Inside the Seminar office.
Ushio Noa was conducting an observation.
The subject of observation: Seminar's accountant, Hayase Yuuka.
Yuuka was immersed in her busy work, writing with her left hand and using a calculator with her right. Just like usual, she was processing difficult and abstruse mathematical problems that would stump ordinary people at high speed.
No wonder she had such a cute nickname as the "Cold-Blooded Arithmetician."
However, with Noa's powers of observation and her understanding of Yuuka, it was enough to spot the abnormality in her behavior at this moment.
Yuuka's phone was on the desk within arm's reach, its screen constantly lit.
In the past ten minutes, her gaze had involuntarily drifted towards her phone every thirty seconds.
For the serious and self-disciplined Yuuka, this was already at the level of a major anomaly. And this situation had started a few days ago.
The day her duty at Schale ended.
Although Yuuka tried her best to pretend nothing had happened, it was easy to see that she had been preoccupied ever since.
Regarding this, Noa had a small question.
What had turned Yuuka into this? Was it Sensei?
As Yuuka's good friend, Noa believed it was her duty to find out the reason for Yuuka's change.
So, she had hidden a trivial, unimportant matter from Yuuka that Yuuka didn't need to know.
At this moment, Yuuka could no longer ignore Noa's gaze and complained:
"No-a~ stop looking at me with that smile, it's affecting my work!"
Faced with this protest, Noa's smile widened:
"Alright, alright, I know. By the way, good luck at the meeting with President Rio tomorrow~"
"Honestly, why aren't you coming with us this time, Noa?"
"Well~"
Noa placed her index finger in front of her cherry lips. "Because I have more important work to attend to~"
The next day.
After the president and Yuuka left, Noa also began her more important work.
"Welcome to Millennium Science School."
Ushio Noa looked up at the tall, handsome young man in front of her, revealing a polite smile and extending her right hand gracefully.
"Nice to meet you, Sensei. I am the secretary of the Seminar, Ushio Noa."
This level of looks, a mixed temperament of maturity and innocence, and a naturally gentle and comfortable aura... Noa can sort of understand why Yuuka was on the verge of falling so quickly.
To my dear Yuuka.
Sensei is in a league too high for you to handle. Let your good friend vet him for you first!
—
On this day, as scheduled, I came to Millennium to have a friendly exchange with the Seminar.
And to see Yuuka on the side.
The one who greeted me was a student I had never seen before:
Snow-white hair, thick and smooth, reached down to her calves, forming a sharp contrast with her gray-black pantyhose.
A gentle face, a fine figure, and a smiling light in her violet eyes.
"Nice to meet you, Sensei. I am the secretary of the Seminar, Ushio Noa. Please take care of me... in all aspects."
I recognized the name. When I was first handling official business, Yuuka, who was teaching me but wasn't good with paperwork, had once asked her for help on MomoTalk.
"Hello, Noa. I am the Sensei from Schale."
Shaking the hand Noa extended was like touching a piece of warm, smooth jade.
I wanted to ask her about Yuuka, but it would be too hasty to ask such a question right off the bat, making it seem like I had ulterior motives.
The main purpose of my trip was to make initial contact with the Millennium student council, so that I could better recruit suitable and excellent Millennium students for duty at Schale in the future.
Seeing Yuuka was just my personal wish, a secondary objective.
I would not let it interfere with official business.
"Noa, is Yuuka not here today?"
So I endured for a full ten minutes, until we reached the Seminar office and I looked around to find it empty before I asked.
"Oh my, what a coincidence. Yuuka went to an important meeting today."
Noa said with a smile, "Normally, I would have gone with her, but because I had a prior appointment with Sensei, I asked President Rio for leave."
I was a little disappointed.
Perhaps Yuuka knew I was coming and deliberately avoided me, or perhaps it was really urgent official business, but my expectations were dashed.
How should I put it? I don't think I've fallen in love with Yuuka.
But for the first girl who showed me kindness and taught me many things after I came to this strange world, I do indeed hold an important and unique place for Yuuka in my heart.
There is gratitude, admiration, and goodwill.
If I had to summarize it, perhaps I could say this:
Hayase Yuuka could be a mother to me!
And at this very moment, Noa was secretly observing my reaction.
As a secretary, when faced with an interesting event, she would not personally intervene, only silently observe and record.
It's basically confirmed that Sensei cares a great deal about Yuuka and does not harbor any malicious intent to play with her pure maiden heart. That's enough.
However, it seems there's some kind of misunderstanding at present? That makes it even more interesting.
The story that will unfold from now on is truly something to look forward to.
Thinking this, Noa, who still considered herself merely an observer, felt her already good mood become even more cheerful and switched to the next topic:
"Well then, Sensei, let me first introduce you to..."
However, she had only just begun speaking.
A strange laugh came from the hallway outside the door, growing closer and interrupting Noa.
Noa's proper smile faded slightly.
"Nyehehehe~" A cute pink-haired girl with twin tails pushed open the office door with a wild laugh. "No one's here, the Seminar is all mine, Kurosaki Koyuki's! Time to do something fun... eh?"
Upon seeing Noa and a strange adult standing in the office, Kurosaki Koyuki's eyes widened and she stammered:
"Eh? N-Noa-senpai? What are you doing here? Didn't you go to the meeting today?"
Noa's tone was as gentle as ever. "I had other work to do, so I stayed behind."
"Oh, I see~"
Kurosaki Koyuki smiled fawningly, scratching the back of her head, and naturally turned to leave.
"Nyehehe, then I won't disturb you. I'll be going now."
"Wait a moment, Koyuki."
Noa, who was already behind Koyuki, reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"If I remember correctly, you're supposed to be in detention right now, aren't you? To finish your piled-up work? Did you crack the password and escape again?"
"I'll finish it on time! I'll definitely finish it within three days!"
"Is that so? But I remember, in the self-reflection letter you submitted a few days ago, in the thirty-second paragraph, you promised to finish it by tomorrow."
"Eek——!"
Koyuki's expression was terrified, cold sweat dripping down her face. Driven by her survival instinct, she rapidly thought of a way out!
It has come to this. This is the only way.
"Noa-senpai."
Koyuki looked pitiful, lowering her head with tears in her eyes. "I was wrong, I'll finish it. Please don't put me in detention, it's so boring."
An idea sparked in Noa's mind. "Alright. Sensei, excuse me, would it be alright to add one more person to our exchange?"
Kurosaki Koyuki tilted her head and made a confused sound:
"Eh?"
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