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Scene switch—
Inside Saikai Academy's infirmary.
As the bell rang ending the final morning class, the entire campus became lively.
Looking out through the window, students could be seen everywhere—just emerged from the teaching building, calling to friends as they headed toward the cafeteria.
As school nurse, Chisato Hasegawa naturally enjoyed the same treatment as other faculty. As long as no patients needed attention in the infirmary, she could head to the cafeteria ten-plus minutes early without needing to queue and compete for seats with students.
But being school nurse was truly an idle position. Under normal circumstances, even if she occupied a bed sleeping all day in the infirmary, no one would come looking for her.
However, today Chisato hadn't gone early for lunch. She still sat quietly behind her private desk in the infirmary, hands cupping coffee that sent up curling wisps of steam.
As one of the Ancient Ten Gods, eating to her was merely behavior satisfying oral cravings. If she didn't want to, she could go without food forever.
Moreover, she was currently waiting for someone. So at least right now, she couldn't leave.
Creeeak—
The sound of a door handle being pressed came from the entrance. Chisato sitting behind the desk turned toward the sound.
Bokue—who'd just finished lunch with Natsuki's group—appeared at the doorway.
The young man maintained his one-hand-in-pocket appearance. His expression showed no changes.
Chisato smiled gently: "You came. Come in and we'll talk."
"...You know why I'm here."
Closing the infirmary door behind him, Bokue came to the desk—right facing the school nurse who'd risen from behind it.
"Of course I know."
Without any intention of hiding, Chisato continued smiling.
"After all, Ornis came to me first mentioning matters regarding you before deciding to proactively contact you. Though from the looks of it, you've already met Ornis?"
"Yeah. I asked him some things, then killed him directly."
Bokue stated bluntly.
However, hearing this, Chisato only lightly made an "oh" sound, nodding with understanding.
"I see. Understood."
"?"
Now Bokue was confused.
"What—Hasegawa-sensei, you look completely unconcerned."
"Is there a problem?"
Chisato tilted her head. Her bangs swayed slightly with the movement.
"That was his own decision. Since he made the decision himself, he must take responsibility. If he decided to cause you trouble, presumably he'd already prepared to be killed."
"..."
So he really was just your simp, huh?
Seeing the school nurse completely unfazed by her colleague's death, Bokue internally complained.
Chisato continued.
"Mmm~ how should I put this? Actually, I deliberately didn't stop him from finding you. Because I knew with Ornis's strength, he definitely couldn't harm you."
That's true... Bokue thought.
"So you wanted to use my hand to eliminate him?"
"Eh?"
Hearing the young man say such words, the school nurse couldn't help freezing slightly.
"Eliminate... can't really put it that way. If discussing my true intent, I just wanted to use his mouth to tell you things I didn't know how to bring up. Just that Ornis seemed to have completely entered some kind of extreme state. If I'd stopped him then, the only method would've been killing him. But that way, the message I wanted him to deliver couldn't be delivered..."
Message?
Bokue furrowed his brow.
"What message did you want him to deliver?"
"It's just—"
Chisato hesitated.
"Didn't Ornis tell you? About your power and the Ancient Ten Gods' decision..."
"He did."
Bokue answered straightforwardly.
"He mentioned the Ancient Ten Gods' decision ten years ago, plus how you overruled opposition to protect me."
"Yes yes, exactly those things."
Chisato nodded vigorously.
Plus—whether Bokue's imagination or not—he felt like when he mentioned the latter half, the school nurse's eyes seemed to brighten slightly.
What was this? Wanting praise?
What kind of natural airhead?
Bokue mentally facepalmed speechlessly.
"So what else are you hiding from me? Like your reason for overruling opposition to protect me?"
"Eh... reason?"
Chisato folded one arm across her chest for support while her other hand's index finger tapped her lips as she thought seriously.
"Mmm~ actually there wasn't really any purpose. Just that both my sister and I felt you were a very good child—not only brave but also quite just. So we thought the other Ten Gods' ideas were too extreme and shouldn't be adopted."
Brave? Just?
Bokue recalled briefly.
If it was him ten years ago... probably true enough.
After all, back then he'd just become the Keikain family's acting head. His heart always prioritized protecting ordinary people and clansmen, always stepping forward during crises.
Like suppressing evil spirits at Hero Mountain Village back then.
"But I've already taken out your colleague."
Bokue shrugged.
"According to what Ornis said before dying, he said you'd avenge him."
"Eh? No way."
Chisato dismissed it without thinking.
"I won't avenge him."
?
Bokue slowly raised a question mark.
Though he didn't doubt Ornis was a self-deluded simp, regarding the latter's statement that "Once Lady Afureia confirms a threat to the Ancient Ten Gods, she'll directly eliminate him"—Bokue believed that.
At least from common sense, such decisions were undoubtedly correct for any high-positioned group.
But Chisato was now saying she "won't avenge Ornis"?
"Isn't he your colleague?"
"Colleague... is he?"
Hearing this term, Chisato raised her face slightly, seemingly recalling those colleagues who were fellow Ten Gods. Her emerald eyes flashed with traces of indifference.
"Ultimately just survivors of power struggles for authority. Even our ideals and philosophies are completely different. Being called Ten Gods together—so what? Nothing but potential enemies in the next war."
Finishing this sentence, Chisato returned her gaze to the young man before her. The indifference scattered from her eyes instantly filled with threads of warmth.
"Incidentally, I observed you for quite a long time. Long before you knew me—even before that—I'd already known you first. And this principle... you're the one who taught it to me."
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