This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 3
That afternoon after classes, Noel came to the prep room as usual.
This morning, after he brought up old wounds and smiled at me with that scary face out of nowhere, he’d tossed me around emotionally — and now here he was, calmly sitting in a chair sipping tea like nothing happened.
As I looked at him resentfully, our eyes met.
“Leticia, a student came to me for advice, and I wanted to hear your thoughts on it.”
“Sure, what’s it about?”
“If the person you like can’t forget someone they had a broken heart over… what do you think you should do?”
“That’s a pretty complicated situation for a student’s romance.”
Maybe it was because we were in the world of an otome game, but the kids in this world often seemed unusually mature.
Well, considering they’re recognized as adults earlier than in my original world, that might have something to do with it.
“It’s sad, but I think the best thing to do is tell them to give up. If they can’t forget that person, then it means their feelings must be very strong. Continuing to pine for someone who won’t turn around is cruel for both of them.”
“…”
“Noel?”
Noel froze with his eyes wide open, and only when I waved my hand in front of him did he finally snap out of it.
He looked like he was in pain — was he feeling unwell?
“You don’t look well. Are you okay?”
“Ah… well, yeah. I’m fine. I just… couldn’t breathe for a moment.”
“That is not fine at all?! You need to go to the infirmary right now!”
Even though Noel looked like he was struggling, when I tried to grab his hand to help him up, he wouldn’t budge—like a rock.
On the contrary, his gaze had fallen to the floor, staring intently at my hand.
“I’m fine now. It’s already better.”
There’s no way something like that would heal so quickly, but no matter how much I told him to go to the infirmary, he wouldn’t listen. He looked just like a stubborn little kid who didn’t want to go to the doctor.
Even when I urged him to go home early, he wouldn’t say yes, and in the end, he kept hanging around in the prep room.
“Leticia, have you finished preparing for the field training?”
“Yes, I’ve more or less finished. What about you?”
“I just wrapped it up too.”
Although the Finis Forest is used every year, it’s not exactly a safe place, so quite a few teachers accompany the students—and Noel was one of them.
He’d come along in the game too, egging Alois on and forcing him to fight monsters.
It’s not that I don’t trust Noel, but I want to see with my own eyes that this world is no longer the same as the game’s. If possible, I want to stay by his side the entire time.
But during the field training, I’ll be busy looking after the students…
Hmm. It’d be best to have Noel stay close by. That way, I can keep an eye on both the students and him.
I’ve come up with a great plan!
I call it: “The Together-We-Win-Double-Strategy☆!”
I’ll watch over the students and Noel, and make sure this field training ends without a hitch!
“Noel, you’re not allowed to leave my side.”
“L-Leticia… why?”
Noel looked caught off guard, as if he’d been spacing out again.
He really doesn’t seem to be doing well today. I still think he should just go home and get some rest.
Even when he’s feeling unwell, he won’t go to the infirmary or try to sleep—he’s just like a big kid.
And thinking that, I couldn’t help but find him… kind of adorable.
“Well, why, you ask… Let’s see. If something were to happen to my precious child, this mother would be worried sick.”
I said this in the tone of a doting mother and gave Noel a gentle pat on the head. He shot me a dull glare, his lips pressed together tightly—he really looked just like a sulking child.
“…”
“Noel?”
“…You’re still going with that?”
He covered his face with both hands and then slumped down onto the desk.
If you’re that exhausted, you should really just go to sleep already.