The Trinity Downtown District is geographically privileged, with a climate that's pleasant year-round. Though, of course, "pleasant" is always relative.
I glanced up at the blazing sun and couldn't help but ask the girl beside me, "Aren't you hot?"
At this moment, Nagisa's outfit was… rather conspicuous, causing pedestrians along the street to glance back in confusion.
She'd swapped the usual Tea Party member uniform for the standard Trinity sailor outfit, that wasn't the surprising part, but pairing it with a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a mask made her look like a suspicious character.
Might as well have slapped a motorcycle helmet on her head and passed her off as some delinquent from the Steel Helmet Gang.
I hadn't expected that my casual suggestion for a disguise, given just before we left, would be taken this far.
"That's only natural…" Nagisa muttered sullenly. "If others found out that I, the Tea Party host, am going on a date with you…"
She trailed off, but I knew exactly what she implied.
In short, it would inevitably attract gossip if the Tea Party host went on a date with Schale's sensei.
But given Nagisa's current worldview is that everyone is her enemy. Is there really any need to worry?
Surely it's not just embarrassment?
I was at a loss for words. "Have you considered that maybe what I want… is for others to know?"
"You should've stopped me earlier, then," she sighed. "Sensei, I think I'm beginning to believe that what you said… was genuine."
"Which part?"
Nagisa spoke as if it pained her to say it: "That you… like me."
I fell silent again. This woman… is she a little… naive?
"Isn't that right?" For some reason, her tone carried a hint of embarrassment.
"Yes, yes, yes… I like you, I like you," I replied, feeling a bit flustered, thinking to myself, even if it's true, who asks that aloud like this?
It reminded me of someone else, a former acquaintance, who also spent all day sitting confidently in a chair, perhaps even more self-assured.
Still, under these circumstances, Nagisa daringly speaking like this was… a little reckless, I supposed.
It was precisely because the situation had reversed that she finally seemed willing to speak to me earnestly.
Though understandable, I still wondered, why did it have to come to this?
Thankfully, there was still hope.
For now, the priority was to find somewhere to sit and rest, so Nagisa could regain some energy.
We picked a spacious tea shop along the street. I politely let Nagisa order first. When I saw her choice, I raised a brow ever so slightly, but remained expressionless.
The drinks arrived quickly. Nagisa, who had removed her sunglasses and mask, frowned as she stirred the red liquid with a straw. The ice clinking against the glass produced a crisp sound.
After a moment's hesitation, she took a sip. And her expression immediately turned grim.
I'd known all along she wasn't good with drinks that used black tea as a base but had various other flavors added, especially when chilled.
"Here," I said at the right moment, sliding the warm milk I'd ordered over to her. "Drink this instead."
Nagisa, with tears welling at the corners of her eyes from the previous sip, gratefully took the milk and sipped it slowly to soothe her taste buds. Yet her expression remained twisted for a while, much like a child at Plum Blossom Garden drinking the bitter medicine from the Eastern Alchemy Society after falling ill.
…Was it really that bad?
Curious, I tried the drink she likely wouldn't touch again. Surprisingly, it tasted quite good to me.
I guess refined taste from premium tea makes it hard to empathize with ordinary palates.
Nagisa, observing me quietly, lowered her gaze. Her hands rested on the warm glass, thumbs unconsciously rubbing the surface.
After a moment, she spoke suddenly: "Sensei… I really don't understand."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Why did you do those things? And why did you only make this one request?"
Nagisa murmured, "Do you really like me? Or do you value something else about me and just want to trick my feelings? Or… are both part of your ambition?"
Uh… enough with the dramatic questions.
I reflected the question back at her: "Hehe… and what do you think?"
Nagisa was silent for a moment. "You know full well I could never like a selfish, ambitious person. Nor could I bear a love that's too heavy. Even if the unthinkable happened… I can separate personal feelings from duty."
I personally reserved judgment, since it remained debatable whether Nagisa and Mika's friendship was truly deep, and whether Nagisa's hasty decisions were entirely justifiable.
"You know full well," Nagisa repeated, though the nuance had subtly shifted. "Even though I've never told you directly, you know. I thought all our disagreements were temporary. I even imagined that, if one day everything were resolved, we could return to the way things were... Sitting together, leisurely drinking tea and chatting."
Her heartfelt confession left me momentarily at a loss. I wanted to respond, but sadly realized that before this ordeal ends, my best choice was silence.
She was right. She had always shown me goodwill, which I was fully aware of, and my affection for her, she had noticed as well.
That's why, even after conflicts arose, we maintained a delicate connection instead of becoming outright enemies.
"Hey, Sensei," Nagisa's voice trembled. Tears shimmered in her eyes, but there was hope in them as she pleaded, "Can you stop? I know you're not some scheming villain. It's because of Mika's situation that you've become like this, right?"
…She still wants to believe in me?
Even knowing the situation wouldn't allow it, how I wished she could trust the Make-Up Work Club members this way.
"If Mika were still here, she'd never want you to go to extremes. Or… just for me, okay? Don't use the Eden Treaty as a weapon… that would only bring misfortune to everyone…"
Her voice choked up.
What a kind yet tragic princess.
Once this… the final and hardest step… is endured—
I forced myself to appear calm, "When we go on our date, don't talk about these depressing things."
Watching her tremble ever more violently, I said firmly, "I will keep my promise."