"Hello, Teacher."
Rishar greeted me in his usual curt voice. I'd run into him coming out of the Greenhouse on my way to see Jin.
I had business with Rishar anyway, so I greeted him brightly.
"Rishar, this is a birthday gift."
I pulled out the birthday present for Rishar that I'd been carrying, wondering when to give it. A small doll sized to fit in one hand, with a tiny ring attached to make it a keychain. I'd made a little lion doll resembling Rishar.
"It's late—way late—but I found out about your birthday too late... It's nothing special."
As I scratched my cheek awkwardly, Rishar's stoic face flushed bright red.
"Th-thank you. I didn't expect a gift like this..."
Oh my, was this guy being shy? What an unexpected side.
"Um, Teacher Ober."
As I turned to enter the Greenhouse, Rishar grabbed me.
"Yes?"
Rishar's pale sky-blue eyes shook slightly as he faced me. What did he want to say?
"...There's something I want to apologize for."
An apology? I blinked up at Rishar. What could he possibly have to apologize to me for? Maybe for avoiding me lately?
"When we first met, I pointed a gun at you. Back then, Jin was in really bad shape... I couldn't see straight."
At Rishar's apology, I stared at him, truly at a loss for words. That was five months ago... Why apologize now?
"...It's tormented me all this time. To commit such rudeness against someone as good as you."
Rishar said, frowning slightly.
Ah, no need to carry that guilt for so long over that.
In truth, I fully understood Rishar's feelings back then. I knew how much he cared for Jin, how precarious Jin's life was.
If anything, I was the one at fault. Trying to run away to save only myself.
"It's fine, Rishar. No need to feel sorry. If anything..."
As I spoke, Rishar looked down painfully before meeting my eyes.
"If anything, I was the one in the wrong. You were just protecting Jin."
I smiled brightly. I was truly grateful. To Rishar. Thanks to him, I'd come to the Underground City and prevented Jin's death.
I couldn't say I'd completely prevented it yet, but fate was changing bit by bit.
"So, let's just forget about it."
Coming to the Underground City, I'd met so many people. Rishar before me now, Rick and Lui, Betty too. And... above all, Jin. They were all incredibly precious to me now.
"Teacher... you're truly a good person."
Rishar's voice was thick with emotion.
His words made me feel somehow embarrassed. A good person? Rishar was the truly good one.
