"...If Hina finds out about this..."
What I worried about first was Hina. Well, it made sense. Gehenna and Trinity had been at each other’s throats for a long time.
"...Haa... I should just tell her the truth..."
All I could do now was sigh and regret it, but that didn’t mean I could change my choice.
"...Haa... if I’m being honest with myself... maybe I should have studied a little?"
Looking back, I really did regret giving up on studying.
"Right... I should go see Hina now."
Crash!
I opened a portal and stepped through, and the first thing I saw was Hina, still asleep.
"...It’s... 1 o’clock now... She must have been really tired... Haa... waking up and finding out you’ve been admitted to Trinity... this really feels way too much."
I kept sighing. No, maybe that was what calmed me down. If I asked Sensei, would I get an answer? And even if I did, would it be a good one?
"Sensei... can you even answer this...? No, because it’s Sensei, I guess you can."
Right now, the only wall I could lean on was one adult named Sensei.
Crash!
"Oh! Haruta! Welcome! Want me to make you something?"
"Ah... h-hello... Haruta..."
"Yuuka and... Sensei... ah... yeah, that’s nice."
"Huh? Something happened with Yuuka?"
"Yes... it did... ngh..."
"Aah! Don’t say it!!"
"I won’t. And I don’t have the energy to anyway."
"Ooh... is Haruta really going to get a girlfriend?"
"What are you talking about!"
"Haa... I wish I had one too... seriously."
At that, Yuuka’s expression softened, and color came back to her face.
"...I didn’t come here to say something like that... no, the ice-breaking is nice... yeah."
"What is it? Something wrong?"
"Sensei... what school am I affiliated with?"
"Hmm... Gehenna... and Schale... right?"
"And now they’re telling me to enroll in Trinity too...?"
"Ah... you said you had ties with the Tea Party girls, didn’t you?"
"I did..."
"Ah... Hina still doesn’t know?"
"Yes... that’s why I came to ask for advice for a moment."
"Is that so? Certainly..."
"Wait... Haruta... Tea Party...?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Tea Party... isn’t that Trinity’s student council...?"
"Uh... yeah, it’s Mika, Nagisa, and Seia... those three, right?"
"...And... the Gehenna Discipline Committee chief...?"
"Yeah... so what?"
"...Haruta... what exactly were you doing around back then...?"
"I just robbed a bank like a normal person."
"...What kind of answer is that...?"
"I’m joking. So, Sensei, what should I do now...?"
"Hmm... that’s up to Haruta’s heart, isn’t it? You should do whatever you want. The choice is yours."
"...That’s exactly why I came here."
"Haruta? You’re too bound up in the future and the past..."
"...Where have I heard that... before?"
"Right, probably in the same movie."
"...Ha... haha... pfft... yeah... that one’s funny... I think the kids would like it if I showed it to them later."
"Haha, right? That’s definitely what I said, wasn’t it?"
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery... but today is a gift..."
"So what do we call today?"
"...Haha... a gift, right?"
"...? What was that...?"
"Oh, it’s just a line from a movie. One you liked, Sensei."
"Hmm... now I want to see it. The Game Development Department girls would probably like it too."
"Yeah... that must mean..."
"Stay focused on the present... right?"
"Oh... that sounds cool."
"Right? Though the movie itself is actually a comedy."
"What does that mean...?"
"Haha! Isn’t it nice if you frame it that way?"
"It is... if I can, I’ll bring it later."
"Oh! Really? Then can you show me other things too?"
"I... guess so?"
"Hmm... I feel a little bad asking this as a teacher, but..."
"What is it?"
"When we watch movies later, let’s pick ones that can teach a lesson. What do you think, Haruta?"
"Oh... that sounds good. Though I don’t usually watch movies much..."
"Come on, if you’re watching, Haruta should watch too!"
"...Yes... haha... thanks to you, I feel a little better... I guess I’ll just have to endure Trinity somehow. It sounds like we’ll be living there on alternate days anyway."
"Right... well... Sensei isn’t a god or anything, just a teacher... so there’s only so much I can do... sorry."
"Sensei."
I put on a seriousness that didn’t suit me and asked Sensei.
"Hm? What is it?"
"Yuuka, you listen too... this is just my own complaint..."
At that, both of them turned serious and looked at me.
"...I have too many things I need to protect... I need to protect Sensei too... and Yuuka... I need to protect you too..."
"I need to protect Hoshino too... and Hina too... Seia too... Mika too... Nagisa too... everyone... no, more than that... I need to protect everything in Kivotos."
"But... I don’t mind dying. I don’t even know what happens if I die. No, if I can protect everything even by dying... yeah. You won’t understand. I love this other world... this world called Kivotos where all of you exist."
There are bad... and awful adults too... but still... this other world is so wonderful and beautiful. Because you’re here, because Sensei is here."
"...What are you talking about...?"
"That’s why I’m asking... I’ve always thought it was fine if I died. But... there are too many dangerous things in Kivotos. Someday, even Sensei won’t be able to protect it."
"..."
"To protect everything I love... I can put my life on the line. Yeah... that’s how it is."
"That means..."
"It’s just a complaint... because you never know when something will happen... so my conclusion is... if I die, don’t be sad. Better yet, erase me from your memories."
"Haruta, stop. As Sensei, I can’t accept that."
"Sensei, I couldn’t protect anyone before... that’s how it was. I didn’t have the power there. But... this time, I do. So... I want to protect everyone.
There’s nothing sadder than losing someone precious."
"Then... the people you need right now are..."
"That’s why I’m asking you to erase me from your memory. I know better than anyone how much it hurts, how much it makes your chest ache. Would they answer if I called someday? Would I get a reply if I called? I called and called! Over and over again!
But... there was only silence every time. When I went to the funeral home and called out, "Mom, Mom," there was nobody around! Nobody! Nobody but me!!!"
"..."
"I know that pain! How much it hurts! Even when you want to die! You’re too scared! You can’t! Do you know how much I hate myself for that? How much I regret it!!?"
"..."
"I’m sorry... I got emotional."
"No... Sensei understands... no, I don’t fully understand... but I can sympathize."
"...You know...? Even now, I still call out once before I sleep. In case someone answers."
"Haruta... if that ever happens... Sensei will help too. No... Haruta, you inherit Sensei."
"...Why make it sound so grand...? You’re making the speaker sad... anyway, that’s what I mean... this place is so beautiful that I... love the people here... not all of them, but... I don’t want to lose them again."
"...That’s wonderful... Sensei feels the same. Haruta, you’ll become a wonderful adult someday. Not everyone can say things like that."
"...I’ve gone too far, haven’t I? If that day ever comes... if something ever threatens Kivotos... I’ll stop it by any means necessary."
"Haa... Haruta... don’t ever say things like that again!"
"Yeah... Yuuka... thank you."
"Th-then buy me a meal sometime later!"
"Yeah... I don’t know where you learned that, but... haha... okay. It makes me think of the old days too, so that’s nice."
"Phew..."
"Anyway... Sensei... thank you. I’ll be going now."
"Yeah... next time, tell Sensei first, and don’t just bury it in your heart!"
"Yes... then..."
Crash!
Whoosh!
"...Haa... if I had a cigarette or something... would that calm me down...?"
Bzzt
"Haruta... I didn’t know you were thinking something like that. I don’t really understand human hearts either."
"...Right... Akashi... you were here..."
"Yes, if you have any worries like that, tell me right away!"
"...Thanks... I’ve got one more reason to protect this place now."
"What! You weren’t thinking of me!?"
"Haha... I’m joking... how could I ignore another teacher who’s protected me and given me advice all this time?"
"Hmph! I’ll give you a lecture about it later! Right now, the important thing is waking Sorasaki-sama up!"
"Yeah... right now, I’m a little too worked up myself... I want to rest for a bit..."
"...Haruta... but still..."
"Yeah... I guess I really do need to tell Hina."
Creak
"Mm... who is it...?"
"Did you sleep well, Hina?"
"Haruta...?"
"Yeah... it’s me."
"Mm..."
Hina spread her arms toward me.
"Hug me...."
Seriously, what was this? Was it really okay to be this cute?
"Haa... alright."
Hug
"...You’re soft."
"Mmm..."
Hina hugged Haruta tightly, as if she had no intention of letting go.
"Mm... haaam... thanks..."
"Yeah... and... I need to tell you something a little dark right now... can you listen?"
"...Mm... okay..."
So I explained everything from beginning to end. Hina nodded as if she understood.
"Really...?"
"Yeah... sorry... I also..."
"Still... it’s Haruta’s choice... I think you’ll do fine. And Haruta’s always been good at everything."
"Except studying...? Haha."
"Hehe... what’s that supposed to mean...?"
"...Thank you... Hina."
"Ah... no... I wasn’t trying to get thanked or anything..."
"No... I’m still grateful. I love you... Hina."
"Eh...? Th-that’s... a confession..."
"Right... it is a confession. But I’m sorry I can’t do it properly right now... sorry, Hina."
"...Okay. If that’s what Haruta wants... I’ll wait as long as it takes. I love you too, Haruta."
"But we’re not, like, being separated forever or anything, so don’t make it sound like that! From now on... no! Starting now, let’s get along properly! From now on, forever!"
"...Mm... okay."
After Hina changed clothes and came out, warm sunlight poured over us pleasantly.
"...Haa... it’s warm..."
"Right? Then take the day off today. You’ve got a grace period until today."
"Eeeh... if you say it like that... it makes Haruta sound like a criminal..."
"What’s wrong with that? And I am a criminal, after all."
"Th-but... that’s not really a good thing, is it?"
"Yeah... fine. Then... could you tell me you love me one more time? I haven’t heard something like that in a while... I think I’ve even forgotten the feeling... haha..."
"Mm... I... I love you... Haruta..."
"Me too. And thank you... thank you so much. Just... this other world feels so beautiful to me... warm... such a beautiful world."
"...You’re kind of emotional today, Haruta."
"Then... I’ll take you home now. Take the day off."
"Mm... it’s a holiday today anyway, so I wasn’t going anywhere."
"Is that so? Got it."
Crash!
"We’re here... It’s been a while, hasn’t it?"
"Yeah... back then, Haruta saved me."
"Hey now... "saved"? That’s a little grandiose, isn’t it?"
"No... it was a wonderful word to me. It still supports me now."
"Then I’m going."
Crash!
"W-wait!"
"?"
"T-today’s a day off... so could you stay with me a little longer before you go...?"
"...Heh. Alright."
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