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

Chapter 2: "Looking Up At The Fallen Star" - Part 2 The word "date" darts back and forth in my mind a couple of times, leaving my eyes wandering. I hesitated, unsure of how to respond appropriately, and found myself scratching my chin. 'No, thank you.' 'Let's go on a date.' 'No.' 'Why not?' 'Because you're a student, and I'm a teacher.' I quickly sent that reply, yet it wasn't my real reason. My hesitation to date Togawa-san stemmed from concerns about what would happen if other students saw us, fearing unnecessary drama. Being separated from Togawa-san... seemed like an exaggeration, but not being able to talk to her in class would feel unbearable. Despite initially resisting exchanging phone numbers to maintain a professional front, a certain relief came from being able to communicate like this now. Without this connection, I might have spent even more of my weekend worrying about Togawa-san. Putting that aside, there was no response from Togawa-san. The word "date" had unsettled me, and with no reply from her, I felt even more anxious. I couldn't think of anything more to say, but I couldn't put the phone down. 'Let's play catch at school tomorrow.' That was the only promise I could make. It was probably the closest we could get to a "date," given the circumstances we were in. A cartoon-stamped reply came from Togawa-san, a deformed animal waving goodbye, signaling "see you tomorrow." Despite it not even being midday, was her Sunday already over? Placing the phone face down on the bed, I exhaled deeply. Disconnecting from her, I found a moment of clarity. I knew this wasn't okay, yet why was I so calm about it? I was treading on thin ice, barely aware of the danger looming. If these exchanges with Togawa-san became public, I’d need to be prepared to lose my job, but my sense of urgency was sinking into my daily routine. Is this how those reported for misconduct find themselves trapped, too? However, ignoring Togawa-san now is impossible. I can't leave her be, nor can I push her away. No, it's not that I can't—it's that I don't want to. I've entrusted a part of my heart to her, making her integral to my life's stability. "This isn't good at all," I murmured to myself. A seriously bad sign. I left the room and found my husband. He was disappointed to see that the dishes had already been washed in the kitchen. "If you had left them there, I would have washed them." "It's okay. I just remembered that I forgot to buy something, so I'll go and get it now." Even if it wasn't something to hide, saying I was going to pay for hostess club expenses felt awkward. "I'll handle the window cleaning," he volunteered. "It'd be nice if you could clean more than just the windows," I teased. "I'll even take care of the bathroom," he declared. "You sure love tasks with water involved..." I sighed, mildly exasperated, and left it in his capable hands as I stepped out of our apartment. I had topped up my wallet with enough money—hopefully, it would cover the total. If not, I might have to evaluate myself more scathingly. I headed towards where I guessed the torii and guardian dogs would be, hoping to resolve this today as I walked. Upon arriving at the station, it wasn't difficult to spot the rickshaw and its owner standing out amidst the crowd. I was hesitant to approach someone while they were working, but after confirming there were no customers aboard, I drew closer. "Hey, hey, you lovely lady over there! Why not let a rickshaw carry away your youthful sweat along with the humid rainy season... Oh, it's you, Sensei." With an exaggerated beckoning, the rickshaw and the golden-haired Hoshi-san turned around. Beads of sweat were already forming on her brow before noon, glowing with a slight flush as she pulled the rickshaw to a stop in front of me. The rickshaw driver's indigo-dyed outfit suited her remarkably well, and I could see why it became such a talked-about sight. "I was right about you being a beauty! Just as expected from me." "Hah." "Long time no see—not really. How'd you find the club?" Her laugh was high-pitched and one of those rare, piercing laughs you'd scarcely hear in a lifetime. The headache I'd thought had gone from the two-day hangover started creeping back. "It was indeed a dreamlike experience. Truly, a nightmare of a dream." Hoshi-san bursted into another round of laughter as if remembering the details, her laughter sparkled with the threads of gold from her hair. Again, I was struck by how beautiful people seemed to have this enchanting aura no matter what they did. "Are you on a stroll, Sensei?" "No, I'm here to find you. I'm glad I found you so quickly." "Oh, whoa." Hoshi-san leaned back theatrically. "A married woman! Although, some excitement every now and then isn't bad." "Please don't get any ideas. I came to thank you and to apologize..." "Mmm? Mmm... I see, let's talk over some tea then." Following her lead, Hoshi-san guided the rickshaw towards the station. Walking beside her, it felt like I was some attendant from a period drama. She parked the rickshaw outside a café, gesturing for us to go inside. "Is it okay to take a break during your work?" "No one will know if you don't tell." "Is that so..." Not many customers would arrive by rickshaw, I thought. The café had a yellow-and-black theme both outside and inside. Near the entrance, counter seats with power outlets were available for those working on laptops. Payment was made at the entrance. I ordered a coffee, while Hoshi-san, claiming hunger, went with a risotto. After getting our water at the self-service station, Hoshi-san headed to the back. Her presence drew the attention of the staff, but her noticeable appearance made it understandable. The back wall had a brick-like design, with sofa seating available. Hoshi-san proudly took a seat on the sofa, fitting in well with her ensemble. I brought a chair across from her to sit down. "Sorry about hogging the sofa, Sensei." "It's fine, Hoshi-san is the one who's been working hard," I replied. "True," Hoshi-san chuckled, taking a sip of her water. "So, what was it? Today's agenda for the married woman." "Do we need the 'married woman' part?" "If there's no need, toss it out." The conversation had strangely shifted track. Letting Hoshi-san lead meant reaching the conversational goal could prove challenging. It was on me to initiate. "Um... about the hos... hostess club... bill, I wanted to settle it." "Hm? Ah, the hostess club bill." Despite my whispered attempt to gloss over it, Hoshi-san uttered those words with ease. "The price for that steamy night turned out steep—hah, good thing I had a bit of room in my wallet. I barely covered it." "I'm really sorry for that. I will repay you the full amount immediately." "Did you specifically come out to meet me just for that? You're an odd one." "Am I?" "If it were me, I would consider it lucky and never meet the person again." Perhaps it was half-joking, but I couldn't even begin to think that way. My mindset must be too rigid. Yet, I also thought my rigidity might not be such a bad thing. "So, how much do I owe you? Oh, do you still remember the exact amount you paid?" I queried, and Hoshi-san, scratching her head, simply refused, saying, "Don't worry about it."