"..."
Hiratsuka Shizuka bit her lip hard, half ashamed and half furious as she glared at Hanamori Kotomi, who stood between her and Hachiman. From where she was, she could not see Kotomi's face at all, only her backside. As for Hikigaya, he was kissing and licking left and right, as if he had completely forgotten she even existed.
Anger churned in her chest. It felt like her lungs were about to burst.
She did not even think about running away.
How could she run? So many girls in the school had already been ruined by that guy.
Judging from the way Hanamori Kotomi and the others reacted, knowing exactly how to move the moment he patted their hips, obedient and compliant, she could hide today, but not tomorrow.
'But what exactly does this guy mean by this?'
'Can he at least show me some respect?'
'If you want to kiss, then kiss. If you want to do it, then do it. What is the point of throwing me aside like this?'
'It is just a thin layer of stockings!'
'Is it really that tempting?'
———
Ring~ Ring~
"Exam time is over. Put down your pens. Setsuna, Fumino, collect the papers from both sides."
At noon, the broadcast bell rang. Mafuyu Kirisu, who was on proctor duty today, urged the students in the classroom to stop writing. Then she called on two students to help her quickly gather the test papers.
After Setsuna Ogiso and Furuhashi Fumino finished collecting them, she rolled the papers up. Her waist-length pink hair swayed lightly in the air as she turned around. In high heels, she walked briskly out of the classroom and back to the office.
"Mafuyu, don't you think the office feels a bit empty today?"
She had just sat down and placed the test papers neatly on her desk when Mizuho Kagami, sitting beside her, pushed against the floor with her black silk high heel. Her chair spun around to face Mafuyu as she casually started a conversation.
"I saw Hanamori-sensei and the others this morning. They're not on proctor duty today, so they probably went home early to rest. Isn't it normal for there to be fewer people?"
Mafuyu Kirisu glanced at the teachers' office where instructors were coming in one after another with their papers. She did not feel anything unusual.
The office was large. Normally everyone went in and out for classes. Today it was just missing a few familiar female teachers chatting in the corner.
"By the way, after the exams this afternoon, the results have to be announced tomorrow. You've finished grading yesterday's papers, right? How did Hikigaya do? Full marks?"
Mizuho Kagami did not seem particularly concerned about Hanamori Kotomi and the others. She only mentioned them casually before shifting the topic straight to Hachiman.
"I can't do anything about it. No matter how many times I checked, I couldn't find any mistakes."
"Unless I cheat, I'll definitely have to wear a maid outfit and teach Hikigaya household skills."
"If you have to wear one too, Mafuyu, I have a suggestion. How about inviting Hikigaya to our gathering tomorrow?"
"This time he skipped every subject except ours. If that many female teachers all wear maid outfits and teach him together, I bet even he won't be able to handle the pressure."
Although she did not want to go back on her word, as a teacher respected and loved by students, once she lost a bet with a student, she naturally had to set an example and fulfill her promise.
But wearing it alone for Hikigaya to see was simply too embarrassing.
So she came up with a good idea. Hikigaya would get even more benefits, and she would not feel so awkward or ashamed.
Did he not want to see them in maid outfits? He even dared to tease them so boldly. Then they would gather more female teachers, all dressed as maids, and satisfy him properly.
However, with so many young female teachers together, Hikigaya probably would not have the mood to stay long at their gathering. He would likely find an excuse and leave early.
Then it would not be her fault. She would have overfulfilled her promise. If Hikigaya could not withstand the pressure and ran away, that would be on him.
"Other teachers probably won't agree. Most of them might not have boyfriends, but Ebihara-sensei has a fiance. She's gentle and conservative. There's no way she'd agree to something like this."
Mafuyu Kirisu realized this was what Mizuho Kagami really wanted to talk about. She fell silent for a moment before shaking her head.
Wearing maid outfits with so many teachers, blending into the group, did sound like a decent idea.
But she felt it was not very realistic. Some teachers like Mizuho Kagami, who were easygoing and enjoyed playful atmosphere, might not mind dressing up together.
But what about the more serious teachers? Or those with fiances? How could they possibly join Kagami in such madness?
Of course, that was not even the biggest difficulty.
The real problem was how they would explain Hikigaya's presence.
A private gathering of young female teachers, with a male student mixed in? No matter how she thought about it, the other female teachers would never agree.
"Alright then. Let's go eat lunch together later and think while we eat. Tomorrow's still a day away from the weekend. Maybe by then we can… Eh? Mafuyu, are you going now? The cafeteria's crowded right now. Rest a bit first."
Seeing Mafuyu directly reject her suggestion, Kagami felt helpless. Then she noticed Mafuyu standing up to leave and hurriedly asked.
"I don't have proctor duty this afternoon, so I'm not in a rush to eat. I have something to discuss with Hiratsuka-sensei first."
Mafuyu paused, answered without turning around, then continued walking out.
"Eh? Looking for Hiratsuka-sensei? Is there another problem student recently?"
Kagami watched her briskly departing figure in confusion, then shook her head and stopped thinking about it. Instead, she turned to chat with the other female teachers in the office.
Even though Mafuyu had rejected her idea, she still wanted to try.
Even if the other teachers would not wear maid outfits, they could wear something else. As long as she and Mafuyu wore maid outfits, it would count as fulfilling the punishment for losing the bet.
However, she also needed to invite some female teachers with strong authority and commanding personalities to keep Hikigaya in check.
Even if he seemed reasonable, he was still a somewhat troublesome student.
"Takamine-sensei, Matsubara-sensei, do you have plans this weekend?"
Kagami quickly set her sights on teachers like Miria Matsubara, who had strong authority in students' eyes.
In terms of popularity, perhaps she, Hanamori Kotomi, Ebihara Urara, and Kashima Risako were more loved by students.
But when it came to creating pressure, teachers like Matsubara had to step in.
———
Knock~ Knock~
"Hiratsuka-sensei, it's Kirisu."
Outside the student guidance room, Mafuyu Kirisu, unaware that Kagami was busy pulling others into her plan, gently knocked on the door.
She waited for a while, but no one responded.
"No one inside? Then I'll go in myself."
"Where did Hiratsuka-sensei go? To eat? Right, it's lunchtime. I was too impatient."
She twisted the handle and walked in. The room was indeed empty. She went over to the sofa and sat down, brushing her fingers lightly across the spotless coffee table. With a faint sigh, she took out her phone and called Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Hiratsuka-sensei had always been generous about lending out the guidance room. She said that although she was the guidance counselor, she could not be the only one guiding problem students. Every teacher had to participate in order to truly solve their issues.
As long as you informed her, you could use it. Mafuyu was already used to it. Whenever she needed to have a slightly private talk with a problem student, she would come here.
In the past, the room was not dirty, but Hiratsuka-sensei, who was straightforward and a bit careless, did not clean it every day. Recently, however, it had become cleaner and cleaner.
Was she in love?
She had heard that many women changed after entering a relationship.
Recently, she seemed to see Hiratsuka-sensei spending more time with Ebihara Urara, who already had a fiance. Maybe she was asking Rei for advice.
Mafuyu looked at her fingertips, still clean and white after running them across the table, and felt a bit envious of Hiratsuka and Rei's domestic skills.
If it were her, it would be impossible. If she forced herself to do housework, she would only make an even bigger mess. When she married in the future, she would definitely have to find a husband who could accept that she did not do housework.
Beep!
Just as her thoughts wandered, the call finally connected before it could automatically hang up.
["K-Kirisu-sensei?"]
"Yes, it's me. Hiratsuka-sensei, are you at the cafeteria? I came to the guidance room and found you weren't here."
Mafuyu snapped back to reality. Hearing the surprise in Hiratsuka's voice, she asked politely.
["Mmm… yeah… Kirisu, cough cough… what is it?"]
Hiratsuka responded vaguely, asking the reason for the call.
"I won't disturb your meal for long. I wanted to ask if you have Hikigaya's contact information?"
Mafuyu clearly heard Hiratsuka swallowing food, even seeming to choke a little. Not wanting to disturb her lunch, she quickly stated her purpose.
"I want to talk to him about skipping every subject this time except mine and Mizuho-sensei's."
She was very angry about Hikigaya's blatant disregard for the exam. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be found most of the time.
According to information provided by Ijichi Nijika and Gabriel Tenma White from Class 1-F, Hikigaya rarely appeared in the classroom. Usually he showed up in the morning, and the rest of the time no one knew where he went.
When she tried asking Nijika, Gabriel, and Ichinose Honami for his contact information, they all claimed they did not have it.
Did she look that gullible? When she caught him passing notes and exchanging glances with Ichinose Honami during class, how could they not have each other's contact information?
If it were just one or two students, she might believe it. But the whole class did not have his contact information?
Obviously, even though Hikigaya skipped class every day, his private relationship with Nijika and the others remained very good. They would even lie to protect him.
But that was fine. Hiratsuka was the Service Club's advisor and had dealt with him many times. She should be able to contact him.
["No problem. I still have something going on here… wait… I'll send you his contact in a bit."]
"Alright, Hiratsuka-sensei. I'm not in a hurry. Thank you very much—"
Beep!
Before Mafuyu could finish speaking, Hiratsuka had already hung up.
Still, Mafuyu liked this decisive style. Straight to the point, and if she could help, she would do it immediately.
"Just now I think I heard Ebihara-sensei and Hanamori-sensei's voices too… So they didn't go home. They went to eat with Hiratsuka-sensei…"
Mafuyu recalled the noisy sounds she had heard through the receiver.
She thought she heard something like, "Senpai, is this tasty?" and "This position is more efficient," and "Let me demonstrate."
So Hiratsuka really had gone to Ebihara Urara for advice. Even Hanamori Kotomi was there.
Perhaps she could also seek advice from Urara, who had already completed her bridal training and carried herself with the gentle elegance of a traditional Japanese woman.
Everyone was human. She did not need to become some amazing housewife. She just needed to master basic household skills. That should not be difficult, right?
After steadying herself, Mafuyu quickly opened the chat window. Using the number Hiratsuka had just sent, she called Hikigaya Hachiman.
Beep!
"This is Kirisu. Hikigaya, you skipped the exam again today. Where exactly are you?"
As soon as the call connected, Mafuyu got straight to the point.
["I'm in the guidance room."]
"Liar! Hiratsuka-sensei said she's eating, and I'm in the guidance room right now. Where are you?"
She immediately exposed his lie. But worried that being too harsh might make him hang up or block her, she changed her tone.
"Forget it. You never listen to my lectures in person. You won't listen over the phone either."
"About the bet for getting first place in a single subject. You won."
"I can wear a maid outfit and teach you household skills. But I will only wear it privately for you."
"You are not allowed to tell Mizuho-sensei that I wore it. You can say I'm dragging my feet or even cheating, but you absolutely cannot tell her that I wore a maid outfit privately for you."
The reason Mafuyu rejected Kagami's suggestion was because she herself was one of the teachers who did not want to wear a maid outfit in front of everyone.
Even if everyone else agreed, she did not want others to see her dressed like that.
Still, she believed she could not break her promise, so she thought of another method.
The bet was only with Hikigaya. As long as she fulfilled it toward him, it was enough. It did not matter if Kagami misunderstood her.
["That's not what we agreed on. I wanted to see you and Kagami-sensei wear it together. If you do this, what if Kagami-sensei cheats too?"]
Hikigaya paused briefly before speaking again.
["Still, I understand your thinking, Kirisu-sensei. If you really want me to lie for you, that's fine. But you'll have to let me go to your house and see just how tidy your room really is."]
["After school this afternoon, wait for me in the parking lot. I'll drive you home."]
Thinking of her room, which had somehow turned into a mess again, Mafuyu wanted to refuse. But considering that this might be the only way to avoid breaking her promise without facing that level of embarrassment, she agreed.
She would take leave in the afternoon and call a housekeeping service to clean up. She did not have proctor duty anyway.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.