Though surely startled by the sudden situation, Sensei comforted me as if he had always been prepared for it.

"Plana, you're also my student, so feel free to tell me anything if you're having a hard time. I'll help you as much as I can, even if it's beyond my capabilities."

"..."

But despite Sensei and Arona watching over me with worried expressions, I couldn't do anything but silently wait for my tears to stop. I could never reveal that I had just witnessed their deaths moments ago.

"Ah, could it be!"

At that moment, Arona suddenly cried out with wide eyes, as if something had occurred to her.

"Huh? Arona, do you have a guess?"

Thinking the girl had come up with a clue, Sensei quickly urged her for an answer. However, the answer that came out of the somewhat airheaded AI girl's mouth was something I hadn't anticipated.

"D-did you see the thin books Sensei saved in the <Shittim Chest>? I thought I deleted them all for sure...!"

"..."

...Ah, that did happen.

Unlike me, who was now speechless with bewilderment, Sensei instantly turned red and jumped up, refuting Arona's words.

"W-what are you talking about, Arona!"

"B-but you tried several times! What if you hid them again without me knowing!"

"Well, you erased them all with the umbrella gun, so I hid the physical copies in my room's drawer, but Koyuki picked the lock and saw them recently... K-khm!"

The man, mentioning an incident that was originally one of the funny bond stories from the original game, belatedly coughed and swallowed his words.

Haha, this is amusing.

As expected, it's fun and happy being with these two.

Drip.

...But why can't I stop crying?

It's definitely... just a moment ago, Arona...

"Arona-senpai..."

"Eh? M-me?"

As Arona's name unconsciously escaped my lips, the sky-blue haired girl pointed at herself in confusion.

"Plana, did Arona bully you?"

At the same time, Sensei turned to Arona with a stern expression, as if seeking revenge for the previous teasing.

"Arona, even if you're the senior, you shouldn't treat your junior carelessly." "I-I didn't do anything, Sensei! Plana-chan! That's not what I meant!"

And so, the two continued their silly banter, out of sync with the situation.

Of course, having spent a considerable amount of time with them, I had already realized to some extent that the reason they were engaging in such exaggerated conversation was to ease my mind, even if just a little.

"...I'm fine now."

Realizing my tears had finally stopped, I slowly rose from my desk and said.

"Ah, Plana-chan. Are you really alright?"

"Yes, senpai. I apologize for causing you and Sensei concern."

Seeing me return to my usual expressionless face and bow my head slightly in apology, the two looked relieved, although still a bit doubtful.

"Plana."

But Sensei didn't stop there. He reached into the pocket of his usual suit and called out to me again.

"I was planning to give this to you after tidying it up a bit more, but I think I want to give it to you now."

"This is...?"

I widened my eyes at the object he pulled out from his pocket and handed to me.

It was a black object encased in a simple yet neat and sturdy-looking transparent case, likely with the help of the Engineering Club.

Its identity was, of course, the <Adult Card>, which still retained its shape despite numerous incidents, and the last memento of my first Sensei, whom I admired as much as the Sensei before me now.

...If I remember correctly, he gave it to me a bit later, but he must have already been carrying it with him at this time.

"I think it would be best if you kept this, Plana. Is that okay?"

Ah, yes.

They were always like this. Both of them.

People who genuinely and readily extend a helping hand to any student.

Adults whom I respect more than anyone and who deserve to be respected.

Trying to suppress the tears that were threatening to well up again, I carefully reached out and accepted the <Adult Card>.

"Thank you, Sensei."

Bowing my head deeply to hide any tears that might fall again.

"That's great, Plana-chan!"

Arona, perhaps thinking that Sensei's surprise gift would be a great source of strength for me, happily placed her hand on top of mine.

"Now, don't worry and get some rest. While you're sleeping, I'll be here as your senior to watch over you!"

............

After Sensei left the <Shittim Chest>, some time passed, and the sky in this space had grown dark.

"Cool... Sensei... Strawberry milk... Mnyaa..."

"...Senpai, didn't you say you would watch over me?"

I muttered to myself in disbelief towards the girl who had fallen fast asleep at the desk, but Arona showed no reaction, continuing to sleep soundly while talking in her sleep.

Haa, that's right. This the typical Arona.

And... it's partly due to the burden my existence places on her.

"I apologize, senpai. I'll resolve this issue later."

The burden caused by the coexistence of two OS in the <Shittim Chest> and the resulting increase in Arona's sleep time.

I knew of several external computational resources that could solve this, but since we were currently expending a great deal of power just to project physical force outside the <Shittim Chest>, I couldn't reach out to them right now.

...First, I need to find an ally.

Someone, and their final moments, immediately came to mind, but this time, I was able to suppress my emotions without much difficulty.

Now that I had returned to this point in time, I would be able to meet that child again soon.

Having quickly organized my thoughts, I carefully turned towards the classroom wall, making sure not to wake Arona.

What came into view were my and Arona's umbrella guns, leaned side by side against the wall.

...In the last cycle, I realized too late that those guns were no ordinary objects. The true effect hidden by the comedic memes that deleted the socalled "thin books" from the original concept art.

Slowly approaching them, I reached out and gently grasped my black umbrella gun, which was polished smooth.

Squeeze.

Even though I shouldn't have used it properly at this point in time, a familiar sensation, as if holding a well-used weapon, spread through my fingertips.

...It's a relief, my previous sense is still intact.

Alright, I can do this.

"Computation complete, plan confirmed."

Now, I had the abilities I belatedly acquired when destruction was imminent, along with knowledge of the events that were to come.

Not just what was revealed in the original story, but also the countless incidents that happened behind the scenes, and even information that hadn't been hinted at until the moment I possessed this body.

"Proof concluded."

Then, what I have to do from now on is as good as decided.

Having solidified my inevitable resolution, I immediately declared to this world in a small voice.

"Plana of the <Shittim Chest>, commencing the world's forced intervention to protect Senpai and Sensei."

Not as A.R.O.N.A., but by the name my precious senpai gave me.