Chapter 24: Suspicion, Moving in the Dark

The next day—apparently the previous one had been rather noisy for various reasons. For the first time in a while, Masa’s schedule finally matched ours, so she came along again to help out the Make-Up Work Club. Masa’s grades weren’t bad enough to fail, but because Maiha was simply too exceptional, Masa ended up being grouped with Azusa and Koharu on the “receiving help” side of things.

And so, on a quiet afternoon with only one day left before the Make-Up Work Club’s second exam, I found myself accompanying yet another meeting between Sensei and Nagisa. Of course, I was only there as an escort.

"…Thank you for coming, Sensei. It has been a while."

Nagisa greeted him as calmly as she could manage.

"Have you been well since then? And during the training camp… have you had any trouble?"

"Yeah, thanks to you, things have been manageable. So, what did you want today?"

"Heh. This training camp was originally arranged so that you could observe the students closely. Well then—have you noticed anything?"

Nagisa leaned in slightly, locking eyes with him.

"To put it more directly… have you figured out who the ‘traitor within Trinity’ is?"

"I told you before, I’ll deal with things my own way."

"…Yes, so you did. But with the second Special Academic Examination just ahead, I felt it necessary to confirm that point once more… which is why I asked you to come today."

After saying that, Nagisa paused briefly, then offered a deliberately sweet smile before continuing.

"…Mika-san must have contacted you, correct? If you don’t mind, could you tell me what she said?"

"All Mika told me was Trinity’s circumstances and current situation. I have no intention of wasting time suspecting anyone."

Ignoring Nagisa’s expression—which clearly said, What are you suddenly talking about?—Sensei continued.

"All I want is to do my best so those girls’ hard work will be rewarded."

Those words plainly implied he had no intention of cooperating with Nagisa’s “traitor hunt.” Hearing that, Nagisa frowned.

"…Perhaps I should explain again why those girls were chosen. I imagine you have your own information network as well—but let me go through it in order."

Nagisa then explained why each member of the Make-Up Work Club had been placed there.

Koharu: placed so they could keep an eye on her, as well as restrain Hasumi, who openly disliked Gehenna and didn’t even try to hide it.

Hanako: though naturally the most capable, she intentionally held back during exams, leaving her motives unclear.

Azusa: a mysterious transfer student who arrived at a suspicious time; her entire existence was riddled with red flags. On top of that, she had repeatedly gotten into violent altercations with other students, making her difficult to manage.

…and then.

"Hifumi-san… is…"

"Nagisa… didn’t you consider Hifumi a dear friend?"

Hearing Sensei say that, Nagisa faltered for just a moment—before hardening her expression again.

"However… I happened to hear information that her true identity is the leader of a terrifying criminal organization."

The Masked Swimsuit Gang’s Faust… No, wait—if I think about it calmly, isn’t that name ridiculously stupid? A mask and a swimsuit? That’s beyond perverted… Though technically, they don’t even wear swimsuits.

Sensei seemed to have similar thoughts, judging by his indescribable expression, but Nagisa continued relentlessly.

"These are exactly the kinds of things we fear most. Precisely because we trusted her, something may have slipped out of sight… You may be blinded by that trust."

If anyone should be told that, it’s not Hifumi but… never mind.

"No matter how carefully you build a tower, even a tiny crack can bring it down. I do not know if I truly understand Hifumi-san. I do not know if truths exist that I am unaware of… I simply cannot be sure."

"It’s a misunderstanding… There are circumstances, and if you just let me explain—"

As Sensei tried to clear Hifumi’s name, Nagisa shut him down with a sharp tone.

"How? Hifumi-san’s heart, her true feelings—how exactly do you intend to prove those?"

Sensei still attempted to explain, but Nagisa refused to listen.

"Saying it’s a misunderstanding, that circumstances exist—how much weight do those words even carry? What truth do they hold? …Matters of the heart cannot be proven."

After closing her eyes as if contemplating something, Nagisa spoke again, her expression completely serious.

"Hifumi-san’s kindness, her impeccable manners… I know those better than anyone. And yet, I cannot know her true feelings. No matter how we struggle, we are strangers at the end of the day."

"……"

"Which is why expulsion is the only option. For the success of the Eden Treaty."

"…Lady Nagisa."

I couldn’t keep silent after hearing that. Those girls have no intention whatsoever of sabotaging the Eden Treaty.

"What is it?"

"I simply cannot believe that the girls of the Make-Up Work Club harbor any desire to harm Trinity."

"Aika…"

Nagisa grimaced—as expected. But I hadn’t spoken up expecting her to back down.

"…And what is your basis for that?"

"I spoke with people who know them, and I even helped them study during the training camp. Sensei, you’re aware of that, aren’t you?"

I taught them the first time we met, and again yesterday when Masa joined in.

"Yeah, that was a big help."

"I felt that they simply want to devote themselves to their studies at Trinity, spend time with their friends and companions, and work hard in their clubs and committees… They just want an ordinary, honest school life."

And so, I honestly told her what I’d felt during the short time we spent together—but Nagisa only let out a sigh.

"…Is that so. Please don’t forget this, Aika-san."

Wondering what she was about to say, I listened quietly as Nagisa continued.

"That you are also included among the candidates for ‘Trinity’s traitor.’"

…That’s what she said. That I was trying to betray Trinity.

Of course, that isn’t true. All I wanted was to redo my youth—nothing more.

"Nagisa, that’s—"

"So it was true, then."

But honestly, I had already suspected it somewhere in the back of my mind. Having someone like me—supposedly “exceptional”—placed under the Tea Party’s subsidiary organization, which was essentially under Nagisa’s control… it meant exactly that, didn’t it?

"Since we’re already on the topic, I’ll say it plainly. Maiha-san, Masa-san… and Aika-san. The reason you three were designated as cadets was to keep troublesome first-years—those who would cause problems if they sided against the Eden Treaty—within my reach."

It was true that Maiha was incredibly smart, and Masa was unusually strong for a first-year. If you left students like that to act freely, what would happen if they ever turned their strength against Trinity? Driven by suspicion, Nagisa must have thought exactly that.

"…I had suspected as much. But even so, we—"

"Nagisa, you’re lost in a darkness of your own doubts."

I was about to say that we weren’t planning to sabotage the Eden Treaty at all, when Sensei—likely thinking he needed to intervene—stepped forward.

"You’re only seeing what you want to see, and believing only what you want to believe."

As if she didn’t even realize it herself, Nagisa looked stunned for a moment, then glared sharply at him.

"I’ll pull you out of that. And I will definitely make sure everyone in the Make-Up Work Club passes."

"…Heh. I see. I understand. In other words, things have become much simpler now."

Nagisa’s attitude shifted—brazen, calculating. What was she planning to do…? No—unfortunately, I already knew how it would end.

"…Very well. Do your best, Sensei. I’ll do what I must in my own way."

With that, Sensei left the room, and the meeting came to an end.

That evening, in Nagisa’s office. She assumed that going herself would raise suspicion, so she ordered an administrative officer to gather recent updates about the Make-Up Work Club from the cadets. According to the report, if things continued as they were, it wasn’t impossible for all of them to pass.

"To think they’ve improved this much in just a single week… I had assumed Koharu-san and Azusa-san were hopeless cases."

Under normal circumstances, the news would have been cause for celebration. But for Nagisa—who needed to expel the entire Make-Up Work Club—it was anything but good news.

"Could this be the handiwork of Aika-san and the others?"

Had the girls who helped them study leaked exam information? No—cadets weren’t involved in creating the special exam. The only way they could leak anything would be through something extreme, like sneaking in and stealing the test materials… but surely that was impossible.

"Well… in any case, I will simply have to take appropriate measures."

For the Special Academic Examination, Nagisa first issued instructions to the department in charge to alter the exam coverage. After that—

"Now then, which number was the line for the Hot Springs Development Department’s office…?"

A dark hand was already creeping toward the four students.

—

A few hours later, now nearing midnight.

"Now then… this should be the right timing. ‘Notice Regarding Changes to the Make-Up Work Club’s Second Special Academic Examination’… Yes, this should do."

After uploading the announcement to Trinity’s electronic bulletin board, about thirty minutes passed before she heard the footsteps of two people approaching.

"Oh my, who could it possibly be at such a late hour?"

She said it deliberately, almost theatrically, as the knock came—and in stepped two very familiar figures: one with long red hair, the other with a short chestnut bob.

"Nagisa-sama? What exactly is going on here?"

"What do you mean? And it’s unusual that Masa isn’t with you two today."

Feigning innocence, Nagisa looked at them. Aika met her gaze and replied:

"Masa had already gone to bed, and it would have been rude to wake him. More importantly, about the changes to the Make-Up Work Club’s second exam… what were you thinking when you decided on this?"

"'Expanding the exam scope to triple the original coverage,' 'raising the passing score from 60 to 90'… Those alone are already questionable, but then, 'changing the exam venue to the ruins on 1st Floor, Street 77, Area 15 of the Gehenna Autonomous Zone'… Isn’t that a slum area? Why would you make them take an exam somewhere like that?"

Maiha spoke down at Nagisa, seated behind her desk. Aika followed immediately after:

"And the time was changed from '9 a.m. to 3 a.m.'… At this rate, they won’t even make it unless they leave right now."

After listing off all the changes, Maiha concluded:

"It really seems like you have no intention of letting them pass, doesn't it?"

Their accusing stares bore into her, and Nagisa’s expression tightened slightly before she answered:

"They are traitors who intend to drag Trinity to ruin. By any means necessary, we must ensure they are expelled."

Her bluntness left Maiha momentarily speechless. Only Aika managed to respond.

"Nagisa-sama, this is far beyond unreasonable… If you keep doing things like this, eventually you’ll face a harsh backlash."

"And are you two claiming you’ll be the ones to deliver it?"

"…That’s not what I meant."

Aika lowered her gaze. Realizing further discussion was pointless, Maiha gently took Aika’s hand and began to lead her out.

Nagisa did nothing to stop them. The two simply bowed in silence at the doorway before leaving, and the office fell quiet once more.

"…So I have no allies left."

Her mind drifted back to when they interviewed for the Tea Party, before joining it. Aika had looked so sincere, full of expectations for Trinity. Maiha had been cheerful, warm, and easy to speak with.

Remembering how those same girls now looked at her—with disappointment, maybe anger—left her slightly wounded. They were gentle and rarely showed anger, yet she had pushed them to reveal such raw emotion. She understood it was her doing.

"…Neither the sleeping pills I ordered from Millennium nor the herbal medicine from Shan Haijing are working at all."

She kept stomach and headache medicine in her drawer as well. Even so, her health hadn’t been good lately. She’d been pretending to be fine in front of others, but she had already passed her limit long ago.

"But if I collapse here… if I do, Mika will be next… I absolutely cannot allow that, no matter what it costs me…"

Her words were beginning to slur, so she forced herself to stop mumbling and stood to leave the office. She headed for the safe house that only she knew the full details of. Though exhausted, she couldn’t sleep, and morning came without rest.

And then, as she sipped tea that tasted like nothing, she heard the completely as-planned report: the Make-Up Work Club had lost their answer sheets, and every student had failed.