Sensei is a Problem Child but the Strongest (10) - 40

Step... step...

A dark, secluded ruin. A place located on the outskirts of Trinity, where not even Trinity's young ladies, let alone delinquent or even the adult underworld organizations would visit.

A girl walks leisurely alone in such a place. In one hand, she carried a large box in a plastic bag.

"You're here. There were no tails, I presume? Azusa."

Waiting for her there was the leader of the Arius Squad, Jomae Saori.

"Yeah, of course."

"I see... There are no problems with the plan?"

"No. The Make-Up Work Club continues to fail, and Kirifuji Nagisa is still the same."

"Is that so? I was a little worried when Sensei came, but it seems that adults from the outside are truly incompetent."

Saori chuckled, amused by the current situation where the plan was proceeding without a hitch despite Sensei's intervention. If things continued like this, everything would proceed smoothly until the Eden Treaty. Azusa was staring at Saori...

"Where is everyone?"

"They're on standby nearby... What's that? I smell something unusual..."

Rustle~

Azusa then lifts the bag and shows it.

"It's chicken."

"......Chicken, you say?"

"Yeah, it's a food made by frying chicken."

"I know that much. Even if I haven't seen it in person, I've seen it in Hiyori's magazines. But why did you bring such a thing?"

"To eat together. Everyone must be hungry."

"......We have combat rations."

"How long are we going to keep eating that? If I'm the only one eating Trinity's good food... did you think I'd like that, Saori?"

Azusa, who suddenly did something she wouldn't normally do and bought food. However... Saori couldn't sense anything else strange about her.

"But if we eat this, the Madame will......"

"Is she monitoring even this? What do we eat?"

"It's not like that, but......"

"Then let's eat. No one comes here anyway, and we can just prepare before we eat."

"...Alright, wait there."

Saori hesitated for a moment, looking at the box of chicken in the bag that smelled of savory oil, but since she trusted Azusa... thinking of everyone who was always hungry, she headed towards the squad members.

"Ah, Azusa-chan......"

"It smells different."

"──(What's that?)"

Hiyori, Misaki, and Atsuko were waiting inside the building. Only Atsuko used sign language, and the three of them asked what Azusa had brought.

"Ah, this is chicken."

"Ch-Chicken! Such fancy food...!"

"It's not that fancy... but it is for us. Is it Misuno Mika's support fund?"

"Azusa bought it. There's no poison, so eat without worry today."

"──(That's nice)"

And so, Azusa sits down and takes out the chicken.

"Ooh──! It smells amazing! I'll have this big one!"

"It's not just one, so eat the part you want."

Hiyori immediately picks up a thick drumstick and takes a bite. Hiyori's eyes sparkle as she eats the chicken, and she expresses her admiration.

"Pueeeh! Azusa-chan gave us something so delicious! I'm so touched! I never thought a day like this would come in my life...!"

"You're too loud, Hiyori... But, it's been a while since we've had meat... The only meat I've had was the tough and hard meat of a cow that died while working, and that was years ago."

"───(Yeah, it's really delicious)"

"Trinity, do those Kivotos folks eat this every day?"

"Eat a lot, everyone."

Azusa... Sensei smiles faintly.

A few hours ago.

"You're going to the regular report yourself today?"

"Yeah, I'll go, Azusa. I think this is an opportunity."

"Even so... it's dangerous. Even though it's my form, you'll be found out."

"Don't worry. I'll be safe. And... shouldn't I take on this kind of challenge? I want to save not only you but everyone in Arius."

"...It's like looking in a mirror, but you're so different. I could never do that."

"Hehe, you can do it too. If an adult like me can do it, then Azusa can become an even better adult."

"Is that, so?"

Sensei told Azusa that he would go to the regular report instead.

"How long are you going to stay there! I thought you were going to study!"

"Ah, I'll be right there, Koharu."

"Who answered that!?"

"It was Sensei."

"Who answered this time!?"

""Me.""

"Only one person should answer!"

After that, they continued their messy studies in the Make-Up Work Club. Sensei deliberately didn't go outside for today's operation. He only went outside when he went to buy chicken.

And back to the present.

"Is it good? Saori."

"...Yes, it's delicious. It's the first time I've had such fresh meat."

"I see."

"What's with that smile..."

"Just, I thought Saori would like it too?"

"Don't tease me. Enough, you eat too."

Saori, seeming a little embarrassed, handed Sensei a piece of chicken breast. Sensei takes it and eats it.

"Aren't you eating too much, Hiyori? You'll get indigestion."

"But we might not be able to eat this anymore, so we have to eat it while we can, Misaki!"

"Well, that's true. We might not wake up tomorrow morning."

"───(Being too negative isn't good, Misaki)"

Hiyori's words that they might not be able to eat this again, Misaki's words that they might die tomorrow... it was a painful reality for Sensei. After finishing the chicken, Sensei went outside the building with Saori.

"Hey, Saori."

"What is it, Azusa."

"Will this plan succeed?"

"Yes... It's the Madame's plan. At the very least, Trinity and Gehenna will be erased."

"Then, what after that?"

"The Madame will decide that."

"In the path that the Madame decides, is there a path where we can be happy?"

"...Azusa, you always said it. That the world is just meaningless anyway."

"Is that really true?"

"......Azusa. You're not having second thoughts, are you?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Azusa."

"Then, are you going to destroy my Halo?"

"Azusa!"

Saori shouts at Sensei, who was looking up at the night sky. If she became a traitor... Saori would have to kill Azusa, who was like family, according to the Madame's policy. But Sensei didn't stop talking.

"Hey, Saori. In that situation just now, you didn't feel anything?"

"......"

"Everyone looked happy. Even Misaki seemed to feel a little better, don't you think?"

"That's, true but..."

"Saori, do you not want to see that kind of scene anymore?"

"......"

"I want to see it every day. I want these happy times, where everyone is happy, to continue every day."

"Azusa... give up that hope. This reality doesn't allow for our happiness. I already gave up that light called hope a long time ago."

"Is that really the right thing to do?"

"What?"

"Has the life that the Madame decided for you ever been happy? Saori."

"........."

Sensei, with a benevolent smile on Azusa's face, looked at Saori. It had only been a day, but he had been Saori before... somehow, he felt like he understood her heart.

"I think the Madame is the problem. If it weren't for the Madame, Atsuko wouldn't have to wear that mask and be unable to speak... Misaki wouldn't want to die, and Hiyori might have been able to read the magazines she wanted to her heart's content. You wouldn't have had to sacrifice yourself for everyone."

"That's too hopeful. It's a delusion, Azusa. You must be full and sleepy. Stop talking nonsense and──"

"Wouldn't a normal life be better than this life? A normal life where everyone can be happy."

"Stop it, Azusa. Happiness? That will only give Hiyori greater despair."

"......Do you regret? The you who had hope."

"Yes, I regret it. Because this world is just meaningless anyway."

"That's not right."

Then, Sensei looked up at Saori with serious eyes.

"You shouldn't regret and blame yourself for being alive. You shouldn't say that the desire to be happy is a mistake. You shouldn't be relieved that you won't suffer anymore if you die. You shouldn't think that the reason you were born was to suffer."

"...Azusa?"

"You still have infinite possibilities. Even if others, even if adults deny it... you yourselves shouldn't deny it."

"What are you... you......"

"Because you are my precious people (students)."

"........."

For a moment, Saori doubted if it was really Azusa, but...

"Someday, I want to show you too. What a normal life is like."

"........."

For some reason, looking at her...... Saori couldn't say anything. Somehow, she had a bigger hope than her past self... seeing her hope, she couldn't say anything.

"It's almost time."

"...That's right."

"Then, see you later, Saori."

"Azusa."

"Huh?"

"...What did you see in Trinity."

"...Youth."

At Saori's words, Sensei smiles and leaves. Saori could only stare at Sensei's back.

Time passed, and morning came.

When the Make-Up Work Club students gathered in the classroom, only Azusa went to Sensei's room in the annex.

"Sensei, did it go well?"

And then a smoke comes out of Sensei's room. Azusa, thinking it was an attack, takes out her gun... but she stops for a moment when she sees the figure in the smoke.

"Hehe, of course! Who do you think I am!"

"......Sensei, right?"

"Yes, I'm Sensei. But I'm a little different today!"

"Then, what should I call you?"

"Hahaha, good question~! From today on, call me Ninja Sensei!"