Chapter 16: Where a Boy's Heart Races
Private Sakurazaka Academy High School.
Staring at the school sign being dismantled and packed away, Bai Mo felt neither sorrow nor joy. After exchanging a few words with the security guard, he made his way to the faculty office on the first floor of the school building.
Due to the merger of several schools, the newly renamed Private Sakuragaoka High's faculty office was bustling with noise and activity. With teachers from four or five different schools gathered in one place, chaos was inevitable.
Standing at the door, Bai Mo knocked lightly and said, "I'm here to see Teacher Yamanaka Sawako!"
At his words, a voice immediately called out from within the clamorous office, "Bai Mo-kun? Over here!"
Following the sound, he spotted a female teacher waving at him from her desk.
Yamanaka Sawako's eyes unconsciously narrowed as she took in the sight of Bai Mo—tall at 185 cm, with a well-built frame, the faint outline of muscle visible beneath his white dress shirt, exuding an unmistakable masculine aura.
This is my first student since graduating and becoming a music teacher? she thought, dazed. What luck!
While she was lost in thought, Bai Mo placed a bag of items on her desk.
"Teacher Yamanaka, these are some apples from my hometown. Feel free to try them."
A little social courtesy never hurt.
Glancing at the crisp, bright-red apples in the bag, Yamanaka Sawako—who came from a well-off family—immediately recognized them as a premium variety and was about to refuse. But Bai Mo continued, "Sorry, Teacher Yamanaka, you mentioned some documents needed revising. How long will it take? I have to head to Chiba this afternoon."
"Oh, it won't take long!" she replied, snapping back to reality. "Just five forms to sign—it'll be quick."
"You can see how hectic things are right now," she added with a sigh. "With the school merger happening right before the new term starts, and it being Tokyo's first time combining five schools at once, everyone's in a bit of a mess."
Understandable. While freshmen wouldn't be affected, ensuring a smooth transition for upperclassmen from their original schools was no easy task.
But that had nothing to do with Bai Mo.
Following Yamanaka Sawako's instructions, he reviewed the documents before signing his name on the necessary applications and agreements.
Once everything was settled, he stood to leave.
"Ah, wait, Bai Mo-kun!" Yamanaka called out. "Since you're an international transfer student, would you like me to show you around the school? It might help you get familiar with things ahead of time."
Before Bai Mo could respond, another voice chimed in nearby.
"Oh? Another international transfer student?"
A long-haired girl stepped forward, a much shorter girl trailing behind her.
Mother and daughter?
No, no—
"Ah, Student Council President Amakusa!" Yamanaka greeted. "This is Amakusa Shio, the former student council president of Private Sakurazaka Academy High. And the girl behind you… is she also a new student this year?"
"That's right!" Amakusa Shio replied cheerfully. "This is Ogura Rei, a returnee from England with an IQ of 180! I just invited her to join the student council and was about to give her a tour."
"After all, this school is where I once shed my sweat and youth—no one knows it better than me!"
Something about that phrasing felt a little off.
"Then I'll leave it to you, President Amakusa!" Yamanaka said.
"Leave it to me!"
Once outside the faculty office, Amakusa Shio glanced between Bai Mo and Ogura Rei with a smile.
"Gotta say, the difference between you two is pretty striking, Bai Mo-kun and Rei-chan."
No kidding—one was 130 cm, the other 185 cm.
Ogura Rei, meanwhile, stared up at Bai Mo's towering figure with a hint of envy. Though having to crane her neck just to meet his abdomen was more than a little annoying.
"Hmph! President, weren't you going to show us around?" Rei huffed. "This guy said he has somewhere to be later, right?"
"Right, right! Then let's begin the grand tour!"
Amakusa Shio led the way with enthusiasm.
"This is the infirmary. The beds here are surprisingly soft… And this is the girls' locker room. Oh, after the merger, they added a boys' locker room too—apparently it's a few classrooms down."
"Here's an unused classroom. Not sure if any clubs will claim it later, but it'd be a shame if someone interrupted…"
Arriving at the sports equipment storage, Amakusa turned to Bai Mo with a knowing look.
"And this is the sports equipment room. That corner over there is pretty secluded. Plus, only a few people have the key, so no need to worry about disturbances."
"Huh?"
Bai Mo tilted his head slightly before taking another bite of his apple.
"My apologies," Amakusa said with a sheepish grin. "I wanted to prioritize showing you places that would excite a boy's heart first. …By the way, where'd you get that apple?"
"Want one?" Bai Mo pulled two more from his backpack. "Don't worry, they're washed. And I didn't add anything… questionable."
Questionable.
Amakusa's legs twitched slightly at the phrasing.
"Ahem! There's one last place—follow me!"
"This is the music room. Feel free to use the grand piano, just remember to wipe it down afterward!"
Amakusa Shio's performance, as always, was nothing short of impressive.
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