Can I Still Be Your Heroine Even Though I'm Your Teacher?-Chapter 3Volume 1 .5 - A Relationship Like Waves
A Relationship Like Waves 5
“Mayuzumi-san. There are cases in the world where confessing only leads to more pain.”
If it were easy to be aggressive in love, nobody would have any trouble.
It’s not about not being able to muster courage sometimes. It’s about calmly assessing the situation and choosing to restrain oneself.
“Nikki, did something happen to you in the past? You should heal old love wounds with a new love!”
“Leave me alone!”
Mayuzumi-san, clearly enjoying our exchange, narrowed her eyes like a crescent moon.
“Okay, stop! Continuing this heated debate on love won’t change anything.”
Tenjō-sensei intervened with a referee’s stop.
“What’s important are the feelings of those involved. No matter how much their friends get excited, it’s only a nuisance if it’s just the outsiders. For now, just watch over them quietly.”
“Uh-okay, if Reiyu-chan Sensei says so…”
Mayuzumi-san wilted at the words of the respected Tenjō-sensei.
Perhaps feeling sorry to let her go just like that, Tenjō-sensei offered more words of advice.
“You see, I have a friend from high school. She’s experienced in love and gives me advice and support, but she never rushes me or forces things. That’s why we’re still best friends as adults. Everyone has their own pace and circumstances in life. You need to understand and respect that. When your friend asks for help, then you can support them without hesitation.”
“Okay. Ririka will take a step back and watch for a while.”
Mayuzumi-san left the teacher’s desk cheerfully.
“Then I’ll head back to the staff room.”
“I’ll go buy lunch at the school store.”
I left the classroom at the same time as Sensei.
Almost having been caught by Mayuzumi-san, we both looked exhausted.
“Is it okay to talk like this, considering the Neighbor Agreement?”
She whispered, just loud enough for me to hear.
“It’s just casual conversation while walking, so it should be safe, I guess?”
I responded, hoping it was the right answer.
“Right. This is just casual chat.”
As we walked side by side in the corridor, the conversation turned back to what had just happened.
“You did well in convincing Mayuzumi-san, keeping her from meddling too much with her friend.”
I thought that if our verbal battle with Mayuzumi-san had heated up any further, I definitely would have slipped up.
“That’s because I’m a bit more of an adult than the students, able to see things from a slightly broader perspective.”
“I’m no match for Tenjō-sensei.”
It seems like it would take quite a bit more experience to catch up to her.
I wonder if I’ll understand Tenjō-sensei’s feelings better as I gain more life experience.
“I wonder who the friend Mayuzumi-san was talking about is. Someone from our class?”
“Who knows? I have no idea.”
“You should try to have a broader perspective.”
“Wow, what a sarcastic comment. My eyes only see Sensei.”
“…You mean in terms of seating in the classroom, right?”
Questioned, I recalled what I had just said.
“Of, of course! I’m talking about a physical aspect!”
“Ahaha, of course. I got a bit startled for a moment there.”
We laughed together but parted awkwardly midway.
***
During dinner on Thursday, Tenjō-san reported with a beaming smile.
“Recently, I’m happy that Kuhouin-san has stopped being late.”
The morning call strategy was successful, and Akira Kuhouin’s tardiness dramatically improved.
Since I started making morning calls, Akira’s responses gradually lost their sleepy tone day by day.
“I hope it continues like this.”
“It’s all about habit. Once it’s established, it’s hard to break the rhythm of her life again.”
“You’re proof of that, Tenjō-san. You’ve started waking up with just one alarm recently.”
“It’s really motivating to have a feast waiting in the morning.”
“I don’t think I’m making anything special.”
“No, no, I’m grateful every morning.”
“Thank you for always finishing your meals so neatly.”
This had become a daily routine on weekdays, sharing the day’s events over dinner.
Today’s menu was rice and miso soup, pork ginger stir-fry with shredded cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, and cold tofu with plenty of condiments as a side dish.
Tenjō-san eagerly reached for the chopsticks, happy by what seemed like an energizing meal that boys usually liked.
I felt that cooking was worth the effort every time I saw her enjoying the meal so happily.
While dining with the innocent Tenjō-san, I noticed a grain of rice stuck near her mouth.
“Tenjō-san, you’ve got some rice stuck on your mouth.”
“Where?”
“Bottom left.”
She reached for her mouth but couldn’t quite get it.
“Where? I can’t get it, help. Here.”
She naturally brought her face closer.
I wonder if women with younger brothers naturally see younger guys as non-romantic options.
Not wanting to show fear or hesitation, I extended my finger as instructed.
I carefully removed the rice with my fingers, delicately pinching like tweezers and trying not to touch Tenjō-san too much.
“There, it’s clean now.”
But now, what should I do with this grain of rice?
“…It’s actually kind of embarrassing. Being treated like a child by someone younger feels weird.”
“You were the one who asked. Why do you do this if you’re embarrassed?”
I pulled out a tissue from the box and wrapped the rice grain in it.
“No, I thought it’d be okay since you patted my head before, but——I ended up feeling nervous.”
“Could you not say something like that while blushing!? Now I’m feeling embarrassed too.”
“I was just teasing you a little.”
Either thoughtlessness or just being too relaxed, I can’t quite figure out Tenjō-san.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
Thanks to the Neighbor Agreement, we’ve maintained a reasonably close relationship.
It’s honestly a relief that we’ve become able to interact without worrying about age or gender inside the room.
Yet, in certain moments, both she and I inadvertently become conscious of each other as members of the opposite sex.
That’s why I get curious.
What exactly am I, Yuunagi Nishiki, to Reiyu Tenjō?
