I should have anticipated it long ago.
From Seia's farewell like words the last time I saw her, from the incomprehensible message Mika suddenly sent me that night, from Nagisa's evasiveness when I asked about related matters.
So why was it that I never considered this possibility?
Perhaps it was because I knew Seia possessed the ability of prophetic dreams, and so I assumed on my own that no matter what she encountered, she would always be able to ensure her own safety.
Looking at the frail girl lying flat on the hospital bed, her breathing steady yet faint, her face pale, her eyes tightly closed, with no sign of waking at all, I felt my heart seize hard with a painful jolt.
If, back then, I had pressed further and forced the issue, would things have turned out differently?
I was probably neglectful in my duty.
But now, what I can do, what I should do, what I must do, is only to make up for my mistake as much as possible.
Taking a deep breath, I did my best to keep my tone calm.
"Mine, could you please recount the whole course of events from beginning to end once more?"
"As you wish."
Thus, Mine once again slowly recounted what she had already told me in the car.
On the night Seia was attacked, Mine had received a message from Seia in advance. Its contents included Seia's own impending attack, the subsequent arrangements, and also an instruction that, at a critical moment, a trustworthy person could be relied upon, namely me.
At around three in the morning, an explosion occurred in Seia's room. Mine rushed to the scene at the first opportunity, and according to Seia's instructions, provided the Tea Party with the following intelligence.
"Seia's halo has been destroyed."
Upon learning this shocking news, the Tea Party immediately fell into chaos, yet still managed to spare the effort to seal off the related information and conduct a search.
However, despite the Tea Party's fairly swift response, they failed to find any trace of the culprit at all.
At the same time, taking advantage of the confusion, Mine left Trinity without informing anyone, carrying Seia's "body" with her.
But in reality, Seia had only been injured, she had not truly died.
All of the above actions were carried out in accordance with Seia's prior instructions.
Because of Seia's position as the host of the Tea Party, her strategic identity as a "prophet," and her overly delicate physique, the location of her room was classified information even within Trinity. Yet the attacker was able to infiltrate it with perfect accuracy without alerting anyone, which was an extremely abnormal situation.
The greatest possibility was that there was an accomplice of the attacker within Trinity itself.
In order to protect Seia's personal safety, Mine transmitted false information to the Tea Party and secretly hid Seia in a safe location.
"And besides the mole lurking within Trinity, there is now another problem."
Mine looked at Seia with worry and spoke softly. "Even though the physical injuries she suffered have long since healed, Seia has still not woken up. Could it be that she sustained damage on a mental level during the attack? I cannot help but feel anxious about this.
"In order to conceal our whereabouts, I have no way to seek help from others. Even Serina and Hanae… I trust them, but if I were to ask members of the Remedial Knights for help, perhaps the mastermind who is still paying attention to their movements could follow the trail and find this place.
"So I could only endure in anxiety and unease. Until now, taking advantage of the opportunity where most Trinity students are busy preparing for the unified exams and their vigilance is weakened, I sent an anonymous email to Serina, the one within the Knights most skilled at infiltration, reconnaissance, and counter reconnaissance."
…Although it might not be appropriate to think this in such a serious situation, does Serina really have these skills?
It is a little scary.
Mine's narration was nearing its end. "I asked Serina, under the premise of not attracting anyone's attention, to bring you here, someone whom Seia trusts and who is not under Trinity's surveillance, in the hope of receiving your help.
"If Seia can awaken, we might be able to learn the true identity of the attacker and the mastermind… with her wisdom, she would certainly be able to make a more prudent decision."
But even Seia, who possesses outstanding intellect and can even foresee the future, is lying here now, is she not?
I do not understand why this is the case.
If we assume that Seia's attack was also within Seia's own plan, then why is she now unable to regain consciousness for so long?
But no matter what, Seia trusts me. In other words, Seia has entrusted her future to me.
I think it is fair to see it that way.
So there is no time left for sorrow or confusion.
I should trust Seia, and I should trust myself, the one whom Seia trusted.
From here on, I will proceed at my own pace and do everything I can.
I held Seia's hand and murmured to myself.
"The one who provided intelligence for the attack on Seia does not necessarily come from Trinity. Perhaps it is an existence that also possesses foresight, or one that can counter foresight? But it is indeed impossible to rule out the possibility of a mole within Trinity. Spreading the false news of Seia's death like this was, after all, a reasonable judgment.
"What was the purpose of attacking Seia? To throw the Tea Party into chaos? And who would have the motive to do so? The information is still far too scarce… as expected, the top priority is still to find a way to wake Seia as soon as possible… or rather, to establish contact with Seia through some other method?"
After pondering for a moment, I let out a breath, released Seia's hand, straightened up, and said to Mine.
"I think I have some leads. Although I do not yet know whether it will succeed, I will try as soon as possible."
"Thank you, Sensei."
Mine nodded. "Then I will leave everything to you. Because the identity of the culprit cannot be confirmed, communication software under the Momotalk conglomerate also cannot be used. Please forgive me for being unable to exchange contact information with you for the time being. You already know the location of this safe house, so you can come directly next time. I will remain here and keep watch."
I looked at the captain of the Remedial Knights before me, my gaze gradually softening.
For the sake of another's safety, she was willing to endure remaining in this house day after day, with no one to talk to and no freedom to go out at will.
What a kind girl she is.
"…Mine, these past days, you have worked very hard."
I could not help but take her hand.
"S-Sensei?" Mine was startled by my action, but she did not resist, only smiling and shaking her head. "It is all right, I can…"
However, her words stopped halfway through.
As if recalling the loneliness of this period, the girl's eyes gradually reddened, ripples of moisture wavering in her emerald green gaze.
Then, Mine took a deep breath, stepped forward, and rested her forehead against my shoulder.
"I am sorry…" Her voice carried a hint of sobbing. "Please forgive my weakness and selfishness… and allow me… just a little… to act spoiled toward you, an adult…"
I stroked the girl's hair, saying nothing, feeling the dampness spreading from my shoulder.
By the way, after all this, would Mine's affection toward me increase significantly?
After all, I am gentle and handsome, so it would not be surprising if the the credit card set it as conquered, right?
At that moment, out of the corner of my eye, I saw that the sleeping Seia suddenly furrowed her brows slightly, then relaxed again.
I think she is probably having some kind of strange dream.