Chapter 28: The Conclusion Born from a Small Trigger

Right after yet another explosion, dust billowed up from the opposite direction of the hole Aika and the others had opened.

"Cough, cough… May peace and tranquility be with you all today as well… cough."

"Excuse us for intruding…"

"Uuu… if we destroy the walls from two directions, won’t this gym collapse…?"

Ignoring Hifumi’s worried muttering, the figures emerging through the smoke were the Sisterhood—a group distinguished by uniforms inspired by monastic habits. At the front stood their leader, Kazusumi Sakurako.

"Sisterhood. While this goes against our usual customs… we will intervene in the Tea Party’s internal conflict. And Misono Mika of the Tea Party. For instigating violence against other Tea Party members, as well as attempted assault, we will be taking you into custody."

"Sisterhood, Kazusumi Sakurako… ahaha, I’ve never actually fought the Sisterhood before. So this is the trump card, huh?"

Playfully saying so, Mika then locked eyes with Hanako.

"…Urawa Hanako, how did you convince the Sisterhood to move? I know you’re close with the Sisters, but that alone wouldn’t make them step in. So tell me—what did you pay them for it?"

"…I made a certain promise. That’s all. And it’s something you don’t need to know."

"…Hmm, so you’re staying silent. Well, that’s fine too."

Mika twirled around lightly and surveyed her surroundings—the Remedial Lesson Club, the officer cadets, and now the Sisterhood.

Compared to that, on her own side? A few Arius soldiers and herself—nothing more. Even if reinforcements were coming, holding out until then would be difficult.

"Well, looks like I’ve got more opponents to clean up now. But this works out—I was planning to tidy up the Great Cathedral once I became its host anyway. So, shall we give it a try?"

As Mika raised her gun again, Hanako spoke.

"…Your expression finally changed. And you still intend to fight? You’re not someone who can’t grasp how slim your chances are in this situation, are you?"

A quick glance behind showed Aika’s autocannon still pointed toward them. Hanako very much preferred not to think about what would happen if that thing hit her.

"Under Sensei’s command, you have us from the Remedial Lesson Club and the three officer cadets. And one of us is ready to fire an anti-air autocannon at any moment. On top of that, the Sisterhood has arrived, and Aika-chan and Maiha-chan already took care of most of the reinforcements you were expecting."

"…Yeah, maybe so. But after coming this far, I can’t just say ‘Okay, I surrender.’ I can only go as far as I can go."

She had believed she only needed to hold out until reinforcements arrived. Learning that this plan had already fallen apart shook her for an instant, but she couldn’t stop now.

"If you insist on resisting, we cannot hold back."

As Sakurako raised her hand, the Sisters all aimed their guns at Mika in unison. Once that hand dropped, a volley would tear into her.

She had been prepared for this when the Sisterhood arrived, yet seeing it with her own eyes scrambled her thoughts. Why now?

"…Why? Why now? You didn’t move even when Seia-chan was attacked, so why step in now? This isn’t funny."

Lowering her gun, Mika muttered to herself for what felt like the hundredth time today.

"…What did I misjudge? Did I underestimate Hanako-chan? Because Azusa-chan betrayed me? Or was it Hifumi-chan, Koharu-chan?"

She looked at the four members of the Remedial Lesson Club one by one, then finally at the last person her gaze fell on. She shifted from muttering to actually addressing them.

"No… that’s not it. My biggest mistake… was dragging you into this—Sensei of SCHALE. When Nagi-chan started panicking about a traitor, you seemed like someone who did odd-jobs anyway, so I figured you’d be convenient to bring along. But that moment… that’s when my loss was already decided."

"…Mika-san. About Seia-chan…"

Hearing Seia’s name, Mika lowered her gaze and spoke haltingly.

"I really… didn’t mean to kill her. Anything I say will just sound like excuses—no, it is an excuse. But it was an accident, I think. Seia-chan’s always been frail…"

"Seia-chan is safe. She’s alive."

At those words, Mika looked at Hanako as if struck by lightning. Hanako then explained Seia’s situation.

Seia had been attacked—but not killed. Since the perpetrator remained unknown, they had staged her death to prevent further attempts on her life.

Her injuries hadn’t fully healed, and she hadn’t regained consciousness yet, but the leader of the Remedial Knights was caring for her, and she was alive. And the one who protected Seia was—

"No. This part you should hear from the person themselves."

After hearing everything, Mika collapsed weakly onto the ground.

"Seia-chan… she’s alive… thank goodness…"

After one deep breath, still sitting, she looked up at the Remedial Lesson Club and Sensei.

"…I surrender. I lose. Congratulations, Remedial Lesson Club… and Sensei. You can call it your victory."

Then she turned to the still-silent Azusa.

"…Azusa-chan. You understand what you’ve done, and what’s going to happen now, don’t you?"

"Of course."

"You were admitted because I altered the documents using my Tea Party authority. Do you really think Trinity will protect you? From now on, you’ll be hunted. I wonder if you’ll ever have a night where you can sleep peacefully."

She laid out Azusa’s dire standing within Trinity, and added:

"…And Saori, and the entire squad—can you escape them? You’re from Arius, so you know the saying, et omnia vanitas—everything is futile…"

"I know. Even so, I’ll keep struggling to the very end. Until my very last moment."

"…Yeah. I see."

Outside the shattered gym walls, the sky was already beginning to brighten.

Supported on both sides by members of the Prefect Team who could finally move again, Mika was escorted away. As they watched her go, Sensei approached and spoke.

"Mika…"

"Right now, Sensei, I don’t really want to hear anything from you…"

She smiled—a troubled, conflicted smile that made her emotions painfully clear.

"Dragging SCHALE into this really was my biggest mistake. Yeah… but still…"

As she said that, she recalled something Sensei had told her one morning during the training camp.

"Of course, I’m on your side too, Mika."

"…When I heard those words, I was really, really happy. Back then, if I had just…"

—If she had relied on him and told him everything. She almost said it aloud, but closed her mouth.

"…No, never mind. Forget it. Bye-bye, Sensei."

Bathed in the gentle brightness of the sunrise, Mika was led away by the Prefect Team members, disappearing from sight.

When Sensei finally returned from speaking with the captured Mika, the state of the Make-Up Work Club was…

"Ah—auu… too many things happened… I’m completely exhausted…"

"It’s finally calmed down…"

"Yeah…"

Koharu, swaying on her feet, looked ready to fall asleep standing.

"K-Koharu-chan!?"

"S-sorry… I suddenly felt all my strength leave me… th-thanks…"

Hifumi quickly caught her, but she herself—along with Hanako—was close to her own limit. Even Azusa, who claimed she could function for five days without sleep if necessary, must have been tired.

"Well, that’s only natural. We ran around all night…"

"And this whole week, none of us have really been getting proper sleep each night. Now, finally…"

Honestly, I was sleepy too. I wanted nothing more than to get back to my dorm and pass out. There was no way the Tea Party would be holding their training today; it would definitely be canceled.

"What are you talking about, Hifumi? This is where it all starts."

At Azusa’s words, the other three blinked in confusion for a moment—and then:

"Eh? Ah—ahh… right…"

"We still have the exam…"

"I forgot…"

Well, I understood how they felt. If I were in the Make-Up Work Club, I’d be thinking, We’re taking it in this condition? Seriously?

"The time is now 7:50 a.m. You have one hour to reach the exam venue, so unless you run—"

"I have a proposal regarding that."

The 19th Annex, where the exam was held, was quite far from here. If they sprinted at full speed, they might make it, but considering how exhausted they all were, that felt cruel. And conveniently, we had something here that could help…

"Aika-san, don’t tell me that’s…"

Hifumi looked toward the truck behind me. Yes. It was exactly what she was thinking.

"Correct. The Loyalty Mk. I—my personal transport truck. Let’s load everyone in and head to the venue."

"That would certainly help♡ But with all of us, won’t the seats be too few…?"

I had, of course, already accounted for that. Given the urgency…

"My apologies to the four members of the Make-Up Work Club, but would you please endure riding in the cargo bed until we arrive? Sensei will sit in the front—his body isn’t as durable as a student’s."

"Aha… yeah, that makes sense. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Please take us."

At a single word from the head of the Make-Up Work Club, an open-top temporary bus bound for the gymnasium–turned–exam venue was put into service. Sensei climbed into the driver’s seat, and they confirmed through the window that the four students were safely in the cargo bed.

"The exam venue is the 19th Annex, correct? We’ll be going a bit fast, so hold on tight. Well, a bit of a bump might even shake off some drowsiness, so it’s all for the best, don’t you think?"

"…Yeah, that’s true. I’ll be fine; I’ve trained to handle motion sickness," Azusa said.

At that moment, for some reason wearing a gas mask, Koharu popped her head up.

"Can I hold onto the pop-gun for support then?"

"Yes. It’s sturdy enough that hanging onto it a little won’t make any difference."

With that settled, the engine roared to life, and they set off straight toward the exam venue.

"Ugh… I feel sick… Aika…!"

"My apologies, Koharu-san… I may have gone a bit too fast," Aika replied.

After pushing the truck to its limits, they arrived at 8:10 a.m.—still over forty minutes to spare.

"Ah… haha… at least we have some extra time… uh, maybe we should calm ourselves with a quick trip to the restroom…"

Hifumi, swaying slightly and dizzy, stepped down from the cargo bed. Hanako and Azusa followed, and Sensei also climbed out of the driver’s seat.

"We’ve been waiting for you, Make-Up Work Club members. Vice Chair Hasumi sent a message: ‘Do your best,’" Sensei said.

Then, a member of the Prefect Team—who apparently had been guarding the building—arrived and conveyed Hasumi’s words.

"Oh my…"

"H-Hasumi-senpai…!"

"And also, ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t be of help this time. I will make it up to you someday.’"

Well, given her position, it was understandable that she couldn’t act openly.

"…I see."

"Yeah. Well then, let’s go inside."

Following Sensei’s lead, the Make-Up Work Club entered the building to take their exam. From this point onward, it was their battle. I simply told the Justice Task Force, "Thank you for your efforts, and we apologize for any trouble caused by the Tea Party," before returning to the dorm.