Boku no Kanojo Sensei Volume 9 Chapter 3

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Maka-sensei Awaits The Response

Oh right, during last year’s Golden Week, we got a prolonged vacation, which left me all empty inside. That was right in the middle when my relationship with Maka-sensei was still in everyone’s minds. Well, it did make sense, so I can’t blame them…

That being said, this year’s GW is even more depressing, as it is my final one in my high school career. That’s why I decided to get a bit of a change of pace. Only studying and visiting graves would make me go crazy after all.

“That being the case, here I am.”

“What case!?”

I stood in front of a flashy-looking flat, located in the center of town. As I stepped outside my cab, I flashed a grin towards the person greeting me.

“S-Sai-kun, why are you here!?”

“Been a while…would be the right thing to say, I guess? We met at the end-of-term ceremony of the third term, right? So, around a month and a half, I guess.”

Standing in front of me was a single girl with semi-long, red hair. As usual, she wore her school uniform without a blazer—Wait a second?

“Nui, why are you wearing Seikadai’s uniform? Are you out of things to wear…?”

“Of course not! I’m working my butt off, so I’d be sad if I didn’t have a few Western clothes at my disposal!” Nui screamed with tears in her eyes.

I’m glad to see she’s still brimming with energy. She seems to be in disguise, as she#s wearing a black hat on her head, as well as some fake glasses—Ah, the ones I gave her as a Christmas present.

“Since this is necessary for my JK Fashion photoshoot, I’m wearing that right now! I just came back with the cab, so I didn’t have time to change yet!”

“Hmm…But, why Seikadai’s? Don’t you have the uniform of your current school?”

“That one’s not very cute. Not to mention that Seikadai’s is more well-known.”

Yeah, I heard that Seikadai’s uniform is pretty popular. But, is it really fine to wear the uniform of a school she quit at for a photoshoot? …Well, not my problem.

“Ah, right! I remembered! Sai-kun, what was that LINE message about!? How do you know about my grades!?”

“So you ghosted me? That hurts.”

“S-Sorry, but me contacting you is…Wait, more importantly, you’re threatening me, right!”

“I’m just happy to see that you’re making good work at your new school—All I’m doing is showing you kindness.”

“You make it sound so positive…I-I am trying with my studies…A bit.”

“………”

Guess I’ll ignore that last part she added. In her case, everything’s fine as long as she graduates after all.

“Still, this is some crazy place you live in. Isn’t this flat super expensive?”

“It is, but with the revenue from youtsube, I can—Wait, did I ever tell you where I live, Saigi-kun?”

It took her some time, but Nui finally realized.

“You’re using your own apartment to record the videos, right? Looking at the walls and pillars, I could figure out the sort of apartment you live in, and found this very flat as a result.”

“That’s what a stalker would say, right?!”

“I’m joking. I had your manager tell me. As well as the time you’d be back.”

When I helped out with that photoshoot before, I received that manager’s business card. I’m glad I actually kept it safe all this time.

“A-An internal leak of information…I didn’t want to meet you, Sai-kun! Not until I take the top of the entertainment world and youtsube industry!”

“That’s gonna take a long time.”

Oh, right. She mentioned something like that on Christmas.

“If we keep talking like this, people will find out I live here! C-Can’t help it…Wanna come to my room?” Nui’s face turned beet red, as she started fidgeting.

What kind of romcom is this supposed to be?

“T-The thing is, the plan was for me to move together with my parents, but it turned a bit difficult for them, so I’m now living together with my manager. Said manager is staying at her own place tonight though, so it’s just me…”

“Ah, there they are. Took them long enough.”

I ignored Nui’s words and fidgeting, and raised my hand.

“Ugh…this is pretty far away from the train station…Kuu-chan deceived Miharu…”

“I-I didn’t do anything like that, Miharu-oneechan. It’s only about 15 minutes from there.”

I beckoned the two girls approaching us over; My little sister Miharu, and the little girl Kuu. Miharu wore some gaudy yellow hoodie and short pants, whereas Kuu had a green one-piece on her. Adding Nui’s red hair into the mix, are they cosplaying some traffic light?

“Eh? Miharun and Kuu-tan? W-Why are you here? Some 4P?”

“Hey now, we have a young girl with us, don’t use that kind of vocabulary!”

That being said, we shouldn’t be causing trouble in public like this, and since it’s not just the two of us, I had no hesitation bothering Nui’s room.

“Wahh…such a large room…” Kuu raised a voice of admiration.

Yeah, this is pretty amazing. The size seemed close to 20 tatami mats, which offered a living room and an added kitchen. The floor was actually plastered, glittering because of the light shining down. On the large and luxurious table stood an 80inch TV, with a sofa in front of it. The scenery outside the windows was as luxurious as you could imagine. This is the room of an influencer, ladies and gentleman.

“This room is also used for photoshoots, so it’s a bit more expensive than what I normally wanted.”

“This sofa looks pretty expensive as well. Will it be as comfortable as ours at home, though?” Miharu put down her backpack, and laid down on the sofa.

She’s not even hesitating a second to use someone else’s sofa, that’s what I expect from her.

“Also, do you really take pictures and sleep in the same room?”

“Yup.”

“I’m not too sure if you should continue doing that. You’ll get doxxed at that rate.”

“W-Well, that kind of pattern is very well possible…But not too likely, right?”

Sounds mighty dangerous if you ask me.

“Make sure to properly lock up everything, Nui, you’re a girl after all.”

“No worries, Sai-kun, my manager lives with me, so she’ll take care. She’s like my older sister as well. Apparently, she’s skilled at kendo and self-defence, so she can just cut up any suspicious guy! She was even part of the self-defence force before”

“No killing people!”

Nui’s manager got huge breasts and quite the looks as well, and with her self-defence skills, she’d probably stick out more as a streamer than Nui herself?

“I’m totally fine…but what brings you here, Sai-kun and the others?”

“I had some business with you, and since I was out with Miharu and Kuu, I thought I might as well stop by.”

Both Miharu and Kuu glanced over at me.

“Miharu forgot to buy the newest market CPU, but they sold it at some dark avenue black market. The big city is different, after all. Miharu also bought some gadgets from overseas, so now she’s stacked.”

“I’ve never seen Miharu talk so energetically…”

“Kuu, you were visiting the cat cafes, right?”

“Ah, yes, I had a great time trying out the various cat cafes here in the big city…!” Kuu’s eyes were sparkling.

I don’t think there’s much difference between city and rural cat cafes, but…She probably knows better than me, that cat cafe fanatic.

“Um…Which is it now? Did you want something with me, or did you just stop by because you were around…?” Nui showed a complicated expression.

In the end, I think she’s happy that we stopped by. Maybe.

“No, you were the main part today, Nui. I came here directly after all.”

“Really? But, with all these members…”

“Right, I forgot.” Kuu opened up Miharu’s backpack.

Since they’re as close as real sisters, Miharu didn’t mind either.

“Tada, yes~ This is the app, I think.”

Kuu took out a tablet, and tapped on its screen a few times.

“Nui-oneechan, can I put it down on that desk?”

“Eh, sure?”

Kuu jumped up ever so slightly, and put the tablet on the desk in standing mode.

‘Ohh, I can see something…But, what is this angle?’

“Eh, Prez!?”

That’s right, we’re currently connected to Seikadai’s former student council president, Jinsho Karen-senpai. She wore a high-neck sweater, which only emphasized how large her breasts were.

‘Is it just me, or did you put the camera quite a bit high uüp? Can you even see my face?’

“Yes, we can see you, Karen-oneechan.”

Shown on the screen was Karen-senpai’s confused face. It probably feels like she’s looking down at us, huh. Yet, Kuu seemed satisfied.

“Kuu, why’d you put it all the way up there?”

“Eh? Karen-oneechan was the respectable student council president, so we need to give appropriate treatment.”

I kind of get it, but I also don’t. Kuu said she wanted to become the student council president as well, so maybe she’s treating that position like it was a god?

“Even Prez…I already pulled out, and yet…” Nui groaned, as she looked at the screen. “C-Can’t be helped, we’re only gathering as friends today, right? No, I’ll just pretend like this never happened.”

I don’t have the right to retort on that, no.

“Miharu doesn’t care about that. She left first after all.”

“I-I still haven’t left, but…I see you all as friends as well.”

I feel like they’re oddly conscious as to not name that organization we all know of. Then again, that organization broke apart last Christmas after all…

‘What troublesome people I gathered, for crying out loud.’

You’re just as troublesome, Karen-senpai.

“But, all the way from America…what about your timezone?”

‘No worries, I don’t have to work today…Though I have to say, this is some amazing room you live in, Amanashi Nui.’

“Gotta show off the fruits of my labour after all! Prez, what kind of room do you live in? Are the rooms in America similar to ours?”

‘An apartment offered to transfer students. It’s cheap, with good security, and I have yet to hear any gunshots.’

“That’s a pretty low hurdle to clear if you ask me!”

Maybe it would have been better if Sister Eva went with her after all…? Then again, I went overseas a few times, and I didn’t encounter any gun action like that either, so it should be fine.

‘No need to worry about me. More importantly, how are things looking over at Seikadai. No problems with Shinbou’s student council?’

“It seems like she’s pretty popular. Well, the vice student council president is just as cute though.”

‘Alright then, Amanashi Nui, can you pull on that idiot’s cheeks for me?’

“I’m not the violent character, okay. But, if Prez says so~”

“Eh, why…Ah, ouch! This sure hurts, you know!”

Nui relentlessly pulled on my cheek.

‘You got guts flirting around with another girl in front of me. I’ll punish you whatever method is needed.’

“I was only praising Miharu and Enri, nothing more…”

For now, we talked about recent happenings at Seikadai, how the first-years were doing, and the new teachers we got. Both Karen-senpai and Nui seemed quite interested about that, so they listened carefully.

‘…Hmm. It seems like the student council is doing good work. Then again, since I’ve already graduated, it’s got nothing to do with me anymore.’

“I’m an entertainer now! The world I live in is greatly different from yours, so I don’t even have the time to worry!”

Did these two turn into tsunderes while I wasn’t watching them? Miharu and Kuu even seemed a bit confused, or just plain disinterested.

“Then, let’s get to the main topic. You had something to talk about, right?”

“Ah, yeah. I wanted everyone to hear me out…”

“That’s right, since we’re here, Miharu prepared something as well.”

“Right, Miharu-oneechan.”

“Hm?”

Right as I wanted to explain myself, both Miharu and Kuu stood up. I didn’t even start, and yet I already feel left out?

“Sorry for the wait, Onii-chan~”

“Thanks for waiting, Sensei~”

“…What are you two doing?”

Miharu and Kuu used Nui’s bedroom, and came back after a few minutes. Miharu wore her usual sweater and uniform, whereas Kuu was wearing her normal grade school division sailor uniform.

“It’s more nostalgic if we two wear our uniforms right, Onii-chan?”

“It’s not like that happened such a long time ago…”

I was wondering why Miharu would walk around with a bag, even though she hated the idea of carrying her student bag to school. To think she’d carry her uniform here.

‘For crying out loud…I thought I’d never wear this uniform again…it feels like cosplay now.’

“Wait, Karen-senpai as well!? Also, why would you bring that uniform with you!?”

The Karen-senpai on the screen on the tablet wore her Seikadai uniform as well. Since she’s graduated as well, this makes it feel like I have JK Maka-chan in front of me.

‘They are my precious memories after all! It’s not like people in America would understand that this is a type of uniform!’

“I wonder…”

I’m pretty sure that a lot of people over there understand a typical JK’s fashion. She probably didn’t want to be left out by the others, which is why she took her uniform with her.

‘I put on some perfume as well, but there’s no way you’d be able to smell that…This is why doing this remotely feels weird.’

“Eh, Karen-senpai, you put on perfume?”

‘Ah, well, don’t worry about it! I’m not in high school anymore, so putting on perfume is nothing out of the ordinary! It’s definitely not because you gave it to me as a present!’

“Huh…”

She might act like a tsundere, but I’m happy that she likes the present at least.

“This uniform really calms me down, almost the same as my jersey~” Nui, who had been wearing her uniform from the beginning, nodded in satisfaction.

I guess she must be happy to see everyone like in the good old days.

“I’m the only one not wearing my uniform, huh.”

“Oh, that reminds me. I have this for you, Sai-kun! You can wear it on your way home as well!”

Nui brought me a plastic bag she had kept in the corner of the room, and pushed it on me.

“The heck is this…”

Inside the bag was a flashy pink hoodie, with Nui’s ‘Oopsies’ face printed on it.

“………”

“Hey! Why are you putting it back like that!”

“I’m not into looking fashionable, and walking around town while wearing this is too much…”

“That hurts?! Why are you this cold to me now!? Is it Ten-chan!? Ten-chan’s influence?!”

“No, those were my honest feelings.”

I did get a bit closer to Tenka-chan, but I’ve always been like this.

“This Manasshii hoodie is pretty popular, you know!? They’re oficial goods from my agency, you feel me!?”

“What was your agency called again? Double Rockets? Are they crazy?”

No, since they are popular, the crazy ones are everybody else.

“Ah, if you don’t want it, then give it to Miharu, Onii-chan.”

“Ohh, you loved hoodies after all, Miharun! I have some other ones with different colors, so just wait for me!”

So not sold out, huh?

“This would be a great joke at school.”

“A joke!? Miharun, you’re even more cruel than your older brother!” Nui groaned as Miharu happily looked at the hoodie. “You damn Saigi siblings…But, this isn’t half bad, I might use this as a script for a video…”

“……”

Nui complained, and yet typed something on her phone. It seems like she really grew as a streamer.

‘Hey, I don’t mind you changing your clothes later, but we need to hear out what you were trying to say before, Saigi Makoto. It’s not like you have all day, right?’

“That’s Senpai for you, perfect cut back to the original conversation.”

Of course I’d like to get back to the main point of this meeting, but playing around a bit doesn’t hurt.

“I kept it a secret this entire time, but about Maka-sensei—”

I told them about our ‘special relationship’ that had started during last year’s spring. Of course, since the young Kuu was with us, I had to keep out some stuff. In all honesty, I probably shouldn’t be talking about this with them. Even if it wasn’t Nui and the others. The story between me and Maka-sensei is one that should be kept secret.

But, I’m stuck. I can’t find an answer on my own. Even after finding out about Fuuka-sensei—No, I think that only tied me down even more. At this rate, I won’t be able to clear the graduation exam. At the very least, I won’t be able to get a perfect grade, and I won’t be able to write my answer with confidence.

‘…Hmm…I see…’

Once I finished telling my story, the first one to show a reaction was Karen-senpai.

‘A graduation exam, huh. Fujiki-sensei is quite strict, I see. Even though you have your own exams to worry about. But, I’m surprised to hear that her own former teacher was buried behind our institution.’

“Urk…just hearing the word ‘exam’ gives me a headache…! Still, she called herself a girlfriend-teacher, huh. That’s some self-proclaimed title alright.”

“To think that our neighbour would brainwash Miharu’s older brother like that.”

“This is too much information for me to keep up…If you can’t clear this final exam, Maka-chansensei will quit as a teacher…? That doesn’t make any sense…”

Way too many retorts I have for these three. But, things will never end if I did, so I need to hold back for now. Of course, it’s not like I just genuinely enjoy the act of retorting, you know?

“Sorry to force this on you. But, I’m at a loss here. You are the only ones who know Maka-sensei enough, except me…”

Even apologizing feels stupid. But, I already forced them all together during this GW, so I at least want to make it worthwhile…Though Karen-senpai doesn’t have any GW since she’s overseas, she’s probably the most busy out of all of us.

‘But, isn’t that something you have to decide on yourself, Mako?’

“That’s right, but deciding on the future life of a person is just too much of a responsibility to…Hold on, whose voice was that!?” I looked at my surroundings.

I could see a smartphone lying on the sofa Miharu occupied, and the voice came out of there.

‘Ah, I was listening in, sorry. I have lessons at night, but I still need to prepare for those, so I can’t be with you.’

“S-Shiya-chan…”

I thought of calling Shiya-chan here as well, but since no response came both over phone and LINE, I gave up. When did Miharu contact her?

‘She is pretty strict towards Mako, alright…I mean, this is a test with no correct answer. If this was a pre-made test for my cram school, I’d have to remake it.’

“Maybe I should ask for a supplementary exam instead…”

‘I doubt Fujiki-sensei will accept that. She probably had the determination to pull this through, even if it would trouble you, Saigi Makoto.’

“Ugh…”

That’s Shiya-chan and Karen-senpai for you. The older faction of this group spoke the cold, harsh truth.

“And, I think that you need to find your answer while you’re still in high school. It’s an important place for both you and Maka-tea, Sai-kun.”

“I-I really don’t get it…If I confess, I want to receive a response. No matter the result, receiving no answer is even worse.”

“Ugh…you’re right.”

Karen-senpai, Nui, Miharu, Kuu, and Shiya-chan, I kept all their confessions on hold. And, the one I had kept on for even longer was Maka-sensei’s. Depending on my choice, her life will change greatly, but I doubt I would have been able to find an answer even if that setting didn’t exist…

‘There’s no correct answer here, but depending on the intentions of your answer, it may be. Though, only you will be able to figure that out.’

‘Agreed. Knowing the answer but not saying it would be betrayal towards Fujiki-sensei’s determination, right?’

“I’m sure that Maka-tea won’t get angry at you no matter what. Even with my own exams, she said ‘I can recommend you for trying to solve the problems you didn’t understand’, you know?”

Isn’t that just because there’s nothing else she could praise you for?

“Depending on the answer, Fujiki-sensei will get angry, grow rampant, and will probably bully Onii-chan until he graduates, but Miharu really wants to see her ridiculous reaction.”

“Then, as the youngest person here…No matter Sensei’s response, Maka-chansensei will do whatever she wants, right? Since she’s an adult, she has to take responsibility for her own actions.”

‘…Despite her being the youngest, she gave the most accurate answer…’

Well, I understand Karen-senpai’s shock. I’m the most shocked to hear this from Kuu. But, everyone is right. They all know that I have my answer, but I can’t say it out loud.

“Now that you got your conclusion, let’s celebrate!”

“Huh!?”

Nui suddenly jumped up, as she screamed. Around the same time, the chime at the door rang. Even in such a high-class flat, they have an average doorbell, huh…Wait, who is it even?

“Yes yes, coming!”

Nui answered the doorbell, and left the room for a second, only to come back right away. “Everyone, the banquet has been prepared! We have pizza, pasta, fried chicken, cake, and even tapioca drinks!”

“What is going on…”

“I secretly ordered this from U*er! It’s so convenient nowadays, don’t you think?”

“Isn’t this pretty expensive…?”

From what I can see, she ordered this from a pretty expensive store.

“Miharu really loves this kind of lifestyle~”

“Just be happy with your older brother’s homemade food, okay.”

Until the day she leaves our home, I will make her feel satisfied with anything but junk food. No more pasta the Italian won’t admit.

“Wahh, I’m happy that I get to eat something like this. My mother wouldn’t let me something like this because it’s a waste according to her.” Kuu’s eyes sparkled, as she looked at the pizza and cake.

‘Ehh, you’re having a pizza party?! Damn it, I only have convenience market food!’

‘Maybe I should order some pizza as well…’

I feel like the conversation changed a bit too drastically…There’s still some things I’d like to ask, but since we’ve gathered like this, I guess I can ask another time.

Like this, Golden Week ended. In the end, it ended only with me visiting the grave, and partying at Nui’s place. But, it was fun, I have to say. After that, the first half of May ended as well, and mid-term exams began.

“Mmm…”

Today as well, I sat inside the self-study room. Tenka-san commented with a ‘No need, your head is stupid, you won’t breed’, showing her hot and cold side as always, just when I thought we got a long a bit more. Enri has her student council work cut out for her, so I can’t count on her help either. Since I have no other close friends, I’m stuck studying all on my own. But, that’s why I can’t fully focus. I wouldn’t mind if Natsuki and Amae would stop by, but randomly calling them over as a senior would only make things awkward.

“Guess I’ll take a short break…” I sighed in solitude, and stepped out on the hallway.

I took a trip to the cafeteria, bought some black tea, and took a sip of it at a seat. It’s tough that you’re not allowed to eat and drink in these self-study rooms. I get that it’s prohibited in the library but at least give me some relief in these self-study rooms…It’s a shame that Miharu’s reformation doesn’t include that.

“Hey, Saigi~ You’re still here~?”

“Ah, hello…”

Renku-sensei walked towards me, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her trademark white robe. Like it was the most natural thing to do, she sat down in front of me.

“Midterms are close, so I’m busy studying. Just taking a break right now.”

“Ah, I saw you were part of the hanged-out group, but once the third-year rolls around, peeps tend to become more serious, right. Can’t underestimate the faction who aims for outside entrance exams.”

“I figured.”

Most of the 50 people of the hanged-out group—especially the top 10 are reigned by those who aim for outside university entrance exams. The ones who aim to stay at Seikadai tend to relax a bit more after all.

“Don’t let down your guard just because you were in that group before. Not like you can study that well as of late, right?”

“Eh? Y-You knew?”

The Hiyori-sensei who normally just focuses on herself realized that a student was acting off?

“Seemed like you were lost in thought about something~ You might not know this, but from their desk, teacher’s can see a lot as to what’s going on inside the classroom.”

“I’m shocked…”

I didn’t really mean to space out in class.

“Well, I don’t really want to say it, but you’re a bit special, Saigi. Like my eyes drift naturally towards you.”

“Special?”

Because I’m a student who was under her friend, Maka-sensei’s care?

“I was responsible for math during your first year, and when I heard that you were called the ‘Number one problem child in school’, I was pretty scared, you know?”

“Scared!? That’s why I was ‘special’!?”

I’m a normal student you can find everywhere!

“I heard that starting from grade school, you broke the hearts and souls of more than a hundred teachers.”

“I don’t think I even had a hundred teachers during my entire career at Seikadai…?”

And even if I did, I wasn’t picking fights with every single one of them, alright?

“Hiyori-sensei, aren’t you mistaking me for some wild dog?”

“No worries, no worries. You’re a good boy…? I know that!”

“I feel like you bit an oddly-placed question mark in there…”

“I’m still pretty young and experienced, so when I hear problem child, I just prepare myself for the worst~ It’s even scarier because you look so cute on the outside~”

It’s weird hearing these two adjectives connected like that…

“Even today, your little sister fought back during class. The Saigi Family as a whole is so terrifying~”

“What did Miharu do!?”

“Normally I don’t complain if she wears the school’s blazer on top of her hoodie, but today for some reason, she wore a hoodie with Amanashi-chan’s ‘Tehe’ face on it. Can’t exactly tell her ‘not to wear it’ after all. It’s the face of a former student here after all. I still lightly told her in the end, but she just said ‘It’s funny so Miharu will wear it for a while’, you know~”

“I-I’m sorry…”

Miharu, are you seriously wearing that hoodie? Also, you sure got guts wearing that to school…I kind of feel bad for Nui now.

“Just when I thought that her older brother finally calmed down, now the little sister is turning into a problem child~”

“She’s the student council’s vice president, so she should…probably not be fine…”

“So you’re aware of it~ But, as a fact, she’s pretty popular. A lot more girls are wearing hoodies now.”

“W-What kind of cult is that…”

I agree that Miharu is the world’s cutest high-school second-year, but I wonder what these girls would think if they knew about Miharu being as lazy as a cat.

“Well, she should just wear whatever she prefers, honestly~ Girls should treasure their freedom while they still can~”

“Can you say that in front of the vice principal?”

“T-The vice principal? …H-Haa…Huff…”

“Don’t start breathing heavily!”

Are you that bad with the vice principal!?

“I’m joking. This just now was Hiyorin’s personal opinion, so keep it a secret from the vice principal, okay~”

“I wouldn’t go snitch on the vice principal…”

“I’m glad to hear that~ You even know the word ‘snitch’, huh.”

“Come on, I’m in my third-year at high school, I know that much…”

“Not that~ I’m just surprised that this problem child I was so scared of is talking normally to me right now~”

“Didn’t we go to the hot springs together?”

“But, we didn’t take a bath naked to deepen our bonds~”

“It’s not normal to do that, remember!?”

I did that with another teacher, but I’ll stay quiet about that fact.

“Leaving aside the jokes, being a teacher is a pretty fun job. A lot of students changed quite a bit in these three years, and I never grow tired of watching them~”

“Is that so.”

Well, there’s an individual like that right here. Karen-senpai, Nui, Miharu, they all changed drastically compared to before. Of course, Kuu and Shiya-chan changed as well, so it’s not just us high school students.

“That reminds me…Hiyori-sensei, why did you become a teacher?”

“On a whim.”

“Without hesitation?!”

“To be a bit more concrete, it’s because a teacher is a stable occupation.”

“Now you’re not even hiding anything!”

“No matter what I do, the school will just get all the blame, and I can do whatever I want~”

“Can you stop sounding like some mafia boss!?”

“The last part was a joke, okay~”

Only the last part?

“As a fact, that’s just how you choose your job, you know? I’m more on the serious end, but a lot of teachers are like that. If things work out, they’ll stay, and if it doesn’t they quit.”

“Is that really something a student should be hearing?”

“We have to be serious with out students~”

“But, weren’t you going to succeed your family’s business, Hiyori-sensei?”

“Oh, I’m surprised you know. Then again, I wasn’t hiding it or anything. I won’t say I hate a lie laid out for me, but I wanted to go off trail for a bit.”

“That’s why you chose to become a teacher?”

“I feel like I’ve always been good at teaching others. When I taught someone in my student days, my friends’ grades went up as well, and I worked as a private tutor.”

“Huh…”

So she put her talent into an occupation. Makes sense.

“Should I tell you the secret of this ring on my finger?”

“Eh?”

She’s talking about that odd and mysterious ring on her ring finger. Not even Maka-sensei knew about the reason for that, so I’m mighty curious.

“It’s protection against men.”

“…That reason is more normal than I thought.”

Nothing rare at all.

“Hey now, I haven’t finished explaining yet. I told you before, that this is the job I wanted to do before inheriting my family’s business.”

“R-Right.”

“That’s why, I decided to see this job as my calling in life—and acted like I was married to all my students, not experiencing any love while I am a teacher.”

“…Maybe I should put on a ring as well.”

I see…so Hiyori-sensei’s career as a teacher was on a time-limit this entire time. In order to fully devote herself for that, she never considered experiencing a romance. That is the meaning of that ring…

“Ahahaha, bigamy has its good parts as well. My dear cute little students are more important to me than a husband could ever me, disregarding gender~”

“You’re pretty popular after all, Hiyori-sensei. Knowing that, I can imagine some students would ask for more than just a teacher-student relationship.”

“Heh, what a sinful woman I am~”

I have to say, for a woman in her twenties, that is some heavy dedication.

“Though, if there was some handsome rich boy running after me, I wouldn’t hesitate to throw that away~”

“What about your dedication?!”

“Someone like MakaMaka is an exception of exceptions. Inheriting the will of the dead, having them decide her future, this isn’t some manga, you know~”

“……”

So she knows about Fuuka-sensei and Maka-sensei’s relationship, huh. Makes sense, they had known each other since their student days, but to think she knew that much.

“If you were in Maka-sensei’s position, would you have chosen the same path…?”

“Probably not for the sake of inheriting someone else’s will. I think that MakaMaka is treating Fuuka-sensei like some Goddess.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“I was just thinking that, maybe inheriting Fuuka-sensei’s will isn’t that important of a deal than she makes it out to be~ Or so Hiyori thinks about this.”

“………”

I heard a lot of people’s opinions about this, but this is not something I expected.

“I think that MakaMaka should be the one to break free from this restriction. Well, this useless senior of hers might not be able to do it, but maybe…?” Hiyori-sensei stared directly at me.

How much does she even know? Not to mention her white robe despite being a Japanese teacher, and the ring she has on her finger. In a certain way, she’s more mysterious of a teacher than Fuuka-sensei is.

“Saigi-kun, I got big hopes in you~ You might be able to do what neither Fuuka-sensei or Hiyorin-senpai could do~”

“I’d love to answer to your expectations…”

That’s why I ignored my studies yet again, and tried to figure out a response. But, just searching for it won’t do me any good. Even if the time limit is further away, I can’t match my response with my own personal graduation. I know that I should come up with my answer soon. I even got to be reunited with everyone who fell in love with me, asked for advice, and even received hints. I even learned to think about it in a way that would end in me freeing Maka-sensei.

“Then, onwards to the next page—Saigi-kun, could you translate it for us?”

“…………”

Maka-sensei called out my name mercilessly. No, wait…?

“Fuuka-sensei…?”

“What is it? Something you don’t understand?”

I sat in the same 3A classroom, during the same English class. But, the person standing behind the teacher’s desk—was different.

“For being a problem child, you’re oddly docile in class. Saves me the trouble of giving you a beating.”

A roar of laughter filled the classroom. I really don’t get what’s so funny about this.

“Of course, now that I’m doing I shouldn’t be, I am ready to get fired at any given moment. No, that’s just my selfish thinking. Can’t complain about hitting someone.”

“So…what?”

“That being said, this is the only method of teaching that I can think of. Once the day comes for me to pay for that, I won’t hesitate.”

“Are you going to quit or something…? That’s taking it too far. You call it physical punishment, but you’re not beating me to a pulp…”

As a fact, there’s a few teachers here at this school who use a small amount of violence, flicking someone’s forehead, or giving them a smack with their workbook. But, I never heard that this was some sort of problem.

“It’s not a problem of severity…Well, to be perfectly honest, it’s more about the appearance on society’s eyes.”

“That sure is honest!”

“For us members of society, it’s a crucial problem. A teacher falling in love with a student isn’t that big of a deal, only once that gets found out and they start going out, that’s where it gets bad, right?”

“I feel like this and that is different…”

But, it makes sense. As long as you keep quiet about it, other people have no right to intrude your personal space.

“I’m fine with that, but the problem is my cute pupil.”

“Pupil…Are you talking about Maka-sensei?”

I realized that it was only me and Fuuka-sensei in the classroom. Even Tenka-san and Enri disappeared.

“I was clinging to her and spoiling her as much as I could, and yet she never opened her heart towards me. Even after she graduated, and I gave her my beloved car, treating her in a special way, it ended up as my regret passed on to her.”

“…What a coincidence, that very Maka-sensei has her own regrets.”

“Maybe that will only be cleared up after she fully decides to leave the school.”

“But, I don’t think Maka-sensei should leave the school. Not in the slightest, to be exact.”

Even after everything I heard and was told to me, that opinion didn’t change.

“All I have to do is tell Maka-sensei of my own decision. What she does with that is her own problem. But, I’m scared of the choice she will make.”

“I’m sure you can overcome that. Without anybody pushing your back, you should be able to take that step forward. You’re the pupil of the pupil I am proud of.”

“That reminds me, I’m supposed to be your great-pupil, right.”

“Having something like that at my age, I’m kind of sad to hear that.”

“You’re not even going to call me cute? But, you’re pretty straight-forward, Fuuka-sensei.”

“I believe in my own education, after all. Since you were raised by my pride called Maka-chan, you can only be an excellent student as well.”

“These expectations are quite heavy. But…that’s right, since I was raised by Maka-sensei, there’s no way I’d choose the wrong answer.”

“Even if you’re lost, even if you’re wrong, you have to write down your own answer. No matter what, anything is better than a blank sheet.”

“That’s right…I should be able to write down my answer.”

This is a dream. The Fuuka-sensei in front of me is one that I recreated inside my head. That means that I’m the one drawing the script for this scene. Having borrowed the appearance of Fuuka-sensei, I am telling myself to write down my answer. That means that I already have my answer, and that I don’t have the time to worry about it any longer—

“Saigi-kun!”

“…!”

My head flung upwards. As a result of that, I had two large breasts in front of me.

“It’s been a while since you slept in my class, Saigi-kun. Aren’t you relaxing a bit too much just because your grades went up a bit?”

The boobs are talking…Wait no, it’s Maka-sensei, standing right in front of my desk. Today, she’s wearing a nostalgic casual style, with a thin cardigan and long skirt down her legs.

“You sure have guts, sleeping during my classes right before midterms. Are they that boring to you, by any chance?”

“O-Of course not…”

I let down my guard. To think I’d fall asleep during Maka-sensei’s class. I had a very interesting dream, but an hour long lecture was definitely not worth it.

“Hmm…But, you do seem a bit pale. You weren’t awake all night to study, right?”

“Ah…No, I wouldn’t go that far.”

“Good. I won’t allow any overworking. Even if your grades go up, as long as you destroy your body in the end, it’s definitely not worth it. Even less if you’re using my class to recover that sleep.”

Thanks to that light joke, a row of snickers flooded the classroom. Beauties have it nice, everybody laughs at their jokes no matter if they’re good or bad…

“You seem to be thinking about something rude. Well, since you’re this tired, I’ll leave it at that. Just be sure to get enough sleep.” Maka-sensei looked around the room, and headed back to the teacher’s desk.

Phew, I’m glad she let me off the hook this easily. But, do I really look that tired? I thought about it, and the dream I had, until classes ended. I turned towards Tenka-san, about to ask for her notes of the class.

“Tenka-san, could you—”

“Saigi-kun, can I have a moment with you.”

Right as I did, Maka-sensei called out to me from her desk. Can’t help it, that one has priority after all. Maka-sensei gathered her belongings, and stepped out of the classroom. She probably wants me to follow her.

“Saigi-kun, I appreciate you being passionate about your studies, but with your bags under your eyes, it’s clear that you’re tired, you know?”

“…I dreamed of Fuuka-sensei.”

“That sure came out of nowhere.” Maka-sensei shrugged her shoulders with a wry smile.

Which makes sense, considering the circumstances.

“So, what did she say?”

“That she believes in the Maka-sensei she raised.”

“Sounds like something she would say. Although she had a lot of flaws as a teacher, she was always brimming with confidence.”

“And, she complained about having anything like a great-pupil at her age.”

“…That’s also something she would say…” Maka-sensei seemed quite shocked.

It seems as if the Fuuka-sensei inside my head is quite close to the original.

“Did she…possess you when we went to visit her grave…?”

“Don’t turn this into some horror development. I know that it was just a dream.”

“Be it a dream or a possession by an evil spirit, I won’t allow any cheating, okay.”

“Can you not be jealous towards a dead person, please?”

Also, she might be talking in a quiet voice, but there’s still other students around, so I’d rather not talk about this here.

“Well, even if she was close to the original, you shouldn’t bother too much with her words. Your teacher right now is Fujiki Maka, not Fuuka Shiki.”

“………” I just stayed silent, and nodded.

My teacher—is this girlfriend teacher right next to me.

“And, I don’t know what she taught you, but I can teach you better.”

“You don’t need to get competitive now…”

I know very well how talented of a teacher Maka-sensei is, and she even accepted me when I was at my peak of my rebellious phase.

“One day, the pupil has to overcome the teacher, right. In terms of teaching skill in classes, I already passed Fuuka-sensei—but as for my ability to guide my students, I’m not sure. Considering that I force you through this situation, and leave you stressed out, I’m probably still far away.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that, I’m actually studying at night. I’m not awake because I can’t sleep.”

“I see…It appears that I need to visit you at night to make sure that you get some proper sleep.” She spoke with a quiet voice, but said something outrageous.

I’m scared to think what she would do to me. That reminds me, did Maka-sensei return that spare key she got from Miharu? Is she going to bargain with Kuu next or something?

“Well, I get what happened. Sorry to bother you during recess. If you have any questions concerning your studies, come ask me.”

“Ah, yeah.”

Maka-sensei turned her back towards me, and walked down the hallway. It’s true that my lack of sleep is because I was studying. But, that’s because I might as well study because I couldn’t sleep otherwise. My worries changed from ‘What should I do?’ to ‘Should I do it?’, actually. Inside my heart, I already found my answer. Now I’m hesitating if I should hand in my answer sheet, or not. I wrote it down since I knew the answer.

Since I don’t know if it’s correct or not, worrying is a waste of time. Be it the graduation exam, or any normal test, the situation won’t change. I just have to see it as any other exam I took before, here at Seikadai. And yet…

“…She says it so easily. As if I could ask her for advice.”

You’re the only person I can’t ask for that. Ever since last year in Spring, many troubles happened, and although I worked in the shadows to resolve it, Maka-sensei was always the one who saved us. Just…this once, I can’t ask for her help. This is a test between the two of us only. There’s no student in this world who would ask their teacher mid-test to tell them the answer.

“…You okay, Saigi?”

“Wah…!”

Maka-sensei’s face—No, a similar face to hers suddenly appeared behind me.

“Why are you so shocked? You talked about something fishy with Onee-chan?”

“Well, we were just telling the reasons for my dream.”

“You talk about your dreams with a teacher? Are your grades dropping?”

“Not really, but…Ah, that reminds me, Tenka-san.” I grabbed her hand.

“…You finally go for the younger version?”

“That’s not it.”

And why are you blushing? You’re not supposed to act cute in the final act. Maybe I was acting a bit too close for comfort?

“Weren’t your grades in the top ten of the student year, Tenka-san?”

“…Top 5 is doable, though not more than that.”

“Then…Could you maybe study together with me?”

“That was anticlimactic.”

“I mean, isn’t it proper manners to tell you what I need help for?”

“………” Tenka-san’s open eyes stared directly at me.

“W-What’s wrong?”

“I was just shocked to see Saigi worry about manners. Onee-chan’s correction is showing great results.”

“…Yeah, she’s as amazing as always.”

I’m totally getting dissed there, but I decided to ignore it. Since I asked her for help, I don’t have the right to complain.

“Of course, I’ll help you. I’m just worried about anything further than that.”

“What do you think of me!?”

Ah, I actually retorted.

“Just joking. Then, we’ll meet at the self-study room after school? Or the family restaurant?”

“I actually have an idea of my own.”

“…Whatever you prefer, Saigi.”

Tenka-san’s so easy…But, I’m thankful. In order to give out my answer, there is one more thing I need to do no matter what. And for that, I need someone else’s help, someone entirely different from Maka-sensei or Nui and the others.

I’m done worrying and walking around in circles. Just as Maka-sensei said, I don’t have much more time in this third year. I need to do everything I can, or I’ll leave this school with regrets of my own. I want to change this vicious cycle that both Maka-sensei and Fuuka-sensei started. Even if it means to inherit their feelings.

“Can I have a moment?”

“Figures.”

10pm in the evening, the doorbell suddenly rang, with Maka-sensei standing outside. She still hadn’t changed her clothes, still looking like she had at school.

“I just came home, see.”

“You must be tired.”

“Sure am. It’s right before the exams, so I’m fairly busy. But, when I came home—Tenka was there.” Maka-sensei gave me a dubious gaze.

“It’s weird. Normally she wouldn’t visit me before the exams so that no weird rumours or misunderstandings could spread.”

“How considerate of her. But, I doubt anybody would assume that you help your younger sister in her exams.”

“What’s important is that these doubts don’t surface at all. Then again, English isn’t her strongest part, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Not to mention that Tenka-san doesn’t seem to be studying too much even before exams. If she were to get serious like Miharu, she might just get the top rank…”

“We both have little sisters we can be proud of, it seems. But anyway, I was thinking of asking dear Saigi-kun if you might have any idea what brought upon her change of heart to visit me right before the exams.”

“Why are you suddenly talking politely like that?”

Ah, I can see a familiar ominous aura behind her back~

“You have Tenka look after your studies, right? On top of that, you let her stay over at my place so she can teach you more conveniently, aren’t you.”

“…I’m just more serious about my studies now. Normally, I would have asked Enri for this, but I can’t have her help with my studies until late at night.”

“That doesn’t mean you can just bother Tenka with that. You’re right that she doesn’t exactly study much, which should be no problem if she were your private teacher, and you can even hold a studying session if you sleep over at my place.”

“How lucky.”

“…Something is off.” Maka-sensei looked even deeper into my eyes.

Ugh…that’s Maka-sensei for you, she’s sensitive towards that…Tenka-san didn’t seem too motivated to help me study, but when she heard that she could stay over at her Onee-chan’s place, she was more than happy. Now that I’m rubbing her off her time, I need to at least make sure my grades go up.

“Even if Tenka doesn’t have to study for her exams, getting her as a tutor right before exams is weird. Leaving aside the case with Amanashi-san. Also, don’t you already have Keimi-san to help you?”

“Um, Shiya-cahn is busy with her work at the cram school. But, she does teach me from time to time.”

“Two-timing with your private tutors? This is turning even more suspicious…Why would you be this desperate to raise your grades all of a sudden…”

“Y-You’re imagining things. Even if I stay at Seikadai, I still want to get good grades in preparation for my subjects at university.”

“Well, there’s no problem with you studying properly. It’s just…”

“Yes?”

Maka-sensei grabbed both my cheeks, and pulled her face closer.

“You’re barely bothered by the graduation exam, and properly focussing on your own life. It’s way too calm and collected, to a level where I have to assume that something is off.”

“I-I am most often collected. I only end up working behind the shadows, and wrapped up in trouble a few times.”

“That’s right, because you were working in the shadows, most trouble was resolved, and you’re serious enough to raise your grades to such a level. Miharu-san might have a sharp tone at times, but she still is your little sister. If she felt like it, she would get the top grades of the year with ease.”

“H-Huh? Maka-sensei, were you always the type of person to praise others like this?”

“It might be the first time I’m saying this, but I value your specs highly. I know it’s for me to say this, but if you were an idiot, I probably wouldn’t have been able to fall in love with you, even if you saw through me.”

“Boy am I glad…”

For a second it felt like I was getting praised, and now it’s almost like I was set up.

“There’s no way you would act differently from usual for no reason at all. You even wrapped up Tenka into this, working this hard on your studies. You’re not just aiming for good grades, right? Say it, I don’t need any surprises.” Maka-sensei grabbed my shoulders, and pressed me against the wall of the hallway.

What kind of reverse wall-bang is this…

“…It’s my choice.”

“Choice?”

“I chose this for the answer to the graduation exam.”

“You haven’t chosen yet, right. There’s only two options to take here. Did you add some extra choice that I haven’t considered?”

“Before giving my answer, I need to divert my formula that leads me there, right?”

“…I don’t really understand it, but maybe you’re just worrying about it too much? Concerned about Fuuka-sensei…am I pressuring you too much?”

“No, that’s not it.” I looked directly into Maka-sensei’s eyes.

Until now, I might have pulled back from this. But, I dealt with Maka-sensei this entire year, so don’t underestimate me.

“Maka-sensei, you were waiting an entire year for my answer, right. No, I’m making you wait even now. I’m the one cornering you, remember? That’s why you brought up the graduation exam.”

“I told you before, but I’m not some young girl that gets hurt easily. I know that I’m practically forcing this onto you, so I never had any intention of pressuring you for an answer. Even if you graduate without giving me an answer, I am in no room to complain.”

“Maka-sensei, you never experienced love with someone else, right?”

“That came out of nowhere. But, as you know, that’s it.”

I knew about it, but it still was a relief—Of course, this isn’t the time to be monopolizing her.

“In that case, you’re not different from a young girl. Talking about experience.”

“That makes me feel pathetic as an adult. But…you’re not wrong.”

“Honestly speaking, I always asked you for help because you were a teacher, and an adult, Maka-sensei. This time however, you’re not too different from a high school girl at Seikadai right now. That’s why I can’t ask you for help. If I did, I would be the pathetic one. I want to give my response to your feelings without feeling embarrassed.” I pushed my body forward, to reach a distance between us where I could feel her breath.

“That’s why, please wait. I will definitely give you an answer!”

I approached her even further, and pressed her against the wall instead. I know if the word reverse wall-bang exists, but it’s my turn now for sure. I can’t be on the defense forever.

“…That’s right, you may not be an adult, but you’re definitely not a child either. If you plan on giving me an answer, I will let you do whatever you want.”

“I’m sorry, I need you to wait a bit longer. I know that I’m asking for a lot—but please have faith in me.”

“…Let me teach you one thing, Saigi-kun.”

Maka-sensei’s face was right in front of me, her eyes staring at me.

“I always suffer through the work of creating exams, so much that I feel like puking from the stress…But, it’s fun. I can barely wait in excitement when I see the different answers the students come up with, how they surpass my expectations. Of course, I know your answer will be the best one yet, Saigi-kun.”

“Yes…so, please wait for it.”

In reality, I don’t have much confidence in the fact that my answer might satisfy Maka-sensei. There’s a big chance she will feel the exact opposite towards that. However, it’s better than only wasting my chance.

“Then, do you best. Have some service to motivate you~”

“…!”

She pushed her lips onto mine, and moved them away again.

“Ahh, if Fuuka-sensei saw me like this, I wonder what she would say.”

“I doubt she would support it.”

I mean, I’m happy to get kissed by a beauty like Maka-sensei. But, just because she kisses me doesn’t make my grades go up.

“Good night. Studies are important, but don’t overwork yourself.”

“Yes, good night.”

Maka-sensei opened up the door next to us, and left for the room her little sister was waiting in. Her hair’s scent still lingered close to me. I’ve had this scent tickle my nose countless times so far—and yet it still excites me. In order for me to tell her about my feelings, I need to prepare for Saigi Makoto’s final battle.