Chapter 8 – My Homeroom Teacher Won’t Stop Calling on Me

Third period was English Communication, taught by our homeroom teacher, Matsumaru-sensei.

Apparently, Matsumaru-sensei  has experience studying abroad in the U.K., and maybe because of that, her English pronunciation is way better than the other English teachers’.

Plus, she has a British accent.

“Akira-kun, would you be so kind as to give us the answer to question three?”

In her class, we get a worksheet based on the textbook content every time, and we build our reading comprehension by answering the questions.

When we do, Matsumaru-sensei  randomly calls on students for the answers, but for some reason, I feel like the odds of me being picked today are unusually high.

“Me again?”

“What’s wrong with that? Isn’t it better to be used with heartfelt care than to be disposable?”

Please don’t apply that logic to calling on students.

Despite the annoyed look on my face, I gave the correct answer. English is one of my best subjects, and I have my own particular standards for, and confidence in, my pronunciation. For the record, I’m also a believer in the church of British English.

On that point, Matsumaru-sensei  and I are in agreement.

“Besides, this is for your own good, Akira-kun. I figured this must be a difficult time for you emotionally, so this is my unspoken message that you can always rely on your teacher.”

“I don’t think there’s anything unspoken about it.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine, don’t worry about the little details. So you absolutely have to come to Conference Room 3 after school.”

How badly does she want to drag me into a conference room? And why Conference Room 3, of all places?

Is there some pressing reason, like Rooms 1 and 2 are being used for actual meetings?

“Way to go, Aki! When did you and Matsumaru-sensei  get so flirty?”

This, of course, was another useless comment from the representative of Japan’s idiots, Souichi.

“Souichi-kun , Akira-kun  and I are teacher and student. A teacher does not make a move on her student.”

“What about after Aki graduates and becomes an adult?”

“Well… I’d think about it for a bit, go to the movies with him once, and then properly turn him down.”

Oh, so I get rejected. Getting my hopes up by going to the movies once, only to shoot me down? That’s the worst.

I pity my disposable self.

“What kind of movie~? Hey, Sensei, you got any favorite movies?”

The conversation has gone completely off the rails.

And this is an everyday occurrence. Souichi  derails the teacher with his unnecessary comments.

Most of the students enjoy this, but Ryuuji, who’s aiming for Harvard University, doesn’t seem to find it amusing.

“Matsumaru-sensei, this is English class. Talk about movies is irrelevant.”

“Oh, don’t be so strict. This one was Souichi-kun’s  fault.”

“Okaay, my baaad. Sorry, Ryuuji, forgiive me~”

He’s definitely not sorry. This whole exchange will just repeat itself tomorrow.

I’ll just have to hope Ryuuji  finally snaps soon.

“Alright. We got a little sidetracked, but let’s get back to the questions. Next, for question five, Aki—”

I immediately shot Matsumaru-sensei  a glare.

“—I mean… Hasebe-san.”

At the unexpected—no, the 

absolutely intentional—nomination of Chifuyu, the entire class turned to look.

Matsumaru-sensei  knows all the details of her students’ love lives.

She’s well-versed in all the school’s romance gossip, not just in her own class, but in other classes, among the second and third-years, and even between the teachers.

In a previous class, she even revealed which third-years were dating—trivial information that most students probably couldn’t care less about.

And now that same Matsumaru-sensei had called on Chifuyu  right after me.

This was a blatant provocation.

“Huh…? Me…?”

Chifuyu  was flustered. All eyes in the room were now focused solely on her.

And a few on me, too.

“It’s alright, Hasebe-san. Don’t you worry. I’ll be the one to comfort Akira-kun  in Conference Room 3 after school.”

That witch. How dare she say that.

Forget Chifuyu, I wish she’d imagine how uncomfortable this is for me. I’m the one with the sad label of ‘the guy who got dumped,’ so this is even more awkward for me than it is for her.

“What do you plan on doing with Akira-kun?”

“Oh, you know, something that will make Akira-kun  happy. Is there a problem with that?”

Don’t say it in such a sleazy way.

And for Chifuyu  to act so tough in this situation…

“I’ll never let you do that! I won’t allow it!”

Hearing that from my ex-girlfriend isn’t exactly convincing.

“You’re the one who dumped Akira-kun, aren’t you? That means Akira-kun  is mine now. Understand?”

Isn’t her line of thinking a little extreme? Besides, she’s already mentioned the fact that Chifuyu  dumped me.

“Aki, you should say something to calm this situation down.”

Shinichi  whispered the advice from behind me. In his own way, he was also being completely irresponsible.

But it’s fine. I have a super-serious friend named Ryuuji.

“Matsumaru-sensei, could you please keep personal conversations outside of class? Perhaps you could use Conference Room 3 for that purpose?”

Stop making useless suggestions!

“Oh, what a good idea. Hasebe-san, come to Conference Room 3 after school. Sorry, Akira-kun, but would you mind waiting outside the room until we’re finished talking?”

So Chifuyu  and I are being summoned separately. That just makes it all the more awkward.

“I just remembered I have plans after school, so I don’t think I can make it today.”

“In that case, you’ll be there tomorrow, without fail.”

“Tomorrow’s the Go-Home Club’s national tournament. Looks like I won’t be able to make it to Conference Room 3 for the rest of my life.”

I looked at Matsumaru-sensei  with a triumphant smile.

It wasn’t long before I realized it had the opposite effect.

“I see. Well, I have something to discuss with you about English. Not a personal matter, but an official one, as your teacher speaking to you as my student. Which means, you will absolutely come to Conference Room 3 tomorrow.”

“Yes…”

Now I can’t participate in the Go-Home Club’s tournament. I refrained from pointing that out.