Chapter 19 – I’m Sick of Being Summoned After School

A murky feeling settled over my heart.

The moment I confirmed the presence of the clean-cut handsome guy, the memory of that cheating scene came rushing back with vivid clarity.

It’s not like they were holding hands.

They were just walking shoulder-to-shoulder, with the kind of closeness you’d expect from a couple.

At the time, I was, of course, Chifuyu’s boyfriend, so I remember being pretty shocked and dejected. The quality of my sleep took a nosedive that night, and I woke up the next morning feeling awful.

“Huh? He went somewhere.”

Souichi was the same carefree guy as always.

“Reading time is about to start. He probably just went back to his classroom.”

“Then what do you think he came here for? Maybe… to confess to me, or something?”

“Cut the crap. As if she’d ever know you exist.”

Shinichi was being incredibly harsh.

That said, the target of his words, Souichi, is a world-class idiot, so nothing anyone says ever registers in his brain. He seems to have forgotten the entire process of understanding words.

While we were focused on the sudden visitor, Ryuuji was acquiring new knowledge by reading an inspirational tome on the philosophy of rule.

What is this difference between us?

Just as I was pondering that, the chime rang.

Next up was the usual ten-minute reading time, followed by homeroom with Matsumaru-sensei, who is guaranteed to be late.

The sight of the students heading to their seats, eroded by the gloom of a Thursday, was a rather sad one.

And then, at the last possible second, Chifuyu came in.

She was about a minute and twenty seconds earlier than usual.

Something this morning…

A secret meeting… with that clean-cut handsome guy…

“Oh my, everyone’s reading at this hour, I see. I wonder what book Ryuuji-kun is reading?”

Now the homeroom teacher had arrived.

This was the first time Matsumaru-sensei had ever shown up during reading time.

As expected, she was disturbing a student’s reading.

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate that her target was Ryuuji… no, it was definitely unfortunate.

“Matsumaru-sensei, it is written in the student handbook that talking is forbidden during reading time. It goes without saying that a teacher speaking to a student is also considered talking.”

“The student handbook? Was there such a thing?”

“Yes. It is a survival guide in which the most important tenets for surviving at this school are written.”

Ryuuji’s faith in the student handbook was incredible.

Instead of a Bible scholar, he was a student-handbook scholar.

“Ah… I feel like there might have been something like that… What about it?”

“It is the content written on page thirteen of the handbook. Should not all teachers at this school have this memorized and be made to recite it at morning assembly?”

That’s basically brainwashing.

“Well then, how about this? A rule that says if a teacher speaks to a student during reading time, the student must answer within three seconds.”

“That is not written in the student handbook. Everything in this world is what is written in the student handbook.”

Is that so? First I’m hearing of it.

“Aren’t there things that aren’t written in the student handbook? For example, regarding relationships between boys and girls—”

“That is detailed on page fifteen, complete with concrete examples. It states that boys and girls must strive for wholesome relationships.”

“But I don’t think the standard for ‘wholesome’ is very clear, do you? Right? So I, as the class’s homeroom teacher, will decide it.”

“No. Forgive my impudence, but do you, Matsumaru-sensei, possess the station to freely change the rules of the world?”

That’s incredibly impudent. And what is he even talking about?

On top of that, I couldn’t imagine that the rules of a tiny public high school in a small region like Sasebo had expanded their influence to the entire world.

“‘The world’ is a bit of an exaggeration, Ryuuji-kun. But I might be able to change that stubborn heart of yours. I’ll make you all mel-ty.”

That’s a little creepy, so I’d like you to stop.

Another chime rang.

This time, it was the sound signaling the end of reading time.

As if nothing had just happened, Ryuuji closed his book and called out the order.

“All rise!”

The classmates who had been listening intently to the heated debate between Matsumaru-sensei and Ryuuji stood up in unison.

Ryuuji switches gears fast.

He’s world-class fast, so if there were ever a world championship, I’d want him to compete. The World Gear-Switching Championship—yeah, not bad.

Homeroom began with a greeting from a cheerful Matsumaru-sensei.

The fact that this lunatic was in a good mood also meant that I was going to experience some kind of misfortune before the end of the school day.

“Akira-kun, please come to the faculty office after school.”

It’s starting.

No, it’s over.

Just as I was letting my guard down after getting through homeroom without incident, she called out to me.

The other students were getting ready for first period math.

Today we had a unit test ahead of the regular exams, so many of them were desperately reviewing their notebooks.

“Is something wrong?”

“There’s something I’d like to discuss with you about your club activity.”

“I did my club activity properly yesterday.”

“I’m not doubting you. I just want to confirm a few things about your days off.”

“A day off is a day off, so shouldn’t the Go-Home Club be exempt from activities?”

At this, Matsumaru-sensei let out a heavy sigh.

I’m the one who wants to sigh.

I wish she’d stop forcing her values about the Go-Home Club on me.

“What I’m aiming for is not some Go-Home Club for fun and games, Akira-kun. This is a club for people who are serious about wanting to master the art of going home.”

It’s true that I’m serious about going home.

“To improve your going-home skills, you need practice! This sweet little notion that you can get better at going home by taking it easy? I won’t allow it. Got it?”

I had been too easy on myself. Matsumaru-sensei’s words fired up my spirit, which had held even the slightest insincere thought toward the art of going home.

“I spoke with your older sister, and she said she’s seriously aiming for the Inter-High. If that’s the case, then you, as the club president, need to try even harder.”

I’m ashamed to call myself the president.

My sister, the vice-president, has a lofty goal like the Inter-High, and yet…

“That’s why in the Go-Home Club, where I am the advisor, we will be practicing all day on holidays, so be prepared. I have something serious to discuss with you about that matter after school.”

“Sensei…”

My heart was struck by Matsumaru-sensei’s passionate feelings—is what I would never, ever think.

There’s no such thing as an Inter-High for a Go-Home Club.

What is “going-home practice”? Going home is the act of returning to one’s house, nothing more, nothing less.

Therefore, there is no skill involved.

“Sensei, what you just said has changed my mind. It would be a waste to even stop by the faculty office after school. Therefore, I would like to go home immediately and begin improving my going-home skills.”