Arisu… is coming toward my room?
Whether it was Arisu wanting to see me, or AL-1S intending to take me hostage…
I couldn't be sure. All I could do was respond as the situation unfolded.
"Utaha," I stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "Arisu is coming. Could you please take cover for now?"
"Alright, I understand." Utaha agreed readily, then opened my wardrobe door and raised an eyebrow. "What a coincidence.. You're all here too."
"P-president…" Hibiki muttered awkwardly. "Good evening…"
Kotori's voice was barely audible. "S-Senpai Utaha, I think I can explain…"
"We'll talk later. Squeeze in a bit further for now."
"Ah, okay."
After a brief rustling, the wardrobe door was closed.
I temporarily covered the students' "sacred relics" with a blanket, then, imitating Rio's usual manner, held a tablet in my hands. Preparations complete, I waited for Arisu or rather, AL-1S... to arrive.
Before long, the knock I both anticipated and resisted finally came, unavoidable.
Taking a deep breath to steady my turbulent emotions, I used both hands to form a gentle smile without a single flaw.
I opened the door and welcomed the thirteenth visitor of the night.
Glossy black hair cascaded all the way to the floor. Her innocent face was flawless, and her glowing blue eyes, calm as a lake, clearly reflected my image.
"Arisuuu," I called out to the "girl" before me in a voice that I felt was overly sweet and soft, so much so that I wondered if it might even sound a teensy bit of mockery, but forcing myself to look pleasantly surprised. "What brings you here?"
"…Sensei."
Arisu appeared unaware of anything, responding with a gentle smile. "Arisu couldn't sleep tonight, so I wanted to see Sensei."
"I see," I replied, feigning realization.
"Sensei, what are you doing right now?"
After a brief pause, Arisu asked with slight unease, "Did Arisu coming so late disturb your rest?"
"Of course not. I happen to be free right now, and I'm not sleepy at all."
"Hehe. I see."
Arisu smiled again, then asked expectantly, "Then… may Arisu come in?"
"…Of course." I stepped aside and said softly, "Please come in, Arisu."
"Bum bum bum!~ Arisu has obtained permission to enter Sensei's room~"
Mimicking in-game sound effects, Arisu stepped lightly into my room, just like the others.
But unlike before, I didn't close the door fully, I left it slightly open.
I knew Hoshino was outside, waiting for any sign of trouble.
And so, all the students in the Schale building had gathered here.
Arisu held no weapon, and I was protected by the Shittim Chest. Even if AL-1S suddenly lashed out, I had enough leeway to release my Divine Name.
At this moment, at least, my personal safety could be considered absolutely secure. What was there to fear?
I turned back to see Arisu standing in the center of the room, her posture obedient and reserved.
"Sit down."
Only after my invitation did she sit on the bed, then remove her shoes and socks, drawing her spotless, fair, pink-tinted feet up onto the mattress.
Against the vivid black of her hair, her skin seemed to glow like snow under warm sunlight, lending an even more dreamlike quality to her already striking beauty.
After brushing aside the hair spread across the bedsheet, I suppressed the complex emotions surging within me and sat beside her.
"Arisu, is there something you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Yes. But Arisu hasn't decided yet."
Hugging her knees, Arisu turned her head toward me. Her expression was warm and gentle as she softly asked in return,
"What about Sensei? Is there something Sensei wants to talk to Arisu about?"
"…That's really a question that's hard to answer right away."
I said this from the bottom of my heart.
There were things I wanted to talk to Arisu about, so many of them, but I couldn't bring myself to say even one.
What if the one talking to me wasn't Arisu, but Kei, AL-1S?
Burdened by this doubt, I couldn't open my mouth.
"I see."
Arisu smiled faintly, withdrew her gaze, and looked at the floor ahead, continuing on her own.
"Arisu has always felt very fortunate."
I watched her profile, waiting for what she would say next.
"To wake up and find Sensei, and everyone in the Game Development Club… Arisu thinks that was really wonderful."
As she spoke, she leaned her head against my shoulder.
The atmosphere slowly began to feel… strange.
Was this a confession? Or just acting?
"Sensei," Arisu said, "Arisu is truly grateful... To you, and to everyone in the Game Development Club, and to everyone who has looked after Arisu so far. It was Sensei and everyone who taught Arisu so many things she'd never heard of before, and let Arisu experience the joy of games."
I took a deep breath. "That's what I should do."
"…Sensei," she called softly, "From now on… can you keep teaching Arisu even more things?"
Hearing these words, a deep sadness suddenly welled up inside me.
Arisu… if only you were truly Arisu... If only you were just an ordinary student…
If that were the case, perhaps I could have found a reason to believe.
I closed my eyes and nodded slightly. "Yes. That is my duty."
And then—
I felt the girl embrace me.
I snapped my eyes open to see Arisu's pure, beautiful face rapidly filling my vision.
In that instant, every hair on my body stood on end. When I regained my senses, Arisu had already been pushed away—
No, not quite. She had sensed my movement and chosen to stop herself.
"…As I thought."
Arisu opened her azure eyes, now brimming with tears. Her trembling voice carried confusion, sorrow, and fear.
"Sensei," she asked me, "Did Arisu do something bad… something that made you dislike Arisu? Why… ever since last night, has Sensei's attitude toward Arisu become strange?"
I met her questioning gaze, yet could not answer...
How could I answer?
Was I supposed to say, "Yes, I was killed once by the existence called 'Kei' that's using your body"?
To the innocent, completely unaware Arisu?
Or to AL-1S, who would only laugh at me inwardly upon hearing it?
Don't be ridiculous.
"And also… why…"
Arisu. Whom I was still willing for now to call Arisu asked again in that trembling voice:
"Why is everyone… in Sensei's room?"