Hina's expression immediately filled with shock upon hearing that.
"Amnesia...? Then Sensei, you...!?"
Her reaction made me, who had still been carrying a trace of unease, secretly let out a sigh of relief. What remained in my heart was only ease and relief.
"Well, it's not really that big of a deal."
I smiled.
"It's just that I've always felt it'd be pretty embarrassing to say out loud, and not really worth mentioning."
Perhaps some of the other students had already guessed part of it from my behavior.
Still, the only ones I had personally told were Hina and Arona.
Honestly, if I hadn't seen Hina this heartbroken and suddenly felt something stir within me, I probably wouldn't have brought it up now either.
"How can this not be important?"
Hina's expression became serious as she urgently asked several questions in succession.
"Have you gone to see a doctor? What were the examination results? If there are any hidden aftereffects...!"
I placed my hand over hers, trying to reassure her this way.
"Hina, calm down first. That's not the important part. Umm... should I say I have some unspeakable difficulties regarding this matter?"
At first, I had been wary of everything around me, so I didn't dare go to a hospital for any examinations.
As for now...
What if they actually found something?
"...Okay. Sorry, I spoke too much."
"Don't apologize so much."
I said warmly,
"I'm happy that you care about me like this. Anyway, let me continue."
Hina nodded and quietly listened.
After organizing my thoughts for a moment, I omitted the part about the fear I had toward the people, events, and things around me as an outsider who knew nothing.
After all, I had just been shot in front of Hina. Bringing that up now might not only fail to create empathy and comfort, it might instead make Hina feel even guiltier.
"Anyway, at the time, I had absolutely no idea what Schale was, and somehow I just became a Sensei."
I spoke nostalgically.
"Later on, I finally realized what an enormous authority this was... and what a heavy responsibility."
Once viewed as an adult, naturally others would judge, expect, and rely on me according to the standards of an "adult."
"But even the most basic working methods had to be taught to me by students wasting their own time before I could barely learn them. I couldn't fulfill every student's wishes toward me either, and I didn't want to shoulder the responsibilities suddenly forced onto me for no reason."
Though for Yuuka and Noa, whether spending time with me was a gain or a loss was still debatable.
"For a long time, I felt that everyone only started placing expectations on me simply because I was an adult, because I was a Sensei..."
I took a deep breath.
"So when Hina said those things during the summer training camp, I was really moved."
I still clearly remembered Hina saying that the reason she found me special wasn't because I was a Sensei, but because Sensei was me.
At this point, I let out a quiet sigh.
"...I really wanted to give up too."
"...But Sensei endured it, didn't you?"
Hina pressed her lips together and couldn't help rebutting me.
"Even now, Sensei is still continuing to fight for responsibilities you never wanted to bear... No, the current situation isn't even within the scope of responsibilities you were required to take on."
"...No matter what, I'm still an adult. Even if it feels exhausting, even if my abilities aren't enough, even if it would've been fine not to do it, I still have to at least try responding to other people's expectations."
I laughed.
"Contradictory, right? Even I think I'm being a bit melodramatic."
Hina shook her head and answered seriously:
"Nothing like that. I only think Sensei is amazing."
"Then by that logic,"
I asked,
"Wouldn't Hina be even more amazing?"
"...Eh? Why are we suddenly talking about me again...? No, I'm just a short girl who likes complaining. How could I compare to Sensei..."
"I'm also just someone who lacks the responsibility a real adult should have and likes complaining too. Did you forget how we first met?"
Back then, Hina and I, complete strangers who didn't know each other's identities and thought we'd never meet again, casually chatted for a few moments.
Now that I thought back on it, those memories remained vivid and incredibly nostalgic.
With completely different feelings than before, I said:
"There really are useless adults like me out there."
"You..."
Hina was about to continue arguing, but suddenly froze.
She had probably finally realized that in this regard, she and I were exactly the same.
"Hina is much more amazing than me."
I said seriously,
"Compared to me, who only started taking responsibility because circumstances forced me to, Hina voluntarily became Gehenna's Prefect Team President. Even without being understood, you've always quietly kept working hard. In my eyes, Hina has always been so strong and dignified, like someone shining brilliantly, someone I genuinely admire."
Yet after hearing that, the white-haired girl turned her gaze away, sorrow and self-blame surfacing on her face once more.
"But now, I've already... I said it before, I'm not as strong as Sensei thinks I am. I've already decided to run away. I even said I wanted to retire. While everyone else is still trying their hardest, I... Sorry, you must be disappointed in me now too..."
As she spoke, her nose twitched. Just thinking about that possibility seemed enough to make her start crying again.
I laughed softly.
"How could that happen? As someone who understands better than anyone how much more self-aware I am compared to you, and who has always admired you, I know exactly how hard it was for you to endure this long. So of course I respect every decision you make."
Hina's expression became even sadder.
"...At a critical time like this, someone like me who wants to push responsibility onto Sensei and everyone else, what exactly is so amazing about that? Sensei... even if you're trying to comfort me, even if you like me, please don't tell such easily exposed lies..."
"I'm not lying. After all, Hina was always the one proactively carrying burdens that should've been shared by me and everyone else, wasn't she? Now it's time to switch places."
I paused, then smiled at her.
"Besides, I also want to take this opportunity to chase after your back."
The white-haired girl blinked in slight confusion.
"...Eh? What does that... mean...?"
"Look. Hina, who's always walking ahead of everyone else, finally has a day where she wants to stop for a bit and properly slack off. For me, isn't this practically a heaven-sent opportunity?"
I gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders and lightly pulled her toward my chest.
After only hesitating briefly, Hina shyly but obediently, though still carrying traces of melancholy, leaned her head against my chest and closed her eyes, as though sincerely listening to my heartbeat.
For some reason, even the two pairs of sharp horns on her head felt softer to me now.
So I continued:
"At last, I've caught up to your side and can stand shoulder to shoulder with you now. Hina, I'm really happy."
"...Saying strange things like that, you're really... unfair."
"But you can tell they're from the bottom of my heart, right?"
"...That's exactly why it's even more unfair..."
It was as though her thoughts had begun slowing down. Even Hina's descriptions had become lacking.
I softly continued:
"So leave the rest to me and everyone else. Hina, you've already done enough, so rest properly for now, okay?"
However.
Completely beyond my expectations, after a brief silence, what answered me was a voice so faint that I almost thought I'd misheard it.
"No."
"Eh?"
"That would be even worse."
Hina pulled away from my embrace and smiled at me.
"Sorry for making you worry, Sensei. I just... wanted to act spoiled for a little bit. As for retirement, just pretend I never said it."
Though it did feel like something she would do, I still asked in surprise and concern:
"Why the sudden change...? Hina, don't force yourself."
"I won't. I just... want to respond to your expectations."
Hina paused before continuing:
"And I think that, as long as I keep trying, I should still be able to continue responding to your expectations."
"...Didn't I already say my only expectation is for you to do what you truly want?"
"That's exactly why."
Hina instead gently hugged me, a trace of sweetness mixed within her firm tone.
"I also want to chase after your back, Sensei. I also want to stay with Sensei. So in order to become someone worthy of Sensei, I still can't stop moving forward either."
I couldn't help commenting:
"This is what they call mutual devotion."
"...Hehe. That's right."
Reluctantly, Hina let go.
"Sensei, let's go."
Yet just as Hina was about to stand up, I subconsciously grabbed her hand.
And as our eyes met, a blush gradually spread across Hina's pale face.
I swallowed nervously, feeling a certain heated emotion rising within me as I awkwardly said:
"There's no rush right now, is there? Uh, I mean, we're lovers now, right? Shouldn't we... do something lovers are supposed to do?"
In that instant, time itself seemed to stop.
Suddenly, Hina, whose face had turned as red as a boiled shrimp, violently pulled her hand free and shot to her feet.
Just as I was about to take back what I said, I heard Hina panic and say:
"I-I'm going to the bathroom first... I just cried... um, please, please wait for me a little!"
After saying that, she fled in a flash.
["Ah, you who no longer devote yourself to God but instead worship the heavenly hosts above, bowing your knees to that shameful Baal and following him into wickedness, are you not provoking God's wrath?"]
A hazy and gentle female voice sounded, her tone seeming to scold me teasingly. I only found it baffling and silently cursed, what does that have to do with you?
Immediately afterward, I picked up the Shittim Chest and instructed:
"Arona, I'm counting on you for everything later!"
"...Sigh. Even at a time like this, that's still what you're thinking about."
Honestly, this was probably Ako's fault.
After sighing helplessly, Arona indulgently replied:
"Alright, alright, I know already. I won't let you get hurt. After all, who told me I'd end up with a Sensei like you?"