Ah, being restrained for a week felt like hell!

I mean, I was stuck in bed for everything except the bare minimum activities!

I couldn’t even properly dress in women’s clothing.

However, with my right arm fully healed, I was finally released.

“Yeah, you seem to be okay now. No scars remaining.”

“Yes. I apologize for worrying you.”

“If you think that, please don’t sneak out on your own again. Especially, don’t worsen any injuries during training.”

“Ah, yes.”

Miroku-senpai, who should be smiling, had a terrifying expression.

By the way, Mizuhi-senpai had been released from this restraint three days earlier than me.

Today, she seems to have gone out on a rescue mission with Tora-chan.

That means I’m stuck here keeping watch.

“Well then, let’s get started on the paperwork.”

I was staring at documents with Miroku-senpai in the student council room.

For the students not on the rescue mission, this is basically our job.

That’s why Mizuhi-senpai was taking the initiative to go out on rescue missions. She seems bad at this sort of thing…

Even so, sorting documents isn’t that difficult.

After all, most of the documents have the same content.

They’re all about the debts of this academy.

“…”

“Oh dear, what’s wrong, Kei-kun? Why the frown?”

“Our school has quite a bit of debt, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. It’s a staggering amount, isn’t it? Hehe.”

No, it’s not funny.

Why is she smiling so cutely? Beautiful girls are really adorable.

“I heard that in the past, we used to hand over dungeon cores. But since the dungeon cores owned by Fectom Comprehensive Academy disappeared, we’ve switched to cash. Even so, that was over ten years ago.”

Fectom Comprehensive Academy is indeed in a hellish financial situation, just as Miroku-senpai said.

Normally, schools are supported by companies outside the academy city.

However, there are no companies willing to support Fectom Comprehensive Academy.

It seems that around twenty years ago, all companies withdrew at once.

What did that generation do?

Now, we are surviving by having other schools mediate support from companies.

In return, they demand high-rank dungeon cores.

While we’re now dealing with money, the demands haven’t changed.

And you’re already aware that there’s only one school that does this, right?

That’s right, it’s Kiso Academy!

That damn academy…!

I hope their withdrawal wasn’t their doing!

“There’s no way a company would support a school drowning in debt at this point. You’ll get used to seeing these numbers eventually.”

“I don’t want to get used to it.”

“Hehe. But this year we might achieve results in the War Domain Festival. If that happens, we might catch the eye of some companies.”

“Oh, do you have a plan?”

In response to my question, Miroku-senpai stopped writing and smiled, saying, “It’s you.” Stop it, I might fall for you…

“Kei-kun is a valuable front-line fighter. Moreover, you’re a capable explorer. You match well with Mizuhi and Tora-chan. You probably won’t lose against average explorers.”

The expectations are incredible.

I’m just dressing in women’s clothing. The pressure is overwhelming.

“You’re overestimating me… By the way, is that sword your weapon, Miroku-senpai? The one that looks like a rapier?”

“Yes, that’s right. Though, strictly speaking, it’s not exactly a rapier.”

Saying that, Miroku-senpai deployed her weapon to show me.

It’s a slender sword.

If we were to clash seriously, it would probably break.

“I’m not suited for combat. I’m not sure how much help I can be in the War Domain Festival.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I’m not very good at sports either… Thanks to that, I’ve become quite skilled at sorting documents now.”

Miroku-senpai shrugged her shoulders.

“Even so, because of that, Mizuhi-senpai and Tora-chan can go on rescue missions.”

“…It does make me think about how I’m always in a safe place.”

Her voice was slightly cold.

It sounded as if she felt disappointed, as if she had no expectations for herself.

Stop that! Just by being a beautiful girl, you’re already one of the centers of the world!

Alright, I’ll cheer Miroku-senpai up!

If I could do it for Mihaya-chan, I can definitely do this!

“Miroku-senpai, by the way—”

“Ah, speaking of which, Kei-kun. The day after tomorrow, would you like to accompany me?” …Ah, okay.

You just interrupted me!

Miroku-senpai’s earlier atmosphere vanished, and she looked at me with her usual gentle expression.

Then she said, still smiling,

“Let’s go on a date the day after tomorrow.”

“…Huh?”

Huh?

◆

Seeing Kei-kun’s bewildered expression, I couldn’t help but laugh again.

His usually serious face was so adorably vacant, I felt like I was seeing his true self.

“It was a joke. Not a date, but a part-time job. They asked me if I could bring someone else to my part-time job.”

“Ah, oh… So that’s what it was. Don’t suddenly joke like that.”

Kei-kun let out a sigh of relief.

From that expression, I couldn’t help but think he was somewhat conscious of me, and it made me feel a bit reassured.

Despite being surrounded by three girls, he still had a serious face, showing no sign of being a typical male student.

Even when Tora-chan was feeding him, he seemed more apologetic than joyful.

Any ordinary boy would probably be smitten by Tora-chan’s cuteness.

Could it be that he’s actually a girl…?

His features are quite androgynous; if he wore a girls’ uniform and was called a girl, I might believe it.

“So, where are you working part-time?”

“It’s at an amusement park. They’ve created a dungeon for tourism. We’ll be handing out balloons there. I guess Kei-kun will be in a costume?”

“Wow, a costume? That’ll be my first time.”

He seems surprisingly enthusiastic, which is nice.

More importantly, Kei-kun has always been eager to go along with our proposals.

He’s never turned us down.

Even now, while sorting documents, he was handling it like it was the easiest task, while Mizuhi would surely have made a face of discontent.

He also protected Tora-chan, and he got along well with Mizuhi.

Once again, I realize how significant Kei-kun’s presence has become in Fectom Comprehensive Academy.

“Is something wrong, Miroku-senpai? You’re looking at me.”

“…No, not really. I was just thinking you have bedhead.”

“Huh? Where? Oh no, I’m sorry! Is it here? Or is it here?”

Seeing Kei-kun hold his head, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Then, I stood up and positioned myself behind Kei-kun.

“I’ll fix it for you.”

“Oh, really? Thank you.”

“Not at all.”

As I pretended to fix his bedhead, I gently placed my hands in his hair.

Such beautiful, azure-silver hair. It’s so different from my dull blue.

The silky texture makes me want to question whether he’s truly a boy.

“Um… Miroku-senpai?”

“I’m fixing it right now, okay?”

“Ah, yes.”

Before I knew it, I was petting Kei-kun’s head.

Just like how my teacher used to do for me.

I wonder if my teacher felt this way too.

“Please continue to look after Tora-chan and Mizuhi.”

“Huh? Well, yes. To be honest, I should be the one asking for help. As someone who’s mostly supporting, I feel like I’m hardly contributing.”

“Please don’t be so modest. I trust you, Kei-kun.”

“…Thank you.”

He looked down slightly, saying nothing more, allowing me to continue petting his head.

A gentle time flowed by.

The ticking of the clock and the faint breeze coming through the window.

Today is sure to be a wonderful day.

“I truly believe in you.”

I hope this can be a place where he can find peace in his heart.