Blue Archive - M.O.T.H.E.R. (Volume 1)

10

In the club room, Chise was taking a rest on Sensei's lap while he stroked her hair. Kaho and Nodoka were green with envy.

''Sensei, it's an honor to have you around. I thought you were missing,'' Said the president of the Yin-Yang Club, Niya.

''It's only been a little over 24 hours since I was last supposedly seen. I can't believe anyone would actually believe that.''

''That shows how crucial your presence is in Kivotos.''

''I'm flattered that they think so of me, but for one reason or another, one day I might be missing. Things shouldn't change whether I'm here or not.''

''Hopefully we can act maturely if that happens.''

''That's my job. To prepare all you for life.

The students in the room smiled with pleasure.

''And what can I be good for, Sensei?''

''I need your help.''

''Mm... I'll see what I can do. What's the matter?''

''Do you know about the disease that's shutting down the halos?''

''I'm aware of it. Rio and I have been talking.''

''That saves me time, but before we talk about it, she's Megumi. She's part of the Tengu Gang. Her friend is very delicate and there's no one they can turn to. Could you...?''

''You don't have to say more.''

Niya sent for helpers to take Yowami to the Hyakkiyako health care club. Megumi went to her Nee-san.

''Thank you, Niya.''

''I only asked to take her to a medical center. I haven't done anything special.''

''Still, thank you. Back to the subject of the disease, although I don't know if we should call it that anymore... My visit to Abydos showed me that it's not something contagious. The girls in Red Winter have no problems with it, they are fine, just like the ones in Abydos. Quite despite the fact that the latter constantly struggle with the Helmet Gang. The same ones who have constant roses with the tengu. There is something that is causing it.''

''I would like to give you more information, but I don't think I have more than you have. That Yowami girl is the first case we've received.''

''That's another matter. Possibly there are more, but the stubbornness of those girls is preventing them from seeking proper help. Do you think you can do anything about that?

''It's very difficult to give help to someone who doesn't want it. Besides, that's more a matter for the public safety club and the medical club. We don't have the power to force them to take action... Still, let me see what I can do.''

''Finally, help me get rid of the rumor that I'm missing.''

''It'll be my pleasure.

Things had gone better than he expected. Sensei called himself a fool for not having called on Niya since Hyakkiyako arrived. Niya invited him to stay and rest in a room prepared for him. Sensei found it hard to fall asleep. He had in his mind the pitiful state in which he found Yowami. He picked up his cell phone. Arona's voice asked him if he was all right. He replied that she had nothing to worry about.

''Sensei... You don't have to keep your feelings to yourself. I can...'' The cell phone rang, ''It's a call from Himari. Do you want to answer it?''

He accepted it. Himari told sensei how relieved she was that he had answered. Because of her Hacking work and the plans to go to the ruins of Millennium she had been very inattentive to what was going on outside. As soon as she realized it, she called him. Sensei told her that not answering calls and messages was what created that rumor. He also told her that he probably wasn't going to be able to be answering that often, so if she was going to call, make sure it was important. That led Himari to the reason she was calling. She shared with him the information she had gotten. Himari told him that the schools most affected were Gehenna, Trinity and Millennium. All three schools were hiding the information to avoid a revolt. Gehenna, especially, was trying hard to keep the information private, as many students were unhappy about Makoto's administration. The flower of Paranormal Affairs Department club also told him that the first recorded victim, Soresore Hitomi, was from Gehenna. She was first thought to have influenza. She was medicated and sent home. The same student was currently being held in the private facilities of the Emergency Medice club. The girl had already been unconscious for a few weeks and the halo had consequently not reappeared. What Himari had told him plus what he had heard from Yowami had given him a lot to think about. The self-proclaimed best hacker in Kivotos said goodbye to Sensei and wished him a good night.

The next day, with a night of little rest, she remembered why she hadn't gone with Niya in the first place. In the center of Hyakkiyako there was a big festival called 'Sensei Is Here'.

''Niya, this is not what I had in mind when I asked you to dispel the rumors that I haven't disappeared.''

''Do you not trust me, sensei?''

''I do... I'm just... I'm not a big fan of your methods... How did you accomplish all this in one night?''

''It wasn't difficult to convince Shizuko, the president of the Festival Operations Department, and with the help of Pina and Nodoka, the challenge was conquered.''

The festival continued all day without sensei's presence. He had business to attend to. Before leaving Hyakkiyako, with Nodoka, he went to the place Yowami had told him about and then went to the hospital to say goodbye to Megumi and Yowami.

The festival that Hyakkiyako students had made for Sensei was broadcast all oversocial media. It reached many people. However, people with a more attentive eye were quick to notice that the celebrated one was not physically there so many were quick to interpret the festival as some kind of funeral celebration inmemory of sensei. Niya apologized to sensei through a phone call. The teacher told her that the students have a lot of imagination and that it was okay, that it was partly her fault, too, and that he would see what else he could do, as there was another matter of greater importance.