I was caught off guard by Hoshino's sudden embrace, but I instinctively wrapped my arms around her, gently running my fingers through her incredibly soft hair, except for that one stubborn cowlick on top.
"There, you're not mad anymore, right?"
Hoshino nestled into my chest and let out a happy little hum. "Mmm~ By the way, Sensei, did you hurt your neck?"
"It's just a small injury. It's almost healed. And now that you're not upset anymore…"
I placed my hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her away, trying to sound serious. "Then, let's keep our distance, Takanashi Hoshino."
She stared at me, wide-eyed. "Wha! You're so insensitive!"
The truth is, it's because I'm so sensitive to these things that I have to stick to my original plan. The more forward they are, the more I need to pull back. The more reserved, the closer I get. That's the only way to enjoy this push-and-pull dynamic.
I quickly changed the subject. "Are you hungry? Let's get something to eat. Do you have a favorite place?"
Hoshino thought for a moment, her face lighting up with a bright, adorable smile. "Does Schale have any food left? If not, let's go shopping together first~ I want you to try something I cook myself today, even if I'm not that good at it. But no matter how it tastes, you'll eat it happily, right?"
Hoshino's home cooking? I was tempted, but the Engineering Club might still be using the showers at Schale.
Reluctantly, I shook my head. "Wouldn't a candlelit dinner at a restaurant with a night view be better for a first date?"
Aru, let me borrow your innocent, romantic ideas for a second!
"Uwah… Uwaah…" Hoshino's eyes went wide, her cheeks turning bright red. She scratched her face, flustered. "A—a date? Seriously, what are you saying? I didn't even know today was a date… Ehehe… But if you think so, I don't mind at all~"
Her happiness was written all over her face.
She's so easy to read. I almost missed the days when she swore she'd never trust me.
I couldn't help but ruffle her hair again, feeling a sense of satisfaction at how much she'd changed. Just as promised, I took her to a restaurant with a night view, the same one I'd visited with Aru a few days before.
The receptionist seemed to recognize me and noticed my companion was different this time, giving me a slightly odd look.
What's with that look? Haven't you ever seen a teacher who's popular with his students? If I could've gotten a reservation anywhere else, I wouldn't be back here!
Setting aside that minor annoyance, dinner with Hoshino turned out to be genuinely enjoyable. She started off a bit stiff and awkward, but gradually relaxed. When the seafood arrived, she eagerly shared all sorts of marine trivia, which I found surprisingly interesting.
Next time, I should take her to the aquarium. I bet she'd light up even more.
After dinner, we took a walk by a nearby lake, chatting about everyday things. Hoshino mostly talked about the changes at Abydos High School since they'd finally shaken off the threat from Kaiser PMC.
The former director, Antonis, had been scapegoated by the higher-ups at Kaiser Group. He was fired, charged with a long list of crimes, and vanished after being wanted by the General Student Council.
Most of Abydos's land still technically belonged to Kaiser, but after that fiasco, the new director or whoever was really in charge, seemed to have lost interest in targeting Abydos.
Kaiser Loans kept Antonis's promise to lower interest rates and reduce the school's debt, which took a lot of pressure off everyone.
On top of that, Kaiser stopped sending thugs like the Helmet Gang to harass Abydos. Public safety had improved, and even Hoshino's nightly patrols had become much easier.
"You should really take a break. Patrolling all night every night is too much for anyone. You need to rest."
Hoshino just waved me off with a smile. "It's fine~ Don't let my skinny look fool you. I'm actually in great shape, and I've gotten used to being a night owl. If you made me sleep early now, I probably couldn't fall asleep anyway!"
"It still worries me."
I stopped and looked at her, reaching out to gently touch the faint dark circles under her eyes. "Even if you can't stop completely, you should at least cut back. That's as much as I can compromise. I respect your dedication, but I won't let you hurt yourself. Okay?"
Hoshino stared at me for a long moment, her features softening in the moonlight. She took my hand and whispered, "Mhm. I will."
We continued our walk in comfortable silence, the night air calm around us.
When it got late, I invited Hoshino to Schale. I planned to grab the marine life encyclopedia book from my room and then take her back to Abydos. After that, I'd return for a shower and, as usual, end up lying in bed scrolling on my phone until I got sleepy.
We took the helicopter from a nearby helipad and soon arrived at Schale.
"Heh-eh~ So this is where Sensei lives," Hoshino said, trailing behind me and looking around with curiosity. "Come to think of it, my kouhais and Problem Solver 68 have all stayed over here. I feel a little left out, boohoo."
"...You've got some nerve saying that," I replied, half amused, half speechless. She should remember who caused trouble last time.
Hoshino scratched her head, grinning and sticking out her tongue. "That was half your fault, Sensei. You didn't need to consider my feelings. You should've just told us about the land registry.
Her attitude irked me a little. Even though she usually acted obedient, Hoshino's pride meant she'd probably never apologize to me. That was just how she was. Annoying, but honest.
If I'm being honest, maybe that's why I sometimes wanted to keep my distance.
"They're not the only ones who've been here," I said, trying to sound casual.
"...Eh?"
"Other people have used the living quarters, the bathroom, laundry room too. The last time was this afternoon."
Do you get it, Hoshino? I'm close with more than just you. Some are even sweeter and more understanding. Sure, you're special, but how do you know others aren't?
I finished thinking my dark thoughts, and immediately felt much better., but seeing Hoshino's disappointed face, I realized it wasn't as satisfying as I'd imagined. In fact, it left me with a twinge of regret.
Deliberately making a girl jealous is a pretty shitty thing to do. The realization left me feeling a bit down myself.
"We're here. This is my room."
I walked in first, heading straight for the bookshelf to grab the marine life encyclopedia. Just as my hand touched the spine, I heard a click at the door, a sound that made me freeze.
The door had been locked from the inside.
"...Hoshino?"
I turned to see her approaching with a sly smile.
"What are you planning?"
"You."
Her blunt answer made me forget to breathe for a second.
"Didn't I just say it?" Hoshino's eyes sparkled with mischief. "All my kouhais have stayed over at Schale. As their senpai, I can't fall behind."
She's not worried about falling behind, she's aiming to overtake!
This was the first time I'd encountered something like this, and even I was a little at a loss.
I tried to reason with her, though even I could hear how weak my words sounded. "Hoshino, listen, don't rush into this. What you're feeling is probably gratitude or admiration, not real love. If you want to do this, it should be the premise of mutual consent. Let's think it over, okay?"
Hoshino kept moving closer, and I kept backing away until I ended up on the bed. She kicked off her sneakers and climbed on top of me, her face close, her breath warm against my skin.
"Do you think I'm that careless? I've thought about this for a long time. Why else would I wait until today to reach out to you?"
"And about what you said earlier... I get it now. I chose to trust you, even knowing what you're like. I can accept your relationships with others, but..."
"The first time has to be with me."
I went quiet, suddenly wondering if Kivotos was secretly in a gender reverse world (Role Reversal). Or maybe I was living out some protagonist's script? The thought was so ridiculous, I pushed it aside.
By then, Hoshino had already pulled a small box from her pocket.
"I came prepared. Still think I'm not serious? Please stop saying weird things. I know how you feel about me, and I feel the same. Besides, you said you liked my body, right? So accept it."
Her determination was clear, but I still didn't know what to say.
"If you really don't want to, I won't force you," she said, her voice stubborn but her body trembling.
For all her bravado, Hoshino was still just a girl, maybe even an innocent one.
My mind was a mess. I hadn't expected things to move this fast, or to be the one on the defensive.
At last, I sighed and gently pushed her away.
True to her word, Hoshino didn't force anything, but she trembled even more, looking like she might cry.
I hurried to my desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out another box.
Just yesterday, after trying to train my dog, I'd gone out of my way to buy some essentials, just in case. I didn't expect to need them so soon, and certainly not with Hoshino.
"The one you picked is too small. Use this."
Hoshino blinked, her tears replaced by a mischievous grin.
"Wow, I didn't think you'd be so blunt. I underestimated you. But the fact that you were prepared means I also overestimated you."
I just rolled my eyes at her teasing and lay back down, trying to look dignified.
"Pfft∼ That's right, that's right~ Just like that∼"
Hoshino laughed, loosening her necktie.
The top mystery of Abydos versus the Sensei of Schale.
"You seem to have the wrong idea, so let me clarify," Hoshino said, blushing as she leaned in and whispered in my ear. "You're the challenger."
I sucked in a breath. "You little brat."
Just as things were about to escalate, my phone rang.
I had no choice but to get up and answer.
Hoshino shrugged. "Hmph~ Perfect timing. I'll use the bathroom and take a shower. I got a bit sweaty earlier… unless someone prefers it that way?"
Ignoring her tease, I checked the caller ID, motioned for silence, and answered.
"Hello? Ah… What? Now? Got it."
I straightened my clothes. "I have to take care of something. I'll be back soon. Do whatever you want while I'm gone."
"Uhehe~ I guessed right, but too bad. I'm not catering to your weird tastes."
I walked with Hoshino for a bit, pointed her toward the bathroom, and headed downstairs alone.
Outside the Schale office, a girl was waiting for me. Serina, the one who'd interrupted my moment with Hoshino.
I hurried over, concerned. "Serina, is something wrong this late?"
"Well, I just won a mysterious grand prize at the supermarket nearby," Serina said, handing me a black bag. "I don't know what it is, but the saleslady said it's valuable but not suitable for students. It'd be a waste to throw it away, so I thought of you, Sensei, and wanted to give you this surprise."
The fact that she thought of me like that made me feel a little touched.
As I felt the outside of the bag, I wondered... Were those cigarettes inside? That definitely wouldn't be appropriate for a student. Still, even though I don't smoke either, I decided to accept it for now.
I made a mental note to think about what kind of gift I could give Serina later, just to thank her.
"Oh, right, Sensei, you can probably take off your neck brace now," Serina reminded me before she left. "Your injury should be mostly healed. Wearing this will just restrict your movement. Let me help you take it off."
I thanked Serina for her concern and assistance. After she helped me remove the brace, I stretched my neck, which was still a bit stiff, but I could already feel I'd have more freedom to move in the upcoming battle.
After waving goodbye to Serina, I headed upstairs. Curiosity got the better of me, so I opened the bag as I walked, eager to see what mysterious item was inside.
Inside, I found dozens of 'balloons' the very thing I hadn't planned for, but apparently needed. I stood there in silence, unsure how to react.
"Let Oji-san see~ What did you bring back?" Hoshino called out, appearing behind me. She'd just finished showering and was still radiating warmth. She peeked into the bag, and then she, too, fell silent.
After a long pause, Hoshino finally spoke, her tone a bit strained. "Do we really need to prepare so many? Oji-san's old back definitely won't be able to handle it, you know?"
"Better safe than sorry," I replied, not daring to guess what Serina might have been thinking behind that gentle smile of hers.
Serina really is an angel, there's no other way to describe her.
In any case, I decided to set this matter aside. It probably wasn't all that important.
At last, my battle with Hoshino officially began.
The natives of Kivotos, blessed with Halos, have physical abilities far beyond those of ordinary people. Their recovery and stamina are on another level. Hoshino, in particular, is among the strongest, and her determination is unmatched.
In other words, victory belonged to Takanashi Hoshino.
A white line cut through the darkness.
Completely exhausted, Hoshino spoke in a voice full of regret. "I wanted to give everything to Sensei, but I just didn't have the strength to help you reach your full potential…"
I let out a deep breath and didn't hesitate to praise her. "You were magnificent, Takanashi Hoshino. I wont forget you for as long as i live."
After a fierce struggle, just as I'd once imagined, Hoshino, defeated, lowered her head, admitted her mistake, and asked for my forgiveness. It wasn't exactly how I'd pictured it, but close enough.
So, at last, I could completely forgive Hoshino.
That felt truly wonderful.
I gently wiped away Hoshino's tears, comforting her as she drifted off to sleep after working so hard all night. I yawned, feeling the exhaustion catch up with me, and decided to get some rest myself.
Speaking of which, what time was it now?
Through the faint light seeping in around the thick curtains, I suddenly had a bad feeling.
I was in such a good mood, I really hoped nothing would ruin it.
But before I could even process Hoshino's defeat, the next challenger arrived: the weekday alarm clock.
I quickly shut off the alarm, careful not to wake Hoshino.
After gently tapping her forehead, I quietly slipped out of the bedroom, weighed down by sleepiness.