Throughout the entire math class, Takagi Akane listened attentively and took careful notes. When Kiyoharu called on her to answer a question, she smoothly gave the correct answer.
Kiyoharu had not called on her because he had anything against her. He simply wanted to see whether Takagi Akane truly understood what he had explained or was merely putting on an act.
The facts proved that Takagi Akane had not only mastered the textbook method, but had even offered another method beyond the curriculum.
Comparatively speaking, high school education in Japan did not place much emphasis on technique, instead valuing breadth of knowledge more. Being able to solve problems in varied ways showed that Takagi Akane had truly mastered the material.
At least in mathematics, Takagi Akane had not fallen behind during her three-year leave of absence and could easily keep up with the class.
Class ended.
Kiyoharu tucked his lesson plan under his arm and returned to the staff room.
Because Takagi Akane's return drew more attention, Shimaura Hitomi's new hairstyle—which should have become the staff room's main topic of conversation—received only a few formulaic compliments led by the queen of gossip before being ruthlessly cast aside and ignored.
That was good. Shimaura Hitomi feared drawing too much attention more than anything.
At that moment, she was frantically tapping away at her phone with both hands, like a little squirrel operating an animal-testing device designed by some mad scientist. Her expression was unexpectedly serious.
"Run into trouble?" Kiyoharu asked.
"Mhm... Ah, no, no. It's not a problem."
"If you need help with anything, just ask. Don't be so polite," Kiyoharu emphasized. With all their years as senior and junior colleagues, plus their connection through Airi, they really should not have been so formal. But Shimaura Hitomi was a complicated, overly devoted sort of girl who was always afraid of inconveniencing others. That seemed to be a common Japanese affliction, though it was especially pronounced in her.
Shimaura Hitomi tensed her wrist and tilted her phone screen away. Only after Kiyoharu's attention shifted from her did she quietly release a long, nervous breath and continue editing her message to Airi.
Takagi Akane's performance in Kiyoharu's first class after her return needed to be reported as soon as possible.
To get a firsthand view, Shimaura Hitomi had moved a plastic stool to the back row and sat in on the previous class. A physics teacher attending a math class might have seemed strange, but Kiyoharu was a star teacher at Chihaya Academy. Teachers from every subject often came to observe and learn, so no one found it unusual.
Honestly, Takagi Akane's performance had shocked Shimaura Hitomi as well. How should she put it...
To put it bluntly, it was like she had been possessed by something filthy.
Her words, actions, and the aura she gave off had changed too drastically. If her naturally seductive appearance had not remained exactly as it was before, Shimaura Hitomi might have suspected they had mistaken her for someone else.
What exactly had Takagi Akane experienced during those three years in South America?
As Shimaura Hitomi let her imagination run wild, she finished the report and sent it to Airi. Just then, a message from Ayano arrived.
Today's mission: ask Kiyoharu-kun to have lunch on the rooftop at noon. You only need to invite him. Leave the rest to me.
A m-mission... Wasn't this going too far? It made her sound like Kitahara Ayano's... something.
Especially since she had just reported to the Young Lady, only to receive a mission from Ayano immediately afterward. A term suddenly came to Shimaura Hitomi's mind:
Double agent.
A wave of anxious dread immediately washed over her. Shimaura Hitomi knew she was not cut out for this sort of thing and would be exposed sooner or later. But Ayano had a hold on her secret, while Airi was her best friend—the one person she could never betray. So she could only keep this up for now, struggling bitterly onward.
"Whoa, Chihaya-sensei, are you free right now?"
Just as Shimaura Hitomi sank into her confused thoughts, Takagi Akane skipped into the staff room. She gave Kiyoharu a playful bow, her hair flying around her.
"There are a few problems I don't understand. Please help me with them, Sensei!"
"If there's something you don't understand, just ask. You don't need to worry so much about formalities." Kiyoharu took the notebook from Takagi Akane's hand, briefly scanned the problems and the questions she had circled within her solution steps, then paused slightly before beginning his explanation.
The other teachers in the room watched the scene with curiosity.
When Kiyoharu had first joined the school, quite a few girls had liked coming to him after class with questions, hoping to get close to the young and handsome male teacher.
Later, everyone discovered that the families of girls who frequently lingered around Kiyoharu would always receive a little pressure from the Chihaya Conglomerate—not anything serious, but the warning was unmistakable.
After their parents lectured those lively girls, they began following the principle of "don't seek out Chihaya-sensei unless absolutely necessary."
The number of girls surrounding Kiyoharu dropped dramatically, though diligent male students remained just as enthusiastic about asking him questions.
Takagi Akane had only just returned and was already sticking close to Kiyoharu. Normally, that would have been a grave offense against Airi's most sensitive nerve. The problem was that she had just made that "earth-shattering kneel" at the podium that morning. Such a sincere display had temporarily cleared her of suspicion.
Naturally, Kiyoharu easily thought of that as well, so he did not send Takagi Akane away.
If the enemy doesn't move, neither will I.
He would first figure out what Takagi Akane was up to.
"Oh, so I need to substitute variables here... I get it!"
After the brief explanation lasting several minutes, Takagi Akane bowed to Kiyoharu again. This time, she was closer, and a few strands of her hair brushed against his face like willow branches stirred by the wind.
There was a faint scent of shampoo, but even more noticeable was Takagi Akane's youthful fragrance, like the scent of mixed tropical fruits.
Her personality had always been fiery, whimsical, and straightforward. She fit the Japanese stereotype of South America rather well.
Remembering the rumors his colleagues had discussed, Kiyoharu asked curiously, "I heard that Takagi attended some activities held by local witch groups abroad?"
"Yep, they were really fun. The people there were all incredibly kind and warm. I'd actually been diagnosed with a pretty severe mental illness, but I got better by spending time with all those kind older ladies."
Her words left the teachers in the staff room somewhat silent. Haneda Miho, the queen of gossip, pressed further. "Takagi's illness... was it serious at the time?"
"Of course it was. Back then, I liked Chihaya-sensei so much that being forcibly separated from him and unable to see him made me feel like I was falling apart. But!" Takagi Akane flashed an easygoing smile. "That's all in the past now. I don't like Chihaya-sensei anymore... Ah, I don't mean that I dislike him! I just completely see Sensei as a teacher I respect. I don't want to become his girlfriend anymore."
Takagi Akane spoke lightly, but overcoming mental illness was never easy.
Kiyoharu felt a little weighed down, but since the person involved looked so unconcerned, he could not very well force sorrow onto her.
"Keep it up. Things will get better and better from here on."
"Hehe, thank you, Sensei. Then I'll head to class now."
"Go on."
As Takagi Akane ran out of the staff room, she ran into Kitahara Ayano at the door. The two greeted each other.
They had known each other before. Before the Takagi Family made its fortune in South America, its business had not been particularly large, but it had still been an important supplier for the Chihaya Conglomerate. Takagi Akane's parents often brought her to visit the Chihaya Family. Ayano had been inseparable from Airi as a child, and over time, the three became acquainted.
Takagi Akane was several years younger than them. Lively and sweet-tongued, she had once been a little sister dearly doted on by both Ayano and Airi.
Once.
When Kitahara Ayano had heard abroad that Airi and Takagi Akane had fallen out completely, she had followed Airi's wishes and stopped contacting Takagi Akane much. Now that she saw her again, Ayano could fully understand why Airi was wary of Takagi Akane.
There was a strong aggression about her. She was a born predator, at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from a pathetic weakling like Shimaura Hitomi.
Even though Takagi Akane looked extremely obedient now, the pheromones of a predator were an innate trait written into her genes. They would not fade away.
Kitahara Ayano was a predator too, so she saw it clearly.
Before you continue