Chapter 292: Late

By the time I arrived at the station, there's only a handful of students left who were also running late.

Some looked like they had just woken up with their bed hairs still unfixed as they ran from the station straight to the school gates while some were calmly walking along the road, perhaps thinking that they're already late and there's no point running when it would just make their appearance ragged.

And I am among the latter category. Instead of running, I observed everyone who comes in late. Most of them were second years. Perhaps it was the most relaxed year level.

The first years were still adjusting to the new school. Since it's still only the second month, some were still feeling out what would be the school's reaction if a lot of them played truant. And those were mostly the delinquents or just the lazy ones.

On the other hand, the third years were all busy preparing for graduation or their college exams. They couldn't risk being held back at high school except for some who have already given up.

Kana and Ishida-senpai are like that.

When I reached the school gate, one teacher was waiting for the latecomers with a stick in her hand.

It's none other than Eguchi-sensei.

With her notoriety added by her angry morning glare, every latecomer would stand straight before passing onto the small gap she opened for us to enter from.

"Name."

"Uhm. Nabe…" answered a 2nd year that still has bed hair sticking up in front of his head.

Eguchi-sensei looked him up and down before raising the stick in her hand. "I will remember you. If I see you coming in late once more, it will either be this stick or the faculty. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes!" Nabe answered, almost choking before Eguchi-sensei ushered him to hurry up and go to his class.

After that, the same question was being asked to the other latecomers.

And of course, there were those repeat offenders who chose to take the stick either at their buttocks or at their legs, reminding them not to be late again.

"Sensei, someone is trying to climb the fence!"

As I expected someone was dumb enough to climb the fence to escape from Eguchi-sensei's stick. And likewise, someone who's probably a friend of his who had just taken the stick pointed at him while laughing like an idiot.

When Eguchi-sensei's eyes turned to where the guy was pointing at, the climber hurriedly went back before timidly going at the back of the line.

And that resulted in the other latecomers having a good laugh.

Eguchi-sensei isn't laughing though.

When they noticed that, they all gulped down as the line of students fearfully stepped towards the terror teacher.

Of course, she still has her reason. It's still the same process of asking the student's name and if it's a repeat offender she's letting them choose what to do. Some took the stick, some took the faculty visit.

When my turn arrived, Eguchi-sensei's eyebrows raised.

"Onoda-kun. Do you have an excuse?"

Upon seeing this somewhat warm treatment on me, I could hear those behind me gasping as if they couldn't believe it.

Well, I'm also surprised. I thought I would be treated the same. Perhaps it was because of how I helped her last Friday. Either way, I have no excuse to make.

As if I could tell her that I sent my wife to her school before having a little rendezvous with one of my lovers. I would not just take the stick. She would surely kick me out of school.

"No excuse, sensei. I'm bound to be late today."

"Alright. If you repeat it, I will not make an exception."

"I understand."

"Then go on and enter."

"Thank you, sensei."

I bowed towards her before walking past her and into the school building.

From behind, I heard the exclamation from the other students wondering why I got the warm treatment from her.

And because of that, I stood out once again.

Haa... I will ask her to not treat me differently during our next PE Class. It's fine if she treats me differently in private. Who wouldn't want to know about that side of Eguchi-sensei? The downcast expression she had when nothing works and her joyful expression when my suggestion works.

Because of that activity, I'm getting closer to another teacher…

She is neither my target nor someone I like anyway. I guess getting the special treatment was already good enough.

-

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When I reached the classroom, silence immediately ensued as all eyes turned towards me.

Some of them were curious, some were gloating and some didn't have any reaction.

Well, among those who personally know me, Fukuda had his thumbs up as if he's thinking I'm already on my path to delinquency.

Hashimoto from the Game Club was also doing the same. That guy had the misunderstanding that I managed to become close enough to Itou during my visit to their club.

Matsuda of the Otaku Group in class still had the look of fear in his eyes when he's looking at me. He was keeping that secret of me and Aya being together so I have no reason to intimidate him further. Now that I think of it, ever since that day, this guy was trying not to cross my path as if I would beat him up if I did.

Imada whose way of looking at me changed after that time when she caught Nami and me in that position had a dreamy look on her face. I don't know, perhaps she's wondering why I'm late or is she seeing some things I couldn't see?

Sakuma was restricting himself to laugh. Perhaps he's thinking that this is another ticket for me to be sent to the faculty that despite what happened to us during the previous days, he still couldn't help but laugh at my misfortune.

Tadano had his eyes narrowed before turning his head sideways as if whatever happened to me was of no concern to him.

Ogawa had a complicated expression on his face as he alternated between me and Nami who was silently giggling at her seat as she stared at me.

That guy will be onto us and perhaps he's already at that point, he just couldn't find the courage to confront Nami.

And like Nami, my girls including Chii were all either giggling or sighing at their seats. I was talking to them throughout my train ride so they already knew my status.

Because of this, not only did I stand out back in Akane's school and the school gate, I once again stepped away from being the Classmate A. I'm the first student to be late in this class. During the month none of us had taken that achievement yet.

Just like the first 1st year that was sent to the faculty room, I became the 1st in the class to come in late.

Haa… Either way, I'm not regretting my decision to go with Akane.

However, I still have one hurdle to clear.

I have to face my Shio. Throughout our talk in the Messenger, she was in a bad mood. Despite my explanation, it's like her monthly visit also arrived with how unreasonable she was.

She already listed what kind of punishment she was going to put me through and to satisfy her, I could only say yes.

I have to find a way to be alone with her later to appease her…

"Onoda-kun… Are you going to keep standing there or do you want me to guide you to your seat?"

With that commanding voice of her, I chose not to answer and just moved to my seat quietly.

Satsuki reached to my side for a pinch before whispering, 'Pervert' while Aya tapped on her book, a piece of paper with something written on it could be seen on it. It says, 'Stay strong, Ruki.' with a smiley face.

As much as I wanted to give Aya a hug or tease Satsuki to ease that pout of hers, I ultimately refrained.

There's a perfect time for that. For now, I could only look ahead and put my focus on that moody woman who's writing something on the board.

"Alright class, now that all of you are here, I have something to announce." She started after putting the chalk down and stood behind her table. With both of her arms leaning onto it, she scanned her gaze on everyone in the class which made the other gulp as if they're about to be hit by something.

Of course, that didn't come. After reading what she's written and her next words, a series of gasps ensue. "Starting today… I'm going back to my maiden name, Kinoshita Shiori. You better remember that. I'm no longer a Miyazaki. Call me Ms. Kinoshita."

As soon as she finished, her eyes rested on me. Perhaps she's trying to see what will my reaction be.

To satisfy her, I let our gazes cross before putting up a smile. Soon after that, I sneakily sent a message to her saying, 'Ms. Kinoshita. I love you.'

Because of the vibration of her phone, she took it out and read it. From where I was, her grumpy expression changed and was replaced to a tint of red as a smile slowly crept up on her lips.

However, she recovered instantly from it and in turn, she turned her head back in my direction. With a cold smile on her lips, the atmosphere in the classroom suddenly went down as her voice delivered my punishment.