Pushing Hard

"I'm worried about you, sir." The healer entered the office with stiff steps. "You shut yourself up in this place all day and don't come to dinner."

"It's okay." Eiji looked outside again and got goosebumps seeing Aline's hands moving like worms in pain. "Kyoko has delivered food to me, and I'm taking a little break right now."

"You need a lot of rest, sir. Not just a little." She walked towards her boss. "Or you'll just screw everything up. Those are the proof. You haven't finished your work because you can't focus anymore, right?"

The principal glanced at the papers scattered on his desk. "It's my responsibility. I have to do this."

He then sat on the couch and rubbed his face. But he couldn't deny it any further. He felt he had no energy even though he had just eaten. His eyes were dry from staring at the papers for so long, and his brain couldn't cooperate with him anymore.

"At least let me treat you a little." Aline's breath became a little heavier. "Just to relax your body."

Eiji felt a strange and inexplicable aura from Aline, but the principal didn't immediately reject her. "What do you want to do to me?"

Maybe this woman had good intentions.

"You sound like you're accusing me of wanting to do something bad to you." She moved behind that man. "I'll just give you a special massage. It's different from normal massages. I'm combining it with some of the healing spells."

"I see." The principal touched his already stiff shoulder. "Well, go ahead, but don't do anything weird.

This time Eiji hopes that Kyoko is hiding somewhere and notices this. If something unexpected happened, the kunoichi could immediately intervene.

"Ah…." Without knowing it, Eiji sighed as soon as the healer's fingers landed on his shoulder. Apart from the gentle massage motions, the warm sensation from the healer's fingers triggers Eiji's muscles to relax more.

It had only been a few seconds, but Eiji felt his body a little lighter.

"It will be much more optimal if you open all your clothes, you know?" The healer let out her signature creepy giggle.

"No chance." Eiji still couldn't believe that someone with skills as excellent as Aline had such a strange personality. "This is so amazing, don't spoil it, please."

The pink-haired woman grinned. "Glad you enjoyed it."

Eiji's eyes grew heavy. He yawned, then asked the healer to avoid falling asleep. "How are you doing here? Are you happy?"

"It's great, sir." Aline started her gentle massage on the principal's temples. "They all came to me for a check-up…. Except for Mr. Skeleton. Well, I don't know what to check on him. Ah, I also have to learn from the anatomy of Anneth's original form. That's a new thing, and I'm happy to do it."

"I hope nothing makes you uncomfortable." The principal yawned again, feeling even more drowsy. "If something's bothering you, just tell me."

"I've been holding back from doing things that make them uncomfortable. But sometimes, my true nature comes out a little. They get a little scared because of that."

"Please forgive them." So enjoying the treatment, Eiji closed his eyes. "They didn't mean it."

"It's okay." Aline smiled as she switched to massaging her boss' right hand. "I don't mind if they are scared. It's because of me. And the important thing is, they don't show disgust at all. Even though I limit interactions with others, they still try to chat with me more."

The principal smiled back. "Aah, that's great. I hope it stays like that."

"I'm sure of that." Aline's smile widened. "They are very kind to me, despite my shortcomings…." She then sighed. "Therefore, I don't want to let them down."

"That was amazing, Aline." For the umpteenth time, Eiji yawned. He couldn't keep his eyes open. "I…. will continue to work hard to make this place your…. home….."

The principal's head lowered. His words were replaced by soft snoring, and his eyes showed no sign of opening.

"I'm sorry, sir." Aline's smile remained. "But you really need to rest."

And after saying that, she gulped hard, about to touch that young man. But she pulled her hand back in seconds.

"No, Aline. Be a good girl." The healer stood up instead. "Good night, Mr. Sakazaki."

***

Sienna's thump of high heels filled the hall that night. The gods' messengers had just finished interviewing her. And as soon as Aline told her that Eiji had fallen asleep in his office, the assistant took a blanket and brought it there.

She didn't even change her uniform. The interview went on for hours. It was more like an interrogation.

The assistant entered the room quietly, saying nothing. She didn't want to wake her superior.

On the couch, Eiji was asleep, sitting in a slightly tilted position.

"You have worked hard, sir." Sienna approached the man with a faint smile. "As Miss Paquette said, you need to rest."

She sat beside Eiji, about to cover that man's body. However, as the assistant unfolded the blanket, Eiji's head fell into her lap.

That woman covered her mouth to suppress the urge to scream in surprise.

Eiji can finally get proper rest. Sienna didn't want to waste it. The assistant felt that the man was pushing himself too hard recently, especially with that speech.

The principal is concerned with the candidates' first impressions of this school. He wanted to ensure they thought this place was indeed good for them, so they didn't hesitate to study there.

No one knows what kind of adventure awaits them in other worlds. If they can learn well, then they will be better prepared.

After covering Eiji's body with the blanket, Sienna gently ran her hands over that man's hair.

"I'm glad you came to this place, sir," Sienna whispered, even though she knew Eiji couldn't hear it.