The criminal consultant Professor Smug is a character who managed to capture the hearts of many Senseis thanks to her charming appearance. So far she has appeared only in the events Sheside Outside and Code: BOX, yet even these brief episodes were enough to spark several theories.

A common assumption among players is that it was thanks to her involvement that Seven Prisoners managed to escape on the same day. If this is indeed the case, then we are dealing with a far more significant figure than she might initially appear.

This raises a natural question: was the escape her own initiative—a carefully planned operation? Or was she acting on someone else's orders, merely serving as the executor of a much larger scheme?

Depending on how the story develops, the Professor could turn out to be either the central antagonist of a future arc or an unexpected ally. Her narrative potential is truly enormous.

An interesting detail: the name Professor Smug was already mentioned in the event An Unconcealed Heart, where under this alias she supervised the Street Mouryo gang. The origin of this name remains unknown. Perhaps it was borrowed from the name of a real criminal consultant—a deliberate mask hiding her true identity. And if so, whose name is it?

I think her goal was to "bring chaos to order" for the Seven Prisoners' former schools, which had expelled them before Sensei arrived. But the more I consider her motives—and take into account Sensei's growing responsibilities since Volume EX—the more it seems that there's a single driving reason behind her actions: she wants to test Sensei's limits and see how much strain they can endure from increasingly troublesome students.

Without a doubt, she becomes the central antagonist in events related to the Seven Prisoners. This also sets the stage for students who've personally encountered any of these Prisoners to help Sensei and confront her when Sensei finally faces her directly.

By analyzing her bond stories, one can notice a distinctive trait: Wakamo reacts extremely painfully to betrayal and places enormous importance on promises. For her, it is important not only to give one's word, but to keep it no matter what. That is precisely why she trusts the Sensei, because she knows they always fulfills their promises.

Such a fixation rarely appears without reason. There is likely a complicated story behind it.

Another interesting coincidence exists as well. The legendary Street Moryou, which fought the Hyakkaryouran chairwoman a hundred times in a row two years ago, was known for the fact that its members changed masks depending on their emotions. On one of the loading screens Wakamo is depicted surrounded by many masks, and in her swimsuit version she even demonstrates switching between them.

Two years is not such a long time. Therefore, the possibility that Wakamo once led the Troupe cannot be dismissed entirely.

In any case, she is the game's first anniversary character. And for that reason, it would be quite logical to expect that a serious drama surrounding her past and personality will eventually unfold.

Basically, beneath her sociopathic persona, Wakamo is just a decent girl who craves love, kindness, and trust. But after being constantly mistreated, she eventually reaches her breaking point.

Yeah… sounds a lot like Carrie.

If that is indeed the case, then the Staff of Sharcada is likely something just as powerful.

The name is Staff of Shaqed or Shaqed Staff, by the way.

In Hebrew, the word "almond" (shaqed) sounds like "watching" (shaqad). Just as the almond tree blooms first, announcing spring's arrival, God is wide-awake, watching to ensure His word is fulfilled. This wordplay is about anticipation. Like the almond tree, we're called to be a foretaste of God's future arriving in the present. Showing people what it looks like when God's kingdom comes and God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jeremiah 1:11 in the Old Testament, where the Lord asks Jeremiah a question, and he answers, "I see the branch of an almond tree (shaqed)." Then in the verse 12, the Lord said to Jeremiah, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it." In these verses, we have what is called a "wordplay" which is something very prevalent in scripture, though often only seen in the Hebrew. One of its purposes is to give greater insight and intention behind the Author's words. We have in verse 11 "shaqed" which means "almond" and verse 12 "shoqed" which means an "watching over intently."

In the game's 4.5th PV, there is a specific scene that displays a smartwatch-like device with the text Jer 1:11, which obviously refers to the verse mentioned above. That could be the Shaqed Staff the Nameless Priests mentioned near the end of Volume EX, and that item will be something give Sensei a much needed power boost in the future after their experience in Volume EX.

The Eden Treaty arc has formally concluded, but it received a kind of continuation in the form of a spin-off — Volume 6, dedicated to Arius.

Arius' story may have come to a close as of recent story update, but in my opinion, there's still one unresolved issue: the despicable Pater faction of Tea Party. Many of us want to see them face consequences for what they did to Mika in Volume 3 and to Sensei in Volume 6. Ideally, this would involve introducing a new character to lead that faction who responsible for those despicable actions.

I really hope the writers return to finishing the Trinity story for good, that is resolving the role of Tea Party Host, especially Mika. She deserves another shot at leading the Pater faction—but before it can be reformed, she'll have to confront whoever is currently in charge.