Can I Still Be Your Heroine Even Though I'm Your Teacher? - Volume 3 Chapter 3.1

A Woman in Love Tells Lies 1

It was awkward to give Akira a wake-up call the day after yesterday, but this was something I had started myself. I steeled myself and dialed the number.

Normally, she would pick up fairly quickly, but this time the ringing went on.

“It’s unusual. Maybe she overslept?”

Akira must have had a lot on her mind. Perhaps she went to bed late, troubled by her thoughts.

Should I wait a bit and try calling again?

It would defeat the purpose if she ended up being late. As long as I’m in charge of the wake-up calls, I’ll make sure she gets to school on time without fail.

Just as I was about to hang up, thinking this, the call connected.

『Hello! Nishiki?』

“Good morning, Akira. Did you oversleep?”

Her voice was clearer than usual for someone who had just woken up.

Moreover, I could sense a hint of panic in her voice. In the background, I could hear noises that I usually wouldn’t.

Was she not in bed?

『Sorry, I can’t talk right now, I have to go! Meet you at the usual time at the station! See you later!』

She unilaterally conveyed her message and hung up.

“…I don’t get it.”

Normally, she would engage in a long, trivial conversation, but it seemed she had already been awake.

Could the matter of pretending to be lovers be affecting her?

No, it’s just an act. There’s no need to be so thoroughly on guard.

This is Akira we’re talking about.

While tilting my head in confusion, I prepared breakfast and waited for Tenjō-san to arrive.

But no matter how long I waited, she didn’t show up.

Worried, I tried calling her, but there was no response.

“Huh, did she say she didn’t need breakfast this morning?”

I tried to recall our conversation from the day before and checked our messages, but there was no such communication.

As time ticked away, I grew more anxious.

“It’s fine if she’s already gone to school. Just to be sure, just to be sure.”

Worried, I impulsively went to check on the neighbor.

I pressed the intercom for room 103.

Silence. No response.

I pressed the intercom one more time.

“Tenjō-san, it’s Nishiki. Are you still in your room, or have you left already?”

Then, I heard hurried footsteps approaching from inside.

“Sorry! I overslept!”

Tenjō-san, who must have leapt out of bed, opened the door still in her disheveled sleepwear.

The beauty that appeared before me was still stunning without makeup.

Her hair was a mess, and she was in her pajamas, but her charm was undiminished.

Her top button was undone, revealing her cleavage. And it seemed she didn’t wear underwear to sleep, as with every movement, her chest swayed tantalizingly under the thin fabric of her pajamas.

“Good morning.”

I greeted, turning my eyes away.

“You really saved me! I totally overslept!”

“If that’s the case, I’m glad. But Tenjō-san, uh…”

“What’s wrong, Nishiki-kun? Your face is all red. You don’t have a fever, do you?”

“It’s just, I don’t know where to look.”

Realizing her state of dress from my comment, she exclaimed.

“No! Don’t look!”

Tenjō-san crouched down in the entranceway.

“I’m so sorry! I’ll go back inside right away. Please get ready, Sensei.”

I turned around in a hurry and closed the door.

In the hallway outside, I let out a big sigh.

It was quite a stimulating sight for the morning.

What would happen if we actually started dating?

“Um, Nishiki-kun?”

Sensei timidly opened the door, peeking out just her face.

“Yes? What is it?”

“Thank you.”

“No problem, please go ahead and get ready. And please let me know before you leave.”

“Okay.”

I went back to my room and repacked the breakfast into a lunchbox while waiting for Sensei to get ready.

The leftover rice from yesterday’s cooked meal would make good onigiri, easy to eat with one hand.

The cause of the oversleeping must be the matter between Akira and me.

No matter how calm she appears, and no matter how much she insists she’s fine, the heart cannot lie.

All I can do is try to alleviate her worries and dissatisfaction.

Yet, I felt frustrated that this was all I could do.

As various emotions swirled inside me, the chime of my room rang.

“I’ve turned breakfast into a lunchbox for you. Please eat it if you have time.”

“Yuunagi-kun, are you a God? You’re too thoughtful. Thank you for everything!”

Tenjō-san was trembling with emotion.

The way she treated the package containing the lunchbox as if it were a treasure chest was somehow amusing.

“You’re exaggerating.”

“I guess I really can’t do without you, Yuunagi-kun.”

Perhaps because she was in a hurry, Tenjō-san let slip something she wouldn’t normally say.

Words spoken in a moment without the luxury of pretense or adornment are likely the truth.

I felt so happy I wanted to jump for joy.

“I feel the same way. I’d be lost without you, Tenjō-san.”

“〜〜ッ”

Tenjō-san blushed shyly and fidgeted.

“Come on, you’ll be late. Have a good day.”

“Yeah! I’m off!”

I watched her until she disappeared around the corner.

Tenjō Reiyu-sensei, the cool and mature woman at school, is indeed beautiful and wonderful, but the Onee-san next door is irresistibly cute.

Her smile always shines like the sun into my heart.

It can turn a cloudy mood into a clear sky in an instant.

***

I had felt some strange stares since meeting Akira at the station.

People were looking at us intently and whispering.

I thought Akira was attracting attention again, but this morning it seemed like I was also being checked out.

“We don’t need to stop by the convenience store today. Let’s hurry up and go!”

Urged by Akira’s insistent tone, we headed straight to school.

The feeling of being watched grew stronger around the entrance.