"Tamae-sensei!"
"Ah! Good morning, Tamae-sensei."
"Tamae-sensei, it's only been a day, but I've missed you so much!"
"All right, all right—enough kidding around. I have something to announce, so please settle down."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Although everyone in Class 2‑4 liked to tease Okamine Tamae, they all respected her.
Times had changed—her baby‑faced looks, petite build, and slightly air‑headed personality made her seem the same age as her students, and that only boosted the young teacher's popularity.
"Class, our new P.E. teacher has arrived today. Shall I introduce him?"
"Yes!"
"Shichen‑sensei, please come in."
"All right." Shichen walked in slowly.
"Ah!"
"Isn't that… him?"
"What? He's our P.E. teacher?"
"He looks about our age…."
"Did you forget about Tamae-sensei?"
"Fair point…."
"Say, he and Tobiichi—"
Most of the students couldn't help glancing to the back of the room at the always‑expressionless girl.
Today was different: the face that was usually calm now showed surprise—and delight.
"Everyone, let's give Shichen‑sensei a warm welcome!"
Clap‑clap‑clap—
Led by Okamine Tamae, the class obediently applauded. Sparse clapping quickly grew into enthusiastic applause.
The most fervent clapper was the normally aloof Tobiichi Origami; she was beaming as if she'd just seen someone she adored.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Shichen. From today on, I'll be your P.E. teacher. I look forward to working with you." He greeted them with a smile.
"Good afternoon, Shichen-sensei!" the students chorused, half out of respect, half out of awe.
"Good. We have P.E. this afternoon, so we'll get to know each other better then."
Shichen was ready to leave, but curiosity—and gossip—wouldn't let the students stop him.
"Shichen-sensei, wait a moment!"
"Shichen-sensei—please!"
A boy and a girl called out together.
"Yes?" Shichen paused and looked at them.
"You… I…." The two exchanged looks, each urging the other to go first.
"Haha, ladies first," Shichen decided for them.
"Okay."
The girl nodded, eyes shining. "Shichen-sensei, do you have a girlfriend?"
"Hmm?" Shichen blinked.
He'd expected a question about Tobiichi; instead they asked about his private life.
What are they up to? Already plotting something? Girls these days really are bold.
"Shichen-sensei, don't want to answer?" the girl pressed.
"No, I'm just a bit surprised…. I don't have a girlfriend," he answered with a smile.
(No girlfriend—but a few fiancées reserved, he thought.)
Come to think of it, he'd never officially dated anyone here. Even Tohru probably didn't grasp the concept of "girlfriend." So in this world, he really didn't have one.
"Really?"
"Kyaaah!"
Several girls squealed with excitement.
"Any more questions?"
"That's all from me," the girl said, motioning to the boy.
"Shichen-sensei, my turn!" The boy raised his hand, thrilled.
"Go ahead—equal treatment."
"Heh‑heh."
The boy rubbed his palms together, glanced at Tobiichi staring at Shichen, then shared a look with another boy. "Shichen-sensei, what's your relationship with Tobiichi?"
"Ooooh!" the boys nearby whooped.
"Our relationship? Of course, teacher and student."
"C'mon, Shichen-sensei—you can't fool us. We saw how friendly you two were just now."
"Yeah!"
"Shichen-sensei, no lying!"
"What? Shichen-sensei and Tobiichi have something?"
"Already taken the initiative, huh?"
"U‑um… is that true?" Even Tamae-sensei couldn't help asking.
"Tamae-sensei, it's a misunderstanding—don't listen to their nonsense."
"Whew, that's good. Teacher‑student romance isn't proper, you know~"
"Uh? Isn't it prohibited?"
"Our school doesn't ban it exactly, but it's best avoided—it looks bad."
"Don't worry, I'm not that kind of person. Origami-san, tell everyone what our relationship is." Shichen winked at Tobiichi.
"Shichen-sensei, please call me Origami." She stood and calmly corrected him.
"…You—"
"Origami." She gazed at him impassively.
"All right, Origami. Would you explain our relationship to the class?"
"Very well."
Facing her classmates, Origami stated evenly, "Shichen-sensei is the person I will serve for the rest of my life. I would do anything to satisfy him."
"W‑whoa!"
"A‑amazing…."
"This is serious…."
The declaration shocked everyone; heads shook in disbelief.
"Uh—wow—" Tamae-sensei was stunned again. "Shichen-sensei, you…?"
Shichen shrugged helplessly.
He never should have asked Origami. He knew her personality, yet after so little contact he'd assumed she wouldn't say something like that. Big mistake.
Shichen beat a quick retreat from Class 2‑4 without further explanation.
The students had already taken it as fact; anything he said was pointless—after all, people believe what they want to believe. Especially with Origami as their "witness."
Saying nothing was best. As long as nothing else happened with Origami in front of them, the rumor would die down eventually.
He would have to clarify things with Tamae-sensei later, but she was so guileless that she'd probably believe him easily. He'd wait until her class ended.
Shichen headed for the staff room to wait. As he reached the door—but before he could knock—it opened by itself.
School doors weren't automatic; someone was coming out. Someone he knew.
"Reine, what are you doing here?" Shichen asked, noting the severe dark circles under Murasame Reine's eyes.
"I… I am the biology teacher, you know," she murmured.
"Ahem—right, I forgot." Shichen felt awkward.
"No matter. Shichen‑kun, come with me." Reine slipped past him and headed toward a classroom.
"Where are we going?" he asked, following.
"The physics prep room."
"?"
Inside, Shichen discovered that the room was nothing like the chemical‑filled workspace he'd imagined.
It housed rows of computers, large monitors, and all sorts of high‑tech equipment that clearly didn't belong in an ordinary school.
"What is all this?"
"Don't mind it."
"No, I do mind. Also, where's the teacher who uses this room?"
"Mm…." Reine began to nod off.
"Hey, quit pretending!"
"Fine… just ignore it for now—we have business."
"What business?"
"Waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"It's here."
"Huh?"
"Hellooo!" Suddenly, a chirpy voice—Itsuka Kotori—rang out.
"Kotori?" Shichen looked toward the source: Reine's phone.
"Long time no see, Onii-chan~"
"You're behind this, aren't you?"
"This isn't a prank! Didn't I tell you about special training?"
"Then why drag me here? Surely you don't expect me and…" He glanced at Reine.
"Hmm?" Reine tilted her head. "Shichen‑kun wants me to be his partner? I don't mind~"
"Let's not."
"Oh…." She seemed a little disappointed.
"Onii-chan, do you like Reine?"
"Of course not! Just tell me what this is about!"
"Fine, fine. No need to rush—girls don't like impatient guys, you know."
"If you keep stalling, no tasty dinner tonight."
"Eep—that's unacceptable. Okay, look at the screens, Onii-chan."
As Kotori finished speaking, several monitors lit up, each displaying dossiers and photos of various women—including Tobiichi Origami and Tamae-sensei—with birthdays, measurements, even relationship histories.
"And these are…?" Shichen had a bad feeling.
"Heh‑heh! These are your special‑training targets!" Kotori announced proudly.
"Training targets?"
"Practice makes perfect, right? If you're going to become a master of romance, it's better to train with real people. These are top‑grade women carefully selected by Ratatoskr!"
Shichen's mouth twitched. "You really are… the best imouto ever."