[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Extra

Hikari

-[Web message] Conflict reported near Abydos Third Border Checkpoint. Please verify.

-Hikari?

Hikari

-Oh, sorry. Sent to the wrong person.

-Sounds like something’s up.

Hikari

-Business as usual.

Gehenna, old Abydos troublemakers… too many to count.

-Tough life.

Hikari

-Price of earning a paycheck, I guess.

-Heard you passed the checkpoint a few hours ago. Got called to the Tea Party?

-Yeah, had some business.

Hikari

-Hard work, huh?

-Loyalty.

-Uh… loyalty!

***

(I was on my way back after finishing business in Trinity.)

(Among the crowd on the street, a familiar hat passed by.)

“Hey, Hikari.”

“Whoa? Sensei, is that you?”

(Hikari was in her usual outfit, but instead of a gun, she carried a basket today.)

(I naturally turned to walk with her for a bit.)

“On your way home? I’m pretty sure it was lunchtime when we talked… you’re working hard.”

“Listening to students’ troubles is my job.”

“Haha. No students have as many worries as Trinity’s girls.”

“Are you off work too, Hikari?”

“Not quite. More like heading home. I was going to the Checkpoint.”

(With every step Hikari took, the bread in her basket swayed.)

(She seemed excited to return to the Checkpoint, her steps light.)

(The basket was from a famous bakery. Curious if she frequented it, I asked.)

“Hm? Oh, this is Sayuri-san’s errand. She was raving about how good their bread is.”

“I’ve tried it. It’s great. The owner says students from other academies come too.”

“Outside Trinity? Figures. I thought I saw some horned kids and lab-coated techies going wild in there.”

“Some Gehenna students, huh? Don’t you dislike Gehenna?”

“Wow, jumping to that topic? Do you think I like those kids, Sensei?”

“Other students get upset just hearing Gehenna’s name.”

“…Huh.”

(Hikari slowed her pace, deep in thought.)

(I matched her speed and waited patiently.)

• 
  (A few minutes passed.)

(As the street grew quiet, Hikari finally spoke.)

“I can’t give you a straight answer, Sensei.”

“Why not?”

“It’s like… I hate them but also don’t. It’s complicated.”

“Can you explain what you mean?”

“I can’t exactly say I like Gehenna students. I’ve got some principles. But I don’t hate them either. I mean, Iroha-chan’s practically living at the Checkpoint, and I let some horned kids pass the checkpoint without a word sometimes.”

“But you also fight Gehenna students, so it’s hard to pick a side, right?”

“That’s about it. Working at the border checkpoint, they’re kind of a love-hate thing. These days, I even hang out with Gehenna checkpoint kids. One day they attack like they want to kill me, the next they show up with meat as a gift. That’s just… how it is.”

“I think you lean toward liking them.”

“I can say I don’t hate them.”

(Iroha mentioned moving her secret base, but I didn’t expect it to be the Checkpoint.)

(Hikari still seemed unsure if her answer was right.)

“You don’t sound confident.”

“People’s thoughts are complicated. Especially since I ended up in this position.”

(Hikari seems to have a lot on her mind. It shows when she passes by or appears in the media.)

(But this girl has never once asked me for help, unlike so many other Trinity students.)

“Don’t you ever have any worries, Hikari?”

“Plenty. What student doesn’t?”

“Then how many would you share with me?”

“None.”

(Shot down instantly.)

“Can I ask why?”

“There’s nothing worth telling you, Sensei. Security issues aside, there are students with far bigger problems. I know how small my worries are—why take up your time with trivial stuff?”

“I could probably listen to one right now.”

“You want to hear? Alright… let’s sit and talk.”

(Hikari dragged me to a café on a street corner.)

(As we sat, an impromptu tea time began. Hikari sipped her tea and pulled a loaf from her basket.)

“Baguette?”

“Baguette.”

(She split the baguette and gave me half. Though baked hours ago, it was still warm.)

“Why give me some?”

“To eat.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

(I tore off a piece and ate. Crisp outside, soft inside.)

(Hikari was munching on her half.)

“Mmm… tasty.”

“Sayuri-san wasn’t kidding.”

“-Sensei, do you know about the seven koans?”

“I’ve heard of a few.”

“Same here.”

(As the baguette disappeared, Hikari started talking.)

“‘Can you understand through what you don’t understand?’ ‘Can you prove the truth of someone who reached paradise?’”

“The second one I know. Nagisa told me.”

“What do you think of the fifth koan?”

“If someone claims they came back from paradise, they’re either a con artist or insane.”

“…That makes sense.”

(Hikari lifted her teacup, savoring the last sips.)

“I’ve got my own koan: ‘Can you resolve something unforgivable by forgiving it?’”

“Feeling guilty about something?”

“Not exactly, but I think it might happen once or twice in life.”

(Can you resolve the unforgivable by forgiving it—or even forgive what cannot be forgiven?)

(Some might call it a contradiction.)

“…You’re a deep thinker, Hikari.”

“Told you, this head of mine keeps me up with worries.”

(In Abydos, I thought Hikari was an adventurous student—before I heard she was a club leader. Talking with her this evening, she seemed more anxious.)

(The Border Checkpoint: Nagisa says it’s one of Trinity’s top five military groups. I can’t measure the burden on a second-year like Hikari, but anyone would guess it’s immense.)

(The amount of information coming in correlates with anxiety. I know that well. Hikari seems to be doubting her future because of her experiences. Not paranoia, but serious enough.)

“Are you… scared?”

“I won’t deny it, if it’s about the future. The world’s way more unstable than I expected.”

“To me, it looks like you’re worried about crossing a line in this chaotic world.”

“I’ve got more than a few lives on my shoulders.”

(Hikari leaned in, resting her chin on her hand.)

“I’d do anything for this academy. No matter how many red lines are drawn in front of me, I’m confident I could cross them. My responsibilities demand it, and my duties under canon law require it.”

“But the problem comes after, right, Hikari? If you really cross that line and commit something unforgivable, you don’t know how to handle it. When your hands are stained with blood, you don’t know how hard or long you’d need to scrub to make them clean again.”

“Exactly.”

(It’s about guilt. Regardless of who’s responsible, it’s the guilt Hikari might feel.)

(This ordinary girl hasn’t found a way to cope with it yet.)

“Canon law might not hold me accountable. Nagisa might take on the political burden for me. I could shift the blame to other factions or clubs. But then… what about me? My own scale will be tipped forever. God would think my heart’s heavier than a lump of iron, not a feather.”

“So, you’re ready to cross lines for Trinity, but not prepared for the fallout.”

“…I don’t even know how to prepare.”

(It’s a problem many in administration face. In a way, it’s like worrying about PTSD from war. In Hikari’s worst-case scenario, her guilt might hit from both sides.)

(The best solutions are standardized but detached from real psychology. Hikari’s issue isn’t whether she’ll face it—it’s about how little burden she can bear. The psychological impact is a given.)

(…I had to choose a method that might be the best or the next best.)

“It’s not really about whether you’re forgiven. Even if they forgive you, your guilt might linger.”

“…”

“You might be the one who needs to forgive. But if that were it, you wouldn’t have told me. You’re talking like you’re already the one needing forgiveness. So, I’ll respond from that perspective.”

(Mistakes leave scars. Even if both sides are hurt, the damage isn’t equal—at least not subjectively.)

(As the one causing harm, you hope their wounds heal, that they forgive you—and that you can forgive yourself.)

“Of course, the most important thing is that the students you’ve wronged forgive you. That’s the biggest part of your guilt, so you need to show sincere remorse until they say they forgive you.”

(Even if forgiven, guilt might linger in the girl’s heart.)

(Guilt carries fear of repeating mistakes and regret for past foolishness.)

“Remember what you did. How you messed up, why they took it badly. Never forget it. The bigger your mistake, the more effort you put in. Don’t forget—they won’t forget you either. They’ll expect you not to repeat it. Do your best not to, as they’d want. That’s my first piece of advice as your teacher.”

“…That’s good advice. Really.”

“Glad you think so.”

(Maybe an old worry was eased. Hikari’s expression seemed brighter.)

(I popped the last piece of baguette in my mouth. It had a savory sweetness. Hikari had already finished hers and was sipping cocoa.)

(The sun was setting. Hikari said she really had to go, thanked me, and left.)

(The street under the sunset was quiet. Cafés were closing one by one. A peaceful vibe lingered.)

(I hope my advice helped Hikari, even a little. I hope her reaction was genuine.)

(Another day in Trinity passed like this.)