"All right... who wants to die first? Step up."
-Kieee!!!
"You’re not even human, so I guess you can’t really talk, huh."
As soon as Haruta finished speaking, two members of the Sanctus Pater Filius charged at him.
"..."
-Thud!
"...Huh. That was disappointingly easy to break through."
-Ssssss...
With a single punch, then another, he punched straight through the Sanctus Pater Filius’ imperfect bodies that could even stop bullets and erased them. Whether that insane force would erase the others just as easily was another matter.
"So I’m a combat power meter, huh? Fine, then."
-Crack crack crack
"Ahh... that feels good."
-Click!
"...They use guns too, huh?"
-Dududududu!
"Trying to stop me with guns... pathetic."
-Tap!
"...Slow... the world looks so... slow."
-Kueee!!!
"Ah, that big one over there—is that Barbara or whatever?"
-Tap! Boom!
He casually flicked a nearby stone with his foot, sending it flying. It struck Barbara square in the head and hit her left eye.
-Kueee!!!! Kuee!! Kuee!!
"Damn, shut up!"
-Boom!
"Everyone! Return to the earth!!!"
-Kwoooaah!!!
In one leap, he launched himself into the center and landed where the Sanctus Pater Filius had been. With the temporary limit break and restored strength he had gained from Sensei’s adult card, plus the rage of seeing his precious person hurt like that again, there was more than enough to boost Haruta’s power.
"...Three... three left at the end..."
-Swoosh
As the Sanctus Pater Filius vanished, they turned to dust and ash and scattered into the sky.
-Kwoooaah!
"Go to hell."
After clearing out the last of them, the strain on his body, which had been temporarily restored by the adult card, began to hit him all at once.
"...Cough!..."
He coughed and brought a hand to his mouth, and it was obvious something was flowing out from between his lips.
"...This is...?"
It wasn’t much, but it was blood.
-Kieeeeee!!!!
"?!"
There was still one Sanctus Pater Filius left. It was...
"...Ambrosius..."
Their leader, and while he couldn’t exactly call it the strongest, it was a being on a completely different level from ordinary soldiers.
"...Ah, damn it!"
-Boom!
"...Damn... I hate myself for not noticing that thing on the way here..."
-Kieeeeek!!!!
Another hit like this would be truly dangerous. So the plan he came up with was to pierce that monster clean through with one blow.
"...Ggh...! Not yet!"
Using it now would be a disaster, but that didn’t matter. He had to survive first, so he aimed his spear to pierce straight through it in one shot.
-Thwack!
"...!!! Now! Die!!!!"
The strike that landed squarely on Ambrosius’ neck was enough to pierce through it and kill it. But the recoil from the spear was more than Haruta could endure.
"Cough... looks like I’ve got the flu..."
-Step... step...
Each step felt heavier than the last. But because there were people worrying about him, people thinking of him, he had to keep up the act and maintain his poker face as much as possible.
"...Mika? You’re back. You okay?"
"...Wow... you actually beat it...?"
"You bet!"
-Thud
Haruta’s mind held out, but his body couldn’t, and he collapsed on the spot.
"Haruta!!"
After that, the situation was all over, and only the intermittent sound of Sensei’s footsteps approaching could be heard.
...Ah... if this happens... the kids... will worry...
-Swoosh
...When I open my eyes, it’ll probably be a hospital again. Or maybe that bastard’s place.
"...Where am I...?"
"...Ah... you’re awake?"
"...What, Sena?"
"Yes... well, I’m from Gehenna, and since the Hina chief was worried, she sent me."
"...Does Hina know I got this wrecked?"
"Yes. The moment you were brought in, she rushed over and checked your condition first. And after you went into surgery, I honestly thought she was saying goodbye forever. The two of you, could it be..."
"Stop right there! Not that far yet. I’d like to get there too, you know."
"Hmm... what a shame. You two really do suit each other."
"Are you a nurse... or a relationship counselor?"
"...Both."
"??? That wasn’t a joke?"
"Of course it was a joke. But... if you really want, I can at least give you some relationship advice."
"...Hah... so where’s Hina?"
"She was working until just a moment ago, but she came to visit and is waiting outside."
"? Is this the intensive care unit?"
"Yes. Normally, no one can enter after 6 p.m. But..."
Sena gave Haruta a quick once-over, then smiled faintly and looked at him.
"If you do anything, at least keep the bed sheets—"
"Hey! That’s not what I meant!"
"I was joking. You seem to like that kind of joke."
"Haah... please stop saying weird things..."
"Hmm... then do you dislike Hina chief?"
"No? I like Hina. And she’s cool... good at her job... cute... honestly, if I tried to list Hina’s good points, one day wouldn’t be enough."
"...Haruta? Then I have one question."
"Huh? Oh, yeah... ask away."
"Do you love Hina chief?"
"Of course I do."
"Do you know that Hina chief loves you too?"
"?? Hina? Come on... that’s way too much for me. Sensei is here too."
"...Instead of saying that, why don’t you confess to her someday? Who knows? You might succeed."
"...Wow. Should I call that teasing... or help?"
"It’s help."
"Right... very~ impressive~"
He used a sarcastic tone to tease Sena, but...
"Thank you for the compliment."
It wasn’t enough to break through Sena’s defense wall, which was built from at least five layers of iron plating.
"...Sigh... anyway, tell Hina she can come in soon."
"Yes, and the bed shee—"
"No, I’m not doing that! What kind of student do you think I am!"
"Hmm... understood. Ah, you can buy those at the Angel24 right in front—"
"I said I’m not doing it! We’re not even dating in the first place!"
And with that, Sena left after delivering her not-quite-a-joke joke.
A while later, Hina came in.
"Haruta... how’s your body?"
"Haah... I didn’t want to make you worry for nothing, but... sorry about that."
"No... if Haruta is okay, that’s enough..."
"Well... so now I just go back to doing Prefect Team work?"
"No... not yet. At least let your body heal completely first..."
"Come on, I won’t die!"
At that, Hina’s expression darkened a little.
"Haruta... I don’t know what kind of contract you’re making, but... please... I don’t have much left."
"Hmm... then Hina, keep this."
-Riiip
It had been a long time since he’d taken it out, or rather, he hadn’t had any reason to take it out, so he hadn’t used it much.
"...What is this?"
"A ring I got by chance? Something like that."
The ring he had obtained together with Akashi in the past seemed to be needed by Hina now.
"Oh, right. Hina, wasn’t there a head of the Pater faction among the Tea Party leadership?"
"Hmm... Misono Mika...? Yes... there was."
"...Did you maybe tell her... that I’m from Gehenna?"
"No... I also know what kind of relationship you and Misono Mika have. That’s why I tried even harder to shake it off."
"...You just let her go?"
"No... Sensei told Mika to get treatment first, and the other Tea Party leaders said they’d come personally to take her back. Sensei handled that too..."
"Hmm... I should call later, then..."
"..."
"...? Why? Hina? Something wrong?"
"Ah... no..."
As Haruta kept watching Hina’s expression, Sena’s words from earlier kept circling in his head.
"...Hina, could it be—"
"Haruta..."
They spoke at the same time, at the same moment.
"...You go first."
"Ah... no... Haruta first..."
In an instant, silence fell over the room.
"...Hmm... then I’ll go first."
"Yeah..."
"Hina... do you like me?"
Hina’s face turned bright red in an instant, and she covered it with her hands.
"Ah... th-that..."
"Do you hate me?"
"No!... I-I like you..."
Wanting to tease her a little more, Haruta decided to ask again.
"Hmm... I can’t hear you! Say it again!"
"...I-I like you!!!"
"...Really...?"
"Yes... more than anyone else... I love only Haruta..."
"As a friend... or—"
"As the opposite sex... I really... love you more than anyone, Haruta."
"Should I... count that as a confession...?"
"Yes, it is... Haruta, please go out with me..."
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register