Chapter 9 - Crowded
How did it come to this?
I pondered and sweat profusely, wondering how on earth this happened.
Surely, after comforting Orca yesterday, I would be able to rest comfortably for a while…
Although the prologue has ended, the main story of the playable characters doesn’t start immediately.
The prologue is just that, a prologue. It’s just a way to show what the game feels like.
So I was planning to rest comfortably and play games. However, starting this morning, the number of students visiting the counseling room increased. If it was just one or two, I wouldn’t say anything. But they keep coming every time I try to take a break. The student in front of me was one of them.
“…What should I do?”
“Well…”
A female student dressed up with fancy accessories looked at me with sparkling eyes.
Was she thinking that if it’s a teacher, they’ll give her the right answer?
I’m really sorry, but all I can say is that she came to the wrong place.
I’ve never been in love, so I don’t know about these things.
But if I say that, she’ll be disappointed.
“I got angry when I saw that guy hanging out with another girl… Am I being too possessive…?”
“…”
I wish she wouldn’t ask me about such things…
Suppressing the desire to say that, I reminded myself once again in my heart.
I am a counseling teacher… I am a counseling teacher…
‘I shouldn’t be shaken by things like this…!’
…Okay. I’ve calmed down.
“Does that boy have someone he likes?”
“No. Probably not.”
“I see. And he doesn’t know that you like him?”
“…No.”
“Then isn’t it simple?”
I decided to just say anything.
Who cares if it helps or not.
It’s your fault for coming to me, who’s never been in love, for love advice…!
If you come crying later saying it failed, I’ll just use hypnosis to forcibly bring you together!
“Just act opposite to how you’ve been acting until now.”
“…Huh? The opposite?”
“Yes. You’re embarrassed about him finding out about your feelings, right?”
The girl’s face was still slightly red as she nodded slightly.
She probably mustered up a lot of courage to come to me.
Personally, I think it’s better to say you like someone, but…
There are all kinds of people.
This child seems to be unable to express that she’s in love.
“You see, boys are simple. They’re overjoyed just by being told that someone likes them.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. If a cute girl like you confesses, he’ll happily accept.”
“…”
The girl closed her eyes and thought for a moment, then shook her head.
“I-I can’t do it.”
“Can’t do what?”
“C-Confessing… That’s impossible… For me, a noble, to a mere commoner…!”
Her behavior of backing out at the mention of confession, despite being desperate enough to come to me because she really likes that boy.
I could roughly understand. She’s probably feeling afraid at the thought that she might be rejected.
…But love is something you have to fight for.
If there’s a rival, you need to be even more proactive.
“Now, look into my eyes.”
“Huh? E-Eyes…?”
“Teacher will cast a spell for you. If you really want to confess but can’t muster the courage, look at this once.”
“…?”
I picked up one of the small dolls hanging in the corner of the counseling room and handed it to her. To the girl who had instantly fallen into hypnosis and was staring at me blankly, I smiled and said:
“Look at this doll and imagine him. Then you’ll have courage.”
“I-Is that enough…?”
“Yes. That will be fine. …Now! Go on. Go fight for your love!”
This should be okay.
After seeing off the girl who bowed her head gratefully and left the counseling room, I let out a deep sigh.
“Haaaaaa…”
I leaned back in the chair and squeezed my eyes shut.
I felt like I could fall asleep right now, fatigue had built up so much.
“You look tired, teacher.”
“Ah, Orca… When did you wake up…?”
“A while ago.”
I thought I had lowered my voice more than usual because Orca was sleeping.
But I guess it was still too noisy.
“…Do this many people usually come?”
“Of course not… It used to be extremely quiet…”
I missed those days when it was so empty that I just enjoyed playing games.
Unlike now where I don’t even have time to breathe, let alone listen to students’ worries, I was just playing games because it was too quiet. Of course, I felt a bit guilty wondering if this was okay, but that’s why it was fun.
Ah, I miss those days…
“But why are there so many people now? You said it was quiet.”
“…Are you the one asking that, Orca?”
“Huh? Me?”
‘Yes, you. You’ve become too famous because of the commotion you caused.’
I wanted to say that, but I gave up.
If I say something wrong, it might hurt Orca’s feelings.
Orca is an emotional child, getting hurt by even small things.
“…No, it’s nothing.”
“Tch, how boring.”
As I said before, Orca is quite famous in a bad way.
So everyone ran away after being threatened by her.
That’s why Leo gave her a warning without checking the details.
…Thanks to that, a fight broke out.
Well, everything up to this point is as I expected.
Because it was exactly the same situation as the prologue.
What I didn’t expect was the winner of the fight. Orca won, not Leo.
This was actually unfathomable. Orca cannot beat Leo at this point.
This is true even if you set her as a playable character.
Originally, the prologue progresses from Leo’s perspective.
It’s like a defeat event, so to speak.
Naturally, Haze, who dwells in Orca’s body, was supposed to rampage in the academy, and somehow Leo would succeed in subduing her, but the situation would only get worse…
From that point on, the main story was supposed to progress…
The problem is that this is reality, and because of the variable that is me, Orca ends up beating Leo.
“By the way, why are you in the counseling room all day today?”
“No classes today.”
“I see. I’m thinking of having lunch now, would you like to join? I’ll treat you.”
“Okay. Anything is fine, but please make it seafood.”
“You really like seafood… Well, I don’t dislike it either, so it’s fine.”
It seems the students who would have fled with all their might if a demon had appeared were watching the fight scene due to the situation not being as bad as they thought.
I did wonder why they were watching from such a dangerous place, but oh well.
There’s a saying that the most interesting things in the world are watching fires and fights.
…Anyway. It seems the students watching the fight between the two saw it.
The scene of me admonishing her.
So the reputation of the counseling room has become too high.
It seems that there are also rumors about Orca’s recent proper attendance that it was caused by me. I did think I should be called a competent counseling teacher… But if it rises this much, it’s troublesome.
While thinking about this and pondering about the lunch menu, suddenly there was a knock from outside the door.
Again?
Can’t we eat first?
I’m really sorry to the student who came to the counseling room with worries, but right now I was in a state of exhausted physical strength.
I had never experienced listening to other people’s stories and solving their worries.
It was much harder than I thought.
So the counseling room is closed for business this morning.
No more.
“I’m sorry, but we’re about to go for a meal. If you have business, perhaps next time…”
“Ah, I… I see. I’m sorry… I’ve been rude.”
“…Leo?”
“Hello, Teacher Ophelia.”
Just as I was about to politely turn away whoever it was and tell them to talk next time.
I was surprised by the face I saw.
‘What, why is he here?’
“I came to see you once, but you seem busier than I thought. I’m sorry. If you have time later, then maybe we can meet then…”
“No, it’s okay. Have you eaten?”
“No, not yet.”
“That’s perfect timing. Would you like to have a meal together? If you have something to say, we can…”
“It’s okay. It’s not that urgent.”
“I see…”
Tch.
I was looking forward to eating with Leo too.
Leo has a setting of being a big eater despite his small frame, so there are often scenes of him eating a lot. I wanted to see that once, but I was politely refused.
How disappointing.
As I was feeling a bit depressed from the rejection, Orca poked her head out from behind me.
“Who on earth is it that’s making you like this? Let’s just go eat… Oh, it’s you.”
“…Orca.”
“Are you here to fight again, kiddo? Next time, I’ll really ki… I mean, I think I said I’d scold you.”
Orca, who was about to use harsh words as usual, suddenly seemed to remember something, checked my expression, and changed her words.
How cute.
However, Leo didn’t react to her threat, just stared at her, and then asked me:
“Teacher Ophelia. Are you having a meal with her?”
“…Ah, yes. That’s the plan.”
“In that case, would it be alright if I join you for the meal?”
I wonder what made him change his mind.
When Leo suddenly changed his words, I nodded.
…Although Orca seemed a bit displeased.
Sorry, Orca. But I wanted to eat with Leo at least once.
******
Editor’s Notes:
‘I became the school’s counselor’ is now back to daily uploads!!! After disappearing for a while, I uploaded two chapters today as an apology for my absences. Please join the Galaxy TL discord for updates! Thank you again for reading and for the support! Ruminas also wants to say hi!
-Mhoki
Heya readers. How has your day been?
-Mines (Prof-reader)