Lunch break and I'm in the teachers' facility, for Tachibana-sensei asked me to come here after eating. I'm not sure why.

 

 

She was rushing earlier so I'm guessing she's busy. I was told to wait here for Tachibana-sensei.

 

 

I'm sitting on a chair beside sensei's table. Her table is spotless, the pencils and papers are arranged properly.

 

 

Sensei is the neat type of teacher, ain't she?. After a few moments, sensei entered the teachers' facility.

 

 

"I apologize for keeping you waiting, Asamura-kun. Please distribute these papers to your classmates and tell them to return them tomorrow. It's a class survey for school events."

 

 

Sensei apologized in a soft voice. She looks exhausted. It's ruining her lovely face. So I decided to ask.

 

 

"Sensei, are you okay? You look exhausted." I asked calmly, trying not to raise her tension.

 

 

"The math teacher Kudo-sensei had to leave early due to an emergency and I had to take his place for some teachers' stuff. I still have classes and a meeting after my last class and here I'm feeling exhausted. I haven't even eaten lunch yet. I don't think I have the time to buy Asamura-kun!"

 

 

Damn! That sucks!. Maybe I can do something about her lunch.

 

 

"Sensei, let me buy you lunch. Lunch break hasn't ended yet so I think I can buy at least some bread if you're fine with it." I offered.

 

 

"Eh?! Isn't that just me bothering you? Is it fine?! She's hesitant.

 

 

"Yeah, It's fine sensei don't worry.

I'll leave the class papers here and come back later."

 

 

I dashed out of the teachers' facility and ran to the canteen.

 

 

There's sweet melon and yakisoba bread. I bought one for each of them. Then I went to a nearby vending machine and get tea.

 

 

I returned to the teachers' facility.

 

 

Took me a while to go back, then I opened the door and walked towards Tachibana-sensei.

 

 

Gave her sweet melon bread, yakisoba, and a bottle of tea. She stopped working with her paperwork and eat.

 

 

"Thank you Asamura-kun.

That was good. I'm sorry for the inconvinience." She beams.

 

 

She looks more beautiful this way. Sensei's smile is enough for me.

 

 

"It's fine sensei.

I'm going back now."

 

 

I smiled back and fetched the survey papers and when I was about to leave. Sensei called out to me.

 

 

"Ah!

Asamura-kun, How much did you pay the bread and tea? I'll pay." Holding her wallet she asked.

 

 

"You don't have to pay sensei, it's nothing,"

 

 

"Asamura-kun since you're here.

Can I bother you one last time?"

 

 

Eh?! What could it be?

 

 

"Yeah sensei, anything I can do." It's fine for me because I don't have plans anyway.

 

 

"Could I ask you to help me check some papers later after school? It's simple but a ton of it was left unchecked. Since it wasn't touched for a while it piled up."

 

 

She's looking problematic again. She's trusts me with work, I'll do it.

 

 

"Yeah sure sensei, I don't mind."

 

 

Not bad making sensei owe me a favor. I could use it too soon.

 

 

"Great, come back here after class. I'll explain what you need to do later. Thank you Asamura-kun."

 

 

Her usual mood has returned. Something heavy appears to have been lifted off her shoulders. That's great but I'm curious bout those papers.

 

 

I went back to the classroom and distributed the survey papers to my classmate before taking my seat.

 

 

Kurisu is stealing glances at me wondering what I was doing at the teachers' facility. So I decided to tell her my plans for later.

 

 

"Kurisu, I'll have stuff to do for Tachibana-sensei after school. I can't go home with you."

 

 

"Is that so? Sensei looks busy earlier. Is she fine?" Looking worried for sensei.

 

 

"Yeah, she's fine but just too busy. Kudo-sensei had to leave for an emergency and Tachibana-sensei is filling in for some teachers' duties"

 

 

"If there's anything else can do to help too."

 

 

She's willing to help too but I don't wanna bother her so I'll decline.

 

 

"It's fine. You don't need to worry."

 

 

She nods.

 

 

Class started with a science subject.

 

 

Classes flew by and ended. I was able focus on class lectures so I don't think I'm missing anything.

 

 

I rose up from my seat and exited the classroom. Kurisu said she'll go home.

 

 

Once again, I'm sitting in a chair near sensei's table again waiting for her to arrive. I guess I'm too early or she's still up to something. Just when the door opened and sensei walked in.

 

 

"Asamura-kun, come here. We'll go to a vacant room and you'll do the paperwork there."

 

 

"All right sensei."

 

 

Eh? Paperwork? So I'll be doing paperwork. I wonder what it would be. I'm not sure whether I'm feeling excited or worried...

 

 

We walked for 5 minutes to an vacant preparatory  room.

 

 

It feels empty inside, well it's literally empty with only a wide table and chairs in there. There's a mountain of paper on the table. So this is the piled-up work.

 

 

"You will separate the filled-out papers from the blanks then put markers on them. Names and record should be check too."

 

 

She went over everything I needed to know with the mountain of paper on the table. It's a simple task but with this many, it will take some time.

 

 

No surprise it's pressuring even her. Well, I can do this anyways so let's get started.

 

 

"Sorry for the trouble Asamura-kun. I'll make sure to repay you for this." She looks sorry.

 

 

"How about we hit a resto together. It's my treat"

 

 

She winked at me when she said it would be her treat. That's cute.

 

 

Should I accept? Should I refuse? Of course, I'll take it. Who would refuse such an invitation to eat from a hot beauty like Tachibana-sensei?

 

 

"Sure sensei. Anytime"

 

 

If that would be my reward I'll be more than motivated. Damn, I'm feeling the energy to work now. Let's go!

 

 

"I'll leave Asamura-kun now, I have a meeting to catch up."

 

 

After that, she left the preparation room. The silence once again entered the room. I began working with the paperwork. With this many, it will take me an hour or two.

 

 

After an hour and a half, I was done.

 

 

I checked my smartphone and the time is now at 5:40 pm. I don't feel tired but working alone is quite boring.

 

 

Perhaps it would be better if I accepted Kurisu's offer of assistance. I guess not, I'd better avoid involviny her in this.

 

 

Then a message notification appeared on my smartphone. I opened the messaging app and it shows.

 

 

 

 

 

It's from sensei. I recall her asking for my number back when we had lunch together. Why would she wait for me at the school gate though? I'm expecting her to show up, but well whatever.

 

 

So I got up from my seat, walked outside, and shut the door.

  

 

I started walking heading to the school gate. Sensei tapping on her phone, sitting at a bench waiting for me. So I called out to her.

 

 

"Sensei, sorry for making you wait."

 

 

"It's fine. Did you manage to finish it?"

 

 

"Yep, I got it all done."

 

 

"Thank you Asamura-kun. Now let's head home."

 

 

Eh?! She wants to accompany me home? I got the achievement of walking home together with sensei! How nice.

 

 

"Is there something you wanna eat or buy Asamura-kun?"

 

 

Looks like she wants to treat me right now but she appears exhausted so I don't wanna bother her to hang around. She needs to rest.

 

 

"Aren't you tired sensei? Why don't we go home for the time being and save it for weekends? You need to rest sensei."

 

 

I spoke calmly. I don't mean to let her down but I don't wanna push her around.

 

 

I'll look like a spoiled brat and I don't want sensei to look at me that way. Being considerate is the best option.

 

 

"How thoughtful of you Asamura-kun. But didn't you think that eating with me would ease up my fatigue as well?"

 

 

She's right and I did consider that, but I didn't expect she would say that to me.

 

 

Adults frequently drink at night after a long day of work. Maybe to unwind, forget about work and enjoy the night but I wasn't yet allowed in that world. And the most important is.

 

 

"I did... But if we're gonna have a meal together, I want it to be enjoyable, free of stress and negative emotions. I wanna eat with the sensei I was with in the grilled eel shop before."

 

 

Sensei was taken aback with my statement. Is she shocked? She remained silent for a few moments before smiling and speaking.

 

 

"Yeah, then I think we should go home now. Thank you for today Asamura-kun. You were such a great help."

 

 

I'm relieved she's back to her usual self.

 

 

"It wasn't that much sensei."

 

 

She waved goodbye and boarded the bus.

 

 

The train station is close here so I should go home now too.

 

 

Few days passed and Takanashi didn't even say a word to me. I wonder what's wrong with her. Right when I was thinking of her, my phone vibrated. Took it out to look and saw Takanashi's name as the sender.

 

 

 

 

 

You finally wanna talk huh. Well, I've been expecting her so let's see what she has to say. So I sent a reply.