I had come to Hokkaido with Ina Nako, the older of the twin high school girls.

Nako said she wanted to participate in Hokkaido University's open campus event.

As a stand-in guardian, I ended up being the one who brought her.

After a few hours on the plane, we arrived at New Chitose Airport, but...

"......Ugh~... I feel so sick..." "Are you okay, Nako?" "...Hnnnh"

Nako was slumped deep into the sofa in the lobby. Her face was visibly pale. "Is it motion sickness?"

"...I'm sorry, I'm just really weak... usually Akari-chan gives me my medicine, but I forgot."

Her capable younger sister wasn't with us this time.

And now that I think about it, she's prone to motion sickness.

"Sorry, I didn't account for that properly."

"N-no. It's not the teacher's fault. I'm just... ugh..."

I bought a cold drink from a vending machine and sat down next to Nako. "Here." "...Thank you very much."

Nanako drank her beverage and took a breather.

It would be best to rest for a while until she felt up to it again.

They had planned to travel from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo by train, so there was still time before the hotel check-in.

So, let's just take some time to recover.

"…I'm always such a klutz… and I only cause you trouble. I'm sorry."

I placed my hand on Nanako’s forehead as she slumped in self-deprecation. "Hyaah! S-Sensei?"

"It's not that you're clumsy; it's simply that because you approach everything with such earnestness, the results end up taking longer than they should for others. That is a virtue. It is by no means a bad thing."

Nanako’s eyes widened. Tears began to well up in them… "But…"

"You mustn't speak so badly of yourself. When you use your own words to wound your self-esteem, it only makes things harder to bear. Do you understand?"

I patted Nanako on the head. Because she had spent her time alongside Akari, who was competent at everything, she lacked considerable confidence in herself.

However, I have never once thought that Nanako was inferior. She is intelligent and kind.

Ideally, a parent should be the one to nurture their child's inherent strengths. But the Akari family lived in a unique domestic environment. As a result, Nanako had never been able to recognize her own virtues.

There’s an element of being like a father figure to them, so I want to guide Nanaeko and the others. Of course, we do treat each other as lovers... but more than that.

"Sensei... thank you..."

Nanaeko smiles softly. That gentle smile hasn't changed since she was young, and looking at it is soothing. "Are you feeling better?"

Hearing this, Nanaeko's cheeks flushed red, and she shook her head back and forth, trembling slightly.

"I... I-I still don't have much energy... Could you just stay like this for a little longer... please..."

She coaxed me in such an affectionate way. It was so cute that I kept my hand placed on her forehead for quite a while. 【★Notice】 I've posted a new short story!

"The Monster Hero's Post-Expulsion Slow Life The Strongest Hero in History, Who Defeated the Demon Lord in Seconds, Was Given a Barren Wasteland Unfit for Humans and Lives Happily as a Supreme Lord" Please check it out if you're interested! 【URL】

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9381hs/

(※There's also a link below the ad↓!)