Vol 2 Chapter 13 (2/2)

“What was the e?” Asked Seron

“Erood people in Roxche, so I am happy Thank you’”

“…‘Still’, huh…” Seron trailed off, closing his eyes

A ain

“I’d like to visit Sou Be-Il someday And I hope I’ll be able to meet him there”

“Yes!” Meg chirped “Then I will too come as interpreter!”

Seron’s eyes flew open

“Huh? …Er, yeah …Thank you I… I have faith in you” Seron stammered

“Please trust insmiled

Jenny nibbled on her sandwich and said under her breath,

“Talk about dense”

No one could hear her

Everyone was finished eating, and they were on their second cup of tea

“Anyway, there’s another reason I came to see you today” Said Hartnett

“I don’t believe you’ll need to make us swear to silence We have no real evidence, so no one would believe us even if we posted articles about the incident all over the school” Nick said Jenny shot hilare

“Youfun of e?”

“Please, call me Nick”

“I know your na secrets”

“That’s interesting”

Hartnett finally cut in “Look, I’ the newspaper girl”

“It’s Jenny”

“Jenny, then I’ else”

“Like what?” Said Natalia “‘A discussion with a police officer’ doesn’t have a nice ring to it”

“I know this an All eyes but Jenny’s were on him

Hartnett took a breath and said as casually as though asking soet him coffee—

“If anything happens, I want your cooperation”

“What?” “Pardon?” “Huh?” “Really?” “Oh”

Seron, Nick, Larry, Natalia, and Meg looked at him quizzically

“What do you mean by that, Mr Hartnett?”

“It’s just like you said the other day, Seron A school campus—”

“A school caate”

“Exactly Especially a secondary school campus, and especially places like the 4th Capital Secondary School, where a good chunk of the student body is frorounds”

Everyone was in silent agreement

“Of course we can step in if someone files a report or if there’s clearly a case to be investigated, but we have our limits If all we have are small hints or the case is concealed from us, like with the Murdoch case, the police will have a very difficult time”

Seron was surprised “So you’re asking us for help? That’s—”

“That’s not very responsible of you” Natalia finished

Hartnett conceded the point “Yeah I think so too”

“Oh?” Natalia tilted her head

“But reroup called the police—take action, it’s to help so or in despair But if no one brings those people to our attention, they’ll be left to agonize alone like Burt Murdoch was” Hartnett said, his tone becoht happen in your school, that’s fine with et this conversation happened Don’t spare a second thought for this poor bottoates of learning with the claiize for the sudden cancellation of construction work!”

‘Just join the draht, but he did not say a word

There was a long moment of silence

Until a soprano voice broke the silence

“I will help you!”

Meg stood from her seat All eyes were on her

“Soain any must hold out their hands to the someone!”

Hartnett rose to his feet and burst into applause

“Well said!”

Everyone stared at Hartnett

“What’d he just say?” Asked Larry

Jenny, who understood Bezelese, answered

“He’s praising her”

Meg stared, wide-eyed “My gosh… you spoke Bezelese, Mr Hartnett?” She asked in Bezelese

“Very, very little I studied Bezelese at uni-university A police officer must do work in the orld”

“That’s incredible! I’ should happen I will docitizen, no matter which side of the continent you happen to be on”

“That is wonderful! You are a model citizen Yes!”

“Not at all I’ my civic duty”

Larry began to elbow Seron

“Hey… those two are getting pretty fired up You just gonna sit back?”

Nick also joined in on the ribbing

“I think thisventure, Seron”

Thud

Seron rose to his feet, sla his hands on the table

“Huh?” “Hm?”

The tere already standing turned

Seron took a deep breath—

“All right” He said in Roxchean “We’ll help out if anything coood people in Roxche!”

“Good to hear, Seron!”

“Yes! Seron is a very good person I love people like that”

Seron aled to steady hi

“Man…” Larry sighed at the show of inaction

“So it’s decided What about the rest of you?” Asked Jenny

“As long as it doesn’t get in the way of school And all the better if it gives me an excuse to cut orchestra practice” Said Natalia

“If Seron’s in, so am I” Larry chimed in

“Then I will join you as well” Nick finished

“You don’t have to force yourself, Nick”

“I’ht ere supposed to be friends”

Jenny clapped her hands together

“Then it’s decided All five of you are joining the newspaper club! Congrats!”

Seron and Natalia frowned, and Larry voiced his disbelief

“What?”

“What’re you so surprised about? I was talking to Mr Hartnett here before you showed up, and we decided we needed a place to compile and distribute information”

“And that place is the newspaper club?” Larry asked

“I also believe this is a suitable place” Nick nodded “The clubroo eyes, is furnished with a telephone, and has a darkrooraphs”

“I guess…” Larry agreed

“So I’ll accept you all as club ive you all keys to the roo double duty with another club And now it’s all sorted out The newspaper club can finally go official!” Jenny cheered, her eyes sparkling

“So you you admit it wasn’t before, then” Natalia chuckled

“Yeah, yeah Anyway, you canin a few instruments to play, Nat”

“Sweet I’ll haul in onna be vice-president”

“Got it Noe just need a treasurer Anyone willing to volunteer?” Jenny asked, scanning the room

“You do it, Seron I’m not interested”

“I’m afraid I’ll have to decline as well”

Seron, still silent,hi with emotion

“A-all right”

He was conquered in an instant

“Then it’s decided The newspaper club has been born anew today!” Jenny declared “Froate every last inch of this school to gather and report new information! The truth is in our hands!”

Nick applauded with a smile Jenny bashfully stopped him

“It’s nice to enjoy being young, but don’t forget about the cooperation deal” Hartnett said from the back

“Of course The boys and girls here are all good citizens, after all”

“No adults allowed, eh? I suppose I don’t really mind…” Hartnett pushed his chair back into place and pulled off his jacket froreed to help,back to work Thanks for the sandwich, and keep in touch I don’t know if I’ll see you during the break or after, but take care of yourselves”

Hartnett walked out with a wave

When the door closed, Seron fell back into the sofa

Meg also took a seat Their eyes met

“We must use our best efforts!”

“Huh?”

“We ether!”

“…Oh Yeah You’re right”

“Let us pile our hands!”

Meg held out her slender, pale arm over the table

“Now! Put your hands on my hand We will have a ceremony to the nespaper club We must say, ‘hip hip huzzah’!”

Larry grabbed Seron’s hand—

“You first”

—and placed it on top of Meg’s

The moment his palm touched the back of her hand, Seron’s face twitched But no one noticed

“I’ain” Natalia said, joining in

“Am I next?” Larry’s muscled arm reached in

“My turn” Jenny’s tiny hand followed

“I suppose I’ll top us off” Nick finished elegantly

Once all six hands were together, Meg smiled

“Heh heh… this is slightly too heavy for in the cheers For the newspaper club! Hip hip huzzah!”

Their hands rose and fell, then scattered

“…”

Seron clenched his right hand into a fist

“By the way” Jenny said suddenly “Lunchti around here?”

In disbelief, the others turned to the wall clock

“Shoot, Ms Krantz is gonna have our heads! Let’s get going, Seron”

“Not good”

“I believe I ymnasium also”

“Run, Meg”

“Oh—yes! Please do not leave me back…”

The newat Jenny on the way

“Bye guys See you later”

Jenny sat on the sofa with a teacup in hand and stared at the door that had again slammed shut

“Looks like I’ll be busy for quite a while”

She downed her tea in one go

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