"Well then, Sensei, this is goodbye. I look forward to meeting you again."
Morning light streamed faintly through the entrance of the Schale building.
The moving truck had already arrived. The girls of Problem Solver 68 had finished loading their luggage and were ready to depart.
"Did you make sure everything's packed? Want to check again?"
"Relax! We checked it a bunch of times already!"
As their exchange ended, I couldn't help but feel like a father seeing his daughter off on a long journey. Though, if I really had a daughter like Aru, I'd probably die of high blood pressure within a week.
At the moment of farewell, Aru seemed unexpectedly sentimental. Though reluctant, she still managed to turn that emotion into a bright, carefree smile.
"Sensei, thank you for everything. It's only been a few days, but I'll never forget the help you gave us at Problem Solver 68. When we meet again, I'll be a far more refined outlaw, someone who'll make you see me in a whole new light."
Yes, maybe goodbyes don't have to be painful when you look forward to meeting again someday.
With that thought, I kindly reminded her, "Alright, but don't forget your turn for Schale duty in a few days."
"Ugh..."
Aru, who had just finished saying something dramatic and cool, immediately looked like she'd tripped over her own punchline. She mumbled incoherently, not knowing how to respond.
"Boss, the truck's ready!"
Kayoko called from the driver's seat window.
"Oh!" Aru seized the chance to escape and grinned at me. "Well, I'm off then."
"Alright. Take care."
I watched as the truck carrying the girls and all their worldly belongings slowly pulled away. Then, guided by a strange feeling, I suddenly turned to look over my shoulder.
Crack.
A friendly reminder: if you turn your head too fast, you might twist your neck.
I hissed through my teeth and rubbed the sore spot. Nothing serious, thankfully.
What really caught my attention, though, was the girl behind the convenience store window, Sora. She flinched like a startled rabbit, snapping her gaze down to her flip phone. But every few seconds, she couldn't help glancing my way again.
I could already feel my reputation taking another hit.
Even though my thorough online persona showed no strange rumors about me (at least for now) knowing Sora's shy, reserved nature, she'd probably never talk about anything she saw… even if it looked suspicious.
Still, prevention is better than cure. I decided to secure my image before it could crumble.
With firm resolve, I strode into the Angel 24 convenience store.
Sora, being on duty, couldn't ignore me no matter how much she wanted to. She swallowed hard, steeling herself to greet the clearly suspicious man before her.
"W-welcome, Sensei…"
The tremor in her voice said it all. She was about ninety percent certain I was up to something shady.
That wouldn't do. Sora worked here on the first floor of Schale, meaning we'd see each other almost every day. A neighborhood can't function if everyone's suspicious of each other, can it?
I quickly put on my warmest smile.
"Good morning, Sora. You're up early for work today."
"Ah, um, yes."
"So diligent. I wish more students were as hardworking as you."
The pure and kind-hearted Sora blushed at the compliment. At the same time, her ears perked slightly, curious about the sigh that followed.
"To be honest," I said, lowering my voice, "you saw the students who just moved out of Schale, didn't you?"
"Eh? Um… yes, I did."
I sighed again, my face full of weary regret.
"You probably realized it too, didn't you? That group of lazy delinquents just here to freeload?"
Aru, my dear, for the sake of your future as the infamous 'Outlaw of Schale,' let Sensei lend you a helping hand in tarnishing your own name!
"Wha...? Ah, y-yes! I noticed that too!"
No, she clearly hadn't.
I pressed on. "Schale's dorms are quite nice, you see. So they targeted me, a defenseless and soft-hearted Sensei, and used the excuse of being homeless to beg me to let them stay."
"Of course, as you know, I'm a man of principle. Upright and virtuous, and deeply aware of the boundaries between men and women. Out of respect for propriety, I even moved out myself while they were staying there. That's why I haven't been around much lately."
Honestly, I wasn't even lying. Just… artistically enhancing the truth a little.
"Ah! So that's what happened!"
Sora's face lit up with sudden understanding, then clouded over with indignation. "How could they do that to you, Sensei?"
"It doesn't end there," I continued, voice full of sorrow. "They even demanded money from me, using it for their own indulgence…"
Technically true. I did pay for most of their meals recently.
I covered my face with my hand and sighed deeply. "I suppose they left Schale because there was nothing more to squeeze out of me. The money doesn't matter. What hurts is that I couldn't fulfill my duty as a teacher... to help them change for the better."
Sora's eyes softened with pity. "Sensei…"
"It's alright. Reforming delinquents is a teacher's duty. Some people might misunderstand, thinking I brought students back to Schale for… unspeakable reasons. But as long as I can help them, I don't mind if my reputation suffers. Even if they live rent-free, even if they ask me for money every day, even if I see no results at all… I'll endure it."
By now, Sora had lowered her head, both moved and ashamed.
After all, she was one of those 'misunderstanders.'
I knew then that my reputation had been safely restored in Sora's eyes. Problem Solver 68's, however, had taken a nosedive.
A small, harmless lie had improved my relationship with a pure-hearted girl and advanced Aru's path to true outlaws. A perfect win–win.
From now on, even if she saw me coming and going from Schale with students again, Sora would subconsciously assume the best of me.
That was good enough for now.
With a faint twinge of guilt for having sweet-talked such an innocent soul, I picked out a bento for breakfast and headed back.
There was still plenty of work waiting for me today.
First on the list was going to the General Student Council to handle paperwork for Abydos's Foreclosure Task Force.
Once that was done, the Task Force would officially become Abydos's new student council, with Hoshino as the new president.
I couldn't help but wonder... what kind of face would Seia make when she realized her prophetic dreams had gone wrong?
I was looking forward to it.
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