A few days have passed since that incident. Someone hurry up and marry her already. I am actually watching her fall apart now.
First one in the classroom. It was only now that I begin to enjoy coming to class early. It is quiet, there's no one annoying around, and I have quiet space to myself.
How exactly can I help Sensei? Lonliness... Isn't that something you have to cure on your own? There's only one cure to loneliness I can think of, and that's getting with someone.
The door in the forward part of the classroom opened and Sensei entered, her freakishly long black hair trailing in her wake.
"Oh! Hikigaya, Ohayo! You're in early."
"Yeah, I started coming in early now. It's nicer this way. There isn't anyone around. I don't have to watch people gossiping, or being hopeless romantics. This way it's nice and quiet."
"Hm. Still being the anti-social I see. Seriously, you should try interacting with others more. It might change you for the better," she said.
Somehow she still manages to become a guidance counselor every now and then...
"I don't like it. People irritate me."
"You are the one who wants to be a stay at home-husband, how can you accomplish such pathetic dream, if you don't socialize? To be a stay-at-home dad, you'd need a wife first of course."
I sighed, she was right. At this rate, I'd end uo having to work all day. I could probably make a snotty comment back, but I'd think that may land me in a world of pain, especially since we're talking about marriage...
"So what was all that yesterday?"
"Hmm?"
"The whole, 'just a title,' thing? The part about everything being just an act?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you still in this work line if that's the case?"
"Well look Hikigaya, whenever a teacher says she puts on an act, or doesn't like her job and gives a reason why, in truth she feels compelled to continue, because deep down inside under everything, she actually likes teaching young minds."
She was like a chessboard who's color scheme got reversed or changed. She was still being the same person, but yet she was noticeably different.
"But dont get me wrong Hikigaya," she added,"there have been many times where I really wasn't in it anymore, and yet you never noticed," she added with a sly look on her face.
"Wouldn't that imply that all the guidance and advice you've given me was all an act as well."
The thought actually disappointed me slightly as I actually took Sensei's words to heart often, secretly of course.
She sat in the seat next to mine, crossing her legs and resting her hands on her lap. Her trailing black hair crumpled with her lab coat towards the bottom of its lengths. I could smell a strong yet pleasant smell. Smelled like cherry blossoms in the springtime. Was she wearing perfume or something? I never noticed it til now, actually I don't ever remember ever even smelling anything other than nicotine and a slight hint of alcohol under Sensei's breath. Today, she actually smelled nice. On top of that, she also looked pretty. Her lip stick had a quite noticeable luster aspect. Just looking at her right now, call it "being a guy," I'm noticing how nice her figure is. Underneath her white coat I can just follow her slender outline from bust to waist. Hiratsuka-sensei was a beautiful woman. Strange how she still isn't married, even after countless attempts. It was almost as if fate was intentionally preserving her independence, but for what?
Hiratsuka-sensei was gorgeous today.
"Not exactly Hikigaya-kun. With you, nothing was an act," she responded.
I was definitely happy, but I couldn't appreciate it so much. I was captivated at the moment. Snap out if it Hachiman! What are you thinking?!
A slight smirk grew across Hiratsuka-Sensei's face.
"Keep working hard, Hikigaya. You have a lot of potential in you. I see it."
Her tone was even quiter and sweeter than normal.
The bell for class rang. Homeroom.
I could hear the floods of students approaching.
"Well, I'd best be off. If people see us together like this, they might get the wrong idea."
She stood up, straightening her coat and hair.
"So? So what if they do?" What the hell did I just say? Did that just escape my mouth?
"Well, it would ruin me of course! Teacher-student relationships are strictly forbidden Hikigaya."
"Hm."
"Oh? Come see me in my office later. We'll talk more on the matter later. I in the mean time have a class to teach," she said walking off to the front of the classroom.
Yes. There was definitely something different from yesterday.
Throughout class, Hiratsuka-sensei was very much the same strong willed, tenacious, and stern educator, determined to educate effectively and thoroughly. If it was all an act, it was a really, really, really, realistic act.
What did she want to talk to me about though?
...
"Remember to study for the upcoming exam. It may not be a final, but it is preparing you all for your exit exams. If you can't ace this test, you are doomed in the exit exams and means currently that you will fail. And I will kill you because you're making me look bad! I want your drafts in by tomorrow. No exceptions! Dismissed."
The class filtered out pretty quickly and the school campus quieted down quickly.
I went to the faculty room looking for Hiratsuka-sensei. No she wasn't there. Takeo Masaki-sensei said she had just returned to homeroom.
Great, a trip that could've been avoided if I had lazily just sat there and done nothing.
The door at the front end of the classroom, by the chalkboard was open fully. I entered the room and continued all the way to the windows opposite the door frame. It seems that she is out doing something.
Suddenly, the door I entered through shut closed quickly and slammed together. I turned around and saw Hiratsuka-sensei leaning against the wall, her left foot also propped up on the wall.
"Hikigaya-kun," she said in a condescending tone.
She began walking to the door.
"I've noticed for a while now."
She drew her keys from her coat pocket and locked the door, the returning her keys to her pant's pockets rather than her looser coat pockets.
"Sensei? What's going on?"
"We went over this before Hachiman. We are alone."
"Hiratsuka...uhhh...what is going on?"
She began advancing towards me.
"Hiratsuka?"
No response.
"S-Shizuka?"
Her eyes shot open and she paused for a quick moment. Her fists clenched and she continued towards me, slightly faster.
She grabbed me by my shoulders, and before I could react, her lips pressed against mine. Both of us quickly pulled away.
What. In. The. World?
Her face matched her neck tie. A dark, deep, and vibrant maroon red. Our faces were mere inches apart.
She gasped.
"I'm sorry, Hikigaya... I don't know what came over me... Umm... I-I didn't mean-"
I grabbed her neck tie and pulled her in close, pressing my lips against hers.
This kiss was longer than the last. I finally pulled away.
Who knew my first, would belong to Shizuka Hiratsuka?
Who knew, I would actually like it?