Alone

"Kanade," Kiyona gently tapped Hoshino Kanade's back, her voice low, "Why would Chabashira-sensei suddenly call for us?"

Hoshino Kanade turned his head, meeting Kiyona's seemingly clear yet slightly bewildered eyes, and replied softly, "Perhaps... she discovered your 'disguise'."

"After all, Chabashira-sensei also seems to desperately want our class to be promoted to Class A, and won't allow anyone to slack off."

A perfectly calibrated look of confusion, and a hint of girlish bewilderment, flickered in Kiyona's eyes. "Eh? Is that really the case?"

She thought her disguise was supposed to be flawless.

"Trying to fool me?"

"Mhm, I'm fooling you."

Chabashira Sae was not in the office. Only Hoshinomiya Chie, the homeroom teacher for the newly promoted Class A, was there.

"Um... is Chabashira-sensei here?" Hoshino Kanade asked politely.

"Ah, Sae-chan? Hmm... she was just here," Hoshinomiya-sensei turned her head upon hearing them.

She had medium-length, slightly curly hair, exuding a capable yet amiable aura, a sense of warmth.

She turned to Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona, introducing herself with a smile, "I'm Hoshinomiya Chie, Class A's homeroom teacher."

She smiled and added casually, "Speaking of which, your Chabashira-sensei and I have been good friends since high school. We even still call each other 'Sae-chan' and 'Chie-chan'."

As soon as she finished speaking, she approached Hoshino Kanade with a familiar smile, raising her hand in a playful gesture, as if to poke his arm.

Almost simultaneously, a figure stepped between them, blocking her.

Kiyona's gaze was calm yet carried a hint of coldness, a subtle scrutiny.

The deliberate intimacy radiating from Hoshinomiya evoked a primal resistance within her.

"Oh?" Hoshinomiya tilted her head, watching Kiyona's posture of shielding Hoshino Kanade with keen interest. "Already have such a good little girlfriend who protects you?"

Kiyona's eyelashes didn't even flutter, as if she hadn't heard the ambiguous teasing at all.

"Is there something you need, Hoshinomiya-sensei?"

This blunt question caused the smile on Hoshinomiya's face to pause for half a second.

But she immediately put on an even brighter smile, as if completely ignoring Hoshino Kanade's question, and leaned forward with a touch of gossipy excitement:

"Speaking of which, why did Sae-chan ask you to come out?"

Chabashira Sae had specifically called the students to the office, and Hoshinomiya sensed an unusual atmosphere.

Having Hoshinomiya-sensei deal with Chabashira-sensei might be a good choice, Hoshino Kanade thought. Meeting Hoshinomiya's probing gaze, he lowered his voice and said, "Chabashira-sensei... seems to hold some special expectations for Class D's future."

The smile on Hoshinomiya Chie's face instantly froze.

She already knew Chabashira Sae had never given up her obsession with Class A, but this ambition was being laid bare by an ordinary student...

Just then, Chabashira Sae suddenly appeared.

Without a word, she raised the clipboard in her hand and with a sharp "snap," firmly smacked it onto Hoshinomiya Chie's head.

"Oww! That hurt!" Hoshinomiya-sensei cried out, immediately crouching down, clutching her head, grimacing in pain. "What was that for~?"

Chabashira frowned slightly, looking at her coldly:

"It's because you won't leave my students alone."

"Because he said he was here to see you," Hoshinomiya Chie explained casually, "I was just keeping them company until you got back."

"No need to pay attention to her next time," Chabashira said. She then turned to Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona, her tone softening slightly.

"Ayanokoji, Hoshino, thank you for waiting. It's not convenient to talk here, let's go to the guidance room."

Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona nodded in agreement.

Hoshinomiya seemed to want to follow, but Chabashira shot her a cold glance, a clear warning in her eyes.

Just then, Ichinose happened to come looking for Hoshinomiya-sensei.

Hoshinomiya reluctantly gave up and left with Ichinose.

However, perhaps I can have a private chat with "him" later...

Chabashira led Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona into the quiet guidance room, the door closing softly behind them.

Hoshino Kanade had a vague guess, but his expression remained questioning.

He paused briefly, looked at Chabashira, and asked gently, "Sensei, is there something you wanted to discuss with us?"

Chabashira did not answer.

She quickly glanced at the round clock hanging on the wall, then turned towards a door in the corner of the guidance room.

Behind the door was a small attached pantry, where a stove and a kettle were visible.

She opened the door and gestured simply with her chin towards the inside, indicating for Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona to enter.

Chabashira stood at the door after they walked in, her tone flat yet unquestionable:

"Alright, you don't need to do anything else now. Just stay inside quietly. Don't come out, and don't make any noise until I tell you it's okay. Understand?"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over their faces as if confirming their comprehension.

"If you violate this, the consequences will be very severe, including potentially facing expulsion."

With that, she casually closed the pantry door, the lock clicking softly.

Skipping any explanation, that was truly Chabashira-sensei's usual style.

The pantry wasn't large, but it was spacious enough for two people.

In the thick darkness, Kiyona gently rested her forehead against Hoshino Kanade's shoulder blade, her warm breath seeping into his skin.

"What are you thinking about?" She suddenly stood on tiptoe, her lips almost brushing against Hoshino Kanade's earlobe.

"Making noise could get you expelled, you know..." She curled her fingers, lightly tugging at his sleeve, "Aren't you scared?"

Hoshino Kanade's thoughts were interrupted.

He instinctively covered her mischievous fingers with his palm: "...Be quiet."

"What is Chabashira-sensei's goal?" Her hot breath on his ear made it difficult for Hoshino Kanade to concentrate.

Their mingled breaths hung mere millimeters apart; in the darkness, only their breathing could be heard.

"You'll know in a bit. If you keep fooling around..." He lowered his voice, "Be careful you don't actually get expelled."

In the darkness, his sense of smell became exceptionally keen. He could clearly smell the faint fragrance on Kiyona, which didn't smell like shampoo.

Or was it her natural scent?

Kiyona tilted her face up, her nose tip lightly brushing his cheek: "Really? I don't believe you."

As she spoke, she blew gently into his ear again.

"Don't move." Hoshino Kanade pressed his palm against the back of her neck, "...There are footsteps."

Kiyona froze instantly.

The crisp sound of heels clicking on the floor tiles approached from a distance, each step precisely landing on their synchronized heartbeats.

Kiyona instinctively shrank into Hoshino Kanade's embrace, her forehead pressing against his collarbone. The intimate contact made them both pause.

As the girl's soft body collided with his, the beating of his heart in his chest suddenly intensified, and the suppressed heat from earlier spread uncontrollably.

Hoshino Kanade lowered his eyes to the person in his arms, and the various playful scenes Kiyona had just put him through suddenly resurfaced.

He gently wrapped his arms around her, a faint smile grazing his lips.

The dynamic of attack and defense seemed to have subtly shifted.