"...nori-san."

Faint light began seeping into my eyes.

"Takanori-san..."

I could feel my body getting rustled softly, as if someone was trying to wake me up. A familiar voice, warm, sweet, and gentle, called out to me.

"Takanori-san... wake up."

My mind was deep in a haze. I'm not sure what I even dreamt of. My last thought was succumbing to darkness. I struggled to open my eyes. I didn't want to get up.

"There's only an hour left until the challenge starts. Please, get up."

Alertness shot through my brain. I got up, clutching the side of my sweaty face. My head, which hurt less than it was yesterday, felt strangely refreshed.

"Finally... you scared me when you passed out earlier."

Half groggy, I looked around the room, trying to get my bearings before realising that it was Chabashira-sensei who woke me up. I rubbed my eyes, trying to suppress a yawn but failing.

"...I did, huh?"

Chabashira-sensei was back to looking like her regular self, suit, ponytail, and all. Did I imagine seeing her in nightwear then...?

No, it can't be... this room that I was in right now was most definitely not mine, nor was it the infirmary. In the first place, she would have no reason to be here or to wake me up either. Am I still in a dream?

I pinched my cheek slightly, making her laugh a little. From the corner of my eye, I could see Chabashira-sensei shake her head slightly.

"After you gave me this notepad, you suddenly fell to the floor."

I glanced at the notepad on the desk adjacent to the bed.

So this really happening...

Just to be sure, I pinched my cheek once again.

"Oh..."

Yeah, this is reality.

It seems my body's limits had finally caught up to me. The only thing keeping me up was the looming threat of dying suddenly, so the moment I was safe in the teacher's quarters, my body passed out from exhaustion.

"Sensei..."

"Hm?"

"...where am I right now?"

"My room."

"...ah?"

Chabashira-sensei said it so casually, I thought she was joking at first, but her serious face, combined with the fact I'd never seen a room like this before, meant this was most definitely her bedroom.

I looked around, noticing how high quality the room was compared to the one I was sharing in Shimada's group. If I were to make a comparison to a room on the island, it was at least B Class worthy.

That aside, I felt kind of embarrassed. The fact I'm here must mean Chabashira-sensei carried me over... did she really take care of me while I was passed out? I almost couldn't believe it. Maybe she really is a big softie deep down...

"I don't get it... why did you bring me here?"

"It's not like I can leave you on the floor, can I? That would be beyond irresponsible, especially as your homeroom teacher."

"Yeah, but you could've taken me to the infirmary..."

"Use some common sense. The infirmary isn't open at 4am, Takanori-san. Besides, I only have access to the girl's side, so it'd be awkward explaining why you're there when morning comes. I don't think you want any weird rumours floating around about you suddenly passing out while in the girl's side, do you?"

"...fair enough."

I had only just noticed that I had been lying on a mattress as opposed to the floor. Did Chabashira-sensei really sacrifice sleeping on the bed for me? Does that mean she slept in a chair for the rest of the night? If she did, I somehow felt bad over it...

I'd never seen this much kindness flow out of Chabashira-sensei before. I hope this is her being genuine, and not her pitying me because she knows about my situation... but judging by the relief on her face, it seems she's truly glad that I'm awake.

Still, one thing has been bothering me...

I clutched the soft blanket that had been gently covering me this entire time.

"Sensei..."

"Hmm?"

"Isn't this... well... inappropriate...? For a student to be in a teacher's room, I mean..."

Chabashira-sensei raised her eyebrows and sighed.

"Takanori-san, do you hate me that much?"

"N-no, it's not that..."

"Then stop trying to make me feel weird for trying to help you."

Chabashira-sensei pouted a little and glared at me. Now that she had gotten some rest, her eyes were back to their usual ferocity.

"I'm not trying to... I more meant... can't you lose your job over this...?"

"So? As a teacher, the safety of my students comes first and foremost. You were passed out, and I was the only person present who could do something. I had no other options but to take care of you myself. If I lose my job for trying to help you, then so be it. It's meaningless to have this job if I don't fulfil it."

For some reason, Chabashira-sensei was dazzling even more than usual. She looked really noble right now...

"Besides... no one has to know except us two. So it's our little secret, okay?"

She held out her pinky finger. I nodded and entwined my pinky finger with her.

"...yeah. Thank you, sensei. And... I'm sorry for troubling you so much..."

Chabashira-sensei smiled, stroking my head. My heart began thumping.

"Not at all, Takanori-san. I'm glad you're okay now. This special exam must've been really tough on you... if anything, I should be the one apologising for not being able to do more."

"This is already more than enough... in fact, just knowing you're on my side is already enough for me. You don't have to risk your job for me."

Risking yourself for someone like me would be a waste anyways. I don't deserve that sort of special treatment, especially from someone like her. There are more worthy people in our class who would benefit from Chabashira-sensei's kindness more.

"Is that what you were worried about?"

"...of course I'd be worried about it. I don't want to see you go."

Chabashira-sensei's eyes widened.

I decided to just be honest about it. If today might be my last day, then I might as well tell Chabashira-sensei what I truly think of her.

"I don't think I could forgive myself if you lost your job because of me."

"Where's this coming from...?"

For a split second, my lips hesitated.

But somewhere, deep down inside of me, a small voice pleaded and pushed me to continue. It was a distant memory, calling out to me... one full of innocence and optimism.

I thought I had forgotten about those things long ago, yet here they were... they were still there, spurning me on to continue.

"...my heart."

The wall I built around myself crumbled a little.

"I like you a lot, Chabashira-sensei... you're an important person to me in this school. You're the only teacher on this island who I trust since you know about my past and you're my homeroom teacher. Knowing I can rely on you if things go wrong takes away a lot of my stress. Plus..."

Even so, that wasn't enough.

I still felt bound by the fragments of myself I had yet to come to terms with.

The distance between my thoughts and my mouth were incomprehensible.

The things I wanted to say wouldn't come out.

Those sort of feelings wouldn't travel that far.

I knew all that, but...

...I also knew I had to at least try.

Because if I didn't do this now... I might never get a next time.

That fear, along with that distant voice, were the only things pushing me forward.

"...it really meant a lot it me when you tried protecting me from him. I... I..."

I struggled to get the words out of my burning throat.

"...I was— it was the first time someone ever did that... so... I was..."

As I squeezed them out, my mortality finally caught up to me.

And when that happened...

"...happy."

...the walls around me shattered into stardust.

"That's why... I feel both lucky and grateful to have you as my homeroom teacher, Chabashira-sensei. I wouldn't replace you for the world."

Chabashira-sensei's eyes watered a little.

Without saying anything, she hugged me, stroking the back of my head. I wrapped my arms around her, clutching her shirt.

...it felt safe in her arms. It was the safest I'd ever felt in a long time.

"...you don't have to say anything else. Thank you, Takanori-san. I wouldn't replace you for the world either. It's been so long since anyone said anything nice about me... so hearing all this from you makes me so incredibly happy as well."

As we embraced warmly, she softly talked in my ear. The cold exterior of Chabashira-sensei had completely melted away in this moment.

"Usually, all I hear are horrible comments about me... things such as I'm the worst... or that I should go die... or that the only thing I'm good for is my body... etcetera. So knowing that you feel grateful to have me... that you feel safe confiding in me... that you're okay with relying on me... it really, really touches my heart. Especially since it feels like every class I teach ends up hating me... this is the first year it's been different. And it's all because of you."

Chabashira-sensei pulled away, looking at me with a beautiful smile.

"Just as I had given up on ever reaching A Class... you came in like a storm of flames and gave me hope. To be honest... I was planning on leaving the school after this year... but after meeting you, I changed my mind."

She was... going to leave? Somehow, it made me clutch onto her tighter than before.

"At first, I thought you were nothing special, especially after failing to beat D Class... but after seeing you try so hard to rise up and push back against everything that's been thrown at you, I couldn't help but start to imagine... start to believe this class could reach the top."

"...you had faith in me before I won the special exam?"

She nodded.

"The moment you came to me with Matsushita-san asking to become the class leader was the moment I realised you were serious about this. And from there... yes, I poured all my hopes and dreams into you. And you didn't fail to disappoint when the results came. In fact... by dragging us out of E Class, you let me be more like myself. Even if we never reach A Class, I'll forever be grateful for that fact. I don't have to put on that awful act anymore."

"...I prefer you like this anyways, sensei."

"Is that so? I'm glad to hear."

Chabashira-sensei hugged me once more before we broke apart.

"Now... I think you should go and get ready for today."

"Oh, right... the challenge."

I had completely forgotten about it.

"Yes. It's beginning soon, you should hurry back."

I got out of her bed.

"...alright. Then, I'll be off."

"Good luck, Takanori-san."

"Thank you, Chabashira-sensei. I hope I can see you later."

"I'm sure you will. If not, then you'll see me tomorrow."

I couldn't say anything else. I nodded a little and left.

I really did mean what I said back there.

I really do hope I can continue seeing Chabashira-sensei.

It wasn't part of my plan to visit her, but I'm glad I did. Leaving her with those words stored in my heart and seeing her genuine smile was worth it.

Especially because that might have been the last time I ever talk to her.

I have to survive today.

There's too much on the line to give up.

I used to think there was only one thing that mattered to me, but after that sweet talk with sensei, I realised there was more things in my heart that I cared about deeply.

Even if alone, I'll carry it all and use it as strength to walk down this animal path and live.

That way, mom won't receive the will I wrote.