"Hayato-kun, having confidence is good, but overconfidence isn't. Ever since we were young, I've known plenty of boys who had crushes on my sister. She doesn't need to chase anyone."
"I see. So sensei thinks I lack charm. Makes sense, I guess. A foreign exchange student who left his home behind and lost most of his memories, not exactly charming material."
In the blink of an eye, Tachibana watched Hayato sink into dejected self-deprecation. His shoulders slumped, his expression falling.
"Hayato-kun, that's not it! Really, I didn't mean it that way! You're excellent and outstanding. The way you protected me tonight showed real masculine courage. Girls would definitely like that, truly!"
Tachibana Hina rushed to explain, even reaching out to grab his hand without thinking. Her fingers wrapped around his wrist.
"Really?"
"Really! What I meant earlier was just about romantic relationships, boys should be more proactive. You're saying my sister would chase after you... Honestly, I just can't see that happening."
"What if it does happen?"
"Then I'll ask Yukinoshita-san if she's interested and introduce you properly."
"How about... You just introduce yourself instead, sensei?"
"Absolutely not! Stop teasing your teacher like that. I'm going to get angry."
Tachibana pouted to show her displeasure, her cheeks puffing slightly.
"Alright, I get it."
"Good. This conversation ends here. I gave you the opportunity, you're the one who doesn't want it. Don't regret it later when you meet my sister."
Hayato shook his head, indicating he wouldn't regret anything. His expression was unreadable.
Tachibana Rui. A girl with a somewhat peculiar personality, if the original setting held true.
"By the way, sensei, about the game..."
"Game? What game?"
Just as I'd thought. Tachibana-sensei hadn't received an invitation from the Death Game.
Otherwise, during the walk to the apartment, she definitely would've mentioned it. And if she'd refused the invitation, she should've forgotten about the "mission" entirely.
But Tachibana Hina neither mentioned it nor forgot about the monster.
So people caught up in "reality standard missions" didn't receive invitations after completion.
Hayato wasn't sure if that was unfortunate or fortunate.
"Oh, didn't I mention? I just bought a new game called Splatoon. Wanted to find someone to play with."
"Oh, that! Sure, I'd be happy to."
Tachibana thought it over and accepted. If she refused, wouldn't that hurt Hayato's feelings? A student alone in a foreign country was probably quite lonely. The least she could do was keep him company.
"Thanks."
Ring ring ring.
The phone's ringtone shattered the room's quiet, jarring and sudden.
A pink phone vibrated on the bed, buzzing against the fabric.
Tachibana picked it up, saw "Hiratsuka-senpai" on the caller ID, and answered.
"Hiratsuka-senpai, it's me."
"How'd it go? That kid didn't cause any problems, right?"
"No, none at all. I actually think Hayato-kun is doing quite well now. He could become a good student."
"Oh really?"
Hiratsuka's tone stretched with skepticism, clearly unconvinced.
"He's probably just putting on an act in front of a pretty teacher like you. Trying to make a good impression. I've seen that type plenty of times."
"No, no, Hayato-kun wasn't pretending around me at all. After the amnesia, I think he's genuinely improved. Really good, actually. Hiratsuka-senpai, you'll see for yourself when you talk to him tomorrow."
"Fine. I hope you're right."
Hiratsuka sounded slightly more optimistic, her tone softening.
"Thanks for handling this today. Next time I'll treat you to yakiniku as thanks."
"No need, senpai, really—"
But in her flustered denial, Tachibana unconsciously moved her foot. The wound made contact with the hard floor, and she let out a soft "Mm" of pain. Sharp and involuntary.
"Hmm?"
"I, I just accidentally kicked something."
"I see. For a second, I thought maybe you were having an intimate moment with your boyfriend."
"Huh?"
It took a moment before she caught Hiratsuka's implication. Her face turned bright red as she explained frantically.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I'm single! I don't have a boyfriend!"
"Hahaha, well find one soon! My personal advice? Do it while you're young! Otherwise... it gets harder."
Hiratsuka spoke from deep personal experience, her voice carrying a tinge of regret.
After a bit of small talk, they ended the call.
With Hayato nearby, Tachibana had been quite reserved during the conversation, afraid of stumbling into any sensitive or embarrassing topics. She kept glancing at him nervously.
"Sensei, why don't you just sleep here tonight?"
Hayato suggested directly.
"Well..."
"I can take you back to your apartment if you want, but it's almost ten now. Getting you there would take quite a while."
More importantly, Tachibana's current condition wasn't suitable for moving around much. Unless he carried her the whole way.
Tachibana Hina understood her situation. She began considering the overnight arrangements, weighing the options in her mind.
I can't possibly stay here overnight, can I?
The thought of spending the night in the same room as a high school boy made embarrassment bloom in her chest. Heat crept up her neck.
"I suppose that would work."
"Good. You rest here comfortably, sensei. I'll go stay at a nearby hotel for the night."
"Ah!"
The startled sound made Hayato look up questioningly, eyebrows raised.
"Sensei, you didn't think I'd be staying here overnight, too, did you?"
Wasn't that... the implication?
"That absolutely cannot happen. For the sake of my reputation, I can't spend the night in the same room as my teacher. If my girlfriend found out in the future, she'd be upset and unhappy."
Tachibana: ???
You're talking like you already have a girlfriend. The confidence was unreal.
"Work hard and do your best. I'll be waiting to hear the news of you dating someone."
An interesting boy. A bit too talkative and maybe a touch fickle-hearted.
Tachibana didn't dislike it. In fact, she found it rather entertaining.
In the end, Tachibana stayed overnight in Hayato's apartment. And at her insistence, Hayato also remained, sleeping on a makeshift floor bed. Blankets piled on the hard surface.
"When you and your imaginary girlfriend start dating in the future, I'll deliberately tell her about tonight and make you two break up, hehe."
After the lights went out, the room darkened. Faint illumination from outside brought a sense of quiet stillness. The glow of distant streetlights filtered through the curtains.
Meanwhile, three streets away from the apartment, Chiba Police had cordoned off an area. Red and blue lights flashed conspicuously, almost painfully bright. Police tape fluttered in the wind.
This was the street where the charred possessed creature had appeared.
Several men in black suits moved about busily, operating equipment that emitted steady beeping sounds. Their expressions were serious, focused.
Publicly, they claimed to be personnel from Chiba Police Headquarters. In reality, they belonged to the Japan Public Safety Commission's Counter-Demon Special Operations Division, Section 6.