Conversation

Earlier...

In the guidance room, Chabashira Sae stood with her back to the window, her fingertips tapping unconsciously on the desk.

From the pantry next door, the faint rustling of clothes and hushed conversations could be heard. The content was unclear, but it buzzed like tiny mosquitoes, irritating her.

What are they babbling about? Chabashira Sae frowned slightly, wishing she could just pull open that thin door and see for herself.

She even leaned slightly towards the door.

Just then, a knock on the door sounded, perfectly interrupting her thoughts.

"Please come in." Chabashira Sae quickly averted her gaze, adjusted her posture, and turned towards the door.

Horikita Suzune pushed the door open and stood straight, her face wearing her usual cool expression.

"So, Horikita," Chabashira Sae got straight to the point, "What did you want to talk about?"

Horikita's gaze seemed to sweep over the closed pantry door inadvertently, then returned to the teacher's face, her tone carrying a hint of undetectable inquiry: "Um, are there any rats in this room? I thought I heard some noise just now."

Chabashira Sae's expression remained unchanged. She picked up a pen from the desk and twirled it lightly. "It's an old problem, probably with the pipes or old furniture. I'll have someone check thoroughly later and 'catch' them." She deliberately emphasized the word "catch."

"More than one?" Horikita pressed, her eyes sharp.

"There should be more than one 'source,' shouldn't there?" Chabashira Sae answered vaguely, clearly unwilling to dwell on the issue. "So, your purpose for coming here isn't to worry about the school's 'ecosystem,' is it?" she stated directly.

Horikita also promptly abandoned her indirect probing. She took a slight breath. "I'll be direct. Why was I assigned to Class D?" Her voice was clear and calm, carrying an undeniable tone of questioning.

"That's certainly direct," Chabashira Sae's lips curved into an unreadable arc. She leaned back in her chair. "I recall saying in class today that excellent students would be selected for Class A in order, while Class D is the final bastion for the school's underachievers."

Her gaze scrutinized Horikita. "It seems you see yourself as the former?"

"Regarding the entrance exam, I'm confident I solved almost all the questions," Horikita Suzune's tone was certain. "And I don't recall making any major mistakes during the interview. At least, I can't imagine being assigned to Class D."

Her fingertips clenched slightly, revealing her inner dissatisfaction.

"Solved almost all the entrance exam questions..." Chabashira Sae repeated softly, opening a drawer and rummaging inside. "Originally, entrance exam results couldn't be shown to individuals," she pulled out a document.

"However, I'll make an exception for you. Yes, I happen to have a copy of your answer sheet here." She pushed the document across the desk.

Horikita looked at the document, which seemed to have been prepared in advance, her eyes flickering. "You're quite thorough... as if you knew I'd come to protest." Her tone was slightly sarcastic.

"I am a teacher, after all," Chabashira Sae replied calmly, tapping the test paper with her fingertip. "Horikita Suzune, your entrance exam results are the same as your own judgment."

She paused, as if choosing her words carefully. "Your score on the paper is impeccable."

Just then, a faint, muffled thud, like something hard hitting something else, came from the pantry again.

Horikita's gaze shifted back to the door. "Those rats inside... are they really not a problem?" Her tone carried clear suspicion.

Chabashira Sae's brow twitched. She said decisively, "There will definitely be no problem. They... are very 'well-behaved'." Her sharp gaze swept over the pantry door, as if trying to penetrate it.

The conversation seemed to have reached a pause.

Chabashira Sae stood up, the legs of her chair scraping against the floor with a slightly sharp sound.

Horikita also prepared to leave.

"Ah, right," Chabashira Sae called out to Horikita, who was at the door, as if suddenly remembering something. A meaningful smile appeared on her face. "I've also asked two more people to come to the guidance room." Her gaze locked onto the pantry again.

Horikita, who was about to turn, stopped and then sat back down on the chair.

Then, Chabashira Sae spoke to the door in a clear, unmistakable tone: "You two, come out."

Inside the pantry, Hoshino Kanade's body tensed instantly. Almost reflexively, she cocked her ear to listen to the sounds outside.

His throat bobbed, and he lowered his voice, a hint of uncertainty in it. "Teacher Chabashira... seems to be calling us?"

Kiyona in his arms, however, was like a small animal craving warmth. She burrowed even deeper into the crook of his neck.

Her arms didn't loosen; instead, they tightened unconsciously, her fingertips gently clenching the fabric of his shirt.

The warmth transmitted through his shirt made her let out a barely audible sigh, her voice muffled against his chest, with the lazy nasal tone of someone not yet fully awake:

"Don't move..." She nuzzled against his collarbone, her warm breath brushing against his skin as she exhaled. "Just a little longer... just a little."

As if the stern reprimand outside the door was merely insignificant background noise, what permeated the confined space at this moment was his scent and heartbeat, the gentle cocoon she was unwilling to leave.

However, Chabashira Sae's cold voice sounded again from outside, issuing an ultimatum: "If you don't come out within ten seconds, you'll bear the consequences. I believe you've heard the word 'expulsion' quite clearly."

As soon as the word "expulsion" was uttered.

Kiyona gasped and immediately let go. She began to frantically adjust her slightly disheveled shirt collar and skirt hem, while also using her fingers to smooth her slightly messy hair.

Hoshino Kanade also took a deep breath, quickly regulating his breathing, trying to suppress his body's abnormal reactions.

After all, they were still at an age of youthful vigor. In such a confined space and ambiguous atmosphere, it was impossible to return to normal instantly.

"Kanade, are you sure you're okay going out like this?" Kiyona glanced at him worriedly after tidying herself up, a blush still lingering on her cheeks.

Hoshino Kanade gave a helpless smile and shifted slightly, letting her shield him a little. "There's no other way... Just try to walk a little ahead of me."

Kiyona nodded, trying to calm her heart, which was beating more rapidly than usual.

Creak--

The pantry door was pushed open.

Kiyona lowered her head, walking out as naturally as possible, doing her best to shield Hoshino Kanade's figure.

Hoshino Kanade, in turn, leaned slightly to the side, seemingly trying to block with her body.

Chabashira Sae's sharp gaze swept over the two like a searchlight.

Kiyona's cheeks were tinged with a faint, peach blossom-like blush, especially noticeable against her fair skin.

Although Hoshino Kanade tried to maintain composure, the roots of her ears also showed an unnatural redness.

"Why are your faces so red?" Chabashira Sae stared at Kiyona and asked directly.

Kiyona didn't seem bothered, casually coming up with an excuse: "The air in there was bad, too stuffy, oxygen deprivation." She fanned her cheeks with her hand, her movements slightly deliberate.

Chabashira Sae's gaze shifted to Hoshino Kanade, noticing he was standing slightly behind, almost pressed against the wall, and frowned slightly. "Hoshino Kanade, why are you standing behind Ayanokoji? Are there flowers on the wall?"

Hoshino Kanade immediately straightened up, trying to make his tone sound light and natural. "Personal preference... uh, I mean, habit, a habit of standing in the back." He coughed dryly.

Chabashira Sae's gaze swept back and forth between the two for a few seconds, her eyes filled with scrutiny and suspicion.

Finally, she seemed to give up on digging deeper for the moment, waving her hand with a hint of impatience. "Never mind."

Her gaze swept over the three of them, her tone returning to business. "Did you all hear what I was saying to Horikita just now?"

Kiyona and Hoshino Kanade exchanged a quick glance, seeing the same bewilderment and a lingering trace of affection in each other's eyes.

They shook their heads almost in unison, with an air of utter innocence. "No, we didn't." "We didn't hear anything at all."

Chabashira Sae looked at the genuinely confused expressions on their faces.

Kiyona's eyes were clear but held a slight, disturbed mistiness, while Hoshino Kanade looked bewildered, as if asking "what happened," though the blush on his ear tips had yet to fade.

She couldn't help but raise a hand to rub her forehead and sigh deeply.

Could it be... I was just overthinking things? Looking at the three students with their varied expressions, she felt a flicker of doubt about her own judgment for the first time.