When Nonomi drew close, my arm naturally sank into a soft embrace.
I could not help comparing it to Hoshino & Shiroko, and then thinking of Abydos's situation and Nonomi's wealthy family background, which gave me a completely new understanding of how postnatal nutrition affects growth.
So next time I go to Abydos, should I bring a few crates of milk for Ayane and Serika?
Just then, the warm breath Nonomi exhaled brushed against my earlobe, making my heart itch along with it.
Even without the system's confirmation, Nonomi was definitely secretly in love with me.
After that, the worried words of this rather enthusiastic rich young lady finally reached my ears.
"Serika, she seems to be doing some strange work lately."
The sweet thoughts in my mind were instantly replaced by alarm.
No way, was she tricked again so soon?
I had just been worrying that Serika might fall for another scam after some time, and I did not expect it to come this fast.
As for why I was so certain she had been deceived, with Serika's upright personality, if she knew she was doing illegal work, she would absolutely never continue, just like last time.
But it was also possible that what Nonomi meant was precisely that previous incident.
"A while ago, when Serika was at school, she always looked listless, like she had not slept well at night," Nonomi continued. "Out of concern, I did a li∼ttle investigation and found that Serika was doing customer service online. And most importantly, that online shop actually!"
"It was secretly involved in illegal activities, and the shop owner was arrested by Valkyrie some time ago. The verdict should be coming soon."
Nonomi took a few steps back and looked at me in surprise. "Eh? Sensei, how do you know that?"
Your version is outdated.
I secretly let out a sigh of relief, glad that Serika had not been unintentionally exploited again within just one short week, and replied,
"Because I was the one who discovered this case and reported it to public security, and I have already talked to Serika about it."
"So that's how it is!"
Nonomi suddenly understood and smiled brightly at me. "As expected of Sensei. I really need to thank you again for helping. That way, I can finally feel at ease about Serika too, for now."
Then she shifted her gaze to the sack of flyers beside me. "Oh right, Sensei, what are you busy with? Have you seen Serika pass by?"
I felt a bit troubled.
Serika had asked me to help with her part-time job, so she probably did not want her kouhais or senpais at school to know she was doing such exhausting work.
I still vividly remembered that when I first arrived at Abydos, I had told everyone in the Foreclosure Task Force about Serika working part-time at Shiba Seki Ramen.
That tsundere, stubborn girl had been furious at me for betraying her.
Although Serika getting angry was a daily occurrence and I easily soothed her, she had also said back then that there could not be a next time.
So should I really not tell Nonomi that I was helping Serika with part-time work?
Just as I was gradually making up my mind, a pair of soft, delicate hands lifted my hand.
Nonomi shook it gently, her eyes pitiful as she spoke in a spoiled tone.
"Hey, Sensei, you know something, right? Please, okay? Hey."
Oh no, it was a sonar attack.
Fortunately, my will was firm, and I keep my word. I would never go back on it.
Facing the beautiful girl trying to corrupt me, I smiled proudly.
"Actually, I came today to help Serika with her part-time job. It's handing out flyers."
Serika said there must not be a next time, but I never agreed to that.
"Eh?"
Nonomi blinked her emerald green eyes. "So Sensei was called out by Serika? That's so sneaky. I clearly held back so well and did not ask Sensei to go shopping with me."
She might have mentioned it unintentionally, but the effect sounded as if she were deliberately reminding me.
With that reminder, I finally remembered that my promise with Nonomi had yet to be fulfilled.
I scratched my cheek awkwardly. "I do remember, it's just that I've been too busy lately."
Honestly, that excuse was complete bs.
Although there had indeed been all kinds of trivial matters recently, Schale's work had grown heavier, and other students also took up my free time, if I truly wanted to, I could always squeeze out some time.
Just like now, when Serika had called me out.
In the end, it was simply because I had not taken it seriously enough.
My desire for shopping was not particularly strong, and Nonomi never brought it up proactively, so going shopping with her naturally fell lower on my list of priorities.
Thinking of this, a faint sense of guilt rose in me, and I hurriedly promised,
"Sorry, I'll definitely find time soon."
Before I could finish speaking, a slender, soft finger, fair as if it were glowing, carrying warmth and a faint fragrance, gently pressed against my lips.
"Hehe, Sensei, your reaction is so cute." Nonomi's smile was warm like the sun, full of endless tolerance. "But you misunderstood, I wasn't urging you at all. Even if you have time, I might not be free anyway, so I'm not in a hurry on my end."
Nonomi withdrew her finger and played with her slightly curled flaxen hair that fell over her shoulders. The tone she used sounded meaningful to me.
"There will be plenty of chances in the future. Right?"
I looked at Nonomi with a hint of subtle astonishment, feeling that I had come to understand her a little more deeply.
Whether consciously or not, she really knew how to tease people.
Looking at the girl's pure, breathtakingly beautiful face and her graceful figure stretching the white shirt of her school uniform, I found it hard to calm my racing heart.
Then, without drawing attention, I adjusted my pants.
I solemnly made my promise once more. "Of course. So next time, for sure."
"Mm, for sure."
Nonomi smiled with her eyes narrowed, then suddenly remembered something. "Ah, right, Sensei. I originally wanted to treat you to a parfait as thanks for taking care of Serika. Although I don't really understand it, it looks like it won't be possible for a while, right?"
Whether it was sincere gratitude or just an excuse, I could not say.
It was probably both.
I nodded regretfully as well. "Yes, it'll probably keep me busy until evening."
"Mmm…" Nonomi closed her eyes in thought. When she opened them again, she was smiling once more and extended her hand to me. "Then please let me help too."
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?" I said hesitantly. "Besides, if Serika finds out…"
"Then just don't let her know," Nonomi said with a smile as she urged me on. "Hurry up. Serika will be back soon, right?"
Seeing her goodwill and her insistence, I could not bring myself to refuse and first took five hundred flyers from the sack.
Nonomi weighed them in her hands and said, "Light. Light. Way too light. Please make it double."
I took another thousand.
She estimated the weight again and shook her head. "Still okay. Add more."
"Let's just come back for more after these are handed out."
"It's more convenient to take more at once, and there's plenty left in the bag anyway."
Unable to win against Nonomi, I took another thousand or so. By my estimate, the weight was already over twenty kilograms.
Yet in the hands of the seemingly delicate girl, it felt as light as a feather.
After all, Nonomi usually ran around carrying a Gatling gun and endured its tremendous recoil while using it as a weapon with ease.
Her monstrous strength was easy to imagine.
I was about to explain the specific instructions. "Hand the flyers to…"
"To pedestrians or put them in mailboxes, right? I know."
Nonomi held the flyers with both hands, then let out a little grunt and pressed them down with her ample chest to keep them in place.
Then she smiled shyly at me, who was staring a little blankly. "Well then, I'll be off first."
With that, she dashed off briskly in the opposite direction from Serika.
Watching Nonomi's retreating figure, then turning back to see Serika appearing at the far end of the street, I fell into thought before breaking into a wry smile.
When people are in a pinch, sometimes they become quick-witted, and sometimes they are more likely to reveal a flaw.
So that means…
Nonomi had actually been watching all along, right?
As expected, Nonomi held more than just a passing fondness for me.
And when it comes to matters of the heart, I did not really dislike this level of scheming.
And then there was…
That trash credit card, what kind of terrible judgment was that?
Feeling deeply that my cheat ability was stingy, with Nonomi being like this, it still refused to give me any powerful authority. Couldn't the standards be a little more lenient?
I let out a light sigh, bent down, and handed flyers to Serika, who was drenched in sweat.
And I looked forward to the parfait I would share with Nonomi later.