Chapter 343

She subconsciously wondered if her relationship with Riki wasn't normal.

No, it must be because I was too worried about being misunderstood after seeing the news about teacher-student relationships!

"It's nothing, let's go," Nagasaki Sose said casually.

Are you putting on a show?

Riki rolled her eyes.

"Riki," Nagasaki Sose suddenly said.

"What?"

"Thank you for the bear. I will cherish it."

Riki looked at Nagasaki Sose, who was holding a teddy bear. There was not a trace of gloom in her eyes, and her smile was like the bright sunshine after the rain, youthful and beautiful.

"Really? That's good." Riki smiled happily.

When Nagasaki Sose sat down at the Ring Cafe, she noticed that Shiina Riki at the counter was staring at her, making her feel uneasy.

A while later, Shiina Riki brought over the black tea she had ordered.

"Rikki- chan, did I upset you?" Nagasaki Sose asked softly.

"Ah, no..." Shiina Riki was unusually flustered. She hesitated for a moment before sitting down, and under Nagasaki Sose's questioning gaze, she coughed lightly and carefully chose her words, saying, "Motoyo, you'd better keep your relationship with a teacher at school a secret. Even some students at Hanasakigawa know about it."

Actually, it's not just some students.

The news spread like wildfire throughout Hanasakigawa.

The students used this opportunity to promote free love in Tsukinomori and strongly refute Principal Hanasakigawa's feudal rule, but they were suppressed by the head teacher in just one class period and became as quiet as chickens. However, the news that the young lady of Tsukinomori is in love has already spread like wildfire throughout Hanasakigawa.

Nagasaki Sose was stunned. She quickly stood up and denied, "I'm not dating Riki!"

How could she possibly like Riki!

I'm just happier when I'm with Riki. I feel surprisingly relaxed when I'm with him, and we often think alike.

"I see."

Shiina Riki never expected that even the usually calm Nagasaki Sose would panic like this.

Does being in a romantic relationship drastically change a person's personality?

She definitely won't date, but her older sister is going crazy looking for a boyfriend.

And since Nagasaki Sose is so flustered, it must be true.

How could this woman fall for someone? What kind of boy is he?

Nagasaki Sose was so frustrated that when she got home she collapsed onto her bed, sulking and hugging her Kuma-chan.

"Who spread this rumor? How annoying!" Nagasaki Sose angrily.

"This isn't Suze-chan's fault. Anyone spreading rumors should be executed!" Nagasaki Sose said in a gruff voice.

"That's right, it's all the fault of those who spread rumors!"

Nagasaki Sose sat up and said seriously, "I don't like Riku..."

She paused.

Looking down at the Kuma-chan in her arms, Nagasaki Sose didn't say anything, but rested her head on the Kuma-chan's head.

Perhaps, I do like it a little.

"Su Shi, we've been the subject of some dirty rumors." Riki sighed in the classroom where only the two of them were.

"I heard about it. It's your fault for not hiding it properly before," Nagasaki Sose said casually.

"I thought we were doing nothing wrong, I never expected someone would think of me in such a lewd way." Riki looked at Nagasaki Sose strangely. "Aren't you angry?"

He thought Su Shi would be furious upon hearing the news, slamming her fist on the table and saying things like, "Who would like someone like you?"

"Anyway, the innocent are innocent, and I don't care about this kind of thing," Nagasaki Sose said calmly. "As long as you don't actually like me."

"Please rest assured, Su Shi!... Why did you step on my foot again?"

Excuse me, I'm a wolf warrior; I only wear domestically made shoes and never Japanese-made shoes.

But there's no need to be so aggressive when looking for a girlfriend.

Riki glanced sideways at Nagasaki Sose.

In fact, how could Riki not be moved by a big-breasted beauty like Nagasaki Sose, who had been talking in the classroom every day after school for the past three months? This kind of Japanese GalGame-style storyline was so captivating.

Unfortunately, the following part is a domestically produced storyline.

Early romantic relationships are not allowed in China, nor in the Tsukinomori, let alone a teacher-student relationship. Suze probably wouldn't accept it either.

Let's just consider it a beautiful memory; it's time to let it go.

"Riki, is the Drama Club's script still missing an actor?" Nagasaki Sose smoothed her brown hair and said softly, "I think it's <Prince Charming>. I've recently become interested in drama; could I play a role?"

"Oh, are you going to play the Prince's white horse?"

"..."

"Why did you step on me again?" Riki was furious. Just how much resentment do you have towards domestically made shoes?

Nagasaki Sose glared at Riki: "What girl would volunteer to wear a horse head and play a horse? Of course, she'd play Sleeping Beauty!"

"But the Prince Charming I played..." Riki paused for a moment before speaking.

"Oh, I didn't know that," Nagasaki Sose said casually, resting her chin on her hand. "But anyway, there are already so many rumors about you, I can't be bothered to care if people misunderstand me."

She believes the truth will prevail and doesn't care about these rumors.

Side Story: Su Shi's Route 03

After school, Nagasaki Sose and Riki walked along the streets bathed in the red glow of the setting sun. She noticed Riki's serious expression and looked down in the direction of his gaze, noticing that he was stepping carefully on the white lines on the road.

"Naïve." Nagasaki Sose remained silent.

Rebound!

"You're a teacher, after all. Be more serious when you're out in public," Nagasaki Sose said irritably.

"I'm just an advisor, and I won't be a teacher for long. Your principal and I only agreed on one semester. After that, we can say goodbye," Riki said cheerfully.

Nagasaki Sose paused for a moment.

One semester? Does that mean Riki won't be at their school after the final exams?

Final exams are next week, aren't they?

Did this semester of knowing Riki really go by so fast?

She had thought she would be able to spend more time with Riki.

"I see." Nagasaki Sose looked at the road ahead and said calmly.

"Why are you angry again? You were angry when I came to your school as an advisor, and now you're angry again because I'm not." Riki asked, puzzled.

Nagasaki Sose, this woman who can transform into an eel, is completely unpredictable.

I feel like she's completely consumed by my own energy.

"Then I'm going home." Nagasaki Sose waved to Riki at the entrance of the luxury apartment. She paused for a moment, then called out to Riki, who was about to turn and leave. Her face was a little embarrassed. She scratched her face and said nonchalantly, "Actually, I studied very hard for my exams. After I got home, I studied until I went to bed at night, just to make Riki look good. That way, I can make your incredulous expression look good."

You're just using me for your own amusement, aren't you?

Nagasaki Sose, I'm not your source of joy.

But why did she suddenly reveal that she's a master of currying off?

Riki looked at Nagasaki Sose with a puzzled expression.

"It would be too tiring for me to study alone, so..." Nagasaki Sose's eyes darted around, looking at the tree branches, the hard ground after the rain, and the husky passing by, before finally looking at Riki and whispering, "If you're not going to be a teacher at the school anymore, come be my tutor... I'll pay you."

Riki stared intently at Nagasaki Sose's rosy cheeks, feeling a sudden flutter in her heart. She subconsciously asked, "Is the reward you?"

"I'm calling the police," Nagasaki Sose said expressionlessly.

I'm sorry, I didn't expect to suddenly say something so cheesy.

Forgive me, this is the last time.

"Sure, I'll be your tutor until you go to university!" Riki thought for a moment and readily agreed. "As for payment, just give me enough Coke every day, after all, we're doing this on the run!"

"What if I need Riki to teach me when I get to university?" Nagasaki Sose suddenly asked, her heart racing.

Riki pondered for a moment, "Then you really are stupid."

Nagasaki Sose's heart raced even faster; she was furious.

"Get lost! I'm a student of Tsukinomori!" Nagasaki Sose angrily punched Riki's arm and chased him away. She turned around and walked back to her luxury apartment in a huff, a smile involuntarily creeping onto her face as she thought about what Riki had promised her.

Back home, lying on her bed in her room, Nagasaki Sose pulled Kuma-chan into her arms and stared at the ceiling.

She's been very happy lately.

The three months she spent with Riki actually exceeded the time she spent with everyone in Crychic, and she felt the same way about Riki as before.

But there is one difference: Riki is a boy.

So, the feeling of her heart racing right now is probably not the friendship she feels with everyone, but something more... love.

Teacher-student relationships aren't as bad as I imagined...

Nagasaki Sose felt her face burning hot and buried it in the fluffy doll.

Will Riki like her?

On the day of the Tsukinomori theater performance, Nagasaki Sose had already changed into a Princess dress backstage.

"Suze-chan, you're so beautiful!" The classmate's eyes sparkled as she looked at Nagasaki Sose was as exquisite and beautiful as Princess.

"Really? I'm very happy!" Nagasaki Sose said with a smile.

Soon the actors came on stage. She lay in the center of the auditorium stage as Sleeping Beauty. Even with her eyes closed, Nagasaki Sose could feel Riki walking to her side and kneeling down.

According to the script, kissing the back of her hand is the key to waking Sleeping Beauty.

But Riki couldn't hold Nagasaki Sose's hand.

"Hey, why are you pressing your hand down like that?" Riki whispered.

If this pose is maintained for too long, the audience will eventually realize it's a stage accident.

Could it be that Nagasaki Sose is holding a grudge? But I haven't done anything to annoy her lately, have I?

"In your script, wasn't it supposed to start with a kiss on the lips?" Nagasaki Sose whispered.

Are you serious?

Were you always this dedicated to your craft?

I'm sorry, I always thought you were a pretentious, awkward, and scheming woman with a kind heart.

But then again, how could Nagasaki Sose let just anyone kiss her on the lips, especially since he wasn't her boyfriend?

Does she mean she likes me?

"Su Shi," Riki whispered.

"Hmm?" Nagasaki Sose asked in a nasal voice, her eyes closed as if in a Sleeping Beauty pose.

"If, I mean if, I liked you, how would you react?" Riki asked.

"If you like me, that's pretty annoying," Nagasaki Sose.

That's really hurtful.

Do you like me or not?

Riki felt like she was being manipulated by Nagasaki Sose.

"However..." Nagasaki Sose added, "If you really liked me... you probably wouldn't dislike me so much, I mean, probably."