Blue Archive: Miracle's End

If By Some Miracle

At midnight, I noticed Sensei sitting alone outside the hotel, perched on a log beside a flickering campfire. The flames danced in the stillness of the night, creating a cozy warmth that contrasted with the cool air. Seizing the moment while the others were still away, I walked over and settled down beside him.

Without uttering a word, he turned to me with his signature, inviting smile, a gesture that felt both comforting and profound in the quiet of the night.

"It's warm..." I murmured, bringing my hand closer to the fire, savoring the comforting heat.

"Is it just you, Shiroko? Where are the others?" Sensei asked, mirroring my movements as he hovered his hand over the flames.

"They went to buy fireworks at the nearest convenience store."

"I suppose Shiroko was too lazy to join them?" He flashed a playful grin, clearly teasing me.

"Sensei is slacking off too. You're here enjoying the fire all by yourself." I pouted.

"Hey, I'm the one who built this fire, you know?! It took me ages to gather all these logs for fuel!"

"A childish excuse for an adult, Sensei. Just admit it-- you're a slacker like me."

"Wha-- !? Why is Shiroko being so mean all of a sudden? It's genuinely making me want to cry..."

Seeing him slouch in defeat made me giggle; teasing him felt like a small victory. Though in truth, I had slacked off on purpose to steal this moment alone with him, knowing it was our last night on the trip.

Seeing me giggle at my teasing, Sensei couldn't help but sigh, a genuine smile spreading across his face in return.

"Shiroko doesn't smile that often, but when she does, it's hard not to notice how much of a girl you really are..."

"A girl...? Sensei never saw me as one?"

"I didn't mean it like that." Leaning back, he tilted his head up to gaze at the stars. "But they say you can't truly appreciate a girl's beauty until you see her genuinely smile. So whenever I see you smile, I can't help but agree."

" Sensei..."

It was a first for me. Sensei often complimented his students, but never like this. His words lingered in the air, and I could feel their weight. My ears involuntarily perked up, warmth spreading across my cheeks.

Maybe because it was just the two of us? And we were standing in front of a comfortable fire... perhaps Sensei was just swayed in the moment, making him say such warm words towards his student.

It was the time I realize that Sensei could make romantic gestures towards his students, and to think it was directed towards me out of all students...

Either way, I was over the moon.

"I bet Sensei tried this with other students thinking it would work on me too..."

"Of course not. I've only ever said those words to you, Shiroko."

His response came without hesitation, catching me off guard and causing me to involuntarily bite my lip.

What was he trying to say? Was he looking for a reaction from me? Was he making a move without being too obvious?

My mind swirled with questions, especially as I considered the possibility that Sensei might harbor romantic feelings for me.

No, it couldn't be true. After all, this was Sensei.

But if it were true, and he saw me as more than just a student...

...how would I react?

"Mm... Uhm, Sensei." I called his name slowly. He immediately turned his gaze down to me.