Azure Files, the starting point of all miracles

But Yuka could never have imagined that the man who had shown such a handsome and reliable side in handling things before would actually have such a side in private——

"Teacher! What's going on with this bill?"

Even now, Yuka can't forget the scene where the teacher was addicted to playing games and buying model toys, resulting in insufficient living expenses and had to survive on junk food.

This also caused Yuka's feelings towards him to change from curiosity and gratitude at the beginning to thoughts like "I can't just leave this person alone."

In the following days, Youxiang took on the "heavy responsibility" of managing the teachers' living expenses.

It was during this time that Yuka once again saw her teacher working hard for her students.

That serious, responsible, reassuring, and extremely reliable look resonated with my memory of when I first met him.

However, unlike other students, Yuka and her teacher's daily life does not have so many dramatic stories.

There is neither the sharing of hardships like in Abydos, nor the despair and redemption like in Trinity or the Arius team.

But it is this ordinary daily life that goes on day after day, but I don’t know when it started to become an inseparable part of Yuka.

Just like the daily necessities in life, ordinary, but impossible to leave.

It was such an existence that Yuka suddenly realized today.

I don’t know my teacher as well as I thought.

Just like he appeared out of nowhere like a miracle that day.

Will he disappear from my side without any warning one day?

When I finished work, I looked back and found that the familiar figure was no longer sitting on the chair next to me.

I rush to Xialai every day with great anticipation, but I can never see that gentle smile again.

The bill in my hand is also forever frozen at a certain moment.

——When she thought of this, Yuka felt as if something was blocked in her heart, and the suffocating feeling that followed made her feel like she fell into the deep sea.

Watching the light on the sea surface getting farther and farther away, no matter how hard she tried to reach out, she couldn't touch it...

As emotions continued to accumulate, by the time Yuka came to her senses, she had already subconsciously spoken what was in her heart.

"Teacher Xiyu... don't leave me..."

"..."

Although the girl's voice was very soft, Xiyu was still keenly aware of it.

He turned around and looked at the girl behind him: Even though Yuxiang reacted in time and hid her emotions, Xiyu still noticed them keenly.

"Yuuka——"

"Teacher, I'm sorry... I just feel a little bit."

Being stared at by the teacher, Yuuka took a step back nervously for a moment.

She didn't know how to face the teacher at this moment.

Should I say that I became uneasy because of some inexplicable guesses?

Teachers usually have a lot of work to do.

It's a rare day off today, how can I cause him more trouble?

Yuxiang thought so, and her confused eyes barely showed some determination. But before she could say anything, Xiyu's actions shattered the disguise she had built with great difficulty...

"teacher--"

Feeling the warmth coming from her head, Yuuka murmured, not knowing what to say for a moment.

And Xiyu didn't rush to speak and break it all.

After a period of comforting, Xiyu noticed that the girl's emotions had gradually calmed down, and then he slowly said: "I'm sorry, Yuka."

"The teacher made you feel uneasy."

"Teacher, how could it be——it was obviously me——"

After hearing what the teacher said, Yuka was unable to react. She felt like she had been completely seen through.

However, now she seemed a little more forthright than she usually would when reacting under her tsundere personality.

"It's obviously just me being overly sensitive - this is none of the teacher's business."

Is it really just because Yuka is too sensitive?

Looking at the girl in front of him, Xiyu fell into memories.

He was first injured when Trinity and Gehenna signed the Treaty of Eden, and then he experienced the Color Invasion, the Huaye Coup, and Caesar's seizure of power.

In each of these incidents, my experiences were full of dangers.

To some extent, it is a miracle that we are safe and sound.

For Youxiang, everything that Xiyu experienced may have accumulated a lot of pressure for her.

Today, there just happened to be a fuse that caused all of this to pour out.

So, is it really that Yuka is too sensitive?

* I don’t think so…

When Xiyu thought of this, he sighed secretly in his heart.

"Yuuka, I usually make you worry..."

“I’m really… sorry.”

"Teacher, this is really none of your business... This is just... I am just imagining things..."

Facing Xiyu's apology, Youxiang shook her head repeatedly and took a step back again: "It's all my fault for imagining that the teacher would disappear or something..."

"It's obvious that teachers have their own lives, but they are always working hard for us students."

"So many teachers have been sacrificed, and I am still thinking about this. I am really too greedy..."

Yuka said, lowering her head.

The twin ponytails that usually express the youthfulness and energy of an adolescent girl now hang down along with their owner.

Seeing Yuxiang like this, Xiyu did not hesitate, but stepped forward decisively, stretched out his hand and held the girl's cheeks: Looking at Yuxiang's somewhat helpless eyes, the teacher said softly.

"Yuuka, everything is just as you said. I do have my own life."

"But you know what? The time I spent with you was also a kind of life for me."

"Every day I spend with you is an invaluable treasure to me."

'teacher……'

"As for whether it will suddenly disappear..."

When he said this, Xiyu suddenly paused; looking at him like this, Youxiang's gaze, which had finally risen, dimmed again.

However, before she could say anything to pretend to be strong, Xiyu's voice came again.

"Yuuka, you should be able to understand."

“The sun rises and sets, spring goes and winter comes.”

"Whatever has a beginning, it will have an end."

“This is all natural order.”

"Perhaps, the word 'forever' can bring you more comfort, but please forgive me as a 'teacher', I cannot say such a word to you."

"Please forgive me for being such an unreliable adult."

Having said that, Xiyu raised the corner of his mouth helplessly.

But then, he changed the subject again.

"but--"

"Even though I am like this, there is still one thing I can guarantee."

"That is, even if one day in the future I disappear because of something, I will try my best - even if I have to crawl, I will crawl back to you."

"So, Yuuka—"

"Are you willing to believe the promise made by an unreliable person like me?"

"..."

Looking into the teacher's eyes, even though he called himself an "unreliable adult", his eyes never wavered when he said this.

Before long, that familiar feeling once again emerged in Yuka's heart, gradually diluting the uneasiness lingering in the girl.

An unreliable adult...

Recalling the little things she did with the teacher, those ordinary yet precious memories, gradually brought a smile back to the girl's face.

Yuuka Hayase, the girl who has always been with her teacher, once again showed her simple yet flawless smile here.

"Teacher Xiyu...you are such a worrying person."

Teacher, you are the most reliable person I have ever met.

"As expected, you can't live without me. I'm the only one who can tolerate all of this for you..."

Indeed, I can't live without you.

The girl's smile is as beautiful as a flower, like the purest treasure in the world.

Faced with her like this, Xiyu also extended an invitation.

"So, Yuuka-san, can you help me, a not-so-reliable adult, from now on?"

"With pleasure~?"

Looking at the figure in front of her, Yuka took brisk steps.

How strange.

It's exactly what he said.

Just a less reliable promise.

This moment completely dispelled the anxiety that the girl had accumulated so far.

……

No.

This is not something to be surprised about.

After all, for Yuuka Hayase, this alone is enough to make her feel at ease.

Yes.

Just like this -

----

----

Meanwhile, outside the door—

Leaning against the wall, listening to the sounds coming from the room: a cheerful smile appeared on Noah's delicate face.

“It’s great to get a response from the teacher~”

"You're right, right~"

"Yuuka-chan~?"

Chapter 12: Public Reputation... It Doesn't Matter Anymore

The continuous heavy rain played a rapid melody in the city.

Although there are fewer pedestrians on the streets now than at the beginning, the endless flow of cars has never decreased.

Xiyu was walking on the road to the convenience store with an umbrella. From time to time, her eyes swept over the passing vehicles. She couldn't help feeling a little emotional about the scenery.

As for why he is here now, it all starts with the food Xia Lai has stored -