Can I Still Be Your Heroine Even Though I'm Your Teacher?-Chapter 4Volume 3 .8 - Interlude - Angel and Devil

“It’s thanks to you, Tenjō-san, that I’ve learned to speak so casually. My sister and I are both grateful.”

“I’m tired of hearing thanks. If anything, I should be the one grateful. If it were just me, things would have ended as they were...”

“I just wanted to continue being Sensei’s neighbor. Yeah, the milk tea is perfectly fine.”

“It’s the season for enjoying warm drinks, isn’t it?”

We savor the moment together.

As the seasons change, we cherish these mundane moments shared together.

School again tomorrow. We should go to bed early. But I want to stay together just a little longer.

“Yuunagi-kun, your hair is still wet. Didn’t you use a dryer?”

“Isn’t using a dryer a hassle? It’ll dry on its own if you leave it.”

“That’s not something you should say to a woman with long hair.”

Does he have any idea how much time a woman spends on her hair every day?

Beautiful hair doesn’t happen overnight.

“Can’t be helped. I’ll dry it for you.”

“No, that’s okay.”

“I want to try.”

“...Then, please.”

He brings the dryer from the bathroom.

I sit on the bed and start drying his hair as he sits on the floor.

“It’s kind of embarrassing to have someone dry my hair like this. Other than when I’m getting a haircut, it’s probably been since I was a kid.”

While drying, I secretly stroke his head with my fingertips.

I can’t help but smile.

“Why do you look so happy?”

“Because being allowed to touch someone’s hair is a sign of trust, right?”

“Of course.”

“It’s my first time drying a guy’s hair.”

“It’s an honor.”

While we chat about trivial things, I notice the hair tie on his wrist.

“Speaking of which, you tie your hair back with a hair tie earlier, right?”

During classwork, he ties his hair back to keep it out of the way while he paints with a serious expression.

It’s somehow endearing.

“When I’m painting, it’s definitely in the way. What about it?”

“Just checking.”

“Is it too long? If it bothers you, I’ll cut it after the cultural festival.”

“No, it’s not that I mind your hairstyle...”

“But?”

To him, it was just a tool and didn’t carry any deep meaning.

“——I just don’t like it if it’s from another girl.”

I blurted it out, even though it had been on my mind for a while.

“Okay, it’s dry now.”

When I turn off the dryer, the room suddenly goes quiet.

“Tenjō-san, I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me.”

“It’s okay. After all, I was the one who first agreed to play Kuhouin-san’s boyfriend. As an accomplice, I can’t just look the other way.”

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“But, it’s also hard for me to make Tenjō-san endure.”

“It’s no use apologizing.”

“Then, at least let me have one of Tenjō-san’s hair ties.”

He turns around and takes a hair tie from my wrist.

“You’re a thief.”

“I’ll pay for it.”

“You can’t charge for something like this.”

“I can’t just take a hair tie for free...”

Ah, no good. I’ve reached my limit. Whenever we’re alone like this, I can’t hold back.

Don’t look down. Keep your smile up.

Stand tall and puff out your chest.

Keep smiling like always.

Just a little more patience.

Don’t worry him.

I’m fine.

You’re an adult, behave.

Don’t let it get to you.

Lie.

No.

Impossible.

——Wait, what’s that?

I stumble upon something that seems to stop the tears that were on the verge of breaking through.

I don’t know why I noticed it, not even sure myself.

Was it just a coincidence, or a woman’s intuition?

Since he came back, I’ve faintly sensed something indescribable, an atmosphere different from his usual self.

But now, I’ve clearly found something that wasn’t in the room before.

“It smells.”

I slowly get up from the bed and head straight for it.

A student bag placed in the corner of the room, and inside the open zipper, a small box.

“Ah, sorry. I forgot to spray deodorizer on my bag. I’ll do it right now.”

He hasn’t noticed yet.

They say women have a keener sense of smell than men.

But in this case, the smell is probably irrelevant.

It’s more like my sixth sense has caught something decisive.

Without hesitation, I reach into his bag and pull it out.

Making sure it’s not a mistake, I slowly turn to face him.

“Hey, Yuunagi-kun. What might this be? Care to enlighten Sensei in detail?”

I’m sure I’m wearing an exceptionally bright smile.

And he’s frozen. From his expression to his fingertips, to his hair, he’s become like a statue, completely motionless in an instant.

The angel and devil that were arguing in my head are blown away by the direct hit of a volcanic eruption.

Angel & Devil——ahhhhh!?!?

“It’s not what you think!?”

“What isn’t?”

“There’s a complicated story behind it, that’s why it ended up here!”

“Just answer the question, please.”

I naturally press him very calmly. The flow of lava is slow, but the heat is incredibly intense.

He grimaces, then looks up to the heavens as if seeking divine help.