The S-Rank Magical Girls from My Favorite Yuri Want Me!?

Ayane had been sitting with her back straight for nearly twenty minutes.

She didn’t move a leg, didn’t tap the floor with her fingers, didn’t sigh.

She didn’t do any of the things a nervous person might do without realizing it.

Because Ayane Kagetsu had dignity, or at least she was trying to keep it.

To her right, Misaki sat with her arms crossed and a completely serious expression.

To her left, Reina had her head resting against the wall.

"This is taking too long."

Ayane didn’t answer, so Reina lifted her head.

"Did you hear me?"

"Yes, I heard you."

"Then answer."

Ayane closed her eyes for a second.

"We’re waiting for our superiors to call us."

"I already know that."

"Then wait."

Reina looked at the ceiling.

"How boring."

Misaki spoke without looking at her.

"Maybe you should have thought about that before disobeying a direct order."

Reina turned toward her.

"So now it’s my fault?"

"Partly."

"You were there too, so we all decided to let Noah escape!"

Ayane opened her eyes, and the other two fell silent as Ayane spoke in a low voice.

"Don’t say his name here."

Reina frowned.

"Why?"

"Because we’re inside an organization facility."

"Exactly, everyone here knows who he is."

"That doesn’t mean we should talk about him in a hallway."

Misaki looked at Ayane.

"I agree."

Reina crossed her arms.

"Sure, you two always team up when you want to mess with me."

Misaki answered without emotion.

"It’s not hard."

Reina opened her mouth to reply, but a door opened and the three of them immediately turned.

A woman in a dark uniform appeared.

"Ayane Kagetsu’s unit."

Ayane stood up at once and Misaki did the same, while Reina took a little longer.

"Come in."

The woman stepped aside and Ayane breathed slowly.

’Behave with dignity.’

She entered first.

The room was small, much smaller than the large hall where they had received orders from the Great Mother.

That did not reassure Ayane.

There were three superiors seated on the other side of a table with documents, tablets, folders, and none of them were smiling.

Ayane stopped in front of them, while Reina and Misaki stood at her sides.

The woman in the center checked a folder.

"Kuromiya Unit."

"Yes."

Ayane answered.

"You have been summoned to evaluate the consequences of your operational failure."

Reina muttered.

"Here we go."

Ayane looked at her, so Reina fell silent and the superior continued.

"Your unit received a priority order."

She turned a page.

"Locate and capture Noah Reed."

Ayane kept her expression steady.

"Affirmative."

"Alive."

"Affirmative."

"And deliver him to the organization."

Ayane slightly clenched her hands behind her back.

"Affirmative."

The woman raised her gaze.

"You not only failed."

Reina looked away.

"You interfered with other units."

Ayane did not respond.

"You obstructed the operation."

Silence was the only answer they gave.

"And there is sufficient evidence to consider that some of your actions directly favored the target’s escape."

Reina raised a hand.

"That depends on how you interpret it."

The three superiors looked at her and Ayane closed her eyes.

’This is not the time for that, Reina.’

The superior on the left spoke.

"Do you wish to explain that interpretation?"

Reina slowly lowered her hand.

"Maybe not."

Misaki barely turned her head toward her and Ayane spoke.

"We accept responsibility for the outcome."

Reina looked at her.

"We accept?"

Ayane did not move.

"Yes."

Misaki nodded.

"Exactly."

Reina looked at both of them.

"Traitors."

The central superior closed the folder.

"Due to the severity of the offense, immediate operational sanctions will be applied."

Ayane swallowed, because there it was, what she had been waiting for for days.

’Whatever happens, stay calm.’

The woman touched the tablet.

"First."

Ayane paid attention.

"Your unit’s monthly budget will be reduced."

Reina frowned.

"By how much?"

The superior looked at the screen.

"Seventy percent."

There was silence.

Ayane blinked once, Misaki stopped breathing for a second, and Reina opened her mouth.

"Seventy?!"

Ayane turned.

"Reina."

"That’s not a reduction, that’s a financial execution!"

The superior did not react.

"Second."

Reina pointed.

"No, wait!"

Ayane grabbed her sleeve.

"Quiet."

"Ayane, they’re going to leave us with no money!"

"I already heard it."

"Then protest!"

"No."

The superior continued.

"Your unit will lose priority for requesting specialized equipment."

Misaki spoke for the first time.

"What priority level will we have?"

"Level five."

Misaki slightly frowned.

"We were level two."

"Correct."

Reina’s eyes widened.

"Level five means they’ll give us whatever nobody else wants!"

The superior on the right answered.

"If anything is available."

Reina froze.

"That was unnecessarily cruel."

Ayane took a deep breath while the central superior continued.

"Third, the unit’s access to official vehicles will be revoked."

Now even Ayane reacted.

"All of them?"

"All of them."

Misaki narrowed her eyes.

"Even for operational movements?"

"You may request transportation."

Reina seemed to regain a bit of hope.

"Until it is approved."

The hope vanished.

"And how long does that take?"

"It will depend on the priority."

Misaki answered.

"But we’re level five."

The superior nodded.

"Exactly."

Reina looked at Ayane.

"I think these people hate us."

Ayane ignored the comment and the woman checked another document.

"Lastly."

Ayane felt it could still get worse and, of course, it did.

"A limited amount has been assigned for minor operational expenses."

Misaki slightly raised her head.

"How much?"

The superior turned the tablet and the three of them looked.

Silence returned.

Reina blinked, then looked again, and then stepped a little closer.

"That’s wrong."

"No, that’s the limit."

"There must be a zero missing."

"No."

"Two zeros."

"That is the correct amount you have."

Misaki observed the figure.

"With that we can’t sustain an operation for a week."

The superior answered.

"Then manage your resources better."

Misaki stayed quiet while Ayane looked at the number.

It was a ridiculous number.

’It’s not even enough for a long mission.’

Reina was still staring at the screen.

"Is this daily?"

"No."

"Weekly?"

"Neither."

"Biweekly?"

"..."

Reina froze.

"Don’t say monthly."

"Monthly."

Reina raised both hands.

"What the hell are we supposed to do with that?!"

Ayane took her arm.

"Reina."

"No, I want an answer!"

The superior on the left rested both hands on the table.

"You can start by not spending money at cafés during operations."

Reina went completely still, and Misaki turned toward her, just like Ayane, and Reina blinked.

"That was only once."

The superior checked a report.

"It says three here."

Reina slowly lowered her arms.

"I don’t remember three."

Misaki answered.

"I do."

Reina looked at her.

"Why do you remember that?"

"Because I paid for two."

Ayane felt her dignity starting to leave the room and the central superior spoke again.

"The sanctions will remain until further evaluation."

Ayane straightened her back even more.

"Is there a date for that evaluation?"

"Negative."

"Understood."

Reina turned toward her.

"What do you mean ’understood’?"

Ayane ignored her and the superior closed the document.

"Furthermore, any further act of insubordination will result in more severe measures."

Ayane nodded.

"Understood."

Misaki did the same.

"Understood."

Reina stayed silent, so Ayane gave her a light elbow nudge and Reina sighed.

"Understood."

"Dismissed."

The three of them made a brief bow.

Ayane turned, walked toward the door, and Reina followed behind her, while Misaki was the last.