After agreeing to help the game development club search for the legendary "G.Bible," Himari disconnected the link.
As the glowing television screen returned to darkness, the girls of the game development club looked at one another, their emotions complicated.
"Um… is this really going to be okay?"
Yuzu spoke up anxiously. "After all, even if we really do find the G.Bible, it does not necessarily mean we can make a game good enough to win an award at the Millennium club competition…"
Midori added with a worried expression, "And the issue of our club's member count still has not been resolved."
"At this point, there really is not a better option, is there?"
Perhaps because her heart was still pure, or maybe precisely because of that, whenever trouble arose, Momoi was always the most decisive one.
Of course, more often than not, calling it recklessness would be more accurate.
Regardless, this side of Momoi was exactly what could encourage her more pessimistic companions.
"We will find a way to recruit new members. For now, let us focus on preparing for game development and wait for news from the Super Phenomenon Task Force!"
"That is right. Worrying too much about things that have not happened yet will only make us miss the chance to work hard right now."
I nodded in agreement and used a metaphor the game development club would best understand. "It is like the protagonists in an RPG with a turn limit. Before the turn count reaches the point where you can set out to find the legendary holy sword, you should focus on grinding levels and raising your stats first, right?"
Yuzu thought about it. "Th-that is true… whether or not we can obtain the holy sword to counter the Demon King, fighting monsters and leveling up is necessary."
"Oh oh oh! I know this one!" Momoi got excited. "During that time, you also need to meet all kinds of allies who can help on the adventure and raise your cook level, right!"
"It is co-op, idiot nee-chan. How did you even get into high school?"
Midori mocked Momoi's embarrassing Japanese, then turned to look at me, showing a shy and gentle smile.
"Sensei, thank you for your encouragement. I definitely will not let you down. I will pull myself together and do my best with everyone to protect our club."
Momoi's eyes darted, and she flashed between Midori and me, asking eagerly.
"What about me? Should you not thank your Onee-chan too?"
However, what answered her was an impatient hand.
Midori pushed Momoi aside and seemed to click her tongue. "You are so annoying, go away. Do not block me when I am talking to the Sensei. Suddenly cutting in is really rude."
"What!?"
Momoi was shocked, confused, and hurt. "Midori, have you entered your rebellious phase?"
Hearing that, Midori panicked for some reason. "What are you talking about! We are twins, are we not? We are long past the age of having a rebellious phase!"
Looking at the twins, who were small and baby faced even among their peers, and then estimating their age, I felt it was hard to say.
"Then what is this about?" Momoi's expression hardened into pure indignation as she accused, "You are treating me and the Sensei differently!"
"I-I am not!" Midori denied it outright.
"You totally are!"
"I am not!"
"You are, you are, you are!"
"I am not, I am not, I am not!"
Momoi and Midori grew more and more heated, even starting to push and tussle with each other.
I suddenly realized that watching girls fight over me was actually kind of fun.
Feeling a bit scummy for thinking about that.
Just as I was about to speak up and stop them, Yuzu, the timid and socially anxious club president of the game development club, unusually mustered up some courage.
She forcefully stepped between the two sisters, separated them, and took a deep breath.
"Please stop fighting. L-let us use a game to decide the winner."
Although her speech was still a bit stuttered, based on my impression of Yuzu, this was truly a remarkable feat.
"I am sorry, Sensei. Please wait just a moment."
"That is right. We will decide the winner very soon."
Momoi and Midori glared at each other, snorted in unison, and turned their faces away, yet their bodies moved with practiced ease. One grabbed a game disc, the other turned on the console. Before long, they were sitting on either side of the television, controllers in hand, locked in a fierce fighting game battle.
"Haa…"
Yuzu let out another deep breath, as if she had released all the courage she had drawn from who knows where, and returned to the closet was familiar with.
"S-sorry, Sensei, please sit for a bit… ah, I-I forgot to make you some tea…! Um… is black tea okay? The bottled kind…"
As she spoke, Yuzu grew increasingly flustered on her own, afraid that she was failing to host me properly. Her teary, anxious look was pitifully endearing.
I also noticed something especially cute.
Perhaps because of her shy personality, Yuzu's cheeks always carried two faint blushes, like fully ripened apples, stirring up an urge in me to take a bite.
Her smooth, broad forehead and her slightly messy, fluffy hair also made my fingers itch.
Especially when she looked at me with those moist eyes like a small animal's, restraining the desires in my heart became even more difficult.
Unfortunately, it was not the right time.
In the end, I was still a paragon of self restraint, pure and upright.
For Momoi, who was carefree and liked me, and for Midori, who was shy and liked me, that was one thing. But for a child like Yuzu, who liked me yet was so introverted she bordered on withdrawn, it was better not to do anything that would trouble her before our relationship truly grew closer.
Earlier, when I had been patting Momoi's and Midori's heads, sneaking in a few pats for Yuzu amid the chaos was already the limit of what I could do at present.
Otherwise, in gaming terms, it would be very easy to enter a heroine's CG scene.
Reluctantly abandoning my various thoughts, I stopped Yuzu from going to get drinks.
"No need to trouble yourself. I will take my leave for today."
"Eh?"
Two voices of surprise rang out at the same time, followed by a cheer.
"That is great! I won!"
This clearly came from Momoi, who had been almost guaranteed to lose, but seized the moment when her sister lost focus and smoothly unleashed a full combo, turning defeat into victory.
Midori ignored the outcome of the game and hurriedly got up, trotting over.
"Sensei, are you leaving already?"
Yuzu trembled. "C-could it be because of me…"
I quickly explained. "Everyone has a clear goal now. If I stay here, I would only get in the way of your efforts. Besides, I still have unfinished work over at Schale."
Hearing that, the girls no longer had any excuse to keep me and could only reluctantly…
"Okay Sensei, see you next time. Midori, hurry up and come back so we can keep playing games!"
Momoi, as always.
I nodded indifferently. "Then I will excuse myself."
After leaving the game development club and walking quite a distance away, faintly, I felt like I heard a cry of anguish.
It seemed to be saying something like "kuyashii."
Perhaps this was simply the price that an idiot who could not read the room had to pay.