When the adult calling himself Sensei first showed up in Abydos, she didn't know what to make of him. But she felt that she could trust him. It was a sentiment shared by most of the other students.

It was Serika and Hoshino who thought otherwise, and expressed their distrust in him in their own ways. Serika was much more vocal about it and didn't want an outsider like Sensei interfering with Abydos' problems. Knowing her though, this was rooted in her pride of wanting to solve Abydos' debt problem by themselves and was eventually resolved when Sensei rescued her from her kidnappers.

Ahhh~ It was like a prince had come to rescue his princess! She thought as she recalled the events.

In any case, Serika was much more willing to place her trust in him after that, in her own tsundere way, as Hoshino would put it.

Speaking of Hoshino… Her gaze landed on the sleeping girl, whose head was lying on the table, as the other members of the Foreclosure Task Force were talking about various things with Sensei. Even after that incident, even after Sensei showed just how capable and kind he was, she knew that Hoshino was still keeping her distance from Sensei.

She made a heavy smile before seeing Sensei turn his attention in her direction with a raised brow, then to Hoshino and made a wry smile before he offered to help Ayane with the maintenance of the campus' various machineries. She took one last look at the pink head, who lazily waved as she tagged along with Ayane and Sensei.

"I'll help too!"

"Really? Thanks Nonomi!" Ayane replied.

…

…

…

After that fateful night, Hoshino no longer kept her distance with Sensei. Even today, as they were talking in the hallway, she could see that Hoshino was smiling. She was happy that Hoshino was acting more her age whenever she was talking to Sensei. Though her expression was almost as if she was—

"I know that look…It's the same kind of face that Miyako sometimes shows whenever she's talking about Sensei," Saki whispered to Nonomi, who giggled as the former commented on Sensei's womanizing tendencies.

"Hehe, well that's just how Sensei is," Nonomi said as she let out another giggle. "I don't think he's even doing it on purpose."

"I'm not sure if that's supposed to make me feel better or not. I know a few other students, including my seniors in FOX Squad, fell for Sensei's charms one way or another," Saki muttered.

"Does that include you, perhaps?" Nonomi teased.

"W-What are you saying?! Of course not!" Saki said as she crossed her arms and looked away with a huff, her cheeks a faint red.

It seems that Hoshino has a lot of rivals vying for Sensei's affections! She thought as she turned her attention back to Hoshino. But there's no way that my Hoshino will lose!

…

…

…

It was another day in the Abydos district. The sound of gunfire here and there was to be expected, but seeing people from other districts come all this way to visit the oasis really warmed her heart.

The issue regarding the debt was still there, along with a few other parties that showed an interest in the sword at the center of the oasis, but Abydos was slowly regaining its previous life.

She wanted to show her appreciation for the adult who helped open this path by, as Hoshino would put it, recklessly attempting something he wasn't even sure he could do, but she didn't know how.

Hoshino fell for a really troublesome, but kind man, she thought as she watched the newly enrolled Abydos students leave the campus after another day in school from one of the windows of the Foreclosure Task Force's club room. She wondered when was the last time she saw such a sight.

"Sensei, we'll be going on ahead," Ayane said as she carried her school bag, along with Shiroko, Serika, and Hoshino.

"Yeah, I'll just finish up a few more things here and then I'll clock out too," Sensei replied.

"See ya, Sensei~" Hoshino waved with a smile before she yawned. "I think this old timer will be able to sleep well tonight~"

"Nn. See you tomorrow, Sensei," Shiroko said.

"Ah, wait for me!"

"Hurry it up or we're leaving you, Nonomi!" Serika said with a hint of impatience, though she had a warm smile on her face as she saw Nonomi grab her gatling gun with ease before joining the group.

Nonomi looked back at Sensei, reminding him not to stay up late again, before they all left the club room.

…

"It seems that things are really looking up to Abydos, Arona," Sensei said as he held his tablet with its screen lit up. "It will be great if things keep going like this."

…

"Yeah, perhaps I'm worrying too much…Got it. Yeah, I'll talk to you later," Sensei said with a smile. Then he squinted his eyes as he turned his gaze to an otherwise empty corner of the room—where she was currently standing. "There you are. Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

"You…can see me? Really?!" She said with a mixture of surprise and joy.

"Barely, but yes. I knew I wasn't just seeing things the entire time…Your presence is so faint, even fainter than Miyu's, that it feels like you'll disappear at any moment," Sensei said with a chuckle as he started talking to what would otherwise be an empty space. "It's one thing if you were a malignant spirit out for blood, but dealing with a peaceful spirit like you isn't really my specialty…Well, I can say that for just about every other branch of thaumaturgy aside from my own, really."

"Hehe," she giggled at Sensei's words.

"I guess you found something amusing with my words just now…" Sensei scratched the back of his head. "If I knew I was going to find myself in this situation, I probably would have gone out of my way to look for a blade that allows me to help spirits better. Knowing that guy though, I'm sure he has something in his memories…"

Sensei, you don't really have to go out of your way to help me, she said. She really did mean it too. It was enough that she was able to see Abydos' revival.

"Not an option," Sensei said resolutely. "It doesn't matter whether you're alive or not, or whether it's in vain, I will find a way to help you. But before that, it's nice to meet you. May I know who it is I'm speaking to?"

She smiled a little as she said, "Nice to meet you, Sensei! I'm—"