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 - 23

Chapter 23: A Call from My Ex, with a Student by My Side

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『Ugh… sob… hey, Kashiwagi, help me…』

Through the smartphone speaker, I could hear the sound of sniffling and a pathetic, weeping voice. I sat up on the bed—no, on the futon—and let out a deep sigh. Beside me, Kotone remained with her arm wrapped around my waist, listening intently. She probably wouldn’t tease me or make a fuss. Even if I were to panic here, it wouldn’t help anything. I need to stay calm. It’s okay, I’m still me…

“…You’re asking for help, but what happened?”

『I was dumped… Hasegawa-kun said such horrible things to me and he threw me away!』

It was exactly as I had expected. Hasegawa was a shallow guy. I figured he would switch to someone else the moment Rina’s grades dropped and her status in class was threatened, though it happened sooner than I thought.

『He’s the absolute worst! Even though I was struggling with supplementary lessons, he did nothing but play games! He didn’t look at me at all!』

Rina reeled off a string of insults toward Hasegawa. However, those words were also a boomerang directed right back at her. When I had tried to support her with her test studies in the past, she was the one who cut me off, saying it was “boring” and “nothing but studying.” I could only describe this as poetic justice.

“…And? What are you telling me to do about it?”

『I want to see you! Come see me right now and comfort me!』

Rina’s voice took on a desperate ring.

『I realized it. It has to be you after all, Kashiwagi-kun. …Compared to a superficial guy like him, you were much kinder and understood me better, Kashiwagi-kun.』

Such convenient words. However, I could see right through to the true feelings behind them.

“I’m lonely, so I want someone to fill the void,” “I want help with my supplementary lessons,” “I want someone to restore my fallen self-esteem.” She wasn’t seeking me out. She was merely seeking my “functions.”

『Hey, let’s start over? I’ve reflected on things. It’s not too late yet, right? It’s summer break, so let’s go on dates and start again from scratch—』

“I can’t.”

I cut her off. The voice I once supposedly loved now sounded like nothing more than noise.

“I’m not your boyfriend anymore. …Besides, I have someone I need to prioritize right now.”

When I said that, Kotone, who was beside me, gave a visible start. She tightly gripped the hem of my pajamas and looked up at me with moist eyes as if asking, “It’s me, right?”

『Someone you need to prioritize? Don’t tell me, you mean that Kisaragi girl!?』

Rina’s voice turned into a screech.

『What’s so good about a shut-in like her?! All she has is her looks! I’ve been dating you longer, Kashiwagi-kun! We’re more compatible, and besides—』

“Don’t speak ill of Kisaragi.”

My voice dropped lower. I didn’t care if she spoke ill of me. However, I couldn’t stand her insulting a girl who had fought through her fears and put in a desperate effort to attend school.

“She’s different from you. She faces her own weaknesses and fights without running away. …To me, she is a ‘student’ I can respect more than anyone else.”

The moment I stated that firmly, Kotone buried her face in my chest as if she couldn’t take it anymore. Her hot breath traveled through my pajamas. I could see her ears were dyed bright red.

『Wh-what’s that… a student… and you’re just a mere home tutor…!』

Rina fell into a frenzy and began ranting. There was no point in continuing the conversation anymore.

“Sorry, but I’m hanging up. …I’m busy right now.”

『Wait! Please don’t hang up! I’m all alone! I feel like I’m going to die from loneliness!』

Rina’s scream echoed. It was at that moment…

“…Nngh… Senseeei…?”

A sweet, melting, cat-like voice rose from my chest. It was Kotone. She had intentionally—yes, absolutely intentionally—raised her voice close to the smartphone’s microphone.

“…You’re not done yet? Hurry up… keep going…”

She pretended to be half-asleep, but it was a calculated strike with devastating power.

In the quiet morning room, that voice echoed clearly and reached the other side of the call.

『Huh?』

Rina’s voice froze.

『Wait, that voice just now… Kisaragi? Why… Even though it’s morning… No way, right?』

“Ki-Kisaragi!?”

I hurriedly tried to pull the phone away, but Kotone wrapped her arms around my neck and made an even more spoiled-sounding voice.

“…Sensei, I’m cold. …Come back into the futon?”

It was the deciding blow. “Sensei,” “futon,” and “morning.” With these three keywords gathered, it was more than enough circumstantial evidence. The fact that we had spent the night together and were still in the same futon was thrust upon Rina.

『N-nooooooo!!』

An ear-piercing scream.

Clatter! Click, beep—beep—beep—

The call was cut. I didn’t know if she had thrown her phone or just slammed it off. The words 『Call Ended』 appeared on the screen. The room fell into a dead silence. I stared blankly at the smartphone, then fearfully looked at the girl at my chest.

“…Kisaragi?”

“Hmm? …What is it, Sensei?”

She tilted her head and looked blankly at me. However, the corners of her mouth were relaxed in a smile of victory she couldn’t quite hide.

“…You did that on purpose, didn’t you.”

“No way. …I just felt lonely because I couldn’t hear your voice, Sensei.”

Without a hint of guilt, she rubbed her cheek against my chest.

“But if it was heard, I guess it can’t be helped. …The fact that you belong to me now, Sensei.”

The possessiveness dwelling in her eyes was clearer and deeper than the blue sky after a typhoon. I was so completely bound by her that there wasn’t even a gap for any lingering affection for my ex-girlfriend to enter.

Rina must have realized it now… That on the night she was screaming about being lonely, just how warmly and closely we were spending our time.

“…Now then. Since the nuisance is gone…”

Kotone leaned over me as if pinning me down and looked into my eyes from above.

“Let’s sleep in, okay? Sensei.”

The morning sun was dazzling, but for my reason, it felt as though a long night was still going to continue.

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