For a few seconds, Hiratsuka Shizuka stared intently at Aoki Kei's expressionless face—then suddenly let out a small chuckle.
"Hey, come on," she said, half-laughing. "It's not like I'm going to turn you in. No need to act like I'm some kind of threat." Her tone was casual with a bit teasing.
Then she paused briefly before continuing with a polite introduction.
"I'm Hiratsuka Shizuka, a teacher at Shuchiin Private High. What about you, kid?"
Kei didn't respond right away, blinking in mild surprise.
If he remembered correctly, Hiratsuka was supposed to be a teacher at Sobu High in Chiba. And yet somehow, she now worked at Shuchiin Private?
It was strange… but not something Kei felt like dwelling on.
After all, he'd already time-traveled—reality itself had gone out the window.
At this point, nothing could surprise him anymore.
Well, except maybe if someone like Fujiwara Chika became Japan's Prime Minister.
Shaking off that wild thought, he exhaled and refocused on Hiratsuka's question.
"I'm Aoki Kei," he said at last, meeting her eyes. "A student at Shirose High School."
No more excuses. He gave up trying to dodge the truth.
"Aoki Kei, huh… That's a nice name." Hiratsuka nodded approvingly. Then, leaning slightly forward with a grin, she added, "You're pretty cautious for someone so young."
Kei's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
Anyone would be cautious in a situation like this—working a job that clearly broke school rules, and getting caught by a sharp-eyed teacher.
Especially one like her: a 27-year-old (possibly 30?) single woman with an intense sense of responsibility and a lot of opinions about students.
Internally sighing, Kei kept a straight face and replied flatly, "Doing something that violates school rules means you've got to be extra careful. If the school finds out, I could get suspended."
"So you know it's against the rules?" Hiratsuka raised an eyebrow. "Alright then, tell me—why are you working here of all places?"
With that no-nonsense tone and posture, she looked more like a police detective than a teacher.
Kei's eye twitched.
He didn't love being interrogated, but… well, reality was what it was.
He needed the job, and arguing wouldn't help.
So he took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and gave her the truth.
"I'm an orphan from Tottori. I came to Tokyo to get into a good university, but the orphanage couldn't support me. So I have to work multiple jobs to cover my tuition, rent, food, everything."
The mood changed instantly.
The playful smile on Hiratsuka's face vanished.
Her mouth opened, then closed again, words catching in her throat.
"..."
It took her a moment before she finally spoke, her voice quieter and uncertain.
"S-Sorry… I didn't mean to bring up something so personal."
Kei shook his head.
He was about to tell her it was fine really—but just then, a translucent game panel flashed in front of his eyes, cutting him off.
The [Love Simulation Game] was back again, apparently too impatient to wait for the last event to finish.
It threw a new multiple-choice scenario at him:
————————————————————————
[Faced with Hiratsuka Shizuka's apology, you choose to:]
[Option 1]: Still annoyed by her earlier tone, you decide to provoke her verbally—even though she apologized.
Ask about her age, whether she has a boyfriend, and when she inevitably says no, follow up with, "Why are you still single in your 30s?"
(Reward: None)
[Option 2]: Respond casually:
"Sensei, isn't it common knowledge that a real apology involves showing cleavage? If you're serious about being sorry, then please… wait for me after my shift."
(Reward: Master-level Combat Skills, +1 Stamina Potion, +1 Energy Potion, +1 Strength Potion, Beginner Hypnosis Technique)
[Option 3]: The Road to Tokyo University — Shunchin Private has far better resources than Shirose High. For the sake of your future, try convincing Hiratsuka to help you transfer schools.
(Reward: Full Tuition Coverage, ¥100,000)
————————————————————————
At the bottom of the screen, a new warning had been added:
————————————————————————
Note: All consequences resulting from these choices are the sole responsibility of the player. This game holds no liability.
————————————————————————
Kei's breath hitched slightly.
The rewards for Options 2 and 3 were absurdly generous—ridiculously overpowered, really.
But… which one to choose?
Let's not even talk about the outrageous conditions tied to the second option—just look at the rewards.
Three potions with unknown effects, a master-level martial arts technique worth 400 points, and what was unmistakably a hypnosis skill that looked like a full-blown superpower…
All that for just one choice?
That's five whole rewards bundled together!
And option three? No contest.
Full tuition coverage plus a 100,000 yen bonus—that was an irresistible offer for someone as broke as him.
Weighing the pros and cons, Aoki Kei quickly analyzed his options.
After just a brief moment of thought and a second glance at the choices, Aoki Kei made his decision without hesitation: he was sticking with his dream of getting into Tokyo University.
The second option's demands were simply too absurd, especially with the ominous hint at the bottom of the screen.
He couldn't bring himself to even consider it.
To be honest, even without that warning, Aoki Kei wouldn't have given it serious thought.
After all, asking something that borderline on sexual harassment was something he couldn't bring himself to do—especially if it might tarnish his future political career.
Though now that he thought about it… did he really want to go into politics?
Maybe becoming a writer or a musician wouldn't be such a bad path either.
If he entered politics, he might even end up working with someone like Fujiwara Chika...
His thoughts drifted briefly before he brought himself back to reality.
Aoki Kei looked toward Hiratsuka Shizuka, who was standing behind the bar, and took a moment to gather his words.
After a brief silence, once he had a clear idea in mind, Aoki Kei spoke up.
"I think I've come to terms with everything. It's okay now. But… on another note, Hiratsuka-san, you're a teacher at Shuchiin Academy, right?"
"Ah… yes." The sudden topic change caught Shizuka off guard, especially as she was still feeling guilty.
But she nodded in response.
"I see…"
Nodding, Aoki Kei swiftly changed how he addressed her and continued, "Hiratsuka-sensei, I've heard Shuchiin Private Academy has far better academic resources than most schools in Tokyo. Is that true?"
"There's definitely some truth to that," Shizuka replied.
Encouraged by the answer, Aoki Kei pressed on, "Then I imagine the entrance requirements must be pretty strict, right? Like high tuition fees or top grades?"
"Well, the tuition isn't outrageous, but yes—the academic standards are quite high."
"I see…"
Aoki Kei nodded again, then fell silent.
The atmosphere grew still for a moment.
After a pause, he looked at Shizuka again and said,
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I may be from a rural orphanage, but my academic record isn't bad at all.
Shirose High doesn't have the same level of resources as Shuchiin, so if it's possible… I'd like to transfer."
He stopped there.
Shizuka looked down at the cocktail glass in front of her and didn't respond right away.
She pressed her lips together thoughtfully, lost in contemplation.
Seeing that the older teacher was considering it, Aoki Kei didn't miss a beat and quickly followed up.
"I can take a test or any kind of entrance exam. I'm confident in my scores."
Hiratsuka came from a wealthy background—you could tell just by her choice of car.
With her influence, arranging a transfer to Shuchiin Private Academy wouldn't be difficult.
Especially if it was just about securing a chance to take the entrance exam.
Listening to his words and meeting the calm, unwavering gaze of Aoki Kei, Shizuka finally spoke after a short moment of thought.
"Aoki-kun… are you serious about this?"
Aoki Kei nodded firmly, his eyes steady.
Shizuka added, "The tuition… while it's not too steep, it is still higher than what you're used to at Shirose High…"
"I'll handle the tuition myself," Aoki Kei replied.
"…"
Seeing the utter seriousness in his eyes, and realizing this wasn't some kind of joke, Shizuka drew a deep breath.
"Alright then… give me your phone number. I'll see what I can do," she said. "But let's be clear—I might only be able to get you an opportunity to take the entrance test.
I won't bend the rules. Whether you get in or not… that'll be entirely up to you."