After finishing all business in Abydos, Kenji returned to the Union District with Hayool.
The city's scent, experienced after a long time, was still vibrant. The many students walking the streets, part-time workers grabbing passersby to drag them into stores, even Gehenna students engaging in shootouts with delinquents. The scenery wasn't much different from a few days ago. Kenji followed Hayool through the D.U. District, wearing his mask.
"Isn't it been a while since we walked like this? It's nice because it's peaceful~"
"Every time someone says that, something bad happens."
"No! We've worked hard these past few days, so I'm going to rest properly for about three days! No one can stop me!"
Hayool shouted that with both hands raised high. Kenji chuckled and nodded.
Honestly, it was true they had worked hard for several days as she said. Hayool had been running around the desert for weeks, and Kenji had been busy nonstop from the Millennium old school building to doing paperwork alone, and then the PMC assault. Both Hayool and Kenji couldn't help but be in a state desperately needing rest.
"When we get back, let's ask Rin. See if we can rest for a few days."
"We should. Surely she won't say no, right?"
"Then we can just go on strike."
"Oh."
Hayool's head jerked back. Seeming to be in a good mood, she hummed a tune and strolled through the streets with light steps.
Kenji adjusted the position of his arm sling, which had become slightly disheveled from the wind, then slowly looked around the district. Perhaps because it wasn't a street he frequented often, simply walking wasn't a bad feeling at all. The refreshing breeze and the bustling atmosphere of the street added to that sentiment.
"Ah, Teacher! Hello!"
"Yeah, hi~"
While walking through the streets, Hayool received greetings from quite a few students. Her cute appearance and lively atmosphere seemed to have left a good impression on the students. Well, a teacher like Hayool would naturally feel more familiar and approachable than a strict, blunt teacher. Moreover, that appearance of hers revealed her true nature without any pretense, so it would actually be stranger if she didn't gain the students' affection.
Kenji chuckled softly and muttered.
"You're quite popular, huh?"
"What, Kenji. Are you jealous~?"
"Me? Hah, I'm popular with girls too. Three girls said they liked me, three."
"Lying again. I've never once seen you contacting any girls."
"......There are circumstances for that."
"Suuure~ I bet there are~"
Hayool dragged out her words teasingly. Kenji let out a small laugh and lightly chopped the top of her head with his hand. Then Hayool made a cute sound while rubbing her head and started poking Kenji's side with her fingers.
"You hit your teacher? Take that! And that!"
"Dodged it, didn't I? You're slow, right? Can't do anything, right?"
"Heyyy! Don't dodge!"
"Uwah! Phwyajee ma!"
"You punk!"
While bickering like that, they arrived in front of the Schale building.
Schale was both their workplace and home. The paperwork they suffered through daily was done at Schale, and sleeping and relieving the day's fatigue were done in empty Schale dorm rooms. So even while shuddering at the thought of the document piles they would see again, Kenji and Hayool stretched while imagining stretching out their legs on a bed.
No matter how good a hotel is, it can't beat the comfort of home. Hayool thought of the colorful bed in her room and looked back at Kenji.
"Should we take a little nap? We can eat lunch later."
"Shouldn't we go to the General Student Council first and get our leave approved?"
"Aww, we can do that after sleeping. Let's sleep first!"
Hayool's will was firm. Kenji gave a broad smile and looked at Hayool's face. She definitely seemed tired. Seeing the shadows under her eyes and her eyelids drooping more than usual.
"Then let's go after we sleep."
"Yeah! Let's write the reports quickly first!"
Just as Hayool said that in a lively voice, Kenji's smartphone vibrated. A call was coming in. Kenji took out his phone without much thought and checked the caller's name.
[Rin]
The caller was Rin. She wasn't someone Kenji had no interaction with at all, but this was the first time she had called him directly. Feeling puzzled, Kenji answered her call.
"Hello?"
-Kenji? Where are you right now?
"Me? In front of Schale?"
-Ah, I see. That's fortunate. The timing worked out well.
"Why. Do you have a request or something?"
Hayool tilted her head beside him as if asking what the conversation was about. Kenji waved his hand to indicate it was nothing and focused on the call.
-Not exactly, but there's a guest looking for you. I've sent them your way, so you'll meet them soon.
"Looking for me? Who?"
Hayool looked behind Kenji and poked his shoulder. With the phone to his ear, he turned his head following Hayool's gaze.
-The Trinity Student Council President.
As Rin's answer came through, their eyes met.
Ash-gray hair that reached down to her hips. Similarly light ash-gray eyes. A hairband with a lily that looked perfectly halved and pure white clothing added grace to her appearance. But Kenji couldn't simply admire her as he looked at her.
Under the mask, Kenji's face went blank. Meanwhile, the girl standing across from him was looking up at him, biting her lip tightly. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her trembling eyelids looked ready to spill tears at any moment.
"......You were here?"
She spoke in a trembling voice.
Her face wasn't visible, hidden by the mask. The clothes were also of an unfamiliar style. His hair was much longer than she remembered, and his stiffened body seemed more robust than before. But the moment she saw Kenji, she recognized his identity.
How could she not know?
She had missed him every day. She had even written down things related to him separately so as not to forget. So there was no way she wouldn't recognize him just because his outward appearance had changed a little. Biting her lip tightly, she approached Kenji.
Kenji couldn't say anything and just looked at her.
"I looked for you for years. I never forgot you for a single day. Your name, voice, speech, habits. Not a single thing. I cried countless times while missing you in my heart. But... you were here, living and laughing without saying a word to me."
A pitiful, frail, unstable girl pleaded before Kenji. She took another step toward Kenji and continued.
"I don't like it."
"......"
"I hate that I can't hate you, even though you're like this."
"......"
"Your face."
The distance between her and Kenji closed to right in front of them. Kenji looked down at her. She looked up at Kenji. It was a familiar height difference. The height she always saw in her dreams. Shedding a stream of tears, she reached her hand toward Kenji's face. Then carefully grabbed his mask.
"Let me, huu, let me see it... It's the face I've missed for years. I don't want to talk while looking at a mask......"
"......"
"Please......"
The mask she grabbed was slowly pulled downward. Kenji offered no resistance and accepted her touch.
Rationally, he knew. That he shouldn't meet her at this point. The General Student Council President's words were still floating in his mind, and until that was resolved, he shouldn't recklessly face past connections.
But.
She's crying.
She's crying.
She seemed a bit taller than he remembered. Her hair seemed longer too. The clothes she wore were also of an unfamiliar style. They seemed to suit her better than the school uniform she wore every day, but not as much as her casual clothes. If her casual clothes gave a strong impression of cuteness, these clothes gave the impression of seeing someone of high status.
But either way, both suited her. Feeling longing, joy, and guilt, Kenji bit his lip.
"......Kenji."
The mask covering his face fell away, pulled by her hand. And so, Kenji and her eyes captured each other's faces. Kenji looked down at Nagisa with a guilt-filled expression, and Nagisa, her face contorted, threw herself into Kenji's embrace. Then she poured out her heightened emotions.
"Why...! Why did you disappear without saying anything! Do you have any idea how much, how much I worried?!"
It was a voice mixed with tears. Kenji's hands wandered for a moment before stroking the back of her head and muttering softly.
"Sorry."
"Huuuug... uuugh......"
"I'm sorry."
There were many things he wanted to say. He had also decided what actions to take and what words to say when they reunited again. But when he actually reunited with her, all that didn't matter anymore. Kenji tightly closed his eyes and hugged her strongly.
"......I'm sorry. Really, really sorry......"
"You said you'd always be by my side. You said we'd see each other tomorrow, so why... why did it take this long. Why......"
Nagisa's voice was full of sorrow. But since it was also filled with undeniable affection, Kenji, feeling the heavy guilt weighing on his shoulders, opened his mouth. Even so, the only words he could offer were a sincere apology. Nagisa no longer made any sound and trembled faintly.
"......How about we go inside and talk first."
Hayool, who had been watching the two, spoke. Kenji smiled bitterly and nodded.
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