After control of the Sanctum Tower was restored, Rin began to show Sensei around the SCHALE building. While doing so, she subtly plugged that SCHALE could recruit students regardless of their academy affiliation, trying to rope in not only Chinatsu and Yuuka, who were present, but me as well.
...These are all busy people—a student council treasurer, a Prefect Team medic, and a student council president—not just regular students.
Still, since we had landed on a helipad near the middle of the building, we had already seen a few places on our way down, so the tour itself ended surprisingly quickly. Seeing that the convenience store hadn't opened on the first floor yet, it seems that will come a bit later.
As she introduced the clubroom near the top floor of SCHALE, Rin explained to Sensei that SCHALE was an organization with authority but no set objective, so there was nothing he particularly needed to do.
However, she then slyly suggested that since the General Student Council was currently focusing all its efforts on finding the whereabouts of the President, they lacked the capacity to respond to problems breaking out all over Kivotos, so perhaps he could handle the civil complaints coming into the GSC. All I could think was how cunning she was.
Instead of searching for a non-existent president, they should be thinking about solving the problems themselves, but perhaps because they've only ever followed the President's orders, they're frustrating in many ways. This is why the GSC gets a reputation for being incompetent.
"...Sensei. Now that I've confirmed the GSC has regained control of the Sanctum Tower, I'll be heading back to the academy. I have a mountain of work to deal with... Hahh. Still, let's meet again when we have the chance."
"I, too, must report this series of events to the Prefect Team President, so I will be taking my leave. Thank you for resolving the situation, Sensei."
"Yeah, thanks to both of you for coming along. I'll call you if something comes up next time, so don't be too cold to me."
"O-Of course not! As long as I'm not too busy with work, helping out once in a while is fine."
Hey, Yuuka, Yuuka. Are you already starting your main heroine routine...?
Still, it's Yuuka... so I'll trust you to make sure Sensei doesn't waste the budget.
Rin also announced her departure, saying she would be busy as the GSC began the process of normalizing Kivotos with its recovered authority. At that point, everyone's gaze gathered on me.
"Hm? Why is everyone staring at me like that?"
"...Mika-ssi, you're the Student Council President of Trinity, aren't you? Aren't you busy? Yes, I'm sure you are. Is it alright for you not to head back now?"
"And, the helicopter we came on is, after all, yours, Mika-nim."
It was only after hearing Yuuka and Chinatsu's words that I realized.
"Aha, you don't want to walk."
"Th-That's not exactly the reason!"
"Yes, that's right."
The two, giving conflicting answers, exchanged glances. Watching them, a chuckle escaped my lips.
"Pfft... Ahahat! What's with you two? Your reactions are hilarious. I'll give you permission, so the three of you can just take the helicopter back to the GSC."
"Um, the way you say that... sounds like you plan on staying here to slack off."
"Yep, that's right. Do you guys have any idea how hard the last three weeks have been for me? Ah, Chinatsu-chan would know. Hina-chan and I have been handling a similar workload during that time."
"...Indeed, if that's the case, I can understand wanting to take even a short break now that the situation is resolved."
Chinatsu understands how I feel, probably because she's seen with her own two eyes how much Hina has been struggling. No, seriously. When I think about my daily life since the GSC President abandoned us and ran off, that witch should have nothing to say even if I grab her by the collar and shake her out later.
"H-Huh? Um, just how hard did you work to get that kind of reaction?"
How hard did I work, you ask?
For the past three weeks, my routine was to wake up without even the sweet breakfast I usually have with Nagisa, get ready to leave immediately for school, subsist on simple things like sandwiches prepared by the Tea Party executives, finish my paperwork by the afternoon, and then hit the streets to maintain Trinity's security until late at night.
It was normal to get home after 11 p.m., and sometimes it was even past midnight. My heart ached every time I saw Nagisa dozing off on the sofa after drawing a warm bath for me...!
"I'd say I was lucky to get five hours of sleep a day."
Still, I believe that five hours spent in Nagisa's embrace are of a different quality than ordinary sleep. I never would have endured it otherwise.
"...Um, Mika-ssi. I hope you get a good rest before you head back. I thought I had a lot of work, but I never imagined there was someone here who had it much, much worse."
Hey, why is everyone looking at me with such pity? It's true I struggled a lot, but that's just because they've never had the experience of falling asleep in Nagisa's arms. Not that I have any intention of sharing, of course.
Anyway. After sending the three of them off in the helicopter, only Sensei and I were left in SCHALE. Sensei hasn't even signed up for Momotalk yet, but Yuuka still managed to leave her ID behind... you truly are the main heroine.
Anyway. This is, in a manner of speaking... that. SCHALE duty.
"Sensei, it's a shame, but for today, you'll have to be a student, not a teacher☆"
"Hm?"
"From now on, it's Misono Mika-sensei's Kivotos Common Sense class. You should be happy, because this is the kind of time the students at our academy would pay to have. Yeah, think of it as a starter pack for a newbie Sensei."
"A starter pack... I'm not sure I get it, but I suppose this is where I should say thank you? I'll be in your care, Mika-sensei."
Ahh, to be called "sensei" by Sensei himself. Isn't this an achievement in its own right?
Ah, but before that. I made sure to send Nagisa a Momotalk letting her know that something came up and I'd be a little late getting back. This was a crucial matter that absolutely could not be forgotten.
***
I set foot on Trinity's campus again a little after 6 p.m. But the moment I entered the Tea Party building, I was apprehended by the executives and promptly delivered directly to my office.
"...?"
When I came to my senses, I was lying on the sofa in my office. On Nagisa's lap, no less.
"Really... aren't you pushing yourself too hard these days? It's gotten to the point where even I'm worried, so please take some breaks, Mika-ssi. Even Seia-san asked me to tell you that while it's good to work hard, you should make some time for yourself... Do you realize just how much you're overworking your body?"
"Uh, um. Yeah, yeah. You're right. If Nagi-chan says rest, I should rest."
"Yes, rest is important."
...I actually just came from a break that lasted over two hours. It was called a "Kivotos Common Sense Class for Sensei," but compared to what Nagisa did for me back then, it was nothing. And with Arona around, it probably wasn't even necessary.
Anyone could see it was something I did because I was bored, and Sensei is a good person for playing along despite knowing that. From his perspective, I'm one of his students, so maybe he was just playing along with an energetic and mischievous student.
...Wait, isn't this basically an Affinity Story?
Hmm, well. With three girlfriends, I don't think I need to worry about any "female corruption." I think of this as a healthy relationship between an educator and a student. It will absolutely never go any further than that.
"Nagisa-sunbae is one hundred percent right. How about you try to consider the feelings of a junior who has to watch her sunbae suffer so much from the sidelines?"
"Ahaha... I see. I'm sorry, Hanako-chan."
Ah, come to think of it. The secretary I wanted so badly finally materialized. And an SSS-class one at that, so competent that most other students couldn't even compare.
Is it a case of one thing coming as another goes...? Atsuko, whom I had my eye on as a successor, mercilessly betrayed me, while Hanako, whom I hadn't expected at all, joined the Tea Party as soon as the new semester began.
That Atsuko, a rascal who I can't bring myself to hate, betrayed my pure heart yet still calls me "unni, unni" while showing her affection. If you like me that much, you should have joined the Tea Party instead of following your friend to a new club called the After-School Sweets Club. You chose friendship over information, our dear Atsuko.
Hmm... then again, you can't help it that Yoshimi-is-cute-Yoshimi is cute. Honestly, if it were me, I'd also choose the After-School Sweets Club over a place like the Tea Party. I can respect Atsuko's typical student plan of playing around in her first year and studying hard from her second.
...So, you are going to join the Tea Party later, right, Atsuko? If you don't, I'll bring Azusa and Saori to sit here, so unless you want to see the day Trinity is destroyed, you'd better take responsibility.
"So, did the business you went to take care of get resolved well? I heard the infrastructure is starting to run again, and I saw a news flash that the 'Sensei' person the GSC President appointed has arrived."
"..."
Nagisa's lips were smiling as she said that, but her eyes were not.
Uh, did I ever say the matter was resolved...?
*'Nagi-chan, something came up, so I'll be a little late getting back. I'll be there before dinner!'*
Thinking back, I think that's exactly what I sent on Momotalk. And just a moment ago, she was acting like she didn't know how things turned out. Was she just giving me a chance to be honest first...?
"Ahaha. Nagi-chan, um..."
"Yes, go on."
"I'm sorry...?"
"Fufu, Mika-ssi. When did I ever ask for an apology? I believe I asked if the business you went to take care of was resolved well..."
"Ah, yes. I think it was resolved well!"
"If it was resolved well, why didn't you say anything? You could have just been honest and said you were going to take a little break. Or, perhaps, did you go to meet Haruna-san? Ah, no, that can't be right. It would be stranger for that woman *not* to have eaten dinner."
Is this that 'gijon-sse' thing they talk about? The kind that verbally destroys you with a quiet smile...?
I'm so scared, Nagi-chan...
"Hey, Nagi-chan."
"Yes, Mika-ssi. I'm listening."
"Could you lean down just a little...?"
"..."
But in times like these, I'm glad that our Nagisa is an easy woman. Truly.
***