Fluffy White Ears

As soon as the second fireworks program began, a transmission came through the earpiece communicator.

"Gaaaah! Backup! Requesting backup—!"

"That sounded like someone dying," I muttered.

"It seems things are escalating somewhere," Shibahime noted calmly beside me. "Akaya-kun, you should probably go."

Amid the thunderous booms of fireworks, I noticed Shibahime saying something. I leaned closer to hear her better.

"What? What did you say?" I asked, puzzled.

"I said the disciplinary committee is in trouble. Can you even hear the communicator?" she repeated, her tone tinged with irritation.

Her face was close to mine now, her brow furrowed in mild frustration at my apparent inability to grasp her words.

"Wait, you're hearing the disciplinary committee's communications? Oh, you're wearing an earpiece," I realized belatedly, noticing the device tucked in her ear.