Honestly, Chabashira-sensei Is Better After All / So Chabashira-sensei Was Actually Inviting Us to Tea

"Shuichi Kanda from Class 1-D."

Though he thought the other person was strange, Shuichi Kanda dutifully introduced himself. After all, this was a world where looks mattered.

"Do you like mystery novels too, Kanda? You recognized And Then There Were None right away, and you even knew the title of Murder on the Orient Express."

The title on the cover of the book Hiyori Shiina held was written in English: Ten Little Indians. Translated directly, it meant "Ten Little Indians."

Only someone who had read the book would know its real title: And Then There Were None.

"It's all right..."

Wait, how had they gotten into a conversation? Damn this looks-obsessed world!

After a long chat about Agatha Christie's novels, Hiyori Shiina finally seemed satisfied.

"Ah, sorry. I didn't realize I'd kept you for so long."

"Eh, it's fine."

Damn this looks-obsessed world!

"By the way, I wanted to borrow a middle school social studies textbook. Do you know where they are? I think they were here the last time I came."

While chatting with Shiina, Shuichi Kanda had also looked around nearby, but unfortunately, what he wanted didn't seem to be here anymore.

"Oh, those? They used to be here, but they were moved somewhere else a few days ago. I'll take you there. Consider it an apology for keeping you."

You know the library like it's your own home. You're so familiar with it.

"Thanks. If I looked by myself, it might've taken me quite a while, and I might've had to ask the librarian in the end."

Looks like he could make up for the time he'd lost here.

Chapter 40: Honestly, Chabashira-sensei Is Better After All

With Hiyori Shiina's help, Shuichi Kanda easily got the middle school textbooks he needed, and they were even collected together in one volume. Very convenient.

After that, though, Shuichi Kanda didn't head back to the library. He could study in his dorm just as well.

A beautiful girl had suddenly approached him, and it made him uneasy. He couldn't help wondering what she was after.

Over the past two days, Shuichi Kanda had spent his mornings reading in his dorm and his afternoons at club activities.

The weather had started to warm up in May, and he could feel the vitality returning to his body. So he suspected he hadn't simply spent half a year lying in bed.

If he'd only been lying down for half a year, a month of normal life shouldn't have left him this weak.

On Monday, things in the classroom seemed to have returned to normal. Hirata had paid many of the students for their tutoring from the previous two days in advance, so they wouldn't have to eat the Wild Vegetable Set Meal every day for the next few days.

Even Sudo, who'd acted so defiant when he left last week, was trying his best not to fall asleep in class.

It looked like one of the seniors in the Basketball Club had said something to him.

But Kanda soon realized he'd been wrong. Sudo left the classroom as soon as afternoon classes ended, followed by Horikita Suzune.

After waiting a minute and seeing no one else leave, Hirata began the class's first study session.

And then...

"Shuichi Kanda and Ayanokoji from Class 1-D, your homeroom teacher, Chabashira-sensei, needs to see you. Please come to the teachers' office."

After the announcement was repeated three times, Shuichi Kanda gave Hirata Yosuke a helpless look and left the classroom. Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, who'd also been called, followed right behind him.

What was Chabashira-sensei thinking, calling him over now? He was busy. And she'd brought along that monster named Ayanokoji, too.

"Kanda, do you know why Chabashira-sensei called us?" Ayanokoji asked as they headed to the teachers' office.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm not a mind reader."

Although he said that, he was still a little worried. Could this be revenge because he'd accepted an investment of two million and hadn't done anything with it?

She should go after Hirata for that. He was just the one who'd taken the credit; Hirata was the mastermind!

Glancing at Ayanokoji, Shuichi Kanda felt a headache coming on. They weren't strangers, but they hardly ever had a chance to talk.

But if they walked all the way there without saying anything, that would feel a little deliberate. They were classmates, after all, and both boys. Their seats were close, too.

"By the way, Ayanokoji, do you think Hirata can handle being the class leader?"

"Huh? I don't know. But if it's Hirata, he should be fine, right? You recommended him, didn't you, Kanda?"

A reasonable answer. The sort of answer a normal student would give.

"No. Hirata was basically pushed into it. He was the only one who'd been nominated. He's fairly capable, but he can't really fill the role of a leader.

"Kindness doesn't win wars, and righteousness doesn't manage money. Hirata understands that, but he can't make the hard decisions. If it were up to me, I'd never have set the precedent of letting people borrow points in advance. Eating the Wild Vegetable Set Meal for three or four days wouldn't have hurt anyone."

"Then why didn't you just—"

"Didn't I tell you? I can't even recognize all the students in our class, so of course I can't lead them. Your memory doesn't seem very good, Ayanokoji."

As they chatted, the two of them arrived outside the teachers' office.

The door was open, so Shuichi Kanda could easily see inside. Aside from the school nurse, Chie Hoshinomiya, no one was there. Chabashira-sensei wasn't there either. This was bad.

As for how he knew the school nurse, it was because he'd once had the good fortune to visit the Infirmary with a senior from his club. He hadn't expected Kyudo to be dangerous, too.

What was Chabashira-sensei up to, calling them over and then not showing up? What was this, some kind of abandonment play? Or revenge?

"Chabashira-sensei doesn't seem to be here. Let's wait outside."

"Should we ask—"

Before Kiyotaka Ayanokoji could finish speaking, Shuichi Kanda stepped back to clear the way and gestured invitingly with one hand. The meaning was obvious.

Ayanokoji had backed himself into a corner. He looked helpless, but still knocked on the open office door.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Um, is Chabashira-sensei here?"

"Hm? Sae-chan? She was here just a moment ago."

With her slightly wavy, medium-length hair, the school nurse had the air of a modern adult. She was also Class B's homeroom teacher, Chie Hoshinomiya.

He'd heard she was very lively and got along well with the students. She was the complete opposite of Chabashira-sensei.

"She seems to have stepped away for a bit. Do you want to come in and wait?"

"No, I'll wait in the hallway."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji seemed unwilling to get involved in any trouble, so he immediately turned down Hoshinomiya's offer. But when he stepped back into the hallway, he discovered that Shuichi Kanda had disappeared.

Disappeared...

Then this homeroom teacher latched onto Kiyotaka Ayanokoji and forced an introduction on him.

"I'm Class B's homeroom teacher. I'm Chie Hoshinomiya, the teacher in charge of Class B. Sae and I have been close friends since high school. We even call each other 'Sae-chan' and 'Chie'!"

Around the corner, Shuichi Kanda let out a long sigh of relief. Good thing he'd run fast.

As for why he'd run... Well, he'd once visited the Infirmary with Club President Sato during club activities.

Then he'd started imagining Chabashira-sensei calling her "Chie."

Ahem. Honestly, Chabashira-sensei was better after all.

"What are you doing here?"

The sudden voice behind him made Shuichi Kanda jump.

"Chabashira-sensei, why don't you make any noise when you walk?"

"Is that so? My heels are working just fine today."

All right, you win. I admit I was distracted and didn't hear you.

But Chabashira-sensei soon found out why Shuichi Kanda was there.

"Hoshinomiya, what are you doing here?"

Just as Ayanokoji was wondering what to make of it, Chabashira-sensei appeared behind Hoshinomiya and smacked her on the head with the clipboard in her hand.

That looked painful. Really painful.

Were these two actually friends?

"Ow, that hurt! What was that for?"

"Because you were bothering my students."

"He said he was coming to see Sae-chan. I was only keeping him company until you got back."

"You could've just left him alone. Ayanokoji, sorry for the wait. It's not convenient to talk here, so come with me to the Counseling Room. And you over there, come out too."

Hearing Chabashira-sensei call him, Shuichi Kanda couldn't keep hiding. He had no choice but to step out from the corner.

The moment he appeared, he was met with a resentful look from Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

All right, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me.

Chapter 41: So Chabashira-sensei Was Actually Inviting Us to Tea

The homeroom teacher from Class B naturally noticed Shuichi Kanda stepping out from the corner.

"Ah! I remember you. You came to the Infirmary before, didn't you?"

"No, you've mistaken me for someone else, Hoshinomiya-sensei."

He had a feeling admitting it would only cause trouble, so Shuichi Kanda denied it without hesitation.

"Let's go." Chabashira-sensei spoke to Ayanokoji and Shuichi Kanda, then turned to Hoshinomiya, who was about to follow them. "Don't come along."

"Don't be so cold~ It wouldn't hurt to let me listen, would it? Besides, Sae-chan's been acting a little strange lately. She even used up the two-million-Private-Point allowance she has for supporting students."

Hoshinomiya-sensei continued with a cheerful smile, though to Shuichi Kanda there was something unsettling about it.

"Sae-chan, you're not planning to try and take advantage of your students, are you?"

The odd lilt at the end of her words made the air around them feel a few degrees colder.

"It was simply a reward for an excellent student in the class. There's no need to read into it. Besides, that sort of thing is impossible."

"Right, Sae-chan would never be able to do something like that. But I'm still curious."

What were these two talking about?

Shuichi Kanda was at a loss.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, meanwhile, had noticed Hoshinomiya-sensei's mention of the authority to give students two million points.

So that was it. That was why Hirata had suddenly gotten four hundred thousand Private Points. They'd come from support provided by Chabashira-sensei.

While Hoshinomiya-sensei chattered on, a beautiful female student walked over. She had long golden-pink hair, an elegant air, a fantastic figure, and a sweet face.

No, it wasn't just her looks and bearing. Her assets were impressive, too. She seemed even more formidable than Kushida. He'd already confirmed Kushida's in person during swimming class, but this girl surpassed her by a mile!

A beauty!

A beautiful girl!

An absolute beauty!

In Class D, if they were judging only by looks and figure, maybe only the loner Haruka Hasebe could compare.

But add in her presence, and even Haruka Hasebe would have to concede defeat! Horikita and the rest weren't even in the same league!

She completely outclassed them on another level!

"Hoshinomiya-sensei, could I borrow a little of your time? There's something I'd like to discuss about the Student Council."

Her voice was just as lovely as her looks.

All right, I declare this a crushing defeat for Horikita!

"Oh, Ichinose, you've come at a bad time. Well, never mind. We'll talk another time. Ayanokoji, and Kanda, I hope you won't hide from me next time. Well then, Ichinose, let's go to the teachers' office."