Chapter 8: Velvet Tension, Glass Intentions
“Phew…”
In her private room at the Supplementary Lessons Department’s training camp, the young female teacher from Schale sat alone, letting out a deep sigh.
“Mika? Why are you here…?”
“Shh, keep it down, Sensei. I came here secretly, without Nagi-chan knowing. Sorry, but I don’t have much time, so can I get straight to the point?”
‘It was shocking enough to find Mika waiting in my room…’
Recalling the unexpected encounter from moments ago, the young woman, whose striking appearance belied the worry etched on her face, reflected on the situation.
“How did you even get in here? The kids were still cleaning up the entrance.”
“Haha, let’s call that my little secret, shall we? But for now, I’d really like you to hear me out, Sensei.”
As she replayed the completely unforeseen meeting, Sensei mulled over the bombshell information Mika had just dumped on her.
“The traitor Nagi-chan’s looking for in Trinity? It’s actually Shirasu Azusa, a transfer student I brought in from Arius Branch.”
“I don’t know exactly why Nagi-chan’s so obsessed with the Eden Treaty or why she’s trying to establish a powerful armed organization like ETO. But one thing’s clear—she’ll eliminate anything that gets in the way of the Eden Treaty.”
“Traitors, opposition, failing students… and even suspicious outsiders who show up at just the right moment.”
“I’ll talk to that girl about some things, so please, Sensei, protect Azusa as I’m asking.”
Even for someone like her, who’d grown accustomed to the complex undercurrents lurking beneath Kivotos’s bright surface since taking her post, digesting Mika’s rapid-fire revelations required a moment.
‘I knew Nagisa was deeply suspicious of Kaoru… but now’s not the time to dwell on that.’
Her thoughts drifted to a certain student with an unmatched beauty and an oddly precarious aura. Shaking her head to refocus, she stood up.
‘Right now, my job is clear: help all the Supplementary Lessons Department kids, including Kaoru, pass their exams safely. I’ll deal with Nagisa afterward.’
Organizing her thoughts, Sensei left her room and headed toward the nearby bedroom where the Supplementary Lessons Department students were staying.
‘By now, Mika’s probably done talking to Kaoru. I’ll need to call Kaoru out alone to keep Mika’s visit a secret from the others.’
Easily devising a way for Mika to slip out of the annex unnoticed, she knocked on the door and called out to the lavender-haired beauty inside.
Knock, knock.
“Kaoru, have you unpacked? Let’s go help the other kids now.”
“Fufufu, yes, Master.”
Kaoru’s reply carried a hint more laughter than usual, but Sensei didn’t notice the subtle difference.
“Itokonoue Kaoru, what exactly do you know?”
“…”
…Stay calm. Stay calm.
Even in this dire situation, with my wrist grabbed by Trinity’s human weapon, my body’s unflappable demeanor helped me hold onto my composure.
“What did you mean by that? A threat? A warning? Either way, you don’t need to talk in circles like that.”
Mika pressed again, staring at me with lifeless yellow eyes from an uncomfortably close distance.
Though I knew it wouldn’t work on someone who’d already pegged me as highly dangerous, I tried to brush it off shamelessly.
“Fufu, I’m not sure what you mean. Perhaps there’s a misunderstanding?”
“Look, Outsider-chan, I’ll be straight with you. Despite how I seem, I’m kind of a problem child, and I’m not great at talking in circles like Nagi-chan.”
Her gaze only grew sharper in response.
“There’s something I really want, and if someone tries to interfere, I might not be able to hold back from breaking them. So, let me ask again.”
Grip.
Tightening her hold on my wrist slightly, Mika asked in a low, cold voice.
“Itokonoue Kaoru, what do you know? Why did you come to Trinity?”
Even if you ask me that… I really don’t have any plans!
Inwardly frustrated, I tried to deflect her suspicions once more.
“Fufu, I’m not here to do anything. Like a leaf fallen from afar, I’m merely drifting in the wind.”
Oh, no…
Squeeze.
“…Oh my.”
…Ouch.
As my words came out laced with unnecessary flair again, a dull pain radiated from my wrist, forcing me to wince slightly.
If this keeps up, is Mika actually going to crush my wrist?
Kaoru’s body might be tougher than most, but she’s up against a monster who can smash walls barehanded!
“…”
Terrified but meeting Mika’s gaze again, I noticed she was silently staring at my wrist.
…Wait. For someone with her strength, stopping at this level means she’s not actually planning to hurt me, right?
Puzzled by this realization, I cautiously placed my other hand over hers, feeling a surprisingly soft, warm touch—hardly what you’d expect from someone with such monstrous power.
“You…?”
Emboldened by the sensation of holding an ordinary girl’s hand, I ignored Mika’s slightly startled words and gently pressed down.
Slip.
Surprisingly, her fingers released my wrist without much resistance.
Thankfully, her actions had been more of a threat than an actual intent to harm.
Phew… I was overthinking it. She doesn’t seem to want to use real force, at least not now.
Relieved, I let go of her hand and met the pink-haired girl’s eyes again.
“…”
Mika, perhaps surprised by my bold move, stared at me with slightly widened eyes.
“Don’t worry, Mika. Even if we think differently, I want to maintain a good relationship with you.”
Trying to keep my composure and defuse her hostility, I spoke again.
Just then,
Knock, knock.
“Kaoru, have you unpacked? Let’s go help the other kids now.”
Sensei… you’re a lifesaver!
“Fufufu, yes, Master.”
Overjoyed at the timely voice from outside, I quickly answered, grabbed my weapons from the bed, and turned to Mika.
“But it seems Master is calling me now, so let’s continue this talk another time, Mika. Fufu.”
With that near-bluff, I left Mika behind and practically fled the room.
“…Let’s continue this talk another time, Mika. Fufu.”
After the enigmatic girl left the bedroom with an inscrutable smile,
“…”
Left alone, Mika lowered her gaze and muttered softly.
“…Hmm, so that’s how you’re playing it, Itokonoue Kaoru. You got me there.”
She rubbed the back of her hand, where the sensation of Kaoru’s touch lingered.
“You’re pretty confident, huh?”
Even though she’d genuinely intended to twist Kaoru’s wrist, the girl had brushed it off and even freed herself, leaving Mika’s hand slightly red.