Chapter 26: The Long Trinity Night

Several days passed, and now only half a day remained until the exam was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Nagisa had summoned us to one of her safe houses, and for the first time in a week, we met her face-to-face.

"Well then, everyone, please begin your escort mission. I pray nothing like an attack happens, but no matter what, make sure you don’t let anyone through until everything is over."

Saying that, Nagisa stepped inside the building, leaving us to wait at the entrance. A few first-year members from organizations under the Tea Party were stationed inside as well, but they were all under our command.

"Ahh… even so, I thought things would be fine this time. It’s Trinity, not Gehenna, and the test starts in the morning…"

Masa sighed, and Maiha chimed in.

"Who would've thought they'd mobilize almost every Justice Task Force member available to completely surround the exam venue? Talk about overkill~"

That was true. In just a short while, Trinity Comprehensive Academy’s 19th Annex—the exam site—would be sealed off under Tea Party orders so the Justice Task Force could protect confidential Eden Treaty documents.

Technically, the Make-Up Work Club included Koharu, who was part of the Justice Task Force, but allowing them through would violate a direct Tea Party order. Convincing the force to stand down would be nearly impossible.

In other words, for those four to take the exam, they would have to break through a massive security line, enter the building, and endure until exam time. With just the four of them, it was basically hopeless.

"So they really have no intention of letting them pass, do they."

Over the past week, we had helped them study as much as possible. Even though the exam’s scope had been tripled and the passing score raised to an absurd 90, they had finally reached a point where—if they could just sit for the exam—passing wasn’t out of reach. Which made our helplessness now all the more frustrating. Truly… vanitas.

"Yeah… it’s rough, but all we can do now is hope the Make-Up Work Club finds a way through on their own."

If I remembered the original story correctly… ah, right—Arius was supposed to attack here. That was bad. But saying that out loud wouldn’t make anyone believe me. Swallowing the unease twisting in my chest, I continued standing guard.

Hours passed with nothing but the silent entrance in front of us, until faint voices and noises drifted in. With martial law in effect since yesterday, and with this being an hour when nearly every student should be asleep, hearing anything at all was suspicious.

(They’ve come after all.)

If things were unfolding the same way as in the game, Arius forces were moving in to attack Nagisa.

Masa tensed as the sounds grew clearer, raising her guard—just as two figures stepped into view.

"Good evening. Lovely night, isn’t it? ♡ The moon’s so bright… walking around naked might feel wonderful… ♡"

Two girls stood there—one with soft pink hair, and the other with long silver hair flowing in the night wind. Two members of the Make-Up Work Club.

"…State your business."

When Masa asked, Azusa answered bluntly.

"We want you to hand over Kirifuji Nagisa."

"…It’s not as if I don’t have my own thoughts about Lady Nagisa’s methods, or about how she has treated you in the Make-Up Work Club."

Wait—Masa-san…? I think you’re misunderstanding something. Well, Azusa’s phrasing wasn’t helping, but still.

"But that is entirely separate from our mission. We were ordered to guard Lady Nagisa, and we must carry that out. If you intend to do anything to her…"

She placed her hand on the rifle beside her. Seeing that, Azusa began raising her own weapon. This was bad. I had to stop this before it escalated.

"Please wait, Masa-san. Wouldn’t it be better to at least hear why they want Lady Nagisa first?"

Maiha, who had been watching nervously, quickly agreed.

"Yeah, maybe they have some kind of reason for all this~"

"…You’re right. Like you two said, we should at least hear their circumstances."

As Masa lowered her gun, Azusa and Hanako relaxed as well. For the moment, a clash was avoided.

"It’s a long story… but I’ll keep it as short as I can."

Azusa began.

"First of all, before I came to Trinity, I was at a place called Arius Branch School. …Should I explain what Arius is?"

"Arius… wasn’t that the school that opposed unification until the very end, back before Trinity joined the Federation? The one that got crushed and exiled by the other factions?"

Maiha replied, and Hanako picked up the explanation.

"That’s right, Maiha-chan. It’s one of Trinity’s blood-stained tragedies. Arius escaped somewhere in Kivotos and has been harboring resentment toward Trinity ever since."

She paused, and Azusa continued with a quiet “but.”

"But that’s a story from hundreds of years ago. Arius students still live under harsh conditions, but blaming modern-day Trinity is pointless—just petty retaliation. …At least, that’s what I believe."

"…And how does Arius relate to the situation now?"

Masa prompted, and Azusa continued.

"It’s complicated, but please listen. I transferred here as a spy, tasked with helping prepare Arius’s operation to invade Trinity. I believe the ‘traitor in Trinity’ Nagisa mentioned refers to me."

"I see… but if you truly were a spy, you’d have no reason to tell us this, would you?"

Maiha asked, and Azusa nodded.

"Right. Arius plans to destroy the Eden Treaty, and the Tea Party is in their way. So they ordered me to eliminate them."

"Then… that means Lady Seia as well…?"

Maiha whispered, her head lowering, chestnut hair drooping. Azusa continued.

"…The one who attacked Yuri’en Seia was me. She talked sense into me, and together with the head of the Rescue Knights, we arranged my ‘death.’ She’s alive."

"I knew it… I heard the rumors that Lady Seia had died, but I just couldn’t believe it."

Maiha looked visibly relieved. Ah—right. I’d forgotten, but Maiha is a Sanctus follower, and Seia is their leader.

"After that, Arius targeted Kirifuji Nagisa next. They hindered us in the Make-Up Work Club, waited for a moment when her personal security was weakest, and chose now to move. I have to stop them."

"I understand. But Azusa-senpai, you don’t have any obligation to do that, do you? Why are you trying to protect Lady Nagisa?"

Honestly, I knew this part from my previous life, so there was no reason for me to interrupt. While I was thinking that, Masa asked directly.

"…If anything happens to Nagisa, the Eden Treaty won’t be signed. That would deepen the conflict between Trinity and Gehenna, and if it spirals into direct confrontation, chaos will spread across Kivotos. And if a school like Arius were to appear again in that chaos… that must be prevented at all costs."

"…Do you understand the situation now?"

At Hanako’s question, Masa nodded.

"Yes, I understand. For now, we will trust you. If it is for Lady Nagisa’s safety, we will cooperate. However, our orders as officer cadets are to guard her. Should your actions contradict that…"

"…I know. Don’t worry."

And so, I ended up leading Hanako and Azusa—who, for some reason, put on a gas mask—to Nagisa’s location. There weren’t any poison-gas traps here or anything…

"Huh? Aika-san? Those two are…?"

As we walked through the building, we encountered two girls from one of the Tea Party’s subordinate organizations. They were assigned in pairs to stand watch, but one of them was yawning heavily, barely awake.

"You two may rest for the night. I’ll inform the others as well."

"Eh, but…"

"This is an officer-cadet order. I will take responsibility if anything happens."

Well, considering the chaos that’s about to unfold, any disciplinary action will probably get swept under the rug anyway.

"U-understood… Then, excuse us."

They left, one girl tugging along her nodding, half-asleep partner.

"So officer cadets aren’t just decorative after all."

Azusa muttered. Ouch… that stung a little.

"Azusa-chan, that’s a bit rude, you know?"

"…Yeah. Sorry."

"It’s fine. I’m well aware my authority is worth very little, considering I couldn’t stop Lady Nagisa’s mistreatment of the Make-Up Work Club…"

After sending off all the guards inside the safe house, we finally reached the attic room where Nagisa was staying.

Why do I sound like I’m repeating secondhand information even though I’m the one guiding them? Ask the pink one beside me. I don’t know either.

When Hanako knocked on the door, a voice replied from inside:

"No more tea, thank you."

After a brief pause, Hanako opened the door and stepped inside to face Nagisa.

"…You poor thing. You haven’t been sleeping, have you?"

"…!? "

"With no Justice Task Force by your side, and only a few first-years from subordinate groups as your guards… of course you’d feel anxious, wouldn’t you, Miss Nagisa?"

Nagisa looked utterly shocked. Even if Maiha had figured out the general pattern, we ourselves only learned which safe house would be used today. A normal student shouldn’t have been able to find out.

"U-Urawa Hanako…! Why are you here…!?"

"You mean how I learned of this safe house? That’s simple. I know everything. All 87 safe houses, and the rotation schedule as well… fufu♡"

Hearing that, Nagisa looked as if she were seeing something impossible. No one but herself should know the full network.

"I also know the irregular patterns of use. For example… how you hide yourself in this secret attic whenever you’re truly afraid♡"

"What…!"

At that moment, Azusa rushed into the room, leveling her gun at Nagisa. I followed quickly after.

"Don’t move."

"Oh, and… all the guards have been dismissed by Aika-chan. That’s why we’re able to walk in like this."

Everyone had been called out so late at night that they must’ve been sleepy; they didn’t question anything and just went home without resistance, which was honestly anticlimactic.

"Shirasu Azusa, Urawa Hanako… and even Gion Aika…!? So the ‘traitor’ wasn’t acting alone…!?"

"Hehe, what a simple little thought process you have♡ Azusa-chan, Aika-chan, and I are nothing more than pieces on the board. The commander is someone else entirely."

Hearing that, Nagisa stepped toward Hanako.

"Who is it…!?"

"Hehe, before we get to that…"

Hanako paused, then stared straight at Nagisa.

"Nagisa-san. Was it really necessary to go this far?"

"…"

Nagisa shot her a look that clearly said, What are you talking about? Hanako continued.

"I’m talking about the Make-Up Work Club. I understand the stress you were under. But was it truly necessary to mobilize SCHALE over it?"

"That…"

Nagisa’s eyes widened slightly in realization; then she looked down, visibly uncomfortable. Hanako leaned forward so their eyes were level.

"Suspicious people like me or Azusa-chan aside, wasn’t your treatment of Hifumi-chan and Koharu-chan far too cruel?"

"…"

"Especially Hifumi-chan. You were close to her, weren’t you? Did you not think about how much this would hurt her?"

Nagisa looked away, her voice faint.

"…You’re right. I may have done something terrible to Hifumi-san. But…"

She raised her face, turned directly toward Hanako, and spoke with a firm expression.

"I do not regret it. Everything was for a greater cause. True, if possible, I had wished to at least preserve my relationship with her… but I…"

Hearing that, Hanako smiled—one of those suspiciously mischievous smiles that suggested she was up to something. Then she opened her mouth. Uh-oh…

"Hehe♡ Then let me relay a message to you from our commander."

"‘Ahaha… well, it was fun enough, I guess—our little pretend-friendship, Lady Nagisa.’ That’s what she said♡"

"…!? N-no… it can’t be…!"

There it was—the pretend-friendship line! I never thought I’d witness this infamous moment myself, all because I was chosen to be part of her escort. Lucky? Unlucky? Hard to say.

Nagisa, who apparently never truly suspected Hifumi was pulling all the strings, looked visibly shaken.

"Urawa-senpai, Ajiya-senpai never said anything like that…"

Nagisa looked really pitiful now, so I decided to throw in a small lifeline.

"A–Aika-san…"

"Honestly, Aika-chan, you shouldn’t spoil the fun like that♡ …Anyway, Nagisa-san, that was a joke. Hifumi-chan didn’t say any such thing."

"I-I see…"

Nagisa let out a tiny breath of relief. But Hanako continued, meeting her gaze again.

"Still—what you did to Hifumi-chan, and to Koharu-chan and Azusa-chan as well. I was acting suspiciously for selfish reasons, so you couldn’t be sure about me. But involving Sensei and Aika-chan, and everyone else… please reflect properly on your actions."

"Yes… I’m just… tired. Do whatever you want…"

Being lectured by someone younger, Nagisa hung her head. Azusa raised her gun and emptied an entire magazine of 5.56mm rounds into her—not fatally, just enough to knock her out—and then headed toward the front entrance.

Azusa carried Nagisa on her back down to the first floor, but that was as far as she was willing to go. Deciding it was too bothersome to continue like that, she placed the unconscious Tea Party host into a rolling wagon normally used to transport tea, snacks, or meals, and pushed it along instead.

When we stepped outside, Maiha and Masa—who had been waiting around with nothing to do—turned toward us.

"Um… Lady Nagisa is still alive, correct?"

Seeing their Tea Party host unconscious and stuffed into a utility wagon being pushed around by Azusa, Masa asked with a flat, deadpan expression.

"I unloaded a full magazine of 5.56mm into her, so she’s only unconscious. She won’t wake up for about an hour, but she’ll be fine."

"I-I see… well, if that’s the case, then it’s fine."

…Is it really fine? Then again, she’s a student of Kivotos—something like this wouldn’t kill her, so maybe it is fine…

"Now then, first we should… yes, Aika-chan and Maiha-chan, come with me. We’re heading straight to the Sisterhood."

"The Sisterhood, huh～? I’ve heard you have connections there, Hanako-senpai, but doesn’t the Sisterhood dislike getting involved in things like this～?"

A policy of nonintervention and extreme secrecy—that’s the general view Trinity students have of the Sisterhood. Maiha was no exception. She could tell Hanako intended to seek their cooperation, but she still doubted they would actually take action.

"Hehe, I have an idea regarding that. Afterward, we’ll regroup with Azusa-chan, so I’d like you two to intercept the Arius reinforcements."

"Understood～. Oh, that reminds me—what about Masa-chan～?"

Hanako had said only Maiha and I would accompany her to the Sisterhood. Since she had intentionally left Masa out, Maiha’s question was only natural.

"Masa-chan, please assist Azusa-chan in transporting Nagisa-san somewhere safe. I’ve heard you’re quite strong for a first-year, so it’ll be much more secure with you there♡"

"I have no objections. Since protecting Lady Nagisa is our mission, someone must remain by her side."

And so, Masa joined Azusa in transporting Nagisa while leading the Arius forces away, and Maiha and I headed to the Sisterhood alongside Hanako.