CH 19

“… Well, why was I called here?”

The next day, I was summoned to the student guidance office.

However, the one who called me out here was not Sakuramiya-sensei but the one who nearly caught us on our date, Hanamura-sensei.

“Segawa. I’ve been thinking about it all night, and I still don’t think what you said yesterday was the truth.”

Hanamura-sensei, who has a serious face, rests his elbows on the desk and clasps his hands.

I thought I had escaped serious trouble, but I shouldn’t have been so naive. Well, a student and a teacher were whispering to each other about how much they liked and were even hugging intimately in a shopping mall on a holiday. After witnessing such a scene, it was only natural that a coiled knot would form in his heart.

Even though I don’t have any romantic feelings for Sakuramiya-sensei, it is a matter of concern.

“I think I explained it properly.”

“Was that really for the play of the cultural festival?”

“Anyway, why would a teacher be jealous of a student? We are not even dating in the first place.”

“As expected, I can’t see it but I certainly feel like Sakuramiya-sensei has a slightly different attitude towards Segawa from a long time. Or maybe it’s just my imagination?”

Hanamura-sensei seems to be trapped in suspicion.

Sakuramiya-sensei is a person who treats everyone equally without any sort of discrimination. It’s impossible that I may be the only one she favors above everyone else excluding her parents of course. As Hanamura-sensei said, it may be his imagination.

More than that, just what do the teachers at this school think of the student guidance office? It’s not a place for private use, is it?

I sighed and looked back at him.

“Well… can I go home now?

“No, wait. I’ll confirm this last time, are you really dating Sakuramiya-sense?”

“No, I’m not dating her.”

Do your job Sensei and stop being blinded by love.

I was trying to reprimand Hanamura-sensei in my heart.

And when I was in the middle of doing it, my smartphone rang.

**Tring** **Tring**

“You can answer it.”

“Ah, yes, I’m sorry.”

I took out the phone from my pocket and checked who was on the other end of the line. The LCD display showed ‘Sakuramiya-sensei’… Why is she calling me? Does she not have any work to do as well? Do the teachers these days are too free?

“I’m going to go outside to attend this call.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about it.”

You may not be worried about it, but I will be doomed if you come to find out who is the one calling me.

Leaving the student guidance office, I headed over to a deserted staircase and picked up the phone.

The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you have a good understanding of what you’re doing and how to do it. I answered the call.

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry to call you suddenly. Are you okay now?”

“Well, I’m fine, but I’m at school in case you’re wondering, so please be brief.”

“Ah, you see. My fathe–”

I hung up the phone call at the speed of light.

Even without listening to the contents of it, I had a brief idea about what it was. So it’s better not to listen to it.

“Phew…”

I’m relieved, but my phone starts vibrating again. I ignored it for about ten calls, but it still continues to vibrate.

At this rate it would continue like this for the rest of the day and Sensei wouldn’t stop without talking with me, so I had no choice but to respond to the call.

“Why are you cutting it?”

“I’m sorry, the signal seems to be bad. Can you call back in a year?”

“What kind of line are you using? And you are still connected!”

“Haah… Well, I’ll say it in advance, but if you want me to meet your father, then it’s a no go.”

From the content of the story, the future flow can be roughly predicted. Just like the last time, I will have to greet her father at this rate.

“Greetings? Oh, no it’s different.”

Well, I was making assumptions on my own. But the actual case seems to be a bit different.

“Dad recognized and accepted after seeing you in the photos we took on our date, so I will be able to persuade him… I called, so I can update you about the progress.

I see, so this was the reason why she was calling me repeatedly.

There are already a lot of photos of me and Sakuramiya-sensei. It’s no surprise that his father, who is a family member, would see them.

Even though it’s through the photos, how did he recognize me? Did he already know about me from someone?

“Then, if I am approached, I should respond in a good manner, right?”

“Yes, that way it will be hard for them to suspect.”

‘Well, I understand. If the time comes, I will take care of it.”

“Thank you. Minato-kun!”

“Please go by Segawa-kun normally. What if someone hears and misunderstands you?”

“Oh, that’s right, haha… I have been accustomed to calling you by your first name so it slipped.”

I don’t understand why she is confused, but I would be troubled if someone were to find out the relation between Sakuramiya-sensei and me.

“Is it okay to cut the phone now?”

“Wait, wait, One more thing. The mid term exams are approaching soon, right?”

Ugh……. She reminded me of a bad memory

Our school will be having midterms from next Wednesday to Friday.

“And what about it?”

“Segawa, you’re not good at Japanese, are you?”

“Well, it would be a lie if I said I was good at it.”

“I wonder if there’s a meaning to say about it in a roundabout way.”

I think I’m pretty good in studies in general, but I’m not good at japanese. I don’t really like reading long sentences and they don’t seem to get in my head in the first place.”

Sakuramiya-sensei is our current teacher of Japanese and she knows I am not good at it.

“If you are urging me to study then I’ll hang up.”

“Ah, actually I’m indebted to Segawa-kun, so I thought it would be nice if I could return the favor.”

“Are you going to tell me the answers of the test?”

“That’s out of the question… But I’ll help you in focusing on certain parts that will appear in the test.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, so keep it a secret from everyone.”

This teacher is a really bad person…

But it’s not like I hate it.

“I like this deal.”

“Yes. Well, when will it be convenient for you?”

“Is this Friday okay?”

“Yeah, then let’s meet after school hours on that day.”

I didn’t expect that I would be able to benefit from this situation in this way. Maybe pretending to be a fiancé isn’t bad either.

After hanging up the phone and putting it in my pocket I went back to the guidance counselor’s office.

Although I returned to the office, I did not talk to Hanamura-sensei. So when I thought he wouldn’t continue this conversation anymore, I stood up, picked up my bag to my shoulder and said,

“Well then I’ll be leaving.”

“Segawa, I have one last thing to discuss with you.”

“Hmm? Yes.”

“Do you think it’s okay to invite Sakuramiya-sensei to the upcoming school festival?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. She will probably refuse.”

“Yes, that’s right. But maybe—”

“If that’s the case, then just ask her out. And if it’s impossible, gracefully give up. That’s the only way, if you’re persistent, people will hate you.”

“… You’re right. I understand, thank you. I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time.”

Hanamura-sensei with a small smile thanked me, so in return I also smiled back at him and left the guidance counselor’s office.

I respect Hanamura-sensei because he can work so hard even though there are no results, but giving up without a proper rejection is also bad.