Putting down my phone, I scratched my head, feeling conflicted.
Just as I had thought, the grudge between Makoto and Hasumi could be called a misunderstanding, but not entirely. It felt like it was not impossible to clear up, yet if I actually tried, it might not only fail to help, but even deepen the misunderstanding.
How was I supposed to tell Hasumi that the "big" Makoto mentioned was not about her being fat? I could hardly say she was actually talking about her wings.
All I could say was, as expected of Makoto. She always managed to create new kinds of trouble for me.
Fortunately, I had never believed that eliminating Hasumi's dislike of Gehenna would influence anything in the first place.
My main purpose in contacting the two of them this time was simply to confirm the rough course of their conflict, to indirectly verify the truth of the reason Mika had told me about why Nagisa had made Koharu join the Make-Up Work Club.
And now, I already had my answer.
To think she would even use a hostage as leverage, a force she could originally rely on. It seemed that Nagisa's paranoia was indeed far more severe than I had anticipated.
Calming myself and looking at it from her perspective, I could roughly understand why she had become like this. Just as Mika had said, as the Tea Party host, she had to handle the busy daily affairs, push forward the signing of the Eden Treaty as soon as possible, and also search for a traitor.
And all of that was under the shadow of her friend being attacked and having her halo shattered.
During this period, she must have borne unimaginable pressure. Being able to maintain a composed exterior was likely already the limit of her strength.
As for her heart, it was probably long overwhelmed, which was why it had twisted and she could no longer trust anyone.
I could fully understand that feeling.
But after the Eden Treaty was successfully concluded, would Nagisa truly be able to feel at ease?
No. By then, perhaps the ETO would truly become the weapon in her hand that Mika feared, continuing to eliminate all potential threats and suspects through methods essentially the same as establishing the Make-Up Work Club.
Unless I could use undeniable facts to prove that Nagisa's thinking was wrong.
Which coincided perfectly with my original decision.
I would prove that there was no traitor in the Make-Up Work Club.
From my understanding of these girls, with whom I had practically spent day and night over this period of time, I could assert that they were absolutely not the kind of terrorists Nagisa suspected, people who would attempt to destroy Kivotos's peace for their own selfish desires.
To convince Nagisa, while gathering more evidence, I would also need to make other preparations.
And after the Tea Party host, the person whose intentions were most worth examining…
Was Mika, who, as a fellow Tea Party member, had provided me with a great deal of information.
I recalled that girl who had treated me poorly, and how fluently she had spoken when giving me that information, as if she had already rehearsed it.
It might just be my imagination. But why did it feel like she had been speaking ill of Nagisa in front of me the entire time?
Although part of it was indeed true, as childhood friends, Mika had described Nagisa in an excessively negative light.
Did she truly hold grievances against Nagisa? Or was that seemingly innocent demeanor deliberate?
I could not quite understand what she was trying to do. I did not want to suspect her without cause, yet instinctively I felt she was hiding something.
Sorting through the information I had, I rubbed my brow, feeling that too many mysteries were still shrouded in darkness, and too many constraints bound my hands.
Originally, I had thought there was no need to worry too much. Since Seia had foreseen a good ending, I only needed to go with the flow to reach it.
But now, that initial thought no longer aligned with my true feelings.
I had promised that I would protect everyone worth protecting.
For that, it was time to speed things up.
Of course, how exactly to proceed required careful thought, and the gathering of information had to continue.
While discussing details over Momotalk with students who could assist me in this regard, my friend request to Sakurako was finally accepted.
Guessing at her reason for contacting me, I switched screens. But the moment I saw her first message, I fell into confusion.
Sakurako: Yahallo~ ☆
…Did I add the wrong person?
Sakurako: Hello, Sensei. May today's peace also be with you.
…It seemed to be her.
After hesitating for a moment, I decided to ignore that slightly odd greeting for now.
Me: Hello, Sakurako. Did you need something?
Sakurako: Nothing urgent.
Sakurako: I simply felt that it was about time to establish a means of contacting you privately when necessary.
So she really did have a crush on me?
Me: Then why have Hinata make a special trip and even write your account on paper?
As the representative of the Sisterhood, she had no need to go through so much trouble just to add me.
Sakurako: Eh? I looked it up online. It seems that having someone pass along a small note is a popular way to add friends these days…
Sakurako: Did I misunderstand?
I did not know the exact answer to that either. But logically speaking, even if it were popular, it would probably only apply within the same classroom.
There was also another question. Why have Hinata deliver it instead of Mari?
Sakurako: Sensei, I know you have your own information channels, so I will not speak in circles.
Sakurako: Although our Sisterhood practices non-intervention and currently has no intention of changing that.
Sakurako: Your frequent visits to the Cathedral some time ago seem to have caused certain ill-intentioned individuals to grow suspicious of the relationship between us.
The moment I read those messages, I basically understood the situation.
If it was Nagisa, that would be normal. No wonder something Mari alone could have handled required Hinata to accompany her.
Me: Sorry. It seems I caused you trouble.
Sakurako: You misunderstand. I have no intention of blaming you at all.
Sakurako: Nagisa-san has not taken formal action yet, and the Sisterhood is different from the Justice Task Force.
So the Sisterhood was indeed aware of Koharu being used as a hostage.
At that point, I understood Sakurako's other reason for reaching out to me, aside from having a favorable impression of me.
Me: Understood. When necessary, please be sure to contact me.
Sakurako: …I see. I understand.
Sakurako: Then, may blessings also be with you today.
Even though nothing was stated outright, at this point, we both understood each other without saying it.
With that, the preparations were a little more complete.
…I said before that I would protect Nagisa and Mika.
Whether they themselves wished it or not.
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TL/N: Originally, it was "Yay, Sensei! ☆" from the global version but I think Yahallo is better. If anybody questioning, then Sakurako's Idol arc ain't around yet for her to go around and starting saying "Wappi" yet.