Journey to Godhood Begins in Frieren Chapter 45: Aiba Asagi

"Hey there, why aren't you with Akatsuki picking up the equipnt?"

Shichen walked up to Aiba Asagi, speaking softly.

Now that everyone else had headed to the equipnt room, only the two of them remained on the field.

"Shichen-sama."

Asagi nodded slightly to acknowledge him but didn't answer his question.

"May I ask your na?"

"I'm Aiba Asagi."

"Nice to et you, Asagi… Do you have sothing on your mind?"

"Why do you ask?" Asagi finally looked directly at him.

"Well… how should I put it? I can see sadness in your eyes."

"Is that so?"

Asagi blinked, then looked away.

"So I guessed right?"

She didn't reply, but her silence was effectively an admission.

Even if the "mission prompt" hadn't told him, Shichen could see from her deanor that she was struggling. At this ti in her life, she felt withdrawn, likely for a certain reason.

He didn't have any healing powers or magic, but there was the Divine Fragnt. If it could save Nishikigi Chisato or others, then it could presumably save Asagi's mother too.

Asagi was very strong-willed. She could eventually move on by herself, but if possible, Shichen wanted her family to remain intact.

It wasn't purely for the sake of the quest—she was a good kid. And in truth, he'd always found her quite lovable. Still, the main motivation was indeed that she was soone he cared about in the source material…

But he also realized Asagi wouldn't trust him overnight—he had to at least talk with her and be a friend.

"Would you mind telling what's bothering you?" he pressed gently.

"Teacher, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Asagi eyed him warily.

"Oh, don't get the wrong idea." Shichen quickly explained. "I'm just a teacher concerned about a student."

"Teacher, I'm not a fool." Asagi gazed back calmly. "We only just t, and you're a P.E. teacher. Why would you dig into my personal issues? It's not in your job description."

"Mm… I guess that's true."

"Are you trying to approach so you can reach my father?"

Asagi's father was a councilor on Itogami Island, holding considerable power. Plenty of people tried to get close to him for connections.

"I'm not. I have zero interest in your dad," Shichen denied bluntly.

"Really?"

"Co on. You know Natsuki Minamiya, right? My sister is Natsuki. Think I'd need your father's connections?"

"What? Natsuki Minamiya is your sister?"

Asagi's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yup. She introduced for this teaching job," Shichen admitted.

Nothing about it was hidden or hard to verify—she could easily check, so there was no point in secrecy.

"If you're telling the truth, then you sure wouldn't need my dad's help," Asagi murmured, staring at him with so lingering skepticism. Shichen's unusual air and striking looks lent him a certain credibility, though.

"Exactly. You can go confirm for yourself."

"I will check," Asagi nodded.

"Now, can you tell what's going on? My sister is Natsuki Minamiya—maybe there's sothing we can do to help?"

He felt a bit guilty leveraging Natsuki's na to gain Asagi's trust, but he was racing against ti. He wasn't sure how long her mother had left.

"Why are you so insistent on helping ?" Asagi frowned. "A normal teacher wouldn't push so much over a new student, especially not a P.E. teacher."

"Hmm… let's just say I'm a 'good person.'"

"Really not hoping for sothing from ?"

"What exactly could I hope for?" Shichen chuckled openly. "You're a little kid—no figure, no looks…"

"Excuse ? Are you saying I'm not pretty?" Asagi said indignantly.

"Well, look at yourself—always wearing that glum expression. No matter how cute you are, it won't matter if you're frowning."

"…Teacher… you're not a lolicon, are you?" Asagi scowled, stepping two paces away from him.

Shichen's mouth twitched. She really took two steps away?

"Of course not!"

"I don't believe it. Otherwise, why the heck would you care about ?"

"Couldn't you just assu I'm a good teacher?"

"Impossible. No teacher is that good," Asagi shook her head.

"Fine, I'm a lolicon," Shichen said, exasperated. "I saw how cute you were and couldn't let you stay gloomy. Happy now?"

"…"

Asagi fell silent, staring at him unblinking. The sudden quiet made Shichen feel awkward.

"W-well, say sothing?" He felt strangely embarrassed.

"Teacher, you're a real weirdo," Asagi said eventually, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"So now you don't believe I'm a lolicon?"

"No real lolicon would actually admit it," Asagi replied with a playful glint.

"So, will you talk to now?"

If no lolicon would admit it, maybe claiming "lolicon" could serve as a trick to approach little girls in need in the future, he mused wryly.

But Asagi wouldn't believe it, so it worked out.

"Fine, I'll assu you're a nice guy." Asagi moved a bit closer. "Let's go sit over there."

"Alright."

They walked over to a bench at the edge of the field and sat down. Shichen gazed out at the distance, not rushing her, while Asagi sat there quietly for a mont, lost in her thoughts. Finally, she spoke up:

"Teacher, I think my mom… might not make it."

"She's ill?"

"Yeah. The hospital can't do anything…" Asagi lowered her head, voice quavering with tears.

"I see." Looking at her, Shichen felt a surge of sympathy. Unable to resist, he gently placed his hand on her head, ruffling her hair.

"It must be tough."

"Ugh… hic…" Asagi began sobbing outright.

She had been holding it in so long—she was terrified, helpless, could do nothing for her mom's fading health. Being forced to grow up fast, and she had no one to confide in. It was a pain she'd bottled up. Finally telling soone felt like releasing a dam.

"Let it all out if you want," Shichen murmured softly, hand still on her head. "Crying should help a bit."

At her age, a caring presence was all it took. Words of comfort ant little, but just being there for her was everything.

Asagi didn't cry long, only about ten-odd seconds. She had already reached the limit of her tears. Unloading her story let the sadness flow, albeit briefly.

"Must've been embarrassing," she said, turning slightly away and wiping her eyes in discomfort.

Shichen shook his head. "Not at all. If anything, I admire you."

"Admire ?" Asagi looked up at him, reddened eyes uncertain.

"You've obviously been holding it together for a long ti," he said softly.

That single sentence almost made Asagi cry again. Her frail mother's image had been haunting her daily. She'd been enduring alone without any peer to confide in. Indeed, it was exhausting.

"Don't worry. I can save your mother."

Shichen ruffled her hair again.

"Seriously…?!" Asagi stared at him in disbelief.

"Yes, trust ," Shichen smiled.

"Can I really trust you?"

"I know it's hard to just believe with no proof, but aren't you willing to at least hope for a possibility?"

"Yes—I'm definitely willing!" Asagi answered firmly.

"Then I'm ready anyti. It's up to you, or you might want to tell your dad first."

"Got it."

"Don't worry—you won't be disappointed," Shichen reassured her, still rubbing her head.

"Teacher, why would you do all this?" Asagi nudged his hand away and peered into his face.

"Didn't I tell you already? I'm a lolicon." With his hand lifted from her hair, he lightly tapped her on the nose.

"You're so cute, I can't stand seeing you miserable. A girl your age should be smiling."

"Teacher…" Asagi gazed up at him blankly, then murmured, "I'm starting to think maybe lolicons aren't so bad."

"You actually believe that…?"

"If your sister's Natsuki, maybe you're really just a siscon," Asagi teased with a smirk.

"…"

~~~

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