The First Failing Student (6)
Selena gazed up at me with those pure, innocent eyes. I blanked out for a moment before shaking my head from side to side.
"I appreciate the thought, but... I'm fine. I don't want to."
"If you're just saying that because you feel bad, you don't have to refuse."
"It's not so much that I feel bad..."
She mumbled something after that, but I couldn't quite catch it. So I leaned in a little closer to listen.
She flinched in surprise and jerked backward. The recoil made the back of her head smack against the wall.
"Ow!"
"You okay?"
"Y-yes. I'm fine."
Saying that while scrunching up her face wasn't exactly convincing. At least the bedding had absorbed most of the impact, so it was probably bearable.
"S-so if it's not because you feel bad, then why?"
"I'm embarrassed."
I almost said, More embarrassed than getting caught masturbating?
"If you really hate the idea, I won't force you. But... is it that you just don't want to show me an imperfect side of yourself?"
Her mouth fell open as if I'd hit the bullseye. Looks like I was right, and I couldn't help feeling a little proud of myself. For once, I'd managed to read the usually unreadable Selena.
As expected, I'm a Selena expert.
She stayed frozen for a moment, then hung her head. Both hands grabbed the blanket and yanked it up to hide her face completely.
"Yes. I'm sure Teacher Sion would be disgusted."
"You can't jump to conclusions without even letting me see for myself."
"Hyaah?!"
"Come on. We're heading out right now."
I grabbed her slender wrist and tried to pull her outside, but it was like trying to drag a boulder—she wouldn't budge an inch.
Ah, right.
Ability users in this world couldn't be overpowered by ordinary people. Once you awakened superpowers, your overall physical capabilities got enhanced across the board.
I strained and tugged, which only earned me a look of pity from Selena. Still, she must have appreciated the effort, because she finally came out from under the covers.
"You're pretty stubborn, huh?"
"I wasn't really being stubborn..."
"If that wasn't stubbornness, then what was it?"
"You don't understand a woman's heart."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. It's nothing."
She wiped the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes with a fingertip and puffed out her cheeks. Beneath that prim expression, I caught a tantalizing side profile.
Those sideboobs just put me in my place.
"Teacher Sion?"
"Ah. Right. We should go. Yeah. Let's go."
"Your hand."
"Hm?"
"You're not holding my hand anymore."
"Hand?"
She pouted those red lips and held out her hand as well, even giving it a little shake as if urging me to take it.
In the end, we headed for the training grounds hand in hand like a pair of good friends.
She trudged along with her wrist still caught in my grip. The moment we arrived I let go, and she rubbed her wrist with an inscrutable expression.
I faced Selena, who stood there quietly giving me a sidelong look, and cleared my throat.
"Ahem. From this moment on, I will begin special training with Selena."
"Special training? You don't have to go that far. You're busy as it is."
"This is my job."
"Pardon?"
"More importantly—will you explain your ability for me?"
Maybe I'd survived this unfamiliar world all these years for exactly this moment.
I simply wanted to see Selena fight with my own two eyes. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that single motive alone had carried me this far.
In the tutorial of Red Bible, the protagonist—having already looped once—wakes from sleep. After that he goes about his usual duties commanding students and clearing Defects, until he happens to save a student who will play a crucial role in the future. That is how the early story begins.
The combat system is introduced through Selena and the other R-rank students. The problem is that, at the extreme beginning, the only healer and buffer available is Selena.
As an R-rank she has only one skill: it randomly designates a single target on the field and activates. The developers supposedly set a probability so that it would target allies, but...
Yeah, right.
Selena heals an ally roughly twenty percent of the time and heals an enemy the other eighty. That is the grotesque performance I arrived at after four hundred-odd trials.
Other users guessed it was meant to prevent rerolling. Anyway.
"I can create orbs that restore wounds and grant ability enhancements."
"Ooh. And how do you use that ability?"
She helpfully formed a sphere that glowed gold and held it out. When I asked how she actually employed it, she hesitated for a long while before answering.
"Like this."
With a short ei! she hurled the orb at the ground. It bounced at terrifying speed every which way and then slammed straight into her own face.
Ah. So that's why.
Fortunately it seemed there was no sense of pain on impact. She didn't grimace from hurt; she simply flushed crimson with shame.
"I'm sorry."
"Nothing to apologize for."
Not only did she close her eyes when she threw, she put far too much power into it. Her form was a mess as well.
How should I put it? Her body was locked up tight. Was she that tense?
"As I thought, I'm just..."
"Selena. Would you mind if your teacher gave you a little coaching?"
"No. I've received instruction a few times already, but nothing ever changed."
"That would be those teachers' fault."
"Pardon?"
"I told you. From this moment on, I'm doing special training with you, Selena."
She brushed down her arms with a faintly dubious look. So I brought out the ball I had prepared ahead of time.
It was light and soft—the kind of ball perfect for teaching kids dodgeball.
"Here, hold this."
"Ah—yes."
"How does it feel compared to the ones you make with your ability?"
"It fits my hand nicely."
"Then try throwing it at me."
"Um... I don't think I can."
"Afraid you'll miss?"
After a brief hesitation she nodded.
"Don't worry, Selena. This isn't a mission. Even if you can't throw it, I won't be disappointed."
"But still..."
"Nobody's good from the start. But if you keep practicing without giving up, you'll get better."
"You won't scold me?"
"Why would I scold you?"
"Ah—everyone else... always scolded me."
"That's the problem. Meritocracy freaks, the lot of them."
Her eyes went wide as if she were startled.
"Let me make this clear. I raise people according to what the heart tells me, not according to performance!"
"Excuse me???"
"Come on, Selena!"
"E-eh?"
In her fluster she swung her arm and threw the ball—only it flew wildly off to the left instead of toward me.
"I'm sorry. I'll go pick it up."
"No. I'll go."
"I was the one who threw it wrong."
"Nope! Every time you throw it wrong, I'm the one who goes."
"You can't!"
"I can!"
Selena dashed after the ball. I was just barely fast enough to keep up, and I flung myself forward to grab it first.
I looked up at a face steeped in bewilderment. Rising slowly, I dusted myself off.
"I'll teach you the form."
"Form?"
"Ever played dodgeball?"
"No. Ball sports aren't my specialty."
"Then you can learn."
I walked around behind Selena and handed her the ball.
"All right—extend your right arm forward."
"Yes."
I took hold of her slender arm and corrected her posture. The whole time I held her, I could feel how stiffly locked her body was.
"Hold the ball firmly with your left hand."
"Um, Teacher Sion... going this far..."
"Focus."
"Yes."
"You can ease the tension in your body."
"Ah—I'm sorry."
"Okay? From here, you throw like this—like this. Use your whole body as if you're cracking a whip. Start from the waist, then shoulder, elbow, wrist, and finally the release."
"E-ah..."
She dropped the ball she had been holding so carefully in her left hand. I stopped her when she hurriedly tried to pick it up.
"Move your body the way I just showed you. Without the ball."
"Yes."
"That's it. Twist the waist, twist the shoulder too. Here—this part is still stiff."
"Hyaah?!"
"Ah, sorry. Did that hurt?"
"It tickled."
She shyly flushed and lightly covered the patch of skin I had touched.
"Ahem. I'll be more careful. Shall we try again from the top?"
"Yes—waist, shoulder, elbow, wrist. Like this?"
"Good. Very good. Want me to guide you?"
"Hweh?"
"That's it. You really do pick things up fast."
"Nnh—no. It's because you explained so kindly."
"Not at all. Shall we try it with the ball this time? Don't worry about where it goes. Just focus on the form I taught you."
"Is this right?"
"Absolutely excellent. You've got talent."
"Hehe."
Her expression had softened compared to the beginning. Just as I thought—her body had been locked up from the pressure.
"That's it, that's it. Your form is much better now. Just remember that feeling."
"Really?"
"Now extend your right hand forward and aim where you're going to throw."
"Like this?"
"Yeah. And then..."
Movements that had been clumsy and rigid at first gradually grew natural. Probably because I had been pouring on the praise.
If someone expects perfection and you drive yourself that hard, you burn out in no time. And then you start to fear failure.
"Ei!"
"Nice! Clean!"
"Ei!"
"Keep your eyes on it all the way. That's it!"
"Ei!"
"Great job!"
"Ei!!"
Before I knew it, she looked like she was actually enjoying the training. As expected—Selena's smile is a good look on her.
"You worked hard today, so I'll walk you back to the dorm."
"No, you really don't have to."
"The special training isn't over until you're home."
"In that case... since it's already this late, would you like to have dinner in my room?"
"Oh, that sounds great."
"Really?"
The two of us walked side by side down the corridor. I matched my stride to her slightly awkward gait, advancing at a calm pace, when Selena suddenly put a little distance between us. Wondering what was wrong, I quietly glanced over—and the instant our eyes met she startled and spoke up.
"I worked up a sweat, so..."
"Worried about the smell? Don't be. I'm not about to complain over something like that."
"Teacher Sion, sometimes your delicacy just vanishes."
"Ah. Sorry. That could count as sexual harassment, huh."
"No, not exactly... more that you're a little too unreserved, I suppose."
Honestly, the nice scent—that sweet body odor—was something I actually liked.
"You're a tease."
"I wasn't doing it on purpose."
"Please be more considerate from now on."
"Got it. I'll keep that in mind."
She stuck out her red tongue. That prim little reaction was so cute I couldn't help grinning.
"Um, Teacher Sion."
"Hm?"
"What kind of food do you like?"
"Anything with meat."
"Can you handle spicy food well?"
"Of course~"
"How about spicy braised short ribs for dinner?"
"Sounds perfect!"
Selena wiped the bead of sweat from her chin and gave a soft laugh.
"I just so happened to have some marinating. Perfect timing♡"
Beside that adorable smile floated a favorability value of 210. It had gone up again. Just how high does this thing go?