Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 63 - Thoughts in the Heart

"Aisha, Norn — settling in alright at school?"

I asked it casually, like it was nothing, right there at the dinner table.

But I cared. A lot. Both of them had been carrying something lately, some quiet weight I couldn't quite name.

School had only started two months ago. How did they already have problems?

Bullying? Being left out? Or maybe a boy? All of it cycled through my head at once.

But I couldn't bring myself to ask directly. They'd reached that age. The age where a question from their older brother earns a look of pure impatience, and if they gave me that look, I'd be down about it for days.

After a long talk with Sylphiette, I'd settled on today. Rest day. Low pressure. Casual.

"Brother, it's nothing~"

"I'm fine......"

That was all I got. I smiled, let it go, and didn't push.

After dinner, they went straight to their rooms.

It had been a long time since either of them came to me to talk magic. Aisha still bathed with me, at least. But Norn had completely written me off...... Was this really puberty?!

Two weeks ago, things were completely fine.

I sat at the table staring at nothing, trying to figure out what you're even supposed to do when teenage girls decide to have feelings.

"Rudeus? Still worrying about your sisters?"

Sylphiette's voice came from just beside me, soft and warm.

I nodded.

"Yeah...... I'm not that worried, exactly...... I just don't want them to be unhappy at school. I was the one who pushed them to go, after all. What if they're blaming me for it?"

"Rudeus is clearly very worried."

"Ah...... Yeah...... Can't argue with that."

"You teach at that school too, don't you? You don't have their class?"

"No. My background is adventurer work, so I'm more of a practical magic instructor. I rotate through almost every class and only cover a bit with each one. No long-term assignment."

"Hmm~ So you haven't tried walking past their classroom?"

"I've wanted to, honestly. But...... Sylphiette, if they catch me doing that, do you think they'd find me annoying?"

Sylphiette blinked. Then a smile spread across her face.

"Rudeus, you actually worry about things like that?"

"Of course I do. I don't want them to hate me......"

"They just have things on their minds. There's no world where they hate their own brother over something like that~ You're overthinking it, Rudeus."

"You really think so? It wouldn't bother them?"

"It really wouldn't....... Look, if Rudeus ever 'bothered' me out of worry for me, I would never hate you for it~ I'd like you even more, actually. I think Norn and Aisha feel the same way. We're all girls, after all."

Is that so?

I never had siblings in my past life. This feeling I was carrying right now, I genuinely didn't know what to do with it.

Wait.

Did Sylphiette just say "like"?

Her expression hadn't changed. Same warmth as always, completely unbothered, as if she hadn't said anything unusual at all.

I was being too sensitive....... Besides, this body had also reached the age where certain things started making themselves known......

"Er...... Alright. I'll try sneaking a look next time......"

"Mm. They're both good kids. Don't worry."

.......

Rest day ended, I wrapped up my own lessons, and headed toward Aisha's special admissions class.

I'd looked into it. The special admissions class was for students with money and influence behind them. The reason Aisha got in was simpler than that: she was the first person in the school's history to score perfect marks on every entrance exam.

I hadn't actually wanted her to go. But it was her choice.

"Special admissions class......."

I walked the grounds, taking in the neat, orderly buildings around me.

This academy was more impressive than I'd expected, honestly. The facilities, the regulations, the whole structure of the place, it gave me a strange sense of deja vu, like being a student again in my previous life. Except this time, I was the teacher.

"Little White No. 1~ Little White No. 2~ Good girls~"

A familiar voice. Aisha's.

Had she been keeping pets at the academy?

Maybe that was it. Maybe she wanted to bring them home and didn't know how to ask. Though knowing Aisha, I couldn't picture her being troubled over something like that, I'd say yes without hesitating.

The voice got closer. I quietly poked my head around the corner.

What I saw was nothing like what I'd pictured.

Two beast-race girls, on the ground at Aisha's feet, in full submission.

"Very good~ Here's your reward~"

Aisha scattered dried meat over them as she said it.

The two of them picked it up off the ground and ate it directly, like they'd just received something precious.

This......

Aisha...... had this kind of hobby......?

Whatever was happening here, I definitely shouldn't have seen it.

I made a decision. I was going to pretend this never happened and walk straight to Norn's classroom.

I'd assumed Aisha was struggling because she was too young for the special admissions crowd and had ended up isolated. But if this was a personal interest situation she was just too embarrassed to talk about, then as her big brother, I was nothing if not understanding.

Right. Didn't see a thing.

I made my way to Norn's classroom and peered through the window.

Norn was listening to the lesson with real focus. Her deskmate was a boy who looked like he came from nobility, and he was leaning over, walking her through something she hadn't understood.

She could just ask me at night.......

Was Norn troubled because she'd developed feelings for this boy, but felt like the gap in their standing made it impossible?

Surely...... no.

The air between them wasn't like that.

Mm......

Either way, looking at both of them, it didn't seem to be bullying. Neither of them looked like someone who was being hurt.

I let out a slow breath.

"Well, at this age, everyone's got something weighing on them......"

I was still working through my own feelings for Sylphiette. My sisters' romantic troubles were theirs to figure out.

Decision made. I turned to leave.

This job really was comfortable, I had to admit. Two hours of teaching a day, at most. Easy to get through.

"Rudeus-sensei, good afternoon."

A soft voice, the kind that put you in a better mood without knowing why. I turned around.

A blonde girl. Standing beside her was a young man who looked, in some ways, a little like Paul.

What was her name...... The student council president, right.......

I tried to pull the name up and came back empty. She was in a student uniform. Teachers weren't obligated to memorize every student.

I smiled.

"Good afternoon."

I left it at that, nodded, and moved to leave.

"Rudeus-sensei — you don't remember me?"

"Of course I do. Student council president."

"My name?"

"Sorry. I don't make a habit of remembering names."

It came out a little blunt. She smiled anyway.

"Ariel Anemoi Asura. Please remember it this time, sensei."

"I will. I'm heading out now — is there something else?"

"Nothing at all~ I just wanted to say hello. Next time you have a free afternoon, you simply must have tea with me."

"Sure, if I have the time."

I left the school behind and headed home.

Somewhere along the walk, I noticed my pace had picked up.

Because I wanted to see Sylphiette, maybe? Mm...... Not maybe. I just wanted to see her.

I wouldn't bring up my sisters' private business. But I wanted to sit with her and talk about nothing in particular. What to have for dinner. Whatever came to mind. Even that would be enough to make me happy.

Just this. Just ordinary days like this.

I wasn't going to reach for more. This was already enough.

➤ Next: Aisha, the Academy