There’s Still Some Content Left

Before receiving the name of a saint, there existed an ordinary girl who could be found anywhere.

If there was anything special about her, it was that her father was a holy knight, and the unfortunate part was that her mother had lost her life during the war.

It’s a story that everyone would sympathize with, but coincidentally, the saint had never once thought of it as unfortunate.

She believed that her father’s love alone was enough.

Moreover, thinking it would be fine since there was a sect that her father devoted his body and soul to support, she ultimately chose to shoulder even the mission they bestowed upon her.

For some reason, recently, she had been feeling that the emptiness in the place she had tried not to care about was growing.

“You really came.”

Seine Velvet.

Since meeting this mentor who showed her the way when she was wandering, and who still stood by her side even now.

“Yes, well. Since you need me.”

Yes, she had never once let her words go to waste.

Was it just because she was a saint?

No, at least when she gave advice that day, she had regarded her not as a saint but as a single girl.

Even though she uses honorifics, it’s probably the same now.

She could feel it just by the way she pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed when she lay down.

“Isn’t it bothersome…”

The moment she drew the curtains to hide the lantern light illuminating the dark room.

“Don’t you think so?”

To the question that followed when darkness settled around, she chuckled and answered.

“As I’ve said many times, you don’t need to worry about it. Originally, I just have long waking hours, but other than that, I don’t have much to do distinctly, so I’m just passing time personally.”

Yes, she’s surely smiling.

Even though it’s a place where even the lantern light is blocked by curtains, I could imagine what kind of expression she would have in such darkness.

She had always shown kindness to her.

“Should I pray to prove it? You know that a person of faith shouldn’t make false oaths to the god they serve, right, Saint?”

“…No, you don’t need to do that.”

Yes, no other proof is needed.

The saint truly trusted the one who stood by her side.

“Just, your hand…”

As if faithful to that trust, her left hand slipped out from under the bed.

“Until I fall asleep, could you just hold my hand?”

She thought she would surely hold it, but if she didn’t…

Thinking that she might find this behavior burdensome, she couldn’t actively extend it.

Still lying in a proper posture, she just directed her gaze towards the ceiling, waiting for an answer.

“…If that’s enough, by all means.”

Fortunately, it didn’t take long for an answer to come.

Moreover, beyond just holding her hand, she covered it with both hands, and even applied strength to her raised fingers as if focusing on the sensation of her hand.

“…Your pulse has quickened.”

At that moment, she almost flinched, but the girl managed to suppress the reflexive movement by maintaining her composure as much as possible.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, when we first met, it was very slow due to low blood pressure… But when I saw you while bathing, your complexion had improved, which means you’ve been consistently taking care of your body lately.”

-Thump, thump.

The sound of her heart gradually intensifies.

The warmth touching her hand felt more intense than she had thought.

“But I’m a bit worried that your blood pressure might be too high… Are you feeling nervous?”

So she noticed after all.

It’s natural, isn’t it? The other person knows her body much better than she does.

“…Yes.”

“I understand, that’s just how people are.”

She laughs lightly, not minding even that.

“It’s not just people, but all living things. Having a sense of security about one’s home is a kind of instinct… It’s natural to have trouble falling asleep in an unfamiliar environment different from where you usually stay.”

“……”

Why couldn’t she immediately agree with those words?

Why is she just silently closing her hand and trying to grasp the hands holding hers?

She knows the reason.

To be honest, she felt like directly denying the words being conveyed to her.

“Was it the same for you, Teacher?”

Yes, she didn’t want to consider this environment unfamiliar right now.

Rather, she hoped it would continue in the future.

She was modestly hoping that this sensation she was feeling now would continue to be together in the ‘stable home’ she had mentioned.

“Pardon?”

“When you were active as a soldier, you must have moved around to various places.”

This question was uttered to hide such inner thoughts.

As if not grasping those feelings, the following answer showed no hesitation.

“…Well, yes. Since it was a place where an attack could come at any time. Even when I fell asleep, I don’t think I ever slept soundly.”

As if having a truly casual conversation.

“It must have been hard. Very much so.”

“Yes, it was hard. So I thought it would be nice if I could sleep to my heart’s content when the war ended… But ironically, the job I chose afterwards is such that sleeping comfortably is out of the question.”

Did she come to stay by her side even in such a fatigued state?

Just because of a single word, without giving any particular reward.

“Do you regret it? Becoming a teacher…”

That sight made her worry on one hand.

A person who is much stronger and more altruistic than herself…

She worried about what would happen if she kept wearing herself down like this and collapsed alone.

“Regret… Why do you think I would?”

“I saw it when we were bathing earlier. The large scar on your back.”

“……”

“…You got hurt while saving that child, didn’t you?”

Yes, it was a fact she had already realized through rumors circulating in the school.

That her kindness wasn’t just aimed at herself.

Surely she would try to bestow that heart as much as possible to others, especially those who could be called students.

“I don’t regret it.”

She admired her for that.

“My body moving at that time happened regardless of my will.”

She felt that she was much more deserving of the name ‘saint’ than herself, who had started walking the path of a saint regardless of her own will.

“Regardless of your will, you say?”

“Without considering gains and losses, I just moved forward thinking only about saving the child… That in itself means that my true heart doesn’t reject the profession of being a teacher.”

Gradually, the rough sensation felt in her grasp becomes faint.

As if teaching that the tension she felt earlier was just to remind herself of her own feelings.

“The scars on my back are more like a burden I should bear. But I’m also quite lacking… Sometimes when I become aware of such wounds, I keenly realize my own limitations.”

‘No, you’re not inexperienced.’

Her mouth opened to answer such laments, but then closed again.

‘After all, I received salvation from you like this.’

She doesn’t know what kind of person she is yet.

At least revealing her true feelings should be postponed until more time has passed. Thinking this, she just swallowed her words inwardly as always.

“…Are you still unable to sleep?”

“Yes. Coincidentally.”

She wanted to talk more because she wanted to know so much.

Unlike during the day.

Opportunities to be alone with her at a time when it’s almost certain no one will come are rare.

“Then, shall I introduce you to a breathing method that helps you sleep well?”

Isn’t she a kind person who accommodates even my selfishness?

Despite her earnest wish, the girl couldn’t bring herself to refuse this current kindness.

“…A breathing method, you say?”

“Yes, try to follow along. While inflating your belly, inhale for about 4 seconds, hold your breath for about 7 seconds…”

A soft voice echoing quietly in the darkness.

It feels like it’s calming her mind and body as if it were a lullaby.

“Exhale, hold… Exhale again.”

Thump, thump.

Even her heartbeat, which had been rapid until now, gradually changes to a more stable rhythm.

At the moment her hand moves towards her chest to feel it more clearly.

‘As expected.’

The moment she felt that beat, she realized once again.

‘This is strange after all. Something like this.’

She’s just kind to everyone.

It’s not the first time she’s faced someone who has shown her such goodwill.

Why is her heart pounding so much in this moment with her?

“Your eyes are starting to close.”

No, she knew the reason.

Beyond just being a mentor, the one holding her hand.

She realized that she was fulfilling something lacking in her life…

“…Good night, Saint.”

Finally, a quiet whisper reaches her ears.

With that, her consciousness sank deeply below the surface of sleep.

In stark contrast to the days when she couldn’t sleep due to many worries, it was incredibly comfortable.

---

How much time had passed like that in the darkness?

-Arf!!

Her mind awakens with a sudden noise.

It seems she had some kind of dream, but for some reason, she couldn’t remember it clearly in her head.

Was it because she slept so deeply that she didn’t even have time to dream?

But when she woke up, the figure of the one who had helped her sleep so soundly had vanished from her side.

-Arf, arf!!

The only thing there was a puppy wagging its tail and looking up at her on the bed.

“…Ah, yes. Good morning.”

A newborn god, or a being recognized as such, that had been taken in just a day before.

She hugged its small body, gently stroked its head, and sat up in bed.

-Shaaaa.

It was still raining outside.

Judging by the gloomy dark clouds that were no different from before, it didn’t seem like the rain would stop anytime soon.

Come to think of it, didn’t the rainy season last for several weeks last year too?

“It might get busy.”

Disasters occur due to heavy rain, and death is inevitably close at such scenes.

She hoped that the time for her to step in wouldn’t come.

While thinking this and roaming the empty infirmary, her gaze suddenly turned to a note placed on the office desk.

A letter presumably left by her.

[I will be leaving the infirmary for a while due to a summons from the chairman. As today is a public holiday at the academy, there will be no regular classes, so Sepin-san, please feel free to leave the infirmary and move about freely today. I will leave a spare key under the letter.]

“…She left.”

Certainly, the rain had weakened compared to yesterday, and since today was a holiday, she too should focus on her duties at the sect rather than being a visiting student.

The rain had weakened, so it would be good to prepare immediately and leave this place.

Yes, although that should be natural.

‘A day to stay like yesterday might not come again.’

For some unknown reason, as the strength in her hand holding the letter gradually loosened due to regret.

Belatedly noticing this and hurriedly shifting her gaze, suddenly a cup placed on the desk came into her view.

Had she drunk from it?

“There’s still some content left.”

A coffee cup that hadn’t yet lost its warmth. It seemed she had left a hasty note and departed before finishing it due to the sudden summons.

After silently looking down at that cup for dozens of seconds, she suddenly realized that there was some kind of mark at its edge, and focused her gaze there.

The faint white mark was surely from cosmetics called lip gloss.

-Thump thump.

As soon as she registered this with her eyes, her heartbeat intensified again.

The sense of blasphemy welling up deep in her heart seemed to try to suppress her actions, but even that was carried out half-heartedly, and she felt her reason crumbling and her judgment becoming blurred.

‘Just a little…’

Unconsciously.

But naturally.

‘If it’s just a little?’

Just as her lips were about to move towards the place with that mark.

-Rattle.

The sound of the tightly closed door opening was heard.

“Ah!?”

Startled by this, she let out an exclamation and eventually dropped what she was holding in her hand.

Crash!! The moment the cup shattered.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. Did I come in too suddenly?”

The uninvited guest who saw the traces of destruction wore a sympathetic expression and began to step into the infirmary.

It was certainly an attitude taken out of concern for her.

But when she actually faced that person, what she felt was none other than familiarity.

“Teacher Seine…?”

Had she already returned?

No, that’s wrong.

Only the face and hair color are similar. Aren’t the clothing, height, and even the atmosphere all different?

“Oh my.”

Yes, just a person who resembles her.

“You there. Do you perhaps know Seine?”

At the chilling sensation emanating from such a person.

Her heart, which had been pounding continuously, began to feel constricted.