A deathly hush fell over the classroom as last period homeroom ended. Our homeroom teacher had just added, as a closing remark, for me to report to the student guidance office. I yielded without a word, aware of the eyes on me as I made my way to the door. As for the known faces, Riku ignored me; Nonoka glanced at me and then back at her desk; Rikka and Ruki seemed like they had something to say, but didn’t; the only person to intervene was Asuka, who jumped up from her desk to block my path.
“Ms. Mio, this is my—”
I stuck out a hand to cut her off. If she revealed the real reason for our absence on Sports Day, she would anger the Akizukis and imperil her family. It was an unhelpful gesture, not just for her, but for me as well. I gently touched her hand to reassure her of my intentions.
Sparing the blushes of the Akizuki family was the excuse. In truth, this needed to happen simply because it was a good look for me, and Asuka revealing that I was taking a bullet for her wasn’t.
I held her gaze firmly and spoke firmly. “Asuka. We just laid the issue to rest and now you want to dig it up again? After all that? After our promise?” With that, I strode past her and left the classroom behind.
Asuka owed me a debt of gratitude and wouldn’t disobey me. Sayaka knew better than to make trouble for Asuka’s family without permission. Reassuring myself that everything would be fine, I solemnly made my way toward the student guidance office.
Standing in front of the student guidance office, I gave the door a light rap and a familiar female voice invited me in. I opened the door, and who do I find sitting there at the other end of the coffee table but Ms. Chiaki—our PE teacher and the only member of the faculty to realize that something more complicated might’ve been going on between Nonoka and me. Shizuki should have settled that little episode between me and her, so this encounter was a surprise.
“Ms. Chiaki, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I asked coolly, narrowing my eyes to show my displeasure. She jumped slightly in her seat.
“Sports Day,” she replied calmly. “Let’s have a little chat.”
A smirk floated to my lips. “Don’t tell me you’re here to scold me for ‘failing’ Nonoka too?”
“Not quite. While I do find your approach to teamwork leaves much to be desired, I’m not looking to place blame,” She stared at me firmly. “I just want to hear your side of the story.”
I scoffed. “Guileless and Guilelesser. You and Nonoka really are two of a kind.”
But Ms. Chiaki didn’t flinch this time. Clearly, she already had her own theory and was just looking for any slip-up from me. Despite knowing I was playing right into her hands, I had no option but to press on. Sosei Academy faculty—I’ve underestimated you for the last time.
I sighed. “And what makes you think I even have a side to tell?”
“Azumaji had called in absent that morning. Yet there she was by your side during your little quarrel at the end of the day.”
“Something, something curiosity, something, something cat. I advise you to drop this dangerous line of thought, Ms. Chiaki.”
My threat was clear, but she only smiled. “I know the risks of crossing you, Ms. Sakurazaka, but it’s my duty as an educator to understand my students.”
“Goodness, what is this, a teen drama? So what, I’m just supposed to tell you everything because you asked?”
“Not at all. You can share if you want, but I know you won’t.”
Now thoroughly confused, I lowered my voice. “Then why call me here at all?”
“Because it’d be suspicious if nobody chewed you out after everything that happened, wouldn’t it?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You’re helping me?”
She paused, and her face grew suddenly serious, eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that was…telling. “I’d be in trouble if I couldn’t pay my mortgage.”
I blinked. Then an almost unbelieving smile crossed my lips. It was true that I’d threatened her with unemployment, but that had been to leave me alone, not join my cause. So why was she here, reaching out to me and implicating herself? “What am I, a comic book villain?” I retorted.
“Maybe you should be. It’d make you more believable,” she replied.
“Believe what you want, the fact is I’m a self-important rich girl.”
“A real self-important rich girl wouldn’t feel the need to say that.”
With that, she got up and poured me a cup of coffee.
“What’s this?” I eyed the paper cup suspiciously.
“I called you here to chew you out, it’d be strange if you were only here for all of two minutes. Stay, finish your coffee.”
I paused. “What brought about this change of heart, Ms. Chiaki?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve always put my students first.”
Realization settled across my face. Indeed, she has. There was no denying that seasoned educator Chiaki Urabe always had something up her sleeve. With that amusing thought, I took the proffered cup and tentatively took a sip.
After what felt like a safe chunk of time later, I left the student guidance office. As I closed the door behind me, I caught the sight of several students dashing down the hallway that led away from the office. It was as if they’d been camped outside the entire time, curious to see what had become of me.
So, this is what I’ve been reduced to, I thought wryly. A spectacle for ridicule and spite.
But this was exactly what I wanted, so instead of frowning, I let a smile spread across my face. Everything was going according to plan. As long as it stayed this way, Shizuku’s life would be secure. And the only ally I needed, the only person I needed to understand me, was Shizuki.
With that smile still plastered on my face, I started the walk back to my classroom. Suddenly, a lone figure blocked my path. Who was this nameless character so daring to confront me? I looked up, ready to face my next challenger—and promptly froze.
Before me stood not just any random adversary, but the final boss of the entire game.
“C-Cousin Kyosuke, what a surprise.”
“Hardly. I warned you, didn’t I? That if you ever proved poisonous to Shizuki’s name, I’d personally ensure your elimination.”