"I really thought I'd found love…" Naomi murmured, her voice thick with sorrow as she bit her lip. Her eyes shimmered with gathering tears, reflecting the dim light of the infirmary. The sting of betrayal was palpable in her trembling expression.
Losing to another woman would've been bad enough, but to be outdone by a man in this way? It wasn't just heartbreak—it felt like a humiliating defeat, a blow to her pride that left her reeling. What kind of nonsense is this? she thought, her chest tightening with the weight of her wounded ego.
Shuichi leaned back on the stool, his dark eyes glinting with a mix of sympathy and mischief. "But this is actually a good thing," He said suddenly, his tone unexpectedly upbeat.
"Hm?" Naomi turned her head slightly, her brows knitting together in confusion. A strand of her short, dark hair fell across her face, accentuating the vulnerability in her gaze.
"Think about it," Shuichi continued, his voice warm and reassuring. "If you'd only found out after getting married—or worse, after having kids—that would've been a complete disaster. Your whole life could've been ruined. Discovering this now? It's the silver lining in a rotten situation."
Naomi let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping as she leaned against the desk. The edge of her white coat caught on the corner, revealing a glimpse of her fitted blouse clinging to her curves. "You're right, I know," She admitted, her voice soft but tinged with lingering pain. "It makes sense, but… I can't help feeling miserable. This kind of thing—it just hurts."
Shuichi tilted his head, his expression softening as he leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them. "When you're feeling down, think about something that makes you happy. It helps."
Naomi gave a half-hearted shrug, her lips pursing in a pout that was equal parts dejected and endearing. "Happy? I can't think of anything right now." Her fingers idly traced the edge of a pen on the desk, her gaze drifting to the floor as if searching for answers in the linoleum tiles.
Shuichi's lips curved into a playful smirk, his eyes twinkling with a hint of daring. "How about checking out my abs? I've been working hard on them lately—pretty impressive results, if I do say so myself." He winked, his tone teasing as he gauged her reaction.
Naomi blinked, momentarily stunned, as if she'd misheard him. When she saw his hand hover near the hem of his shirt, poised to lift it, a laugh bubbled up despite her melancholy, breaking through her gloom like sunlight piercing clouds. "Why on earth would that make me happy?" She asked, her voice caught between amusement and disbelief, a flush creeping up her cheeks.
Shuichi shrugged, his grin widening as he leaned back, exuding casual confidence. "It's simple. Beautiful things cheer people up. At least, that's how it works for guys. When I'm feeling low, a glimpse of some nice legs does wonders for my mood." He spoke with such conviction that it almost sounded like universal truth, conveniently ignoring any dissenting opinions.
Naomi's lips twitched, torn between wanting to cry and laugh at his audacity. Her emotions were a tangled mess, and Shuichi's absurd logic wasn't helping her sort them out. "So that's how guys cheer themselves up? This is news to me," She said, shaking her head, her tone laced with mock exasperation. Her fingers brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, a nervous gesture that betrayed her lingering unease.
"Exactly," Shuichi pressed, his face the picture of seriousness despite the nonsense spilling from his mouth. "Normal guys, when they're down, just need a peek at some thighs, and boom—mood's fixed. It's science."
Naomi stared at him, her expression caught between incredulity and amusement. When she noticed he'd already lifted the edge of his shirt, revealing a sliver of toned skin, a sudden curiosity flickered in her eyes. Part of her—against her better judgment—did want to see. But she quickly shook her head, her cheeks burning brighter. "No, thanks. You and Nagase-sensei… with whatever's going on there, it'd feel weird to check out your abs."
Shuichi raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening as he sensed an opportunity. "What's going on? Sounds like you're misunderstanding something, Hajime-sensei."
Naomi shot him a sidelong glance, her lips pursing skeptically. "Come on, I didn't hide anything about my mess from you or Nagase-sensei. But you two are keeping your thing a secret from me." Her tone was half-accusatory, half-curious, as if daring him to deny it.
Shuichi chuckled, shaking his head as he pulled out his phone with a theatrical flourish. "Looks like you've got it all wrong, Hajime-sensei. Lucky for you, I've got something that'll clear things up—and maybe cheer you up in the process."
Naomi's heart skipped a beat, her eyes narrowing with wary anticipation. "What now?" She asked, her voice tinged with suspicion. Shuichi's unpredictable nature always kept her on edge, and she braced herself for whatever bizarre stunt he was about to pull. This kid's brain works in ways I'll never understand.
Shuichi scrolled through his meticulously organized photo album, his fingers moving with practiced ease. Finding what he wanted, he looked up at her with an earnest expression. "I'll admit, deciding for Nagase-sensei like this isn't ideal, but your misunderstanding is worse than the truth. So, let's set the record straight. I'm sure Nagase-sensei wouldn't mind if it helps lift your spirits."
Naomi's head spun, her brows furrowing in confusion. "What are you even talking about?" She demanded, her voice rising slightly as she leaned forward, trying to make sense of his cryptic words.
Without answering, Shuichi held up his phone, tilting the screen toward her. Naomi leaned closer, her curiosity getting the better of her. When she saw the image—an Ultraman cosplay—she gasped, her eyes widening in shock. "This… you took this in the infirmary? You two…"
Shuichi nodded, his expression smug as he swiped to another photo. "Exactly. You got it wrong, Hajime-sensei. Nagase-sensei and I are just cosplay buddies. We hang out in the infirmary to geek out over this stuff, that's all."
"Cosplay…" Naomi muttered, her face a mix of disbelief and amusement. Her lips twitched into a reluctant smile as she processed the revelation. "I never would've guessed Nagase-sensei was into that. She kept it under wraps pretty well…"
"Right? Blew my mind when I found out," Shuichi said, his tone dripping with mock awe. "And get this—she's been at it since forever. A total pro."
Naomi's mind flashed back to snippets of overheard conversations, suddenly clicking into place.
["This outfit's weird, isn't it?"]
["Nah, Sensei, you look great. Own it."]
["If it's fine, hurry up and look. I've got classes this afternoon, and we can't get caught."]
["Lunch break's got twenty minutes left. Plenty of time. Let me savor this—don't rush me."]
Oh… I totally misunderstand that. Naomi exhaled, a wave of relief washing over her. If Nagase-sensei and Shuichi were just cosplay pals, there was no scandal to worry about. No forbidden teacher-student drama to stress over. Even in university, that kind of thing would be a mess.
"Feeling a bit better, Sensei?" Shuichi asked, waving his phone when he noticed her spacing out. "If not, I've got more of Nagase-sensei's epic shots to share."
Naomi laughed, her mood visibly lighter. "If you put it like that, I'm feeling less cheery now," She teased, her eyes sparkling with newfound energy.
Shuichi shrugged, his grin infectious. "Guess I'll have to share even more goodies to fix that."
The two huddled closer, scrolling through Nagase-sensei's cosplay gallery. Recent photos of her as dashing male characters had Naomi exclaiming, "So cool!" while middle-school-era shots of her wielding frying pans as props sent her into fits of laughter. It was a world where only Nagase-sensei suffered, but Naomi's spirits lifted, and Shuichi reveled in the shared mischief.
Unconsciously, their heads drew closer, Shuichi's left arm resting on the back of Naomi's chair, his posture almost enveloping her. As their faces inched nearer, Naomi's gaze drifted from the phone to Shuichi's sharp, handsome profile. A strange impulse stirred within her, bubbling up uncontrollably.
The pain of her breakup, the dent to her confidence, the gnawing self-doubt—it all fueled a reckless urge to do something. Maybe to prove her allure, to get even, or just to let off steam. Whatever it was, she craved action.
Shuichi sensed the shift in the air, his heart quickening. He turned slightly, a charming smile playing on his lips. "We're almost out of photos. Feeling better, Sensei? Need more happy stuff?"
Naomi's eyes flicked downward, lingering on his chest, then his abdomen. "Like what?" She asked, her voice low, almost challenging.
"How about my workout results? Care to inspect them, Sensei? See if I've got what it takes to charm the ladies." Shuichi didn't hesitate, his tone bold as he leaned closer.
Naomi licked her lips, her gaze sharpening. "You're talking about charming other girls right now? That's bold."
"With someone as amazing as you, Sensei, I wouldn't dare dream too big. If you remember me down the line, that's more than enough," Shuichi said, his voice dripping with sincerity, his eyes locked on hers.
His words melted her reservations. Naomi's restraint crumbled, and with a soft exhale, she gave in. Her cool hands slipped under his shirt, tracing the firm ridges of his abs. The chill of her touch made Shuichi shiver, but he quickly relaxed into the sensation, a grin tugging at his lips. "So, Sensei, how's the verdict?"
Naomi smiled, her fingers gliding up to his chest. "Needs more inspection," She murmured, her tone playful yet intense.
"Sensei, you're making it hard to breathe," Shuichi teased, his voice dropping.
"Oh? And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Maybe you could teach me CPR? I wasn't paying attention during that lesson."
"That won't do. You need to focus in class," Naomi chided, her face inching closer, her eyelids lowering. "But I'll let it slide this time. Let's review that lesson."
Her hair brushed against his face, tickling lightly, but before he could react, her soft lips pressed against his. The faint scent of antiseptic mingled with her subtle fragrance, creating a unique, intoxicating blend. Naomi's kisses were tentative, almost clumsy, requiring Shuichi to guide her. The roles of teacher and student flipped once again.
After leading her through a few kisses, Shuichi trailed his lips to her neck, inhaling her scent and planting gentle kisses. His hands wandered, slipping to her slender waist. Naomi tilted her head back, her long neck exposed, letting him peel off her white coat. Her lips parted, her breaths shallow. "I'm still attractive, right?"
"Absolutely," Shuichi murmured, his hand resting on the sensitive skin above her stockings. "You're stunning, Sensei. Gorgeous, captivating, with an incredible figure. A guy like me? No chance of resisting."
Naomi trembled at his touch, unaccustomed to such intimacy but making no move to stop him. She leaned down, kissing his ear softly. "It's not that I'm not desirable…"
"Nope, not your fault at all. Be confident, Sensei—you're irresistible," Shuichi reassured, his voice warm and steady.
In that moment, not only were teacher and student roles reversed, but doctor and patient had swapped too. Naomi, the health teacher, was now the one being healed through Shuichi's physical and emotional connection.
Just as they neared a breakthrough in mending Naomi's wounded heart, the class bell rang, slicing through the charged atmosphere.
Naomi stiffened, her body tensing, but Shuichi's hands didn't pause. Her emotions, still raw and unvented, kept her hesitating. After a brief moment, she continued, unwilling to break the moment.
But then, footsteps echoed in the corridor outside the infirmary, growing closer.
Naomi gasped, pulling away from Shuichi's embrace and hastily smoothing her clothes. "It's Nagase-sensei. I know her footsteps. Hurry, fix your shirt," She whispered urgently.
Shuichi sighed, reluctantly straightening his rumpled shirt. The bell was unavoidable, and he couldn't blame Nagase-sensei either. After all, her cosplay photos had paved the way for this moment's progress. He shot Naomi a wry smile as he adjusted his collar.
The infirmary door creaked open a sliver, and Sumire peeked inside, her eyes darting cautiously. "Naomi-chan, is that guy—"
Shuichi looked up, flashing a sly grin. "Looking for me, Nagase-sensei?"
"You!" Sumire jolted, her body half-hidden behind the door, clearly flustered. "The bell rang. Why are you still here?" She demanded, her voice a mix of suspicion and embarrassment.
Shuichi tilted his head, his tone infuriatingly casual. "Did you forget, Sensei? This period's health class. I was just helping Hajime-sensei move some teaching materials."
His words clicked for Sumire, her expression shifting to realization. Naomi, too, froze, her eyes widening. Oh no, I completely forgot—the first period this afternoon is health class!
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