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I was passing time while waiting for Nagisa to wake up, and when I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on the bed. Not only that, but Nagisa was lying next to me with a gentle smile, which made this situation feel undeniably strange.
I mean, right now, there’s something I’ve done, and I’m getting this kind of reaction? I could credit Nagisa’s kind nature for gently laying me down on the bed after falling asleep next to her, but…
No matter how you slice it, I can’t explain that benevolent smile that makes me want to smile back without even realizing it! And let’s not forget that look in her eyes… it’s hard to put into words…
“Uh, Nagisa-chan, how long have you been awake?”
“Hehe… well, I think it’s definitely been over two hours.”
“So you were the one who laid me down here…?”
“Probably. Is there something you’re worried about?”
“Ahaha, should I really be worried about this…? But more importantly, Nagisa-chan, you didn’t have a hard time moving me, did you?”
My weight isn’t heavy, not at all. I mean, I won’t specify my exact weight, but a girl who’s not even 160cm tall isn’t that heavy to begin with.
The real issue I’m pondering is about Nagisa’s strength. The students in Kivotos have varying physical abilities unlike those girls running races somewhere, and many of them have average or below-average strength.
Nagisa and Hifumi fall into the former category, while Seiya and the ultra-genius sickly little girls of Millennium belong to the latter. So, it couldn’t have been easy for Nagisa to lift and move me.
“No, but Mika-san is so light, so it was manageable. And speaking of which, don’t you have something to tell me?”
“Ah… um, well… haha, I’m back…?”
“…”
Is it really necessary for Nagisa to show such a genuinely disgusted expression?! Hoshino gets away with it just fine, but why not me?!
Hina, I guess I can’t become Takamachi Hoshino after all. Boo-hoo.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for worrying you, Nagisa-chan.”
“And? Is that really all?”
“…I promise I won’t do it again?”
“Hmmm. Okay. I’ll let it slide this time, but you better keep your promise. Understand?”
“What? It’s really over? Seriously? I was expecting a bit more… explosive, you know?”
Honestly, I was surprised by her reaction as it was nothing like what I predicted. Sure, Nagisa is usually gentle, polite, and dignified, but when she gets mad, she can be a bit scary.
But what’s even scarier is how she’s not expressing her anger at the right moment, and instead smiling like that. I’m terrified of what words might come out next. I can just see her cutting me down with a smile.
“Hehe, Mika-san, is that what you want me to do?”
“Ahaha, no! Definitely not, please hold back…”
“Alright. The love you have for those kids in Arius was surely conveyed well, so you should be able to expect some kind of reward in return. This time, I’m letting it slide.”
…Was it for political reasons?
“Well, it feels like I’ve already received that reward. Honestly, I think it’s more like I owe you one now.”
“…Huh?”
“After all, the reason I was able to come back safely is all thanks to Hikari Atsuko-chan… Which means she’s my lifesaver☆”
“…I see. I need to personally thank her as well, then.”
Phew. I felt relieved as Nagisa nodded blandly.
It seemed like she had probably heard from Seiya that I could have died. Honestly, I’m glad she didn’t try to brush it off or hide it from me.
“I was really worried, Mika-san. I can’t express how happy I am that you came back safely.”
Saying that, Nagisa stretched out her arms and cupped my face. The warmth of her hands made me feel like I was melting, but I couldn’t help but wonder what got into her. I didn’t remember Nagisa being the type to initiate such skinship.
Hmm, I guess it just means she was really worried about me? That seems like the right interpretation.
…By the way, it seems that skinship isn’t all that strange among girls. What does that make my shy self who just brushed some hair aside?
“Ahaha, I’m grateful that I can see you again, Nagisa-chan!”
“…Hehe, is that so? Hearing you say that makes me happy too.”
But seriously, what is this strange sense of discomfort? It feels sort of similar to the usual Nagisa, but the vibe she gives off feels a bit different…
“Maybe it’s time to get up. I didn’t help at all with last night’s operation, so I need to make sure I handle the aftermath.”
“Nagisa-chan, you’re too hardworking. No one would mind if you stayed in bed an extra day. Sometimes a little laziness is good for your mind and body, you know?”
“It wasn’t intentional, but I’ve already had a good rest, right? I can’t allow myself to be lazy any longer,” said Nagisa as she sat up. I couldn’t just lay in the hospital bed any longer either, so I tried to turn and get up.
Just to clarify, the attempt to get up also meant that I didn’t actually get up.
All of a sudden—
“Ngh… Ehh? Uh, Nagisa-chan…?!”
Nagisa suddenly grabbed my left wrist and lifted it above my head. The situation was so unexpected that my arm was lifted despite the apparent strength difference between Nagisa and me.
Then, with one hand resting near my face, Nagisa looked down at me with a smile. Hey, even if I don’t know much about girls, I know this isn’t normal between friends…!
“Mika-san, I’ll borrow your shushu.”
“Nagisa-chan, can’t you just ask for it…? ”
“Shh, quiet. For the next week, you mustn’t contradict anything I say, Mika-san. I’ve let it slide for now, but I’m still not completely over my anger.”
With my shushu stealthily taken from my wrist, Nagisa tied her hair back and grinned. The crescent shape of her eyes was exceptionally attractive; it’s not surprising that a guy would fall for that look.
Doubts still lingered. Perhaps I was overreacting, but something definitely felt different about Nagisa today.
“Let’s go out and have breakfast, Mika-san, and don’t take too long getting up! We have tons of things to do today, so we probably can’t return home until late tonight. So, better fill your stomach!”
With Nagisa hopping off the bed and humming a tune while changing clothes, I averted my eyes. Was there really a reason for her to pass over me while getting down? What was the deal with snatching my shushu like that?
Her ears, which had been slightly red the whole time we talked, could it be… no way. That’s impossible. It must be just my imagination. I don’t know why my brain keeps trying to read meanings into everything!
“Uh, Nagisa-chan?”
“Yes, Mika-san. What is it?”
“Do you have a swimsuit by any chance?”
After my question, a brief silence fell. But it didn’t last long. A little sigh escaped Nagisa’s lips, breaking the silence.
That sigh felt oddly relieved, yet at the same time, somewhat disappointed. That wasn’t just my imagination, was it?
“No, I don’t think I have one that fits me now.”
“Ahaha, then let’s choose a new one together! I don’t have anything to wear for the summer festival, so we should go shopping!”
“Alright, sounds good. But let’s take our time since it’s not urgent.”
“Sure! And also——”
“What else is there?”
“How about we go to the amusement park together soon?”
“…Yeah, okay.”
Even if all of this isn’t just my imagination, it’s still a difficult issue for me to decide on.
For one, I’m merely a fake living the life of Nagisa’s most precious friend.
*
Breakfast was a classic English breakfast. If I had to rely on British food for every meal, I’d at least be able to enjoy breakfast worry-free.
Scrambled eggs, bacon, toast with orange marmalade, and hash browns. Plus, Trinity’s essential milk-infused black tea to top it all off. That spread was nothing short of luxurious. Furthermore, Trinity’s restaurants place immense importance on plating, so even the appearance was fantastic, which is just icing on the cake.
I even snapped a quick photo to send to Haruna. After hearing about it, Nagisa frowned slightly but eventually nodded and let it go. My suspicion was slowly turning into conviction.
After finishing breakfast, I moved to my office to tackle today’s tasks. After dealing with work until well past lunchtime, I received reports from Mine and Sakurako confirming that they had almost wrapped up the situation with Arius.
After previously notifying the Valkyrie Police Academy and the Student Council, I continued plowing through the tasks at hand. Word about Arius Branch being incorporated into Trinity was spreading among the upper echelons of Trinity by now.
The Branch, once designated a heretic and effectively exiled long ago, was now reuniting with Trinity under the leadership of the T-party host.
Some people might just shrug and say, “Oh, that happened.” But for certain factions that battled secretly over interests, it was a totally different story.
And the scale of Arius Branch wasn’t exactly small. It’s beyond a small faction, certainly smaller than it once was, but still qualifies as a mid-level faction. Naturally, this was a serious matter for those sensitive about their interests.
Since the position of T-party host doesn’t have dictatorial power, I had to sweat it out dealing with them all afternoon. I might have blown up if Nagisa hadn’t been by my side.
Fortunately, my actions left a positive impression on many moderates, so luckily, the response was less intense than I had anticipated.
“…So, you plan to admit the 28 students selected by Arius Squad and Sisterhood into the high school and middle school first, right? And all students younger than that will be admitted without exception.”
“Yes, that’s right! The 28 selected by Sakurako-chan are those who are deemed least likely to cause problems when they start their studies at Trinity. They’ll need to be monitored closely in academics, but the Sisterhood has promised to assist a lot with that.”
“And the five students from this Squad will be mentored directly by you, Mika-san. Hmmm…”
“Exactly! If the kids from Arius Branch can adapt well to Trinity, one of them might end up taking our place later on☆”
“I understand. Now, let’s move on to the next agenda item, which concerns this year’s budget.”
I think Atsuko would be an exceptional fit for taking part in the T-party. Her innate charm and grace are her greatest assets, and I’m sure she could rally many people to her side.
To do that, though, it first has to be proven that Arius can provide benefits for Trinity’s future… which can now officially be considered a faction if the square kids have a change of heart.
While the workload alongside my worries has significantly increased, for now, I’m grateful everything is rolling along smoothly and ready to shoulder that burden.
There were no Kiries for the girls or Elleyson; nevertheless, this was the outcome I wished for more than anything.
And finally, June, which felt endlessly long, was coming to an end.