Yandere? Menhera? Bring It On, If You're Confident That I'll love You For Who You Are - Chapter 51

The New Heroine is a Loli Teacher

As I finally arrived in the classroom, the chime signaling homeroom soon echoed.

Simultaneously, the usual scene unfolded with the homeroom teacher and a single girl entering the classroom.

The appearance of this girl caused a stir among the students.

They had been informed that a trainee teacher would be coming, but seeing that it was a girl hardly any older than themselves surely justified their reaction.

“Alright, quiet down,” the teacher clapped her hands to silence the chatter of the students.

“As I mentioned before, today we have Shimazu-san joining us as a trainee teacher for some time. She will mostly observe the classes from the back. Occasionally, she might take charge of the homeroom, and I’d like you all to support her then,” the teacher explained.

With those words, the girl introduced as Shimazu gave a small bow.

“Could you give us a brief self-introduction?”

It seemed she was quite nervous, taking a deep breath before facing us and introducing herself.

“Um… My name is Shimazu Yuuna. I’m new to this, and I might inconvenience you all, but I hope to learn a lot from the teachers and do my best.”

After her greeting, it was understandable why the students felt the way they did. The girl was so petite and youthful-looking that she could be mistaken for a child.

Moreover, the gap that she was actually older than us certainly captured the students’ interest.

“Is she really affiliated with the school? I thought she was a transfer student.”

“She’s 19? That’s unbelievable…”

“She’s a freshman in college…? Looks like a middle schooler to me. Cute though.”

“She seems quiet. But looks like we could get along.”

“The loli teacher has arrived! And she’s so modest… Man, I think I’m getting excited.”

“Gross, don’t come near me!”

A mix of apprehension, anticipation, and skepticism rose among the students. It was a natural reaction considering a girl close to our age was invited as a teacher.

“Huh, this is getting interesting. Minato, did you know about this?”

Yuuya from the back seat asked me. Without turning around, I replied.

“No, not at all. Did you?”

“Just rumors. All I heard was that the trainee was the principal’s relative. But man, this is an unexpected development. I’m not usually into petite figures, but if she’s older, that’s a different story! Time to start my conquest today.”

“Good luck with that,” I said noncommittally to the excited Yuuya while turning my gaze back to the girl named Shimazu.

Normally, you can’t become a public high school teacher without passing certain exams.

Even if you graduate from a junior college, you can become a teacher in elementary or middle school if you pass the employment exam, starting at least from the age of twenty.

Especially for high school teachers, a specialized license would be necessary.

Maybe that’s why they used the position of a trainee?

While I observed her, I caught a glimpse of her eyes briefly meeting mine.

“!”

Our eyes met, and realizing this, she quickly looked away.

“(Well, it’s impossible to disguise that age with her appearance…)”

My primary suspect now. With the Asagami Group collapsed, there’s nowhere else to cast doubt.

Asagami Group’s head, Asagami Noboru’s actual brother serves as the principal of this Hoshimiya Academy.

And that day, when I stepped into the Asagami Group, the girl in sunglasses who escorted me as a bodyguard on behalf of Asagami’s father.

After understanding the true nature of Asagami’s father, I had my doubts about her, but since the fall of the main Asagami, the girl had not taken any significant actions.

If she appears before me now, I would need to be more cautious than ever.

“(But, her stature and atmosphere… they’re similar, to ‘her’…)”

While recalling the image of my sister who passed away with the collapse of the Asagami Group, I shifted my gaze to the center.

“Heh…”

As expected, there she was, a rare beast of a girl with an easy smile, looking right at me.

◆

“How was it? How does it feel to be back in a school classroom after a long time?”

“To be honest, I was nervous. It’s been years since I’ve had to speak in front of people.”

“Haha, maybe it was too sudden.”

After homeroom, the girl faced the principal in Hoshimiya Academy’s staff room.

From the outside, it might look like a student and a teacher were facing each other.

“However, I was surprised. I didn’t expect you to volunteer yourself. Just to be sure, you’re not thinking about revenge against that boy, are you?”

“Don’t worry. I understand he was the victim.”

“Well, as long as that’s the case…”

The principal confirmed with relief, but she was understandably concerned.

“You understand, Shimazu-san. Your role is strictly to monitor Kurogane-kun. If he causes any trouble, let me know immediately. Don’t even think about using force to stop him.”

“I understand. At least we’re fortunate that he doesn’t know anything about you.”

“I hope so… It’s terrible that my brother’s life was ruined by such a boy, but we can’t do bad things.”

Contrary to the relieved principal, the girl, Yuuna, had entirely different true feelings.

Normally, not many would know the man before her.

However, Yuuna couldn’t shake the feeling that this was not the case.

“Hm? What’s wrong, Shimazu-san?”

“Ah, no. May I take a look around the school? I won’t set a good example for the students like this.”

“Yes, that’s a good idea. Please do.”

Yuuna bowed to the principal and left the staff room. Since classes were in session, the surroundings were enveloped in silence.

What raced through Yuuna’s mind was the only daughter of the Asagami Group she once served.

Despite her status and intelligence, she never relied on them and always worked hard—Yuuna had great respect for her determination.

Therefore, when she learned the truth, she was genuinely shocked. That girl, whom she had treated like a sister, had led the Asagami Group to ruin just to captivate the heart of a single boy…

“What an unusual girl…”

Yuuna recalled the recent homeroom.

While nearly the entire class was buzzing about her appearance, there was a boy who had been watching her, introduced as a trainee teacher.

His gaze wasn’t filled with the excitement of a pubescent boy, nor was it feigning disinterest.

His eyes asked clearly and without hesitation.

—Are you my enemy?

“…What a thought, right? Maybe I’m overthinking it.”

She shook off her excessive imagination. After all, she had no intention of making him her enemy.

Yuuna’s only goal was to understand the person Kurogane Minato was.

That was all.

That was the only desire left in a girl who had nothing else…