Shimaura Hitomi's Fond Memories of Her Senior

Shimaura Hitomi took Kiyoharu's advice and brought bread for lunch again, but she wasn't a girl who always obeyed.

She absolutely had to get her senpai's carbon pen.

Kiyoharu had been staring out the window with his coffee cup for a long time, seemingly lost in some deep thought. If it were any other time, Shimaura Hitomi wouldn't miss the chance to admire this scene, but today she was staring intently at the carbon pen on her senpai's desk, wondering whether to make her move now and pull off a "tanuki for a prince" switch.

Strictly speaking, there seemed to be no difference between the replica pen and Kiyoharu's original one. Kiyoharu just used it to write, and he'd replace it with a new one about every three weeks. But it was something Kiyoharu had used, and that was enough for Shimaura Hitomi.

Women looking at men's hands was like men looking at women's legs; it was a common, consensus-based fetish.

Across the aisle, a teacher was fiercely debating new industrial policies. At the far end of the office, a male teacher was napping at his desk.

Kiyoharu was still staring out the window.

With all conditions met, Shimaura Hitomi was like a mouse poised to strike, ready to hunt!

"Oh, right, Teacher Shimamura, how was the follow-up with that truant student of yours today?"

Kiyoharu suddenly turned and asked with concern.

Shimaura Hitomi's hand, which had already reached halfway, instantly snapped back. The sudden movement was so large she almost fell backward off her chair.

Kiyoharu quickly came to steady her. "Teacher Shimamura, are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine. It's just... you suddenly spoke, senpai, and it startled me."

"My apologies."

"It's not your fault! I'm just too timid..."

It wasn't wrong to say that. Ever since she met Airi and, by extension, Shimaura Hitomi, his impression had always been of a timid girl.

He remembered when Shimaura Hitomi first started at Chihaya Academy as a teacher. During her first official class, a troublesome student in the class had yelled at her, leaving Shimaura Hitomi flustered. It was Kiyoharu who helped subdue the student, allowing her to finish the lesson smoothly.

The method of suppression was simple.

At that time, Kiyoharu had walked over to the unruly student and said calmly, "You're Shida from the Karate Club, right?"

"Who are you, some freeloader pretty boy? This isn't your class, Teacher Chihaya. I suggest you mind your own business!"

Then, Kiyoharu's strong hand clamped down on the student's shoulder, and he leaned in, murmuring, "As a freeloader pretty boy, I've practiced karate seriously to please the Young Lady. Well, I'm probably about fifty-fifty with Airi. How many chances do you think you have against me?"

"This... Hiss..." The student grimaced in pain, but pride prevented him from crying out.

The strength of an adult male who exercised regularly was indeed far superior to that of a teenager.

Kiyoharu mused, "It seems like Shida doesn't really want to attend class. In that case, why don't you come to the dojo for a friendly spar with me? It's been a while since I've stretched my muscles."

As he spoke, he rotated his neck, producing frightening cracking sounds like a movie martial arts star.

Troublemaker: (ω｀ll)

"Uh, I, I actually really like listening to Teacher Shimaura Hitomi's physics class!"

Talking about this past event, Shimaura Hitomi couldn't stop smiling.

"Senpai was so fierce back then, he scared that student pale. And he's usually such a notoriously disobedient young master..."

"What young master? He just hadn't met anyone tough. And Teacher Shimamura, you're too kind. If you had just used Airi's reputation to suppress him, I doubt this kid would have dared to be so presumptuous with you."

"But I don't want people to think I'm the kind of person who, you know, bullies others by association..."

"Then let me be the bad guy. Teacher Shimamura, you just focus on teaching. You can come to me with any similar problems."

Kiyoharu promised with ease. With two classes and homeroom duties, it was simple for him, and he had plenty of energy to spare to help.

Helping Shimaura Hitomi would not only satisfy the Young Lady but also deepen their friendship, making it easier to find opportunities to gain Energy Points. Why wouldn't he do it?

One could say Shimaura Hitomi was Kiyoharu's savior! His hope against the superpowered villainess!

However, the seemingly casual promise carried immense weight in Shimaura Hitomi's ears.

Senpai takes such good care of me, and yet he never asks for anything in return. I really don't know how to repay him.

Shimaura Hitomi was immersed in a happy atmosphere all afternoon, her work efficiency soaring. The tasks that originally required overtime were completed ahead of schedule.

This meant Shimaura Hitomi could leave the teaching building with Kiyoharu after work. She took the train home, while Kiyoharu commuted by car. It was really just walking a short distance together, but being able to spend even one more second with her senpai was something to celebrate.

Evening.

The third, and last, punishment night without games.

Kiyoharu was dutifully reading the detective novel in his study. He finished it today, so tomorrow he could return to the embrace of his games. Perfect.

Airi was, as usual, lounging ungracefully on the living room sofa, watching vapid variety shows.

She occasionally glanced in the direction of the study.

Damn it, I still haven't found any leverage on him. I really don't want to let him go back to playing games.

For some reason, Airi couldn't stand Kiyoharu enjoying himself alone. She felt more comfortable when Kiyoharu was serving her.

It made sense, didn't it? She spent so much money hiring him each month; she should make him do more things.

She should have made the contract even stricter back then.

"Kiyoharu, some fruit."

"Got it."

Kiyoharu put down his book and went to the living room to get the fruit platter. He discovered that the fruit he had cut for her earlier wasn't finished; most of it had been thrown into the trash.

"The Young Lady doesn't like these?"

"Mm, too sweet, too rich. I want something fresher."

She usually loved sweet, rich mangoes, but today her taste suddenly changed. He could only say that the Red-Eyed Devil's temper was characterized by extreme unpredictability.

Kiyoharu dashed to the kitchen. Not long after, he placed two plates of strange fruit in front of Airi.

"What is this?"

"Unripe mango."

"And what is this?"

"Chili powder. You dip it in."

"Huh?!"

Kiyoharu prepared a plate for himself as well. The proud Young Lady certainly couldn't tolerate anyone eating from the same plate as her.

The spicy and slightly sweet chili powder neutralized the unripe mango's slight astringency, combining into a uniquely delicious flavor that exploded in his mouth.

It was a way of eating from southern China that Kiyoharu had loved since his previous life.

Airi, however, couldn't understand it at all. She widened her eyes and waved her hands, "Take it away, take it away. I'm not eating this weird stuff."

"Just try it. You know, when it comes to food, my recommendations never disappoint."

Indeed.

Kiyoharu seemed to have a deep understanding of foreign cuisine. Many obscure foods that Airi had never seen before had surprisingly amazing flavors after she tried them, even if she had to hold her nose.

Fruit dipped in chili powder sounded like a culinary abomination, but seeing how much Kiyoharu was enjoying it, it probably wasn't bad... right?

Airi furrowed her delicate, beautiful eyebrows. She picked up a piece of unripe mango with her fork, dipped it in the chili powder like Kiyoharu, licked it tentatively with the tip of her tongue, then took a small bite, and finally swallowed the whole piece.

She looked like a cat trying freeze-dried food for the first time.