Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: A Stable Heart
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Fetching my parents... No, that's not it.
It was warm.
Aika Terin, nestled in Iris's arms, felt that warmth. Considering how her own body had been even hotter than Iris's, it seemed closer to a mental warmth than a physical one.
...Though the softness of those ample breasts surely played a part.
In any case.
Aika Terin slowly sniffed, drawing in a deep breath.
A soft, sweet scent with a subtle nuttiness tickled her nostrils.
Thump, thump.
The heartbeat was a bit distant because of the breasts in the way, but Iris's pounding heart rang clear in her ears.
'Have I ever heard someone else's heartbeat before?'
Nestled in Iris's embrace, she blankly mulled over her past. But no particular memories surfaced.
Sensing that, Aika Terin tightened her arms around Iris.
"Eek...!?"
Was she feeling like she was being loved unilaterally on her own?
Thud, thud... thud.
Aika Terin felt her heart racing wildly and irregularly. It pounded as if it might burst.
Like a dormant volcano erupting anew, heat surged from her heart.
Her once-steady breathing grew ragged again.
"Ngh, ugh... ah...!"
The once-sweet scent and warm body heat now felt alien. Anxiety crept in, the fear that Iris might turn her back on her at any moment.
Aika Terin felt as if she were alone in the world.
A father she'd never even seen, a mother who'd kept her distance from the start.
No one had stayed by her side.
...Maybe it'd be better to just burn away like this.
The moment the heat from her heart tried to surge outward.
A cold, cool energy enveloped her entire body even faster.
Aika Terin instinctively clung tightly to that coolness. Then a small, cute voice reached her.
"C-Could you... go a little easier...?"
It was Iris.
Realizing that, Aika Terin's energy began to gradually subside. Hearing Iris's voice made her heart settle bit by bit.
It was cold, yet warm. Unlike her own tight grip, the hand gently patting her back felt comforting.
Aika Terin inhaled Iris's fragrance, which now smelled fresh again, and lost herself in thought.
'Why does this person take care of me so much...?'
She felt the boiling, lava-like energy slowly and softly returning to her heart.
"Hoo... hoo...."
Iris's exhaled breath tickled her hair.
Proof that Iris wasn't handling the situation effortlessly. That only deepened her questions.
Why... go this far?
Because she was the academy's infirmary teacher?
Or fearing another incident like before?
She couldn't pin it on either. Maybe both.
'...I don't know.'
...It didn't seem to matter much.
After all, the fact that she was devoting herself for Aika Terin's sake didn't change.
No matter the intent, she was risking her life.
Aika Terin felt a tickle deep in her heart.
She didn't know what emotion had sprouted there. Nor what the watering it was.
But... she was purely happy.
Infinitely cozy and warm.
She recalled how Iris had always greeted her prickly self with a gentle face.
Is this what one-sided love feels like?
She didn't know exactly what it was, but... it felt really good.
"Mom..."
"...?"
Aika Terin murmured it without thinking and burrowed deeper into Iris's embrace.
The one who'd heard it froze in surprise for a moment, then remembered her parents were around and sighed inwardly.
The life of a half-blood... is complicated.
Even as a half-blood of a strong race, it didn't mean an easy life.
Iris felt a mix of emotions as she patted Aika Terin's back.
In the meantime, the heat permeating Aika Terin's body seemed mostly contained. As if to prove it, El's voice echoed in Iris's mind.
- Hmm, it's finally stabilizing. Soon, you won't need to look after her anymore. Congratulations.
...The congratulations should go to Aika Terin, not me.
Iris, who'd been channeling energy into Aika Terin, felt the bitterness as the energy stabilized, just as El said.
Why hadn't she received what her parents should have given her until now?
In truth, Iris had a vague idea surfacing in her mind.
Having consumed countless stories through media, she could make a guess.
She felt pity for it.
Whatever the detailed reasons, it meant Aika Terin hadn't gotten what she deserved from her parents.
Iris, unable to do much, simply held her as her chest grew damp.
Not long after, Aika Terin lifted her messy face. Tear tracks and imprints from her chest marred it. Her red hair was tangled and stuck in clumps.
Having gathered her wits, she spoke in a low voice at odds with her face.
"...Thank you."
"No, it's... just my job..."
Even so, her hoarse voice was unavoidable. She fiddled with her face, sighed with a flushed expression, and muttered something.
With a flash of red light, her face cleared up.
...She'd used magic.
Her half-dubious expression turned to surprise as she let out a voice. Even she looked stunned at her own success.
"I-I didn't think it'd actually work."
"...Probably because your energy wasn't stable. Now that it is, you should reach your goals."
"I see..."
She murmured softly with a complicated look.
Then, in eyes carrying a warmth unlike her usual prickliness, she looked at me hesitantly.
I wondered why, but then recalled helping with her life-threatening issue—it made sense.
I'd wanted to see her parents' faces, but thinking one was a dragon killed that urge.
Finally, the hesitant girl spoke.
"T-Teacher."
"Yes?"
"...Um, from now on... could you call me just Arin...?"
"...Sure, why not."
Aika Terin—no, Arin—nodded vigorously, her face flushing like her hair, then bolted from the infirmary.
Maybe she'd remembered her prickly attitude all this time.
I'd never properly explained why her heart had gone berserk, so she probably thought the quack had finally cured her properly.
Well, this distance... is fine.
By the way.
I didn't tell her she doesn't need to come anymore.
...It's not the only day anyway.
Now she can do what she wants, so she might forget about me soon.
I hoped for that, yet it felt oddly off.
Gazing at the spot Arin had left, feeling that dissonance.
The door opened, and a familiar face clicked in on heels.
Philia, no less.
With Arin gone, it was the natural order.
"I saw Scarlett the student leaving just now... Did you... do something?"
For whatever reason, Philia eyed me suspiciously. Like she was looking at a cheating boyfriend.
...Not that I have dating history to confirm, but that's the vibe.
"Huh? No? She's probably just happy the treatment's over."
"Oh, it's done?"
"Yeah. Need one more check tomorrow, but probably."
"That's a relief."
Then Philia boiled water and brewed tea as deftly as if it were her own room.
With Arin's treatment over, these meetings at this hour would end too.
Thinking that brought a bittersweet refreshment.
Yet recalling Philia's heavy heart when she'd suggested going to the forest, I thought it was for the best.
Distance breeds distance in hearts, so a busy student council president with fewer excuses would mean fewer connections.
...This makes me feel like a bad person.
Pulling in those who help me without care, while wary of those who don't getting close.
Not that I'm pushing away the unhelpful on purpose, but the bitterness lingered.
...Maybe I'm waiting for someone to tell me I can't go back now.
A secret I couldn't confide in anyone, I sighed inwardly as Philia set down the tea and said,
"Once the treatment's done... these meetings will be the last, won't they."
"Yeah."
Philia didn't hide her regret.
I'd already noticed she'd been coming under the pretext of checking on Aika Terin's condition.
...I'd grown to enjoy these times too, so I felt the loss.
She'd come around sunset without pressing for the forest, just enjoying the time together.
Whether she'd read my mood or it was her long-lived race's leisure, I didn't know.
This time too, Philia drank her tea plainly, chatted idly, and left.
I couldn't bring up the topics I'd planned during the day, too busy gauging her mood.
...Well, they're not fully fleshed out yet.
I can visit later.
The strangely bittersweet day faded, and tomorrow's sun rose again.
I headed to work as usual and, first things first,
made up my mind to work Evelyn hard.