Interlude 4
Angel and Devil 1
“Welco back.”
Hearing the sound of a key unlocking the door next door, I popped my head out.
“!? I-I’m back.”
Yuunagi-kun, who faced , seed more surprised than I had anticipated.
“You’re quite late. Was it that fun?”
“It was just dinner with classmates.”
“Sharing a al is a shortcut to becoming friends.”
“That’s how it was with Tenjō-san and .”
He seed less energetic than usual.
“Yuunagi-kun, are you feeling under the weather?”
“No, it’s just... I ate too much okonomiyaki and my stomach is in pain.”
“Are you okay? I can give you so stomach dicine if you need it.”
“That’s an exaggeration. I think I’ll settle down if I rest a bit.”
“Hey, can I co over for tea while you’re resting?”
“Now?”
“Of course, if it’s a bother, don’t worry about it.”
“It’s not a bother, but won’t Tenjō-san be up late too?”
“I was thinking today that I haven’t had enough ti to talk with you.”
“Okay. I’ll take a quick shower, can you wait a bit? I’m concerned about slling like okonomiyaki.”
“Okay. I’ll make so tea and wait for you.”
“Please do.”
While he was in the bathroom, I went into the kitchen to boil water.
I prepared two mugs and put my favorite brand of tea leaves into the teapot.
Once the water reached the appropriate temperature, I poured it in and let it steep for a while.
The tea leaves danced inside the clear teapot, slowly spreading their color.
The faint sound of the shower...
“...I went in wearing a swimsuit when he was sick.”
At that ti, I didn’t think too deeply because I felt I had to take care of him.
But now that I’m calm, I realize that, as he pointed out, I had been quite bold.
It wasn’t like I was naked with just a bath towel, and since I wear swimsuits almost daily, I didn’t put the brakes on myself.
After all, I’m used to seeing male students shirtless in club activities, so it didn’t bother —or so I misunderstood.
However, once I knew his honest reaction to seeing in a swimsuit, I couldn’t help but be conscious of it.
Nothing happened that ti, but there was certainly a possibility of making a mistake depending on the situation.
There have been many dangerous monts in the past.
I’ve been pushed down on the bed, and there were tis when we accidentally slept together until morning. When we were locked in the school’s gym storage, I was expecting a kiss.
There are too many monts when I can’t control myself.
How shaless I am.
Am I lusting after him?
Even though the angel of reason preaches earnestly above my head, the devil of instinct refuses to listen and is eager to rampage.
Angel—You are a respectable adult. You are a teacher who guides students. Be modest.
Devil—But humans are animals after all, and you’re a woman of age, right?
Angel—As a responsible mber of society, you must not go any further!
Devil—A woman who’s jealous of a student now pretending to be dignified?
Angel—Be quiet! If you give up now, all your patience will be for naught.
Devil—See, you are aware that you’re holding back. Your body is honest, huh?
Angel—Those who drown in carnal desires will surely regret it!
Devil—You’re a virgin, so how can you be so sure? You want to be embraced too.
Angel—I don’t want to end up like my parents!
Devil—If it’s with soone you’ve sworn eternal love to, it’s fine. You’re going to have s*x sooner or later anyway.
Angel—Impossible! If I accept it now, I won’t be able to act as a Sensei in the classroom!
Devil—Are you okay with him being stolen by a younger woman?
Angel—That’s why I believe in eternal love!
Devil—It’s much more effective to tie him down with your body, and you’ll feel more secure too.
Angel—Thou shalt not break the Neighbor Agreent!
Devil—You know he desires it too, don’t you?
Angel—I’m scared. If I cross that line and then get betrayed...
Devil—Then you can prove for yourself that there’s no such thing as eternal love. Isn’t that great?
“No, that’s not good!”
I blurted out without thinking.
“Whoa!? Shoot, I was zoning out!”
Before I knew it, the tea had steeped too long, turning from a deep red to nearly black.
“What am I doing... thinking such things in soone else’s house...”
I lifted the tea leaves, filled with self-loathing. The good tea must have turned bitter.
“Is sothing wrong!? Don’t tell a G appeared!?” (Gokiburi/cockroach)
Yuunagi-kun, hearing my voice, rushed out from the bathroom.
“That word is forbidden!?”
The unpleasant black intruder ca to mind, and I closed my eyes tightly.
When I opened them again, there he was, standing before , shirtless and looking worried.
Yuunagi-kun hadn’t put on clothes in his haste.
“...”
I couldn’t help but stare at him.
The real thing was more ordinary than I imagined. But thinking about being touched by him made nervous, and my heart raced. My body temperature rose.
“Tenjō-san? Your loud voice startled , but what’s wrong?”
“The angels and demons in my head are waging a final war. And they can’t settle it...”
“Yes?”
Of course, he looked bewildered.
“First things first, go put on so clothes!”
He’s too much for my eyes right now, so I turn my back to him.
***
Reviews
All reviews (0)