Can I Still Be Your Heroine Even Though I'm Your Teacher?-Chapter 4Volume 1 .5 - Interlude - Without You

Interlude 4

Without You 2

『Yes, first love is a painful thing.』

I feel like crying at my best friend’s affirmation.

It’s too late to experience first love, yet too early to meet him.

I’m an adult now.

His kindness makes me happy, but the situation where I can’t honestly accept it is painful.

As long as we are a teacher and a student, the emotions named love that sprout between us are a forbidden fruit that must never come to fruition.

Yet, there’s a part of me that wants to reach out for it.

『Reiyu-chan, having seen your parents’ troubles, it’s understandable that you’re scared to fall in love. It’s not your fault, as no one can choose the family they’re born into. Don’t get that wrong.』

“Yeah.”

『But, it’s unfair to end things by just imposing your situation on him.』

“I understand.”

『First of all, the guy next door understands the age and position differences between you two and still supports you, an inexperienced older woman. As your best friend, I can’t forgive you if you’re being unfair to such a kind-hearted person. After that, you are free to do whatever you want!』

My best friend scolds me more earnestly than anyone else.

“Yes.”

I engrave her words deeply into myself.

Before hanging up, my best friend offered one last piece of advice.

『Even though many loves fade, if it’s true love, any trouble or obstacle is just a stepping stone that strengthens the bond between two people.』

I have no confidence I can move towards the future I desire.

But I didn’t want things to end awkwardly as they are.

I don’t want to lose this important relationship we have now.

That’s the true feeling of Reiyu Tenjō.

“Alright!”

To keep a small promise I had made, I found myself in the kitchen, even though it was late at night.

***

Then, on Monday morning.

When I arrived at the classroom, the seat in front of me was empty.

Yuunagi Nishiki, who usually looked up to me, was unusually late.

Glancing towards the window, Akira Kuhouin was seated on time as usual.

“Sensei, can I start the class?”

While I stood silently at the podium, the class representative called out to me, snapping me back to reality.

“Yes, please.”

Even after finishing the morning homeroom, Yuunagi-kun still hadn’t shown up.

I couldn’t help but worry if yesterday’s incident was the reason.

What should I do?

Should I take a chance and send him a message later?

We usually keep to private communication, so we don’t talk about school-related things.

This morning, I couldn’t bring myself to let him know whether I’d have breakfast or not, so I came to school without stopping by his room.

I regretted not making up my mind to see him.

Being proactive is almost synonymous with taking action.

I loathed my own weakness for not being able to act as if My resolution from last night vanished somewhere.

And I realized how amazing the courage he had shown me yesterday was.

While I was pondering this, Kuhouin-san approached me.

“Tenjō-sensei, may I?”

It was the first time Kuhouin-san had initiated a conversation with me, and it caught me off guard.

“Sensei?”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

I forced a smile, but the words of my best friend from last night suddenly resurfaced in my mind.

『——before you know it, he might start dating someone else.』

Those words stirred my heart.

“Nishiki is sick with a cold and won’t be coming today. He asked me to tell you.”

Kuhouin-san’s expression remained unchanged as she bluntly relayed the message.

“A cold!? Is his fever high?”

I was astonished by the unexpected news.

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Maybe getting wet in the rain was bad for him.

“I don’t know the details. But Sensei, aren’t you overreacting?”

“Ah—ahaha. Um, I guess so. I just didn’t expect to hear it from Kuhouin-san and was surprised. Sorry.”

I tried to laugh it off, but Kuhouin-san’s gaze felt somewhat cold.

“…I just happened to be in contact with Nishiki.”

“Huh, you two seem close. I had no idea.”

I think to myself how insincere my acting must seem.

I had long known that he was making morning calls to wake up Kuhouin-san.

In a way, both Kuhouin-san and I are in similar positions, being helped by him.

Ah, this isn’t good.

I find myself feeling jealous of my student again.

I’m probably a little upset that he relied on someone other than me.

“Hey, are you two dating?”

Before I knew it, such a question had slipped out of my mouth.

“Not really. Nishiki is just a bit meddlesome. This time, he just happened to ask me to pass on a message. Um, that’s all.”

Kuhouin-san quickly ended the conversation and returned to her seat.

I opened the attendance book and marked Yuunagi Nishiki as absent.

Even without writing it down, the absence of a student who’s always in front of me is really obvious and forces me to be aware of his absence.

The familiar scene changes so much, and it makes me feel uncomfortable.

“It’s fine. There’s no problem if it’s just between students.”

I murmur in a voice no one can hear.

Even though I’m also a part of the second-year Class C, I’m different from everyone else.

Teacher and student. Adult and child. These obvious distinctions make me feel a little lonely.

Leaving the classroom and walking down the hallway, I can’t help but think about him.

“If he’s caught a cold, he should have told me directly.”

I become increasingly irritated, putting my own behavior aside.

It’s a selfish thought. After sending him home like that yesterday, it’s impossible to expect a message.

I wouldn’t be able to do it if our roles were reversed.

The fact that he asked Kuhouin-san to relay a message clearly shows he feels awkward about it.

“I wonder if he’s managing his food and medicine…”

In times like this, living alone is tough.

Without someone to take care of you, you have to move yourself even when you’re feeling awful. Otherwise, nothing gets done.

“—That’s what the Neighbor Agreement is for, isn’t it?”

I decided to do what needs to be done.