'Shirakawa Miwa, that damn good bestie!'
Yesterday's incident had already left Tsukishima Kyoko tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep, and today she was still full of inner torment.
Just this morning, the moment she entered the office and saw Hikari's figure, her whole body trembled. She almost didn't dare come in. Later she forcibly endured her complex emotions, put on her usual cold expression, and only with great difficulty sat at her desk. In truth, the legs beneath her skirt were still trembling.
Her emotions were already in turmoil, and before she could even settle down, she immediately heard the "reasonable" guesses of her bestie Shirakawa Miwa next door.
And the one Miwa was whispering these guesses to was none other than that same Hikari who made her feel love and hate just yesterday. Listening to Miwa's not-so-quiet "whispers," a wave of shame and frustration instantly surged up in Kyoko's heart.
She slammed her hand on the desk and angrily shouted toward Miwa at the neighboring desk, "Miwa! What are you two whispering about again? Why not say it louder so I can hear it too?"
"Ah?"
Startled by Kyoko's sudden outburst, Shirakawa Miwa's delicate body jolted hard, setting off a massive, overwhelming ripple that made Hikari on the opposite side feel dizzy and dazed.
Shirakawa had just been excitedly gossiping to Hikari about Kyoko. Who would've thought she'd be suddenly called out by the person in question? Naturally, she was frightened.
But after being frozen for a few seconds, upon seeing Kyoko's blushing face and her eyes seemingly burning with fire, Miwa hurriedly held her breath and tried to look calm.
"N-Nothing, Kyoko-chan, I was just chatting casually with Hikari-kun about what we had for b-breakfast this morning!", Miwa tried to stay cool, as if nothing had happened just now.
But her evasive eyes and the intense upheaval in her chest completely betrayed her.
"Oh? Is that so? Then why did it sound like you were talking about me?", Kyoko's hands behind her back clenched slightly, but her face remained expressionless.
"No no no!", Miwa hurriedly shook her head and waved her hands, denying everything repeatedly.
Of course, she wouldn't dare admit it.
And although Kyoko had clearly heard everything just now, for some reason, she didn't press Miwa any further.
Instead, she turned and glared at the always-smiling Hikari, questioning in a slightly odd tone, "Hi… Hikari! What were you just talking about with Miwa? D-Did you say something you shouldn't have?"
"Eh?", Miwa had mentally prepared to be scolded harshly by Kyoko, but unexpectedly, Kyoko didn't continue with her. Instead, she turned on Hikari.
This strange reaction left Miwa dumbfounded. Instinctively, she turned to look at Hikari, whose face showed no hint of nervousness.
Kyoko, who had spoken sternly, was still glaring at Hikari, her beautiful purple eyes carrying a faint tension. Her delicate hand under her skirt had unconsciously pinched her thigh.
———
Facing the gaze of both mature beauty teachers focused on him, especially seeing that the cold eyes of Kyoko Tsukishima were faintly trembling with anxiety, her body even slightly shaking, Hikari remained calm.
In the face of her questioning, he simply spread his hands and said calmly, "No, Tsukishima-sensei, I was just casually chatting with Shirakawa-sensei. I definitely didn't say anything I shouldn't."
"…Alright then," Hearing Hikari's answer, Kyoko breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Maybe because yesterday's events were still vivid in her mind, just seeing Hikari's face made her heart beat faster. Her blushing face didn't dare meet his eyes anymore, she quickly turned her head and sat back at her desk.
Seeing Kyoko acting this out of character and not even scolding Hikari, Miwa blinked her big eyes.
Her bestie really did seem to be in a good mood today.
She clearly caught Hikari and Miwa eating breakfast in the office and didn't even get angry?
Compared to yesterday, when she would scold Hikari for the slightest thing and even made him write a reflection letter, this was like a different person.
It was a golden opportunity.
Miwa glanced at the seemingly clueless Hikari, then looked at the cheerful Kyoko.
Clenching her pink fists, she walked over to Kyoko and pleaded on Hikari's behalf, "Kyoko-chan, Hikari-kun actually has a very serious attitude toward studying. About that thousand-word reflection letter from yesterday, why not just let it go? Don't make him write it."
Because they were so close, Miwa felt now was the perfect time to plead with Kyoko.
Hearing Miwa's words, Hikari was briefly surprised. He hadn't expected Miwa to remember and actually try to help him with it.
But this matter had already been resolved yesterday after the abandoned warehouse scene and the "reverse tutoring" she gave him. Miwa saying this now was honestly redundant.
He reached out and tugged Miwa's skirt lightlt, "Shirakawa-sensei, it's fine. Don't say anymore."
Miwa, unaware of what had happened between Hikari and Kyoko yesterday, assumed Hikari was just scared. She whispered back,
"Aiya, I know you really don't want to write that reflection. This is a rare chance."
"You don't understand, Kyoko's in a good mood today, and if I talk to her now, it might really work."
Seeing Miwa's expression, obviously acting for his sake, Hikari was helpless and gave a wry smile.
But all these little actions didn't escape Kyoko Tsukishima, who was seated just at the desk beside them.
After what had happened yesterday, from Morishita Wataru's hypnosis attempt to Hikari rescuing her, and then her offering him a "reverse transmission" session afterward.
Because of Hikari's consideration and tact, she had already promised that he didn't need to write any reflection.
That matter had long been settled.
But now, seeing her bestie Miwa taking such pains for Hikari, even pleading on his behalf, and watching the intimate interaction between the teacher and her student, Kyoko couldn't help feeling irritated.
Facing Miwa's hopeful eyes, Kyoko suddenly turned cold and snapped, "Fine. I won't make Hikari write that reflection."
Before Miwa could smile in relief, Kyoko added coldly, "Shirakawa Miwa, you write it for him. One thousand words! Not a single word less!"
"Ah?", Miwa was stunned by Kyoko's sudden statement.
"Me? Write the reflection for Hikari-kun? A thousand words? Kyoko, you're joking, right?", Miwa looked at her in disbelief, completely unable to understand why she was now being punished.
Wasn't Kyoko supposed to be in a good mood today?
Given how close they were as besties, even if Kyoko disagreed with her, she'd at most refuse or scold Hikari a bit. Why was she taking it out on her?
Seeing Miwa's shocked face after getting harshly scolded for speaking up, Hikari also spoke up, "Forget it, Tsukishima-sensei. Don't make Shirakawa-sensei suffer. I'll write the reflection myself."
Miwa was a bit surprised to hear Hikari speak up like that, then squinted her eyes slightly, gazing at him with a grateful look as if to say, 'As expected of the one I've always looked after.'
But Kyoko, hearing Hikari's interjection, only grew angrier.
A strange but intense wave of sour jealousy surged up from her chest.
Her cold eyes stared at Hikari for a few seconds, but when she saw Miwa's dazed and innocent face, as if she truly didn't know anything, Kyoko finally didn't say more.
She just said, "Forget it. Hikari-kun, you don't need to write it. Miwa, you don't need to write it either. Let's just drop it."
Then she turned and left.
Before walking away, she quietly glanced at Hikari out of the corner of her eye.
Hikari, meeting her gaze, didn't seem too surprised.
After all, they'd already agreed yesterday that he didn't have to write a reflection.
Compared to the events of their "reverse lesson," a reflection was a trivial matter.
Kyoko's earlier flare-up and sudden revisiting of the issue must've been triggered by the gossip Miwa and he had just shared, making her, who'd had unexpected relations with him yesterday, feel angry.
Now that her emotions had settled, everything was back to normal.
Hikari wasn't surprised, but Miwa certainly was.
She stood frozen, staring blankly at Kyoko's retreating figure, still trying to process what had happened.
Based on what she knew of Kyoko, who was always cold and serious, never joking, and always followed through with her words, this was definitely out of the ordinary.
And when Hikari, a student, suddenly interrupted their conversation, Kyoko didn't get mad?
That was even more unbelievable.
"You suddenly interrupted us, and Kyoko-chan didn't scold you? That's super rare," Miwa said to Hikari in disbelief.
"Heh…", Hikari could only give a helpless smile.
'What's a little interjection? Yesterday she even… used her throat…'
"Oh yeah, Kyoko actually listened to reason and changed her mind today! I really thought I'd end up writing that reflection for you."
"I didn't expect that the moment you spoke, she changed her mind. That's not like her at all," Miwa suddenly realized.
"What's wrong? Didn't you say earlier that Tsukishima-sensei is in a good mood today?", Hikari looked at her curiously.
"Uh… being in a good mood is one thing. But based on what I know about Kyoko as my bestie, she's acting a little too strange today," Miwa said thoughtfully.
"I feel like Kyoko is acting a bit weird toward you, Hikari-kun."
"Yesterday she was so harsh with you, I couldn't even stand watching. But today she's acting completely different," Miwa said while eyeing him.
"What's strange about that? Tsukishima-sensei is just someone who's cold on the outside but warm on the inside, always responsible with her students," Hikari answered calmly with a smile.
"Of course, Kyoko's a responsible teacher. But to treat a student this weirdly? I wouldn't think much of it from another teacher, but from Kyoko, it feels off."
"Anyway, her attitude toward you today, no matter how you look at it, isn't normal."
After some thought, Miwa's eyes gleamed with gossip as she leaned in and whispered to Hikari, Tell me the truth, Hikari-kun. Did something secret and unspeakable happen between you and Kyoko?"
"Like… did you maybe see some little toy fall out of her bag recently and used it to blackmail her?", Miwa winked and grinned at him.
Hearing the first part, Hikari's heart briefly wavered. As expected of her bestie, she noticed something was off.
But the second part made him relax again.
Seeing Miwa's bright eyes filled with curiosity, Hikari muttered, "Found a little toy? Blackmail? Shirakawa-sensei, did you forget what kind of person Tsukishima-sensei is?"
"With her personality, if I really blackmailed her with that sort of thing, wouldn't she call the police and throw me in jail right away? Shirakawa-sensei, you really have quite the imagination."
He spoke in a tone full of mockery.
"Hehehe… I really was letting my imagination run wild. Kyoko just has that kind of cold aura, it makes your mind go places," Miwa giggled, admitting her speculation was pure gossip-fueled nonsense.
She had no idea: If Kyoko heard this conversation, her expression would definitely change dramatically.
Because while Hikari and Kyoko hadn't done exactly what Miwa imagined, the truth was far more outrageous and dramatic than her wild guesses.
———
After Kyoko left the office, Hikari and the once-again cheerful Miwa comfortably finished their breakfast.
With Kyoko's oppressive presence gone, Hikari leisurely left the office.
Back at his seat in class, he was still mulling over matters related to Miss Mary.
Though he had her imprisoned at the Richter Hotel right now, essentially at his mercy, taming her wouldn't be that easy.
After all, he'd worked hard for half the night, and this morning she still resisted.
Such a short body, yet such surprising endurance.
Monsters really couldn't be underestimated.
"Hikari-kun~", While he was deep in thought, a crisp voice called out.
Several beautiful silhouettes surrounded him.
He looked up, "Reina, Yuina, Ruri?"
The three energetic gyaru surrounding him were none other than Reina, Yuina, and Ruri, the regular trio of party girls who often gathered at his house.
"Hikari-kun, let's go to your place after school today, okay?", said Ruri.
"Yeah, yeah! We haven't had a get-together at your house for like, two or three days. It's been so lonely," added Yuina.
"Hikari-kun, the three of us came up with a new combo technique. We really wanna show it to you today~", Reina blinked adorably at him.
Faced with these three fiery gyaru, Hikari pondered for a moment, "Um…"
No denying it, these three were very enthusiastic.
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