[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 8

The plan to secure the Miracle 5000 proceeded smoothly. The meeting place was the plaza in front of the central library, and the time was 7 a.m. Since the checkpoint and the city center were quite far apart, we decided to camp out in front of the library. Sayuri-san threw a fit, making a huge fuss, but as soon as she heard about the Miracle 5000, she quieted down. Is this food really that delicious?

Thanks to that, I’m renting out this wide plaza all by myself in the pouring rain at dawn. This place is huge, dear landlord.

But since I’m stuck under the building’s roof, the actual livable space is smaller than a dorm room. Putting a roof over the entire plaza would obviously cause a ruckus at the tea party, so I’d better not.

I thought I was tough enough to sleep anywhere, like a seasoned vagrant, and that two blankets—one for the ground and one to cover me—would be enough. But I didn’t expect a torrential downpour. Kurimura-san must have cast some kind of magic because the weather report said this was a record-breaking rain in meteorological history. The sound of the rain isn’t soothing white noise—it’s like a construction site. How am I supposed to sleep?

By now, the underclassmen at the checkpoint are probably all asleep. If I fall asleep like this, won’t my back give out? There’s still a few hours until the meeting time. Can I hold out?

“…It’s freaking cold.”

Should I just go inside the library? I’m out here because I was worried they’d kick me out after a few hours, but getting pelted by raindrops one by one is a surefire way to catch a cold. Honestly, getting side-eyed is way better than catching a cold.

Not a single student has come or gone from the library while I’ve been waiting, so it’s probably empty inside. I pushed the heavy wooden door, and with a clunk, it opened easily. The library was eerily quiet, with only a few dim lights flickering, creating a spooky atmosphere.

I came into the library to avoid catching a cold, but this place is creepy. It’s a stormy night outside with pouring rain, and inside, it’s a dimly lit library. In movies, this is the kind of place where monsters show up. I’m not going to be the first victim, am I? My baton is an equal-opportunity weapon, after all.

“Hey, is anyone there?”

“…Eek…!”

“Whoa, someone’s here!”

Judging by the lack of other voices, it’s clear there are only two people in the library at this hour. The only person who’d be in the library at this time is definitely the head librarian. I vaguely remember she’s a third-year senior, but I don’t recall seeing her in the newspaper.

Deep in the library, under a flickering light, a silhouette wavered. That’s the source of the voice! In this creepy, dark library, I decided to stick with another person to pass the time. Their decision to be here is none of my business. The building is so big it took a bit to walk over.

As I got closer to the light, the head librarian’s silhouette became clearer. She was engrossed in a book, wearing black glasses with dark circles under her eyes, and had an Americano by her side. My gut tells me this person is definitely…

“A shut-in.”

“Wha…?! I mean, it’s not that bad…! I do hate it when outsiders come into the library and cause all sorts of trouble, but… how the heck did you get from the entrance to here so fast…?! It’s kind of far…”

“I’m scared of being alone in dark places, and, uh, sorry, but that’s just how it is.”

“Uh…”

She definitely got mad just now. Look, what I meant was, the head librarian herself knows about her public image.

To anyone, it’s obvious she’d rather hole up in a library with single-digit daily visitors than go around greeting people in the plaza every morning. I wanted to say that out loud, but I swallowed it to avoid getting smacked.

“…So, what brings you to the library at this hour…?”

“Do you usually ask people who come into the library?”

“No, hardly anyone who comes here even talks to me… and honestly, no student has ever come to the library at this hour.”

Okay, that’s fair. It’s like how we call students who show up at the checkpoint at dawn trying to cross the academy border “crazy.” So to the head librarian, I must look like some lunatic barging in to mess up her peaceful early morning vibe.

Well, she’s half-right, isn’t she? No big deal.

“If I offended you, I’d like to apologize. By the way, mind if I read a book on the couch?”

“Is that an apology or a demand? It’s an apology, right?”

“Of course it’s an apology, senpai. If you want, I’ll come back during the day and buy you an espresso.”

“…That sounds nice.”

Nothing works better to win people over than food. No matter how much the Gehenna kids act up, if you grill a pound of pork belly at a downtown barbecue joint, they can’t resist coming to the checkpoint. That’s reliable intel from real experience.

I grabbed an interesting-looking book from the shelf and flopped onto the couch. Every academy has different kinds of entertaining books, but Trinity’s history books are the best. They’ve been through more than a couple of wars, so there’s no shortage of wild stories. Like how they built a massive catapult against Gehenna, only for Gehenna to request a ceasefire first, or how they tried attaching flamethrowers to tanks but got shut down by the student council.

There’s also a record of Arius Branch students calling a Trinity student who wore a silk hat and carried an umbrella, claiming to be a “Trinity gentleman,” a lunatic. You might expect it, but no, that wasn’t me. It was my direct ancestor, though. But there’s no way madness is hereditary.

…Probably?

I spent about three or four hours reading when my phone started buzzing. Checking Momotalk, Kyoyama was freaking out, asking where I was. Apparently, the truck arrived earlier than expected, and students were swarming.

I folded the book and got up from the couch.

“I’ve gotta go.”

“…”

The head librarian was so engrossed in restoring an ancient manuscript that she didn’t respond. It felt rude to keep talking while she was working, so I slipped out quietly.

I left the book on her desk and exited the library. The silence lingered until I stepped outside, where the sun was rising on the horizon. Unlike the desolate library, the plaza was now bustling with students. I sent a Momotalk saying I was at the library entrance, and soon the dessert club kids found me.

“What, you were in the library, senpai?”

“Reading since dawn. By the way, there’s a ton of kids here. Are they all here for the Miracle 5000 too?”

“No idea. If they are, where’d the info leak from…? Ugh, this is gonna be a hassle…”

“It’ll be fine, right? My missiles could take out most of them in one shot.”

“Then the truck would get wrecked too, Yoshimi-san. We need a quieter approach. So, senpai, got any ideas?”

“…Yutori-san, lend me your shield.”

Ibaragi-san’s missile talk sounds suspicious, but of course, I’ve got a plan. Unlike Gehenna kids who’d forget a ceasefire in three days, Trinity girls require a different approach.

And there’s a perfect method for that: the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau’s D.U. riot control tactics. Sure, we don’t have their tear gas or scattershot rounds, but we’ve got shields and batons, don’t we?

“There’s the truck!”

“Hey, gather up! We’ve gotta secure our spot!”

“Crap.”

Kyoyama-san’s probably thinking the same thing. The info definitely leaked. To make matters worse, students were pouring in from outside the plaza, probably catching the truck’s scent. If we don’t move fast, we’re not getting our share.

Time to prioritize action over words and words over thoughts. I grabbed Yutori’s shield in my left hand, my baton in my right, and started walking toward the truck uncle setting up shop.

“Let’s go.”

“…So we’re moving now… wait, what?”

“Just follow me.”

Clang, clang, kaang! The sound of my baton hitting the shield cut through the noise of students, vehicles, and everything else in the plaza.

Unlike Public Security’s riot shields, Yutori-san’s is solid iron in the middle, and the baton has an iron tip, making the impact even louder. It’s the same principle as the rifle butts we use to knock out Gehenna kids at the checkpoint. Who can beat the sound of iron on iron?

Of course, unlike rifle butts, which aren’t regulated, coating a baton in iron is illegal for students outside Valkyrie Public Security. But as long as you don’t get caught, it’s fine. Like the howitzer on our “borrowed” Hifumi truck, it’s just on loan for a bit.

“What’s that noise?!”

“It’s Valkyrie! Why’s Public Security here?”

The act of banging a baton on a riot shield is kind of the Valkyrie Public Security’s signature move for crowd control, so it’s no surprise people get the wrong idea.

That’s partly intentional. You know how even regular folks instinctively back off when cops get close? That’s what I’m banking on. Or they just think I’m crazy. Either way, the kids are clearing out.

But the allure of Trinity’s greatest invention, the Miracle 5000, made most students block our path. Some stepped aside as we slowly approached the truck, but others were eyeing us, waiting for the truck to open for business.

It’d be great if we could get there smoothly, but with “limited edition” on the line, I’m worried we’ll miss out if we’re even a bit late. The best move is obviously to be first in line.

“Yutori-san, any info on how many they’re selling today?”

“No specifics, but usually, they sell about a dozen or so and call it a day.”

“And how many of us are there?”

“One, two, three… five of us.”

“So if we secure the front, we’re set, right?”

“Yeah… wait, where are you going?”

“Charge!”

I stopped banging the shield and sprinted. The dessert club kids hesitated for a second but then realized my noble intent—“If we’re late, I might not get to eat this!”—and started running too. I stashed the baton, blew my whistle, and drew the plaza’s attention again.

“They’re running! They’re trying to get there first!”

“Hey, we’ve gotta run too! Looks like they’re starting!”

Now the other students are running too. But they’re missing three things: first, our group is closer to the truck than anyone else; second, I’m practically at the truck already; and third, we’re going to get there before they do.

Unfair and dirty tactics? Sure, but we got here first. If you don’t like it, run faster next time or don’t back off when you see a student cosplaying as Public Security in the middle of the plaza.

“First place!”

“Wow, senpai, how’d you pull that off? Getting here first feels like a first!”

“There’s a method to it. Sparrows hate the same things whether it’s Gehenna or Trinity.”

“Oh, yeah… wait, how do you know about sparrows…?”

That reaction confirms it. Kyoyama-san must’ve been quite the player before high school. Not many students these days know that slang—only those who used to run with a crew back in the day.

I’ll have to ask her later what happened to make her go from alley queen to dessert club common sense. While Kyoyama-san puzzled over it, the truck’s shutter went up, and the shop lit up. The girls following formed a natural line. Some students gave up and left.

“Hey, you’re a new face. These kids are regulars, though.”

“Came to buy for the gang. Heard it’s crazy good.”

“Good? It’s the best in Trinity, I guarantee it. Since you’re here, I’ll throw you one extra for half price.”

“Whoa, guess I’m becoming a regular then?”

“You know what’s up, haha.”

The truck uncle laughed at my joke, and I’m feeling great. I got two cakes for the price of one and a half. On a whim, I treated the dessert club kids too, and Kyoyama called me the best senpai ever. My rep’s through the roof—maybe I’ve got some Miracle 5000 connections now?

We grabbed Trinity’s legendary cake and left the line. The truck closed up soon after. How many people got the Miracle 5000 today? One, two, three… wow, less than ten. We got ours, and only a few others did? Limited edition indeed.

This cake is worth it.

Even if it was pricey, I’d say it’s better value than most famous brand cakes, but surprisingly, the Miracle 5000 is relatively cheap. Isn’t there a saying in the classics about this being the cherry on top?

I planned to eat one and share the other, but eating a whole one might give me diabetes, so I ate half and gave the rest to the kids.

Now that I’m done with the dessert club, it’s time to head back to the checkpoint… but why do I have a bad feeling? Did I check Momotalk?

Ding.

Kawazaki Ritsuko

• Senpai, Sakurako-san’s here. Can I call you?
• Senpai, Sakurako-san’s talking about the truck. I think you’re busted.
• Senpai, you got caught with the truck! Where are you?
• Senpai, the Sisterhood’s taking the truck!
• Senpai, pick up the phone!
• Unnie.
• Unnie!

…Oh, crap.