Stealing Spree

As I calmly removed Orimura-sensei’s hand from my face and stood up to go back to my seat, I bowed towards Eguchi-sensei who was slowly closing the door.

“I don’t need your bow, Onoda-kun. I need an explanation.” Throwing me a side glance and a small sigh, Eguchi-sensei put on a serious expression.

“Sensei, I’m not in a position to tell you about it, I apologize.”

Instead of making an excuse, I tried to play it safe and pass it to the frozen teacher across the table.

And like I expected, upon hearing my answer, Eguchi-sensei’s eyes shifted to Orimura-sensei’s whose face was already as white as snow.

On how someone who’s fully flushed just earlier could turn this pale in an instant, I had no idea.

“T-that Ryouko, it’s nothing. I’m teaching a lesson to this cheeky student of yours.”

While stuttering, Orimura-sensei uttered a very simple excuse. Teaching me a lesson.

But considering Eguchi-sensei’s reaction upon hearing it, she didn’t believe her.

As she finished closing the door, she walked back to our table and sat next to me instead of her previous seat to put Orimura-sensei under her eyes.

Naturally, she didn’t forget to pull her ramen bowl near her to continue eating it.

“Tell me, what kind of lesson involved him kneeling in front of you while you’re holding his face?” Eguchi-sensei began her interrogation.

And at my side, I felt her fingers pinching my arm. As I turned my head to look at her, I saw her lifting a finger towards her lips. She wanted me to keep quiet.

Perhaps, in her mind, I was the victim here so she’s trying to help me against Orimura-sensei.

Although it’s partly true that I was a victim of Orimura-sensei’s unreasonable demands, the situation Eguchi-sensei saw was entirely made by me. Should I tell her that?

Ah. No… Let’s watch a little more.

And since this teacher wanted to help me against Orimura-sensei, I wanted to watch and see what the outcome would be.

Ah. Perhaps, this was my urge to tease again. Either way, I just needed to step in again if the situation escalated.

“Now, it somehow makes sense why you’re always jabbing at Onoda-kun since earlier when just the other day, you’re all-in in employing his help for our troubles. What happened yesterday, Sanae?”

So Orimura-sensei was truly urging her to get my help, huh? But because of yesterday, she couldn’t help but get irritated upon seeing me.

“That… I can’t tell you, Ryouko. C-can’t we just eat this and go home? Kuwabara-sensei is also telling us to come to their party. Don’t we need to go there?”

“Don’t change the topic, Sanae. Or do you want me to ask Onoda-kun about it?”

And like a good student, I immediately nodded and supported what Eguchi-sensei said, “I’m ready to answer anytime, sensei.”

“Onoda-kun!” With her eyes glaring back at me, Orimura-sensei’s face had already contorted to embarrassment, anger and confusion.

She didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t just tell Eguchi-sensei what actually happened. Moreover, she’s probably afraid that if Eguchi-sensei asked me, I would intentionally twist the event again, which would lead to her misunderstanding the situation.

As Eguchi-sensei alternated her gaze between the two of us, she released another sigh and began eating her ramen instead.

“R-ryouko?”

“You have until we finish our ramen, Sanae. Will you tell me or not? Do you not trust me anymore? If Onoda-kun offended you in any way, then let me be the judge for it. If he’s proven guilty then I’ll punish him like you want but if not… you’ll have to apologize to him.” Eguchi-sensei then turned her eyes to me, “Eat, Onoda-kun. Looking at your calm demeanor… you’re not scared about what Orimura-sensei will say, are you?”

“Un. I already apologized to Orimura-sensei yesterday. I had my reason and a verifiable excuse. Moreover, I believe that if you heard about it and you also get the same reaction as Orimura-sensei then, I will have no choice but to accept my fate.”

That’s right. Even if I lie here, I doubt Eguchi-sensei would just take my words at face value. It involved a teacher and a student after all. So she would still verify it with her friend here. And with my observation of her for the past hour, Orimura-sensei was kind of terrible at lying when it comes to Eguchi-sensei. She would surely give a full account of what exactly happened.

“Hmm? Why does it sound like you did something unforgivable?”

“Shut your trap, Onoda! Alright. I will tell you, Ryouko. But not now. Later. Let’s finish eating this and just go.”

Orimura-sensei grabbed her bowl and began slurping down the last of her ramen. She did it quickly as if someone’s chasing after her or she just wanted to get out of this establishment as fast as possible.

“Why later? I want to hear it now.”

From the corner of my eye, I could notice the slight smile on Eguchi-sensei’s lips.

If I have to guess, she’s finding this situation amusing for her. Perhaps, it’s rare for her to get the upper hand against Orimura-sensei.

With the situation already reaching this point, I just followed their lead and focused on eating my ramen. It’s already lukewarm but the taste was still delicious.

I began thinking of bringing any or all of my girls here on a date. This wasn’t ordinary ramen, after all, it’s a delicacy. Perhaps they would also like this.

After around five minutes of silence, Eguchi-sensei put down her empty bowl and drank a glass of her sake before she began leering at Orimura-sensei who’s sweating in her seat while also taking a long sip of her sake.

As for me, I had long finished my bowl and was just sitting comfortably next to Eguchi-sensei, acting like a good student once more.

Although I wanted this to finish uneventfully and go home to Akane and Miwa-nee as soon as possible, the reins were being held by these two PE Teachers.

I had no choice but to wait until they let me go.

“So? Will you tell me about it or not?” With her elbows on the table and her hands clasped together and supporting her chin, Eguchi-sensei repeated her question to Orimura-sensei.

“Ryouko, w-will you keep it to yourself? My and Onoda-kun’s reputation is at stake here.”

“Hmm? Onoda-kun, is it this important?”

“It is, sensei. I’m afraid it’s possible for me to be expelled for it. It’s only thanks to Orimura-sensei that it will not reach that point. And if it is known, she will surely receive criticism.”

“I see… Now I’m extremely curious about what you two did… It’s not something forbidden, I hope.”

If it’s something forbidden, I already did it with Shio…

“Of course not!” Orimura-sensei immediately blurted out, her pale face having streaks of red once more. “It’s like this…”

And then began her retelling of what exactly happened yesterday. Naturally, it was only from her point of view.

When she finished, Orimura-sensei slumped her head down in embarrassment before continuing, “I talked to Maemura and she confirmed it.”

“Shameless, Onoda-kun. How can you… of all places, inside a shower stall? I see. That’s why Maemura also disappeared when you left…”

And that was Eguchi-sensei’s reaction as soon as she finished digesting what she heard.

“I’m sorry, sensei. I have no excuse for that behavior.” I immediately bowed towards her, fully expecting this kind of reaction. And following that, I also bowed once more to Orimura-sensei. “Uhm. I can only ask you to keep it and thank you for the ramen. I mean, there’s no way you will ask for my help anymore, right?”

Faced with that question by me, Eguchi-sensei couldn’t answer immediately, “That… What do you think, Sanae?”

“It’s your class and your student, you decide. Aside from his shamelessness and courage to do that kind of thing in that kind of place, he’s really your best shot at the moment, Ryouko.” And despite her glares or how she didn’t want to be in the same room as me because it would remind her of yesterday, Orimura-sensei still vouched for me.

“If I have to ask, what is it that you need my help for?”

This was the reason why they brought me here and since we’re already at this point, I better ask this now than wait any longer.

“Become my Student Assistant, Onoda-kun.”

“Become Ryouko’s Student Assistant and help her conduct PE Activities.”

The two teachers answered my question almost simultaneously.