Chapter 42 - Homeroom Teacher
(1)
Lunch break.
"Haa..."
Makoto let out a great sigh.
The four of us were in the courtyard.
I felt like letting out a sigh too.
Good grief...
"What's up with you two?"
"What happened?"
Kanna and Airi asked.
Makoto answered.
"Well, about yesterday's home visit..."
So it was the same for Makoto too...
"Hm? Did he tell you your prospects for higher education are in danger?"
Kanna asked Makoto.
Makoto shook his head.
"That part was fine... but Mickey..."
"I knew it..."
"D-does that mean Toya-kun is talking about Mikimoto-sensei too?"
I nodded at Airi's words.
"What happened?"
When Kanna asked, Makoto began to tell his story.
(2)
Makoto's case.
"Now then~ Makoto-kun is exceptionally good at soccer. There's no doubt he'll get a scholarship spot at Ida High. If I had to nitpick, it would be nice if he had a few more achievements. But that's a team issue, so it can't be helped."
Mickey had a smile on his face the entire time.
Hearing that, Makoto's mother seemed relieved and looked on pleasantly.
"Still, Makoto-kun is quite popular. He's handsome, has a great personality, and outstanding athletic ability. It's like looking at my younger self."
"Y-yes..."
"I hear he already has a girlfriend. Otonashi-san, was it? She's lovely too. Refined features. And a great figure. It seems that girl is popular as well."
What the hell are you talking about, Mickey.
"T-this isn't the time to talk about that, Mickey."
"Why not? There's no need to hide things like this; you should just be confident. I'm sure you've already had a kiss or two, right?"
"That's none of your business, Mickey!"
"Now, now, why not? Is she a good kisser? Are you leading her well, Makoto-kun? If you like, the teacher could give you some pointers..."
"GET OUT!!"
...and so it went.
"What the hell is that, that's just sexual harassment!"
Kanna-san was indignant.
"Right~ what is Mickey thinking?"
"I wonder how a person like that even became a teacher~"
Tosaka-san said, sounding puzzled.
Come to think of it, did Tosaka-san not know about Mickey?
Mickey. Real name, Shuzo Mikimoto.
Homeroom teacher for Class 3-2. PE teacher.
Hobbies: training his body. Has a wife and children.
Strength: can play the piano, and is quite good at it.
Weakness: perverted. A mass of sexual harassment. The enemy of girls. The troublesome part is that he genuinely believes the girls are happy about it. Despite having a wife and children, he tries to seduce the students' mothers.
"Hmm. I had no idea."
Tosaka-san had been listening to the story seriously.
Tosaka-san really knows nothing about Mickey.
Since he's in charge of the boys for PE.
It would be a disaster if they put a guy like that in charge of the girls.
"That guy... handed them out during HR."
"He did!? I can't believe it."
"Before the long break, he was like, 'Enjoy your break! But make sure you use contraception!'"
"Unbelievable... but Toya-kun actually had one..."
Come to think of it, did Tosaka-san spend two nights with Toya?
Judging by the conversation, it seems they didn't use it.
Well, it is Toya, after all.
"I wonder why he isn't a problem."
"He's strangely popular. I can't stand him, though."
Kanna-san apparently hates Mickey.
But he really is popular with the girls too. I don't understand girls.
Wait? Toya has been strangely quiet for a while now.
"What's wrong, Toya?"
I called out to Toya.
"No, it's just that the 'worst-case scenario' actually happened at my place..."
(3)
Toya's case.
"Yes, your grades have improved quite a bit during your second year. At this rate, your first-choice school should be fine."
When Mickey said that, Mother was happy.
Up to this point, it was fine.
"By the way, regarding your relationship with Tosaka-san from Class 1..."
"Did something happen with Airi-chan?"
"No, you're teased about it quite a bit in class, so I wondered if things were okay."
"Is that true!? Toya!"
This isn't the time to talk about that.
"There's no need to worry. On the contrary, you two are showing off how lovey-dovey you are. You've got quite the nerve."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it would be a problem if your grades dropped because of it, but your grades are on a steady rise."
"I see."
"By the way, Toya-kun, did you have a chance to use that thing the teacher gave you?"
"What is 'that thing'?"
Mother asked suspiciously.
Don't say it, don't say it...
"Ah, (self-censored). Since the long break has started. Judging by how much you two flirt, I thought it might be about time to use it~"
"I-I suppose that's true."
Deny it! Mother!
"There's no way I'd use it!"
"What? It's dangerous if you don't! Or do you not know how to use it? If you like, the teacher could demonstrate the usage for you? With your mother's cooperation."
Wait... you...
"Pardon?"
Mother let out a voice of surprise.
"It's alright. I'm older, but I'm still in my prime. Does Mother dislike older men?"
"N-no..."
"How about it? For Toya-kun's sake, I'll put my shoulder into it. No, I'll take a layer off..."
"Please leave!"
"Get out!"
That's the end of my story.
"I can't believe it! He said that to Maya-san!?"
Airi shouted.
"Yeah... it was a nightmare. She was furious. Mother too..."
"Of course she'd be angry..."
Airi let out a sigh.
"I'm glad my homeroom teacher is Mayumi-chan. Kanna, it's today, right? Be careful."
"He knows I'm from a single-mother household... just thinking about it now makes me feel depressed."
Kanna also seemed depressed.
"B-but I'm glad you both seem like you can get into your target schools!"
"I guess."
"I'm still not sure, though. Toya~ just for one match, please join as a ringer."
"I told you, I don't have the stamina to run for 60 minutes."
"Just 10 minutes is fine."
"It's not the same as the class match."
"You'll be fine."
"...Give priority to the other third-years."
"I think it'd be happier if we won, though."
"You're talking as if we'd win if I joined, but I can't guarantee that."
"Hmm..."
"Well, at least take the prefectural exam just in case."
"That's right, Makoto-kun should take the Hofu exam too. The four of us at the same high school♪"
Airi suddenly suggested.
"Don't be unreasonable. I've barely done any exam studying."
"Once club activities are over, we can all study together at Toya-kun's house."
"...Well, I'll think about it."
He didn't seem very keen.
Ding-dong-dang-dong
"Ah, the warning bell. Well, see you later."
Saying that, Airi headed for the classroom. We also returned to the classroom.
(4)
Kanna's case.
Ding-dong.
It seems he's arrived.
I had warned Mother in advance.
"Oh, welcome."
"Oh~ what a beautiful mother. Your daughter takes after her mother, doesn't she?"
"Oh! Thank you."
As expected of Mother. She's used to handling this kind of man.
"Well then, excuse me for intruding."
"Please, come in~"
It seems there are no problems with my grades.
I was told my target school is no problem.
"Though it might be better to raise them a bit more if possible."
"Is that so? She seems to be working hard at her studies lately."
"I think it would be better to take a private school exam as insurance."
"Impossible, there's no money at home."
I said flatly.
Even though in reality, even the prefectural school is a close call.
"You don't have to worry about money,"
Mother asked worriedly.
But I can't make her worry any more than this.
"Why not also try for Ida High? You could be with Tada-kun."
Wh... what are you saying!?
"Are you dating Tada-kun again?"
Mother bit onto the topic.
"We're not dating yet. Don't just decide things on your own."
"What? Not yet? Tada-kun didn't deny it, though."
...That Makoto.
"There might be progress during the second half of the long break. The time to use that thing might come."
"What is 'that thing'?"
Mother, don't call him out!
Mickey took a surprising action.
He took out his wallet and produced it.
"I handed these out."
"Oh, middle schoolers these days are quite advanced, aren't they?"
"That's how it is~"
"I'm not using it!"
"Oh, is Kanna-san the type to go without? That's dangerous."
"That's right, I'm certainly against becoming a mother as a middle schooler, you know?"
"I mean, I'm not doing it!!"
"What a waste, you have such a nice body. Between Katagiri-kun and Tada-kun, you're blessed with good men, but are they both impotent?"
"NO THEY'RE NOT!!"
I was getting irritated.
"Well, this child has her own view of romance."
Mother followed up for me.
"She should broaden her view of romance. If you like, why don't you and I have a romance too, Mother?"
"Me? Oh, goodness."
"What are you saying, Mickey!"
I cut in.
"Why not? The teacher will become the daddy, you know!?"
"There's no way that's okay! For starters, you have a wife and kids!"
"Oh? Is that so? Then it's impossible."
"The teacher is single at school."
"Don't screw with me!"
(5)
Airi's case.
"...So, Hofu is fine, then?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, but it's a waste. Since you're at it, you should aim for a school one rank higher..."
"Because I want to go to the same high school as Katagiri-kun♪"
"W-well, it's better than Mieno High, I suppose..."
Mayumi-chan's shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"R-recently there have been rumors about you and Katagiri-kun, is that true?"
Mayumi-chan brings that up too?
Honestly, I hated talking to the teacher. Because...
"I-I don't particularly mind the dating, but going too far is a bit..."
See, here it starts.
"I think it's questionable if your studies are neglected."
I'm not neglecting my studies at all.
I'm doing what I'm supposed to do.
Why do I have to be told that much?
"K-Katagiri-kun also seems to have caused some problems."
Stop clinging to what happened last year!
"Even if you say 'going too far'~ my child seems to have already decided on a marriage partner~"
The one who interrupted the conversation was Rie-chan.
"M-marriage partner!?"
Mayumi-chan's eyes went wide.
It's no wonder; normally one would think they're still just middle schoolers.
"T-there's no need to rush so much... they're still m-middle schoolers!"
"Even if you say that~ it's something my daughter decided~"
"D-do Katagiri-kun's parents know as well?"
"Know? We even went on a trip together the other day~. The two of them were in a shared room and looked like they were having fun~"
"A-a shared room~!? E-excuse me, but are you still a mother~ normally..."
"It's something my daughter decides~ I intend to have raised her to be able to take responsibility for her own actions~"
I started to feel sorry for Mayumi-chan, who was dealing with Rie-chan.
"What if there was some mistake, w-what would you do?"
"They've slept together many times, but I hear nothing has happened even once~. Toya-kun is quite serious, isn't he~"
Mayumi-chan's mouth hung open.
"T-hrough that, please don't worry~ my daughter is a proper daughter~"
"...I-I'll be taking my leave now."
"Ye-es, see you again~"
I suppose it was a complete victory for Rie-chan.
And so, Mayumi-chan trudged off toward the next house.
(6)
And so, I was studying while listening to the reports from the two of them.
"...Airi's mother is amazing."
Kanna was impressed.
No no, there are various things that are weird about this!
"Rie-chan is amazing, right! I want to be like that someday too~"
No, you already have the aptitude for that... Airi.
"Still, they've already talked that far. I can't compete."
I don't remember agreeing to anything once, but... it's certain that various things have progressed.
"Now it just depends on Toya's effort."
If possible, I didn't want to be part of the conversation, but Kanna threw the ball to me without mercy.
"I guess..."
"Toya-kun, I'm fine whenever, you know? ...You received it, right? That thing."
Pardon?
"If you'd just told me, I would have put in a bit more effort."
Even if my mouth were torn open, I couldn't say that it's tucked away in my desk.
"Toya... I have some on me right now."
At times like this, she's so lively. Kanna.
"Kanna... I'll get angry, you know?"
"I-I'm obviously joking, right?"
Kanna panicked.
You were definitely serious, weren't you?
"Ah-ha. I even bought new underwear and took them with me, but he didn't notice at all."
"You prepared that much and nothing happened... Toya... you really are..."
"That's not true! He reacted properly~"
"Is that so..."
People often talk about herbivore men, but these two are definitely carnivore women.
"Kanna, you had it rough too. Mickey..."
"If he weren't a teacher, I would've blasted him. Well, first I wouldn't even let him in the house."
"How did he really become a teacher? Can you trust what a homeroom teacher like that says?"
"That part is fine. Right, Kanna?"
"Yeah, it's fine. He seems to switch properly between work and that."
In reality, despite what his mouth says, there are no girls who have actually been victimized.
If there were, he'd be fired immediately...
Ding-dong.
It seems Makoto has arrived.
Kanna also realized and silently put away her tools.
"Well, I'm heading out~"
"Ye-es, see you tomorrow~"
"See ya~ Toya, do your best. If you want, just contact me tomorrow morning and I won't come over."
"No need to worry. Toya-kun doesn't have that kind of nerve."
That hit home, Airi.
After Kanna left, I studied for a while longer and then walked Airi home.
"Well, see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow."
After our usual skinship, I went home.
"I bought new underwear and took them with me, though~" huh...
...Maybe I should have looked, even just a little?