Kayoko and I shared a pair of earphones as we listened to music together, until Aru messaged her to ask where she'd gone.
Just as Kayoko had said, I could truly feel it then. Music really does have the power to heal, especially when you're sharing it with someone special.
Still, both times, it was Kayoko who picked the songs, which made me feel a little embarrassed. As her music buddy, I thought I should find a song I like too, so I could share it with her next time.
After that brief moment of leisure, I returned to the Foreclosure Task Force's activity room.
The moment I stepped inside, a deep, quiet gaze locked onto me.
It was Shiroko's silent accusation.
Though she said nothing, I could almost hear her pitiful voice asking why I'd betrayed her and begging me to help her.
"Shiroko-senpai, please sit properly and stop looking around."
Ayane tapped her pointer against the whiteboard. "Your reflection session for premeditated criminal activity isn't over yet."
Serika stood beside her, arms folded. "Exactly! Don't even think about asking Sensei for help!"
"Yes…" Shiroko's expression barely changed, though her wolf ears drooped lifelessly.
Poor Shiroko. She'd somehow ended up in the same miserable situation as Hoshino, and it was all because of me.
Come to think of it, this kind of scolding session for Shiroko being out-of-line was usually Hoshino's job.
But right now, Hoshino was sprawled out on a makeshift bed made of pushed-together chairs, her head resting on Nonomi's lap. She stared blankly at the ceiling, her face full of fatigue.
I couldn't help asking Nonomi, "What happened to Hoshino?"
"Oji-san? I'm just about dead, that's all."
"Hoshino-senpai just overexerted herself, that's all," Nonomi added.
They both spoke at once, and their answers were almost the same.
"…From that little exercise?"
"Hehe… this is usually my nap time, you know… Besides, I didn't sleep well last night…"
That much explained everything. Hoshino was used to patrolling alone all night; her body clock was completely reversed. She lived by night and slept by day.
Or so I thought, until she suddenly smiled faintly and changed the subject. "So∼ hurry up and let me nap on you, Sensei~ Oji-san only gets real rest on my special bed~"
Good grief. So that's what you were waiting for, huh?
"Hoshino-senpai, this morning you said it was a seat," Nonomi said, slipping into the role of straight man. "How did that suddenly become a bed? Sensei isn't that kind of thing, you know."
"Hehe∼ it's all the same~ Sensei, what are you waiting for? Come on, come on∼"
Still lying down, Hoshino reached her arms out toward me.
Compared to before, her attitude had changed so much it was almost shocking. Like a wild wolf turned loyal dog, I even found myself missing the old, rebellious Hoshino a little.
I hesitated, wondering whether I should respond to her request.
Then, the sound of a chair scraping across the floor broke the moment, followed by Hoshino's yelp.
"Ow! Nonomi, what was that for?!"
Nonomi had slid her stool away, leaving Hoshino's head to fall onto empty space.
Hoshino sat up like a startled carp, glaring in protest. Nonomi only smiled sweetly and said, "Hoshino-senpai, we still have lots of cleaning to do. No resting yet."
"…Eh?"
Just as confusion turned to dread on Hoshino's face, Serika, Ayane, and Shiroko, who had been holding an intervention moments ago, quietly surrounded her.
The four girls, first-years and second-years alike, exchanged knowing looks. Then, moving as one, they tackled the struggling Hoshino, who shouted for help as they carried her off to continue the cleanup.
My review: Like a herd of cats!
Afterward, I took a thirty-minute nap to recharge, then got back to my paperwork.
Time passed in dull busyness until I finally processed the last document. I stretched, leaned back, and thought that since I had nothing better to do, I might as well check on how the Foreclosure Task Force's cleaning was going.
After wandering around the large campus for a while, luck was on my side. I soon found Hoshino alone in an empty classroom, cleaning quietly.
"Where are the others?"
"Oh∼ Sensei~" Hoshino greeted me with a lazy wave, continuing to sweep the dust into a pile. "I asked to work alone∼ That way, no one can supervise me, so I can slack off, hehe∼"
A clear joke.
I asked, "You… still haven't figured out how to face them, have you?"
"…Haha~ What are you talking about?"
"When you resisted so hard earlier during the punishment, that was why, wasn't it? You still feel guilty, and you don't want them to forgive you too easily."
Hoshino stopped moving, her expression softening into resignation.
"Sigh… I really can't hide anything from you, can I?"
"More like your acting is terrible. I bet everyone already noticed, they just didn't say anything."
Hoshino shook her head with a bitter smile. "Honestly… they're all so kind. Even though I did something so stupid."
I thought for a moment, then spoke gently.
"Honestly, you didn't do anything wrong to them. The only thing that happened was our argument, which made things awkward for them.
"As the leader of the Foreclosure Task Force, your efforts are obvious to everyone. Even if you made a mistake, your intentions were for their sake, and they all know that.
"So they won't really blame you. If you keep holding onto guilt, that's what would truly hurt them."
After a long silence, Hoshino finally smiled, her expression peaceful.
"You're right. That's true. Sorry, Sensei. I almost made another stupid mistake, huh∼ Hehe~ once again, I've been saved by you∼"
"Funny, you don't seem to feel even a little bad toward me."
"What are you saying? You were partly at fault back then too, weren't you?"
Her eyes sparkled as she smiled, voice soft. "Besides, didn't you say you'd take responsibility for everything and make me happy? So it's fine if I act spoiled in front of you, right? Like… this?"
She set her broom aside and stepped lightly toward me, arms open.
But I took a step back, just barely avoiding her embrace.
In the quiet classroom, the air froze.
The girl stood stunned for a moment, then scratched the back of her head awkwardly. "Ah, sorry. I forgot I haven't showered yet after cleaning… ahaha, I'm hopeless…"
But my next words made her awkward excuse meaningless.
"Hoshino, what I said this morning.... I meant it."
Looking into her shocked, helpless eyes, I sighed quietly.
Then, with a calm voice, I spoke my decision.
"I want you to keep a proper distance from me."
"…Eh?"
Hoshino froze completely.