I Became a Teacher at an All-Girls Boarding School, and Now the Students and Female Teachers Are After Me~

Chapter 35 – At the Face of Death

The next day, Momo didn’t have anything to do, so she buried herself in a book to pass the time.

It had been a week since she stopped going to school, and she had been cooped up in her family’s mansion the whole time. It was more like she was being kept a prisoner there.

After all, it had been decided that she was going to be sent to Congressman Mifune’s second home. The rumors about his second home were an open secret in the political world.

Naturally, her father, Minister Sakurada, knew that she was probably aware of this.

His suspicions were confirmed after the incident in her classroom. Momo’s obvious attempts at a “negative publicity campaign” had reached her father’s ears, and he had immediately decided to confine her.

That’s why Miyashita had hoped she wouldn’t do anything to stand out in class.

If she had just behaved herself, she wouldn’t have been confined, and he might have even been able to help her escape.

But Miyashita’s wishes didn’t reach her, and now she was stuck inside the mansion, unable to even step outside.

Just then, Momo was summoned to the living room where her father was.

She found him sitting on the grand sofa. There were a few male secretaries in the room, and a woman serving tea for two.

Momo went into the room with Miyashita, keeping her face blank and a gentle smile on her face.

“Father, what did you need me for?”

The middle-aged Minister Sakurada, dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono, gestured for her to sit.

“Sit down.”

She knew what he was going to say, but she sat down across from him without changing her expression, still smiling.

“What is it?”

Momo asked again.

“As I said before, you’ll be working at Congressman Mifune’s second home. Finish getting your things in order by the end of the week, and you’ll go there next week.”

“Understood. I’ll do as you say.”

Momo replied without a fuss.

Miyashita, who was standing beside her, looked visibly shaken, but Momo didn’t flinch, and her smile remained.

There was no point in fighting it. She had no choice but to agree, accepting her fate.

But before she could, Miyashita stepped in between them.

“Master,” he said, and the Minister gave him a cold look.

“What is it? I don’t recall giving you permission to speak.”

“I apologize. However, Momo-sama is currently studying to become a respectable adult worthy of the Sakurada name. Therefore… therefore…”

Miyashita stammered, trying to find the words. For the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed Momo’s face.

In contrast, her father smiled. But it wasn’t a happy smile, and both Momo and Miyashita knew it.

“Are you still going to be disobedient? Or have you forgotten the debt you owe me?”

“No, that’s not it at all. I have never forgotten the kindness you showed me on that day.”

“Then you must repay that kindness, mustn’t you?”

“……”

Momo had been trying to stay calm, but watching the man who had been her caretaker since she was a baby fight so hard to protect her, she couldn’t hold back her emotions anymore.

“Miyashita, stop.”

Miyashita glanced at Momo for a moment, then turned his attention back to her father.

And then, he did something shocking.

“Master, I beg of you.”

Miyashita got down on his knees and bowed his head, pressing his forehead to the floor.

“M-Miyashita?! What are you doing?”

“Please, Master, I ask you to reconsider. If you do, I, Miyashita, will gladly give my life to you.”

Give his life?

Momo’s eyes went wide. She watched as Miyashita pulled something out from his pocket and placed it on the floor in front of him. It was a dagger. The sight of it was enough to make her panic.

“Miyashita, stop! Do you know what you’re doing?”

“Momo-sama, I have been happy serving you until today. Even if my life ends here, if it means your dignity can be protected, I have no regrets.”

Seeing his determination, Momo rushed forward and snatched the dagger.

“Momo-sama, please give it back.”

“I can’t! Miyashita, they’re not going to kill me! This will all be over in a few years, and no one will get hurt! You don’t have to do this!”

Miyashita shook his head.

“That’s not true. If you go to Congressman Mifune’s second home, your most precious heart will be broken. Please, give back the dagger…”

My heart…

Momo knew her body would be broken too, but she couldn’t stand it.

After all Miyashita had done for her, she couldn’t let him die for her.

It would be worse than being sent to that house. No, even more honestly, she couldn’t bear the thought of Miyashita dying.

Tears streamed down her face.

“F-Father, I don’t care what happens to me. I’ll do my duty to Congressman Mifune and become a respectable adult worthy of the Sakurada name.”

“Momo-sama…”

Miyashita pleaded, but Momo just ignored him.

Her father looked back and forth between them, a sickening grin on his face.

He stood up.

“It’s already decided. There is no more room for debate.”

The way Minister Sakurada looked at them, as if he was savoring their pain, sent a chill down Momo’s spine.

Momo realized that this might have been his plan all along.

Momo even wondered if her father had given Miyashita a favor all those years ago just to watch this moment unfold. If so, he was truly a vile man.

Did I live my life with the Sakurada name for a man like this?

She couldn’t forgive him, or herself for living a life so naive. She pulled the dagger out of its sheath. The voice of a demon whispered in her ear, telling her she couldn’t forgive this man. She tightened her grip on the bare blade and ran towards her father.

“You only think of us as pawns!”

Her father turned in surprise.

Momo lunged, aiming the dagger at her father’s stomach…but then…

“Stop it! Sakurada!”

Someone grabbed her arm just before she could strike.

She turned her hateful expression toward the person who had interfered. But when she saw who it was, she went limp.

“S-Sensei?!”

It was her homeroom teacher.

“H-How are you here?!”

Momo asked, completely confused.

“Well, you said you were going to be home today, remember? So I came to see you.”

Hosokawa Ryuuki answered, taking the dagger from her hand.