Chapter 2: After School. Break_Time.[Part 5]

"HAHA! Hm, this Kamijou Touma. To think that Tsukuyomi-sensei's class actually has such interesting students, I'm so envious! My class has only elite students, it's so boring!"

After class in the empty teachers' lounge, Yomikawa Aiho laughed heartily.

Leaving her black hair tied behind her head, Yomikawa Aiho had the sexy allure of a mature adult. Just wearing a strict looking grey suit made her look like an English teacher in an A film. It was too bad that her subject was PE that she was always wearing a green sports jacket. In all sorts of way, there was always an imperfection.

Yomikawa placed both hands on her hips and lifted her chest that was bigger than Komoe-sensei, and said,

"Speaking of which, to actually bring a girl from outside, that sure looks interesting! Those brats in my class wouldn't even think of doing such a thing. If I could have such a person, I'd love that person without any reservations."

On a side note, she was a member of Anti-Skill, and her 'love' more or less encompassed violence that an old generation PE teacher would execute. Even though her philosophy was 'not to use weapons against students, even if they were Level 4', when there was a berserking esper, she would recklessly mobilize all sorts of special material helmet or enhanced transparent plastic riot shield that riot forces use and slam it hard. As she herself said, "This is a tool of defense, so it's alright". Because of that, her nickname was 'the woman who uses a comical way to solve a tragedy'.

On hearing this, Komoe-sensei, who promoted peace, stared at the violent teacher in front of her soullessly, and said,

"What, someone outside comes running into our school, shouldn't Anti-Skill bear some responsibility? What would happen if it were dangerous people who came in instead of those children? And don't you dare do anything bad to Kamijou! It'll be troublesome if you continue to hit him on the head and make him so idiotic that it's irreparable."

"Ah, alright, alright, I was only joking. Either way, I know the difference between a good fool and a bad fool. Really, your personality hasn't changed at all, always speaking up for your own students."

"I…I'm not speaking up for my own students! I just feel that, as a teacher, since the parents have sent their precious children to me…!"

"Alright alright, don't cry already. Seems like you're going to cry out a mess at their graduation ceremony."

"Uuu…uuuuu! What…what has it got to do with crying! My tears always come out every year, I can't do anything about it!"

"Haha! Here, here."

Yomikawa patted Komoe-sensei's head, and Komoe-sensei swung her arms forcefully to push Yomikawa's hand away.

"Oh yes, sensei. Didn't you mention that there were two outsiders who came in?"

On hearing Yomikawa's words, Komoe-sensei was stunned for a while.

Recently, many schools had installed surveillance cameras near school grounds. If there were any suspicious people around, it was rather normal for them to be investigated.

However, Komoe-sensei had already reported to the other teachers in the teachers' lounge that there was no need to investigate Index further. That white nun had had quite a few meetings with Komoe-sensei, so she was not considered an 'outsider', and there was something awkward about saying it out.

"What's the problem—?"

"Nothing, I just want to check, is it really two people?"

"???"

Just as Komoe-sensei was wondering about this puzzling question and tilting her head, a knocking on the door could be heard, followed by the door opening. Yomikawa closed one eye and said,

"This is a bit problematic, so please keep it from the students for now. I'll talk about the details next time. Mm, just so happened to have not enough time now."

"Ah, you have something to deal with now?"

"Oh, this is to be kept a secret from the students. Well, it's Anti-Skill work. Later on, we'll be heading out to hunt a huge prey. For this, I've got to take a walk underground. Bye bye."

After saying that, Yomikawa exited the room, passing by the female student who entered the teachers' lounge.

Komoe-sensei was puzzled as she recalled this for a while, and then turned over to focus on the student.

"I brought the thing back."

"Ah, Himegami! Sorry to bother you."

In the empty lounge, Komoe-sensei, who was sitting on the chair, waved her arms happily.

It was the opening ceremony today, and so school was dismissed at noon. Right now, the only ones in school were the students involved in club programs and teachers in charge of providing consultation. Komoe-sensei was an exception, she was staying behind in school to help her friend finish a report.

(Only the school has the teaching staff's specialized access use 'Level B' connection, how troublesome. If my house had connection, it would be a lot more convenient for me to work.)

There were different levels of networking in Academy City, and the amount of information each level could get was different. To someone who wished to work from home, it wasn't something that she would be rather happy about.

"I'm really sorry—I shouldn't be asking students to do this, but sensei really can't get away—"

"It's alright. But it's this book right? I found a large number of specialized books in the room, and they all looked the same, so I couldn't be certain."

"Mm, mm, it's this book alright."

Komoe-sensei received the thick leather cover book that Himegami brought over and placed her hand on her face as she dawdled. The cover had large gold words 'AIM diffusion fields and their possibilities' on it.

"AIM…what is that?"

"Hahaha, you asked the same question that Kamijou asked."

Komoe-sensei said happily,

"An AIM diffusion field refers to the weak energy that an esper involuntarily produces in all aspects."

Himegami remained silent.

Involuntarily giving off an energy, Himegami's 'presence that attracts vampires' was probably considered one of those.

Komoe-sensei didn't notice the delicately frozen expression on Himegami's face as she leaned back onto her chair.

"Ah…Himegami, I'm sorry for what happened today. Sensei wanted to lecture that Kamijou who skipped through the opening ceremony and had to get another teacher to host the homeroom lesson. You must have felt uneasy with being tossed into a place full of classmates that you're unfamiliar with, right?"

"There's no problem, no need to worry at all. Oh yeah, what did Kamijou Touma do?"

"Speaking of which, Himegami, sensei must say this to you. To sensei, if Kamijou just went off to look for that nun, at least it can be excused, but to think that he would bring another girl into the school as well, and even talk with her in the cafeteria."

On hearing the phrase 'another girl', Himegami's eyes became sharp.

The image of the girl who was standing together with Index at the school gate appeared in her mind.

"Excuse me, how does the girl look like?"

"You're mindful of it? Oh hoho."

Himegami responded with silence, and Komoe-sensei's smile inadvertently froze. She then said,

"Erm…mm, the biggest features are the spectacles that always slide down and the long handful of hair popping out from beside her ears. Also, her uniform's different from ours; it's a short-sleeved blouse with a red tie to match the dark blue skirt. She seems like a fine girl, always facing everything around her carefully, it's this sort of a feeling."

After hearing this, Himegami sunk into deep thoughts alone.

What's that girl's name?

"Komoe-sensei?"

"Ah, what is it?"

"Do we have a student called Kazakiri Hyouka here?"