Trinity's dawn is serene. The moon in the sky moves majestically, and thick clouds drift with the wind. Aside from that, there was nothing else. The morning streets were deserted, and all the shops were closed, with not a single light in sight. The streetlights diligently illuminated the ground, but that alone couldn't bring life to the streets.
A heavily settled silence. Normally, it would have been a welcomed tranquility, but not today. It was so eerily quiet that even sneaking around was a chore. If someone were to catch her, it wouldn't be overlooked. Trinity students detested having their sleep disturbed to an extreme degree.
The worst possible scenario was getting caught by the dorm supervisor. If they were discovered now by those who guarded the dorm year-round without rest, taking shifts... ugh, just thinking about it was dreadful. Mika licked her parched lips and cautiously moved her steps.
Fortunately, she didn't run into anyone. She almost encountered the dorm supervisor midway, but managed to talk her way out of it. Luckily, today's dorm patrol duty was someone known for slacking off, so she was fortunate. Mika let out a deep sigh of relief as she completely exited the dorm.
From now on, there was no need to move cautiously. She bounced in place a few times, then dashed off at a moderate pace towards her destination. A few minutes later, Mika arrived at an underground cafe that operated until dawn. It was one of the famous spots for Trinity students to sneak out to.
I never thought I'd come here in my life.
Mika cleared her throat, straightened her posture, and descended the stairs. Upon opening the door at the end and entering the building, an entirely white background greeted her. The shop owner sitting at the counter glanced sideways at Mika, then seemed to lose interest and began wiping a glass.
Mika was equally uninterested in him. She entered a room in the corner of the cafe, designed to be invisible from outside.
"You're late, Mika."
"It's Mika, isn't it."
"That's true too."
Inside the room were earlier guests. Nagisa, elegantly sipping black tea, and Seia, fiddling with a milk tea cup with dull eyes—the two of them. Mika tilted her head as she looked at them.
"The meeting time hasn't come yet, why are you already here?"
"The sooner we talk, the better. Please have a seat, Mika."
"Okay☆"
Mika sat in the empty seat. A brief silence hung in the air. Against that quiet backdrop, Mika nibbled on an appropriately sized piece of roll cake and rested her chin on the table. She waited like that until the conversation began. Since the reason for gathering here was because of Nagisa, she held the right to speak first.
"First off."
Clink.
Nagisa set down her tea cup and spoke. Her eyes turned cold.
"It seems this incident will be resolved well. Since word has reached the Tea Party, they'll probably send a formal protest to Gehenna soon. From Gehenna's perspective, they won't have much to argue against."
"So no all-out war?"
Mika asked with an expressionless face. Nagisa let out a deep sigh and looked back at Mika.
"Don't act impulsively, Mika. An all-out war would only harm both sides. To begin with, current Trinity doesn't have the power to completely defeat Gehenna. We've been given a proper cause, but that means we lack the ability to utilize it."
"What do you know? They messed with Kenji, and you want to just receive some compensation and let it go? The actual victim, Kenji, is lying in a hospital bed?"
Grind.
Mika gritted her teeth. She slammed the fork down as if to split the table.
"Roaches that enter the home must be exterminated. Especially if that roach attacked my family."
"I understand. Honestly, I think similarly to you, Mika. But we can't ruin things and cause harm to everyone because of personal feelings. To begin with... it's impossible for just us to start a war with Gehenna."
"...Tch."
Mika clicked her tongue loudly and leaned back against the chair.
Although she said that, she was well aware of the reality.
Currently, Trinity doesn't have overwhelming military force. The same goes for Gehenna, so if the two forces clash strongly, there's no option but mutual destruction. That means it's impossible to start a war just because a Trinity 'citizen' was kidnapped and injured.
Just.
Yes, just. Kenji's status in Trinity was just that. Merely one of the citizens walking down the street. Nothing more. No matter how much he was Mika's beloved and her everything, it had no influence on this damned place.
But it's not like there's no way at all.
Tea Party.
Trinity's Student Council. The official political institution of Trinity that wields overwhelming power. If he belongs there, Kenji won't be 'just' in Trinity. The only one who receives the student council president's favor and love. Then, naturally, personal protection can be arranged for him.
Moreover, it could lead to an all-out war with Gehenna.
Pest extermination.
For a moment, such words crossed Mika's mind.
"So, Nagisa. What's the purpose of calling us here?"
Seia spoke up instead of Mika, who was lost in thought. Nagisa took a sip of black tea, then stared at Mika and Seia as she answered.
"Protection."
"...."
"Current Kivotos is too dangerous a place for Kenji. He can't remain unscathed like us when hit by bullets, and if exposed to an explosion, he could really... literally die."
"...So?"
"Let us protect him."
Nagisa set down her tea cup and continued.
"Mere protection is insufficient. We can't always be by his side."
"Then?"
"It's simple."
Nagisa smiled faintly.
"We just need to do the opposite."
"...Explain."
"Kenji doesn't attend school, but we have to focus on our studies. Naturally, there will be times when we're apart. During those times, we can't do anything. This incident also happened during such a time."
"Hmm."
"So I thought. How can we eliminate those times? How can we perfectly protect him? After much contemplation, I reached a conclusion. Instead of us being by his side, we should keep him by our side."
At Nagisa's words, Seia slightly furrowed her brow.
"...You're not suggesting confinement, are you?"
"It's not confinement, but protection, and cohabitation would be the correct term."
"...."
"Seia, as you know, we'll soon advance to high school. And when we become high school students, we can receive personal dorms or houses based on our grades. We can live there with Kenji. Wouldn't that make it easier to protect him from external threats?"
"...Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Nagisa closed her eyes as she answered immediately. Cohabiting with Kenji. Normally, it would be something to make her heart race, but not now. As mentioned before, Kivotos is not friendly to fragile Kenji. Thinking extremely, he could suddenly die while walking down the street.
That's why keep him close. So that if something happens, it occurs within reach.
And although Seia mentioned 'confinement', Nagisa had no intention of going that far. To begin with, would she proceed without Kenji's consent? Nagisa didn't want to be hated by Kenji. In the future she desired, Kenji should always be by her side, and there should be children between him and her.
Hatred? No need for such things. If she went crazy and confined him, only to hear sincere curses, she might consider suicide. So, hatred isn't needed. Only 'love' that is hot and sweet enough to addict people is necessary. For that, she could do anything except hurt him.
"So. What do you all think?"
Nagisa asked in a calm voice. Seia kept her mouth shut, and Mika seemed to ponder for a moment before smiling brightly and nodding.
"I agree!"
"What about you, Seia?"
"...I."
After a brief silence, Seia's mouth opened.
Upon hearing her answer, Nagisa formed a faint smile.
*
The hospital at dawn was noisier than expected. Patients with shattered sleep patterns staggered around the hospital, and nurses and doctors moved busily. Because of that, the hospital was much brighter compared to other buildings.
Still, there are always places where light doesn't reach. Kenji, leaning on a crutch, entered a public phone booth placed in a corner of the hospital. The surroundings were seriously dark as if shadows were cast, but Kenji paid no mind. He inserted a coin into the payphone and dialed the number written on a business card.
The signal rang twice then disappeared. A terrifying silence came through the receiver. But the call was clearly connected. Kenji leaned against the booth and spoke first. Fortunately, a response came.
"Hey."
-...I said you could contact me anytime, but I didn't expect it at this hour.
"Shut up. This mess, did you do it?"
-...? What do you mean by this mess? Did something happen?
Is he pretending not to know, or does he really not know. Kenji pondered briefly, but chose to charge ahead.
"Spreading rumors to Gehenna students to have them attack me. Did you do it?"
-That's the first I've heard of it. But I can't give a definite answer.
"Why."
-We are an organization, but that doesn't mean we move together. Respecting individual will and not interfering with each other's actions. That's our rule. So, I can't confidently say it's not Gematria's doing.
"So, it's not your doing, at least?"
-It might sound funny, but I'm quite friendly towards you. Your physique is helpful for our research, you see. If possible, I'd like to be comrades. So, I don't want to hostilely oppress you to force you together. That way won't last long and only fosters hostility.
Hmm.
Kenji listened to the guy's words while sighing. He was an untrustworthy fellow, but his voice didn't seem to be lying. If even this was his deception... well, what can you do? It's the fault of the person who couldn't see through it. Anyway, he doesn't trust him regardless.
Clink.
Kenji inserted another coin into the phone. The call time was extended.
"Then let me ask something else. Do you know about a machine that's black and looks like a mask?"
-...Kukukuku, are you asking me for information?
A laughter-filled voice returned. Kenji's face twisted slightly.
"...So?"
-Any information, knowledge has its value. If you want to know, you must pay a fitting price.
"...."
-But... as an expression of affection, I'll tell you for free this time.
"...Thanks a damn lot."
Kenji spat out with a distorted mouth. The black-clad man laughed once, then answered in a slightly brighter voice.
-You're welcome. Rather, about that machine that's black and looks like a mask. Were its eyes blue? Did it fire bullets from its hands, and disappear like dust when disabled?
"...You know a lot. Did you make it?"
-Let me tell you one thing: that doll was indeed made by someone in 'Gematria'. But the owner is someone else.
"Who is it?"
-Hmm. This seems like it'll be a long story.
A moment of silence, then a short voice popped out from the receiver.
-Let's meet and talk.