First Encounter

Dongfang Yi couldn't hold back his murderous intent.

If Sakura Airi hadn't been a Class D student, and he hadn't worried that having another teacher report the matter would displease Chabashira and lead her to take it out on the girl during class, he would have told Mashima about it right then and let him handle things.

Why else would he put up with this useless woman giving him attitude?

What was so hard about reporting it and asking the school to investigate?

Was her foul mouth made of gold, or had it been sewn shut?

Dongfang Yi wore a polite smile, but his eyes were icy enough to make Chabashira feel uneasy.

Chabashira Sae's face looked even more ashen, like a middle-aged woman going through menopause.

With a sour expression, she said each word slowly: "I'll report what you've found to the school, so..."

Dongfang Yi interrupted her without the slightest courtesy, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "So you're only going to report it? I thought you'd say you'd work with the school to get to the bottom of things and ensure your student's personal safety was protected."

Chabashira was even angrier now, but there was nothing she could do about Dongfang Yi.

After all, Dongfang Yi was using an unanswerable, open strategy, relying on the power of the situation rather than some underhanded trick.

As a class teacher, Chabashira Sae was obligated to help when a student raised concerns about their personal safety.

So she couldn't say she would ignore the student. If she did, Dongfang Yi would immediately report her to the school and have her stripped of her position as homeroom teacher.

The two facing each other in the hallway both knew that perfectly well.

The middle-aged woman in a suit took a deep breath, forcing herself to speak from the heart. "I'll work with the school to get to the bottom of things and ensure Sakura's personal safety is protected."

Dongfang Yi pretended to wipe away nonexistent tears, so moved that he nearly seized the teacher's hands in both of his.

But he pulled back halfway and clasped his hands together instead.

There was no particular reason. He simply thought the woman in front of him was so disgusting and useless that he didn't want to touch her.

His voice caught slightly as he said, "Guidance Teacher Chabashira, you really are such a responsible and good te—good person. With your word, we can wait for good news with peace of mind."

"In that case, we won't disturb you at work. Goodbye."

With that, he turned and walked off with Sakura Airi, not looking back. In the blink of an eye, they were several paces away.

Chabashira Sae was completely caught off guard by that smooth little combo.

Wait, where was the video?

He hadn't given her the video!

Stop! The video!

The middle-aged woman stomped her feet in fury. She wanted to chase after them, but her high heels and skirt suit made it impossible to run.

And shouting after them would be beneath a teacher's dignity.

Fortunately for her, the girl who had walked away broke free of the boy's grasp and ran back.

Sakura Airi was slightly out of breath. "T-Teacher Chabashira, c-could we add each other on LINE? I have a video too. I-I'll send it to you."

For the first time, Chabashira Sae realized that one of her students could be so considerate. The girl was worlds apart from that awful Class A student. Chabashira was so touched she nearly burst into tears.

"Sure!"

Dongfang Yi hurried around the corner in the hallway and hid himself from view.

He had been the one to hurry away with Sakura Airi, then let the girl go back to hand over the video.

After all, as a Class A student, he could flip the table whenever he wanted. But Sakura Airi still had a long time to spend in Class D. If he let her offend that old woman, her days ahead would be miserable.

The point of solving trouble wasn't to stir up more of it.

If you like this book, add it to your bookshelf so you can find it again!

He peeked out quietly, studying Chabashira Sae's expression and wondering whether his actions might cause the girl trouble later.

Judging by the woman's expression, it was clear that playing good cop and bad cop worked quite well.

But he had overlooked one thing: he wasn't the only person here.

"Hey, little genius, what are you doing here?"

A brazen beauty—no, a beautiful woman?—patted him on the shoulder and asked in a sweet voice right by his ear.

She even leaned down to peer beneath him, trying to see what he was sneaking a look at.

"Taking care of something important to human civilization." Dongfang Yi pressed down on the head beside him and shoved it away, answering without turning around. "And call me Dongfang Yi, the Calculated Strategy. 'Genius' sounds so uncultured."

A third person stifled a laugh.

"Then, Dongfang Yi of the Calculated Strategy, would you mind taking your hand off your teacher's head?" A hint of chill crept into the sweet voice.

"Hm?"

Dongfang Yi belatedly turned around. The first thing he saw was Hoshinomiya Chie, smiling with narrowed eyes.

He had just, maybe, possibly, accidentally... patted Hoshinomiya-sensei on the head.

It felt nice. Not greasy at all.

"..."

"Dōmo sumimasen, Sensei." Dongfang Yi immediately bowed in apology.

He blinked, trying to look as sincere as possible. "Sensei, I believe this was an accident caused by circumstances beyond my control. It was fate, and fate can't be defied. We shouldn't blame people for what fate decrees."

"So you're saying you did nothing wrong?" Hoshinomiya bared her teeth and claws at him.

"Sensei, please believe me. I'm not interested in older—cough—mature beauties." Dongfang Yi put on a serious expression. "There wasn't even the slightest bit of intention behind it."

"So you think your teacher is very old, then?" A trace of murderous intent crept into the sweet, cute teacher's voice.

"..."

Dongfang Yi belatedly realized he had just dug himself into a very deep hole.

He hurriedly tried to make amends. "Of course not. You look barely over thirty, right in the prime of your life, blossoming like a flower. Your charm is beyond the reach of mere teenage girls."

"But I'm only twenty-eight this year," Hoshinomiya said, her smile growing a little colder.

"..."

"I'm only twenty-eight," Hoshinomiya repeated when he didn't answer.

Dongfang Yi closed his eyes in resignation, gave up struggling, and struck a pose like a hero about to meet his end. "Sensei, just kill me."

"Die!" Hoshinomiya fiercely swung a hand chop at him. But because of their difference in height, it felt to Dongfang Yi like she'd merely given him a light pat.

Still, Dongfang Yi played along, sticking out his tongue and looking as if he'd been knocked out cold by a club.

If you ignored how straight he was still standing.

"Hmph!" Hoshinomiya glared angrily at the pretender. "I'm going to find Sae. Honami, you come too. Don't pay any attention to him."

Honami?

Ichinose?

Doroboneko?

Dongfang Yi curiously opened his eyes and looked toward the third person, who had witnessed the whole scene.

The pink-haired girl held the fingers of her right hand together, blinked, and gave a surprisingly convincing salute.

Her voice was like a clear spring on a bright spring day, cheerful and lively, with a hint of playfulness.

"As you wish, Sensei."

If you can't find the book by its title, try searching by the author. Maybe it just changed its name!