#sumiban

Sumireko: What beautiful weather we're having today. Nothing lifts the spirit like a clear sky. Don't you agree, Banba-san?

Mahiru: What?! W-Why is she talking... to me…?

Sumireko: Banba-san?

Mahiru: Ah! I-I have to say something… Ah...

Sumireko: Don't you think so, Banba-san?

Mahiru: Ahhh! S-She's said my name three times...!

Sumireko: Why don't we return to the room and have some tea?

Mahiru: Huh? Um... um... who... is... w-"we"?

Sumireko: Oh, goodness. I mean you and me, of course.

Mahiru: Eh?!

Sumireko: I'll even treat you to the Hanabusa blend. Naturally, I'll prepare some suitable sweets to go with it, too. We are roommates, after all. Let's deepen our friendship, shall we?

Mahiru: Um, s-s-s-sorry! I can't!

Sumireko: Oh... Hehe. Hm, I suppose my timing was poor. We still have classes today, come to think of it.

Mahiru: T-That's not... I'm sorry... I can't... have tea... with yo... 

Sumireko: Oh! That's right! A proper tea party needs flowers, too. I'll go take care of that now.

Mahiru: I... I'm sorry...!

Shin'ya: Yo, Hanabusa. Sorry 'bout this afternoon. After ya went outta your way to invite her, too...  Your feelings ain't hurt, are they?

Sumireko: Ah. Banba-san...

Shin'ya: Don't worry, I'll give Mahiru a good scolding. She just ain't used to talking with other people. She can't fix her way of speaking no matter how many times I try to coach her, either.

Sumireko: It's fine; I really wasn't all that bothered by it. Please don't be too hard on her. But, I would like to hear her reasons, if you don't mind.

Shin'ya: Her reasons?

Sumireko: Yes.

Shin'ya: Heh… heheheh! Of course, it's so she can get her hands on her next treasure! A beautiful, hefty, warm, new one to fill up the emptiness in her heart! Mahiru always calls them "holy relics," though. Here in Class Black, you're free to run wild and hunt to your heart's content, y'know?!

Sumireko: Um... Banba-san. That's not what I meant.

Shin'ya: Huh?

Sumireko: I was asking about her reasons for refusing to join me for tea.

Shin'ya: Eh... Heheheh! Oh geez, you really got me there!

Sumireko: I wouldn't really say that.

Sumireko: A diet?

Shin'ya: Yeah. Tea snacks are so good she'll end up overeating. But lately, she's been getting fat. So I told her to stop eating so much.

Sumireko: Fat...? My goodness, she doesn't look even a little fat to me.

Shin'ya: How naive! Beauty isn't built in a day! A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step! A rolling stone gathers no moss!

Sumireko: I feel like the last one doesn't quite fit... 

Shin'ya: Mahiru is absolutely perfect, even if she can't see it herself. She can become perfect! If she put her mind to it, she could do it in no time at all. That's why, until the day she realizes it herself, I'll act in her stead—tearing everything up, collecting all the things she wants, and even scolding her!

Sumireko: Are you referring to those "treasures" you mentioned?

Shin'ya: Yeah. But the truth is, we don't really need any of those treasures. Because she's a treasure herself.

Sumireko: Truth be told, I don't understand all of what you've said, but I can see that Mahiru-san is very precious to you.

Shin'ya: Heh. I don't really get you, either. Inviting Mahiru to tea, having a normal conversation with me like this... 

Sumireko: Is it strange?

Shin'ya: I dunno about that... But I've definitely never met anyone like you before.

Sumireko: Hehe. It's simply that I like strong people.

Shin'ya: Strong people?

Sumireko: I have an affinity for them—people who have had everything stolen away from them, trampled on, and crushed to pieces, but never stop putting forth the effort to survive. You two and I share the same scent.

Shin'ya: Scent?

Sumireko: Yes, that's right. A foolish family that can't stop fighting amongst itself. A family bent on stealing away one another's authority—drunk on greed, killing those who share the same blood for that reason alone. A world without love or order, where the only thing you can rely on is your own strength. In order to survive, I had no choice but to gain power. And then I had to take that power, and make it clear to everyone: Who is queen? Who controls all this chaos? Hehehe. Banba-san. If it's to you, I don't mind revealing my secret.

Shin'ya: Secret?

Sumireko: My true form.

Shin'ya: Your hand... It's artificial?

Sumireko: Yes. These are all the weapons that sustain me. They are the reason I’ve lived until now, my very purpose—everything.

Shin'ya: Literally "an ace up your sleeve," huh? You sure you wanna be showing me this?

Sumireko: It's fine, because I'm going to win. I'll prove it here in Class Black, as well: Who is the strongest? Who has the power most suited to survival? Therefore, I have no intention of sending out my advance notice until the very end. If she's a weak enough opponent to be killed by someone else along the way, defeating her would be meaningless.

Shin'ya: In that case, you don't mind if we beat you to the punch, right?

Sumireko: Mm. Be my guest.

Shin'ya: ...It's beautiful.

Sumireko: What?

Shin'ya: Your hand. It's just as beautiful and perfect as my Mahiru's.

Sumireko: ...Thank you. I'm truly honored to hear that from you.

Shin'ya: We ain't gonna hold back. We're gonna go at her with everything we've got. But, if by some chance we don't manage to finish the job... good luck out there.