“Oh, look at all the people!”

The bus terminal in front of the preparatory school station was bustling with people.

The school is too far from the station to walk, so we need to take a bus from here, but the line of people waiting for the bus is so long that it’s hard to tell where it ends.

“The prep school’s festival has always been super popular. It looks like there are even extra buses running today.”

“We left home pretty early, though.”

Today is the day of the military preparatory school’s festival.

Mina and I left home quite early and took the train, but I didn’t expect it to be this crowded.

“Since it’s usually off-limits to non-related people, it attracts a lot of parents, prospective students, and girls hoping to find a wealthy husband.”

“A wealthy husband?”

“The social status of military personnel has changed dramatically since before the war, right? Being a military wife is now a top status card among mom groups. Even if something happens to the husband, the country takes good care of the remaining family.”

“That’s something…”

“As long as they respect the person risking their life, it’s fine, I think.”

Mina, who is prepared to stand on the battlefield herself, doesn’t seem to have a good feeling about those women trying to ride the winning horse.

After standing in the long line at the bus rotary, we finally arrived at the main gate of the military preparatory school after sending off several buses and squeezing into one.

“Oh, looks like there’s a security check. Another long line.”

“No, we should be fine here. This should be the meeting point…”

“Welcome, Kohou-san!”

From the school grounds, a student in a uniform with a stand-up collar and a cap came running, calling Mina’s name.

“Oh, it’s Corporal Kagami.”

“What? Why are you here!?”

The person who came running was Corporal Kagami, who was in the same group as Mina and me during the joint training between the military preparatory school and the Special Soul Gear Academy.

“Thank you for welcoming us today, Corporal Kagami. I’m grateful for the VIP invitation.”

“N-no problem…”

Mina thanked Corporal Kagami with a smile while clinging to my arm for some reason.

Corporal Kagami handed over the tickets with a strained face.

“Well then, I’ll stop by your booth later. See you.”

Mina pulled me along with a smile, and we entered through the gate for authorized personnel.

“Didn’t Corporal Kagami want to go around the festival with you, Mina?”

“After the joint training, he kept contacting me persistently. He should give up now.”

“Poor guy…”

Talking about the unfortunate Corporal Kagami, Mina and I walked down the main street of the festival.

There were many people, but the preparatory school’s grounds were much larger than those of the Special Soul Gear Academy, so there was plenty of space between the stalls.

“Let’s get something to eat first. I really want to see Toshi-niisan, but he’s not answering his phone.”

“The person Yuu-kun has been calling non-stop is the instructor at the preparatory school, right?”

“Yeah. I thought he wouldn’t turn off his phone during the festival to stay in touch, but he’s been busy on calls.”

“Maybe he’s blocking your calls… just kidding. Let’s head to the stalls. Mina-senpai will treat you since you held back during the fireworks festival.”

“Yay! I love you, Mina-senpai!”

“Hehe… I’ll buy you anything.”

The stalls at the national preparatory school are priced just to cover necessary expenses, making them incredibly cheap.

So, I made my requests without hesitation.

“Then, I’ll have yakisoba, a frankfurter, and fried frog legs.”

“Frog!?”

As expected, a great reaction.

But frog legs weren’t a joke on my part.

“The fried frog legs are from the Combat Rations Research Club stall. They taste like fried chicken.”

I found it in the festival booklet handed out at the gate. Trying unusual foods is part of the fun of a festival.

“Then why not just eat fried chicken!?”

“That’s different. Frogs were a delicacy on the battlefield. I’d like you to try it, Mina.”

“I’ll try…”

I checked the stall’s location in the festival booklet, leading to the uncertain Mina.

“Here, Mina. Your hand.”

“Huh!?”

“The stall area is crowded. So we might get separated. Let’s hold hands.”

“O-okay.”

Holding Mina’s hesitant hand, I headed excitedly toward the stall.

“Yuu-kun, you’re right, the frog is surprisingly good.”

Mina said, biting into the frog’s leg.

The simple seasoning of salt and pepper suited her taste.

But it was quite a surreal sight to see a young girl in a uniform eating frog legs.

The legs are long and unmistakably frog-like.

Some people might find it intolerable.

“See? But the stall student said these frog legs are imported and frozen. Fresh ones would be meatier and tastier. I’ll treat you if I find them next time.”

“I’ve had enough for now. Let Hinoura-san try next time.”

“Really? I wish Kotomi could’ve come today too.”

I muttered while chewing on a frog leg.

“Talking about other girls during a festival date is a no-no, Yuu-kun.”

“S-sorry…”

I shrank back and apologized to Mina’s cold voice.

But wasn’t it Mina who brought up Kotomi’s name first? How unfair!

“By the way, what kind of extracurricular activity is Hinoura-san doing on the weekend? First-year students and the student council shouldn’t be that busy now.”

“Oh… she’s been quite busy. I’m not sure.”

“She’s been absent on weekdays too, not because of health issues but personal reasons. Well, it’s good for me to have Yuu-kun to myself.”

Kotomi had mentioned she had a mission with Dr. Kirigaya the other day during our stuffed animal play.

It’s tough for Kotomi and Marin-chan as their special operations work becomes serious.

The Joint Chiefs should consider they’re still students.

I’ll use my rank to intervene in their scheduling and toss the frog leg bones into the trash.