Chapter 72

I can only blame myself for being a failure.

In a little while, she should leave the teaching building and take the bus home. However, since she had dropped her daughter off at Kougami Kage, she would eat lunch by herself.

However, when I got to the entrance of the teaching building, it seemed to be raining outside. This rain had probably been going on for a long time and showed no signs of stopping.

Haihara didn't plan to wait for the rain to stop, since she wouldn't be able to work here in the future.

Soon, she braved the rain and went outside to see if there was anywhere to take shelter near the bus stops. If she really caught a cold, that would be quite a headache.

She was wearing a white shirt underneath, which is something to be mindful of in rainy weather. She buttoned up her black suit jacket, though it might be a bit stuffy.

She had only been outside for a short while when she was soaked to the bone by the rain. She felt stuffy and cold, and the rainwater had seeped into her clothes, sticking to her skin and causing her some itching and nausea.

I don't know if there are any convenience stores nearby that sell umbrellas. Haihara doesn't like borrowing umbrellas because she has to return them.

As she approached the bus stop, many people around her turned to look at her.

She was dressed very formally, looking like a career woman, but here she was standing in the rain with a cold expression, which might make many people think she was Monster.

However, at that moment, Haihara suddenly spotted a woman's figure not far away.

The woman approached quickly; it was Miss Liang.

She seemed a little angry after noticing that she had gotten wet in the rain.

"Why didn't you wait for the rain to stop or borrow an umbrella? Didn't you say you'd catch a cold?"

Miss Liang started lecturing her.

He looks like an adult.

Haihara's parents have been dead for a long time, so she hasn't been lectured like this in a long time.

She was a little annoyed.

"I'm sorry, but this has nothing to do with you."

Haihara lowered her head, looking away, not wanting to see the woman's expression.

Her tone was somewhat cold and distant.

Normally, Haihara wouldn't be this rude, but perhaps because she failed to find a job again, her mind is in turmoil, and she doesn't want to waste any more time with a strange woman.

Miss Liang paused for a moment, seemingly lost in thought.

Did I say something that hurt her?

Just as Haihara was thinking this, the woman suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm:

"You're soaked to the bone now. You'll definitely catch a cold if you take the bus home. Taking the bus will be faster."

Haihara frowned slightly.

She wanted to take a car back... but she couldn't afford a taxi.

She tried to break free from the woman's hand, but the woman's grip was unexpectedly tight, though it didn't hurt her; she seemed to be doing it very carefully.

"I can't afford a taxi..."

"I mean, I'll give it to you."

Miss Liang looked at her intently.

Her car was nearby; although she didn't usually drive it, it was perfect timing to drop Haihara.

"... I don't have hot water at home."

It doesn't matter to her, since there's no one in her family now.

It takes a long time for her family to boil water.

It's just getting caught in the rain for a while; it's not like anything serious will happen.

But Miss Liang did not hesitate and calmly said:

"Then come to my house, and I can lend you my clothes."

Why should I go to your house...?

Haihara found it utterly baffling.

From the moment she took this woman's umbrella before boarding the bus, the woman started acting strangely, in a way that was hard to describe.

Is this woman just too enthusiastic?

But what's the point of being so enthusiastic about yourself?

Haihara didn't understand this kind of kindness towards others without any apparent reason.

Miss Ryo seemed to realize she had been a bit out of line, but she still didn't want Haihara to get wet like that, so she firmly said:

"You... have a daughter, right? You wouldn't want your daughter to see you with a cold, would you?"

"..."

Haihara remained silent for a while, unsure of why. Perhaps it was genuine concern about catching a cold, or perhaps the woman's concern left her with an indescribable feeling.

"Thank you for your help."

Chapter Four Lilychou

Haihara finally arrived at Ryo's house in her car.

Miss Liang seems to live in a very luxurious apartment, and on a very high floor; it takes quite a while to get there by elevator.

By this point, Haihara was already feeling a bit cold; the dampness seeped into her skin through her clothes, making her want to quickly take off her clothes and take a hot bath.

After opening the door, although she had somewhat expected it, the interior was still larger than Haihara had imagined. She had been to university for four years and hadn't lived in a place like this in a long time.

After entering the room, Miss Liang said:

"We always have hot water at home, so please feel free to use whatever you need. There are unused towels inside, and I'll prepare some change of clothes for you in a bit."

Miss Liang didn't seem to realize there was anything wrong with that.

Haihara remained silent for a while.

In other words, she has to take a shower before she can put on dry clothes.

She felt a little embarrassed.

However, since she was visiting someone else's home, it wasn't really appropriate to say anything. After all, they were both women, so it would just be a little awkward at most.

But by the time Haihara reacted, Ryo had already come over and started unbuttoning her clothes. This sudden action even stunned Haihara.

If it weren't someone of the same sex, Haihara would probably slap the other person, but even if it were, that would be a bit frivolous... It would be more appropriate if the other person were her mother or sister.

To be honest, Haihara didn't realize how much older the woman in front of her was than herself.

Miss Liang treated the female student, who was soaked from the rain, like a little sister, unbuttoning her suit jacket and then taking it off herself.

After taking it off, I found a soaking wet white shirt underneath.

After being soaked by the rain, the thin shirt clung to her skin, revealing an alluring flesh color and outlining her not-so-full but beautifully shaped breasts.

Of course, you can also see the black underwear inside.

When she got to this point, Miss Liang paused for a moment, suddenly realizing what she had just been doing.

Haihara's expression became slightly more wary compared to before.

"... Next, can I take it off myself?"

"Sorry... you should go take a shower first."

Miss Liang lowered her head with a hint of apology.

After that, Haihara went to the shower room to take a shower.

After watching Haihara enter the shower room, Ryo suddenly felt weak and sat down on the sofa, bending over, covering his mouth with both hands, and closing his eyes slightly.

She sat alone in the living room, her mind a jumbled mess, filled with all sorts of thoughts.

Now, she could hear the sound of the shower coming from the bathroom, mixed with the sound of rain outside the window.

That child is taking a bath in her bathroom right now...

Wait a minute... I think she came to Kaedehara High School today to apply for a teaching position?

As if struck by a thought, Liang picked up her phone and made a call.

Are there teacher interviews today?

Is there anyone with the same last name as me...?

She called a teacher at the school who was in charge of the interviews during this period, but her tone was slightly different from when she had just spoken to Haihara.

"Didn't pass..."

"I understand, it's nothing, thank you."

After a while, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. Ryo remembered that she needed to get Haihara a change of clothes, so she took the clothes and went to the bathroom door.

After a while, the bathroom door opened, and Haihara stood inside wearing only her underwear. Her slender feet were in slippers, and above her was a delicate and fair body, possessing both youthful beauty and adult allure.

Her face was pale, glistening with water droplets, and her lips were an alluring pale red after the rain.

The girl's body in front of me... well, it was incredibly slender, which made her curves appear exceptionally beautiful and shapely, especially the part covered by black lace lingerie, which was particularly alluring.

"Could I... have some clothes? I've already dried myself off."

Haihara lowered her head and said awkwardly.

Feeling stared at like that, she instinctively reached out and covered part of her waist.

"Oh... okay... okay."

Miss Ryo handed the clothes to Haihara.

She hangs her own clothes to dry, but Haihara's clothes were just washed; she'll dry them again before she can change.

The top was a loose-fitting long-sleeved shirt, a bit too big for Haihara. The hem of the shirt went all the way down to below her underwear, like a skirt, revealing only her two bare legs.

It looks like she's not wearing anything on her lower body.

Liang showed no sign of leaving, and just stood there watching.

Haihara embarrassed she wanted to die; her face was probably already red.

Even her older sister, who was several years her senior, felt embarrassed being stared at like that.

After that, I wore the shorts a few more times, but they always slipped down because my waist was too small.

"... Could you find me a pair of pants with a drawstring?"

Haihara didn't want to walk around a stranger's house without pants.

"I... I understand."

The woman in front of him finally felt awkward, or rather... shy.

Finally, Haihara managed to put on her clothes.

After that, while her hair was still wet, Miss Liang led her to her room to change clothes, where there was a dressing table and, of course, a hairdryer.

"Sit down, I'll blow it for you."

Then, Ryo-san naturally picked up the hairdryer and started drying Haihara's Haihara while touching her head.

Haihara seemed to realize this at that moment.

Miss Liang seems to genuinely care for her like a younger sister.

But what younger sister, already this old, needs her older sister to take care of her like this?

Or perhaps Miss Liang simply enjoys taking care of people this way.

Haihara felt the hot wind blowing on her wet hair. It might have been a little hot, but the woman's gentle hand stroked her head, warding off the discomfort.

So much so that she had the illusion that a woman's hands were actually very warm.

After drying her hair, Ryo put down the hairdryer and looked at Haihara.

Her thin, endearing appearance was concealed beneath somewhat oversized, ill-fitting clothes...