"Does it still hurt?"
"Mm, it's fine now. Thank you, Miss Mitsuba..."
In the private office, Shinobu sitting on the sofa took off her right shoe, revealing her smooth and rounded foot.
Across from her, Mitsuba sitting in a chair placed Shinobu's right leg on her own thigh, carefully applying medicine to the bruising and swelling at her ankle.
"When walking normally, you still need to pay more attention. The human body is very fragile.
Especially when going up and down stairs, don't always run around with your head lowered. If something really happened, it would make people around you worry..."
"Yes, I'm truly very sorry..."
Her cheeks flushed, facing Mitsuba's admonishment, Shinobu merely lowered her head in acknowledgment.
"Do you still have classes to attend later?"
After finishing the medicine application, picking up the shoe and sock placed beside her foot and helping Shinobu put them back on, Mitsuba suddenly asked.
"Mm, I have two classes each in the morning and afternoon today."
"Oh, about that, I've already helped Butterfly apply for leave."
The one who said this was Akaza.
Just as Shinobu finished speaking, he pushed open the door and walked in from outside, saying:
"The principal has already approved your leave. Your classes will be covered by other teachers later.
Rest well at home for the next few days, and come back to school after your foot injury heals."
After speaking, Akaza looked at Mitsuba again and continued:
"Big sis, I'll leave Butterfly to you. We can talk about our matter later. I have class now, so I'll go first."
"Alright."
"Hey! Wait! What do you mean by leaving me to Miss Mitsuba! Hakuji, what do you mean! Come back and explain clearly!"
The once violent youth who would start fighting at the slightest disagreement had now become mature and reliable.
Not only had he handled Shinobu's leave application in advance, but he was finally willing to call Mitsuba "big sis" in front of outsiders.
The bratty child has finally grown up... truly gratifying.
Suddenly, Mitsuba felt her eyes somewhat moist.
But what she didn't know was that Akaza outside in the corridor at this moment was gradually showing the same evil smile as hers.
[Stinky woman! Finally caught your weakness! You truly treat this pair of Butterfly sisters differently!]
[Hmph... hahahaha! From now on! You'll never be able to oppress me with violence like in the past!]
"Let's go, little butterfly. I'll take you home."
In the room, Mitsuba stood up and extended her hand toward Shinobu.
"Eh? Is this okay?"
Shinobu was somewhat surprised.
In her view, even if Mitsuba was Hakuji's elder sister, the two had only met for the first time today.
Helping her apply medicine and personally taking her home—wouldn't this be a bit too enthusiastic?
"Of course it's fine. Your elder sister and I are more or less friends. Helping a friend's younger sister—is that a very strange thing?"
Mitsuba asked with a smile.
"Huh?! Miss Mitsuba actually knows my elder sister?"
Shinobu was even more surprised.
A handsome, enthusiastic elder sister she met by chance was actually her own sister's friend? Could such a coincidence exist in this world?
"Alright, don't worry about these trivial matters.
If little butterfly really wants to know, you can ask your elder sister later. I'll take you home now."
Without further explanation, Mitsuba grabbed Shinobu's hand and pulled hard, then turned around, carrying this little butterfly on her back.
"Uwaa! Wait! Miss Mitsuba, what are you..."
"Don't struggle. With your foot injured like this, little one, you weren't still thinking of walking home yourself, were you?"
Firmly holding down this red-faced, struggling little butterfly on her back, Mitsuba spoke helplessly.
She specifically stayed behind to carry Shinobu home.
After all, she couldn't let someone with a twisted ankle walk home by herself, right?
"But, but! Carrying like this, this is really... I'm a teacher! This school's dual-doctorate holder and honorary professor!
If other students saw, Miss Mitsuba, this would make me utterly disgraced!"
"Ah~ I see~ So little butterfly, what you mean is that compared to being carried out, you actually prefer being held in my arms?"
"Eh?!"
"Hmm... I truly didn't expect little butterfly to be so open-minded. Although I personally don't really mind, wouldn't this be too scandalous?"
"That's not what I meant!"
"Pfft..."
Just as Shinobu was going crazy, she suddenly heard the laughter coming from Mitsuba below her.
"So it was! Miss Mitsuba was deliberately teasing me!"
Instantly turning red with anger, the embarrassed and enraged Shinobu at this moment also didn't care about any life-saving grace, immediately raising her hand to pinch Mitsuba's neck.
"Alright, alright, no more fooling around. I'll hurry and take you back."
Having gotten the reaction she wanted, the satisfied Mitsuba finally stopped teasing this young girl.
Her toes lightly tapped, hooking up the black umbrella placed nearby and handing it to Shinobu on her back.
"Hold this. After we leave the teaching building later, little butterfly, you hold this umbrella up for me."
"Why?"
Taking the black umbrella Mitsuba handed her, quickly accepting reality and obediently lying on Mitsuba's back, Shinobu asked puzzled.
"Oh, this is because people in our family have a hereditary illness. Normally we can't sunbathe. Once exposed to sun, we'll die. Both Hakuji and I are like this."
"There's actually such a serious hereditary illness in this world?"
Shinobu, with her outstanding medical skills, immediately expressed doubt about Mitsuba's words.
"Yes yes~ How could there be such a serious illness in this world..."
"Miss Mitsuba, you aren't teasing me again, are you?"
"Really really~ If I don't hold an umbrella in the sun, I really will die~"
"I don't believe it~ I'm not some demon. Where in this world are there humans who die from one sun exposure?
Probably just something like lupus erythematosus, deliberately saying it so scary to frighten me..."
Although saying this with her mouth, Shinobu still opened the black umbrella in her hands, carefully holding it over Mitsuba's head.
Mitsuba's steps were quick. In the time of a few sentences, she had already carried Shinobu out of the teaching building.
Under the shelter of the black umbrella overhead, she walked at the edge of sunlight, heading toward the street outside the school gate.
"Perhaps, I am one of those demons little butterfly spoke of?"
"That's impossible~ Demons only appear at night. During daytime, they absolutely~ won't show themselves!
Speaking of which, Miss Mitsuba, you actually even know what demons are?"
"Mm, I heard it all from your elder sister... Also, if you don't mind, just call me by my name directly. No need to add honorifics."
"Got it, Mitsuba..."
Not knowing if she was shy or what, after saying this sentence, Shinobu suddenly fell silent.
She just lay sideways on Mitsuba's back like this, quietly holding the umbrella for her.
Until the two walked out of the school gate, until they reached the busy street outside, she then softly spoke again:
"Don't know why, but I feel very close to Mitsuba..."
"Hmm?"
"Very strange. Clearly someone I'm meeting for the first time, yet it feels like I've seen you a very long time ago..."
"Who knows..."
Hearing the soft words of the person on her back, Mitsuba subconsciously slowed her footsteps, the corners of her mouth slightly rising in a gentle arc.
"Perhaps it's because, long before you were born into this world, I had already seen you and witnessed the fate of your entire life?"
"Mitsuba is talking nonsense again~ How could there be such a thing in this world..."
On Mitsuba's back, Shinobu couldn't help but laugh.
"Then tell me, what will my life be like?"
"Mm... let me think."
Slightly raising her head, thinking carefully, Mitsuba used that serious yet gentle tone, softly saying:
"You will be exceptionally talented. From beginning to end, your life will be smooth sailing.
You will become kind, steadfast, intelligent, brave... You will ultimately spend a carefree and happy life in the company of those you love.
This is the fate of your life."
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This story has ended in chapter 315, you can read on patreon.com/dzeref887 for faster access or wait until August to read on WebNovel until the story ends.