Ding dong ding dong
"Good morning, everyone. Today, we'll be doing a physical examination, so please follow the instructions." - announced the P.E. teacher.
All the girls stayed in the classroom while Ryuichi and I headed to the nurse's office.
The check-up went as expected.
Surprisingly, the school nurse who examined us was a man. I was a bit shocked—he's the first adult male I've seen in this world.
Anyway, height and weight measurements, vision and hearing tests, a cardiorespiratory check, and the rest of the physical exam were done without any trouble.
Since we're the only two male students in the class, it didn't take long at all.
"Now, please head to the field for P.E. class." - said the male nurse.
So, Ryuichi and I changed into our gym uniforms and walked to the outdoor field.
Since the girls were still in the middle of their checkups, it was just the two of us and the P.E. teacher—who, for the record, is a woman.
"Ryuichi… doesn't this feel kinda lonely?" - I said, stretching my arms.
"What are you talking about? I bet every co-ed school is like this. Unless you go to an all-boys school."
"Oh! You're right."
Now that he mentioned it… yeah, that makes sense.
"Satou-san, Morikawa-san, I want you two to stretch and warm up." - the P.E. teacher said.
We followed her instructions. But while we were warming up, Ryuichi leaned closer and whispered:
"Tomoki… don't you feel uncomfortable?"
"Huh? The stretching actually feels pretty good."
"Not that. I mean... don't you feel like the P.E. teacher's staring at us a bit too much?"
"Ryuichi, we're the only ones out here. Of course she's going to look our way."
"Yeah… I guess."
Ryuichi's usually is right. Maybe she is looking at us weirdly… but who? Him? Me?
No way. That would be creepy. The only way it'd be unsettling is if she were smiling weirdly while staring at us.
Let's take a look at her expression. I bet she's just being serious and professional—
...
.. No way.
The moment she realized I was looking at her, she quickly turned her eyes to the sky.
Then she cleared her throat and asked:
"Why did you stop? Is something wrong?"
"No... nothing." - Ryuichi replied, a hint of fear in his voice.
"No, I was just wondering if it's going to rain soon." - I said, staring up at the sky.
"Morikawa-san... what do you mean by that?" - she asked, frowning.
"I meant maybe it'll rain soon."
"With such a clear blue sky?!"
"Right? Just like when I think I'm right... but I'm actually wrong. Maybe the weather's like that too."
"…Sure. Just continue stretching."
We went back to warming up. I kept a blank face. Ryuichi glanced at me as if I'd lost my mind.
He whispered again.
"What the hell was that!?"
"Just venting a little frustration, that's all."
"Oh, I get it. So she was leering at us. That's why you said that."
"No… but let's go with that for now."
"What do you mean by that?"
I couldn't tell him that my frustration wasn't from being stared at, but from the fact that he was right again.
Worse, the P.E. teacher is actually... gorgeous. So why does she seem desperate?
Back in my old world, it would've been us staring.
After we finished our warm-up, the girls from our class started arriving at the field.
When my eyes met Ayame-san's, I waved. She really is beautiful, and I couldn't stop looking at her ponytail—just like back in the cooking club.
Then I noticed Tachibana-san. She waved first, so I waved back. She has short hair and, well… I glanced at her... assets.
Yeah... how can I judge the P.E. teacher when I'm not much better?
Meanwhile, Ryuichi was carefully avoiding looking at the girls at all.
...
"Now, the boys will do ten laps around the field."
"Hey, Ryuichi, let's see who finishes first." - I challenged.
"Fine by me, but I'm pretty sure you're going to win."
"Okay—if I win, you're buying me lunch."
"And if I win, you're writing a three-page essay about the book you're reading."
"…Can I just buy you lunch instead?"
"GO!" - the P.E. teacher shouted.
...
Not only Ryuichi is handsome, cool and wealthy. Now he´s atlhletic too. Sometime the world is just unfair...
"Tomoki, why did you sprint on first tree laps? You would win if you were more patiance."
When the teacher yelled 'Go!', I instinctively sprinted. I thought I'd impress the girls with my athleticism… but by the fourth lap, my side was screaming, and I realized I had seriously messed up.
"I thought it was a good idea…"
"I want at least three pages."
"Printed?"
"Handwritten."
"By next week?"
"By the day after tomorrow."
Great. Now I've got homework.
Let me grab some water and cool off.
"Hello, Tomoki. I was wondering... why did you sprint from the start?" - Ayame-san asked, walking over.
"Well… I made a bet with Ryuichi about who would win."
"Fufu~ That's unfortunate. But I thought for sure you'd win."
"Nah, I underestimated him. It was a total loss."
"I see... by the way, was there something on Tachibana-san cloth?"
Did she notice that I was looking to her? And to THAT direction?
Anyway, I need to act clueless now!
"Huh? I just looked at her normally. I mean, I waved back."
She remained silent, staring into my eyes.
Maybe she saw through me. It's scary when she does that.
"Kinda hot right now, huh? I need to drink some water."
I took a sip from the water fountain—and nearly jumped.
"Whoa! Is this water cold?!"
"Yeah. Isn't that normal?"
"No, that's why I'm so surprised!"
Since it was cold, I splashed some on my face too.
"Ahh... That's really refreshing. No wonder people say this is the top school, right Ayame-san?"
"...Y-Yeah! You're right! Um—shouldn't you wipe yourself off?" - she asked, suddenly sounding flustered.
"Oh! I forgot my towel. It's not a big deal."
"It is! Here, use mine."
"But if I use your towel, then you won't be able to…"
"I don't mind. Unless… you don't want to use it?" - she said, her voice getting softer.
"I'll gladly accept!"
I couldn't say no. Though now her towel's kind of damp…
"Thanks, Ayame-san. This reminds me of when you lent me your handkerchief."
"..." - She stared at the towel silently.
"I can lend you my towel later. Just give me a few minutes to go back to the classroom."
"No! It's fine. This is actually… better. I mean—I don't mind at all."
"Well… if you say so."
Her face was red. Probably from exercising under the sun.
After I handed the towel back, she went to get a drink from the faucet.
...
SPLASH!
"Tomoki-kun?!"
…I needed to cool my head again. For another reason this time.