On Friday, when Shichen taught physical education to Class 1-B, he discovered that Akatsuki Kojou had returned.
"Kojou, you're back," Shichen enthusiastically waved to Akatsuki Kojou when he saw him approaching on the playground.
However, Akatsuki Kojou seemed a bit uninterested, nodding listlessly in response: "Teacher Shi, I'm back."
"What's wrong with you, kid?"
"Teacher, something happened to Kojou's sister, and he's been worried about her, so he's a bit down," Yasemotoki kindly explained.
"Is that so?" Shichen frowned and nodded.
At this point in time, and in this state... it seems his sister must have been possessed by the Fourth Progenitor.
Shichen still remembered Akatsuki Nagisa, Akatsuki Kojou's sister, very well; she was an extremely rare mixed ability user, inheriting both her grandmother's spiritual medium qualities and her mother's over-adaptor powers.
Her outstanding miko abilities were also the reason she was called out of Itogami Island this time.
It's a pity that such an excellent miko ability being targeted by the newly awakened Fourth Progenitor is all too normal.
Speaking of which, since the Fourth Progenitor's primordial soul and vast magical power are both residing in Akatsuki Nagisa's body, does he have a way to devour them?
He could try; it would also be a good opportunity to meet that versatile, lively, and cheerful little girl.
During this physical education class, Akatsuki Kojou, unlike before, sat silently by himself on the edge of the playground, neither playing basketball with Yasemotoki nor watching the basketball court, lost in thought, clearly worried about his sister.
This was normal; his parents were divorced and rarely lived with them, so the two of them relied on each other, and Akatsuki Nagisa took care of him every day.
When something happened to such a thoughtful and mature sister, any normal person would worry about her, let alone Akatsuki Kojou, who was a sis-con.
Yasemotoki was also truly something; as a good friend, he didn't even know to accompany him.
As a teacher, Shichen naturally had to do his job well, and his relationship with Akatsuki Kojou wasn't close enough for him to enthusiastically accompany him directly.
Today's physical education class had a teaching content: tennis.
Shichen couldn't be bothered with the boys; those who wanted to learn could join, and those who didn't could do whatever they wanted.
Today, the main focus was on teaching the girls.
After all, he couldn't show favoritism; before, it was always basketball class for the boys and free activity for the girls, so it was time to switch.
"Asagi, take everyone to get tennis rackets and tennis balls." Since Akatsuki Kojou, the sports committee member, was temporarily unavailable, Shichen instructed Lanba Asagi, who had been secretly watching him.
"I understand," Lanba Asagi nodded with pursed lips, leading the way to the equipment room with a calm expression.
"You all, quickly follow Asagi," Shichen said to the other girls who were still in a daze.
"Ah? Oh."
"Lanba-san, wait for us."
A group of girls quickly caught up with Lanba Asagi and surrounded her, unable to resist their curiosity, asking: "Lanba-san, are you and Teacher Shi on very good terms?"
"Yeah, yeah, how come Teacher Shi calls you by your first name directly?"
"Did you two know each other before?"
"Teacher Shi and my father are acquaintances," Lanba Asagi explained simply while walking ahead.
"So that's how it is."
"I knew it…"
"Lanba-san, do you know if Teacher Shi has a girlfriend?"
"Probably not, right?"
"I wonder what kind of girl Teacher Shi likes…"
"An average person definitely wouldn't be worthy of Teacher Shi."
"Haha, what's wrong with you?"
"What? I'm still young, and I'll still be young in a few years, that's my capital."
"What's the use of being young? Teacher Shi definitely isn't lacking in young girls; excellent girls are more suited for him."
"My father is a councilor of Itogami City!"
"My father is an anti-magic master!"
"You all stop arguing," Lanba Asagi interrupted the girls' quarrel, reminding them as she walked: "Teacher Shi doesn't care about these things; his older sister is Nanjou Natsuki."
"What? Nanjou Natsuki is Teacher Shi's older sister?"
"So amazing!"
"What if I like him even more?"
"Can Teacher Shi wait for me to grow up?"
"I can be a lover too."
"Hey!"
…" Lanba Asagi's brows furrowed under her black-rimmed glasses, a little helpless.
She had originally exposed Shichen's identity just to scare them, but why did it excite them even more instead?
A bunch of little brats with excessive hormone secretion!
So young, yet fantasizing like this, it's simply wishful thinking!
However, there was one thing in their conversation that Lanba Asagi was indeed very concerned about, and that was what kind of girl Shichen liked.
…
After a tennis class, it was lunchtime. Shichen and Sasazaki Misaki had lunch, then went to the back mountain to feed Snowy and the others.
Not long after, Ye Lai Xion also arrived.
"Big Brother."
"Xion, you're here. Come, help me feed them."
Shichen stood up and shared the small snacks in his hand with Ye Lai Xion, also gently ruffling her head.
Ye Lai Xion's hair was incredibly smooth, and combined with her soft voice, it instantly triggered his sis-con tendencies.
"Okay," Ye Lai Xion smiled gently, leaning into Shichen's hand, then squatted down to feed the kittens with Shichen.
The surrounding floral scent and the soft meows of the kittens created a very pleasant atmosphere.
When they were almost done feeding, Shichen asked Ye Lai Xion: "Xion, do you think it's not good to keep Snowy and the others here all the time?"
"What does Big Brother mean?" Ye Lai Xion looked at him confusedly.
"How about finding someone to adopt them? It's quite pitiful for Snowy and the others to always be here."
"Big Brother makes sense… but I've asked my classmates before, and none of them can keep pets," Ye Lai Xion replied dejectedly.
"Did you forget my identity?" Shichen smiled: "I'm a teacher, isn't it easy to find someone who can adopt cats?"
"Oh, right! Then I'll leave it to Big Brother!" Ye Lai Xion bloomed into a smile, bowing her head in thanks.
"Xion, why are you being so polite with me? I'm going to get angry," Shichen feigned anger, looking at her.
"Sorry…"
"Don't be polite with me again, understand?"
"I understand."
"That's more like it." Shichen's anger turned to joy, and he reached out to ruffle her head.
"Big Brother's hands are so big," Ye Lai Xion squinted her eyes, just like a little kitten.
"Because I'm an adult, after all."
"Big Brother, it's nice to see you."
"It's nice to see you too."
"Mhm mhm… Hehe~" Ye Lai Xion unexpectedly gave a playful laugh.
Shichen couldn't help but laugh as well: "But we can meet again in the future. When you go to junior high, I might even be your teacher."
"Oh, right! Big Brother, I'm going to study at Saikai Academy in the future!" Ye Lai Xion said seriously.
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
"Mhm!"
"Oh, right, I can't come this afternoon. I have to go to the hospital to visit a student's family."
"Why does Big Brother have to go?"
"I also want to stay with you, Xion, but I have a pretty good relationship with that kid, and I might be able to cure his sister."
"So that's how it is… Then will Big Brother come tomorrow?"
"Of course," Shichen vigorously ruffled her soft hair.
"That's good," Ye Lai Xion let out a sigh of relief.
"What?" Shichen asked teasingly: "So eager to be with me?"
"Mhm," Ye Lai Xion honestly admitted: "It's very comfortable being with Big Brother."
"Is that so? I'm also very comfortable with you, Xion~"
"Really?" Ye Lai Xion asked, unable to hide her surprise.
"If I'm lying, I'm a puppy," Shichen said with a smile.
"So happy~"
Ye Lai Xion's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled, and Shichen resisted the urge to hug her.
Seriously, how can a little girl be so cute!
After school in the afternoon, Shichen met Akatsuki Kojou and the others at the school gate.
Besides Yasemotoki, Lanba Asagi was also there.
"Why is Teacher Shi also visiting Nagisa?" Akatsuki Kojou asked curiously.
"As a teacher, isn't it normal to worry about a student's family?" Shichen retorted.
"Teacher Shi, were you always this kind?"
"Aren't you touched?"
"So touched! But why is Lanba-san also following?"
"Don't misunderstand," Lanba Asagi said with a calm expression, wearing her black-rimmed glasses: "I'm just passing by."
"Oh, oh."