Nagisa is the traitor of Trinity…
What a rather witty perspective.
In all of vast Kivotos, what student council president would ever betray their own academy?
However, Trinity's political structure is relatively unique.
As mentioned before, the academy was formed through the union of many factions, large and small, and thus it has multiple student council presidents.
With that in mind, coming from Mika, who is not only a fellow Tea Party member but also Nagisa's childhood friend, someone who understands the current host of the Tea Party far better than almost anyone else, including myself, her words could not be dismissed lightly.
"Trying to turn the Trinity that has maintained its balance all this time into some kind of gigantic monster… It would not be strange to see it that way either."
After saying that, Mika let out a long breath, replacing her worried expression with a faint smile.
"Well, everything I said, including all of that, is just my personal opinion. In the end, the one who has to decide is you, Sensei. Will you protect Shirasu Azusa, or will you search for the traitor? Will you believe Nagisa, who is closer to you, or me, your creditor?"
Meeting her questioning gaze, caught in a dilemma, I could not help but think.
Do I really have to choose just one?
Although I still did not know the answer, I sincerely hoped I could find a way to achieve both.
"I will think about it carefully," I said in a low voice.
Mika nodded.
"Mm, but please decide quickly. Even though I hate to admit it, you are the only one I can ask right now."
From another angle, if I could resolve this perfectly, perhaps it would also be a good opportunity to completely turn around her impression of me.
With that thought, I straightened up at once and said earnestly, "Do not worry. No matter what happens, I will do my best to protect Azusa, and you and Nagisa as well."
But upon hearing that, Mika froze for a moment, then showed clear surprise.
"…Huh? You said you would protect me?"
Her reaction made me wonder if I had misspoken, yet I knew that even if I had, this was not the time to take it back.
"That's right. Even if I have to stake everything, I will protect you and everyone."
As her expression grew stranger, I scratched my cheek with a finger and added, "Although it might sound a bit self-important."
Perhaps her reaction was simply because she was moved speechless by how cool I had sounded.
That would only be natural.
After all, it would not be the first time someone who claimed to dislike me had already been drawn in by my charm, only suppressing their feelings for other reasons. Perhaps Mika, with the same hair color, was the same.
Yet the next moment, the corner of her lips curved upward, while she lifted her slender neck arrogantly. With a smile laced with mockery and anger, she said,
"Heh, are you looking down on me? Did you forget how you ended up owing me a favor? Hey, know your limits. Just who do you think you are, talking about protecting me?"
The sudden outburst left me at a loss. I had thought our conversation had been going well.
For a moment, I felt as if I heard the snap of a taut string, and my mind went blank.
Perhaps a long time passed, or perhaps only an instant. When I came back to myself, Mika stood before me, her disdain and contempt no longer concealed.
…Thanks to her reminder, I was finally forced to face a certain fact head-on.
Narrowing my eyes, I shook my head and, with a gentle smile and calm voice, replied,
"If strength alone could solve everything, then why did you come to me for help?"
The one who needed to know her limits had never been me.
"What, embarrassed and lashing out?" Mika sneered. "Figures. Back then, what you did to Se…"
But she cut herself off mid-sentence.
After a strange silence and a deep breath, she regained her composure and smiled at me.
"Hehe, sorry. I lost my temper for a second. You are right. I am the one asking for your help. Even if you said something ridiculous, I should not have reacted like that. Sorry about that. But since you just said something like that, you will forgive my rudeness, right? Hahaha!"
Just as she said.
If I were to get so angry over a clash of words that I completely fell out with her, then my earlier promise would become a joke.
Besides, that single syllable she almost uttered had led me to a rather likely assumption.
…If that were true, then her dislike of me would be understandable.
Without changing expression, I replied, "I don't mind at all."
"Is that so? How impressive. You are acting a bit like an adult now."
Laughing loudly, she stepped closer and casually patted my shoulder.
"But before you speak, at least understand your position. Do not say things that are strange and unrealistic. All right?"
Without waiting for my answer, Mika sighed and turned around, presenting her back with its pure white wings to me. I could not see her expression, only hear her light tone.
"Well then, that is all I have to say. Staying together like this for too long might start rumors, hehe. I was going to say I did not care, but since it is you, I guess I do after all. See you."
With that, she waved and left.
After standing there for a while, sorting through my thoughts, I returned to the annex.