Stealing Spree

Eguchi-sensei's car drove off the school grounds right before the end of the 4th period. The inspection was done and there's really nothing else to do left there. Before we left, I got interrogated by Kanno-sensei; asking me where I ran off to and why I was with Hanabi.

Luckily, she had yet to visit Kazehito, or else, she'd find me out on my lie.

By stating facts that Hanabi guided me around the school before eventually returning to the parking lot, Kanno-sensei could only accept it.

Besides, she's not even mad. She's just curious why I disappeared earlier. And to completely get her off my case, I told her I visited Kazehito in the infirmary.

With that, as though she remembered something important, she quickly excused herself from Eguchi-sensei and walked back the way they came from, partly walking and partly running.

It's really good for her that she's not wearing heels or she'd already trip many times over for rushing like that.

However, from how fast she switched gears like that, it's close to the confirmation that even though nothing is going on between them, they're both important to each other.

I did leave behind advice to that guy. If he doesn't take the opportunity while he still has the strength to go to school, he'll never get any more chances in the future.

Obviously, I wasn't rooting for them. And even if that sickly dude stepped up, I doubt Kanno-sensei would accept. I mean, Eguchi-sensei and I visited this school to make sure that no one was in a taboo relationship or no second Nobuo would pop up.

She probably understood the consequences in the slim chance that she was romantically fond of him.

One possible scenario is… they can confirm their mutual feelings and wait until Kazehito graduates next year. That way there will be no complications.

Anyway, before she left, Kanno-sensei secretly asked for my contact information. If I had to guess, that woman would try and keep on updating me about the sickly dude or just share whenever something pleasant happened to him. That's how passionate she was towards her sickly student.

Eguchi-sensei didn't notice that since she had already returned to her car when we were talking. Due to that, I simply got in the car so that we could finally go to our next destination.

We still have two schools to visit so there's no time to waste.

"So, Onoda-kun, how is it? Was your exploration fruitful?"

Several minutes later, Eguchi-sensei brought that up when we got stopped at another red light.

She's unaware of the task given to me by Hayashi-sensei but since it's also her idea to let me roam and observe outside the surveillance of the teachers or faculty members of the Third High, she's also looking forward to my discoveries, if there's any.

Unfortunately, I spent most of my time with Nao and Saionji and then with Hanabi next.

"Yes. It's a little fruitful. None of the teachers is behaving suspiciously. And in the places I checked, nothing seems out of order. I talked to some of the students as well as that girl you saw with me earlier. Some mentioned the teacher that suddenly stopped coming to school and how his students found that weird when they still hadn't found a replacement with him."

Although that was never brought up in the conversation I had with Saionji, Kazehito, and Hanabi, that's something I heard from Nao way before this day.

Almost everything about the 'stalking' incident which Nao used as a case against him never leaked out to the students, after all. That's why it's safe to say that it was really the sentiment of those in that bastard's class or just students fond of his front image.

"Hmm. I see. Great job, Onoda-kun." Without any notion of confirming or hearing more details about it, Eguchi-sensei nodded as she praised me. At the same time as the traffic light turned green and the car started moving again, Eguchi-sensei continued, also sharing what was on her mind or the result of her inspection.

"I'm aware that inspecting the school won't really give us results or root out the problem that the Director told me. However, I think my… No, our presence alone is enough. By going under the guise of inspection, we're already serving some kind of warning to those who are hiding something."

Yeah. That's really the case here. We'll be lucky if we caught someone just by roaming the halls but it's already satisfactory enough to make them wary. Unless they're already in too deep into whatever shenanigans they're doing, they might change their mind and stop altogether.

But that's wishful thinking. If Hayashi-sensei really wanted to root all of the bad eggs out, she should hire a professional. Otherwise, this trip would just be nothing but an official visit by the representative of the Director and owner of the school.

Oh. I guess I can also call this a little date for us, right?

And speaking of that, the time quickly passed and before we knew it, it was already half an hour before noon.

Seeing the sun high up over our heads, Eguchi-sensei eventually brought up what we planned earlier, "Uh, what do you think about going to the park, Onoda-kun? Before we continue to the other schools, let's eat our lunch."

The woman slowed down her driving speed and soon came to a halt in front of the public park where the city's cherry blossom trees were planted. It's located near a lake and was fenced properly to serve as the number one picnic place for families or couples wanting to get some quality time.

Even though summer is already approaching us, the trees still have most of their leaves and provide great shade from the scorching midday sun.

At the moment, perhaps because it's a weekday and most people were either at work or school, the people staying at the park were sparse.

"Uhm. Sensei, I don't mind eating there but… Won't it be bad if people saw us? We're both in our uniforms."

I never thought about this earlier when she brought them up but now that my head cleared up, it's really a little risky to go out with her in our current attire, right?

Upon hearing that, Eguchi-sensei intently stared at me. But as seconds passed, realization gradually dawned on her. Her eyes shook a little as an embarrassed expression eventually covered her face. Then, when she couldn't hold it in anymore, the woman slumped her forehead down on the steering wheel. She issued a low shriek that sounded a little frustrated. Most likely, she's chastising herself for not realizing it sooner.

I didn't say anything and just waited for her to recover. A minute later, she raised her head and turned to me, "Uh… Let's go somewhere else instead… My house is on the way if we change our route. I just don't know if—"

Before she could finish that, I already put on a smile and answered along with a nod, "Yes, it's fine with me, sensei. Rather than show ourselves to the public, I think it's better to go somewhere private. I trust sensei so…"

"Really?" Despite flashing a rather complicated look at first, Eguchi-sensei's eyes slowly brightened as the idea of having lunch together in her house set in her mind.

"Mhm. Besides, I'm also looking forward to eating the lunch you prepared, sensei. That's my reward from yesterday, right?"

To prevent her from being embarrassed again when she realized how obvious she was becoming, I brought up the excuse that she could use.

And sure enough, Eguchi-sensei bit at it as she answered, "Y-yeah. It's part of your reward for winning the activity and setting the record."

"Part? Then does that mean I have more to look forward to?"

"Y-you can say that… But Onoda-kun, if you feel uncomfortable, don't hesitate to tell me."

This woman... She probably thought that I might find her actions disturbing when she was supposed to have shelved her infatuation with me.

"Uncomfortable? That won't happen. I'll be honest, sensei. I'm enjoying spending time with you."

Like being shot by an invisible arrow straight to her heart, Eguchi-sensei failed to respond to that as she quickly turned her head in the opposite direction. But with her gradually reddening ear and exposed neck fully captured in my eyes, it's easy to imagine what could be the state of her face.

A little satisfied at teasing her, I didn't push her further and simply waited in my seat.

A while later, Eguchi-sensei silently drove her car in the direction of her house.

I don't know what else should I expect coming there but I really have to decide whether to continue teasing her or just become her obedient student.

Unfortunately, I'm already leaning toward the former. We'll see…