"Fully revived, it is the perfect Misono-sama☆"
Hmm, I never thought the day would come in my life when I would say this line. To be honest, there's a world of difference between a man in his 20s who's lived a full life saying this, and a girl with an appearance and atmosphere that makes you laugh just by looking at her saying it, isn't there?
In short, this is a line that I'll never get a chance to say if not now. I have absolutely no desire to get injured so badly that I wake up in the Relief Knights' ward. It's not that I couldn't subdue Captain Mine if I got serious, but even I am scared of her 'relief.'
In any case, after a full day of rest, my body has made a complete recovery. It's a body so healthy that it makes me feel like catching a cold yesterday was the strange part.
By the way, I have to go to the academy for Tea Party work today. Hmm, maybe this is a good opportunity to move?
According to Nagisa, this house was the place Mika used before she became a student council president of the Tea Party. After she became the head of the Pater faction, she stayed at a separate mansion provided by the Tea Party for security reasons, but the original Mika had ordered a major renovation to redo the interior, so she was temporarily staying here again.
As for me, since I value my privacy, I had continued to stay here even after hearing the construction was finished, but…
After holding the press conference and revealing my identity to the whole world, commuting… no, attending school via the train has become a little awkward. Before, I would get stares because of my appearance, but these days, I can hear people whispering things like, 'They say that person is the Tea Party's Host,' and it's really getting on my nerves.
Ah, come to think of it, it'll be difficult to go shopping with Hifumi now, too. For some reason, that's a shame. Shopping… was surprisingly fun. I guess I'll have to start wearing a wig or something now.
The Tea Party aides are also making a fuss, saying they'll escort me for my own safety. If it's going to be like this anyway, I wonder if there's any reason not to just stay at the mansion they provide.
Let's give this part some more thought separately.
Besides, if it's for my safety, it would be better to assign that manpower to Nagisa or Seia. I should talk to them about this. Assigning a security detail to someone who doesn't need one is just a waste of manpower, isn't it?
By the way, Nagisa… not only did she drop by last night, but she's also sent me a ton of Momotalks… I remember eating the half-finished porridge from lunch, taking my evening medicine, and then, in a half-dazed state, begging her to please go home so she wouldn't catch my cold.
Honestly, if I hadn't stopped her, Nagisa looked like she was ready to nurse me all night. She's so overprotective it's flustering. It's not a deadly disease, just a cold and my period.
[Nagi-chan☆] [Are you feeling any better?]
Ugh, Nagisa is too quick. To send a Momotalk as if she was just waiting for me to wake up.
My condition has improved to the point where I'm not even coughing, so I send back a reply telling her I'll see her at the academy. I should wash up first and then get ready to go out.
Honestly, it's a bit much to call the Tea Party aides just because I'm bothered by people's stares, so I'll just take the train to the academy.
I came to the conclusion that the train was not scary at all as long as I put on a brave face and stuck Bluetooth earphones in my ears. If there had been any elderly people, they might have come up to talk to me, but at this hour, it's all students anyway. And even then, it's Sunday, so it's pretty empty.
First things first, I attended morning mass. It's a little difficult to go every day, but I usually make time for it at least one day on the weekend.
But after I did, a member of the Sisterhood approached me.
"Blessings upon you today as well, sister. Pardon the intrusion, but on behalf of the Mother Superior, may I ask if you could spare a moment of your precious time?"
"Hmm… well, if it's just for a moment, I suppose it's fine☆ Please lead the way!"
"Yes, right this way."
Sakurako, what is it so early in the morning? Don't tell me it's because I skipped mass yesterday? You know I only attend once a week on weekends! No, wait, does she know that…? Even if she doesn't, I wish she would…
By the way, don't the members of the Sisterhood find those veils hot or stuffy? I think they look nice, but, hmm…
No, wait. Unlike the outside, which is starting to get hot, the inside of the cathedral maintains a surprisingly cool temperature, so it's probably not that hot.
At the end of the path the Sisterhood nun led me down, I found Sakurako and Wakaba Hinata in the middle of prayer. Heh, nuns really do look their best when they're praying like this.
Though, unlike Sakurako, who hasn't firmed her resolve yet, Hinata's outfit is incredibly shameless. It's a truly amazing outfit, the kind that not even a nun from an R-18 doujinshi or an eroge would wear.
"Mother Superior, I have brought the Tea Party Host as you requested."
"Thank you, sister. Heehee."
"…Th-Then, I will take my leave now!"
Hmm, so it's true, Sakurako. The members are really scared of you… Poor thing.
"Heehee. May peace and blessings be with you today. Have you been well, Mika-sama?"
"Hi, Sakurako-chan! Yup, I think I've been doing well, in my own way. There are a few things that have gotten a little more troublesome… but yes, I think it was worth it!"
"I am truly glad to hear that. The reason I requested this meeting today was none other than… I was moved by your piety in diligently attending not only chapel but also mass recently, and I wished to arrange a time when we could intimately discuss doctrine together. Heehee."
Ah, no thank you, sister. I'm an atheist. Though lately, I've been frequenting the cathedral so often I'm starting to get confused about whether I'm an atheist or a devout believer… It's gotten to the point where I sometimes find myself humming hymns…! But still, I'm an atheist.
"Ahaha, that's, well. I've been so busy lately that it's a little difficult to make a lot of time… Hmm, would it be alright if I just joined you for a little while?"
"N-No way…"
"…Huh?"
"Y-You, who would attend mass once a month if at all… and even occasionally skipped chapel, Mika-sama…?! Ah, aaah… f-forgive me, Mika-sama! I spoke out of turn without thinking!"
Hmm, so I was acquainted with Hinata too?
No, it would be more than just not strange; it would be natural. For all her quirks, she's in charge of managing the Grand Cathedral.
But Mika, Mika, you skipped chapel too? Just how much did you abuse the power of the student council president? It's so terrifying it sometimes gives me a headache.
"Ahaha, rude? It's not exactly wrong, so I don't mind, Hinata-chan! I told Sakurako-chan before, but I've changed a little, I guess you could say? Yes, let's just say I've decided to approach all things with a bit more sincerity☆"
"I-Is that so… To be honest, the fact that you didn't join the Sisterhood, Mika-sama… yes, that… it's been on my mind in many ways…"
…Excuse me? What are you talking about, Hinata?
"That is certainly true. It is understandable that Sister Hinata would think so. I, too, secretly considered you an essential talent for our choir. If you ever happen to leave the Tea Party, would you please come to our Sisterhood? Heeheehee."
Ah, the choir. I'll give them that. From the Sisterhood's perspective, it must have felt like they let an SSS-rank talent slip through their fingers.
But, Sakurako. Where did you pick up that strange laugh? And Hinata, why are you just letting her do that?
Sigh, whatever. I'll just not point it out. That way, I might get to hear a 'Wappy~!' or a 'Pyororon~!' later, right?
I will hear those, no matter what it takes. If necessary, I'll even provoke them myself, like I did with Hanako…!
"Ahaha, I have a feeling Seia-chan and Nagi-chan wouldn't let me go, but. If I did happen to leave the Tea Party, I'd probably just live as a member of the Go-Home Club~ Or maybe the Make-Up Work Club☆"
"Hmm, the Make-Up Work Club…? Sister Hinata, was there such a club at Trinity?"
"I-I've never heard of it either, Sister Sakurako…"
"Well, maybe one will be created someday? If not, oh well! Anyway, this has been bothering me for a while, but don't you think 'Mika-sama' is too formal? 'Sister Mika'… hmm, that's a bit strange since I'm not part of the Sisterhood."
And I'm not even a devout believer, so being called sister feels a little weird. If two nuns like them started calling me 'Sister Mika~ Sister Mika~,' I might actually find myself drawn to the path of religion without realizing it, you know?
"How about Mika-chan… if that's too hard, then just a normal Mika-san is fine☆"
"Ah… y-yes! Then, Mika-san…?"
"Ahaha, much better. Yes, please call me that from now on, Hinata-chan!"
To be honest, I always ask people to call me Mika-chan, but almost no one actually does. At this point, I think it would be enough to just ask them to call me Mika-san.
"Mika-chan… hmm…"
…Eh? Sakurako, what are you suddenly saying?
"It is certainly a little embarrassing, but I think I can manage this much. Mika-chan… yes, it feels a little more friendly when I say it like this."
No, no, what is happening right now…?
"From now on, I will call you Mika-chan. Would that be alright?"
"Uh, um… yup, that's fine…?"
"Heehee. Then, returning to our main topic, shall we have a deep conversation regarding the interpretation of the scriptures and doctrine? I fully understand that you are busy these days, Mika-chan, so I have no intention of taking up too much of your time. You may refuse, so please do not feel burdened."
…Is this really okay? To be honest, I think 'Mika-chan' doesn't quite fit Sakurako's way of speaking, but then again, considering the strange things she says from time to time due to her personality, maybe it does fit…
Hmm, I don't know. Maybe I'll get used to it if I hear it enough?
"Okay, then I'll just join you for a little while☆"
By the way, to think that the conversation I'm having with girls this age is 100% related to religion… my head hurts. I've been continuing my own theological studies diligently, so I can't just pass up a good opportunity like this. This is practically private tutoring in theology from the most knowledgeable nuns in Trinity; how could I give this up?
Ah, but why do these two seem so tall? Especially Hinata, her eye level is completely different from mine. I'm jealous…
Are you aware of this? That by a girl's standards, the word 'a moment' has the same meaning as 'until one of us collapses from exhaustion.'
A 'quick call' becomes one or two hours. A 'quick chat at a café' continues for several hours. Surprisingly, this is all true.
As proof, I was only able to get away from the two nuns after lunchtime had already passed. Still, thanks to them, my theology grade on the next exam should go up by about 4 points, right?
If it doesn't, I'm honestly going to be a little upset.
"…You've come, Mika?"
"Hmm? Seia-chan! What are you doing here?"
"Well, I was waiting for you, so is it not natural? Come, sit."
I had arrived at the Tea Party office expecting it to be empty, as usual, but was met with the unexpected situation of Seia greeting me. Why do I feel a strange sense of unease that this girl, whose whereabouts are usually unknown, was waiting for me?
Tapping the spot next to her on the sofa, Seia urged me to come and sit. Wondering what in the world she wanted to talk about, I sat down next to her and stared at her intently.
"Mika… your ignorance is a poison, but at the same time, it is a blessing."
Huh? What's with that random statement?
When I asked for an explanation, Seia stood up without a word. And then,
"…?"
She silently sat down on my lap and leaned her back against me.
"Hey, Seia-chan?"
"I had a premonition. It was an ominous dream of this world losing all form and meaning, and collapsing. But… for the first time, the content of the dream changed while I was dreaming. It can only be described as a truly bizarre occurrence."
"…What was the changed dream about?"
"I have no intention of telling you."
"Hey, Seia-chan. If that's the case, why did you even bring this up? You're not trying to tease me right now, are you?"
"Hmm… the reason I will not tell you is because the you in my dream advised me that a dream is just a dream, and that I should live in reality, not the dream. For you to say such a thing in a premonition, there must have been a reason for it."
"Eh, the me in your dream gave you that advice? For some reason, I find that hard to believe, you know."
"I share your sentiment, but to deny what has already happened would be the act of a fool. In that sense…"
I leaned in, curious to hear what kind of far-fetched story would come out of Seia's mouth.
Then, she suddenly reached out, grabbed my wrist, and placed my hand on her own head as she spoke.
"First, just pat my head. We shall talk about the rest after that."
…What came out of Seia's mouth was not a far-fetched story, but just a bewildering statement. What in the world is with her today?