CH 11

“The person who likes me…”

“Yes, there is one, and he is… Hanamura-sensei.”

“I see.”

“Let’s go to see him after school hours.”

“Okay.”

After school hours. At the school’s ground.

Sakuramiya-sensei and I were observing the male teacher who was the advisor of the track and field club, from afar.

The subjects he is incharge of are Health and Physical Education.

His age is the same age as Sakuramiya-sensei and he has a handsome and chiseled face. Despite being popular with boys, he is not popular among girls.

“But why does Segawa-kun know about him? Is Hanamura-sensei a relative of yours or something?”

“No, he’s not… I guess nearly everyone in the school knows about him.”

“Is that so?”

“Anyways, how about trying Hanamura-sensei as your fiancé candidate?”

I quickly moved on to the main topic.

“He is a little handsome but….. I’m afraid he’ll cheat on me.”

“No, I think he’s pretty single-minded.”

“How do you know?”

“Well, I don’t have any evidence, though.”

To be honest, Hanamura Sensei seems to have a crush on Sakuramiya Sensei.

The reason why I can say that is very simple and clear.

Hanamura Sensei’s attitude is too easy to understand.

Only when he is talking with Sakuramiya-sensei, his tension is blatantly high and he behaves suspiciously while showing awkward gestures.

He usually comes to our class for some reason or another and takes the opportunity to make contact with her.

Once, when one of the honor students in our class asked him, “Hanamura-sensei, do you like Sakuramiya-sensei?” He was flustered, his face turned bright red due to embarrassment. There is no doubt that Hanamura-sensei has a crush on Sakuramiya-sensei.

I know it’s uncivil to meddle in other people’s love affairs, but circumstances are circumstances.

I put my hands together in a small gesture toward Hanamura-sensei.

Please forgive me for meddling. I know it’s a wrong thing to do, but I don’t have any other options in the current circumstances.

“Anyway, why don’t you try going out with him for dinner once?”

“A dinner huh? It’s true that Hanamura-sensei often invites me out.”

What a surprise, Hanamura-sensei is doing a lot better than I had expected.

I thought he was too shy when it come to these things

“But I always refused him with a reason…”

“How pitiful… Do you know how much courage it would have taken him to ask you out?”

“Eh, well Hanamura-sensei is…”

“Do you really hate handsome guys that much?”

“I’d rather keep my private life separate from my work life. I’m tired of seeing him at work and seeing him outside of work as well. Do you understand this feeling?”

“…Well, I kind of understand.”

After all, as long as we are workmates, our private interactions will be like an extension of our work.

The content of the conversations are mostly work-related, and the atmosphere is different from that of a casual conversation with friends or family.

For those who want to relax and rest their minds on holidays and after work, it is nothing but hardship.

“But I don’t have enough time to complain…”

“I don’t mean to force you to do so, but at least consider it. Besides, I think if you can talk with him properly, you might unexpectedly get along with him.”

“You have a point.”

“I guess.”

There is no doubt that Hanamura-sensei likes Sakuramiya-sensei and if she also came to gradually like him, then everything will work out in the end.

“But do you really think Hanamura-sensei likes me?

“Well, at least let’s give it a try.”

“Try? How?”

“I’m going to tell him, ‘Sakuramiya-sensei is being confessed behind the second school building.’ What do you think Hanamura-sensei will do?

“He won’t do anything. Teachers can’t be on the lookout in these cases.”

“Normally, this is how things should go… but Hanamura-sensei will come to the scene in a panic, I’m sure of it.”

“No, as expected… That’s not going to happen.” says Sakuramiya-sensei with a wry smile on her face.

Normally, there is no way for a teacher to go out of his advisory job and visit the scene of confession, but I was certain of the events that will transpire.

“I’m going to go tell him now, so please go to the back of the second school building.”

“I understand. I’ll believe you if the things you said will come true.”

I nodded my head and headed to where Hanamura-sensei was.

While the track and field team is working hard to improve their 50m running record, Hanamura is watching the team members with a board in his hand which had the timings recorded on it.

As I rushed closer, he turned his head to see where the hurried sound of footsteps was coming from.

“……Hmm? What is it, Segawa? Do you want to join the track and field club, after all?”

Well, I was asked to join the track and field team before. But I declined because I was not much interested in sports.

“No, I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant. I have something to say to Hanamura-sensei.”

“What is it?”

He waved his index finger and gestured to me to say the words in his ear.

This was the first time I saw Hanamura-sensei kneel down and lend his ears without distrusting someone.

“Actually, right now, Sakuramiya-sensei is being confessed to by someone behind the second school building.”

I briefly told him the contents of the situation in a whisper so that someone nearby lurking in our conversation wouldn’t know about it.

And Hanamura-sensei’s shoulders rose and fell because of some reason.

His eyes widened and his dark eyes swam unnaturally. He was also sweating profusely.

“Wait, that’s it? If it is Sakuramiya-sensei, then she might get confessed once or twice a week. You didn’t have to go out of your way to tell me. Now leave, you are wasting the time of the club.”

“I see. I’m sorry, I’ll leave it at that.”

“No wait, Segawa. By the way, do you know who was the one confessing to her? A student or a teacher?”

He changed his expressions quickly and firmly grabbed my soldiers.

Even though I initiated this conversation, now I am getting a little scared of him.

“I don’t know that much. Well then, I’m going back.”

“This was really meaningless information, Segawa. If you have time for these things, then go study.

“Yes, and I am really sorry Sensei.”

“Oh, wait a minute. You said the confession is taking place behind the second school building, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You can go now.”

He waved his hand and tried to get me off the ground. However, his behavior was really strange. Looks like it affected him to a certain degree.

After I disappeared into the school building, in his perspective. Hanamura-sensei ordered the club members to take a break, as if he had been waiting for me to leave. 

And then he dashed to the supposed confession in a really fast pace, as expected of the advisor of the track and field club.

I followed behind him, trying not to be noticed while tailing him. 

He eventually stopped behind the second school building while slightly huffing and trying to calm his erratic breathing.

I hid myself behind the grass bush and remained as a bystander.

“Oh, Sakuramiya-sensei…!”

“… he’s really here…….”

Hanamura-sensei was gasping for breath and currently looked very agitated.

In contrast to him, Sakuramiya-sensei was surprised and puzzled.

Hanamura-sensei looked around and when he confirmed that there was no one except them, he asked

“Ah, wa-….. Was Sakuramiya-sensei being confessed here?”

“Yeah… It was over a while ago.

“Oh, I see. So… what did you say back to him?”

“I refused.”

Hanamura-sensei looked relieved. He took a deep breath, and relaxed his entire body.

“What is Hanamura-sensei doing here?”

“Well, I heard a rumor that Sakuramiya-sensei was being confessed here, and I was curious about it. Wouldn’t it be a problem if a student and a teacher were to be in a relationship?”

“Are you saying you came here out of concern?”

“That’s right.”

“I see. Thank you for worrying about it. You are so kind.”

“Well…. I have club activities, so I’m going to go now. I’ll see you later.”

“Yes, and it’s hot so be careful of heat strokes.”

Sakuramiya-sensei smiled and Hashimura-sensei’s face turned even more red after seeing it.

“Yes! See you later.”

He immediately averted his gaze, turned on his steps, and swiftly went back to the field.

After Hanamura-sensei disappeared completely, I emerged from the shadows and approached Sakuramiya-sensei.

“Segawa-kun…”

“Are you convinced now that Hanamura-sensei likes you?”

“Well, yes, I do. I’ll be honest with you, I’m still a little skeptical about it.”

As expected, it’s hard to believe right away.

Even if you think that someone likes you, you can’t be sure about it. After all, confessing their feelings to someone takes courage.

“So, making Hanamura-sensei as a potential fiancé candidate…”

“What do you think, Segawa-jun? Do you think Hanamura-sensei and I are a good match?”

“Eh, well…….”

Hanamura-sensei has a one-sided liking for Sakuramiya-sensei, so I decided to suggest this

In fact, I never imagined that Hanamura-sensei and Sakuramiya-sensei would date, or even get married.

Just imagining it…. Somehow, it didn’t feel right.

“I think you would make a beautiful pair of couples.”

“I see. Well Segawa-kun gave me this opportunity, so I will ask him out for dinner next time.”

“Yes, I think that would be good.”

With a gentle smile I shook my head.

But if things continue to go well, and Hanamura-sensei and Sakuramiya-sensei end up getting married… Sakuramiya-sensei might leave this school.”

I was the only one who quietly thought about when that would happen. It will be a little lonely.

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TL & ED : Zenon #4120