When Shio’s class ended, she called me to help her carry our homework to her room at the Administration Building.
Satsuki’s fatigue was already abated from the food and the vitamins she took. Seeing that, I don’t need to worry about leaving the classroom.
Though this looks like a normal errand, I realized that it’s Shio’s new way for us to interact with each other. Constantly calling me to the faculty will surely invite suspicion after all.
Did she miss me? Or was there development on her adult problems? After that visit to my house, I couldn’t find the time to be alone with her again.
“Put it there at the table.”
Shio said after we entered the room. I did what she asked by dropping the thick stack of homework at her table before turning around to face her. The door was already closed behind her and the sound of the lock clicking rang out.
“Uhm. Shio, what’s wrong?”
I tried acting oblivious to check on her response. Well, she somehow had the knack of doing risky things, just like the first time I saw her reading that light novel of hers in class. I got to know the real face behind the composed and confident new teacher because of that.
From there we now have a complicated relationship of me trying to steal her from her husband. I even got to know her husband’s secret.
“Can you hold me?” .𝘯𝘵
Shio dropped her commanding side and went back to how she acted in front of me. The worry in her face became visible again.
Did she manage to cover it up? When I saw her earlier, I didn’t see anything wrong. Was it because I was too worried about Satsuki’s well-being?
The way she asked me, it’s like telling me not to ask her about the reason. Closing the distance between us, I circled my arms around her. I looked at her face and noticed her eyes that’s about to burst out from holding back her tears.
As soon as I held her in my arms, her whole body loosened up as she used me as a support.
“I think we’re getting a divorce soon.”
Shio whispered that as her tears finally broke out from her tear glands. With her head leaning on my shoulder, I could feel the warm wetness as her tears seeped into my uniform.
Divorce? That husband of hers who has a thing for high school girls? Did he finally lose his mind and wanted to solely focus on his new girl?
Though Shio has her own fantasy she wanted to realize through me, she still loves that husband of hers. That’s why it’s really hard to steal her. A love that is bound by marriage, but now that she brought this word that could break that, something serious happened.
Like before, I didn’t say anything, instead, I stroked her hair as I waited for her next words.
“He finally lost it. He brought the student to our house. That bastard!”
There was anger and sadness mixed with her voice as she vented out everything she’s bottling up in her chest. From how that student was someone her husband was secretly nurturing since her days in when she was busy in college. That student is currently a third-year and like the previous her, the student was currently head-over-heels over her husband.
She tried confronting him and even talked some sense to the student but all that did was drive them away from their house, as to where those two stayed after that, she didn’t know. She didn’t try to know.
It’s already a wonder that she could still teach today, with that big of a problem in her marriage, one would usually take a leave to sort it out.
“Sorry Ruru, I have no one to tell this to but you. Thank you.”
When Shio calmed down, she apologized and thanked me. She’s still in my arms, even if she’s an adult, right now she looks like a child who needed someone to comfort her.
There were only a few minutes in between classes so we had to go back to our respective classroom soon. Shio knew that so after calming down, she stood up again and fixed herself. I only watched as she transformed from the crying girl just moments ago to the same composed teacher.
“Should I visit you later? You know, I’ll always be here for you, Shio.”
Though I have something lined up after school, I could spare some time for her after all that.
“Haa. I would’ve told you no but after showing you my weak side like this… yes Ruru, come later after club hours, I’ll be waiting for you here.”
After saying that, Shio opened the door and gestured for me to go first. Though I could take advantage of her just now, it’s just not right when she was crying like that.
I left the room after she said that. After not seeing her for 2 days, I guess I also missed her. Even if I message on messenger, she will often only read it and not reply.
Err. My shoulder is a bit wet from her tears, will someone notice?
Since it’s already the 3rd week, the teachers were now more or less used to their students’ faces so when I showed up a few minutes late for the 2nd period, the teacher marked me and tasked me with another errand. Even if I told him I was asked to bring our homework to Shio’s room, the teacher countered me by enumerating the time needed to make a round-trip from here to Shio’s room. It shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes so he concluded that I purposely slacked off which earned me a new errand.
It’s nothing much really, he only tasked me with cleaning a clubroom of a club that was shut down today for failing to reach the minimum members.
When I went back to my seat, Sakuma and Aya volunteered to help me. I could understand Aya but for Sakuma to also volunteer, that guy is really a good friend despite his suspicions. The refreshed Satsuki also chimed in, however, I told her that she doesn’t need to. She will have to go to her club again later so she better reserve more of her energy for that.
Though it makes sense, that earned me a glare from her and throughout the 2nd to 4th period, she decided to ignore me.
During the lunch break, I met up with Nami as part of our act at that empty clubroom again, after what happened last night, we stopped restraining ourselves once we’re alone. Like a couple having a secret rendezvous, we savored another ‘stolen’ time.
Though it didn’t evolve to more than kissing, that’s enough for now.
Halfway through the lunch break, her friends showed up in that empty clubroom, seemingly trying to catch us doing something indecent.
“Hello lovebirds, what are you two doing?”
Imada, this Friend A, started. She has an amused look in her face as if she really likes what she’s seeing.
When I heard the footsteps approaching this room, we released ourselves from each other’s embrace so what they saw upon entering was us just sitting quietly with our hands linked together.
Imada, Ogawa, Tadano, Mori and Kikuchi were here. Looks like she dragged them all to visit us here. Ah. There’s also the silent guy.
Though there’s a complicated look on Ogawa’s face, he maintained his smile as he approached us. For him, this was a part of our act.
Poor guy, I have nothing against him but for him to put up with this, I guess he’s too kind?
Tadano was grumpy as always while Mori also had a complicated face looking at us. I gave up on her and she was overjoyed by that fact so she’s now focused on chasing after Ogawa. She and Izumi-senpai were competing with each other to get his attention.
Though Mori already knew that Ogawa was the one who’s truly dating Nami, that didn’t discourage her.
Soon after they arrived, three more showed up, Izumi-senpai, Arisa-senpai and lastly Shizu-senpai.
With the whole gang in this empty clubroom, it soon became rowdy as they talked among each other while teasing us.
“The way Onoda-kun ran out to buy something for Maemura earlier was manly. Nanami, that didn’t get you jealous?”
Imada opened up what happened earlier in the first period.
“This guy was attentive like that. We all saw how Maemura was earlier, she looked so fatigued that if not for Ruu, she’ll collapse and will be sent to the infirmary.”
Nami answered. Though she said it, she mentioned earlier when we’re alone how that made her a bit jealous. I appeased her by telling her I would also do it for her if the same thing happened to her.
“Will you also do that for me, Onoda-kun?”
Nodding at Nami’s answer, Imada turned to me and asked in a teasing manner.
This girl. She’s not like this in class. Is she behaving herself there and let loose her playful side when she’s with her friends?
I could understand if it was Arisa-senpai who asked that but for Imada to do it. I guess it’s really hard to gauge a person’s attitude on first impressions.
“Err… You’re far away from my seat so I wouldn’t notice it easily.”
I answered her while scratching my cheek. A gesture often used by others to act embarrassed.
“This Maemura, is she that girl from the Basketball Club?”
Suddenly, Shizu-senpai, who had been silent since she arrived, opened her mouth.
“Yes, that’s her. Do you know her Shizu-senpai?”
Imada answered her not thinking about why she chose to speak now.
“I see. Onoda-kun is really manly. For him to rush out for that girl.”
The animosity from the SC President’s eyes was apparent as she stared at me. She probably thought that after what Nami told her last night, we will break up soon. And since it’s Satsuki who she caught me with, she already knew why I did that.
Based on the others’ reactions, they haven’t seen the picture she took yesterday. And from that, I gathered how much she cared for Nami. But yeah, she clearly didn’t like me for her.
Who would, right? No one would like a cheating guy fooling someone they cared for.
“Can I borrow Onoda-kun for a second?”
Shizu-senpai stood up as she asked that.
Ever since she started talking, the others were also silenced. Asking to borrow me now? I guess she already decided to confront me today. Not waiting for Nami to bring me to meet her.
Nami looked at me and tightened her grip on my hand as her way of telling me not to go.
But I also already decided. I shouldn’t let her do everything for us. Removing her hand from mine, I smiled at Nami before following Shizu-senpai out.
Let’s see. How should I deal with her?