So Nagisa can still make such an interesting expression, huh?
It's a shame I can't take a photo to remember it, but no matter. I'll engrave it in my memory and never forget it for the rest of my life.
After a while, Nagisa, barely regaining her composure, forced a smile:
"…Sensei, you really are humorous. You're also a traitor of Trinity… hehe. But you're not even a student here. Are you trying to forge a closer connection with Trinity?"
Forge a connection? Like proposing something similar to the Pandemonium Society President's plan?
"I think, as the Make-Up Work Club's advisor, I can count as part of Trinity too, can't I?"
"Hehe, that's true…"
But soon Nagisa couldn't keep smiling, her face darkening as she said softly:
"Sensei, this joke… isn't funny at all."
I let out a light chuckle, repeating her earlier words:
"I may have deceived, but there's no way I would betray my students' trust or speak carelessly on something this important."
Unless, of course, there's a reason.
Nagisa's anger erupted:
"That's enough! Sensei, stop making these terrible jokes! I said, it's not funny!"
In stark contrast, I remained calm:
"I already told you, it's not a joke, is it?"
It's just a lie.
Nagisa stared at me, trying to find any flaw on my face. But with the strategies I had planned, there was nothing to reveal.
Finally, biting her lip, she asked the empty question:
"Why?"
I knew what she really wanted to ask, but I pretended to misunderstand. I shook my head, sighing:
"Ah… you insisted on digging for the truth. I already warned you that the reality might be hard to bear. If you had simply trusted my investigation results and spared the Make-Up Work Club, everything could have stayed peaceful, and it wouldn't have escalated this far."
Nagisa, who seemed half convinced, snapped:
"Tell me! Why!?"
"Hmm… let's start in order, with the members of the Make-Up Work Club."
I shifted to a more comfortable sitting position and began recounting to Nagisa the carefully crafted lies my club and I had woven, blending truth and fiction:
"Urawa Hanako—once the perfect lady carrying everyone's expectations, but only in first year. Somehow, she began showing odd interests without restraint, and her grades plummeted… Nagisa, what do you think could cause such a drastic change in a girl in the midst of adolescence?"
Without waiting for her, I answered myself:
"The answer is… love."
Nagisa suddenly interjected:
"You're lying. Hanako's changes happened before you even arrived in Kivotos."
I denied it outright:
"No, you're mistaken. That was when I took over as the sensei of Schale. Do you really think an adult with no standing in Kivotos, handsome though he may be, would be entrusted with such responsibilities by the GSC president? Just because you didn't investigate doesn't mean it didn't happen."
Nagisa fell silent.
"At that time, I met Hanako, who was sick of everything. Burdened with too many expectations, she had grown resentful of Trinity itself. Why didn't you notice sooner? Anyway, I taught her many new things, and of course she came to care for me. Since then, she's been helping me in various ways, even contributing to Azusa's enrollment files."
"Shirasu Azusa is… your person?"
"Hmm… not entirely. Remember how we first met?"
"Hehe, of course. You weren't so annoying back then."
I understood now that Nagisa had liked me from our first meeting.
I smiled and said:
"That makes things much simpler. Now, do you remember the words Mika said... Things that outsiders really shouldn't have heard?"
Nagisa's expression changed again:
"Arius…? Could it be!?"
"That's right. Azusa was originally a student from Arius. After learning about Arius, I thought it would be interesting to get involved. So I used my channels to contact Arius and carried out a very friendly negotiation regarding Trinity matters."
I paused:
"Azusa is the result of that negotiation. Looking back, doesn't Mika's idea seem rather clever? After Arius students transferred to Trinity, they brought new energy to the school."
"You call violent conflict 'new energy'!?"
"Don't be so rigid. Even with all the training Azusa endured, she still couldn't overcome the Justice Task Force in the end."
Then, I added with deliberate meaning:
"And thanks to you, Nagisa… you even doubted your most loyal subordinate, placing Shimoe Koharu in the club as a hostage."
Nagisa's expression darkened suddenly.
"Not just the Justice Task Force, other clubs who knew about this also disapproved of your actions. Every club with power has newcomers to care for, yet you cut your own wings and shifted the neutral faction… hehe, my dear princess, that was a bit foolish, wasn't it?"
Nagisa lost her usual composed demeanor:
"What do you know!?"
I nodded in submission:
"Yes, you're right. After all, no matter what, I am just 'an outsider.'"
She froze for a moment, then realized these were her own words from a few days ago, and snapped in anger:
"You…!"
"Now, be patient and hear the rest," I said.
Nagisa tried to calm herself, though her eyes were already red.
"Ajitani Hifumi."
I spoke the final name of the Make-Up Work Club members, knowing Nagisa truly considered her a friend.
"The leader of a terrifying criminal group, huh… hehe, such false rumors. Nagisa, you know this already that Hifumi and I have known each other for a long time. She even asked for your help regarding me. Our relationship has always been very good."
Nagisa stared at me with deep eyes, silent.
I smiled faintly:
"I won't beat around the bush. Hifumi is indeed connected to a criminal group and even holds a leader's position but the one truly controlling the group behind the scenes… is me. You should have investigated, the timing of the false rumors' appearance is very close to when you sought my help, isn't it?"
Seeing Nagisa still silent, I added:
"That's basically it. So… now, do you believe me?"
"… Sensei."
Her voice was filled with unfamiliar hatred:
"What… exactly do you intend to do?"
I smiled faintly.
Finally, Nagisa had fallen for it entirely.