Recently, I’ve been dealing with a couple of problems that have been stressing me out in various ways. Seriously, can’t they just leave me alone for a bit…
To start off, the things that were originally bothering me are mostly what you could call “trivial problems.”
Like tasks that drain a person’s energy, or
being forced to attend by a nasty cathedral to someone who doesn’t believe.
Or the nun who tries to reform me under the pretext of confession.
These are what I consider “trivial problems.”
Next up is the fact that I have to divide my limited free time as fairly as possible among a way-too-many number of lovers,
and then there’s the fury of my husband directed at me for trying to increase that number when I’m already dealing with such problems.
Lastly, the uncertainty of the future that lies ahead.
These problems go beyond triviality and are quite significant.
And while I could brush off the first two, the third one was definitely enough to give me a headache. I mean, seriously.
Basically, the main story that permeates the world of Blue Archive is incomplete. The side event stories can be whatever, but the main story is very important.
In the early parts, the heavy atmosphere was not really highlighted, but it gets more pronounced as the story progresses. That’s the flow of this world, after all.
However, the story as I know it basically ended about two weeks ago.
We dropped the Ark that rose from the Millennium and successfully stopped Aris—who awakened as the unnamed goddess’s princess—from unleashing her devastation. At that point, almost everything wrapped up in a way that was better than the original story I knew.
…Well, to be precise, it’s not that it ended completely. A portion of the story that would follow is still stuck in my head, after all.
Just before I fell into this land called Kivotos, I witnessed part of the final chapter when the Color invasion officially began.
It was the story of Mika, who was the main villain of the Eden Treaty, atoning for her sins.
Kaiser, who collaborated with Kaya, instigated a military coup, kidnapped the teacher, and escaped with the help of the students.
The story about how the Color, led by the black Sunaokami Shiroko, descends upon Kivotos due to Beatrice’s actions.
Of course, I don’t remember every trivial detail. It’s been more than a year since I possessed this body, and there’s no way I could recall it all. I’m just glad I know at least the core parts of the story.
Anyway, knowing even a part of the final chapter’s story has put me under a curse of knowledge. Not in the common sense, but rather in a way that suggests not knowing might have been better.
The Eden Treaty? That’s almost signed, just waiting for a stamp. The signing schedule is set, and there’s nothing that could thwart it, while the main villain, Princess Mika, is still sound asleep inside me.
Kaya and Kaiser Corporation? I think Kaya has recently developed into a little bit of a worrying factor, but really, she’s not a big problem on her own. Kaiser Corporation I’ve wiped off the map entirely with my hand.
Beatrice? She’s the first villain I booted off the stage after I possessed this body. At least based on what I know, at the point Beatrice became unable to do anything, the grounds for the Color invading Kivotos should have vanished.
But the discovery of a prophecy in Abydos gave me and Rion—who were each preparing for doom in our own ways—confidence.
Events will inevitably unfold, no matter what.
So we gathered all the information we could to learn about the Color and began research to counter it.
As far as I know, even Gematria acknowledges the possibility of a Color invasion, unrelated to Beatrice, and they are preparing accordingly for the future.
If all these worries prove to be just baseless anxiety and Kivotos finds a happy ending just like this, that would truly be the icing on the cake…
Achoo.
“Oh my. Senpai, have you caught a cold…”
“Huh? No way! I’m perfectly fine.”
After hearing my cough, Hanako rushed over, looking at me with concern. Just as my heart warmed at her expression, I shook my head in denial.
I know I’m not immune to colds. Still, it’s tougher on my body than usual to get sick.
“But it’s not like it can’t happen. You might catch a cold if you keep sleeping without a blanket at night.”
What the…
Hanako, are you implying that Nagisa’s wings aren’t blankets?
Regardless of what I think or say in my mind…
“Then, let me check…”
With a mischievous smile, Hanako placed her hand on my forehead. After a moment, she nodded and said,
“There’s no fever. We can’t entirely rule out the possibility of a simple sore throat, but… yes. How about I brew you a cup of yuzu tea?”
“Huh? You have yuzu syrup?”
“Yes, I personally bought that. I thought there might come a day when I’d brew it for you♡”
Indeed, my perfect secretary. I always feel grateful to Hanako. She cares so much that she even joined the T-party, which she had no interest in for my sake.
Rion had the shadow named Toki, the Student Council President and the teacher had Rin, and Hina had Aco, just like now I have my perfect secretary, Hanako-chan.
First of all, it’s a proven fact that our Hanako is the best secretary when it comes to simple task assistance. Thinking back, my life as a T-party host before she joined was filled with agonies day by day.
She truly excels in her abilities like this, but what’s especially lovable is how wholeheartedly she takes care of me.
So, naturally, I found myself contemplating what I could give to someone like Hanako, who continuously supports me.
Just as I had finished brewing a lukewarm cup of yuzu tea for her, I came back to my senses, casting my gaze at Hanako, and slowly opened my mouth,
“Hanako-chan, how about we go for a nice little walk together just the two of us today?”
Hanako fell silent upon hearing my words. I thought she’d be happy, but was I mistaken?
“Um, Mika-senpai…? The outside temperature is over 30 degrees, you know?”
“Eh?”
What’s making it so hot?
“A heatwave warning has been issued for Kivotos until this weekend. Didn’t you know? Rather… On days like this, it’s better to play in the water than to walk.”
Right, water play is the best in summer. I can admit that.
But it seems there was a slight misunderstanding.
“…I didn’t mean it as let’s go out right now.”
Upon hearing my words, Hanako paused. Then, looking at me with eager eyes, she asked,
“Senpai, does that mean…?”
Intentionally dodging her gaze, I took a sip of the yuzu tea. Even though it wasn’t refreshing nor warm, its taste made my throat cool and my heart warm.
“Haha. Is this the taste of Hanako-chan’s love…”
“No, I think the two are completely different. If you’d like, we could compare right now—”
“Whoa? Stop! Hanako-chan, pull down your skirt. For now, let me finish my work first…”
As I saw Hanako lifting her skirt with her fingertips, I rushed to stop her.
“Ah, right… You were still working, huh? What a pity.”
I believe I should focus solely on my work while on duty. So please forgive me for having to ignore your temptation…
“…Fufu.”
Huh?
“Um, Hanako-chan…?”
With her unique smile, Hanako moved behind me. In that moment, I stiffened, wondering what she was planning.
Suddenly, her hand settled on my shoulder. Then, she began gently massaging it—
“Ah…”
“Dear Senpai, let me give you a little massage to ease your fatigue♡”
Damn it. Seriously, it feels blissfully drowsy and happy. That’s the problem.
Hanako’s touch, as time passed, and as I slipped deeper into this massage, grew more and more… saucy.
Before I knew it, the hand that was massaging my shoulder was slowly sliding down. I didn’t need to look to know where it was headed.
“Hanako-chan… this only takes an hour…”
“It’s alright, Mika-senpai. If it’s you, I believe you can wrap it up in an hour just like this. I have faith in you.”
“No but that’s… Huuuh…”
That’s only true when you’re behaving and just massaging my shoulder.
Just as I was about to voice that, a moan slipped through my lips, as Hanako’s hand finally reached both of my sides.
“Senpai, together we…”
“Ah, haah…”
“Blessed bodies…”
“Wait, whoa…”
“Need to be treated like this periodically for fatigue to be relieved, right? You know that, don’t you?”
Hanako-chan, going by that logic, there’s likely no one who gets cared for more frequently than I do…!
My robust rebuttal didn’t escape my mouth. It swirled around inside, escaping into the ether, leaving only…
“Hanako…”
All that escaped my lips was a desperate call for her name. Stretching out the endearing tone, yearning for more attention.
“Ah, I think it sounds nice. Please, do tell me more.”
“Seriously, you’re too much…”
Hearing my not-so-complaining complaint, Hanako giggled.
Then, squeezing tightly as if wringing my chest, she leaned in close and whispered in my ear.
“Senpai, about that walk you mentioned earlier… Is that what you were thinking?”
“M-Maybe…”
“…”
When I think of a walk with Hanako, it never feels quite right if it’s just a stroll along a path.
In that regard, the perfect setting with Hanako would be a night walk.
…Also, a naked walk.
Of course, it wasn’t like I suggested wandering around Trinity naked. As for me, I feel embarrassed just walking around nude inside my home.
“Right, so maybe going in swimsuits while walking around is… okay too for a little fun at the school pool…”
Consequently, what I suggested to Hanako was not the naked walk she might have been expecting—
“Senpai, I must politely decline the naked walk as well.”
“…Huh?”
“Honestly, the thought of a stranger seeing your bare skin is… Yes, I sincerely dislike that. And I think you’ll feel similarly about this, right?”
“…Yeah.”
I absolutely hate the idea of someone else seeing my lover naked.
Yes, girls often show their naked bodies around in places like changing rooms, but still, it’s something I can’t just ignore.
Especially since I’m the biggest greedy person in Kivotos.
“Fufu… So, a midnight date outfit would likely be the school swimsuit.”
After hearing Hanako’s words, I nodded obediently.
“Senpai, could you turn your head this way for a bit?”
Upon Hanako’s request, I slightly turned my head to the left.
Then, I saw her face closing in on me. She was steadily diminishing the distance between us.
The moment her luscious lips brought the distance to zero, I naturally prepared to respond to her.
“Here, take this and work hard, okay?”
“…”
However, Hanako mercilessly betrayed my expectations.
She lightly pressed her lips against mine and then pulled back.
All I could do while staring dumbfounded at her was…
“Hmph.”
Letting out a cute hmph filled with longing was all I managed.
Hmph.
