OST: Blue Archive OST 15. Honey Jam
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The place I agreed to meet Hina was in the urban border area of the Gehenna downtown district[1].
It was already a remote location to begin with, and because it was so late at night, there was no one around. It felt lonely, yet strangely quiet and comforting.
Perhaps that was because the person I was meeting was Hina.
Although we had not interacted much in practice, Hina's reliability had already left a deep impression on me, and I had long held a considerable amount of trust and goodwill toward her.
That said, as the head of the Prefect Team of Gehenna Academy, a school known for its pure atmosphere and abundance of talent, and someone with a strong sense of responsibility, Hina was constantly buried in busy official duties. I could not very well disturb her.
As an aside, the same applied to Ako.
Today, however, I finally had the chance to meet her again, and it was even an invitation Hina herself had proposed.
The only question was, why had Hina asked me out?
Could it be… a date?
Just thinking about it made me excited.
At that moment, the distinctive tapping sound of high heeled boots against the ground rang out behind me.
I turned around, and a beautiful girl with a petite frame and fluffy white hair stood several meters away.
"…Sensei."
I waved enthusiastically. "Hina-chan, good evening!"
"'Hina-chan… that kind of…" Hina looked visibly uncomfortable. "It feels strange. Please do not call me that."
I felt rather regretful. "Alright."
I had experience with this. I could just start calling her that again once we got closer, just like with Rin.
"…I am sorry for calling you out so late," Hina said with an apologetic expression as she explained the reason. "…Well, because I am, in a sense, something of a public figure in Gehenna, no matter where I go, I draw attention. I am in a position where every move is watched."
I subconsciously touched the side of my face and nodded in deep understanding.
Though I could not quite be called a public figure, I too was constantly attracting the attention of young and beautiful students wherever I went. It was quite troublesome.
"If someone were to see me together with you, Sensei, it would surely cause you trouble… that is why I chose this time."
So she was thinking of me?
"Even if there really were misunderstandings, if it is with Hina, I would be more than happy."
I smiled as I spoke. "So next time, let us go together to a high end restaurant with a view of the night skyline. I have been wanting to treat you as a way of expressing my thanks. Enjoying good food while chatting sounds nice, does it not?"
Hina froze for a moment, seemingly imagining the scene I described, a hint of longing appearing in her expression.
Thank you, Aru. This trick really works.
However, Hina quickly came back to her senses. "No need. A place like that does not suit someone as dull as me."
"You are being far too modest. Hina is clearly cute, radiant, and charming."
"Wha…"
Hearing that, after a brief moment of shock, Hina instead put on a stern expression. "It is precisely because you always say such flattering things that these strange rumors about you, Sensei, have appeared!"
"Wait a second," I interrupted Hina. "What rumors?"
I had thought those rumors about me were only circulating in a small circle. To think that even Hina had heard of them?
Just as I began to worry that my towering image in the hearts of the students was being damaged, Hina's expression faltered.
"Well… I am not very clear on the details either. Ako did not tell me much. I originally thought she was just talking nonsense and even scolded her, but seeing things now, I can see some truth to it."
…So it was you.
That bad cow stirring up trouble between Hina and me really needed a severe correction from yours truly.
"Anyway, do not think I will go easy on you just because you are an adult. Please be serious."
After being reprimanded by Hina, I apologized repeatedly, but I still could not help muttering in protest.
"I am sorry, but I genuinely think Hina is very cute."
"…Eh?" A blush surfaced on Hina's fair face. She bit her lower lip and said quietly, "N-no way, saying something like that with such a serious expression at a time like this…"
Hina fell silent, and so did I.
Could it be that she was embarrassed by the level of this praise?
After quite a while, Hina finally spoke.
"I am not saying that what you said, Sensei, is a lie… I know better than anyone that I am not cute…"
That familiar self deprecation reminded me of something I had seen before in the Prefect Team, and the contrast with a certain overly confident white haired third year Millennium club president was striking, making it rather sigh worthy.
Just as a sense of pity rose in my heart and I was about to say something, Hina beat me to it.
"No, that is not why I called you out, Sensei. The main topic, we need to get to the main topic."
The white haired maiden paused, then said seriously, "…I specifically asked you to come out because I want to share Gehenna's current public security situation and propose a joint investigation plan for the next quarter."
After the Prefect Team and Schale reached a cooperative agreement, all Prefect members, including Hina herself, were registered into Schale's duty student system and would rotate regularly to handle duty work.
Correspondingly, Schale was also required to periodically provide various forms of assistance to the Prefect Team, such as using Schale's authority to enforce laws across districts and capture extremely dangerous fugitives.
Schale had a similar agreement with Trinity, though it was achieved indirectly through the Tea Party to cooperate with the Justice Task Force.
Back to the point.
After hearing Hina's purpose, I was greatly surprised.
"So it was about work?"
Hina narrowed her eyes and replied irritably, "Yes, work. If it were not, did you really think I would call you out this late at night for personal matters?"
Then what else would it be?
If it was official business, would it not have been easier to have Ako contact me directly and have me visit the Prefect Team?
That way, it would not count as a private meeting either.
I could not help but grow suspicious.
Could it be that Hina simply wanted to be alone with me and deliberately found an excuse?
With that thought in mind, I tested the waters. "I thought it was a date."
In the very next instant, Hina's face darkened, and she spoke to me in a terrifying tone.
"…Sensei."
"Enough. Let us begin work."
After carefully reading the materials Hina had prepared, I exchanged opinions with her.
"I see, so that is your perspective, Sensei. It is very valuable as a reference."
"It might not actually be of much help."
Hina shook her head and revealed a captivating smile.
"No, I believe that opinions differing from ours are precisely what help us view things objectively. From this perspective, your input is very meaningful to me. And there are few opportunities to hear an adult's way of thinking."
"Hmm. It seems Hina really trusts me."
Hina startled. "O-of course. Even though you are an unreliable and very strange adult…"
Hina lowered her gaze, then cautiously raised it again. Her purple eyes carefully studied me as she spoke softly. "So in the future, there may be various requests. I imagine they will often be at very late hours."
Just as I thought.
Just as I had a very good first impression of Hina, Hina felt the same way about me.
I smiled slightly. "Do not worry. You can come to me anytime. Whether it is work or personal matters, both are fine."
"I already said I would not…"
She stopped halfway through, then lost the stare down with me and changed her wording.
"I understand. Thank you, Sensei."
I waved my hand. "It is fine. This is simply my duty."
It felt like the atmosphere had become even more harmonious.
Meeting privately with a beautiful Prefect Team Leader in a quiet, deserted place late at night, even if the topic was official business, still inevitably stirred romantic thoughts.
In Kivotos, there should be places like night markets, right? Should I invite Hina to get some late night food?
However, Hina's reaction made me abandon the idea.
"Hah…" Hina let out a tired sigh. "It is already very late. It is time to go back and rest."
I looked at the fatigue visible between Hina's brows. "That is true."
What she needed most right now was a proper, refined sleep.
"Then, Sensei, until next time."
After saying goodbye, Hina headed back.
Watching Hina's retreating figure, I suddenly felt that perhaps learning some massage techniques might produce unexpected results.
Recalling the "weak points" of muscle stiffness I had vaguely noticed on Hina's body, I pondered the direction in which the authority of [Eagle Eye] could be expanded.
[1] https://bluearchive.wiki/wiki/Category:Background_images#/media/File:BG_BlackMarket_Night.jpg