Survive in Azure Files

"fear……?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

The next moment, I looked at Hanako, my frown relaxed, and I said in a daze:

"disgust."

"……what?"

"You hate Trinity?"

Hanako's face froze visibly, and then she forced a smile: "What are you talking about? How could I..."

Finally, I lost the freedom that was under my control.

Apparently, I guessed right.

"At this point, is there any need to lie?"

I paused, then continued, "I can roughly understand it, but I still don't quite understand why you..."

"Heh. What do you know about me now?"

Hanako, whose face was expressionless and whose eyes were filled with coldness, interrupted me rudely.

The girl took a deep breath, then bowed slightly to me, who was stunned, and gave me an impeccable business smile:

"I'm so sorry, I suddenly remembered that I have something important to do. Please forgive me for being rude."

"Wait..." I stretched out my hand and tried to call her.

However, Hanako ignored me, turned her back without looking back, and quickly disappeared at the end of the road.

Chapter 15 I Think I'm Falling in Love with Mary

I really don't understand what Urawa Hanako is thinking.

It was obviously her who teased me again and again, saying strange things to make me embarrassed, but she didn't allow me to pry into her thoughts in return?

There is no such double standard in the world!

When I realized that Hanako had suddenly turned against me, I felt very angry.

But deep down in my heart, I have to admit that I was also wrong in this matter.

He clearly sensed Hanako's resistance, but out of some ugly desire for revenge, he chose to ignore it and continued to go deeper, which touched her minefield.

Hanako's situation may be somewhat similar to my own, and I can actually empathize with her to a certain extent.

But I still feel that it was Hanako who teased me too much first, so I fought back. I am also a counselor in the cram school, and I have the responsibility to understand the crux of the students, so my actions are naturally justified.

Besides, why don’t I understand?

In short, although I could forgive the other party and reflect on myself, I couldn't bring myself to take the initiative to find Hanako and reconcile with her, with whom I had a quarrel not long after I met her.

So, the more I thought about it, the more depressed I became. I walked aimlessly on the Trinity campus in the opposite direction of Hanako's previous departure.

When I came to my senses, I realized that I had unknowingly found myself in front of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

After a little hesitation, I shook my head and resolutely walked into this magnificent building.

Fortunately, I spotted that familiar figure at a glance——

At the same time, the orange-haired, blue-eyed, calm and gentle girl also saw me. She immediately put on a sweet and lovely smile, walked towards me, and greeted me:

"Hello, teacher. May peace and tranquility be with you today as well."

"Mary, long time no see."

Although I missed this hard-working self-proclaimed nun-in-waiting very much, I didn't know what to say when we actually met.

As I was considering my words, Mary looked at me and seemed to have discovered something. Her smile gradually faded, replaced by a worried look:

"Teacher, what happened?"

I tried to deal with it and not pass on my negative emotions to others, but when I saw Mary's genuine concern, I changed my mind when the words came to my lips:

"Is it obvious?"

"Well...this..."

Still hesitating about what to say, Mary showed an embarrassment, which was enough to be regarded as a clear answer.

I smiled bitterly at first, then sighed: "Sorry, I'm being hypocritical again. I came here on purpose when I was in a bad mood, with the intention of telling you about my troubles and seeking comfort. Mary, are you free now? Can I take up some of your time?"

Mary nodded happily: "Yes. I don't have anything else to do today. If the teacher is willing to let me, who can only do this kind of thing, be the one you confide in, I would be happy to do so."

She is simply an angel.

I was deeply moved and thought for a moment:

"Not long ago, I had a conflict with a student..."

Then, Mary and I sat down side by side on the bench, and I told her everything about Hanako, deleting the irrelevant parts and blurring some places, along with the distress in my heart at the moment.

In my opinion, the orange-haired girl who aspires to become a real nun already possesses the qualities that an excellent nun should have. It seems that she can accept everything about me. She just listens silently with a gentle expression.

Because I didn't want to cause too much trouble to Mary and wanted to end it as soon as possible, I tried to restrain myself and be more collected, so the confession didn't last too long.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Even though I still felt a little unsatisfied, it was enough.

Then I sincerely said to Mary, "Thank you for listening to me for so long."

Mary shook her head and said, "I just did something insignificant, and anyone can do it. Please don't thank me."

"But Mary is the only one willing to do this for me." I smiled, "You are the only one I can ask for help."

As I looked at Mary's fair face that was quickly flushed, I heard a question filled with astonishment:

"Wait, what about me!?"

Alona? When did you wake up?

Mary calmed down and said, "Really? Teacher, you are saying this again. I am happy, but I think if it were you, there would be many people who would be willing to talk to you."

It was indeed as she said. After all, the vast majority of students had ulterior motives towards the handsome me and had long been looking forward to seizing the opportunity to get closer to me.

"Hehe~ That's right, just like me!" Alona said proudly.

But among all these students, Mary is undoubtedly the special one to me.

The special thing is that now she is the only one in front of me, and we are alone together.

"I'm sorry, I just want to ask you a favor."

I stared at the pure-minded girl and spoke in a firm tone.

"Eh? Eh!? Teacher," Mary said in a barely audible voice, "please don't tease me..."

The beautiful nun blushed and her heart beat fast after I said a few words to her, which made me feel even happier than before, even though I had already felt relaxed after I had expressed my troubles.

Perhaps, Hanako had the same thought as I do now.

"Ugh...! You're such an idiot for deceiving a girl!"

Alona said this with a wronged look on her face, and then there was no more movement. She probably went back home to sulk.

It’s not a big problem, just give him some strawberry milk to comfort him afterwards.

"Anyway," Mary returned to the main topic, "Teacher, have you found a way to move forward now?"

I nodded and smiled: "Of course."

It’s not a big deal. Just adjust your mindset a little and you will naturally be able to resolve the depression easily.

"That's great."

Mary smiled sincerely, feeling happy for me from the bottom of her heart, then clasped her hands in front of her chest and said softly:

"I will pray for you. The path that you have taken so far, and the path that you will take from now on... I hope there will be as much peace and happiness as possible there..."

The girl's pure kindness was conveyed to me almost unreservedly, warming my heart.

I groaned, "Well... in that case, can you let me join you?"

"Well! Teacher, please come and pray together. Then you will surely be able to..."

"You seem to have misunderstood."

I smiled and said, "Since you want to pray for me, then I should pray for you."

"...Is that so?" Mary was stunned for a moment, then she smiled gently, "Teacher is indeed as gentle as I thought."

It’s better to avoid such unsettling descriptions.

I shook my head and emphasized, "It's just in return."

"Haha, I know that. But it doesn't matter."

Mary chuckled, and her tone became gentler: "Because, as long as the teacher is happy, I will be happy too."

Just these few words made my heart beat restlessly and violently.

Is this a confession?

Probably not, otherwise she probably wouldn't be so frank.

However, even so, I knew in my heart that Mary's feelings were not false at all.

"That is, this is for our prayers...or so to speak."

The innocent and lovely girl, with bright eyes like water, spoke to me softly, and at that moment, her sincere words meant more to me than thousands of sweet words.

I think I am in love with Mary.

That is why I should pray for her and for us.

"Oh, yes, I have a good idea."

Mary suddenly asked me, "Teacher, can you come a little closer?"

I hesitated, then followed her request.

"There are more than one form of prayer. Among them, there are some like this..."

As she spoke, the girl extended her soft, slender, and warm hands to me and gently took my hands:

"Together, holding hands and praying. Personally, I like this way too. Especially for someone like a teacher... who has many people who are more important to him than himself, I think it's great."

"…Mary, I'm probably not the saintly and selfless person you think I am."

I felt inexplicably uncomfortable in my heart, and couldn't help but open my mouth to correct him: "In my eyes, there is often only me."

Mary thought about it and said, "Well, I don't really understand it, but if that's the case, why did the teacher tell me?"

I met her eyes.

"That is to say, at least at this moment, the teacher has me in his eyes, right?"

I couldn't refute this, and I couldn't even look away.

I seemed to see my own reflection in the girl's clear eyes.

"It's not good to lie, teacher. In order to prevent bad luck from befalling you, you should pray. So, it should be like this."

Mary clenched her hands a little tighter. "Sometimes you need someone to hold you and pray for you, not for others, but for yourself. If possible, please let me do it... As someone who will become a nun one day."

Now that things have come to this, what reason do I have to refuse?

However, if you are willing to indulge me like this, it will lead to bad consequences.

One day, I will make Mary want to be more than just a nun.

"Come on, teacher, close your eyes too... breathe calmly..."

Completely unaware of my sinful thoughts, Mary spoke softly, and I obediently followed her instructions.

"Pray. Once again, for the teacher..."

The girl's words were extremely clear, yet seemed to come from another world:

"And for us."

As it should be.