The Neighbor Agreent 2
“You really love your grandmother, don’t you?”
“She’s the only one in my family who’s always been on my side, and the reason I chose my current job is largely influenced by her being a teacher.”
“Ah, that’s why she sends you more of your favorite strawberries than you can eat.”
“Ah… that’s because I used to eat the amount she sent without any problem when I was younger.”
She confessed with a bashful look.
“Despite being slim, you eat a lot.”
“I just can’t stand being hungry. I love delicious food. Is that bad?”
“I think it’s good. I was also happy that you ate a lot of my curry yesterday.”
Sensei had fallen asleep yesterday, so I expressed my gratitude now for her finishing the curry neatly.
“Stop thanking ! I feel guilty for eating too much.”
She narrowed her eyes as if to apologize.
“It’s fine as long as your waist doesn’t suffer.”
“I’m keeping that in check.”
She placed her hands on her hips as if to show off her toned waist.
By the ti we finished breakfast, we had returned to the kind of conversation we’d have at school.
And so, we finally got to the main topic.
“——First of all, the fact that we’re neighbors should remain a secret here.”
“Of course. I’ll do everything to keep it from being discovered. I won’t let Sensei lose her job.”
That’s a given.
“Yeah. Unfortunately, we have enough circumstantial evidence to be misunderstood.”
Even though we’re in different rooms, the situation of a teacher and student living under the sa roof is not looked upon favorably by society.
Depending on how it’s perceived, it could lead to significant social damage.
“We have no choice but to be careful in our daily lives.”
“I’ll be careful too. On top of that, we need to decide what to do moving forward.”
“The most certain solution would be for one of us to move out.”
“The earliest I can move is during the sumr vacation. Of course, I could throw money at a moving company, but honestly, I don’t have that much saved up.”
“…Or I could move back to my parents’ house.”
I don’t really like this idea, but sotis you have to make sacrifices.
“Is your family ho within commuting distance, Nishiki-kun?”
“Barely.”
My response slightly furrows Sensei’s brows.
“Then, following the flow of the conversation, why are you living alone as a high school student?”
Naturally, that’s a question she would be curious about.
“My mother remarried, and well, there were so troubles, so I decided to live separately.”
I explained my situation briefly.
Then, Tenjō-sensei’s expression changed completely.
Switching to teacher mode, she faced with a serious look.
“You decided? Did you choose to live alone?”
“Yes. It’s not like I was kicked out by my mother or anything really serious like that, so please don’t worry.”
“Are you managing your living expenses okay? Do you have any other troubles?”
Sensei looked around my room, then continued to probe further.
“I receive enough from my biological father so that I don’t need to work part-ti. He does insist that I focus on my studies in return.”
My father is excellent at his job, but he’s always been a man of few words and not good at expressing affection.
He always prioritized work and rarely ca ho.
Eventually, my parents divorced when I started middle school.
For , it was normal for my father to be absent from ho since I was young, so becoming a single-parent family didn’t feel like a big change.
However, my workaholic father has always loved in his own way, albeit awkwardly. I understand that much.
That’s why I first discussed wanting to live alone with him, and he didn’t hesitate to support .
“Sorry to ask sothing personal, but how is your relationship with your new family?”
Sensei still seed concerned.
“My stepfather and stepsister are really nice people. Both of them have said they want to co back ho soon…It’s more that I’ve had a falling out with my biological mother.”
“Your mom, huh… That must be tough.”
Sensei showed empathy as if she had a similar experience.
Seeing her look so pained as if it were her own issue, I felt sowhat guilty.
In this day and age, divorce and remarriage aren’t uncommon.
Moreover, conflicts between parents and their teenage children are a common story worldwide.
“I just thought it would be better for both of us to be apart rather than making the atmosphere at ho worse. Thanks to that, I’m free from my parents’ watchful eyes and enjoying my carefree life alone.”
“…are you putting on a brave face?”
Sensei asked sharply.
“Not at all.”
Tenjō-sensei quietly stared at my face as if trying to find out sothing.
“——You had to grow up quickly, huh?”
Eventually, she relaxed her expression as if she had co to an understanding.
“Having troubles with parents is just a sign of being a kid, isn’t it?”
“Really, is that so?”
“Yes?”
“Listening to you talk, it doesn’t feel like you left ho just because of your mom.”
“Why do you think that?”
“You don’t seem to hate or be angry at your mom.”
“——”
I was surprised and at a loss for words.
“Nishiki-kun, given your personality, it seems more like you distanced yourself out of consideration for soone else.”
Tenjō-sensei speculated, almost as if talking to herself.
“I haven’t co to hate my mother or anything. But I’m also not dissatisfied with my current life, so I’d rather not go back.”
“…I see.”
She didn’t probe any deeper.
“If you ever have any trouble, don’t hesitate to consult . I will be there to help you.”
Not intruding too much, yet also not distancing herself too far.
Despite her flustered state upon waking up, this beautiful teacher offered reliable support to .
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