After being physically and mentally exhausted to the extreme, sleep is always deep.
Yet that night, I entered the dream world, a rare occurrence truly.
When I became aware of my surroundings, I immediately saw, across the tea table, a golden-haired, fox-eared girl leisurely sipping tea.
It was none other than Seia, whom I hadn't seen in a long time.
Earlier, she had mentioned something to me, so I immediately brightened up and greeted her: "Hi! My Wife!"
"Pft...~ cough cough cough!"
Perhaps startled by my sudden address towards her that was filled with my gooey love, Seia choked on her tea, coughing for a moment.
Fortunately, it was only a dream, and she quickly recovered, giving me a scolding glare and saying, displeased:
"…If time over here hasn't gone awry, I should have told you already, now's still too early, right?"
I nodded in understanding, she must have been embarrassed.
Seia paused for a moment: "Sensei, how are things over on your side?"
"The Arius conspiracy failed," I answered. "Mika has also been captured and handed over to the Justice Task Force."
"Hmm… that means Nagisa can finally emerge from the darkness of doubt. With the deliberate obstacles gone, the Make-Up Work Club should be able to pass the make-up exams on their own, right? That's really good news."
Seia smiled: "After this, Koharu should be able to officially return to the Justice Task Force. As for Hanako, she's found someone and friends she can truly open up to, so she probably won't think about leaving school anymore.
"Azusa will continue her studies as well. And Hifumi, who's been fighting on the front lines with more effort than anyone else, will return to her normal life, I think.
"…Mika, imprisoned in the school's jail, might not be seen for quite some time. Nagisa… should proceed with establishing the Eden Treaty according to the original plan."
Seia exhaled and summarized. "So far, it's all going towards a happy ending."
…Including not having to see Mika, right?
"…However, it's still too early for the finale."
Seia's tone shifted, her calm golden eyes fixing on me:
"After all, the ending you are meant to witness hasn't fully revealed itself. No matter how this story develops… everything will converge to a conclusion where everyone finds happiness."
…Huh?
At this point, shouldn't she be saying something cryptic as usual? Where's my beloved, Seia-tan?!
"Tomorrow will be another sunny day," Seia said, seemingly enjoying my expression. Like a true fox, her eyes curved in a gentle smile as she sipped her tea, then continued:
"Of course, before that, perhaps a few clouds will linger? And there are still unfinished matters, this is not yet the end… You surely understand that better than anyone, right?"
I nodded silently.
Even though Mika's coup had been successfully stopped, that didn't mean we could rest easy.
At least, based on Arius' intelligence about Azusa… her plan to kill Nagisa and frame Mika doesn't seem false.
Most likely, Mika was merely a pawn, deceived and used.
Arius squad... Saori, Misaki, Hiyori, and the yet-unseen "princess."
And, the true mastermind behind the scenes…
Beatrice.
What is her ultimate goal?
Whether out of duty, the promise made to Mika, or my own selfishness, I must uncover the truth, stop this conspiracy!
Whose figure alone is enough to make my blood boil and make the one who dared to torment my students pay the price.
So right now, there is one and only one thing I must do...
Wait.
The setback and losses Arius suffered this time should keep them quiet for a long while. During this period, I need to indirectly gather intelligence from Trinity, Mika, and the captured Arius students.
For example, the location of Arius' home district.
But all that is for later, it can't be done in a dream and must wait until reality.
Right now, I'm more concerned about another matter.
"Seia," I asked, "what kind of ending will Mika face?"
Upon hearing this, Seia averted her gaze, lifting her sleeve to cover her mouth, and let out a long, reluctant sigh:
"Ah… Mika will probably take a long time to realize her mistakes. As a friend, I really do worry about her."
I couldn't help but sigh. "Yeah… and after surrendering, she still thought about attacking me…"
"Huh?" Seia's golden eyes widened in surprise. "Attacking sensei? Mika!?"
As she said, a precognitive dream doesn't equate to omniscience.
"Yes, in front of everyone. Both the Make-Up Work Club and the Sisterhood combat units saw it."
Seia lowered her sleeve, her expression darkening: "Mika actually… did such a foolish thing? Sensei, are you alright? How did she attack you?"
I tried my best to pull off a tragic, pained mask. "She… she actually…"
"She actually…?"
"She forcibly kissed me!" I shouted.
Immediately, the dream world fell silent.
Seia froze, eyes wide, as if seeing a ghost. "…Eh?"
I continued, feeling attacked. "Because of this, it won't be long before everyone in Kivotos learns that Trinity's Mika stole Sensei Schale's first kiss!"
"First… first kiss!?" The usually composed Seia stammered.
"W-wait a second, Mika? She forcibly kissed you? Wait, what does she want? That's… not right? Eh? Does she like you? At this time? Impossible!"
Clearly, Seia was panicking, even speaking in extremes.
Couldn't Mika fall for me at first sight? Even if she couldn't tell faces apart, being face-blind n all. She'd still be drawn to my exceptional figure, right?
So I began to recount the details to Seia. The paler her face became as I spoke, and before I'd finished half, she raised her hand to stop me:
"Please, don't say any more! I already believe you! Mika…"
The fox-eared girl took a deep breath, forcing a smile: "It's about time, sensei. Let's stop here for today."
Though I felt a bit disappointed, thinking there'd be plenty of time to try to provoke Seia's jealousy for fun later, I bid her farewell.
A moment later, the tea party was left with only Seia.
"Hah, I really went out of my way for you… and you repay me like this… truly a brainless gorilla in everything you do… hehe, very well."
Seia's eyes glinted with a cold light as she sneered. "Mika, today's grudge is duly noted!"