"Quite the mess you're in, Beatrice," Black Suit teases.
"Truly… the worst!" Beatrice snaps.
"Care for a walk to cheer up?" Black Suit smirks.
"In this state? Are you sane?"
"You're one to talk," Black Suit chuckles.
Battered and bandaged, Beatrice fumes as Black Suit goads her. They begin their meeting.
"Mind if I vent?" Beatrice asks.
"Go ahead. (Fifth time now.)"
"That day, I was resting, planning, moving pieces… exhausted, napping. Then—"
WHOOSH!
"What's—?"
BOOM!
"GAAAH!" Beatrice shrieks.
"A mystery energy blast hit my room, obliterating it. Look at me now!" she rages.
"You survived, at least," Black Suit says.
"Survived!? I was bedridden for weeks! My perfect plan delayed, giving those pawns a break! Infuriating!" Beatrice slams the desk, venting.
Black Suit, secretly amused, hides it.
"The blast came from Millennium, likely their Engineering Club's weapon misfiring," Beatrice says.
"And deflected by…?" Black Suit prompts.
"Schale's teacher, Mash Burnedead," Beatrice growls.
She steadies her breathing. "I didn't believe a mere human without a halo could do it. But your words changed my mind."
"…"
"A mysterious man from another world, with superhuman strength, revolutionizing Kivotos' order," Beatrice says.
"You want him dead," Black Suit states.
"Yes, but more than that—I'm intrigued. I want him," she confesses.
"Want?"
Beatrice lays out papers. "He destroys tanks barehanded, defeats robot armies alone, fights Kivotosians, renders modern weapons useless. Who wouldn't want such power?"
"…"
"I want to kill his spirit, not his body. Break his will, strip his purpose—then take him," Beatrice declares.
"How?" Black Suit asks.
"Simple. Destroy everything he protects—students, schools, family, friends."
"Straightforward," Black Suit laughs, a villain himself but unnerved by her ruthlessness.
"Why tell me?" he asks.
"I heard you know Mash's secrets. Share them," Beatrice demands.
"What's in it for me?"
"When I have his body, you can experiment, dissect, study it. You're curious too, aren't you?"
"Heh… Fine. One condition: share your anti-Sensei weapon data."
"Deal. It's still in testing," Beatrice agrees.
"A verbal promise? I'll bring a contract later. To our partnership, Beatrice."
"Likewise."
They shake hands, forming an alliance. Beatrice grins, thrilled her plan's progressing. But she doesn't know—
(When did I say I knew his body's secrets? All I know is… that trivial thing.) Black Suit smirks, planning to use her.
"Been a while, Sensei," Nagisa greets.
"Hey, long time," Mash replies.
"Eat or deal with that choux cream tower," Nagisa says.
"Got it." Chomp!
*(Magic trick?) *Nagisa wonders.
At the Tea Party's terrace, Mash devours the choux cream tower instantly as Nagisa suggests, then sits.
"Anything new? How's camp? Any issues, just say," Nagisa offers.
"Everyone's doing great. I'm proud," Mash says.
"Good to hear…" Nagisa forces a smile, pouring tea into an empty cup and offering it.
Mash gulps it. "Delicious."
"Twilight Company's rare tea leaves, just for you," Nagisa says.
"For me? Thanks."
Mash drinks freely, thinking hesitation's rude. Nagisa feels… complicated.
"So, what's today's business?" Mash asks.
"This camp was to observe the students closely," Nagisa says, setting down her cup. "Find anything… like who Trinity's traitor might be?"
"…"
"Shall I be blunt? Who do you think it is, Sensei?"
Mash bristles. "Got a question for you, Nagisa-san. Forgot what I said? I'll handle this my way—prove there's no traitor."
"…"
"It's been a while, so maybe you forgot," Mash adds.
"You've gotten bold," Nagisa notes.
"Dunno what you mean."
"Yes… you did say that," Nagisa sighs, hiding her exasperation.
"With the second exam nearing, I wanted to check if you'd changed your mind or noticed anything. Mika-san contacted you, right?"
"…"
"Silence is affirmation, yes?" Nagisa smiles.
"N-No… I didn't meet her," Mash stammers.
"Your voice shakes. Don't make this harder. What did you and Mika-san discuss?"
"Can't say," Mash refuses, unwilling to betray Mika's trust.
"I'm just ensuring their efforts are rewarded. I don't have time to suspect people," Mash adds.
"Shall I explain why they were chosen? I'd rather not clash with you, Sensei. If you'd understand…"
"Think I'll agree? We're already clashing."
"Talking's the first step. I believe we can understand each other. You have your sources, but let me explain."
Nagisa details why each student was chosen.
"Koharu-san controls Hasumi-san, who hates Gehenna and is a ticking time bomb. Koharu's her leash."
"Hanako-san, despite her talent, deliberately underperforms. She could lead any faction but hides her intentions."
"Azusa-san's very existence is suspicious. She's caused multiple violent incidents, uncontrollable. Anyone would doubt her."
Nagisa speaks confidently, but falters on one.
"Hifumi-san—"
Her voice trembles, pained.
"You and Hifumi-chan are close, I hear," Mash says.
"Yes… she's very special to me," Nagisa admits.
As Tea Party's host, Hifumi's a rare confidant, irreplaceable.
"As an individual, I cherish Hifumi-san. I truly care for her," Nagisa says.
"Then why suspect her?"
"There's intel she's the leader of a terrifying criminal group."
"Hm."
"That's what's scariest. Trust blinds you. Am I truly seeing her, or is there a hidden truth I don't know?"
No matter how warm or kind someone seems, how can you be sure they're not malicious? Nagisa, cornered, can't trust anyone.
"Hifumi-chan's not like that. She's kind," Mash insists.
"How can you be so sure? Can you prove her feelings, her thoughts?" Nagisa challenges. "What meaning do words like 'she's not like that' or 'it's a misunderstanding' hold? What truth?"
"We spent a week together, eating choux creams, studying. I'm confident she's no traitor," Mash says firmly.
"You see doubting as wrong. I don't. Doubting isn't evil," Nagisa counters.
Is doubting bad? Unforgivable? No, Nagisa believes it's necessary.
"Trust feels good but can shackle you. Blind trust means you'll overlook flaws, even if they harm others or yourself."
"…"
"You can't prove someone's heart."
Nagisa's logic is sound. Trusting someone as "safe" or "loyal"—or even accepting betrayal—is personal. But as Trinity's student council president, Nagisa can't afford that.
"Hifumi-san's kind, polite, caring—I know. Yet I can't know her true intentions. We're strangers, ultimately."
"So, expel her?" Mash asks.
"For the Eden Treaty's success, yes."
"You said that before—sacrificing individuals for the whole."
"That's my duty as Tea Party's host."
"Even if they're innocent?"
"Yes. If there's even a slight chance—"
Nagisa hesitates, knowing her next words are vile but necessary.
"I'd cast aside even my dear friend for Trinity's peace."
She'd become a villain for peace.
"That's your resolve, huh? Got it," Mash says.
"Sensei—" Nagisa hopes he understands.
"But sorry, I can't agree," Mash cuts in.
"—"
"Don't blindly trust—got it. I could be deceived."
"Then why?"
"I can't accept peace built on someone's sacrifice or happiness at another's expense."
Mash understands a world requiring sacrifices, but—
"My goal is everyone's happy ending."
"That's… idealism!" Nagisa snaps.
"Maybe."
"That's not how a leader speaks! It's childish!"
"Dreams and ideals start things. Also, I'm a kid."
"In this deceitful world, you think that's possible!?"
"I'll make it happen, by force if needed. That's why I'm here."
Nagisa realizes Mash is her enemy—unwavering, uncompromising.
"I understand. Things just got simple," Nagisa says coldly.
"Unfortunately," Mash agrees.
Their alliance shatters, turning to enmity. Nagisa sacrifices individuals for the whole; Mash fights for both.
"You won't bend," Nagisa says.
"Not even in death."
"Fine. Good luck, Mash Burnedead."
"You too, Kirifuji Nagisa."
"Thanks for the tea," Mash says, grabbing the door handle.
"Sensei—" Nagisa calls.
Mash turns, but her kind face is gone.
"Be careful. I won't hold back."
"Thanks for the warning… Bring it on."
Mash leaves. Nagisa, enraged, sweeps the tea set off the table, panting.
"No peace without sacrifice… No true happy ending in this world!" she shouts.
As Tea Party's host, she hides her anger, furious at Mash's idealism—and his exclusion of himself from "no unnecessary sacrifices."
"Why… why contradict yourself!?"
Meanwhile, Mash resolves to deliver a happy ending even to his enemy, Nagisa.
Because she, too, wishes for everyone's happiness—a good person at heart.
----------------------------------
The next chapter is already available on Patreon! If you'd like to read early and support me, check it out here ❤️ [pat*eon*com/Greyhounds]