Release Princess Mika!

Chapter 5: Kirifuji Nagisa (1)

They say each person is born with a different kind of blessing. And being born into a wealthy family, raised with abundant love, I was someone blessed more than I deserved.

At a young age, I met a girl who, perhaps, was even more loved than I was. It wouldn’t have been strange for my young heart to feel jealous of her... But looking back, it seems she was someone who instinctively knew how to be loved so well, she made even such feelings fade away naturally.

A fated meeting at the Trinity Kindergarten. My first friend, named Misono Mika.

I can’t begin to describe how fortunate I feel to have met her and become friends. The teachings of my family to always maintain dignity and poise were deeply ingrained in me, and as I grew older, people began to watch me from afar rather than approach me.

Mika said one of the reasons people found me difficult was because I used honorifics with everyone, regardless of the situation.

But by then, speaking formally had already become second nature to me. She generously said she would allow me to speak casually with her for practice, but honestly, how many times do I have to tell her that I find honorifics more comfortable?

...It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but I don’t have the same kind of sociability Mika has. While she easily approaches and befriends anyone, years have passed and she remains the only person I can truly call a close friend.

To be honest, the reason I didn’t make more friends was because handling just Mika alone was overwhelming.

It may sound like an excuse, but Mika really talks a lot, is terribly mischievous, and although she can get along with anyone, she clung to me the most.

Ah, maybe I misspoke—saying she can approach anyone easily. That’s not quite true. Mika has a pathological hatred of Gehenna’s students. It’s a relief she at least pretends to listen when I or Seiya speak up.

Like this, Mika is a friend with many flaws. Sometimes, I even wonder why I put up with her.

There was a time I voiced that very thought in front of her, and I still remember the absurd response I got. "You don’t know why Nagi-chan keeps hanging out with me? Nagi-chan, you’re such a dummy~ Of course it’s because you love me so, so much☆"—Honestly, that wasn’t even funny. If she says something like that again, I swear I’ll stuff that tiny mouth of hers full of roll cake.

"…"

If I had to define what Mika means to me, I’d say… she’s my one and only frenemy.

...So maybe it’s only natural that I’m bothered by the fact that this very frenemy was absent without notice for the first time ever. Not knowing what kind of nonsense she’s up to now only adds to the unease.

I kept sending messages on MomoTalk, but there was no reply—not even a read receipt. At first, I thought, So the idiot finally overslept, but as the morning passed and lunchtime approached, worry began to set in.

"Nagisa, did Mika get in touch?"

"No. She’s not even checking MomoTalk. Mika may be a selfish fool, but she wouldn’t skip class without a word..."

"For now, try to calm your mind. I doubt something terrible has happened to Mika. You know her combat skills better than anyone."

"...That’s true. I can’t imagine that idiot getting beaten up somewhere. More likely, she’s doing something outrageous again. Like, say, robbing a Black Market bank..."

"Nagisa, come now, Mika wouldn’t go that far… would she...? Hm, probably not."

"Hoo... This better be nothing serious. If it is, I’m sealing her mouth with roll cake permanently this time."

Honestly, Mika, there’s a limit to how much one should worry others. If only you hadn’t insisted on renovating your mansion’s interior for no good reason, I wouldn’t be pacing around like this now.

Granted, your position as Tea Party host was never meant to last forever, but you should realize you’re the one currently holding the post, Mika. I’m not asking for much—just show a little responsibility until Miss Seiya takes over.

...So please, just reply already. I’m begging you.

***

"Hmm... It sure is peaceful without Mika around. This is how teatime should be."

"I do feel a bit sorry saying this about Mika, but I must agree. Things were a bit too noisy with her, usually."

Even as I tried to soothe my burning anxiety with the bitterness of tea, today it tasted more bitter than usual. At this rate, I might just be making things worse.

"But you know, setting teatime aside... we are the Tea Party, aren’t we? And parties are supposed to be loud and lively."

"Miss Seiya… That’s kind of a stretch, even for you."

Miss Seiya seemed to be genuinely worried about Mika too. You could tell from the way she said strange things with such a serious face.

"Heh... Is that so... But I imagine you must be feeling an even greater emptiness in her absence, Nagisa. At least, that’s how it was for me. To think she could stir up these feelings in me in just half a day... It seems Mika was a much more precious friend to me than I had realized."

Normally, I’d have brushed off such remarks with ease, but today… I couldn’t bring myself to argue. Just as Miss Seiya said, I had to admit Mika’s absence left a bigger void than I expected.

After wrapping up all the Tea Party-related duties I could handle with Seiya, the following afternoon classes felt like pure torture. I really resented Mika for putting me through this. Yes, truly—resented her.

Eventually, when I couldn’t focus on my studies at all, I made a decision.

[Something’s really wrong. Mika, are you okay? Please reply as soon as you see this. I’m too worried to even concentrate on my studies.]

In the end, for the first time in my life, I committed the act of using my phone during class.

Of course, once the dam was breached, it could no longer hold. I kept checking my phone for any reply, and then sent Mika another message on MomoTalk before finally deciding—I’d go find her myself.

From that point on, studying was completely forgotten, and I spent the rest of the class thinking up dozens of things to say when I finally saw her.

I used to look down on those students who just waited for class to end without paying attention.

Now, realizing I had become one of them, I felt a brief moment of shame. But when school finally ended, I slipped away without even informing the Tea Party escorts of where I was going—and made my way to Mika’s house.

With no idea what absurd situation was waiting for me.

***

Standing in front of Mika’s house, I suddenly worried—what if she wasn’t here? But I couldn’t stand there forever, so I steeled myself, placed my hand on the doorbell, and opened the box—hoping the cat inside was still alive.

Ding-dong—

The doorbell rang a few times, but even after a minute, Mika didn’t come to the door.

If she wasn’t home… then where was she? The fact that she hadn’t checked MomoTalk no matter where she was—that’s what truly bothered me. The best case was that she’d gone out and left her phone behind.

Just in case, I pressed the doorbell one more time. Silently praying she’d open the door, I rang it—and to my immense relief, I finally heard movement from inside.

I barely caught Mika’s voice through the door. I couldn’t make out the details, but I understood one word.

Memory.

It didn’t mean much on its own, so I didn’t dwell on it. Just then, click, the door unlocked. Finally, time to question her—or so I thought.

Mika looked awful. Her hair was a wild mess like she’d just woken up, she was still in pajamas despite it being nearly evening, and she stared at me with a blank expression. Something was clearly wrong.

"...Hello, Mika. You don’t look... well. Don’t tell me you really slept until this hour?"

Anyone could see she had. The mood was so different from her usual self that I pushed back my questions, but I had already decided: since she made me worry over something as ridiculous as oversleeping, I’d be stuffing her full of roll cake.

I’ll kill you myself, Misono Mika.

If you have even a shred of guilt, you’d better surrender quietly. You’re used to playing along when you’ve done something wrong, right? But this time, you’d better—

"Um... are you Nagi-chan, by any chance?"

Eh?

"I saw someone saved as 'Nagi-chan' say she was coming here, so I waited. I thought maybe you could tell me who I am... and what kind of person I used to be."

I let out a weird sound without thinking, but Mika kept going without giving me a second to collect myself.

My brain scrambled to make sense of her nonsense… and gave up. I had no idea what she was talking about.

"Wait, wait. Mika, what are you saying? Why are you talking like this is the first time you’ve seen me? I don’t get it... And what do you mean I should..."

Teach...

A single, terrible possibility passed through my mind. One I prayed wasn’t true. One that couldn’t be true.

Now, I understood why Mika had stared so intently at me. But it brought me no joy. Please tell me it was all a joke. Just once—I’ll forgive everything, if it’s just a joke. So please...

I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore. When Mika looked at me with a pained, apologetic expression, the sky came crashing down around me.

"...I’m sorry. But I don’t remember anything. My head is all mixed up."

...

"H-Haha... Mika, you... you really think I’d fall for something like that..."

A white flame flickered before my eyes, and with it came a deep-rooted fear. The terror that I might have lost my most precious friend forever. It blurred my vision.

The last thing I saw was Mika looking down at me with worry—before I lost consciousness completely.