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

Chapter 1: "The Scent of the Sea Doesn’t Reach Me" - Part Eight "Next..." At my attempt to think over the situation again, Togawa-san beamed with a smile. "I'll head straight home since we played together." "…Even without it, I'd prefer if you went straight home." She dismissed my request with a laugh and dashed away. Her youthful energy was infectious, yet as she bounded away unreservedly, her skirt fluttered, revealing glimpses of her thighs. "…………………………………" What am I standing here frozen for? I shook my head. Left alone on the playground, I felt as if I’d been tricked by a fox. But indeed, that's the reality of it. Does this mean that if I want to prevent Togawa Rin from heading out into the nightlife, I have to keep spending time with her? Granted, what we were doing was perfectly innocent. Glancing up at the school building, I wondered if it was noticeable: a female student and a teacher playing catch during lunch break. "Hmm..." I pondered while squeezing the ball in my hand. But with time running short, I hurried back to the building. I had to retrieve my lunchbox and prepare for afternoon classes. Even as I returned, the vibrant image and emotions of Togawa-san remained vivid in my mind. Once back at the staff room and seated, my colleague, who teaches Japanese history and sits next to me, quickly spoke up. "What was that about earlier? Recreation?" She was slightly older than me, a mid-career teacher and a senior in the faculty. Apparently, it was visible from the staff room as well. "It's what it looks like." "Catch~?" For some reason, her pronunciation was unnecessarily elaborate. "Is that also part of student guidance... I wonder?" I tilted my head, answering her question with another. I also didn’t really understand the significance of that time. "But that sort of thing is nice!" "You're right..." This teacher tends to find positivity in most things, so her reassurance is somewhat diminished. Even simple exercise combined with warm weather can make one break a sweat. As I wiped my hairline with a handkerchief, I planned to check on my makeup before heading to class. It felt peculiar, but leaving Togawa-san unattended wasn’t an option. If resolving a student's issue requires sacrificing lunch break during work hours, it’s worth it—as long as Togawa-san stays true to her word. ...No, she will. I chose to believe that Togawa-san isn't one to lie about such things. There’s no real basis for it. It's not like I truly know her character. Yet somehow, I didn’t want to think that her smile carried any intention of deceit. Sometimes doing nothing is ideal. For example, on holidays. On a leisurely afternoon stroll with my husband, I sink into mellow indolence, idly watching the screen from the comfort of our sofa while he plays a game. For about a year now, my husband has been engrossed in the same game without getting bored. Even someone like me, distant from games, knows about it. Building meticulously serves as his weekend sanctuary. "When our apartment is finished, I wonder what I should build next." While managing the hedges outside, my husband mused over his next construction project. His last creation was a large gate and guardian lion-dogs for the main street, inspired during a walk. Constructing structures within the game has become his weekend project since then. The two guardian lion-dogs he built, even without bias, were effectively larger than intended. To replicate their faces, he ended up making them more massive than the vermilion gate behind them. Aside from scale, I think they're well done. I lack any talent for creating such tangible things, so I'd never manage it. Watching the game screen move left and right could make me dizzy, so I directed my gaze outside the window. The weather outside mirrored the clear skies in the game, even the clouds bore resemblance. A peaceful day, one that never fails. Most times, moments spent with my husband are calm. "You really don't play games, do you?" "I'm no good at action stuff like that." "The action element isn't that important... but if you try it, you might fall to your death." And even just watching occasionally gives me a 3D-induced headache. "I'm happy just watching. It feels like an ideal lazy holiday." "Yeah, that's nice too." He doesn't insist on these things. There's a balance of respect and casualness. I leaned back against the sofa, allowing my hands to travel from folded on my lap to my head as thoughts floated up. Togawa-san. Somehow, my mind drifts back to her. I failed again to name the emotions chasing her joyful form as she enthusiastically tossed the rubber ball. How does Togawa-san spend her holidays? Perhaps hanging out with friends or on a date with a boyfriend? I doubt she stays at home. As my imagination expands, the sunny feelings twist into something anxious. I hope she's not hurt or involved in anything unhealthy within relationships I know nothing about. It seems almost closer to a feeling a sister may have towards her younger sibling, rather than a teacher to a student. For teachers to feel such things for students might seem unsettling, I self-mockingly think. Having talked only briefly, I was peculiarly concerned. Perhaps I’m misconstruing Togawa-san's congeniality. I’m merely her teacher by chance; Togawa-san is just another student. Yet with her easygoing nature, she could easily mislead those around her. Her voice is problematic. When she calls me "Sensei~" in that slightly childish, sweetly playful tone, it’s undeniably effective. Precisely because there's no intention behind it, this type of sincere allure is felt. Then there's her height. Even from the classroom podium, she stands out among her female peers. Her hair is soft and her mannerisms are adorable, creating a disparity with her height that surely captivates many. I’m certain she’s popular among the boys. And above all, her honest, unabashed approach. Accepting and being swept up in Togawa-san’s blossom-like emotions is inescapable. Meeting someone who lights up so cheerfully when engaging with me is something I've missed terribly. Even considering my husband, whom I’ve settled into a stable, family-like relationship with. ...So. "Do you know where I can buy a glove around here?" As I pondered this, fragments of rubble came to mind. Pieces falling apart, failing, and collapsing. I'm not sure why I associated it with crumbling, but the sensation running down my spine was akin to a chill.