[Trinity - Remedial Knights Club]
After being wounded by temptation, the kindhearted Mari, an angel in both form and spirit, couldn't rest easy despite her busy work schedule. She requested leave from the Sisterhood and insisted on accompanying me to this place, which effectively serves as Trinity's infirmary.
"Is Sensei really going to be okay?"
After finishing a prayer, Mari asked the nurse with clear worry in her voice.
The nurse patted her generous chest and assured her confidently, "He's fine! It's just a minor muscle sprain. Besides, I've already treated him. He'll make a full recovery after two days of rest!"
Sitting on the hospital bed, I couldn't help the twitch at the corner of my mouth. I had no idea how this rather flamboyantly dressed nurse could say something like that with a straight face.
She introduced herself as Asagao Hanae. Her uniform was adorned with decorations shaped like bandages and pills, her twin ponytails were a bluish-violet hue, and she wore a cheerful smile. Full of confidence, she applied what she claimed was a secret massage technique that could effectively relieve pain.
However, by the time she admitted that she had only read about the method in a book and that this was her first time trying it out, it was already too late for me.
I think my scream at that moment must have echoed throughout the entire building.
Otherwise, there would be no way to explain how this gentle and composed young nurse, who clearly looked far more reliable than Hanae, managed to arrive in the infirmary just seconds after the incident to treat me.
"Sensei, if I hurt you, please tell me, alright?"
She had shoulder-length pink hair and eyes of the same hue. A red ribbon tied her hair into a side ponytail on the left, and a soft feather extended from her bangs. Her outfit was mostly pink and white, her voice gentle and tender, her manner kind and sweet. Just from her appearance, anyone would assume she was a good girl.
If not for my particular ability to sense such things, I probably would have believed that too.
Sumi Serina. A nurse who looked harmless and behaved normally in every way. She said she had rushed over after hearing my scream and simply took over from her inventive junior, treating me using standard medical procedures. That was all.
Yet that in itself was the biggest anomaly.
The instant our eyes met, a familiar heat stirred in my chest. After ruling out every impossible explanation, I immediately understood what had happened.
I was certain I hadn't remembered wrong... even Wakamo, who declared her love for me at first sight, only fell completely after our second meeting when we got a little closer.
So how did Serina manage to beat Wakamo's record?!
And all she did was look at me, freeze for a brief moment, then return to her calm expression as if nothing had happened.
To be honest, that level of composure was a little terrifying.
Don't tell me she's actually the quiet-but-scary type…
While I was thinking that, Serina had already finished applying the medicine. She wrapped the bandages neatly around my neck, secured a brace, and nodded in satisfaction.
Touching the brace, I asked, "Isn't this a bit much? My injury isn't that bad, is it?"
It was just a muscle sprain, not a broken neck.
"Ah! Sensei, that's not the right attitude!" Hanae scolded from the side. "You must take your body seriously!"
Oh, sure. Says the same girl who used my body for an experiment!
"Yes, this is to prevent secondary soft-tissue injury. Since it's such an important area, please endure it for the sake of your health."
Serina's voice was as soft as silk. "Sensei, please keep wearing the neck brace for the next few days and try not to move too much. You'll also need to continue applying the medicine. If possible, I'd like you to come to the Knights Hospitaller every day for follow-up checks."
So the real motive finally appears!
I tried to make an excuse. "Uh… work at Schale is pretty busy…"
Serina nodded naturally. "I understand. Then, may I ask when you're usually free? I'll make time to visit you instead."
Something's not right. Definitely not right.
My internal alarm blared louder. "That would be too much trouble for you. How about you just prescribe the medicine? I can handle it myself."
"Hmm, that works too. But please remember to apply it every day and replace the gauze with a clean one."
As she said this, she pulled out her phone. "So, let's exchange contact info. That way, I can remind you each day... just in case you get too busy and forget."
…I had every reason to suspect that this was her true objective, even though on the surface everything she said and did was entirely professional.
Still, maybe it wasn't impossible. Perhaps when our eyes met, some girl's heart from far far away had begun to yearn for me and realized her feelings in that very instant.
If I had to guess, maybe it was Yuuka.
Either way, with mixed emotions, I exchanged contact information with Serina, whose expression gave away nothing, and the ever-curious Hanae.
Honestly, sometimes when I'm around these girls, I get the strange feeling that I'm the prey instead of the hunter.
Rationally, that's fine. Every connection grants me new powers without me lifting a finger. But emotionally, as someone who prides himself on being the one to make the first move, it feels a little awkward.
Still… it's probably a good thing overall. Building a mutual connection with new students is never a bad outcome.
Mari, on the other hand, still had her duties with the Sisterhood. She'd already been away from her post for nearly an hour just to look after me. Now that she saw I was fine, she had to hurry back to the Grand Cathedral.
Watching her lift her skirt slightly and jog away, I couldn't help but feel a little guilty about all the debts of gratitude I kept accumulating. Then again, relationships are built on mutual favors and obligations.
I want to grow closer to Sister Mari.
So I'll have to make sure to properly thank that sweet, gentle girl later.
After leaving the Knights Hospitaller' station, I found a quiet corner and checked the new contents of my card.
——
Ability Conversion: Listener of the Wind
Description: The bearer can consume Focus to greatly enhance their hearing.
Source: Sumi Serina – Successfully Affection Complete
——
…So I really did just create the fastest affection-clear record in Kivotos history.
To capture someone's heart the instant our eyes met… I doubt that'll ever happen again.
Not sure whether to feel proud or concerned, I started making my way back to Schale.
By the time the sky had turned golden, I finally returned, only to find a girl crouched alone in the corner, looking desolate.
When I got closer, I saw it was exactly who I thought it'd be.
"…Aru?"
"Um, Sensei," Aru forced a sheepish smile, her fair face tinted by the evening glow as she fidgeted awkwardly. "I… I forgot something…"
I looked at her, remembering how confident she'd been that morning, boasting that she'd make me take notice of her. I didn't know what to say.
But when I saw the faint shimmer in her eyes, all my confusion turned into a sigh.
"Come in."