"Honestly, middle schoolers are such a pain. Still, do me a favor and keep an eye on them."
Teacher Haihara was making another questionable remark today.
Kirishima Ai lifted her head a little, intrigued by the matter.
Her younger sister went to Kaedehara Middle School, after all.
Though she was technically enrolled, Hina was usually so frail that she had to stay in bed. There was no way she could attend school.
Like Teacher Haihara, she wasn't particularly interested in the camping trip.
She didn't have any close friends in her class, either.
It'd be nice if I could go with Hina this time...
"Oh, right. Our class's new assistant homeroom teacher will be joining you for this activity, too."
Recently, their class had suddenly gained an assistant homeroom teacher.
That was Roland, the new physical education teacher.
No one knew how it had happened, but Teacher Roland was a beautiful girl, so the students were generally very welcoming.
Takanashi Shiori, on the other hand, fell into thought at the news.
"That's about it, then. Does anyone have any questions? Or does anyone want to ask for leave?"
Haihara scanned the classroom.
No one was asking for leave at the moment. It seemed everyone was looking forward to the camping trip.
High schoolers really were full of energy.
"Before school lets out this afternoon, think about what activities we could do during the camping trip. Once you've decided, tell Kageyama, and I'll make a list."
Kageyama was the class representative of Class Four.
"All right, you can get back to your self-study. I'm off to a meeting."
One thing worth mentioning was that Haihara's work environment had changed a little recently.
With an assistant homeroom teacher in the class, someone else would occasionally show up in what had once been her private office, and she had to give up a chair for them.
Yes, that young woman named Roland was always coming to her office.
At first, Haihara had found it a little uncomfortable. She was used to peace and quiet, and to being alone.
But eventually, she got used to it.
Before, she'd barely spoken to the teachers in her class outside of work, and she'd eaten lunch by herself, too. Things were a little different now.
After the meeting, Haihara still had to work out the camping activities with Roland. Naturally, they discussed it in her office.
"Teacher Haihara, I think this courage test would be a lot of fun. Why don't we do it that night?"
Though Roland seemed to be a magical girl native to R'lyeh, she'd adapted to the modern world surprisingly well and had plenty of common sense. Aside from her appearance, Haihara felt she was just an ordinary high school teacher.
"Hmm..."
Haihara had never really tried a courage test. No one had ever taken her to one when she was growing up.
But on second thought, the memories of that magical girl did include a courage test.
That mysterious magical girl had once been an instructor at the Magic Academy and had played similar games with her students.
As far as Haihara remembered, games like that were very popular in R'lyeh.
But the way they played seemed to involve confiscating the magical girls' magical weapons and then sending a Monster to hunt them down.
The students who'd played said it was thrilling.
"Teacher?"
Roland noticed that Haihara seemed to be spacing out.
At the sound of Roland's lovely voice, Haihara didn't immediately react. Instead, more images surfaced in her mind.
There seemed to be a voice like that in her memories, too, calling her "teacher."
Haihara suddenly turned to look at Roland.
"I say."
"Hmm?"
"Are you standing a little too close?"
At some point, Roland had leaned over beside her shoulder. Her cheek was resting lightly against Haihara's neck; all she had to do was turn her head, and she could kiss her.
Roland looked puzzled at the question and moved even closer, her lips approaching Haihara's ear.
"Forgive me. I was only worried you might not hear me."
She spoke politely, inching nearer, little by little, as if she couldn't wait to come over and take a bite.
"I'm not deaf. You don't have to do that."
Haihara said it casually.
If it had been someone she didn't know well, she probably would have told them to leave in a chilly tone.
But, surprisingly, she didn't dislike this young woman named Roland.
There was an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if she'd met her somewhere before.
So even though Roland was a little too familiar, Haihara didn't really mind. It felt strangely natural.
"By the way, have you gotten used to teaching here?"
After they'd more or less finished discussing the camping trip, Haihara casually asked.
Roland taught physical education.
At Kaedehara High School, physical education classes were split by gender. Even so, Roland didn't look like someone who could teach the girls' classes.
"Mm, I've settled in quite well. But these students are still far too weak. They really ought to exercise more."
Roland said with a smile.
Haihara had forgotten that Roland was a magical girl.
And not an ordinary one, either.
If she had to guess her physical purity, Roland's readings would probably be at least in the late EA-Series.
"By the way, do you have some kind of problem with the principal?"
Thinking of what had happened at the meeting, Haihara suddenly asked.
The principal had attended the meeting that day.
Kaedehara High School's principal was a promising young woman. She was called young, though she was probably close to forty.
But judging by her looks alone, she seemed like a beautiful woman in her early thirties, mature and alluring.
As it happened, the principal's surname was also Haihara.
They weren't related, though.
"Why would you think that?"
"How should I put it... You two seemed a little strange when you looked at each other."
At the meeting that day, Haihara had noticed the principal and Roland exchange a glance. Then the atmosphere had turned a little odd.
"That must have been your imagination."
Roland maintained her elegant, refined smile as she fiddled with her beautiful monocle.
"Speaking of Principal Haihara, why does she seem displeased with you?"
"She's not exactly displeased."
That woman just liked to make things difficult for her like this.
Though Haihara was annoyed, she didn't want to lose her job.
"It's probably because the class attendance has been so poor lately. Those Problem Children are still up to their usual antics."
Haihara sighed, feeling a little tired.
When would she finally get those magical girls to sit obediently in class?
Roland gave her a look of regret and sympathy—
"Some students these days really don't know how to be considerate of their teachers. You must have such a hard time, Teacher Haihara."
As she spoke, she gently took Haihara's hand and slowly caressed it.
"It is pretty hard."
Haihara hadn't noticed that the girl had been stroking her hand the whole time.
At some point, Roland had leaned close to Haihara's ear again, breathing softly against it, her cheeks flushed.
"When I was a student, I was always very respectful toward my teachers."
"To reward you for all your hard work, how about I treat you to a drink this weekend? Let me take good care of you, Teacher."
Roland, Haihara's most considerate and respectful student, said so.
Chapter 47: Now, It's Time to Imagine
They chose a charming bar for their weekend drinks, which was a little unexpected to Haihara. She'd thought Miss Roland's style would call for a very expensive, upscale restaurant, not a place like this where ordinary people went for a drink.
But based on their interactions over the past few days, Miss Roland seemed to simply like gemstones. She didn't care much for other luxury goods.
She was happy to drink cheap, tasty shochu, and her favorite snack was konjac.
Haihara quite liked the atmosphere of the bar. It wasn't crowded or too noisy.
"What should I order..."
Haihara studied the menu, pondering.
Miss Roland was treating her today, so she could order anything she wanted.
As Haihara lowered her head to think, Roland propped her chin on her hands and watched with a beaming smile.
"Please order whatever you like, Teacher. Anything you want."
"Even if you get drunk, I'll take responsibility and see you home."
Roland wasn't dressed the way she was at school today. She wore a loose white blouse that revealed her slender waist, and a somewhat androgynous black skirt.
Compared to before, she looked more mature.
"You're surprisingly nice."
Haihara was a little surprised.
After a while, Haihara finished ordering drinks, but still hadn't decided what to eat.
Usually, she'd probably order something like fried chicken.
She wondered what Roland liked to eat.
She looked over the menu for a bit.
"Do you eat tofu? It looks like they have tofu with sauce here."
For some reason, when she saw tofu on the menu, she suddenly wanted to order it.
"Hmm?"
"Tofu. It sounds pretty good."
Roland's expression showed a hint of confusion at first, but that seemed to be Haihara's imagination. She quickly returned to her usual smile.
"Sure."
They ordered tofu and fried chicken, along with little snacks like french fries.
As they waited, they didn't say much. They weren't very close, and probably didn't have much in common to talk about.
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