My Childhood Friend Attacked Me When I Declared That Her Birthday Present Was 'Me' - Chapter 17

Ashes

“Well, that’s the end of homeroom… Um, the first period is… Oh, my homeroom science class… right, until then, I’ll be sleeping, so wake me up when the bell rings… Well then, dismissed…”

“Ah, um…”

“Huh? What’s wrong? Yashiro?”

“Is homeroom…over with that just now?”

“Isn’t it fine to end it with that? Was there something wrong?”

“Oh, well… um…”

“Don’t hesitate, just say it… I’m telling you, I’ve got a hangover headache.”

“Nevermind, I’m sorry…”

“So, do you have something to say?”

“Well, it’s not something I should ask…and I’d rather not if I can help it…”

With determination, Kouta opens his mouth.

“You’re not going to mention it? About me and Kaori.”

While everyone is busy chatting, going to the restroom, or talking with friends, Kouta approaches Haito-sensei alone.

“What? Do you want me to touch it?”

“No, I don’t want you to touch it at all.”

“What’s the matter? Then… Let me sleep.”

“No, wait-wait-wait…hold on a minute.”

“What’s the matter? Seriously.”

The Sensei makes a blatant unpleasant face.

As I got closer, I noticed that this person reeked of alcohol!

There’s also the smell of cigarettes, and it’s like the scent of a late-night pachinko parlour.

“Well, considering your position as a teacher… shouldn’t you be angry or something?”

“What? Do you want to be scolded? Are you into that kind of thing, Yashiro?”

“No, I’m not talking about M or S… It’s about the students… Moreover, it’s about your own homeroom class… Shouldn’t you touch on it a little… or rather, is it okay not to get angry?”

“Sigh… Getting angry takes effort, okay? It’s tiring. Do you want to make me, who’s hungover, do that?”

“… “

I thought that was not what I was trying to say, but since he seemed to continue still talking, I decided not to interrupt.

“Besides, weren’t you two already dating?”

“Well, we’re not dating…”

“Yes? Are you not dating? I thought you were…”

It was even acknowledged by the teacher…

I wonder how much it’s acknowledged… I’m getting more and more scared.

“Well, whether you’re dating or not, if you have been through each other, there’s no going back.”

“Teacher, your words sound old.”

“I’m 32… So I can be an old man. I’m already dipping one foot into being an old man. Yep.”

Ha-ha-ha-… The teacher laughs dryly. It would be better not to say that if it’s sad…

“So, did you use protection? Well, obviously…”

“… “

Haito-sensei’s face suddenly becomes serious.

Hearing that, I can’t stop sweating. Strange sweat won’t stop.

“You used it, right?”

“… “

“You were using it, right?”

“… “

“Say clearly whether you were using it or not!”

“… “

“I wasn’t using it!”

There it is again. Wild Kaori jumps out.

“Sawa, be serious…”

“I’m serious! I really am!”

” ………………………………………………………………………… “

There was a long silence from Teacher Haito. His face was full of frowns.

“Um… Sensei…”

“Yashiro. Sawa.”

“Yes.”

“Yes~!”

He firmly placed his hands on our shoulders and spoke with determination. And…

“Even if you have a child, make sure it doesn’t get revealed to anyone above.” (TN: His higher-ups)

“Huh?”

“Okay, don’t expose it. I’m begging you.”

“Se-Sensei?”

He forcefully spoke those words in a sudden bowing position.

“Whether you have a child or have sex, it’s none of my business. But don’t blame me. Don’t mention my name. Let’s just say I’m mostly irrelevant. No, it’s not mostly. Let’s say I’m completely irrelevant.”

“Se-Sensei…”

“I messed up again this month. They found out that I brought erotic books, lost important documents, and various things piled up, leading to a pay cut… If I get any more pay cuts, I won’t be able to make a living…”

“…. Sensei, you’re a public servant, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I’m a dog of society.”

“But why would you fall to the point where you can’t make a living…?”

“Pachinko, horse racing, boat racing… They all eat up most of it. And cigarettes and alcohol too.” (TN: Gambling.)

“Why don’t you just quit pachinko and such…?”

“That’s like telling me to lose my reason to live?”

“Why are you being so smug about it…”

As expected of Makoto Haito-sensei, or should I say “Ashes (Haikasu (灰カス)).”

He was indeed a piece of trash.

(TN: Play on words. The name “Makoto Haito” is cleverly abbreviated into “Haikasu” (灰カス), which means “ashes” or “trash.”)

“Anyway, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear your problem. Don’t rely on me as much as possible. And don’t bring up that topic in front of me. I’m begging you.”

Ding- dong.-

“Oh, damn it. Couldn’t sleep… Anyway, Sawa and Yashiro, I’ll stay away from that topic, okay? Don’t come to me. Don’t involve me. It’s for the sake of my own life!”

” …. “

“Yes!”

I didn’t quite feel it before, but I finally realized that he was truly Ashes… He lives up to his name.