That afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, making it the perfect weather for a walk.
The moment I stepped into the Game Development Department's clubroom, I was greeted with an enthusiastic welcome from everyone.
Well, they were all holed up inside playing games.
"Whoa!"
During a break in the game, Momoi turned around in surprise.
"What's going on? Sensei's already back to visit our club after only a few days. Could it be you've been pretty free lately?"
Midori hurriedly spoke up for me.
"Onee-chan, what are you saying? Sensei must have taken time out of a super busy schedule just to come see us, right?"
As I comforted Arisu, who had excitedly thrown herself into my arms, the corner of my mouth twitched.
If I didn't already know what Momoi and Midori were like, I might've thought they were mocking me.
Fortunately, Yuzu, who simply smiled at me quietly, soothed my spirit to a great extent.
Still, it was true that I usually tried to treat everyone equally. If I didn't have something important to do, I wouldn't have come back to visit so soon.
This time, it was still about helping Hare break her caffeine addiction.
I'd already discussed everything with Chihiro, and it had immediately caught the attention of Veritas's highly responsible true club president.
After thanking me, Chihiro said she'd do everything she could to help within her abilities. However, because of the work she'd recently been entrusted with, she probably wouldn't have much free time.
As for Kotama, I'd already successfully convinced her with my wonderful singing voice, or at least a voice that sounded wonderful to her.
I still couldn't understand why she'd gotten so excited that she ended up with a nosebleed and had to be taken to the infirmary.
Maybe that was just an inseparable part of my earth-shattering charm.
In any case, everything had gone smoothly up to this point. All that remained was dealing with the final unstable factor, Maki.
If Maki pulled out a few bottles of Monster MAX and set them in front of Hare like last time, then with Hare's willpower, all our efforts would probably be wasted again.
Even though Maki had been busy dealing with make-up exams these past few days, quitting energy drinks wasn't something that could be accomplished in just a day or two.
So someone needed to keep Maki occupied after her make-up exams were over.
For example, inviting her to play games until she was too busy to even go to the Veritas clubroom.
"...Sensei, we basically understand the situation."
After hearing my summary, Momoi folded her arms and nodded.
"But it might be a little difficult to pull off."
I asked in confusion, "How so?"
Midori answered timidly,
"The main problem is probably... the time difference."
Momoi nodded.
"Even we aren't like Veritas, staying up all night playing games every other day."
Then she and Arisu started talking about how Maki and Hare could grind event after event without sleep.
Beside them, Midori and Yuzu both nodded in wholehearted agreement, leaving me stunned as I looked around the room.
Could it be that I'd been misunderstanding the Game Development Department this whole time?
Thinking back carefully, though, every time we played games together, no matter how exciting the remaining content was, Momoi and Midori were always the first to start yawning.
Yuzu seemed to have more experience staying up late, but I didn't think I'd ever heard of her pulling an all-nighter until sunrise, either.
"I guess there's no helping it."
At that moment, Arisu looked around for a moment, as though making up her mind, then declared resolutely,
"If it's for Sensei's quest, Hero Arisu is willing to sacrifice her sleep and stay up playing games every night!"
I was deeply moved, and immediately replied,
"Absolutely not."
There was no way I was giving this girl a perfectly good excuse to become addicted to games.
Arisu's eyebrows drooped instantly, looking as though she'd suffered a devastating blow.
After crushing Arisu's grand ambition, I found myself troubled once more.
Since the time difference really was an issue, I couldn't ask the Game Development Department to help after all.
Did that mean I'd have to step in personally and spend every night with Maki until Hare finally kicked her caffeine habit?
Or perhaps... I should find some way to turn this unstable factor into an ally instead.
"Actually, Arisu's idea could work."
Momoi spoke up casually.
"We could just take turns staying up all night. I've kind of wanted to see what that feels like anyway."
"Please don't. Good kids should go to bed early and wake up early. It's best not to develop habits like that."
Midori quietly muttered,
"I'm not a little kid anymore..."
So I added,
"It'll affect your growth, too."
"Haha, Sensei, please think of another way!"
Momoi immediately changed her attitude on the spot, and Midori never mentioned staying up all night again.
Yuzu said guiltily,
"I... if that's the case, then it looks like we can't help you after all. I'm really sorry..."
"Can't be helped. We homebodies don't exactly have many friends."
Said by Momoi, whose social circle was actually surprisingly wide.
"Among the people we play games with, I think Maki and the others are the only ones who like staying up until the middle of the night."
"It's alright. I'll think of another way."
I smiled gently, planning to sort out my thoughts later. For now, I'd spend a little more time with the girls from the Game Development Department.
But then Arisu suddenly stood up.
"Sensei! Arisu has something she wants to tell you. Please come outside with Arisu!"
Ignoring her friends shouting, "No fair! No sneaking ahead!" the android hero grabbed my sleeve and pulled me out of the clubroom.
She didn't stop until we reached a quiet corner where no one else was around.
Only then did I ask, puzzled,
"Arisu, what did you want to tell me?"
Arisu simply stood on tiptoe and gazed at me with her sapphire-blue eyes.
"Sensei, please kiss Arisu."
You want one that badly, huh?
I couldn't help smiling. I leaned over and kissed her soft, smooth cheek.
"There. Was that all you wanted to say?"
"N-no..."
Arisu seemed a little anxious.
"I mean the kind where we exchange saliva!"
After the brief surprise faded, what welled up inside me was guilt.
Arisu had already experienced how it felt. Of course she'd have desires like this. It was because I hadn't given her enough.
If that was the case, then I should satisfy her a little first.
So I gently pulled her into my arms and lowered my head.
But just as I was beginning to lose myself in the moment, a tremendous force suddenly struck my chest and shoved me away.
After stumbling back several steps and barely regaining my balance, I stared at the black-haired girl in astonishment.
What met my eyes was a pair of icy pinkish-purple pupils.
"Why do you always use such a weird method to bring me out..."
Kei shot me a look of disgust and muttered quietly,
"This is... seriously the worst..."