Child but the Strongest (9) - 39

After the kelp tea incident, Sensei brings up a serious topic.

"So, why did you do it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nagisa... I don't want to fight with you."

Nagisa tries to play dumb, but it was obvious that it wouldn't work. Nagisa lets out a small laugh and puts down her teacup. The teacup contained freshly brewed black tea.

"Sensei. This is Trinity's matter. Aren't you getting involved too much?"

"I'm a teacher. I don't think there's any problem with getting involved in students' affairs. Speaking of which, Nagisa, why are you provoking Gehenna with the Eden Treaty coming up? The Prefect Team even came. Do you know what that means?"

"That's──"

"Someone could have died."

"......"

Sensei had heard Yume's story, so he knows that students can die anytime, anywhere, given that everyone thinks Seia is dead. No matter how strong their bodies are, they're not invincible. There were many ways to die.

"Lawless zones, many dark organizations. If an accident happens, someone might die, or be subjected to human trafficking. Your friend, Hifumi, for example."

"...She could have just not gone to the exam."

"Expulsion after failing three times."

"She could take it a third time."

"What if she fails then? Hifumi might resent you forever. Do you want to lose another friend like this, Nagisa?"

"......."

Again.

That one word, again, struck a nerve in Nagisa. After losing her precious friend Seia, Nagisa became more cynical and suspicious. That word struck a nerve in Nagisa.

"Sensei? Even for a teacher, there are lines you shouldn't cross."

"Who crossed the line first, Nagisa?"

"..."

"Nagisa, you started all this... are you okay? Is your heart okay? The more you do this, the more you suffer. It's not anyone else, but you who will suffer the most."

"...As the student council president, it's my responsibility."

"It's not the children's role to take that responsibility. That should always be my responsibility, as an adult and a teacher. You don't need to suffer."

Sensei pushes back his chair, gets up, and turns towards the door.

Stopping briefly in front of the door, Sensei says quietly.

"Go see Mine, the leader of the Remedial Knights."

"What?"

"Seia is alive."

Telling her what he heard from Azusa, Sensei opens the door and goes out. Hearing that, Mika jumps up from her seat, and swallows with trembling pupils. And then she chases after Sensei, and Nagisa sits there with trembling hands.

"Seia-san... is alive?"

Seia's survival. At those words, Nagisa loses her composure and clutches her head.

And then, Sensei walks down the hallway of the Tea Party building to the first floor.

"Wait! What do you mean...?"

"...Exactly what I said. Why don't you go and see for yourself?"

"...How much do you know?"

"I know everything. Of course, that child knows too. That you did it."

"............"

Since there were many eyes watching, Mika grabs Sensei's hand and heads to the reception room. Normally, holding hands with a Gehenna student would make her skin crawl, but maybe it was because she thought it was Sensei? Or maybe it was because it was about Seia. Mika held her hand without any problem and entered the room.

"Is it... true?"

"Of course."

"......I'm glad."

"Are you relieved that your friend is alive?"

"Of course... I am."

Mika kneels down and sheds tears at the news of Seia's survival. Sensei smiles faintly at Mika.

"It might be a little difficult right now, but Seia will forgive you."

"Really...... will she? Seia-chan......"

"Well, I was Seia for a short time. I have a feeling."

"...Even someone like me... she'll forgive me."

"I'll help you too, Mika."

"......Thank you, Sensei."

"But before that...... You, let's do something together."

"Something?"

Sensei has a secret conversation with Mika...... and leisurely leaves the reception room and exits the Tea Party building.

The sight of the Prefect Team leader walking the streets of Trinity became a hot topic, and everyone whispered as they watched her. Of course... Sensei was busy talking to Arona and didn't even notice.

"Ugh..."

"Does it hurt that much, Kazusa-chan?"

"Yeah...... That damn senpai, was she really weakened? How am I supposed to beat a monster like that......"

"Sometimes we have to go through trials. And to become a new legend, you have to overcome the trials. Yes, like having to eat Airi's Mint Chocolate Deluxe Combo in one bite."

"No, no, that's different from this!? And isn't that a bruise~? Why did you even do something like being a delinquent in the first place?"

"Shut up...!"

The After School Dessert Club passes by Sensei. Kazusa, bruised and wounded all over, was walking after receiving treatment from the Remedial Knights. Kazusa wanted to kill whoever impersonated Cath Palug and caused the incident, whoever it was.

Sensei felt a strange chill as he passed by for some reason.

Then, a roar could be heard from somewhere. A roar as if something was running.

"Tsurugi-buchou is on a rampage!"

"You can't go there, Buchou!"

"Kieeeeeek!!!"

It was the sound of Trinity's strategic weapon running.

Tsurugi running with a terrifying face and making terrifying noises. Sensei stands there blankly and watches Tsurugi......

'That kid is definitely...... Come to think of it, it wasn't me, but I owe her a lot.'

Recalling that he smoothly escaped and resolved the incident when he was kidnapped in Abydos in the past, using Tsurugi's appearance, Sensei felt grateful.

As he watched Tsurugi running, he realized that her target was himself.

He just stood and waited...

"Kihik, kihik......"

"......Hello."

"Se-Sensei...... Y-You are, right~?"

"Yes, I am."

"I see...... Kihik."

As Tsurugi stood in front of Sensei, fidgeting and smiling awkwardly, Sensei spoke up.

"If you don't mind, would you like to have a crepe?"

"......(nod)"

Tsurugi smiles and nods.

"Look at that... The Justice Task Force leader and the Gehenna Prefect Team leader."

"This isn't going to start a war, is it?"

"At least if that Kenzaki Tsurugi-san is watching over me, I won't be worried..."

The reason Tsurugi ran to Sensei when she found him was simple. She was worried about Sensei, who was receiving negative attention from those around her. Hasumi also spoke highly of him, and Tsurugi herself was interested because she had heard from the Tea Party that he had taken on her appearance.

"So this is what Trinity crepes taste like. I wouldn't get tired of eating this often."

"Kuhehe......"

"Do you like sweet things?"

"......Yes."

"I like them too. And... thank you."

"Huh?"

"You came because you were thinking of me, right? If not, never mind~ I'm grateful for many other things besides this."

"Augh..."

"I heard from Hasumi too. About you."

"A-About me..."

"I like kids like you."

"............"

Of course, he was just talking about Tsurugi's character.

Sensei grinned at Tsurugi, then bit into his crepe and ate it happy.

Afterward, the two exchange MomoTalk IDs and part ways.

"He-Heehee... Kuhehehe...!"

"You seem to be in a good mood? Senpai."

"Kihehehe...! There is, such a thing..."

"Is that so? I'm curious~ What could have made Tsurugi-senpai so happy?"

Ichika, who was returning from patrol, met Tsurugi and looked at Sensei's back as he walked away in the distance.

'Gehenna's Prefect Team leader, huh... Well, what's good is good, right?'

Unlike Hasumi and other Trinity students, Ichika, who had no particular feelings about Gehenna, thought it was good that Tsurugi had become friends with someone else.

Of course...

{Trinity Justice Task Force Leader! Close relationship with Gehenna Prefect Team Leader!?}

{Is this a sign of a storm that will overturn the Eden Treaty!}

If only Kronos hadn't been Kronos again. Whether Trinity cared or not, Nagisa and Mika didn't have time to listen to such rumors.

On the other hand...

"Sorasaki Hina! You're caught! You dared to attempt a coup!? You traitor!"

"Please just go away......"

Makoto, thinking she had caught something, and at the same time fearing that she would actually be overthrown, came directly to the Prefect Team and harassed Hina. Of course, Hina didn't know about Sensei's condition, so she thought it was just manipulation and was only thinking about destroying Kronos...

"Let's go, Senpai."

"Let go, Iroha! That person is definitely trying to take us down and put Ibuki as a figurehead!"

"The figurehead knows too... Then, excuse me."

Fortunately, thanks to Iroha's late intervention, it didn't escalate into a bigger incident. Iroha, as an executive, knew about Sensei's condition. She didn't care, thinking it was probably Sensei.

And... the next morning after that newspaper came out.

"Th-This is...!"

"S-Sensei?"

"Good morning, everyone."

The Make-Up Work Club was surprised to meet the new Sensei.