Chapter 6 Part 3 - A Very Special Time

TL: Xean || ED: Chaos

I could almost see the forbidden area of the instructor’s alluring skirt. It’s barely visible, but if the instructor would just open up her shapely legs just a little bit more, it would be perfect.

“Theo-kun… it’s embarrassing for you to be that close…”

When I heard her voice, I hurriedly realized that I had unconsciously put my face close to the instructor’s thighs. I quickly wiped the cream off, wondering what I was doing in such an eye-catching store.

“You really are… it’s really your fault this time, right?”

“I’m sorry…”

After refreshing our taste buds with a cup of tea, we left the sweet shop after I was scolded by the instructor, whose face was red with shame.

“I’m so happy to have eaten both of the things that I wanted at least once. How was the experience for you, Theo-kun? ”

“Ah, it’s hard for a lone guy to go into a restaurant like that. It was a good experience.”

“Then I’m glad. Now, let’s go this way.”

The instructor led me through the theme park again. After a while, we arrived at the aquarium.

“The aquarium, huh?”

There seemed to be a live exhibition of so-called aquatic life. Of course, it was a facility for showing live things.

“I’ve always wanted to visit an aquarium, just once. Don’t you think it’s kind of student-like to have a date here?”

As I thought. She was aware of this student-like atmosphere.

“Okay, let’s go right away. Let’s see what’s waiting for us inside.”

The instructor took me by the hand, and after paying the entrance fee, we stepped into the museum.

The museum was dimly lit, and right from the entrance, there was a huge aquarium where schools of migratory fish were swimming around in formation.

“It seems that marine life is the main attraction.”

“That’s probably it. The Imperial Capital is in the inner part of the Empire, so there is no ocean, right? There are penguins over there! Let’s go and see!”

The instructor was so energetic that it was hard to believe she was already twenty-six years old.

“Oh my god, they’re so cute! That one looks like Theo-kun.”

The instructor said so as she visited the penguin tank and looked at the penguins.

“Instructor, do you realize that what you’re saying doesn’t make any sense? ”

“Eh? But that penguin actually looks like Theo-kun.”

“… From what part do I look like that?”

“Hmm, besides the cute part… I guess it’s because its whole body is black and white.”

I didn’t say anything back because I knew she was right.

After that, we looked around the aquarium and enjoyed ourselves to the fullest before going outside.

“Ah, it was amazing. I didn’t think there were even sea otters.”

“They must have brought them with the ice from the north.”

“Yes. Anyway, I was very happy to see so many different creatures! My heart’s desires are satisfied.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle when I heard the instructor say that.

I’d been aware of this for a while, but this date plan was probably just a tour of places she wanted to visit. She definitely wanted me to have fun, but more than that, I could sense the straightforward intention of the instructor to also have fun herself.

If there is such a thing as a love index, the fact that she is so self-centered doesn’t seem to be a very high value. I know now the reason why she earned the title of 26 years old bachelor.

However, I like that kind of instructor. She has a solid personality, but at the same time, she is clumsy in many ways. It’s this unpretentious personality that I love about her.

“Well, Theo-kun, we can go wherever you want to go next, okay?”

The instructor said abruptly. Apparently, she wants my opinion next.

I took her words and looked at the information board of the theme park for a minute before deciding where to go. I’d chosen a place that I don’t usually go to.

“Hmm… what is this place?”

The moment I visited the place, my instructor’s face began to stiffen, as if she was somewhat upset. What seems to be wrong? I don’t think someone as strong as her would have a problem with this place.

The place we went to is a horror house.

It is a broken-down brick apartment built as an entertainment center to satisfy the selfish emotions of those who seek horror. It has a reputation for scaring the c**p out of visitors with all the theatrics that await them inside.

“W-Why here…?”

“I like this kind of thing. How about you, instructor?”

“I-I love it! I-I’ve always wanted to come here too!”

“Really? I’m relieved to hear that.”

She looked a little pale, but it’s probably just my imagination. I’m so happy to be here.

“Then, instructor, let’s get in line.”

“Y-yeah… I can’t wait to get inside too…!”

Then we started lining up. The instructor looked really anxious. I wondered if she was really looking forward to that much to go inside. It was a good decision to choose the horror house.

“…Hn?”

For a moment, I suddenly felt a strange gaze. Was someone watching me? Because of my prominence, I’m always being watched, but this wasn’t the same as the usual gazes. I looked to find the source of the gaze, but it suddenly disappeared… What was that?

“Theo-kun… what’s the matter?”

“… No, it’s nothing.”

There was no sign of danger, so I should’ve focused on the date.

“It seems it’s our turn now. Let’s go, instructor.”

We paid the fee and entered the broken-down brick apartment-like building.

The inside was quite spacious. There was a mysterious silence, and the air was eerily tense. In the meantime, the instructor was grabbing the hem of my clothes.

“… What’s wrong, instructor? ”

“I-It’s nothing…”

“Why are you grabbing my clothes when it’s nothing!? …Are you sure you’re not afraid of this kind of place?”

When I asked, the instructor’s eyes swam around for a moment, and then she said, “No, I’m not good with this place.”

Oof…!

I think I’ve mis-chosen a date spot here…!

The instructor was just pretending to be strong. How could I not see that?

“I’m sorry, instructor! I didn’t know that, and I brought you to this kind of place!”

“I-it’s fine… but let’s just hurry up and get out of here.”

“T-that’s right. Then please stay close to me.”

As if to protect the instructor, who was actually not very good at being scared, I started to lead the way. Right after that, the side door suddenly opened with a bang! A staff member dressed as a ghost appeared.

“Kyaaaaaaaahhh!”

Along with that, the instructor’s scream rang out. M-My eardrums…!

The instructor stuck to my back and hid herself shaking.

“Th-Theo-kun… l-let’s go faster… my heart can’t take much more of this…”

“I understand!”

Holding the instructor’s trembling hand, I proceeded forward. Let’s quickly get the h**l out of here!

“Don’t you dare let me go! You definitely won’t leave me right?”

The instructor was now holding on to me, desperately hugging my arm. The sight of the instructor losing her composure was so cute and different from usual.

But at the same time, I felt sorry for her, so I wanted to get out as soon as possible.

“Uhh…”

As if my arm has been shot by a tranquilizer, the instructor keeps clinging to me.

Her bulging parts are touching my arm. I’m happy, but also a little embarrassed.

In the midst of all this, as we were walking through this abandoned place,

“Buh…!”

Staff members dressed as ghosts appeared from time to time, just like before, to scare us. Although I simply brushed it off, the instructor would always scream.

“Nooooooo! Don’t come over here you creepy b*****d! Go away!”

I can’t believe that one of the strongest musketeers in the world was cutely waving her arms in the air to get rid of the ghost staff… The instructor looked so cute waving her hands around.

Needless to say, the instructor became very groggy when we eventually reached the exit.

“I’ll never agree to go to this place again… Theo-kun’s so mean. I’ll never go in there again.”

When I saw the instructor with tears in her eyes as she walked out, I cursed myself for my poor choice.

“I-I’m sorry about that… I didn’t think you were good at scary stuff…”

“Well… You didn’t do it on purpose… but next time, no more of this, okay?”

“… I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Then… let’s go eat something sweet for a change.”

With the instructor’s hand in mine, we ended up visiting several sweet shops.

Then we continued to look around and before we knew it, it was evening.

We ended our date by visiting the lakeside at the edge of the theme park. It was quite far from the entertainment facilities, so there weren’t many people here. The mountains in the distance were all green, and the warm, gentle breeze made me feel like it was early summer.

The instructor, walking next to me, started looking me up and down from my toes, and eventually made eye contact with me and said.

“Theo-kun, you’ve really grown up, haven’t you?”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. You used to have your head on my chest. You were tiny and cute… but now you’ve outgrown me and you’re so cool… Fufu, I can feel Theo-kun’s growth.”

The instructor smiled a little, muttering something nostalgic.

“By the way, Theo-kun, how was it today?”

After all, Instructor Miya had been in uniform all day. She was so into it that it seemed to be just like a normal day for her.

“I had fun. It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a carefree day with no training, no missions. It was the perfect change of pace. It gave me lots of energy and healing.

“Really?”

“Yes. It was fun to be able to do something I couldn’t do when I was a student.”

“Ara, really? That’s kind of the theme I had in mind for this date, so I’m glad it was conveyed properly.”

Holding her skirt as it swayed in the wind, Instructor Miya turned to me. She had a gentle smile on her face. For some reason, she seemed a little sad.

“If I could rewind time… I would have loved to have spent my school days like this in actual time with Theo-kun.”

No matter how hard one tried, no one couldn’t rewind time.

There is a nine-year gap between me and my instructor. When I was six years old, the age for elementary school attendance, the instructor was already fifteen. It’s not like we were born in different years. The difference in time of birth was so great that we might not have even been able to communicate with each other.

It is true that if I had been the same age as the instructor, if we had shared the same school days, we would have had a very enjoyable youth. But that’s just wishful thinking.

“Instructor, I don’t think that’s right.”

“… Eh?”

“There is no doubt that if I had been able to spend my school days with you, I would’ve had many more happy days like today. But on the other hand, I doubt that we would’ve had this kind of relationship.”

Do I find value in an instructor my age? Will the instructor see value in me being the same age as her?

Well, we may get along to a certain extent.

However, I believe that the reason we were able to have such a close relationship was because I was her student and she was my instructor.

“So I don’t think I would’ve liked to have spent my school years with you. I feel the greatest happiness, in the fact that I can now spend time with my older sister, Instructor.”

“Theo-kun…”

“If possible, I don’t want to talk about ‘what ifs’. Because I don’t think those ‘what ifs’ will ever top the fun we’re having today.”

“Yes…”

The instructor’s face eventually broke into a smile.

“You’re right, Theo-kun. I had a great time today, too. I had the best time of my life, no question about it. Except for Horror House.”

“…I’m really sorry about that.”

“It’s okay. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.”