"Teacher, please hurry! We're going to be late!"

"Huff, huff... Just... let me catch my breath..."

"There's no time for that! We're almost there, just a bit further!"

"I'm... I'm going to die..."

Why is it that in comics or novels, protagonists always arrive at the scene so quickly?

Why am I like this? I should have exercised more.

I never thought I'd need to run to the scene as a counselor since I don't need to fight like the students do, but it seems that lack of exercise is catching up to me.

Who would have thought a counselor needs to rush to the scene anyway?

It's not me that's weird. It's this world.

I just wanted to help the students I care about...

"I can't... go on..."

"Teacher?!"

I couldn't even walk anymore, let alone run.

Even when I carried a heavy load and walked 20km before, my legs didn't shake like a newborn fawn.

Is this because my body has changed?

In the end, I collapsed, clutching my uncooperative legs.

I can't walk anymore. I quit. I give up.

"Teacher?! Don't we need to stop Orca?! No one else can stop her!"

"I don't care... She'll calm down soon enough... I really can't walk anymore..."

Orca doesn't stop until she's broken everything in her path.

I was flustered and followed the class president in a hurry, thinking Leo was getting overpowered the whole time...

But honestly, do I really need to go out?

Orca isn't the type to kill someone just because she's mad.

She'll get punished, but it won't be a big deal.

She'll come back to the counseling room as if nothing happened.

She needs to come to the counseling room for a good sleep.

"Let's just go back... I really can't move. Look at my legs. They're shaking just from standing still."

"...Excuse me."

"Huh? Wh-what are you... Wahh?!"

The class president, who was looking at me with a determined expression, suddenly hoisted me up like a sack of rice.

"We're really close. You seem quite frail, teacher."

"Ugh, ugh... It hurts... It hurts..."

"Please bear with it. Like I said, you're the only one who can stop Orca."

"No, if you're going to carry me, at least adjust the position... Adjust the position!"

Apparently, she didn't hear me asking her to adjust her hold.

The class president started running again.

"You're quite light. You should exercise more."

"Ugh, ugh... Save me..."

I missed the few hours ago when I was enjoying my game.

Damn. This hurts.

What kind of situation is this?

"Look, we're here."

"Already?"

"I told you we were close."

After a few minutes of complaining about the pain from being jostled on the class president's shoulder, she finally set me down.

Looking ahead, I saw Orca and Leo through the dust.

...We really did arrive quickly.

I thought it was a lie...

How many times have I been deceived by personal trainers who say "just a bit more" and then keep you working for another ten minutes, or dentists who say "raise your hand if it hurts" and then ignore you?

I resented my earlier self for thinking it was just sweet talk.

I should have walked a bit more even if it was tough.

I tried to be a bit stubborn, and now my body is in shambles.

"...Wow, that’s amazing."

But the pain soon faded.

My attention was captured by the dazzling fight before me.

Orca was relentlessly swinging her fists at Leo, who was desperately blocking with his sword.

But it was still impressive.

When she swung her ominous black arm, mist followed the trajectory.

I thought it was just a game effect, but it really did show the trail of mist.

It was so cool...

That's why I always liked Orca more than other playable characters.

There’s a thrilling coolness to her.

Even if people teased me for being an edgy teenager, it was still cool. Isn't that enough?

A demon-possessed with a tragic past.

Seeing her with my own eyes was much more impressive.

Ah...

"Teacher. While it's nice you're admiring the fight, shouldn't you stop it first?"

"Ah... Ahem. Sorry."

But my admiration was cut short by the class president's urging.

I decided to stop Orca.

"It was fun, kid."

"Ugh..."

"Don't mess with me again. Next time, I might really kill you."

As Leo, unable to withstand any longer, dropped his sword, and Orca prepared to deliver a final blow, I shouted urgently.

"No bad language!"

"...Why are you here?"

"Does it matter? You just used bad language, didn't you?"

"So what?"

"One of the conditions for using the counseling room was not to use bad language, remember?"

Orca's expression darkened rapidly.

Yes. The scent I deceived her into thinking was a relic.

To gain its effects, she promised me.

No bad language and attending classes diligently.

She's been attending classes regularly. Enough to create rumors.

As a teacher, it was easy for me to confirm her attendance.

But her language?

Hard to verify. I didn't intend to use it as a reason not to give her the scent.

Orca knew that too, so she wasn't too careful about it.

But what can she do? I just witnessed her using bad language.

Well, it wasn't exactly a curse word, but who cares.

Let's only allow polite and nice words.

I just decided now.

"N-no. That's not... I..."

"..."

Leo, sitting on the ground, looked at me and Orca in disbelief.

He probably couldn’t comprehend this scene.

Honestly, neither could I. Seeing Orca cower from someone.

"Sigh..."

With a small sigh, Orca trembled.

She looked so pitiful, closing her eyes tightly as if dreading what would happen next.

Scolding her right now would be easy...

But I didn't want to do that.

I remember how much I hated the teachers who scolded me without listening to my side when I was young.

I don't want to be remembered by my students like that.

"You hit someone again, Orca."

"N-no. This is the first time..."

"Did you really think I wouldn't know about the fights you started while I wasn't looking?"

"H-how did you..."

Oh, really? I was just guessing.

Did she really fight in those few days?

That's shocking.

"N-no. Listen. They started the fight! Really!"

"Hmm, I see. So this fight? Did you start it?"

"...Do you believe me?"

"Do you want me not to?"

"N-no. That's not it..."

Orca looked at me in confusion, unable to believe I trusted her.

She must not have had anyone who believed her.

But I knew her well. Better than the family that abandoned her.

She wouldn’t lie about this.

"Tell me, Orca. Did you start this fight?"

"I was walking down the road..."

Orca began explaining, feeling wronged.

She was walking, but people were staring at her weirdly.

She glared at them to chase them off, and then suddenly Leo approached to lecture her.

Already annoyed by the stares, she couldn’t hold back when this random kid started lecturing her.

"Is this true, Leo?"

"Y-yes... It’s true. I didn’t expect that to happen, though..."

"Good. You may leave now."

"But..."

I looked at the class president.

Thankfully, she understood my intention and pulled Leo away from our sight.

"W-wait...! I have something to say too...!"

"Say it later. Now is not the time."

Pointing out someone's mistakes in front of others is never good.

Even if they were wrong.

Shaming someone can make a situation worse.

So I waited until they were completely out of sight before speaking softly to the now bowed Orca, trying to convey I wasn’t angry.

"I understand you were very angry, Orca. It must have been hard to hold it in."

"..."

"But, Orca, does hitting others change anything?"

Sure, you can vent your anger immediately.

But trying to solve anger with violence only worsens the situation.

It creates more bad rumors and a vicious cycle of more anger.

"Hurting those who hurt you, what does that leave you with? A moment of satisfaction? Or emptiness?"

Orca remained silent, head still bowed.

I saw tears welling up in her eyes.

What emotion caused those tears?

I couldn’t know.

One thing was certain; I couldn’t scold her anymore.

Orca, don’t cry... It hurts me...

I gently patted her head, speaking softly.

"Orca. Let’s become a model student. How about holding back just once more?"

"...Okay."

"Good, let’s go back. Do you have a favorite food? I’ll make it for you. I'm a good cook."

"...Gambas."

"Alright! I’ll make the most luxurious gambas for you!"

To keep her mood from worsening, I exaggerated my movements as I led the way and immediately tripped.

"?!"

"My legs hurt..."

Ah, embarrassing...

I couldn’t see because I was hiding my flushed face.

Orca was smiling.

"...You’re a fool, teacher."

"Ah, did you just call me teacher! Say it again!"

"What? I didn’t say anything."

"Liar! I heard it!"