Chapter 243: We Got Married

Was it for real?

Did this guy actually sneak out to work during the school trip?

That was way too desperate!

What’s more, Nanami just happened to be working at the exact same hotel Himekoji randomly walked into…

The odds of bumping into each other like this had to be one in a million!

Would this be called the choice of fate?

Facing Nanami’s shock and raging fury, Himekoji could only offer a wry smile in return.

At a time like this, any explanation was pointless. Putting himself in her shoes made it crystal clear—he could talk until he was blue in the face, Nanami wouldn’t believe him.

Seeing was believing, right?

So, the only thing Himekoji could do now—

Was tighten his arm, making the female teacher nestled against his chest bury her face deeper into him.

It seemed Nanami hadn’t recognized just who the drunk woman in his arms was. That was good.

A teacher and student entering a hotel together late at night? Far too suspicious.

However, to Nanami, Himekoji’s action felt more like a dare.

Nanami, unsurprisingly, exploded:

“What do you think you’re doing? The very first night of the school trip… like this! Honestly! Just as expected, no matter where you go, your perverted nature doesn’t change!”

Ever since their last fight, Himekoji and Nanami’s relationship had been stuck in this awkward state.

It was a cold war, but not just any cold war.

Their relationship resembled a snow-capped mountain peak. On the surface, it was all hard ice, but deep beneath, what churned were scalding rivers of lava.

Far from cooling over time, the lava only grew hotter, just waiting for the right moment to crack the ice.

Maybe today was that day.

Seeing Nanami had no intention of holding back, Himekoji naturally felt no need to give her any soft words either.

He gave a careless laugh and just rolled with what she’d accused him of.

“What else could I do? After all, I’m the type of guy who can’t sleep without a woman’s warmth. So, Aoyama, why don’t you come around and keep me company?”

Smooth, flirtatious lines like this used to come only at the System’s demand. But this time, it flowed purely from Himekoji’s own will.

Even if he was just saying it out of anger.

Nanami pressed her lips tightly together. She didn’t speak again, but her silent, sharp glare drilled into Himekoji as if it could pierce right through him.

Himekoji booked two rooms.

Of course, Nanami scoffed inwardly at this behavior.

What an act! So insincere! Totally redundant! Fake! Gross!

“Scritch-scritch-scritch”—the tip of her pen scratched sharply against the paper as she filled out the forms.

Nanami’s face remained utterly black throughout the entire registration process.

Luckily, Japan didn’t have ID cards for travel, and hotels only required a symbolic registration—just a name, telephone number, and address. This kept Hiratsuka-sensei’s identity from being exposed.

“Don’t tell anyone what happened tonight,” he said. “In exchange, I’ll keep your little side job during the school trip a secret too.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No. It’s a transaction. Beneficial for both of us.”

Himekoji took the key card, turned his back in a casual, dismissive way, and waved goodbye to Nanami at the front desk.

Arm around the female teacher, he walked towards the elevator, never looking back.

“Hmph!”

Watching the two figures retreat, Nanami could only stamp her foot in sheer annoyance.

Himekoji used every ounce of his strength to finally toss the female teacher onto one of the beds.

Clapping his hands, relieved, he prepared to take his leave and head back to his own room.

But the moment he turned around, a half-drunk, drowsy Hiratsuka Shizuka grabbed his arm.

“The wedding’s about to start. Where do you think you’re going?”

The female teacher chose this exact moment to start rambling drunkenly again. With a tug from her hand, caught off guard, Himekoji lost his balance and fell right onto her bed.

“What the…”

Was this ever going to end?

Himekoji expelled a heavy sigh filled with frustration.

What a drag! If you’re going to get drunk, why can’t you just go to sleep? Just lie down properly!

What part of playing ‘pretend wedding’ is fun?!

“Teacher, you should get some rest. We have to gather by seven-thirty tomorrow morning.”

“Shhh!”

The drunken female teacher suddenly rolled across the bed. Her long, pale index finger stretched out and gently pressed against Himekoji’s lips, silencing him.

“Be quiet now,” she whispered conspiratorially. “The officiant is reading the marriage certificate.”

Damn, this was nuts!

Reading the marriage certificate? Seriously?!

Okay, getting drunk and acting crazy might be understandable, but even crazy people have limits…

Where did this sudden crazy wedding fantasy even come from?

You can keep playing your game; I’m out of here!

Himekoji steeled his resolve to pull away and escape.

And then—

[Ding!]

Make your choice!

[A: Cooperate with Hiratsuka Shizuka’s improv.]

[B: Cooperate with Aoyama Nanami’s improv.]

[Reward: Basic Acting Skill.]

[Failure Penalty: Drunk Forever.]

Therefore—

Himekoji, who had just managed to peel away from the clingy female teacher and get off the bed, froze instantly in place the very next second.

The hotel corridor was under surveillance.

Nanami was sitting at the front desk, staring fixedly at the monitor screen.

Himekoji and that woman entered the same room, and they never came out!

No doubt, booking two rooms was just the Pervert’s trick to cover it up!

How mean!

But… why go that far?

Doing this, just to show off to her, for nothing?

After all, outside of her, no one knew about such a thing—Himekoji going out to book a room with a drunken woman of unknown origin in the dead of night.

Nanami waited anxiously for her shift change; soon, soon, just ten more minutes!

She was only here as a temp to fill in, paid by the hour; it was a job she found last-minute, and all the treatment was just average.

But as a part-time warrior, Nanami always took any side job without question, never being picky.

Thanks to this, she caught Himekoji in the act.

……

The wait was painful and dragged on forever.

During that time, Nanami even thought several times about ditching the job and walking away.

Of course, she only thought it; after all, her strict personality wouldn’t let her do such a thing.

After more than ten long minutes of restless waiting, it was finally over.

Nanami, finished with the shift change, stormed fiercely towards the crime scene.

“Calm down, calm down,”

Standing at the door, the girl took a deep breath and told herself this.

She decided to listen for sounds inside first.

That was the choice Nanami made right away.

So, she pressed her ear against the door, focused and listening hard.

Sadly, this Hotel’s soundproofing was surprisingly good; after listening for ages, Nanami couldn’t make out a thing.

Luckily, she had a backup plan.

Earlier, at the front desk, she had secretly slipped this room’s spare key card into her pocket.

Though it wasn’t the right or proper thing to do, Nanami was too worked up to care.

Yes, she was worked up.

She was mad.

Very mad! Super mad!

She didn’t know why.

……