Something should always remain buried
Disclaimer: I do not own Blue Archive; all characters belong to their original creators.
Chapter 7: Can I become an Angel like you?
It's been a day since the showing of the records found in that forsaken lab. On the surface, everything seems to be fine in Kivotos. Shops are still opening, classes are still going, and students are still minding their business. However, beneath that calm visage, is a sense of confusion so large that it encompasses almost every citizen of Kivotos, from low-life thugs to high-standing ladies.
Beneath the sun, a girl with pink hair and yellow eyes is currently walking on the campus of Trinity General School; her smiling face hides whatever goals she is aiming for in her mind. The girl eventually reaches her destination and is greeted by a nun with long silver hair and pink eyes.
"Ah, Misono-san, what brings you to the Sisterhood today? Does the Tea Party need help from us?"
"Don't worry, Utazumi-san. I'm just here for my selfish reason. I heard that the Sisterhood has old religious scripts that can't be found in the Library, so I want to visit you guys."
Realizing Misono Mika's intention, a frown appears on Utazumi Sakurako's face and she sighs. However, Mika knows that those actions are anything but signs of annoyance.
"As the Sisterhood, we don't intend to hide God's teachings to the public. That's why, I suggest you go to the old Library if you want to know more about His' angels. I will ask Sister Hinata to accompany us. Kozeki-san is more comfortable around her after all."
"Thank you, Utazumi-san," Mika slightly bows as she sees Sakurako leave.
As Sakurako returns with Wakaba Hinata, the trio walks together silently toward the old Library. Hinata already knows of Mika's intention, so out of respect for her pink-haired companion, she will keep her thoughts to her own this time.
The group now stands before the door leading to the old Library. After hearing the knocks from outside the Library, a timid girl shows a slither of her face behind the slightly open door. "Hello, this is Kozeki Ui, who is this?"
"It's Hinata. Can you please open the door?"
"Okay, I'm opening it right now. What do you need-" As Ui opens the door, she sees that besides Hinata are also the Sisterhood leader and a Tea Party member. "Sa... Sa... Kurako and Mi... Mi... sono Mi... Mika?" Ui suddenly enters panic mode and turns her back on the trio, ready to run away, but she is caught by Hinata instead. "Have you finally shown your true color, Sakurako? Are you here to imprison and torture me with the help of the Tea Party?" Ui accuses Sakurako while flailing around in Hinata's grasp. "I know you are under her control, Hinata, but you must fight back."
Seeing Ui's antics, Mika cannot hold her laughter anymore while Sakurako only sighs in defeat. "I told you before, but nobody here is going to torture or imprison you. Misono-san only needs to use the Library for a bit. I'm only here to accompany her."
"That is true, Ui. We only need your help here, so please calm down." Hinata says with a panicked voice.
Hearing everyone's reasons, Ui can only calm down and cave into their persuasion. "I promised Sensei I would become a better person, and Hinata is also here too... I'll let you in, but if you do anything suspicious, I'll run away and lock you in here," Ui confesses as Hinata frees her.
Stepping inside, Mika cannot hold her excitement anymore. "I've heard many rumors about the grand Library of our school in the past, but I've never been here to see for myself. This Library is sure precedes its reputation," Mika says as she looks around, admiring the lines of bookshelves stretching up to the roof of the Library.
"Th... Thank you, Misono-san, but I heard you wanted to use the Library."
"Ah, my bad. Could you recommend me any book about... a certain angel named Michael?"
"Let's see, Michael... Michael... I know just one thing," after pondering, Ui takes a stair and climbs up to a bookshelf before rummaging through it.
When she climbs down, she hands over a book to Mika. "Chapter 3, page 50. Please keep quiet in the Library."
"Thank you, Kozeki-san. I will."
As Mika reads the book, Ui proceeds towards Hinata. "Do you need anything, Hinata? If you need any book, I'll help you find it."
"Thank you for your consideration, but I'm good right now, Ui-san. I'm only accompanying Misono-san to the Library."
"If you need anything, you can find me at my table." Ui retreats to her table with a book in her hands.
With nothing to do right now, Hinata looks around for Sakurako and spots her near the exit.
"Can we talk for a moment, Sister Sakurako?" Hinata whispers.
Receiving a nod from Sakurako, both exit the Library and stand next to the entrance.
"Do you think Misono-san will be fine by herself in there?"
"It's hard to say, Sister Hinata. The revelation yesterday... didn't have too much of a positive impact on the student populace of Kivotos."
"Did it... bother you?"
"I... I don't know Sister Hinata," Sakurako puts her right hand on her chest. "I could not bring myself to believe that inside each Trinity student is a part of His Holiness, that our ancestors were His Angels."
Then, a small smile appears on Sakurako's face. "However, I also think that it doesn't matter at this point anymore. I cannot say this for other students, but my childhood memories were those of joy and happiness with my family and friends. Without them, I wouldn't be who I am today. We have a beautiful city to call home and a Sensei who cares about us. The past is just the past now, there're no benefits in dwelling on it too much. If things come to worse, I can help Misono-san realize this fact."
Then, Sakurako feels 2 warm objects on her back and chest as she realizes that Hinata is now gently embracing her. "Sister Hinata. This may be a bit embarrassing to do in public."
"Thank you, Sakurako-san," said Hinata.
As Hinata separates herself from Sakurako, the door to the Library opens, and Mika walks out.
"Misono-san?"
"Thank you for guiding me to the Library, Sisters. I think I can walk myself to my dorm now," said Mika with a smile as she left the other two behind.
As Hinata stretches her hand out, she feels a hand on her right shoulder. "Let her be, Sister Hinata. She needs time to sort things out by herself." Then Sakurako shouts. "If you need us, the Sisterhood's doors are always open for you."
Mika stops in her tracks for a while. "Thank you," before moving again.
Misono Mika's POV
I take off my uniform and sit on the bed as I enter my dorm room.
I have never liked my current dorm room. It's quiet, dirty, and doesn't even receive regular maintenance. However, I have enough time to reflect on my actions in this tranquility.
I remember watching that video on the Kronos News Channel with Seia-chan and Nagi-chan. I've never been interested in news, but "If it can improve our friendship, then maybe it doesn't hurt to watch with them."
That's what I thought at the start; just take it at face value; no need to overthink it. In the end, my simple way of thinking once again gave me a slap to the face.
When I saw that yellow-haired girl, something in me resonated. A sense of longing and regret washed over me, like meeting a close relative I hadn't talked to in ages. The shape of her Halo, her gaze, and even her sitting position were like splitting images of me. Even Nagi-chan and Seia-chan were surprised by her as they looked at me in unison.
"Mika-san, are you okay?" asked Nagi-chan.
"If you are uncomfortable, we can save the show to watch another day," offered Seia-chan
"I'm fine. We shouldn't stop the show just for this coincidence, guys; keep watching."
Nagi-chan and Seia-chan trusted my answers and continued watching. However, I was not fine, not fine at all, but I didn't want to make my best friends worried and ruined this gathering.
I continued to watch the video with them, going through every absurd thing that come from that blonde winged man. It was so absurd that even the guards standing in front of the door to the Tea Party room start whispering among themselves.
"Despite mentally prepared, it would be a lie to say that I'm not taken back by this information," commented Nagi-chan as she sipped her tea with an aloof face.
Seia-chan didn't say anything and kept her thought to herself. Only now, I can notice that when that winged man appeared on screen, Seia-chan wore the same expression that I did when I saw that blonde girl.
"This Core, specifically, is forged from a part of Archangel Michael."
After all that explanation about Divine Cores from that winged man, only that last sentence stuck with me.
Of course, as a former member of the Tea Party, I consider myself to be well-versed in my school's religious background. The Angel who aided God in fighting back against the Archenemy. The Angel who was beloved by many people. The Angel was considered one of the greatest to ever live.
But His daughter is just a witch.
However, I was still unsure of myself, so I visited the Sisterhood, hoping to find something indicating he was not as perfect as the textbook said.
I wanted to know if I could be like Him.
In the end, the book was useless, it only told me what I've already known with extra nuances. After returning the book and showing my appreciation to Ui-san, I approached the door and readied to leave. But a sentence stopped me in my tracks.
"The past is just the past now. There're no benefits in dwelling on it too much."
Sitting on my bed, I close my eyes and recall my actions again. This time, not only my wrongdoings, but other memories also occupy my head. I remember the first time I met Nagi-chan and Seia-chan. I remember when we first became best friends. I remember my mistakes in the Eden Treaty. I remember Sensei, who has always been there for me even when I'm at my lowest. Finally, I remember those who supported me and still wanted to be my friend despite my sins.
Sakurako is right. There's no need to dwell on the past too much. In the end, I still have people who will accept me for who I am and guide me to a better future.
Note: I wanted to make this chapter longer by adding the perspectives of other characters, but I was afraid that it would make this chapter look like an all you can eat buffet with a bunch of major emotions blend together.