Chapter 58: Shock, Assault

"This operation will be carried out by a small, elite team—specifically, the Eighth Squad. I’ll be taking command."

"Okay! Leave the guiding to me!"

It was the day of the Kirifuji Nagisa raid. Inside the Trinity Autonomous Zone, I was reviewing the final operation details with Misono Mika and the rest of the Eighth Squad.

"…Listen, everyone. We don’t have much time, and we don’t have much leeway either. Nagisa-chan’s very cautious, so she has guards and surveillance around her room. I can get through, but…"

"Mika-san, you can’t show yourself this time. Being seen anywhere near the scene on the day Nagisa-san is attacked would be way too suspicious."

The biggest concern with this operation wasn’t just keeping Nagisa alive. We also had to eliminate every possible factor that could make Mika look suspicious.

With Azusa gone, the Eighth Squad’s overall strength had taken a slight hit—but that wasn’t the issue. What mattered most was stealth. Making sure no one noticed we were there.
If we managed that, the lack of firepower wouldn’t matter.

"Alright then…"

…It’s fine. Everything’s ready.
The Notebook is hidden beneath the second layer of my room.
All the equipment and supplies—like the bomb I used to destroy Seia’s Halo—are stored there together, ready to be retrieved at a moment’s notice.

The escape route’s already planned. I’ve explained the entire procedure for getting out of Arius Branch School to all the squad leaders.

By now, even if I’m gone… they’ll be fine.
All that’s left is to tell Sensei—tell him everything.

"Everyone ready?"

"Yeah, no problem."

"Mm-hm… anytime."

"Y-Yes!"

"I'm good too."

Then this is where we part ways.

"Alright, let’s move out!"

I’ll make sure this all works out somehow.

"Let’s split up here for now. Eighth Squad, secure the perimeter. Mika-san and I will head for Nagisa-san."

"Understood. Let’s go."

"Ah—wait!!"

Everyone’s moving way too fast!?

"…What is it?"

"Your face. Let me see it properly."

"Huh? Out of nowhere like that? Well, fine."

…Yeah. Maybe I’m being a little selfish here.

"…Okay. I’m good now."

"…?"

"Then, I’ll be off!"

I waved to Saori and the others, then dashed off with Mika toward Nagisa’s quarters.

"Suou-chan, you can go a bit faster, right?"

"Of course."

…What I have to do now is simple.

First, I’ll knock Nagisa out with the bomb. That part’s exactly as everyone’s been briefed—no changes.

The problem comes afterward.
Mika will take Nagisa back to her room, then report to the Trinity department heads that Nagisa has been killed.
Meanwhile, I’ll regroup with the Eighth Squad and escape with them.

Originally, Azusa was supposed to lead the escape, but since there’s a launch to handle, I took over instead. I’ve already memorized Trinity’s entire layout, down to the last hallway—so that’s not an issue.

But if we do things that way, Mika will become a suspect among the people of Trinity.

…Trinity’s darker sides—bullying, harassment, power struggles—they’ll all come into play.
Even if Mika becomes the Tea Party’s new host, she might still get dragged into it. And that’s assuming she can even become host in the first place.
If suspicion turns toward her, we’ll have to prepare for the worst.

…More than anything, it’s about time I made contact with Sensei. Preferably before the Eden Treaty signing ceremony.
Originally, I planned to do it through Azusa—or maybe through Mika—but either way, it’s far from ideal.

"…"

I looked at Mika’s back.

Elegant wings spread from her shoulders, adorned with ornate decorations. Yet her small frame seemed far too delicate to carry the weight of Trinity’s darkness—its corruption, its pain.

…That’s why I’ll carry it instead.

After I knock Nagisa out… I’ll fight Mika. Then lose—and let myself be captured by Trinity.

In other words, I’ll make myself the villain.

That person killed Kirifuji Nagisa.
That person murdered Yurizono Seia.
That person is the one sabotaging the Eden Treaty.

That’s the image I’ll create—to draw suspicion away from Mika as much as possible.

After that, I’ll probably be detained at Trinity rather than sent to the Correction Bureau.
I’m too valuable for that. They wouldn’t let someone like me—someone who could be an information source on Arius Branch—just slip away.

Mika, bound by our contract, won’t be able to reveal our relationship or defend me. She’ll have to prioritize her own safety.

…Which means until the signing ceremony, I won’t be leaving that cell. And I won’t be seeing any of them again.
Except maybe Atsuko, when I meet the Maestro.

"We’re here, Suou-chan."

"Ah, right."

…Guess I got lost in thought. Anyway, this is it.
This is goodbye to Saori and the others.
It’s a little lonely—and I’m worried—but I’ve done everything I can.
Now, I just want those girls to live the lives they truly desire. To find the futures they wish for. That’s enough for me.

"Nagisa-chan’s behind this door."

"Got it. Mika-san, please stay back. We can’t risk anyone seeing you, not even by chance."

"…Okay."

Alright then…

"Wait."

"…?"

"Suou-chan, tell me something. If… if you ever felt like what you were doing might be wrong, but stopping would mean losing everything, what would you do?"

"…What kind of question is that?"

That… didn’t sound like her at all.
It felt strangely heavy—too complicated for Mika.

"Hmm…"

Still, I already know my answer.

"I’d do it anyway."

"…! Even if that meant… hurting someone?"

"…Then I’d take full responsibility. I wouldn’t make excuses. I wouldn’t stop. I’d carry everything I’ve started—all of it—until the day I see it through."

That day. The moment I decided to change this world.
The moment I killed Cyan and Anna.
I made that vow then.

Everything that’s happened since—I remember it all too clearly.
So clearly it makes me sick. Literally sick.

But even so, I won’t stop. I can’t stop. Because I’m the one who started it.

"I see…"

"…Something wrong?"

"No, it’s nothing. It’s just—lately I’ve been thinking, I should do my best too, as a member of the Tea Party…"

"…Hahaha. That’s a good thing."

It’s okay to worry. To think too much. To fail.
That’s the right of being young.

"Alright, I’m going in now…"

I placed my hand on the doorknob.

With one breath, I pulled it down hard.

Then, drawing the door toward me—

“…Huh?”

What spread before my eyes was fire.

An explosion—its roar and heat swallowed everything. Instinctively, I crossed my arms and leapt backward, bracing to disperse the impact.

“Gh…! Fall back!!”

The plan’s been exposed!? If that’s true, Mika’s position is in danger!

I have to get her out of here—now!

Where’s Mika—!?

“…Sorry, Suou-chan. This was the only way I could think of.”

“Wha…? Gah!!”

Pain. A blunt shock across my left arm.

The blow raced from my arm into my ribs—deep trauma: bleeding, fractures, contusions. My whole body screamed alarms at once.

“Kh…! Cough!”

Blood spilled from my mouth. Internal damage, too.

It happened too fast. I couldn’t even raise a proper barrier in time.

My equipment—no, wait—the bomb meant to destroy the Halo, is it still—?

“Yup, I’ve confiscated anything dangerous☆”

“Mika…san…?”

Blood smeared her right hand—my blood.

Why… why did Mika take the Halo-destroying bomb? No—how could she take it?

What happened to our contract?

“Phew, that was really cutting it close, huh? Honestly, this was the only timing that worked.”

No. That’s not it. Why… why is Mika pointing a gun at me?

“…Shall we talk for a bit, Suou-chan?”

Why…? Where did I go wrong…?

“And with that, everyone! To celebrate passing the Supplementary Lesson Department exam… cheers!!”

At Hifumi’s lively call from the podium, everyone raised their drinks.

“Hey, is that stuff actually good…?”

“…It doubles your cuteness.”

“So, not good then.”

Koharu eyed Azusa’s suspiciously colored drink. It was a Momo Friends collaboration; the label had caught Azusa’s attention, but apparently not the taste.

“B-but… are you sure it’s okay for us to join you?”

“Of course! Thanks to the Volunteer Activities Club, we all managed to pass!”

“Uuu…!”

“Haha, prez, you’ve been crying way too much lately.”

“Shut uuup…!!”

Teased by one of her juniors, Asiri puffed up in protest and quickly gulped from her cup to hide her embarrassment.

“Oh my, Asiri-san, you’ve already finished? What would you like next?”

“N-no, I’m fine, really…!”

“Ah, don’t give her cola again. She gets tipsy off caffeine.”

“S-she’s that weak!?”

Koharu glanced over: Asiri’s eyes were wide—the one glass of cola had already sent her into caffeine overdrive.

“Whe-he-heeeey!! Koharu-chan, you drinkin’ too!?”

“…Whatever. I’ll stop thinking about it.”

Koharu let it go. It was more fun that way.

“Hehe… celebrating at the very academy we studied in all this time—it feels a little sinful, doesn’t it?”

“Why do you have to phrase it like that…?”

For once, Koharu’s tsukkomi instinct took a break; she joined in enjoying the spread of snacks, drinks, and homemade dishes.

“So, after this we hit the bowling alley… then karaoke… anyone else got ideas? Raise your hand!”

“H-hey! We’re technically guests, remember!?”

Asiri scolded them for their pushy attitudes. Even she wasn’t bold enough to make demands as an invited guest.

“Still, we’re covering the costs, right? Prez, why’d you plan stuff behind our backs?”

“S-sorryyy about that…!!”

“Ahaha…”

“So, anyone got a place they wanna go?”

Hands shot up.

“M-me! The shopping district! I found some adorable new Peroro merch!”

“Let’s go somewhere we can’t normally go! You know—behind the curtain, into the unknown!!”

“W-why would we go there!? T-the bookstore sounds fun though…”

“Oh my, Koharu-chan, why’d you assume I meant a bookstore?”

“Wha—! I-I don’t know!”

Just as chatter threatened to spiral, Azusa quietly raised her hand.

“…The ocean. I’d like to see the ocean.”

“Ah…”

Hifumi remembered: Azusa had never been to the sea. She’d said so once, with a faint, distant look; Hifumi had felt something like admiration then.

“The ocean, huh... Well, we can’t really swim at night, but just looking at it is fun enough! I think it’s a great idea!”

“B-but, isn’t it pretty far...?”

“Hehe... Prez, why don’t you bring out that thing?”

“E-eh!?”

That thing—of course, the one Mayumi had passed down to me.

It would be fast, but only the Volunteer Activities Club knew about it. Losing that secrecy would be a risk.

“......”

I glanced at Azusa. She smiled awkwardly, conflicted as everyone tried to make her wish come true.

Seeing that made something click—I wanted to take her there no matter what.

But there wasn’t much room. Fitting everyone would be difficult; a few would have to sit it out.

“It’s fine, we’ll stay outside. Just take her there.”

"...Yeah."

Maybe I should accept their offer. I stepped into the conversation as they debated logistics.

“I’ll take you there myself!! Leave it to me!!”

Asiri declared it and Azusa approached, worried.

“Asiri, you should rest. Did you drink an energy drink or something? Either way, you should lie down for a bit.”

“Waaah!? I’m not acting weird or anything!!”

Crying as she protested the rough treatment, Asiri made a familiar scene—the Supplementary Lesson Department members were used to it by now.

“D-do you mean there really is a way to get there!?”

“H-Hifumi-chan, you were doubting me too!? Of course there is!! And it’s super amazing!!”

“Super amazing... Now that you say it like that, I’m curious.”

“Fufufu... You’ll just have to wait and see when the time comes...!”

Wearing a smug grin, Asiri teased them.

"...Well, I’m sure Mayumi-chan will forgive me, right?"

That incident the other day—when I confessed to the Supplementary Lesson Department members that I’d been bugging and recording them—had been awkward. I’d reported it, prepared for scolding. Back then—

"'I see... so that’s what happened.'"

"'Y-you’re not mad...?'"

"'Of course not. You saw them yourself, didn’t you? You decided these people were trustworthy. Then I’ll trust the people trusted by the one I believe in.'"

"'M-Mayumi-chaaaan...!'"

"'Alright, alright, no hugging, remember? I’m just a hologram. I’ll leave anything involving them to you, okay?'"

She’d said she’d leave it to me. So I was sure Mayumi would understand.

"...Yeah. Just wait and see—I’ll make it worth it!"

So for now, I wanted to enjoy it. This time of youth.

“Huh...? Speaking of which, where’s Sensei...?”

“A-ah, well! It seems he has some business to take care of, but he’ll come join us right after he’s done!”

“Hmm...?”

I wondered what business he had. I’d like to thank Sensei too.

Asiri finished her caffeine-free café au lait.

…Meanwhile, inside Nagisa Kirifuji’s private quarters.

"……You may come in."

Responding to the knock, Nagisa gave permission.

Through the narrow opening appeared a tall man—Sensei from Schale.

"……Thank you for coming so late at night, Sensei."

"“No, don’t mention it. More importantly, what’s this about?”"

What’s this about, huh. The nerve of him to sound so casual.

Even as she recognized the irritation was unreasonable, Nagisa took a quiet breath.

"“...Is this about the Supplementary Lesson Department?”"

"Yes. Ultimately, it does connect to that matter... but the first thing I want to talk about is something else."

"“...Something else?”"

This was the final chance—to bring Sensei to their side. To drive out the “traitor within Trinity.”

"……It’s about Arius Branch School. There’s something I need to tell you."

"“……!”"

And so, the conversation between Nagisa Kirifuji and Sensei began.