Kissing My Student, It's Over if We're Caught - Volume 3 Chapter 2.3

“Higashi-kun…” Kurai-san growled at him. Higashi had been in her class last year.

“Sorry, sorry! I’ll explain everything properly, I swear!”

Higashi, ever the popular one, had a reputation for being “clueless at critical moments,” something Kurai-san had warned us about before. This time, it seemed his phone had run out of battery. On top of that, his dad was away on a business trip, and his mom, a nurse, was on an early shift. To make matters worse, a train delay had almost ruined everything for him.

“Good thing my parents gave me some emergency taxi money, huh? I barely made it. My bad!” Higashi grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

We couldn’t stay mad at him. His charm worked its magic, and he was let off the hook without much fuss. As we walked back to our seats, Higashi was greeted with teasing and cheers from the other students. Even Kirihara looked relieved.

“You really are an idiot, aren’t you?” The ever-popular Kasahara scolded him, exasperated.

“Hey, I made it on time, didn’t I? Or were you lonely without me?” Higashi shot back with a cheeky grin.

“Idiot.”

“Alright, alright, everyone settle down. Let’s not cause a scene,” I said, trying to calm the group. As I finally sat down, exhaustion hit me like a wave.

My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Kirihara.

“Glad you made it. Good work today.”

Another message quickly followed.

“By the way, this is a secret, but… Kasahara-san and Higashi-kun are childhood friends. They just started dating recently. Kasahara-san looked so worried earlier, so I’m really glad it worked out.”

This was news to me.

“Honestly, I’m surprised. But if that’s the case, then good for them. At least there wasn’t an accident or anything.”

“Yeah, exactly.”

There was a bit of a pause before the next message came through.

“I’m a little jealous of Kasahara-san and Higashi-kun. They get to keep their relationship a secret because they want to, not because they have to.”

…Deep down, Kirihara probably wanted a normal relationship with me too. How great would that be? But we just had to hold on for a little over a year. Once we graduated, I’d make sure to spoil her as much as she wanted.

***

Despite a minor hiccup at the start, the bullet train safely arrived in Kyoto. The weather was perfect, warm and sunny, making it a pleasant day for sightseeing.

During the trip, roll calls and headcounts were handled by the group leaders first. If everything checked out, they reported to the homeroom teachers, who then informed the grade coordinator, Mizoguchi-sensei.

“Alright, as planned, we’ll be moving by train and on foot from here. Don’t get separated!” Mizoguchi-sensei announced firmly, his commanding presence ensuring the students stayed in line. It was reassuring to have a seasoned teacher like him in charge.

This year’s itinerary included visits to temples and shrines known for their blessings. For the third-year students, it was a chance to pray for success in their upcoming university entrance exams. For the sports teams, it was an opportunity to seek blessings for their important tournaments.

At Kitano Tenmangu, famous for academic blessings, the students eagerly prayed and bought charms. I picked one up, thinking of Kirihara.

“Are you taking an exam, sensei?” one of the students asked, curious.

“No, it’s for a relative who’s applying to college,” I replied casually, brushing off their questions as I snapped photos of the students with the compact digital camera I had brought along. As the designated photographer for the trip, it was my job to capture these precious memories.

“Hashima-sensei, you’re the photographer for this trip?” Kirihara asked during a brief break. She was, of course, in her “model student” mode, as we had to keep up appearances.

Standing beside her was a shy girl from her group, Kobayashi, who had been a standout during the cultural festival’s cooking competition. She seemed wary of the camera, trying to avoid being photographed.

“Yeah, I actually asked the principal to let me do it,” I admitted.

Kirihara raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Really? Do you like photography?”

“Not particularly. But this is the last big event I’ll have with you all. I wanted to capture these memories. When I explained that to the principal, he agreed. He even said I could keep the photos as long as the students gave their permission.”

The students nodded in understanding. Kirihara, however, seemed unusually quiet. A closer look revealed her eyes glistening slightly.

“Hashima-sensei, how about I take over for a bit? You should take a photo with the students,” Ms.Kurei suggested, smiling warmly.

“Sure. Anyone want to take a picture with me?” I asked.

To my delight, the students eagerly gathered around. Even Kobayashi, after some coaxing from Kirihara, joined in.

“Are you sure? You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” I said gently.

“N-No, it’s fine. You’ve helped me so much, especially during the cultural festival. It was a lot of fun,” she said shyly.

“I had fun too, thanks to you,” I replied.

The photo Ms.Kurei took turned out great. I knew this would be a cherished memory someday.

“Hey, Higashi-kun, how about a special photo with Hashima-sensei? It’ll be a great way to remember your little adventure earlier,” Ms.Kurei teased.

“Seriously? I’m in! Let’s do it, sensei! I’m Higashi, the legendary man!” Higashi declared, striking a dramatic pose. Laughter erupted, even from Kirihara.

Seeing her laugh so freely lifted a weight off my chest.

***

After visiting Kitano Tenmangu, the trip continued to other famous sites like Shiramine Shrine, known for blessings in sports, and Heian Shrine, famous for warding off evil. Students enjoyed some free time for lunch before we moved on.

I joined Ms.Kurei and Mizoguchi-sensei for a quick meal at a soba shop.

“So far, no accidents, incidents, or disputes. Everything’s going smoothly,” Ms.Kurei noted.

Mizoguchi-sensei nodded. “The risk of accidents is highest until we reach the inn in the evening. Let’s stay vigilant.”

We all agreed, mentally preparing ourselves for the rest of the day.

“Next up is Kiyomizu Temple, one of Kyoto’s most iconic spots. It’s always crowded, so let’s be careful,” Mizoguchi-sensei reminded us, repeating his cautionary advice.

After lunch and another headcount, we headed to Kiyomizu Temple. Even on a weekday, the place was packed with visitors, including many tourists from abroad.

“Hashima-sensei, are you okay with heights?” Kurai-san asked as we approached the famous Kiyomizu Stage.

“I’m not a fan, but I can manage,” I replied.

“Good. Brace yourself, though. It’s pretty scary up there,” she warned.

I thought she was exaggerating—until I stood on the stage myself.

…Yeah, it was terrifying.