Affection and Care

Yotsuya Miko sighed and apologized to Hana without a hint of sincerity, then turned her attention to Tono Zen. At some point, she had planted an iron pellet on him. It worked like a tracker, allowing Miko to sense its location at any time, as long as Tono Zen hadn't discovered it.

Though it was only a matter of time before he did.

Maybe I should make something he'd keep on him all the time... No, once I figure out which way he goes home, there's no need to go to all that trouble.

As she thought this, Yotsuya Miko had already decided to follow him tonight...

"Tch... I've been found out."

"Found out about what, Miko?"

Yurikawa Hana looked at her in confusion and shook her arm.

"Are you really okay? You look so sleepy. You should probably go to the Health Room."

She grabbed Miko by the arm without giving her a chance to respond, and had already dragged her to the door.

"Hana... I really..."

Yotsuya Miko had been about to stop her, but only then did she realize how weak her body was. Her limbs felt limp and powerless, and even jogging made her tired. Her heart was pounding rapidly, each dull thump seeming to sound right against her eardrums, far louder than usual.

Had she really overestimated her physical fitness after all?

Yotsuya Miko couldn't help smiling wryly.

Well, I'll let you off for today, then.

As she thought this, the moment Yurikawa Hana firmly pushed her onto the infirmary bed, her eyes closed tightly, and she lost consciousness completely.

"What do you mean, you're fine?"

Hana raised an eyebrow as she looked at Yotsuya Miko, who had fallen asleep. She decided she'd give Miko a good talking-to once she woke up.

"You're obviously not fine at all."

But as she looked at her friend's face, still troubled even in sleep, her anger gradually faded, replaced by a long sigh.

"Can't you tell me when something's bothering you, Miko?"

After all, she knew Yotsuya Miko too well. Over the past few months, she'd noticed one thing or another happening to Miko. She just didn't know what could make her friend look so worried every day, still weighed down by deep concerns even after a brief moment of happiness.

"I really want to punch you and make you tell me everything."

She grumbled angrily, then pulled a packet of bread from her pocket and tore it open.

"Clatter—"

Tono Zen returned to the teachers' office with the same unruffled expression as ever. Carrying his handouts and application forms, he walked over to his desk. Just as he sat down, a small silver-white ball slipped out of his pocket and fell to the floor.

"? Is this some kind of prank?"

Zen frowned, picked up the silver-white ball, and held it up to the light. He couldn't see anything unusual about it.

"Oh, are you the new teacher, Mr. Tono Zen?"

The other teachers returned to the office as well. Seeing the new teacher, they greeted him politely. A sharp-eyed female teacher soon noticed the little ball pinched between his fingers.

"Is that... the Silver Orb from the urban legend?"

The young female teacher spoke hesitantly. Seeing Tono Zen looking puzzled, she guessed what was troubling him and stepped forward to explain.

"I suppose you haven't heard much about urban legends, Mr. Tono Zen? There's apparently a popular rumor going around lately. A powerful guardian deity gives silver-white balls to people in trouble, and those who receive one without realizing it soon resolve their problems. That's why they're called Silver Orbs."

She spoke with a sigh of wonder.

"I never thought I'd encounter something like that myself. I can't believe it happened to you, Mr. Tono Zen. I'm sure things will go unusually well for you from now on."

"That's right."

The other teachers who had heard the urban legend chimed in agreement, hoping to quickly build a rapport with the new teacher and avoid any awkwardness when working together later.

"I see... That's the first I've heard of that rumor."

Tono Zen nodded and thanked the teachers around him in a distant but polite tone, then put the little ball in his pocket. After exchanging a few pleasantries with the other teachers, he returned to his seat and began working.

The teachers assumed he was still a little reserved because he hadn't gotten used to his new surroundings, so they stopped bothering him and let him settle into his work. The female teacher who had spoken to him first wanted to chat with Tono Zen a little longer, but she had to give up on the idea out of courtesy.

Maybe I'll invite him out after work.

The young teacher thought this, then glanced at a few of her younger colleagues working nearby and gave them a smug smile.

If you're not going to make a move, I'll get in there first.

But she soon regretted her shallow thinking. The other young teachers were just like her, each coming up with their own schemes. Some tried to help him learn his way around; others used the pretext of offering assistance. They were all trying to get on good terms with the new teacher, Tono Zen.

Compared with those immature high school girls at an all-girls' school, these women were far more shameless and reckless.

But Tono Zen acted as if he hadn't noticed any of their obvious or subtle hints, and carried on with his work meticulously. Not one of them managed to get any closer to him before the end of the workday.

Is this guy made of wood or something?

The female teacher who'd spoken to him first was both frustrated and relieved. She quietly snatched the task of emptying the trash bin beside Mr. Tono Zen's desk, hoping to learn a little about what he liked. But when she saw the silver-white balls glittering inside the bin, she froze.

All her infatuation at first sight vanished without a trace.

"What a loser of a teacher... (very quietly)"

Like and Care

Yotsuya Miko didn't know how long she'd been asleep.

As she looked at the golden rays coming through the window, she gazed outside, and a sudden sense of defeat welled up inside her.

The Ghosts were still mixed in among the crowd, never once vanishing. And as for her, she feared death while wearing herself out all the same. After a nap, most of her original exhaustion had faded, but she felt even more dissatisfied with herself.

She couldn't even handle this much...

Her hands clutched the blanket tightly. She remained silent for a long, long time.

Then a pair of cool hands pressed against her cheeks.

The orange-haired girl quietly gathered the black-haired girl into her arms, letting her small head rest against her chest.

"Don't think about anything right now, Miko. You're already exhausted."

"But..."

Hana pressed her index finger to Yotsuya Miko's lips, stopping her from speaking.

"Miko, do you know? I really like you."

Yurikawa Hana spoke softly.

"I like the way you worry about me, the way you get mad for me. I like that you're always by my side, in your own way."

As she spoke frankly, a hint of irritation crept into her voice.

"I know you've always thought of me as someone you have to protect, because I'm clumsy, right? I don't like exercising, I eat a lot, and I have all sorts of flaws."

"But why can't you let me protect you for once?"

Even her anger was helpless, because just as Hana understood her, Yotsuya Miko knew that Hana was always kind and gentle.

And that was exactly why Yotsuya Miko wouldn't let her. She couldn't.

She listened quietly without saying a word, not even offering an apology. She simply closed her eyes, as if accepting what Hana had said.

"Mm."

Let me lie here a little longer, Hana.

I really feel so tired.

Bit by bit, she poured out the torment she'd kept hidden inside. From that stormy night up until now.

Hana, do you know? I'm so scared. When I see those Ghosts, I really want to scream. But I can't. I really can't, because I'm more afraid of dying than I am of the Ghosts. I'm afraid I'll never see everyone again. I'm afraid I'll never see you again.

So I held it in.

I've been through so much, so much, but I'm sorry... I can't tell you.

I can't tell you.

She opened her eyes, wiped the tears from the corners, looked sincerely into Hana's eyes, and smiled.

"Thank you, Hana."

She slipped out of Yurikawa Hana's arms and stretched her limbs, then looked at the cute girl in front of her, who was still puffed up with anger.

"I stayed up really late watching Mr. Cave Bear's videos last night, so I'm sorry."

"Mm—"

Hana stared at her blankly for a moment, then put on a sulky expression.

"Honestly, what's wrong with you?"

She seemed to believe the excuse and started complaining about Yotsuya Miko's behavior.

"You can't stay up watching videos so late. Make sure you get enough sleep!"

"Miko—classmate, are you okay?"

Just as one was willing to lie and the other was willing to play along, someone rushed into the Health Room again.

The anxious Golden Twin-Tailed Girl nearly blurted out an honorific for Yotsuya Miko in her haste. When she noticed Yurikawa Hana beside the bed, she hurriedly changed it to "classmate."

"Yuria-chan? Did you come to see Miko too?"

Yurikawa Hana smiled at Futamido Yuria as she entered.

"You two really are close."

"...I only just found out Miko was sick, and since I had nothing else to do, I came to visit."

Yuria naturally denied being close to anyone, then turned her gaze to Yotsuya Miko, her expression grave.

To her, Yotsuya Miko's illness couldn't possibly be ordinary. That great lady must have encountered a powerful Ghost!

Ever since their trip through the tunnel, Futamido Yuria's attitude toward Yotsuya Miko had completely changed. She'd come to believe that Miko was a truly dependable and powerful spiritual medium, and had begun to admire her more and more.

What kind of powerful Ghost could have injured Miko?

Yuria started imagining a mighty Ghost worthy of Yotsuya Miko. It must have been enormous, like a small mountain. Even as Miko repeatedly struck its body with her powerful Spiritual Power, the Ghost had been so strong that it withstood those terrifying attacks and fought back against Yotsuya Miko.

But in the end, Yotsuya Miko, who was just as powerful, had still won. After a truly brutal battle, she had collapsed.

Yes, it must have happened that way.

Convinced she'd worked out the whole story, Yuria gazed at Yotsuya Miko with admiration.

Her fervent gaze left Yotsuya Miko completely baffled. But given what she knew of Yuria, Miko could more or less guess that the chuuni spiritual medium had once again imagined her fighting a powerful Ghost.

"Is that so?"

Yurikawa Hana didn't think too much about it. She pointed at Yotsuya Miko with an expression that said, "You came at just the right time."

"Then you can help me talk some sense into Miko. Honestly, she stayed up all night watching videos."

Stayed up all night watching videos?

Yuria thought about it for a moment and came to a reasonable conclusion.

That's right. Lady Yotsuya Miko must have fought a terrifying Ghost all night, then dragged her exhausted, battered body to school. She must have passed out because she hadn't had a chance to rest.

She's trying to keep the others from finding out that something's wrong with her?

Yuria's expression grew resolute.

"Miko, I don't know what happened, but please make sure you rest properly. Don't overexert yourself."

(Miko, although I wasn't there to witness that earth-shattering battle, you've worked so hard. Please don't wear yourself out over unimportant things.)

I understand, but I really didn't fight any Ghost like that.

Yotsuya Miko's mouth twitched. With the perceptive power of her Spiritual Sense, she could more or less tell what Yuria meant.

Besides, going to school isn't something unimportant.

"Mm, I understand."

She still gave them a halfhearted answer, but seeing the two of them worry about her health, whatever their reasons, Yotsuya Miko felt a little warmth inside.

She smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Hana. And you too, Yuria-chan."

"If you want to thank me, take me somewhere delicious, Miko."