Chapter 15
TL: PuffyPyjamas .
ED: Daemon .
I laid Emma on a futon, and reminisced about my day today .
I was honestly quite anxious about my first day studying abroad, but my classmates were very considerate and kind .
The eyes of the males were a bit on the scary side, but it was the same at my previous school in England, so it’s better to not worry about it . Everyone accepted me with open arms, so I believe I can have a great school life moving forwards .
However, when I reached my apartment, I couldn’t find my sister, who was supposed to be waiting for me .
No, I had already realized the absurdity of the situation when the door I was sure I had locked before heading off to school was unlocked .
Once I had grasped the situation, my entire body froze, but I immediately and desperately ran off in search of my sister . When I finally saw my sister comfortably asleep at my school, I was relieved to the point where I lost strength in my knees .
Aoyagi, who lives in the neighbouring apartment, saved Emma . Suddenly, I remembered the conversation I had with Hanazawsensei right after I transferred here from my previous school .
“—It feels like I’ve seen an address similar to this somewhere before, is this the apartment next to Aoyagi?”
Hanazawsensei, who looked over my address in the documents, muttered lightly . I have often been told that I have good ears and end up accidentally listening to the mumblings of others .
“Aoyagi-san?”
“Oh, did you hear me? He’s a boy in my class… And he’s the most problematic student in the entire school . ”
“A problematic student?”
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What? It looks like I moved in next to a ridiculous person .
“Hanazawsensei! Please don’t tease the transfer student! Bennett-san, Aoyagi-kun is the best honor student at our school, okay?”
While I was terrified at this unexpected revelation, a young female teacher sitting next to Hanazawsensei hurriedly explained to me .
Hanazawsensei is quite mean for playing pranks on me even though this is the first time we’ve met in person . Involuntarily, I want to puff my cheeks in protest .
“In a certain sense, he is the number one problem child…”
For an instant, Hanazawsensei had an uninterested expression on her face . I was probably the only person who could hear her mutterings at the moment . I am worried about asking Sensei about him since I’m sure there is something going on .
“What kind of a person is this Aoyagi-kun?”
In the end, I couldn’t hold back from asking her .
If Aoyagi-kun is a student in Hanazawsensei’s class, then it would make him my classmate as well . It’s natural to be interested in hearing about someone from the same class .
Moreover, we’re neighbours . It wouldn’t be unexpected for us to be involved with each other . There is also the thing with Emma, so I thought it’d be beneficial for me to know .
“Well, he’s an extremely talented person . Also, he’s the best student in the school in terms of academics . ”
“A ‘bright’ person, not a ‘genius’?”
“Oh, that’s a good perspective . Yeah, he’s quite bright, but not a genius . ”
Hanazawsensei gazed at me as if she was looking at something interesting . I don’t think I said something that interesting .
I think a bright person is someone who makes a considerable effort . I have quite a positive impression of him now .
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“Hey Bennett, this is a good opportunity . If you have any problems at all, you can rely on Aoyagi . ”
“Eh, but—”
“Don’t worry too much . He’s a little weird, but if he sees someone in trouble, he’ll never look the other way . ”
This is strange . Despite her calling him a ‘problem child’, it seems that Hanazawsensei is rather trusting of Aoyagi . Now I am more curious as to the personality of this person .
“Understood . If something happens, I will rely on Aoyagi-kun . ”
“Alrighty . Oh, one more thing . Don’t just straight up believe in Aoyagi’s words . ”
Once again, Hanazawsensei has said something strange . Doesn’t that imply that Aoyagi-kun is a liar? Hanazawsensei wryly smiled when I tilted my head .
“I didn’t mean to say that you shouldn’t trust anything he says . Just don’t believe in his words when he says something that is criticized by those around him . He’s quite different from the others . He doesn’t get deceived by short-term profits and considers the future . When he does something that incites criticism, there’s always some meaning behind it . In other words, he’s one who works behind the scenes . ”
I can tell by Sensei’s serious expression that she is not lying . I processed Hanazawsensei’s words in my mind and tried to interpret them myself .
“Does Aoyagi-kun play the bad guy for your class?”
“That’s a pretty accurate interpretation, Bennett . Well, it’s not limited to just my class, but that’s what it is . ”
Hanazawsensei grinned when she listened to the conclusion I had drawn from her words . She somehow resembles a devil when she smiles like that .
“Why is he playing such a damaging role?”
“Well, I can only guess, but I don’t know what he is thinking unless the person himself talks about it . ”
It seems like Hanazawsensei doesn’t want to give me the answer . Aoyagi hasn’t said anything, so it may be that she doesn’t want to make a statement based on pure speculation .
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“Why did you talk to me about him like this?”
It was obvious that she could not tell me anything more even if we continued talking, so I decided to change the topic of conversation .
I am quite interested in the answer to that question as well .
I don’t think she would talk to me about a person I haven’t met yet, even if he happens to be my neighbour . I may be overthinking this, but I feel like she has told all of this to me for a reason .
“I wonder why… It’s a feeling, I guess? I thought you could understand Aoyagi, and I feel like you two will get along somehow . ”
“Oh, it’s like wild instinct, right!?”
The young teacher sitting beside Hanazawsensei, who was listening to our conversation without saying a word, suddenly chimed in with sparkling eyes . Listening to the words of the teacher, Hanazawsensei’s mood suddenly takes a dive .
“Rather, a w-o-m-n’s intuition…?”
“I-it hurts it hurts it hurts! Stop, Hanazawsensei! Let me go! My head will be crushed!”
While I was busy processing the situation, Hanazawsensei grabbed the young teacher’s head and lifted her in the air with just one hand . So merciless, I can even hear the sound of her head being crushed .
What should I do? It feels like I’ve wandered into the world of manga .
“Hey, Bennett . ”
“Y-yes!”
“You said you have a younger sister? Watch out, because even if she looks like this, she is infamous for being a lolicon teacher . ”
Hanazawsensei advised me with the young female teacher still hanging in the air .
The young teacher has become quiet and is twitching, is it really okay to leave her like this…?
However, I could not ask Hanazawsensei about her now, so I asked her what I was interested in .
“Lolicon, is it? A woman?”
“Oh, she’s pretty famous among the students . She looks like a motherly character at first glance, but her eyes when talking to little girls and looking at little girls are horrifying . ”
“U-understood . ”
As expected of the two-dimensional culture of Japan . There are people with various hobbies .
―After that, I quickly disappeared without testing Hanazawsensei’s anger .
At the end, I witnessed a shocking scene and was distracted, but the main topic of the conversation was Aoyagi .
He was a much nicer man than I heard from Hanazawsensei .
As I heard from Sensei, he played the villain for my sake and even protected Emma who got lost on the roadside .
The gentle eyes Aoyagi had when dealing with Emma were really wonderful . I realize that Aoyagi is a very kind person . I would like to get along with him from now on .
Even so—what is the true meaning behind the words he said when we parted?
I understand that he doesn’t mean what he says, but I haven’t realized the true meaning of those words . I want to be able to understand properly someday…
I gently patted my cute little sister’s head so as to not wake her up, and contemplated a little about the meaning behind his words .