Vol. 3 Ch. 4 Ep. 11: Pursuers

Misono Mika...

That's my name! I guess you remember me, huh? ☆ What'd you think of my entrance? I was going for cool, vengeful villainess.

Haven't you missed me, old friend? Why the long face? You look...

...You look like you're looking at a witch or something.

Did you break out of prison to find us?

Heehee. I guess I did. I just wanted to see my gals!

I mean, we do have a teensy bit of unfinished business to handle. Don't we, Saori?

...

*whisper* Where is Sensei?

Sensei should be following closely... No more than a few minutes behind.

Are you wondering how I knew you were here? I was paying attention, you know. Watching your methodologies again and again. Did you dismiss me that easily?

How long until the passage closes?

About twenty-eight minutes. If we fight now, we both lose and don't reach the entrance in time.

W-We're gonna lose?!

...

We've been on the run for days. Everyone's exhausted. Tactical advantages are what's getting us through right now, not brute force.

Sensei's command has gotten us through to this point.

Misono Mika is the main muscle behind the Tea Party. A fight of raw strength is exactly what she wants.

You sure thought I was stupid, huh? But I figured you out in a snap.

I'm the one who started the coup, if you recall. I know all your key rendezvous points and meeting places. I totally forgive you for not knowing this, but I'm kind of a big deal.

But of course you didn't know. You thought I was a fool you could lie to. Manipulate. Take advantage of. Well, I guess you weren't wrong about that part...

Our best option is to retreat and regroup.

No. We'll lose our only opportunity to get to Arius.

We could distract her until Sensei gets here.

That's...

Hello? Are you seriously ignoring me?! That's like, so rude. Don't you remember the good old days of conspiracy and betrayal?

I'll have to punish you bullies!

Sh-She's coming!!!

Scatter! Don't fight head-to-head!

"(Squad said they would handle the front, but I can't reach them.)"

"(Did I just hear gunshots?)"

Hurry and follow the sounds.

H-How is she so...strong...fast... Urgh!

Ugh.

This is the infamous Arius Squad? This is it?

Hahaha! Were you always this weak? A dummy would put up a better fight. Aww, is it because you have lots of boo-boos? Hahahaha! Hilarious!

Ugh...

Huh? Where's the girl who never talks? With the weird mask? It's okay, I'll hunt her down after I'm done here.

...?!

What's wrong, Saori? I'm an open target! Shoot me! Did you run out of bullets?

Damn it...

Misaki!

Oh, so now you guys are all buddy-buddy? I thought heartless Arius idiots only cared about their stupid missions.

I'm not a fan of you having friends at all, but relationships ARE important. You know what? I used to have someone I cared about like that! Seia? You remember trying to kill her?

*sigh* Don't get me wrong, you have no idea how many times I've wanted to slap her right across the face. Seia really gets under my skin.

But you know, if she gets hurt... I get so anxious it's the only thing I can think about.

So imagine when I heard Seia died! I went absolutely nutso crazy! Feelings can be so silly.

Even if I hated her and wanted to make her suffer sometimes, she was precious to me... I didn't want her to die... I didn't wanna be a murderer...

But none of that matters anymore.

ARGHHHH!

Misaki?!

I told you to teach her a lesson, not destroy her halo! Didn't I?

Well, I guess you can't say I'm completely faultless. I did kind of ruin everything.

But, you see. I realized something.

Because of this...incident, I've lost everything.

The academy...my friends...my home...my memories...my promise with Sensei...

Go back to normal? Second chances? Hah! What a silly little fantasy I had. There's no such thing as going back now.

I want you to suffer, Squad. Saori. I'll make you feel my pain.

You'll learn my loss. My suffering. My heartache. It's only fair.

...?!

"Stop it, Mika!"

S-S-Sensei...?!

Sensei...

"Mika! What are you doing here?!"

I-I...um...so...

I-I don't understand. Why?

Sensei. Why are you with Squad?

Th-This wasn't supposed to happen...

I didn't think Sensei would be here. I didn't want you to have to witness this.

This way!

Misono Mika is on scene! Fire at will!

"Mika...!"

*cough* Arius is on our tail, Sensei. We have to leave her.

That way! Squad sighting confirmed!

That way! Squad sighting confirmed!

Th-The passage is gonna close! H-Hurry!

Run!

*pant* *pant* W-We're alive...

Barely made it. We need to put more distance between us. Let's go.

You're right. Sensei, please stay close. The path is complicated from here.

And there's no signal either...so if you get lost you'll be lost forever and ever and ever.

I'm hoping to avoid that outcome. Arius is this way.

"(Mika...)"

"(Did she escape prison to take revenge on Squad?)"

"(Is everything okay back at Trinity?)"

They've escaped into the catacombs. Do we follow?

We can still make it! Give chase!

Owwie, owwie, owwwwww!

Misono Mika?

Oh, reinforcements?

Misono Mika. You used to support our cause. Please leave this place immediately.

I'm sorry, I think I misheard. Do you think you can force me out? With this few?

Hahaha! Did you think you had the advantage because I'm alone? You really can't fix stupid!

Where did Squad go? Were you buying them time?

No. We have been pursuing Squad since the Eden Treaty incident.

...Huh?

Squad betrayed Arius and attempted to run away. We've been tasked with erasing them.

No way? Betrayed and ran away?

...

Hahahaha! This gets funnier and funnier! They betrayed their own school? How come?

Ah, I see. Is this your big finale, Saori? I guess that's what happens when a hunting dog loses its target. Huh.

I'm beginning to understand.

And Sensei... Hmm...

Sensei, you're taking a risk to help someone in crisis again.

Oh, geez.

I get it now.

Stand down, Mika. This can be forgotten if you leave now.

Report! The Schale teacher is accompanying Squad!

What?! We must report this to her immediately.

Have you been listening at all? Squad is MINE. Don't touch my things.

Do you know what happens to people who go after things that don't belong to them? I'll teach you, as many times as you need.

F-Fire! Fire now!