[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 45

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean! Do you think we’re your private soldiers or something?”

“This isn’t our responsibility! How are we supposed to stop an emergency order directly issued by Nagisa-sama?”

“It’s your duty as the chief to stop it! Damn it, I’m meeting the host today. This is a heads-up!”

“No, Captain, wait—Captain—” The call was abruptly cut off.

The administrator must have been quite flustered, but I don’t have the luxury to care about that right now.

From that call, I learned two critical things. Extremely important facts.

The first was the reason why Nagisa-sama ordered the border closure last night.

According to the administrator, the previous orders were more like emergency measures to prevent the Supplementary Lessons Department from escaping Trinity. It was dressed up in grandiose propaganda, claiming that the righteous student council, led by the righteous Nagisa-sama, had brought down the hammer of justice on those who dared to take exams outside the sacred grounds of Trinity General Academy. But beneath the rhetoric, I could roughly discern the truth.

One thing is certain: Nagisa-sama despises the Supplementary Lessons Department. More precisely, she despises its contents. It makes sense, considering she sent those “traitors” to the Supplementary Lessons Department in the first place because she couldn’t stand them.

A big question arises: Why did she go so far as to use an emergency order to stop them? It’s an irrational situation.

This question falls under the second category. I’m deeply displeased with Nagisa-sama’s justification right now.

Her attitude toward the Supplementary Lessons Department is clearly a personal matter. And yet, she signed an emergency order to fulfill her personal agenda. I don’t know yet, but this must be why she asked us to trust her without explaining the reason.

This is a violation of academy law, damn it—an outright illegal act! Was I just used?

When Nagisa-sama pleaded with that desperate tone to trust her just this once, I complied without hesitation, only to realize I was walking right into a trap. The saying about following a friend to Gehenna wasn’t wrong after all!

The reason I’m so furious isn’t just because of Nagisa-sama’s near-betrayal. If a hearing is held, I’ll be the one taking all the blame. It’s like being dragged to the Tea Party hall without handcuffs.

I’ve only attended hearings twice, both times as a mere spectator, but the atmosphere was so intense that my body trembled. The person on trial was practically in tears, and that was over a minor corruption case involving a small sum.

And now I might have to face one myself! Damn it, I’m screwed.

But I, Yamatsu Hikari, have to do what needs to be done, even if I’m screwed.

I’m going to formally protest to Nagisa-sama about this incident. At the very least, that’s what I think, because even if it’s not a big deal under academy law, it’s a serious matter to me. Plus, I’m pissed off about being blindsided.

I need to make it clear how she views us. More precisely, I need to teach her what constitutes proper conduct in a hierarchical relationship. As the administrator said, the border checkpoint isn’t the Tea Party’s private army. We need to assert our independence.

That’s the duty of a border captain moving forward, isn’t it?

“Miss Matsushiro, tell Ritsuko-chan and Sayuri-san that I can’t make it to lunch because something came up.”

“Huh? Where are you going all of a sudden… Wait, I don’t even have their phone numbers!”

“Look them up in the directory. I’m going to be late today.”

***

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, I’ve been doing fine in my own way. How about you, Hikari-san?”

“Better than before… Oh, the tea tastes even better now.”

Good conversations.

And a completely opposite atmosphere.

Nagisa-sama probably knows exactly why I’m here. She must have figured it out the moment the administrator told her I was coming. Instead of spilling a few drops of tea in surprise, she probably calmly asked for an extra serving to be prepared.

The question is whether her prepared explanation will satisfy me. In other words, can it outweigh the logic I’m bringing to the table?

The leader of the Filius faction undoubtedly possesses the cunning and intellect befitting her position. Her administrative skills are on par with, if not superior to, the student council presidents of other academies. I don’t doubt her abilities.

The problem is why someone like her issued such an utterly irrational order last night. I accepted it at the time, but now that I know the truth, things are different. I can say with certainty that last night’s decision was a mistake—one she shouldn’t have made.

“Nagisa-sama, I believe you know why I urgently requested this meeting.”

“Yes… I have a rough idea. It’s about last night’s emergency order, isn’t it?”

“Correct. I only received the justification for it this morning. And it raised significant doubts. Here, take a look.”

I handed Nagisa-sama a few newspapers I bought on the way and opened one of them.

The second-largest newspaper in Trinity General Academy, after the Chronos School Press, featured a large photo of a collapsed iron bridge on its front page. It was the bridge managed by Gehenna’s Prefect Team, which I had intentionally destroyed. The blackened red hue reflected on the water’s surface.

The commotion caused by the checkpoint last night must have been a juicy story for the reporters. Even if it wasn’t in the city, the journalists staying in cabins near the border would have heard the noise from our operation, complete with shelling and explosions.

The problem is how they wrote the article. Unfortunately, they weren’t kind to us. Many of the newspapers are raising questions.

“Look at the front page of The Guardians. ‘A Moonlit Night Filled with Noise: What Were They Doing?’ Disappointing, isn’t it? They boast about being Trinity’s second-largest newspaper, but today they’re desperate for clicks. Nice photo, though.”

“…”

“What do you think about this, Nagisa-sama? I’m genuinely curious.”

“I’m curious about what you’re trying to ask me.”

She must know why I’m here. I came to confront her, to ask why she did this to me.

But out of respect for the Tea Party and Nagisa-sama’s authority, I don’t want to be the one to bring it up first. I can’t leave a bad impression on the administrators waiting in the corner of the Tea Party hall, like I did last time.

I’m a professional before I’m a soldier. I may not be the most competent, but I’m a high-ranking official in a massive administrative organization, and I need to act accordingly.

Whether Nagisa-sama will accept that is another question.

“…You know why.”

“I do. I know very well.”

“Then I have a question. Why did you do it?”

“The decision regarding the Supplementary Lessons Department was personal. I’m sorry about that.”

“This isn’t something you can just apologize for, Nagisa-sama. And you don’t need to.”

“It’s true that they were trying to cross Trinity’s border to head to Gehenna.”

“And the reason for that is because you designated Gehenna as the exam venue.”

Somehow, we ended up cutting to the chase.

It’s not a bad thing. Sticking to the point without letting emotions interfere is a good approach in professional conversations. The only issue is that it might come across as rude.

I opened my bag and pulled out a hefty stack of papers I had prepared with some effort. The Trinity General Academy Code of Law, with its long title, is practically a legal relic in its raw form.

It’s my most important piece of evidence.

“In the Trinity General Academy Code of Law, under Article 41, Clause 2, Subsection 3 of the Emergency Order Authority Act, it states: ‘The Border Checkpoint Commander may refuse a host’s emergency order based on appropriate justification.’ I’m sure you’re aware of this, Nagisa-sama.”

“But you didn’t exercise that authority, Hikari-san. You simply obeyed.”

“That’s because, at the time, I believed the emergency order was justified. And that belief stemmed from my trust in you. I trusted that the Tea Party’s host would never use such a significant authority without good reason. Unfortunately, that trust was shattered this morning.”

“You’re saying you don’t think the justification I provided for the emergency order was valid.”

“No, it’s a bit different.”

It’s probably very different.

“You didn’t have any justification. You relied on an emotional plea with a desperate tone.”

“…”

“From a certain perspective, this was a betrayal of my trust. I don’t want to say this, but you deceived me. You didn’t belittle or insult me, but betrayal is inherently wrong, isn’t it?”

“Betrayal never comes from an enemy, does it?”

“Exactly. And this betrayal came to me not from Gehenna or the radical factions of the social circles, but from you, Nagisa-sama. I was hit hard in the back of the head, and betrayal whispered to me, ‘Maybe you’re betrayed because you had expectations.’ But I still have expectations of you. That’s why I’m here, talking to you.”

“…This might not sound sincere, but I truly feel sorry about this. Using the emergency order to mobilize the border checkpoint based on personal feelings was clearly my mistake. It was wrong, and I acknowledge it.”

“I’ll say it again: I didn’t come here for an apology. I just want to know why you did it. That’s why I’m approaching this as diplomatically as I can.”

Nagisa-sama has antagonized me once and blindsided me once. By the stack count, she’s already out.

But unlike last time, I have no intention of antagonizing the host. Eden is approaching too quickly. Who knows how a small rift between Nagisa-sama and me within the Tea Party could grow in these unstable times?

Unlike Hanako, our relationship is hierarchical. Nagisa-sama isn’t someone who would be ruined by anything I say. I could take military measures, but I have no intention of doing so. As a political moderate, I’m essentially on her side. There’s no benefit in becoming her enemy.

Nagisa-sama has many problems, some of which are serious enough for Sensei and me to address directly—political and mental issues. But she has the potential to overcome them and become a more flexible, trusting person.

My anger from this morning has long since dissipated. What I need to do here is secure a promise from her.

“Nagisa-sama, I believe you can become a better leader. Just as the system must change, so must people. This mistake must not lead to another. I’ve made enough mistakes to know that.”

“Are you saying I need to change as well?”

“You must. That’s how Trinity survives. Your paranoia, these intense personal emotions, are like sparks. There’s no guarantee you won’t move the Justice Task Force for the same reasons in the future. If that happens, a fire will start. And a fire will only die out after burning the entire mountain.”

“A mountain like Trinity, once set ablaze, can never be rebuilt.”

“Exactly. I believe there are two things you need to understand. The border checkpoint and I are neither private soldiers nor mercenaries. The same goes for the Justice Task Force. But if your justification is valid, we will do anything for you.”

“I think I understand.”

Nagisa-sama seemed much calmer than at the start.

We talked a lot after that. I went to great lengths to explain how absolute her orders are within Trinity General Academy and the immense potential they hold. Fortunately, she understood quickly.

I secured a few promises. She agreed not to issue emergency orders to the border checkpoint or other clubs based on personal feelings in the future. I thought she might see this as a threat to her authority and refuse, but she accepted it more easily than expected. She does seem to have softened a bit.

We decided to postpone further discussion about the Supplementary Lessons Department, which is closely tied to last night’s incident. Their exam results exceeded the threshold, so the issue of their expulsion has been resolved for now. It didn’t feel like my place to bring it up.

The Supplementary Lessons Department is a separate entity from the checkpoint, and meddling might be overstepping my bounds.

“I’m glad this ended on a good note.”

“I think so too. I also realized that you might be more of a moderate than I thought, Hikari-san.”

“I personally consider myself a moderate. Though I can be hardline in some areas.”

Good laughter.

A good atmosphere.

If only it had been like this last time. How many unresolved issues could we have addressed?

Today, I learned a valuable lesson: If I approach calmly, Nagisa-sama responds in kind. If I don’t lose my temper, conversations go this smoothly. So why the hell did I act like that last time, you idiot? If I’d handled it well, we could’ve even gotten that supplementary budget reapproved.

Wait, why did I act like that? I think I was a bit angry…

Ugh, whatever. I don’t know.

Probably got cursed out by some passing Pater faction member or something.

“I’ll see you just before Eden, then.”

“Yes, let’s do that. Have a good day.”

After a few warm handshakes, I left the tea party hall.

The administrator I’m close with was waiting for me at the door.

Why?

She said Nagisa-sama had asked her to stay.

The elevator was broken, so we took the stairs.

“Senior, I’ve got a fun story for you.”

“Tell me. What is it?”

“Now that things went well with Nagisa-sama, who do you think are the most pitiful students right now?”

“Hmm… I don’t know. It’s definitely not you or me, though.”

“Right.”

“I really don’t know. I’m not great at these kinds of riddles. What’s the answer?”

“The communications chief, caught between you and Nagisa-sama.”

“…”

“Oh.”