My Ex-Girlfriend Who Dumped Me, the Top Student, Is at Risk of Failing and Repeating a Year—but I’m Too Busy Tutoring a Former Shut-in Beauty To Get Back Together With Her - 11

Chapter 11: A Chaotic Trip to School

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“S-Sensei…?”

It was the frantic voice of someone in the class that broke the silence. Taking that as a signal, the classroom was instantly swallowed into a vortex of commotion.

“Hey, is that seriously Kisaragi-san? Her vibe has totally changed!”

“She’s super cute… but wait, why is she holding hands with Kashiwagi!?”

“What’s with the ‘Sensei’ thing? Is she talking about Kashiwagi? What kind of roleplay is this?”

Curiosity, confusion, and glares of jealousy from the male students. Countless emotions were directed at us. Kisaragi’s shoulders gave a small jolt, and her grip on my hand tightened. It was strong enough to make my bones creak. Just as I thought, the gazes of so many people were still terrifying to her.

“It’s okay. Let’s sit down.”

I guided her to the window-side seats—to my own seat—as if shielding her. Kisaragi walked while hiding in my shadow and sat in the seat next to mine (her seat, which had been vacant all this time). However, she did not let go of my hand. Under the desk, she was gripping the hem of my uniform tightly.

“W-Wait a minute!”

Just as we were about to enter our own world, a shrill voice rang out. It was Rina Aikawa. Her face was bright red as she stood defiantly in front of my desk.

“What is this!? This makes no sense!”

“…Good morning, Aikawa. You’re so energetic this early in the morning.”

“This is no time for greetings! Why are you coming to school holding hands with Kisaragi-san!? And what’s this ‘Sensei’ business!?”

The intensity of Rina’s outburst caused the surrounding chatter to die down a bit. I answered calmly.

“It’s exactly what it looks like. I’m currently acting as Kisaragi’s private tutor.”

“Huh? Private tutor?”

“Yeah. At the request of our homeroom teacher, Saejima-sensei. I’m teaching her.”

“Th-that doesn’t mean… There’s no need to hold hands! This is school, you know!?”

Rina’s point was valid. However, if I were to say “because she’s scared” here, Rina would likely attack her again for “being spoiled.” The moment I started to open my mouth, a dignified voice rang out from beside me.

“…It is necessary.”

It was Kisaragi. While still clutching my sleeve, she looked up and glared sharply at Rina. In those eyes, there wasn’t a trace of the weakness that had been rumored before. There was only hostility toward an external enemy attempting to invade her territory.

“Without Sensei’s body heat, I can’t calm down enough to take the lessons.”

“H-huh!? What’s that, are you making fun of me!?”

“It is a fact. …More importantly, could you please get out of the way? I want to check my preview with Sensei.”

The moment Kisaragi looked away from Rina and turned back to me, her expression changed into a meltingly sweet smile.

“Right, Sensei? Check the pronunciation of this English word for me?”

Ignored. A total dismissal, as if she viewed Rina’s existence as nothing more than a stain on the classroom wall. Rina let out a frustrated “Gunu…” and her fists trembled.

“H-hey Rina-chan, let’s go back to our seats… Homeroom is starting.”

Reading the room, Hasegawa awkwardly pulled Rina by the arm and led her away. As she left, Rina glared at me, but I had already opened my textbook and pretended not to notice.

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The door slid open with a clatter, and Saejima-sensei walked in.

“Get to your seats. …Oh, Kisaragi. You’re here.”

Standing at the podium, Saejima-sensei saw Kisaragi and curled her lips into a smirk. Then, when our eyes met, she gave me a small thumbs-up. It was a signal that said, “Well done.”

“Right, as you can see, Kisaragi is returning starting today. She’s been away for a while so her skill might be a bit dull, but well, she has an ‘excellent exclusive teacher’ right next to her, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”

At the teacher’s words, the whole class looked at me. A stir ran through the room at the realization that this was officially sanctioned. With this, the legitimacy of us being together was proven.

＊＊＊

During the break. Predictably, a crowd had formed around my seat. That said, they were only observing from a distance.

“Kashiwagi, you’re amazing… keeping a beautiful girl like that hidden.”

“Is the tutor thing for real? I want to ask you, too.”

The male students called out with a mix of teasing and envy. As I gave them non-committal replies, the chair at the desk in front of me spun around.

“Yo, Romeo. Quite a flashy show you’re putting on this morning.”

It was my close friend, Todo. He was grinning, looking back and forth between Kisaragi and me with amusement.

“Be quiet, Todo. I have no intention of putting on a show.”

“No, no, it was a masterpiece. Having a flirty study session with a beautiful girl right next to your ex-girlfriend who’s turning red and stomping her feet… You’ve got a mean personality.”

“It’s a misunderstanding. This is purely educational guidance.”

I sighed, feeling offended. Then, Kisaragi looked up from her textbook and stared intently at Todo.

“…Sensei’s friend?”

“Yeah. I’m Todo, the one who’s been taking care of this stiff guy since our first year. Nice to meet you, Kisaragi-chan.”

“…I am Kisaragi. If you are Sensei’s friend, you are my friend.”

Kisaragi gave a polite bow. Todo laughed, saying, “Whoa, are you a loyal dog or something?”

“So? How was Rina’s reaction?”

Todo asked in a low voice. I pointed toward the back of the classroom with just my eyes. There, Rina was surrounded by her group of girls, hysterically shouting something.

“‘Someone like her will definitely show her true colors soon!’ ‘Kashiwagi-kun is just being tricked!’ …Something like that, I bet.”

Todo did his dubbing again. In Rina’s hands was a practice print that was nearly blank. On the other hand, right next to me, Kisaragi was solving problems at high speed while looking at the explanations I had written.

“…It’s a polarized society indeed.”

Todo muttered under his breath.

“The woman who threw away a ‘useful tool’ and the woman who obtained the ‘best teacher.’ …I can see how this match ends.”

Ding-dong-dang-dong.

The warning bell rang.

“Sensei, is this part right?”

“Yeah, it’s perfect. You can move on to the next page.”

“Yay! Pat my head?”

“…Have some restraint at school, Kisaragi.”

I lightly dodged Kisaragi as she spoiledly offered her head. I pretended not to notice that Rina was glaring with an expression that looked like she was about to bite through her handkerchief, and I began preparing for the second period.

This “world of just the two of us” would only accelerate further toward the final exams. Only a few days remained until Rina’s frustration would explode.

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