The little girl's mother spoke gently but firmly, her voice carrying a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Miko-chan, Mommy didn't lie to you, did she? I told you, little kids can't get married. And even if you do get married, you still have to go to school. So stop being silly and come with me to school already."
The small girl, her pigtails bouncing defiantly, wasn't convinced. She dodged her mother's outstretched hand, her tiny brows furrowed with determination. "I don't believe you! Mommy's lying! You said before that after marrying Daddy, you became a housewife and didn't have to leave the house anymore!"
Before her mother could respond, the girl darted toward Shuichi and Uchida, her little feet pattering against the pavement. Spotting Shuichi, she zeroed in on him, her big eyes sparkling with intent as she opened her mouth. "Big brother, you—"
Shuichi raised a hand swiftly, cutting her off with a playful but firm tone. "Hold it right there. I don't even say that kid, kid." He flashed a teasing grin, his dark eyes glinting with amusement at the absurdity of the situation.
Uchida, standing beside him, was practically vibrating with excitement, his eyes gleaming like a puppy begging for attention. He stepped forward, his face screaming 'Ask me! Ask me!' as he leaned toward the girl, eager to be her hero.
But the little girl glanced at Uchida, her small brows knitting together in a moment of serious contemplation. After a long pause, she shook her head with a dramatic sigh, muttering, "Never mind… school's better than that." Her voice dripped with childish disappointment, as if Uchida had failed some unspoken test.
Uchida froze, his enthusiastic expression crumbling into a mask of petrified shock, as if he'd been struck by lightning. Shuichi, struggling to suppress a laugh, felt his stomach ache from holding it in. He reached over and gave Uchida a consoling pat on the back, his shoulders shaking with silent mirth. 'Poor guy, rejected by a kid.'
The girl's mother delivered the final blow, her tone warm but oblivious to Uchida's wounded pride. "Thank you so much, young man. If it weren't for you, this little one would've kept throwing a tantrum. Sorry for the trouble, both of you."
Uchida's face twisted into a mix of indignation and despair. 'This kind of thanks? I don't need it!' He clenched his fists, looking like he was about to yell 'Unacceptable!' into the sky. Shuichi, barely containing his amusement, tugged at Uchida's arm. "Come on, forget it. Let's talk about your cousin instead." He steered the dejected Uchida toward school, leaving the mother and daughter behind as they continued their morning commute.
…
Monday's fourth period was, as always, literature.
For Sumire, the classroom had become a battlefield of emotions. Every time she saw that familiar, infuriatingly handsome face in the front row, her heart waged a silent war. She was torn between irritation at Shuichi's relentless teasing and frustration with herself for lacking the resolve to resist him. How could she, a teacher, keep crossing lines that violated every ounce of professional conduct? Each glance at him stirred a mix of anger, embarrassment, and an unwelcome flutter she refused to acknowledge.
When the bell finally rang, Sumire practically bolted from the podium, tossing out a curt "Class dismissed" before clutching her books and fleeing the room. Her cheeks burned as she hurried down the hall, her mind racing. 'Running away won't change anything. It's just avoiding the inevitable.' But what else could she do?
Shuichi, unfazed, leaned back in his chair and pulled out his phone with a leisurely air. His fingers danced across the screen as he typed a message to Sumire.
''[Meet me at the infirmary later. I'm sure Sensei won't say no, right?]''
Attached was a photo from last Friday: ''[Headless Knight - Nagase Edition.JPG]''
Sumire's reply came quickly, her tone laced with a mix of exasperation and sincerity.
''[Not today. I'm having lunch with Naomi-san. She's been going through some stuff and isn't in a great mood. Chiba, I know you're not entirely a bad kid, so please, cut your teacher some slack?]''
Hajime-sensei was having issues? Shuichi's eyes gleamed with curiosity. In a game, this would be the trigger for a new questline. His fingers flew over the keyboard.
''[Oh? What's going on with Hajime-sensei?]''
''[I'm not lying! She's really down. It's personal stuff—I can't share it with you.]''
''[Then I'll go cheer her up myself.]''
''[You… I'm not making this up, okay?]''
Shuichi's lips curved into a mischievous smirk as he typed faster.
''[Really? Then tell me, Sensei, when you spied on me and the president, didn't it excite you just a little?]''
''[...]''
''[Looks like Sensei doesn't lie. So when it's a tough question, you just go silent, huh?]''
''[...]''
''[Alright, go do your thing, Sensei. I'm off to lunch. But I'm serious about cheering up Hajime-sensei—not doubting you, just figure I've bothered her enough in the infirmary to at least check in.]''
''[...]''
Sumire had clearly decided to play mute. Shuichi chuckled, pocketing his phone. He stood and joined the eagerly waiting An Akiyama, the class rep, who looked like she'd been counting the seconds until he was free. Together, they headed to the rooftop for lunch.
Lunch was, as usual, lavish. An, true to her scatterbrained nature, had already forgotten her earlier vow to confess to Shuichi daily. After a few days of enthusiasm, her focus had shifted to clinging to him at every opportunity, much to her sister Tsuki's irritation. Watching An practically glue herself to Shuichi's side, Tsuki fumed. 'This hopeless idiot sister of mine!'
After eating, Shuichi used the lunch break to head to the infirmary. He knocked lightly, and a subdued voice called from inside, "Come in."
The voice was unmistakably low-spirited. Pushing open the door, Shuichi found Naomi alone. She turned, her usual bright smile replaced by a strained one, and nodded slightly when she saw him. "Sumire just ran off. You might still catch her if you hurry."
Her normally vibrant, short-cropped hair, which complemented her sunny personality, seemed to droop with her mood, casting a melancholic shadow. Shuichi studied her for a moment, noting the faint lines of exhaustion around her eyes.
"I'm not here for Sumire-sensei. I heard you weren't feeling great, so I thought I'd check in. I've caused you enough trouble in the infirmary, so it's only fair I show some concern, right?" Shuichi said, closing the door behind him and pulling a stool over to sit beside her.
Naomi gave a wry, helpless smile. "Even you know I got dumped? Sumire really can't keep a secret."
'Dumped?' Shuichi's mind sparked with interest. Letting her assume Sumire had spilled the beans, he mentally apologized to the scapegoated teacher. "So, Hajime-sensei, why don't you tell me what happened? Maybe I can help."
Naomi propped her left hand on the desk, resting her cheek against it. Her white coat slipped slightly, revealing the curves of her figure beneath. "It's not exactly something I'd discuss with a student…"
"Come on, an extra perspective can't hurt. I promise I won't blab. Think of me as a sounding board." Shuichi's tone was reassuring, his expression earnest.
Naomi hesitated, her eyes searching his face. Something in his sincerity seemed to sway her. After a pause, she spoke, her voice tentative. "Fine, I do want your take, Chiba-kun. What do you think… do I have charm? Am I attractive to men? My looks, my figure, all that."
Shuichi blinked, caught off guard. 'That's a loaded question.' But since she'd asked, he wasn't about to hold back. His gaze roamed over her unabashedly, taking in every detail with deliberate care.
Her delicate brows were slightly furrowed, her expression tinged with melancholy. Her sharp nose and pointed chin framed a face that was both striking and vulnerable. The white coat did little to hide the curves accentuated by her fitted blouse, the slim waist that flowed into an eye-catching arc at her hips, and the tantalizing gap between her skirt hem and the tops of her sheer black stockings. Her legs, crossed and slightly pressed together, highlighted the soft flesh of her thighs, while her dainty toes, encased in stockings, peeked out from her high heels.
Naomi didn't seem bothered by his scrutiny, only chuckling with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "I asked if I'm attractive, not for you to stare like that."
Shuichi looked up, grinning. "Didn't my staring say it all? You're so captivating I couldn't look away. That's more convincing than words, right?"
Naomi laughed, shaking her head. "Alright, fair enough. So, I 'am' attractive to men, right?"
"Super attractive," Shuichi said, giving an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Her smile faded, and her mood dipped again. "Then when a handsome, successful, well-spoken man pursues me? That's not strange, is it?"
"Not at all," Shuichi replied, nodding.
Naomi's gaze grew distant as she recalled, "He was always so polite, gentle, and considerate. He had incredible self-control, never rushing into anything physical. He even suggested we wait until after marriage to get close, never pressuring me. What do you think of a man like that?"
Shuichi didn't wait for her to finish. He'd already pieced it together. "Either he's impotent or he's into guys."
Naomi's expression froze, her reverie shattered. "You're… that certain?"
"Absolutely." Shuichi nodded confidently. "With how attractive you are, Hajime-sensi, if he can hold back, something's off. You said he pursued you, so it's not like he's shy. He's successful, well-spoken—not a timid guy. That leaves two possibilities: men are either into women or they're not. If he's alive, he's into someone. If not women, then it's either men or he's incapable of acting on it, just drooling from a distance."
"Men are only into women or dead, huh?" Naomi couldn't help but laugh, her mood lifting slightly. "That logic puts you in the same boat, Chiba-kun."
"What's wrong with admitting I'm into women? It's just a natural pursuit of beauty. The ones who hide it are the hypocrites," Shuichi said unabashedly.
Naomi laughed again but soon sighed, her expression clouding. "I should've seen it coming. A perfect, considerate gentleman like that only exists in dramas, not in real life."
"So, what was it with your fiancé?" Shuichi asked, curiosity piqued.
Naomi bit her lip, her face etched with frustration and self-doubt. "Fine, I've already said this much, so there's no point hiding it. He… went to a hotel with someone else. I didn't want to believe it at first—he seemed so reliable. When it was confirmed, I was hurt, but I thought, with someone as impressive as him, having another woman wasn't 'that' shocking. But I never imagined…"
"It wasn't a woman," Shuichi finished, shaking his head. 'Well, that's philosophical.'
"Yeah…" Naomi slumped against the desk, her graceful figure looking boneless under her white coat, as if her spirit had been drained.
"That's harsh. So he got engaged to you just to cover it up or maybe to have a kid?" Shuichi shook his head, genuinely feeling bad for her. 'Talk about bad luck.'
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