Volume 2 - CH 2.2

After school. When Sandai headed to the staff room, he found Nakaoka sipping a coffee looking awfully displeased.

“You’re finally here. Good grief… she sure is like a mad dog, that Yuizaki. Make sure you put a collar on her.”

“An act that has an issue with ethics and morals is a bit…”

“I’m not telling you to actually do it. It’s just a metaphor, alright?”

“And so, what do you want to talk about with me?”

“…You helped Yuizaki study, someone who regularly has failed tests, and made her pass, right? Helping someone study looks easy but is difficult. Not everyone can do it, and as a homeroom teacher, it is good that a student with bad grades didn’t fail. Well done—I thought I’d let you know that… Well, your results on the other hand dropped a bit and it caught my eyes, but there was a clear trace of you trying to lower your scores like leaving the answers blank. Don’t know what kind of intention you have, but nevertheless, your scores averaged above 90 still. There’s nothing for me to say.”

“U-Uhuh… In short, does it mean that you just wanted to tell me ‘well done’ regarding me helping Shino study?”

To be summoned only for that was kind of a bummer. Sandai tilted his head puzzlingly. And immediately Nakaoka cleared her throat.

“W-Well, just now was a bit of a preface, you see. So the main topic is, umm, about me doing that with that, and then about the SMS I’ve sent you after the school festival…”

Sandai grasped it before Nakaoka could finish saying it all. The true essence of the talk and why Nakaoka had wanted to summon him was about that matter which he had decided to forget.

Sandai had clearly played dumb at that time—for the sake of conveying his stance to Nakaoka for certain.

However, Nakaoka seemed to be holding slight worry nevertheless, and wanted to personally ascertain Sandai’s response.

“That with that…? What is that about? Regarding the school festival, I remember that only our class’s program was canceled during the event, but other than that, I don’t think I remember anything else,” Sandai told her while looking away.

And then like a mix of relief and joy, like a small child not getting scolded after making a mistake if we were to liken it, Nakaoka made such a carefree smile.

“Oh I sure do love a man who can read the room like you. How about moving on from Yuizaki to me? I’m still single after all.”

“That’s a bit…”

“I’m just joking. As if with a student… In the first place, I don’t have any interest in a younger man and by twelve years even. Besides, Yuizaki should be quite the jealous type. Now matter how you look at it, it’s completely obvious it would become troublesome. I don’t have a hobby of risking my neck after all. I also do want to avoid getting into a situation where she would scream like, ‘YOU HOMEWRECKER!’ and then STAB! Haha.”

“No matter how jealous Shino is, she won’t do anything like that. Just what do you think my girlfriend is…”

Despite denying Nakaoka’s claim, Sandai did think, no, that’s possible maybe, as well.

Shino wasn’t good at studying, and she had a frank personality, but even so she possessed many ordinary aspects as well. However, regarding situations involving jealousy, she would take actions that would seem like one wrong move, and she would lose control.

Like how she had lashed out at Nakaoka earlier.

“Well, the inner workings of emotions do get intense in all sorts of ways when you’re young. Yuizaki is especially susceptible to this. Only a man who can look ahead and be considerate like you sure is fit to be her boyfriend.”

“I’m not a man who can be that considerate, you know? I’m just giving my all because if Shino is happy, I’m also happy.”

“I see now. And so, you think you can ease Yuizaki’s misandry somewhat?”

“Concerning that… I think it will take time, since she seems to also have a traumatic past. She herself has talked to me about it, and she said something like how she had gotten sick of boys watching her unexpectedly large breasts in swimming class in the past. She is cute already, so I think she stood out even more, and it seems she is more emotionally wounded than I thought. When I think about how so that it wouldn’t put a burden on her, I would say it’s impossible for it to be immediate.”

“…So choosing a method that requires patience, huh. What a gentle way of handling it. I think it’s so like you, if I do say so myself. Somehow I envy Yuizaki a little now. I want to come across a partner who is that gentle as well. I do have no small amount of desire for marriage after all.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought that you are the type who dislikes having your own time shaved off from having a partner, marriage, or something like that.”

“I don’t look like it, but I’m someone who gets lonely pretty easily, you see. It’d be great if there’s a nice person, but I couldn’t easily find one, and now I’m in my thirties.”

Although not to the extent of Shino, Nakaoka was on the good-looking side. Her personality did have a preachy side, but that was not at all bad, though…

Could she have a high ideal, simply hadn’t been blessed with an encounter, or perhaps had a peculiar hobby that would put off anyone who got to know it?

Anyhow, Nakaoka shouldn’t find it amusing to have someone younger talk to her with know-it-all airs, so Sandai gave an inoffensive compliment.

“…There hadn’t been a single man with discerning eyes it seems. It hurts my heart that a wonderful woman like you is being ignored, Sensei.”

“Your delivery is so flat that it doesn’t move me, but umm well, thanks, for trying to encourage me.”

At the same time as Nakaoka showing a dry smile, the sunlight coming from the window got stronger just a little. Then, Sandai noticed a slight cheek blusher under Nakaoka’s eyes.

Given the vague impression, he thought that Nakaoka wasn’t wearing any make-up, but she seemed to be wearing light make-up so natural that you would have to take a close look to be able to tell.

Often looking at Shino, who would usually put effort to get cuter, Sandai understood that that was the result of being proficient at make-up.

And then, he realized Nakaoka’s weak point as well.

“It’s not my place to say it, but you seem to be proficient at light make-up, Nakaoka-sensei. But that being the case, I wonder if there are lots of men who wouldn’t notice when you are tired, dispirited, and such then.”

“…What’s with this so suddenly?”

“I’m just saying what I have in mind, so I would appreciate it if you could let it not bother you. It’s just, when a woman is dispirited, exhausted and such, there are many men who will have their desire to protect stimulated… Since that’s the case, I wonder if not hiding it and showing it on the face when you are tired would—”

Sandai thought he was being as tactful as possible with his words, but even Nakaoka really didn’t find it fun to get pointed out by someone younger it seemed—as she raised her eyebrows in irritation.

“—I know that much without you telling me. However, I’m not a fan of that sort of thing. That’s why I’m simply waiting for someone who would notice that personality of mine to show up!”

“I-I’m sorry, I have said something unnecessary.”

Although Sandai hurriedly lowered his head, Nakaoka’s breathing was violent, clearly in a bad mood.

There are several ways of dealing with someone when you have angered them, but among those, one that can be done amicably is to leave the scene. Once the creature called human has gotten into the state of being angry, even things that normally wouldn’t bother them could get them extremely angry.

“Umm… So… I will take my leave now then.”

Sandai slowly turned on his heel, and tried to quietly leave the staff room while having Nakaoka’s glare-like gaze piercing his back.

Then, Nakaoka’s glare-like gaze stopped. Without thinking, Sandai looked back. His eyes met with Nakaoaka’s, who was smiling wryly with an exasperated look.

“…No different from ten years ago. Still the same rude kid as ever. And he doesn’t even remember me. Well, I don’t have an interest in someone younger either, so it’s just whatever, though.”

Nakaoka was muttering something, but he would hate to anger her again by asking back without thinking. Not having a hobby of taking pleasure from getting scolded, Sandai just got out to the corridor while giving a slight bow to the school nurse who just happened to enter the staff room.

“The kid just now, I think he’s Nakaoka-sensei’s… wait, huh? Nakaoka-sensei, what happened? You’re making a weird look.”

“O-Oh? What’s this suddenly… Actually, is it fine to leave the infirmary empty?”

“I came here to grab some documents~. Besides, it’s already after school, and not a single sick student came in today, so it’s okay for me to leave for a bit.”

“…I see.”

“That aside, you’re really making a weird look, what happened?”

“I’m always looking like this, and you know that.”

“That’s not true. Nakaoka-sensei… did someone catch your interest? Ah, I know! It’s the math teacher Takebayashi-sensei! I mean he’s pretty hot like a sauna.”

“If you don’t joke in moderation, I’m gonna get mad, you know?”

“Eeek~ I’ll quickly grab the documents and get baack~.”

Immediately after getting out into the corridor, Sandai found Shino waiting for him.

Sandai had thought that she was no longer at school since she had her part-time job, but she seemed to be concerned about him getting summoned.

“…What was the talk about?”

They had had a talk about Shino—though since he couldn’t tell the truth, Sandai decided to give it some cover up.

There are also times when it is better to lie.

“What it was about? Just that, like lecturing and stuff. Me getting summoned basically for that.”

“…Sensei, you liar. She said she wasn’t going to bully you, yet lecturing.”

“Well, sometimes I’m not paying attention in class too, going in one ear out and out the other. Maybe it just happened to get noticed. More importantly, isn’t your work soon?”

“Soon… Oh crap… It’s gonna be close!”

“Let’s hurry then. Mine is also soon.”

“Yeah!”

Both of them left the entrance at a fast pace. They exited the school gate, and when they came to a fork, “Ah!” Shino suddenly spoke up and came to a stop.

“What’s up?”

“There’s something I forgot to mention. So while waiting for you, Takasago-chan talked to me for a bit and consulted me for some stuff… We’ll talk in detail later, but I’d like to have your help too, so…”

“Help? If there’s anything I can do, I don’t really mind, though…”

“Thanks! Don’t forget about it! Then, later!”

Takasago, someone who was like a small animal, and Shino, a gyaru—looking from the side, they were both a kind that would have nothing to do with each other.

However, since the matter of confectionery making at the school festival, perhaps having gotten to know each other to some extent, it seemed they were now close enough that one would consult the other even.

As long as they didn’t make a pass at Sandai, Shino was kind to the same sex, so Takasago probably found it easy to ask for some advice, but…

Even so, consulting Shino, huh. When it comes to Takasago taking actions… probably related to the Prez, isn’t it?

Sandai knew that Takasago liked the Prez. So he thought it was probably Prez related, and indeed it was.