Tea Party Terrace, Post-Exam Night
"Hey, Sensei. Good work," Nagisa said.
"Hey…" Mash replied.
"Roll cake? Freshly baked," Nagisa offered.
"Thanks," Mash said, taking a bite.
Mash, called by Nagisa, felt awkward after the exam's dismal results.
"So… the results?" Nagisa asked.
"Your wings are pretty," Mash deflected.
"Thank you," Nagisa smiled.
"Phew…"
"The results?" Nagisa pressed.
"Your voice is nice," Mash tried.
"Thanks… but the results?" Nagisa's smile sharpened.
"…"
Mash's deflections failed. Nagisa demanded answers. Resigned, he spoke.
"Total defeat," Mash admitted.
"I've heard," Nagisa said.
"You did?"
"The first exam didn't go well," Nagisa noted.
"Sorry, my fault," Mash said.
"No, two exams remain. Here," Nagisa handed him tea.
Mash drank, spotting a chessboard. "Board game?"
"Chess, my hobby," Nagisa said.
"Chess… Grandpa played it, maybe," Mash mused.
"Your grandfather?" Nagisa asked.
"Yeah, my guardian. Most important person to me," Mash said.
"I see," Nagisa said, sipping tea, then got to the point. "I called you to discuss something, but you seem to have a question first."
"You noticed," Mash said.
"Yes."
"Then I'll ask…" Mash pierced a roll cake, face serious. "What happens if the Supplementary Lessons Club fails all three exams?"
Nagisa's shoulders twitched. She met his gaze, thinking. "Hifumi told you?"
"No, I'm just curious. As their teacher and friend," Mash said.
"Fair enough," Nagisa nodded. "The consequence is simple. If they keep failing, can't escape retention, or help each other—they'll all be expelled."
"As expected," Mash said.
"Mika mentioned it, didn't she?" Nagisa recalled.
"Fail to advance, they repeat… or worse, get expelled," Mika's words echoed.
"It's no metaphor. It's fact," Nagisa said.
"…"
Expulsion's fairness varied by academy—Gehenna's rules were unclear. But Mash wondered: why expel everyone if only one fails? It baffled him.
"Why everyone?" Mash asked.
"Trinity has rules for failure, suspension, expulsion—lengthy, tedious processes. Unlike Gehenna, we prioritize procedure," Nagisa explained. "But the Supplementary Lessons Club bypasses those, thanks to Schale's authority. It's a special measure."
"Then why everyone?"
Nagisa looked away, smiling at the starry sky, revealing the truth. "The club was created to expel students."
"…"
"Not to save them, but to remove them," Nagisa said.
"You shocked, Sensei? Oh…" Nagisa paused, seeing Mash's face twist in dismay. He'd taken the job to help the club, yet his employer had the opposite intent. The shock and sadness of his efforts being undermined showed plainly.
"Why?" Mash asked.
"There's a traitor in the club, aiming to sabotage the Eden Treaty," Nagisa said gravely.
"A traitor?" Mash echoed.
"Yes, targeting the treaty's disruption."
The Eden Treaty was critical to Mash, pivotal for Kivotos' future. Nagisa handed him a document with red warnings and Tea Party and Pandemonium Society emblems. Mash studied it.
"The Eden Treaty is a non-aggression pact between Trinity and Gehenna, establishing a neutral body with key members from both," Nagisa explained. "Like a mini Federal Student Council, but for Trinity and Gehenna only. Called the Eden Treaty Organization, or ETO, it resolves conflicts to prevent all-out war."
"Hm," Mash nodded.
"War between them would collapse both. Gehenna's strength is undeniable," Nagisa said.
"Yeah," Mash agreed.
Their combined power was Kivotos' greatest. A war would engulf other academies like Millennium, turning Kivotos to ashes—a real threat.
"Their rivalry is a burden. The treaty, proposed by the missing Federal Student Council President, is the only way to prevent wasteful conflict and maintain balance. I've worked to revive it," Nagisa said.
"Got it," Mash said.
"It's like… everyone eating cream puffs together," Mash added.
"Cream puffs aside, yes," Nagisa said. "But someone's trying to stop it. We don't know who, so we gathered suspects in one place."
"The club… to expel them easily?" Mash asked.
"Exactly. The traitor's there, but we don't know who. So, we boxed them together—to discard if needed," Nagisa said.
"…"
A dangerous element threatening Trinity had to be eliminated, even if it meant sacrificing a few for the greater good. That was Nagisa's logic.
"You helped create that box, Sensei," Nagisa said.
"So the club was built around me," Mash said.
"Yes."
"Sorry for dragging you into this mess. Curse me if you want," Nagisa said.
"I won't," Mash replied.
"My mistake," Nagisa said, meeting his gaze with a wry smile.
She felt guilt but believed it necessary for peace.
"I understand your reasons," Mash said. "What did you want to tell me?"
"Find the traitor in the club," Nagisa said. "They're deceiving Trinity and threatening Kivotos' peace for their own gain."
"A balance…" Mash mused.
Without the treaty, conflict loomed. Nagisa didn't fully know Mash but saw him as a good person who'd agree with her.
"Finding the traitor ensures peace. We'll support you, Schale," Nagisa said.
"I'll solve this my way," Mash said.
"By finding the traitor—"
"No. By proving there is no traitor," Mash declared.
"What?" Nagisa's tea cup froze, her face darkening.
"You can suspect them, but I can't stop you," Mash said. "I believe they're innocent. I'll prove it."
"The chance there's no traitor isn't zero, but suspicious students exist," Nagisa countered.
"I'll still believe," Mash said.
"…I see," Nagisa said, her political instincts kicking in. "But when sorting trash is hard, isn't it easier to toss the whole box?"
"Grandpa said sorting's important," Mash replied.
"Then, Sensei…" Nagisa's smile was forced. "If you must choose between the individual or the whole, which do you pick?"
Mash didn't hesitate. "Both. I'll save both."
Nagisa blinked. "What?"
"I won't abandon either. I'll save everyone," Mash said.
"Why go so far?"
"Does saving need a reason?" Mash asked.
Nagisa scoffed. A childish dream—sacrifice was inevitable. "That's a fantasy."
"Even so, it's what I want," Mash said.
"Even if it leads to misfortune?"
"I'll prevent that."
"Even if those you save betray you?"
"I'll hear them out and reconcile."
Nagisa slammed the table, standing. "And if you suffer? Become a sacrifice? No regrets!?"
"None," Mash said, standing calmly.
Nagisa faltered as Mash turned to leave. "Your way's valid, but I won't change. I'll save both—the whole and the individual."
"We don't see eye to eye," Nagisa said.
"Seems so," Mash agreed.
At the door, Nagisa spoke. "Exams are under our control. The scope, venue, or difficulty could change. I hope it doesn't, but…" She trailed off. "No, bad phrasing."
"Threats won't work," Mash said.
"One last thing: we didn't rig the first exam. I swear it," Nagisa said.
"Got it. One thing from me," Mash said, gripping the door handle. "I'll protect those girls."
He left, opening the door properly—no destruction.
(Why those eyes? Why say that? A kid like us…) Nagisa thought, staring at the door, alone.
Whew, exhausting. Next chapter's back to humor—serious stuff kills me!
Comments and ratings super appreciated!
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