I did take Hina's warning to heart, but I did not pay it too much mind.
On the contrary, I felt that Hina, being in such a critical position and troubled daily by an overwhelming amount of official duties, might be worrying too much, and actually needed me to offer a bit of guidance instead.
Otherwise, how could I get her to agree to meet me during ordinary times, rather than dragging her exhausted body out in the dead of night just to see me?
Hina said it was for work, but in my view, that was more of an excuse.
Otherwise, why would she…
A thought stirred in my mind, and a plan took shape.
"Hmm… you are right…"
I put on a thoughtful expression and first showed my agreement.
Hina's expression softened. "It is good that you understand."
"Then," I changed the topic, "how about not meeting directly, and just chatting online instead?"
This was undoubtedly a risky move.
In reality, because Hina was usually far too busy, she barely even used Momotalk, and the number of times I had exchanged messages with her could be counted on one hand.
I figured that her feelings toward me at present, while certainly influenced by the goodwill born from being drawn to my charm, were probably still more admiration than anything else.
In the heart of the Prefect Team leader, between the anticipation of meeting me privately and the concern for my safety, which one would gain the upper hand?
Even I could not say.
But either way, I could legitimately increase my opportunities to communicate with Hina, which was a complete win win.
Just as I expected, after hearing this proposal, Hina was visibly shaken, her emotions surging almost to the naked eye, clearly falling into an intense internal struggle.
Then, the girl who usually gave outsiders an extremely tough impression, unexpectedly showed a bashful side in front of me.
"Well… that is… not wrong, but…"
At that point, Hina, her cheeks faintly flushed, looked at me with eyes tinged with embarrassment and grievance, instantly leaving me refreshed and invigorated.
How could Hina be this cute!?
Her appearance alone would not be enough. Kivotos had never lacked beautiful female students. What mattered were the other parts.
Kind hearted, powerful, with a strong sense of responsibility, she was like a lotus untouched by mud in Gehenna, a place defined by chaos. She had always devoted herself wholeheartedly to maintaining order, sacrificing almost all of her leisure and entertainment time, which already filled me with admiration.
And yet, someone like her, when facing the person she loved, would also act like an ordinary girl in love, so inexperienced and shy?
At that moment, a long buried seed broke through the soil, and under greedy nourishment, began to grow at an astonishing speed.
I gazed at the girl before me, overwhelmingly eager to completely capture her heart.
However, in this regard, I had always been extremely patient, and I knew full well that the time had not yet come.
Given the purity Hina displayed, using aggressive methods might indeed bring quick results, but I still could not bring myself to do it.
So, under the dual restraint of emotion and reason, I successfully suppressed this deep longing.
The girl who had just instinctively avoided my burning gaze cautiously glanced back again.
"But there are still tasks that can only be completed face to face, right?"
I smiled and helped her find an excuse.
Hina's slender body trembled as she eyed me suspiciously. "…Somehow, it feels like you are teasing me, Sensei."
"How could I be! My sincerity toward you does not contain even the slightest falsehood!"
That said, the teasing part could hardly be called "sincerity."
"…It still feels very suspicious, but since you say so."
Hina paused, her words firm and decisive. "And it is true. Some tasks really do require meeting in person. That means this counts too… in the end, it is just meeting for work! It is not a crime!"
Even so, why did it feel like Hina was vaguely guilty, desperately searching for justifications for herself?
Putting myself in her shoes, if it were me, I would probably argue even more confidently.
The dignified Gehenna Prefect Team leader privately meeting the person she likes late at night, what is wrong with that? Is it not for the sake of recovering her energy more efficiently, so she can better maintain order in Gehenna?
In the end, it is still part of her work. No one could find any fault with it.
I felt that Hina simply lacked the confidence that I had. But precisely because of that, she needed me to take the initiative and give her care and affection.
So I put on a worried look and continued. "But if people see the two of us alone late at night… could it be that being subjected to all kinds of imagination would trouble you?"
However, Hina looked puzzled. "Is that so? I do not really understand what you mean. It is just two people meeting late at night. Just that alone, what kinds of imagination could there be… all… all kinds…"
Her brows knitted tightly as she muttered, "Eh… so then… um… huh!?"
Suddenly, a blush crept over Hina's fair skin. Her pupils constricted, her mouth fell open, and it seemed that after thinking it through, she had finally reached some conclusion.
This was the first time I had ever seen such a shocked and bashful expression on her face.
"Y-you," Hina could not even speak properly now, stammering, "What are you saying!? I… me and Sensei…!? I I could never do something that absurd!"
That's fine. If you don't, I will.
"I will make all those people who misunderstand us…" But just as Hina's anger rose, it quickly faded. "But those gossip loving people seem to be everywhere. There is nothing we can do."
I nodded in deep agreement and sighed. "Yes, that is why there are so many unfounded rumors about me."
I felt it necessary to maintain my heroic and imposing image in Hina's heart.
"Oh, is that so? I did not pay attention to it. When you put it that way, Sensei also has it tough."
Huh? Hina had not received any related information? With the Prefect Team's intelligence network being so thorough, if rumors about me, as the head of Schale and a partner, had not reached Hina's desk, it could only be the work of one person.
It seemed that although Ako constantly rejected any form of assistance verbally, her actions were quite honest.
Should I try asking her again?
At this moment, after careful consideration, Hina also spoke. "Thinking about it this way, meeting Sensei late at night might actually be more dangerous. Would it not be safer to meet openly and properly during the day?"
I actually wanted to ask why it would be dangerous, but I was afraid Hina would get embarrassed and angry.
"But during the day… work is piled up like a mountain…"
Hina was deeply conflicted. "When exactly should I meet Sensei…"
Watching her fall into contemplation once again, I did not interrupt, only making a decision in my heart.
If it's for Hina's sake...
The Pandemonium Society, I should make time to get in touch with them.