If I were to send a message to the me from this morning that said, 'Don't be surprised, but tonight you're going to meet Kurodate Haruna, enjoy a pseudo-date, and even become friends,' there would be only one possible response.
What in the hell are you talking about? Did you get shot in the head?
It's a story so absurd that such a reaction would be natural. Especially the part where Mika, of all people—the one who most blatantly despised and ostracized Gehenna in the original story—is having such a pleasant time with Haruna. If Nagisa were to see this, the first thing she would do is doubt her own eyes.
But I'm not Mika, am I? And while my hatred for Gehenna isn't completely gone, I can at least consciously suppress it. So isn't it fine to make at least one friend from Gehenna?
In any case, the time I spent with Haruna was far more enjoyable than I had expected. If you pour a coke for a young lady who has only ever drunk high-class tea, she might be surprised at first, but she might soon fall for the stimulating taste of cola. Metaphorically speaking, that's my situation right now.
"Our Gehenna does not place such an excessive meaning on a student's grades. So if you take this opportunity to transfer to our Gehenna, it would be fine to let your studies slide a little..."
"Ahaha! No matter what, that's a no-go! As much as I dislike some parts of Trinity, there are also quite a few parts I really like. So unfortunately, I'll have to put my foot down and say a transfer is absolutely impossible☆"
And what's the point of not caring about grades? Are you not thinking about life after graduation? You're a golden-spoon young lady, so it doesn't matter for you, right?
"Fufut..."
"Wait a minute. Freeze. Haruna-chan, my mind isn't going to change just because you hold that out and offer me a bite with an 'Ahh~', you know?! If you thought I was that easy, you've made a grave miscalculation!"
"Oh dear, was I mistaken? I was so happy, thinking this method would easily allow me to draw you into our Gourmet Research Society..."
What in the world is she saying? How many times do I have to tell you I'm not joining? Unless I get kicked out of the Tea Party and star in some kind of exile story, I'm not going there!
So put that fork down!
"Yep, that's not it. And more importantly, my precious friends aren't in Gehenna, so even if you wag your tail and tempt me like that, I'll be swayed."
"...Not 'won't be swayed'?"
"Hm? I said I won't be swayed. You must have misheard, Haruna-chan."
"Hrmm."
And even if I were kicked out, what reason would I have to go to Gehenna, passing up a comfortable retirement(?) in Abydos? Hmm, but a desert is a bit... I should probably seriously reconsider Abydos as well.
In that case, is the future in Millennium after all...!
"Fufu, I shall let that slide. But I cannot simply overlook what you said before. Was our relationship, which has even shared an indirect kiss, not even worthy of being considered a precious friendship? Ahh, my heart feels as if it is being torn apart. To play with the pure heart of an innocent demon like me, and to trample it so wretchedly. It makes me doubt if Trinity is truly an academy attended by angels."
Haruna placed a hand on her chest and made a pained face. What is this destructive power! Such loveliness that it could make a reed-like heart waver...!
Ugh, I'm starting to feel a sense of crisis. At this rate, am I not already halfway to becoming a member of the Gourmet Research Society? This is dangerous. If I don't get a grip, I might get captured.
No, wait, if you say it like that, it makes me sound like the bad guy! This is what you get from a Gehenna demon who wears her black heart on her sleeve, always trying to launch a slander campaign.
For the record, if this were Trinity, they'd beat around the bush and get on my nerves as much as possible first. Then, when I got angry, they'd hit me with something like, "Oh my, Mika-san, are you perhaps angry? I'm so sorry, I did not know your boiling point was so low," and send my mood crashing into the abyss.
You all know I'm not slandering Trinity, right? Long live... Trinity...
I mean, that's just an example; the possibility of that actually happening is nil. What crazy student would dare to be so obnoxious to the head of the Pater faction, a person who could fold them in half with one hand? If I said a single word, they'd have to slam their head on the floor and beg, "Please, just not expulsion... grant me your mercy...!".
But then again, with those insidious Trinity mob characters, it wouldn't be strange if they actually did that.
Anyway, now is the time to retort. And to try and launch a counterattack is just a manifestation of my pride, which can't stand to just take a hit.
"Haruna-chan, really. You're not a child, so aren't you putting a little too much meaning into something like an indirect kiss? Hm?"
"For you to say that, Mika-san, after being so embarrassed about it for so long, just makes you look cute. I suppose that is a charm in itself."
"...Wait, what are you talking about?! I wasn't particularly embarrassed!"
"Fufu... how cute."
No, of course I was showing signs of being embarrassed that anyone could see. But you too, Haruna! You were just as! Embarrassed as me!
So how can you use that as an attack? That's not fair! She's sharpened her blades so much, I'm no match for her...!
"Since you were not embarrassed then, Mika-san, you will surely not be embarrassed at all if I do this now. Correct? Fufu."
"W-wait a minute! Haruna-chan, could you please put down that fork? Hm? I don't think we need to do this! Ahaha, right! Let's just erase what happened earlier from our memories. Wouldn't that work?"
I've lost, Haruna-sama. So please, stop. I have my pitiful Nagisa, my cute Hifumi, a Seia I want to smack sometimes, and other juniors I haven't even met yet!
"Your tongue is too long, Mika-san. Now, say 'ahh'~"
Haruna scoops up a mouthful of tiramisu with her fork and holds it out to me. Seeing her use her other hand to prevent any powder from falling, it's truly hard to refuse.
"Fufut, hurry now~ You need to experience the embarrassment I felt as well, Mika-san."
"So you were embarrassed..."
With trembling eyes, I looked at the offered tiramisu, then squeezed my eyes shut. I wished that the sweetness spreading through my mouth, along with the faint scent of coffee, would feel unpleasant, but sadly, it just felt delicious without any issue.
Now I can't get... married... not that I was planning to.
"Oh my... this is, surprisingly..."
Hey, could you not trail off so ominously? I'm already a tattered corpse. Anything more than this is just teabagging.
And so, the conversation that had flowed so well throughout the meal came to a sudden halt. Haruna, for her part, picked at her tiramisu with a complicated expression. And I, for my part, couldn't shake the thought, "Oh, am I really this easy?"
While Haruna was distracted, I quickly paid with my card. The price was considerable, but the Tea Party Gold Express is invincible. Of course, no such card actually exists, but you get the idea.
"Mika-san, this is a problem. To pay so arbitrarily..."
"Ahaha, if you have a complaint, you can pay first next time~ Of course, that's a story for if you get the chance☆"
Haruna may have a lot of money, but that's money she can use for other things. This is money I can only use for things like this. So it's fine for me to just pay.
Actually, Haruna would probably have spent the money she didn't use today on eating out anyway. But if I pay first like this, it creates an excuse to meet again next time! And a situation where Haruna has to be the one to ask!
"Ah, you are right... Very well. Next time, I will invite you to a famous restaurant in our Gehenna district, so you had better not try to back out."
Right, just like that. But that's a bit much.
"Ah, no matter what, the Gehenna district is a little..."
"I said you had better not back out, and you are trying to do so already? That will not do, Vice President of the Gourmet Research Society."
"What is this girl saying, really! Our relationship is just right at this level, Haruna-chan. A friendship where we meet once in a while and enjoy gastronomy together! That's not a bad story for you either, is it? Right?"
"Fufu, are you suggesting we start from that level of distance? Very well. In the future, I will make you beg me to accept you into the Gourmet Research Society."
"Yeah, yeah, you do you! Not that it will ever happen, no matter what you do☆"
...To be a little honest, when I first saw Haruna's back, I never imagined things would turn out like this. All I was thinking was that I had to watch her with my eyes wide open to make sure she didn't blow up the restaurant, but when I opened the lid, it turned into a bizarre situation where we both had a good time.
And seeing as the atmosphere was generally comfortable, maybe we just have good chemistry. If it had been the original Mika, the story would have been completely different...
Whether it's because the period of time I've been influenced by my innate Mystery is relatively short, or because my perspective on the world is just different, it's a relief that I don't feel that much hatred for Gehenna. Thanks to that, I was able to make a new friend.
In any case, we surprisingly clicked well, and I couldn't deny that the meal with Haruna itself was unexpectedly enjoyable. More than anything, it felt a bit like a pseudo-romance experience, so my heart is fluttering quite a bit.
Frankly, it's obvious Haruna will never see me as a romantic partner, but she's the one who set my gloomy desires on fire, so she has to take responsibility for it.
So, this is what you call fulfilling my selfish desires. For me, who has decided not to even dream of romance with the students of Kivotos, this feels like a welcome rain in a drought, and it's hard to resist.
"You know, Haruna-chan. Today was a lot more fun than I expected! Seeing you like this, I guess people from Gehenna aren't all bad. And more than anything, from my position, it's hard to defend the Gehenna side, so this whole situation feels pretty novel."
"Fufu, does that mean... Yes, you are a member of the hardline faction, Mika-san. For such a person to temporarily set aside their hatred for Gehenna, is not gastronomy truly great?"
"Ahaha, it's hard to deny that."
By the way, the Pater kids can't find out about this, but I wasn't caught, right? From the looks of it, they couldn't find out my whereabouts when I disappeared without a word.
"Mika-san, I shall be on my way now. It would be a difficult situation if I were to be caught by the Justice Task Force. As I have some problematic items in my possession."
Haruna gestured slyly at her bag. Yep, there was no need to remind me that there were bombs in there.
"Ahaha, what would you do if I was a member of the Justice Task Force?"
"Then I would have no choice but to ask you to turn a blind eye just this once. Like this."
Haruna brought a hand to her lips, made a 'shh' gesture, and then gave a sly wink with one eye.
...Honestly, if I were really a member of the Justice Task Force, I would have let her go for that.
"Well then, let us meet again. I will contact you if I happen to be in the area. Let us embark on a journey to find the ultimate taste together."
"...Just leave the bombs behind. I won't just stand by and watch you blow things up, but still, it's rude."
"Fufu, I will consider it positively."
That's just a polite way of saying no, isn't it Haruna...
As we stood up and faced each other, I realized once again just how much shorter I had become.
Haruna was wearing heels while I was in comfortable casual clothes, so I wasn't, but still, the nearly 10cm height difference felt a little strange. For me, who had never had to look up even at a fairly tall woman in heels, to have to look up at someone as a daily occurrence.
"I also had a lot of fun today, Mika-san. And,"
Haruna said, and then did something completely unexpected.
"Demons are honest about what they want to obtain, Mika-san. I am not joking; I will absolutely make you a member of the Gourmet Research Society. So look forward to it."
Haruna suddenly closed the distance and hugged me, whispering in my ear. Then, she picked up her gun and left without a second glance. Watching her tail swish, I truly felt like I had been bewitched by a demon. My legs almost gave out for a moment.
...Haruna, can't you just take me with you right now?
Ah, that's not it.
"I really need to stay away from Gehenna..."
Otherwise, I think I'll be in danger.
"Oh, President. You made it back safely? I heard you were going to Trinity, so I didn't think we'd see you for a few days!"
"Fufut. It is all thanks to meeting a good person, Izumi-san. The restaurant I booked was also of the highest satisfaction."
Though if that good person had thought a little differently, I would have been captured without a fight. She was like a Prefect Team Leader, Mika-san. It was a relief that she was a connoisseur of fine food. It was a dangerous encounter where I might have been dragged away without even tasting the food properly.
"Oh my, you met a good person? I'm curious what kind of person they are~"
"You will have a chance to meet her later, Akari-san. Because that person is a brilliant talent worthy of the vice president position in our Gourmet Research Society. So I will absolutely recruit her. Fufufu..."
If I have such a cute person by my side, my enjoyment will surely be doubled. If we are together, then someday, we will surely...
Find the ultimate gastronomy, will we not?