In the late morning, I arrived at the main entrance of the Schale building early, accompanied by Koyuki.
After a short while, a black luxury car pulled up, and Akane and Yuuka stepped out from the driver and passenger seats, respectively.
"Good morning, sensei." After greeting me in her sweet voice, Yuuka looked at the pink-haired girl in surprise. "Koyuki, why are you so quiet today?"
Normally, whenever Koyuki tried to run away and was about to be caught, even knowing it was futile, she would cry and struggle, giving one last desperate fight.
However, today, she was silent and seemingly lost in thought, only snapping out of it when Yuuka asked, quickly responding indignantly:
"W-What do you mean by that!? You're making it sound like I'm always annoying, Senpai Yuuka!"
Yuuka frowned slightly, meeting Koyuki's gaze with an inquiring look for a few seconds, then pursed her lips:
"Hmph. I hope you're reflecting on yourself. We'll settle this when we get back."
Then, the sharp-tongued but soft-hearted Yuuka turned her gaze back to me, her eyes bright and her tone rising a few degrees:
"Sensei, I really appreciate your patience. This child hasn't caused you too much trouble, has she?"
I shook my head and replied gently, "Not at all."
The key question was whether Koyuki's actions could even be called troublesome from my perspective.
Rewinding to last night:
Although Koyuki had dashed out of the office like a clever rabbit, after the initial shock, I realized there was nothing to worry about.
As Schale's sensei, I had always acted openly and honorably, a model of integrity and perfection, with no secrets to hide.
Even if I did, against a physical lock, Koyuki's ability in electronic code-breaking wouldn't have worked…
Or would it?
When I leisurely followed her into my bedroom, I found the drawer of my bedside table already open, a crooked piece of metal twisted into the keyhole.
What the hell, that actually works?
I looked silently at Koyuki standing nearby. The pink-haired girl's face was flushed red. In one hand she held a box of condoms, in the other a pink pair of handcuffs, her eyes deliberately averted.
This showed that even someone who seemed like an innocent fool on the surface should at least have some basic common sense.
For some students, the possibility of "playing hard to get" had just increased.
"Um… sensei…"
Koyuki's shy voice was barely above a whisper, weakly trying to explain:
"I-I just wanted to open it and take a look. I didn't expect what was inside… And no matter how you look at it… th-this amount is a bit too… and the specifications are… And the handcuffs from last time, so that's what they were for…?"
I couldn't help but look up at the ceiling, thinking this girl was being a little too naive on purpose.
How was I supposed to answer that?
Seeing that I didn't respond, Koyuki tentatively asked, "Um, sensei, do you… normally need a lot…?"
Good question. I also wanted to know what Serina's mindset was, giving me so much at once that I couldn't possibly use it all.
"Sigh…" I exhaled, murmuring, "No matter what, I'm still a normal adult."
If a student were practically flashing themselves in front of me and I did nothing, I should probably see a doctor first.
Koyuki forced a smile. "Y-Yeah… sensei also needs to relax sometimes… Ni ha… Don't worry, I understand. Everyone has one or two little secrets, I'd never tell anyone…"
I nodded lightly, hmm-ing, feeling that even if she did tell someone, it wouldn't have much of a negative effect.
"Anyway…" Koyuki hesitated, "this wouldn't happen to be… part of the duty of a class monitor…?"
The sudden question left me momentarily stunned. I wondered what kind of strange logic she used to connect those two things.
Given the current atmosphere, if I pretended to admit it, I might actually be able to trick Koyuki.
Thankfully, I had some principles.
"What are you thinking? Of course that's something you do with someone you like," I said, a little harshly.
Upon hearing that, Koyuki seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but also looked slightly downcast, mumbling, "Y-Yeah, that's true…"
"Of course," I added, "if you're interested, I can join anytime."
Koyuki suddenly looked up, staring at me for a moment, her face flushing red again:
"Gah—!? Is this… a confession…?"
"Well, anyway, I don't dislike you, Koyuki," I paused, "But come to think of it, how do you see me?"
"I… I…"
She stammered on the spot for a long while, unable to give an answer, clearly still emotionally stirred and mentally confused.
Even though she was usually mischievous to the point of being exasperating, seeing this cute girl's first stirrings of affection still made my heart race.
However, I wouldn't take advantage of the situation. Seeing that Koyuki wasn't ready to sort out her thoughts, I let her return to her room to rest.
Koyuki had woken up late this morning, probably tossing and turning for a long time before falling asleep; now she was unusually quiet, clearly still troubled by last night's events.
Ultimately, it was my fault for causing Koyuki to develop feelings.
"That's good," Yuuka said with a satisfied smile. "Sensei, since there's still a lot to do at school, we'll head back for today."
"Yeah, be careful on the way."
Yuuka nodded with a smile, then called out, "Koyuki, say goodbye to sensei."
Just like a caring older mother.
"Goodbye, sensei."
Koyuki obediently followed her senpai's instructions, her polite tone tinged with a trace of unfamiliarity.
I figured it was due to shyness.
Akane, standing behind her, pushed up her glasses and also said goodbye.
Then, the three of them from the millennium era got into the car and headed back.
Watching the vehicle disappear down the road, I finally turned back toward Schale.
In the upward elevator, I took out the card that had started heating up the moment Koyuki said goodbye.
——
Conversion Authority: [New Number]
Description: Can transmit [New Number].pdf to electronic devices
Source: Kurosaki Koyuki successfully conquered
——
Another millennium-era exclusive ability…
More than that, it was the timing of Koyuki reaching the conquest judgment that surprised me.
Could it be that after noticing Yuuka's attitude toward me, her mindset changed?
I set that doubt aside for now. After lunch with the newly obtained cryptography textbook, as if it were a divine manual, my phone also received a new message.
Looking out the window, the Crusader Tank had already stopped under Schale.
It was time to fulfill the promise with Hifumi.
Grabbing the package I had long prepared, I quickly went downstairs.