Post-meeting, Mine and Sakurako prepared to leave.
"I'll return to the cathedral. Contact me if needed," Sakurako said.
"I'll head to Relief Knights. It was an honor, Sensei," Mine added.
"See you," Mash replied.
"Take care," Mine said.
They bowed and exited, the door closing behind them.
Nagisa slumped in her chair, sighing deeply, rubbing her shoulders and stomach with a grimace. "Nothing but stomachaches."
"Good work, Nagisa-san. Want a shoulder massage?" Mash offered.
"I'll take you up on that," Nagisa accepted.
Mash moved behind her, gently kneading from her neck to shoulders.
(This is… amazing…) Nagisa thought.
"How's it feel?" Mash asked.
"Quite… skilled," Nagisa managed.
"Did this for Grandpa. You get used to it," Mash said.
"Even so… perfect pressure," Nagisa murmured.
Mash's massage was masterful, beyond what Nagisa's wealth could buy.
"My dexterity improved after accidentally hurting Grandpa's shoulder," Mash said.
"You broke his shoulder!?" Nagisa exclaimed.
"Didn't know my strength then," Mash admitted.
(Terrifying… but so good…) Nagisa thought, hiding her expression.
As Mash massaged, Nagisa broached a topic. "Sensei, about Mika-san… she's in a complex position. Her hearing's tomorrow morning."
"Hearing?" Mash asked.
"More like an inquisition, tied to the Eden Treaty incident," Nagisa clarified.
"About her crimes?" Mash asked.
"Yes, centered on her actions and the treaty," Nagisa said.
"What's the outlook?" Mash asked.
"Difficult," Nagisa admitted.
Mash lightened his touch, patting Nagisa's neck. Her face, unfit for public, stayed composed as she continued. "Expulsion's unlikely, but it's a harsh situation."
"Unfavorable, huh?" Mash said.
"Post-Eden, Trinity's politics are chaotic. Voices condemn Mika and demand Tea Party's authority be stripped. She's a key culprit, allied with Arius," Nagisa explained.
"But she's genuinely remorseful," Mash countered.
"Even so, people don't easily forgive," Nagisa said.
"Harsh reality," Mash noted.
"Truly," Nagisa gritted, clenching her fist.
Tea Party's role as Trinity's unifier weakened post-incident, with Sisterhood and Relief Knights rising as rival pillars. Tea Party's survival was at risk, darkening Nagisa's expression.
Mash noticed. "Here!" he pressed a pressure point.
"Eek!?" Nagisa yelped.
"Your face was scary. Relax, relax," Mash said.
"S-Sensei, not there—ahh!" Nagisa squeaked.
"Am I a massage genius?" Mash grinned.
Easing her tension, Mash sensed his talent. Nagisa continued, "Most students see Mika as manipulated by Arius, but some factions' anger persists."
"Seia-san's faction?" Mash asked.
"Yes, Sanctus, led by Seia-san, targets Mika. Her health's worsened since the incident, confining her to her room," Nagisa said.
Sanctus's anger was understandable—someone they revered was nearly killed and now bedridden. Mash empathized, unable to condemn them outright.
"When Azusa tried to assassinate Seia-san, she asked her to blow up the room and escape," Nagisa revealed.
"News to me," Mash said.
"It was hidden with Mine's help to fake Seia-san's death. But the anger remains," Nagisa said.
"Sanctus all hate Mika?" Mash asked.
"Not all. Sanctus isn't unified. Seia-san avoided deep ties with them, but her foresight and intellect drew many followers. Otherwise, she wouldn't lead," Nagisa explained.
Trinity's scandals, Gehenna's partial reconciliation, Tea Party's fall—students channeled their frustrations into attacking someone. Mika was their scapegoat.
"Some radicals stole and likely destroyed Mika's books, possessions, clothes, and accessories," Nagisa said.
"That's too far," Mash said.
"Yes, it's sparked clashes with Pater's faction. Justice Task Force intervenes, but stopping it all is tough," Nagisa added.
"Hmm," Mash mused.
"Worst, Mika plans to skip her hearing, refusing to defend herself. That'll harm her," Nagisa said.
Mash paused, then replied, "I'll convince her."
"Thank you, Sensei. If anyone can…" Nagisa trailed off.
"I said I'd bear their burdens. I can't lose Mika, my dear friend," Mash said.
"Dear… friend?" Nagisa blinked.
"Yeah," Mash confirmed.
"You mean… uh," Nagisa stammered.
"She saved me, a precious friend. I love her," Mash said.
"I see…" Nagisa said.
"I love you too, Nagisa-san, and everyone," Mash added.
"That's… so you," Nagisa smiled genuinely, grasping his hand. "Thank you for coming to Kivotos, meeting us, saving us."
"Uh, you're welcome?" Mash replied.
Nagisa chuckled, savoring the moment, thinking, Sorry, Mika, I got the good part. Mash, oblivious, kept massaging.
Trinity Main Building · Courtyard
"Drag out the traitor who harmed Seia-sama!"
"A sinner who joined Arius and ruined the Eden Treaty can't be Tea Party!"
"Punish the guilty! Judgment!"
"Pay for betrayal!"
"S-Stop! Stay behind the line!" a Justice Task Force member pleaded.
"This is worse than I thought," Mash muttered.
Ten minutes after leaving the meeting, evening approached. Hearing distant shouts, Mash recalled Nagisa's words and rushed over, hoping it was a misunderstanding.
"Sanctus again!?" a Pater member snapped.
"You're still at it!?" another shouted.
"Gathering to yell insults, so classless, Sanctus," a third sneered.
"Low standards," another added.
Whether alerted or summoned, ten Pater students in matching uniforms joined the fray, facing Sanctus. Both factions lined up, glaring, chests puffed. Two Justice Task Force members, rifles in hand, cowered by the door, unable to intervene.
"Mika-sama was trapped by Arius's vile scheme. This academy stands because of her. Calling her a traitor?" a Pater member defended.
"The incident wouldn't have happened without Mika inviting Arius!" a Sanctus retorted.
"Arius would've attacked anyway. Mika-sama showed mercy, offering peace. Arius rejected it!" Pater argued.
"What about attacking Seia-sama!?" Sanctus demanded.
"Arius acted alone. Mika-sama never ordered it!" Pater countered.
"You believe a sinner's words!?" Sanctus scoffed.
"Watch your mouth, calling our leader a sinner!" Pater snapped.
"There's another sinner!" a Sanctus declared.
"What!?" Pater gasped.
A Sanctus dropped a bombshell, risking conflict with other factions but inevitable in the heated moment. "Schale's Sensei! He's a sinner too!"
(No way…) Mash thought.
"Watch your mouth! Insulting the hero who saved Trinity—Kivotos!?" Pater roared.
"Hero!? He shields a criminal and defends heretics like Arius! Some hero!" Sanctus shouted.
"He's as guilty as the sinners he protects!" another added.
"He's plotting something, defending Arius!" a third accused.
"Letting him roam free—what's the deal!?" another demanded.
"A mere outsider from beyond Kivotos has no right to meddle in our affairs!" a Sanctus declared.
(Wow, trouble…) Mash thought.
Guilty by association wasn't wrong, but Mash, as Schale's Sensei, bore Mika and Arius's sins, taking responsibility. Condemning him for "disliking" him lacked merit, but Sanctus, steeped in Trinity's culture, couldn't see it. Gripping weapons, they moved to act.
"Let's take him and the Arius captives now!" a Sanctus shouted.
"Enough, Sanctus! Insult him again, and—!" Pater warned.
On the brink of a shootout, Mash swiftly covered their gun muzzles. "That's enough."
"We're in the middle of—" a Sanctus began.
"Sorry, but—" a Pater started.
"No more. Lower your weapons," Mash ordered.
"Mash Burnedead-sensei!?" they gasped.
Sanctus paled, Pater calmed, and both lowered their guns. The Justice Task Force sighed in relief, the tension dissolving.
"Sensei, we didn't mean—" a Pater stammered.
"These Sanctus insulted Mika-sama and turned on you! Please, judge them!" another pleaded.
"I don't mind," Mash said.
"But—!" Pater protested.
"I get your anger, but Mika's atoning. The captives are fighting their battles," Mash said.
"Forgive criminals who tried to ruin Trinity!?" a Sanctus demanded. "We have the right to judge them!"
"About that," Mash said, tone firm, facing Sanctus. "What authority do you have?"
"We're avenging Seia-sama!" a Sanctus replied.
"Did Seia-san ask for vengeance? Was she mad at Mika or Arius? Did Nagisa-san approve? If you're hurting captives, who allowed it?" Mash pressed.
"That's…" a Sanctus faltered.
"I understand your anger, but this is wrong. I heard you're destroying Mika's things. Authorized?" Mash asked.
"…" They froze.
"Judging, forgiving, sentencing—that's for designated people with proper procedures. It's not your role. Punishing however you want is wrong. It just hurts everyone pointlessly," Mash said firmly.
Mash knew Mika's torment, her confrontation with her sins, her heartfelt wish for peace with Arius. Trinity's culture of exposing flaws to tear others down hurt her and Arius's students. As their teacher, Mash couldn't ignore it, showing clear anger and rebuke. Both factions shrank back.
"Pater, I'll handle Arius. Don't interfere. Sanctus, understand your anger's misplaced," Mash said.
"Understood," a Pater replied.
"Got it," a Sanctus conceded.
"Dismissed," Mash said.
Grumbling but subdued, both factions dispersed. Mash sighed deeply.
"Sensei!" a Justice Task Force member called.
"Good work. Tough job, huh?" Mash said.
"No, thank you for helping!" she replied.
"I didn't do much. Keep watch, call if anything happens," Mash said.
"Leave it to us! We'll clean up!" she assured.
"Thanks," Mash said, bowing before heading inside.
His destination wasn't just Mika's cell but another place first. The dim, cold prison made him look up. "It's wrong to think you can do anything to sinners. But wanting to crush Beatrice… am I no better? Hmm…"
Muttering, he reached his goal: the cell holding Arius captives. "Brought teddy bears and picture books as gifts. Pick one!"
"We're not toddlers! I never got those as a kid, but… there's better stuff, right!?" a captive protested.
"Don't want them?" Mash asked.
"…I do," she admitted.
Mash was his usual self in the cell.
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