When We Exorcists Fell in Love at School, the World Went Crazy - Clumsy Guardian

June arrived. The trees in the courtyard, visible from the classroom window, had turned completely lush and green. A week had passed since then. Ever since their visit to Kasuga Shrine, Allen and Lenalee had clearly grown closer. Lunch break. The two sat side by side on a bench in the courtyard. This was a grassy courtyard called the "Cortile," nestled between the main building and the science wing. In the center stood a bust of the founder, and there were eight benches in total. Resting on Lenalee's lap was a small bento box. "Allen, try this! I woke up early this morning to make it!" Lenalee held out a piece of rolled omelet toward Allen's mouth. "Huh, is it okay?" "Of course! I want you to taste it!" Allen, blushing slightly, took the omelet into his mouth. "...It's delicious." "Really!? Yay!" Lenalee bounced lightly. Her twintails swayed, and her deep green eyes sparkled brightly. Watching her, Allen felt a gentle warmth spreading deep in his chest. (If only times like this could last forever.) "Ah, okay, next is this! Hamburger steak!" "W-Wait a second. I still have food in my mouth..." Lenalee had already picked up the hamburger steak with her chopsticks. Her face was beaming, utterly unable to contain her happiness. "Say ahh!" "I can feed myself, you know..." Their laughter rang out lightly through the courtyard. —That was when it happened. "Don't run in the hallway." A low voice that sent chills down the spine. Turning around, they saw Kanda Yuu standing there, wearing the armband of the head of the disciplinary committee. His long black hair, reaching down his back, was tied high into a single ponytail, and his narrow, deep navy eyes glared sharply at Allen. At his hip, as always, was his katana. Lenalee's face lit up instantly. "Ah, Yuu!" "...Tch. Cut that crap out, especially this early in the day. It's disgusting to watch." Kanda spat the words out. His gaze was fixed on the bench where Lenalee sat—more precisely, on Lenalee sitting next to Allen. Allen understood, more or less. (This isn't... him coming to warn Lenalee. He's angry at me.) He knew from his memories of his past life. Kanda was a man who never showed a smile. But in truth, he cared about his comrades more than anyone. Especially when it came to Lenalee—his words were harsh, but he worried about her to an overprotective degree. "Kanda, what about lunch? Have you eaten yet?" Allen spoke to him gently. "...None of your business." Kanda's hand unconsciously gripped the scabbard of the sword at his hip. "Yuu, don't say mean things to Allen." Lenalee furrowed her brow. "Shut up. What a pain. Get lost, beansprout." With just that, Kanda spun on his heel and started to walk away. That was when it happened. Thud! A loud noise came from behind the gymnasium. "...What was that!?" "Someone might have collapsed. I'll go check!" Allen stood up immediately and ran toward the source of the sound. —Behind the gymnasium. There, the janitor, Yamada-san, had collapsed. A small, white-haired old man who always wore a gentle smile. Sixty-eight years old. Allen had heard he was the longest-serving janitor at the school. "Yamada-san!? Are you okay!?" Allen rushed over in a panic. Yamada-san's face was pale, and large beads of sweat dotted his forehead. His breathing was shallow, and his body lay limp. (Heatstroke...!) Even though it was June, the temperature today was close to thirty degrees. It was as hot as a summer day. Allen desperately raised his voice. "Someone! Someone, please come!!" But his voice was drowned out by the noise of the lunch break, and no one noticed. (Dammit...!) Just then— "...Shut up." He heard the sound of a tongue clicking. Turning around, he saw Kanda—who had been so angry just moments ago—standing there with a sullen look on his face. "Kanda...!?" "I said stop yelling. It's grating." With just that, Kanda casually lifted Yamada-san up. He hoisted him onto his back with ease, as if he felt no weight at all. "You contact Lenalee. The nurse's office is on the first floor. Hurry up." "R-Right!" Allen started running in a fluster. Behind him, Kanda ran with Yamada-san on his back. His footsteps were loud and fast. "Don't dawdle, beansprout!" "I-I know!" The two burst into the nurse's office. The school nurse stood up in surprise. "What happened!? ...Oh my, Yamada-san!?" "He collapsed behind the gymnasium. I think it's heatstroke." "I understand. I'll treat him right away, so you two wait outside." The nurse began to move briskly. Kanda laid Yamada-san down on a bed, then leaned against the wall and folded his arms. His eyes were closed. He didn't seem to have any intention of speaking. "...Thank you, Kanda." Allen said quietly. "Shut up. I don't need your thanks." —That was when it happened. "Allen! Yuu! Are you okay!?" Lenalee came rushing down the hallway. Her face was deathly pale, and her deep green eyes were glistening, looking as if she might burst into tears at any moment. Lenalee tried to enter the nurse's office. But— "You stay out." Kanda stood blocking the door. "Huh... Why!? I want to see Yamada-san too..." "The nurse's office is small. You'll be in the way." At those words, Lenalee's face crumpled. But Allen noticed. (...No. Kanda isn't trying to send Lenalee away.) Kanda's eyes glanced at Lenalee for just a moment. Deep within those sharp eyes, a faint pain flickered. (Lenalee has claustrophobia. She panics in small rooms. Kanda knows that, so...) —This was Kanda's own form of kindness. Lenalee seemed to realize it too. She showed a startled expression, then looked down slightly. "...Yuu has always been like that." Lenalee murmured. "...Has he?" "Yeah. He's really clumsy and always angry, but... he's kinder than anyone. I think he stopped me just now because he knows I'm a scaredy-cat and can't handle tight spaces." Lenalee's eyes glistened with tears. "...Don't say unnecessary things." Kanda turned his back, his face bright red. His long black hair swayed softly. But his back was trembling. Looking at Kanda, Lenalee smiled nostalgically. "...Thanks, Yuu." "Shut up. Disgusting." Watching their exchange, Allen felt a slight ache in his chest. (Those two have been supporting each other like this since long ago.) That hadn't changed, not in his past life, and not now. Eventually, the door to the nurse's office opened. "Yamada-san has regained consciousness. It wasn't serious. He'll be fine if he gets proper rest." "Thank goodness..." Allen breathed a sigh of relief. —Just then. Kanda smoothly walked past Allen's side. "...Don't get the wrong idea, beansprout." Kanda's voice was so quiet only Allen could hear it. "...?" "I'm only protecting Lenalee. I didn't help you." When Kanda looked back, his eyes were filled with sharp hostility. Allen met that gaze straight on. "...Even so, you helped. Thank you." "...Disgusting!" With just that, Kanda strode away down the hallway. "Ah, Yuu! There's still time to get soba!" Lenalee called out from behind. Kanda stopped dead in his tracks, then silently went up the stairs to the rooftop. "...Yuu loves soba, after all. I wonder if he managed to buy some today." Lenalee let out a small giggle. Allen found himself smiling too. "...You really understand Kanda well, don't you, Lenalee?" "Yeah. I mean, we've been together since we were little. Yuu is still as sullen as ever, he gets angry quickly, he tries to carry everything on his own... but really, he cares about his comrades more than anyone." Lenalee's voice was gentle. "And also," Lenalee turned toward Allen. "I... feel really at ease when I'm talking to you, Allen. Ever since we first met, I don't know why. I feel like I've known you for a long time..." At those words, Allen's chest grew warm. (I do know. We met a long, long time ago.) But he couldn't say that. "...Hearing you say that makes me happy." Allen put on his best smile. Lenalee smiled happily too. —That smile was so dazzling. For a moment, Allen recalled memories of his past life. Lenalee's fighting form. Her strength to stand up for her comrades even when wounded. That figure who never gave up, even with tears in her eyes. (I have to protect it. This smile, and this everyday life.) —That was when it happened. —Jealousy will consume you. A faint whisper echoed inside his head. Allen started and looked around. But there was no one in the hallway. (What was that just now...?) The pentacle on his left eye throbbed faintly. (A warning...? Or...) "What's wrong, Allen?" Lenalee peered at him with concern. "...No, it's nothing. I was just thinking about something." Allen hurriedly put on a smile. —Around that time. On the rooftop, Kanda was looking up at the sky alone. In his hand was the soba he had bought at the school store. But for some reason, he had no appetite. "...Lenalee." Kanda muttered quietly. "What's so good about that beansprout?" The chopsticks he was holding snapped with a crack. Inside Kanda's heart, the flames of jealousy were indeed burning bright.

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Episode 3

Name: When We Exorcists Fell in Love at School, the World Went Crazy
Author: Novelia

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