Lesson 6: Tea Party with Sweets

The Tea Party's escorts efficiently emptied out the massive Club Hall building of any stragglers still engaged in afternoon club activities. They then proceeded to commandeer the Performing Arts Club's room at gun point, removing wide-eyed girls in the middle of practice while simultaneously bringing in a long table, chairs, food carts, and all manner of trays and stands laden with sweets, and teacups and teapots. White uniforms with black ribbons fluttered in a dizzying flurry of well-drilled motion and the abruptly vacated Performing Arts Club room was transformed into a private tea parlor, filled with the aroma of freshly brewed tea and warm sweets.

Having completed the club room's metamorphosis, the three dozen escorts filed out to patrol and to guard the door and the halls leaving the room to the Tea Party, their attendants, and their guests. Three Student Council Presidents sat on one side of the table, attendants an inobtrusive distance behind, while the nervous After-School Sweets Club, one embarrassed Vigilante Crew member and two representatives of SCHALE sat on the other side.

"Um…" Ayumu was the first to timidly speak up once the whirlwind of activity had subsided. "Isn't this a bit much? A fight didn't even break out and-"

"Truthfully, you are another issue that we had been hoping to address," Kirifuji Nagisa interrupted Ayumu before she could finish her sentence causing the blonde girl to let out a very undignified squeak. "We received news of a GSC officer on Trinity grounds from several student sources and yet imagine my surprise upon finding no notification of a visit. Vice-President Nanagami runs a very lax ship, it seems."

"E-eh? B-but how? I sent it this morning!" Ayumu's teeth audibly chattered as she instantly dropped her line of questioning and switched into panic mode. "I- I'm here as an assistant to SCHALE. I'm not trespassing! I'm not! I went through the proper channels!"

"Ah!"

All eyes turned to Mika as she brought down one fist into her open palm.

"I forgot to give you the notification," the pink-haired girl said sheepishly while lightly knocking the side of her head with a fist and sticking her tongue out. "Sorry, Nagi-chan."

Ayumu sighed the explosive sigh of relief of someone who had barely remained on their mortal coil while Nagisa sighed the long-suffering sigh of someone still miserably stuck to theirs. The ash-blonde girl took a drink from her teacup before sighing one final time and offering Ayumu a weak and apologetic smile. "Well, that's one issue taken care of, at least. My apologies, Miss…?"

"Ah! Ayumu! Iwabitsu Ayumu," she replied easily, a tentative smile on her face. "As I said, I'm here as an assistant to SCHALE. Sensei isn't from Kivotos and Rin didn't want the person who restored Sanctum Tower getting lost in Trinity for her first assignment." The blonde giggled at that, but the girl in question showed no response at all to her lightly teasing words. Ayumu seemed disappointed at the lack of response.

"We have heard Mika's report on SCHALE," Nagisa nodded agreeably, although there was subtle hard edge to her tone. On her left, Mika laughed nervously and fanned herself with a hand. "Someone from outside Kivotos, and our own age besides, is certainly rather unexpected. Seia in particular was very interested in learning more."

The diminutive blonde girl with the large vulpine ears nodded in acknowledgement of Nagisa's words. She did not, however, speak up, seemingly more interested in her tea. Nagisa took her co-president's silence as a sign to continue.

"It was quite fortunate that a member of the Tea Party was present at the time that the President's Sensei finally arrived. If it's not too much trouble, Seia would like to chat with Sensei once this matter," she punctuated the words with a sharp glare at the remaining five, "is dealt with."

The recipients of the glare gulped nervously at those words. Obeying an unspoken command, Nagisa's assistant stepped forward and handed her a clipboard with a stack of documents on it. A small thank you was spoken, and the assistant silently stepped back with a short bow and soft smile.

"While Ms. Iwabitsu's words are correct and a fight did not break out this day," Nagisa began as she paged through the documents in her hand, "it has come to the Tea Party's attention that one of the students of our Trinity has, for the past few months, engaged in thuggish, violent, and most unbecoming behavior."

The instant that Nagisa finished speaking, Uzawa Reisa slammed her palms into the table causing dishes and teapots to tremble and rattle in place.

"Cath Palug, you fiend!" she yelled, her violet eyes blazing as she instantly forgot about her location and in whose company she was present. "What monstrous misdeeds has your boundless evil wrought this time? Bullying? Brawling? Extortion? LOITERING?!"

"I did none of that, you stalker!" the cat-eared girl snapped back with a glare.

"Don't yell at my club-member like that, pipsqueak!"

"That's right! You shouldn't-"

"Enough," Nagisa did not raise her voice as she cut off whatever Airi intended to say, but her single word was enough to cut through the chatter. Flaring tempers froze over in the blink of an eye as the quarreling girls were reminded they were in the presence of the highest authorities in their school. "Commendable enthusiasm aside, it's not Kyoyama Kazusa who I was referring to. It is yourself, Uzawa Reisa."

"What? I don't understand," the girl asked in a small voice as she seemed to shrink on herself, wilting under the gaze of the Tea Party's host.

"A member of the Vigilante Crew, identified as Uzawa Reisa, was seen bullying and chasing after a member of the After-School Sweets Club, identified as Kyoyama Kazusa. Seven reported instances." The Trinity Student Council President flipped a few pages. "The same Vigilante Crew member was seen throwing objects at Ms. Kyoyama as well as firing at her, even in crowds. Twelve reported instances." More pages flipped. "Ten reported instances of Uzawa Reisa shouting threats of bodily harm at Ms. Kyoyama." Flip. "A girl in a Vigilante Crew uniform, later identified as Uzawa Reisa, was seen loitering outside a bakery in a suspicious manner. One instance."

The makeshift tea parlor was completely silent as the Tea Party's host put the documents aside and gave the confused and cowering girl in front of her a flat and even look. Nagisa's gaze did not waver, and she did not sigh but her body language clearly spoke of immense disappointment.

"Ms. Uzawa, the Tea Party would like to hear what you have to say in your defense."

"I- I don't understand," the accused's voice trembled. "Ca-Cath Palug is-"

"Forgive the interruption, Ms. Uzawa," Nagisa coldly cut off the stammering girl, "but Ms. Kyoyama's middle-school history has no bearing on Trinity General School. She has been nothing short of an exemplary student with zero complaints, well regarded club activities, and good to great academic and martial scores during her time at our Trinity. Please consider your next words very carefully."

Reisa's mouth opened and closed like a fish, but no words crossed her lips.

"Wait, Ms. Host," Ayumu spoke up, concern evident in her voice. "What are you implying?"

Kirifuji Nagisa's expression turned very weary before responding. "As you are probably aware, Trinity's Vigilante Crew is not an official club. It is a group of volunteers. As the name implies, it is not recognized by the General Student Council nor by the Tea Party as an organization meant to enforce school rules. Its activities, therefore, are subject to the same rules as any regular student. The same rules," she paused before continuing, "and the same punishments."

The words sank in slowly and the gathered girls gasped in unison as they all jumped to the same conclusion.

"You're going to expel Reisa?!" Kazusa asked angrily.

"Well, I-"

"You can't!" the cat-eared girl said, her features twisting into a snarl. "Reisa is an annoying dumb ass, but she doesn't deserve this!"

"Ms. Kyoyama, I-"

"No, you don't understand! This is all my fault! Whenever Reisa showed up, I always bolted and never stuck around to talk things over! I never cleared up the air between us!" The snarl had shifted into a forlorn expression and her eyes had begun to shimmer. Kazusa rubbed angrily at her face and eyes with the sleeves of her hoody. "I had just asked SCHALE for advice on how to resolve this mess. You can't do this!"

The After-School Sweets club could do nothing while looking upon their friend, while Reisa regarded Kazusa as if truly seeing her for the first time. Nagisa shook her head, and a wan smile crossed her lips as she turned to face the silent blue-haired girl impassively watching events unfold.

"Considering that the organization you represent has embedded itself in the middle of this situation, what does SCHALE's Sensei think?"

The girl blinked and silently considered her words for a moment before speaking up.

"I believe that they are friends," Rei responded simply.

A stunned silence followed, but only for a second.

"SHE'S NOT MY FRIEND!" two girls shouted simultaneously.

"She's loud, she's annoying, she's violent, she's a stalker," Kazusa listed off.

"She's the one delinquent I could never defeat in middle-school, the feral beast that can freeze your blood with a single glare, the living cautionary tale: CATH PALUG!"

"She gives me stupid nicknames," Kazusa continued.

"Friends are loud and bicker constantly," Rei finished her interrupted train of thought. Mika covered her mouth and clutched at her stomach as she shook with barely repressed laughter while Nagisa shook her head once more and turned to Seia on her right.

"Seia, as the incoming host of the Tea Party, would you like to pronounce yourself on this matter?"

Yurizono Seia nodded and fixed Reisa with severe glare that was incongruous with her childish features.

"Do you promise to stop attacking Kyoyama Kazusa and not cause any further disturbances at our Trinity?"

"I PROMISE!" Reisa shot up to attention, standing ramrod straight and shouting loudly. She bowed from the waist and smashed her face into the table with such force that all the dishes jumped and rattled once again, and Reisa was instantly knocked flat on her butt. "Oof!"

"Issue resolved," Seia declared solemnly.

"Exemplary work as always, Seia. You are truly the pride of our Tea Party."

"Naaagiiii-chaaaan, what about meeeee?"

Nagisa ignored her. "For the record, before Ms. Kyoyama so gallantly interrupted me in defense of her friend," two girls once again shouted that they were NOT friends, "I was going to suggest a sentence of community service. What's a few bullets between friends, am I correct?"

"So, that's another issue resolved?" Ayumu questioned as she nibbled on a cookie. A few steps behind, Kazusa and Airi were helping the disoriented Reisa back to her feet.

"Being perfectly honest, you and Ms. Uzawa were minor issues we decided could be addressed together while we showed Sensei our Tea Party's hospitality and arranged for the conversation that Seia desired. I didn't, however, account for Ms. Kyoyama's dramatic interruption," Nagisa said ruefully. "By the way, I recommend the lemon tart for this particular black tea."

Having returned to their seats, Kazusa and Reisa continued their arguing without missing a beat, even between cake rolls and drinks of their tea.

"I don't get it. I thought they hated each other?" Yoshimi asked, clearly confused.

"You'll understand when you're older, Yoshimi," Natsu nodded sagely.

"We're the same age!"

Natsu just laughed at her.

"What does it feel like?" Yurizono Seia asked gravely.

Ayanami Rei blinked and tilted her head slightly in confusion.

The two girls had retired to another empty club room, opting to have their promised conversation in private. Ayumu had initially protested at leaving her charge alone, but eventually relented at Seia's insistence and promise that they would only move one room down. They sat by themselves now in an untouched club room, the sound of rowdy girls coming from the room beside them. They could hear Mika and Nagisa saying their farewells as they departed.

"What does it feel like to die?" the golden-eyed girl clarified.

Rei tensed, and her lips narrowed into a thin line as she looked away from the piercing golden gaze.

"I do not understand the question," Rei replied mechanically, using the words she had memorized. In the room next door, someone laughed.

"The expected response," Seia answered just as mechanically, as if reading from a script. She sighed and went off script. "I had hoped privacy would loosen your tongue, but it appears to have been in vain." She shook her head, and a hint of desperation entered her eyes and her voice as she tried again. "Please, I… I have to know. I don't think I can do this otherwise… I must know…"

The halo-less girl did not reply, her gaze downcast and focused on her lap.

Yurizono Seia's childish face twisted into a grimace of sorrow as she returned to the words she had to say.

"If you follow down that path, only pain awaits you."

"I do not fear pain."

"Yes, you do not. A remarkable trait for one without a halo," Seia recited, her ornate cross-shaped halo floating behind her. She leaned forward slightly. "And yet, you fear death."

The younger girl averted her gaze once again.

"I… cannot be replaced."

"None of us can. We are each a singular existence, a fleeting and miserable life. It is all ultimately gloomy, sad, painful, and bitter..." Seia stood up and headed silently for the door. She was done.

"No."

The vulpine-eared girl froze and turned around. This was different from her dream. In the room next door, more farewells were shared.

"It is not bitter," Rei spoke softly, haltingly, and carefully as words unfamiliar to her lips tumbled out. Her eyes were fixed on the teacup she had brought with her. "All you need is sugar and milk."

Seia blinked in confusion. Then she smiled. Then she giggled. Finally, she laughed merrily, a bright and bell-like sound. She laughed until tears formed in the corner of her eyes.

"You have given me something better than an answer to my question," she gasped in between laughs. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

Seia's laughter petered out, but a soft smile remained.

"Then, Sensei, I leave you with a gift in return for what you have given me," Seia said as she turned around curtsied, slightly lifting the corners of her skirt. "Vanitas Vanitatum. This is what you must oppose with all of your might."

Ayanami Rei blinked and tilted her head slightly in confusion once again.

"I do not understand."

"You will," Seia opened the door and stepped outside. "I look forward to our next meeting, in whichever world that might be. I bid you farewell!"

Rei was left alone by herself, wondering what was so funny that she had said.

"Geez, Nagi-chan! You always make things more complicated than they have to be!"

"I was being efficient, Mika. Our schedules are barely manageable right now and will only get more packed as the year progresses. You know this," Nagisa defended herself from Mika's words as they crossed the gate leading to the Tea Party's private dorms. Having finished the impromptu tea party, they separated from the others to retire for the night.

"But did we really need to commandeer the entire Club Hall? The Performing Arts Club looked scared out of their minds!"

"It was preferable to marching minor offenders through campus at a crowded hour and further announcing the presence of SCHALE at Trinity," the Tea Party's host replied again, sounding increasingly weary. "As things stand now, any rumors will be about the Tea Party doing something outrageous rather than the Federal Investigation Club arriving on campus barely a day after Sanctum Tower was restored."

"Sheesh! Always scheming and plotting! This is why you don't have any friends!" the pink-haired co-president said as she turned around and stuck her tongue at Nagisa as they entered the manor that was the shared residence of the Tea Party. "Actually, do you even have any friends besides Seia-tan and me?"

The ash-blonde spluttered inelegantly, taken by surprise by Mika's sudden verbal jab. Even her wings twitched as she tried to gather her wits before replying. "Of course, I do! I have many friends! I'm friends with my secretary!"

"Not Tea Party related. Wait, scratch that, what's her name?"

"What?"

"Your assistant, Nagi-chan. What's her name?"

"It's, uh…" Mika smiled as her childhood friend suddenly lost all her facades, and barriers, and heavy responsibilities, and become the girl she remembered. "Shi-shi-shi…"

"Shi-shi-shi?" the pink-haired girl taunted in a sing-song voice as she danced up the steps leading to their rooms. "Nagi-chan, are you trying to curse me?"

"Shimako!"

"Oh, wow, you actually got it in one. As expected of Nagi-chan!" Mika clapped briefly before attacking again. "When's her birthday?"

Nagisa froze like a deer in the headlights.

"Hah! See what I mean?" Mika pumped her fist in victory as she taunted Nagisa once again. Despite her small victory, however, she did not relent and pressed her advantage. "Oh! Wait! When's my birthday?"

"The 8th of May," Nagisa responded dismissively and without hesitation, derailing Mika's momentum. She smiled softly at her friend. "You're too reckless by far, Mika."

"Nice one, Nagi-chan! My feelings remain unhurt!"

They arrived at the hallway that their rooms were located in. Each stood before their own door but did not enter yet as words still unsaid hung expectantly between them.

"Don't you wish these days would last forever, Nagi-chan? Just the three of us together, having fun at school every day."

Nagisa sighed and shook her head, her hand on the doorknob leading to her room. "They won't last forever, Mika. Wishing won't change that. We're seniors. That's why we must act quickly, for the sake of our juniors and the school."

Mika twitched, her shoulders tensed, and her hands clenched into fists, but Nagisa did not notice as they were not facing each other.

"Ah. You don't mean…?" Mika asked tentatively.

"Yes. The Eden Treaty's groundwork must be laid before I hand the host's seat to Seia. There's a lot of work to be done, Mika. I'll be counting on you."

A nervous laugh rang through the empty hallway. "Oh geez, Nagi-chan. You know I've never been good at that politics stuff or that thinking stuff…" Mika's voice trailed off miserably.

"We can but do our best, Mika."

"Yeah, I guess so. If nothing else, I'm number one at having your back!"

The two girls shared a small laugh as they opened their separate doors.

"Good night, Mika."

"Good night, Nagi-chan."

The two girls separated then, and two opposing doors clicked shut.

Lesson 6: End

What did we learn today, class?

Yes, that's correct!

Citrusy sweets go well with black tea! Apparently!

Join us again next time for Lesson 7: Perchance to dream. We'll have: Living Arrangements! Dream sequences! And the beginning of something new! For real this time!

Don't be late!

AN: Prompts for this chapter had to be cut and shuffled off to the next chapter as it was getting too long for my tastes. "Sweet Secrets and Shootouts" is mostly over, though. It'll wrap up completely in the next chapter and, this time for sure, we'll start with "canon". I hope you enjoyed this detour. - Kero