The Moon That Illuminates You

Everyone confirmed that a system window had appeared. Lua, who had tumbled to the floor tangled up with Juju, let out a long breath and lay back against the ground.

"Whew."

It had been a gamble.

If Juju had held her balance even a little ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠longer, or if Lua hadn't tackled her hard enough, both of them would have been cut clean in two by Himari's blade.

But it worked.

She hadn't missed the single perfect instant when the two Skeleton Knights' paths crossed.

In the original game, the protagonist could deploy all kinds of strategies under the player's control—but Lua's circumstances were nowhere near that generous. This had been her only option.

"Is everyone all right? Anyone hurt?"

At the mage's words, Lua suddenly remembered her duty as the healer and pushed herself upright.

"Hah… hah…"

Himari was still where she had drawn her blade, gasping for breath. One knee pressed to the floor, her left hand clenched tight. Lua scrambled to her feet and ran to her.

"Himari, Himari. A-are you okay?"

"Yes, I am fine. However…"

Before Himari could finish, Lua was already examining her left ring finger. Unlike the shallow scrape from before, the injury this time was serious.

"P-Perfect Healing!"

Without a second's hesitation, Lua cupped Himari's hand and cried out. A green light denser and brighter than ordinary Healing poured forth, mending the wound. A considerable amount of mana drained away, but Lua didn't care.

"Thank you, Teacher."

"You did great, Himari. Thanks to you, we're getting out of here alive."

At Lua's words, Himari finally allowed a faint smile to surface.

"It is thanks to you, Teacher. Without you, I could not have done it."

Himari took Lua's hand in return. Warmth passed between their palms.

"Teach, heal me up too, yeah?"

Juju slid neatly between them. From the earlier tumble with Lua, the skin along her side had been scraped raw against the floor.

"Healing!"

"Ah, that hits the spot. Thanks."

Juju peeled off her gauntlets and wiped the sweat from her brow. The mage, having stayed in the rear, was unhurt.

"If everyone's patched up, we should collect the loot."

The mage pointed at the heap of bones.

"There should be some C-class rare metal the boss dropped. Shall I look?"

Himari sifted through the Skeleton Knight's remains and found two metal lumps, each about half the size of an adult's fist. They glowed softly under the dim light.

Rare metal.

The only material capable of piercing a monster's barrier—and an essential component in forging a hunter's weapon.

"Here they are."

Himari held the rare metal out to the mage, but the mage shook her head and declined.

"By principle, rare metal is distributed by the party leader. Besides, I receive support from my guild, so I don't need it. You all divide it among yourselves."

"Thank you."

Himari carried the rare metal over to where Lua and Juju stood.

"Teacher, please handle the distribution of the spoils."

Even though she had been the one to fell the boss, Himari readily handed the rare metal over to Lua.

Lua turned the rare metal over in her hands—her first time touching it—then held one piece out to Himari and the other to Juju.

"I'm a healer, so I don't need this stuff. Lucky there are two of them. How about you two take one each?"

"Huh! You sure that's okay?"

Juju peered at the rare metal Lua had given her with open curiosity.

"Wow…"

Himari examined hers as well, murmuring.

"My first gate clear, and my first rare metal drop on top of it. Today seems full of firsts."

She thought for a moment, then lifted her head.

"Juju."

"Hm?"

"Please take this."

"……!"

Himari held her own rare metal out to Juju, a clear, open smile on her face.

"Uh… wh-why? That's yours, Himari."

"An apology. For mistaking your gender."

"I already said that was fine earlier…"

"No. Please accept it."

Himari took Juju's empty hand and pressed the rare metal into it.

"The new experiences you and Teacher gave me today are already more than enough."

"Himari… you sure?"

"Of course."

"……."

Juju shot Lua a look that asked if this was really all right. Lua nodded.

In the game she gives it to the protagonist anyway.

Himari already had a sword forged from A-class rare metal. She didn't need this.

But wait a second.

A flicker of dissonance made Lua tilt her head.

In the original story, Himari only developed affection for the protagonist. She gave away the rare metal as thanks for being told that what was needed wasn't Hoshikawa-style iaido—but Himari herself.

This time, though, the one who had said those words was Lua, and the rare metal had gone to Juju as an apology.

In other words, the protagonist's role had been split between Lua and Juju.

The story's diverging…?

"Teacher."

"Y-yeah?"

When Himari spoke, Lua lifted her head awkwardly. Himari was looking straight at her with an intensity that was almost overwhelming. Faced with those long lashes and that lovely face, Lua felt her cheeks heat all over again.

"To the teacher who has guided me, there is one request I wish to make."

"A request?"

"Please allow me—"

Without warning, Himari dropped to one knee before Lua.

What left those small, full lips was something Lua had never imagined.

"—to become your moon, Teacher."

"……?"

Moon?

A smartphone screen showed the gymnasium of Felix Academy.

Students lined up in rows and teachers on the platform listened as the emcee spoke.

"This month's Model Teacher is Han Lua of the Health Office!"

—Clap clap clap…

When Lua's ID photo appeared on the giant screen installed in the gym, another round of applause poured out.

"Teacher Han Lua responded admirably to the accident during last week's external training program. In particular, despite being isolated inside a gate, she conducted herself in an exemplary manner and safeguarded her students' safety. For this, we present her with this certificate of commendation."

It was the all-school morning assembly held at the end of the month.

The incident involving the first-year special class had become the talk of the entire academy. Even with a teacher and a professional hunter present, the fact that freshmen barely past enrollment had faced monsters head-on and cleared a gate was astonishing.

It was only natural that their chaperone, Lua, had received the Teacher of the Month award.

"We would normally hear a few words from the recipient, but unfortunately Teacher Han Lua is currently resting at home due to aftereffects of the incident, so we will omit that portion. Now then, next on the agenda…"

—Tap!

A long, pale finger touched the smartphone screen, and the live morning-assembly feed went dark.

"There is no need to watch further."

To be precise, not every student in the school had been gathered in that gymnasium.

Hoshikawa Himari had not been among them.

Himari was walking toward the teachers' dormitory building, passing between cherry trees just beginning to bloom.

The eyes of people she passed lingered on her, again and again. It was because of the traditional attire she had dressed in with special care today.

An elegant kimono adorned with the Hoshikawa family crest, which symbolized the Milky Way. The dark fabric made Himari's face stand out all the more.

Teacher Han Lua.

Climbing the dormitory stairs, Himari pictured Lua's face.

The school nurse who had thrown up at the entrance ceremony, who stuttered whenever she spoke, who was so shy she couldn't even meet anyone's eyes.

And at the same time, the person named Han Lua who had breathed courage into her students, taken direct command of the party, and ultimately succeeded in clearing the gate.

How strange.

She had never met anyone like that before.

And then there were the words Lua had spoken to her inside the gate—

It's not your iaido I need. It's you, Himari.

It was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠probably a coincidence, but those words were identical to something her older brother had once said to her.

Between a father who cared only about honing skills and was strict beyond measure, and household retainers who did nothing but carry out orders, her brother had been the only one who truly saw her for herself.

After he passed away, this was the first time she had heard those words again.

And so Himari wanted to become her "moon."

Standing before the front door, Himari drew a deep breath and lightly pressed the doorbell.

—Ding-dong!

"Come in!"

"……?"

A voice from inside. Thankfully, Lua was home. But Himari hesitated, at a loss. How was she supposed to just walk in when no one had opened the door?

"Wh-what? Sua, is that you?"

While Himari stood frozen, unsure what to do, Lua's flustered voice drew nearer along with a thumping of footsteps.

—Beep!

With a cheerful chime, the door opened.

"W-w-who is it…?"

Lua peeked out timidly with the chain still fastened. She was in her pajamas.

"Good day to you, Teacher."

Seeing Lua's face, Himari bowed politely at the waist.

"Eek! Wh-why? What about morning assembly?"

Lua's eyes went wide with shock. Privately, Himari found the look adorable.

"I did not attend. There is something more important."

Himari folded her hands neatly as she spoke.

"How is your condition?"

"Ah, y-yeah, it was just an excuse anyway…"

Lua hesitated a moment, then unlatched the chain and opened the door wide.

"Come in. The room's a bit of a mess, though."

As Himari stepped inside, Lua hurriedly shoved the clutter on the floor toward the edges to clear some space.

The flustered scramble was so cute that Himari quietly allowed a faint smile.

"Um… so…"

Lua avoided Himari's eyes, her face bright red.

"Your clothes… th-they're pretty."

"……."

She really is strange, this person.

If she was embarrassed, she could simply keep it to herself—yet even with her face burning, she still put the words out loud. Why? For Himari's sake? Because she wanted to be honest with her own feelings?

Swallowing the question, Himari answered.

"Thank you. I brought this outfit to wear for something important."

Just like that, Himari sank to her knees before Lua.

"Huh? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠What's wrong?"

"I have come to make a formal request."

"…Is this about what you said in the gate?"

"Yes."

Seated formally, Himari folded her hands and looked up at Lua.

"I wish to become your 'moon,' Teacher."

"Moon… as in, the moon in the sky?"

"Yes."

Himari met Lua's eyes and spoke with careful clarity.

"The Hoshikawa family has a tradition. Before the children of the house become independent, they remain at the side of an excellent master—observing, learning, and serving—and through that, come to understand the world. Because it is like the moon that orbits the Earth, we call ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it so."

"……."

"My father introduced me to many fine people, but there was never anyone I truly wished to become a moon for. And then, at last, I met you, Teacher."

Hearing this, the teacher scratched her head.

"Why me?"

Of course, Himari had prepared her answer in advance.

"Inside the gate, Teacher, you scolded the frightened students and made them stand again. You also gave me courage, and with a sound strategy you even seized victory."

"D-did I really do all that…? Hehe."

"I am lacking in many ways, but if you would permit it, I wish to stay by your side and serve you. If I become your moon, I believe I will be able to find the new experiences I came to Korea seeking."

"Mm…"

"I ask this of you."

Himari bowed her head deeply. Anxiety showed plainly on her face.

"Um, could you sit up first? You don't have to go this far…"

Himari used Lua's small arm for support as she rose.

"All right. I'll accept."

"……!"

"Honestly, I've been wanting to raise Himari's affection—I mean, I've been wanting to get closer to you too."

Himari's expression brightened visibly. That Lua had been thinking the same thing was the best possible outcome.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

"W-well, looking forward to it…"

Himari took Lua's hand, dropped to one knee again, and without warning pressed a kiss to the back of it—the greeting a "moon" offered to her master.

"Ahn?!"

Lua shuddered from head to toe as if she'd been shocked. Himari smiled softly.

"Now then, please give me your orders."

"Huh? Orders?"

"What would you have me do, Teacher? Until the moment you no longer need me, I will do anything you wish."

"Anything… you say…"

"Yes. Whatever you command, Teacher, I will do it."

"Uuum… even if you put it that way… I don't really need any kind of command authority…"

Lua scratched her head, looking troubled.

Then something seemed to occur to her, and she snapped her fingers.

"—Ah, that's it!"

"……?"

Lua rummaged through a bookshelf, pulled out a volume, and held it out to the puzzled Himari.

Himari watched Lua—whose face had gone a little pink—with open curiosity.

"Th-then, r-read this and give it back."

"A book?"

"Y-yeah. Something Himari needs…"

Himari accepted it and looked at the cover.

Why? Puberty and Sex

A gift from the school nurse, for a certain someone sorely lacking in common sense.