"...Kirifuji."
"Ms. Nagisa. Or just Nagisa. You may call me whichever you prefer. For better or for worse, this is how things have turned out."
"Then I'll call you Nagisa."
How did it come to this?
When I agreed to Mika's—that reprehensible person's—unconscionable request, it was not without my own motives. I told her that I was only agreeing to such an absurd demand because I was so madly in love with her.
But at the same time, I repeatedly emphasized just how much my heart tore to shreds having to listen to such a thing.
It was the first time in my life I was on the verge of uttering a curse word, but I managed to suppress it. Mika, too, sometimes uses her unique exclamations in place of profanity, and I admit, in matters involving her, it becomes particularly difficult to maintain my dignity, so I was tempted. But I held back, and in the end, I chose to describe Mika as a 'bad girl'—a childish choice of words, in retrospect.
But perhaps because of that choice, Mika seemed to understand my feelings, at least to some extent.
Sorasaki Hina… to be perfectly honest, I do not dislike her entirely. I learned a few things from our conversation before the match, after all.
To summarize: Mika wagged her tail, and Ms. Hina was bewitched by it.
And so, the arrow of my resentment once again points toward Mika.
If only I had confessed my feelings a little sooner… then none of this would have happened. I am partly to blame for being complacent, thinking I had all the time in the world. But in the end, if you were to ask who is most at fault here, there is only one answer.
"First… I assume you understand why Mika asked us to spend the day together?"
"So that we could get used to each other's presence…"
"That is a rather un-Hina-like answer, far from the heart of the matter. Perhaps you should reconsider."
We have not spoken much, but it does not take many conversations to grasp how intelligent a person Ms. Hina, the Head Prefect of Gehenna, is. She is accomplished in both the literary and martial arts… a more capable person than I, who is skilled only in paperwork and a bit of politicking. In a way, she could be considered similar to the Mika of today.
Therefore, if she thinks about it just a little more, she should arrive at the same conclusion as I have.
"She wants you, Nagisa, to see for yourself the good qualities in me that she has seen and felt all this time. Is that it?"
"You've hit the mark. Even when you and Mika had only met once, she trusted you to a bizarre degree. And she wants me to see and feel the source of that trust for myself. To put it bluntly, Mika wants us to become friends. It is so very like her to be so crude in her methods."
"...Unlike me, who has no reason to stay by Chairman Makoto's side, you, Nagisa, having revealed your official position, could have remained there without any issue. Crude indeed."
"That was our original plan. We were supposed to watch the two-person jet ski finals together. Just the two of us, intimately."
Technically speaking, Ms. Hina is more of a victim of Mika's faithless ways, but I can't help but be a little sullen. It is a fact that she latched onto someone who was already taken and managed to secure an opportunity for herself.
"That plan seems to have been half-ruined the moment the General Student Council President and Chairman Makoto decided to stay."
"...Mika would not have known that the GSC President would declare her intention to stay. It is difficult to predict such a decision from someone who is, without exaggeration, one of the busiest people in all of Kivotos. As for the Chairman of the Pandemonium Society, I know too little about her to say anything."
"Chairman Makoto… that woman is a fool, second to none. She sometimes displays a sharp intuition in strange situations, but she is, without a doubt, a fool. Being in the same room as her is an ordeal in itself. So, if I'm being generous, one could say Mika was being considerate of you… hmm. No, that's stretching it a bit too far."
"Yes, that is a stretch… I am not without my complaints, but since this is the situation we're in, shall we go along with Mika's intentions for now? I was also a little curious to see what it was about you that made her get on her knees for you right then and there."
"...If I may be so bold. When that match ended in a draw, I was planning to confess everything and then give up."
"Huhu, is that so, Ms. Hina? About that story… would you mind telling me a little more?"
…So you're saying you brought someone who would have given up on her own right in front of me to get my permission?
Huhu, Mika, you really are something else.
I understand now that you liked this woman that much.
But to do such a thing and then send me off with Ms. Hina without a single word of explanation…
Is this a declaration of war?
(Mika's POV)
[Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience! The final match of the two-person jet ski event, which drew a scorching thirty-two teams! Let's introduce the eight competitors who have survived the grueling tournament, where only two teams from each group of four could advance!]
Our dear General Student Council President, who seemed to be enjoying this event more than anyone, had a real talent for commentary. Well, she's a superhuman who's good at everything, so I suppose this was a piece of cake for her.
[First up, from Trinity, Team 1: Joumae Saori and Shirasu Azusa! They have completely dominated their bracket, eliminating every single opponent they've faced! They have sunk and scrapped a total of seven jet skis. In this final match, I declare these two to be the definitive favorites to win!]
That's my squad for you. They're my only hope. And that's because…
[Gehenna, Team 1!]
[Gehenna, Team 2!]
[And from Gehenna, Team 3: Wanibuchi Akari and Shiromi Iori! Though they've shown what can only be described as the worst teamwork, with their clashing personalities on full display… they have nonetheless steamrolled their way to the finals with overwhelming racing and combat skills!]
In this final, three of the teams were from Gehenna.
My Pater and Arius kids, why couldn't any of you make it?
Of course, in the bracket with three Gehenna teams and one Trinity team, the Trinity team was eliminated. And then another bracket somehow ended up with four Trinity teams. The one Trinity team that managed to survive that hellish luck of the draw then had the misfortune of running into Iori's team and getting sunk. I saw it with my own two eyes.
But still, this is a bit much.
And Iori! Yes, Iori.
[Furthermore, this team has a fascinating backstory. Wanibuchi Akari is one of the infamous 'Gourmet Terrorists' currently wreaking havoc in Gehenna, while Shiromi Iori is the Prefect Team member who has thrown her behind bars on numerous occasions… a relationship like a cop and a robber, so to speak. Isn't that just fascinating?]
Why in the world is she teaming up with Akari?
How did this even happen? It makes absolutely no sense.
What's even more ridiculous is that even now, the two of them are practically ignoring each other's existence. That means this is a 100% professional, business-only relationship.
It was only after watching those two wreak havoc on the water today that I finally understood why Hina had told me to brace myself. Her words about being willing to set aside even her precious discipline were completely genuine. I mean, she'd already thrown it away for the sake of winning this competition, so of course she was serious.
[With three out of the four teams belonging to Gehenna, this will be an incredibly high-pressure match for the Trinity competitors. But given the performance this team has shown so far, anything is possible. Trinity fans, you'll have to put your faith in this undisputed powerhouse team, a team that has crushed every opponent in its path with a perfect combination of individual skill and teamwork!]
…Ahaha, I'm so screwed.
The medal points are calculated as 5 for gold, 3 for silver, and 1 for bronze. If Saori and Azusa can pull something off here, we can secure a one-point lead.
But the best-case scenario is a one-point lead, and this is basically a 3-on-1 fight. From Gehenna's perspective, there's no reason to fight amongst themselves before taking out the sole Trinity team. If we get gold, we're only one point ahead. If we only get silver, we'll be three points behind.
I believe they can overcome two mob-chan teams and Iori, but if they slip up here even once, we'll be one giant step closer to becoming Trinity, the school beneath Gehenna.
Please, prove that bringing Arius to Trinity was the right decision. I'm counting on you two!
[It appears all competitors are ready. Until you reach the line where firing is permitted, all muzzles must be pointed toward the water's surface. Failure to comply will result in disqualification. Please be mindful of this rule.]
I took a deep breath, clasped my hands together, and offered a prayer.
O Primeval Divinity, I know I'm a reprehensible non-believer, but I have been praying consistently for almost half a year now. Right? At this point, you could consider me an honorary sister, so please, just this once, look after those two out there. I'm begging you.
"Hmph! So much for 'victory belongs to Trinity.' They're nothing special. It looks like our Gehenna will be taking a clean 10 points. At this rate, it won't be long before I see you groveling at my feet, Misono Mika?! Kikikikik!"
"Makoto, even if you win all the medals, that's 9 points, not 10…"
"Kishishishi—!!! As if I care about that! If you would just accept that victory belongs to Gehenna and admit defeat now, I might even reduce your time as a slave by 10 minutes! It is a grace bestowed by the magnificent me, so you should be grate—"
"Ahaha, don't be so stingy, making a fuss over 10 minutes. To think that's the standard for the Pandemonium Society, I'm speechless. If it were me, I'd have reduced it by a week."
"Ha! Did you just insult the Pandemonium Society? Fine, then I'll reduce it by two weeks…"
Makoto trailed off, having finally realized something was amiss, and sat up a little straighter. Her legs were still propped up on the commentary desk.
"...Impressive, Misono Mika. I'll admit it. You are my equal, or at the very least, my second. But that's all. The outcome is already decided. This match belongs to Gehenna! Kikikikikiki— cough! hack!!!"
Oh, please.
Saori. Azusa. I'm begging you.
Win the gold medal and shut this woman up…!
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