By invitation, currently at Trinity, just got off the train. Too many vested interests, going anonymous.
Several students from the Tea Party's guard detail were already waiting at the station. After confirming my identity, they led me into a black sedan.
We drove through the city, entered the academy, and finally stopped in front of a grand, solemn building.
Led by the Tea Party guards, I took an elevator to the top floor of the building, walked down a corridor, and finally arrived at a closed, ornate door.
A guard rang the doorbell. With a "Please come in," the door slowly opened, and the scene that unfolded before me was this:
In the center of an extremely spacious rooftop terrace was a long table laden with many exquisite pastries. On each of the four sides of the table was a chair, three of which were already occupied.
To my left was a slender girl with long, flaxen hair, a flower ornament in her hair, holding a teacup and saucer. She had an elegant demeanor, but her expression was somewhat awkward for some reason.
The student to my right was dressed very cutely, with long, sakura-pink hair, a large black scrunchie on her left wrist, and star and moon charms hanging from her right wing. She was staring at me with astonished eyes. It's worth mentioning that she had a half-eaten swiss roll sticking out of her mouth.
And finally, at the head of the table sat a petite girl with golden hair and beast ears. She sat in a quiet posture, her eyes closed, her brow slightly furrowed, with a small white bird perched on her shoulder.
So the Tea Party really is having a tea party.
"Gulp. You must be the Sensei from Schale? You're earlier than I expected I thought you were the pastry chef Oh my, Nagisa, it's all your subordinates' fault for not reporting clearly!"
The swiss roll girl quickly stuffed the rest of the roll into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed, then spoke to the tea-drinking girl in a joking tone.
This is a show of force to intimidate me and simultaneously undermine this "Nagisa" person. To do it so naturally while feigning innocence... as expected of Trinity.
The guard who had brought me in immediately bowed her head in panic. "I'm sorry! Lady Mika!"
"Mika, don't say things that could be misunderstood."
Nagisa glared at Mika, then looked at the guard and said gently, "You may leave for now. We will call you if we need anything."
As the guard left, Nagisa invited me to sit in the last empty seat, filled a cup of tea for me, and began to introduce herself:
"Nice to meet you, Sensei. I am a member of the Tea Party, Kirifuji Nagisa. And this one staring at you so rudely is..."
"Wait, let me do it myself!"
Mika stopped sizing me up and waved with an enthusiastic smile.
"Sensei My name is Misono Mika, also a member of the Tea Party. Make sure you remember my name"
Finally, everyone's gaze turned to the petite girl at the head of the table, who was still silent—I finally realized she seemed to be asleep.
"..." That was me being silent.
"Sigh." That was Nagisa, sighing and pressing her forehead.
"Pfft~" That was Mika, stifling a laugh.
"Chirp! Flutter flutter~" That was the little white bird, flying up to peck the petite girl's forehead.
Finally, the petite girl slowly woke up. As if from a dream, she turned her sleepy eyes towards me and mumbled clingily:
"Mmm... Papa... what is it... is it time to feed the baby agai—cough cough cough!"
Realizing she was no longer in a dream, the petite girl tried to cover her slip-up with a violent cough.
However, it was too late.
Misono Mika pointed at her and laughed until tears came out. "Pffft-hahaha Seia, you just called for your 'Papa' like a sleepy little kid The Seia who always likes to act mature has such a cute side~"
Kirifuji Nagisa didn't say anything, but she turned her face away, her whole body shaking violently, even spilling a few drops of tea. It was clear how hard she was trying to hold back her laughter.
As for me, I wore an awkward but polite smile, remained silent, and did my best to minimize my presence.
The girl named Seia sighed and pressed her forehead, then looked at me.
"My apologies, Sensei, for letting you witness such an unseemly sight. Is this our first meeting? I should have introduced myself first, but could I trouble you to wait a moment?"
Then, Seia turned her head. "Mika, do you find my involuntary slip-up amusing?"
"Eh? Of course After all, it's the Seia who always has a straight face and says things I don't understand"
"Hmph... That is indeed the reaction a person like Mika, who is not good at thinking and lacks empathy, would give. What about you? Nagisa? Alright, I know the answer."
Seia looked at me calmly, then lowered her gaze and said pointedly:
"It doesn't matter. A temporary setback doesn't determine the outcome of the entire game. One day in the future, when you both show a similar state, I will return the humiliation I've suffered today to you both in full."
Hearing this, Mika laughed even louder, while Nagisa covered her mouth and muttered a muffled "I'm sorry."
It seems the three of them are good friends in private. But is it really okay for them to tease each other like this in front of an outsider like me?
They're ignoring me. They're ganging up to embarrass me. Trinity is so unfriendly.
I sipped the warm tea and muttered to myself, "Ahaha, this tea is delicious."
"Sensei It's okay to laugh Seia said she doesn't mind, right?"
Nagisa's expression turned to shock, and she glanced at me with worry.
I also sensed the atmosphere was becoming increasingly strange.
Faced with Mika's question, which seemed to be asking for an opinion but was more accurately a provocation disguised as a joke, Seia just gave her a look of disgust and annoyance and said coldly:
"Misono Mika. Know when to stop."
With those words, the atmosphere on the terrace immediately dropped to freezing point.
Seia and Mika, facing off against each other, were like fire and water.
And Nagisa, hesitating to speak, frequently glanced at me. She wanted to stop Mika's troublemaking and mediate their conflict, but she also had to consider the presence of an outsider, looking very troubled.
I finally figured it out. These three might be friends, but their relationship wasn't as good as I thought, especially these two who were on the verge of arguing.
The silence was finally broken. Mika, seemingly having lost interest, said flatly:
"Whatever, this is no fun."
"..."
Seia didn't seem to want to argue further either. She said to me apologetically:
"Sensei, I didn't expect to make a fool of myself in front of you."
"...No, no, everyone is very lively!"
I could only reply with dry pleasantries, my heart full of regret—
I didn't go to Gehenna precisely because I wanted to avoid being dragged into this kind of internal political strife!
Surely not all of the student councils of the three major academies are like this? Maybe I should just cancel my scheduled trip to the Millennium Seminar...
But then I wouldn't have an excuse to see Yuuka. What a dilemma.
"I am Yurizono Seia, the current host of the Tea Party. I am also the one who invited you.
"This was not an act in our political interests. By ending the observation period of your performance after your appointment, disregarding our mutual understanding, other academies will think Trinity has designs on you, and will take corresponding actions while raising their guard against us."
"With the General Student Council President missing and the Eden Treaty also shelved, this might provoke Gehenna even more..."
At this moment, Mika suddenly interrupted, "Seia-chan, don't change the subject to unpleasant things. Let's get to the point."
Nagisa also nodded in agreement. "I'm also very curious, Seia, for what reason did you invite Sensei to this place, which, as I recall, no outsider has ever set foot in, and also demand that Mika and I be present."
"If it's a matter that requires the three of us to decide together, is it necessary to call Schale's Sensei?" Mika finished, then added to me, "Of course I have no problem with you, Sensei In fact, I think you're quite nice?"
Hm, no problem with me, which means you have a problem with Seia.
I couldn't find an opportunity to speak, so I continued to remain silent.
Seia let out a long sigh:
"Of course. After all, we are witnesses and participants, not decision-makers. The key to opening the door of choice is not in our hands. That story, filled with anger, regret, sorrow, misunderstanding, pain, concealment... all sorts of unpleasant things, what kind of ending will it lead to?"
In Seia's golden eyes that looked at me, an indescribable complex emotion was almost overflowing.
"Sensei... I just wanted to tell you this: I hope you will see everything through to the end, no matter what happens along the way, until all the unknown mysteries are solved."
"Choose the future you believe is right. This is your duty."
-------
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