After a Heartbreak, My Bitter Childhood Friend is now Sweet Like Sugar - Chapter 2.7

Chapter 2.7

Sake after Returning

TL: Devxtt

ED: Shish

“Hey~ It’s amazing, isn’t it, Sawatari-kun? I was afraid that you were going to give me something so hopeless that you’d fail your year. But, How’d you improve in such a short amount of time?”

“I mean, I just scored better.”

During the lunch break, I was summoned by the homeroom teacher- Ms. Kamishiro- and went to the staff room, where she greeted me with praise, though I was still afraid of what she might say.

It felt as if she was being sarcastic, but I hoped that she meant that my marks had gotten better. Even a ten percent increase would be enough to satisfy me.

I guess she was probably worried about me since I was absent for a decent bit of time. And the reason why she called me was to check on my current status as a homeroom teacher. 

Perhaps she didn’t want to intrude into my private life and was just looking for the right time.

“Well, I had an excellent tutor this time.”

“Hmm? Sawatari-kun, did you hire a tutor?”

“Ah, not exactly, but…”

At that moment, my eyes landed on the girl who had just popped into my mind.

Kokoa consulted her homeroom teacher in a rather tense manner, as she held her head down while talking. What’re they talking about?

No matter how I looked at it wasn’t a pleasant conversation…

… What’s going on?

Is he angry? No, it’s not like that.

“Oh~ I see. So that’s what it is. I understand. As I recall, Sawatari-kun and Shirayuki-san live next door to each other, right? So she must’ve helped you out, right?”

“Yes, well, something like that.”

“Fufu~~ I see. Well, then, I get it~”

As if she imagined something else, Ms. Kamishiro grinned.

“Kokoa… did something happen to her?”

“No, it’s nothing special. There’s not much to worry about, Sawatari-kun.”

Sensei replied, guess something really happened. Otherwise Kokoa shouldn’t be in the staff room.

“At any rate, I’m glad that you did well. You should thank Shirayuki-san for that. And tell her that your homeroom teacher, Kamishiro, is grateful.”

“Isn’t there no need for you to thank her?”

“No, no, you probably should. I treat all of you like my very own children after all.”

Then she laughed again.

Although she was usually friendly and she didn’t seem that mature to me. Guess… I was wrong.

I always thought that she was cunning like a fox, but in reality she was just a kind and mature adult.

“Um, thank you very much!”

I was embarrassed by her straightforward words of care, but managed to thank her.

“But, I’m really glad that you’re feeling much better. It’s tough being a student, you can’t even escape and drink when you’re having a hard time. If it were me,I would never be able to live that down. It’s really impossible for me. Being a student really is tiresome.”

I take back what I said before, she’s a bad adult after all.

“There’s no magic that can take away the pain, but a good time can ease it. Well, I’m an adult and your teacher, so I can’t completely relate to you as a student, but if you have a friend who you can trust, then even for a moment, open your heart up to them. It’s one way to relax properly.”

She had a point.

Have a good time and forget about the pain until the wound heals. I know it’s the right thing to do, and I know I should do it, but at the same time, I felt guilty.

I was worried that the moment this grief disappeared from my heart, the thing I cherished the most would disappear. I was scared.

“If a time comes when you’re all grown up and tired, I’ll treat you to a drink. It’s your Sensei’s promise.”

“I wonder if I’ll remember it when I grow up.”

“There’s no need to force yourself to remember, and there’s no need to force yourself to forget.

Any feeling you have can be transformed into the form you really desire. Nothing wrong with running away for a while before seeing it for what it is. That’s why you should drink every day.”

“You know, Sensei, you’d be a wonderful teacher, if only you weren’t an alcoholic…”

“Kuuuuuuuu, don’t say that.”

I thanked her and left the staff room.

***