Because the actual results of the first evaluation exam were so far from what she had imagined, Ajitani Hifumi was visibly downcast.
Fortunately, under Hanako's precise score control, she also managed to pass the evaluation exam smoothly, which at least gave Hifumi some psychological comfort.
Still, given Hifumi's personality, I think that even if Hanako continued pretending to be a poor student, she would quickly recover from the blow and keep pushing forward.
In any case, Hifumi first briefly informed everyone about the upcoming training camp, telling them to make preparations over the next couple of days and wait for notice from the Tea Party.
With that, today's activities were temporarily brought to an end.
Mainly because Hifumi, as the club president, and Shimoe Koharu, whose grades were the worst and who was the most stubborn about it, both needed to go back and calm down.
Before long, night fell over the sky. So that I could fully enjoy the sweets personally made by Kirifuji Nagisa, I only bought a piece of bread to fill my stomach. After that, I wandered alone through the classical, elegant campus of Trinity for a while, until the agreed time drew near, and then headed to the Tea Party.
Under the guidance of a member of the guard squad, I once again arrived at the venue where the Tea Party was held.
Already seated at the head, the composed host of the Tea Party placed a piece on the chessboard in front of her.
Then she paused the game and presented me with a flawless, elegant smile. Her tone was calm, with a trace of gentleness.
"My, Sensei. Thank you for your hard work. How are things on the Make-Up Work Club's side?"
Before I could reply, Nagisa continued as if speaking to herself.
"…Although I say that, I have already heard about it. It seems the first exam did not go very smoothly. But there are still two chances left…"
"Even so, we cannot afford to be careless," I remarked, then asked, "By the way, what were you just playing?"
"Ah, this? Chess is one of my hobbies. I have not mentioned that to you before, have I?"
As she answered, Nagisa picked up a piece of a different color than before and made another move, then explained,
"It is probably a type you have never seen. On the black side, there are a king and a queen, and all the rest are pawns. On the white side, there is a king, and three to four each of castles, chariots, and knights… It is quite a rare setup, is it not?"
It was indeed rare, and the two sides did not seem evenly matched.
Rather than a game, it felt more like a simulation with some kind of metaphor.
A vague guess formed in my mind, but outwardly I remained calm and asked, "Are you playing alone right now?"
"Yes, at the moment it is just me. The noisy Mika is not here."
After that pointed remark, Nagisa smiled again. "There is something I wished to inform you of today… But before that, it seems you also have something you would like to say to me."
Judging by the atmosphere, what Nagisa wanted to tell me was clearly not some intimate chatter, nor a straightforward confession.
Feeling a slight disappointment, I nodded and went straight to the point.
"If someone in the Make-Up Work Club fails all three evaluation exams in a row, what will happen?"
As expected, after hearing this question, Nagisa fell briefly silent. That reaction seemed to confirm my suspicion.
The elegant girl withdrew her businesslike smile. Her ash gold eyes looked at me calmly. "Did you happen to hear about it? The source was… Hifumi? Or perhaps Sakurako from the Sisterhood?"
It seemed the Tea Party was aware of my movements within Trinity. That was not surprising.
However, from Nagisa's slightly unsettling tone…
Did she learn of it by chance, or had she been deliberately observing me all along?
If it was the latter, then it could no longer be explained simply as a secret crush.
Suddenly, I recalled Sakurako's word choice at the time, which I had thought was merely inappropriate phrasing.
Quickly dismissing that baseless suspicion, I answered honestly, "Hifumi just let it slip by accident."
"I see. That does suit her. Though that is also one of Hifumi's strengths…"
After that brief reflection, Nagisa spoke calmly.
"Then the answer is very simple. If they keep failing and cannot escape repeating a year, and cannot truly help one another…"
As the atmosphere grew heavier, I found myself holding my breath, staring intently at the girl's serene, beautiful face.
The current leader of the Filius faction, known for her deep and calculating mind, spoke in an unchanging tone, as if casually stating the fate awaiting the Make-Up Work Club in such a situation.
"In that case, we would have no choice but to ask them all to withdraw from the school."
The few simple words were not loud, yet they struck like thunder on a clear day.
"…Are you serious?"
I tried my best to restrain my emotions, but disbelief still filled my voice.
After living in the academy city of Kivotos for several months, I had long understood what a school meant to its students, and naturally knew what expulsion implied.
To be denied by one's original school, to lose one's legal identity and corresponding rights, and to find it difficult to be accepted by other schools…
It was essentially a declaration that, unless one had already secured another path, one would from then on drift through the black market and bid farewell to one's former life.
The simplest example was that even serious criminals like the Seven Prisoners, who were sent to serve time in the Correction Bureau, received only suspension.
They were merely poor in their studies. Did it really warrant going this far?
"Of course."
Nagisa patiently explained, "Trinity has always had procedures related to repeating a year, suspension, and expulsion. However, the procedures are complicated and lengthy, and require extensive confirmation and discussion. Because unlike Gehenna, we place great importance on procedure."
"So," I looked at Nagisa coldly, "you need to use certain methods to bypass those procedures, correct?"
"For that part, I offer my sincere apologies."
No matter how one looked at her expression, there was not a trace of remorse. Nagisa remained completely composed.
"As you said, the Make-Up Work Club formed this time was adjusted specifically to circumvent such school regulations. Because we incorporated a small portion of Schale's authority, this measure became possible."
In other words.
I really had been used.
What surprised me, even as I recognized this fact, was that I was not particularly angry.
What occupied my heart more was simple confusion.
"Why?"
"That question is simple as well. After all, the Make-Up Work Club was originally…"
Nagisa paused. The last trace of a smile maintained by sheer habit finally faded away.
"A club established for the purpose of having students expelled."