Chapter 21: Now that things have come to this, let's eat first.

"You two have certainly given me a surprise," Sayuri Sato said with a cold face. "Is this really the way students welcome their new homeroom teacher? I think I've felt it now."

"I... I'm so sorry!" Yu Yoshimizu was so anxious he was on the verge of tears.

Kitahara looked on with a puzzled expression. He didn't quite understand what kind of act Sayuri Sato was putting on. Although the orange juice had spilled, given their relationship, it shouldn't have been a big deal even without an apology, right?

Still, this was school.

He decided to be respectful. "I'm sorry."

"If apologies were useful, what would we need the police for?" Sayuri Sato sneered. "This suit cost two hundred thousand yen, and dry cleaning is five thousand yen... You two students have really left a deep impression on me."

"Five thousand..."

Yu Yoshimizu’s face turned grim; that was his entire month’s allowance.

"Then what should we do?" Kitahara glanced at Sayuri Sato and asked airily.

"What should you do?"

Sayuri Sato gave a light scoff, a glimmer of excitement flashing in her eyes. Now that you’ve fallen into my hands, of course, I am the knife and you are the fish... What can you do? Naturally, you’ll have to repay me with your service.

Last night, you played that push-and-pull game so well; let’s see you try that again now...

"Get over here! Both of you, follow me to the office! Ten thousand words of self-reflection each! If you don't have them written by the end of the day, don't blame me for calling your parents!" Sayuri Sato barked, storming off in a fit of feigned rage.

"It's over..."

Yu Yoshimizu went pale.

Kitahara didn't take it to heart and turned to walk away. Yoshimizu hurriedly grabbed him. "It’s not too late to go write the reflection now. If we apologize properly after school, she’ll forgive us."

"I’m not writing it. I can't manage ten thousand words. It’s easier to just pay her the money."

Of course, that was just the surface reason.

In reality, Kitahara saw that this woman, Sayuri Sato, was deliberately targeting him, and he couldn't be bothered to entertain her.

"If you act like this, aren't you afraid of making Sato-sensei angry? The look in her eyes just now... it was like she wanted to eat someone alive." Yu Yoshimizu recalled the moment, and his body trembled involuntarily.

"We are students, she is a teacher. What can she really do to us?"

Leaving that behind, Kitahara headed for the classroom without looking back.

"Hey! What am I supposed to do if you leave? I’m terrified to go see her alone!"

Yu Yoshimizu was about to cry. Even though the female teacher was beautiful, he didn't have the guts to harbor any thoughts about her.

In the office, Sayuri Sato was filled with anticipation. But after a knock at the door, only a buzz-cut boy walked in; there was no one else.

Looking at the timid Yu Yoshimizu in front of her, a cold light flashed in Sayuri Sato’s eyes.

"Why is it just you? Wasn't there another one?"

"Kitahara said he is willing to pay the compensation..."

As the words fell, Sayuri Sato flew into a rage. "The nerve! Who wants this petty cash? Call him here! Tell him to come here during lunch and apologize properly. Tell him if he doesn't, the word count for the reflection will double."

"Yes..."

"Go."

Yu Yoshimizu hurried to the classroom to relay the message to Kitahara.

Kitahara was left speechless.

This teacher was really playing the role of the "domineering teacher falling in love with me"... She was crazy.

"I understand."

However, to comfort Yoshimizu, Kitahara agreed. "I’ll go see her at noon. Don't worry about the reflection; I’ll take care of it."

"How are you going to take care of it?" Yu Yoshimizu blinked, confused.

"By using my own method, of course."

***

As for what that method was, Kitahara hadn't actually decided.

If it came down to it, he would just flake.

You couldn't be too attached to a woman, or she would be riding on your head in a heartbeat.

***

The fourth period ended, and it was time for lunch.

Kitahara put down his pen, stretched, and took a moment to glance at the seat next to him.

He was a little worried that his "little girlfriend" might have given up, dropped out of school behind his back, and gone to rot in some unknown corner.

That didn't sound very youthful.

Chikawa was still there, near the window. A beauty whose expression was icy even while sleeping was slumped over her desk, fast asleep... Only occasionally, when someone passed by, she would open her eyes alertly, confirming there was no danger before closing them again.

Looking at her like this, she was quite like a cat—easily stressed, vigilant while sleeping, and not particularly friendly toward people.

No matter how you looked at it, she was someone difficult to get along with.

But Kitahara didn't plan on getting along with her properly. For now, just spending money was enough.

He was the client.

The client didn't need to cater to anyone else's emotions; they just needed to be waited on.

He wondered what this delinquent looked like when she was trying to please someone...

Would she still have that cold face?

Kitahara pulled back his thoughts, recalling the last mission where Chikawa Ryoka had intended to throw herself into the river... Although he had resolved it, he hadn't figured out the reason why.

Did the reason have to do with money?

Kitahara couldn't fathom it.

A few minutes later, the bell rang.

When the classroom was mostly empty and the wind drifted in from the window, Chikawa Ryoka finally rubbed her stomach and opened her eyes. In the blink of an eye, a familiar figure appeared before her. Kitahara was curiously examining her, as if admiring her sleeping face.

Chikawa Ryoka felt a bit embarrassed, turning her face away and stammering, "Do you... need something?"

"Please watch your choice of words. Are you still calling me 'you'?" Kitahara reminded her calmly.

Chikawa Ryoka froze. Memories of yesterday flooded her mind... Five hundred thousand yen. She had already sold herself to the boy in front of her and had even given away her first kiss.

She didn't know what to say, so she hung her head. "Yoshi-kun."

"Sounds a bit strange. Try something else?"

"Dar... Darling." Chikawa forced the words out, the corner of her mouth twitching.

"That sounds awkward. Just call me Kitahara, and you don't need to use polite language either," Kitahara said, shaking his head.

"So, what do you want..."

She murmured, not daring to speak loudly... Dealing with a client was truly difficult.

If he got angry, how was she supposed to soothe him?

"You're my girlfriend. What else would I want?" Kitahara countered.

Chikawa Ryoka blinked blankly, her clear eyes revealing a hint of confusion.

What could she do?

She had no prior experience in dating. Usually, it just meant going out, having a meal, or going on a date.

At this point, she could only ask:

"A date?"

"A date? That works," Kitahara nodded.

Although he hadn't planned on it, since she brought it up... a casual walk wouldn't be bad. It would be a good chance to understand what kind of person she was.

He was curious about this seatmate who frequently skipped class.

How capable could she be to get into the Fuhoku-Taiho Private Academy without studying?

***

Fuhoku-Taiho had a policy for tuition waivers for student athletes, similar to special admissions elsewhere; it wasn't uncommon in Japan.

If she trained normally, she could probably get into a prestigious university through special admission and then pursue a professional career.

"..."

Chikawa Ryoka was at a loss.

A date...

That would probably cost a lot of money, right?

Also, would they have to kiss?

Should she be more proactive?

"Let's go. We'll grab something to eat, then find a place to rest," Kitahara said.

"Mm..."

Chikawa Ryoka lowered her head and followed Kitahara to the cafeteria.

On the way, several boys cast secret glances and whispered, "Isn't that Chikawa from the swimming club?"

"What, the one with the big chest and the terrible temper?"

"Damn, even that woman can have a boyfriend..."

"Don't say that. Even if her temper is bad, her face is pretty, and that body..."

Chikawa Ryoka arched her brows, shooting them a look sharp enough to kill. The gossiping boys immediately shut their mouths and didn't say another word.

The two arrived at the service window.

"Set meal, bread, or something else?" Kitahara asked.

"Bread, I guess..."

Bread was cheaper.

A set meal cost eight hundred yen, while bread was half that, yet provided roughly the same feeling of fullness. In terms of cost-effectiveness, the former was naturally better, though the taste certainly wouldn't compare to the set meal...

As Chikawa Ryoka spoke, she saw Kitahara hold up two fingers.

"Two Set B meals."

"..."

Chikawa looked at him.

Kitahara turned back. "I think the set meals taste better."

"Then why did you ask me..." she pouted.

"Oh, just a casual question. You don't like them?" Kitahara said.

"It's not that."

Human desire for carbohydrates was physiological and unstoppable.

Especially for someone like Chikawa, who had high physical exertion and exercised regularly, she ate even more.

So she didn't refuse.

The two found a random spot to eat.

Kitahara ate slowly, taking time to check the notes he had made... Fuhoku-Taiho finished all the entrance exam material by the middle of the second year. The remaining time was for endless review and testing.

Curious gazes came from nearby, which made Chikawa Ryoka feel a bit restless... The school didn't forbid dating, but her reputation in the eyes of others was certainly unique, and coupled with the fact that Kitahara was good-looking, she figured the news would spread by the afternoon.

Whatever. She was already sitting with him anyway.

"Since it’s come to this, let’s just eat."