Inside the hotel room, not long after Toru left, Shizuka fumbled for the bedside lamp and turned it on.
She propped herself up into a half-sitting position.
Just as Toru had predicted, although she had drunk quite a bit, she wasn't completely drunk. At most, she just felt a little uncomfortable.
Shizuka didn't know why she acted like that. She had never used such tactics with other men before.
Leaning against the headboard, she stared blankly at the ceiling light.
Thinking about her life over the past twenty-plus years, she found it both laughable and frustrating.
When she was young and still in school, she was proud and indifferent toward boys her age. She had no intention of dating and just wanted to live life on her own terms.
So while her peers and friends were busy dating, she remained aloof, often preaching to her friends about how relationships ended badly.
Her school life had been carefree. It wasn't that no one pursued her, but she coldly rejected them all.
After graduating and entering society, whether it was due to age or her biological instincts, Shizuka suddenly found herself wanting to fall in love.
That was when she realized how manipulative people in society could be.
They either lusted after her looks or her family's money. In her eyes, those men were either greasy or insincere.
And so it went, year after year. Now, at twenty-six or twenty-seven, panic started to set in. She was beginning to think she might not ever get married.
If she had known this would happen, she would've gotten into a proper relationship back in university. At least students were simpler back then.
Especially after becoming a Teacher, seeing the vibrant youth of high school students, the contrast with society made the difference even more apparent, leaving her feeling completely disillusioned. She figured she'd probably never get a boyfriend in this lifetime.
But today, she'd gotten lucky.
She met a handsome guy, a top student from Tokyo University, and most importantly, someone who hadn't yet been tainted by the world. He was so considerate, without any ulterior motives, even when she was "drunk."
Shizuka looked at the milk and trash can by the bed, thinking about how he had thoughtfully turned off the lights earlier. Women were always moved by small gestures like these.
"Could it be that I'm actually into younger guys? And they have to be students?"
The thought startled her.
She was a Teacher. She had to uphold the dignity of her profession.
Although she wasn't a predatory woman, for some reason, she had an urge to be the hunter this time.
She picked up her phone and tapped on Toru's Line profile, curious about his private life.
There weren't many pictures in his moments. Most were landscape shots. Occasionally, there were one or two selfies.
Just as she had expected. Guys didn't like taking selfies, and his posts didn't reveal much. At most, she learned that he often traveled, so maybe he liked exploring?
And being able to support himself while traveling like that, plus having gone to Shuchiin Academy... his family background must be solid. Putting everything together, he was basically a dream guy in the eyes of most girls.
Shizuka hesitated.
Would someone like that really be interested in an "old lady" like her? What if she ended up drinking beer and singing breakup songs with her friends at KTV again? They'd definitely laugh at her.
"Whatever. I'll take it slow. It doesn't hurt to get to know a guy like this. It's not like we have to be lovers. Just being friends is fine."
Even though she often shouted, "God, give me a boyfriend!
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