It was another sunny day in Trinity. Many students were walking around the campus. Quite a few students were wearing the Justice Task Force's signature uniform and patrolling the campus, making sure that everything was in order. Some were in a hurry because they were running late for their next class. Others were leisurely talking with their friends. And finally, there were some that were alone as they minded their own business.
One of the latter types of students was Morizuki Suzumi, or as some would call her, the "Running Flash Grenade of Trinity", who was immersed in her own world as she listened to music with her headphones.
She was currently on her way out of the campus to do her daily patrol as a member of the Vigilante Crew when she saw the familiar auburn hair of SCHALE's Sensei in front of Trinity's main gate. Seeing as he had just finished talking to a short black-haired member of the JTF carrying a sniper rifle, who left after Sensei handed her a box, she decided to greet him after storing her headphones in her bag.
"Sensei!" Suzumi called out.
"Oh, Suzumi!" Sensei waved with his left hand. "It's been a while since I last saw you."
Suzumi noted the contrast with his gloveless right hand to that of his left hand that was wearing a white glove as she approached him, but saw no need to inquire about it further as she instead reminisced about the time she helped him retake SCHALE's building.
It had been some time since the chaos in D.U. and how she, along with the JTF's Vice-President Hasumi, Millennium's Treasurer Yuuka, and the Prefect Team's Chinatsu helped Sensei in retaking SCHALE's building. It was hard to forget that day, especially with the stunt that Sensei did at the end to destroy the tanks.
"Who were you talking to just now, Sensei?" Suzumi asked once she reached Sensei.
"That was Mashiro. Hasumi's junior in the Justice Task Force," Sensei asked. "We had gotten a little engrossed in our conversation before she remembered she needed to do something and left."
"Ahhh, I see."
"Oh yes, along the way I met a Vigilante Crew friend of yours called Reisa," Sensei said.
"She didn't cause you any trouble, did she?"
"On the contrary, she assisted me in subduing a couple of delinquents causing chaos in the district," Sensei said with a smile. "A bundle of sunshine that that one was."
"I'm glad you've taken a liking to her. Reisa's over-enthusiasm sometimes puts her at odds with others," Suzumi said with an equally warm smile. "What brings you to Trinity, Sensei? And what are those?"
Suzumi noted the plastic bag containing a stack of five small boxes that Sensei was carrying.
"Ah, these are some sweets that I made and was planning to give during my meeting with the Tea Party." Sensei pulled out one of the boxes from the bag and offered it to Suzumi. "I think I made too many so I'll give this to you instead."
"You don't have to, Sensei." Suzumi tried to turn down Sensei's gift.
"Please, I insist. Besides, I already gave one to Mashiro earlier," Sensei said with a smile. "I was also planning on giving one to Reisa as thanks, but she left in a hurry before I could give it to her."
"I see, then I thank you on behalf of my junior," Suzumi said as she received the box, planning to eat it later with Reisa. "By the way, Sensei. Do you know the way to the Tea Party's building?"
"I have been to Trinity a few times now, but I've never actually been there."
"Then how about I guide you there? We can talk about the different sights and landmarks of the campus while we're on it," Suzumi said. "This way I can thank you for the box of sweets just now."
"Wouldn't that be a bother to you?" Sensei asked. "You still have a patrol to do, right?"
"On the contrary," Suzumi started, "while the Vigilante Crew exists primarily to combat attacks from students of other academies, we also lend our hand to those that are in need of help. And as a student of Trinity, it would be an honor to guide the esteemed Sensei of SCHALE during his first visit to my academy."
"It's a little embarrassing if you put it that way but—" Sensei said as he bowed. "I'll be in your care."
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Suzumi guided Sensei throughout the campus, showing him what Trinity had to offer. A few students sent curious glances to Sensei, likely due to how rare it was to see an adult like him in Kivotos. Some even seemed to recognize him as the Sensei of SCHALE as they greeted him before they went on their way.
"Sensei, I hope to be able to try your cooking one of these days!" One of the students said as she promised to visit his restaurant in the future.
"It seems you're making a name for yourself, Sensei," Suzumi said with a smile.
Sensei scratched the back of his head with a wry chuckle. "That wasn't my intention, but I guess it just comes with the job."
"I don't think it's a bad thing," Suzumi said. "It just goes to show that people appreciate what you do."
After that, they started talking about various different topics, like their various hobbies. Their topic eventually drifted to tea-related topics.
"Speaking of tea…Suzumi, do you know why Trinity's Student Council is called 'Tea Party'?" Sensei asked.
"Broadly speaking, it was due to the fact that prior to the unification of the different schools that eventually formed Trinity, the three factions that now form the current Tea Party, that is Pater, Filius, and Sanctus, used to conduct a tea party to settle disputes between each other," Suzumi said. "Perhaps someone in the Tea Party would better explain it to you."
"Guess that would be another good topic to talk about later," Sensei nodded as they continued the tour. They passed by various different buildings, where Suzumi explained what each building's purpose was.
"Over there is Trinity's Library," Suzumi said as she pointed at the biggest building on the west. "Did you Sensei? Trinity boasts of having the largest library in the entirety of Kivotos. The smaller building beside it is the old Trinity Library. No one really uses it anymore, but if there are older books that you can't find in the main library, chances are the old library has it."
"Is that so?" Sensei said as he stood in place with a curious look as a crowd of students passed by them. "I've been meaning to visit for some time, but couldn't due to my schedule. Perhaps after I've concluded my business with the Tea Party."
"Do you like reading, Sensei?"
"I do read a lot, but it was always either to study something or for work, and not for leisure," Sensei admitted as he cupped his chin. "Though between liking or disliking it, I guess I like it. I did have quite the collection of cookbooks back home, now that I think about it."
"Then all the more reason to visit the library, then! I'm sure they have quite the collection of recipes," Suzumi said as she directed Sensei's attention to the building on the east.
"Trinity's famous Cathedral," Sensei said as he noted the students wearing a black tunic with a nun's habit that were walking here and there before he turned his attention to the weathering on the stone bricks. "Looking at it from here, one can really tell that it has been around for a long time."
"You're right, Sensei!" Suzumi said with a smile. "You seem to be familiar with what it's for."
"It's a place for worship similar to a temple," Sensei replied. "Based on its architecture, it's similar to a religion called Christianity from where I came from. There are some differences based on what Mari told me in the past, though I've yet to ask her of the particulars. Ah, Mari is a member of the Sisterhood that I've come to know."
"Iochi Mari, yes. I've heard a little about her," Suzumi said. "If you want, we can try looking for her, or another sister to inquire about it."
"It would be rather rude to make the Tea Party wait for me," Sensei said. "Perhaps another time."
"Speaking of the Tea Party, your destination would be in—" Suzumi cut off her words as she stood in place with her eyes wide open. Her heart started beating faster as she processed what she had just seen at the edge of her vision.
There's no way…!
She quickly looked at the crowd of students that passed them just now, trying to find one particular student. She noticed a white haired girl with equally white wings and was about to call out to her—
"Suzumi, is something wrong?" Sensei asked in concern as he glanced at the group of students that just passed by.
Suzumi looked at the crowd of students one last time before she slowly shook her head. "No, it's nothing, Sensei."
"Are you sure?" Sensei wasn't fully convinced. "You can tell me anything."
"It's alright. I must have seen it wrong, so let's move on," Suzumi said to reassure him.
Seeing as Suzumi dropped the issue, Sensei decided not to pry any more as they went on their way.
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As Sensei and Suzumi were walking away, they didn't notice the white haired girl with equally white wings turn her gaze in their direction. In lieu of Trinity's school logo, her uniform instead had the emblem of a skull and what looked to be a rose.
"That girl called the adult beside her 'Sensei'…" The white haired girl muttered. "Could he be…?"
The girl took a step forward before she stopped as she noticed a scuffle a bit further in one of the secluded areas in the campus. She was torn between chasing after Sensei and Suzumi or checking what was happening in the secluded area.
"No, now's not the right time," the girl muttered before she shook her head as she walked towards the secluded area while pulling out her gas mask.