible, may I ask you to consider it carefully over the winter break?”

“……I understand.”

There was no point in endlessly dragging out the deadlock atmosphere, so Basara nodded, and—

“Umm – Hasegawa-sensei.”

Using the opportunity, he raised to Hasegawa a question.

“When going overseas… is there anything to take note of?”

Not long later, Basara and the others will be going to the Demon Realm to take care of the various problems surrounding Mio.

What they will be facing, will either be the Demon Lord Leohart or the high-class demons making up the Council – there will inevitably be a big battle with them.

Though he had psychologically prepared himself for that, Basara would still like to hear what Hasegawa has to say before departing.

In the past, every time Basara spoke to Hasegawa about his thoughts, she was always able to direct him down a path.

Just like, magic, she had often helped Basara to overcome difficulties.

Hence – despite knowing that he was being imprudent, Basara still asked Hasegawa for advice. Then—

“Well, it’s not just restricted to going overseas…”

Hasegawa said as if after the prelude:

“When going overseas, usually there won’t be much time… because the original plans has to keep up with the changes in situation. Of course, I’m not asking you to not plan; but if you stubbornly keep to the original plan, you’ll easily forget what the most important thing is.”

“What the most important thing…is?”

Basara asked, and Hasegawa nodded and said:

“Yes. When going overseas, your attention can easily be attracted by the fresh things before your eyes, causing you to not see the things far away clearly. Going to a foreign soil, something like that is probably inevitable; but try to always remind yourself, to try to be more flexible. If, there is someplace that you must go or something that you must do, then put all of your mind to complete those goals.”

''Listen closely.''

“Don’t think of completing everything in just a single trip… No matter how far that place is, if you have the heart, you can go there once more anytime. For things that can be postponed, leave it to next time.”

“…I see, you’re right.”

''Thank goodness I asked…'' Basara was glad from the bottom of his heart. The advice Hasegawa provides, always a feeling of enlightenment. Things that can be done anytime, and things that he wants to do no matter what, although the two might seem similar, they are in fact different; and as the destination is the Demon Realm, it produces a feeling that there might not be a next time, but in fact—

''…If there’s a need, retreat first, and then look for an opportunity to make a move.''

Basara and the others originally thought that they had to deal with all the problems no matter what – but that way of thinking is too conceited, and would easily cut off all their options.

While there are somethings that he must not give up on… the need to thoroughly deal with everything nicely is non-existent. Especially what Mio was carrying and implicated the conflict between the Moderates Faction and the Current Demon Lord Faction, affecting the whole of the Demon Realm; wishing to settle everything at one go, is just wishful thinking.

“—so, did that help you?”

“Yes… Thank you.”

As Basara nodded and answered the lightly smiling Hasegawa—

“—sorry to keep you waiting.”

The female waitress came to the table carrying plates with the appetizer, bringing this topic to an end.

“Umm, Toujou-kun…”

As the waitress served the plates to everyone on the table one by one, Nanao beside him gently pulled on his sleeve, and whispered into his ear:

“About that thing from just now… If it’s possible, can you also consult Naruse-san and Nonaka-san? If they accompany you, you’ll probably enjoy yourself more.”

“……I see, you’re right. I understand, I’ll consider it.”

Basara once again whispered: ‘Thanks’, and Nanao happily smiled with a ‘Nn’.

''…That’s true.''

Basara thought positively. Right now they were in a situation with the two biggest powers in the Demon Realm focusing on them –if the issue couldn’t be settled, he wouldn’t have the heart to join the student council.

''…But.''

If these messy and troublesome matters can be settled… It was a choice worth considering.

Mio and Yuki, as well as himself, sincerely wish to enjoy the school life.

Enjoy – the life that was taken for granted.