Blue Archive: Miracle's End

Miracle//Breaker

"I knew you'd be here, Sensei."

"Iroha..."

Sitting alone in the corner of the room--- Sensei was slumped against the wall, his back pressed to it, body collapsed on the floor. Iroha found him there, panting heavily, as if he was hanging on by a thread. It looked like sheer willpower was the only thing keeping him from giving up entirely.

Seeing him like this--- in such a state, struggling right before her eyes--- made Iroha's heart ache painfully. She loved him dearly, and the sight of his suffering squeezed at her chest. She wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him and cry in his embrace.

But instead, she held herself back.

With effort, she forced a faint smile and quietly stepped closer. Then, without a word, she lowered herself down beside him, her back resting against the same wall, the silence between them saying everything.

"You think you can hide the tension all over your body with a forced smile?"

"Shut up... what else do you think I'm supposed to do right now?"

Sensei teased Iroha by gently nudging her arm with his own, a cheerful grin on his face. Seeing him act so casually despite his condition made Iroha's lips tremble--- she couldn't keep up the facade any longer.

"In the first place, why are you even here? Shouldn't you be out of Kivotos by now?"

"Eh?! No way! Do you know how many students are patrolling the terminals? If they saw me anywhere near there, there's no chance they'd let me leave!"

"Then... how? How did you manage to get here undetected?"

"Hehe... who else but the Head Prefect herself? I asked Hina personally to sneak me in without anyone noticing!" Sensei said proudly, puffing out his chest just a little.

Iroha felt a bit uneasy hearing him speak so fondly of Hina. Of course, she already knew---Sensei had always admired Hina. But knowing he had to rely on her for something this important made Iroha's chest tighten even more.

Until... she realized.

"Wait... does that mean you never actually intended to leave Kivotos in the first place?"

"That was the plan at first. But the moment I announced my retirement to everyone, slipping away quietly became impossible. If I show myself out there now, it would only create more conflict with the students."

Just from that, Iroha began piecing things together--- Sensei's entire plan, bit by bit. But she wasn't sure yet. She could be wrong.

She needed to ask more questions to confirm what she suspected.

"Then... the reason you're here right now, while the students out there are fighting, is--- ?"

"People fight and argue when they're confused--- it's only natural. But I trust Hina and Hoshino. I know they wouldn't do anything reckless or something they'd come to regret."

Sensei smiled faintly. The pride he felt for his students shimmered in his eyes.

"Through this conflict, both sides will come to realize they're all fighting for the same thing. And when they do... they'll stand united."

"And what Sensei is doing here right now is..."

"Yeah... I'm staying in a place no one can reach me. Until the time comes--- when I have to show myself one last time."

Sensei's final lesson.

His final responsibility as an adult...

As their teacher.