Chapter 133: Was I Hiratsuka-sensei’s Matchmaking Partner?
Chapter 133: Was I Hiratsuka-sensei’s Matchmaking Partner?
“Huh?”
Himekoji was stunned. Like…that teacher’s imagination was a bit too rich, wasn’t it?
Just a moment later, after snapping out of it, Himekoji decided to be honest with her.
“No, I was just planning to go in to eat…”
“Crack,” the Female Teacher’s tobacco box was suddenly squeezed into a ball.
“Lying isn’t good, Himekoji.”
Hiratsuka Shizuka frowned with a cigarette in her mouth, speaking in a very displeased tone.
Bad!
I’m going to be hit!
Almost like a reflex, Himekoji shut his eyes.
While waiting for the Female Teacher’s righteous fist to land, he muttered to himself mentally—
Seriously, for a proper teacher, why does she always give off a vibe like a street thug?
Is she some kind of big sister boss who popped up from nowhere?
Is teaching just your part-time job?
Himekoji kept his eyes tightly shut, getting ready to be beaten, but the punch didn’t come.
Slightly surprised, he reopened his eyes and saw Hiratsuka-sensei’s somewhat gloomy face.
“Lying is really bad; can’t you be honest with your teacher just once?”
Ugh!
Himekoji seemed to finally understand, getting the hint.
The Female Teacher must mean—
Lying is the best thing!
“Ah… you caught me… yeah, that’s right. I saw Hiratsuka-sensei, so I came in on purpose.”
“Hah, haha, I knew it! Boys are so much cuter when they’re honest!”
Hiratsuka Shizuka suddenly became full of energy. Gone was the rotten look from earlier that could rival dead fish eyes; her lively spirit seemed to return in an instant.
“Please, don’t call me cute…”
Himekoji rolled his eyes as the Female Teacher thumped his shoulder heavily and eagerly, murmuring a protest helplessly.
“Grr—”
Then, his stomach suddenly roared hungrily.
Hiratsuka Shizuka heard it. The Female Teacher froze, then immediately gave him a suspicious look.
“Were you going to eat, or were you looking for me?”
“To… to find you, of course.”
Himekoji struggled to respond.
In his heart, he muttered the complete opposite truth—
Of course, I was just going to eat…
Who would bother looking for you?
Looking to get beaten?
And really, is Hiratsuka-sensei actually clueless or pretending?
Did she get hurt by her parents today?
She’s acting totally weird, you know!
“Hmm, that’s better…”
Getting the answer she wanted, the Female Teacher finally relaxed and smiled happily.
But just a moment later—
“Grr… grumble…”
“Huh?”
The Female Teacher raised her eyebrows, looking displeased.
“You liar! You were clearly going to eat, weren’t you?!”
She clenched her fist!
Clenched it!
As expected, was he still going to get a beating?
Himekoji seriously suspected that the reason the Female Teacher beat him on and off was actually to practice fighting skills on him!
Or maybe… she liked him? Trying to force a marriage by hitting him?
Anyway, Himekoji quickly spoke up, making a last-ditch effort.
“No! It’s not like that! To find you and eat, yes, to find you to eat!”
“Hah?”
Hiratsuka-sensei’s clenched fist suddenly loosened.
“So… you’re asking me to eat? You should’ve said that earlier… Good timing, I barely ate much at the dinner table since I was getting scolded all the time. Well… let’s go now.”
Scratching her cheek with a fingertip, Hiratsuka Shizuka unusually acted coy, like a little girl.
Was he seeing things?!
Himekoji could hardly believe his eyes.
Today’s Hiratsuka Shizuka was totally different from the violent Female Teacher at school!
Damn it, he even started having the illusion that she was “kinda cute.”
“Le-let’s go. Did I make you starve?”
The Female Teacher tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. Under the dim streetlight, her fair and delicate face seemed to glow with fine, porcelain-like light.
“Ah… n-no!”
Flustered, he looked away. Himekoji stood up first from the bench.
“If we’re eating together, what should we have?”
He asked casually, as if hiding something. Without waiting for Hiratsuka Shizuka to answer, he strode straight ahead.
“Anything.”
Her thin-strapped black high heels clicked “clack-clack-clack” as Hiratsuka Shizuka quickly followed behind.
After leaving the Park, the street was crowded with people.
From some point, all passersby started staring their way.
Hmm, he should’ve expected this earlier because—
The Female Teacher behind him was dressed way too fancy and showy!
It’s just a home dinner, right? Why is she even wearing a formal dress?!
And it’s low-cut! Low-cut!!
Though her personality was often childish, her bust size was undeniably adult, truly impressive!
Add to that her delicate makeup and carefully pinned-up black hair.
Once she dressed up, she was a complete beauty!
Stunning looks, impressive chest, curvaceous hips, and long legs!
Hadn’t it been said that true beauty could be as satisfying as a feast? If the female teacher were served on a dining table, Himekoji swore he would experience a “clothing explosion” after the very first bite…
No wonder people on the street couldn’t control their eyes; their gazes naturally gravitated towards her. It was understandable, really.
But being understandable didn’t mean they should keep staring so freely!
Suddenly, Himekoji felt a pang of something—irritation, perhaps?
Letting out a soft “Hmph!”, he took off his jacket and practically threw it over the female teacher’s shoulders.
“What’s wrong?” Blinking, the female teacher looked at him, puzzled.
“Cold!”
“You feel cold, so you take off your jacket for me?”
“I meant you are cold!”
“But I’m not cold.”
As Hiratsuka Shizuka said this, she moved to take off the jacket and return it to Himekoji.
“You look cold to me!”
Himekoji grabbed her hand, stopping her from removing the jacket.
“Why are you dressed like this?” He shot her a glance, then quickly looked away, face slightly flushed, as if he’d seen something he shouldn’t have.
“Like this?”
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked down at herself. It took her a couple of seconds to understand what he was talking about.
Tilting her head slightly, she gazed at Himekoji, dressed in just a thin shirt, walking with hurried steps. Suddenly, a soft smile spread across her face.
She pulled the jacket, which still held his warmth, tightly around her, covering the large expanse of exposed skin.
“Mhm, because originally… my family wanted me to attend a cocktail party matchmaking session later.”
“Later?” Himekoji frowned as he spoke.
“Seven-thirty.” The female teacher answered softly.
“Seven-thirty?”
Himekoji raised his wrist to check his watch, clearly surprised,
“That’s only a few minutes away! Where is it? Should I take you there?”
“No need. Whether I go there or stay here, it’s all matchmaking anyway.”
…
“Beep beep—”
The sudden blare of car horns filled the street beside them.
Traffic weaving past stirred the long hair near Hiratsuka-sensei’s ear, making it flutter wildly.
“What?”
The surrounding noise was so loud that Himekoji thought he might have misheard.
“I said, why not just have the matchmaking right here?”
Tucking the stray strands behind her ear, Hiratsuka-sensei moved her lips, speaking softly yet clearly.
Seems Himekoji was surprised too early.
…
“Matchmaking? Here? Then the partner is…”
Thrown off guard by Hiratsuka Shizuka’s bold and out-of-bounds remark, Himekoji was stunned speechless.
“Pfft!”
The female teacher covered her mouth as she laughed. Paired with her black evening gown and elegant makeup, she looked dazzlingly radiant.
Yet, in this city where the lights were just beginning to glow, amidst the dappled street lamps and neon signs, the smile she rarely showed seemed almost illusory, hazy and fleeting.
“Look how scared you are.”
Hiratsuka-sensei pulled Himekoji’s jacket tighter around her shoulders and chuckled softly:
“Don’t worry, Sensei’s matchmaking sessions have never ended in success.”
The moment the words left her lips, the female teacher took the first step forward, moving ahead and putting a distance between herself and Himekoji.
Don’t worry?
Wait… wasn’t that even more worrying?!
Quick!
Someone, hurry up and marry her!
If no one comes along, Himekoji might just have to do it himself!
Hurry! Fast! Sign up for the position, anyone listening?!
…
“Well, I haven’t succeeded either.”
Himekoji stood still for a moment, blank. Snapping back to reality, he saw Hiratsuka Shizuka had already walked quite far ahead. He hurriedly rushed to catch up, adding his comment.
“Succeeded at what? Are you out matchmaking too?”
Hearing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka looked back. Her beautiful eyes couldn’t help but shoot a sideways glance at Himekoji.
Then, as if trying not to let him catch her, her pace quickened. Her long legs moved alternately, the sound of her heels striking the ground a constant, crisp rhythm.
“Tap tap tap…”
“Apart from matchmaking, there are plenty of other things in this world, right?”
“What do you mean? Are you mocking my life as being nothing but failed matchmaking?”
A single older woman might always be overly sensitive to certain key phrases.
“I wouldn’t dare!” Himekoji spread his hands and shrugged.
“If it’s not matchmaking, then what does ‘haven’t succeeded’ mean?”
“Lots and lots of things…”
“Eh? Could it be you’re trying to force us into some losers’ club?”