[Due to this year's enrollment expansion, and because you enrolled late, the lower-year dorms were already full. It was difficult to reassign students, so we arranged for you to stay in the third-year dormitory instead.]
The female staff member's explanation still echoed in Vivienne Cross's mind as she recalled it word for word: "When I enrolled, the woman distributing the materials said that I was placed in the third-year dorm building alone."
"Mr. Milo, may I ask—are there any other students from our class, or even from the first year, staying in that Sentinel dormitory building where I live?"
Milo nodded. "I'll check now. Go on."
She lowered her head to operate the terminal while Vivienne continued recalling, "I hadn't planned to get drunk last night either. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but the juice ran out right then, so I picked up a glass of fruit wine…"
"When I woke up, I was in Westley's room." Vivienne glanced at the clothing still sitting on the table—the one she had grabbed in a panic from Westley's entryway coat rack. Judging by the looks of it now, it had been his used school uniform.
"In conclusion, I have reasonable grounds to believe that this was a trap set up against both me and Westley."
…
After speaking at length, Vivienne asked, "Mr. Milo, did you find anything?"
Milo set down her terminal. "Mm, you were on the right track. I can tell you that the answer is—no."
"There are no other students. You are the only first-year living in that building."
"Well, that makes things clear," Vivienne exhaled in relief. "As long as we can find the classmate who sent me back last night, we'll know the truth."
"As for who that classmate is, you can ask Tony Zane and Joey Yu. They can vouch for me."
Er… hopefully, they can vouch for her? If the two of them were also part of the scheming cabal, then she'd just have to accept her fate.
"Vivienne," Milo said, "Even though your story sounds logical, without concrete evidence, your words alone can't clear your name."
"And… it sounds like you know Westley?"
Vivienne awkwardly nodded. "Uh, sort of?"
"Then you should know he's an aristocrat," Milo said wearily. "Right now, he's insisting you illegally invaded his private residence. He's demanding that the school punish you—or else he'll pursue legal action to defend his rights."
Vivienne: "…"
Westley, I'm your Yshi! Please don't take me to court.
Milo hesitated. "Also… tell me honestly. Did you do something weird in his room? Why is he so furious?"
Vivienne: "…"
Maybe, possibly, perhaps… she saw him showering? Does that count as something weird?
Seeing her face, Milo grew serious. Her tone turned strict. "Even though I want to help you prove your innocence, if you really did something perverted in a Guide's dorm, you have to be held accountable!"
Vivienne swallowed. "I—I…"
"What is it?" Milo grew anxious. What exactly had she done? Was it so bad she couldn't say it aloud? Had she misjudged her after all?
"Just spit it out!"
Vivienne clenched her eyes shut. She had shouted while running earlier—what if it got picked up by the dorm security cameras? If she was doomed anyway, she might as well come clean. "When I woke up… he was in the shower."
Milo: "…And?"
Her face was full of confusion, and her tone grew more somber. "That's a bit inappropriate, but not enough for him to go full rage mode and destroy the whole dorm. What else did you do?"
She took a glance—okay, more than one glance.
Apparently, the faculty dorms and student dorms had different bathroom setups. Or maybe Milo didn't live in the dorms at all.
Vivienne admitted, "The shower door was semi-transparent."
Actually, not just semi—more like very transparent.
Milo fell silent.
At this point, asking Vivienne whether she'd seen anything indecent was no longer necessary.
Milo took a deep breath.
"You could go and apologize."
Vivienne covered her face. "That's a death sentence." Whether it was a literal death by Westley's fists or a social death—it was terrifying either way.
Time ticked on. Half a minute later, Milo said, "How about this—I'll give you some advice…"
Vivienne looked up at her expectantly.
Milo genuinely looked like she was doing this for the student's sake. "The school is participating in an upcoming trial between the top seven schools in the Empire. We're selecting promising students to compete—not just for pride, but for the school's honor…"
Vivienne: What the hell kind of trial?
"If you participate in the trial, the school will definitely protect you. Even if your name can't be cleared immediately, the school's backing will prevent Westley from pinning guilt on you or holding you legally responsible."
"Ma'am… don't you think that's a pretty abrupt topic shift?"
"Not abrupt at all." Milo clearly thought this was the perfect segue. "This is a carefully considered suggestion."
"The trial isn't open to just anyone—you're only being considered because of your SS-level mental power." Milo looked serious. "If you want to participate, your current physical fitness won't cut it. I'll have to assign you to a hellish training program—"
Vivienne had the sinking feeling she'd fallen straight into another trap.
Milo continued her sales pitch enthusiastically. "Don't be so nervous, Vivienne. Would your teacher ever hurt you?"
Miss Milo, your enthusiasm is making me nervous. None of you look particularly trustworthy right now.
"This trial is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For any student, it's all gain, no loss."
Vivienne rubbed her forehead. "Let me think about it…"
Could this be part of the conspiracy too?
…
Vivienne really wanted to hold out a little longer, wait for a better break. But unfortunately, she had another worry:
If Westley—who already half-suspected Ixchel—found out that her real name was Vivienne Cross, that they attended the same school, and that she'd somehow ended up sneaking into his dorm—
How would she die?
The screams of Gavin Thornton were still fresh in her memory.
A lesson from those who went before. A lesson from those who went before…
"Teacher," Vivienne said slowly, "Can you… not tell Westley my name?"
Even as she said it, she felt guilty as hell.
But.
Milo picked up on the slight shift in her tone and immediately locked in her decision. "Sure!"
"Until we've fully investigated the truth, the school will of course protect the identity and privacy of participating students." She even joked with the school uniform nearby, "Gotta say—smart move covering your face when you ran. Talk about foresight."
If that footage of Vivienne sprinting through the Guide dorms ever went viral, even the school might not be able to shield her…
And what about the students who don't participate?
Vivienne wasn't dumb enough to ask that out loud. Coerced or not, she accepted her fate. "Miss Milo, can you tell me more about this Seven Schools Trial?"