After the still-anxious Kokona led the children who had woken from their naps out in a lively procession, only Shun and I remained in the spacious Plum Blossom Garden.
"I wonder if Kokona-chan can properly take care of herself and everyone else..." Shun said worriedly. "Oh dear, if Rinka hadn't taken leave today, this would've been easier."
The "Rinka" Shun mentioned also seemed to be a student affiliated with Plum Blossom Garden, though I had not met her yet. I wondered if I would get the chance someday.
Naturally, this was for the sake of carrying out my work at Plum Blossom Garden more effectively.
The reason Shun had asked me to help today was also partly related to Rinka being absent.
I suggested,
"If you're worried, then how about we go check on them?"
However, Shun shook her head, as though throwing away all the concern she had just shown.
"No, I want to trust Kokona-chan."
Wasn't that change in attitude a little too fast? Did she really want to be alone with me that badly?
Having realized she might be the carnivorous type, I raised my guard once more.
But very quickly, she provided a reasonable explanation.
"After I became small last time, I actually reflected on myself too. I wondered whether I usually interfere too much and made everyone, including Kokona-chan, overly dependent on me. Even though I'll try my best to avoid it, what if I end up absent for a long time someday? What would they do then?"
For example, going on a date with me?
I nodded.
"So you want to give Kokona more chances to develop her abilities in preparation for possible unusual situations, right?"
"Yes, exactly. You're so wonderful, sensei∼" Shun touched her cheek, her smile dreamy as though lost in fantasy. "Hehe, we really understand each other perfectly right away∼"
...Amazing. She managed to steer it back to this again.
From this instructor of Shanhaijing, I was surprisingly reminded of an old acquaintance from Millennium.
"Besides," Shun suddenly added, "even though I'm still a little worried about them, there's someone else here who needs my care too."
As she said that, the girl's emerald-green eyes stared directly at me, carrying a faint smile.
At this moment, in this place, there was nobody else here.
Even so, I still asked uncertainly,
"You mean... me?"
The important question was, what exactly about me needed taking care of? Don't tell me she wanted to play some strange game with me already. And in a place like this?
Shun nodded, a trace of apology on her face.
"Sensei, you really haven't been resting properly, have you? Even though I know how busy your usual work is, I still troubled you into helping with so much... You accidentally cut your hand earlier probably because your mental state wasn't very good either..."
No, at the time I was just imagining Chairman Kisaki doing the Banzai exercise.
I rubbed my nose.
"Don't worry about it. That was just me being careless. Besides, I was the one who offered to keep helping."
"Hehe, you're always so gentle." Shun smiled softly. "Mm, I knew you would say that. Then how about taking a little nap in the lounge over there?"
"Speaking of naps, Shun, did you know?" I said seriously. "If you want to, any time can be nap time."
"Eh? Really...? What does that mean?" Shun looked confused.
Seeing that she did not argue, I shook my head.
"Nothing, just saying."
Whether something counted as a nap was not truly decided by one person's opinion alone. Just like whether someone was gentle or not was not determined simply by what others thought.
Pulling my wandering thoughts back together, I said,
"But honestly, I think I'm still in pretty good shape. Resting after everything's done and I return to Schale would be the same."
How could I waste this precious alone time with Shun on sleeping?
"Are you embarrassed?" Shun misunderstood completely and urged me onward. "It's okay. I'll wake you before the children return, so please hurry and get some sleep."
I had only just opened my mouth when she interrupted me again.
"If you keep refusing... I'll hold you and lull you to sleep until you fall asleep, okay?"
I had personally experienced Shun's strength before. Even in her shrunken state, she had been able to carry me, someone fairly tall and sturdy, while running effortlessly.
If she really intended to force me, I would have absolutely no power to resist.
Thus, even though I had already been planning to agree, I immediately changed my tone.
"No, Shun, I'm sensei after all. Please don't do something like that."
"...Oh dear, you're right." Shun smiled awkwardly. "Treating sensei like that really wouldn't be appropriate when I think about it carefully..."
Huh?
Didn't I just refuse?
Then why wasn't she suddenly unleashing her beastly side? Why was she acting like she respected my personal wishes?
I hurriedly tried to salvage things.
"But since you insist, maybe it would be better if I rested for a while."
"Hehe, yes indeed. Naps are good for your health." Shun spoke happily. "I'll prepare the bedding for you, so please wait a moment∼"
After saying that cheerfully, Shun walked away with light footsteps, leaving me standing there blankly, filled with grief and indignation.
So you don't keep your word, huh!
Very quickly, Shun brought over bedding and spread it out on the floor. After I lay down, she still did not hold me like she had threatened earlier.
However, she did properly fulfill the "lulling" part.
To help me sleep well, Shun hummed a lullaby softly beside my ear in her usual gentle voice.
Surrounded by the beautiful melody, and already extremely tired to begin with, I closed my eyes and quickly drifted into sleep.
And just as quickly, I woke up again.
The moment my consciousness returned, I felt a heat so intense it was almost tangible.
At the same time, a murmur like self-directed whispering entered my ears.
"Ah... so cute... hehe."
I turned my head.
Sure enough, Shun was lying on her side beside me, propping up her cheek with one hand while gazing at me in fascination. Naturally, she immediately noticed that I had awakened.
SAUCE
"Oh my, you're awake?"
"Mhm, I'm awake." I sat up and stretched. "Thanks to you, Shun, I slept really well."
"Sensei, are you getting up already? There's still a long time before the children return." Shun quickly tried to persuade me. "Such a rare oppor... I mean, such a rare chance to rest, so how about staying a little longer, sensei?"
Her intentions had already become completely obvious.
After pondering briefly, I lay back down again.
"Mmm, maybe because I didn't sleep very well last night either, I do feel like lying here a bit longer..."
As though struck by a good idea, Shun suddenly said,
"Right, this time, sensei can sing a lullaby for me instead. Until I fall asleep, please pat my head... and let me hear sensei's gentle voice..."
She wanted to take care of me while also wanting me to take care of her too. She really was greedy.
"If my singing is bad," I warned her in advance, "don't blame me, okay?"
"Hehe∼ I won't∼"
Shun smiled as she said,
"I'm sure I'll love it very much."