The Area Ahead, Let's Explore It Later

Chapter 18: The Area Ahead, Let's Explore It Later

As time passed, more and more people gradually filled the office.

Seeing Kitahara Ayano sitting in Kiyoharu's seat, no one found it strange. In everyone's eyes, Ayano, Kiyoharu, and Shimaura Hitomi had always belonged to the same small circle, all trusted confidants by the Young Lady's side.

Quite a few male teachers took the opportunity to strike up conversations with Kitahara Ayano.

Kiyoharu had gotten engaged very early, so while female students and staff at the school admired him, that was all they dared do. After all, Tokyo's Devil had a formidable reputation.

Ayano, on the other hand, had always been single. Her quiet temperament was exactly the type many men preferred. Now that she had come to Chihaya Academy as an advisor, all the eligible single men at the school were holding themselves back, eager to show off in front of her like peacocks spreading their tails.

Kitahara Ayano politely dealt with those boring men without revealing the irritation in her heart.

"Chihaya-sensei, I heard that ever since you joined the school, you've ranked first every year in the 'Most Popular Teacher' survey?" Kitahara Ayano suddenly turned the topic toward Kiyoharu, who was preparing his lessons.

"That's right. Chihaya-sensei is practically a star in the students' eyes. If he weren't already taken, who knows how many female students would be pining away over him." Haneda Miho, the office's reigning gossip queen, started chattering away again. "In the annual surveys, Chihaya-sensei's vote count has always been way ahead, more than double that of second place."

"It seems Chihaya-sensei is not only handsome, but also an outstanding teacher... I happen to lack experience communicating with students, so I'll sit in on Chihaya-sensei's class and learn."

"Great idea!" Haneda Miho volunteered herself. "I'll help apply to the department head for an open class. Hmm, Chihaya-sensei, you don't mind, right?"

"I don't mind."

Sitting in on his class was not a problem. What he truly needed to worry about was whether Kitahara Ayano would cause trouble during class.

But on second thought, if Ayano wanted to cause trouble, there was no stopping her whether she sat in or not. After all, she had Time Stop.

Thinking about it that way, he was no longer afraid.

Although Kitahara Ayano was devious beneath the surface, she at least maintained the image of a lady outwardly and did not make things difficult for Kiyoharu in public.

She couldn't possibly do something insane like stripping Kiyoharu naked while he was teaching...

Second period that morning was math class.

Two plastic benches had been temporarily moved to the last row of the classroom, where Kitahara Ayano and Shimaura Hitomi sat side by side.

For an open class with observers, Kiyoharu would cover more substantial material and pay extra attention to encouraging student interaction. It was an excellent learning opportunity, and Shimaura Hitomi naturally would not miss it.

Simply being able to stare unblinkingly at her senior for more than forty minutes was already enough to captivate Shimaura Hitomi.

On the surface, Shimaura Hitomi was still there to learn, holding a notebook and pretending to take notes in it.

Kitahara Ayano beside her was not taking notes. Instead, she held a sketchpad, sometimes observing the classroom and sometimes making a few strokes on it.

"Ayano, are you sketching from life?" Shimaura Hitomi asked curiously in a low voice.

"It's not really sketching from life. I'm just recording inspirations I encounter in everyday life. I've been preparing an important piece recently."

"Ultimate Masterpiece?"

"You know about it too?"

"Mhm, Airi told me. She said this piece is very important to you, Ayano... If you need help gathering material for it, you can call on me anytime! Like scenes from the students' club activities, the cultural festival, and so on..."

"Mm, thank you."

Silly child. What was there to draw from those dull scenes of vulgar ordinary people clustering together for warmth?

What was truly worthwhile was the man you were secretly in love with. Hehe~

Kitahara Ayano had noticed Shimaura Hitomi's feelings for Kiyoharu long ago. She was not particularly familiar with Shimaura Hitomi; during middle school, she had merely accompanied Airi on occasional weekend outings. As for Kiyoharu, after he went abroad, she had only seen him in photos and videos. Yet Ayano's innate sensitivity to the outside world had still helped her see through the truth at a glance.

Just as she could easily see through the fact that there was no so-called love between Kiyoharu and Airi.

Unlike the gentle and traditional image she showed outsiders, Ayano was, deep down, someone who pursued the amusement of drama.

With an amused curve at the corner of her lips, Ayano continued whispering to Shimaura Hitomi. "It seems Airi is willing to share anything with you."

"It's not that much... Well, we do chat quite often."

"Do you talk about the sweet aspects of married life too?"

Shimaura Hitomi instinctively thought of that sort of thing. But seeing Ayano's frank expression, she realized she had overthought it. "I suppose... Sometimes she complains to me that Kiyoharu is addicted to games... Sorry, I shouldn't have said that! It seems no one at school knows Kiyoharu likes playing games..."

"It's fine. I won't go around telling people. We're both Airi's good friends, after all."

Ayano's suspicions were confirmed once more: the Chihaya couple were married in name only.

Otherwise, Airi would definitely have shared details of her loving relationship with Shimaura Hitomi. In that case, Shimaura Hitomi should have unconsciously shown a dark expression just now, rather than merely blushing innocently.

A girl like Shimaura Hitomi was practically as transparent as an aquarium in front of Ayano. What was inside her mind was plain to see.

More than half the class had passed, and the draft in Ayano's hands had begun to take shape.

The protagonist's image while teaching was based on Kiyoharu.

As for the remaining details, she would need to use Time Stop to observe them up close and fill them in.

Ayano then rose lightly and left for the restroom.

Kiyoharu, standing at the podium, took in the entire scene and became alert.

Was it coming?

With some apprehension, Kiyoharu mentally prepared himself and adjusted into a stance better suited for responding.

A moment later, the familiar sensation of stagnation descended.

After everything stopped, Ayano entered through the classroom's front door, frowning.

Kiyoharu stood behind the podium, looking down at the lesson plan. The front of his body was pressed tightly against the podium, concealing the crucial area.