Chapter 47: Rocking Bod - Shizuka Hiratsuka

"Has anyone told you that you are rather odd?" Hiratsuka Shizuka asked.

"Funny you should say that, sensei." Hachiman said as he watched her take off her lab coat. He finds her movements interesting to say the least, but he would never say that out loud. "How about you? Has anyone called you odd, recently?"

"Huh? Why would they call me odd, Hikigaya? I'm practically a role model for all these students and a few of the teaching staff as well, if I can take a moment to brag about my accomplishments. I mean think about it. I'm a teacher, a guidance counselor as well as a single woman in the prime of her life. I'm not married!" she said enthusiastically. "I'm not married." She said downtrodden. "I'm not…" she couldn't say it, disheartened.

Hachiman decided this was the time to make her feel better. But how exactly, he had no clue. Still, he tried to do his best. "Cheer up, sensei. So what if you are not married. That just means you will get to keep your rocking bod for a few more years."

"What!?"

"…What."

Shizuka Hiratsuka blushed and faked a cough into her fist. "Not to say I'm flattered that you think I have a rocking bod – oh shut up Hikigaya, you don't have to make up an excuse. I heard what you said just fine. And this time, I will let it slide and not think of it as sexual harassment. This time only, you get it. Just this once!" She pointed a finger at his face. "But I think you underestimate me, Hikigaya."

"Believe me, sensei. That's the last thing, I will ever do to you." Hachiman said, profusely. "But please, in case I made a mistake, enlighten me." He let some of the sarcasm slip in. "How did I underestimate you, exactly?"

"You said, in not so many words, that I will lose this rocking body of mine if I were to get married. Well, I disagree." There was a fire, burning with real passion in her eyes now. "I will get married. I will have a kid. And then, I will do 100 pushups, 100 sit ups, 100 squats and 10KM runs, everyday."

Hachiman blinked. He had heard about this in some online forum before. For some reason the name Caped Baldy came to mind. "Um, sensei, I think, that's a bit excessive. I can't remember the exact source, but I remember, I read somewhere that these kinds of excessive workout routines lead to loss of hair in certain important parts."

"You don't say." Shizuka blushed. Then, "Even better! I don't have to wax my bikini -"

Hachiman decided to save her from further humiliation. "I meant your hair!" He almost reached out and grabbed a strand of her long, dark hair, which fell past her shoulders and almost reached her shins. But he stopped himself. This won't do, this won't do at all.

Shizuka Hiratsuka understood what he meant this time around, because she timidly rubbed her hair with her hand and almost wished she had someone who could pat her head and tell her everything was gonna be alright. Well, there was him, but no, it would be too awkward. Even though, the university had amended its policies and now it was kinda okay for teachers and students to be in a relationship or try dating each other.

"Then maybe I will grow old and ugly and fat, because I like my hair and I would like to keep them all, stuck to my head for the near foreseeable future. There! Are you happy now, Hikigaya!? I will become a hag in a few years. Probably end up divorced with no kids." Dammit, was she really this weak, was she really going to tear up in front of him because of her insecurities.

"I don't think you will ever become ugly in my eyes." Hachiman said. "You might grow old and fat, but not ugly. And before you ask, no, I don't know how to explain it without embarrassing myself even further, so, I will just say this and start getting all awkward and quiet, waiting here, by the corner, until you to kick me out."

"I don't kick you out, Hikigaya." Shizuka protested.

"Oh really. Then I think, you would think, it is rather creepy, that by now I know the exact size of your feet and if I had the money, I would go out to some expensive store and buy you a pair of heels which would fit you perfectly."

Shizuka smiled. She decided to play along. What was wrong with her; nothing. It was just harmless fun, playful banter, back and forth which will result in absolutely nothing. "And what do you think are perfect for my feet?" She crossed her legs subconsciously and dangled her foot in what she thought might seem rather…fetching, if she could be so bold in this opportune moment of time. "Stilettos or Pumps." She offered, playfully, as those were usually the two men preferred or knew about in general.

Hachiman smirked and looked at her feet. "I was thinking something more comfortable." He met her eyes in a knowing stare. "Kitten Heels or Ballet Flats." Then, "For comfort, of course."

"Of course." Shizuka tried not to blush. "I don't think you will win me over with some comfortable pairs of footwear, though."

Hachiman Hikigaya decided it was time to get up and leave. But not before he had the last say, because as usual, he always had the last say in these talks of theirs. "No, I don't think I will. But you have to admit, if you wanted, I could win you over."

Shizuka gave out a dry chuckle at his clever word play. "I don't think so."

Hachiman chuckled too. "Well, a fool can dream, right?"

A/N: It feels good to be back. It's been too long since I last updated. Now, I know this is a small chapter, but this is just to announce my return. From the next chapter onwards, things will become back to normal, hopefully. Here are the options:

Option 1: L – Death Note.

Option 2: Kakashi Hatake – Naruto.

Option 3: Mikasa Ackerman – Attack on Titan.

Option 4: Ezra Scarlet – Fairy Tail.

Option 5: Asuna Yuuki – Sword Art Online.

Please pick any of the above options or suggest a character in the review.

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Hope everyone enjoyed reading this chapter.

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Won't betray your dreams.