The infirmary was extrely quiet during the lunch break. Before the school nurse arrived, slowly making her way around two or three in the afternoon, this was absolutely an excellent place for a conversation. In this well-soundproofed resting area, there were very few moving things. Only the shadows on the wall creeping along with the midday sun, and the pendulum of the wall clock swaying back and forth.
Upon entering, Helaire sat down without restraint on the wooden chair backing the balcony. Turning her head, she smiled and observed Renee, who was holding a bento box behind her, and asked this question.
"The specific situation?"
"That's right... Have a seat, no one else will co here."
"Oh, oh..."
Seeing Helaire point to the white hospital bed next to her, Renee hesitated for a mont before gathering her skirt and sitting down, placing the bento on the bedside table in passing.
Words brewed in her throat. Her eyes, looking at Teacher Helaire, flickered with hesitation, revealing the young girl's inner thoughts,
"Actually, I noticed Teacher Fisher a long ti ago... Before getting to know Teacher Fisher, because I was an unruly student, I rarely spoke to other students, and my relationships weren't good. I always felt very lonely... Only Teacher Fisher could strike up a conversation with , and he was always very patient with . Whether I had a bad temper or liked to play tricks on him, he always..."
Helaire propped her cheek with one hand, listening to Renee's words. A look of contemplation flickered deep within her blue-gold eyes. She also murmured a sentence in Nari Language,
"It seems that even Dream Illusion, currently at her peak and capable of swallowing a corner of the Barrier, cannot completely obliterate the soul fragnt traits of a True God?"
At this mont, Renee could no longer understand Nari Language, but rely felt the language was familiar. Coincidentally, her English proficiency was also garbage, so she just assud Helaire was speaking a dialect from her hotown,
"What?"
"Ah, nothing, please continue."
The dreamscape hadn't completely reshaped Renee's feelings for Fisher; rather, these feelings adapted to the unique context within the dreamscape...
Heh, before she placed her cards on the table as the [Undying Witch], wasn't her attitude toward Fisher exactly like this?
Timid, hiding. Clearly capable of pulling any outrageous prank, yet only using them as a cover...
Then, should she take this opportunity to make the situation here more complicated... and more interesting?
Helaire's smile deepened. Renee, clutching the hem of her skirt and seeing no clear response, had to muster her courage and continue,
"But after arriving here, Teacher Fisher directly lodged at Classmate Jasmine's house in Class B next door. I heard her father is a monk and owns a temple... If it were just that, it would actually be fine. Even knowing she might also like Teacher Fisher wouldn't matter; fair competition is all. But sohow, she seems to really hate ?"
"Hate you, huh..."
"That's right... Well, not necessarily."
ntioning this, Renee felt increasingly puzzled. Her fists clenched tightly, displaying an indignant expression,
"If it's just jealousy, there should be a limit. Or rather, even if it is because of jealousy, it wouldn't be this bad. But clearly, I haven't done anything yet, and I don't even know her, but she repeatedly gives a cold shoulder. Yet sotis when I see her, she also smiles at , as if she wasn't the one giving a cold shoulder previously..."
After speaking, Renee hastily emphasized,
"This is definitely not my imagination; it has happened several tis already."
Hearing this, Helaire's expression froze slightly, and then she suddenly burst into laughter,
"Interesting..."
She narrowed her blue-gold eyes, practically discerning the origin of Jasmine's reaction at a glance.
Logically speaking, Jasmine and Renee had basically only t a few tis. When it ca to jealousy and hatred, Elizabeth was vastly more significant than Renee.
Therefore, this affection and resentnt fundantally didn't originate from Jasmine, but from Asuka Karasawa.
Don't forget, Asuka Karasawa and the previous incarnation of Renee, the Mother Goddess, were good friends. That friendliness stemd from there. Even if Jasmine no longer rembered the specific mories, she would still subconsciously release goodwill toward her.
As for that contradictory malice...
That wasn't directed at Renee, but at Helaire.
Actually, since ten thousand years ago, Asuka Karasawa's perception of this angel, Helaire, had been very complicated.
On one hand, of course, was envy and admiration. Because of her naivety and immaturity at the ti, she subconsciously viewed the glamorous Angel Helaire as her role model and goal, wanting to beco like her—a free-spirited, charming woman...
This was the overt perception of Helaire, which was why Helaire's current identity was that of a glamorous [Teacher], sa as Fisher.
But what about the other aspect? Helaire was so intimate with Fisher—who was out of Asuka Karasawa's reach at the ti—which inevitably bred another thought in her heart: jealousy and hatred.
This could be seen from how she forcefully hugged Fisher after killing Margaret in the Ideal State.
Jasmine, or Asuka Karasawa, imposed these dark thoughts onto Renee. That was why, in the dream, she assigned the utterly cowardly defeated dog identity to the Renee she hadn't t many tis. It couldn't be called anything but [Revenge]...
And this simultaneously ant that the contamination power currently within Jasmine could easily distinguish that the Infinity authority was fundantally Her authority, which was why it confused Renee and Helaire.
At this mont, the contamination forming this dreamscape within Jasmine was more powerful than ever before.
"Even more powerful than I anticipated. The wonderful reaction that occurs when a daydream combines with the main body is truly hard to predict. It seems the other incarnation has to be even more careful..."
"Eh? Teacher Helaire, are you saying sothing to ?"
Helaire smiled and shook her head, but her expression suddenly turned serious. She looked Renee up and down, signing with so lant,
"I'm just pitying that a golden opportunity for a perfect match is quietly slipping away from under your hands."
"Golden opportunity... for a perfect match?"
Helaire stroked her chin, appraising the Renee before her while pinching her cheek, clicking her tongue as she said,
"You look so fresh and lively, very charming... How can you be so submissive just because of a little intimidation from Classmate Jasmine? And saying one thing while aning another is clearly the worst strategy. If you like soone, you definitely have to be more proactive... Like now, pretending to be unruly, pretending not to care, waiting for the other party to step forward—you'll lose utterly and disastrously."
"Lose..."
With her cheek pinched by Helaire, Renee pouted cutely, chewing over her words.
Helaire looked straight at her, nodded seriously, and whispered,
"That's right, can you imagine? It doesn't matter now while they are still at school, but graduation isn't far away. After graduation, everyone goes their separate ways and can no longer look out for each other. Hmm, perhaps while you're still lying in bed racking your brains on what to write in the text ssage to Teacher Fisher, Jasmine and your Teacher Fisher will have already secretly pledged their lives to each other..."
"Oh my, it even saves the process of eting the parents-in-law, and allows Teacher Fisher to inherit her family's temple. When the ti cos, Jasmine is beautiful, and Teacher Fisher is considerate to her; they'll have a few chubby boys, living happily ever after here, and that'll be the end of it..."
"Then, when you finally muster up the courage after a few years, painstakingly agonizing to send a text ssage inviting Teacher Fisher out for dinner, the reply you receive will be, [Sorry, I need to take care of my wife and child at ho, I can't go out.]"
"As soon as you open Line or social dia, even though you don't want to see it at all, you'll always see Jasmine and Teacher Fisher posting on their accounts about where they traveled, and how healthily their child is growing. And you can only hide under the covers with tear-filled eyes, watching how cute their child is, and how loving they are..."
"Your heart will be riddled with scars, yet you'll still force yourself to raise your fingers and type words of blessing on the phone screen, praising how happy they are, and how smart and cute their child is..."
Renee's mouth hung wide open. As Helaire's demon-like whispers echoed by her ear, an instant wave of faintness poured down from the top of her head, almost making her roll her eyes back and collapse on the floor.
At this mont, she felt as if she were no longer a person, but a clown and a defeated dog hiding in the shadows, peeping at others' happiness.
A whole lifeti, ruined just like this...
"So, you see, you made such a delicious bento, and painstakingly prepared words of confession, yet you can only eat it by yourself every day. When you truly can't finish it, you can only throw it away, pouring it into the trash can, just like your feelings... Isn't that a pity?"
Helaire smilingly opened the bento box nearby, skillfully picked up the chopsticks, took a bite, and let out a sound of admiration,
"Could it be that you were originally this failed and cowardly, Renee?"
This voice also pulled Renee's attention back. However, through Helaire's words, an extrely uncomfortable feeling seed to well up in Renee's heart.
Just like a scheming genius suddenly turning into a retard overnight; when she wakes up the next day and sees the math problems she calculated, she would feel uncomfortable...
Just like a billionaire suddenly turning into a beggar overnight; when she wakes up the next day and sees the luxurious mansion sitting on the street corner, she would also feel uncomfortable...
The current Renee felt exactly like this...
Sothing's not right. Why did I suddenly turn into a defeated dog that only knows how to crawl in the shadows?
I don't think I was like this before... Although influenced by the power of the dreamscape, Renee also couldn't clearly state when the so-called "before" was.
But guided by Helaire, this "life ntor" and "master of success studies," a trace of resentnt towards Jasmine inevitably grew in Renee's heart.
Why is it that Teacher Fisher can stay at your house and eat your bento, but can't stay at my, Renee's, house and eat my, Renee's, bento?
Where is the logic in that?!
Renee's morale was instantly boosted, and even her posture straightened a bit. But looking at the smiling Helaire before her, a hint of doubt still inevitably arose in her heart, so she whispered,
"Oh right... um, Teacher Helaire..."
"What is it?"
"...You and Teacher Fisher both co from the sa place... And you are adults of the sa generation, plus you look so beautiful. I-I just heard a rumor that you also have feelings for Teacher Fisher... about that... is this rumor false? Don't you want to... why would you still encourage ?"
Silly child, if you don't fight Jasmine to the death now, how can your dear Teacher Helaire profit as the fisherman?
Helaire maintained her smile but inevitably brushed her face with her hand, carrying a trace of sorrow over her fading youth. She sighed and said,
"Firstly, I'm too old, and he wouldn't fancy . Even if we originate from the sa place, who told to be born so much earlier than him? Actually, you don't know this in private, but Teacher Fisher is very fierce towards . He harps on for ages over the slightest flaw... Not at all like the patience and gentlemanly manners he shows you children?"
"Eh? Really?"
Renee thought about it and felt it was indeed the case.
Like how she played tricks on Teacher Fisher in class, acted indifferent and impolite, yet he didn't get angry when she disturbed his work earlier...
Eh? When exactly did I disturb Teacher Fisher's work? Why does it seem like I have a slight impression of it, yet also don't?
To think Teacher Fisher was actually this strict with Teacher Helaire?
"Secondly, it's that Classmate Jasmine who prematurely instigated Teacher Fisher, strictly forbidding him from interacting with other won. Although I don't have a chance anymore, do you really want Teacher Fisher to fall into the hands of such a domineering and dictatorial girl?"
"No... of course not..."
Of course, falling into my hands would be the best.
Renee said in her heart.
Put that way, doesn't it an destiny is with , Renee?
Renee swallowed hard, exuding an authoritative aura reminiscent of being crowned emperor, as if only learning today that the cowardly person before wasn't her true self.
But having a goal was one thing; how to specifically achieve it was still...
The Helaire before her also withdrew her lantations. As if having foresight and seeing through Renee's thoughts, she reminded her,
"Although it's true that Teacher Fisher and Jasmine currently have a deep relationship, don't forget that Teacher Fisher is also your teacher. Tutoring your studies is his obligation. Moreover, Teacher Fisher doesn't hate you either, right?"
"That's true..."
Renee rubbed her chin, her eyes instantly lighting up as if a sche had already ford in her mind.
It's just that there were no more English classes today, and only one class left in the afternoon, with school ending before four o'clock. No matter what, it would have to wait until tomorrow.
"I understand! Thank you, Teacher Helaire."
"Not at all... You're welco, Classmate Renee."
"Th-then I'll go back and formulate a plan now!"
"Mm-hmm. By the way, if you don't mind, could you leave this bento for ? Treat it as compensation—I haven't had lunch yet."
Helaire gestured with the bento box in her hand, the one where red beans spelled out "Teacher Fisher, LOVE", and spoke.
"No problem!"
Having gained sothing, Renee naturally agreed gladly. She nodded. Seeing that the lunch break was almost over, she prepared to leave and return to class.
Before leaving, she repeatedly expressed her gratitude to Helaire, while Helaire rely smiled, concealing her contributions and rit.
"Ring, ring, ring~"
Once the bell resounded through the teaching building again and the students returned to their classrooms for lessons, Helaire finally put the lid on the bento box, picked up the utensils, left the infirmary, and walked towards her own office.
"Click."
Gently pushing the door open revealed Fisher, who had already parted ways with Jasmine and returned to the office to listen to English cassette tapes.
Seeing Helaire enter, he frowned, adopting a highly vigilant posture.
He glanced at Helaire, who had her hands behind her back, as a storm of thoughts inevitably flashed through his mind,
"What preparations did you leave to make this morning?"
"How did you know?"
Helaire's eyes widened, putting on an "how did you guess it" expression.
Fisher raised an eyebrow. Just as he was about to say sothing, he saw Helaire smilingly bring out the bento box and utensils from behind her back and place them in front of Fisher,
"I went to prepare this."
"What is this?"
Fisher froze slightly, remaining exceptionally vigilant and making no other moves, rely asking.
"Won't you know once you open it?"
"I won't open it. Take it away."
"Eh? Really? I spent quite a while preparing it, it made my mouth dry..."
Fisher remained unmoved, and Helaire didn't get angry either. She rely smiled and reached out, opening the lid to reveal the exquisite food inside.
On the top layer, a line of words was paved with red beans,
"Teacher Fisher, LOVE!"
Fisher opened his mouth, just about to say sothing. Turning his gaze to the nearby Helaire, what greeted him was instead a light peck, like a dragonfly touching the water,
"Mwah."
"..."
"Alright, hurry up and eat, it's very delicious~"
Helaire sat beside him with a smile, propping her chin with her hands, seemingly preparing to watch him enjoy his lunch just like that.
Whether it was an accident or not, in summary, that sudden peck coincidentally blocked the words "I've already eaten" that Fisher was about to say right at his throat, preventing them from coming out.
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