Chapter 68: Get Set…. Go? (7)

The Millennium Festival, which was long if long and short if short, finally came to an end, and the night of the after-party dawned.

Incomplete combustion, surely everyone burned hotly at this sports festival, and everyone did their best to burn their youth.

But today was too short to burn everyone’s youth, and it was a flame that was lacking, so everyone needed something to shake off the remaining heat.

In that sense, the after-party became the last event to properly imprint everyone’s remaining flames as a memory of one night.

The first Millennium Festival after the Eden Treaty, a competition as a sense of rivalry that does not intensify each other’s competition,

perhaps it was the Millennium Festival that faced the ending without the most backlash among the Millennium Festivals that have been held so far.

It was just a great opponent.

Let’s definitely win next time.

It was a fun day.

Thus, a day that decorates a page in a book called memory comes to an end.

-Sip-

“Phew…I’m a little relieved…”

In the middle of the stadium and outside the stadium, the flames of the campfire burn.

I can see people dancing folk dances around the largest campfire in the center of the stadium.

For the most part, there were mostly people who danced with friends, saying it would be fun, rather than people with unusual currents.

As if the scenery I see is a snack…it’s not alcohol, but the warmth of warm coffee spreads in my mouth, and the unique soft scent spreads.

[What are you drinking and being refreshed like an old man?]

“Oh my? You’re not allowed to say that to a high school girl?”

A familiar voice from behind, I hear Sensei’s voice.

Sensei was wearing his hat deeply as if he had escaped from other people, as if he didn’t want to be caught by others.

Judging from the fact that I heard from Mika-senpai before, I think she was asked to be a folk dance partner by many students or was courted.

[Aren’t you…dancing the folk dance?]

“I advertised it so much in the borrowing things race, are you telling me to openly certify it?”

In the borrowing things race, I took my three sisters and headed to the finish point.

And the borrowing things race must include a note that says “the person you like”.

It’s a famous story, but I didn’t know it until I picked it directly and completed it.

The contents of the note are said to be kept secret, but the number of people who brought people to the finish point would not be so many, so if I were to be seen dancing the folk dance with one of those three people,

of course, those people would think that the contents of the note are “the person you like” and wouldn’t they misunderstand that they are dating?

Of course, it’s not a misunderstanding, it’s real…

[Huh, it seems like everyone who knows already knows, are you still hiding it?]

“It’s different to be officially caught and just suspected, you know?”

Perhaps Sensei’s usual playful words sting me.

Certainly, it’s already been revealed to many people around me, so…um…yeah…but if I agree in this state, I’ll become a person who is messed up in many ways, so I lightly refute it.

[Pfft…yeah…Sora.]

“…Yes?”

[Thank you for your hard work so far.]

“…Pfft…what is it, Sensei, suddenly…well…yes, Sensei, you’ve worked hard too.”

A sudden encouragement, it must be an encouragement to the students who have worked hard while preparing a lot for this Millennium Festival,

so I also give encouragement to Sensei, who must have worked hard during this Millennium Festival.

[…No…ah, yes, thank you.]

Sensei seemed to be trying to correct something, but soon gave up and received the encouragement I sent.

While doing so, he took something out of his pocket…huh?

This smell is…

“Sniff sniff…Sensei…could it be that…”

[Ah? Ah, yes, I got it from a child from Red Winter. I’d appreciate it if you kept it a secret from Serina…is there anything you want?]

This luxurious sweet scent that strongly stings my nose…and the scent of alcohol that shows its presence even in the midst of that…yes…alcohol…

and it’s not something like beer or soju that you can easily get, it must be the scent of brandy, which is a relatively expensive price range.

You got that from a Red Winter student?! If you got vodka, I would understand.

There’s a rumor that vodka is used not as a drink but as other supplies in Red Winter, so I can end it at the level of proving that it’s true.

But…brandy!? Unless it’s a low-priced ghost brandy made with the idea of clearing out the stock of wine in a difficult-to-handle state, it’s a type of alcohol that generally maintains a high price.

Even in my previous life, my old friend, when he was a young member of society, once saved up his salary, even though it was a large company, to buy a special day…

I don’t remember what kind of day it was, but on a special day, he burned the day with a more luxurious snack than usual.

It’s like, what are two men doing with high-quality alcohol and high-quality snacks, but at that time, that guy and I were probably lifelong friends…yeah…it’s not like it’s the result of our efforts together…

That’s why brandy, which I always drank only beer, a commoner’s alcohol, and eventually spent time with that guy, is an alcohol with a deep memory and meaning.

Even if it doesn’t feel like myself anymore, that memory is deeply engraved, so it’s an alcohol that has a deep meaning for me now.

…Anyway…yeah…I want it…I want to drink it…

“You asked if there’s anything I want…?”

[Yeah, is there anything you want right now?]

If it were the usual Sensei, he would definitely refuse.

A student drinking alcohol, it might be a slight deviation, but it’s an act that is close to a taboo, so of course he would stop it.

“That.”

[…Huh?]

But…even so, I want that.

“That alcohol…it’s brandy, right…?”

[Wait, Sora?!]

I grab Sensei’s wrists and half-restrain him.

I have never desperately wanted something material since I came to this Kivotos.

No, there wasn’t.

Yeah, it happened today.

In addition, if there is a guardian, underage drinking is not a taboo, but becomes education.

[Sora, you know, right? Students drinking alcohol…]

“Isn’t it okay if there’s a guardian?”

[The guardian must also be an adult…]

“There is a guardian, right in front of my eyes.”

[…]

“Phew…it seems to be a pretty expensive one…”

[Damn…Shigure, that guy…]

I didn’t want to let her drink it…but it seems like it’s the first time I’ve seen this child so desperately and recklessly ask for something,

so I thought it would be better for me to teach her than to pick up something strange somewhere or get involved with a strange guy, so I finally allowed it.

Fortunately, the small break room prepared by the executive committee children is not a space where anyone can come, so it could be used without worry, and so it was selected as the place for the drinking party.

The alcohol I received from Shigure was a logo I didn’t know, a type of alcohol I didn’t know, so I just thought it was a high-priced strong alcohol, but Sora seems to have been quite interested in this.

In fact, she properly caught the sweet fruit scent that was buried in the strong alcohol scent for me, so maybe she’s drunk it a few times?

I even had that kind of thought.

[You’re not drinking alcohol for the first time, are you?]

“Ah, that’s…um…Trinity is a mission school, right? It’s almost never happened, but…I’ve experienced it at mass…”

That’s a lie…um…this child isn’t the type to like lying…if she wanted to drink this so much that she would humble herself, it would be okay just once…

In fact, there is one more reason why I let her drink this.

Don’t they say that alcohol is generally a magic drink?

It’s a thing that makes you move to blow away your worries just by drinking it, and it makes you confide even hidden secrets a little.

[I see…certainly, even I, who doesn’t know much about alcohol, know that this is a good alcohol…]

“Oh my? For that, you seem to have drunk a lot of things? Fufu…”

Before I came to Kivotos, I didn’t know much about this kind of alcohol.

Maybe the reason I’m used to alcohol and can enjoy this alcohol is mostly because of the strong alcohols like vodka or tequila that I drank a lot because of Shigure.

Honestly, I was thinking of making Shigure restrain herself once…but she seems to be restraining herself quite well, so I left her alone for now.

Maybe it’s because she’s the only child in Kivotos that I can have as a drinking buddy.

Is this a teacher disqualification?

[Heh, I drank a lot thanks to a student from a certain dictatorial academy…she even ferments it herself…]

“If you ferment it yourself…you probably drank it by type, right?”

[Haha, you know well.]

Wait…this guy is a formidable opponent.

Usually, when people drink alcohol for the first time, they don’t know how to control it and drink it, but this guy is controlling her pace.

It seems like she’s drinking faster than the pace that suits her body as she seems to be inexperienced, but I can interpret it as she hasn’t found her pace yet.

Even people who have started drinking alcohol to some extent may drink it down due to the atmosphere, so this guy can already be said to be more mature in drinking alcohol than some adults.

-Gulp…-

“Ha…it’s hot…”

[Wait, stop, you’re not taking off your clothes, are you?]

“Huh? Do you think I would show my bare skin to others recklessly?! Are you a pervert, Sensei?!”

Well…yeah…if it’s this guy, she has some self-control, so she won’t do such a feat unless she’s really drunk…but the many things I’ve experienced in Kivotos have acted as elements that I need to be wary of.

Especially if such and such a situation occurs with this guy, there are three children who will kill me, so I have to avoid it even more.

[Phew…I’m sorry, there were some things.]

“Heh…Sensei, are you aware?”

[Huh?]

“It’s nothing…”

The gaze that Sora looks at me has become an expression that this person is also unavoidable, which remained a question for me, but what can I do.

Come to think of it, Sora, I thought she would spend time with those children at this after-party, but for some reason, she was drinking coffee alone.

Thinking about why, I started pouring alcohol for Sora without thinking.

“…”

-Gulp…gulp…-

“Phew…”

[Ah, wait]

My idle thoughts were too long.

And while I was having idle thoughts, I poured alcohol for the child in front of me without thinking, without giving her time to rest.

The child in front of me certainly has self-control, but alcohol gradually weakens it.

It must have been the first time, or a long time since she had alcohol, so this child couldn’t stop the alcohol I poured.

“Hehe…”

[It’s the first time I’ve seen you…relaxed…]

I didn’t intend to, but…this guy…got drunk…

[Ahem…Sora?]

“..Yes…?”

Wow, her tongue is twisted…I feel a little guilty as if I’ve done something terrible as an adult, but I put that aside for a moment and look at her condition.

[Are you…okay…no, that would be meaningless…]

“I’m okay!”

No matter how you look at it, she’s not okay.

[You…don’t look okay…ah.]

-Thud-

“(Snore…snore…)”

…She collapsed.

It’s fortunate that she’s not the type to get violent when drunk, because if she were, I wouldn’t be able to handle it…

It’s a sneaky adult way, but I was thinking of listening to the troubles she’s hiding by giving her some alcohol…but it’s already messed up.

[Oh dear…well, what can I do…]

I moderately pick her up and lay her on the bed.

However…this moment became the moment when I vowed that I would never let students drink alcohol in the future.

“Sensei, are you here…”

Suddenly, the door opens and I hear a familiar voice.

[Ah, Seia?]

And the owner of that voice was…at least one of the three children I didn’t want to be caught by at this moment.

“It would be good to explain. No, you don’t need to explain.”

Seia slowly starts to take out her smartphone.

I’m screwed.

[Wait, stop!]

“Ugh?!”

Reflexively, I cover Seia’s wrist and mouth respectively.

And that was the worst move.

“Sensei…? What are you doing…?”

I hear a familiar voice from the side again.

Yeah, Seia wouldn’t be alone.

And one of the questions I had, why Sora was alone, was also solved.

In the worst way possible.

Executive committee, Seia was on the executive committee.

Most of the executive committee students are resting while enjoying the after-party, but there are also students who are not.

Yes, like Nagisa.

Nagisa was already holding her smartphone, and I was already blocking Seia, so I couldn’t stop Nagisa or make excuses.

“Perhaps…you…”

My mind goes blank…and the future begins to flicker before my eyes.

The next day, I had to greet the morning while tied up.