Honestly, I thought I'd be able to rest a bit after finishing my talk with Yukino. I believed I could enjoy a sort of "last supper" with Seia and Nagisa on the beach. So, after leaving Wakamo with Yukino, I went searching for the two of them, who I figured were relaxing somewhere on Trinity's side of the beach.
Thankfully, I found them not too far from where Yukino was. At last, my long-awaited rest…
"You should personally extend your apologies to the General Student Council President regarding this matter."
…was not to be had.
It was only natural, I suppose. The events of last night, combined with my conversation with the GSC President today, were matters that needed to be reported to the other two members of the Tea Party as a top priority. So, rest was out of the question. I was immediately pulled aside to be debriefed.
It couldn't be helped, as it was something that needed to be done, but it was a little heartbreaking to see my precious "last supper" time evaporate just like that…
"People fear different things… No, put that hand down and listen to me first! I do not understand how you have become so violent. The old you was never this bad."
No, I just wanted to pet Seia to calm my nerves. The way she was so wary, as if she thought I was about to flick her on the forehead, was getting on my nerves. I'd already used up today's forehead-flick quota on Wakamo.
Besides, I'm more violent than the old me… than the pre-possession Mika? That has to be a lie. It must be. I'm sure I wasn't that violent of a person. And if I really am that violent, then…
"Then… isn't it your fault for making me so violent, Seia-chan?"
"…Mika, I may have misspoken… Hnngh."
She talks a big game for a fox who's rendered speechless the moment I pat her head.
"I'm aware I was too hard on the GSC President, so I'll apologize separately, just as you said, Seia-chan… Yes, that would be the right thing to do."
I recalled Yukino's words. That the GSC President wasn't as perfect as she seemed. I had been so focused on the fact that the GSC President was a superhuman, and on the hypothesis that she was a regressor who knew the future, that I had forgotten she was also just a girl our age.
The GSC President isn't perfect. That's why she must be laying the groundwork to entrust everything to Sensei. And the things I've done since my arrival have become variables leading to a future she doesn't know. I should have taken the fact that she would have no choice but to be cautious more seriously. My failure to do so was my mistake.
"I trust you'll handle that part well. You are no longer the child you once were, Mika."
I was momentarily startled by Seia's words. But when I realized she meant them literally, the tension left my body. Come to think of it, I felt that the time would eventually come when I would have to tell Seia that I wasn't the real Misono Mika. The friendship she shared with Mika was smaller than I had thought, but it had definitely existed.
"As for our response to Kaiser… I will look into ways we can help. The General Student Council may be a bit lukewarm, but by securing SRT's forces, regardless of the method, you have effectively received permission for any attack that doesn't cross the line… As long as we don't cross that line, we should use everything at our disposal, shouldn't we?"
"Ahaha, but you know, it's not like I want a situation where our forces clash head-on either…"
"Mika, that is nothing but a poor excuse…? From the moment you decided to deploy both SRT's forces and Arius Squad, a clash of forces became inevitable, regardless of whether your desired outcome is direct destruction. This is a retaliatory terror operation, no matter the objective, so do not look away from that fact. You must not forget that you used brute force to wring a concession out of the person responsible for the administration of all of Kivotos."
Seia's words struck my chest. Her cold criticism that I was just rationalizing my actions forced me to reflect on my recent behavior.
…So that's what Seia meant when she said I should apologize to the GSC President. To think I had come up with a different reason entirely and was just nodding along… I feel a little embarrassed. I admit I lacked awareness of my position as the representative of an entire academy. Even worse, the GSC President had pointed it out to my face and asked me to calm down… and yet, I was so caught up in the situation, so unable to control my anger, that I pushed her with childish tantrums unbefitting of my position until she was not just troubled, but had all but given up.
"Seia-yang, don't push Mika-san so hard. We shouldn't forget that we, who pushed an unwanted position onto her, also share some of the responsibility. Mika-san, there may be some issues with the direction of your love, but I don't think what you're pursuing is wrong in itself. I believe Seia-yang feels the same way, and the GSC President is likely not much different. In short, it is merely a matter of differing positions. So please, don't forget the lessons you've learned from this incident, and I hope you will grow into an even better leader."
"Ahaha… As expected, Nagisa-chan is the only one who stands up for me. Yes. Thank you, Nagisa-chan. I feel like I'm always indebted to you."
"...Nagisa, you sly thing. Are you making me play the bad cop just so you can score points with your lover? The Tea Party has truly hit rock bottom."
"Is that something you should be saying, Seia-yang, when you offer your head to my lover like a pet every chance you get?"
Hey, why are you two fighting all of a sudden? Instead of helping me enjoy my last moments of peace, you make me talk about work and then start this… it's making things awkward for me…
"Ahaha, that's enough, you two. I know that if Seia-chan hadn't pointed it out, Nagisa-chan would have. And I'm not particularly upset about hearing it from Seia-chan. I mean, yes, you did push the Host position onto me, but it was my decision to not leave the Tea Party and to take responsibility for everyone here, right? I'm always grateful when someone points out something I need to learn☆"
Of course, I'm still annoyed that they pushed the Host position on me. Very, very annoyed…! But still, maybe with one forehead flick a day, I could forgive them someday.
Bringing up the matter of the Host position had the effect of silencing Seia. As expected, you have to have a little leverage on everyone so you can forcibly change the topic of conversation when you want to.
"Hey, shall we go for a little walk?"
I offered my hands to the two of them, who were sitting gracefully on a beach towel, sipping tea. As I showed signs of leading them away, the guards spread out around us began to move busily.
Neither of them refused my suggestion. Seia, in a swimsuit that resembled a breezy one-piece dress; Nagisa, in the bikini she had been wearing throughout the festival; and me, the only one in an SRT uniform. The three of us, an unbalanced combination, began to walk side-by-side along the edge of the sea and sand.
The waves would occasionally roll in, pass us by, and recede, a comforting rhythm that can only be felt at the beach. In that gentle embrace, the Tea Party, hand in hand, became one. I will never let go of these hands, so that we may never be divided like the Tea Party of the original story.
"By the way, Mika-san. Where is your swimsuit? Why are you wearing another academy's uniform…?"
"Mmm, well. Participating in an operation in a swimsuit would look a little strange, don't you think?"
"…Don't people usually do that?"
"Huh?"
No, Nagisa. Why are you, of all people—the one who should be the most sensible—saying something so nonsensical?
"I knew it, I don't like another academy's uniform. Please don't wear it anymore."
"Hmm? But the design is pretty nice, don't you think? It's simple and clean, without being too flashy. I like it."
"It's a piece of clothing another woman wore."
"Ah."
Um. Hmm. Uhhh.
That was a blind spot. I didn't think she'd be jealous about something like this. But to flat-out say I won't wear it anymore… the clothes themselves are nice, so I do like them…
"Fufu, I'm joking. I think it looks good on you, too. Still, you're not planning on keeping that SRT mark on it, are you?"
"...Ahaha! Of course not. I'll either remove it or cover it with a Trinity mark later, so don't worry☆"
With that answer, I tried to sort out my thoughts. Feeling the warmth of the two of them, my resolve hardened. A resolve that, while not right now, I would have to tell them about the original Mika.
The time would probably come when I'd have to confess to Seia as well that I wasn't Mika. Perhaps this was the catalyst that the Seia from my past dream had spoken of—the moment I would reveal this truth myself.
But not yet. To speak of the real Mika to the two of them when nothing was certain was still premature. I had to find out more, much more, than I know now.
'Don't trust Gematria.'
…It's not that I trust them. It's just that I felt I had to take that risk, to find out where the real Mika is… to find out her condition, and tell these two. I just felt I had to.
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