Chapter 171: Three People Living Together?!

Let’s talk about something lighter.

“Shiina, what’s your fourth class?”

“P.E.”

“Is it ok to skip class?”

“It’s fine. I can only observe volleyball practice.”

“Why? Not feeling well? Or hurt?”

“My fingers can’t get injured.”

It was an answer outside Himekoji’s understanding, yet somehow convincing. The delicate, pale fingers that birthed those captivating works belonged to Mashiro.

Of course, the captivating works were art, not manga.

“Shiina, you really are an amazing artist.”

“Not really.”

The girl spoke calmly, as if stating a simple fact, without a hint of false modesty.

“No, you really are amazing. I saw the painting you won that award for online. I don’t know much about art, but I could definitely feel the charm in it.”

Mashiro ate the cake Himekoji held without answering.

After a pause, Himekoji asked again:

“If you’re studying fine art, wouldn’t it be better to stay abroad?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you come here then?”

And come back all alone… Why not return for university then? No, if she really wanted to shine, staying abroad still seemed the better choice.

Mashiro put the last piece of Baumkuchen into her small mouth and sipped her foil-pack milk tea through the straw.

Seemed like the topic was smoothly brushed aside. Just as Himekoji thought so—

“I am going to become a manga artist.”

Mashiro suddenly stated very clearly.

It wasn’t “I want to become a manga artist,” nor “I aim to become a manga artist.”

It was am going to become a manga artist.

“Why!?”

Himekoji still couldn’t understand.

On one hand, there was award-winning art exhibited in museums. On the other, comics so weak and uninteresting they were almost guaranteed to get canceled.

With that being the case, why choose the latter?

Mashiro possessed talent highly regarded in the art world. Even the judges for the award had given her evaluations proclaiming her a genius.

So wasn’t that enough? She had already achieved something most people couldn’t even dream of.

She’d already perfectly proven herself in that field.

So why would a person like Mashiro say she was going to become a manga artist?

“Do you mean you want to pursue both art and manga?”

Mashiro shook her head no.

“You only want to be a manga artist?”

This time, she nodded.

“Ah, fine. Mashiro’s thinking… I really can’t understand it at all.”

Himekoji shook his head, weakly raising his hand in a gesture of surrender. Then, letting out a sigh as pointless as anything, he flopped backwards to lie down.

…

“So this is where you two are, skipping class right out in the open!”

He recognized the voice instantly. Charging onto the Rooftop with terrifying momentum was none other than Hiratsuka-sensei.

She stood near Himekoji’s head as he lay there, glaring down at him dominantly, arms crossed over her chest.

“W-Wait, sensei! Don’t stand so close! You’ll be seen!”

Sensei Hiratsuka was actually wearing a tight skirt; it wasn’t really easy to see anything.

“See if you dare! It’s not like you haven’t seen it before!”

“Well, you’re not wrong… Wait, I am wrong! That’s so wrong! Totally wrong beyond reason! What kind of thing is that for a teacher to say?”

Scared, Himekoji scrambled upright, switching from his lazy sprawl to a rigid, proper seated position.

As long as the System didn’t give him an option, he wouldn’t ever be idly risking his life just to peek under a female teacher’s skirt!

Himekoji was determined to prove this point.

【Ding!】

【Make your choice!】

Erk, fine… And so, Himekoji lay back down…

Not just that, but he pushed it further, craning his neck to actually try and peek under Hiratsuka-sensei’s skirt.

Seriously, this ridiculous System, couldn’t it let him be normal just this once? Once was enough!

Himekoji felt bitter inside, but he couldn’t say a thing.

“Getting this excited just from stealing a glimpse at underwear. I envy you, truly.” Hiratsuka-sensei sneered, her tone dripping with murderous intent. Before her words faded, two fingers shot out lightning-fast, aiming straight for Himekoji’s eyes.

“Sorry! I was wrong!”

Himekoji hastily shielded his face and begged for mercy.

While his outer appearance seemed to show remorse, inside, this Pervert was surreptitiously grumbling:

“Come to think of it, doesn’t Hiratsuka-sensei get all excited with just a bottle of Essential Balm?”

……

“Hmph!”

After lightly disciplining the Pervert, the Female Teacher let out a small, satisfied snort, then breezily moved on to another matter.

“By the way, what were you doing with Mashiro just now? Trai♂ning? Bre♀ding?”

“Just now?! Sensei, how long have you even been here?!”

Himekoji jumped in fright, flipping over to sit up in panic.

Had she seen him feeding the beautiful female dog… No! That description the System used was too twisted! Mashiro wasn’t like that!

Start over!

Had Hiratsuka been there when he was feeding Mashiro, who was obedient and well-behaved like a kitten?

Hiding and watching secretly?!

So she was a voyeur? Just what kind of messed-up hobby did this teacher have?!

“Pretty early. Not just that, I also recorded your despicable, vulgar, perverted, and disgusting behavior.” The Female Teacher lightly waved her phone.

“What do you think Mashiro’s family will say if I send it to them?”

“What will they say?”

The center of the unfolding drama, Mashiro, sitting primly nearby, tilted her head slightly as if it didn’t concern her, asking curiously in agreement.

“I absolutely DO NOT want to know!”

Although Himekoji shouted this, the ending had flashed into his mind the moment Hiratsuka-sensei started speaking.

Undoubtedly: Mashiro gets taken back by her family immediately → His cohabitation mission fails as a result → He turns into a naked, helpless good-for-nothing completely unable to take care of himself… That’s how it’d go.

No way!

If it really came to that, he’d rather die!

“Humph. Alright then. Do you know what you need to do now?” Hiratsuka-sensei asked coolly, arms crossed.

“Is the drain at sensei’s place clogged again?”

Though she wore an expression clearly saying “You know what I mean, stop pretending,” Himekoji had absolutely no clue whatsoever…

He could only tentatively ask like this.

“Not yet. Also, that’s your own responsibility. Don’t try to use it as leverage now.”

“My responsibility? Since when did it become my responsibility?”

Himekoji was almost fooled by how naturally the teacher asserted that.

“Isn’t the warranty period for those things pretty long?”

“Then go find your property manager! If you need warranty, why hit me up?!”

“Come now, stop talking nonsense.”

Hiratsuka-sensei threw a pointed look at Himekoji, completely unabashed.

Himekoji stared back, utterly baffled.

The one talking nonsense was the old spinster herself!

“Fine. How about Mashiro moves into my place first? There’s plenty of room anyway. It’s no problem living with just one more person; even if two more moved in, it’d still be fine.”

As she spoke, a slightly odd glance from Hiratsuka-sensei landed on Himekoji.

……