Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Classmate
The next morning, I went to school feeling better, but there was something different.
That something was…
“Are you alright? Are you able to take notes?”
A soft, white hand gently touched my hand holding the mechanical pencil, and a surprisingly ample swell pressed against my shoulder. On top of that, she was speaking so close to my ear that her breath tickled it.
That something different was… Yes, sensei’s closeness had intensified!
Really, why didn’t anyone notice!? Was the whole class in cahoots? Did sensei have some kind of mysterious power!?
Anyway, the sweet scent and soft touch completely pushed the fact that I had just recovered from illness to the back of my mind, and I returned to the hustle and bustle of school life.
***
“Um… A-Asano-kun?”
“…”
“…Asano-kun!”
“Eh!? Ah, yes, me?”
“Yes, you. There’s no one else with the last name Asano in this class, is there?”
“…Ah, yeah. That’s true.”
Oh, that surprised me…
It’s been so long since a girl talked to me that I was convinced she wasn’t talking to me… Yeah, that’s pretty sad.
The girl who spoke to me was named Okuno Aimi. We’ve been at the same school since middle school, but we haven’t really interacted. Or rather, there’s no way that a plain guy like me would have any interaction with her, who is known for her good looks and excellence in both academics and sports.
She has a glamorous appearance, and her shoulder-length brown hair and slender legs extending from her skirt give off an active impression, which translates into intimidation for someone like me. Yeah, it’s my fault. I’m sorry.
Okuno-san, while restlessly looking around, spoke to me in a timid manner that contrasted with her usual energetic image.
“Um… Are you feeling better?”
“…Eh? Ah, yeah, I-I’m fine!”
Calm down, me! She’s just asking how I’m feeling! There’s no need to act so suspicious!
Okuno-san didn’t seem to find me creepy at all and gave me a soft smile.
“Um… This…”
“?”
“Here are the notes from yesterday. We covered some pretty important stuff… so if you want…”
Oh… I never thought I’d experience someone’s kindness at a time like this… I guess it’s good to take a break from school sometimes…
“Ah, thank you. I’ll copy them and return them by lunchtime.”
“You don’t have to rush. And, Asano-kun… there’s something I want to ask you.”
“Ah, okay… What is it?”
“Um, Asano-kun… are you… pretty close to Morihara-sensei?”
“…”
Who could blame me for thinking, even for a moment, that she was going to ask, “Asano-kun… are you seeing anyone right now?” …
And then, this misunderstanding happened…
“Could it be… you saw us?”
“Uh, yeah… It was by chance, though.”
“…Was it only once?”
“Eh? Only once… Wait, did you do it multiple times?”
“Uh, well, you see… since the beginning of this year… a few times.”
“…!”
Okuno-san was astonished. It was understandable. But I wasn’t skilled enough to hide it if I was being watched. I needed to come up with some kind of excuse…
As I was thinking, Okuno-san leaned closer to my ear. A sweet citrus scent wafted over, making me nervous.
But Okuno-san, unfazed, whispered to me.
“Could it be… you two are going out?”
My body stiffened at the sudden question.
Is she suspecting something!?
It’s completely unfounded!
Flustered with Okuno-san so close to my ear, I put my brain into overdrive.
It was true that there was a strange misunderstanding, and I wanted to avoid damaging sensei’s reputation… I had to rack my brain!
“…N-no, no! It’s not like that, it just happened.”
“Eh!? It just happened… That kind of thing!?”
“W-well… We’re a teacher and student, and we got a little carried away with the lesson, and our sense of distance got a bit distorted…”
“It was part of the lesson!? Ah, Asano-kun is unexpectedly…”
“I think it’s a pretty common thing… ahaha.”
“No! That’s definitely not common!”
This is bad. I don’t think I’m fooling her.
I have to say something…!
“O-Okuno-san…”
“?”
“…It’s no one’s fault.”
“Why are you making that enlightened expression!? C-could it be… that I’m too naive? …Waaaaah!!”
Okuno-san, for some reason, clutched her head and ran out of the classroom.
I guess I managed to deceive her? …Huh?
Then, a shiver ran down my spine.
“…”
I felt an unexplained pressure and looked in the direction it was coming from. Morihara-sensei was standing in the hallway, staring intently at me. She had her usual cool demeanor, but something felt different.
I wonder what’s wrong…
She continued to stare at me until the end of the break.
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