Chapter 29: Cleaning Up After the Incident, and Then—

Two days after the third exam, I received a call from Sensei.

〈"Aika, everyone in the Make-Up Work Club managed to pass safely."〉

"That’s wonderful. This means they won’t be expelled, correct?"

Good. Honestly, I’d been worried we might have intervened too much, so hearing they all passed was the first thing that let me breathe easier.

〈"Yeah. I think it’s thanks in no small part to the help you three gave. Make sure to tell Maiha and Masa too."〉

"What’s up, Aika-chan~? Is that Sensei~?"

For reference, the current situation: the three of us cadets were gathered in the training ground’s break room, having a small tea party. Training had more or less wrapped up with summer vacation approaching, but for some reason this room remained the most relaxing place for the three of us to gather and talk.

"Yes. He says the entire Make-Up Work Club passed."

"That’s great news~"

"I see. I’m glad. I wasn’t able to help much with their studying, though."

Maiha looked genuinely happy, and even Masa—whose expressions were always subtle—had softened her gaze just slightly.

〈"The two of them are there too?"〉

"Yes, would you like to speak with them?"

〈"No, that’s fine. Once things settle down, I want to talk properly again. Alright then, talk to you later."〉

"Yes. Thank you."

Once I confirmed Sensei had hung up, I turned my phone off as well. Then we returned to our tea.

The next day, I was summoned by Nagisa for the first time in a while, so I headed to the balcony. There I found Maiha and Masa—along with a very, very exhausted-looking Nagisa.

"Everyone, thank you for gathering today…"

Her appearance wasn’t the only thing off; even her voice lacked strength. Something was clearly wrong.

"Um… Lady Nagisa? Are you alright?"

"Yes… well, I suppose so."

She finally lifted her head, looked at us, and spoke.

"Aika-san. And Masa-san, Maiha-san as well. I… owe you all an apology. I believe I caused you considerable trouble."

Ah, so this was an apology. Given how harsh she’d been during the meetings and how unreasonable some of her remarks were, I couldn’t deny I’d snapped back once or twice. But I also knew she’d been under immense pressure. I never expected an apology from her.

"I was the one who recommended you all to the Tea Party. I personally conducted your interviews. And afterward, I placed you within the framework of the Officer Cadets. All of it was because I suspected you might be a threat to Trinity and wanted to keep you close so I could monitor you."

After saying that, she reached for her tea—not to savor it, but as though she simply needed something to cool her mouth.

…A tea party hosted by the Tea Party’s own host. They had to be using the highest-quality leaves, and yet the way Nagisa drank showed no enjoyment at all.

"…If I had thought calmly, I would’ve realized immediately that students who had just enrolled wouldn’t be orchestrating anything harmful. And yet, because of my distrust, I said so many unpleasant things to all of you… especially to you, Aika-san. I truly… have no excuse."

Hearing her apologize so directly, the three of us exchanged looks, unsure how to respond. As her direct subordinate, I spoke first.

"…It’s quite alright. Lady Seia is still bedridden, and Lady Mika was… well, acting the way she was. Under those circumstances, I know Lady Nagisa was bearing enormous stress."

I still had feelings about how terribly the Make-Up Work Club had been treated—but what I said was the truth. Even so, it did sting knowing we hadn’t been trusted.

"I don’t mind either. I also had the chance to fight Lady Mika directly. It was a valuable experience."

That was Masa. I wasn’t sure that was the correct response… but it was very much like her.

"I’m fine too~"

And finally, Maiha—cheerful as ever. But then her expression turned serious.

"But, I do think there are people you should apologize to before us."

Scary, Maiha-chan. Nagisa was already mentally shredded—saying something like that might break her for real. When I looked at Nagisa, her shoulders had hunched, guilt written plainly on her face.

"Ugh… yes, you’re right. I know. After this, I intend to visit the Make-Up Work Club and the Justice Task Force."

Maiha said nothing more. Nagisa then excused herself with a quiet, "I’ll go speak with them now," and left. And with that, our tea gathering ended.

Another day passed. In one of the counseling rooms scattered throughout Trinity, I waited for a certain group of students. Sipping my tea and nibbling on the nut cookies Maiha had given me, I heard a knock at the door.

"Shirasu Azusa-san? Please come in."

"Excuse me… wait, Aika?"

"Yes. Due to some unusual circumstances, I’m the one who’ll be hearing your account today."

Honestly, I didn’t fully understand the situation myself. From what I’d heard, the Tea Party’s upperclassman inspectors and administrators were buried under paperwork after the incident. Since officer cadets like us were both available and held official positions, we were drafted to help. And this was the result.

For a while, I listened to Azusa’s explanation.

Seia had foreseen everything through her prophetic dreams. She knew Azusa had been assigned the mission of destroying her halo, yet she chose not to run. Her reasoning was that anything predetermined could not be changed—struggling against it would be meaningless. It was a belief not unlike the Arius maxim vanitas vanitatum, et omnia vanitas.

But Seia pointed out something else—that Azusa always added, “Even so, you must never stop struggling,” and that Azusa feared becoming a killer. Seia saw through her immediately: Azusa had not come to fulfill her mission and kill Seia, but to seek guidance on how she should struggle.

Then Seia explained that if the Eden Treaty eliminated conflict between Trinity and Gehenna, it would create a foothold for resolving the Arius problem. And that treaty was the only viable path for addressing the deep-rooted issues between the academies. However, Arius planned to destroy the Tea Party’s halos, and if they succeeded, Kivotos would become a true battlefield. Seia asked Azusa whether she wanted to stop that or not.

"Let me say this first: I do not agree with your reasoning. I understand better than anyone that the Fifth Precept—the so-called ‘Proof of Paradise’—is impossible."

But then Seia continued:

"But even knowing everything is headed toward ruin… if you still choose to struggle, then I will lend you my wisdom. Although I can’t guarantee what result that wisdom will bring."

"…And then Lady Seia blew up her own room and staged her death. Is that correct?"

"Yes. After that, Seia selected Aomori Mine—the captain of the Remedial Knights—as her accomplice to help with the cover-up. I left the rest to her and disappeared. Based on the subsequent turmoil in Trinity and the information that spread, Arius Squad concluded I had completed my mission."

She ended her account with that summary. Seeing Hanako looking anxious, Azusa added one more thing.

"I didn’t know what happened afterward. Not that she still hasn’t regained consciousness…"

"I heard Seia-chan’s external injuries have already healed. The reason she won’t wake up seems to lie elsewhere…"

Something about her halo or her mysticism? I’d forgotten the exact detail. Well, no matter. Time to move on.

"Then, Senpai Shirasu—you did not know that Lady Mika was the one who issued the attack order? Is that correct?"

Or, more plainly: did she act without realizing that Mika—whatever her intentions—was on the verge of provoking internal conflict with the other two? Azusa hesitated, and Hanako answered in her place.

"Mika-san completely hid her identity the entire time. For someone like Azusa-chan, at the lowest point of the chain of command, it would have been nearly impossible to know."

"A-Azusa-chan isn’t a murderer…! Even back then, Azusa-chan tried to save Lady Nagisa…!"

"Yes, I was present, so I understand that. However, my task right now is to record your statements properly…"

Since this was assigned as official work, I couldn’t be lax just because they were acquaintances. The life of an organizational underling can be harsh.

"…Hanako, Hifumi, it’s alright. The one who issued the actual order was Saori—the leader of Arius Squad. She commands the squad."

We continued the hearing for a little while longer. Near the end—

"…I believe that covers everything we needed. Thank you all for your cooperation. And also—"

"…?"

"Congratulations on passing. I’ve already informed Sensei, but let me congratulate you in person as well."

When I smiled, the tension in their expressions dissolved almost instantly.

"…Thank you, Aika-sa—no, Aika-chan. Maiha-chan, Masa-chan… thanks to all three of you, we were able to get through everything."

"I’m glad to hear that. …Well then, take care."

After seeing the three of them out, I cleaned up, gathered the meeting notes and the leftover cookies, and left the counseling room myself.