The Make-Up Work Club was established for the purpose of expelling students?
As I repeated the information Nagisa had told me in my mind, countless tangled thoughts surged up. Among them, the clearest was the sudden clarity that came when the core issue was laid bare.
If the Tea Party's objective from the very beginning was not to rescue struggling students as I had assumed, then many of the questions I had encountered earlier could now be answered more reasonably.
But that only led to an even more crucial question.
"Then," I said in a low voice, "why do this?"
I believed I understood Nagisa's character to some extent.
She was not the kind of person who would scheme to have students expelled simply because their grades were poor.
Moreover, if that were truly the case, the first evaluation exam could have simply been made so difficult that no one could pass. There would have been no need to appoint me as the Make-Up Work Club's advisor.
So behind this action of hers, which I still could not comprehend, there had to be a deeper reason.
"It is about time you knew," Nagisa said.
Her tone had grown as heavy as her expression. "Because among them, there is a traitor to Trinity."
My expression changed slightly. "…A traitor?"
"That is correct." Nagisa paused briefly. "That traitor's objective is to prevent the signing of the Eden Treaty."
In other words…
The true culprit who attacked Seia, or an accomplice?
I felt a surge of disbelief. Without knowing it, without any preparation, had I already stepped into the undercurrents swirling within Trinity?
Nagisa misunderstood the reason for my confusion.
"To help you understand the importance of this… I must explain what the Eden Treaty is."
She then began to describe the Eden Treaty as she understood it.
Overall, it did not differ much from what I knew, from what I had heard from Seia. But in the finer details, in the direction of her focus and her interpretation, there were subtle differences.
"The Eden Treaty… simply put, it is a non-aggression pact between Trinity and Gehenna. Its core principle is that the principal members of both Trinity and Gehenna will all be present and establish a neutral organization."
Nagisa took a deep breath and revealed its name and function.
"This group, known as the [Eden Treaty Organization], [ETO], will intervene and resolve disputes whenever conflicts arise between Trinity and Gehenna. In this way, a full scale war between the two academies can be avoided."
The Tea Party host's gaze slowly shifted to the chessboard beside her.
"Because once either side takes a single step, the two academies will lovingly destroy each other together."
After saying this, Nagisa lifted her teacup and took a sip of black tea. It seemed as if she was moistening her throat to organize her thoughts, or perhaps giving me time to reflect.
"…Sensei."
She called out to me sincerely, analyzing the current situation.
"The long standing hostility between Trinity and Gehenna has placed a heavy burden on both sides. The Eden Treaty may be the only way to prevent that meaningless attrition. At the same time, it is meant to maintain the balance of power within Kivotos.
"This was a solution proposed by the GSC President. After her disappearance, this initiative once came close to collapsing entirely. I worked hard to rebuild it to its current state.
"However, just as this long awaited treaty is about to be signed… I received intelligence that someone intends to obstruct it."
I remained silent, thinking that Nagisa still did not intend to reveal the entire truth to me.
For instance, Seia's so called death, and the true way in which she obtained that information.
Was she considering my feelings, or was it because, as the host of the Tea Party, she could not speak openly to an outsider?
I suspected it was both.
Because of Seia's request, even though I did not know her reasons, I could only keep the fact that she was still alive buried in my heart for now.
Nagisa continued speaking at an unhurried pace.
"At present, we do not know who that person is. So as a second best strategy… we gathered all the potential suspects in one place… The traitor is among them. But we do not know who it is. Since that is the case, we put them in the same box… so that when necessary, they can all be discarded together."
At this point, Nagisa asked me, "…You understand now, do you not? That box is the Make-Up Work Club. Sensei also helped build that box."
I gave a quiet acknowledgment and nodded slightly.
"…I am sorry." Nagisa's expression showed guilt, and her tone grew subdued. "To drag you into something that reeks of blood like this. You may scold me if you wish."
I could roughly imagine the mental path the girl before me, who appeared cold and ruthless, must have walked to arrive at such a decision.
Especially since, in order to bypass procedures, she had to rely on Schale's authority, which meant involving me, someone who was originally unrelated to this matter and someone she cared about.
If this were to make me despise her, how painful would that be for a girl in love?
But since she had said so, I felt that if I did not scold her a little, it would be even more unfair to her.
"Nagisa, you idiot." I put on a stern face. "Why did you not discuss this with me earlier?"
Though, if we were being honest, I might not have the right to say that.
Still, I believed in keeping matters separate.
"…I have no intention of defending myself. However, since I sit in this position, there are many things I must prioritize, and corresponding duties and responsibilities I must bear. So I cannot accept that label."
Her brows knit together as if questioning why I had truly called her that.
Clearly defending herself while trying to salvage some of her image in my eyes, Nagisa composed herself and asked carefully,
"From your tone… does that mean you believe me?"
I looked at her in surprise. "Would you lie to me about something like this?"
Nagisa smiled faintly. "Just a small worry. In that case, it will be easier for us to communicate… Sensei."
Then her expression turned serious once more.
"…Will you help me find the traitor within the Make-Up Work Club?"
Hearing her request, I fell silent.
If everything were truly as she said, I would naturally agree without hesitation and give it my all. But the question was, did Nagisa truly know the whole truth?
At least from what I had seen so far, the members of the Make-Up Work Club, aside from Hifumi… even including Hifumi, were problem children. But which of them seemed like someone who would do such a thing?
"Someone is deceiving you, Sensei, and deceiving Trinity."
Nagisa spoke with disgust and anger. "She is a terrorist who intends to destroy peace. Not just us, she is weighing the peace of all Kivotos against her own interests."
I thought back to my brief week of interactions with the members of the Make-Up Work Club, excluding Hifumi.
Although we mostly met after school and spent our time studying together, each of them had left a deep impression on me.
At the very least, what I personally felt while being with them was not false.
Leaving Hanako aside for the moment, Koharu's various baffling antics were not something just anyone could fake. Even Azusa, who usually had the most indifferent expression and the strangest behavior, had become much friendlier after receiving my help.
Among girls like them, who, though a bit strange, were moved by ordinary daily matters, was there really someone who would destroy peace for personal gain?
Rather than that, why did Nagisa suspect them?
And besides, the others were one thing.
"But Hifumi is within your scope of suspicion as well?" I asked. "Are you not on good terms? You should understand what kind of person she is."
The moment I said this, I suddenly felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere.
"…I see. My apologies. It seems that because I previously concealed certain matters from you, you have not gathered related intelligence."
Nagisa pondered for a moment, then smiled.
"Although I could explain here, one by one, the reasons for selecting them, I believe you would trust information gathered through other channels more. For instance, the Sisterhood… or the student council of the other party to the Eden Treaty?"
…It was supposed to be a secret meeting. Setting aside the Prefect Team, why did even the Tea Party know?
I could only say that it aligned with my understanding of Makoto.
"I am not interrogating you. Nagisa, I just think there might be some misunderstanding."
I tried to persuade her, but her smile did not change.
"Oh? Then please find the traitor. This matter is also closely related to the peace of Kivotos. What do you think? I hope Schale, as the Federal Investigation Club, can understand."
The current Nagisa was treating me entirely in a businesslike manner.
Perhaps from the very beginning of calling me here today, she had already decided to set aside personal feelings.
I sighed helplessly and spoke sincerely. "I do not want to hide anything from you either. I can understand, but for now, I cannot accept your commission."
"…Why?"
"If you start by presuming guilt and include innocent people as well, do you not think that would hurt their feelings?"
More than half a month ago, I had treated Arisu the same way and nearly brought about consequences too severe to imagine.
Even now, I still carried a trace of guilt and lingering fear.
This time, I wanted to choose to believe.
I looked at Nagisa as if seeing my former self.
And because of that, I knew that nothing I said now would be effective.
Once the seed of suspicion takes root, unless there is sufficiently strong evidence, it cannot be uprooted by mere words.
"…I see. That does sound like you, Sensei."
Nagisa paused. "…However, Sensei. When it is difficult to carefully sort through the trash before discarding it…"
"Kirifuji Nagisa. Watch your wording."
I frowned and spoke coldly, wondering if I had been too lenient with her earlier.
I take that back. Even I would only think such words privately.
"…Hehe, it was merely a harmless metaphor. By the way, the initiative is basically in my hands…"
Rather than implying something, her next words were closer to a direct threat.
"For example, suddenly changing the exam scope, changing the exam venue, changing the difficulty… Although I would not wish for such things to happen…"
Given her usual refinement, this was only one step away from openly falling out.
I simply looked at her calmly, as she revealed a trace of genuine emotion. In my heart, I could not help but sigh, though not for the girl before me.
Why was Seia unwilling to let me tell Nagisa and Mika the truth?
I was willing to trust Seia, but I hoped that after I told her about the current situation, she could give me a more convincing reason.
…But even if Nagisa were to learn that Seia was safe, merely hidden away and unconscious, would she change her scheme against the Make-Up Work Club?
Moreover, I could not state with absolute certainty that there was truly no traitor within the Make-Up Work Club.
I needed more information to cross check.
"…My apologies. That was not an appropriate way to speak."
Nagisa took a deep breath and put on her flawless, perfect smile again, speaking in distant politeness.
"Then please continue to take good care of the Make-Up Work Club, Sensei. We will not do anything that harms you or damages your interests… I would like to say that, at least."
I could not help but remark, "Is that something you can say to me directly?"
Nagisa nodded slightly. "I believe I have said before that when speaking with you, it is better to be frank."
Hearing that, I reached out and picked up a delicate pastry, stuffing it into my mouth and swallowing it in a few bites.
Then I took a sip of the slightly cooled black tea and let out a satisfied breath.
"That's enough, is it not?"
"…I cannot easily make promises to you."
Nagisa returned to the earlier topic with a sigh.
"Even so, I believe you are not the kind of person who would abandon students. So I cannot predict how this will unfold. I can only pray that the ending… will involve as little pain as possible."
I neither agreed nor disagreed.
Now that I knew this information, and since I could not agree with Nagisa, I had a responsibility to search for more evidence.
"Ah, but I must inform you first…" Nagisa explained. "In the first evaluation exam, we did not conduct any manipulation. On that point, I can swear it is absolutely not a lie."
Yet it was precisely this statement that made me suddenly recall something else.
Hifumi, whose grades were average, but who could pass as long as she took the exam.
Before missing the exam to go out with me, she had repeatedly confirmed the date.
"…What about before that?"
"…Hehe."
There was no smile in Nagisa's eyes, and she did not answer.
"How do the sweets I personally made taste?"
"They are a bit sticky to the teeth. Improve them a little."
I stood up.
"Is that so? What a pity."
The Tea Party host did not rise to see me off.
"Until next time."
And so, we parted on less than pleasant terms.