Chapter 1 Part 3 - End

Chapter 1

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TL : Xean

ED: Shish99

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Part 3

The rehabilitation was more of a workout than anything else, and there were many times when the trainer at the facility told me that I was pushing myself too hard. Still, I insisted on doing it, and before the instructor would wake up, I would return to the room and pretend to be asleep.

This game of cat and mouse lasted for a few days.

Honestly, I was quite irritated about being watched. Well of course I would be, after all, it was done solely to prevent me from returning.

But that irritation still didn’t make me hate the instructor, as I knew that she was doing it out of goodwill.

If I submit to what she wants of me, I’m sure that she would take care of me for the rest of my life, quietly living a peaceful life while being pampered. Except, that she is still watching me right now.

There are some things she wouldn’t allow me to do, and she still prevents me from doing them.

That seems to be her way of making amends.

I got injured of my own volition, but she places the responsibility of it on herself.

So, she’s watching me to make sure it won’t happen again.

I’m the one at fault, after all, I troubled the instructor by placing that unwanted burden upon her.

So, it should be my responsibility to deal with it.

With that in mind, I slipped out of the hospital room today, with the instructor sleeping soundly on a rocking chair by my bed-side. I went to the rehab facility and started the intense training.

The trainer doesn’t say anything anymore. He understood that his words would fall on deaf ears after looking at how enthusiastically I trained. After a quick swim in the stone pool there to build up my strength, I decide to head back to the hospital room. However…

“Theo-kun.”

It was at that very moment, right when I went into the corridor. A voice came from behind me, the sound leaving me jumping out of my skin.

I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was, as the voice belonged to someone who I was very familiar with recently. It was Instructor Miya.

“When I woke up, you were gone, and I didn’t expect to find you here.”

I was aware that this game of hide and seek could only be played for so long, and that a time would come where I would be found out. I had prepared myself for this situation, knowing that the only path left was to try and convince her.

The instructor faced me, her eyes narrowing in disappointment.

“… You’ve been training in secret, pretending to be obedient, haven’t you?”

“Yes … Can’t I …?”

“You shouldn’t do that… … Why won’t you listen to me?”

All the people nearby turned to face us, looking for the source of this ruckus only to see what they would normally think to be a lovers-quarrel.

“Theo-kun …… please don’t do reckless things anymore.”

It was an earnest plea.

And a hindrance at the same time.

I wasn’t offended. I know the kindness beneath it. But…

“Instructor, I’m sorry I cannot do that.”

“Why?! !”

The instructor grabbed my clothes, carrying the same feeling like when people would grab those they value, preventing them from going to what was almost certain death.

“Why would you do that, Theo-kun? ! Why are you pushing yourself so hard? You were hurt trying to protect me and now you’re forcing yourself for my sake… Why would you do all those things for me, Theo-kun. I’m not worthy of that!”

“Because ……— I’ve told you once, and I’ll tell you again, you’re very important to me, instructor!”

I yelled. I couldn’t stop talking and screamed the words that had been stuck in my heart the entire time.

“Why are you doing all these things? Why are you trying to protect me? I didn’t ask you for it, and you don’t need to do it either! You’re being too overprotective!”

“Overprotective… I just want to protect Theo-kun from doing reckless things again—”

“I know! I know that, but I don’t want you to feel such a burden. It’s my fault. I chose to cover for you and this was the result. I don’t want you to feel responsible for that. It’s my fault, so you don’t have to do this!”

“Theo-kun.”

“I’m going to return, even if it means trampling on the instructor’s wishes! Because if I don’t, I’ll regret my decision, instructor!”

I have protected the instructor’s body, but I broke her heart in exchange.

I have no regrets about what happened with my body, but I hate that the instructor has to bear such responsibility.

That’s why I’m trying to return.

“…… I’ll be back in the room.”

The embarrassment I felt after saying what I truly felt made me keel in embarrassment, forcing me to run away.

I felt like a jerk for throwing away the instructor’s kindness.

But I need to be clear now.

It was dawn when I returned back to the hospital room.

The smell of dinner had begun flowing through the air, into the noses of those that passed by.

When I came back, I sat down on the bed and rolled over, covering my eyes with my arms.

“I …”

“Did I do something wrong? — That can’t be. For her sake, I think it’s right to return.”

” But if she’ll just give me her support.”

Even if she doesn’t approve, I’m going to return, and that’s not going to change. But if she supports my goal, I can move forward in peace.

While I was immersed in my thoughts, the room door swung open.

“……”

The instructor walked in quietly. I thought she was going to say something, but she didn’t. She closed the door and sat down on the chair by the window.

The fact that she followed me to the hospital room right away tells me that she has something to say. But perhaps she was still collecting her thoughts. There was a moment of silence in the room. I could vividly hear the bed creak, the birds chirp, and someone walking in the corridor.

Every distant sound echoed loudly within my ears through this throbbing silence.

The early summer breeze that swayed the curtain gently stroked my hair and then—

“You know, Theo-kun.”

The instructor suddenly spoke, and I moved my arms from my eyes.

The instructor was looking at me with gentle eyes.

“This was the first time I’ve seen you talk so emotionally.”

“Eh?”

“You never express yourself. You always try to be clever, especially in front of me. “

Smiling somewhat meekly, the instructor continued.

“So when you raised your voice like that, …. I think you must have meant all of those words.”

“I’m really serious.”

A man’s word is his honor. It might have just been poetic words for some but it was a truth for me.

“Are you really going to disobey me?”

“Yes … as I’ve been doing for a while now.”

“So you snuck out during my sleep?”

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t want to make a scene. I can’t just stand around doing nothing.”

“Do you really have to?”

“Yes, I’m sure you understand even if I don’t tell you, instructor. It’s just the way I am.”

Even if she tells me it’s impossible or reckless, I will believe that I can do it and keep going towards the goal. My dream of the annihilation of the demons, and also making a full recovery. They may say it’s impossible, but I don’t care. I’ll just have to do it. That’s it.

After years of that we’ve spent together, the instructor should have known that about me.

“Haa …”

Soon, the instructor began to flash a troubled smile on her face.

‘’E-eh, well, …… you were that kind of boy, Theo-kun.”

“Did you understand just now?”

“I don’t completely understand, but … It’s been like that since you were in training school. You would train until you collapsed from exhaustion and then do the same thing after recovery without remorse. Theo-kun really is an appallingly stubborn child.”

“And I’m telling you that’s not going to change now. You can call me stubborn if you want, but just let me try. Please. “

As I told her that, the instructor crossed his arms and began to think.

She showed a confused look for a moment–

And in the next moment, she let out a sigh of resignation, knowing that she had no choice left.

“Haa, I’ll allow it.”

“Huh?”

“I told you I’d allow you to come back to work.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“What? I thought you want my permission?”

That’s right. I was just surprised that she allowed me so easily.

“Are you sure you’re allowing me to…?”

“Because I know that once you decide on something Theo-kun, you won’t stop. How many years do you think I’ve been looking at Theo-kun with my own eyes? It’s been six years. As I suspected, no matter how much I cried or tried to stop you, Theo-kun wouldn’t stop strugglin, trying to return.”

“Are you sure? Even after you’ve been trying to stop me this much?”

“What can I do? I know it would be best if I could just persuade you, but unfortunately you’re more stubborn than I thought, Theo-kun.”

“So, you won’t stop me anymore?”

“Yeah, I’m not gonna stop you.”

But she interjected with the words.

“However, watching out for Theo-kun’s reckless behaviour… it’s not like I’ve given up on that, you know?”

“…Eh?

“Listen, Theo-kun. I’ll give you credit for trying to get back. But there’ll be no turning back. That’s a promise. But that’s why I think—”

The instructor looked at me solemnly.

“I want you to train for your return, and I want you to do it within my reach.”

That’s what she said.

“If I’m going to support your comeback, I want the best for you, Theo-kun. I wondered how I could support you to my best?”

Within her reach– Support–?

When I was thinking of possibilities, the instructor said calmly.

“The bottom line is that, after you get discharged from the hospital I’d like you to live in my house and train with me for your comeback.”

“Are you sure about that?”

So in the end, I couldn’t lift the burden just yet.

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