[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 126

Regarding Arius Branch School Under Trinity District Occupation

Following a student assembly vote held today, with a majority of eligible voters participating and a majority of votes in favor, this administrative order has been finalized through deliberation at an interim meeting and is hereby promulgated.

Nanami Rin, Acting Federal Student Council President

***

[What the hell is this about?! This was already settled! Why are you stirring things up?!]

[…]

Stay quiet? Damn it, when I’m already taking enough flak in reality, you’re telling me to stay quiet?

It was fortunate few students lingered at the morning staff headquarters. I didn’t want Nagisa-sama or Sayuri-san to see me so riled up. Well, Sayuri-san might empathize, fuming over the betrayal we just got slapped with.

The coordination office clerk lacked the authority to handle my anger, but at this point, I didn’t care. They’d just have to shut up and listen.

[Who the hell is your superior, clerk?]

Clunk. The student on the other end sounded like they’d triggered a trauma, stumbling audibly. After a brief wait, the response came:

[Ah…! T-The office chief, Iwabitsu Ayumu, but she’s currently unavailable…]

Damn it. This was infuriating. Classic bureaucratic buck-passing—did they think I, who’d eaten my share of meals as checkpoint chief, wouldn’t recognize their dodging? Let’s not complicate things.

[Clerk, I thought you’d know better than to say that if you knew who I was. Guess not. Should I contact her directly?]

In plain terms: “Get your boss here before I personally chew her out.”

Of course, I don’t have Iwabitsu Ayumu’s contact info. But the Tea Party is tied to Sanctum Tower, for better or worse, and I’d bet searching the whole building would turn up even a missing Federal Student Council president.

There’s also the option of riding the Andromeda Transatron to D.U. to confront her. I just don’t want to plunge that girl into eternal torment. Traveling as acting commander isn’t diplomatically wise.

[If I had my way, I’d call the acting Federal Student Council president, but… it’s the middle of the night, right?]

She’s not some superhuman.

[Uh… she’s still on duty, but… um…]

…

The girl seemed flustered by my silence.

Fine, Senior Nanami Rin.

You’re more than qualified to carry on the former president’s legacy.

***

Nanami Rin, Acting Federal Student Council President, proposed an informal bilateral meeting.

“Proposed” isn’t quite coercion. Maybe a whim struck her, but she responded as if she wouldn’t mind an immediate refusal. It wasn’t an aggressive stance, so responding in kind was proper.

The day after Siga Mitsuki (Chronos School, 17 years old) declared that “the Federal Student Council’s Administrative Committee provoked Trinity through an interim meeting.”

I waited in the Federal Student Council’s reception room for the appointed time. The gazes I received upon entering—how disheartening. How do you face indifference and terrified girls?

I was seen off by many. Nagisa-sama urged caution, while Sayuri-san fumed about why I had to go. Chief Tsurugi sent a letter in the same vein as before.

Chief, are you watching? As you said, this isn’t some reckless stunt. I take your advice to heart, so don’t worry.

Love you.

“—I’m a bit late due to piled-up work. Sorry.”

Creak. Acting President Rin entered, dark circles under her eyes betraying a caffeine-fueled all-nighter.

“I’m sorry about the late-night business. We’ve got our pride, you know.”

The Tea Party has its own authority, and there’s protocol to follow. Bluntly, when some brats play pranks and slap us in the back of the head, we can’t just sit still. This isn’t Gehenna.

The meeting began after exchanging titles—acting commander this, acting president that. A silence hung between the two students.

“…Is it alright if I present Trinity’s position first?”

“Yes.”

Ugh, she’s got a knack for making responses tough.

“The Tea Party expresses significant concern over the Administrative Committee’s decision yesterday. I don’t know if you’re directly involved, but I’m curious about Acting President Rin’s thoughts.”

Even with the Federal Student Council’s administration faltering lately, the title “Acting Federal Student Council President” isn’t some dusty uniform. She likely wields executive-level influence. A powerless student like me can only assume she orchestrated this mess.

“As the acting commander surely knows, the Tea Party has no authority to interfere with the Federal Student Council’s decisions. Please keep that in mind.”

“…I’m trying.”

If you lot aren’t stirring up trouble, why would we intervene? There’s a reason I tried to call the office chief instead of protesting to you directly. Why would a mere high-ranking clerk like me take the fall?

“But we can’t overlook the Administrative Committee’s decision. If this gets out, what happens to our relationship?”

“Imagine the Federal Student Council overlooking an attempt to forcibly annex Arius District. We respect your position, but letting this slide would render the Administrative Committee powerless. Abydos District, Millennium—enough said.”

She’s likely referring to the two issues resolved since S.C.H.A.L.E’s founding. The Abydos Countermeasures Committee and Kaiser Corporation… Hmph, wonder how Senior Hoshino’s doing these days.

I don’t know much about Millennium Science School. I’d like to, but…

It could be a run-of-the-mill power struggle. But Seminar’s internal issues aren’t for the Federal Student Council to meddle in. Maybe it’s tied to the Millennium Northern Conflict—heard a ridiculous emergency was declared at the Checkpoint’s Northeast District.

“Then why make the promise? What was all that about observing and respecting Trinity’s position?”

“Acting Commander, you hung up first, remember?”

I thought you’d stay quiet, so I assumed it’d be fine. If you were going to speak up after everything’s settled, you should’ve called during the operation. I don’t know if it went through a meeting or faced opposition.

“Finance Chief Oki Aoi demanded an interim meeting. The vote passed, so I had to comply. Clear enough?”

Why are finance folks always so uptight? Turns out, she wasn’t the one calling the shots.

I was speechless.

“I’m sorry for vaguely conveying the Federal Student Council’s intent. There’s significant internal pushback, and we can’t ignore it. The Federal Student Council will officially put the Arius Branch issue on the table.”

“Then what happens to the Tea Party? No… this can’t stand. You know this, Acting President. They’re an unauthorized external academy. If the Federal Student Council meddles in what’s essentially Trinity General School’s issue… some in the Tea Party will revolt.”

Sayuri-san is a deputy leader of the Pater Faction, not a figure uniting all factions. I can’t just watch the widespread anger within the faction erupt.

What about Filius and Sanctus? If they all rise in protest, I’d be worrying about my neck before responding.

“Acting Commander” Yamatsu Hikari can’t stop this. Nagisa-sama, Seia-sama, even Mika-sama would be swept up in public outcry. If Trinity General School’s path becomes unpredictable…

“The world calls that a catastrophe. It’ll spread uncontrollably.”

“…”

“Do you know, Acting President Rin? The price I paid to quell the Tea Party’s fury during the Eden Treaty Incident? How much blood I planned to spill entering the Tea Party?”

I bore all that infamy to suppress the storm, and now you want to unleash it again? Might as well suspend the constitution.

“I’m warning you clearly: if this leaks and public opinion sours, I won’t stop it. Protests, Tea Party resolutions—I won’t suppress them. The Federal Student Council can deal with it.”

Acting President Rin seemed startled by my bombshell—honestly, isn’t it justified?

She let out a heavy sigh.

“Ha… I knew it’d come to this. I should’ve stopped Chief Aoi.”

“…I don’t follow.”

And then Acting President Rin shocked me again.

“I, too, won’t stop the Tea Party’s fury.”

…Now I get it.

An opportunity.

“Fine.”

The two students talked for twenty minutes, shook hands, and exchanged smiles.

The world is mine—however chaotic and bizarre it may be!

***

“Nagisa-sama won’t need to act.”

Kirifuji Nagisa listened to the administrative officer.

Administrative Officer Yamatsu Hikari, officially Acting Commander of Trinity General School and Border Checkpoint Chief, had just returned from a trip to D.U. at my request for a meeting with Acting Federal Student Council President Nanami Rin.

Fortunately, things might resolve smoothly. Rin had subtly signaled cooperation.

“Just observe the situation. I’ll handle it.”

“Hikari-san… heh, you seem confident.”

With Mika’s hearing as my priority, it was a good proposal. Swapping her white chief uniform for a standard one, Hikari flashed a triumphant smile and sipped her tea.

“Well, as with most things, it’s just about fighting on the surface.”

“You think so?”

What’s the phrase… a predictable script, staged drama.

“The press might be disappointed, but what can we do? Pfft.”

Clink—the officer set down her teacup.

“It’s not like we’re waging war.”