Survive in Azure Files

I do know that Kayoko seems to be somewhat troubled by her appearance.

However, I never thought that my unintentional compliment would touch Kayoko's sensitive point in this regard.

This is really...

Even cuter, right?

I shook my head and said to the girl who didn't know her own charm, "That's not a lie. I really think Kayoko is cute."

"... Stop joking, teacher." Kayoko narrowed her eyes and said dissatisfiedly, "Do you usually use this kind of words to make other girls happy? Unfortunately, this method doesn't work on me."

I glanced at her bat wings flapping unconsciously and reserved my opinion on the idea that it wouldn't work.

"Okay, but please allow me to reiterate that I really think Kayoko is cute. This is absolutely not false."

"When you say that, doesn't it seem like I'm being unreasonable?"

After complaining, Kayoko stroked her forehead and sighed, "Oh, never mind. It doesn't matter what you say. Anyway, I should still thank you for helping me out."

"You're welcome."

Feeling that the atmosphere was still a little awkward, I asked, "By the way, I don't know what you are actually doing here?"

However, my question, which was meant to change the subject, seemed to have stepped into Kayoko's minefield. She glared at me and said rudely:

"What I do here is none of your business."

"Ah, this..."

I suddenly felt that I still didn't know Kayoko well enough, and perhaps I was being too presumptuous...

As I was reflecting and regretting, Kayoko looked at me hesitantly for a while, and finally sighed helplessly:

"It's nothing special, I was just feeding a stray cat, but I ran away when the police came. Please stop making that expression like an abandoned cat."

What a strange metaphor.

A vague guess came to my mind, and I perked up and asked tentatively, "Do you like cats very much?"

"Well, I know that this kind of thing doesn't seem to suit me. If I take care of a cat with a fierce expression, I will definitely attract strange looks. I am aware of this. So just now, when I was troubled, I didn't tell the truth. After all, no one would believe it even if I told it."

Kayoko complained to me a lot as if she had opened a chatterbox. Perhaps she finally had the opportunity to express the depression that had been accumulating in her heart for a long time.

But I need to apologize to her that my attention is almost entirely focused elsewhere at the moment——

Although Kayoko did not give a direct answer, her meaning could be clearly felt from her words.

She must like cats.

Then she compared me to a cat...

Can’t be wrong!

Kayoko, you must like me!

Looking at the depressed girl twirling her hair with her fingers, with her eyes drooping, I blurted out:

"I like Kayoko, too!"

Suddenly, Kayoko stopped moving.

After a long while, she slowly raised her confused eyes: "...Huh?"

By this time, I had already realized how abrupt and outrageous what I had said was.

But who can bear to see such a lovely girl?

Now that things have come to this, the words have been spoken and all I can do is try to make amends.

"Well... I mean..." I mumbled, "Well... Kayoko, it's also a cat."

“…What a weird metaphor.”

Kayoko complained like this, but involuntarily, a faint smile appeared on her delicate but cold face, just like the first melting of spring snow:

"Is that so in your opinion? Does that mean that what you said before was indeed the truth?"

I immediately patted my chest and assured him: "Of course!"

"Well, what a strange adult."

Kayoko shook her head. "Okay, then I'll just assume that's how you see it. Thank you."

When she said this, she was in a visibly good mood.

It feels like there has been new progress in the relationship with Kayoko.

Chapter 9 Late Night Meeting

After the atmosphere started to improve, I exchanged a few more words with Kayoko.

According to Kayoko, the current situation of Convenience House 68 is the same as usual.

The only thing worth mentioning is that they finally managed to save some money and moved into a new office.

"By the way, teacher, what are you doing here? Are you planning to go back to Xialai next?"

Kayoko asked casually.

But with my keen eyes, how could I not understand her hint?

Unfortunately, I already have an appointment in advance.

I said regretfully, "It's work-related."

"Is that so... You have to work overtime so late, thank you for your hard work."

"If it's convenient, can I come visit your office in a few days?"

It just so happens that I haven’t seen everyone in the convenience store for a while, and I miss them a lot.

"That's fine. Convenience stores should always welcome teachers... probably." Kayoko paused, "But I have to warn you in advance that I may not be free to guarantee that I can entertain teachers."

I nodded in understanding.

Kayoko must have hoped that I would make an appointment with her in advance before visiting her so that she would not miss the opportunity to meet me.

Such a dishonest look on Kayoko, who usually keeps a calm and composed attitude almost all the time, is really a delicacy worth savoring over and over again.

Then, I asked her about the location of the new office of Convenience House 68. To my surprise, it was near the place where Hina and I had agreed to meet.

As if she noticed my surprise, Kayoko sighed and said, "Given the president's talent for squandering money and his insistence on having a spacious and grand office, we can only afford to rent a house in this slum... But the transportation is still convenient."

That's natural, otherwise, Hina, who is already busy with work, wouldn't choose a place like this to meet me.

"Are you going back to the office now?" I asked.

"Ah...if there's nothing else, it's time to go back."

"We still have some time before work starts, so let me give you a ride."

After hearing this suggestion, Kayoko looked at me with strange eyes for a long time, then nodded slightly and smiled at me:

"Then I will owe you another favor without further ado."

During the rest of the journey, we naturally started talking about the new music that had been released recently. When we got on the train, it was natural for us to listen to it together, using the same pair of headphones.

Immersed in the same rhythm, our shoulders unconsciously touched each other, and perhaps the distance between our hearts became a little closer.

This journey was not long to begin with, and we soon reached our destination.

As Kayoko said, although the new office of Convenience House 68 is located in a remote area, it is still within the coverage of the public transportation network of Gehenna.

After sending her downstairs, I looked at the lights upstairs and hesitated for a while, but gave up the idea of ​​going upstairs and sitting for a while.

I was mainly worried that the girls would be too enthusiastic and delay my meeting with Hinata.

There will be plenty of opportunities to visit in the future, so there is no need to rush.

So, I said goodbye to Kayoko and hurried to the place where I had an appointment with Hina.

I arrived about an hour earlier than last time. I looked around and as expected, I didn't see the petite figure.

I was just expecting a surprise, so I wasn't disappointed. I chose a cleaner wall to lean against, then took out my cell phone to kill time.

Unexpectedly, after I waited for about half an hour, I heard the sound of thick-soled high-heeled boots stepping on the concrete floor.

I was delighted at first, thinking that it was a good decision to come early; but then I was stunned, because when I looked in the direction of the voice, I saw Hina with her head hung down, staring at the ground beneath her feet, looking exhausted and not noticing me.

But the next moment, as if she sensed my gaze, she suddenly raised her head, met my eyes, and was also stunned for a moment, and said unexpectedly:

"Teacher? How come you…"

I interrupted, "Hina, good evening."

"...Well, good evening."

"Come to think of it, this is a really secluded place. There aren't many people there."

I changed the subject and considerately helped the discipline committee chairman, who usually had a tough attitude, to ease the embarrassment.

Hinata took a deep breath, and then, as if she had regained her spirit, she nodded to me calmly:

"This is the area where students are restricted from entering and leaving due to the previous disciplinary activities. It used to be a very dangerous place, but now it has been cleared from beginning to end, so it should be safe for the time being. It seems that no one has noticed me."

Wait a minute, if this is the case, then Convenience House 68, which just moved here to open an office...

But then I thought, if this hadn't happened, they might not have been able to afford the rent.

Just as I was thinking about whether I should tell the convenience store about this, Hina raised her lips and said with a hint of happiness in her tone:

"So, you can meet the teacher without any worries~"

Staring at the genuine smile on the girl's face, I confirmed a guess -

Hinata really did have a crush on me, and she was genuinely looking forward to meeting me, just like me.

In that case, I have something to say.

"Actually, there's no need to be so concerned about other people's looks, right?" I asked. "After all, it's just an ordinary meeting. It's okay to choose a more atmospheric...more ordinary place."

"I feel like you've changed your mind several times..."

Hinata frowned slightly, but soon relaxed: "I can't help it. This is also for you, teacher."

"for me?"

"Yes. As you know, I have many enemies, both inside and outside the school. It's no exaggeration to say that I'm being targeted at any time and anywhere."

Hinata's expression became solemn when she said this: "So if people knew that I was going to meet someone in particular, that person might be in danger."

It turns out that Hina is not just shy, but also wants to protect me?

I was deeply moved, but then I heard Hina blame herself again:

"Just like now... Makoto has already set his sights on you..."

So, I couldn't help but recall the Speaker of the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons, whose train of thought was incomprehensible to me.

As well as her beautiful appearance that is in sharp contrast to her inner beauty, and the specific way she "has set her sights on me"...

Immediately, I fixed my eyes and said firmly: "It doesn't matter! I'm not afraid!"

“…Teacher, I don’t know what to say when you’re like this.” Hinata sighed, “If you don’t pay attention to your surroundings, you’ll end up in big trouble one day.”

Will it? Maybe.

But with my wisdom, courage and charm, I don't have to worry too much.

This is what I learned from Alice and Kay.

Chapter 10 Late Night Conversation

Although I took Hinata's warning to heart, I didn't take it too seriously.

On the contrary, I think that Hina might be in an important position and is bothered by a huge amount of official business every day. She may be overly worried and needs my guidance.

Otherwise, how could I get her to agree to meet me on weekdays instead of dragging her tired body to see me late at night?

Hinata said it was for work, but in my opinion, it was more of an excuse.