v2 Chapter 19: Just Haru is Fine

“Haru, what will you do?”

“I will say it again myself.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Still standing, Haru said this to the Academy Director.

“You may have various thoughts, but there are two things I want to say.”

“What are they?”

“First, again: Please give me my graduation qualification.”

“...Understood.”

Haru felt relieved.

“Second: Please properly provide my allowance and the compensation for the hunts. This is the record of the times I participated in hunts.”

Haru handed the Director a paper detailing the dates, her role in the hunts, and the number of monsters she had defeated. Receiving it and glancing over it, the Director's eyes widened in surprise.

“This means,” Sain interpreted, “there were many magicians who thought that since the Director judged her worthless and cast her aside, they could use her however they pleased.”

Even an ordinary magician likely wouldn't have worked this much, as it leads to exhaustion and injury. That's how much Haru was made to work.

“Academy Director, you will provide the payment?” Sain pressed.

“...Acknowledged.”

“She registered with the Guild for the first time this morning,” Sain revealed, adding pressure. “They were surprised; it seems the Guild members were quite familiar with Haru's work, weren't they?”

The Director made a sour face at the High Priest's sarcasm.

“Settle the allowance payment by the end of today. We return to the Deep Forest once we confirm the deposit tomorrow,” Sain set the deadline.

“That's impossible. We must first clarify where things went wrong.”

“That is your convenience,” Sain refused to wait. “Once we return to the Deep Forest, I do not trust you enough to believe you will pay. Especially considering how Haru has been treated.”

The Director understood well enough that this man was saying he would escalate the problem if it wasn't done. The Director sighed, “Acknowledged.”

The High Priest stood up, “Then we shall take our leave,” and prompted Haru.

“Um, Academy Director,” Haru spoke again.

“Is there more?” the Director asked wearily.

“Thank you for picking me up and allowing me to study magic at the academy. I was in your care.” Saying this, Haru bowed deeply once.

“...You could remain here in the Lakes, you know. Your treatment would be improved.”

“No, I will not stay.”

“...I suppose not.”

As the two were leaving the room, the High Priest said this to the still-seated Director. “Haru was not lying. Precisely because one grows older, one should view things with unclouded eyes.”

And he closed the door. Being dropped here by a goddess wasn't a lie. Impossible. Seeing Haru offer proper thanks at the end, the Director realized he had lost valuable talent, finally understanding his failure only now. Still, the Director stood up and rang the bell.

At the very least, it was certain there was misconduct within this academy that he was unaware of. That was the place to start.

“Haru, was that really enough?” Sain asked later.

“It's more than enough. I won my graduation qualification and my allowance, after all. I can pay back the money I borrowed from Shouko right away.”

“You could have complained a little more, you know.”

“Even if I had, I don't think he would have understood,” Haru replied to the High Priest's words. There was no trace of regret in her face or voice. Haru chuckled softly, “High Priest, did you see? When I got angry and talked about the Marsh Grapes, the look on the Director's face, like 'What about them?' It's funny thinking back on it.”

“He certainly did make that face,” the High Priest said quite honestly. “Though, honestly, I also wondered why Marsh Grapes.”

Haru shook her head, “Because I felt that if he couldn't understand at all what I hold dear, then saying anything more would be pointless,” she answered.

The High Priest looked a little sad and said, “I didn't understand either, but... is that bad?”

“Oh, High Priest.” Haru giggled. “The High Priest and the Director are completely different. Even if you don't understand why I care about Marsh Grapes, you accept me for being someone who cares about Marsh Grapes.”

“I still don't really get it, but I don't want you to dislike me.”

“Dislike you? Never. I'm very fond of you.” Haru smiled brightly.

“Sain.”

“Yes?”

“Call me Sain, not High Priest.”

“Sain... sama?”

“...Fine.”

Come to think of it, Shouko also called him Sain-sama. That's fine for me too, Haru thought. As the two returned smiling, everyone was waiting worriedly for them at the church.

“We were pacing around worrying about you, so why are you in such a good mood, honestly?” Leon said exasperatedly.

“Sain-sama properly won my allowance for me,” Haru gave credit.

“No, no, Haru properly won it herself. You did wonderfully,” Sain corrected her.

“Because Sain-sama supported me.”

“Haru is such a good child.”

What's with these two? They've gotten close without me realizing. For some reason, Leon felt impatient. And he's letting her call him Sain-sama. Well, Shouko calls him that too, but still.

“I was happy to be told 'I'm very fond of you',” Sain mentioned Haru's earlier comment.

“Fond of him?!” Leon couldn't help blurting out. Haru blushed and looked down.

“Hey, Miharu, you're fond of me too, right? Right?” Leon pleaded, using her old name.

“Oh, um...” Haru turned red. She had said it casually earlier, but could she say 'daisuki' again when asked directly? It was too embarrassing. Of course, she felt goodwill towards everyone from the Deep Forest who had been kind to her. Besides, Haru thought. The High Priest really looked like he could be her father's age, but Leon looked like he was in his early thirties in Japanese terms—meaning, from the perspective of her self back in Japan, he was definitely potential dating age. There was no way she could say it out of embarrassment.

“Hey, Miharu,” Leon pleaded again.

“Um...”

“What is it?” Leon replied to Haru's word in a sweet voice. Behind them, Shouko shrugged with a sigh.

“Just Haru is fine for me.”

“But you're Miharu, right?”

“Haru is fine. Because you know my real name was Miharu, it's okay.”

“But...”

Haru said it once more to the hesitant Leon. These past three years weren't a waste. She would be proud of having lived as Haru.

“Leon, call me Haru.”

“...Haru.”

“Leon—Kya!” Haru was swiftly scooped up by Leon and hugged tightly.

“You're too cute! Hey, what should I do?”

To Leon, who was squeezing Haru tight while saying this, Shouko said, “How about letting Haru go for now?”

“Is it my turn next?” Sain chimed in.

“It's not, Sain-sama, don't get in line.”

For now, this would probably make the 'daisuki' issue ambiguous. Watching Haru flustering in Leon's arms, Shouko secretly thought so. Because Falco would definitely get envious too. So, this is better than being forced to say 'daisuki' in front of everyone, thought Shouko, gazing into the distance from within Falco's arms.