2.1 - A Story About a Married Teacher Who Becomes Obsessed With Her Female Student

Chapter 2: "Looking Up at the Falling Star" - Part One Objectively speaking, my life up until now might be considered quite mundane. From childhood through adulthood, I've consistently chosen the safer, more reliable options, and I don't have significant regrets about that. ...Or perhaps, the reality is that there isn't enough flavor or scent to it for me to feel any regret. Considering that, last month was an especially turbulent time for me. While the trigger might have been something else, the blame lay entirely with me, and I found myself in situations I never would have imagined in my usual way of living. The overwhelming feeling of wanting to die has mostly subsided, and though still a bit chaotic, my daily life has returned. It's been about a month since then, and now it's mid-June. The rainy season has truly set in. I wonder how the students feel, knowing that after this rain, exams and summer vacation are approaching. At school, there was nothing particularly noteworthy with Togawa-san. This is normal. I am the homeroom teacher, and Togawa-san is a student. When we meet in the morning, we exchange greetings, and during lunch breaks, if asked, I'll play a bit of catch with her... and that's about it. Holding hands on the way to and from playing catch... well, let's just push that into the realm of being good friends. As for our private communications... let's file that under the same category. If I turn a blind eye to what's not happening, I can say that my daily life has returned to being not so different from before. However, even in unchanging days, there are slight shifts. I feel like I've been catching Togawa-san's eye more often in the classroom. In unguarded moments, our gazes meet perfectly, as if by some invisible thread. In those moments, Togawa-san's usual gentle smile breaks into an even more relaxed expression, and with slightly narrowed eyes, she smiles at me. Her eyes sparkle, and when she sees my confusion, she looks away, seemingly satisfied. I can't grasp what Togawa-san is conveying with that smile. Just as it's hard for me to precisely articulate my own feelings towards Togawa-san, she might also find it hard to explain what she feels about me. But the fact that our eyes meet... That means not only is Togawa-san looking at me, but I'm also subconsciously following her with my gaze. "Oh, is it a bit sweet today?" As my husband took a bite of his breakfast omelet, his eyes widened. "I thought it'd be nice for a change. I quite like sweet omelets." Come to think of it, I'd been serving omelets without questioning his preference, unaware of what he actually liked. After swallowing, he seemed to ponder before speaking. "If you like it, then it's okay." His response suggested he preferred the usual savory omelet. "Yeah..." I shared the sentiment. So why make it sweet today? I just tried it out as a bit of practice. "Oh, are you shaving today?" While doing the breakfast dishes, I heard the sound of an electric razor from the bathroom. "I'm the type who shaves even on holidays if it bothers me. No plans to go out, though." "Is that so..." "It feels good when you wash your face, and your skin is smooth and fresh, right?" "I wouldn't know. I've never grown a beard." "Ah, yes, that's true." We laughed it off lightly. The steady sound of the water flowing softened the edges of our Sunday morning. In the cool, refreshing air that seemed to sweep away the humidity, a phone rang. From the familiar ringtone, I could tell it was a message from Line. Even before checking who it was, I somehow guessed. The sound of water as I rinsed the dishes faded a little into the distance. The second change in my daily life: private exchanges with Togawa-san. "So by the way, sensei, what do you do on your days off?" After exchanging contact information, Togawa-san had started messaging me with the casual air of a friend. I couldn't quite see her as just a friend, though, so I was cautious with my word choices and responses. Even though she didn't seem to be someone starved for friends, was she satisfied with our slightly dull conversations? Nonetheless, I chuckled at her message. When she actually speaks, she calls me "sensei~" or "sen-say," but in writing, it's the proper "sensei," which I found amusing. “Something funny?” “No, nothing. Just some spam email full of garbled text.” “Okay,” my husband replied, losing interest and resuming his shaving. This unquestioning attitude made me feel a tiny pang of guilt. That odd sense of wrongdoing led me to lie to him. Is this a relationship I need to hide from my husband? It felt uncomfortably like an affair. Even though it wasn’t anything inappropriate—just a bit of interaction with a student, a girl at that—it felt like something I shouldn’t let him know about. ‘During cool weather, I go for walks with my husband, shopping, or sometimes preparing lessons and grading tests.’ ‘Huh.’ ‘Sorry for the boring answer.’ ‘That’s not the kind of “huh” I meant.’ I wondered what kind of "huh" she did mean. I finished washing the dishes, wiped my hands, and headed to my room with the phone. My room was much smaller compared to Togawa-san's. Maybe not even half its size. Originally, it wasn’t intended to be my room, so it was naturally cramped. When we first moved in after getting married, it had been a storage room. Sitting on the bed, I leaned forward to look at my phone. It felt like I was sneaking a conversation—well, because I was—and it tingled down my back. ‘What about you, Togawa-san?’ ‘I usually hang out with friends. Or, I wander around with Sora-nee.’ "Oh, Sora... Hoshi-san, right?" ‘Sora-nee is busier on Saturdays and Sundays, so not often, though.’ "Yeah, rickshaw pullers pick up tourists, huh?" I realized I needed to apologize to that person as well. But how to arrange a meeting? Maybe through Togawa-san, I thought. ‘Togawa-san, I’d like to meet Hoshi-san again. Can I contact her?’ The reply came after a pause. ‘In what way?’ “What way...” I couldn’t immediately grasp the intent of the question. Was there something she didn't like? ‘I wanted to apologize for the time I was drunk and troublesome.’ I hesitated to mention the embarrassing part about paying for the hostess club. ‘Oh, that. Sure, I’ll let her know. When’s good for you?’ Which way was she thinking? ‘If possible, today.’ I worried that if too much time passed, my gratitude and apologies might fade. ‘Hmm, maybe not today. Sora-nee turns off her phone while working.’ I nodded in understanding. ‘But if you go to the station front, you’ll probably meet her. She’s in charge of that area, says it’s a prime location.’ Come to think of it, I met her near the torii in front of the station last time. ‘Thanks, I’ll give it a try.’ ‘So that means, sensei, you’re free today?’ ‘Seems like it.’ ‘Then let’s go on a date.’