Chapter 69: Flower petals

"Mm… cookies. Quite the luxury for a prison meal."

Honestly, it feels fancier than what we used to get back at the Arius Branch.

"So good."

It has a floral aroma—or maybe that’s just how sweet it is. Sweet, and delicious. I haven’t tasted anything properly sweet in… what, ten years? I wish I could share it with everyone.
Ah—right. I can’t see them anymore, can I?

"…Haha."

Only a week left until the signing ceremony.
The “halo-destroying bomb” is probably in Mika’s hands by now.

The escape will be on the morning of that day—but Mika won’t just let that happen.
Running away would be easy. But since I have to retrieve the bomb, a fight is unavoidable.

I’ll recover Mimesis first. Makoto and Shio should still be maintaining the connection for me.
Will Beatrice try to retrieve me? If the theory about my Royal Blood is true… she probably will. That’ll likely happen the same day as the ceremony.

"…Well, I’ll make good use of Sensei for that, I suppose."

I hadn’t planned to talk anymore, but I’ve been hearing familiar footsteps for a while now.

"So, what brings you here, Sensei?"

"Suou. It’s been a day."

The one who stepped through the heavy metal door was Sensei.
He hasn’t been sleeping well—dark circles under his eyes.
Then again, that was the case last time too.

"Just brought a little something for you. Don’t worry, I got permission."

"Hm… tea?"

Or rather, black tea. That’ll go well with the cookies.
Kind of fancy for bottled tea though… I didn’t think he was the type to splurge.

"Thank you. I’ll have some—ah, wait, I can’t reach. Could you toss it over?"

"Uh, that’s a bit…"

"Then let’s do this instead. This blanket will do."

I twisted the thin fabric into a rope, stretched it taut, and tied a spoon to one end. Threaded it through the bars and hooked the bottle.

"…!"

"Got it—nice catch. Oh, don’t worry, I’m not planning to misuse it."

He gave me a wary look as I set the bottle on the bed. Rude.

"So, was that all you came for? Not that I mind chatting, but I actually have something to tell you first."

"Then I’ll listen."

"Haha, you’re the same as ever."

That’s why I can trust him. No matter who I am, Sensei would still help my sister.
In a way, that makes him easy to use—but it’s also one of his virtues. Something I never managed myself.

"Anyway, this won’t be as long as last time."

I motioned for him to sit, opened the bottle, and took a small sip.

"…Tasty. Ah, sorry, don’t mind me."

A strong bitterness, a fragrant aroma filling my nose, and a cool sensation sliding down my throat.
It’s surprisingly rich—not the thin, watery brew we usually get.
Mass-produced, sure, but definitely good quality.

"Now, about what I wanted to say… On the day of the signing ceremony, a rescue team will probably come for me."

"A rescue team… from Arius?"

"Yes. I don’t mean to brag, but I’m one of Arius’s stronger assets. I’m actually a bit strong, you know?"

If Saori and the others were here, they’d definitely glare at me.
“You’re more than just ‘a bit’ strong,” or “you’re annoying because you treat us like little sisters with that power.”
Ah, I’m getting off track.

"So, those kids… I’ll try to convince them, but since the ceremony’s being held at Trinity, they’ll arrive late."

"I see."

"So please keep that in mind."

"Got it. Thanks for telling me."

Really, I should be the one thanking him.
Because of him, my plan’s gotten much easier.
Just one week left. I’ll do everything I can—but there’s not much that’ll change now.

"And… what about you, Sensei? What brings you here?"

"…"

"You wouldn’t come here without a reason, would you?"

I already have a hunch. Unfortunately, it’s the one thing I hoped I was wrong about.
The worst possible outcome I can imagine. I want it to be something else—anything else.

But then—

"Mika told me everything."

"I see…"

That expression said enough.

"You and Mika were friends, weren’t you?"

"Friends…"

Friends, huh. So that’s how she saw it.
That’s why she noticed.
She must’ve found a loophole in her contract somehow—told Sensei everything.
To stop me. If I’m not mistaken, that’s why.

"Yes. It was before the attack on Seia—Mika approached me, wanting to reconcile. You’ve probably already heard what happened."

"Yeah… and also…"

His face twisted as if he’d just swallowed something bitter.
Heavy. Dark. Dreadful.
Then he finally spoke.

"…I also know what you’re planning to do."

"…"

I thought so.
But I need to confirm how much they actually know—how much Mika realized, and how much she told.

"What exactly did Mika say?"

"She said… you might be planning to go down with Arius’s upper echelon. That if you use the ‘halo-destroying bomb,’ you could make it happen."

"…!"

The “halo-destroying bomb,” huh.
So she figured it out because she knew Beatrice wasn’t a student—she’s an adult.
That bomb would devastate any student caught in the blast. Against Beatrice, it’s a gamble.
Even if it failed, I had backup plans to finish the job.

But I’ve lived seventeen years in this world.
I’ve seen Beatrice.
And though it’s only a prediction… she’s one of the few in Gematria who could actually die from it.
And I have reasons to believe that.

Just as Mika said—I do plan to use it.
And now that Sensei knows… that’s a problem.

"Suou… are you really going to do it?"

Maybe I can still bluff my way out of this.

"…What makes you think that?"

"I have proof."

"…"

"When you called me here, you refused your meal."

So he noticed that.

"I don’t know what your intention was, but it means one thing—you’re willing to neglect yourself. To throw yourself away."

"Hah… you got me there… haha."

"I’m sure you’ve thought it through and made your choice, but I’ll say this anyway."

His eyes narrowed sharply.

"Don’t treat your own life like it’s worthless."

"…You don’t know anything…"

That almost slipped out first.
Funny, isn’t it? I’ve gone so far to shut everyone out, yet I get angry when they don’t understand.
I don’t even know why myself.

I can’t go back. I’m not allowed to.
I’m not throwing my life away—I’m using it.
If my one life can kill Beatrice, if it can save all those girls, then that’s a damn good deal.

"No matter what happens to me… it’s my choice, isn’t it?"

"That’s wrong."

"…?"

"Your sister, Mika… and I—we’d be heartbroken."

"…!"

Then what? What am I supposed to do with that?

I want to yell. To scream it all away.
If I could, I wouldn’t have to hold it in anymore.

"Haha… we’ve only known each other a day, you know? You’re pretty easy."

"Maybe so. But—"

"But?"

"Every child here… is my precious student."

A child.
Ah… a child.
So that’s what I am.

"No."

"…Suou?"

"No, that’s… that’s not it. That’s not what it is."

No. I’m not. I mustn’t be.
I have to protect them. That’s why… that’s why I—

"That’s… something you shouldn’t be directing at me. I’m not that kind of person. Sensei, do you understand?"

"What do you mean?"

"……"

No. Calm down. I can’t lose control here.
Out of everyone, Sensei is the last person who can find out—about this. Not now. Not ever.

"…Sorry. I tried to dodge the question a bit, but… looks like that didn’t work out."

"……"

It’s fine. Just keep acting. Be “me,” as always.

"I admit it. I did use a halo-destroying bomb, and I planned to eliminate the pursuers from the Arius Branch."

"…!"

"But being mistaken for someone who was planning to die… now that’s just insulting."

There’s almost no chance he’ll uncover the truth. So it’s fine—relax.
Slowly. One by one. Layer the lies. Shape them. Rebuild them.

"Yes, there was that risk. But tell me—what kind of idiot plans an operation expecting to die?"

"……"

"I had to stop the pursuers from Arius. If I didn’t, more people would die. But me? I don’t want to die either."

I’ve gotten good at lying. At acting.
Even Sensei won’t see through it now.

"So Mika-san isn’t completely right about everything. Besides—"

"…?"

"There’s no way I can get out of these restraints! What kind of monster do you think I am? Honestly, how rude!"

"Haha…"

Well, Mika probably could break free without a sweat—but in my case, I’ll need to come up with a few tricks first.

"…Suou. I don’t know if what you’re saying is true. I don’t know what you’re thinking, what you’re feeling, or what kind of decision you’ll make."

"……"

"But no matter what happens, no matter where you are—if you ever try to throw your life away, I’ll come and stop you myself."

"…Ha… haha…"

Yeah, I know.
I already know that.

"…So please, stop worrying. I can’t do something like that anymore."

That’s why you’re the adult, Sensei.

The scene shifts.
A gray world stretches in every direction—dark, desolate, like the ruins of a city.
Stone buildings. Students living within them.

In one corner of that place—

"…Azusa."

"It’s okay. Everything’s okay now."

"……"

Empty reassurance. The redness around her eyes made it obvious it was a lie.

"…What about the others?"
A faint, almost disappearing voice reached Saori.

"Atsuko’s wounds finally closed. Hiyori’s too, somehow."

"I’m glad to hear that."

A weak, resigned smile.
Something about it reminded her of someone—someone familiar.
Maybe Atsuko, back when she was little.
Or perhaps Suou, a year ago, when she’d confessed her doubts through tears.

"…The squad leader—the Seventh Squad Leader—took it the hardest. She’s been sedated and restrained for now."

"I see. Yeah… she would take it hard."

"But it’s not just the Seventh Squad. Everyone’s the same… all of them…"

The news that Suou had been captured spread fast—brought back by the returning Eighth Squad.
Reactions varied, but not a single person was happy. That much was certain.

"…What about Madam?"

"She’s been told everything. Including Mika’s betrayal. As a result, a rescue team for Suou is being assembled. They’ll move during the signing ceremony, when security is weakest."

"……"

"Azusa. If you want… you could still—"

Suou was being held somewhere within Trinity.
No one knew exactly where.
If they wanted to rescue her, they’d have to infiltrate Trinity itself.

"…We might never come back from there. But… I could still talk to my friend, just one more time."

"I doubt Madam would ever approve of that."

"…!"

Bullseye. Even Saori knew how reckless that was.
The rescue team was already being formed—and the Eighth Squad wasn’t part of it.

"And about the message… from Suou—"

"Th-that one…! I’ll deliver it myself!"

The one who stumbled into the room, barely keeping her balance, was Tsuchinaga Hiyori.

"Hiyori… are your wounds healed?"

"N-no… they still hurt…! I want to rest…!!"

"……"

She’d asked out of concern, but deep down, she wished she’d just laugh it off—tell her not to worry, even if it was a lie.
But Hiyori, either oblivious or too earnest to notice, pressed on.

"B-but…! I was entrusted with this, so I’ll deliver it…!"

"…I see."

Tears welled in her eyes—from pain, and from determination. Even so, she straightened her back and spoke with conviction.

"There’s a message from Suou-san… about the plan!"

"The plan—you mean the escape operation?"

She recalled their last conversation over the communicator, memories tinged with faint, bittersweet nostalgia.

"‘No issues,’ she said. ‘Proceed as originally planned.’"

"Eh…?"

"T-that’s what she told me! I don’t really understand either—there’s no way there wouldn’t be issues…!"

The “original plan.” That must’ve been the strategy to use the Student Council’s forces to their advantage and escape amidst the chaos.
It was doable even without Suou’s power, but pulling off a rescue without her would be far harder.
Or maybe Suou was counting on escaping alongside the incoming rescue team.

"Knowing Suou-san, she might just break out on her own, ehehe…!"

"No, that’s… unlikely—"

She started to say it, then stopped.
Because in that instant, a certain memory resurfaced.

That day, long ago, when they first met.
A girl smaller than her, her hair a deep brown streaked with white—like ash after fire, yet strangely lustrous.
She’d been bound, struggling slightly, but still managing a panicked smile as her eyes met hers.

Her restraints hadn’t lasted long.
If she could pull off that kind of stunt at seven years old, then now—breaking a few chains wouldn’t even be surprising.

"…Just what is she?"

"Eh? W-what do you mean by that…?"

"Hmm…?"

Saori frowned at her own words, puzzled.
What was she questioning? She already knew what Suou was supposed to be—a self-proclaimed older sister, an eccentric, and, in some small way, a savior.

So then what was this doubt gnawing at her?
It wasn’t about her title, her behavior, or her motives. It was something deeper—something she hadn’t been able to name until now.

"Hiyori… before we met Atsuko, did we ever see that idiot, even once?"

"…N-no, never! Someone like her—you’d never forget meeting her once you did…!"

"Heh… Azusa, what about you?"

"I haven’t either."

Everyone here had grown up on the streets—or been abandoned. Their childhood paths had overlapped countless times.
For none of them to have ever seen Suou before that day… that was strange. Far too strange.

"……"

And when she thought about it—her knowledge.
Where had she learned all that? Her tactics, her theories, her uncanny grasp of organizations, people, and technology.
She’d never asked before. Never even thought to.
Why was she only thinking about it now? Maybe because Suou wasn’t here anymore.
No… there was something more.

I’ll make it work this time… I swear I will.

That weakness. The vulnerability Suou had never shown before.
No—she had shown it. Just once.

You know… because of my mistake… someone died.

That moment, when she’d whispered those words trembling, had been the first and only time she’d ever seemed truly fragile.
Why was she remembering that now? Why did it suddenly feel connected to everything?

"Mika… why…"

Yes. Mika.
Why had Mika turned on Suou? Why capture her—why betray her?

Because she suspected Suou of killing Seia? No, that didn’t fit.
Mika had spoken to Suou again and again, always with concern. Even when fighting against them, she’d acted to keep Suou from being taken.
That could only mean one thing—

"…There’s something about Suou, isn’t there? Something she’s hiding. That’s why Mika betrayed her…?"

It made a twisted kind of sense.
If Mika had discovered something about Suou that no one else knew, that could explain everything.

But what was it?
She didn’t know. Couldn’t know.
The more she thought, the more questions surfaced—and none had answers.

It had always been like this. Ever since they were kids, all she could do was act with everything she had, fail, and start again.

"……"

Misaki had sensed her struggles and tried to end her own life.
Atsuko had lost her smile after being forced to wear that mask and communicate only through sign language.
And Hiyori—poor Hiyori—had learned to suppress every selfish desire she’d ever had.

Things had fallen apart again and again.
But after Suou appeared, they had changed.
Not perfectly—not completely—but enough that they could smile again.

And now, here she was.
Back where it all began, overthinking everything, desperate to see what lay behind Suou’s mysterious strength.
Still searching for the truth, and still coming up empty.

If it were Suou, she’d already have found the answer by now. She always did.

"You… just who are you, really, Suou…?"

The quiet whisper left her lips, vanishing into the cold, gray air—
heard by no one.