Release Princess Mika!

Chapter 4: Nagisa-sensei, you're going too fast.

The whole host thing was a bit too complicated, so I decided to deal with it later. After hearing that, though, I felt like the amnesia concept was actually a stroke of genius.

If I had tried to act like Mika and suddenly heard that I was the current host of the Tea Party, I honestly wouldn’t even want to imagine how awful that would’ve been.

It seems that political maneuvering and constant checks between the high-ranking members of Trinity Comprehensive Academy is pretty normal.

Of course, regular students aren't involved, but judging by their actions in the story, these people clearly have some shady tendencies. They all seem to be the type who fit right into a dirty political game.

Anyway, I can tell that Mika and the role of Tea Party host don’t quite align. If I were to ask if Mika had no political skills, I would say no, that’s not the case at all... but, considering the original story, it feels like she has political talent but not the luck to back it up.

Huh?

Now that I think about it, the pivotal moment that led to Mika going off track was the "Eden Treaty." If I assume that Mika's term as host ended before the student council president pushed the Eden Treaty forward, then it’s not entirely impossible that Mika could have been the host.

Aside from her blind hatred for Gehenna, it’s hard to say that Mika was unqualified to be the host.

She’s playful and talks a lot, and people often say she’s frivolous, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she isn’t fit for a leadership role.

The one thing that led Mika to ruin was precisely that—the downfall of her own personal issues. If you take that away, there’s no reason why she couldn’t have served as the host.

Even if the head of the Pater faction, a hardcore conservative faction, was the host, Nagisa and Seiya could’ve kept things in check.

And no, this isn’t some sudden attempt to rationalize the current situation. Definitely not.

Ah, forget it. No more overthinking.

I made vegetable fried rice based on my experience living on my own, scooped it into a bowl, and placed it on the table.

By the time I realized it was already past dinnertime while listening to Nagisa’s explanation, I had ended up making something simple to offer her.

“Surprisingly, you look completely fine on the outside. I really didn’t expect you to be able to make this without any issues. I’m getting a glimpse of a side of Mika I never knew before.”

I remembered Nagisa’s surprised expression when I offered to cook for her. She had asked if I was sure I didn’t need help, which was pretty adorable.

When I held the kitchen knife, Nagisa herself seemed a little nervous. But honestly, would a student who can survive bullets and bombs even be fazed by a knife? Not that I had any desire to test the answer in front of Nagisa. On second thought, I wouldn’t want to test it anyway.

“Hehe, I just threw in whatever ingredients I felt like!”

“Why do I feel like this looks fine on the outside but the taste is going to be completely off?”

“No way! I made sure to taste it myself first before serving. I wasn’t sure either.”

It might be odd to explain that I can cook while pretending to have amnesia, but the truth is, amnesia only works selectively.

If I can't remember something, then of course I won’t remember others’ names. I wouldn’t know how to shoot a gun anyway, so I can just claim I don’t remember. Basic knowledge? Nope, not a chance!

But somehow, I can still use my phone just fine and talk normally. That’s the pinnacle of the amnesia concept—I remember some things, and forget others.

What are you going to do about it? As long as I don’t drop any obvious hints, Nagisa will never come to the insane conclusion that I’ve possessed Mika’s body. If she does, that’s just pure fantasy.

“Even though you weren’t sure, I don’t think you should’ve insisted on cooking.”

“Yeah… but I really wanted to do something for you since you came to see me. I wasn’t sure what to do, and honestly, I was a little scared.”

It wasn’t a complete lie. It wasn’t because of amnesia, but because of the possession. When I first found out Nagisa was coming, I almost panicked, but now, I’m actually glad she came.

I’ve adapted much faster than I thought, and I was able to set up a good cover until I’m fully adjusted. I also got some important information early that might have become a problem later.

“Even Mika wouldn’t skip class without notice or ignore messages on purpose. I’m glad I came before anything happened.”

Mika and Nagisa’s friendship was just as deep as it seemed in the story, or perhaps even more so.

Since Nagisa generally uses honorifics, it was obvious how close they were based on how she acted around Mika.

But now that I’m in their shoes, I realize just how close they actually are. I feel a bit guilty for deceiving Nagisa.

Oh, suddenly I had a question I wanted to ask. I put my chopsticks down on the table and sat across from Nagisa, holding back a smile as I asked a natural-sounding question.

“By the way, Nagisa-chan. Didn’t you say I’m your friend who you’ve known longer than anyone else?”

“Aside from my parents, yes. I’ve known Mika-san for over 10 years.”

“Wow, that’s a long time! We’re both 16, so we’ve known each other for a long time. But why do you still use honorifics? It feels a little distant, and it’s bothering me.”

“Ah, I use honorifics with everyone. I was taught to always maintain dignity, no matter the situation.”

“I see... So, does that mean you’ll always use honorifics with me?”

Nagisa seemed to pause for a moment, sensing something odd. I took the opportunity to pout slightly and follow up with a little nudge.

“If that’s what’s more comfortable for you, I can’t really complain. But it feels a little sad...”

“Sigh... Mika-san, you’ve tried this before, and it didn’t work.”

“I don’t remember that... then, could you at least call me ‘Mika-chan’ just this once? Pretty please?”

“…I’ll eat.”

Ah, I’ve been ignored. If I had pushed just a little harder, I might’ve succeeded. Now, should I scoop a bite of fried rice and shove it into my mouth, like I’m being the one to reject her?

Still, watching Nagisa eat the food I made while I chewed on my own meal made me feel good.

I’ve never been much of a cook, so making something simple and seeing her enjoy it was nice.

“How is it, Nagisa-chan? Is it edible?”

“Yes, it’s surprisingly good, though I can’t believe Mika-chan made it.”

“…Wait, did you just call me ‘Mika-chan’? I didn’t imagine that, right?”

I did have a little hope, but I never expected Nagisa to actually say “Mika-chan.” It sounded much better than when she called me “Mika-san.” Now I kind of want to hear her just call me Mika without any honorifics at all.

“What do you mean, Mika-san? You must have misheard me.”

“Wow…”

Oh my, Nagisa’s ears turned bright red. Is she the type who gets embarrassed easily? This is too cute! I feel like I could surpass the original Mika with how adorable she is.

If I said I wanted to tease Nagisa in a slightly different way from the original Mika, would that sound weird? Her face turning as red as a tomato would be a sight I’d love to see. Though it’s probably too difficult, but hey, if I’m a man, I should dream big.

...But that’s a small detail for now.

“Mika-san, you should eat too. There’s still so much I need to explain.”

“If you stuff everything in at once, I’ll probably forget it all...”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep explaining until you remember everything.”

What’s going on, Kirifuji Nagisa? Are you really an angel in front of me right now?

...Ah, she is an angel, in fact. But in Trinity, having angel wings doesn’t mean you’re an angel in spirit. At this rate, I could just call Nagisa a “pseudo-angel.”

After finishing our simple meal, I went to the bathroom for a moment, and when I returned, Nagisa had already cleaned the dishes and tidied up the table. What’s up with her remarkable domestic skills?

Afterward, the lesson continued. I hadn’t studied Trinity’s history much, so there was a lot of new information, and I had to pay close attention to everything Nagisa said.

It’s an Academy with deep connections to religious elements, so for someone like me with no religion, it wasn’t exactly easy to understand. I already had a headache thinking I’d need to study it more later.

“...Oh, it’s already this late.”

When I checked the time on my phone, it was almost 10 PM. Time had flown by while Nagisa explained everything so thoroughly.

“Well... shall I head back? Should I walk you home?”

“If you get lost on the way back, how will you manage? And besides, didn’t you say you don’t know how to handle a gun yet? If any troublemakers show up, it could be a hassle. It might be better if I stay here for the night. You probably won’t remember how to get to your academy anyway.”

“I don’t mind, but are you sure you’re okay with that, Nagisa-chan?”

“It’s happened before. As long as you’re okay with it, I’ll feel more comfortable staying here. I’ll go wash up first, though. And I’ll borrow some pajamas. I know where they are.”

Now that I think about it, Mika and Nagisa have similar builds. Nagisa’s a little taller, but overall, there’s not much difference.

...But honestly, Nagisa-sensei, you’re moving too fast. If this keeps up, I might not get any sleep tonight...