I was going to be heading to Hokkaido with Nanako Ina, the older sister of my twin student assistants.

It turned out that Nanako had decided to attend an open campus day at a national university located in Hokkaido.

Ikuka Yasukawa drove me and her as far as Haneda Airport before we boarded our flight. 「…………」 「Nanako?」 「Hyai!」

She, seated next to me, stiffened up suddenly.

Her long, glossy black hair and downcast eyes stirred a strong desire in me to protect her. "What's wrong?"

「Um... well... sensei...」

I used to work as a tutor at a cram school in the past.

Nanako and her younger sister, Akari, had been my students back then.

Nanako still called me "sensei" out of old habit.

「I... this is... my first time on a plane」 「Is that so?」

Nanako nodded, her movements small and timid.

She should have been in high school by now. It was surprising she hadn't flown before at this age…… No, wait.

Their family circumstances were a bit complicated. It seemed they had never even gone on a trip as a whole family before.

"It's fine. There's no need to be nervous."

"B-but... what if the airplane... fell... Akari-chan said to be careful about plane crashes..."

That Akari. Teasing her older sister. For crying out loud...

"It's okay. Japanese planes are top-notch. They don't crash."

"R-right! If the teacher says it's fine, then it must be safe!"

Just then, an announcement for the airline passengers came over the intercom.

It instructed them to turn off their mobile phones.

"We have to turn them off. Interference could cause a plane crash!" "……Where did you hear that?" "From Akari-chan!"

I should remind her when we get home not to bully her sister... really, I'm so done with it.

I guess she's just expressing concern in her own way.

"P-plane... scary... ugh... crash... no way... Akari-chan... leaving me alone..."

It seems this older sister was also worried about her younger sister.

So she wouldn't die and make her younger sister sad... or something like that. She really is a kind person. "I'm with you. It's okay." I took Nako's hand in mine.

Her hand had turned cold. Like ice. Was she really that nervous? "Teacher..."

A blush spread across Nako's cheeks. Just a little bit, her hand grew warm.

Squeezing gently, I held the hand of Nako, who was also my girlfriend.

She shyly, yet firmly, gripped back onto my hand.

"Hehe...♡ Big and reliable hands♡" "Is that so? That's good to hear." "Yes! Fufufu♡"

Before long, the airplane took off, inviting us up into the sky.

It's a secret that Nako screamed when we started floating. 【★Notice】

I posted a new short story for my otherworld romance!

『The False Saint Aims to Be a True Villainess 〜Doomed to Ruin by an Accusation, My Second Life Is All About Being the World's Best Villainess, But For Some Reason, Everyone Thanks Me Immensely〜』

I really worked hard on this one! I'm confident in it! Please check it out if you like! 【URL】

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3625hr/

(※ There's a link below the ad, too!)