Huh? - 17

That crazy pedo!

 

 

 

I thought as I left the Schale building.

 

 

 

Our game of tag ended with a miraculous negotiation where Sensei offering to buy me a meal later.

 

 

 

But didn't he already buy me a meal?

 

 

 

Come to think of it, I'm not gaining anything from this.

 

 

 

In that case, I'll make sure to eat somewhere really expensive later.

 

 

 

...Though I can't eat much.

 

 

 

Why do I always end up going home so late?

 

 

 

The streets, covered in quiet darkness, are lined up without a single point of light.

 

 

 

The darkness of the streets becomes even darker whenever the moon, the only light illuminating the streets, is hidden by clouds.

 

 

 

It's just... I never really observed it closely before, but...

 

 

 

Isn't this quite dangerous...?

 

 

 

Realizing this, I start walking faster.

 

 

 

I walked and walked and finally arrived home.

 

 

 

"Huff... huff..."

 

 

 

When I got home, I was breathing heavily, either from practically running or from being too tense.

 

 

 

I unlocked the door and entered the house.

 

 

 

Click-

 

 

 

Turning on the lights, I see the scene inside the room.

It's a very reassuring sight.

 

 

 

Whoosh-

 

 

 

I hastily took off my clothes and changed into pajamas.

 

 

 

"Uuuu..."

 

 

 

After changing and stretching once, I lay down on the bed.

 

 

 

Next to me is a cat doll.

 

 

 

As always, it's fluffy, soft, and squishy.

 

 

 

I hugged it and tried to sleep.

 

 

 

30 minutes later,

 

 

 

I still couldn't fall asleep.

 

 

 

I can't... sleep...!

 

 

 

My sleep schedule is completely ruined.

This is hopeless...

I have to have class with Sensei again tomorrow, and if I end up dozing off like today...

 

 

 

"@%#^&%#!"

 

 

 

Thinking about it again, it was a truly awful experience.

 

 

 

How can every single action and word he says be so annoying?

 

 

 

Thump-!

Thump-!

 

 

 

Only the innocent blanket flew up and down.

 

 

 

"Ugh..."

 

 

 

I feel like I've been letting my guard down a lot lately.

 

 

 

That Sensei... I can't let my guard down.

 

 

 

If my vigilance keeps decreasing like this, eventually...

 

 

 

-Nito, you're cute today too.

 

 

 

-Hehe...

 

 

 

Oh, crap.

That's crazy.

Just imagining it is horrifying.

 

 

 

I'd rather volunteer for Gematria's biological experiments than end up like that.

 

 

 

Isn't Sensei's bond rank system, which alters people's perceptions, basically a biological experiment anyway?

 

 

 

The problem is that Sensei is a pedophile to begin with.

 

 

 

Why does he keep teasing me?

 

 

 

Is my reaction that amusing...?

 

 

 

I've never heard that in my life.

 

 

 

I hate that my image has become so childish lately.

 

 

 

How did this happen...

 

 

 

It's all because of Momotalk.

If it weren't for that damn system, this wouldn't have happened.

 

 

 

Well, it's not...

Actually, I know the problem isn't the Momotalk system, it's me.

 

 

 

I just don't want to admit it.

 

 

 

Anyway, it's unfair.

 

 

 

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

 

 

 

I only slept for 5 hours in the end.

 

 

 

Even that much sleep wouldn't normally disrupt my life... but I guess this body is different.

 

 

 

I seriously need to get my Halo checked for authenticity.

 

 

 

I dragged my tired body to Schale.

 

 

 

I absolutely must not fall asleep in front of Sensei today.

I made that resolution, although I can't guarantee I'll keep it.

 

 

 

When I arrived at Schale after a long walk, Sensei was working.

 

 

 

He started pretty early?

 

 

 

"Oh, Nito. You're here?"

 

 

 

"...Yes."

 

 

 

"Did you get home okay yesterday?"

 

 

 

"..."

 

 

 

"Haha..."

 

 

 

Sensei laughed awkwardly.

 

 

 

You find it ridiculous too, don't you?

 

 

 

After doing that last night.

 

 

 

"Are you... tired again today?"

 

 

 

Oh, was that not it?

Well, of course Sensei wouldn't have any tact.

 

 

 

"A little..."

 

 

 

"Okay... then take a rest! I'll try to finish work quickly today."

 

 

 

"Okay..."

 

 

 

An unexpected break time.

I had thought there might be some time to rest.

 

 

 

I went into the lounge where Sensei couldn't see me.

 

 

 

I see a coffee machine in the lounge.

 

 

 

...Should I drink that?

 

 

 

It might be good to get some caffeine to wake me up.

 

 

 

Just a little... let's drink just a little.

 

 

 

I made coffee.

 

 

 

It came out pretty decent.

Is it because the machine is expensive?

 

 

 

Sip-

 

 

 

"Hot, hap, hueh..."

 

 

 

It's hot...

And...

 

 

 

"Cough, cough. Why is it so bitter!"

 

 

 

It's incredibly bitter.

 

 

 

Do they only have black coffee here?

 

 

 

I'm awake now.

It definitely woke me up.

 

 

 

"Ugh..."

 

 

 

The aftertaste of the coffee lingers in my mouth.

I can still taste the bitterness.

 

 

 

I used to be good at drinking bitter things...

 

 

 

Sigh...

 

 

 

Anyway, there's really nothing to do.

 

 

 

Should I check Momotalk?

 

 

 

There aren't any messages, but I can just send one first.

 

 

 

For example,

 

 

 

-Momoi

11:27 AM

 

 

 

-Huh? Nito?

11:28 AM

 

 

 

Right.

I figured you'd be free, Momoi.

 

 

 

-I just texted because I was bored

11:28 AM

 

 

 

-?

11:29 AM

 

 

 

Momoi expressed everything with just that one question mark.

 

 

 

As expected of a Millennium student (prospective)?

Very efficient.

 

 

 

Isn't this pretty fun?

Should I try it with the president too?

 

 

 

Buzz-!

 

 

 

-I'm busy right now, please do it later!

11:31 AM

 

 

 

...That's genuinely creepy.

 

 

 

There's no one else to do it with...

These are the only two people registered.

 

 

 

Looking at it like this... am I just a loner?

 

 

 

That can't be...

I can confidently say my social skills are pretty good.

 

 

 

Aside from the friend who sold me Blue Archive, I had plenty of friends.

 

 

 

I haven't made any new close friends since becoming an adult, but isn't it fine to just hang out with my old friends?

 

 

 

Ugh... so this is... Nito's problem.

It's definitely not my problem.

 

 

 

Actually, thanks to me, Nito has one more friend on her list, so my social skills are practically proven.

 

 

 

Yes, that's right.

 

 

 

Knock knock-

 

 

 

"Nito, is it okay if I come in?"

 

 

 

What, is he done with work already?

 

 

 

"Yes."

 

 

 

Creak-

 

 

 

"You're already done with work?"

 

 

 

"Yeah. So let's start class soon."

 

 

 

"Okay."

 

 

 

How did he do that?

Was there less work today?

 

 

 

"Yawn..."

 

 

 

Don't tell me... he didn't sleep last night?

 

 

 

"Teacher, I'm just asking just in case..."

 

 

 

"Hmm? What is it?"

 

 

 

"What time did you sleep yesterday...?"

 

 

 

"Hmm... around 9 PM?"

 

 

 

What, he slept early?

 

 

 

He slept as soon as I left.

Then did he wake up and sleep at Schale?

 

 

 

"You slept early?"

 

 

 

"Huh? No, well... I slept for about an hour and a half this morning at 9 AM."

 

 

 

?

 

 

 

"An hour and a half...?"

 

 

 

"Yeah, why?"

 

 

 

I have a Halo, and I'm worse off than Sensei?

 

 

 

I'm... below Sensei...?

 

 

 

I felt a sense of emptiness as I prepared to listen to the lesson.

 

 

 

The lesson started quickly, but the content didn't easily sink into my head.