第１１４６堀：ここにあっていない者 (Part2)
"That, I suppose, depends on Havia herself. Shouldn't we, first and foremost, ensure she leads as normal a daily life as possible until we judge that she is capable of accepting the truth?"
"I agree with Taizo-san. That said, taking Havia to that classroom would be far too stimulating; I fear it would cause complications."
"Indeed. While she does not seem to have clear memories of it, the fact that she was walking down that long corridor in front of the classroom suggests that something there drew her. Therefore, if we allow her to approach it recklessly, she might suddenly remember something and vanish—and that would be the best-case scenario. There is no guarantee she wouldn't cause harm to those around her."
While that is certainly not a conclusion I would wish for...
"Then, in the meantime, what shall we do with Havia?"
How can I expect her to lead a normal life when she is sleeping right here before us?
"Well, perhaps she could deepen her bonds with others while avoiding the vicinity of that classroom. Though, is it really safe to take her outside this office? It’s fine here because of the barrier, but the outside is a different matter, isn't it?"
"We must implement some form of countermeasure, or we won't know when she might fade away. Well, I suppose we shall have to rely on Kagura to do her best there."
"Aye. As long as there is a vessel, there is no fear of her vanishing. However, maintaining Havia’s existence will inevitably drain Kagura’s physical and mental strength."
"Sigh... so, a daily life for a student, while ensuring she never nears that classroom..."
Is that not a rather difficult challenge?
"After all, attempting to tether the dead to this world is, in itself, a difficult undertaking."
"Indeed. Moreover, in this case, there is a significant gap between the era she lived in and the present. If we were to take her outside the academy, she would likely realize that instantly. The cityscape has clearly changed, after all. The reason Havia hasn't noticed or become confused yet is likely because the interior of the academy hasn't changed much from the old days. Lara, was it? Is there any place that hasn't changed much since the era Havia lived in? If we could use such a place, wouldn't she be able to lead a daily life without too much trouble?"
"I see. Lara, do any such places come to mind?"
"Let me see. A place that has remained unchanged since the era she lived in would be..."
She pointed toward a certain classroom that was no longer in use.
"We have contractors scheduled for renovation work next month, but for the time being, why not use this? The fixtures from that time still remain, so if we perform some repairs, it should be usable."
"Alright. I’ll handle the inspection and the repair of the fixtures. Sota-san and the others, along with Popuri, please take charge of monitoring Havia and keeping an eye on her. Kagura, don't push yourself; rest as much as you can."
And so, we began the preparations for Havia.
"Zzz..."
Yet, what is it that Havia, currently sleeping in a translucent state before my eyes, is carrying as she returns to this academy?
And what outcome would truly be for her own good?
The short yet long days required to find the answer to that question had thus begun.
***
Side: Hairen
"Achoo."
Ugh, it’s still so cold at night.
Actually, why am I being left all alone in a storage room—or rather, an "empty classroom"—with nothing but a sleeping bag, miserably preparing a cup of instant noodles?
"Hey, Yuki. Why am I locked in this storage room instead of being with Kagura and the others?"
"Well, you are a 'Goddess,' so you can't exactly get close to Havia. If you aren't careful, she might just pass on to the afterlife from the sheer exposure to your divine aura. On the other hand, if you were in our monitoring room, you'd be too far away to rush over in an emergency. So, waiting in an empty classroom near the headmaster's office is your only option."
"...Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"You were the one who declared you'd help Kagura. If you said that, then see it through to the end."
"Honestly, are you even a goddess?"
"Uuu..."
Why are the people around me so cold-hearted?
Ugh. A beautiful girl like me, all alone in a room that’s basically a warehouse...
"Sigh. Fine, you have my permission to eat the snacks I left for you, so do your best. And I’ll even allow you to eat two cups of instant noodles."
"Really! Okay, I'll do my best!"
"...You really are something."
I felt like I caught a glimpse of Enol holding his head in his hands over there, but I’m not going to worry about that.
I mean, I get to eat two cups of instant noodles!
If Enol were here, he’d definitely limit me to one. I have to make the most of this while I can!
"Let's see, this one is standard soy sauce, so for the second one, should it be tonkotsu, or miso..."
Hmm, this is a tough choice.
How many people can speak calmly when faced with someone who is already dead?
I have no personal experience with it, so I wouldn't know, but there is no doubt that all sorts of emotions well up inside.