Can I Still Be Your Heroine Even Though I'm Your Teacher?-Chapter 4Volume 3 .1 - To Continue or Not?

To Continue or Not? 1

With less than a week until the cultural festival, the preparations under the leadership of Mayuzumi-san were proceeding flawlessly.

The food supplies and necessary equipment were all arranged. Today, the girls’ uniforms, which were maid outfits, along with various animal-themed headbands, had arrived, prompting an immediate fitting session.

Everyone changed into their outfits, pairing them with their favorite animal headbands, and took turns capturing their looks in photos. The excitement was as if the main event had already begun.

“Wow, Kuhouin-san, you look great in the maid outfit. Your legs are so long!”

“Ririka-chan is so cute! You could totally work at a real maid cafe!”

While all the girls looked adorable, Kuhouin Akira and Mayuzumi Ririka, in particular, garnered ecstatic cheers from the others. Akira, blushing with embarrassment, was held in place by Mayuzumi-san as her photo was taken.

Beside the lively fitting session for the girls, the boys were hard at work on the interior decorations. The interior concept for the Animal Maid Cafe was ‘dreamy’.

They created signs and walls that doubled as screens, using a palette of soft pastel colors. The art club members, responsible for the illustrations, painted cute patterns and cartoonish animal sketches.

Their artistic flair resulted in eye-catching and beautifully finished decorations.

In addition, brightly colored bird toys and stuffed animals were brought into the classroom one after another, transforming the second-year Class C room into a dreamy, fancy space day by day.

I, too, carefully added color to the sketches, making sure not to detract from their charm.

“Hey, Nishiki. What’s it really like dating Kuhouin-san?”

The boys working alongside me asked.

“To be honest, I was pretty shocked because I liked Kuhouin-san too.”

“I get it. I’ve been interested in her since my track and field days.”

Even guys from the sports teams, who I don’t usually talk to much, joined in the conversation.

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Each time I heard such talk, I was reminded of how popular Akira truly was.

“What’s it like... well, it’s just as you see in the classroom.”

I could only answer vaguely.

They seemed to take my nonchalant response as a sign of a winner’s composure, and they got excited on their own.

“Nishiki, you’ve got such a cute girl as your girlfriend! You could be more excited! And pass on the secret of snagging a beauty to us!”

They pleaded with earnest eyes.

“Wait, I heard that Kuhouin-san was the one who confessed to you.”

“That must be because of the muscles you’ve honed as fellow athletes, drawn to each other’s physical strength.”

Said one of the baseball team members, flexing his biceps. Oh, so macho.

“If you were interested, you should have talked to Akira sooner.”

Then I wouldn’t have had to play the role of her boyfriend.

They exchanged glances and made grim faces.

“Nishiki, are you serious?”

“Huh, did I say something weird?”

I asked, puzzled, and they beckoned me over with a gesture, huddling close as if forming a circle.

“Listen, Nishiki. When you’re next to Kuhouin-san, she’s always on high alert. Just crossing paths with you two gets us a glare, so it’s not easy to approach casually!”

This was news to me.

From other people’s perspectives, Akira and I were seen in such a light.

“Akira’s intense gaze is just part of who she is.”

For her sake, I’ll deny it.

Kuhouin Akira is a strong-willed beautiful girl, and her presence alone is intimidating. Her sharp, large, almond-shaped eyes might feel like a glare to some, and it’s undeniable that she’s often misunderstood as being in a bad mood by those around her.

But everyone shook their heads.

“She’s like a mother cat protecting her kitten.”

“More like a tiger.”

” ” ” ” “Exactly!” ” ” ” “

The tiger analogy was apt. The image of a large feline indeed fit Kuhouin Akira’s impression perfectly.

“I don’t have many friends either, so maybe that’s why I seem to be with Akira all the time.”

“No, it’s probably the other way around. Kuhouin-san keeps others at bay, so especially the girls have been reluctant to talk to you, Nishiki.”

“No way, you’re overthinking it. If that were the case, why would I have so few male friends to?”

“...Nishiki. Doesn’t it make you sad to say that?”

I was met with sympathetic looks.

“Yeah, a little. Have I been unknowingly disliked by everyone?”

I felt like crying as I said it.

“On the contrary, we’re dying of envy! And Nishiki, you’re often approached by popular girls like Kuhouin-san and Mayuzumi-san. Why is that?”

“It’s just a coincidence.”

“Those coincidences have added up, and now you’re conveniently dating Kuhouin-san!”

It was a cry from the heart, representing all the boys.

Regardless of the truth, Mayuzumi-san’s strategy had been a resounding success.

Triggered by that comment, the boys’ true feelings began to spill out.

“Why did Kuhouin-san choose such a laid-back guy? Is it his face, does she like his face?”

“He’s not even the super funny type.”

“He doesn’t stand out in class for anything special.”

“His athletic ability is neither here nor there.”

“Wasn’t he near the top of the class in grades?”

“There’s a weird charm about Nishiki-kun that girls fall for. I can see it.”

“If anything, Nishiki-kun is kind of a loner, so maybe that’s why he clicked with the solitary Kuhouin-san?”

Among the comments, there was one I couldn’t ignore.

“Wait a minute. Is that really how I’m perceived?”

“Nishiki, you didn’t realize?”

My apparent obliviousness somewhat put them off.

“Yeah.”

“Frankly, weren’t you lonely being a loner?”

I was left pondering.

Why hadn’t I been particularly troubled by the fact that I hadn’t built any significant friendships?

I’m not particularly good at socializing in large groups. Moreover, there was a promise with my biological father that if I kept my grades up while living alone, he would support me financially.

I had to do household chores when I got home, so there was no time to hang out with friends after school.

That’s why I had resigned myself to treating school purely as a place for study from the beginning.

I would talk to my classmates during lessons or when necessary, but it was always strictly business. I certainly didn’t have anyone to chat with just to kill time.

However, I feel like I talked a bit more with those around me last year.

So why am I okay with it this year?

The answer is clear.

I think about my seat in the front row and the woman who always stands before me.

This year, I’ve been looking at Tenjō Reiyu all the time.

Just having her in my sight made me happy; I didn’t care about anything else.

My head was filled with thoughts of her, and I couldn’t see my own situation objectively.

I was happy and felt saved just by the world in front of my eyes.

This tendency only intensified after becoming involved with Sensei.

Damn it, I’m such a hopeless romantic.

Nishiki Yuunagi is too in love with Tenjō Reiyu.

Like a sucker punch, I was forced to reacknowledge what I already knew.