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

Chapter 2: "Looking Up At The Fallen Star" Part Four "I'm sleepy," my new friend complained after we left the cafe. "I shouldn't have eaten that. It was delicious, though." "It's tough, isn't it, being busy while everyone else is off on holiday?" Hoshi-san laughed with sleepy eyes and then remarked, "You know, Rin is similar in some ways." She muttered this while preparing to move the rickshaw she operated. "A bit irresponsible with your own emotions." The comment was so vague it was hard to grasp who she meant she was similar to, as if it were a soliloquy that missed its mark. "Well, don't get too caught up. It's okay if you do, though." "Which one is it, really?" "If possible, I'd like you to pay more attention to Rin. I'm sure she'd be happy," she said. "……Which one is it, really?" I repeated the same question, my curiosity only slightly shifted. With a playful laugh, Hoshi-san walked off with the rickshaw, leaving me with her words. "Friends, huh..." I found myself surprisingly comfortable with my new friend. Aside from her flippant nature, she had a refreshing feeling like a breeze blowing through. In the end, she hadn't accepted the money I had offered to cover her debt. "What can I do with the extra savings?" "…Repent?" I couldn't think of anything else. "Ichi-se... Ichigohara-sensei." Hearing my name called, corrected slightly, I felt a sense of relief mixed with other emotions as I turned around. It was the time between the end of morning homeroom and heading back to the staff room. The person calling me was a student from a different class, though I recognized her from teaching sessions. Her name was... "Mori-san, is something the matter?" The name Mori Kotori was memorable as it was somewhat fitting for an organized name. A diminutive girl with distinct black hair and large eyes. Apologetic for not having conversed much with her before, I struggled to figure out what she needed. "Um..." She clutched her left arm tightly, seeming hesitant to speak. Even though her gaze was mostly downcast, her eyes were full of determination. It was as if I could hear the rattling noise of her eyes darting around, trying to read the emotional and conversational signals she gave off. "Is this a topic you don't want others to hear?" She hesitated a moment but nodded slightly. It certainly didn’t seem like it would be a short conversation. "In that case, is lunchtime okay? Can you come to the teachers’ preparation room?" She nodded and then quickly returned to her classroom. I was left to ponder what this could be about, noting that if it were school-related advice, surely she'd approach her homeroom teacher. Questions about lessons were not usually secretive. What could be an issue only I could address? Despite my repeated pondering, I couldn't figure it out. "Still, among students, it's 'Ichi-sen', huh..." Thinking it sounded like a number, I headed to the staff room, musing about twisting numbers like ten and hundred into something cohesive. As I organized teaching materials, I suddenly remembered, "Oh," about my promise to play catch with Togawa-san. What should I do about today at lunch? Perhaps I should ask Mori-san to postpone until after school? Yet, would it be right to prioritize a game of catch over a student's consultation? As a teacher, it felt indecisive at the least. But I'm conflicted. There were days when I couldn't do it because I had work to do, but yesterday, I was the one who said I would do it today. If I were to go back on that, Togawa-san would be very disappointed. I was worried she'd be disillusioned. I let out a sigh much deeper than usual. If only I wasn't a teacher, I could easily prioritize Togawa-san. Caught in this contradictory struggle, I felt helpless. Ultimately, after much internal debate, I decided to inform Togawa-san of the cancellation. It was necessary to maintain the bare minimum as a teacher. To be addressed as "sensei" by Togawa-san. "Sorry." "It's okay." I found it surprisingly taxing to convey this to Togawa-san, whom I called out to the classroom with a value that seemed to hold some special expectation. My chest felt more like it was being worn down than being pained, a sense of my spirit thinning out. "It's not your fault, not your fault." The words seemed inwardly focused, as if she were convincing herself rather than consoling me. "Ah," feeling uneasy, I worried overly so that Togawa-san might drift away over such a trifle. Imagining us reverting to a commonplace relationship where we barely noticed each other in the same classroom filled me with anxiety. "We'll do it tomorrow!" I managed to say it on a day with no schedule conflicts. "Ahaha," Togawa-san said, her cheeks brightening as she seemed to have finally realized the meaning. She ran down the hall and waved her hand widely at me. "Tomorrow's Tuesday, Sensei!" "And so what!" Laughing cheerfully, I sighed in relief as Togawa-san happily ran off. If it wasn't just my vanity, her playful gestures and subtle emotional shifts seemed drastically different from her normal smile. Each nuance and shift combined to bring light into her expression. "Togawa-san... I really love..." "No, that's not what I meant," shaking my head, I stopped myself. It seemed as if I was the one falling deeper in affection when repeating it. Hastily, I dispelled the thought. It was all because of what Hoshi-san said yesterday... I'd been holding back and being quiet, but now that she's said it aloud, I can't help but be conscious of it. The special face, the voice directed solely at me by Togawa-san. Imagining her addressing anyone else with that same expression makes me pace around the place, losing my composure... a strong, high, rigid sense of resistance. Just being separated from her genuine smile might cause my heart to die. That's how much I had lost sight of a life without Togawa Rin. And so, lunch break arrived. Without so much as a knock, Mori-san burst into the teachers' preparation room. Her entrance was so forceful, it left no room for formalities. "Excuse me," she stated without an ounce of courtesy. Though we were not particularly close, the difference in demeanor was jarring compared to Togawa-san's familiar warmth. As soon as Mori-san sat down, she immediately launched into her topic with a directness that felt almost confrontational. "I saw you yesterday, Sensei." "Uh? Uh, I see…?" Caught off guard, I struggled to grasp her point and my reaction came out rather slow. Yesterday... It had been a day off. My heart skipped a beat as panic threatened to settle in. Had I been caught in an awkward situation? My face paled slightly, but then I quickly remembered that I hadn't seen Togawa-san yesterday, which helped quell my nerves. "What do you mean you saw me yesterday?" "You were with Sora." The name slipped from her lips like a stone, pressing down with a weight that made it difficult to determine its significance. "Sora... Oh, you mean Hoshi-san?" Was she referring to the time at the café when we were having tea together? It was quite possible that if anyone knew the conspicuously parked rickshaw out front, they might have peeked inside to see who was there. Given she referred to her as Sora, it suggested a closeness beyond mere acquaintanceship. "Yeah, I owe Hoshi-san a debt of gratitude from last time... Just a small favor, really. So I thought I should thank her." "A favor…?" "Let’s not worry about the details." Some things needed to remain unclear, for good reason. But Mori-san's gaze, naturally sharp, had now grown even more intense, bordering on the predatory. It was almost humorous, thinking she looked more like a bird of prey than a small bird, until— "Sensei, do you also like women?" "........Eh?" It felt as if I'd been floored by an enormous, outstretched slap from an invisible hand.