Three weeks post-Eden Treaty signing. In Trinity's main building, a restricted conference room held a tense meeting. At a large rectangular table sat Nagisa, Tea Party host and student council president, flanked by Sisterhood leader Sakurako on her right and Relief Knights leader Mine on her left.
The air was thick with unease, no room for outsiders. Despite improved Gehenna-Trinity relations, internal Trinity conflicts lingered, full harmony still distant. Today's critical agenda included Mash, the hero who thwarted a missile attack, repelled Arius's assault single-handedly, and bridged the two academies.
"When's Sensei arriving?" Mine asked.
"Soon, after his usual workout," Nagisa replied.
"A knife near his heart, poison in his veins… how's he moving in weeks?" Mine marveled.
"He's Sensei," Sakurako said.
"That only convinces you two!" Mine snapped.
Even in Kivotos, a knife near the heart was a grave wound. Mine couldn't fathom Mash's rapid recovery and training, stunned by Nagisa and Sakurako's numb acceptance.
"Sensei's a normal human from another world, right?" Mine pressed.
"He said so," Nagisa confirmed.
"Any doubts, Mine-san?" Sakurako asked.
"Isn't it odd? A human without a halo, stronger than Kivotosians?" Mine said.
"We all think it's strange," Nagisa admitted.
"His body—structure, muscle mass, durability, healing—it's not human. As Relief Knights leader, I'm certain," Mine declared.
Nagisa's face darkened, her polite smile replaced by fury. "Cycad Mine, retract that statement," she demanded, glaring coldly.
"You know it too, don't you?" Mine countered.
"No! That kind, pure boy… too gentle to be inhuman," Nagisa insisted.
"I agree. Sensei loves friends and neighbors deeply. Halo or not, muscles or cream puffs, he's human, born under God's world," Sakurako added.
"I haven't spoken to him directly, so I don't know his character," Mine said.
"Then—"
"But character doesn't change his body. I treated him," Mine interrupted.
When Mash was near death, Serina and Sena treated him initially. Mine, returning from other duties, joined later. His body felt like steel, like tank armor. Standard medical needles couldn't pierce his skin; only Gehenna's high-strength needles, forced by Mine's strength, worked. His muscle toughness required Millennium's sterilized industrial wire for sutures. Poison was contained by muscles sealing blood vessels. His heartbeat, stronger than any patient's, pumped with immense pressure. Mine feared his power.
"No ordinary human, raised normally, has such a body. It's medically impossible," Mine said.
"He trained for it," Nagisa argued.
"His physical prowess comes from training, but his body's strength is innate. I'm certain," Mine insisted.
"That doesn't prove he's not human. His parents—" Sakurako began.
"Do any of us know his parents' details?" Mine cut in.
"…"
"I heard they're not blood-related," Nagisa admitted.
"Hypothetically, he wasn't born normally. Something unethical, against humanity—" Mine speculated.
"Stop!" Nagisa and Sakurako slammed the table, halting her.
The door rattled loudly. Mine and Sakurako tensed, but Nagisa understood instantly, shouting, "It's a sliding door!"
CRASH!
"Why!?" Mine yelped.
"Good morning, everyone," Mash greeted, holding a cream puff bag.
"Why destroy the door!?" Nagisa cried.
"Misjudged my strength," Mash said.
"Who rips out a door!?" Mine shouted.
"Right here," Mash grinned proudly.
"Not something to brag about!" Nagisa snapped.
"Breaking doors is outrageous!" Sakurako added.
"Sorry, I'll fix it," Mash said, repairing it instantly.
"So sincere…" Nagisa and Sakurako muttered.
"He's impossible to scold when he's this earnest," Nagisa groaned.
Mash sat, cream puff bag in hand. "Was I interrupting something serious?"
"No… your entrance blew it away," Nagisa sighed.
"Whoops," Mash said.
"Let's get to the point," Sakurako suggested.
"Yes," Mine agreed.
The meeting began, sidelining Mash's oddity. Mine eyed his profile warily.
"We called Sensei to discuss the Eden Treaty aftermath and incident resolution," Nagisa said.
"Trinity's recovery and alignment too, right? I've gotten reports," Mash added.
"Yes, Tea Party needs close Schale collaboration. It was meant to be just us, but…" Nagisa trailed off.
"Relief Knights requested to join. I must fulfill my duties," Mine said.
"Sisterhood deemed participation necessary post-incident," Sakurako added.
"Hmm," Mash nodded.
Nagisa acknowledged their words. Originally a Tea Party-Schale meeting, Relief Knights and Sisterhood—Trinity's influential factions—joined, signaling a positive shift for the academy.
"The new Paradise Agency treaty progresses smoothly, post-signing chaos settling. But, embarrassingly, Tea Party needs external help," Nagisa admitted.
"Mika-san?" Mash asked.
"Yes. A Tea Party member attacked a host, leading to imprisonment—an unprecedented scandal," Nagisa explained.
"I treated Seia-sama. I investigated the incident personally," Sakurako added.
Mash listened intently, deeply involved. Sakurako addressed Tea Party's failure, Mine elaborating: "Mika was manipulated by Arius, but her guilt remains. Nagisa, using Schale's extralegal status, nearly expelled innocent students. Apologies resolved it, but the grave crime stands. Seia-sama returned, but her health worsened, barely leaving her room—though, oddly, cream puffs seem to help."
"Cream puffs, magic food," Mash said.
"Tea Party's regime is unstable, requiring external aid," Mine concluded.
"Got it," Mash said.
Tea Party's authority waned after the incident. Designed to unify factions, it couldn't govern with its hosts' credibility questioned. Mash's strength was vital.
"Mine, as Relief Knights leader and Johannine faction head, could join Tea Party but prioritized relief work," Nagisa noted.
"Past choices. I step up when needed," Mine said.
"Join politics now?" Sakurako asked.
"No, I'm Relief Knights' leader. I don't do politics," Mine clarified.
"Brain's fried…" Mash muttered.
Nagisa pivoted to Arius. "The Eden Treaty bombing and attack were Arius's doing. Why disrupt it?"
"They've long hated Trinity and Gehenna, seizing the chance to cripple both," Sakurako said.
"They used the treaty to gain inexplicable forces," Mine added.
"Justina Apostles," Mash corrected.
"'Justina' Saints, Sensei," Nagisa sighed.
"Oh, right," Mash said.
Justina Saints—lifeless, puppet-like. Nagisa nodded. "Ghostly replicas. If they'd invaded intact, both academies could've collapsed."
"Got it," Mash said.
"I punched those ghosts down," Mash added.
"Yes, so… problem solved, mostly," Nagisa said.
"Why bare hands?" Mine asked.
"Common sense doesn't apply to Sensei," Sakurako said. "What about the weapon you fought?"
"Built to kill me, a special Apostle model, heavily modified," Mash said.
The Justina Apostles were formidable, but the Panakeia weapon was worse. Imagining it mass-produced chilled Mash.
"Justina Saints are Sisterhood's predecessors. Sakurako, know anything?" Mine asked.
"No, unfortunately," Sakurako replied, shaking her head.
The tense air returned. Mash braced himself, knowing women's conflicts were scarier than most.
"Sisterhood's secretive, with limited external contact and skilled in information control," Mine said.
"That's its nature," Sakurako countered.
"Many students distrust Sisterhood," Mine pressed.
"Like you now?" Sakurako shot back.
Nagisa coughed to intervene, but—
"Special Move: Cream Puff Party!" Mash stuffed cream puffs into their mouths.
"Mmph!?" they gasped.
"That's enough," Mash said.
(He pulled out cream puffs and silenced them faster than the eye can see… how!?) Nagisa thought.
"Debate's fine, but clashing opinions can sour things. Fighting's no good. Respect and consideration are key for constructive talks, right?" Mash said.
(And he hits with logic…) Nagisa noted their stunned faces.
Chewing, Sakurako swallowed and spoke calmly. "Sisterhood has hypotheses about Justina-like entities, but no evidence. Speculating here only causes confusion. Assuming I know all Sisterhood secrets is a miscalculation."
"Meaning?" Mine asked.
"Even I don't know everything hidden within Sisterhood," Sakurako said.
"My apologies," Mine said.
"Next topic?" Mash suggested.
"Yes. The missile analysis?" Nagisa asked.
"Designed against Sensei. Mystic shield barrier, halo-destroying warhead to harm students. Still no match for Sensei's throws," Mine said.
"I'll crush any more they fire," Mash vowed.
"Reliable yet terrifying," Mine muttered. "What's Arius planning?"
"We don't know. Likely annihilating Trinity and Gehenna to settle old grudges," Nagisa said.
"I'll handle whatever comes," Mash declared confidently.
Mine posed a question. "What punishment for Arius, Sensei?"
They tried to kill him. Mine tested his character.
"Weapon confiscation, combat ban, study at Schale," Mash said.
"That's… punishment?" Mine asked.
"What they did was serious, but not their true desire," Mash replied.
"Someone's pulling strings?" Mine asked.
"Yes. Talking to an Arius girl, I realized they're victims too. As Sensei, I'll give them a chance to atone," Mash said.
"You'd help those who tried to kill you?" Mine pressed.
"I've forgiven them," Mash said.
Mash didn't care about their attempt on his life. His focus was elsewhere.
"I'm too busy planning to crush the mastermind to be mad at Arius. Haven't thought much else," he admitted.
"'Love your enemies'?" Mine quoted.
"Arius aren't puppets or tools. They're human, my students, friends, comrades. I'll save them," Mash said.
"Even sinners?" Mine asked.
"I'll bear their sins with them," Mash declared.
His resolve to share their burdens moved Mine. She wanted to trust him.
"Such wisdom and resolve for someone younger… I'm speechless," Mine said.
"Get that a lot. Continue?" Mash asked.
"Yes, next—" Nagisa began.
The meeting continued, discussing Mika's suspicious actions, Arius Squad's movements, faction disputes, and Paradise Agency opposition. By noon, it concluded.
"Abababa!" Mash stammered.
"Sensei!?" Sakurako gasped.
"Brain overloaded from information," Nagisa noted.
"This from just complex talk!?" Mine exclaimed.
"To the rescue!" Mine shouted, grabbing a gun and shield.
"You don't need those for first aid!" Sakurako yelled.
Youthful antics returned to the group.
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