It didn't take long for Nagisa to come to. The moment she realized she was lying on Mika's bed, she shot up, hastily straightened her clothes, and then proceeded to make the bed. It was all rather cute.
"A-Ahem."
After clearing her throat, Nagisa walked over to where I was sitting in a desk chair, scrolling through my phone.
"...Online news?"
"I was looking for anything that might help. It doesn't seem like the 'me' from before kept a diary or anything, and while I glanced through the photos on my phone, nothing jogged my memory."
"I... see."
I snuck a glance at Nagisa. Her face was a mess of complicated emotions. I faintly heard her mutter, "...She really lost her memory, didn't she? Reading the news online... that's not like Mika-san at all." We were so close there was no way I wouldn't hear her, but it seemed she was too flustered to even realize that.
"Mika-san, do you really not remember anything? Nothing at all?"
"Yeah. I mean, I didn't even know my own name properly. It's only because you... Nagi-chan?... called me 'Mika-san' that I even learned that much."
"...Hmm. First, my name isn't Nagi-chan, it's Kirifuji Nagisa. Your name is Misono Mika. Sigh, how did things turn out like this..."
"Misono Mika... Yup, the name alone doesn't ring a bell. But since you were saved in my phone as 'Nagi-chan,' I guess that was my nickname for you, right? I'll just keep calling you that, then."
Nagisa didn't answer, seemingly lost in deep thought with a troubled expression. I was a little curious about what was going through her mind.
In the ensuing silence, I finished reading the article on my screen. It mentioned the Kaiser Corporation, so I thought it might have some substance, but unfortunately, it was useless. News about Abydos would have been great for figuring things out, since it connects directly to the start of the main story.
Still, my news scroll wasn't a complete waste. For one, it seems the General Student Council President hasn't gone missing yet. If an incident that huge had already occurred, there would have been articles all over the place about her disappearance or its aftermath. Anyway, that confirms it: I've transmigrated into a time period before the main story.
I could probably get the exact date from Nagisa. Our ages, school year, and social standing are bound to come up in conversation eventually.
Reading the news brought something else to mind: in the original story, Mika had been scheming behind the scenes for a year before the plot began. Given how significant her role in the main story is, figuring out my own path would be a major headache.
But one thing's for sure: I don't want to become the Mika from the original story. I know that path is how she grows as a person and becomes a complete character, but the thought of me having to go through it myself makes my chest tighten. Honestly, it was heartbreaking enough watching my favorite character suffer and break down; now that I am her, my only thought is to avoid that future at all costs.
I need to find a path that leads to a similar, or even better, outcome than the original story, but without me getting caught in the crossfire. It's obvious that won't be an easy task.
"Nagi-chan, it seems there's a limit to what I can find out on my own. I know it's a shameless request, but could you help me?"
"...Mika-san, you don't even need to ask. Helping a friend who's in trouble—someone I've known longer than anyone besides my parents—is only natural."
Wow, Nagisa has such a kind heart. The eyes truly don't lie.
Trinity... no, Trash-rinity Academy is guilty as charged for turning this sweet girl into an irredeemable ball of paranoia. I think Mika herself had a hand in that, but it wasn't her intention, so there's some room for leniency...
Hmm...
Anyway. My Mika definitely has her flaws, but she's not a bad kid. And most importantly, she's pretty, so she's forgiven. She's a certified "face genius," enough to get away with seriously pulling the 'But I'm beautiful!' card. That's all that matters.
"Let's start with the basics and go through them quickly. I'll explain about Kivotos, the General Student Council, and the other major academies. It would be best to memorize this first."
What followed was a Nagisa explanation-montage. After a marathon two-hour lecture, I had become a great sage who knew everything about this world.
...Of course, I'm kidding. The truly important stuff was mostly things I already knew from playing Blue Archive. It wasn't like I learned nothing new—her explanations added some flesh to the bones of what I knew—but for that reason, I focused more on the parts that seemed minor or trivial.
"So, according to you, I'm the leader of the Pater faction, one of the branches of Trinity General School, which is the largest academy in Kivotos."
"...Well, opinions are divided on whether Gehenna or Trinity is larger. But since you've always had a pathological hatred for Gehenna, it's more natural for you to think that way, Mika-san."
"Gehenna... Hmm. I don't know. Just hearing the name gives me a weirdly bad feeling. It's not a name I like."
When you think about it, her hatred for Gehenna was probably the trait that worked against Mika the most. She never gave a proper reason for it herself, so it was a feeling closer to baseless loathing.
Maybe it's the effect of being in Mika's body, but I can feel a faint sense of displeasure creeping up on me at the mention of Gehenna. Thankfully, it's not the same extreme level of hatred Mika had, so it seems I can keep it under control.
This is just speculation, but it's likely deeply connected to the 'Mystery' that all students in Kivotos possess. Many analyses suggest Mika's Mystery originates from the Archangel Michael. Since it was Michael who cast down Satan, often depicted as an evil dragon, it's not surprising she would come to hate Gehenna, where the vast majority of students are demonic in origin.
Speaking of which, can I even handle my Mystery properly? My halo is still here, and my body feels full of energy, so my physical abilities seem fine. I don't know if I can use the quasi-superpowers Mika is depicted with in-game... but I should check that later. Given the nature of Blue Archive, students get into fights quite often, so having all the firepower I can get will definitely be helpful.
In fact, Mika's main contributions to the story are based on her combat prowess. If I can't fight properly in this body, it could lead to all sorts of problems. If the fighting strength of one of Trinity's undisputed top-tiers—one half of the duo alongside Justice Task Force leader Tsurugi Kenzaki—is weakened, it could create any number of unpredictable variables. So, acquiring a comparable level of power is essential.
There's just one problem: I've never even held a gun before. In a way, it's ironic that I, who doesn't know how to shoot, ended up in the body of Mika, who can crush most students with her raw physical strength alone.
Maybe I should consider this a stroke of luck? Though it feels a bit weird to talk about luck when you've been unwillingly transmigrated, but what can you do about something that's already happened?
"Trinity's student council has a unique structure compared to other academies. This stems from the founding history of Trinity General School. During an era of endless conflict between the various factions, the representatives of the Pater, Sanctus, and Filius factions gathered for a meeting in the form of a 'Tea Party.' Today, that structure has evolved so that the leader of each faction serves as a student council president."
I feel a little bad for Nagisa, who's explaining the Tea Party to me with such passion and sincerity, but since I already knew all this, I was just nodding along while observing her. The Tea Party's distinctive uniform combined with Nagisa's looks was like a work of art. Thankfully, she didn't seem to notice that I was just shamelessly admiring her and continued her explanation.
"In other words, Mika-san, as the head of the Pater faction, you hold one of the three student president seats in Trinity. For reference, I represent the Filius faction, and though she is not here, Yurizono Seia-san leads the Sanctus faction. Oh, speaking of which. It would probably be best to inform Seia-san that you've lost your memory."
Hmm. The Spoiler Fox... She's not going to figure out I'm lying, is she? The possibility seems low. Seia has various powers besides seeing the future through prophetic dreams, but I don't recall mind-reading being one of them.
"That way, we can figure out what to do about the fact that the current Host of the Tea Party is completely unable to perform her duties."
Huh?
What did you say? The current what?
"Current Host...?"
"Ah, I neglected to explain. The presidents of the Tea Party take turns serving as the representative, and during their term, they hold the most power. And the current Host of the Tea Party is..."
No, what are you talking about, Nagisa? This never came up in the original story. Why are second-year students casually serving as the student council president in the first place?
"...you, Mika-san."
This time, it was my turn to faint. Of course, thanks to Mika's ridiculously healthy body, I didn't actually pass out from the shock. Which was, needless to say, a real shame.