Can I Still Be Your Heroine Even Though I'm Your Teacher? - Volume 1 Chapter 5.4

First, Try Opening Up Your Heart 4

“Ah, I’m getting hot, so I’ll go out first.”

She stands up and rushes out of the bathroom.

After leaving the bathroom, I change into new pajamas and return to the room where Tenjō-san is still there.

She had changed into the loungewear I had seen before and was sitting cross-legged on the carpet, hugging her knees as if to protect herself.

No what, did Tenjō-san change here? Did she get naked in my living space?

“…….”

No good, after seeing her in a swimsuit in the bathroom, my imagination about her nudity has become vividly enhanced.

I’m getting a lot of bad fantasies.

It’s extremely awkward after that bath.

“Did you feel refreshed? Or are you still feeling ill? Make sure you hydrate properly.”

Tenjō-san tentatively speaks up.

“I’m surprised you didn’t run away.”

“——I can’t just leave a sick person alone and go home.”

Her statement sounded somewhat stubborn.

“Thanks to you. I guess the medicine must have worked; I feel a lot better now. Thank you very much.”

I discover an unfamiliar storage container as I open the fridge to quench my thirst with a sports drink.

It’s large and filled to the brim. The contents are brown.

“Did Tenjō-san put this in here?”

“It’s Nikujaga. I made it, so I brought it just in case.”

She admits it bashfully.

“…Tenjō-san, you’ve been looking for a chance to make up since yesterday, haven’t you?”

“I just kept the promise we made at the supermarket!”

“Then, I’ll eat it right away, Itadakimasu.”

I open the lid and pick up a piece with my fingers.

“Wow, the flavor is soaked in and it’s delicious. Tenjō-san, you’re really good at cooking, aren’t you?”

“Hey, don’t be rude! The sick person should quickly go to bed to avoid catching another cold.”

She emphatically pats the bed, urging me to sleep.

“I’ll save the rest for tomorrow.”

“You have a good appetite and your complexion looks better, so you’ll probably recover by tomorrow. But just in case, you should take another day off from school. Understand?”

“I’ll do that.”

The room lights are turned off, leaving only the indirect lighting.

Tenjō-san stands to watch like a guardian deity until I get into bed.

“Uh, Tenjō-san. It’s Monday, you can go home now because I’m okay.”

“It’s still before nine, so I have more time than usual. I’ll go back if I’m disturbing your sleep.”

“I slept too much during the day, so it doesn’t bother me.”

“Then, I’ll stay a little longer.”

She also sits on the floor, leaning against the bed.

Turning to the side, Reiyu Tenjō’s beautiful face was close to me.

“If you’re this close, you might catch my cold.”

“Maybe getting others sick helps you recover faster.”

“But it’s pointless if Sensei gets sick.”

“That’s true, but we were much closer earlier.”

Tenjō-san muttered as if talking to herself.

“A woman’s casual response and innocent approach can be a deadly weapon to a man. It’s easy to fall for her, and one might get carried away with misunderstandings. Especially if it’s someone you’re interested in.”

I look up at the ceiling.

“…Hey, Yuunagi-kun, what kind of person are you interested in?”

Tenjō-san asked with a cautious voice.

“The working adult next door. She’s so earnest, I just can’t leave her alone.”

“You have unusual tastes, liking someone older.”

There was a slight tremble in Tenjō-san’s voice.

“Not really, the person I’m interested in just happened to be older.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to date someone your own age?”

“——And on top of that, she’s someone society generally says I shouldn’t be in a romantic relationship with.”

“That might be a waste of time.”

“It’s okay. She’s important enough for me to be content with things as they are. I can wait until she gives me the okay.”

Maintaining the status quo.

Even if it seems irrational from an outsider’s perspective, it’s the right choice for me.

I chose this of my own will.

The courage not to move forward, the resolution not to back down, and the patience not to rush.

I want to cherish the current distance I have with the person next to me.

“Tenjō-san. I want to add a rule to the Neighbor Agreement.”

I sit up and bring up something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.

“What kind of thing?”

As I turn my face to her, she waits for my next words with a tense expression.

“I want to set an expiration date.”

“When would that be?”

She asks cautiously.

“Until I graduate.”

“What? But that’s…”

“Reiyu Tenjō-san. Please don’t move away. I want you to continue being my neighbor.”

I reveal my true feelings.

It’s nothing special. I too like our current relationship just as it is.

I don’t want to let go of the time I share with this person.

“I would love to, but what if…”

“I understand that the current situation is dangerous for Tenjō-sensei.”

“That’s about my convenience as a teacher, it’s not something you need to worry about.”

“But, my neighbor Onee-san told me, ‘If you’re in trouble, don’t hesitate to consult me. I will be there to help you.’ I’m someone who needs help like this.”

I acknowledge my own weakness and become honest.

And I want to be considerate of Reiyu Tenjō’s circumstances as well.

The position as a teacher, the shared life as neighbors, and her personal feelings.

Within a single person, these various aspects intertwine complexly, making it difficult to simply cut through and make a final decision.

──I, too, know all too well the difficulty of this.

Suppressing my personal feelings and being unable to abandon my role as a brother, I prioritized my family’s peace.

As a result, I distanced myself from my family and chose solitude.

“Of course I meant it, and that’s why I came today.”

“Our secret between the two of us will be kept safe until graduation. Then, you don’t have to move, right?”

The talk of moving was merely a precaution.

Although being apart might be safer, it isn’t necessary.