Knock, knock, knock—
"Come in."
The Tea Party has two offices. One is a terrace-style office with a panoramic view of the outside, and the other is a cozy and warm office located inside the building.
When summoning a student from outside the Tea Party, we generally conduct the interview in the outdoor office, but today, I decided to hold it indoors. Mika will be here soon anyway, so this will probably be more comfortable for everyone.
"U-um... ah, hello...? I'm Ajitani Hifumi, a first-year. I was told the Tea Party had summoned me, and everyone guided me this way... Auuu..."
"Yes, I wished to meet you, Hifumi-san, so I had you politely escorted here."
My first impression? She seems like a rather timid child. When I picture her with Mika, no matter how many times I try, I can only see Mika leading the relationship. She seems like the type who would just say, "Y-yes..." and follow along with whatever Mika suggests.
"Umm, if it's not too rude, may I ask why you summoned me...?"
"Of course. You were invited here as a guest, Hifumi-san, so there is no need to be so nervous. I simply called you because there are a few things I wished to ask you personally."
Why does Mika continue to maintain a friendship with this child? The thought of it makes me feel strangely displeased. I myself do not quite know what part of it is bothering me.
"Ah, but before I ask my questions, I should introduce myself first. I am a second-year student representing the Filius faction in the Tea Party, Kirifuji Nagisa. I sincerely hope this meeting will be a beneficial time for us both."
"Ah, yes. It's a pleasure, Kirifuji-sen... pardon? Representing the Filius faction... the Student Council President...?!"
"Oh my. You are quite sharp, are you not, Hifumi-san?"
"Auuu... s-so... Kirifuji-sama...?"
...Watching her like this, I can begin to understand Mika's perspective. Her reactions are just so amusing. Not that it changes the fact that I still feel resentful towards Mika!
"Hrm. Even by my standards, the title 'Kirifuji-sama' feels a bit too distant. It is merely a difference in position; we are all students here. 'Nagisa-senpai' would be quite alright, Hifumi-san."
"A-are you really sure that's okay... Auu..."
Of course it is. You are more than welcome to call me Nagisa-senpai. After all,
"Yes, of course. You call Mika-san 'senpai', do you not? There is no reason you cannot do the same for me."
You are on 'senpai' and 'kouhai' terms with Mika, are you not? And Mika-san, it's obvious she would have used a title like 'Hifumi-chan,' with no sense of distance at all. Honestly, she's so friendly, it's a fault.
"...Ah, aaaah? Um, does that mean Mika-senpai... no, Mika-sama is also one of the student council presidents?!"
"Indeed. Mika-san is the head of the Pater faction, as well as the current Host of the Tea Party."
"...Auuu. A-and I so casually called such an important person 'senpai'... Ugh, I can't believe it. Why would someone so amazing associate with an ordinary student like me...?"
That is what I summoned you to find out, Hifumi-san. I want to know what Mika saw in you. I feel as if I am on the verge of understanding, but I am not quite there yet.
"...Well, perhaps it is because you are cute, Hifumi-san. Mika-san is the type of person who knows no fidelity, wagging her tail for anyone."
"...Pardon?"
Oh dear, my words seem to have slipped out. But it is also the truth, and it seems Hifumi-san did not hear me properly, so it should not matter.
"It is nothing... fufu. If this were Mika-san, she would likely spend much more time chatting here under the pretext of an 'icebreaker,' but I prefer to get straight to the point. So first, I would like to hear about the circumstances under which you met Mika-san."
Of course, if the details are difficult to speak of, you may skip them.
I added that at the end, but in truth, it would not be alright with me if she skipped it. So I hope you will be perceptive and answer well, Hifumi-san.
"Ah, um... I was debating whether or not to go into a new dessert cafe, and Mika-sen... no, Mika-sama approached me first and said that overthinking is a bad habit, and she dragged me inside... Auuu, the truth is, I had left my wallet in my locker, so I was just looking at it wistfully..."
"That certainly sounds like Mika-san... Haa. And the fact that you continued to hang out after that must mean she took a great liking to you."
"Ahaha... I suppose so, though I'm not sure what part of me she liked. I'm just an ordinary student with no club activities..."
Is that so, Hifumi-san? Because I think I understand now.
You possess a purity that brings peace to the heart just by looking at you. In Trinity, where most students live with a serpent coiled in their hearts, you are a truly rare individual.
Perhaps Mika was drawn to that and approached you first. I feel that even if it were not for Mika, our paths may have crossed someday as well.
"...On the other hand, Mika-sama has the air of a princess no matter how you look at her. It's a combination that doesn't fit as friends, don't you think...? It would make more sense if I were her attendant..."
"Oh my, would you like to join the Tea Party then? I think Mika-san would be happy if she could see you more often."
"Wh-what? Th-that's... I think that is also too burdensome a position for me... Auuu..."
Mmm, so she is not an ambitious person. It does not seem like she would try to take advantage of Mika. I suppose I can relax a little... but what is this strange feeling? It's irritating me.
Could it be that I was jealous of Hifumi-san? If it is simply a matter of me being bothered that Mika has made a new friend she finds worthy of her time, besides myself and Seia... then this dry taste in my mouth, this feeling of tightness in a corner of my heart, can all be explained.
...Yes. That must be it. I was simply unable to accept the difference between my position and Mika's, her oldest friend.
I was conveniently turning a blind eye to the fact that the memories I shared with Mika no longer exist for her. Childishly being jealous of you, Hifumi-san... turning my back on the reality that my position as Mika's most precious friend could be replaced by someone else at any time, holding onto the vain belief that if I just tried, my relationship with Mika would not change.
...Fufu. You are cruel, Mika. It is also cruel that it is not your fault I have been left behind with these miserable feelings. At this rate, I cannot resent anyone.
I...
"Auuu... Nagisa-sama, are you alright? You look pale..."
"...Yes. It seems I am not feeling very well today. I believe it would be best to conclude our meeting here for now. I quite enjoyed my time with you, Hifumi-san. I do hope you will accept my invitation again next time."
Fufu, how ridiculous. There is nothing wrong with my health. Who am I trying to deceive...?
I am simply trying to end this before I show her something unsightly. To use such a flimsy excuse.
"Auuu... Am I really allowed to..."
"Fufu... Mika-san, and I as well, have concluded that you are a student worthy of friendship, Hifumi-san. So there is no reason why you should not be."
In truth, I am also a little scared that if I push Hifumi-san away, I might inadvertently grow distant from Mika as well. What I was leaning on was merely the friendship of the years I spent with Mika, but you, Hifumi-san, are different from me. Because you are the first new friend the current Mika has made...
Click—
The door opens without any warning, and irritation surges through me. To not even knock, to lack such basic manners...
"Nagi-chan, look at this!"
"...Mika-san, did you sell your ability to knock somewhere on the way here?"
If it were not for the princess of Trinity, who always shines like a star in the night sky, that had just entered my sights, I would have chewed them out...
"No, no, never mind such trivial things right now. This is what's important! This teaspoon! What do you think, isn't it so pretty? The moment I saw it, I thought it would suit my Nagi-chan perfectly, so I swiped my card right away~☆"
As if not even noticing Hifumi-san sitting across from me, Mika immediately approached and held out a small box. As Mika said, the teaspoon inside had a design so beautiful it captured my attention at a glance.
"...Yes. It is pretty. Truly."
Seeing the handle, designed to resemble our wing feathers, and the single lily blooming at its end, I realized that the me from exactly one minute ago was the biggest fool in the world. Mika still cares for me so much, and here I was, wallowing in my own self-pity. I feel so ashamed.
"Oh? Hello, Hifumi-chan☆ Sorry for the late greeting! I was so focused on giving Nagi-chan her present that I didn't notice you. But... aha, could this be that kind of development? My Nagi-chan, hearing a report that I have a cute junior I've been getting close to lately, felt a surge of jealousy in her heart and decided to interrogate Hifumi-chan with a 'I will test if you are worthy of associating with my Mika-chan' kind of vibe?!"
"...Would you please refrain from changing the way I address you as you please?"
"Hm? But you did call me that once before~"
...That was a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
"Auuu... It is nothing like that, Mika-sen... Eek! I mean, Mika-sama! Nagisa-sama has been nothing but considerate towards me since the moment I arrived..."
"Oh? Hifumi-chan, what's with that distant title! If even you call me Mika-sama, I think I'd be a little sad... Ah, could it be that you heard everything from Nagi-chan?"
"Yes, up to the part about you being the Host of the Tea Party, Mika-sama. Auu... besides, if someone as ordinary as me were to be caught calling you 'senpai' so casually, I'd be in big trouble..."
"Ahaha☆ What are you talking about, Hifumi-chan? They're all beneath me anyway, you know? Now, try calling me that again, properly. 'Mika-senpai~' with a fresh and lively tone!"
Now, even as I watch Mika banter with Hifumi-san, the dry taste no longer fills my mouth. The tightness that had been tormenting a corner of my heart has also vanished.
Mika still considers me a precious friend. It was all just a foolish delusion I had been trapped in, a pathetic story.
Still... thank you for proving that I was just being a fool, Mika.
"M-M-Mika-sen... Auuu... I can't do it! I can't...!"
"No way... At this rate, I'll just have to not let you leave until you can call me that casually again. Now, let's try again from the start☆"
But something is a little strange.
Even though I have realized that it was all just my own delusion...
What is the identity of this strange, unpleasant feeling that has returned once again?