At Trinity's central plaza, beside the fountain, I stood absentmindedly watching the water sparkle beneath the sunlight.
Students passing by greeted me warmly from time to time.
Some time ago, on behalf of Arius Squad, I had apologized to the victims of the Eden Treaty Incident and sought their forgiveness. Along the way, I'd gotten to know quite a few students...
Or rather, perhaps it would be more accurate to say they'd had the opportunity to get to know me.
As I idly entertained myself with such thoughts, a sudden sense of danger washed over me.
Just as I was about to dodge, the gust of wind rushing toward me from behind had already reached my back.
Accompanied by laughter as clear as silver bells, a body that felt soft at first touch yet carried the force of a charging truck pounced onto my back, nearly knocking me flat onto the ground.
At the same time, I even heard Arona cry out beside my ear.
"Wah! The battery dropped so much all at once!"
There was only one person in all of Trinity who would barrel into me like this while possessing such terrifying brute strength.
And she was exactly the person I'd arranged to meet here today.
"Ta-da☆! Mika has arrived! Hahaha!"
A pair of slender, seemingly delicate arms wrapped themselves around my shoulders.
"Sensei, it's been so long... Hey, hey, did you miss me while we were apart?"
If I remembered correctly, we'd only been apart for a few days.
Even if I had missed her, what difference would that make?
Mika continued chattering away regardless.
"As for me, it's a little embarrassing to admit... Ehehe. But you came so much earlier than the time we agreed on, which means...? That's so unfair! I wanted to be the one waiting for you..."
Has it ever occurred to you that...
Schale started construction first thing this morning, making it impossible for me to sleep in or even work in peace, so I simply came here early?
"...Mika, could you get off me first?"
Having finally managed to steady myself, I said as much.
"Ah, sorry! I just got too excited."
With a little "heave-ho," she hopped back onto the ground, then immediately hugged my arm instead, grinning happily.
It felt like Saint Justina Student Mika was becoming rather lacking in personal boundaries.
Especially in a crowded public place like this.
As two fairly well-known people standing so close together, we'd already attracted whispers from the students who recognized us.
I frowned and hesitated for a moment, but in the end I didn't pull my poor, oppressed arm free from her embrace.
Letting out a silent sigh at how helplessly indulgent I was toward her, I smiled and congratulated her.
"After everything you've been through, you can finally return to a normal school life. Congratulations, Mika."
"I think that's all thanks to you, Sensei."
Mika gazed at me affectionately.
"If Sensei hadn't refused to give up on me until the very end, I never would've been able to find a happy ending again. Thank you, Sensei."
Feeling inexplicably weighed down, I laughed awkwardly.
"Haha... It's still far too early to call this the ending, isn't it? More importantly, what really mattered was that you wanted another chance yourself and were willing to work for it. Otherwise, no matter how much others tried to help, it wouldn't have accomplished anything."
After nodding as though she'd understood something profound, Mika flashed a brilliant smile.
"That sounded really convincing, but... I didn't understand a single word!"
...
I clenched my fist.
I was beginning to understand Seia more and more.
"Anyway! I don't really like thinking about complicated things, but there's one thing I do understand, Sen-sei!☆"
Releasing my arm, the angelically beautiful girl trotted around to stand in front of me and gave me a formal bow.
Then she looked up with her usual goofy smile, her voice bright and cheerful.
"From now on, I'll be in your care again!"
For just that moment, I almost felt as though, no matter how many mistakes Mika had made or how foolish she'd been in the past, I could forgive all of it.
Pink-haired girls were truly terrifying.
Then, like a pet finally entering adolescence and learning how to curry favor with the owner she adored, the girl, who only ever acted cute and obedient in front of me and radiated youthful energy in every gesture, tugged lightly on my sleeve.
"Sensei, let's go! This way!"
"Where are we going?"
Seeing that we weren't heading toward the Tea Party, I couldn't help asking.
"Aren't we meeting Seia and Nagisa for Mika's celebration?"
"Huh? It's still early. If we go now, we'll just end up chatting about things we can talk about later anyway."
Mika waved her hand casually.
"Before that, let's go shopping! Just the two of us! You said you'd come with me, didn't you? There are still lots of things I want to buy! Come on!"
Making her declaration as though it were only natural, Mika happily skipped ahead, deliberately keeping to a pace I could follow.
With no choice, I followed her all the way out of Trinity.
Once we reached the streets outside, she seemed even more excited.
She had probably been cooped up in prison for the past several months, suppressing herself all that time, and today she had finally regained her freedom.
And perhaps because the person she secretly... no, openly loved was beside her as well.
"Sensei! The air outside really is so refreshing!"
At that moment, Mika turned around, looking curious.
"Huh? Sensei, why are you smiling so happily?"
I froze for a second before raising a hand to smooth the corners of my lips.
"It's just that you seem really happy too, Mika. I guess your mood rubbed off on me."
That only made her happier.
Giggling, she pressed her index fingers together.
"Ehehe... So that's why. Mmm... Walking freely outside with Sensei just makes me so happy. I mean... doesn't this kind of feel... like we're on... on a date...?"
By the end of the sentence, she lowered her head shyly.
Meanwhile, I immediately caught the keyword I'd been waiting so long to hear.
My instincts sprang into action.
"Mika, are you saying this feels like we're on a date?"
Recalling what she'd said when she rejected my invitation before, I asked in the exact astonished tone I'd rehearsed countless times in my head.
"You? With an old man like me?"
Unfortunately, she'd apparently forgotten all about it.
Instead, she puffed out her cheeks in protest.
"Sensei, what are you talking about? You're not an old man at all! If we walked together, we'd obviously make a wonderful pair. People might even think we're... we're newlyweds or something... Ehehe..."
The corner of my mouth twitched.
I gave up trying to remind her with the rest of her own words.
Everything she'd said afterward back then had been far too blunt and hurtful.
If those words came from my mouth now...
Mika would probably make an incredibly heartbroken expression.
The kind so painfully infectious that even my own heart would ache.
All I could do was hope Seia's preparations would deliver justice to this infuriating pink-haired girl.
"But... life now really is different from before... Still, it's okay. I'm sure I'll get used to it soon!"
Before Mika could return to her carefree smile, I caught the fleeting trace of melancholy that flashed across her face, filling me with unease.
According to the results of the hearing, it was true that almost all of Mika's Tea Party privileges had been revoked.
Aside from the sentence of mandatory community service, however, she was supposed to receive the same treatment as any ordinary Trinity student.
Could something have gone wrong in practice?
Or had some troublemaker started bullying her?
Unable to shake my concern, I asked gently,
"Is there anything that's been bothering you?"
"Hmm... I wouldn't exactly call it bothering me..."
After thinking for a while, Mika began counting on her fingers.
"Before, I had an entire building all to myself, but now I have to sit at the same table as everyone else during class... I have to eat in the cafeteria too... Oh, and I have to dry my own hair... Things like that?"
I found myself at a complete loss for words.
I wasn't even sure whether I should comfort her.
For an ordinary student, every single one of those things was perfectly normal.
I knew Mika had been raised in luxury, but...
Had she really grown up that sheltered from the realities of everyday life?
Perhaps falling from the clouds wasn't entirely a bad thing for someone as innocent and narrow-minded as Mika.
After thinking for a moment, Mika continued complaining.
"And because I moved into the dorms... I have to wash my own clothes, iron them myself, eat with everyone, bathe with everyone... There's even a fixed lights-out time. It's all so miserable!"
Were those really the extent of her troubles?
After careful consideration, all I could say tactfully was,
"That's just what student dormitories are usually like."
Hearing that, Mika opened her eyes wide in surprise, apparently unable to understand.
But she quickly nodded.
"Mmm... Well, if Sensei says so, then I guess that's how it is. Although... there are probably dorms with fewer rules too... I just got unlucky. Well... it's okay. I'm sure I'll get used to it soon."
"Yeah."
I nodded.
"I'll be cheering for you."
"Ehehe. Just knowing Sensei cares about me makes me feel like I can keep going no matter what happens!"
The pink-haired girl smiled until her eyes became crescents, then let out a long breath as though she'd finally sorted out her feelings.
"Alright then! Let's start shopping!"
With that, she skipped happily ahead once more.
I followed close behind until she stopped in front of a shop along the street.
As soon as we entered, rows of neatly arranged bookshelves filled with every kind of book came into view.
It appeared to be a bookstore.
"I came to buy books for my classes."
Noticing me looking around the store, Mika explained on her own.
"Things like dictionaries and reference books can only be bought at places like this. After all... I don't have any of my old ones anymore."
After rejecting the radicals' attempt to place her at the forefront and choosing to resist instead, during the days when public opinion against Mika within Trinity had been at its worst, nearly all of her belongings had been burned by furious students.
"But that's okay."
Mika shook her head.
"I'll just buy new ones. So, Sensei, wait here for just a little while, okay? I'll be right back!"
Leaving those words behind, she briskly headed deeper into the bookstore.
After thinking for a moment, I took out my phone and opened MomoTalk.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!"
Looking up from the screen, I saw Mika returning with a huge stack of books in her arms.
"It took longer than I thought."
"Does Trinity really require this many reference books?"
Having once served as the tutor for the Make-Up Work Club and knowing Trinity's average academic standards, I asked in confusion.
"Not all of them," Mika explained. "There are novels and magazines too... I know it's about time I got my impulse buying under control... Well, I'll get over it sooner or later. ☆"
Now that she'd lost her privileges as a Tea Party member, the financial allowances that came with the position were naturally gone as well. Living the same extravagant, luxurious life as before was no longer an option.
After paying, she effortlessly lifted the bag containing everything she'd bought with one hand and said to me,
"Well then, Sensei, there's not much time left before the party starts, so let's hurry to the next place. ☆"
"There's another stop?"
The words had barely left my mouth before Mika had already briskly walked out of the store.
Although she'd found someone she loved and was gradually learning to care about other people's feelings, the selfish streak ingrained in Mika's nature, as inseparable as her pink hair, hadn't changed all that easily.
Not long afterward, we arrived at a clothing store.
Just like at the bookstore, Mika set down the bag of books and asked me to watch it before heading inside alone to choose what she wanted to buy.
That irritated me a little.
She'd said she wanted me to accompany her, so why did she leave me behind every time the actual shopping started?
The first time was one thing, but this was already the second.
Was she really that unwilling to let me participate even a little?
She could've at least asked for my opinion.
Even so, I patiently waited outside.
When my phone vibrated, I continued the conversation I'd left unfinished.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Sensei!"
Once again came her bright, cheerful voice.
Once again she emerged carrying a mountain of things, handing everything she'd selected over to the cashier.
"One pair of the academy's designated athletic shoes, one pair of indoor shoes, one set of the designated gym uniform, two handkerchiefs, one set of the designated swimsuit, two sports towels, and..."
This was probably Trinity's designated clothing store, just as the previous one had likely been its designated bookstore.
Mika had bought an astonishing variety of items, nearly all of them necessities for school life, covering almost every category imaginable.
I wisely refrained from asking what had happened to her previous uniforms, shoes, and everything else.
Before long, the cashier totaled everything and politely asked,
"How would you like to pay?"
Having apparently waited for this moment, Mika immediately opened her wallet and handed over a bank card.
"I'll use this one."
"Certainly. Paying by card..."
However, the instant the card was swiped through the POS terminal, several sharp warning beeps sounded in rapid succession.
Everyone present, myself included, froze in surprise.
"...We're terribly sorry."
After a brief moment of shock, the cashier hesitantly explained,
"It seems this card doesn't have sufficient funds."
"Oh... oh dear!? Um... just a moment!"
Mika panicked briefly before reluctantly beginning to remove items from the purchase.
"Take away one towel and one handkerchief... and the indoor shoes too..."
"Let's use this card instead."
Unable to watch any longer, I interrupted and handed over my own bank card.
"And keep the towels and handkerchiefs too."
"Eh!? S-Sensei!?"
"Payment approved. I'll bag everything for you right away."
The cashier moved with astonishing speed, as though afraid the sale might disappear if she hesitated even a second.
Taking the shopping bags, I handed them to the increasingly flustered pink-haired girl.
When she hesitated, I smiled.
"Think of it as a gift to celebrate your return to school. Without these necessities, it wouldn't really count as a complete return, would it?"
"I mean... that's true... but, Sensei... I... But why...?"
Mika accepted the bags, biting gently on her lower lip.
The complicated emotions filling her fragile heart were written plainly across her face.
A moment later, tears welled up in her eyes as she murmured quietly,
"I... I didn't want to keep causing you trouble, Sensei... I just... wanted to use this chance to enjoy a shopping date with you... But somehow I messed it up again... And yet... why are you..."
"Why does there need to be a reason?"
I couldn't help laughing a little as I casually patted her head.
"If there absolutely has to be one, then let's just say it's the same reason you asked me to come shopping with you."
Almost instantly, the gloom vanished from Mika's face.
Her eyes lit up with renewed energy, and she looked positively thrilled.
"Eh... Y-You mean..."
"I don't mean anything."
I denied it immediately.
"I-I see..."
For some reason, Mika looked as though she'd discovered something, and a radiant smile spread across her face.
Ever since she'd fallen for me, cheering her up had become absurdly easy.
"Alright, let's head back."
I turned around.
"If we don't hurry, we'll miss the time we agreed on. We can't keep Nagisa and Seia waiting too long."
"Mhm!"
Mika hurried after me, muttering,
"Actually... it'd be fine even if we walked a little slower. Nagisa-chan and Seia-chan know me better than anyone. They're definitely already expecting me to be late and have mentally prepared themselves."
Hearing that, I genuinely couldn't decide whether to praise Mika's self-awareness or say the exact opposite.
The only thing I could say for certain was that Mika, Nagisa, and Seia truly were Trinity's unique brand of close friends.
Their bond really was something.
Even though she'd said that, she didn't deliberately slow down to enjoy more time alone with me on the way back.
And so, before the appointed time arrived, Mika and I reached our destination.
Led by one of the Tea Party's administrative officers waiting for us, we headed toward a room deeper inside the building.
Noticing that Mika was carrying several heavy bags, the officer politely asked whether she'd like to leave them somewhere first.
Mika declined with a smile.
"I'm going to need these in a little while."
She put a finger to her lips mysteriously, signaling for silence.
The officer nodded in confusion.
I, however, had already more or less confirmed the suspicion forming in my mind.
While astonished by the thought process inside that pink-haired head, I found myself looking forward to what was coming even more.
Sure enough, my guess soon became reality.
No, it turned out to be even more outrageous than my wildest prediction.
"Nagisa-chan! Seia-chan! Sensei and I are back from our date!"
The pink-haired girl entered the Tea Party room ahead of me with a huge smile and made the declaration immediately.
Then she triumphantly raised both bulging shopping bags high into the air.
"These are all presents from Sensei! To celebrate my safe return! Ehehe!"
Relying on instincts as sharp as a wild beast's, Misono Mika had actually started the war before she could fall into anyone else's trap.
That unpredictability, combined with her utterly unreasonable personality, had always been her greatest weapon against her two friends back during their Tea Party days.
Nagisa, who had been wearing her usual elegant, composed smile, immediately turned pale.
As though recalling an extremely unpleasant memory, the hand holding her teacup began trembling.
In an unusually hostile tone, she asked,
"Mika... what exactly are you talking about?"
The tea table, set with four chairs, was already covered in beautifully crafted pastries.
As far as I knew, every single one had been handmade by Nagisa specifically for today with Mika's tastes in mind.
"Sorry, Nagi-chan."
Mika casually took a seat and stuffed a pastry into her mouth.
"Mmm, this is so good! Way better than Swiss rolls! Anyway, when you ask what I mean, I mean exactly what I said. Since there was still time before the tea party, I asked Sensei to go on a date with me."
I quietly sat down in the last remaining chair, staring straight ahead and completely ignoring the questioning look Nagisa shot at me.
Although Mika had embellished a few details, the overall story wasn't far from the truth.
There wasn't much point arguing over insignificant details.
"And then..."
Mika continued cheerfully,
"Sensei bought me all the things I needed to return to school as presents. I could really feel just how much Sensei cares about me. Ehehe. Nagi-chan, Seia-chan, you're both sincerely happy for me too, right?"
Nagisa, who had once again treated Mika with nothing but goodwill only to have it thrown back in her face, ground her teeth in frustration.
Yet she had absolutely no way to refute her.
After all, today's gathering had been arranged specifically to celebrate Mika's safe return.
How could she possibly refuse to offer her congratulations?
Satisfied by her childhood friend's reaction, the pink-haired girl smiled faintly before turning toward Seia, who had remained silent the entire time, looking as composed as someone calmly waiting for a fish to bite.
Frowning slightly, Mika asked with feigned innocence,
"Seia-chan, you're happy about how things are progressing between Sensei and me too, aren't you?"
"...I see. As expected of you, Mika."
Seia sighed with admiration.
"Once again, you acted first before thinking, all for the sake of winning a trivial exchange of words. Was it really worth it?"
"What are you talking about, Seia-chan?"
Apparently sensing the atmosphere turning dangerous, Mika forced an awkward smile.
"Today's a day for celebrating. You just have to congratulate Sensei and me, okay? Come on. Just say that Sensei and I make a wonderful couple."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Mika."
Even for something as small as this, Seia refused to yield.
She calmly took a small object from inside her clothes and mercilessly declared,
"Allow me... to bring your foolish, laughable ambition to an end."