I Became an Academy Counselor

It’s strange.
Why isn’t anyone coming?
I lay on the soft bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
…Actually, I’m not unaware of the reason.

Instead of the first floor, where people’s attention is focused and where there’s a lot of exposure, the counseling room is tucked away in a corner of the third floor where students don’t often pass by. Among the places where classrooms that students don’t really care about, like music rooms and art rooms, are clustered, in an even more remote corner…

That’s where the counseling room was located.
According to the principal, the counseling room was built only two weeks ago.
That’s right.
It’s a facility that was created on the very day I arrived.
A counseling room that was built not long ago, in a place where people don’t often pass by.
Of course, since there hasn’t been such a facility like a counseling room until now, they probably don’t even know it exists.

A few students do pass by occasionally…
But they don’t seem to realize that this is a counseling room.
Just as I was surprised when I first saw the interior, it seems the students are accepting it as if a new reception room has been created.
There is a nameplate saying it’s a counseling room, but it’s not very visible from a distance.

“This is a big problem…”

It’s not that I haven’t thought about promoting it to the students.
It’s not a very accessible place, and since they don’t even know the counseling room exists, I’m just idly passing the time. But if I promote it, wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of the principal placing the counseling room in this corner instead of on the first floor?

Students who hear about something new will probably wander around out of curiosity for a while. And during that time, would the students come for counseling?
They might visit after the interest dies down, but I can’t use that method now because I don’t know when that will be.
What if the playable characters don’t come due to anxiety?

“I don’t know…”

With a headache, I soon stopped overthinking.
Judging by how quiet the academy is, it seems the main story hasn’t even started yet.
Currently, no students are asking for help even though I want to work.

“…”

Finally, unable to overcome my boredom, I slightly opened the door of the counseling room and looked around.
As it was still class time, the deserted corridor greeted me with no one wandering around.
…Alright, no one’s here.

“Hehe…”

After turning on the laptop I was given when I became a counseling teacher, I naturally clicked on an icon that was hidden on the desktop. As the transparently hidden icon was clicked, the now-familiar loading screen greeted me.

Someone might say this.
Is it okay to play games during work hours?
I’d like to answer such a person like this:
What am I supposed to do when there’s no work?

There’s absolutely nothing I can do right now.
As a counseling teacher, my job is to care for and help the students who come for counseling and record that. It’s not like I can just grab any random student and force them to receive counseling by asking, 

“Do you want counseling?”

The moment I go to the playable characters and ask,

“Would you like to receive counseling?” 

I’d be treated like a crazy person. Even if I wanted to bring them in through hypnosis, the playable characters stand out in both good and bad ways.
In the end, for me to do my job, students need to come here.
…So, as of now, when there are no students to counsel, there’s nothing I can do.
If even one person came, I could somehow spread the word. I didn’t have to worry about the main story. When it starts, I’ll hear rumors whether I want to or not.

“For now, though…”

Just as I was about to start a game to relieve my boredom…
Suddenly, the door of the counseling room opened with a rattle.

“What? There’s someone here. I thought something had changed when I came here after a long time.”
“Oh, wh-what brings you here…?”
“…? Isn’t this an empty classroom?” 

Huff. Huff…

I thought I was caught…
Was it because I reacted quickly, thanks to my childhood experience of playing games secretly from my parents? Or was it because they weren’t interested in the laptop in the first place?
Seemingly unaware that I had turned on a game, the unexpected intruder who suddenly invaded the counseling room was leisurely looking around.

“No, this room has now become a counseling room.”
“Counseling room? …Tch. No wonder people have been wandering around recently.”

As if displeased by something, the student who suddenly came to the counseling room clicked their tongue and then smiled as if satisfied.

“Well, whatever. It’s a bit annoying that there’s someone else here… but I like the facility. Hey, um…”
“I’m the academy counselor, student. My name is Ophelia.”
“Don’t know. Don’t care.”
“…”
“If anyone comes looking, pretend you didn’t see me.”

Right after saying that, she naturally got into the bed, drew the curtains, and went to lie down.
Judging by her limited movements, she must be trying to sleep.
How long has it been since this unexpected intruder started sleeping in the counseling room as if it were her own bedroom?
Someone knocked on the counseling room door.

“Come in.”
“Excuse me. …By any chance, did a tall woman with black hair and red eyes come here?”
“Black hair and red eyes?”
“Yes. She has a very nasty personality.”

I knew that well without being told.
Because I had experienced it firsthand.
I glanced at the bed, where even breathing could be heard, indicating she had fallen asleep.
Straight black hair and red eyes. A personality that seemed not just nasty, but downright rude.
I know it well. No, there’s no way I couldn’t know. I was face-to-face with her until just a moment ago. Perhaps noticing my gaze, the student who had been bowing to me apologetically suddenly sharpened their eyes.

“Is she in there? I’m sorry. I’ve caused you trouble.
“Wait a moment.”
“What is it? I’m sorry, but I don’t have time for this as I need to quickly return to class with her. If it’s not urgent, then maybe later…”
“I’ll take care of her.”
“That’s impossible.”

The student said firmly, as if my words weren’t even worth listening to.

“You seem to be new to the academy. I understand your desire to try and guide a seemingly delinquent student, but it’s better to give up on her.”
“Because she’s possessed by a demon?”
“…You knew?”
“Of course. How could I not know?”

That’s right.
There’s no way I couldn’t know.
At first, I was half in doubt, but with such similar characteristics, it was impossible not to know.
After all, I was familiar with her acting like such a ruffian.

“She’s famous, isn’t she? The demon-possessed Orca.”

One of the two playable characters that I adorn in the prologue.
The child who, if not chosen by the player, somehow disappears from the academy and becomes a wanted criminal. There’s probably no one in the academy who knows her better than I do. No, perhaps that would be true even if we searched the whole world.

“You know and still say such things?! She’s possessed by a demon! She’s dangerous…!”
“Your voice.”
“…Pardon?”
“Don’t raise your voice like that, student.”

I raised my finger, brought it to her lips, and whispered.

“She has fallen asleep. If she wakes up, she’ll be very irritated, you know?
“…”

It would be troublesome if Orca was forcibly awakened and caused a commotion.
As befitting, being a playable character, she possessed abilities superior to other students.
There’s nothing I couldn’t subdue, but… It’s better to have fewer annoying things to deal with.
The student in front of me seemed to realize this too and lowered their voice.

“A demon-possessed person is far more dangerous than you think. That’s reckless.”
“No. It’s not recklessness, it’s confidence.”
“…I’m sorry. I can’t… believe… the words of someone I’m meeting for the first time…”

Tsk.

If possible, I didn’t want to use hypnosis. But seeing her stubbornly following Orca around, I had no choice but to use my ability. I had a rough idea of this student’s identity.
She was probably the class president who occasionally appeared in sub-stories.
There was mention that when everyone else avoided getting involved with Orca, she was the only one who followed her around. There were quite a few times when her stubborn demeanor seemed reliable, but… At times like this, that stubborn attitude becomes troublesome.
I sighed and spoke softly to her.

“Now, you will find the person in front of you to appear trustworthy.”
“Trustworthy…”
“Somehow, you feel that she might be able to reform Orca…”
“Yes… I understand…”
“3, 2, 1…”

Snap!

Seeing her still not fully aware, I naturally continued the conversation.

“Even though I may not look it, I’m actually quite capable.”
“…I, I see. You certainly do seem that way.”
“So, it would be better if you left her to me and went to attend your class. You want to attend class, don’t you?”
“…”

It wasn’t that she wanted to skip class because she was the class president.
It was just that her stubborn nature wouldn’t allow her to leave a delinquent student unattended.
If someone appeared who could take care of her, she would surely give up and return quickly.
As if confirming my thoughts, the class president nodded.
…The suggestion had worked properly.
I smiled gently at the class president.

“Don’t worry too much. She might even become a bit more diligent.”
“I’ll leave it to you. I’ll wait without expecting too much.”
“It’s okay to expect a little.”
“…Well then.”

She really is stubborn, I tell you.
Can’t take a joke, can she?
As the class president closed the door and disappeared, I shut the laptop that I had left open. After all, something much more important than playing games had come up.