As the host of the Tea Party, Seia had official duties to attend to. After finishing her cup of tea, she had to return to work.
With a mix of emotions I couldn't quite name, I bid her farewell.
I didn't know what she had foreseen that made her tell me we wouldn't see each other for a long time. But since she didn't wish to speak of it, I could only respect her choice.
To let that make me moody would be shameful.
To clear my head, I thought of a good idea...
After messaging someone and getting a positive reply, I arrived at the Great Cathedral of Trinity.
Following the directions given, I made my way around to the back of the cathedral.
"…Ah. Over here, Sensei."
A soft, clear voice called out. I turned toward it and saw a young nun in a black habit, her orange hair braided and draped over her right shoulder. Under her veil peeked a pair of animal-like ears, and her gentle, serene expression carried the warmth of sunlight filtering through stained glass.
It was Iochi Mari, the girl I'd met during my first visit to Trinity, when I came to tour its historic buildings.
After we exchanged contacts on MomoTalk, she'd sent me a group message offering to listen to anyone's troubles. I'd been too busy rescuing Hoshino at the time, so after politely asking whether I could reach out later, I'd left it at that.
Now, with my duties finished and time to spare at Trinity, I decided to see if Mari was free.
And so here we were.
I walked quickly toward her, apologetic. "Sorry for calling you out so suddenly."
Mari shook her head, smiling kindly. "It's fine, Sensei. I happened to be free at this time anyway. Besides, if I can be of help, that makes me happy."
An angel. This girl was an angel.
Just look at the other foxes I've met so far...
Wakamo! So intense, so reckless! Blowing up everything in sight! Dangerous, but adorable.
Yukino! Pointing a gun at me the moment we met, though I did point mine right back and confiscated something precious from her. Too bold, but still adorable.
Seia! Always speaking in riddles, never sharing her real worries, keeping everything locked away inside… frustrating, but adorable.
Everyone has their own kind of charm.
"Mari, actually, I've been having some troubles on my mind."
"Hmm~ what kind of troubles, Sensei? If you'd like, I'll listen."
Her indigo-blue eyes were calm and sincere. The words I'd planned to say shifted on my tongue, and what came out instead was:
"Mari… I've been troubled by my own powerlessness."
The moment I said it, I regretted speaking so candidly. But the composure in her expression, the gentleness in her gaze, gave me the courage to continue.
"Even though I'm an adult, even though I'm the only Sensei in Kivotos, I'm still the weaker one compared to my students. Without the protection of a halo, I can't fight like they do, unless I pay a heavy price."
My life.
With the Primordial Alchemy I rely on, I'd have to sacrifice more than a year of my lifespan just to unleash two attacks equal to heavy firepower.
"I want to change everything that doesn't sit right with me. But I can't. Even if I give it my all, I can only change so very little. There's so much I don't know how to fix and so much I don't even have the right to try."
Whatever Seia was going to face, I had no position to pry. And since it concerned the future, if she wouldn't tell me, there was no way to learn it from anyone else.
"Sister, I must confess... to my foolishness, my cowardice, my helplessness. I've failed to fulfill the role expected of me. That is my sin. The sin of being a Sensei."
I must climb the highest rung that grants eternal peace. To do that, I must gather as many of Kivotos's students under my protection as I can. And for that, I must offer up everything I have.
But what if even that isn't enough?
"Sister, forgive me."
I closed my eyes and bowed my head.
Then I felt something warm rest gently atop it.
Mari's voice was as soft as a hymn. "Sensei, if that is your burden, then even God would be proud of you. Haven't you already given it your all?"
…Maybe so.
It wasn't like anything had been solved, but somehow my heart felt lighter.
Compared to Arona, Mari was a far better listener.
Sigh. That AI really is useless sometimes. If only she could channel half the enthusiasm she shows when it's time for sweets into helping me with actual work.
"Thank you, Mari. You really helped me," I said sincerely, then added with a teasing smile, "Though I thought you might give me some advice as a counselor."
"Counselor…?" Mari looked a bit flustered. "That's far too important a role for me. I can only listen. That's all I can do. But if my listening can help someone move forward, even just a little, that's enough for me."
I nodded lightly. "I'll move forward. So thank you again, Mari."
"There's no need to thank me so formally, Sensei. It was nothing special. Besides, by listening to others' troubles, I can learn how to become a better sister."
That caught my attention. "Become a sister? Aren't you already one?"
"Um… how should I put it…"
Mari tilted her head thoughtfully. "It's like… even if you wear a nun's habit, that doesn't mean you instantly become a sister, right? There's still so much I need to study and understand. And honestly, being called 'Sister Mari' still makes me shy.
"But someday, I hope I can answer to that name with confidence. That's my dream for now. So I'm just doing what I can, one step at a time."
Listening to her speak with such sincerity, I couldn't help but feel admiration.
"Mari, having that kind of mindset already makes you a wonderful sister, both in spirit and in heart."
"Eh…? In spirit?"
Mari's cheeks flushed bright red. "P-please don't tease me like that! I-I know better than anyone that I'm still immature!"
I thought to myself that having such self-awareness already proved how mature she was.
"O-of course, I'm still a little happy hearing that… but let's just forget you said it, okay? Really, Sensei…" Mari gave a shy, exasperated smile, though I could tell she was genuinely pleased.
Then my thoughts shifted.
For such a kind, selfless girl who helped me yet underestimated herself, there was only one thing to do.
"Mari, listen to me."
"Eh?"
"I truly believe you're already a fully qualified sister."
I stepped forward slightly, speaking with firm conviction. "If you weren't, how could you resolve someone else's worries? If you weren't an authentic sister, yet could still ease my heart, wouldn't that make me look like I was just whining for no reason?"
The gentle Mari was caught off guard, flustered into silence.
I pressed on. "So please, allow me to call you Sister Mari and accept it with pride!"
"S-Sensei! Don't say that! I'll—eh? Eh?!"
Mari's flustered expression was a sight of pure delight.
But midway through her protest, her gaze shifted past me. Her face turned crimson in an instant.
Curious, I looked back.
It was just a pink-haired girl in a swimsuit walking by.
I turned my head back slowly.
Wait, swimsuit?!
Realization hit, and my head whipped back again.
"Ah! my neck—!"
I clutched my poor neck, suffering its second assault of the day.
Still… the swimsuit beauty… is now etched in memory…
The pure-looking girl gave me a bright smile, waved, and then strolled away.
I think… I might have just gotten lucky.