Chapter 2298: Relaxation

Chapter 2298: Relaxation



Upon returning to Hayashi-sensei's office, I found her deep in thought, likely contemplating our earlier conversation. She looked up as I entered, "Looks like you took your time sending her out. Did you stop in the hallway again?"

My lips twitched a bit since she was spot on, but I played it cool by putting on a teasing smile. "Maybe. Maybe not. Did sensei peek at us?"

Hayashi-sensei rolled her eyes, displeased at how I easily threw it back to her, "Knowing you and how you answered, I didn't need to peek to figure you out."

"Yeah. I guess so. In your eyes, I'm already this menace who can't keep his hands to himself."

"Am I wrong?"

"Not really but you know what, sensei? I'm also quite selective, you know? I just have the tendency to be more accommodating to women." I nonchalantly shrugged as I walked towards the seat opposite her and sat back down.

"Accommodating, huh?" Hayashi-sensei leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping the desk to a silent rhythm. "Hmm, I suppose that's one way to put it."

"Wow. I never thought you'd agree with me this quick, sensei. Are you getting softer on me?" "You wish!" Hayashi-sensei rolled her eyes again but I could tell the amusement playing on her lips. "Let's get back to the matter at hand, shall we? Something happened last Friday, no? Tell me about it."

As I thought, she already heard about Minami Shouko but she wanted to hear about the incident from me as part of my report. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen that senior yet. Is she behaving?

"Minami Shouko will stop making trouble, sensei. At least, I promised to become the connection she was seeking."

"You tamed her in just a day?"

"Not a talk. I played her game and talked to her. That's it."

Of course, that was an oversimplification of what happened. Since I solved the incident of the missing equipment from various clubs and successfully drew her out, the mastermind to it all, I figured out a lot about her. Such as the identity of the girl who sent me a love letter with a key to a storage room on the third floor of the School Building.

There's no doubt that she's troublesome but once I connected with her, it became easier.

"It's not about taming, sensei. It's more like... understanding her. She was just lonely and seeking a genuine connection." I continued, "I plan to bring her under my wing but I think Shizu already got her to be the new General Affairs Officer."

"She poached a girl from you. Now that's new." Hayashi-sensei teasingly smirked, "Looks like your girls are learning from you. But isn't that good? Shizu's load would lighten."

"Oh. So that was a dream. Shucks. What a letdown." I feigned a sad puppy look but Hayashi- sensei naturally saw through it right away. She rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue before releasing my face.

"Don't push your luck too far. Now, if you're done with your report, you're free to go." She warned with a hint of playfulness in her voice.

"Well, won't something be missing if I leave now? Sensei, let me relieve your stress."

"You're my source of stress. How can you relieve it?" Hayashi-sensei said with a playful smirk, "But I suppose a little... distraction wouldn't hurt."

I knew she was going to say that. At this point, my massages had probably climbed up her list of things she's looking forward to every day.

Or not necessarily the massage but this moment we're sharing together.

It's her own relaxation time. Even though I sometimes gave her a headache, she could loosen up around me. Something she probably wouldn't do around other people.

Having gotten her permission, my hands began to knead the tension out of her shoulders, feeling the muscles beneath her lab coat and blouse relax under my touch. Hayashi-sensei let out a small sigh as her eyes closed briefly. It was a sound that I'd come to recognize as a sign of her letting her guard down, if only for a little while.

Little by little, Hayashi-sensei's tension eased under my skilled fingers as she leaned to my side. The sound of her calm breathing was music to my ears as I knew she was enjoying it.

As always, I tried holding myself back but upon seeing her relaxed expression, my thoughts drifted towards more intimate possibilities. I moved myself behind her, audaciously slipping between her back and the backrest of her chair. She unconsciously slid forward, opening the space up for me.

Once I settled down on it, my hands that were on her shoulders moved downwards before slipping them to her navel, tightly embracing her.

Hayashi-sensei's eyes snapped open, "Onoda-kun! What are you doing? This isn't what I was thinking when I sensed you moving behind me."

"Me too. But I can't help it, sensei. Just relax. You're also tense around here. I'm only going to

hold you."

"Like I said, I'm stressed because of you. Ugh... This isn't normal anymore. I shouldn't..." Hayashi-sensei's protest was weak and she didn't even bother to push me away. With her voice trailing off, she eventually leaned into my embrace, the back of her head trying to hit me but to no avail. In the end, she let out a sigh that was part exasperation, part relief. Naturally, that was all I did. Pushing for more was just asking for a death wish. I held her until she seemingly melted in my arms, relaxing completely.

Once that's done, I whispered to her, "Sensei. You don't have to think about anything. Just take this as me repaying my gratitude to you. I'll provide you comfort whenever I'm here

alone with you."