Chapter 2: Kaoru Itokonoue(2)
‘This girl, she’s really… something else.’
That was the first impression Sensei from Schale had after her brief initial conversation with the mysterious female student.
Since taking on the role of faculty advisor at Schale, she had met countless students with vibrant personalities, but the girl standing before her now, exuding an enigmatic aura, was particularly unique.
‘Her way of speaking, her appearance… they’re anything but ordinary. I shouldn’t think this as an educator, but…’
Even she, a mature adult compared to the students, couldn’t help but pause for a moment when the girl introduced herself with a charming smile, her overwhelming beauty almost disarming.
“Hello, Hasumi. It’s been a while!”
“Sensei…? So you’re here at Trinity.”
“Yes, I had some business with the Tea Party. But where are you rushing off to?”
“Well, it’s about Koharu…”
‘Seeing Hasumi running so urgently, I followed her, and it looks like that was the right call.’
Sorting through the events she had just witnessed in her mind, the teacher brushed back her loosely tied long brown hair and spoke again.
“Hmm… so, Kaoru, was it?”
“Yes, Master.”
“M-Master…? Right.”
Even for someone who had been called everything from “Master” to “Lord” to even “Husband” by students, this peculiar title was new, and it made her pause again.
Still, as an adult who had weathered many storms in Kivotos, she quickly regained her composure, cleared her throat, and got to the point.
“Ahem, to sum it up… Kaoru, you were originally a student living in a place called ‘Kapila Academy City,’ but you suddenly found yourself in the middle of Trinity’s campus with no memory of how you got here, correct?”
“Yes. That’s exactly right.”
The female student, with a tachi strapped to the black bag on her back, nodded with that same captivating, mysterious smile.
‘It’s a hard story to believe… but somehow, it doesn’t feel like a lie.’
Though the story sounded absurd even to her as she summarized it, Sensei felt a strong conviction that this student was telling the truth.
Naturally, Hasumi and Koharu, who had been listening, reacted with skepticism.
“…You expect us to believe that?”
“Y-Yeah! What do you take us for? Sensei, you’re not seriously falling for this nonsense, are you?”
“Koharu, isn’t Sensei the mentor overseeing your Supplementary Lessons Department? Please mind your words.”
“Y-Yes, ma’am…”
Despite their reactions, the student who introduced herself as Kaoru maintained her gentle smile and responded to the two with a soft voice.
Her words were laced with scholarly, almost poetic expressions that she wove into the conversation with surprising ease.
“Words of valor… what? N-No big words allowed! Are you mocking me because I’m in supplementary lessons?”
“Hmm… was it hard to understand? If you have time, I could teach you a few words. Maybe even read some poetry together—how about it?”
“Ugh… don’t treat me like a kid…!”
As Kaoru stepped closer with an even more alluring smile, Koharu’s face flushed bright red, and she stumbled back.
“…This girl is temporarily assigned to another club, but she’s still my junior in the Justice Task Force. Please don’t touch her carelessly.”
“Oh, my apologies. That was rude of me.”
Fortunately for Koharu, Hasumi stepped in with a stern expression, extending an arm to stop Kaoru, who gave a slightly regretful look while delicately adjusting the hem of her shirt.
“…”
Watching the scene silently, Sensei was certain of at least one thing about this student named Kaoru.
‘She’s definitely unaware of the effect her appearance has.’
Though it didn’t seem intentional, every action of hers felt dangerously captivating.
‘Phew, I’ll think about that later. For now, I need to figure out how to handle this girl…’
Pushing aside that unhelpful observation, Sensei was pondering how to assist this student when—
“Excuse me! Are you the Sensei from Schale?”
A slightly unfamiliar voice called out to her.
“Oh? You’re from the Tea Party, aren’t you? What’s the matter?”
Turning to see the distinctive, ornate uniform of the Tea Party, Sensei asked with a puzzled expression.
“Y-Yes! It’s just that Nagisa-sama asked me to convey that she’d like to speak with you urgently, if you don’t mind…!”
“I just finished speaking with Nagisa not long ago.”
The student’s nervous delivery prompted a slightly sharp response from Sensei, who couldn’t help herself.
‘The Supplementary Lessons Department was created to expel students, after all.’
The unpleasant truth about the Trinity Supplementary Lessons Department, which she had recently been assigned to oversee, resurfaced from her earlier meeting with Nagisa.
Of course, as a mature individual, she refrained from taking out her frustration on the student who was merely delivering a message.
“W-Well… Nagisa-sama just heard that you encountered an unidentified individual on Trinity’s campus, and she’s concerned. She wishes to discuss their handling directly with you…”
The Tea Party messenger, still tense, relayed Nagisa’s true message.
“…”
‘I only just met Kaoru by chance, and it hasn’t even been ten minutes.’
Frowning slightly instead of responding, Sensei couldn’t help but wonder at the speed of this information reaching Nagisa—unless she’d been under surveillance since leaving the Tea Party.
‘Not even bothering to hide the fact they’re tailing me… And wanting to discuss this “outsider’s” handling with me? I get that a mysterious outsider appearing out of nowhere is suspicious, but this is too blatant.’
Easily guessing the intentions behind the Tea Party host’s summons, Sensei glanced at the “outsider” in question with a hint of concern.
“Sorry, Kaoru. It seems I’ve gotten you caught up in something troublesome.”
“Fufu, it’s alright, Master.”
But the person in question only smiled more deeply, accepting the situation with calm composure.
“Somehow, it feels as though everything will flow to its proper course, like a gentle stream.”
“…?”
Her words, as always, carried an elusive metaphor, spoken with a confidence that was hard to dismiss.