Utaha had once offered a hypothesis: Arisu was an android born for battle.
"Why are all the blacksmith's of the Smithy hiding in the wardrobe?"
Arisu opened the wardrobe door. The great figures of the Engineering Department stood there, at a loss for words.
After fighting Arisu, Neru had concluded that as long as her missing combat experience was supplemented, Arisu would be more than capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with her.
"Why are the maid seniors all on the balcony?"
Arisu pulled open the curtain between the balcony and the bedroom. The C&C maid agents all fell silent.
Wakamo, Saori, and Hoshino had been instructed by me to monitor Arisu around the clock.
"And three seniors from other schools… two in the bathroom, one in the hallway."
"Ah, how sharp of you. But hey, this Oji-san was just curious about why little Arisu came to see Sensei in the middle of the night without sleeping, that's all."
Hoshino spoke lazily as she pushed the door open, entering alongside the other two who emerged from the bathroom.
Only now did I realize a lapse on my part.
I may have underestimated Arisu's perceptive abilities.
Finally, Arisu looked toward the bed, her gaze seeming to pierce through the bed frame itself, as though she could see the figures hiding underneath.
"And also…"
Before Arisu could finish speaking, the girls from the Game Development Club crawled out on their own initiative.
Facing their companion, whose eyes shimmered with tears and whose gaze carried a questioning tone, Midori lowered her head in shame. "Arisu-chan…"
Yuzu was trembling even more violently, her mouth opening as if to speak, yet no words came out.
"Arisu, you've misunderstood!"
Only Momoi still had the courage to explain at this moment, even sounding rather confident about it.
"We were all just here to have secret rendezvous with Sensei!"
The moment her words fell, the room went completely silent. The heavy atmosphere instantly transformed into a strange, awkward tension.
I had to admit that Momoi always managed to bring me unexpected surprises, or shocks, just like right now.
Arisu, who had been on the verge of tears, blinked in confusion.
"Secret rendezvous… according to the meaning registered in the Kivotos Dictionary, it refers to a private date conducted between members of the opposite sex who share an ambiguous relationship, usually involving one, and only one, couple."
As she spoke, she looked around the room, clearly questioning the number of people present.
"That's right," Momoi said, patting her chest proudly. "We all came one by one! Probably!"
…So why does she look so smug about it?
I think Momoi has some issues.
Hearing this, Arisu turned to the others in the Game Development Club.
"Midori and Yuzu too?"
The two who were addressed exchanged a glance and nodded repeatedly.
Arisu pondered for a moment. "Then the little maid senior and the other maid seniors as well?"
"That's right!" Asuna replied immediately, smiling brightly. "We all came to serve our master!"
"Hehe∼ that's exactly right."
"I'm about the same."
Akane and Karin followed right after.
However, the head of C&C seemed to hold a different opinion.
"Hah!?"
Neru's face alternated between red and pale. Under the dual pressure of Arisu's gaze and Akane's light cough, she finally clenched her teeth and, with tears in her eyes, admitted it.
"T-That's right."
Light appeared in Arisu's eyes as she continued asking, "Then the legendary blacksmiths as well?"
"Arisu," Utaha, who was also a department head, answered calmly, fully embodying the demeanor of a master craftsman. "Obviously, we came to discuss maintenance matters regarding the Sword of Light with Sensei."
Kotori hurriedly spoke up. "Yes! I was just explaining electromagnetic railgun theory to Sensei a moment ago!"
Hibiki replied weakly, "M-Me too."
This was precisely where the Engineering Department's advantage lay.
Looking to the side, Neru's face turned completely dark upon seeing the Engineering Department resort to such despicable tactics.
In the end, Arisu looked toward the doorway. After receiving my subtle signal, Wakamo and Saori both nodded in acknowledgment.
As for Hoshino, she had already prepared her excuse from the start, silently observing Arisu with a meaningful smile.
After receiving everyone's answers, Arisu finally let out a sigh of relief and revealed a reassured expression.
"So that means… the reason Sensei has been distant toward Arisu is because Sensei has formed special relationships with everyone except Arisu…"
As soon as she said this, the girls' expressions once again varied.
Even Arisu herself adopted a pitiful look as she gazed at me.
"Sensei, why is Arisu the only one who can't? Is the current affection level still not enough? Please tell Arisu how much is missing. Arisu also wants to participate in group activities."
If only I were the one being captured.
Sighing inwardly, I patted the android girl's head and said calmly,
"These things can't be rushed."
"Oh…"
Arisu nodded dejectedly.
"For tonight, go back and rest first. All of you as well."
"Yes, I understand," Arisu perked up and bid me farewell sweetly. "In order to unlock CGs with Sensei sooner, Arisu will do her best. Good night, Sensei!"
With that, Arisu left the room. Hoshino gave me a look and followed after her.
The conflict I had expected to occur was resolved so easily. Should I thank Momoi's blunt honesty for that?
No, there was clearly a more important factor at play.
Afterward, the other students greeted me and returned to their rooms with their respective sacred relics.
After this farce, whether due to jealousy, embarrassment at having been seen in an awkward state, sympathy for Arisu, or dissatisfaction with my attitude, many students did not look at me kindly, especially Momoi and Neru.
Even Midori and Karin temporarily took back the gifts they had given me.
In the blink of an eye, the spacious bedroom was left with only me.
And Arona.
"Sensei, Arisu has already returned to her room."
"Mm, thank you."
"And also…" Arona added, "Hoshino has come over."
"Mm, I know."
I intended to leave the door open in advance, but instead bumped straight into Hoshino, who had just reached the door and was about to knock.
She waved her hand, still wearing her faint smile. "Uheee∼ Did you guess this Oji-san would come? We really are on the same wavelength∼"
I neither confirmed nor denied it, merely shrugging as I stepped back.
Hoshino closed the door and entered the room.
"Mmm. That Arisu... She's pretty impressive, huh. No wonder you asked this Oji-san for help…"
At that point, Hoshino paused.
"So." The girl's heterochromatic eyes fixed on me. "Just what did she do to you, that made someone who should be so gentle toward everyone come to fear a child who longs so desperately to believe in you, yet is so afraid of being hated by you?"