The sky wasn't even dark yet when Shichen and Natsuki Minamiya returned to the apartnt.
At that hour, the izakaya was indeed quite quiet, so there wasn't much of an atmosphere for chatting. The three of them mainly ate, and only drank one round of alcohol.
Sasasaki Misaki was still hoping to tag along and visit their place, but Natsuki flatly refused.
Left with no choice, Misaki would have to find another opportunity later.
On their way back, Shichen and Natsuki walked side by side. One of them tall, the other quite petite. If Shichen didn't look so young, people might mistake them for father and daughter.
But "siblings" was the obvious guess.
Of course, in reality it was the other way around—but with no bystanders around, Shichen certainly wouldn't be calling her "onee-san".
"Natsuki-chan, how co you didn't just teleport us back ho tonight?"
"What, you don't want my company?" Natsuki frowned at him.
"No…just curious."
"Hmph, maybe I just feel like walking off so calories. Got a problem with that?"
"You seriously need to 'walk it off'?" Shichen gave her a quick once-over, blinking.
"You know a lot for soone who just got here… Let it be, I have sothing to ask you."
He didn't ask why she couldn't wait until they were back ho. After all, it was a rare chance to stroll with Natsuki and improve their relationship.
"What's on your mind?" he asked.
"Did you run into any problems teaching today?"
"You worried about , Natsuki-chan?" Shichen teased her with a grin.
Natsuki gave a cold snort. "Heh, don't get cocky. I'm just concerned you might do sothing improper to the female students."
"...You're making sound like a criminal." Shichen grimaced.
"Why not? Since you're interested in , wouldn't being interested in young girls be normal?"
"Co on, you and them are totally different."
"Different how? Both are about the sa, aren't they?"
"You're legal." Shichen's expression turned serious.
"..." Natsuki couldn't help glancing down at her own figure, then glared at him.
"Er, I an, I don't mind a flat figure, too." he hurriedly added.
"Shut it!" Natsuki snapped, cheeks burning. She nearly sent her folding fan flying at his head.
"Oh." Shichen obediently kept quiet.
"Fine. I'll tentatively believe you for now… Did anything else happen?"
"Anything else?"
"In your lessons. Teaching problems."
"It's just P.E.—what problems could I have? Unless students start beating each other up?"
"Kids this age fighting is entirely possible."
"Don't worry, trust , all right?"
"We'll see… I'm heading ho." Natsuki took a few more steps forward, then halted.
"Wait!" called Shichen.
"What?"
"I have sothing to tell you."
"Speak."
"I'll be going out for a bit soon."
"Going out? Where to?" Natsuki asked flatly.
"Not wandering off, if that's what you're worried about. There's a student whose mom is very ill, the hospital can't treat her. I want to help."
"A female student?" Natsuki caught onto the key point.
"Ahem, yes, a girl."
"You said you weren't into young girls—?" Natsuki gave him a frosty look.
"I'm really not! She looked so depressed I couldn't help asking, that's all."
"Then she told you everything? You really have a way with children," Natsuki remarked, her smile sowhat chilling.
"A lonely girl her age needing soone to confide in—I'm her teacher."
"Teacher? You're a P.E. teacher!"
"Hey, a teacher's a teacher. Grown-ups can help kids, right?"
"... So what's this girl's na and what's she look like?"
Natsuki's face remained emotionless.
Shichen tried to dodge the question. "Could it be you're jealous, Natsuki-chan?"
But she remained unmoved. "Answer !"
"Er… Well, she's… reasonably cute, na's Aiba Asagi."
"Aiba… And you truly just want to help her?" Natsuki eyed him seriously.
"Believe ! I swear, that's all I want—helping her mother." Shichen raised a hand in oath.
"You can heal soone?"
"Sothing like that, but it's limited."
"Do as you like… Don't lie to ." Natsuki turned and strode off, her folding fan in hand.
"Why would I lie? I was even saying I'd rescue you and run away together," he teased.
Natsuki paused mid-step. A magic formation opened beneath her, instantly swallowing her up. She vanished, leaving only her voice:
"Stop spouting nonsense."
"What's nonsense about it? I'm dead serious," Shichen murmured, staring at the spot where Natsuki had disappeared.
Two days later—Friday—during P.E. with Class 1-B again, Aiba Asagi took advantage of the mont when everyone else went to fetch equipnt to tell Shichen she could now bring him to see her mother.
"Your dad didn't say anything?" Shichen asked.
"He didn't believe it at first, but once I said you're Minamiya-sensei's brother, he agreed."
"Heh… so I'm still riding on Natsuki-chan's coattails, huh." He gave a wry smile.
"Shichen-sensei, when would you be free?" Asagi asked hopefully.
"I'm free today, but let's do it tomorrow—Saturday, so there's plenty of ti."
"Got it. So I'll co pick you up, teacher?"
"Why would you pick up?" He flicked her forehead lightly.
"Ow… Because you can't get in otherwise," Asagi muttered, rubbing her forehead and pouting.
"Right… Fine. Tomorrow morning, I'll wait for you outside the school gate."
"Yes!" Asagi agreed at once.
"Shichen-sensei, hurry up! Let's play ball!"
"This ti, we'll definitely beat you, teacher!"
"You two… never learn." Shichen smiled and jogged over.
Asagi followed slowly, and soon joined the girls in silently cheering on their teacher from the sidelines.
…
Saturday morning, after making red tea for Natsuki, Shichen left the apartnt and headed to the school gate.
To his surprise, a low-profile black sedan was already parked out front.
"Shichen-sensei." From the backseat window, Asagi waved him over.
Shichen walked around to the other side and climbed in.
"You're here so early?"
"Mm. Couldn't wait," Asagi answered, pursing her lips.
"Don't worry." Shichen smiled, reaching out to pat her head. "I'll cure your mom."
"I believe you, teacher." She nodded earnestly.
"Then let's go."
"Right. Driver, please."
"Yes."
The car slowly pulled away, heading in a direction Shichen didn't know. But once they arrived, he recognized the location—MAR Research Center, a renowned conglorate involved in everything from military weapons to ordinary goods, as well as a dical research branch and its affiliated hospital.
He rembered this place from future knowledge—Akatsuki Kojou's sister, and so on. But in any case, it was the best dical facility on Itogami Island. Of course it made sense for Asagi's mother to be treated there.
After getting out of the car, Asagi led Shichen through the entrance's security check. They navigated various corridors—so looking quite impressive—before arriving at her mother's private room.
"Shichen-sensei, here we are." Asagi's hand tightened on the doorknob. She glanced at him nervously.
"Mm, let's go in."
"Alright."
Asagi took a breath and opened the door.
~~~
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