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 - 20

Chapter 20: Together with the Storm

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It was the middle of summer break. I was at the Kisaragi residence, holding my head in my hands as I listened to the sound of torrential rain.

(I messed up.)

Outside the window, a rainstorm raged as if it were trying to wash away the world. I knew that a typhoon was approaching. However, I had underestimated the news when they said it would make a direct hit starting in the evening. I had been so focused on today’s lesson that I completely overlooked the weather forecast notifications on my smartphone. I had even neglected to check the weather forecast before leaving home this morning. It couldn’t be helped if I were told that, as a teacher figure, I lacked crisis management skills.

“…Sensei, you look pale. Do you want to drink some tea?”

From the seat opposite me, Kotone held out a cup with a worried expression. However, I wondered if it was just my paranoia that the depths of her eyes seemed to be laughing just a little.

“No, I’m fine. …More importantly, it’s a bit early, but we’re cutting things short today. I have to get home before the trains stop.”

“Eh, already? It’s only 4:00 PM.”

“Safety first. I can’t let my student feel anxious, after all.”

As I hurriedly tucked my textbooks into my bag, there was a knock on the living room door. It was Kotone’s mother. Usually calm, she was clutching her smartphone with a slightly panicked look.

“Kashiwagi-san, this is terrible! I just checked the operational status of the various railway companies and it seems they’ve decided to suspend service on all lines for the trains in this area.”

“Eh… All lines?”

“Yes. It says the buses are out of service too… In this rain, even walking to the station is dangerous.”

It was over. I felt the blood drain from my face. From here to my house was thirty minutes by train. It wasn’t a distance I could walk to get home. A taxi probably wouldn’t be found in this weather either.

“Wh-what should I do… I’ll wait for the rain to weaken for a bit and―”

“Kashiwagi-san. …You should stay over at our house today.”

What came out of the mother’s mouth was a proposal that could be described as devilish.

“St-stay over!? No, no, that’s definitely not okay! I’m an outsider, and besides, an underage boy and girl under one roof…!”

“My, an outsider? Kashiwagi-san, aren’t you Kotone’s benefactor?”

The mother chuckled and showed me the smartphone in her hand.

“Besides, I’ve already gotten permission from your parents.”

“Pardon…?”

“I called them just now. I told them, ‘Since I don’t think I can send him home in the typhoon, I’ll look after him for the night.'”

“What…!?”

I was speechless. She was too fast. Or rather, in the first place―

“U-um. Why do you have my home phone number?”

“Oh, have you forgotten? When I first asked you to be a tutor, we exchanged them as emergency contact info, didn’t we? For ‘just in case something happens.'”

Ah. I remembered. After I received the request via Saejima-sensei, when I first introduced myself to her mother, she had said, “Since I am entrusting you with my precious daughter, just in case..” and we had exchanged my parents’ contact information.

At the time, I was simply impressed by what a thorough mother she was, but I never expected it to be used in this way.

“Your mother also said, ‘That would be a big help. My son is a thick-skinned boy who can sleep anywhere, so please treat him however you like,’ you know?”

“My parents…!”

The perimeter was completely sealed off. As I looked up at the heavens, Kotone poked my leg with her foot under the desk.

“…That’s good for you, Sensei.”

She was hiding her mouth with a textbook, but a smile she couldn’t quite conceal was leaking out.

“We can do as many supplementary lessons as we want until morning today, right?”

I felt like her eyes gleamed ominously, like a predator that had trapped its prey in a cage. 

＊＊＊

My resistance was futile, and my stay-over was decided. I was treated to a magnificent dinner (the hamburger steak was exquisite) and borrowed an overly spacious bath. I wondered if the shampoo and body soap were the ones Kotone usually used. Enveloped in a sweet floral scent, my face turned red inside the bathtub.

(…Calm down. This is an emergency evacuation. There isn’t a single thing to feel guilty about.)

I told myself that, changed into pajamas (I borrowed a new pair from her father), and left the bath. The guest room I was shown to was a Japanese-style room on the first floor. Clean futons were laid out, and there was indirect lighting by the pillow. It had the atmosphere of an inn.

“Kashiwagi-san, if there is anything you’re missing, please don’t hesitate to say so.”

“Thank you very much. …I’m sorry for everything.”

Once her mother stepped away, silence was left in the room—no, only the sound of the rainstorm outside remained. The clock hands had passed 10:00 PM. Kotone should be on the second floor.

(Let’s sleep. I’ll sleep quickly and head home first thing tomorrow morning.)

I turned off the light and crawled into the futon. However, I was wide awake due to the tension. It was just as I looked up at the ceiling and started counting Math II formulas instead of sheep…

Flash!

Rumble!!

The outside of the window lit up as if it were midday, and immediately after, thunder roared like the earth was shaking. An impact that felt as if the whole house had shaken. It might have struck nearby.

“Whoa…!”

My heart leaped. That sound just now was genuinely scary. Right after that…

…With a creak, the sliding door of the guest room opened just a little.

“…………”

Against the dim light of the hallway, a small shadow was standing. It was a girl in pale pink pajamas, clutching a pillow. With her long hair down, her appearance looked a bit younger and she was trembling.

“…Sensei…”

A voice that sounded like it might fade away. It was Kotone.

“Kisaragi? What’s wrong, at this hour?”

“The lightning… it’s scary…”

Again, a low rumbling sound echoed. Twitch! Her shoulders jumped, and her bare foot took a step into the room.

“I can’t… I can’t sleep alone…”

Her moist eyes caught me in the darkness. It was an unconscious temptation that stirred a protective instinct while simultaneously shaking my reason as a man to its core.

“…Please. Can I come in?”

Without even waiting for my answer, she hurried over to the side of my futon and sat down with a plop. The sweet scent of shampoo tickled my nostrils.

This stormy night… My ironclad reason was about to face its greatest ordeal.

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