Big Sis Doesn't Remember

Kazami Saku and Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, summoned by name over the school broadcast, headed to the Teachers' Office one behind the other. Along the way, Kazami kept muttering about being called in despite his innocence. He really could not understand why a good student who had aced a quiz and behaved in class had to be called in for a talk with a teacher alongside Ayanokoji.

Could Chabashira-sensei have spotted my astonishing wisdom, recognizing my talent, and be preparing to support me as the king of Class D? That actually sounds pretty good. Finally, someone who can see my strengths. You traitorous rebels, await your king's return! Hahaha...

Listening to Kazami envision his future, Ayanokoji remained as unruffled as ever, as still as an ancient well, offering no response whatsoever.

The two reached the Teachers' Office and pushed the door open, only to discover that Chabashira-sensei was not there. Her workstation was empty, her lesson plans neatly arranged, but the cold-faced tyrant of a homeroom teacher herself was nowhere to be seen. Kazami had given her that nickname, though he did not yet have the courage to say it aloud.

Kazami clicked his tongue. Seriously, she was the one who called us here, and now she's not even at her desk. Tax thief. Hmm, there's also a female teacher sleeping with her head on her desk. Tax thief number two. I thought the students at Advanced Nurturing were ridiculous enough, but apparently the teachers are too.

Just as the two stopped by the door, preparing to wait there, Chie Hoshinomiya heard them and raised her head to look at them. Her voice was gentle, with a hint of languor.

"What are you standing around the office doorway for? What the heck are you doing?"

Hoshinomiya-sensei was now leaning lazily against the wall, her gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny as she looked them over.

"Sneaking around like that... you wouldn't happen to be bandits, would you?"

Kazami: ...

What does that even mean? How could there be bandits at school? His instincts told him there was no mistaking it: this woman was incredibly difficult to deal with. Though she looked as gentle as water, she was definitely even more troublesome than Chabashira-sensei. After all, in Kazami's view, despite all her usual posturing, Chabashira-sensei was just an idiot.

Kazami also looked Hoshinomiya-sensei over, but his eyes instinctively swept downward and fixed on what was directly in front of him. His brain short-circuited, and he blurted out, "Ah, boobs."

His voice rang through the quiet office.

The gentle smile on Chie Hoshinomiya's face stiffened slightly, and she complained in an exasperated tone, "I knew it. Men are all the same."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji stared straight ahead, expressionless, immediately playing dead and cutting all ties with his teammate beside him, pretending he did not know his dear friend Kazami Saku at all.

Kazami belatedly came to his senses and realized what he had just blurted out in public. This won't do. Ike and the Professor's abilities are influencing me far too much. I need to spend less time around them for a while.

Hoshinomiya did not dwell on that little incident and asked, "Who are you two here to see?"

"Chabashira-sensei summoned us over the broadcast. She probably needs us for something," Ayanokoji answered truthfully, taking the rare initiative to speak.

Chie Hoshinomiya had seemed casual before, but hearing his answer immediately piqued her interest. She straightened up and stepped closer, wanting a better look at the two Class D students Sae had specifically summoned.

Perhaps Hoshinomiya-sensei did not know what keeping her distance meant, because she pressed right up against Kazami. A faint scent of perfume wafted toward him, triggering his habitual instinct to make snarky remarks again. "Uh... that's a lot of makeup. Are you getting ready to go out and scare people, Sensei?"

Emotion Points from Chie Hoshinomiya +10.

The system notification promptly sounded, proving that the teacher was inwardly angry right now. Hmm, double digits. Isn't Hoshinomiya-sensei a bit too petty? Double-digit Emotion Points aren't exactly common, after all.

Forget it. Since I've already offended her, I might as well keep following my own train of thought, speak boldly, and let loose completely.

"Sensei! Has anyone ever told you that your breasts are so big you can't even see the ground at your feet? You could easily trip."

Still not satisfied after saying that, Kazami added of his own accord, his tone sincere, "Though being hugged by you would feel nice, Hoshinomiya-sensei, honestly, I prefer girls my own age. Mature women aren't really to my taste for now."

Emotion Points from Chie Hoshinomiya +9.

Another batch of Emotion Points came in, which also meant Hoshinomiya's patience was rapidly dwindling to nothing.

Kazami looked at Ayanokoji beside him and muttered quietly, looking utterly serious, "Huh? Why do I feel something scorching in the air?"

Then he confidently puffed out his chest and raised his chin, brimming with bravado. "It must be the fighting spirit blazing in my heart!"

Ayanokoji looked at his utterly hopeless state. Run.

Even though Ayanokoji normally knew little about social niceties or common social knowledge, he understood one thing perfectly well right now-the woman before them was thoroughly angry.

He clearly remembered how terrifying Suzune Horikita had looked the last time she was provoked. Chie Hoshinomiya's expression, gaze, and aura right now were exactly like Horikita's when she had flown into a rage at the convenience store, if anything even more oppressive.

Chie Hoshinomiya's gaze slowly darkened, filling instead with an overwhelming pressure. You really have some nerve, kid. Should I say that's only to be expected of Sae's student? You certainly know how to get on someone's nerves.

She bent forward slightly, closing the distance between herself and Kazami further, her tone soft and her voice pleasant.

"Big Sis doesn't remember ever raising you into such a lawless little brat."

It was plainly a threat, yet she still made it sound so sweet.

Kazami continued letting loose, speaking his mind. "What do you mean, Big Sis? Stop pretending to be young, Sensei. That's not good. You might look like a young woman in her twenties, but these eyes of mine don't make mistakes. Your actual age is probably in that delicate range around thirty..."

Well, Kazami could no longer speak after that. Hoshinomiya was staring at him like a demon, and she was also cracking her fists, ready to get physical.

Hoshinomiya looked kindly at Kazami. "Go on. Why aren't you continuing? You've learned your Japanese quite well. You're pretty good with adjectives too. 'That delicate range around thirty,' was it? Hehehehe."

Hoshinomiya-sensei looked completely broken now. Kazami swallowed. How could he possibly keep courting death? She was too frightening. Though he did still have things left to say, such as who exactly she thought she had raised, and that if she wanted that, she should go get married. It seemed he would not get the chance.

You're a teacher! How can you threaten an adorable student with violence? Your professional ethics! The professional ethics teachers all across the country uphold!

"Sensei, I don't think corporal punishment is good, and the education bureau recently issued regulations about it too..."

Before Kazami could finish, Hoshinomiya's hand had clamped tightly onto his shoulder, stopping his feet as he tried to inch away.