Vol. 3 Ch. 3 Ep. 2: Postmortem Part 2

This is what Seia said.

If the long-standing dispute between Gehenna and Trinity can be resolved through the Eden Treaty, then perhaps Arius' troubles can be addressed next.

She also said the treaty was the only way to solve Trinity's deep-rooted issues...

But Arius wants to destroy the Tea Party's halos. If they succeeded...then war would break out in Kivotos.

Seia asked if that was what I truly wanted.

I see.

What I can say for certain is that we don't see eye to eye, Shirasu Azusa.

I'm familiar with the fifth koan. I know better than anyone the fallacy of trying to prove the existence of paradise.

However...

...if you wish to continue struggling in the face of catastrophe, then I will help.

I'll lend you my wisdom.

Though I can make no promises about where it will lead you.

And then you destroyed the room?

It was necessary to stage Seia's death. Arius needed to be deceived as well.

Seia personally chose the Remedial Knights' captain to lead the cover-up. She told me I could leave the rest to her.

I fled after the room was destroyed. Once the dust settled and intel about the incident began to spread, Squad was under the impression that I succeeded.

That's everything I know about that night.

...

I've been in the dark ever since. I had no idea that Seia was still unconscious.

Her injuries have healed at least. Her being comatose remains a mystery.

Then you were unaware that the plan to attack Seia was originally devised by Mika?

I...

Mika had completely obfuscated her involvement. There would have been no way for a foot soldier like Azusa to know.

Y-Yeah! We know Azusa, and she's no murderer! She even tried to save Nagisa's life after everything she did to us.

Yes, of course...but my job requires me to ask questions like these.

No, it's okay. I'll be fine.

The one who gave me my orders was Joumae Saori, the leader of Squad.

Correct.

Shirasu Azusa then transferred to Trinity with the covert objective of protecting Nagisa. That much is clear.

Along the way, she and the Make-Up Work Club even passed their evaluation exam. That shows that she knows how to get results.

I can't find any fault with her, personally. Therefore, I will take responsibility and authenticate her documents.

No one should have any objections to her enrollment with the Sisterhood vouching for her.

Thank you, Sakurako!

"We owe you one."

This officially makes Shirasu Azusa a Trinity student.

There is still unfinished business, especially where Arius is concerned...

...but all of the urgent fires have been extinguished for now.

Job well done, everyone. Especially to you, Hanako and Sensei.

Why, thank you! ♥

I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be taking my leave. Let's go, Mari.

Yes.

Um...would you two mind having another chat with me when things settle down a little more?

It would be our pleasure.

Phew. At least the situation with Azusa's enrollment has been cleared up.

Same to you, but there's still so much more to be done.

Especially as far as Nagisa and Mika are concerned.

Oh, speaking of which, I heard Hifumi met with her not too long ago.

Yeah, that's what she told me. I guess they had a lot to clear the air about.

Hifumi.

H-Hi, Nagisa. Y-You're looking well. H-Have you lost weight?

I asked you here to issue a formal apology, Hifumi.

I'm sorry for doubting you.

O-Oh. That.

I could hardly blame you for grabbing a cup of tea and pouring it over my head right now, considering everything I've put you through.

To think I had you pegged as the leader of a masked criminal organization. That couldn't possibly be true. I don't know why I believed those rumors.

...

I completely understand if you choose not to forgive me. In fact, I don't expect you to.

N-No, that's not it.

I'll be fine, I think. Yeah, there were times where it really hurt...but it was just a misunderstanding that's been cleared up now.

It's not like I considered hating you or anything like that. You don't have to say anything else. I'll be fine...

...

I don't think I could ever be as forgiving. You're such an interesting girl, Hifumi.

Me? Th-That's funny...

("Funny," hmm?)

It was a funny fantasy, thinking we were ever really friends.

*cough*! *cough* *cough*!

Nagisa?

*cough* I'm f-fine. A little bit of tea slipped down the wrong pipe, that's all.

O-Oh...

"..."

I-I'm glad their misunderstanding is cleared up, but it looks like the joke I played on Nagisa may have gone a little too far.

Nagisa has also been meeting with others to issue proper apologies for everything that happened.

She even gave one to me, and I told her I was sorry for being such a troublemaker.

...

She's no longer wallowing in doubt and paranoia...but it came at a steep price.

Yeah, so am I.

You are...?

I've been wanting to ask you what you think of her motives, actually.

Hmm? You want to know why I'm doing this, Sensei?

Because I hate Gehenna.

I sincerely loathe Gehenna Academy from the depths of my heart.

It's hard to know what their relationship was truly like from the outside looking in, but Nagisa and Mika were supposed to be childhood friends.

Opposites attract, as they say. Nagisa was always diligent and overly cautious, whereas Mika was the free-spirited, spontaneous one.

Maybe they drifted apart and weren't as close as they seemed...

...but it still shocked me to hear Mika would betray Nagisa just because of her hatred of Gehenna.

That's why I arranged to meet with her through the Sisterhood.

Though when I went to see her, someone else was already there first.

Wow! It's Nagi! Welcome!

Hello, Mika. How have you been? Staying comfortable?

Hardly, but it could be worse. At least I wasn't thrown into a tiny cell underground. They even let me have a TV. I have pretty much everything I could ever need.

I really didn't think I'd end up here, well, not right now at least. The timing is really poor.

Agreed. I never saw it coming.

Isn't life beautifully unpredictable? At least that's how I feel!

...

...

I really didn't think you'd come, Nagi.

...