“Two tonkotsu and one miso ramen. Here’s your order.” said the server of the Ramen House as she began placing bowls of ramen in front of us.
The aroma of the three bowls was enough for the growling teacher earlier to drool. Even though she’s adamant at hating our order of tonkotsu ramen, she couldn’t help but gulp her saliva upon seeing the large serving filled with meat and spices.
However, she immediately reeled it in when she noticed our eyes looking at her eyeing our ramen.
When the server left the room we were in, Orimura-sensei immediately shouted ‘Thanks for the meal!’, pulled her bowl of miso ramen and dug in while ignoring Eguchi-sensei and me who were still wondering when she would wipe away the drool at the side of her mouth.
“Sanae, manners. We’re here with Onoda-kun.”
Eguchi-sensei took a table napkin and tried to wipe that off but Orimura-sensei was already so absorbed with her ramen that she avoided Eguchi-sensei’s arms.
Because of that, Eguchi-sensei awkwardly smiled at me before urging me to start eating.
Well, I also find it inappropriate to make a comment when they brought me here to treat me to this.
At least, we’re not in an open space where others could see us.
Unlike the one where I went with Satsuki back then, this particular ramen house was as big as any other luxurious traditional restaurant. We were in a private room and there’s a bell at the side that could call upon the establishments’ servers or waiters.
Although this ramen house wasn’t a place where you could see how your ramen was cooked, the luxurious feel of the interior became its selling point for adults like these two teachers. Hell, they even ordered liquor to share among the two of them. Moreover, they even had the gall to tease me using it by asking if I wanted to drink and reprimanding me even if I didn’t say anything else.
Earlier inside the car, the way they kept making things awkward was somewhat tiring that I ended up shutting my mouth and just enduring their continuous awkward glances.
I understood that these two had something to tell me regarding their PE Class.
Ah. Not the two. Perhaps only Eguchi-sensei. Orimura-sensei was just here to support her. However, from what I witnessed from them, Orimura-sensei wasn’t doing any support. In fact, she’s the one who’s making things more awkward for Eguchi-sensei.
And the reason for that was most likely because of yesterday. She still couldn’t move on from how I coerced her into helping me get out of the Shower Room.
After around 10 minutes of eating, Eguchi-sensei put down her chopsticks and excused herself to go to the bathroom, leaving Orimura-sensei and me alone in the room.
The bustle of the restaurant could be heard outside since the walls and the door was what you would see in a traditional Japanese restaurant.
Nonetheless, Orimura-sensei was still too absorbed in her miso ramen which she ordered a refill earlier. Comparing her figure to the amount of ramen she already ate… one wouldn’t think that she’s a heavy eater. I just wonder if she would also try and complain about her belly later, just like some of my girls do when they end up eating too much.
“You. Onoda. Do you know how hard it is for me to keep myself from talking to Ryouko about yesterday?”
After another gulp of the ramen soup, Orimura-sensei blurted out with her eyes glaring at me once more.
“I can’t even begin to imagine, sensei. Must you tell her about it? Won’t it be embarrassing for you?” I answered obliviously.
She wanted me to feel bad about how she’s keeping what happened a secret to Eguchi-sensei when in fact, she didn’t really need to tell her about it.
She probably thought she could at least get back at me by doing this. Those glares and remarks she did earlier were probably not enough to calm her emotions down.
She’s making it difficult for her, isn’t she?
“It is embarrassing! That’s why you should apologize to me!”
Dropping her chopsticks with a bit of force, Orimura-sensei stared daggers at me.
She’s clearly using this chance that Eguchi-sensei wasn’t around to get her way by trying to scare me like this.
For me to get out of this situation quickly, I should just follow through and humor her, right? Besides, if I didn’t satisfy this teacher, she might try to make it difficult for me in the following days. Better to settle her maidenly emotions today than wait for it to burst out.
“I see. Well then, I’m sorry for the trouble, Orimura-sensei.”
“Ugh… Not enough! Bow your head three times!”
As I thought. Apologizing wasn’t enough, huh? Then let’s add an act.
Acting as if I was finding it hard to do her request, I stood up from my seat and bowed three times in front of her.
Seeing how she smugly nodded her head continuously as she watched my fake expression, the unreasonable teacher looked like her appetite had just grown as she gulped down another mouthful of her ramen.
However, a few seconds later, when I sat back in my seat, she began shaking her head once more with an unsatisfied expression on her sweaty face.
“Still not enough. Swear to me you won’t tell anyone about it.”
“It’s enough to get me expelled or be given disciplinary action, why will I still tell anyone about it?”
“I don’t care. Just swear it.”
“ Alright, you’re the teacher and the adult here…” I stood up once more and this time, I knelt in front of her.
She tried raising my body up but it was already too late as I began doing what she requested.
“I swear I won’t tell anyone that I spent an unforgettable few minutes alone with Orimura-sensei inside a shower stall.”
I intentionally detailed what happened in a way that it would make misunderstandings if heard by another pair of ears that wasn’t present at that time.
“Onoda! What are you saying?!”
With an extremely flustered face, Orimura-sensei hit me on my shoulder before raising my face by holding it with one of her hands.
Feeling how her hand was shaking from embarrassment and anger, I could only slightly smile which made the teacher apply more force on her hand.
Due to that, even if I wanted to talk, she wouldn’t be able to understand it because of her hold on my face.
“Ugh… Forget swearing. Just forget what happened yesterday! Understand?”
Giving up instantly when I only altered what she wanted to hear once, Orimura-sensei’s sweaty face from eating and drinking too much ramen was now too flushed as her chest heaved up and down in her attempt to get back her composure.
However, as soon as she finished saying that with a voice louder than earlier, the door opened revealing Eguchi-sensei who had just returned from the bathroom.
“Huh? Onoda-kun? Sanae? What are you doing?”
Tilting her head slightly, Eguchi-sensei’s eyes alternated from Orimura-sensei who’s about to turn white as she froze in place from being caught by her co-teacher and to me who’s still kneeling at the floor with my face held by Orimura-sensei’s hand.
Now, this is a situation that can really spark misunderstandings.
Whose fault is this? I don’t know. Perhaps mine, perhaps Orimura-sensei’s.
Either way, my mind was already spinning for an excuse to use. Will there be one?