"The Sisterhood…?"
Mika looked genuinely surprised, but then inexplicably grew angrier.
"…You didn't take any action when Seia-chan was attacked, but now you choose to intervene at this mont? Ha, what a joke."
Before her words could even finish, an explosion echoed through the gym. The students of the Sisterhood didn't use the main entrance; instead, they blew a huge hole in the gym wall.
Led by three students I recognized, dozens of students in black nun uniforms, all ard and uniform, stepped out from the darkness.
"Cough…" A right-side nun with orange hair and animal ears choked slightly, but still dutifully spoke the opening words befitting a nun: "May peace and tranquility also be with you all today… cough…"
On the left, a black-haired, red-eyed nun holding a massive suitcase timidly added, "S-Sorry for the intrusion."
Finally, at the front, the Sisterhood's representative, Utazumi Sakurako, spoke with lightly parted crimson lips:
"The Sisterhood, though different from our usual ways… will intervene in the Tea Party's conflict."
This silver-haired, violet-eyed girl looked at the tense Mika not far away and declared as if pronouncing judgnt, "Tea Party's faction leader, Mika. I hereby arrest you on the charges of inciting harm to other Tea Party mbers and attempted injury."
"The Sisterhood's… Utazumi Sakurako…"
Mika squinted, then after a mont, laughed: "Ahaha, so this is the first ti I've gone to war with the Sisterhood. I see… so this is their ace? Who sent you out? Did Urawa Hanako pay so price, or was it another one of sensei's little tricks?
Or… were you enchanted too? Heh~ Things are getting more interesting. ☆
Looks like the list of people I have to take care of just grew."
Apparently, even though Mika was immune to my charm, she clearly understood the effect it had on the other ordinary students.
But this ti, it really was Hanako who had asked the Sisterhood for help. I had rely offered a word or two in support.
Hanako spoke: "Your expression finally changed, Mika-san?"
"Well, I was planning to clean up the Grand Cathedral after becoming the host anyway. Now it's just a little earlier than expected."
Mika glanced around, shook her head, and scoffed, "Urawa Hanako, you don't really think having the Sisterhood's help will let you defeat , do you? I'm still quite strong, you know?"
Hanako replied without fear. "Mika-san? Still playing tough at this point? You understand the odds in this situation, right?"
"…Heh, maybe so. But we've co this far, how could I possibly surrender now?"
"How long are you going to be so stubborn!?"
At that mont, Mika's hollow eyes regained so clarity as she turned toward the voice: "…Nagi-chan?"
"Mika, you idiot! Even if you defeat the Sisterhood and the Make-Up Work Club, what then!?" Nagisa shouted in anger. "The Justice Task Force is already on their way! How could you possibly defeat Tsurugi at full strength?"
"Well, it's not impossible to try," Mika replied calmly.
"I'm not joking! Wake up, didn't you say you didn't order anyone to kill Seia…?" Nagisa's eyes brimd with tears, choking on her words. "Stop, Mika, it's still not too late…"
"Nagi-chan…" Mika's expression softened slightly. Her tone beca gentler. "Even now, you're willing to believe what I say? How kind… Too bad…"
She lifted her head and whispered, "I can't turn back anymore… I can only move forward, by any ans necessary."
With that, she raised her hand again. The Arius students, previously held back, clashed once more with the Make-Up Work Club and the Sisterhood reinforcents.
I was preparing to retreat behind cover.
"Hey, sensei."
Amid the flying bullets, Mika stood with her gun lowered, her expression calm, calling to . Sohow, I instinctively stopped and looked at her.
"You know?" For reasons I couldn't fathom, Mika's eyes t mine as she spoke softly, "I never really intended to kill Seia."
"…Mm." I nodded.
"…What's wrong?" Mika raised an eyebrow. "Such a simple response… are you brushing off, or… do you actually still trust ?"
I asked in return. "Why would I doubt it?"
Otherwise, she wouldn't have spoken to at this mont.
Mika seed to find this amusing. Suddenly, she burst into laughter, shaking all over.
"Ha… I've tricked you so many tis, yet you still trust … even forgave Shirasu Azusa… Hey, the one who was supposed to protect Seia, what are you playing at?"
As her laughter subsided, she wiped tears from the corner of her eyes: "Aren't you afraid I have so sche? Sigh. Such an idiot."
Feeling the oppressive silence, Mika paused and added. "I am too."
Despite having no real skill at judging people, she at least had so self-awareness.
The Make-Up Work Club and the Sisterhood gathered behind her. I quietly observed, imrsed in my own world, like a girl lost in self-reflection.
"Why did we lose?" Mika asked, as Arius students fell before her, ignoring their cries and laughing arrogantly. "Was it… sensei's fault again?"
So it's all my fault again, huh?
I felt speechless and suddenly sensed my sleeve being tugged.
"Sigh…" Mika closed her eyes and sighed, "I really am hopeless."
Slap!
A clear, ringing sound echoed through the gym.
"…Eh?" Instinctively, Mika raised her hand to her cheek.
"Enough!" Nagisa, who I had carried in my arms, spoke sharply to Mika, who was bewildered from the slap.
"Eh, Nagi-chan…? This close… haha, being this close, I might…"
Slap!
Nagisa struck decisively, hitting the other side of Mika's face.
Mika finally restrained her smile and scowled: "Hey, that hurts."
Yet no redness appeared on her face.
Nagisa, on the other hand, held her hand as if it stung.
"Do you think…" Nagisa shouted in anger, "I pushed the treaty forward recklessly… for anyone else but you!?"
So it really is like that. I looked up at the ceiling.
"…Eh? Not for Seia-chan… wait, Nagi-chan, do you an…?"
Even Mika's sharp mind seed to finally catch on, her voice trembling.
Tears stread down Nagisa's face:
"Since Seia was attacked, I kept thinking… if I were attacked one day, you'd be the only one left… I trusted your strength, but there are things in this world that can't be solved by power alone… Mika, I really was a fool. My mistake was thinking I could protect you on my own!"
Unable to hold back, Nagisa buried her face in my chest, crying, soaking my clothes with her tears.
I understood how wronged she felt.
To protect a close friend, she had rushed to enact the Eden Treaty, trying to crush the conspiracy at its cradle, even at the cost of clashing with … the one she secretly loved.
Yet now, she realized the friend she longed to protect had been a conspirator willing to sacrifice her to stop the Eden Treaty.
What a cruel irony.
Mika, after a mont of silence, actually laughed:
"Ah, you're right. We're all fools. But no matter how much you cry, it's useless, you know? Seia-chan won't co back to life out of regret for anyone. Just as I… can't turn back anymore."
My expression suddenly twisted into sothing strange.
"Uh, um, excuse ."
Hanako raised her hand, awkwardly scratching the side of her face as she t Mika's gaze: "Actually, Seia-chan is fine, right?"
Nagisa abruptly stopped crying and lifted her bewildered face.
"What…?" Mika and I both reacted.
Or rather, very few people in the room didn't show shock at the news.
Wait, when did Hanako find out? And Seia's plan…
No, Seia had been waiting for Hanako, who also knew, to reveal the truth.
"It was all just a disguise," Hanako explained. "Because the attacker couldn't be found and for safety reasons… she hid sowhere outside Trinity."
"Seia-chan… she's okay…?"
"Yes. Her injuries aren't fully healed, and she hasn't woken yet… but the captain of the Redial Knights has been guarding her all along."
I instinctively looked through the crowd. A pale pink-and-white girl smiled at —healing, yet oddly unsettling.
Nagisa whispered in my arms, "So Captain Mine hid her because…"
"Exactly." Hanako nodded. "And the one who helped Seia-chan back then was…"
She paused, thinking. Then shook her head: "No, it's better if it cos from the person herself."
Even without Hanako saying it, combined with Mika's previous statents, the person's identity was obvious...
Azusa.
Azusa, who had been sent to assassinate Seia but secretly wanted to protect her and ensure the Eden Treaty.
After hearing Hanako, Mika lowered her head, and only after a long mont spoke:
"…I see. She's alive…"
Mika closed her eyes and raised her face with a faint smile, whispering. "…That's good."
Clatter. The treasured submachine gun fell to the floor.
Mika exhaled, as if a weight had lifted, looking at us:
"I surrender. I lost. Congratulations, Nagi-chan, Make-Up Work Club… and sensei. Consider this your victory. Do as you please with now."
"Mika…" Nagisa called, her tears still wet.
Mika ignored her childhood friend and turned to another person:
"…Azusa-chan. You know what you're doing, and what awaits you afterward, right?"
Azusa nodded slightly, replying seriously. "Of course."
"…Do you think Trinity will protect you? You'll be hunted constantly. Wherever you go… will a day co when you can sleep peacefully?"
Mika paused, then continued. "…And do you really think you can escape Saori? You, coming from Arius, should know… et omnia vanitas…"
Saori…
"Yeah, I know."
Azusa t her gaze: "Even so, I'll keep struggling until the end."
Mika looked slightly surprised, then thoughtful: "…Mm, I see."
"Misono-san, I'll keep my promise too."
Good. This ti, it went smoothly.
Though I still need to get more used to that na.
Mika glanced at , who had spoken, paused, then suddenly asked:
"Why?"
Why now?
I held the injured Nagisa with one arm, placing my other hand on Azusa's head, sincerely saying:
"Don't worry, Mika. I'll protect them."
…Crap. I forgot about the na again.
Just as I thought to correct myself, Mika twitched at sothing, then suddenly lunged at !
Azusa instinctively raised her gun, Nagisa tried to stop her, but Mika's movent was too sudden, too fast. In an instant, she was before , cleverly pushing the two girls beside aside.
Was she trying to take hostage? No, it felt more like she wanted to punch to vent?
Neither.
The next mont, I felt an irresistible force grip my shoulders and arms, sending sprawling.
As Mika's innocent, flawless face drew closer, a warm, wet sensation pressed against my lips. I finally realized what had happened, but was too stunned to think.
Wait!? She even… stuck out her tongue!?
"Mika!? What are you doing!?" Nagisa shouted, shocked, breaking the silence.
Chaos erupted imdiately afterward.
Finally, Mika released .
Stepping back, her silver hair disheveled and face flushed, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She glanced at the trembling, furious gray-gold-eyed girl beside her, then asked , still savoring the lingering sweetness:
"Have you kissed Nagi-chan? Not yet, right?"
Then Mika raised her thumb to herself, oddly triumphant, declaring loudly:
"Your first kiss wasn't with Nagisa-chan, it was with , Mika!"
Huh? My first kiss?
"AHHH!" I realized, letting out a heart-wrenching cry:
"My first kiss!!!"
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