Chapter 228

The light shattered suddenly before her.

Kirishima Ai's eyes widened, her mind a complete blank.

She wanted to scream, but as she tried to do so, she suddenly sat up in bed, and the previously blurry surroundings returned to reality.

A light sweat had appeared on her back without her noticing.

"... ah."

She paused, then looked at what she had just grabbed.

When she opened her palm, what appeared there was a dull Silver Feather Crystal.

Everything that just happened was... a dream?

The next day, Kirishima Ai spent the entire day at school in a daze, as if in a dream.

Today is her turn to be on duty again.

After school, she Takanashi and did her duty.

Well, Takanashi has been in a bad mood lately, probably because of that Magic girl who went missing on Earth.

And now, Kirishima Ai has become similar to Takanashi in this state.

Takanashi has recently started helping Kirishima Ai with some of her chores, which is progress, I guess.

After the two of them had been cleaning together for a while, Takanashi seemed to notice Kirishima Ai's condition and asked curiously:

"Kirishima, are you not feeling well?"

She had heard that Kirishima Ai had a low-grade fever at the beginning of winter.

Although this current state seems more like a matter of mood.

Kirishima Ai.

To be honest, I was quite surprised to suddenly hear Takanashi's concern.

"... Takanashi, I have a question."

After watching Takanashi for a while, Kirishima Ai spoke.

The Takanashi looked slightly confused.

After all, Kirishima Ai doesn't often initiate conversations with her.

"How did you feel after the Crystal you initially used broke?"

This question made Takanashi pinch his chin, lower his head, and think about it seriously for a while.

It was already dark outside, and it was still snowing. Most students probably just wanted to finish their work quickly and go home.

However, for the two of them, when to go home was entirely up to their mood, so they seemed quite relaxed.

"I was a little sad... It felt like a part of me had suddenly disappeared, so I was quite panicked and even felt very lost."

In R'lyeh, there are many Magic girls who remain in their transformed state for their entire lives.

It can be said that their transformation form is almost equivalent to their daily clothes and masks, something that accompanies them throughout their lives.

Takanashi certainly share a similar understanding.

"I see..."

Kirishima Ai realized that her feelings were similar to those of Takanashi.

"After your Crystal was reduced to fragments, did you still keep it?"

She asked curiously.

Because she remembered that the Crystal fragments destroyed by Rainbow Feather seemed to have been taken away by Takanashi herself.

Unexpectedly, Takanashi shook his head.

So it was lost?

"They were made into earrings and given away."

Kirishima Ai blinked;

"Huh?"

Earring?

Why does it feel somewhat familiar?

It seems like someone has suddenly started wearing earrings lately.

"Who did you give it to?"

Fortunately, Kirishima Ai is usually careless and doesn't pay much attention to such small details.

Takanashi simply turned his head indifferently and emptied the trash from his broom into the trash can.

I won't tell you.

It seems Takanashi is still the same Takanashi.

Kirishima Ai didn't seem to mind much.

After the two of them finished packing, Takanashi slung her backpack over her shoulder, said goodbye to Kirishima Ai, and disappeared alone into the darkened corridor.

However, Kirishima Ai did not leave the school immediately.

Today happens to be "that day".

Although it was already dark, she still decided to try her luck and go to the Materials Room to look for that person.

Whenever she encountered something bad or was in a bad mood, that person would always appear.

Chapter Thirty-Three: Today, the angel did not come.

After school, Haihara, who had planned to go home to be with her dog, suddenly remembered that today seemed to be "that day".

Logically, on this day, she should get completely drunk and then transform into the gentle and beautiful confidante "Lily," listening to the Problem Child Kirishima Ai pour out her troubles.

She said this for two reasons: firstly, she found it quite interesting; secondly, she thought that Kirishima Ai probably wouldn't confide in her, her annoying teacher.

Although she wasn't there every week, Kirishima Ai seemed to visit the place every few days, hoping that the mysterious angel would appear.

Especially when Kirishima Ai is in a bad mood or encounters something terrible.

Haihara recalled that Kirishima Ai did seem to be in a bad mood today, even depressed.

Although she didn't really feel like drinking today, she decided to go and take a look anyway.

Anyway, she still has to lock the door.

Winter days always end quickly. Before school is about to end, it's already dark. A thin layer of snow has accumulated in front of the window, and apart from that, it's all pitch black.

It's like telling someone to hurry home.

With that thought in mind, she convinced herself and lightened her pace. Instead of disguising herself as Lily as before, she simply walked towards the Materials Room.

When she arrived, the door to the Materials Room was ajar, as if to say that someone was inside.

Haihara quickly and quietly opened the door and went inside.

The light from the corridor was welcomed in, illuminating the dark room and revealing the silhouette of the girl crouching inside. She looked as forlorn yet slightly expectant as Haihara remembered her.

Upon noticing the door being pushed open, the girl in the darkness initially raised her head, her eyes, which gleamed faintly, revealing anticipation and joy.

Then, Haihara heard the girl say:

"---Miss Lily..."

The girl's tone carried a mixture of disappointment and excitement.

However, when she finally saw the figure in the doorway clearly, her initial joy turned into a slight confusion, and then her expression gradually slumped down, from her gaze to the corners of her mouth, and even her shoulders, until she fell silent.

Kirishima Ai revealed differences from the memories of "Miss Lily".

This initially struck Haihara as a bit odd.

But soon she realized that this was not strange at all, and then she wondered why she herself found it strange.

After realizing she had called the wrong name, Kirishima Ai cautiously called out again:

"... teacher."

She would make this face whenever she made a mistake.

"It seems my appearance is still a bit scary to her?" Haihara guessed.

When Haihara is herself and when Lily, she does use different habits to deal with others, just like when people wear different clothes, they will subconsciously adopt the appropriate posture.

Therefore, when she was Teacher Haihara, Haihara couldn't speak like a caring older sister.

Kirishima Ai tried to sit up, but Haihara walked up to her first.

She saw Teacher Haihara looking at her and saying:

Are you in a bad mood today?

The woman's tone was the same as she usually heard, but it sounded strange in the Materials Room.

That's something Miss Lily would usually say.

Therefore, without realizing it, Teacher Haihara felt a gentleness she didn't usually experience.

A mix of indescribable emotions welled up inside Kirishima Ai, causing her to hesitate for a moment before replying.

She opened her mouth, wanting to try and answer Teacher Haihara the way she usually answered Lily.

But in the end, she just shook her head.

"No... no."

Whether it was her imagination or not, when Kirishima Ai denied it, she noticed that Teacher Haihara's expression froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

At first, she thought the teacher was a little sad.

And then she heard Teacher Haihara's calm reply:

"I see."

Everything is as usual.

That makes sense, Teacher Haihara wouldn't normally care about something like this.

It was only then that she realized she must look strange squatting in the Materials Room, since she usually used the excuse of getting an alcohol lamp for the chemistry teacher.

It's like hiding in a deserted corner and crying secretly.

As it turns out... Miss Lily didn't come today either.

Come to think of it, she doesn't recall ever seeing Ms. Teacher Haihara Lily there.

Teacher Haihara would always appear quietly and indifferently after she had finished talking with Ms. Lily, and lock the door to the Materials Room at just the right moment.

Thinking of this, Kirishima Ai raised her head again.

"Teacher Haihara, do you know a teacher named Lily?"

She asked very seriously.

When asking questions, just like in class, look Haihara in the eye to try and Teacher Haihara out her emotions at that moment.

However, Teacher Haihara only paused for a moment, and it seemed she only glanced at her.

"Never heard of it."

She said it in a slightly cold tone.

Perhaps Kirishima Ai hadn't said this before.

However, as a Japanese literature teacher, Teacher Haihara speaks very pleasantly, with each word pronounced very clearly, giving her an incredible sense of elegance.

Kirishima Ai received this answer.

"She might not be a main subject teacher, maybe she's the nurse or something... Anyway, she comes here often, haven't you seen that teacher before?"

Even though she felt like she might have done something wrong, Kirishima Ai still really wanted to see Miss Lily today, so she subconsciously continued to ask.