Early in the morning, another stack of documents arrived from the General Student Council.
After a quick breakfast of instant food, I sat at my desk. The more I worked, the more the pile grew, almost forming a mountain. I couldn't help but let out a small yawn.
At this rate, Schale's workload was only going to increase. It wasn't that I couldn't handle it alone, but if I kept working nonstop, I'd have no time left to… meet with students who needed an adult's guidance.
As the most competent and responsible teacher in all of Kivotos, without question, it was clear which of those two priorities mattered more.
That was precisely why the Schale duty system existed.
Even if a student wasn't particularly skilled, as long as they didn't cause trouble and just sat quietly nearby, their presence alone was enough to soothe the mind and ease the stress of work.
And today's student was someone who could not only handle tasks efficiently, but whose company would surely make the long hours far more pleasant.
I glanced at the matching mug on my desk (one of a pair) and just imagining it made me look forward to the day ahead.
Before long, a polite knock sounded at the office door, right on time.
"Come in," I called.
The unlocked door opened, and a familiar figure stepped inside, the one I could honestly say I thought about day and night, or at least whenever my mind wasn't preoccupied with someone else.
"Good morning, Sensei. I'm today's duty student, Hayase Yuuka, second year at Millennium Science School, currently serving as the Seminar's accountant. I'll be doing my best to assist you today."
I looked her up and down. Her expression was tense, her posture unnaturally straight.
"Yuuka, are you alright? Why so formal all of a sudden?"
I asked, though I already had a faint suspicion in my heart.
Could it be… Yuuka's just feeling shy around me?
Then, a soft, teasing voice came from behind her.
"What do you mean, Sensei? Yuuka's always this cute."
A hint of red bloomed across Yuuka's cheeks. She turned her head sharply, flustered and embarrassed.
"Y-you're the one saying weird things!"
"Hehe." Following right behind her, Noa stepped up beside Yuuka and gave me a polite nod. "Good morning, Sensei. I'm Ushio Noa, the Seminar's secretary. I'll be helping out alongside Yuuka today~."
That's right... today's students on-duty were none other than the two key officers of the Millennium Seminar: Yuuka, the skilled accountant, and Noa, the capable secretary.
With two brilliant and beautiful girls like them at my side, even a mountain of paperwork from the General Student Council didn't seem so intimidating.
I couldn't help but look forward to the pleasant hours ahead.
——
Meanwhile, at the Millennium Seminar's office.
A girl with jet-black hair and crimson eyes sat at a desk buried under piles of documents. Her pale skin contrasted with her dark outfit, a black ensemble over a white turtleneck sweater. Her expression was cold and stoic.
Across from her sat Koyuki, tilting her head in confusion, her big innocent eyes wide and uncomprehending. The spacious, nearly empty office contained only the two of them.
"Rio-senpai, what's wrong?" Koyuki asked curiously.
The black-haired girl, Tsukatsuki Rio, was silent for a moment before confirming in a calm voice,
"So you're telling me that both Yuuka and Noa took the day off today… to go to that autonomous organization, the one they call Schale, which the missing GSC President originally established?"
"Yup!"
That simple answer left Rio momentarily speechless. After a pause, she sighed and said quietly,
"In other words, all the Seminar's work today… falls to me alone, doesn't it?"
"That's not true!" Koyuki said with rare enthusiasm, thumping her chest. "The upperclassmen said if I do well today, I'll be released from confinement! So I, Koyuki, will give it my all to help you, boss! Nihahaha~!"
Rio opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again. She took a deep breath and turned her gaze away, shutting her eyes.
Schale's Sensei, huh...
Tsukatsuki Rio, president of the Millennium Seminar - known among some students as "The Boss," pondered silently, calculating with cold logic before reaching a decision.
It seemed that their planned contact with Schale would have to be moved up.
But for now…
When she opened her eyes again, Koyuki was smiling like an idiot, and Rio immediately shut them once more with a weary sigh.
First things first, how to get through today's workload efficiently without her two best subordinates.
——
Back at Schale.
During a short break, I noticed something unusual about Yuuka.
She was using her right hand today. Even her matching mug was placed on her right side. That meant no more of those small, accidental brushes of the hand we used to have on her left.
Was she deliberately keeping some distance? Maybe out of embarrassment… or because Noa was here? Or both?
Damn it, Yuuka's so cute it's hard not to tease her.
Trying to keep my tone light, I asked, "Yuuka, I thought you were left-handed?"
"Eh?" She jumped slightly, startled, her eyes darting away as her voice wavered. "A-actually, I can use both hands…"
That answer surprised me.
Don't tell me... back then, she was being intentional too?
Noa, sitting across from us, looked up with an amused smile. "My, Sensei, you're quite observant~. So Yuuka was using her left hand during previous duty days? I see… and was she also sitting next to you, just like today?"
"W-what of it!"
"Oh, nothing~ Just curious, that's all∼." Noa giggled softly, then smoothly changed the subject. "By the way, Sensei, your and Yuuka's mugs seem different from the others at Schale. They look like a matching set, don't they?"
As expected of Noa, sharp as ever. Of course, it might have helped that I gave her a subtle signal from where Yuuka couldn't see.
Yuuka fumbled for words, then forced a change of topic.
"...Noa, it's still work hours. I'm in the middle of a critical calculation, so please don't distract me. You too, Sensei!"
I smirked and exchanged a knowing glance with Noa.
No words were needed.