As Hikari wondered why Tsukishima Kyoko was being so daring today, a faint, fragmented voice quietly drifted into his ear, "After class, come to my office!"
After speaking, Tsukishima Kyoko put down the assignment book, straightened up, and returned to the podium as if nothing had happened.
Hikari stared at Tsukishima Kyoko, who now wore a cold, stern expression and a beautiful but aloof face on the podium. He realized that no matter how sternly this math teacher tried to appear, he could no longer find her serious.
———
After class, unusually, Tsukishima Kyoko didn't drag out the lesson and quickly returned to the office.
"Hey, Kyoko-chan, you look happy again today. You've been in a great mood lately~", Shirakawa Miwa, seeing Tsukishima Kyoko enter, immediately greeted her with a smile.
Tsukishima Kyoko seemed a bit puzzled, "Do I?"
Shirakawa Miwa laughed, "You do! Look at how the corners of your mouth are turned up. Others might not notice, but I can! Tell me, what's making you so happy?"
"No," Tsukishima Kyoko shook her head, flatly denying it.
"Alright, if you say so," Shirakawa Miwa shook her head helplessly; she couldn't force her best friend to talk.
"I'm going to the restroom," Tsukishima Kyoko didn't say anything more, picked up a small bag containing tissues and some other things, it was quite bulging, and headed towards the restroom next to the office.
Hikari, who had been waiting at the office door, saw Tsukishima Kyoko come out and immediately pull him towards the restroom. He laughed and said, "Tsukishima-sensei, didn't you tell me to come to the office? Why are you pulling me to the restroom?"
"Less talk, just come with me quickly," Afraid of being seen by Shirakawa Miwa and not bothering to explain, Tsukishima Kyoko quickly pulled Hikari into the restroom.
It wasn't his first time entering, but Hikari hadn't been in the women's restroom many times.
The last time he went was to the old school building behind the campus, investigating the urban legend of Hanako of the Toilet.
That restroom was old and dilapidated.
This women's restroom near the teachers' office, however, was quite new and clean.
Just as Hikari was looking around, footsteps and voices came from outside the restroom.
Tsukishima Kyoko hurriedly found a stall and shoved Hikari inside, "What are you looking at? There's nothing to see! Hurry up and get in with me!"
Tsukishima Kyoko had already gone this far.
Hikari naturally understood.
This teacher, who had vowed to reform him and mold him to her will, had gotten a taste last time and now couldn't resist.
So she wanted to pull him into the restroom for a direct "study session."
And indeed, that was the case.
Just as the two female teachers outside came in to use the restroom, chatting and joking outside, Tsukishima Kyoko directly covered Hikari's mouth.
Of course, she couldn't speak either.
After the two female teachers moved away, Tsukishima Kyoko released her hand from Hikari's mouth.
Looking at Tsukishima Kyoko, who was panting heavily, Hikari smiled and said, "Tsukishima-sensei, you're especially bold today."
As he spoke, he helped Tsukishima Kyoko check the buttons on her suit jacket uniform.
"What, do you have a problem with that?", Tsukishima Kyoko snorted lightly, pushing Hikari to sit on the toilet lid.
"No problem," Hikari smiled and shook his head.
"Then let the lesson begin! I will definitely defeat you!", Tsukishima Kyoko tried to assert her authority as a teacher.
And to show respect, Hikari raised his hands in surrender, allowing Tsukishima Kyoko to take the initiative in teaching and educating.
Of course, he absolutely would not admit defeat; he was just letting Tsukishima Kyoko have the first move.
———
In the office, Shirakawa Miwa, munching on melon seeds, was pondering Tsukishima Kyoko's recent behavior.
She was sure that Tsukishima Kyoko was definitely hiding something from her lately.
"What could it be? Kyoko-chan seems to have gotten divorced recently, but she's happier every day, even glowing."
"Could she have found a new young boyfriend? What kind of guy could make Kyoko-chan so happy? I'm really curious."
"But no matter who it is, it's all thanks to Hikari-kun."
Shirakawa Miwa thought that perhaps it was because she had relayed what Hikari said last time that made Tsukishima Kyoko recognize herself and resolve to start a new life.
Seeing Tsukishima Kyoko so happy now, she too was beaming.
After all, making her best friend's life happier because of herself, what a wonderful thing.
"Finished the seeds, my hands are a bit dirty. I'll go wash them."
Clapping her hands, Shirakawa Miwa left the office and walked slowly towards the nearby restroom.
———
Arriving at the restroom, Shirakawa Miwa washed her hands. Just as she was about to return to the office, she suddenly heard some movement from inside a stall.
Remembering that Tsukishima Kyoko had also said she was going to the restroom, Shirakawa Miwa immediately called out with a smile, "Kyo~ko~chan~ Kyoko-chan, are you still in there?"
After Shirakawa Miwa called out, she didn't get any response.
It was as if she was talking to herself; Tsukishima Kyoko didn't seem to be there.
But she wasn't embarrassed. Instead, she laughed and said, "Kyoko-chan, stop playing dead. I saw you come in, and I haven't seen you leave, Kyoko-chan~"
"Don't be shy. Didn't we often go to the restroom together before? If you don't answer me, I'll check every stall until I find you~"
As she said this, the sound of her mid-heeled shoes tapping actually echoed in the restroom hallway.
Tsukishima Kyoko, who had been playing dead because her mouth was full and she was afraid speaking would give them away,
Was forced to respond upon hearing Shirakawa Miwa's actions.
"I... I'm using the toilet!"
"Huh?", Hearing that Tsukishima Kyoko's voice seemed a bit off, as if she was out of breath and trembling a little, Shirakawa Miwa immediately asked with concern, "Kyoko-chan, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Tsukishima Kyoko casually found an excuse, "I... I'm a bit constipated today."
"Is that so? Do you want me to help you... unclog it?", As a good friend, Shirakawa Miwa directly made a risqué joke.
Hearing this, Tsukishima Kyoko said in flustered irritation, "Cut the nonsense! Get out now! I still need to... need to use the toilet!"
"Alright, alright!", Hearing Tsukishima Kyoko's nervous, trembling tone, Shirakawa Miwa just thought she was a bit shy and embarrassed by what she'd said, and didn't think much of it.
After casually teasing a few more times, Shirakawa Miwa left the restroom.
Hearing Shirakawa Miwa, who lacked the experience to understand the abnormality she detected, finally leave, Tsukishima Kyoko also let out a huge sigh of relief.
Not long after Shirakawa Miwa left, rustling sounds came from inside the toilet stall.
———
A gentle breeze caressed the willows, orioles sang among the emerald leaves.
The chirping of birds from the campus drifted into the restroom, echoing in the ears of the two busy individuals.
After studying together for over half an hour, Tsukishima Kyoko, somewhat unskillfully, helped Hikari fasten his belt, while Hikari skillfully and smoothly helped her put on her skirt.
Tsukishima Kyoko, somewhat reluctantly, held onto Hikari's arm as they walked out of the restroom together.
Once outside, afraid of being seen by others, she immediately let go.
After letting go, Tsukishima Kyoko immediately pinched the soft flesh on Hikari's waist and whispered, "Hikari, you're too much! How could you do such a thing?"
Hikari didn't retaliate, just chuckled and said, "What do you mean, I did such a thing? Didn't you, Tsukishima-sensei, tell me to come find you after class, and then you directly pulled me into the restroom?"
At Hikari's words, Tsukishima Kyoko blushed, but even with a flushed face, she stubbornly insisted, "Yes, it was me who pulled you in. But I didn't tell you to... to still be like that in front of Miwa!"
"I told you not to move, but you kept moving! You're so bad!"
Hikari chuckled, "If your resolve to resist was so firm, why didn't you say anything at the time?"
Tsukishima Kyoko rolled her eyes, "How could I have said anything then?"
Realizing that arguing about this now wouldn't lead anywhere, after a few more words of feigned annoyance, Tsukishima Kyoko changed the subject, "By the way, you've always been making eyes at that Miwa. Let me tell you, Miwa is my best friend. We're the closest of friends. I might not care about your relationships with other girls, but you are not allowed to lay a hand on Miwa, understand?"
"Miwa-sensei and I have always had a pure teacher-student relationship," Hikari spread his hands and said.
"Heh! Heh! Heh! A pure relationship with Miwa? Then what about with me?", Tsukishima Kyoko crossed her arms and sneered coldly.
"That's even purer. As pure as the fresh milk just squeezed from a cow in the pasture," Hikari said with a confident laugh.
"You're really something else, so vulgar!"
Tsukishima Kyoko seemed to remember something. Forgetting to hit or scold Hikari for the moment, she pulled a pack of tissues from her bag and, with a red face, quickly ran back into the restroom.
Hikari, meanwhile, shook his head with a smile and returned to the office.
He chatted and ate snacks with Shirakawa Miwa, who had enthusiastically called him over as soon as she saw him pass by.
After a while, Tsukishima Kyoko, finally clean from the inside out, also returned to the office.
Seeing Shirakawa Miwa and Hikari eating snacks together at the adjacent desk, she just secretly shot him a glare with her eyes but didn't say anything, pretending not to see.
After all, she had already said before that she wouldn't, and couldn't, interfere with Hikari's affairs.
It's just that she still wanted to use her years of teaching experience to reform him.
But as to exactly who would reform whom, that remained to be seen.
———
After becoming intimately familiar with Tsukishima Kyoko, Hikari's campus life gained a bit more color.
Once a comfortable day of campus routine ended, it was time for school to let out.
Not long after the final bell rang, Hikari received a call from the lady next door, Katsuragi Shouko.
["Hikari-kun? Can you come over to our place for dinner today? I... I have something I'd like to discuss with you,"] Ms. Shouko asked in a gentle tone.
"Sorry, I have plans tonight. I'm not going back to the Asou Apartments area," Hikari said.
["Ah, I see. Alright then,"] Mrs. Shouko hung up, her tone slightly downcast.
Hearing her tone, Hikari guessed that she probably had something she wanted to tell him.
This matter might be related to what Katsuragi Yuki had previously said about helping him deal with her mother.
But Hikari really didn't have time to go back today.
Because he had to return to the Harmony Apartments today.
At the Harmony Apartments, he had an important matter to attend to today.
———
As usual, after class, Hikari took a taxi directly to the Harmony Apartments.
Also as usual, by the time Hikari arrived, Yukino had just gone out to buy groceries.
And again, as usual, the moment Kiriryuin Kaede saw Hikari arrive, she immediately pulled him urgently,
Saying: "Come on, inside with me!"
Regarding this, Hikari, also as usual, had no objections or resistance and went along.
But just as the two of them were getting heated,
A faint sound of the door opening suddenly came from the entryway.