Chapter 173: Hiratsuka-sensei’s Kindness
Chapter 173: Hiratsuka-sensei’s Kindness
The female teacher paused, really building up the suspense, before finally continuing—
“You and Mashiro can live with me at my place.”
…
“Huh?”
Himekoji dug a finger in his ear.
“No… Sensei, what did you just say?”
“Oh, I said you and Mashiro should come live with me.”
Hiratsuka Shizuka repeated it casually.
“Oh, I get it.”
Himekoji nodded, speaking plainly.
“Mhmm, you really are my student. Quick to understand. You’re teachable. So, you and Mashiro-chan head over to my place after school toda—”
“Shiina, let’s get back to class.”
As if he hadn’t heard a word the female teacher said after that, Himekoji stood up on his own and spoke to Mashiro.
“Okay.”
After finishing her milk tea, Mashiro obediently stood up from the bench and walked back towards the school building alone.
“Hey, Mashiro-chan, wait! Come live with Sensei starting today!”
Hiratsuka hurriedly tried to call her back.
Hearing the voice, Mashiro instinctively paused her steps. She then looked towards Himekoji, as if seeking his guidance.
Himekoji waved his hand, signaling Mashiro to ignore that strange-talking, disrespectful-as-a-teacher female teacher.
If he actually listened to Hiratsuka-sensei here, what kind of mess would that be?
Living with three people? That meant he’d have to take care of more than just Mashiro!
He could more or less guess what Hiratsuka-sensei was really after—
She probably wanted a free, obedient, capable, all-around little housekeeper…
After all, the appeal of the skill “Housekeeping Gigolo” to a single person like Hiratsuka Shizuka, who struggled with housework, was undeniable.
But, trying to satisfy a female teacher? In some ways, that might be even harder than Mashiro!
Himekoji wasn’t falling for this trick!
“Hey, what’s your deal?”
The female teacher turned and looked at Himekoji with a complaining tone.
How bizarre. Wasn’t this supposed to be a win-win-win?
Who would’ve thought Himekoji Akito was a traitor!
“Sensei, what’s your deal?”
Himekoji retorted irritably,
“A teacher and students living together? Is that even appropriate? Jokes should have their limits…”
At the mention of “teacher and students,” Hiratsuka-sensei paused too. The female teacher fell silent for a moment before changing her words.
“Mhmm, so… then after you graduate.”
After graduation…
Same as what she said last time when they ate ramen together.
She changed the subject so naturally and quickly. Maybe that idea of having him and Mashiro live with her was really just a whim.
Like she lost interest all of a sudden, the female teacher waved her hand.
“That’s enough. You should get back to class too, right? Remember to hand in a self-reflection essay for skipping class after school ends.”
Fine, he would write the essay. But before going to class, there was one thing he wanted to ask Hiratsuka-sensei.
“Oh, Sensei, can I ask you something?”
Himekoji opened his mouth softly.
“What?”
“What kind of person… is Shiina?”
His gaze chased after a back that had long since vanished. He stared intently in the direction Mashiro had left.
“I have no idea what she’s thinking.”
Himekoji sighed.
“Oh, is that so?”
The female teacher patted Himekoji’s shoulder.
“That’s only natural, isn’t it? Because while you were still learning to laugh, cry, and get angry… Mashiro had already picked up a paintbrush.”
“Is her family background like that?”
“Her father possesses enough skill to lecture at a British art university, though he’s not too famous as a painter. Her mother also graduated from an art university. You could call them a family of artists. They’re still in Britain now.”
“Even so… that shouldn’t cause this much… messiness, right?”
“Who knows? If someone learned to express themselves through painting before they ever learned to express their emotions through facial expressions or voice… maybe it’s not so hard to understand after all.”
The words Hiratsuka-sensei said lightly were anything but light for Himekoji—
Meaning, Shiina Mashiro perhaps had always been different, from the very beginning.
Living in a world of painting.
That was probably the case, right?
“So… she couldn’t laugh herself?”
“That’s talent too.”
Not being able to laugh was also a talent?
Surprisingly persuasive, yet it made Himekoji’s heart inexplicably feel a little heavier.
“Is it okay, then, for someone with such talent… to draw manga?”
For some reason, Himekoji was astonished to realize he was actually worrying about a girl he’d known for less than a few days?
Caring for others… this kind of unnecessary kindness really wasn’t like him.
“That’s Mashiro’s own issue. I don’t know either.”
“But…”
“I know what you mean, but what’s wrong with that? It’s great if she can become a famous mangaka.”
“…Don’t her parents object?”
“Currently, no. Because she didn’t tell them the reason she came to Japan. On the surface, it’s a reverse study-abroad program to integrate Japanese elements into her work.”
“But… that’s pretty irresponsible… What if they find out?”
“That’s not for you to interfere with. It’s an issue between Mashiro and her family—no, actually, it’s Mashiro’s own issue. I helped her live in Japan, but beyond that, it’s none of my business. Including whether she becomes a mangaka or not.”
“That’s so careless…”
Himekoji pressed his lips together, suddenly unsure what to say.
“Worry less about others. Before that, think a bit more about your own matters.”
“Myself? Me?”
Himekoji pointed at himself, baffled.
Weren’t they talking about Mashiro? How did that suddenly switch to him?
“Himekoji…”
Hiratsuka-sensei smiled, looking troubled.
“What should I say… you…”
She trailed off. That pause perhaps gave her time to gather her thoughts.
But it wasn’t Hiratsuka Shizuka who needed the time to prepare; it was Himekoji Akito.
The female teacher gently raised her hand towards Himekoji’s face. Not allowing him to look away, she softly placed her palm against his cheek. The warmth of her palm was gentle, exactly right.
“…Even if you yourself have gotten used to it… seeing you like this will always make someone feel uncomfortable, you know. It’s time you realized that.”
Seeing him like this… could make someone feel uncomfortable?
Could it?
Could there really be someone like that?
…
Of course there was.
No matter what, there were some truths Himekoji couldn’t deceive himself about.
Something turned him into someone twisted, yet it simultaneously poured out talents upon him endlessly, enhancing his charm, using all sorts of bizarre ways to make girls like him.
The one behind all these contradictions was the System.
The teacher patted his shoulders. Pat. Pat.
“Okay, I probably said some things that don’t make much sense. Hurry back to class.”
“Okay…”
He didn’t know how to reply. He didn’t understand what exactly Hiratsuka-sensei had meant. And he didn’t want to know. He didn’t dare to know.
Himekoji gave a low murmur of acknowledgment, turned, and walked back.
Still, even as he walked down the stairs from the rooftop, he could feel that pair of gentle eyes still following him.
Perhaps that supposedly “perfect balance point” plan Hiratsuka-sensei had proposed wasn’t merely about finding a convenient housekeeper at all.
The female teacher probably saw it long ago.
More than just Mashiro… this twisted Himekoji Akito was also someone who needed someone to take care of him.
…
…