The Students I Once Tutored As Part-Time Home Tutors During My Student Days Had Suddenly Achieved Excessive Success In Their Careers. - Chapter 32: Sae's Room - Part 2

Sae’s Room – Part 2

“It’s been a while… Hehe, it’s nostalgic.”

“Well, it’s nostalgic in a way, but—”

The bed was lightly tapped, and the reason why Sora, who was sitting next to it, is being pampered right now goes back to the rewards established during the time he was working as a private tutor.

To be more specific, these rewards were requested by Sae herself.

“Is the nervousness winning?”

“I started feeling nervous once I became conscious of it. So, I’m trying not to be conscious of it.”

“Huh, you can do something so skillful? Isn’t that amazing, Sae-san?”

“It is amazing.”

“Haha, you’re admitting it yourself.”

Lying down on the bed, her head resting on her own thigh, the former student engaged in conversation with the dexterity of a cat while rubbing her cheek.

“Sora-kun, pat my head too. Just like the old times.”

“Well… Sae-san? I’m still your teacher, you know, your homeroom teacher.”

“You finished the important conversation with Mom, so you’ve become a familiar big brother.”

“Well… I mean, I can’t deny that perspective…”

“So, pat my head.”

“Fine, fine…”

Yielding to the pressure, he placed his hand on Sae’s head, complying with her request. The main discussion during the home visit was already over. The logic was that his role as a teacher had also concluded, but if high school staff were to witness this, it would undoubtedly be considered inappropriate.

“Hehe, I’m feeling a great sense of superiority right now. I have you all to myself as my homeroom teacher. I’m monopolizing something that only I can do.”

“Huh? Do you really feel that way?”

He was doing something like this to Sae, a famous illustrator with over 400,000 followers. Or perhaps Sae was doing this to him. Anyone would agree that feeling superior in this situation was natural, but Sora was just an ordinary teacher, not famous or anything.

“You don’t know anything, Sora-kun, so you’re just thinking that way.”

“By the way, if I were to say that I didn’t know anything, what would your response be?”

“Sora-kun, you’re a very popular teacher. You’re kind, good at teaching, and cool, so you’re very popular among the girls.”

“…I-I’m not popular among the boys?”

He tended to bring up this topic because he personally felt this way. Although there was an absolute teacher-student relationship, they were close in age, could keep up with discussions about songs and games, and, above all, they were of the same gender.

However, Sae had her own information.

“I think you’re more popular among the girls. After all, I know someone who’s planning to confess to you on graduation day.”

“Huh!?”

“Why don’t you seem happy?”

“Well, it’s more of a shock than happiness?”

He had only been working at this high school for about two months. This was a story that would make anyone think, “That’s got to be a lie, right?”

“Well, that’s okay.”

“Is it really?”

“Yeah.”

Before he could ask why it was okay, she changed the topic.

“Sora-kun, you worked at a different school before this one, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I worked at the previous high school for two years, and this year marks my third year as a teacher.”

“At the school where you first worked, did any girls confess to you?”

“W-Well…”

“It did happen.”

With an unexpected question, he hesitated to answer, and she quickly caught on. She narrowed her eyes and pinched his thigh.

“Admittedly, it did happen… just once.”

“Once?”

“Well, I’m not sure… Ouch! Why are you pinching me?”

“Just because…”

Apparently displeased that her assumption was incorrect, Sae applied more pressure, causing some discomfort.

However, it wasn’t overly painful.

“…But, I did think that you were impressive, Sora-kun. Even as a teacher, you’ve had someone confess to you.”

“T-Thanks?”

“Yeah. The person who confessed to you has good taste.”

“Haha, well…”

Being a private tutor was a profession similar to that of a school teacher, as it involved teaching students. Teaching something as unpleasant as studying often led to annoyance, and among students, there were many who found it bothersome.

Amid these facts, it was quite a happy feeling to be appreciated to such an extent by a student.

“Sora-kun, the hand petting my head has stopped.”

“O-Okay, okay.”

When he first met her again at the high school, Sae had looked quite mature, but he also noticed that she hadn’t changed much from before.

As he resumed petting her head, satisfied sighs escaped her.

“…So, how long should I keep up this position?”

“Until Mom’s meal is ready, so another hour or two.”

“Isn’t that a bit long? Shouldn’t we do something else in the meantime?”

“This is the best option.”

Although Sora tried to maintain his composure, the situation made him increasingly nervous as she skillfully wrapped her arms around him. In the past, he had thought, “I wonder if having a little sister would be like this,” but now, he was in the role of a homeroom teacher. He couldn’t treat her like a little sister anymore.

“…J-Jito-chan, this is getting a bit much.”

“Ahh, that nickname brings back memories… I like it.”

“Don’t squeeze any harder.”

Sora had given her the nickname “Jito-chan” because of her cute eyes that resembled the Jito (stern) expression. Sae herself seemed to like the term “cute,” which was why she had named her original illustration, “Jito-chan with the Stern Gaze.”

“Hey, Sora-kun.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you have any plans about when you want to get married? I haven’t asked much about your future, so let’s talk about various things.”

“Oh, that sounds interesting.”

It was a topic that could generate some excitement. Perhaps she had brought up various topics today in anticipation of this conversation.

“Well, let me think… I’d like to get married before I turn 30. I think the average age is around there.”

“I see.”

“By the way, what about you, Sae-san?”

“I want to get married right after graduating from high school.”

“…Huh!?”

You can legally get married at the age of 18. While she technically meets the criteria…

“I mean, isn’t that quite early? Not to interfere or anything, but it’s better to have more time to get to know the other person, don’t you think?”

“Even so, I still believe it’s better to get married early.”

Sora agreed with her opinion, but it seemed her resolve wouldn’t change.

“Do you think it’s better to get married early because you want to have children?”

“No, it’s not about that. I just think it’s better to secure someone as soon as possible, or there’s a chance someone else might snatch them away. The longer I work, the more opportunities I’ll have to meet people at social gatherings and such.”

“So, you believe in securing someone early to avoid losing them?”

People who actively participate in social gatherings while having a partner are a minority. Most do so for reasons like “helping out a friend to make up the numbers,” but Sae had a different rationale.

“You see, if you’re just dating, there’s a chance you might lose them.”

“I see. You’re quite… thorough, huh?”

“I aim for people who are so wonderful that they’re worth it.”

“Haha, that’s quite the confidence.”

While she wasn’t particularly self-confident, Sora had known her since his days as a private tutor and was aware of this aspect of her personality. For some reason, she was full of confidence now.

“So-Sora-kun, how many children do you want?”

“As for children… Well, it depends on my income, but I’d like to be blessed with as many children as possible.”

“I remember you saying you liked children back when you were a private tutor.”

“Haha, I did say that, didn’t I? It wouldn’t be surprising.”

“Well… pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing are all really challenging, so it’s something you should discuss with your future wife.”

The impact of pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing had been taught to Sora by his parents during his adolescence, for the sake of instilling a sense of responsibility.

During the early stages of pregnancy, there were symptoms like morning sickness, fatigue, insomnia, and the constant feeling of nausea if not eating regularly. As the belly grew larger, there were pains from just standing and an inability to roll over in bed due to severe discomfort. Pelvic distortion could also occur. Pregnancy brought about a complex range of pain and discomfort, which included anxiety, fear, and tension.

This was a part of the experience that women had to endure, and it was only natural to have discussions about it.

“It’s not necessary for a couple to have children to be happy; there are plenty of happily married couples without kids. So, above all, I want to respect my future wife’s opinion.”

“When you get all serious about something, it makes me a bit nervous, Sora-kun.”

“Oh, sorry, sorry. When it gets to serious discussions, I tend to get a little too focused.”

In their 50-minute class, they were serious, but during the 10-minute break, they could relax a bit and sometimes talk about work. Their job required them to switch gears repeatedly, so sometimes the switch flipped on unconsciously.

“But, Sora-kun, you’re really kind. Just hearing that makes me feel so relieved.”

“I think there are many people who share similar thoughts, so you can rest easy.”

“I feel reassured.”

Sae nodded on her thigh as if agreeing.

If she felt reassured like this, then he was glad they had this conversation.

“I’m getting a little sleepy.”

“Um… Jito-chan, I’m still a man, even if I’m your teacher.”

“That’s right.”

“No, I didn’t mean to confirm my gender…”

He hoped she would understand, but unfortunately, she didn’t.

“So, what do you think will happen if  a hungry lion watches a sleeping zebra?”

“I think it would keep petting until it wakes up.”

“Hmm… You noticed, didn’t you?”

The answer was obviously too strange. He had noticed but pretended not to.

“Sae-san, you’re about to become an adult, so you should be careful. It’s dangerous if you’re not.”

“Scary.”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard ‘scary’ without much emotion…”

Sora felt anxious about the upcoming social gatherings, where Sae would participate as she neared adulthood. He worried that she might be easily taken home by someone at one of those events.