Chapter 1 Part III

Even after class was done for the day, I remained behind alone in the classroom. From the window I could hear the voices of the students engaged in their club activities. Even though the sports festival was drawing close, each and every one of them were in high spirits and did not spare any effort in their daily training. Connecting the earphones to my phone, I opened up the file I received earlier and checked the situation.

"I see.....".

Now with this I've more or less grasped the situation. 

If necessary, I had thought I would have needed to lay 2 or 3 traps from now on but it seems that will be unnecessary. 

Satisfied with the superb course of events I decided to return to the dormitory. 

"You've stayed behind unusually late, Ayanokouji".

On my way to the main entrance, I encountered Chabashira-sensei who was sprinkling water with a hose. 

"That may be the case. Are you on duty?".

"Something like that. To be precise, the region around here has become something like my post, that's all".

Saying that, and looking like she was used to it, she continued sprinkling water. 

"Unlike children, people in society are busy in various ways. In particular now that the sports festival is imminent. But still, what happened today? This is the first time I've seen you skulking around after school".

"Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?".

"Have you completed your preparations for the sports festival?".

"I feel like I've more or less grasped it during the recent homeroom though. Is that not the case?".

Hirata, Horikita and Sudou included, all their strategies and tactics have been heard by Chabashira-sensei as well. 

"If it's you, I had thought you'd be thinking of some eccentric idea or strategy though?".

"No such thing at all".

"Nothing at all? I'm sure you understand but---".

Saying that, Chabashira-sensei tried to bring the topic over to me but upon meeting my eyes, she stopped. Even if we talk about such unnecessary things in a place like this, no one stands to gain anything. 

"I haven't forgotten what you told me earlier, sensei. But as to what to do is something I'm free to decide on my own".

"Certainly that's the case. I should not be butting in unnecessarily. However, if you continue to go this leisurely, it's also a fact that this would no longer be the case. If I should lose my reason for protecting you, I will abandon you. Because an ordinary teacher standing up to such pressure isn't a simple task after all. It'll be troublesome if you don't produce results worth protecting".

I don't care about such selfish expectations. Feeling irritation at being encroached upon daily, I decided to leave this spot. If only this instructor hadn't brought forth an unnecessary topic like that, I could have gone by without getting tangled up in this troublesome situation. 

No...it may be that this problem is only a matter of time, sooner or later. 

"I'll be excusing myself".

"Sure, be careful on your way back".

While she worried over the few hundred meters of the way back, I returned to the dormitory.