A few days later, I visit a room in a hospital run by the Order.
　In a private room that is not very spacious. I see a girl staring out the window--Ruino.
　She glances at me.

"......, what do you want?

　It was a rather curt attitude.
　I chuckled and sat down on a chair near the bed.

"I just came to check on you," he said.
"As you can see, I'm fine. Did you come to ...... worry about me?
I don't know. I don't know. I'll know I'm fine if he attacks me right away like he did before.
...... I don't have a sword now. Besides, there are people I have to kill before I can fight you.

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that. I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not.
　In the event that you have any kind of questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.
　He may have been defeated by Iris and understood anew the fact that he was "kept alive".
　After a battle, the loser has only 'death'. That's how he must have been living his life.
　Losing and surviving were new experiences for Rui No, who had just begun his journey on the path of Shura.
　He would be confused.

"Iris was strong, wasn't she?
"I thought you were naive, .......
I'm not naive. It's easy to say that you want to protect everyone, but if you really want to do that, you have to be stronger than ...... anyone else.
No matter how strong you get, you'll never be able to save everyone.
That's true. But there is a difference between giving up and not giving up at all.
...... I don't know what you're talking about. And I haven't given up.
Yeah, you did. That's why you're fighting to be strong. That's why you're fighting to get stronger.　But from now on, you're going to do things a little differently.
The ...... way?
You will be under the observation of ...... the Order of the Kuro Wolf for a while. You have a record of defeating two swordsmen, but you had a spectacular fight with Iris. It's not like Iris-san wanted that kind of punishment, but it can't be helped.
"Observation, huh. You really don't want to kill me, do you?
Oh ......, this is the result of your victory, Iris.
By the way, what would have happened if I had fought you?　Would you have killed me too?

　I'm not sure if I'd have been able to do that if I hadn't had the chance.
　I know that she is Souki's granddaughter.
　I know that.

I'll do it if I have to. I'm the kind of person who can do that.
"...... Huh, we both say the same thing. But.
But you're really going to kill me.

　The air is slightly tense.
　It seemed as if a fight was about to start, but then Luino threw himself down and lay down on the bed.

It's okay. I'm a loser anyway. ...... I'll go along with it for now.
That would be great. Well, I've got to go, but ...... I have one last message for you.
"...... message?
"Yes, from Riggles Harvey, one of the Swordsmen. "The last blow was beautiful," he said.
"...... Hmm.

　Luino averts his gaze and mutters disinterestedly.
　You will find a lot of people who have been in the business for a long time.
　I'm not going to tell him that fact either.
　But even so, the expression on Luino's face when he heard those words seemed to be a little bit happy.

(I guess everyone is happy when they are praised, right?)

　I left the hospital room and headed home.
　I still have a long way to go with Luino, but at least I'm going to keep an eye on her as well.
　That's all I can really do for the man who called me his friend. ......

(...... Oh, right--)

　I finally understand one thing there.
　(......Oh, right--) I finally understand one thing: Raul Isaruf also considered ...... him a friend.
　Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to all this trouble.

(I don't have much experience with friends, so I guess I'm too late to notice.)

　I left the hospital, thinking to myself.

　　　I left the hospital.

　I realized once again how good it is to have peaceful days.
　For the past few days, I have not been called by Remyll, and my work as a teacher at the school has become my main focus.
　It's been a long time since I've experienced an attempt on my life, but ...... I think it's best to be able to spend time like this without worry.
　--It's not that I don't have things to worry about, but that's not what I'm thinking about right now.


　As I was thinking this, I was about to turn down the hallway when I came upon three girls talking.

"Oh, Dr. Schweizer.
I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that.
Hi, Arta!

　Minei greeted me lightly, to which I replied with a wry smile.

Miney, you're the teacher.
Yes, Mr. Lotto. Yes, Mr. Lotto. You have to show respect to Mr. Schweizer.
"If you say so, Iris. ......
You don't have to say "sir.
Oh, right. I don't want to call you that.

　Despite this exchange, Iris and Miney seem to be on good terms.
　In the past, Miney seemed to have backed down, as if she was afraid.
　I wonder what's going on.

"It started when Iris saved Miney. And then Iris had a chance to talk to her.
"...... I see.

　"I see." Aria tells me in her ear, and I understand.
　Iris rescued Miney - apparently, she was able to get closer to her classmate because of what happened then.
　I was afraid that it might be the other way around.

Miney was wondering if there was 'something' between Iris and the teacher.
"...... Something?　What's something?
What are Aria and the doctor talking about all this time?
!

　Aria reacts in a small way to being called out unexpectedly.
　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not. ...... I wonder if she's doing this on purpose.
　I sometimes wonder if she is doing this on purpose.

I'm not sure.

　The next thing Aria said convinced me.
　Aria is doing this on purpose.

"Yes, yes. Secret talk in front of me, right. With the teacher. ......

　Iris glances at me.
　It's not like we're talking about anything secret.

What were you talking about with Aria, doctor?
"It's nothing important, sir. It's just...
Doctor, don't say.

　But when I tried to answer, Aria stopped me.
　Aria stopped me. Iris looked at Aria with a raised eyebrow.

What?　Is there something you're hiding?
I'm hiding it for Iris.
"For me ......?　There's nothing you have to hide from me!

　Iris crowded Aria.
　Seeing this, Miney tried to admonish her.

"Well, well, well. I'm sure you have a secret or two to tell!
"That's true, but ......
Jealous?
A jealousy?　No, not at all. I just don't like to be hidden.

　Iris reacted blatantly to Aria's words.
　And then she looked at me again.
　To Iris, I tried to hide the fact that I was being targeted.
　Maybe she still cares about that.

No, I really didn't say anything to hide. Aria, please don't do anything rude.
"Yeah. I was just teasing Iris.
Don't do that ...... thing again.
But I'm more interested in the relationship between Iris and the doctor!　I don't see either of you at the beach anymore.
I'm sorry.　It's .......

　Iris is slightly upset.
　I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

The relationship between me and my teacher...
The only relationship between me and my teacher is that he taught her to swim when she couldn't.
"What ......?　You can't swim ......?
What ......?　Aria, Aria!　You're not going to get away with this!　You can't escape!



　As Aria sashayed away, Iris chased after her.
　Minei also hurriedly chased after them.
　...... Apparently, Iris and Aria are now feeling a little more comfortable with their classmates.
　It may be a way to prevent people from finding out about our relationship, but it's still a step in the right direction.
　But

"Please don't run in the hallway. I'll get mad.

　It may be pointless to say this to those kids who have already run away, but I'll say something like an instructor.
　I made up my mind to take it easy for a while and enjoy my days.