As usual, Schale's office was filled with the scents of aroma diffusers, paper, ink, and stamps. But they were familiar scents. Having spent over a month and a few weeks here, they now felt almost welcoming, leaving a significant impression on Kenji.
He glanced at the top of his work desk. He had definitely finished all urgent documents and left a few days ago, yet a pile of documents was already stacked up. It seemed it would take forever to process all that.
Still, his situation was better than Hayool's work desk. The moment she entered the office and saw the mountain of documents, her face contorted almost to the point of tears.
But the two couldn't complain as usual. Unlike usual, they had a visitor. Kenji patted the back of the ash-gray haired girl in his arms and swallowed a sigh internally.
The crying had already stopped. She had shed tears again on the way up to the office while holding hands, but the current Nagisa wasn't crying. She just buried her face in Kenji's chest and hugged him with her whole body as if she would never let go again.
Judging by her reddened ears and the occasional cheerful tone in her voice, she didn't seem embarrassed even if the Teacher was watching. She wasn't usually this clingy, so the three-year gap must have been that significant for her. Well, it would have to be. Kenji had also missed them internally for three years, so he understood Nagisa being this clingy.
So instead of pushing Nagisa away, he hugged her a little tighter. Then Nagisa wriggled and buried herself deeper into Kenji's embrace. Her pure white wings trembled faintly.
"A, ahem... So... kids, could you explain the situation now?"
Hayool cleared her throat and spoke in a timid voice. She had been maintaining silence because the relationship between the two seemed unusual, but even so, just hugging each other without a word for over 30 minutes wasn't right.
Kenji also noticed what Hayool was thinking from her expression. But before he could speak, Nagisa mumbled in a voice even faster.
"May I stay like this a little longer? I beg of you."
Nagisa's tone was very polite. Hayool smiled wryly and said okay. A few minutes passed like that, and Nagisa awkwardly sat down in the seat next to Kenji. Her shoulder and thigh were touching Kenji, but her face was looking at Hayool. Nagisa first bowed her head to Hayool and offered words of apology.
"I'm sorry. I acted too emotionally."
"No, no! It's fine. That can happen when you meet after a long time."
"After a long time... Yes, it certainly has been a long time. A full two years."
Nagisa stretched her pure white wings and wrapped them around Kenji's back. It was an action that felt like soft affection, but at the same time, it also seemed like holding him so he couldn't run away anymore.
But what could he do? He had to accept it. Thinking that, Kenji stroked Nagisa's wings. She let out a small moan but soon composed her expression and continued talking with Hayool.
"My introduction is late. I am the Trinity Student Council President, Kirifuji Nagisa. I didn't expect to meet like this, but I'm honored to meet you."
"Oh, too stiff. Be casual, be casual. I'm Hayool. You can call me Teacher Hayool."
Hayool said that with a friendly smile, but Nagisa just nodded. Her expression was stoic, and her gaze scanned Hayool here and there as if analyzing her. That gaze even contained subtle hostility, making Hayool lower the corners of her mouth and mutter in a somewhat hurt voice.
"...Did I do something wrong?"
"Ah. S, sorry. It's become a habit. If you were displeased, I apologize."
Nagisa said that while watching Kenji's reaction. Fortunately, Kenji didn't seem to intend to intervene in their conversation, and Hayool was a much more tolerant person than Nagisa thought. She nodded and gave Nagisa a soft smile.
"It's okay, it's okay. It wasn't particularly unpleasant."
"That's good."
Nagisa smiled faintly. It was a rare smile that would have made Trinity students widen their eyes, but Hayool and Kenji didn't make much of it. For Hayool, this was her first meeting with her, and Kenji had seen Nagisa's smile enough to be sick of it. Although it seemed a bit more rigid than three years ago, its beauty remained unchanged. Kenji chuckled and put a snack from the table into his mouth.
Nagisa watched Kenji for a moment, then asked Hayool for understanding.
"Teacher, I'm sorry, but Kenji and I have many things we want to talk about alone. If possible, could you give us some space for a while?"
"Ah, should I?"
This was also the proposal Hayool had hoped for. Just looking at them, the two seemed to have much to talk about. Seeing mentions of a years-long gap, it seemed they hadn't seen each other for quite some time due to some reason, so it was natural they had many conversations to share. So, as a teacher, the right action would be to give them space to talk comfortably.
But Kenji was faster than Hayool getting up. He looked at Hayool, who had half-risen from her seat, and spoke in a gentle voice.
"Teacher, you don't need to leave. Since you have reports to write anyway, we'll just go somewhere else."
"Huh? Where?"
"My room should be fine. Teacher, don't worry about us, finish your reports quickly and go take a nap or something."
"...Should I?"
This was also the proposal Hayool had hoped for. She pondered briefly, then nodded and said in a bright voice.
"Then I'll do that!"
Thus.
Leaving Hayool in the office, Kenji and Nagisa boarded the elevator heading to the dormitory. Since Kenji's room was right below the top floor where the office was located, the time spent in the elevator was very short. The two immediately exited the elevator and entered Kenji's room at the end of the corridor.
The motion sensor reacted to their presence. The dark room instantly brightened, revealing the living room's scenery. It was a room with an overall warm atmosphere. The wooden walls and floor, along with the holographic fireplace, added to that impression.
"I'll change clothes first. These are clothes I've been rolling around in the desert for days, so they probably need washing."
Kenji said while removing the arm sling draped over his right shoulder. Nagisa nodded.
"Then I'll change too. I sweated a lot running here..."
"Yeah. A hoodie and shorts should do, right?"
"You don't need to give me shorts. If it's a hoodie you wear, it'll probably cover the lower part too."
"...?"
"And shorts wouldn't fit my waist anyway and would just slide down."
She was right. Kenji had no choice but to nod and hand her a suitable hoodie. So Nagisa went into the bathroom first to change, and next Kenji changed into a t-shirt and slacks. But seeing Nagisa standing in front of the bathroom, Kenji couldn't help but frown slightly.
Because her hoodie was all puffed up due to her wings.
"...Isn't it uncomfortable?"
"...Should I do some quick alterations?"
"Show me where the wings are. We can just cut it appropriately."
Nagisa nodded and pointed with her finger to where her wings started. Kenji cut that part with scissors and pulled Nagisa's wings out. Due to the somewhat rough handling, Nagisa let out a moan, but she accepted Kenji's touch without a single complaint.
"Thank you. I'll compensate you for the clothes separately."
"Forget it. What's compensation between us. Just put the clothes I took off in the washer. My arm is inconvenient."
"Yes. I understand."
Nagisa put the clothes she had taken off into the washing machine, started it, then came out to the living room with Kenji.
"It's hot today."
"Early summer is coming."
The sofa in the living room wasn't that big. Because of that, Kenji and Nagisa had no choice but to sit with their shoulders tightly pressed together.
But no one complained. Kenji slightly closed his eyes at the warmth of Nagisa he hadn't felt in a long time, and Nagisa, with a full smile, rested her head on Kenji's shoulder. The strong scent of lilies lingered at the tip of his nose.
"......"
"......"
Silence flowed. But it wasn't an awkward silence. Both were internally choosing what to say.
"...Hmm."
When meeting the three people, he had many things he wanted to say to them. Apologies came to mind first, then greetings, and light jokes passed through his mind. But none were words that suited the current situation. With his eyes still closed, Kenji continued to ponder.
"......"
When meeting him, she had many things she wanted to say. Resentment? Until just before meeting him, she had intended to chastise him for why he disappeared without a word, but when she actually faced him, the words of resentment floating in her head disappeared like snow melting in hot wind. It was a natural result since she hadn't resented him in the first place.
'Then what should I say?'
For one year after he disappeared, she thought he had just left her side briefly. She believed without doubt he would return soon.
Two years. It was the most difficult period. He didn't return, and the hole in her heart gradually grew and began to eat away at her surroundings. To not show it, she groomed her outward appearance more, but unlike her improving exterior, her interior rotted and crumbled more. She even forgot what her own smile looked like.
And today.
The long-awaited reunion with him.
There was no resentment. No anger. All sorrow was poured out the moment she met him. What remained was only longing, joy, affection, and worry. Nagisa mixed and compressed all those emotions, barely managing to create one sentence.
"...How have you been for three years?"
The broken silence. Kenji rolled his eyes slightly to look at Nagisa. He saw the fragments of emotion left in her eyes. Then he smiled bitterly.
He was prepared to accept it even if she hated him. If she poured out words of resentment, he was prepared to humbly accept it until her feelings were resolved. But the words that actually came from her mouth were terribly pitiful and filled with undeniable affection. The emotions in her eyes were the same. There wasn't even a trace of resentment or hatred.
Being so grateful and sorry for that, Kenji stroked Nagisa's hair and answered in a bitter voice.
"It was hard."
"......"
"There were few days my body was intact. Bullets lodged in my body, flesh torn, blood flowing. It hurt like hell, but there was nowhere to complain. So I just. Just lived like that. It's not a life I wished for, but I chose it. Because it was the path I chose while turning away from you all."
"...Did you regret it?"
"No."
Kenji weakly laughed and shook his head.
"If I regret it, that would be the end of everything. So I didn't. To be precise, I tried not to."
"......"
"The reason I left your side. My body at that time was like a time bomb. A time bomb that, if it exploded, would swallow not just my surroundings but everything."
A story he hadn't told anyone. Kenji recalled the events of three years ago with a bitter smile.
"I thought a lot. If I stayed by your side like this, I would harm you, but there wasn't really a proper solution either. I even thought about just running away without anyone knowing and waiting for my body to break down."
"...Kenji."
"In the midst of that, someone appeared who said they would help me. Since the bomb embedded in my body was suitable as research material, they proposed that in exchange for dealing with it, I become a research subject."
Black suits.
Gematria.
"Even just hearing it, they sounded like crazy bastards, but I had no choice. Would I stay by your side like this and die after swallowing everyone, or would I die rotting away alone? With only these choices existing for me, a completely new option was given. It was a gamble, but it seemed better than doing nothing at all. So I accepted."
"...If that was the situation."
Nagisa opened her mouth with a choked voice.
"You could have at least given us some notice. Or did you not trust us?"
"I didn't want to burden you all. And if I spoke, I didn't think you would easily let me go. Because if I were you, I would have done the same."
"......"
"That's why I left without saying anything. Thinking about it now, it was a selfish choice."
Perhaps.
Maybe there might have been an option other than going with Gematria. Maybe there was a shortcut where everyone could be happy and smiling. But that's in the past now. Kenji made his choice, and the resulting outcome was far from happiness.
"So I have to make it right now."
Kenji chuckled and tightly held Nagisa's hand.
"Originally, I didn't plan to meet like this. Later. After the situation stabilized and I had sufficiently organized my thoughts, I was going to go meet you."
"......"
"But contrary to plan, we've already met like this. Then I should solidify my resolve too."
The General Student Council President's words floated in his head. If possible, don't go meet those children, and after a big incident occurs and everything is settled, then go meet them, she had said.
But it was already twisted. Whether by his will or others', the fact that it differed from her words was true. The first button was fastened wrong. So he had to correct it. So that everyone could smile in the end. So that no one would shed tears.
"More importantly, Nagisa."
But Kenji didn't bring up such serious talk. Instead, with a faint smile, he lightly caught Nagisa's bangs with his fingertips.
"Have you been well for three years?"
"No."
An immediate answer. As if he knew it would be so, Kenji laughed softly. Nagisa pouted her lips and moved to sit on Kenji's lap.
"Do you know what my nickname at Trinity is?"
"What is it?"
"Iron Mask. It's a nickname given because I showed no change in expression after you disappeared. The Tea Party executives probably believe my facial muscles have stiffened?"
"Come to think of it, you said Student Council President? You succeeded?"
"What use is success without you? I was planning to step down appropriately."
Nagisa leaned her body against Kenji. Her ponytailed hair got messy, and she tilted her head back to meet Kenji's eyes.
"But not now. Because I've met you again."
"......"
"The Student Council President position was something I started for you from the beginning. Believing you would definitely return someday, to create a Trinity where you could live comfortably. But I was betrayed beautifully. You were living at Schale, not Trinity."
"...I have no words even with ten mouths. I'm sorry."
"If you're sorry, kiss me."
Nagisa said with her eyes closed. Not a difficult request. Kenji smiled bitterly and lightly kissed her lips. Then she giggled, turned her body, and sat facing Kenji. The distance was close enough to feel each other's breath.
"Good. I'll forgive you."
"Thank you, Student Council President. Is there anything else I need to do for you?"
"Tell me you love me."
"I love you."
"Kiss me using your tongue."
Kenji chuckled and pressed his lips against Nagisa's mouth again. But this kiss wasn't a chaste peck but one using the tongue. Nagisa entwined her tongue with Kenji's, traced his teeth, and left her traces in every corner of his mouth. A silver thread was engraved on their parted lips, and saliva they couldn't swallow thoroughly moistened the area around Nagisa and Kenji's lips.
Nagisa, overcoming her shyness, licked the corner of his mouth like a cat.
"...What are you doing?"
"...Cleaning. And marking... mmh."
Nagisa gently bit Kenji's nape. Then made a tsup sound and sucked his skin. It was an astonishing action, but Kenji didn't refuse Nagisa's expression of affection. Rather, he laughed and patted her back.
"...There."
A red mark was engraved on Kenji's nape where her lips left. Nagisa looked at that mark with satisfaction, then kissed Kenji again. She seemed intent on making up for all the kisses she couldn't give for three years today.
Fortunately, there was still plenty of time.
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