Beautiful Schoolgirls
October 2, 2026. Friday. 12:35.
UCIA Japan Branch Investigation Base
Ground Base. Cafeteria.
”Aaah! I messed up!”
Chris’s scream echoed through the cafeteria. Chris, who was absorbed in playing a large arcade cabinet game installed in the corner of the cafeteria, seemed to have been hit. A super play shown off in front of a large gallery. It seems she failed today.
”――Still, it’s amazing. To think there are so many endangered, rare games here…”
”Amazing, right~? I went through a lot of trouble to collect them~. You know your games, Tachibana-san. Looks like we could be good friends~”
Three schoolgirls wearing the white jerseys of the Alsard Church. Yuika Kirimine. Ayana Matsuyuki. And Aoi Tachibana. Tachibana-san, who had been earnestly watching Chris play, was happily looking around the game corner with Chris after the play ended.
That’s right. Today, the Chief’s close quarters combat training is taking place in the afternoon. That’s why the three schoolgirls are visiting the UCIA.
”――This rare cheesecake. It’s quite delicious.”
”I honestly thought so too. The lunch was certainly a large portion, but it was very delicious, and to think even the dessert is this flawless… If you say so, Matsuyuki-senpai, the taste must be genuine.”
Kirimine-san and Matsuyuki-san, who seemed to be quite the high-class young ladies, were surprised by Stephen’s dessert. Hearing that three schoolgirls were coming today, Stephen apparently put a lot of effort into preparing the food and desserts. Although there hasn’t been a single day where I thought the taste was lacking. ”Always supremely delicious” seems to be Stephen’s motto.
”Do you like our cafeteria? The coffee is delicious too.”
While enjoying a warm after-meal coffee, I was conversing with the two who were sitting at the table eating cake.
”――I appreciate your concern, Himemiya-sama.”
Matsuyuki-san bowing elegantly. Her loose curly hair suited her very well, and an aura of a true high-class lady could be felt from her entire body. I find her not-too-bright red hair color elegant. She probably frequents a beauty salon. The earrings casually visible also seem to be quite a luxury item.
”This is… Blue Mountain, isn’t it? My father loves coffee, so I started enjoying it around junior high school, but… To be able to eat such wonderful meals every day, I am jealous of everyone at the UCIA.”
Kirimine-san replied amiably while drinking her coffee. To be able to clearly identify the brand, she might be quite a coffee connoisseur.
”By the way, Himemiya-sama. I heard a rumor that you are former FBI, but…”
Matsuyuki-san asked with a uniquely high, cute voice. From the feel of it, she seemed to be somewhat interested.
”Yes. I gained experience at the NYPD (New York Police Department), and then went to the FBI’s National Security Branch. After that, I came here to the UCIA.”
”――That’s cool. I admire female investigators a little bit.”
Matsuyuki-san’s gaze as she said that was a little painful. In terms of combat ability, if you include spiritual power, I think Matsuyuki-san is absolutely superior. To be honest, I don’t feel like I’m being useful in various ways. I’m just pathetic.
”Himemiya-sama. By the way, what kind of relationship do you have with Mayu-sama? Mayu-sama talks about you often lately, Himemiya-sama.”
Kirimine-san’s words. My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t exactly tell them that I used a stun gun on her at our first meeting, knocked her out, and dragged her to the UCIA. If I told them this fact, it wouldn’t be strange to have a sword thrust at my throat.
”U-Um… I sometimes go to Asagiri-san’s shop. I received this from Asagiri-san. I really like it.”
I showed the amethyst ring worn on the middle finger of my right hand.
”This is a very beautiful amethyst. To receive a present directly from Mayu-sama… So it really was that kind of relationship. I had vaguely suspected it, but…”
Hm…? Kirimine-san’s strangely convinced words. Wait a minute. I feel like she’s misunderstanding something.
”――If you are the partner Mayu-sama chose. We will also protect you with all our might, Himemiya-sama. However, Mayu-sama certainly has a good eye, or rather… We AMGE must also learn from her proactiveness.”
Matsuyuki-san floating a lukewarm smile. No. That’s not it.
”Come to think of it, I don’t see Hojo-san anywhere…”
I tried changing the subject for now. According to what I heard, Hojo-san was supposed to come too, but I hadn’t seen her yet.
”Ayuka-chan was… called to the staff room. I think that’s probably why she’s late.”
Kirimine-san said worriedly.
”Hojo has it tough too… Even though she’s already struggling without her parents. I wonder if her younger sister is acting out because of her age.”
Matsuyuki-san said so quietly, closing her eyes.
”If I recall――she has a younger sister named Mayumi-san, right?”
I tried asking.
”Yes. She’s the exact opposite of Ayuka-chan and a very active girl, but she’s a good kid. It’s just that lately, it seems they haven’t been getting along very well… I’m really worried.”
Kirimine-san said so.
”Well, maybe you can’t leave her alone because you love Hojo so much, Yuika, but it’s better not to interfere too much in other people’s family matters. You’re always sticking to Hojo anyway. It goes beyond the high school section――you’re quite famous even in the entire girls’ academy, you know?”
Matsuyuki-san saying so in an exasperated manner.
”――What’s wrong with being with someone I love? Ayuka-chan is always like that, so I’m protecting her! You said it earlier too, Matsuyuki-senpai, right? That we AMGE must also learn from that proactiveness.”
Kirimine-san sounding a little angry. Judging from the scenes of them going to school, she probably loves Hojo-san very much. I think romance between women is perfectly normal. In fact, I’d like to believe that my values, which give me the impression that it’s a given in girls’ schools and academies, are not wrong.
”No, I’m saying you should think about Hojo a little more. No matter how much affection you have for someone, wouldn’t they naturally feel annoyed if you’re always following them around? Especially since Hojo has a quiet personality to begin with.”
Listening to this, Matsuyuki-san’s opinion was more mature.
”Are you saying Ayuka-chan――finds me annoying? No matter how much of a senior and an AMGE you are, I won’t take any more insults than this!”
Kirimine stood up from her seat and left the cafeteria looking displeased…
”――I apologize, Himemiya-sama. Yuika’s emotions fluctuate wildly when it comes to Hojo. I’ve shown you an unsightly scene…”
Matsuyuki-san bowed her head to me. Then, she spoke to Tachibana-san, who seemed to have been watching us from a corner of the game area in the back.
”Aoi, you are the second-ranked AMGE and a fourth-year at the academy. In times like this, shouldn’t you step in to mediate or go check on Yuika――? It doesn’t help if you just watch worriedly.”
Matsuyuki-san’s eyes as she looked at her were somehow cold.
”You’re always like this. Despite being in a position to bring everyone together, you don’t take the initiative and you don’t even try to join the circle. In terms of humanity, Yuika is clearly more suited for AMGE. I don’t understand why you were chosen for AMGE, let alone as its second rank.”
Matsuyuki-san said quietly.
”I’m also not convinced――that you as you are now is my partner.”
Matsuyuki-san, who coldly declared so, also left the cafeteria…
In the corner of the game area, she was looking down. Chris gently called out to her.
”Oh, right! You should eat some cake too, Tachibana-san~. Everything in our cafeteria is delicious~”
Saying so, she invited her to the table, but…
”…I’m sorry. I should be going soon as well.”
Tachibana-san quietly said so and left the cafeteria…
After staring at the cafeteria entrance for a while, Chris sat down at the table.
”I wonder if she feels guilty――about various things.”
Chris poured coffee into a high-quality paper cup and took a sip.
”Tachibana-san. Come to think of it, when we first met, I feel like she was playing the flute on campus looking somewhat lonely…”
For some reason, I clearly remember that time. Even though it was supposed to be a cheerful song, it felt somehow sad.
”Even though she’s so beautiful. I wonder if she’s gone through some really painful experiences…”
”――I think kids with gender dysphoria, especially kids who transitioned from male to female, have it tough in various ways~. Globally, I hear many MTFs (Male To Female) suffer from feeling out of place with their appearance and voice. Even for a perfect girl like Tachibana-san, maybe the fact that she’s a former male is somehow painful for her and acts as a shackle on her actions… I think she should have more confidence, though~”
In our home country, there were relatively many open people. I suppose it’s not quite like that in Japan, perhaps due to the national character… Nowadays society uses the word transgender, but to be precise, gender dysphoria and transgender have different meanings. Because Chris understands that, she probably isn’t using the word transgender either.
”Well, should we get going soon too? The training room is going to be full of girls today!”
Chris said cheerfully. And so, we headed to the training room.
October 2, 2026. Friday. 13:00.
UCIA Japan Branch Investigation Base
Ground Base. Training Room.
”――From this time on, I will be serving as your instructor, Hardy Evans. I have trained numerous subordinates in the former US Navy SEALs. I’ll be blunt, many of them were quite soft too. I’m going to have you reach a level where you can easily kick them about. My close quarters combat techniques are the strongest. Everyone, are you prepared!”
Everyone replied energetically. The Chief’s eyes were sparkling. I had thought so for a while, but the Chief seems to love this kind of situation. Doing this together with schoolgirls, it somehow feels like a club activity from my student days. Although I was busy with my studies, so I was in the going-home club.
”Listen up! The foundation of close quarters combat is building a solid body! Muscles to unleash powerful attacks. Kinetic vision and explosive power to evade the opponent’s attacks. Offense is the greatest defense!”
She’s fired up. The Chief is fired up and looks like she’s having a lot of fun. I exchanged eye contact with Chris standing next to me.
The meaning behind it was that today seems even more dangerous than usual.
”Himemiya! Chris! What are you two smiling about!”
(Ah, this is bad…)
The Chief’s angry roar flew.
”――Prepare for push-ups! 100 times for everyone! Of course, I’ll do it too! It’s also effective for bust enhancement and tightening your waist!”
And so, everyone did push-ups while raising our voices in time with the Chief’s calls. After that, we did careful stretching, and then various strength training.
Before I knew it, two hours had passed in a flash…
The schoolgirls from the Alsard Church, and of course Chris and I, were exhausted. Today’s training was unusually heated. We took a short break while frequently rehydrating and taking in salt.
”Excellent. You all properly saw it through. Tough physical abilities demonstrate their effectiveness not just in close quarters combat, but in various situations. It’s a dangerous world lately. Women also need the power to protect themselves.”
The Chief spoke refreshingly while wiping her sweat with a towel.
”Hardy-sama, you aren’t out of breath at all… As expected.”
Kirimine-san said so to the Chief, who wore a composed expression. She seemed to be enduring quite a bit. Matsuyuki-san was also breathing quite heavily.
”We also do strength training in AMGE, but we don’t do this kind of primitive training…”
From what I hear, at the church and girls’ academy, they apparently have dedicated facilities and trainers for effective strength training. Although I don’t think it’s at this military level, I honestly think the girls are amazing for having seen it through.
”Well, my methods are drilled in from the military, so it can’t be helped if it’s called primitive. But the good thing is that it can be done anywhere. If you do it regularly, it will have an effect. Though the Messiah gave me a wry smile when I said strength training was my hobby.”
As the Chief said so, everyone laughed.
”Now then, let’s leave the warm-up at that. As expected, everyone is quite well-trained. From here on, I will instruct you in full-fledged close quarters combat techniques.”
Upon the Chief saying so, Kirimine-san was called up. In front of everyone, she explained the fundamental parts of close quarters combat. The schoolgirls from Alsard visiting this time all use longswords as their weapons. How to take distance, variations of offense and defense. The Chief explained while using her as a model.
”Patterns of offense and defense tend to become one-dimensional. The opponent probably isn’t a martial arts master, but if you can launch irregular attacks from anywhere, you will confuse the opponent that much more and the probability of scoring a clean hit will increase. A longsword has a long reach. However, it is unsuited for swift maneuvering. Absolutely do not let them get inside your guard.”
Everyone replied.
”Now then, shall we start with Kirimine. To polish your close combat skills, there is nothing but actual combat. Grasp the knack of battle with your whole body. Tachibana and Matsuyuki will also do it later, but I will not permit the use of spiritual power at all. Come at me with your bare bodies.”
Matsuyuki-san reacted to the Chief’s words.
”Please wait a minute. Isn’t going in with just our bare bodies out of the question? You must at least permit the use of a Protection Field at a minimum level. What will you do if we get injured?”
Certainly, they are schoolgirls. Their combat power increases dramatically precisely because they can use spiritual power. If they could repel attacks with a Protection Field, they should be able to train safely. But given the Chief’s personality, I feel she won’t allow it.
The Chief sighed and said.
”What’s this? You want to use spiritual power because you’re afraid of getting injured? Kirimine can’t use spiritual power at all, yet she volunteered to become my disciple. For Kirimine’s senior――aren’t you quite refined.”
She declared so, floating a fearless smile as if to provoke her.
”Excuse me…? I am saying this out of consideration for everyone’s safety!”
Matsuyuki-san wouldn’t back down either.
”If you don’t have the resolve to come at me with your bare body, you should return to the church. I have obtained permission from the Messiah for my training contents. She said, ‘Please train those cute girls of mine a lot.’ I’ll arrange a car if you’re returning. And you should report to the Messiah. Tell her, ‘We can’t do anything without spiritual power.’”
The Chief declared so, scoffing. Perhaps anticipating her seemingly prideful personality, she was thoroughly provoking her.
”To make a fool of me like this――you’ve got some nerve! Fine! I won’t use spiritual power at all! I’m not afraid of the likes of you!”
It seemed Matsuyuki-san finally got angry. Seeing that state, the Chief smiled.
”Good spirit. As expected, maidens who dash through the battlefield need at least this much spirit.”
Saying so, the Chief instructed everyone to take a shinai.
”As expected, fighting with white oak longswords in just your bare bodies would be dangerous. Thrusts and attacks to the head are prohibited. You may use leg techniques. However, direct attacks to the head and abdomen with your legs are not allowed.”
”That’s quite an unusual rule. Fine.”
Matsuyuki-san seemed quite irritated. She was glaring at the Chief.
”Well then, let’s start with Kirimine. Come at me.”
”I look forward to your instruction!”
And so the mock battles against the Chief began, but as expected, without spiritual power, no one was a match for her… Everyone went down in less than a minute. That said, she actually seemed to be holding back quite a bit. First, she would let the opponent attack for several tens of seconds. Then, she would effortlessly land a counter in the remaining ten seconds.
Chris and I fought two-on-one, coordinating our combinations well, but we were still no match. However, I felt like we put up a slightly better fight than last time.
”Is everyone already finished…? Last time, the battle with Kirimine, who received Hojo’s divine protection, made my heart leap, but…”
The Chief alone looked on with a cool expression, leisurely gazing at us as we were beaten down.
”If it’s going to end this quickly――maybe it would have been better if you all fought me using your spiritual power.”
She certainly wasn’t making fun of them, but fighting with spiritual power included would probably result in a much more proper battle. I think they would gain a lot more from it that way too.
”Chief. I think they would gain more if the mock battles were conducted with spiritual power. Given a situation with this much of a difference in ability…”
I advised the Chief.
”That’s right. It’s as Himemiya says. I will permit the schoolgirls to use spiritual power. By the way, how much of an attack can a Protection Field block?”
”I will explain that.”
As Matsuyuki-san said so, she thrust the palm of her right hand out in front of the Chief.
”Try punching my palm――with all your might.”
”Are you sure? At worst, your wrist might break and the bones in your palm might fracture.”
She quietly fixed her gaze on the Chief, her palm thrust out.
And the Chief unleashed a punch with all her might. The moment the Chief’s punch made a direct hit on her palm, a dazzling light and a sound like a fierce electric current echoed around them, completely repelling the attack with enough impact to make the Chief flinch.
”Impossible… It was completely repelled…”
The Chief was surprised. And the fist of her right hand had turned slightly red.
”――This is a frontal deployment type Protection Field. It can only block attacks from the front, but it allows for deploying a stronger barrier in exchange. Protection Fields include the frontal deployment type Frontal Protection Field (Shield), and the omnidirectional type Omnidirectional Protection Field (Barrier) that completely covers the surroundings. And there is the constantly deployed type Constantly Deployed Protection Field (Force Field), which can deploy a defensive film in advance to block a certain level of attacks from all directions. The one we use in our training is the constantly deployed type Protection Field. You lose at the point this is stripped away. Protection Fields consume a lot of spiritual power, so we use these three types depending on the situation.”
”Oh… Isn’t that interesting.”
”A Constantly Deployed Protection Field (Force Field) loses its effect after about two to three impacts, but it can cut more than half of the original impact. However, it has the lowest defensive power among the Protection Fields. That’s where differences in defensive power appear depending on the user.”
After saying so quietly, she readied her shinai.
”Hardy-sama. That power of yours that defeated Yuika with your bare body while she had Hojo’s divine protection――would you mind showing it to me?”
Matsuyuki-san’s eyes were serious. She was glaring sharply at the Chief.
”It’s almost night. I thought about calling it a day soon, but… it looks like that won’t be the case.”
The Chief readied her shinai.
And she held her shinai up to the ceiling and began to chant.
”Goddess of Wind, Ursheine. Bestow your divine protection upon me. Wind of heaven and fire of affection, let my praying voice resonate!”
This is different from Hojo-san’s divine protection. Along with the sound of Mana (natural particles) resonating, her body was enveloped in a pale blue, and slightly greenish light. Is she using the Goddess of Wind as her primary divine protection…?
And when she swung the raised shinai down, something like an aura of light formed to cover her along with a sharp sound. That is the constantly deployed type Protection Field. Matsuyuki-san, enveloped in a dazzling blue and pale green Constantly Deployed Protection Field (Force Field), looked like a completely different person from before.
”This looks interesting! I’m going all out!”
The Chief’s expression filled with joy. And she immediately dashed in with a low posture, swiftly making a horizontal sweeping strike.
”You’re naive!”
Matsuyuki splendidly evaded that sweeping strike aimed at her torso with a jump. It was vastly different from her previous movements. And while descending, she slashed the shinai diagonally downward.
The Chief’s and her shinai clashed. The Chief, having guarded the attack from the jump. The two of them began fiercely locking swords just like that.
”To think it makes this much of a difference just having divine protection! Entertain me more!”
”Just what I wanted! I’ll make you regret challenging me with your bare body!”
The two crossing paths while unfolding a fierce offense and defense in the center of the dojo.
”――It’s dangerous! Everyone, please step back to the corner!”
Tachibana-san suddenly said so and made everyone evacuate to the corner of the dojo. When we stepped back near the entrance of the training room, I realized for the first time that Hojo-san was there.
”Hello…”
Looking at the two unfolding a fierce battle in the dojo, Hojo-san greeted us with a strained smile.
”Ayuka-chan, sorry. I didn’t notice you had come at all…”
Kirimine-san drew close to Hojo-san and looked at the dojo worriedly.
”Matsuyuki-senpai… She’s serious. You never know what she’ll do when she gets heated up, so if anything happens, let’s stop her together, Ayuka-chan.”
”Y-Yeah… Matsuyuki-senpai. Because she can’t stop once she gets heated up. It might already be too late, but…”
The conversation between the two is scary.
”You have some promise too, Matsuyuki! Your swings are slower than Kirimine’s, but you have a good sense for offensive and defensive ideas!”
The Chief, continuing her attacks by swinging her shinai with tremendous speed. Skillfully parrying them, she occasionally mixed in counterattacks while making full use of backsteps and side steps, not allowing the Chief to close the distance. She grasped the evasion space as if she had eyes in the back of her head. I can only say it’s amazing, but what’s surprising is her explosive power and jumping ability. Just when I thought she was cornered, she immediately danced in the air and switched positions in an instant.
”Is this monster really fighting bare-handed!?”
Matsuyuki-san’s language was rough. That’s how much she had absolutely no leeway. I had a premonition that it would certainly be bad if things kept heating up like this.
”Take this! Sonic Boom Strike!”
She jumped high and swung her shinai down aiming at the Chief. From the shinai enveloped in green light, a shockwave was unleashed along with a roaring sound like cutting wind, assaulting the Chief. An extraordinary sight that made me involuntarily doubt my own eyes.
”Matsuyuki-senpai, what are you doing! To use Magic Sword techniques against a bare-handed opponent! This isn’t the Training Cathedral where power is attenuated!”
Hojo-san was screaming and panicking.
”This is interesting, Matsuyuki! That was close, but a near miss!”
I thought there was no way, but she had evaded it. She had instantly evaded the shockwave unleashed from mid-air with a backflip. The place where the shockwave hit was torn to shreds, its surface severely ripped apart. It would have definitely been bad if it had landed a direct hit. Anything more than this is dangerous. We have to stop their fight.
”Ayuka-chan! Let’s stop Senpai!”
Kirimine-san shouted.
And when their two shinai fiercely clashed in the center of the dojo, with a dry sound, both of their shinai broke cleanly in two…
But――it didn’t end. She instantly threw away the broken shinai and held up her right hand.
”Come forth! Spir――”
At that moment, Tachibana-san, who had dashed into the center of the dojo before anyone noticed, grabbed both of her wrists from behind and restrained her.
”Please stop! It’s already over!”
Tachibana-san’s scream. Along with that voice, the movements of the two completely stopped…
”Matsuyuki-senpai… Hardy-sama is certainly a military person and strong, but she is also our instructor. Moreover, she is facing you bare-handed, so what are you thinking using Magic Sword techniques in a place like this! As a senior, you should know that if it had landed a direct hit, the opponent wouldn’t have gotten off with just a scratch!”
Hojo-san was infuriated. Perhaps because she is usually very quiet, an angry Hojo-san felt terribly scary.
”…My bad. When I realized it, I had completely forgotten that the opponent was bare-handed…”
Matsuyuki-san was looking down and listening to Hojo-san’s lecture.
”――A part of the dojo is severely damaged. We will report this matter to Mayu-sama and Holy Priest Kamijo as our collective responsibility.”
Saying so, Hojo-san bowed her head to the Chief.
”Hardy-sama, I am terribly sorry. I believe the church will bear the repair costs for the dojo. As a fellow member of AMGE, I deeply apologize that such a situation had occurred when I arrived late due to some errands. I am truly――so sorry.”
With her head still bowed, Hojo-san apologized.
”Raise your head, Hojo. This happened because I also provoked Matsuyuki more than necessary. It’s not her responsibility alone. However――to think she would use such a big move. I was able to enjoy the tension of the battlefield for the first time in a while.”
The Chief was smiling gently. Seeing that, Hojo-san seemed a little relieved.
”Matsuyuki, don’t look down and raise your head.”
The Chief drew close to Matsuyuki-san.
”――It was a good fight. To calmly assess the battlefield (field) and fight is not something that can be done quite so easily. Your sense of balance in offense and defense, and your variations in combat are also abundant. Above all, I was surprised by your three-dimensional combat utilizing your explosive power and jumping ability. Your sense for close quarters combat is honestly at a quite high level.”
She raised her downcast face and stared at the Chief’s face with tear-blurred eyes.
”What’s left is the attack power of each individual strike. Instantaneous attack speed, and power. If you can heighten those, you’ll probably demonstrate peerless strength in close quarters combat. You should continue to work hard. I’m also looking forward to a rematch.”
Saying so, the Chief offered a handkerchief that seemed to have been in her pocket.
”You should wipe your face with this. Though your crying face is cute too.”
I felt her face turn a little red.
”I’m not… crying or anything…”
She wiped her tears and handed the handkerchief back to the Chief.
”Next time… I’ll oversee your spiritual ability training, Hardy-sama.”
Although Matsuyuki-san said so sounding frustrated, she seemed to be hiding her embarrassment.
”Now then, it’s gotten quite late. It’s almost time for dinner. Everyone should stay and eat dinner here. I guarantee the taste.”
Kirimine-san seemed delighted. Hojo-san also had an apologetic face, but seemed happy to be able to have dinner with everyone.
”Hey, hey, Asami.”
Saying so to me, Chris whispered in my ear.
”You know. I feel like the Chief is taking all the best parts~. At this rate, it looks like she’s going to get another fan. Well, she’s cool so it can’t be helped~.”
Looking at Matsuyuki-san’s state, Chris said so happily.
”Yeah. The fact that she’s not doing it on purpose makes it even more frustrating, or rather. I wonder what the Chief was like in her student days.”
While happily talking about such things, we left the training room.