“—!”

“Oh—Gilbert. Mona.”

“Good evening, Kato, Bianca.”

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t our resident Eternian deity and Madam Chancellor up here on the rooftop.”

Out of the blue, they were confronted by a short, temperamental girl with an auburn bobcut and a tall, handsome boy with long, wavy, mop-like black hair. Kato was only a little surprised, as he had felt their presences earlier. Bianca, on the other hand, jumped at the sight of the Class A faction leaders and hurriedly let go of Kato, a little flustered at the interruption.

“What’s up?”

Kato was unperturbed, greeting the exceptionally tall man and his precocious partner. As usual, Gilbert was composed and unfazed with his thin smile. Instead, the runt next to him got worked up for him, sneering at the wary Eternian.

“You really do have the temerity to speak to us in that tone. Have you learned nothing since we last met?”

“Mona, we’re not here to trade insults with Kato tonight. It’s the Equinox, after all.”

“You can leave her antagonism be, Gilbert. I don’t remember us being on good terms anyway, so that’s expected from Mona.”

Kato shrugged as he stood up from the bench to greet the two. Bianca hastily followed suit, picking herself back up from her nervousness.

“Reasonable. I suppose you’re not used to wearing geta, Bianca?”

“N-no, Gilbert. I don’t have many chances to wear these.”

Gilbert said calmly. Like other men at the festival he was in a customary bathrobe similar to Kato’s, though his flip-flops were much more sophisticated with rubber that made it more like sandals. Mona wore a yukata that was pitch-black, reminding Kato of Mayumi’s and making his heart wring involuntarily.

“And it’s been a treat to see Madam Chancellor cuddled up against Kato. I see how it is. Goodness, how many points are there on your triangle, hmm?”

Mona’s grin was as devious as it could get, and Bianca squirmed in place at the pressure of those words. Exceeding expectations, Kato’s relatively good mood had still not been spoiled by Mona’s animosity.

“Look, Mona. I asked for her to stay with me, so can’t you lay off on that? No need to make this a poop-slinging contest.”

“In my time here, I have never seen a chancellor this love-struck and pathetic. If I wasn’t aware of what was really going on, I would’ve thought she was a pure-hearted maiden in love—though to be fair that’s not very far from the truth.”

“I, too, know Bia has once been an ass—like you are right now, in fact. But one of the two asses grew up and matured, while the other remained a spoiled child, am I right?”

“I wasn’t referring to that, but okay. I’d rather be a spoiled child than disgrace myself with such weakness. Imagine succumbing to your hormones. I don’t need that crap when it clouds judgment.”

“And you think you’re the pinnacle of sound judgment?”

“More than you’d want to give me credit for. Have I made a single mistake in the years you’ve known me?”

“I don’t know you that well, Mona…”

“—I was in your class at one point!”

“And I don’t remember you being very chummy-buddy with me.”

“That’s enough pleasantries for now.”

Gilbert put a pin in their unfriendly exchange, as expected from the no-nonsense person in the gathering. Bianca breathed a sigh of relief at the halted insults, though her face was still deep-red with embarrassment. More importantly, no one else seemed to know what Mona was referring to, and Mona herself didn’t press on it further.

As an aside, Mona was at Korolev district longer than Gilbert had, joining somewhere in the middle of primary school. Before her rise to power, she was just one of many children of status stuck in the lower classes until Gilbert arrived to take the middle school scene by storm and climbed the hierarchy together in a utilitarian alliance.

For Kato, he was a little surprised at Bianca’s compliant, even frightened demeanour. Normally, she was the tenaciously defiant one, but with Gilbert taking control of the conversation, he missed an opportunity to ask—not that it was a good idea to ask in front of Gilbert and Mona anyway. He turned back to Gilbert just in time for him to start speaking.

“Kato. I need to talk to you.”

Gilbert took a step forward as Mona gave a short and irritated “tch”.  Whatever it was, it wasn’t good news for anyone.

“I thought we’re enemies, Gilbert. You need a word with me?”

“Personally, I do hate you, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be a potential business partner.”

“Hoho? As expected, you have a heart of steel. Or gold. If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to stomach my pride like that.”

“It’s not a necessary skill, but it’s a useful skill.”

“Whatever, dude. I’m not that person, that’s all. Now, what am I gonna be assisting you with?”

“I’ll start with school and the PSC. Is it true that it was Madam Chancellor who solicited your lot to play music in the atrium?”

While Bianca straightened herself at her call, Kato put a hand to his hip, bemused at Gilbert.

“If you already know, why ask? And with you resigned from the PSC, what’s even your purpose for still looking after them?”

“There’s actually more to this than just school and the PSC, if you can believe it.”

Unflinching, Gilbert continued, but with a slight change in strategy. Glancing at the two women they brought with them and their discordant auras—each upset for their own reasons—he wanted to cut it to the chase.

“I want you to protect Alice and grant her her wishes. That’s what you said you’ll do, back in the middle of our Class War, right?”

“Something like that. As an Elite, of course I would. The question is, what in the world is going on now?”

“All right. Then, I’ll tell you that she’s in danger of being forced out of Korolev Senior. Not immediately, but in the near future.”

“Wasn’t that danger from you and Mona to start with? Who else does Alice need to give her shares of her family business to now?”

“Well, it seems that we weren’t the only ones who had some funny ideas, but this time it’s not just about a family feud. It’s about the intentions of the faculty. The very school she wants to continue to attend is after her. It’s no simple matter—an expulsion from Korolev Senior will destroy her nomenklatura nomination.”

“The faculty?”

Kato frowned on the mention of the nomenklatura. This was probably just as, if not more, important to her than staying in their school. Alice wanted to stay connected to Kato and Evie’s world after they leave, rather than be subject to the mind wipe and lose all her memories of them. Gilbert shook his head.

“Will you promise to commit yourself to protecting Alice? If you do, and if we can acknowledge each other as allies, we’ll keep talking.”

“If I said yes, would you even believe me? And if you’re telling me this, why not tell it to Alice herself too?”

“You’re right. And I don’t mind keeping Alice in the loop, but anyway, after you hear me out, think about whether to go over it with her later, or not.”

Folding his arms, Kato shot a sharp glance at Madam Chancellor next to him.

“What do you think? What are the chances that this is some kind of farce?”

Bianca’s voice was soft and feeble, but steady nonetheless. Just why she was shaken this much, Kato now wanted to know even more.

“I think it’s legit. I also think the faculty’s overzealous persecution of the old PSC is a little suspicious. Let’s hear what Gilbert has to say.”

Gilbert nodded.

“If you would forgive me, Bianca, but in my opinion you’re under-qualified for your current position. I don’t mean it as disrespect, but taking the role of temporary president for this long must be difficult work and challenging to hold everything together. In fact, you deserve lots of credit for holding on for this long.”

“Ah, mhm. You’re not wrong. I know the limits of my ability. Mira’s the president for a reason.”

“If only Mirabelle can return to put a leash on the other factions, but I understand why she left our school for the time being.”

Gilbert finally caught Kato’s undivided attention, who scowled as he spat out.

“What’s this about Mirabelle?”

“We’ll get there, but let’s go over Alice’s problem first.”

Gilbert held a hand out for a shake, and without hesitation Kato grabbed it. Bianca couldn’t retort fast enough to put a pause on them, and was fairly spooked that the conversation returned to Mirabelle and her extended absence, which Kato was not allowed to know about yet.

“Then, I’ll accept that we are allies on some level. So, I’m guessing that Mona knows about this as well?”

“Good. And yes, she does. And from her and my own intelligence, your good friend Mayumi too may be involved in this.”

“Go on.”

Kato growled. Gilbert mentioned three names already and he didn’t like where the conversation was going.

“Now, let’s start. Did you know that the faculty belongs to the pan-blue camp, or if there are independents among them, they’re mostly blue-leaning? A blue faculty, if you must.”

“Then you got the short end of the stick in the pan-blue camp’s power struggles. My condolences.”

“No need, no need. Now, do you also know that the drama department is independent from Class A. It was not my decision to install Donovan as Marshal, though everyone seems to think it is. Donovan’s assignment is, as publicly stated, a decision by the faculty. Why? Because there was supposed to be a Donovan faction, not a Gilbert faction. He was supposed to be in Class A.”

“Come again?”

“Remember that Mona and I climbed up through the ranks, including through your class. But not every faction leader is created that way. In fact, most of the time a successor is groomed into the position of Marshal or Chairman, and Donovan is one of them. Both myself and Mona are merely usurpers who were able to build bases of support for ourselves.”

Gilbert folded his arms as he continued.

“Donovan’s ticket was backed by members of the faculty with vested interests in certain sectors of the underworld. As a quick background check, Donovan’s family runs about a third of the gambling rings in all of Candor. That’s a major vested interest if you’ve ever seen one.”

Kato was not impressed.

“So? What does Donovan have to do with anything?”

Gilbert pointed at himself.

“The blue faculty took their time and sweat to groom their preferred candidates for the AC and the PSC, only to have those positions taken over by Mona and myself, so they’ll inevitably be spiteful towards us and the people around us. Alice was a part of the establishment like anyone else was. The haves are all blue-leaning, and they will not tolerate any defections to the yellow camp—which Alice has done. Conveniently, this also doubled as a punitive measure against me, to satisfy that spitefulness. This is why they took action.”

“And the have-nots are pan-yellow, dedicated to rebellion and revolution. Of course, but is that really enough reason to go after Alice?”

“I don’t have enough information to know for sure if this is all, or if there is a deeper reason for it. However, the Alice gambit itself is definitely true. They’re looking for a way to discredit and disgrace her and the people around her, in school and in the Eternian circles. This is why I’m asking you for your help.”

“And why would I ever help you?”

“Well, you’ll just be helping yourself and Alice, that’s all. By corollary, you’ll be helping me.”

“Then can I know why you’re still trying to help Alice? I thought she’s not your problem anymore.”

“Of course, there’s a cynical reason. However, wouldn’t it be easier for you to think I’m doing this based on my emotions?”

“That’s actually harder to imagine, to be honest.”

“Then how about this? Both Mona and I want Alice to join the nomenklatura, and due to a certain circumstance we’d support her bid at almost all costs. That circumstance is linked you and your group of friends, especially the Eternians, if you can believe it. Is that reason enough?”

Actually, it was more than enough. He couldn’t care less about the deeper reason because it was very likely some petty power struggle unrelated to him, but more importantly it confirmed the authenticity in Gilbert’s words. For what little he knew of them, it was still very likely that it was in Gilbert and Mona’s interests for Alice to join the nomenklatura, regardless of their personal fallout.

“Okay, okay. You can have your conniving scheming, but at the end of the day, it’s still reason enough to help her out.”

“Yes. Alice’s wishes are my first priority.”

“For how long can I expect this kind of support?”

“For as long as this generation’s Hearts candidates are not yet all officially confirmed.”

Kato gave him an incredulous stare, but relented at the end. If he was not mistaken, Gilbert should have been a Hearts candidate himself, but was removed from the selection process years ago so he could eventually take over his family business. If that certain circumstance was related to him and the Eternians that lived with him, then it must be related to his physical superiority and his status as a challenger, as Eternia would not let go of a Hearts candidate they have trained. And if Kato didn’t already know it, then it was something he would never be able to find out on his own anyway. That was just how Eternia operated.

“Fine. It checks out for now. Then, let’s get back to the problem at hand: a blue faculty trying to kick out a student out of spite. Is there a bigger picture here? How is Donovan even involved in Alice’s problem?”

“I can link your questions. I would say that it’s not about Donovan being related to Alice’s predicament, but instead they’re all cogs inside of whatever the faculty’s scheming. Their objective is something grander, most likely, and whatever happens to Donovan and Alice is just conveniently part of their plan.”

Kato didn’t like the sound of this brewing situation underneath their school. He needed more information.

“Then, is Sisi a blue faculty member or not? I would think not. Aren’t you and Mona in the blue camp too?”

“Like I said, we’re originally outsiders who upset their place in the system in the first place. To them, they’re merely retaking what they think was rightfully theirs. We may be powerful, but the existing patrons are just as powerful. They exacted their revenge on me already, at least, with those senatorial trials, so while I’m closely linked to the establishment, I’m by no means a clear-cut member of their ranks. We can say I’m a blue-leaning independent to the faculty.”

“Your connection to Albert and Sisi makes you an outsider to them?”

“Well, of course. The arms industry is quite independent with very peculiar customers; ones militant in nature, for example, the Hearts. In contrast to the peace-loving robber barons of the type that Donovan and Mona are, they’re much closer to what the blue faculty perceives as reliable, trustworthy and of economic value.”

“No, you’re not wrong about Donovan and Mona. Hmm. You’re saying Sisi is the lone yellow faculty member?”

“If I were to hazard a guess, Sisi was assigned here not just to tutor your lot, but also to put a wrench into the blue faculty’s treason.”

“Treason?”

“Collaborating with the Auxirian establishment through their economic ties. While economic co-operation and prosperity preserves the delicate peace between the two axes of power on this continent, it makes our organization vulnerable to outside manipulation and influence. The pan-blue camp wishes to keep this status quo to continuously reap the capitalist rewards of that co-operation.”

“Hmm. This is Lady Eterna’s will?”

“A Heart is an Elder’s personal tool, so very likely yes.”

“If this is your line of thinking, then the blue faculty is looking to make every attempt to maintain the existing order. Isn’t that backwards from what Donovan is doing right now, at least publicly? He seems to be more amenable to the pan-yellow camp’s demands.”

“I do have a thought, or a theory of their grander plan, but this is all guesswork territory.”

“How so? And how does it come back to Mayumi in the end? Tell me about your guesswork.”

Gilbert signalled to Kato to join him for a walk around the rooftop garden. He obliged without hesitation, and the two women followed closely behind them, listening intently.

“There is one more hard fact. Well, this fact and a related fact. The fact that our student council president, Mirabelle Jupiter, personally invited Mayumi Hanamiya to transfer to our school.”

Kato instantly turned livid, but Gilbert continued unabated.

“And the second fact. Mirabelle was supposed to have been the faculty’s candidate for the next chairwoman of the AC.”

“How? How is that possible?”

“It’s an open secret in the nomenklatura that Donovan and Mirabelle were their two PSC and AC leader candidates for this year, and should either be elected president, their organizations would be succeeded by their allies, Anne and Scarlett respectively. Unfortunately for the blue faculty, they didn’t expect Mona and me to join the fray.”

“…”

In a flash, they made it safely to the other side of the garden, or rather, Gilbert took his time with his words. And while Kato was not amused, at least he didn’t explode.

“However, make no mistake. Even if Donovan and Mirabelle are the blue faculty’s left and right arms, they themselves may not be true allies, and from what I understand, they’re more like business partners.”

“…you mean like you and Mona?”

“Hmm. I would say it’s more like me and you at this moment in time.”

Kato smashed his fist against the concrete post next to him, but not with any measure of force because otherwise the post would start cracking.

“Fine, fine. That’s fine. It’s totally fine.”

Gilbert sighed. He felt a twinge of pity for the angry young man in front of him. Putting Alice and all her attached strings aside, Kato really had nothing to do with the situation, and through Mirabelle, he was aware enough of the interpersonal links between the Elites of Class F to understand Kato’s indignation. However, he had already made it this far, so he might as well see it through to the end.

“My conjecture is that the faculty requested the two of them to come up with a plan to quell the current wave of protests, but at the same time preserve the authority of the establishment. One of them, Mirabelle, suggested allowing Mayumi to return to Korolev Senior.”

“Allow her? And how does that help with those two objectives?”

“I’ll borrow what I heard from Donovan. He believes that Mayumi is radical enough to mount an open rebellion irrespective of the situation on the ground, so by paying lip service and pretending to work as an ally of the people, once Mayumi inevitably blows the gasket, the faculty will be able to use it as a pretext to use extraordinary powers to put down the insurrection.”

“…”

“You’re Mayumi’s best friend. Does this scenario sound likely?”

Gilbert watched intently as Kato gritted his teeth. He took a breath in, and admitted.

“Likely. A revolution led at the front by Mayumi is inevitable.”

“See? Not a bad conjecture, right? And during the crackdown, Alice will be eliminated alongside Mayumi and any other perceived enemies of the state.”

“Alongside Mayumi?”

“She wasn’t a student of ours to begin with. Of course they’ll cut her at the first available opportunity. Mirabelle probably knew Mayumi would come to this point, which is why she’s a politically convenient scapegoat, and so the faculty was all aboard her plan to bring Mayumi back.”

Kato took another deep breath in, a little more composed than before.

“…I understand. But, all of this is just guesswork. We don’t know for sure if Mayumi’s decision to return is related to school or not. If I know her well enough, she came back for personal reasons, and not to serve our school.”

“I want to believe that too, but on the same token, we can’t be sure if this wasn’t done under the duress of the blue faculty. Whether it was her own will or not, Mayumi was contacted and transferred here after the events of our Class War, and directly into your class where the revolution is brewing. I daresay this is not a mere coincidence that the blue faculty stumbled into.”

“…”

They stopped walking, and Gilbert put his hand up to him once more.

“Do you think we can continue to be business partners? Looks like we can provide what we want from each other and our goals are aligned for the time being.”

Kato didn’t hesitate. He took his hand, and with more than sufficient force. Gilbert handled it as if the force didn’t exist, as expected from a peer.

“Of course, we can. Can I even say no at this point?”

Gilbert nodded solemnly. Behind them, Mona remained silent and well-behaved, but Bianca was on another level of spooked.

“Now, can I ask you why you’ve also roped Bia into this conversation?”

“Because I think it’s prudent for Bianca to know what her president is doing, and also see how much faith the president has in her cabinet. From the looks of things though, this must be the first time you’ve heard this, Madam Chancellor?”

Her face was several shades of forlorn.

“Y-yes. I know some of the things she’s doing, but not everything. Not even close to a decent picture, actually.”

Kato was unconvinced of Gilbert and Mona.

“It sounds more like you’re wary of what Mira’s planning, and seeing how you already treat Bia, you think you can bully her into giving hints on Mira’s intentions.”

“C’mon, Kato. We don’t need to bully her for that if we already know it’s unlikely she has any valuable information on Mirabelle to begin with. Just by pairing that fact and her reactions, we can see what Madam President is thinking—at least with regards to her place in Korolev.”

Mona walked in between Kato and Gilbert, once again ready to take a stab at the boy with the scowl.

“How magnanimous of you, Mona, to look down on us just a little less than usual.”

“You’re very welcome. Sometimes, I even surprise myself.”

Gilbert put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

“Not exactly, but you’re close. Mirabelle may not be a true ally of mine, but she’s on friendly terms with us, and for sure our interests align. Precisely because of that, I should let Bianca know in secret from her.”

“What?”

“This step to establish a partnership with you is actually a suggestion from Mirabelle. She thinks that you’re the best bet on keeping Alice in Korolev.”

“—!?”

“Not that it didn’t make sense. Supporting you would be the same as supporting Mayumi, and Mirabelle was the one who devised this plan for the faculty. To use your own words, roping you into her secret plan to get the revolution off the ground is what’s happening right now.”

“…and you’re wary of her because she’s essentially throwing us, her friends and Class F, under the bus?”

“Again, close, but not exactly. For certain, I know what you and your friends mean to Mirabelle. To be perfectly honest, you are her weak spot. If somebody is able to convince you to work against her, it’ll be the end of her.”

Gilbert glanced over at Bianca, who was just as shocked as Kato was.

“And on the same token, her sisters are just as precious. These are non-negotiable to her, so why would she need to bring an old friend back to Korolev, from Regia Miriam of all places, in order to rip apart the very group of friends and family she held so close and dear to her? Plus, it’s not just about the score you just settled downstairs in the square, but she’s risking her own friendship with Alice as well.”

Both Kato and Bianca felt the goosebumps on their necks, chilled by Gilbert’s narrative. Even more shocking was Gilbert and Mona’s knowledge of the rift in the Elites, but then Kato remembered that they were just flinging shit at each other in public, so it wasn’t unreasonable for them to have been observing.

“If Bianca’s as clueless as you are, then there’s much more to Mirabelle’s motives than meets the eye—which seems to be the case. We suspected it is, but of course we wanted to confirm.”

“I was the one who gave Mayumi and them the permission to perform during lunchtime. I didn’t know that the revolution was an inside job by Mira from the start.”

Bianca sighed, her voice sombre. Gilbert crossed his arms and said with a little bit of disbelief.

“The only reasons I can see her going through with this plan is, one, she views the faculty as an enemy and wants to show the faculty that she doesn’t have weak points to attack, and/or two, there’s an even more secretive personal motive to do so. This is where I hoped Bianca would be able to deduce, but apologies for the lack of clues I’m able to procure. This is about as much as I can do at the moment.”

“…”

Bianca shook her head in agreement with Gilbert, signalling her defeat. Kato was even more disheartened by the power struggle that Mirabelle was swept up in and how it, probably, threw a wrench between them.

“Why would the faculty be testing Mira? Didn’t you say she’s the faculty’s golden child?”

“Let’s just say that she’s become an unreliable asset for the faculty over the years. But even without that, the fact that she’s friends with as many as three Hearts candidates is already a glaring threat to the faculty, even if she’s nominally the faculty’s loyal subject.”

Of course, in this context the faculty is synonymous with the wider pan-blue pro-establishment faction of the nomenklatura. On the other hand, the Hearts were seen as more likely to be yellow-leaning, as evident with Sisi’s return to the school. Gilbert continued.

“In any case, we’re both playing into Mirabelle’s hands. As Bianca mentioned, you guys already have. And while we don’t know her intentions, the key to it is probably why she insisted on convincing Mayumi to return, despite the improbability of it happening. It should’ve been impossible for her to return of her own volition, even if she learned what happens to the people around new Hearts, no?”

Though Kato bristled at Gilbert’s words, he didn’t have a firm answer either. After all, it had stumped the Elites as much as it stumped them now.

“Yes. It should’ve been.”

“If we can find out the reason, then we’ll be in better shape to protect ourselves.”

As they mused in a short lull, a sudden curiosity emerged in his mind, and Kato asked offhandedly just in case Gilbert had an answer for it.

“Sounds like you don’t think you’re powerful enough to stand up to the faculty alone. If you knew all of this from the start, then Alice was a weak point that the faculty could attack and undermine your hold on power, so you wanted to get her transferred out of Korolev as soon as possible. When she refused and instead wanted to join the nomenklatura, it put her in the faculty’s sights, and they of course didn’t want a new challenger as barbaric as Alice to encroach on their territory.

“In turn, seeing the cards you were dealt, you used Alice’s decision to break with your family as a pretext for sieging my class, and under these smoke and mirrors, handed her off to me to take care of without attracting the faculty’s scrutiny in your direction.”

“You—!”

Mona was the first to put forth a menacing advance towards Kato, but Gilbert physically stopped her with his arm.

“He’s right. You were the best bet given the circumstances, which is also why I agreed with Mirabelle to seek your help once more. A win-win situation for us both, right?”

“In the process, you’ve goaded the faculty into responding to your failed siege by rolling up its sleeves and beginning its path to cracking down on the school, right? And simultaneously, exploit it to take back their kingdom.”

Uncharacteristically, Gilbert narrowed his eyes and showed his wariness to Kato. He wasn’t one to show emotion to anyone, and especially not his former enemy.

“Yes. We both knew that the faculty will try their very best to wrest control of the school from the two of us, but previously, we expected it to come slowly through the student council led by Madam President. With Class B and Class F’s incessant agitation, it’ll pressure our factions to eventually clash in spectacular fashion, and the faculty will be there to pick up the pieces. The failed siege served to speed up the schedule, and probably threw them for a loop too. They were probably debating furiously on how to respond to the result of the siege.”

Kato scowled.

“If all of what you’ve said tonight is true, then the faculty ended up deciding to take advantage of it, and prop up Donovan as their new golden child—over Mira.”

“Exactly, that’s what we suspect too; but if Donovan’s golden status is already all said and done, then Madam President won’t need to be so heavy-handed in bringing the school so close to revolution. She would have already lost, and Donovan would be the ‘winner’, so to speak.”

“So there’s something else there, too.”

“A circumstantial clue, yes, but unless we have an ear in the inner faculty to gauge their thought processes, it’s not very useful by itself.”

The mystery only thickened, and Kato put a hand to his forehead with cold sweat. Gilbert concurred with a nod.

“But the cascade of responses and counter-responses has eventually engulfed everyone involved here. We’re all in a state of danger.”

“Yes. Partly because of that, my hope is for you to take care of the people delivered into your circle, including the pitiful Madam Chancellor here.”

Mona interrupted, to Kato’s apprehension.

“What do you mean by that? We’re just talking about how you want me to take care of Alice, and now Bia too?”

“Allow me to ask you a simple question; is Bianca important to you?”

“Y-yes.”

He spluttered a little, but only because he didn’t expect that kind of a question out of Mona. Next to him, Bianca’s heart fluttered hysterically, almost gagging.

“Then you realize that she’s got nothing to do with Eternia. A plain old civilian, if you will—but when she’s associated with Mirabelle and yourself, it makes her an easy target.”

“An easy target?”

She sighed exaggeratedly.

“Look. My belief is that it’s unfair for Mirabelle to drag her sisters along with her into a mob’s internal conflict, and now she’s dragged Mayumi into this as well. They’re innocent people who aren’t supposed to be victims of a petty political struggle, but they could get caught in the crossfire. That’s the irresponsibility I see in Mirabelle, and she’s handing off that irresponsibility to you to cover, essentially.”

“—!”

“That’s why we find it a little suspicious. For sure, it’s logical to rely on you, a Hearts candidate, to protect your own circle of friends, but we’re not certain why Madam President’s in such a hurry to move things along. In a span of a few weeks, she’s engineered an imminent rebellion in Korolev that’s set to let the faculty clamp their authority down on the students, and has done so seemingly without even coordinating with you two. On top of that, I suspect it might even be on Madam President’s instructions that the faculty had me table the Act of Neutrality—the bill that triggered this wave of protest in the first place.”

Kato and Bianca turned whiter by the second. It was the first time Mona admitted that the tabled draft bill was actually on the faculty’s suggestion. If that was true, then the faculty was way darker than he could ever give credit for, and made Gilbert and Mona seem mild in comparison.

“That’s a totally possible scenario. From the get-go, the faculty could have asked Mirabelle and Donovan to find a way to wrest power away from the PSC and the AC, and when I upped the stakes by sieging your classroom, they took my provocation and pounced on the chance. Mirabelle obviously needed to speed up her plan as well, and brought Mayumi here as soon as she could. Impressive on all fronts.”

Gilbert took the conversation back from Mona as Kato took time to process what they said, furrowing his brows as he did. He replied after a brief pause.

“While we can’t figure out the mystery around Mira, this is all Alice’s fault in the end.”

“I’ve told you and Alice many times. Being selfish has its consequences.”

Kato crouched down with hands over his head as the gunpowder shower continued in the night sky. He was already exhausted from the ordeal with Mayumi and Caius, and for an even more serious issue to come up had drained the life out of him. He wanted to sleep on the ground right then and there, but he was pulled back to the present by a calm and gentle hand at his shoulder; Bianca had joined him on the ground.

For the two mob bosses still standing up, they began to make their leisurely departure.

“Let’s close the conversation here and enjoy the rest of the night in peace. We’ll meet again in the near future, I’m sure. I suppose you understand how to handle intelligence, correct?”

“Yes. I know how to handle it.”

“I’ll leave it to your discretion how much you want to tell Alice, but at most let’s keep it between the five of us. It’s a test against Mirabelle too, after all.”

“…”

Gilbert turned around, and again uncharacteristically, he took Mona’s arm in his. It was not often he allowed Mona to have her way with him, and her smug face confirmed that.

“Then be careful, future Number Seven.”

“I always am.”

Kato grimaced, but Gilbert was already walking away. Mona turned her head around, though, to stick her tongue out at him belligerently. She never missed an opportunity to be downright insufferable.

Funnily enough, even with so much poisonous stuff to say, he realized that Mona never really wasted her breath. Her criticisms were on the whole correct and non-trivial, and more often than not it made Kato think twice about whatever the situation was. She was right when she said her judgment was sharp, and surprisingly idealistic. If Mona was born in a slightly different circumstance, she could have been a formidable Elite.

He sat down on the ground, listening to the footsteps of his former enemies retreat from the rooftop. Watching his unsightly sitting position, Bianca let out an exasperated sigh.

“Don’t do that. Get up.”

“A few more minutes. I’m tired.”

Holding a nasty retort back, she kneeled behind him, laid herself onto his back and lightly hugged him, placing her chin on top of his head. Strangely, or perhaps not, the more anxious she was, the more she relied on physical touch with Kato to soothe the unease. She knew it was dangerous to do so, essentially relapsing on a previous addiction; but like an addict, she welcomed it.

“What’s with your agreeable attitude with Gilbert and Mona? Is he blackmailing you or something?”

“If they were, I wouldn’t even be able to be as aggressive as I am in the Assembly. No, this is about Mira.”

“How did you know this was about Mira from the start?”

“Like you surmised, Gilbert wouldn’t bother with me unless it involved her.”

“Huh. Then, what’s so serious about Mira that even your attitude needs to be toned down?”

“…”

Bianca was unsure of what to do. There were a few things she was simply not allowed to say, and she didn’t want to say anything lest too many hints get out. She hated Mirabelle that she was obliged to keep Kato in the dark, though to be fair she was far from having even a decent view of the whole picture. And from Gilbert and Mona’s questions, the two mobsters only seemed to have a slightly clearer one.

“Like Gilbert said, I’m just a normal person compared to you Eternians. I’m not the golden child like Mira is.”

“But you’re used to taking advantage of Mira’s status anyway. What happened to your unscrupulous efforts to reap the rewards of another’s merits?”

“Can it, asshole. It only makes me want to answer your question even less.”

From their position, he stood up, easily carrying her on his back again. He began moving back to the other side of the rooftop to catch the final stage of the light show.

“No doubt. Even if I’m at the centre of attention, I’m always the first one left behind, back then and now still. Well, whatever. I’m used to it. It’s almost certain that it’s Mira’s fault in any case.”

Bianca’s chest tightened at the distinct resignation in his voice that reminded her of the same at the acrimonious end of their group’s trip to the Bozz. She apologized over and over again in her head, but it was only that; within the confines of her mind.

“Yes, it is. In addition to the fact that I have no status or abilities of my own, I try to stay out of her way as much as possible. That’s why when I’m outside of school, I’m just another average girl.”

It took a few more moments and a sigh for Kato to respond.

“Figures. Gilbert and Mona confided in you on this because they know that even though you’re supposed to be on Mira’s side so to speak, you’re still an outsider, and they trust you enough to remain one and not confide in Mira. They know about the two of you quite well, eh? And c’mon, you’re gonna fight Mira ‘til the bitter end?”

Bianca blinked at the calm and collected Kato that was able to put together this conclusion. Oh, how much had changed since their childhood. As she remembered his small figure as a kid it filled her with immeasurable regret to know how immature she had been, wallowing alone in the misery of her own inferiority complex against Mirabelle, and letting the chances with the boy in front of her slip away so easily, until it was too late.

“If I didn’t fight, then I would have never made it this far. Not a bad result for an average girl, if I do say so myself.”

Unaware of the turmoil in Bianca’s mind, Kato shrugged.

“Fair enough, though you’re underselling yourself a little there. You’re no average girl.”

“I’m pleased that you have a unique opinion of me, but you knew what I meant by ‘average’.”

Coincidentally, both made a bitter smirk, though they weren’t able to see each other’s. Thoroughly exhausted, they watched once more the flashes in the sky in silence, leaving their intractable troubles for another day.