“Teacher didn’t send me a separate message...”
It was getting boring, just killing time while staring at the gun like this.
Ding!
The cheerful phone notification didn’t explain everything by itself, but if he read even part of the message, it would all make sense.
“...What is this?”
For some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to touch it. A sudden thought brushed past him: he didn’t even know what he was doing right now, or why he was here, or what the point of his existence was.
“...This is...”
An indescribable helplessness. Pressure weighing down on his shoulders, a chill crawling up his back.
“...So it’s starting.”
The moment he gripped the knife tightly, that feeling—whether it had been emotion or pressure—slipped out of his body. His hands and feet were gradually filling with the cold of the night.
“...Ugh... cold.”
Right now, he wanted something warm to eat.
Then another message came from Teacher, and only then did the phone finally sit properly in his hand.
The message was simple.
It said that Mika’s rebellion had begun at the same time as Arius’s infiltration.
“...Well, I figured that much.”
[Teacher, I’m coming now.]
[Yeah, hurry.]
[Ah, I moved Nagisa somewhere safe too... Hanako was acting a little strangely, though...]
[Well... let’s just take that as a joke for now.]
[Right... anyway, Azusa is luring Arius in right now.]
[Teacher... could it be...]
[Yeah... I expected that. I’ll leave you out of this operation.]
[Haa... so you noticed...?]
[Yeah. Your face says it all.]
[Yes... then I’ll watch from a distance and come if things get dangerous.]
[Really? You already look like you’re having a hard time.]
[Yes... well... I still have to do what I have to do.]
His body felt heavier and heavier, as if it were being crushed by pain. Even his breathing refused to settle into a steady rhythm.
“...What is this... seriously.”
Haruta had planned to meet Mika today.
But every nerve in his body, every single cell, was rejecting it.
“Damn it...”
Haruta compromised and decided to watch from afar.
“...It’s still... too dangerous...”
There was a risk of the story breaking. If a third party interfered with the story, it would collapse and lose its value.
“...Sorry... Mika.”
Haruta looked toward the gymnasium.
After that, things were simple. With Sisterhood’s intervention, Mika declared checkmate and was taken in without resistance.
“...”
“Ahaha... I lost...”
Dawn was breaking.
“Haruta... I want to see you.”
“Please follow me, Mika.”
“Mm...”
For a moment, he thought, Just show your face... just once.
Step... step
He stood in front of Mika.
“...Who are you?”
“This area is off-limits to unauthorized personnel. Your student ID... wait... it’s curfew at the dorms right now.”
“...”
“Haa... what now this time...?”
“Hi, Mika.”
“? Arius affili—”
Boom!
The floor gave way, and Mika knocked aside the Justice Task Force girls who had been grabbing her arms from the side.
“...”
Clang!
He broke the handcuffs.
“...Haruta...?”
“Yeah... the poor lost soul Haruta, whom you parted from two years ago, has returned.”
“...”
Thud
Mika sank down on the spot and looked up at him.
“...Haruta... is it really you...? Hngh... sob...”
“Yeah... well... it’s Haruta, the one who ran away from home.”
Bang!
“Haruta?”
“Ah... the Justice Task Force has arrived...”
Mika unleashed a murderous glare at Hasumi. That was definitely killing intent. Right now, Mika was happier than she had ever been, and she was pouring all of that emotion—along with a murderous hatred and resentment—onto Hasumi, who had shattered it.
“...Mika... I’m sorry... and I have to go soon.”
“It’s been... two years... come back... please... Haruta... ngh... sob... please...”
“There isn’t much time left... I’ll come back.”
Haruta whispered to Mika, then vanished just like that.
“...Haruta... are you leaving again like this and not coming back?”
“...”
“Hngh... please... say something... anything... sob... please... I’m... sorry... I’ll do anything... please...”
Haruta gestured to Hasumi and the Justice Task Force members, asking them to step away for a moment.
“...Even so, the criminal—”
Bang!
That wasn’t a request. It was an order. He took one more step forward and glared at the Justice Task Force with a look that said if they ruined this any further, he would tear everything down and start over.
“...”
Hasumi silently withdrew her forces.
“Mika...”
“Haruta... please don’t go... please don’t leave me...”
“Yeah... I won’t leave. I’ll come visit often, and I’ll even let you out sometimes...”
“Really?”
“Yeah... so... Mika... please.”
“Mm... Haruta... thank you... for coming back.”
“...I’ll come see you again.”
After saying goodbye to Mika, he glanced at the clock for a moment.
“...Dawn’s starting to break.”
“Haruta...”
“Hm? What is it?”
“It’s been... five years now?”
He had forgotten. He’d forgotten that he had set a five-year restriction back then.
“...Huh...? Mika? That was just a childhood prank, wasn’t it?”
“Hee... so that’s what Haruta thought... you took advantage of a fragile girl’s heart...”
“No... yeah... well... now... haa... we have to keep our distance...”
“Still... you have to keep your promise, right?”
Now he understood why his whole body had been resisting.
“Haa... so anyway, how does it feel to be locked away in prison, princess?”
“Haa... and you still have jokes in a situation like this?”
“Of course.”
“Yeah... so now I’ll be sent to Trinity’s detention facility...”
“Hmm... yeah... I’ll come visit later...”
“Haruta...”
“Yeah?”
“I love you...”
“...Yeah. I’ll come again later.”
And so Mika was taken away and imprisoned in the detention classroom. Teacher went off to take exams with the Supplementary Lessons Department girls, and everything was resolved according to the story.
“Now... I guess it’s time for me to go too.”
Teacher had told him that Mika’s visitation would be held soon, and that a hearing would probably follow after that.
“...I do need to go see Nagisa.”
Haruta still couldn’t tell Mika that Seia was alive. If he did, the story wouldn’t flow the way it was supposed to.
“...So... chapters one and two are over now...”
Soon, the story of Eden Treaty chapter three would begin. Once that was over, everything would finally stabilize.
“...Yeah... now that I think about it, it won’t be a problem to meet Nagisa.”
With that in mind, he went to meet Nagisa, and to avoid making any more bad blood.
Crash!
“Security! Here—?”
“Hi, Nagisa?”
“...You... are you really Haruta?”
“Yeah. Is there another Haruta here besides me?”
“...Two years... It’s been two years. We weren’t that close, but... I did have a little fondness for you, so I was worried in my own way.”
“...Well, thanks for saying that.”
“And...”
“And?”
“I’m glad... you’re alive...”
“Yeah... sorry.”
“Haa... what have you been doing for the past two years?”
“Well... I made some friends, joined Schale, earned some money... took a desert trip... a lot of things, really.”
“I see... I’m glad you’re still the Haruta I knew...”
“But... why did you come back only now?”
“Because two years are finally up.”
“I see... so you really did spend two years in prison, then?”
“Yeah. I know exactly how much intelligence the Tea Party has.”
“Haa... Haruta... there’s something I couldn’t say before.”
“...What now?”
“Haruta... I admire you.”
“??... Why am I getting confessed to twice in one day...?”
“Haa... so Mika already told you how she feels too... then what’s your answer?”
“Not yet...?”
“Haruta... you should be grateful I’m even overlooking the fact that you came back after two years.”
“...That’s... true for Mika too.”
Rustle
“Ugh... just looking at Trinity roll cake makes me want to throw up...”
“So what’s your answer?”
“If I accepted your confession, wouldn’t that start a war?”
“Of course. Mika and Seia won’t just sit still if they have to fight for love.”
“Exactly why I can’t accept it.”
“Haa... Haruta, you really are...”
“Nagisa? Then I’ll give you an answer in exactly two months.”
“Haa... really?”
“Of course. When have you ever seen me lie?”
“Quite often. More than you think.”
“...That stings a little.”
“Anyway... is there really no other reason you came? If there’s something you want, I can probably make it happen.”
“...Not really. Just a Trinity entry pass, I guess?”
“Hmm... that much, I can give you.”
“Yeah. I’ll come again later.”
“...Haruta?”
“Hm?”
“I’m... really... glad you’re alive.”
“Yeah, thaaanks.”
Rustle
“Sorry...”
After leaving the Tea Party facility, he headed for Mika’s detention facility.
“...What the hell are those bastards doing right now?”
There was burning anger in Haruta’s eyes.
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