Why come specifically to free Mika instead of going to find Seia?
Faced with that question, the pro-war members of the Tea Party looked at each other for a moment, unable to answer.
The answer was obvious.
How could Seia, who advocated peace, possibly agree with their ambition of launching a war against Gehenna?
Yet despite how simple the question was, Mika still insisted on asking it, making them unable to stop themselves from feeling uneasy.
Was she truly so naive that she could not even understand something this obvious, or was she hoping to hear a different answer?
While several Pater faction administrators weighed their words, Mika suddenly smiled and spoke:
"Well, I guess that makes sense too. Seia-chan probably went to rest, right? Her complexion looked awful earlier after all. She probably never expected things would turn out like this? Haha, Seia-chan, who always acts like everything's under her control and keeps making those smug expressions, actually getting flustered like that... wasn't it kind of interesting?"
The instant those words were spoken, the atmosphere thawed like melting ice.
The administrators immediately switched to polite business smiles, agreeing that Yurizono Seia truly was ridiculous. They praised Mika for her foresight, saying she was unquestionably the best candidate to lead the Tea Party, the true choice of all Trinity, and that her imprisonment had merely been Kirifuji Nagisa's jealousy of talent.
Mika calmly accepted all their flattery.
Only after they began subtly urging her again did she continue:
"So, you've already taken control of the other factions too, right?"
"Yes!"
An administrator proudly declared, "At this point, there's no one left in all of Trinity who can oppose you! Everyone is simply waiting for your command to officially declare war on Gehenna!"
Mika nodded and slowly replied:
"So actually, there's no need to go through any declaration of war at all. You could just go beat up Gehenna directly. Yet you insist on wanting someone else to be angry for you, to command you... what exactly is that? Is this supposed to be some kind of interesting game?"
Their thoughts exposed, and vaguely sensing the strange undertone hidden in the pink-haired girl's words, the pro-war administrators' smiles all became stiff and awkward.
"M-Mika-sama!? What are you saying...?!"
"Ahaha, sorry if that upset you. Mm, it's true that I hate Gehenna. If I had the chance, I really would like to deal with them."
Hearing that, although the pro-war faction still felt somewhat dissatisfied, they suppressed it as much as possible and resumed their flattering expressions.
"In that case, hurry and..."
Yet in the next moment, Mika interrupted them and abruptly changed her tone.
"But..."
The smile on the pink-haired girl's face gradually faded. There was not the slightest emotion visible in her golden eyes.
"Right now, I'm not in that kind of mood. So sorry, but could you all leave?"
"M-Mood...?"
That utterly inappropriate word made everyone present except Mika herself doubt their own ears.
"Do you really understand how important this moment is?"
One administrator asked in disbelief. "Just because you're not in the mood..."
"...'Just because'?"
Mika narrowed her eyes and repeated the phrase.
"What are you talking about? That's the most important thing, isn't it?"
Seriously, these people understood absolutely nothing.
As Mika thought that, her gaze swept across their stunned expressions one by one.
"The reason I hate Gehenna in the first place is because of my feelings and emotions. There's nothing wrong with that, right? Of course, there aren't any other reasons or hidden motives behind it either."
She shook her head and sighed.
"In this situation, making some declaration of war is obviously unnecessary, right? Yet you still want me to stir up hatred for you and say all these weird things..."
At this point, Mika sounded completely uninterested as she flatly said:
"Can you leave now? I'm not in that kind of mood. I'm starting to get annoyed."
The Pater faction administrators' faces twitched. Finally, they could no longer maintain their expressions.
"...What exactly are you talking about?"
"What? Do you need me to clean out your ears for you?"
A mocking curve formed on Mika's lips as she let out a derisive laugh and proudly raised her chin.
"I said, if nobody orders you around, can't you even manage to hate someone on your own? Idiots."
People always assumed Mika was an idiot completely lacking in political sense, someone so foolish she would not even realize she was being manipulated.
But in reality, she simply could not be bothered thinking about those things. To her, regardless of the outcome, they would only become varying degrees of "interesting."
Mika had not lied.
To her, mood was the highest standard determining whether she would or would not do something.
And right now, the barely concealed malice toward her and the people she cared about made Mika unhappy.
That was all.
At this point, all pretense between Mika and the people before her, her nominal subordinates and loyal supporters, had completely fallen apart.
Having failed to trick Mika into taking responsibility for "declaring war on Gehenna," the administrators could no longer suppress the anger they had been building ever since her arrogant attitude began.
The pro-war member who had just been openly insulted raised her gun and shouted furiously:
"You little...! If we tell you to give the order, then obediently give the damn order already...!"
While shouting, she violently slammed the butt of her rifle down onto Mika's head.
After that, the other pro-war members also crowded around Mika, cursing at her, kicking and punching her, even firing shots, venting the negativity in their hearts.
At the same time, they intended to force the one person capable of taking responsibility for them, the only one who could help realize their ambitions, into yielding through this bullying.
"You spoiled brat who doesn't know your place!"
One of them angrily shouted.
"We specially let you out of prison, so don't get so full of yourself...!"
Too lazy to resist, and even less likely to beg for mercy.
Mika silently endured the violence and merely sighed softly.
"Honestly... this hurts."
Still, it was nowhere near as sharp as Nagisa-chan's slap back then.
And so, her tone still carried that same feeling that nothing really mattered, which only enraged the pro-war faction even more.
"If it weren't for Yurizono Seia refusing to give in no matter how much we pressured her,"
One of them snapped,
"Who the hell would come to a place like this looking for an idiot like you who has no idea who she really is?!"
"...Hm? Is that so? So you already went to see Seia-chan first."
For the first time, a trace of emotion appeared on the pink-haired girl's otherwise still face, though because her head remained lowered, none of her abusers noticed.
"Come to think of it..."
Mika asked, "Surely you weren't stupid enough to treat Seia-chan the same way you're treating me right now, were you?"
"Hah?! You still have the energy to worry about someone else?"
One pro-war member sneered.
"Yurizono Seia isn't like trash who's practically about to get kicked out of the Tea Party like you!"
The implication was obvious.
They had not dared use violence like this against the physically frail Seia.
Hearing that, Mika pursed her lips, and the fist she had unconsciously clenched quietly relaxed again.
At that moment, another pro-war member mocked her too:
"Heh, and earlier you were talking about autographs. You really still think you're the princess everyone adored back then, huh? Ahh, I watched that channel too. 'Mika's Prison Diary,' right? It was full of completely insane nonsense. Did staying locked up too long fry your brain? So disgusting."
Mika quietly closed her eyes, too lazy to pay attention to such childish mockery that only bored her.
"Misono Mika, you don't seriously think that Sensei from Schale would actually like you, do you?"
Mika abruptly opened her eyes and stared at the person who said that.
The administrator was startled by the gaze that looked ready to explode with violence. She instinctively stopped moving and took half a step back, asking warily:
"Y-You... what are you trying to do?"
Yet Mika did nothing. She merely stared at her coldly before suddenly being struck near the temple by another rifle butt from the side.
The administrator who attacked her shouted harshly:
"What? Did she say anything wrong?! Hey, don't make me laugh! A selfish idiot like you who grabs things from others just because you can't have them... there's no way in hell that Sensei you forcibly kissed would ever like you!"
Mika froze briefly.
Even she herself felt her own reaction had been somewhat strange.
After all, she had never expected anything in the first place, and had only ever thought that person especially irritating.
Meanwhile, the administrator who had been frightened earlier saw Mika lower her head and give up resisting again. Embarrassed by her own cowardice, she gritted her teeth and stepped forward, becoming even more violent than before.
Seeing Mika remain completely unresponsive, the administrator who felt she had embarrassed herself before her companions suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"Hahaha!"
She stopped hitting Mika and looked toward the others with a laugh.
"Come to think of it, that joke earlier was really top-tier! Doesn't it fit perfectly when you think about it?"
"Hm? What joke?"
Someone beside her asked in confusion.
The administrator grinned and explained:
"Well, that Sensei from Schale... isn't he about to die? So technically, it really would be 'seeing a ghost,' right?"
"...What?"
Mika's pupils contracted as she blankly raised her face.
Seeing her finally react, the administrator felt an intense sense of accomplishment and proudly continued:
"So this idiot didn't know? Heh, apparently he got shot at the Old Cathedral? But in the end it was Gehenna's ambulance that took him away. Getting so close to those horned freaks, how disgusting!"
Someone beside her covered her mouth and giggled in agreement.
"Exactly. Aside from having a decent face, what's so special about him? At the end of the day, he's just some pretty-boy gigolo who survives off his looks."
"Right!"
The administrator who had been frightened earlier burst into laughter and mockingly added:
"If you think about it that way, Sensei and this idiot really are a perfect match, huh? After all, for an ungrateful brat like her, looks are probably the only thing she cares about in a partner, right? Well? I helped restore your confidence, so you should thank me."
Yet Mika said nothing, as though she had lost focus entirely.
Not getting the response she wanted, the previously frightened administrator's expression darkened.
"Hey! Answer me! Are you deaf?! Don't you even know basic manners anymore?!"
As she spoke, she raised her rifle again, preparing to smash it down onto Mika.
At that moment, a suddenly uncertain voice rang out nearby:
"What... what are you people doing?!"
The pro-war members surrounding Mika all jolted in surprise and turned toward the source of the voice.
Standing there was a small girl with pink hair and pink eyes, dressed in the black uniform unique to the Justice Task Force.
Although her legs were trembling slightly, she still forced herself to meet their gazes without backing down.
"...Where did you come from?"
The administrator whose actions had been interrupted frowned and coldly said,
"Don't stick your nose into this."
Koharu swallowed nervously.
"Y-You can't bully people! Why are so many of you ganging up on just one person...! T-This kind of behavior, I won't allow it!"
"Tch... a mere Justice Task Force member actually dares act this arrogant now that your president isn't around?"
The administrator spat in annoyance and turned while giving orders:
"You all go grab her. As for Mika, I'll contin—"
Before she could finish, her words abruptly cut off, replaced by painful, panicked choking sounds.
As if welcoming them.
A slender hand had seized the throat of the administrator who had been yammering nonstop this entire time, lifting her high into the air until both feet dangled helplessly while she struggled desperately.
That hand belonged to Misono Mika.
Seeing this, the other administrators who had been about to grab Koharu all paled in shock before shouting with forced bravado:
"Stop! What do you think you're doing?!"
"Put her down! Hey! Didn't you hear us?! Let go!"
But just like when she had endured their violence without reacting earlier, nothing they did could move the pink-haired girl even slightly.
"This isn't how it should be."
Mika slowly raised her head.
Her empty eyes rested upon the face that had turned bright red, yet it was as though she was looking at something else entirely.
She murmured softly:
"It shouldn't be like this. I should have been standing above the clouds..."
Originally... what exactly should things have been like?
Within the indescribable emptiness that felt maddening enough to drive someone insane, Mika seemed to glimpse such a scene before her eyes.
If she had not ordered Arius to attack Seia back then, perhaps she would still be living that carefree life she once had.
No... though being around those horned Gehenna people would still probably feel pretty annoying.
So maybe she still would have tried becoming the Tea Party host and stopping the Eden Treaty, only through more legitimate means.
And if she succeeded?
Would she have gone to war with Gehenna?
That sounded troublesome somehow.
Nagisa-chan and Seia-chan probably would not help her either.
Doing it alone would be far too boring.
So instead, maybe she would have aimed for somewhere higher, farther away, more fitting for her status and interests, and much more entertaining...
Oh right.
Wasn't the General Student Council President currently missing?
Then maybe she could have tried becoming the next General Student Council President herself!
Smart Nagisa-chan would definitely have to be appointed Chief Administrative Officer.
As for Seia-chan, who was also smart but physically weak and always annoyed people with difficult riddles... where should she assign her...?
Ah, and Schale too...
Whether she wanted to abolish it entirely or simply place it somewhere closer to herself, it would all be nothing more than a single command.
In any case, it felt like if the old her had wanted to do it, she probably could have accomplished it effortlessly.
Thinking that far, the corners of the girl's lips lifted slightly.
That's right.
Once upon a time...
"Monster!"
A terrified scream nearly on the verge of collapse dragged Mika back from that beautiful fantasy into cruel reality.
"This monster! She's going to kill someone!"
"Q-Quick, go get help! At this rate, she's going to...!"
"H-Her halo...!"
The noisy clamor buzzed around her ears like an irritating swarm of flies, making her completely unwilling to process any of it.
Still, one word managed to slip into her ears.
"Monster... huh?"
Quietly savoring the title, Mika suddenly laughed.
"Hehe... what a fitting description. But the ones who wanted me to become something like that were you people, weren't they? No... this isn't how it should be."
A path completely opposite from that fairy tale-like fantasy slowly seemed to unfold before her.
Mika released her grip.
The administrator, now covered in tears and snot with even her halo flickering faintly, immediately collapsed limply to the ground.
Then, a high heel stepped onto the conveniently placed head beneath it.
Sweeping her gaze across the terrified faces around her, then briefly passing over the unrelated bystander who looked hesitant to speak, Mika softly said:
"If someone really has to fall into hell... then it should be me dragging all of you down with me. Right?"
The previously overbearing pro-war members all lowered their heads trembling. Not a single one dared meet those golden eyes brighter than fire itself, each of them silent as cicadas in winter.
"...You people are boring beyond belief. Though according to Nagisa-chan, you're still useful enough as chess pieces. Honestly, what a pain. Fine then, let me teach you what the truth of this world really is."
Mika raised her head and casually ordered:
"Go bring me my gun. Since you've invited me so enthusiastically, then next, just as you wished, toward Gehenna... no."
The last remaining member of the Tea Party, the leader of one of its three major factions, the Pater faction, attempted to correct the mistakes she had made with utterly arrogant pride.
"You should feel honored. For everything you are about to unleash, witness, and personally experience, I, in the name of the Tea Party, shall declare upon all of Kivotos..."
"Mika...?"
A confused voice instantly made the pink-haired, golden-eyed girl recoil as if electrocuted.
Her foot snapped back, and the cruel smile on her face rapidly transformed into flustered panic mixed with surprise and relief.
Mika looked over and stammered:
"...Eh? Sensei? Y-You... how... why are you... eh? Weren't you... I..."
Having just arrived, I looked at the scene before me and could not help asking the red-eyed, utterly bewildered Mika, the Koharu who looked seconds away from bursting into tears from fright, and the several Tea Party students staring at me with tearful gratitude as though they had seen a savior:
"What exactly happened here?"