"Shichen-nii!"
While Shichen was halfway through making breakfast, Kotori Itsuka suddenly came into the kitchen.
"What's wrong—are you hungry?"
"It's the same kind of hunger… No, that's not why I'm here!"
"Then what did you want to say?" Shichen stopped what he was doing and looked at her.
"Hmph‑hmph—Shichen-nii, you've really impressed me, you know." Kotori put her hands on her hips and nodded with satisfaction.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Hmph‑hmph—who'd have thought you'd already kissed Tohka-nee last night? Moving pretty fast, aren't you?"
"Tohka told you?" Shichen asked back.
"Oh? Feeling guilty?"
"What's there to feel guilty about?" Shichen replied openly. "You girls told me to do this; I'm just carrying out the mission."
"Even so… Shichen-nii, are you turning into a playboy?"
"Of course not—I'm teasing you. I really do like Tohka and I'm not the type to dump someone for the next new thing."
"What about the other Spirits, then?"
"Obviously, I'll take all of them!"
"Shichen-nii, you're so shameless!"
"What are you talking about? It's all for world peace, alright?"
"You don't like me being this way?"
"It's not that… I just didn't expect your resolve to be so high." Kotori pursed her lips.
"I can't keep letting you coach me on romance forever, can I?"
"Looks like the special training's over before it even started." Kotori puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.
"And you're unhappy about that?"
"Of course—my favourite student is graduating early."
"Shoo—" Shichen flicked her forehead lightly.
"Okay, stop bothering me; I have to finish breakfast… Where's Tohka?"
"She's still brushing her teeth. She seems fascinated by it."
"Well, she doesn't know much of anything yet."
"Hmph—Tohka-nee is so pure. Don't you feel the slightest shame, Shichen-nii?"
"Of course I feel ashamed. I've just buried it deep inside my heart."
After breakfast, Shichen and Kotori headed to school, leaving Yatogami Tohka alone at home.
He'd explained things to her yesterday, so she didn't need comforting. She happily stayed by herself watching TV.
He'd taught her how to use the TV and the remote, so there was no worry she wouldn't understand.
What intrigued Shichen was that Tohka could read the characters on the remote, even though he'd had to teach her how to write her own name the day before. By rights, she shouldn't be literate.
Shichen decided not to overthink it; being able to read was a plus—fewer hassles.
Arranging Tohka's transfer into Raizen High had been left to Kannazuki Kyohei and the others; they'd handle notifying the people upstairs.
They'd made Shichen a teacher without even needing a résumé, so adding one more transfer student should be easy.
Considering they controlled all intel on Spirits, their influence was obvious—getting a few people into a school was nothing.
Shichen never doubted the folks above; he knew exactly who "he" was.
The whole morning was uneventful. Shichen stayed in the office half the day, bored and playing on his phone.
Being a P.E. teacher was great—basically nothing to do. A job like this wasn't something just anyone could land.
After lunch, Shichen and Reine Murasame went to the physics prep room so he could play a bit of gal‑game.
Some theories in those games were still worth learning.
Even if gal‑game plots were unrealistic, he was in a dimensional world now—some of it might actually come in handy.
His class was 2‑5 in the second period of the afternoon—no familiar faces, and it was the first period for them, so no prep needed. With plenty of time left in the lunch break, not gaming would just be letting himself down.
Blame it on the P.E. teacher position being too idle.
"Haah—" As soon as the break ended, Shichen had just finished one heroine's route and was getting drowsy.
"Shichen-kun, didn't you sleep well last night?" Reine, who had been quietly watching from the side, asked.
"Mm… And Kotori woke me up at the crack of dawn. I don't know how you pull off all‑nighters."
"Maybe I'm used to it… Why did Kotori wake you so early?"
"Haha—mainly because we stayed up too late and overslept in the morning."
"I see—must've been Tohka‑chan keeping you busy."
"It wasn't too bad—just didn't expect her to come to my room in the middle of the night."
"Hmm?"
Reine froze for a moment, staring quietly at him. "Tohka went on a night raid?"
"A night raid… Of course not. She was just uneasy and wanted to talk."
"Really? And she stayed all night?"
"Cough, yes, that's what happened…"
"So the two of you… didn't do anything?"
"Nothing at all…" Shichen lied.
"That's not like you—you'd never sit still and do nothing."
"Oh? Reine, you seem to know me well." He blinked at her.
Expressionless, Reine replied, "Kotori told me about your past."
"I see… She didn't exaggerate, did she?"
"What exactly do you mean?"
"Kotori was only eleven five years ago—just a kid. There's no way I'd do anything improper to her. Don't let her fool you."
"Aren't you a lolicon?"
"Who says so?" Shichen straightened, looking serious.
"Hmm? Aren't you?" Reine tilted her head innocently.
"Absolutely not!" Shichen declared righteously. "I'm not that kind of person."
"But isn't it true that lolicons never admit to being lolicons?"
"And who said that?"
"Who knows…" Reine dodged.
"Forget it, Reine. Just don't believe anyone who slanders me. Unless it comes from my own mouth, it's unreliable."
"All right, I understand…"
"Cough—well then, I'll get back to my game."
"Mm… So what did you and Tohka actually do?"
"Really, nothing…"
Riiing—
Just then, his phone rang. Like a lifeline, Shichen hurried to answer.
"Hello, what is it?"
"Is this Shichen-san?"
"Tama-chan? What's wrong?"
"Shichen-san, why are you calling me Tama-chan too?"
"Isn't it friendlier? If you mind, I can call you Okamine-san instead."
"It's not that I mind, but—"
"Then Tama-chan it is."
"Um… no, that's not why I called. There's a girl here looking for you. She says she knows you. Could you come over?"
"A girl? What does she look like?"
"She's very pretty, and her long purple hair is gorgeous."
"I know who that is—definitely an acquaintance. I'll be right there."
"Okay, we're outside Class 2‑4… Tobiichi, what are you doing—"
Click.
The call ended abruptly.
"?" Shichen frowned at his screen. Tobiichi Origami had met Yatogami Tohka? Bad feeling incoming.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me Tohka came to find you." Reine asked.
"It's her," Shichen laughed. "Guess she couldn't stand being cooped up at home."
"You don't seem surprised."
"I kind of expected it… I'll go take a look. Want to come, Reine?"
"I'll pass."
"All right—see you later."
"Mm…" Reine watched his back as he left.
"Oh, right." At the doorway, Shichen turned back, smiling gently. "If you have time, why not come over to my and Kotori's place? You can try my cooking."
"…I will." Reine nodded softly.
"Great. I'll be waiting."
Shichen left the room, leaving Reine alone.
The physics prep room wasn't far from the classroom block; in no time, he arrived—only to see Tohka and Tobiichi Origami already facing off at the door of Class 2‑4.
Tamae Okamine stood helplessly nearby. Students crowded the doorway and windows, each more excited than the last, as though watching a live drama.
Shichen had assumed Tobiichi had discovered Tohka's Spirit identity, but after hearing their exchange, he realized why he'd felt uneasy.
"What's your relationship with Shichen-nii?" Tobiichi asked expressionlessly.
"Who are you?" Tohka frowned. For some reason, this girl felt like an enemy.
"I'm Tobiichi Origami—the one who will serve Shichen-nii for the rest of my life," Origami replied calmly.
"Tobiichi… serve? What does that mean?"
"It means I'll satisfy anything Shichen-nii desires—including H‑things."
"Ooh—" The onlookers buzzed with excitement.
"What did you say?" Danger flashed in Tohka's eyes.