Tsushima Kagami exited the restroom and was preparing to return to the Manga Research Club when he happened to spot Tsukuyomi Komoe in the hallway.
He recalled that he had intended to ask Moe-sensei about Shimizu Nayotake's situation earlier at noon, but Hiratsuka Shizuka had interrupted him, preventing him from asking.
Thus, he stepped forward and greeted her.
"Hello, Moe-sensei."
"Ara, it's Yukinoshita-kun."
Tsukuyomi Komoe turned around, smiling as she greeted Tsushima Kagami upon seeing him.
"Did you just come from class, Moe-sensei?"
Tsushima Kagami glanced at his own classroom nearby; Tsukuyomi Komoe had likely just left the classroom and was heading back to the staff office.
"Yes, I originally planned to have a chat with Shimizu-san. That child really gives one a headache."
Moe-sensei brought up Shimizu Nayotake with a face full of worry.
"Speaking of Shimizu-san, I also wanted to ask Moe-sensei a few questions."
As he spoke, he recounted the events of taking Shimizu Nayotake in the previous night.
Wait until Tsushima Kagami finished explaining the entire sequence of events, Tsukuyomi Komoe finally let out a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
"That child, really. I told her that if it was inconvenient, she could come to my house anytime. I even gave her the address."
"I didn't expect she would try to stay by the subway station alone overnight. It's too dangerous."
"Because she didn't come to school, Douraku-sensei and I went to her place last night to look for her, but we didn't find anyone."
"We were worried to death."
"Fortunately, Yukinoshita-kun, you and your sister brought her back."
"I can rest easy now."
Tsukuyomi Komoe patted her small chest in celebration, as if her suspended heart had finally been set down completely.
"So, Moe-sensei, do you know about the situation in Shimizu-san's family?"
Tsushima Kagami hurriedly asked.
Tsukuyomi Komoe looked at Tsushima Kagami. She prepared to speak, then hesitated.
"Well, that is Shimizu-san's private matter, after all."
"Since she didn't tell you or Yukinoshita-san, it wouldn't be right for me to casually tell you."
"Although that's true, if we could understand the situation a little better, wouldn't we be able to help Shimizu-san more effectively in the future?"
Tsushima Kagami quickly tried to persuade Tsukuyomi Komoe to reveal some information with patient guidance.
Tsukuyomi Komoe thought about it again.
"That is also true."
"However, I can only tell you, Yukinoshita-kun. Shimizu-san is occasionally harassed by debt collectors because she's hiding from debts, so sometimes she doesn't come to school and doesn't dare to go home."
"What about the elders in her family?"
"Ara, I said I couldn't say any more."
"Aiya, Moe-sensei, you've already said this much, just reveal a little bit more."
Tsukuyomi Komoe looked at Tsushima Kagami with conflict, and finally stomped her foot fiercely.
"You absolutely must not say I told you! Otherwise, Shimizu-san will hate me!"
"Rest assured~"
Seeing Tsushima Kagami pat his chest to guarantee it, she finally beckoned to him.
Tsushima Kagami looked at Tsukuyomi Komoe in confusion.
"What is it?"
"Aiya, bring your ear over here."
"Lower, a bit lower."
After Tsushima Kagami simply squatted down, Tsukuyomi Komoe checked the surroundings, then made a small funnel shape with her hand and placed it by Tsushima Kagami's ear.
"Shimizu-san's mother has been hospitalized this whole time due to heart disease."
"Then what about her dad?"
Tsushima Kagami mimicked Tsukuyomi Komoe's posture and asked by her ear.
"Dad?"
Tsukuyomi Komoe sighed. Just as she was about to say something, she heard Tsushima Kagami reply with a smiling "Aye."
Then, Tsushima Kagami even placed his hand on Tsukuyomi Komoe's head and rubbed it.
"Aiya! Why are you so childish at a time like this!"
Realizing that Tsushima Kagami had taken advantage of her, Tsukuyomi Komoe hurriedly pounded her small fists on the squatting Tsushima Kagami's arm.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch. Moe-sensei, stop hitting me."
"How about I call you Mom, and we call it even?"
"Who... who wants you to call them Mom!"
Tsukuyomi Komoe turned into a completely puffed-up pufferfish.
"Do you still want to hear me continue?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Please speak."
Just as Tsukuyomi Komoe adjusted her emotions and intended to continue, Tsushima Kagami spoke again.
"Moe-sensei, is it okay not to remove your hand? Do you want me to keep rubbing your hair?"
"Yare yare, so Moe-sensei is the type who likes having her hair rubbed~"
"How cute~"
Tsukuyomi Komoe only then remembered that Tsushima Kagami's hand was still rubbing her head.
She suddenly went 'swish' and directly overheated into a red-hot state.
At this moment, if you gave her a Pilot, she would probably become a Yordle that requires one to look up to.
"Hurry up and take your hand off my head!"
"Really! Really! Really!"
"You can't be this mischievous in front of a teacher!"
The tears in the corners of Tsukuyomi Komoe's eyes could barely be held back.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry."
Tsushima Kagami withdrew his hand and leaned his ear over, adopting a posture of listening respectfully.
Tsukuyomi Komoe took another deep breath before whispering softly.
"It seems Shimizu-san's father abandoned her and her mother when she was very young."
"I see."
Tsushima Kagami nodded.
"Is that why Shimizu-san works part-time jobs everywhere every day?"
Tsukuyomi Komoe nodded as well.
"Yes. However, that child isn't willing to accept help from others."
"I didn't expect her to actually accept your help last night, Yukinoshita-kun."
"It wasn't me; it was Shizuku who forcibly dragged her back," Tsushima Kagami corrected.
"Regardless, since Shimizu-san accepted your help, that is a good start."
"I hope you can continue to help Shimizu-san more in the future."
"Of course, regarding the adult troubles, Douraku-sensei and I will also try our best to help resolve them."
After Tsukuyomi Komoe finished speaking, she bowed deeply again.
"If Shimizu-san is willing, Shizuku and I have no problem with it," Tsushima Kagami replied.
"Then, Yukinoshita-kun, lower your head."
Tsukuyomi Komoe made a gesture with her hand to indicate lowering down.
"What is it? Do you want to take the opportunity to hit my head in retaliation? Fine then."
Saying this, Tsushima Kagami cooperated and lowered his head.
Tsukuyomi Komoe stood on her tiptoes, placed her hand on Tsushima Kagami's head, and stroked it.
"Truly a teacher's good student."
"Take this as a reward~"
By the time Tsushima Kagami returned to the Manga Research Club, he heard Sayuri ask curiously:
"Kagami-kun, you're so slow. Why did you go to the restroom for so long?"
Machida Sonoko also let out an "Eh?"
"Why does it feel like something is different about you after a trip to the restroom?"
Kosaka Akane also sized up Tsushima Kagami curiously.
"Indeed, it feels like something is different."
"So where exactly is it different?" Tsushima Kagami asked curiously.
"It seems like nowhere is different."
After observing for a while, the three of them reached a conclusion.
Once Tsushima Kagami sat down, Sayuri suddenly stood up again and shouted loudly.
"I know why it feels different!"
Kosaka Akane, Machida Sonoko, and Tsushima Kagami all looked at Sayuri with curiosity.
Sayuri pointed excitedly at Tsushima Kagami and said:
"Kagami-kun went to the restroom for so long."
"Then there is only one truth!"
"You definitely secretly rewarded yourself, so you came back feeling refreshed."
"Right?!"
Kosaka Akane and Machida Sonoko came to a sudden realization, then nodded in approval.
Evidently, the three of them had similar experiences, so they judged others by themselves.
Tsushima Kagami simply smiled, took out a completed line art, and handed it to Sayuri.
"Correct answer. I reward you with drawing another background."
"Ah, how can you do this!"
Sayuri took the manuscript with a mournful face.
____
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