Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was late July.
After returning from the summer camp, I quickly caught up on all the official work I had postponed during those three days.
And then, a new batch of work arrived.
Thanks to Schale's duty system, I didn't have to handle everything personally, and could interact pleasantly with the students on duty that day, easing each other's mental stress.
Especially after receiving Ako's thank-you gift, I felt genuinely impressed. Truly, the GSC President is wise!
However, today's situation felt subtly different from previous days.
The crisp, crackling sound from nearby slightly distracted me.
"Nom nom. These chips are actually pretty good. Sensei, want to try one?"
"…I'll pass," I said, glancing wearily at the lazy red-haired girl sprawled on the sofa, reading a magazine and snacking on chips. "Iroha, I'm working right now."
And indeed, Hina's concern had come true.
After the report on the summer camp training was submitted, the Pandemonium Society had indeed been trying to find faults in it.
"Even that pretty-boy sensei managed 50% of the training?! You're completely slacking off! At least triple that amount for it to make sense!"
I had been dragged into this as well, receiving such criticisms.
I heard that the official in question was punished the same day by Makoto, sent to the Red Winter division as a diplomatic envoy, but the result left me feeling even more conflicted.
I had to admit, Makoto was quite fair to me but why did she always like to pick on Hina?
Anyway, since I had promised to handle the situation if it ever arose, I had to see it through.
And the Pandemonium Society's squad leader today used this as an excuse to come on duty at Schale, secretly tasked by their superior to flirt with me…
Come all the way just to slack off.
Not that I had an objection. After all, I had secretly agreed with Iroha that she could slack off freely when visiting Schale.
But that doesn't mean she should constantly interrupt me while I'm seriously working!
I understood her desperate desire to get close to her secret crush, but even if she didn't come to help, couldn't she wait until I finished most of today's work first?
I trusted she could pick up on that implication.
Yet the red-haired girl frowned.
"Sensei, how can you be like this?"
"Sorry, these documents were urgently requested by the General Student Council… Wait, did I do something wrong?"
I had answered instinctively, but suddenly realized. How did I become the one being scolded?
"Of course you did!"
Iroha said, flipping upright with a self-righteous air.
"Even slacking people have their pride! Even though I came to Schale to slack off under the pretense of Pandemonium Society duties, if I'm trying to relax and sensei is working so hard right next to me, it ends up looking like…"
"…Ends up looking like?" I repeated.
She took a deep breath.
"…That I'm the only useless one!"
I fell silent for a moment, then tilted my head in confusion.
"What's wrong with being useless?"
"Eh! You're just casually admitting it! That really is how you see me!"
"I didn't say that," I denied, then coaxed.
"Alright, once I finish work, I'll slack off with you. For now, I'll just keep going…"
"No way!"
Iroha became even more animated.
"Sensei, you don't expect anything from me at all, do you? That makes me not only useless but a spoiled useless person who leaves everything for others to do! Do you look down on me, who ranked in the top 300 of 'Admired by Students of Gehenna's 2nd Year'!?"
Such a specific number.
Even though Gehenna Academy had tens of thousands of students, that ranking was still essentially meaningless.
I muttered.
"Sounds like you're exaggerating a bit. So… do you want to come keep me company?"
If she was subtly trying to bend the rules and slack off at Schale, it would probably make me like her even more.
"No way. With this heat, just traveling from Pandemonium Society to Schale drained all my energy."
"Schale and the train should have air conditioning, right?" I asked. "So you mean…?"
"Hehe…" Iroha gave a sly, enticing smile.
"Sensei… want to join the slackers' squad?"
"Sorry, I have to refuse."
I wanted to slack off too, but the work I had fallen behind on had to be completed.
"…Sensei,"
Iroha stepped closer.
"Does it really have to be only you working so hard?"
I chuckled.
"Well, could you come keep me company? With two of us, the workload would be cut in half, you know?"
Ignoring me, the girl continued.
"I know how busy you normally are… with unreasonable orders from the General Student Council, incidents across Kivotos, and running around day and night for all this…"
I nodded, recognizing that I often worked tirelessly for the students.
Iroha sighed.
"Being stuck between problems and problem students… middle management like us always suffers the most. Even when exhausted, hardly anyone understands…"
Yet a smile appeared on her face.
"At this point, why not just give it all up? Forget everything, pretend you didn't see it… just once. Maybe it'll feel good, sensei?"
The lazy red-haired girl called to me, her gray eyes half-closed.
"Let's… slack off together?"
I understood.
I looked up at her seriously.
"Iroha… tell me, is your hair pink or not?"
"…I don't know why you're asking that, but are you confusing shades of color?"
Interrupted like this, Iroha seemed to deflate, complaining.
"Sigh… really, what's going on… what am I even doing? Everything feels so troublesome."
Her inability to restrain her crush was understandable.
"Alright," I said, checking the progress.
"Almost done. Finish your coffee and reading, then I'll have time to slack off with you."
"Mm…"
Iroha pondered for a moment.
"Then… let's just treat this as my little request to you."
I asked, puzzled.
"What?"
"When you're free," Iroha said with a meaningful smile,
"spend a little time with me."