How to Get a Tsundere to Worry About You (2) - Seria
Seria. You look a little out of breath. Did you run here?
"...You okay? Still hurting anywhere? Any aftereffects? Ah, don't worry too much—if it gets bad, we can use my Blanche family's special remedy—"
"...Huh?"
"...No, no, I was just... just checking...!"
Quick pivot...! But too late.
A brief silence. Then, in a voice so small it was barely audible—but definitely there—Seria muttered,
"I really... thought you were gonna die..."
So quiet I could hardly hear it. That's why I grinned wickedly and said,
"You were worried about me!"
Expecting her usual denial, just like always.
But the response was unexpected.
"Yeah... I really... was worried..."
Was it that bad? Enough for Seria to say something like that?
"Ah, Arin... you were in real bad shape... The blood you lost..."
Hmm... Guess the situation was even more dire than I thought. Honestly, even I was shocked. A brand-new academy student fighting a high-rank monster like that? Even if we're just tools to throw at the demon war, starting off like this is too much, right?
"Sorry for making you all worry. My bad."
I bowed my head. Then—immediately looked up again.
"But... does this mean I've officially certified as a unique ability user now?"
"...In this situation, that's what you say?"
Seria's voice was stiff as a board.
Ah. Here comes the scolding.
Seria stepped up to the bedside. Not her usual nagging tone. Her words were firm.
"Arin."
"You... today... you almost died."
"...But I didn't, in the end."
"That's the problem."
Seria's hand clenched into a fist, then relaxed.
"Don't brush off almost dying like it's nothing."
Silence.
I started to smile, then stopped. Felt like smiling wouldn't fly this time.
Lia chimed in cautiously.
"...S-Seria's right..."
Lia's face was full of worry.
"Arin... you say you're okay, but you're not."
Lia pointed to the bandages around my stomach.
"Cracked ribs. And your organs... took a serious hit."
"...Huh."
"Plus, you overdid it with the mana usage."
Lia trailed off.
"...Thanks to me and the health teacher, you're recovering... but injuries don't just vanish."
Those words landed heavy, somehow.
My body's just average human, after all.
I glanced down for a moment. Then shrugged.
"Okay... next time, I'll take fewer hits and win."
"...Next time?"
Seria's eyes narrowed.
Ah. Stepped on a landmine.
I quickly added,
"Kidding, kidding."
"......"
"But seriously, I saw something amazing."
Seria paused.
"What?"
"When I touched the mana orb."
I hesitated a bit. Felt like... I shouldn't spill everything here.
Blue letters. Warning text.
'The user's body is not protected.'
...That felt like something only I needed to know.
So I changed tack.
"The light was so pretty."
Seria furrowed her brow.
"...And that's it?"
"Yup!"
Perfect acting. Probably.
Then Lia said softly,
"...Still... I'm just glad."
"Glad about what?"
"That you're... safe, Arin."
The room went quiet for a moment.
Ah. Kinda embarrassing atmosphere here.
So I laughed it off.
"I've got surprisingly good survival instincts."
"...Doesn't feel reliable at all."
Seria muttered under her breath.
And then. For just a split second. She took my hand, then let go.
"...Next time."
She paused...
"...Don't go alone."
Turning her head sharply like that was pretty charming. Almost like begging, right?
I grinned.
"We go together, then?"
"...Didn't say you could."
But that denial's pretty weak. Basically approval.
Then—knock knock.
Someone rapped on the infirmary door.
All three of us looked over at once.
"Leon Hart. Mind if I come in?"
Huh. Homeroom teacher event.
Seria's expression hardened instantly. Lia straightened up. I just waved.
"It's open!"
The door opened. Teacher Leon walked in.
Same expressionless face as always.
But... his gaze was a bit sharper.
He scanned me once and said,
"...You're more intact than I expected."
"I'm tough."
"...Not really."
So firm.
The teacher fell silent for a moment, then spoke.
"Arin Carte."
"Yes."
"Once you're recovered, come to the staff room."
Ooh. Feels big. Praise? Or a scolding?
"Why?"
Leon narrowed his eyes slightly.
"...Things to confirm."
Short words. But... somehow more tense than an exam.
"I'm good to go now—can I head over?"
"A-Arin... you should still take it easy..."
"But I am fine."
And wasting time in the infirmary is the worst.
"Arin Carte, I'll leave it to your judgment. If you're truly okay, follow me."
With that, he turned to leave the infirmary. I hopped right up.
"Arin, you're really going now?"
Seria's voice had a hint of worry. Thought about addressing it, but figured following the teacher quick was better. Kept my mouth shut.
"Gotta get some light exercise anyway."
Said that and bolted out of the infirmary.
After leaving the infirmary, I followed Teacher Leon down the hall.
Quiet. Too quiet.
This usually means a scolding's coming.
"...Am I getting expelled or something?"
Leon, walking ahead, stopped.
"...Why would you think that?"
"I broke the exam floor."
"The mana beast did that. Besides, the exam hall's designed to be broken."
Ah. Legal destruction. Phew.
We started walking again. Only footsteps echoing.
Felt like whoever spoke first would lose, so I stayed quiet.
But—the teacher spoke first.
"Did it hurt a lot?"
"A little."
"A little?"
"...A lot."
Honesty's a virtue, after all.
Leon let out a small sigh.
"And you got back up in that state."
"Grit."
"...No."
Instant denial... Kinda hurts...
We arrived at a room at the end of the staff building. A small counseling room. One desk. Two chairs. No windows...!
Scary vibe.
The teacher gestured for me to sit. I did, obediently.
Brief silence. He just stared at me, saying nothing.
Whoa. This is heavy.
So I spoke first.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"Yes."
"...Huh?"
"Didn't consider your body's condition."
Ah. That?
"But I won."
Leon's eyes shifted just a fraction.
"...Not about winning or losing."
Then what?
I tilted my head.
The teacher asked,
"Why didn't you dodge?"
O. The key question.
I thought for a sec. The real answer's simple. Couldn't dodge. And—thought I'd win if I took the hit.
But saying that straight-up would be weird.
So I smiled.
"Too slow."
"...Lying."
Caught immediately?
"You could have dodged."
"...Nuh-uh?"
"Lies won't help."
Ah. Busted.
The teacher crossed his arms.
"...You waited for the mana beast's attack. Why?"
My heart skipped a beat. This guy's scarier than I thought.
"Students who make that call fall into two categories."
He raised one finger.
"Overwhelming skill."
Second finger.
"Or low self-value."
Silence.
Whoa. Deeper than expected.
"...I wanna live just fine, though?"
"Doesn't look like it."
His gaze went to my bandages.
"Your reaction to pain is abnormal."
Same as Iris.
"Good endurance, though."
"...Not enduring."
Short silence. Then.
"...Adapting."
My heart dropped again. This is dangerous.
I deliberately creaked the chair, shifting position.
"Teacher."
"What."
"I'm not that special."
Half sincere. Half acting.
"Just got lucky."
Leon said nothing for a long time. Then.
"...Fine."
Backed off surprisingly easy.
Huh?
"We'll leave it at that for now."
...For now?
That stuck with me a bit.
The teacher stood.
"One piece of advice."
O. Teacher event.
"The academy doesn't protect talent."
He walked toward the door.
"Fail to prove it, and you're discarded."
Opening the door.
"...So."
He paused.
"Don't die."
Click. Door shut.
Left alone.
I stared at the ceiling for a bit.
"...Whoa."
This school's hardcore.
Still. Kinda... fun now.
Stepping out of the counseling room, the stuffy vibe lifted a bit. I came to the academy to enjoy myself— this kinda thing doesn't suit me.
Thinking that, I sighed. Then spotted someone leaning against the wall at the end of the hall.
Blue-black hair. Half-lidded eyes. Iris.
"Whoa, you were waiting for me? Where's Seria? Honestly shocked it's you waiting. Thought it'd be Seria for sure."
"Still noisy as ever."
Iris sighed and said,
"Seria got dragged off by the space magic specialist prof."
"Ah, makes sense. Hard to find space aptitude mages on Seria's level."
"So, what'd that idiot say to you."
Gasp. Calling the teacher an idiot.
"Not an idiot—it's Teacher Leon Hart!"
"Answer the question."
I thought for a sec, then smiled.
"Don't die."
Iris's eyes shifted just a bit.
"...Reasonable advice."
Then she turned.
"Hey, where you going?"
"Class starts soon. Heading there. You should prep too."
Ah. Slept through lunch in the infirmary.
"W-Wait, together!"