Takagi Akane's Clipped Claws

For the entire math class, Takagi Akane listened attentively and took notes diligently. When Kiyoharu called on her to answer a question, she smoothly provided the correct answer.

Kiyoharu didn't ask her a question because he had an issue with her; he simply wanted to see if Takagi Akane truly understood what he had explained or if she was just putting on a show.

As it turned out, Takagi Akane not only mastered the solution from the textbook but also offered an alternative method not covered in the syllabus.

Comparatively, high school education in Japan doesn't emphasize techniques as much as it does the breadth of knowledge. Therefore, being able to solve problems in various ways indicated that Takagi Akane had indeed mastered the material very well.

At the very least, as far as mathematics was concerned, Takagi Akane, despite taking a three-year leave of absence, had not wasted her time and could easily keep up with the pace.

Class ended.

Kiyoharu returned to the office, carrying his lesson plans.

Since Takagi Akane's return was drawing more attention, Shimaura Hitomi, who should have been the hot topic of discussion in the office due to her new hairstyle, was quickly dismissed after a few perfunctory compliments led by the office gossip guru, and no one paid her any further attention.

This was good; Shimaura Hitomi dreaded being the center of attention.

At that moment, she was furiously tapping on her phone with both hands, like a squirrel operating a device designed by a mad scientist for animal experiments, her expression surprisingly serious.

"Encountering trouble?" Kiyoharu asked.

"Mm-hmm... Ah, no, no, it's not trouble."

"If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask. Seriously," Kiyoharu emphasized. Given their relationship as seniors and juniors from many years ago, plus the connection through Airi, she shouldn't be so reserved. However, Shimaura Hitomi was a peculiar girl who always worried about bothering others. Of course, this seemed to be a common trait among Japanese people, but it was particularly pronounced in Shimaura Hitomi.

Shimaura Hitomi tensed her wrist and angled the phone screen away. Only when Kiyoharu's attention shifted from her did she let out a soft, long sigh of relief and continued composing the message to Airi.

She needed to report on Takagi Akane's performance in Kiyoharu's class, her first lesson back, as soon as possible.

To get a firsthand observation, Shimaura Hitomi had brought a plastic stool and sat in the back row during the last class to audit. While it might seem a bit strange for a physics teacher to attend a math class, Kiyoharu was a star teacher at Chihaya Academy, and it was common for teachers from other subjects to come and learn from him, so it wasn't unusual.

To be honest, Takagi Akane's performance had also shocked Shimaura Hitomi. How to put it...

To put it bluntly, it was as if she had been possessed by something unclean.

Her demeanor, actions, and the aura she exuded had changed too drastically. If it weren't for her naturally alluring appearance, which was consistent with her past, one might suspect they had the wrong person.

What exactly had Takagi Akane experienced during her three years in South America?

Lost in thought, Shimaura Hitomi finished writing the report and sent it to Airi. Just then, Ayano's message came through.

[Today's mission: Invite Kiyoharu-kun to the rooftop for lunch. You're only responsible for the invitation; I'll handle the rest.]

Invi-invitation... This was a bit much. It made her feel like she was some kind of subordinate to Kitahara Ayano.

Especially since she had just finished reporting to the Young Lady, and then immediately received a mission from Ayano, Shimaura Hitomi thought of a word:

"Double agent."

A sense of unease washed over her. Shimaura Hitomi felt she wasn't cut out for this and would be exposed sooner or later. However, Ayano held her secret, and Airi was a best friend she couldn't betray, so she had no choice but to endure it for the time being.

"Uwah, Chihaya-sensei, are you free right now?"

Just as Shimaura Hitomi was lost in her thoughts, Takagi Akane bounced into the office, playfully bowing to Kiyoharu with her hair flying.

"I have a few problems I don't understand, please help me with them, teacher!"

"Just ask if you don't understand anything; don't worry too much about formalities." Kiyoharu took the notebook from Takagi Akane, glanced briefly at the problems, and the circled questions in Takagi Akane's solution steps below. After a slight pause, he began to explain.

The teachers in the same office watched the scene with curiosity.

When Kiyoharu first joined the school, quite a few girls liked to come to him after class with questions, hoping to get close to the young and handsome male teacher.

Later, everyone realized that the girls who often lingered around Kiyoharu would always face some form of subtle targeting from the Chihaya Conglomerate—nothing major, but the warning was clear.

After being lectured by their parents, those lively girls began to follow the principle of "don't seek out Kiyoharu-sensei unless absolutely necessary."

The number of girls surrounding Kiyoharu greatly decreased, but the enthusiasm of ambitious male students seeking his guidance remained undiminished.

Takagi Akane clinging to Kiyoharu right after her return was a major taboo that would have provoked Airi's wrath. However, the issue was that she had made such a sincere gesture with a "shocking kneel" on the podium that morning, temporarily clearing her of suspicion.

Naturally, Kiyoharu easily considered this and didn't turn Takagi Akane away.

If the enemy doesn't move, I won't move.

He decided to figure out Takagi Akane's intentions first.

"Oh, I see, so it requires a variable substitution here... Understood!"

After a brief explanation of a few minutes, Takagi Akane bowed to Kiyoharu again. This time, she was closer, and a few strands of her hair brushed against Kiyoharu's face, like willow branches swaying in the wind.

A faint scent of shampoo, but more so, Takagi Akane's youthful fragrance, like a mix of tropical fruits.

Her personality was naturally fiery, mischievous, and straightforward, which indeed fit the stereotype many Japanese people held about South America.

Kiyoharu recalled the rumors his colleagues had discussed and asked curiously, "I heard that Takagi-san participated in some activities with local witch organizations abroad?"

"Yes, it was very fun! The people there were all super kind and welcoming. I had been diagnosed with a severe mental illness, and I only got better by spending time with those kind older sisters."

Her words caused the teachers in the office to fall silent for a moment. Haneda Miho, the gossip guru, asked, "Takagi-san's illness... was it very serious at the time?"

"Of course! Back then, I really liked Chihaya-sensei. When we were forcibly separated and I couldn't see him, I felt like everything was over. But!" Takagi Akane flashed a carefree smile, "It's all in the past now. I don't like Chihaya-sensei anymore... Ah, I don't mean I dislike Chihaya-sensei! I now completely respect you as a teacher and mentor, and I no longer wish to be your girlfriend."

Takagi Akane said this with a casual tone, yet recovering from a mental illness was not a simple matter.

Kiyoharu felt a pang of heaviness, but since the person involved seemed indifferent, he didn't want to dwell on it.

"Keep it up, things will get better and better from now on."

"Hehe, thank you, Teacher. I'll head to class now then."

"Go ahead."

As she ran out of the office, Takagi Akane ran into Kitahara Ayano at the doorway, and they greeted each other.

They had known each other before. Before the Takagi family's lucrative venture in South America, their business wasn't huge, but they were an important supplier to the Chihaya Conglomerate. Takagi Akane's parents often brought her to visit the Chihaya family. Ayano and Airi were inseparable in their childhood, and through these interactions, they became familiar with each other.

Takagi Akane was a few years younger than them, lively, and sweet-tongued. She used to be a younger sister doted on by Ayano and Airi.

Used to be.

When Kitahara Ayano heard abroad that Airi and Takagi Akane had a falling out, she sided with Airi and also reduced contact with Takagi Akane. Now, seeing her again, Ayano could fully understand why Airi was wary of Takagi Akane.

She possessed a strong aggressiveness; she was a natural predator, practically at opposite ends of the spectrum from a pathetic weakling like Shimaura Hitomi.

Even though Takagi Akane appeared incredibly well-behaved now, her predatory pheromones, a genetic trait, would not recede.

Kitahara Ayano was also a predator, so she could see it clearly.