Beauty Inside Sensei (Pause By Original Author)

Beta reading by Sans_ketchup

Slowly, I open my eyes. The familiar ceiling comes into view.

Realizing she's awake, Nagusa jerks upright. Pressing a hand to her forehead, she recalls the last moment before she lost consciousness.

A dull, tingling pain...

Suddenly, a sharp throb shoots through her right arm, and she grimaces.

Recognizing this place as Hyakkaryouran's clubroom, she hastily rises to her feet. Even though Hyakkaryouran had fled—even though she had abandoned her responsibilities out of fear of her true self being exposed—there was still a reason she had to protect them from that woman's hands.

Grabbing her gun, Nagusa staggers to her feet. Her heart pounds loudly, as if tense with anticipation.

"Why...?"

The one who had sent Ayame—her precious friend and the object of her admiration—into the twilight, the one who had left her right arm crippled... Why was she here with the rest of Hyakkaryouran? The thought filled Nagusa with confusion, a crushing despair creeping in.

Even as she hesitated to open the door before her, she began to instinctively fear facing reality.

Then, in that moment of hesitation—the door suddenly swings open.

"Oh? You're already awake?"

"Kokuri—ko!!!"

Spotting the woman stepping inside, Nagusa raises her gun—

BANG!

Just before she can pull the trigger, a thrown dagger from outside the room knocks the gun from her hand. The woman who entered scratches her cheek awkwardly before closing the door behind her.

Nagusa scrambles to pick up her gun, aiming again—

Swish.

The woman pulls something out and shows it to her.

"Calm down. I know I look like someone you know, but I'm someone else. I'm Sensei from Schale, Nagusa."

"...Schale's... Sensei?"

It was Sensei's ID, along with an adult card and a box of cigarettes.

Seeing this, Nagusa recalls the memories of the crumbling Twilight Temple... and slowly lowers her gun, as if finally understanding.

"I see... Sorry, Sensei. Even though I'd heard about you, seeing you like this was just... too shocking."

"I understand. That's only natural."

Sensei crosses her legs as she sits on a nearby chair.

"First, I'd like to hear your story, Nagusa."

"...What story?"

"Why did you leave Hyakkaryouran? Why is Ayame's whereabouts unknown?"

"............"

"I want to hear all of it. I'd prefer to take my time and ask slowly, but... I'm sorry. I know you want to run away, and I've already left Schale unattended for weeks. I don't have much time. It's rude to jump straight to the point like this."

"..."

"Even if you don't want to talk, I won't let you leave until you do. Even with little time, counseling students is part of a teacher's job. I'll stay for days if I have to."