Only the final task remained, but by now the sky was gradually painted red by the setting sun.
Since the last task of setting off fireworks had to wait until nightfall, there was a brief moment of leisure.
I sat on the beach with Mashiro and Tsurugi, gazing at the sea tinted with the same colors of the sunset, feeling a flood of emotions...
Reminding me of the sea inside the Shittim Chest and it was impressively realistic. Truly, this was the ultra-advanced ancient tech left behind by the GSC President.
"It's already this late…"
Perhaps still exhilarated from the day's events, Mashiro seemed a bit slow to realize: "Speaking of which, Hifumi and Azusa have been gone for a while…"
I casually replied, "Probably because the place to buy fireworks is a bit far."
"Hm…" Mashiro nodded slightly. "I don't know why, but they stepped forward first. Originally, it should have been me and Tsurugi-senpai going together."
I touched my nose and thought I might know the answer. They probably both wanted to be with me, yet were subtly wary of each other, which led to this outcome.
At that moment, Tsurugi let out a series of strange laughs: "…Heehee! Heh hehehe! Guhehheh!"
Mashiro speculated: "…Senpai must be looking forward to it too, right? Although I don't fully understand."
"Something like that," I explained. "Besides looking forward to the fireworks, she probably also wants to express her gratitude to Hifumi and Azusa."
"I see?" Mashiro seemed uncertain, glancing at Tsurugi, who gave no objection, and smiled. "In that case, I feel the same. Thanks to them, we can finally take a short break… we really have to thank them properly."
This, I thought, made them quite decent friends.
The Justice Committee's genius sniper exhaled: "Once everything is finished, I still need to report back to Hasumi-senpai and submit the photos. Thankfully, Sensei helped, so this task went smoothly."
"So, Mashiro, how do you feel?" I asked. "Are you happy today?"
"Eh?" The girl seemed surprised by my question. "Well… I guess I was originally just a tagalong, because of Hasumi-senpai's instructions… but as the day went on, the atmosphere made me gradually enjoy it too."
Hasumi's intention was clearly not to treat a diligent junior as a mere accessory, Mashiro's enjoyment reflected her own effort being recognized.
Tsurugi probably… no, definitely felt the same way.
Mashiro seemed a bit embarrassed: "I originally decided never to forget the heart of justice… but recently I feel I've been slacking. I really need to reflect on that…"
After a pause, she gazed softly at me with her watery eyes and whispered: "…But yes, I'm very happy. Thank you, Sensei."
She didn't even give me a chance to respond.
As if afraid I might say something, she immediately stood: "Hifumi and Azusa are a bit late. I'll go meet them."
With that, she walked briskly toward the distance, leaving only Tsurugi and me alone on the beach.
"She's really a good kid."
"Mm." Tsurugi nodded quietly. "Mashiro's effort is obvious. Hasumi-senpai worries she'll overexert herself, which is why she allowed her to come on this vacation…"
Pretty much what I had thought.
"Tsurugi is the same, isn't she?"
"Eh? N-no, this…"
She stammered, growing a bit shy.
I smiled slightly and asked, "By the way, Tsurugi, how did you feel today? Did you have fun?"
"I… um…" She hesitated, then replied, "Ac-actually… I'm not really sure… if this is… right…"
"What's the matter?"
"It… feels different from what I imagined… but it doesn't feel wrong either…"
I nodded knowingly and said with a smile: "If you're already having doubts like that, it means you've felt happy, right? In that case, it's correct."
Tsurugi was surprised, whispering: "I-I see… although I still don't fully understand… it's just… unlike the sea in the books… but being able to play with everyone like this… it's… very…"
"Mm, that's good. Things in books and in reality always differ a bit."
"Mm… mm…" Tsurugi pursed her lips, shyly looking at me, her voice trembling as if reflecting an inner upheaval. "B-but! Compared to other… um! I think it's more because… Sen… Sen…"
By this point, she seemed to have exhausted all her courage, unable to continue.
I naturally understood what she wanted to say.
But more importantly, I knew Tsurugi wasn't ready yet.
"Tsurugi."
"Y-yes!?"
"Now that I think about it, I've hardly taken the time to truly understand you."
"N-no, that's not true…" Tsurugi protested. "Sensei didn't, like many others, fear or avoid me… you… you even consider my thoughts, and… and even… go on dates with me…"
She nervously listed many things, which to me seemed trivial, as if to prove that I had already treated her well.
After patiently letting her speak, I shook my head and said: "But my understanding of you is still superficial, and we haven't talked much. Even today, I don't know your hobbies in detail."
Tsurugi panicked: "Ah! I-I'm sorry for troubling you… it's just that I rarely share things about myself… and forcing someone to listen is still…"
Seeing her reaction, I said abruptly: "All the more reason."
"Eh?"
"Tsurugi, your essence is delicate and gentle, and the fact that it's easily misunderstood is something I can now clearly confirm."
At least, that's how it is for me.
"Se-sensei…?" Her face turned redder than the sunset, unable to form a complete sentence. "I… you… th-that…"
"Hehe, sorry. Perhaps I rushed a bit." I smiled. "Anyway, let's wait for another chance to talk more deeply about your hobbies and such. When you're ready."
"Ugh…"
Tsurugi buried her face in her knees, for a long, long time.
"Mm."
She softly responded, almost imperceptibly, but genuinely.