Kitahara Ayano Was Fascinated by Kiyoharu

Chihaya Academy's main gate.

The rear door of an elegant Bentley sedan opened, and Kitahara Ayano stepped out. She wore a fitted top and a long pleated skirt, her light chestnut hair braided into a vintage plait behind her head. It might have looked a little old-fashioned on an ordinary girl, but it suited Kitahara Ayano's classically beautiful temperament perfectly.

"I didn't expect to see Chihaya-sensei again so soon."

"Likewise. It's an honor to help Miss Kitahara adapt to life at Chihaya Academy."

Kitahara Ayano smiled noncommittally and followed Kiyoharu forward.

She seemed to enjoy wearing long skirts. Her lower body was entirely covered, with only two fair, delicate ankles exposed.

"When I graduated from middle school, Chihaya Academy was originally where I planned to go. Unfortunately, a renowned painting instructor overseas was willing to accept me as a student, so I had no choice but to study abroad." Looking at the campus scenery, Kitahara Ayano spoke sentimentally.

"The conditions here surely can't compare to the high school Miss Kitahara attended."

"No, I should say... they each have their own merits. Besides, compared to a foreign country where the language and culture are unfamiliar, the people here are more interesting."

At the mention of "interesting," Kitahara Ayano suddenly stopped and stared at Kiyoharu, her gaze burning.

Why was she looking at me?

Kiyoharu pretended not to notice and casually changed the subject. "The arts club has activities on most weekdays, and occasionally organizes off-campus events on days off. If the off-campus event involves highly specialized matters, an advisor generally needs to attend. As for routine club activities on campus, attendance is optional—it depends on Miss Kitahara's schedule."

"I understand. Ah, Chihaya-sensei truly is as capable and efficient as the rumors say."

"You flatter me."

"Then why did Kiyoharu-kun choose to become Chihaya-sensei? There were clearly more meaningful positions available within the conglomerate." Kitahara Ayano suddenly circled in front of Kiyoharu, blocking his path. With her hands behind her back, she leaned forward slightly, raised her exquisite face, and blinked at him. "I'm very curious."

Curious my ass... Kiyoharu was rather speechless. "It's simply a personal interest. Teaching and nurturing people is also meaningful work."

"Oh."

Kitahara Ayano nodded thoughtfully. It was impossible to tell whether she believed him.

"Take me to see the gallery. I heard it displays original works by students of this academy?"

"It does, but I'm afraid they may seem a little childish to Miss Kitahara."

"Childish is good. The wild, unfettered creations of children are more likely to inspire people."

The gallery was an annex beside the library. Its spacious hall had a spotless marble floor, and Kitahara Ayano's wedge sandals produced distant echoes as they stepped across it.

It was morning, still class time, and the gallery was empty. Only Kiyoharu and Ayano, who had come to visit, were there.

It gave Kiyoharu an ominous feeling.

She wasn't going to use Time Stop here and then...

Kiyoharu immediately became rather nervous.

"Kiyoharu-kun, do you usually visit art exhibitions?"

"Miss Kitahara, you should still call me Chihaya-sensei. At school, I'm more accustomed to being addressed as a teacher." Kiyoharu corrected her tactfully.

"Kiyoharu-kun" was known throughout their circle as Airi's special name for him. As Airi's close friend, Kitahara Ayano couldn't possibly be unaware of that. Thinking about it, she had to be doing this deliberately.

"All right... Then I suppose Chihaya-sensei must be interested in painting."

"Not at all. I never visit art exhibitions, unless I'm accompanying Airi."

In truth, Airi wasn't into this stuff either. That woman's mind was full of running the company and making money. Art? It had nothing to do with her.

Only when business interests were involved did she have no choice but to attend certain events in the art world.

"But I clearly remember that at last year's Shibuya art exhibition, Kiyoharu-kun stared at one of my paintings for a very long time. Airi was the one who finally called your name and dragged you away because she couldn't stand it anymore."

"Huh?"

That happened? Why didn't I know about it?

The astonished Kiyoharu racked his memory before recalling that he really had accompanied Airi to an art exhibition in Shibuya last year.

As for deliberately staring at someone's work, that was utter nonsense. Kiyoharu admitted he was a philistine; when looking at these artworks, all he could think was, Seems pretty damn impressive, completely unable to understand their deeper meaning.

"Sorry, I don't remember. May I ask what Miss Kitahara's work looked like, roughly...?"

"It was themed around snow-covered mountains and an isolated village."

"Oh, there did seem to be a painting like that. I was thinking about something else at the time, so perhaps I just happened to stand in front of it while spacing out?"

That was right. That had to be it.

That painting had reminded Kiyoharu of the Painted World from Dark Souls 3, which led him to think of Sister Friede, and how to defeat Sister Friede without taking damage...

For a live-in son-in-law who spent his days mooching around and playing games, what else was there to think about in an art exhibition as boring as that?

Who could have known that Kitahara Ayano, secretly watching from who knew where, would misunderstand it?

"A lie."

Kitahara Ayano refused to accept Kiyoharu's explanation. A hint of slyness appeared in her eyes as she said, "Actually, I've been secretly observing you for a long time, Kiyoharu-kun. Through my observations, I've reached three conclusions."

"I'm all ears."

"First, you don't like Airi at all, and Airi doesn't like you either. You aren't the model married couple the outside world believes you to be. You merely look harmonious on the surface while being estranged at heart."

Damn! She came out swinging right away. Are you sure you study art and not criminal investigation?

Kiyoharu grumbled inwardly, but he shook his head repeatedly. There was no tension on his face, only an absurd smile as he casually critiqued, "That's kind of funny. So, what's your second conclusion?"

"You married into the Chihaya Family not for money or wealth... More precisely, not merely for superficial gain. You have a deeper pursuit. Of course, I still haven't figured out exactly what it is."

After saying that, Kitahara Ayano paused and appeared deep in thought.

"And the third?" Kiyoharu asked.

"It isn't convenient to discuss it with you for now. In any case... you're very interesting."

"Thank you. Being called interesting by the Tokyo Prodigy, I'm practically overwhelmed with gratitude." There was a trace of sarcasm in Kiyoharu's tone. "Can we continue touring the gallery now?"

"Yes, of course... Doing anything with Kiyoharu-kun is interesting."

Muttering strange things under her breath, Kitahara Ayano seemed to edge closer unconsciously. Her lively eyes kept drifting toward Kiyoharu's face, as though his face contained some unsolvable mystery.

Kiyoharu had no choice but to reach out and push her face away. Ayano's cheeks were soft and felt exceptionally nice.

Despite being rejected in such an ungentlemanly fashion, Kitahara Ayano merely pursed her lips without any sign of discouragement, continuing to follow him around the gallery.

To Kiyoharu's surprise, Kitahara Ayano didn't cause any more trouble until the tour was over.

The anticipated Time Stop never happened.

Afterward, an employee from the school's personnel department took Kitahara Ayano to her office.

Given her status, she naturally had a private office. It was on a different floor of the same building as Kiyoharu's, and so he finally escaped her for the moment.

Phew...

Kiyoharu was feeling a little numb. Kitahara Ayano's attitude toward him clearly carried a strong desire to investigate him.

A woman becoming curious about a man was the most dangerous warning sign.

No, I was already living the married-man life early on, yet I can raise girls' affection for me just by lying still?

Just look at the reasons Kitahara Ayano gave. She was completely talking herself into it.

Can this world still be saved?

"Senior, do you seem to have something troubling you?"

Kiyoharu's thoughts, as he stared blankly into space, were interrupted by Shimaura Hitomi across the desk.

"Ah, it's nothing too serious."

"If it's convenient, could you tell me about it?"