[WARNING] The following story will consist spoilers for Blue Archive's Main Story Volume 3.

The lingering calmness and etiquette of the courtyard was a returning sight. The tea returned to be nicely brewed, the pastries of ideal quality and the resounding calmness of the academy. For a week, it been all efforts and nothing of pleasantries, and to see the atmosphere turned from the worst to the best, it was an achievement.

A peaceful, grand achievement of a leader, yet it never soothed her concerns.

Despite the calming atmosphere of the school, the girl could only gaze afar at the blue sky with a look that one could see as being worn out. Her light green long hair, slender figure, the face of a matured lady, the well-pressed uniform and a superb etiquette made her imposing, yet in the backdrop of the large table, she seemed lonely.

The closing light footsteps of the attendant were heard before announcing the arrival of a particular friend. The manner was polite, but the receiver felt traces of suspicion. Merely nodding with yet another politeness, she instructed the guard to guide her over.

The doors opened and Nagisa saw again the naïve and joyous face of Mika.

"Nagisa-chan! I'm finally back here! Miss me?"

The greet was certainly the usual Mika, just as Nagisa had known. Joyous and cheerful as always, but the scars ached up.

"It just been some days, Mika. For now, just take a seat."

"Straight to the point?"

"Just… take a seat. Not like we are rushing. Not yet, at least."

The eyes of the Tea Party guards were tense. Their gazes were of prison guards, watching carefully after a dangerous creature as Maki stepped with ignorance of the watches. Following from the rear was a sister. The black garb served as a symbol of a gentle, faithful sister, yet one could see the plate carrier and padding barely hidden under the garb. Nagisa only watched as the pink haired girl, who should be still confined in the prison, sat opposite of the table. The sister only stood by the side, nonchalantly yet alert.

One of the guards clearing the unoccupied seat caught Mika's curiosity as she asked, "Is someone here before?"

"Indeed." Nagisa replied in just one word. "But nothing of important."

Curiosity but Mika decided not to broach whoever was here before herself.

Maybe… That student I just saw just now?

The memory of a girl, as meek as she was, formed together with her backpack of odd mascot design she saw around sometime. Chicken? Bird?

Eh, whatever. Not important if Nagisa says so.

"Miss Hiraoka." Nagisa started once she noticed the sister was still standing like a bodyguard. "I would prefer if you sit down too."

Nagisa smiled but Naomi just shook her head, "It would be best if I'm behind her. Just in case."

"Just in case? Come on, it's not like I got any reasons to start messing around. Just take a seat." Mika interjected. "It will be a bad face for us to let a guest standing around here. Come on, it's a tea party we are having here."

Naomi exchanged look at Nagisa whom remained adamant of the seat. As one of the guards pulled one of the empty chairs just near Mika, Naomi accepted it quietly. Her glance never left Mika.

The routine of one's arrival to the tea party was repeated; tea served and deserts were guided to, all of which Mika took upon with a delightful face and Naomi touching none but the Earl Grey.

"How's your day, Nagisa? Hope it been well." Mika started, sounding as though she was pleasant with the day.

"Never as well as today."

"Ahaha~ Trinity's finally peaceful already?"

"As it should be."

"How about… Seia?"

"She's fine. Have you visited her?"

"Soon. Maybe after this."

Her eyes were looking far, far from Nagisa and the table.

"Mika," Nagisa called out. "The date was set."

"Eh? What date are we talking about?" Mika asked innocently. "Wait, you finally want to go out on a date with me? Ara~ I'm pretty happy! When? Where?"

"No!" Nagisa quickly protested before mumbling softly. "No… At least it won't be with you…"

"Wait, wait, wait, what?"

Mika was surprised to see the collective and shrewd Nagisa blushed a bit, as though she was a maiden in love. Her curiosity peaked.

"Nothing! None of your business!" Nagisa quickly blurted out.

"Ehh~"

"Anyway!" Nagisa quickly changed the subject. "The date for the ceasefire conference with Gehenna. It been set around next month, provided that we don't have any changes with the schedule."

"Oh, the ceasefire…" Mika sounded a bit of disappointed, both from the rejection and not able to understand the meaning of her blushing. "So, the treaty is a failure? Not going to continue it?"

"Whole thing is washed when it was compromised to begin with." Nagisa said. "The whole treaty takes up too much time for just for it to went up into flames. No one is fool enough to do it for the third time."

"That's too bad, isn't it?"

"And who is it to thanks to?"

"Me!"

Mika happily admitted to it.

"… That's why, the clean-up to be sped up."

"Thought it was finished."

"That just whoever present directly during the coup itself. You know how much of a mess that was."

"I know, and I actually appreciate that~"

"Just a reminder, I'm not doing it for you, it's for the sake of Trinity."

"Yeah, yeah, the usual thing about making friends with Gehenna. Still sounds a little absurd to me."

Both of them were well-aware of what happened after the conclusion of the Eden Treaty Incident. Arius Branch School was held responsibility for the disaster after an independent investigation commission organised by General Student Council deemed as such. A full-out conflict between Trinity and Gehenna was avoided just in time when Schale intervenes, but damages were already done at the first few hours of the explosion at the Old Cathedral. According to reports, skirmishes immediately broke out on the site itself, with more happening everywhere once the news spread. From the borders of the academies to centre Kivotos itself, Trinity and Gehenna students suddenly found themselves locked into a bitter, confusing fight. Checkpoints were sieged, facilities were raided, students were lynched, all it took was a livestream of the burning treaty and everything broke loose. Hence, even if a temporary ceasefire was declared during the joint recovery operation between Trinity and Gehenna at the Old Cathedral, the undeclared conflict between the two academies never really ended, and there was a need to formalise the ceasefire.

The Eden Treaty was compromised, however, and it was no longer a valid option. Hence, through Schale and in extension, General Student Council, Trinity and Gehenna agreed on setting up a ceasefire treaty instead of establishing a neutral organisation for the sake of maintain the current status quo. The rivalry was still there and not many people were happy with it. Some even wanted the undeclared war to continue on. However, the ceasefire still stands with support from many, especially those that witnessed the incident itself. The rivalry will not disappear any soon, but a ceasefire and a return of normalcy is much preferable at this point.

At least, that's what Nagisa and Gehenna's Chairman of the Prefect Team, Sorasaki Hina, thought and believed. The issue came not only from Arius Branch School but also with Tea Party.

To be specific, the Pater Faction—the faction that attempted coup d'état in the midst of a crisis, and the faction that Mika represented.

"The whole point of the ceasefire is not to butter Gehenna up." Nagisa started. "We still have the bigger problem with Arius and within Trinity and it's our best interests to focus on them first."

"So, you intend to use the ceasefire as a mean to weed out Arius and opposition in Trinity completely?"

"More or less." Nagisa seriously looked at Mika. "That's why, I gave you a chance to redeem yourself."

"Nothing more than just wanting me to take responsibility?"

"I still trust you as a good friend of mine. The only Tea Party member that could handle this and I knew well was you, and I rather you the one handling this affair than anyone else."

"Ahaha~ That's a risky move, you know? Trusting me like that. Who knows I might just as well raid some Gehenna checkpoints?"

"Not like you have any reasons to botch this up. Everyone know about the ceasefire already, so pretty much you are deadlocked to just clean-up and nothing else. Just think of this as a probation and making yourself not dumb in the process."

"That's pretty hurtful, you know?"

"Not like it's wrong." Nagisa said.

"Well… I can't even deny it to begin with." Mika sighed. "The Pater Faction is mostly radical from the start. I'm no exception too."

The Pater Faction—one of the three major factions that formed what is known as Trinity General School and the most radical of all. Almost in their entire history, if not looking forward to assert dominances over the other factions, it will be about witch hunts against students from Gehenna Academy. Majority of Tea Party's battalions, especially the heavier combined arms force, were mainly originated from that particular faction.

Strong, well-trained, long history, dedicated, they were some of the main faces of Trinity's armed force, save for the Justice Task Force.

While political wise they still remained weak, the Pater Faction's hatred towards Gehenna never faded and continued to burn for years, even now. Mika was well aware of this and she happily accepted the position of representing the faction. Yet, she attributed her hatred towards Gehenna as nothing but her own whim.

A selfish lady, if Nagisa had to say, but a foreseen result. Mika was never a bright leader to begin with, always doing something according to whims. Hardly an ideal leader, if one would say. There were more competent officers in the Pater Faction, yet few dared to take the responsibilities. A puppet would be better, they decided, and a fool. Soon enough, knowing Mika was a good friend of Nagisa, who's on the track of being her faction's representative, they decided to vote Mika and presented her the seat.

For long, they had prepared for their fated showdown with Gehenna, always bearing the grudges and hatred, and all they need was an opening. A chance. A spark.

Nagisa was well aware of it, but optimistic and caution took over on the basic that Trinity will never be broken and forcing the issue was just asking for troubles. The Eden Treaty was intended to be such, the first stop on establishing peace while curbing Pater's influence. Yet, the treaty broke down, and Pater took upon the chance.

What followed was a coup d'état, a major one. Violent and paranoia, they arrested majority of the moderates within their circle and also those in Sanctum and Filius Factions. The Sisterhood, whom recently just officially started to join in the general affairs of Trinity, was not spared either. It was now or never, and they will spare no one who will block their way to burn Gehenna Academy down. Even if Mika had once betrayed Trinity by collaborating with Arius, they still shared the same goal of destroying Gehenna.

So, they did, and failed all because of Mika's mood.

"I actually hated most of them to be honest. Snobbish and selfish as always just because I have this look of naivety." Mika smiled smugly. "Come on, seriously? Hah! Serve them right being stripped of power and thrown into prisons."

"Aren't you the same?"

"At the very least, I'm self-aware. Stupid as I may be, but they are more stupid to even put me onto this seat."

Indeed, the Pater Faction had thought Mika will be their perfect representative, naïve and easy to influence. Yet, her selfishness was on another level, and it was amazing in some ways. It was not just the circumstances that brought her the position, but her strength. Distinguished herself long as the commander of the one of the most established units, the 1st Battalion of Holy Convent Guards Regiment, her reputation superseded that of her other superiors and competitors.

Strong, bold, charismatic, her conduct fooled many as she led the charge. There was abundant of stories of her fighting just as much as the Justice Task Force's notorious maniac. Towards the end, the students respected her strength, thoroughly, just like how they respected the Chairman of Justice Task Force, Kenzaki Tsurugi. Even after her known betrayal, the respect was still there, and changed only by a little.

"The clean-up, I have to say, you done a good job."

"The purge, you mean." Mika giggled. "It's pretty fun I have to say."

Nagisa and Naomi didn't find it to be amusing. Mika noticed their shift of moods and stopped her giggles. Still, her smile was there.

"Well, much thanks. It's pretty ironic still, a foolish betrayer that somehow hunts the other betrayers instead. What a turn of event I have to say."

"If it's for the survival, the peace, the stability of Trinity, it's better not to play the chess game silently."

"Therefore, the arrests of multiple Tea Party executive members. I say, it's pretty a fun experience. It's super rare after all, to see a retaliation at this size."

"It's not supposed to be fun, Mika." Nagisa frowned. "While you did a good job, I still have some reservations on you handled the affairs."

"You said anything is fine."

"Not to this extent. I heard you straight up arrest various key members, including Arius spies, right out in the open. The incident a week ago, near the chapel, I heard you brought your entire battalion in for a siege. What's wrong with you, competition with the people from St. Mary Rifles. I know most of them are complicit, but that's a bit too much."

"It's no big secret anymore, Nagisa-chan. It's not like they are not aware of our purging." Mika sighed. "Plus, it's better to show a bit of force. I'm not even sure if that's all of them, whether Arius or radicals. Heck, we better make it a public show so that they are aware that any attempts of coup d'état will be met with such crackdowns."

"We're literally presenting ourselves as the aggressor at this rate."

Nagisa let out a long sigh. "I swear I will stuff one or two roll cakes into your mouth sooner or later today."

Mika panicked once hearing "roll cake". "Wait, wait, wait, not that, please! Seriously, not that."

"Then, just listen to me for once." Nagisa said, as sternly as she could.

From the file, long sat beside her, she withdrew several envelopes and showed them to Mika. "These, you see, are complaints I have received from the regular students. Some complained about how harsh you cracked down the radicals, even if they appreciated it. There're even letters from the Justice Task Force, saying the inappropriate use of force within the school without consultation."

"Eh~ That much?"

"For example, this one letter from the regular students," Nagisa started. "One particular letter from the After-School Sweets Club. I heard you made an arrest with multiple Sisterhood specialists and even stealing other people's cakes."

"Hey! That's false claimant!" Mika objected. "I only ate half a cake!"

"The amount isn't the problem!"

Nagisa was mad, clearly.

"Anyway! You disturbed their peaceful teatime, don't you understand?! One of a day where there's limited offer, no less!" Nagisa sighed. "Plus, you never even think of buying the limited-edition cake for me, especially when you stole a few bits of it."

"Wel- Well, I didn't think about it." Nagisa laughed nervously.

"Remember this well, Mika. If you ever see any limited sweets, make sure you buy it for me. I still have not forgiven you."

"Just sweets? That's pretty easy of you."

"Of course, I'm just half joking."

"Eh… I still have to buy it?"

"Yes."

"Ah, well. I will buy it for you if I ever see one."

"Don't forget my portion."

Naomi stared deep into Mika's soul. Mika shivered uncomfortably.

"Ok- Okay… If so, can I-"

"No."

"That's fast!"

"That is on your money. It is not an official job."

"But I'm broke!" Mika tried to negotiate. "Most of my funds were frozen ever since my gigs were up!"

"You're getting paid, no?"

"That's barely enough for my living! You want me to be homeless?"

"Homeless? You're living rent-free in that comfy room that I specifically reserved for you. So, what's homeless?"

"That's… prison, you know?" Mika tried to sound obvious. "I also being forced to pay for the bills somehow."

"Well, you are being given a salary for the ongoing operation after all."

"Ehhh~"

"Alright, enough of you. The date."

"Our date?" Mika's eyes sparkled.

Nagisa bent over to a nearby plate of roll cake and Mika straightened herself up. "The ceasefire conference, yes, the ceasefire conference!"

"The ceasefire indeed." Mika started as she put down the roll cake. "It's next month, probably around the 15th or 16th. It been agreed upon that the signing of ceasefire will take place in a neutral academy."

"A neutral academy? We hardly have one. Valkyrie?"

"No, it's Hyakkiyako Alliance Academy."

"Of all places, that is what you decided on?"

"It's GSC's decision, not ours nor Gehenna's, but I do think it's a befitting choice. Neutral, a loose alliance of clubs and societies, there's no one more neutral than them. Schale even guaranteed its neutrality after a preliminary investigation."

"But Hyakkiyako… If I recall correctly, they don't have an actual student council…"

"Indeed, but that's more of a reason to choose it. Furthermore, they agreed that security will be provided from KSPD and elements from Hyakkiyako themselves. They really want us to do the conference there since it could earn them some avenues apparently."

"They're not wrong. After all, they rely heavily on tourism."

"Both us and Pandemonium Society decided that the location is excellent. There's lots of attentions, plus the security will be tenfold from what we have during Eden Treaty. Just rumours, but elements from SRT will be involved too."

"Didn't they close down?"

"I'm not sure. Just rumours, I had said. If so, I actually appreciate them."

"I sure do appreciate their gunships!"

"That would be too far."

The conversation suddenly halted as both stared at each other.

"You Tea Party members sure weird…"

Naomi started, breaking the sudden silence.

"Well," Mika stifled her laugh. "It's tea time."

"Indeed, it been some time since we last talked on an equal basis." Nagisa agreed too as she sipped the last few sips of her tea.

"I hope we discuss about the actual thing." Naomi said. "That's the reason why we requested a meeting with the host."

"Yeah, yeah, I still remember that." Mika sighed before inched her hand upon Naomi.

A file, well-secured and tagged with official stamps, was handed over to Mika before being opened and flipped through.

"The clean-up operation I presume." Nagisa asked.

"We done the preliminary ops. The one involved in the coup, all were detained, arrested, everything. They good as nothing now. However, that's just dessert." Mika replied. "Honestly, while troublesome, that's the least you want to worry about for now, especially when the ceasefire is going forward."

The file, after being checked thoroughly, was passed onto Nagisa. Slipping the papers out, her eyes tightened.

"These… I'm pretty surprised that this much information was tapped out. This wasn't the level we get from the post-mortem we done when you were detained."

"Geronimo was found, and she confessed lots and lots of things. Codebooks, procedures, locations, names, she knew all." Mika said, sounding very pleased. "She's not the leader of the internal spy for no reason."

"Your former secretariat, isn't it?"

"I didn't even know it was really her. Long suspected her, but a few ins and outs after that? Penemue confirmed her. Didn't take too much persuasion somehow." Mika said.

Then, she gestured her hand across her neck before breaking the grip up. "But they are still kicking. What left of Arius, that is."

The feeling I had before the meeting, it was for this, isn't it?

Nagisa thought to herself as she read through the files.

"I assume there's more than just clearing their hideouts in Trinity and locating the autonomous district."

"Indeed. I thought they were long shafted, especially after their little plan failed."

"Operation Eden Overture, is it?"

"Yes, that took up majority of their force. Not like they are that big to begin with. However, much of their capabilities is still there. From what I gathered, and further clean-up, we still find fresh trails of Arius' activities. Geronimo herself also testified on that."

"This is troublesome…"

"They are getting desperate, and no longer playing nice. They have increased their raids, and considering their forces were splintered further, it will be much harder to track all of them."

Indeed, Nagisa recalled the recent increase in the number of incidents occurred throughout Trinity's district, from patrols getting ambushed to entire convoy being hijacked.

"That's why I said, we can't play nice anymore, not with the Pater, not with the Arius if you want me to deal with this."

"I thought you would prefer a softer approach when it comes to Arius."

"They splintered, what choice do I have? I could negotiate with Arius, but their central force is decimated in Eden Overture. Geromino had lost contact with nearly all of the cells. What left is just provisional forces, acting independently. Calls were everywhere, tried to persuade them but to no avail."

"They don't like us, don't they?"

"Make no mistake. They really don't like us, especially Gehenna. Hearing that we will be having ceasefire with Gehenna will be akin to inviting them to sabotage it."

"I trust that you have a contingency plan."

"Don't want a repeat of Eden Treaty?"

"Yes."

"You know how selfish am I."

There was no response, just a serious, genuine look from Nagisa. The kind of look that a friend would give. Mika stayed silence for a while before sighing. Her smile was no longer the usual playful but of reassurance.

"Alright, alright, I will just do as what you say. Indeed, I put up a draft of the plan. Not a contingency, but merely an expansion on the little raid that JTF had been doing ever since we know most of the major cells."

Nagisa soon reached the last few papers, and a title sprawled across it alongside with the usual status of confidential.

"That's a large force you planned here…"

"It's military exercise publicly. We are having one soon, no?"

"If this proceeds," Nagisa put down the papers. "It will be Trinity's biggest mobilisation ever, even for a special exercise."

"And one wrong move, we be turning ourselves in and out, and the ceasefire be a wet dream."

"You want me to cancel this or that?"

"No, just tell Gehenna about our exercise. Let them watch." Maki grinned. "At the very least, I get to flex Trinity's power on them~"

"We are making peace, not tension."

"Honestly, it's for the best. I get to flex on them, you get to solidify your position in Trinity and we get to sate the rivalry. Gehenna isn't going to be hot over this issue since we are doing it every year, and they also done the same thing towards us. If anything, this is the best moment we have now. It's now or never, especially when the intels are still fresh."

This whole plan was ridiculous, but sound indeed. Nagisa sighed heavily, grimaced a bit before putting her hand over the pile of papers.

"I will consider it. For now, just start planning the operation properly. Any changes, I will tell you."

"Happy to hear that~ Alright, now with all the serious stuff gone, we can—"

"I hope you are not forgetting about the works we have."

Naomi reminded, and Mika's face changed from the cheerful to dreadful.

"Eh~ It been some time since I last hang out with Nagisa-chan! Just let me have this moment!"

"Maybe tomorrow, Mika. We can talk more after this."

"… If you say so…"

Sounding like a kid who don't want to go to bed yet, Mika slowly raised from her seat before being escorted out by Naomi.

Few pleasantries followed before Mika waved, "Bye bye~".

Nagisa waved back before seeing her childhood friend disappeared behind the closing doors. Silence returned as the guards cleaned the empty cups and plates. Messages long delayed were relayed upon as Nagisa listened. With all that past, her attention returned to the papers Mika had entrusted onto her. Reviewing it, she still found it a bit terrifying. From how much Arius had hated Trinity to how much they intended to exert their revenge.

Now, everything will be dependent on the ceasefire, once more, and the actions of a particular betrayer.

"For all the name you choose, you called it Operation Judas Retrieval…"

It just like her after all. Her thought of her childhood friend was still the same after all, even after the whole incident.

A naïve selfish lady, yet strong, bold and charismatic as she went.

[Author Note]

Just a banter and something I wrote in speed time, yet it achieved over 4000 words and the longest conversation I ever wrote. This is indeed, the second chapter and hopefully, the chapter that set the stage of this particular story, of what it will be and what brings. I still intend to write this as a pilot series, with different point of views and loosely connected, but yeah, I sort of love Mika.

Hifumi still best MC though.

Anyway, thanks for reading it and hope you enjoy this.

Signing off.