A New Ally Is Born?!
After finishing dinner, I was about to jump straight into the dishes, but Teacher put her foot down hard, declaring that no matter what kind of relationship we had, she absolutely would not allow it. So I obediently headed to the bathroom for a shower.
The bathroom still carried the lingering scent of her after she'd showered.
It made my heart race a little.
I used the same shampoo and body wash as her, scrubbing myself more thoroughly than usual before stepping out.
Who knew what might happen tonight?
I was ready and waiting anytime—full welcome mode! The moment she made up her mind, we'd be uniting in a flash, heave-ho!
Of course, ethically and socially, as a teacher, she wouldn't take me into her arms that easily.
Thinking about it put me in such a good mood that I hummed a little tune as I left the bathroom—only to find Teacher fidgeting restlessly as she greeted me.
"Ahaha… all done washing…?"
"…Yes. But why are you acting like someone who desperately needs to pee?"
"When did I ever…."
She really looked completely different from usual.
Normally she would have gotten a little indignant and pushed back, but right now she was blushing so hard anyone would take her for a demure young lady.
Wondering why she was so embarrassed, I remembered—we were supposed to sleep together tonight.
"Aha…?"
"Wh-what is that… aha…? It makes me a little nervous…."
"No, I was just happy because I thought I was the only one looking forward to it, but it seems like you are too, Teacher…."
"Wh-when did I! It's just that this is my first time, so I'm a little tense…!"
She flushed and avoided my gaze.
I could have watched her forever, but we both had school tomorrow, so it was time to sleep.
Ah, right. Before that.
"Teacher, here."
"Hm? What's this? Chocolate?"
"…Partly to repay you for last week… and since it's White Day, it's a gift."
"…Thank you, Chan."
"…Then let's sleep."
I was getting a bit embarrassed myself, so better to sleep quickly.
To keep from dragging things out any longer, I boldly took her hand and pulled her up onto the bed.
"Wh-what are you doing! Ah, we're not that kind of couple yet…!"
"…Aren't you going to sleep?"
"……We should sleep, yeah…."
This teacher might have a surprisingly lewd streak.
She bolted upright on the bed and tried to flee, then, hearing my words, crept back little by little.
"Lie down."
"…O-okay."
I pushed the constantly flinching Teacher toward the wall side, then claimed the outer edge of the bed for myself.
It wasn't that I preferred the outside; at this rate, if we lay side by side she might run away.
Apparently she'd been planning to slip out later, because she kept trying to switch places with me.
"Go to sleep for real before I plant five hundred kisses on you, Teacher."
"No, even if things have come to this, sleeping with a student is…."
"Want me to feed you the chocolate mouth-to-mouth? Should I go get it right now?"
"Good night, Chan!"
"Heh heh, yes. Master, dream of me."
"……!!"
And so that eventful day came to an end.
It's been a long time since I looked forward to tomorrow night….
Six in the morning.
My eyes opened right on schedule, as always.
I actually had something I needed to do this morning.
It was a bit of a personal fantasy of mine—packing a lunchbox for my girlfriend and eating it together.
Strictly speaking, Teacher wasn't my girlfriend, but since we were Master and pet, you could say we were even closer than that, right?
Eating together at school would be a little hard, but just packing it for her was satisfying enough.
I packed things that would still be fine even if they cooled a bit.
But making the lunchbox took longer than I expected, so for breakfast I just heated up yesterday's leftover spicy pork and boiled a single pot of soybean paste stew.
Once everything was ready, I got in the car with Teacher.
But then—
"Teacher, is it okay for us to ride to school together?"
"…Should be fine, right?"
"…Such an irresponsible Master."
"Umuu…."
In the end, it didn't really matter.
I'd have to think carefully about commuting together every day, but today there was no one in the parking lot, so we arrived without a hitch.
"See you at morning assembly, Master."
"…Aren't you getting that backwards? At school you should call me Teacher…."
"Does that mean you want me to call you Master at home?"
"…See you later."
"Cowardly Master."
"Eugyuu…."
After parting with Teacher, I headed into my classroom.
I sat at my desk, recalling her expression from last night and laughing to myself, when Maru walked in.
Maru had almost been late—that was unexpected.
He didn't look the type, but he was a model student who'd never missed perfect attendance since elementary school.
I looked at him with that thought in mind, and he looked back and called out.
"Chan! Did you stay out overnight? You weren't home!"
How did he know that?
Don't tell me he came by last night or something?
As if reading my mind, Maru continued.
"No, I went to your place this morning to walk to school together, but nobody was there. I went early for a surprise, so if we missed each other it would've been complicated, but you still weren't there."
"Ah, aah~ Yeah, I stayed out."
Good thing. If he'd come last night, something truly terrible might have happened.
I needed to say something so he wouldn't come looking for me at home anymore.
I couldn't just come out and say I was living with Teacher, but I should at least tell him I wasn't living at that house.
I didn't want him to suffer because of me.
"Yeah, I stayed out. I probably won't be going back to that house much anymore?"
"……What are you talking about? You…."
Maru's smiling face hardened at my words. He cut himself off and whispered into my ear.
"You…! You don't have anywhere else to go. Where the hell did you sleep? Don't tell me… you're not doing something weird, are you? …I-I'm not accusing you or anything… but still, ah, can't you just tell me?"
A little touching.
Even if it might make him misunderstand me, the fact that Maru prioritized my safety first made my heart feel warm.
That aside, though—what should I say?
I honestly hadn't expected him to ask where I was sleeping….
"Wh-why won't you say anything? You, don't tell me… no way, for real?! No, right?! Tell me it's not!"
"No, it's not, so calm down a little… your voice is too loud…."
"How am I supposed to calm down?! My friend is… doing compensated dating…."
What the hell is he talking about….
Other kids overheard, and I was fretting over how to clean it up when the front door of the classroom slid open with a rattle—and in walked Teacher, looking for all the world like she was the guilty party.
Wow, her arms and legs were swinging in sync as she walked….
She must have heard. Was she going to be okay….
"Wh-wh-what was that just now? Really, Maru, kids your age believe silly rumors like that so easily, so don't joke around…."
Was it because I knew the truth?
She looked blatantly suspicious.
"…Yes."
"…And Chan, come see me at lunchtime."
Oh, perfect—we can eat the lunchbox together.
Finally, the long-awaited lunch period arrived.
And after secretly discussing it with Teacher over our phones earlier, we'd decided to tell Maru.
It was really surprising that Teacher had suggested it first.
No matter how much I'd forced the issue, if the truth came out, she was the one who'd face social finger-pointing.
But she said that right now I needed someone on my side, thinking of me.
She said that just sharing your worries could bring comfort.
…See that? This is my Master.
Heheheh.
Anyway, so right now I was heading to the teachers' lounge with Maru.
Teacher had borrowed it for lunch.
"Why am I being dragged along too?"
"Remember what I said this morning? About that. I'll tell you, so come with me."
"…This is a little suspicious."
We arrived at the teachers' lounge with Maru.
I didn't want to cut into my lunch time with Teacher, so the moment Maru sat down in front of her, I plopped down beside her and said,
"This person is my Master."
""……!!""
Why was Teacher surprised?
Hadn't we already decided to reveal it?
"Ch-Chan! Not that—just that we're living together!!"
"Ah, right…. My bad~"
"What?"
But Teacher seemed to have forgotten Maru was right in front of us too.
Sure enough, Maru's jaw dropped so far it nearly hit the floor as he looked back and forth between me and Teacher.
Then he looked down, trembling, and pulled out his phone…….
"Hello, police station?!"
"Hey hey hey! W-wait! Hey, stop! Hey hey! Kim Maru!! You little shit, listen to me for a second!"
"What am I supposed to listen to?! Chan, have you lost your mind? No, Teacher too—sorry for saying this, but are you in your right mind?! Seriously, I never thought…!"
"Just calm down, okay? If it was what you're thinking, would we have told you? We would've kept it completely hidden. Right?"
"……What difference does hearing the reason make?"
"It makes a difference, that's why we're telling you now. Don't you trust me? How many years have we known each other? Huh?"
"Fifteen years…."
"Right, so you don't trust me? That hurts…."
"…Sorry."
"No… you don't have to be sorry, I was joking…. Ahem, anyway. I consider you that close, so you're the only one I'm telling. I figured if it was you, you'd understand me when you heard."
"Yeah…."
"So listen to our situation. Please."
"…That's low, using that…. Fine, I'll listen."
Maru seemed to have regained his composure. He stood and bowed his head to Teacher as well.
"Teacher, I'm sorry. For suddenly yelling. But I haven't forgiven you yet. Still… I'll hear you out."
"Uung…."
What do I do with my Master.
Looking so dejected is cute, but also a little pitiful….
I'd just have to somehow make this work.
"So, what happened was……."
I was sure Maru would understand once he heard.
He was my closest friend, after all.
"You've lost your mind?!"
"Huh…?"
Guess not? Uh-oh?