Hearing the chaotic clanging sounds coming from behind the door, Yuuya's lips curled up slightly.
The image of Komoe-sensei frantically scrambling up from the tatami mat, desperately trying to hide the mountains of beer bottles and cigarette butts, flashed through his mind.
"Sensei? Did something break? I heard a shattering sound. Are you alright?"
Yuuya's voice echoed through the thin door and into the apartment.
Inside, Tsukuyomi Komoe—dressed in pink bunny pajamas—was in full panic mode. She grabbed a large trash bag and started sweeping empty beer cans into it with the speed of a high-level Esper.
"It's alright! It's alright! Sensei is fine!"
'Oh no, oh no! Why did Takahashi-chan come to visit me now? I'm doomed!'
'He's going to see this mess and realize I have a terrible lifestyle. My image as a dignified, reliable teacher will be ruined forever!'
She remembered last night. She and Yomikawa Aiho had thrown a hot pot party in the apartment and hadn't cleaned up a single thing.
She could already picture the moment the door opened: Takahashi-chan would give her a look of pure disgust, shake his head, and laugh at her.
"Sensei, are you not done yet? You've been ignoring me for a minute now."
Yuuya's voice floated through the door again, sounding like the bell tolling for her execution.
Komoe froze. She realized it was hopeless. She couldn't clean this disaster zone in time.
With the tragic determination of a samurai walking to his execution, she trudged toward the door.
Click.
The door creaked open.
Yuuya smiled as he looked down at the tiny teacher peeking out from the crack. She was trembling slightly in her pink bunny pajamas.
"Sensei, you took a long time. Is something wrong? I heard a lot of noise."
"No... nothing... I was just... tidying up a little," Komoe squeaked, looking up at her student nervously. "Um, Takahashi-chan... Sensei didn't mean to keep you waiting. Please don't be mad."
Yuuya decided to tease her a little. He put on a sad, puppy-dog expression.
"Why did Sensei ignore me for so long? I thought Sensei didn't like me anymore."
"No! That's not it at all!" Komoe waved her small hands frantically. "Takahashi-chan, I just..."
Realizing she couldn't hide it any longer, she sighed and opened the door fully.
The appalling state of the room was revealed to the world.
Empty beer cans littered the tatami mats like landmines. The ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts, resembling a small volcano. An induction cooker sat on the low table, still emitting the stale smell of last night's beef hot pot.
Komoe hung her head in shame. She waited for the inevitable ridicule.
'My room is terrible... Takahashi-chan is definitely going to hate a teacher who smokes and drinks like an old man...'
But the mocking laughter never came. There was no look of disgust.
Yuuya wanted to laugh when he saw how terrified she was, but he held it back. He looked at her with a gentle, serious expression.
"Although I'm a little surprised by the state of the room... as your student, I won't laugh at you, Sensei."
He knew the truth. Although Komoe-sensei liked to smoke, drink, and act like a middle-aged detective after work, she was arguably the best teacher in Academy City. She genuinely cared for her students, going to great lengths to protect them.
"Really? Sensei feels ashamed of Takahashi-chan's magnanimity..." Komoe breathed a sigh of relief, her cheeks flushing pink at her student's kind words.
She quickly grabbed the trash bag again. "I'll clean this up right now!"
"Let me help."
With Yuuya's assistance, the room was cleared in minutes. They piled the trash bags by the door, and Yuuya sat down at the low table (kotatsu).
Komoe placed a bottle of juice in front of him and sat opposite him in seiza, looking concerned.
"So... Takahashi-chan... did you have some trouble coming to see your teacher on the weekend?"
For a student to visit on a Sunday, it usually meant serious trouble. Bullies? Financial issues? As a teacher, it was her duty to solve their problems.
"Actually, Sensei, I'm here because of something good. Something I'm very proud of."
Yuuya smiled confidently. He raised his right hand.
Whoosh.
A fist-sized ball of red flame ignited above his palm, hovering steadily.
"This is... a superpower!" Komoe exclaimed, her eyes widening in genuine surprise.
"Yes. After listening to your lecture yesterday about the Personal Reality of Pyrokinesis, I tried some of the mental exercises. Suddenly, I found myself able to do this."
Yuuya lied with a straight face. It was the perfect cover story.
"So that's how it is! That's why you came today!" Komoe clasped her hands together, beaming with pride. "Congratulations, Takahashi-chan! Sensei is so happy for you!"
She specialized in the study of Pyrokinesis and AIM fields. Nothing made her happier than seeing a Level 0 student finally achieve a breakthrough. It proved her theory that everyone had potential if they just found the right method.
"So, Sensei, I would like to ask you to help me apply for a System Scan at the research institute. I need to update my Level."
"Of course! This is wonderful news."
Yuuya nodded. Updating his level meant increasing his monthly stipend. He needed better food if he was going to rule the world.
While she was distracted by her happiness, Yuuya focused his gaze on the floating icon above her head.
The Silver Treasure Chest.
He concentrated, and the text expanded.
[Ding! Unlock Condition Triggered.]
[Target: Tsukuyomi Komoe.]
[Unlock Condition: Say to Tsukuyomi Komoe: "Sensei, please marry me."]
"..."
Yuuya's expression froze. His left eye twitched.
'What the hell?'
'System, are you crazy? I know you're unorthodox, but I'm a serious person! You want me to propose to my teacher?'
'If I say that, Komoe-sensei might have a heart attack! Or worse, she'll think I'm hitting on her and my image as a diligent student will be destroyed!'
"Okay! Sensei understands. Takahashi-chan, please wait outside for a moment. Sensei needs to change out of her pajamas, and then we'll go to the testing center together!"
Komoe stood up, full of energy, completely unaware of her student's internal crisis.
"O-Okay, Sensei."
Yuuya stepped out of the apartment and leaned against the railing of the external corridor. He looked up at the blue sky and sighed deeply.
"This is so hard..."
There were less than a hundred Silver Treasure Chests in the entire city. They contained high-tier loot. If he walked away now, he might not see another one for weeks.
But the cost... the cost was his dignity.
On one hand: Unlimited Power.
On the other hand: Social Suicide.
'To be, or not to be... that is the question.'
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