One day in mid-July.
A single report was submitted to a Tea Party meeting. Not long after, the General Student Council President herself requested a face-to-face meeting with me.
[Massive Strike and Protest of Unknown Origin at the 20XX Summer Festival Construction Site]
I couldn't help but sigh as I read the report's title. I suppose it was only a matter of time before something like this happened, but it would have been nice if there had been no problems at all. The world is never that simple.
But was this really something that required the GSC President to meet with me personally? I highly doubt it.
To ensure the festival preparations are completed successfully, this strike absolutely needs to be resolved quickly. However, it should be something the GSC President can handle on her own. Therefore, the fact that she wants to meet with me must mean the situation isn't as simple as it seems. There's definitely more to it. I'm sure of it.
The GSC President has the SRT Special Academy, which is essentially her private army. If this were a situation that could be resolved with force, she would have sent in an SRT unit and ended it herself. There's no reason for her to have let the situation fester long enough for this report to reach my desk.
The management and supervision of the festival preparations are entirely under the GSC President's purview. Trinity and Gehenna have, by mutual agreement, handed over all authority on-site to the General Student Council, or more specifically, to its president. Of course, this was only established because the GSC President herself volunteered to take command. If it were simply a matter of wanting the GSC to act as a neutral party, neither I nor Hina would have entrusted everything to them.
The position of General Student Council President carries that much weight. More accurately, the current GSC President is a person who holds that much trust throughout Kivotos. Can you believe she built that trust while interfering in the internal affairs of various academies—an act that would have gotten any ordinary person impeached?
That is why the GSC President is a person who can only be described as being on a different plane from ordinary students.
"Please follow me."
"Yep, long time no see, Rin-chan! I think the last time we saw each other was the day of my press conference. Have you been well?"
"...Sigh, I've warned you several times before. What's this 'Rin-chan' business, Tea Party Host? We are meeting on official business, and such familiarity is not appropriate. It is the same from a political standpoint, so please treat me professionally."
"Ahaha, okay! I will, Rin-chan. By the way, isn't it so hot today? It feels like summer is finally here, which isn't a bad feeling. What about you, Rin-chan? Is it hot? Are your hands getting sweaty in those gloves? Aren't they uncomfortable?"
"Do not underestimate the air conditioning of the General Student Council... Ahem. Besides, how many times must I tell you not to call me Rin-chan before you understand?"
"Hmm~ If you stop calling me by that stiff 'Tea Party Host' title and call me Mika-san, I'll think about it."
"...We've arrived. Please be aware that there is already a guest inside. The GSC President has instructed me to let the Tea Party Host in immediately, so I ask for your understanding on that matter."
"Oh, I'm being completely ignored. Hmm... that's a little hurtful. Rin-chan, I know it's important to separate public and private matters, but it's rude to just ignore someone when they're talking to you, you know?"
"Haa... who's talking to whom about being rude... No, it's nothing. Please, just go inside. I'll be taking my leave now."
Seeing the General Student Council's Chief Administrator, Rin Nanagami, press a hand to her head makes the dopamine flow. Maybe the original Mika enjoyed situations like this all the time?
"Bye-bye, Rin-chan! See you later!"
As expected, there was no reply, but I wasn't really expecting one, so I didn't mind.
Well, I've had my fun, so it's probably time to get down to business. Though there's no guarantee my mischievous side won't act up again once I'm inside.
"Long time no see, President! And hello to you, mysterious guest... Oh, Hina-chan?"
"...Hello, Mika. It's been a while."
"You've finally arrived, Tea Party Host. Please, come in and have a seat. We have much to discuss today."
The GSC President, who was sitting not at her usual desk but at a low conference table looking over some documents, greeted me. On the sofa next to her was a welcome, familiar face: our dear Head Prefect of Gehenna, Hina Sorasaki.
"You know, this isn't exactly the meeting I was expecting. I thought there might be a pretty big problem if the GSC President wanted to see me herself... but I never thought you'd call Hina-chan, too. Yep, even I'm a little surprised!"
"I had a feeling you might be the other person the President mentioned was coming. I'm a little disappointed we weren't on the same page, Mika."
"Hm? Hey, I just heard about a guest from Rin-chan a second ago. In that sense, I think your comment is a little unfair. ☆"
Still, it's nice to see Hina's face after so long. Because of our respective positions... or more accurately, my political standing, it's not easy for us to meet. And now that we're both public figures, it's even harder.
"It seems you two are on much better terms than I had anticipated. Hmm... this is a bit of a surprise, but a pleasant one. It also has some bearing on the topic of today's discussion."
Oh? Is it finally time to talk about the Eden Treaty? Since I've already taken care of most of the issues that would have plagued the signing process, my only thought was, 'It's about time.' This is the result of all my hard work.
"To get straight to the point, one of the reasons I requested this meeting today was to propose a peace treaty to improve relations between Gehenna and Trinity."
As expected, the GSC President's explanation was about the Eden Treaty. It was a familiar story to me, but it must have been a new concept for Hina.
The Eden Treaty, an accord to end the hostile relations between Trinity and Gehenna. The promise to 'stop hating each other' had already lost its original meaning the moment I extended a hand to Gehenna first. Through the framework of competition, we would ease the deep-seated animosity, and through mutual understanding, we would slowly resolve the hatred that had been built on mistrust. Trust would gradually blossom in this process. Therefore, the plan that Hina and I were pushing for already had the underlying meaning of 'let's stop hating each other.'
In this situation, the Eden Treaty proposed by the GSC President was less about 'let's stop hating each other' and more about 'let's be friends from now on.' Just as I had intended.
Well, Hina, who doesn't know that, would probably hear it differently.
"President, if I may be frank... I don't see the necessity of this peace treaty. If we're simply talking about improving relations between our two schools, I expect that the measures Mika and I are already pushing for will have a significant long-term effect. I'm not convinced that adding a semi-coercive peace treaty on top of that will lead to a particularly positive outcome."
"...A fair point, Head Prefect of Gehenna."
"If anyone else had brought this up, I would have dismissed it as nonsense and left. I am only choosing to remain seated out of the belief that the GSC President would not summon two people who are just as busy as she is for a trivial matter. So, I would appreciate it if you would explain the necessity of this peace treaty in a way that I can understand."
"Ahaha, Hina-chan is so eloquent! Yep, the President will have to explain this one clearly. And honestly, at that. ☆"
I added a little covering fire to Hina's direct hit, which basically told the President that the only thing keeping her from leaving was her reputation. I have my own suspicions, and I'd like to hear the answers directly from her.
What were the GSC President's original intentions in pushing for the Eden Treaty? And why did she try to push it through, even though she most likely knew it would fail? She either believed that Sensei would ensure its success, or the chaos that Arius would cause by backstabbing both schools was a necessary part of her plan. I have no way of knowing her true intentions, but the Eden Treaty she's pushing for now must have a different motivation from the one in the original story.
She cannot reveal the existence of Sensei, who will be summoned next year. She would never reveal that fact, no matter what. To do so would be to openly admit to the leaders of the two largest academies that she would soon be disappearing from Kivotos. She cannot make such a choice, as it is impossible to know what decisions the two schools would make in her absence.
So why propose the Eden Treaty now, when it seems so unnecessary?
"My reasons for promoting this peace treaty are complex, but they are partly motivated by a desire to reduce the burden on the General Student Council."
Right, I knew it. There had to be another motive for pushing the same treaty even though the situation was completely different. If you just change your thinking from 'the General Student Council' to 'the General Student Council after the President disappears,' the answer becomes clear.
"Aha. Does that mean you hope that after this treaty is signed... the two schools will be able to resolve their own internal issues through the peacekeeping organization established to monitor the treaty's compliance?"
"...The Prefect Team, and the Justice Task Force. And furthermore, through the power of the peacekeeping organization, any problems that arise within the two districts will be prevented from ever reaching the General Student Council. Is that the picture you're painting, President?"
"To put it bluntly, the General Student Council will completely cease its interference in the internal affairs of Gehenna and Trinity. Well, that's how it sounds to me. What do you think, President? Did I hit the nail on the head?"
The General Student Council completely washing its hands of the internal affairs of the two major academies can be seen as a preparation for her own disappearance. For Hina, who can only interpret the information she's given, that's the only conclusion. But for me, who knows about Sensei's arrival, it looks a little different.
She's ceasing her interference to reduce the burden on the current General Student Council and herself? That's not right.
She's judged that after her disappearance, interference will become practically impossible, or given Rin's personality as her deputy, that she will likely cease interference anyway. So, she's preparing a way to control the two unpredictable schools. That's the only way I can see it.
"...Fufu, it seems that dealing with the two people who hold the real power in the two largest academies is not so easy. To have my hand revealed so simply. You are correct. I will not deny that such an intention is a part of it. However, my desire to see the two schools improve their relations is also my sincere wish."
The GSC President placed the documents she had been working on onto the table with a crisp snap and continued in a more serious tone.
"I wish to name this peace treaty the Eden Treaty. As the Tea Party Host is surely aware, Eden is the name of the paradise described in the scriptures."
"Yep, of course I know. And I have a pretty good idea of what you're about to say, President. The fifth of the seven riddles that circulate through Kivotos. Am I right?"
"My, there are limits to how well one can read the questioner's intent, don't you think? You are correct. The fifth riddle: Can the truth of one who has reached paradise be proven? Is there a more fitting name for this peace treaty?"
After saying that much, the President paused and checked the time. Then, in a tone that didn't seem at all disappointed, she tried to change the subject.
"Unfortunately, I do not have much time, so we must proceed a little more quickly. Therefore, Tea Party Host, and Head Prefect of Gehenna... I ask you both. Can I count on your cooperation in promoting the Eden Treaty?"
Seeing the GSC President ask a question to which she already knew the answer, I couldn't help but think she was just being malicious. Judging by Hina's expression, she felt the same way.
Ah, I'm itching for a revolution.
...Maybe that's because of a certain someone who, at this very moment, is clutching a megaphone and screaming for the overthrow of the bourgeoisie.