CH 52

Segawa-kun. Do you understand why I called you here?”

“Well, sort of… I have a feeling…”

Currently, after school on Tuesday. I am now in the student guidance room.

Across from me is Sakuramiya-sensei, who is leisurely sitting with her elbows on the table and her chin supported by her hands. She was staring at me with narrowed boys.

Even though we had established an understanding to stop accidentally gathering within the school grounds, we were gathered here because Sakuramiya-sensei had sent a message saying “Waiting for you after school at our usual spot” with no emoji.

She’s definitely angry… Sakuramiya-sensei…

“Well, I’ll tell you the reason I called you here.”

“It’s about Shinozuka-san, right…?”

“Specifically speaking, yes.”

“Well, um… I’d say there were unavoidable circumstances…?”

“Heeh. Tell me, Segawa-kun, what kind of circumstances would make you hide during my class and play ‘Picture Word Game’ with Shinozuka-san…?”

“Well, um… I’d say it was a situation where I couldn’t refuse… At first, I didn’t really feel like doing it, you know? But Shinozuka-san is really good at drawing, and I just couldn’t help myself…”

“There are no complicated circumstances at all! You were just charmed by her artistic ability!”

Sakuramiya-sensei leans forward and becomes a little agitated as she slams her hands on the table.

I pulled my chair back and distanced myself from her.

“Please calm down. I’m sorry for doing something unrelated to class. I’m sorry. But really, there’s nothing going on…”

“What do you think? The seat next to you… You’d rather sit next to a cute girl your own age, right?”

With a sulky attitude, Sakuramiya-sensei dramatically shakes her head.

She pouted and with teary eyes sniffs in dissatisfaction.

As Sakuramiya-sensei mentioned earlier, Shinozuka-san and I are now seated next to each other as a result of yesterday’s seat change. Shinozuka-san got her hands on seat 14, next to me, by pure chance. It had nothing to do with magic or tricks, just pure physics…

Therefore, I am now seated next to Shinozuka-san.

And as I mentioned earlier, due to Shinozuka-san’s invitation to play ‘Picture Word Game’ during her class, I find myself in this current situation.

“Th-that’s not true. It’s a misunderstanding, Sakuramiya-sensei. I have no intention of being with Shinoduza-san.”

“But maybe you’re secretly going out with her?”

“We’re not going out. You’re the only one I have feelings for, Sakuramiya-sensei.”

“That’s what you think you should say, right? If you say that you only have feelings for me, you think I’ll get happy quickly…”

“I don’t think that.”

“Really? Then say that you like me.”

“I love you. Sakuramiya-sensei.”

“……!!”

I gazed at her with sincerity and whispered my affection.

Sakuramiya-sensei blushed hard and averted her eyes from me due to embarrassment, after a while as though something came in her mind, she began to rummage through her pocket.

She took out her wallet and everyone’s beloved money peeked out from it.

“H-here you go. This is this month’s allowance!”

Saying so, she placed 5 ten thousand yen notes on the table we were using.

Sakuramiya-sensei slides the rectangular shaped notes towards me.

“Uh, what’s going on, Sakuramiya-sensei? Just now, you were scolding me and now this…”

“If you say it one more time, I’ll add one more.”

“Isn’t this too cheap? The value of money is plummeting!”

“I feel like I finally understand the proper use of money at my age!”

“You’re completely mistaken! You’re trying to use it in the worst way possible!”

“Ah, well, if it runs out, let me know. I’ll always support you.”

“You want to make me dependent on you?!”

“……If that’s what Segawa-kun wants, then I don’t mind. I have enough money, after all.”

Sakuramiya-sensei smiles as she looks at me.

Seriously? This person is dead set on making me dependent on her.

I knew she was the type to make someone dependent on her, but I didn’t think it would be this extreme…

As someone who is constantly broke, I want this allowance desperately, but I returned it back to her, with a heavy heart.

“No, Sakuramiya-sensei. Please value money. Here, take it away quickly.”

“Come on, take it.”

“I won’t take it.”

“But, don’t I have value without making an offering…?”

“What are you worried about? I’m not with you for the money, Sakuramiya-sensei.”

“Segawa-kun…”

With a dazed expression, Sakuramiya-sensei’s eyes started to turn teary..

I chuckled and stood up, holding my school bag in my right hand.

“Well, I’m going home now. It would be bad if someone saw me.”

As I turned on my heel to leave – just then.

With a strong grip, I was grabbed by the wrist.

“Wait, wait. Where are you trying to go?”

“Um, the conversation is over—”

“It’s not over. We just went off track. Come on, sit down.”

As I was told, I sat down again.

I thought it was my chance to leave, but it didn’t go so smoothly.

“Well then, let’s get to the main topic. How can we resolve this situation with you and Shinozuka-san sitting next to each other? Let’s think about it together.”

“How to resolve it… certain things can’t be changed…”

“That’s why we should think about it. Like this, you can’t concentrate in my class.”

“Even if you say that…”

“Well, originally, it’s Segawa-kun’s fault. During class, you were flirting with Shinozuka-san.”

“I’m not flirting. We were just playing a game.”

“That’s flirting enough. It feels like youthful love or something.”

“How can you interpret it as a youthful feeling…?”

Sakuramiya-sensei put on a serene expression and let out a sigh.

Then, as if responding to that sigh, my smartphone suddenly vibrated.

The ringtone echoed through the student guidance room.

I took my smartphone out of my pocket and looked at the screen. It said “Shinozuka Mizuna.”

“Who is it from?”

“It’s Shinozuka-san.”

“Pick the phone and put the call on speaker.”

“Um… okay, I understand.”

As to not anger her anymore, I operated my smartphone and answered the call.

“Ah, sorry for the sudden call…”

Of course, it was Shinozuka-san’s voice coming through the smartphone.

“Is something wrong?”

“I was thinking of making bento boxes tomorrow. Is there anything that you would like?”

“…Why are you asking about my preference?”

“I’m making bento boxes for Minato-kun too. I’m at the supermarket right now, so if you have any preferences, I’ll make anything. I don’t want to be a burden on your budget.”

“No, it’s fine for me.”

“No, it’s not. Minato-kun always settles for pastries, right? It doesn’t make much of a difference whether it’s for one person or two, so don’t worry about it.”

“But…”

“How about tempura and ginger pork for now? You like them, don’t you, Minato-kun?”

“Yes, they are my favorites… wait, how do you know…?”

“Ah, sorry. I have to hang up because the time sale is starting. If you have any preferences, send me a message. See you later.”

“Uh, wait… ah… it’s disconnected.”

The call ended.

I looked up from my smartphone to see Sakuramiya-sensei with an expression that showed her irritation prominently.

“Oh… you’re getting bento boxes made for you… hmph! I had various reasons in mind, but it turned out to be this after all…”

“Th-that’s not it! It’s a misunderstanding! I was surprised when I was told just now…”

I frantically tried to defend myself, but Sakuramiya-sensei had no changes on her mood for a while as she was adorably sulking all the time due to jealousy.

☆☆☆☆☆☆