It started the same as any other morning for Misono Mika.
After she woke up, she went about doing her normal routine of taking a long bath, having breakfast, styling her pink hair, and applying make-up.
Though this time her usual routine was interrupted by a knock on her door.
"Come in~!" Mika said as the door opened and a member of the Pater faction stepped inside.
"Good day, Miss Mika," the student curtsied a little. "I apologize for the interruption, but a few letters have arrived that were addressed to you. As you have instructed, any letter with you as the recipient is to be handed over to you as soon as possible."
"Do you know who sent it?" Mika asked as she applied a light-pink lipstick.
"Most of them are signed with the names of students as usual. There was one that stood out for only having the initials J.S. on the envelope."
"Ah—" Mika's hand slipped, forcing her to start from the beginning.
"Is everything alright, Miss?"
"Everything is A-OK~!" Mika reassured the student as she finished applying the lipstick. "Just leave the letters next to me and I'll read them after this."
After that, Mika dismissed the student, who left after another curtsy. Mika decided to read the letter after she finished her make-up, though she ended up taking a bit longer than usual as a result of messing up a few times.
"Thankfully my class doesn't start until later~!" Mika said with a giggle as she finally picked up one of the envelopes. She quickly read each one of them, with the contents mostly being platitudes and invitations to tea parties.
As much as she would like to accept the invitations to some of them, she would have to have someone write a reply to each of them to turn them down. The reason for that is due to the peculiar letter that she saved for last.
Her bright smile flattened as she read the contents of the final letter. J.S. stood for Joumae Saori, a student of Arius Satellite School. She gave Mika an update regarding Arius' preparations to help her with her plan, which was left unsaid in the letter.
Said plan was about helping Mika's coup to gain the position of Tea Party's host.
Of course Mika did have a good reason to plan a coup. Her goal was to stop the Eden Treaty which was getting in the way of her plan to unify Trinity and Arius. After that, they would use their combined might to destroy their rival school, Gehenna.
With Mika leading the charge of the combined Trinity and Arius coalition, even the infamous Head Prefect would not be able to stop them.
Was she supposed to feel guilt for planning to betray her childhood friend? What for? Mika merely wanted her out of the way so she could enact her plans unopposed, and there was no way they would reach an understanding.
Like how Seia and her failed to reach an understanding, so she had to be removed.
Though it's not as if Mika was planning to orchestrate Nagisa's death. Seia's death was…necessary in her bid to take total control over Trinity. Nagisa's death wasn't.
Mika's make-up was ruined when water somehow found itself on her face.
"It sure is hot today! Maybe the air conditioner isn't working properly…? Guess I'll just have to reapply my make-up~!" Mika said cheerfully as she ignored the aching on her chest as she wiped the water off.
She wouldn't want her day to be ruined thanks to her mood. After all, the afternoon was a bit more special and another step to complete her plan.
The current host of the Tea Party—Nagisa—would be holding a tea party. This was when the leaders of the Pater, Filius, and Sanctus would convene and discuss the current state of affairs of Trinity. Mika, as the leader of Pater, would of course be in attendance.
The leader of Sanctus, on the other hand, wouldn't be able to come. Of course she wouldn't! No matter how much Mika wanted to, that's a silly notion after all! After all, how would someone who had passed be able to attend?
Mika quickly discarded the thought. Wouldn't want her mood being ruined, after all!
She wouldn't want to give a bad first impression, after all! Besides, someone special and very much alive was going to be in attendance!
Who, you might ask? The Sensei of SCHALE, Shirou-sensei of course!
This was why Mika made sure that she was at her best. Wouldn't want to leave a bad first impression if she wanted him to be her ally after all~!
…
…
…
Currently, Mika was waiting for his arrival along with Nagisa in the Tea Party's room, drinking tea and eating sweets to pass the time.
"Nagi, what kind of person do you think Sensei is?" Mika asked to try and break the silence. "Aside from his culinary skills, I mean. It's hard to miss that one after all~!"
"Based on a few sources I have, Sensei seems to be the type of person who will help anyone he sees that needs help," Nagisa said. "He also has a busy schedule, and there are rumors that he was also involved in overturning the problems in the Abydos district."
"Ah, you mean the matter regarding the oasis?" Mika said. "I kinda want to see it to be honest~ I think I remember a conversation on how legendary the Sand Festival was back in the day! Who was it that told us about it again…?"
"If I remember correctly, that particular topic was brought up by…Seia."
You shouldn't have mentioned Seia by name, Nagi. Now the mood's all weird! Mika's thoughts reflected how awkward the mood became. Seia was still a sore topic within the Tea Party. But it's not as if Mika could turn back time.
"So anyway!" Mika forcibly continued the conversation, ignoring Nagisa's faux pas. "About Sensei?"
"Ah, yes, about that…Why the sudden interest in Sensei's activities?" Nagisa said with a soft smile, one that Mika used to see more often from her friend, as she took a sip from her cup. "You should know about Sensei as well since you were the one who suggested I make him the Make-Up Work's Club's homeroom teacher."
"I don't know him as well as you think, Nagi~! This is also the first time I'm meeting, after all!" Mika admitted with a silly smile.
"Of course…Why did I expect otherwise?" Nagisa's smile faltered a little.
"I still want to hear your thoughts though~! It's not always that we get to meet due to our busy schedules, after all!"
"We're not even sure if he'd even accept my proposal," Nagisa said. "It'd be one thing if he owed the Tea Party a favor as I can leverage it to my advantage, but Sensei doesn't owe us such a thing."
"Still, it can't hurt to try," Mika reassured her childhood friend. "You yourself said that Sensei is known to help others. If you were to ask him, he might just accept, you know?...Well, not that I know him personally myself, but you never know, right?"
The words that left Mika's mouth just now was something that she would have wholeheartedly believed at one point, but now she knew that reality wasn't that convenient. With that said, part of the reason she made the suggestion that Nagisa ask SCHALE for help was because she was still her childhood friend, no matter how tenuous their current friendship was. Even if she was ultimately scheming behind her longtime friend's back, she still wanted to throw her a bone.
"A kind-hearted, dashing young man who would help anyone he sees in trouble…Sensei sounds like he would be quite the charming prince, wouldn't he?" Mika didn't intend to say the things she said just now, but she couldn't help it.
"You're still indulging in such childish fantasies, Mika…" Nagisa slowly shook her head with a forlorn smile. "With that said, Sensei was handpicked by the General Student Council President, so you may have a point."
"…Oooh, I haven't tried this one yet!" Mika pretended to turn her attention to the cake roll on the table, as she felt that her resolve would falter if she saw the expression on Nagisa's face at that moment.
Mika couldn't let that happen.
Otherwise, Seia would have died— Mika quickly shook her head, brushing off her thoughts just now as she ate a piece of the cake roll.
"Hmmm?" Nagisa raised an eyebrow at Mika's actions, but shrugged it off as her childhood friend acting silly as usual as she turned to the door. "He should be arriving any time soon now…"
…
Eventually, a knock was heard from the door, interrupting Nagisa and Mika's conversation. After Nagisa gave her permission, a Tea Party member entered as she ushered along an adult man wearing a white uniform with blue highlights. His left hand was wearing a glove that matched the color of his uniform.
Lastly, the SCHALE insignia on his uniform was unmistakable; this man was the Sensei of SCHALE.
Nagisa and Mika stood up to greet Sensei.
"Emiya Shirou, the Sensei of SCHALE," Sensei said. "Nice to meet you."
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sensei," Nagisa replied. "I'm Kirifuji Nagisa, the host of the Tea Party. And the girl next to me is Misono Mika, a fellow member of the Tea Party."
"The Pater Faction's head, yes," Sensei replied as he turned his attention to Mika before he looked around. "If I recall correctly, Trinity should have three Presidents…"
"Seia has a poor constitution so she's currently resting," Nagisa replied curtly.
"I understand."
He's really handsome… Mika thought as Nagisa and Sensei were exchanging words. Eventually, she said, "Wow~! I've heard rumors about your appearance, but you look even more handsome up close! I think I like you! By the way, what's with the glove? Is it some fashion statement?"
"Um...Thank you?" Sensei said with an awkward smile as he used his left hand to scratch his cheek. "And no, the glove is more of a cast that covers my entire arm to let it heal while letting me still use my arm after I overexerted it last time."
"I um…" Sensei's words took the enthusiasm out of Mika as it was replaced by one of guilt. "Sorry, Sensei. …I guess that was too insensitive of me, huh?"
Nagisa, who was about to call Mika out, stopped as she made a soft smile and instead turned her attention to Sensei. "Please excuse Mika's behavior, Sensei."
"I don't really mind. It's normal for her to be curious. Oh, these boxes of pastries are for you," Sensei said as he sat down on one of the empty chairs before handing a box to Nagisa and Mika respectively before placing the last one in front of him.
"Thank you, Sensei," Nagisa said with a smile as she and Mika opened their respective boxes.
"Wow~ It looks really good!" Mika was being truthful as she saw the assortment of sweets inside the box. She took a cupcake out and tried it—
Delicious! Those were Mika's thoughts as she remained still for a while, lost in the bliss of enjoying the pastry. Eventually, she returned to her senses.
"Sensei, let's go on a date~!"
Mostly.
"Mika, what are you saying?!" Nagisa was taken aback by her words.
"Nagi, someone like Sensei doesn't come often!" Mika exclaimed. "You get it, right?!"
Mika was definitely saying something she would be embarrassed about later, but her half-dazed state couldn't really care less at the moment.
"E-Even if that's the case, there's a time and place for these types of things! And you've only just met! Don't you think you're going too fast?"
The two of them exchanged words. Nagisa tried, and failed, to stop Mika from spouting ridiculous things. Eventually, Nagisa had enough and completely lost her composure as she shoved a roll cake in Mika's mouth.
"Ah," Nagisa realized what she just did and turned to Sensei. "I, um…didn't mean to…"
Sensei made an awkward laugh as he watched Nagisa's flustered movements. "You two seem quite close. Have you two known each other for a while?"
"We've known each other since we were children…" Nagisa admitted while Mika was chewing on the cake roll in the background. "Forgive me, Sensei, I don't know what came over me."
"I don't mind," Sensei said with a smile as he glanced at Mika. "Mika, are you alright?"
Mika gave them an 'OK' sign.
…
After the discussion got back on track, Nagisa proceeded to give a short introduction to the Tea Party's history, and by extension, Trinity itself. After that, she and Mika specifically discussed with him the matter of forming a club for four students who were in need of remedial classes. That, and—
"...Which is why I would like to ask you to be the adviser of the Make-Up Work Club," Nagisa said with a smile. "While there is a proper channel to form such a club in Trinity, it would take too much time and we don't have enough manpower to help these students. I hope that you will be able to lend your authority to help these students."
"I don't mind," Sensei said.
"Are you sure, Sensei? You don't have to accept—"
"You're going to need all the help you can get, right?" Sensei said with a smile. "You're hiding it well, but it's clear that you've been under stress recently."
"Yup~! The Tea Party's really busy, especially with the Eden Treaty coming up and all!" Mika added as she reached out to grab a cupcake from Nagisa's box as her own box was already empty, only for Nagisa to move it just enough for it to be out of Mika's reach while glaring at her.
Mika fumed a little before she noticed the box closer to Sensei and took one from said box instead, but not before she got a light kick to her shin under the table.
Damn you, Nagi! My box is already empty! Mika glared at Nagisa.
Have some restraint, Miss Mika, Nagisa's glance seemed to say before she saw Nagisa take one cupcake Mika herself was eyeing for before Nagisa placed it on her still out of reach box.
You just want more for yourself! Mika thought.
"The Eden Treaty…" Sensei didn't seem to notice this silent war as he continued. "I seem to recall hearing about it a while back, but the most I know is that it involves Trinity and Gehenna."
Mika retaliated by pulling the box closer to her side of the table—and out of Nagisa's reach. Nagisa's eyebrow twitched a little but soon accepted the result.
"It's a treaty between Trinity and Gehenna to address the two schools' long-standing feud, but explaining the details goes beyond the scope of this meeting, and quite frankly, it's not something you should be worried about at the moment, Sensei," Nagisa explained as she made a smile, but not before she sent a glance at Mika's direction. "Perhaps I can explain it to you at a later date. We can also exchange samples and tips regarding our pastries at that time too."
Wha—You just want to eat Sensei's cupcakes without me! Mika complained and wanted to join said future meeting too, but she gave up because she was truly going to be busy in the upcoming weeks.
"That seems reasonable enough," Sensei said with a nod. "Then about the Make-Up Work Club…"
Nagisa smiled as she handed him a document before she turned her attention back to Sensei.
This silent battle regarding control over Sensei's pastries might have ended in Mika's victory, but Nagisa won the war for now by securing another meeting with Sensei without her.
"Here's the list of students which you will be handling," Nagisa said as she and Mika finally settled down.
"If possible, I'd like you to meet them today, but there might be a conflict with your schedule, so it's fine if you postpone it until tomorrow," Nagisa said.
"I did clear up my schedule this afternoon to better familiarize myself with Trinity, so there's no problem with doing this now," Sensei said as he opened the document while sipping on his tea. "Though if I'm to handle the Make-Up Work Club, I should probably stay in Trinity for a—"
Mika was alarmed when she saw him nearly choke on his tea.
"Sensei, are you okay?" Mika asked with worry.
"Y-Yeah, don't worry," Sensei quickly smiled to reassure them. "More importantly, I should go meet them."
"I understand. Miss Hifumi is currently waiting for you in a nearby classroom," Nagisa said. "Should I call for her?"
"No, I'll go to her myself after this," Sensei said as she turned his attention back to Nagisa. "Speaking of which, is there any hotel that you can recommend to me? I plan on staying in the Trinity district while I'm handling this."
"There's no need for you to go that far," Nagisa said. "Trinity has a few unused facilities that could be used to accommodate your lodgings. It's the least we can do after asking for your help."
Mika heard Nagisa mumble something else under her breath, but she failed to catch it.
"Thank you," Sensei said with a smile.
"No, Sensei. I should be the one thanking you," Nagisa said as she made a slight frown. "And I apologize for adding to your workload."
"It's my job as a teacher to lend a hand to my students. Besides, I already am looking after another student," Sensei said. "Speaking of which, I can't exactly leave that student of mine unattended for too long due to certain circumstances, so is it possible for Trinity to also accommodate her?"
"Might I inquire what school she's from?" Nagisa asked.
Mika was a little worried that Sensei might say 'Gehenna', so she was inwardly relieved at his next words.
"She's from Abydos," Sensei replied. "She's—"
"There's no problem then!" Mika interjected before Sensei could get another word in. "This can even be a way to extend a helping hand to Abydos! Some of the leaders of the smaller schools that eventually became part of Trinity were rumored to have come from Abydos, after all!"
"I did read about Abydos being the oldest active school in Kivotos," Sensei commented. "I guess it's not too surprising that other schools have a historical connection to it."
"Indeed. With Abydos' long history, it is not strange to see it show up in Trinity's history more than a few times. Even now, we still conduct transactions with the Nephthys Group that originated from Abydos by way of Highlander as the group currently has partial control over Trinity district's rail tracks, though there's a chance it might change later on due to the school's competitive nature," Nagisa said.
"Huh? Really?" Mika was a little confused. She didn't really pay attention to how the smaller schools operated.
"Mika, please stop derailing the conversation…" Nagisa said with a weary tone.
Sensei however was more than happy to clear up his student's confusion.
"I've read that Highlander Railroad Academy is a corporate-run school that has a board of directors that decide how the school should operate. Unlike Trinity that has a district, Highlander is unique in that its 'district' is composed of the many train tracks it owns. It also has a merit-based system where control over the different tracks in Kivotos would depend on a faction's performance," Sensei said as he cupped his chin. "With that said, I wasn't aware that Nephthys is a member of that board…"
"Not many people do nowadays. Still, you didn't have to humor Mika, Sensei," Nagisa said before she continued. "With that said, Nephthys having a stake in Highlander is a relatively recent development according to the rumors I've heard. About two or three years ago if my sources are correct."
"Is that so…?"
"What a unique school!" Mika exclaimed in fascination. "But isn't the constant infighting really stressful?"
"That isn't our place to say, Mika," Nagisa said as she pushed the conversation back on track. "Back to the matter of Sensei's lodging, the building I had in mind has multiple bedrooms anyway so it shouldn't be a problem to accommodate another person. Though its maintenance might have fallen off the wayside, so I will send some students to—"
"I'll handle the cleaning," Sensei said with a smile. "You asked for my help due to a lack of manpower, after all. It would be counterproductive if you ended up sending people to help me."
"But…" Nagisa hesitated.
"Wouldn't it be a bother for you, Sensei?" Mika asked. "Trinity has a club that handles housework, so they can do it for you instead!"
"To be honest, I like doing housework," Sensei admitted as he scratched his cheek. "The SCHALE building has automated cleaning so I couldn't really do some cleaning myself."
"Are you sure, Sensei? It's a rather large facility to clean with very few people."
"Don't worry, I have my ways."
…
…
…
Mika pouted as she made her way back to her room after the meeting.
"I really said some embarrassing things to Sensei earlier huh?" Mika became flustered as she remembered spouting things about wanting to go on a date with Sensei and all that.
Then again, Sensei was good-looking and she could even talk about pastries and sweets with him, and even Nagisa seemed to agree!
Speaking of which Nagisa—
"What the heck? She's the same as ever..!" She muttered under her breath as she complained about her childhood friend being able to secure another meeting with Sensei. With that said, Mika had to admit that their silent squabble reminded her of better times.
Maybe…Maybe Nagisa also thought the same. The thought crossed Mika's mind before her expression darkened as she happened to pass a group of JTF officers escorting one Shirasu Azusa to their office.
That's right, Mika thought as she greeted Vice-President Hasumi, who returned her greeting. I can't hesitate now.
She couldn't.
After all, Nagisa was still planning to proceed with the Eden Treaty, and Mika was still planning to proceed with the coup to stop her so she could unify Trinity and Arius to fight Gehenna.
To stop now would mean that Seia—
Mika tripped as her foot got caught in a hole in the stone pavement.
"Miss Mika, are you okay?!" A few students who saw her helped her up.
"Y-Yeah! Thanks for your help!" Mika said as she took the girl's hand.
"How come no one noticed this hole before?"
"It seemed to have a weaker foundation since it collapsed while Miss Mika was walking on it."
"G-Guess I'm just unlucky huh? Don't worry, I'll have someone fix this up soon," Mika said before she convinced the other students to go. It would be embarrassing if they found out that Mika was the one who accidentally made said hole after stomping it too hard after all~!
Author's Note:
You may have noticed that this chapter covers a period of time that another chapter already covered—that being Chapter 15. The main difference is that it primarily follows another character's POV—Mika's.
Mika is the kind of character that looks straightforward at first glance, but ends up being one of the more complex characters. Beneath her bubbly nature lies someone who is burdened by the guilt at causing the death of one of her closest friends.
Much like her fellow pink-haired powerhouse Hoshino, Mika is one of the few students of Kivotos who has witnessed death and live to suffer the consequences of a person close to them dying. This is especially the case during the earlier parts of Volume 3.
They also happen to be members of their respective school's Student Council.
Given the parallels between the two, the fact that Hoshino and Mika ended up having back-to-back chapters is more of a coincidence than anything on my part. Funny how I only became conscious of this fact while I'm writing this haha.
In any case, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.