Blue Archive: Miracle's End

Night of Solitude

Sorasaki Hina stood alone in front of SCHALE, the sun sinking below the horizon as the moon began its slow ascent, casting a silvery glow that seemed to focus on her solitary figure.

She pulled out her phone and scrolled to her Sensei's contact, her thumb hovering over the call button. Just as she was about to press it, she hesitated, shaking her head and closing the phone. She knew it wasn't the right time to disturb him.

Fear gripped Hina, a deep-seated anxiety that gnawed at her. Sensei would not return for two whole days, and the thought of not seeing him filled her with dread. In a bid to soothe her unease, she came to SCHALE, hoping that by connecting with the place that held echoes of her teacher, she might find some measure of comfort and reassurance.

"Oh, welcome, Miss Head Prefect. I had a feeling you'd be here."

As soon as Hina stepped into the office, she was greeted by Natsume Iroha, a fellow Gehenna student who had recently caught her attention. Iroha was seated at Sensei's desk, engrossed in a stack of documents that cluttered the table.

"Natsume Iroha," Hina said, her voice tinged with surprise. "What are you doing here at Sensei's office so late at night?"

"To work on his reports, obviously. With him gone for two days, the GSC is bound to pile up more work in his absence. The least I can do is lighten his load when he gets back, don't you think?"

"And I assume you know what you're doing?"

"Somewhat," Iroha replied with a dismissive shrug. "I'm sticking to the tasks I can handle on my own. Oh, an Abydos student was here before me, but she left as soon as she finished sleeping at Sensei's couch."

Hina walked over to Iroha and pulled up a chair beside her, taking a seat with a decisive gesture. Iroha glanced up from the paperwork, her curiosity piqued by Hina's sudden presence.

"Send me the reports you couldn't manage on your own," Hina instructed firmly.

Iroha arched an eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "I never thought I'd see the Head Prefect taking time out of her day to deal with something like this. Sensei isn't here to give you any headpats for your hard work, you know?"

"And I could say the same about you, Natsume Iroha. I didn't think you'd be the type to enjoy paperwork."

"Not unless it's for someone else's sake, isn't that right?" Iroha said, her grin widening as a faint blush colored her cheeks.

" I see..."

" But since you asked nicely, here are the unfinished documents."

Iroha and Hina spent the next hour working in silence, each focused on tackling as much of the paperwork as they could before midnight. Throughout this quiet stretch, Hina couldn't help but steal occasional glances at the girl beside her. She scrutinized every detail of Iroha's face, noting her composure and grace.

To Hina, Iroha was undeniably attractive---a student who seemed to embody a sophistication and maturity that went beyond her years. In contrast, Hina often felt like a mere child, unworthy of being seen as an equal to someone like Iroha, even though she was a year older than her. The thought lingered that perhaps Sensei had chosen to share his burdens with Iroha rather than with her precisely because Iroha seemed more capable and deserving.

The feeling that welled up inside Hina was unmistakable: envy. It was a sharp, persistent emotion that colored her perception of the girl next to her.

"...Did you cry?" Hina's voice cut through the silence, breaking the quiet that had settled between them.

"Hm?" Iroha looked up, momentarily distracted from her work.

"When you learned the truth about Sensei..."