"Ugh, it's not in here either."
I close the ancient tome I had been fumbling through. I still haven't fully gotten used to the ancient form of Latin, so I've just been scanning for keywords that I absolutely can't miss, but...
I still haven't found any clues about the location of the Arius Autonomous District.
I know it's connected to the Trinity Catacombs, but it's realistically impossible for me to go in there myself and search for it. I could get trapped, and even if I succeeded in finding the district, it would be a huge problem if I ran into Beatrice.
If my memory is correct, the ones who erased Arius's traces were the Justina Saints, who acted as the Tea Party's loyal hounds and spearheaded the suppression of Arius. The Justina Saints, who in the end also helped Arius get back on its feet, perhaps regretted their actions and performed the best atonement they could.
But thanks to you guys atoning by taking care of Arius, my head feels like it's about to split open...
At this point, is my only option to enter the Catacombs myself?
I could scatter coded messages throughout the Catacombs and wait for the Arius side to find them and make contact. Beatrice, who sees all of Arius as a tool, would have no reason to avoid contact, and she'd send her underlings to do it anyway, so it seems plausible enough.
The only problem is that I would have to be the one going in and out of the Catacombs.
...How on earth did the original Mika make contact with Arius?
Someone at the level of the Tea Party would naturally know about Arius's existence, but their whereabouts wouldn't have been passed down even to the Sisterhood, the successors of the Justina Saints. Could it be that the Arius side approached her first? I have no way of knowing.
"And the General Student Council President will be proposing the Eden Treaty any day now."
After being transmigrated into Mika's body, I've just finished my second set of exams at Trinity. As the time for the Eden Treaty story draws near, I too must prepare to make contact with Arius.
I don't know how many things will change when Seia becomes the Host. For the knowledge I have to be of any use, the best-case scenario is for Seia to be taken off the board and for Nagisa to take over as Host.
It's definitely the best-case scenario, but...
Is following the original story truly the right thing to do?
In the original story, Seia fakes her own death after talking with Shirasu Azusa, a member of the Arius Squad who came to kill her.
But what if, because my actions are different from the original Mika's, a different squad member goes to find Seia instead of Azusa?
And what if, by some one-in-a-million chance, that squad member is Joumae Saori herself? I can't guarantee that Saori wouldn't be able to destroy Seia's halo.
If that were to happen, Seia's death would be my fault, and likewise, Saori getting blood on her hands would also be my fault. All because I stubbornly insisted on clumsily following the original story.
Can Seia's prophetic dreams protect her from a potential accident?
I remember what the future Seia told me: when the most important moment comes, I must not hesitate. Perhaps she was talking about right now.
If so, is this a choice for myself, or a choice for you all? I'm not sure.
It's difficult. A problem so difficult it makes my head throb. I'm starting to think it might be better to just be open with Seia.
...I need to think about this a little more. It seemed I was going to reveal my identity at some point anyway, so even if it's a little early, not much would change... and yet, something makes me hesitate.
"I guess it's a relief that my exam scores are at least stable."
Living through your school days twice is a strange feeling.
However, being swamped with work every day, and having to set aside time for personal training, the situation is a little different from my original high school days.
In any case, I no longer need to grind my teeth studying. If I just focus during class, I can maintain my grades. I have no reason to aim for the top ranks, nor do I have the time, so this is just right.
Knock, knock—
"You can come in☆"
The one who opened the office door was Nagisa. Not particularly surprising. I have no idea what Seia does when she's not doing Tea Party work with us, but Nagisa often shows her face like this.
Which is great for me. My eyes get a feast every time Nagisa visits.
"It's good to see you, Mika-san. We were supposed to meet a student today. You have not forgotten, have you?"
Did we? I think we might have.
"Ahaha! Sorry, Nagi-chan! I've had a lot on my mind lately... so unfortunately, I forgot☆ Who were we supposed to meet today?"
"I only told you that we needed to meet a student. I thought it would be best to meet her in as natural an atmosphere as possible."
"Aha..."
Ah, this is Hanako. It has to be.
The exam results are out, so it wouldn't be strange for Hanako's insane scores to be getting attention. So, is this around the time Hanako started to go astray?
"So what's her name? Her affiliation and grade? Ah, if she's a senior, then it would be rude of me to call her a 'kid'!"
"Her name is Urawa Hanako, a first-year in the go-home club. Her conduct is proper, her appearance is neat, and she is a genius who received a perfect score on everything up to the third-year advanced curriculum exam, despite being a first-year. Personally, I see her as the perfect talent to take on the role of Host after we graduate."
"Wow, what is she! That's amazing! Do you think she'd help me with my studies if I asked?"
"Mika-san, are you now planning on stooping so low as to ask a junior...? Besides, what is that supposed to mean? You were not satisfied with my help?"
Oh, could she be jealous? That's a little problematic. I'm always grateful to Nagisa. I don't want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings like this.
"Ahaha, but you're always busy with work, Nagi-chan! And I'm nothing but grateful to you, you know? If you hadn't helped me back then, I'd be expelled by now, or maybe I'd have become a terrorist who turned Trinity upside down☆"
"Would you please refrain from saying such things, even as a joke? There are things the Host of the Tea Party should and should not say. 'Terrorist' is going too far, even as a joke."
"Ahaha☆"
I wonder if it's really a joke? I'm not so sure~
As if my inner thoughts were written on my face, Nagisa shook her head. Well, you're used to it by now. Right, Nagisa?
"Ahem... that is neither here nor there. What is truly important is bringing that child into our Tea Party. Other factions have their eyes on her as well, but I believe the place she belongs most is in the seat of the Host who will succeed us."
"Mmm... If she's that talented, I can understand why everyone's eyes are lit up trying to recruit her. But, has no one considered that she might find it annoying~?"
"...Pardon?"
"Nagi-chan, let's be a little honest! Being deeply involved with the upper echelons of Trinity isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Right? I mean, I myself am wishing Seia-chan would just take over the Host position already. The politics with other factions within the academy and what-not... frankly, it's more annoying than not. I'm not so sure if that child would even want such a troublesome position!"
"Even if that is the case, if not her, there is no other student who can inherit the position of Host——"
"Nagi-chan, if we wait, someone will surely distinguish themselves. Even talented people have a right to their own freedom, and that child has the right to choose her own path! At the very least, I don't think we need to put an excessive burden on her. So don't be so hasty☆"
"Haa... What you say is right. But it would break my heart if she were to suddenly join the Sisterhood or the Remedial Knights."
"Listen, Nagi-chan! Everyone is clamoring for her to join their side. If you think about it from her perspective, wouldn't it be a little scary to see them all fighting for her behind the scenes? More than anything, she's still a first-year, so I'd like her to be able to enjoy her school life a little more. Nagi-chan, have you ever regretted joining the Tea Party when you were just a first-year?"
"...The current Host of the Tea Party is you, Mika-san. While I do not completely agree with you, I will respect your opinion. I have a feeling that Seia-san, though she is not here right now, would agree with you as well."
"Oh, my question was ignored. Not that I mind... but yeah, this might make me a little sad! You're so mean, Nagi-chan~"
As I said that, I saw a roll cake appear before my eyes and reflexively shot up from my seat. Nagisa has completely stopped trying to stuff roll cakes in my mouth recently, but it seems my body still remembers the cruelty of the roll cake punishment.
"...What are you doing?"
"Ah, ahaha! It was just, without thinking."
"I am not so tasteless as to do something you dislike, Mika-san. So please, sit back down."
Nagisa spoke gently and began to cut the roll cake into bite-sized pieces. It was around then that a knock was heard.
Knock, knock—
"It's okay to come in☆"
Going back and forth across Trinity and doing Tea Party work, I've seen many of the major named students in person. But I can't help but feel a sense of excitement every time I see a new student. The problem is that, as a waifu-collector game, there are just too many cute girls. So I'm not at fault!
"It is a pleasure to meet you, members of the Tea Party. My name is Urawa Hanako, a first-year. I hope you are all well."
"Wow☆"
"...?"
So she had this prim-and-proper lady vibe in her first year! Trinity, which cornered this Hanako into changing her class to a 'slutty virgin,' maybe shutting it down is the answer.
For some reason, I feel sorry for her, thinking that behind that appearance, her mind is working furiously just like the other Trinity students. For it to be natural to wear such a mask, that's a little strange, isn't it?
"Nice to meet you, Hanako-chan! Here, here, don't just stand there, come and sit down. I'll even pull out the chair for you as a special service!"
The elegant, noble persona unique to young ladies crumbled, and a bewildered expression filled with question marks was revealed from within. Hanako must have never dreamed that the current Host of Trinity was this kind of person.
"Oh, right, my name is Misono Mika! And this very busy young lady next to me is Kirifuji Nagisa. She's someone I care for a lot, and sometimes I worry she's going to collapse from overwork!"
"...Ah, yes. I see...?"
Completely swept up in my pace, Hanako was thrown into utter confusion. Urawa Hanako, before your awakening as a seductress, you are nothing but a pathetic little punching bag...!
"...If I do collapse, it will be entirely your fault, Mika-san."
Oh, did I just hear a construction project go bankrupt? Must be my imagination.