After weighing the pros and cons, Horikita finally nodded, but her words were cold. "Fine, then stay. Be grateful from now on, and work yourself to death."
Kazami rolled his eyes. That was even worse than something a ruthless capitalist would say. This cold-blooded woman had hired him for life as free labor.
But he also made up his mind. Later, I'll show you what it means for a general in the field to disregard his sovereign's orders.
"I'm going back to organize my study notes."
After taking Kazami and Ayanokoji on, Horikita left with those words.
Kazami and Ayanokoji exchanged a look, and Kazami sighed. Horikita really didn't understand the first thing about dealing with people. She could at least have dangled some empty promises in front of them, told them what they stood to gain by working for her... but she had simply left.
Kazami and Ayanokoji returned to the dorms together, then went their separate ways.
Evening came, and darkness enveloped the entire campus. Grunt number two... no, King Kazami in training changed into some comfortable casual clothes and headed out for dinner.
Having been forcibly recruited by Horikita during the day and reduced to unpaid labor, the boy was now acting out an entire fiery comeback drama in his head.
Grunt number two? Pah! What bottom-rung worker? I'm the king who'll lead the class someday!
Sooner or later, I'll stab that dictator Horikita in the back, seize control, and pay her back for all the oppression I suffered today!
I'll show her that a true man living beneath heaven could never resign himself to languishing under someone else forever!
My fate is mine to decide, not heaven's!
I'll throw back my head and laugh as I stride out the door-how could someone like me be a mere nobody!
One stirring line of poetry after another flashed through his mind. Of course, fiery passion and glorious comebacks were all well and good, but the hunger making his stomach growl was very real. Every grand ambition would have to wait until he filled his belly.
Kazami shook his head, temporarily banishing his mental theater, and looked for a restaurant, intending to treat himself.
How could he describe his luck today? Bad. Kazami had never imagined that going out for dinner tonight would lead to a chance encounter with Hoshinomiya-sensei.
"Oh, isn't this our Class D's most interesting problem student? Out foraging by yourself tonight?"
Hoshinomiya had shed her formal teaching attire from the daytime and wore loose casual clothes, her long hair falling freely. She looked a little less professionally dignified and a little more alluring. Her eyes fixed directly on Kazami.
Before Kazami could flee, Hoshinomiya stepped forward with a smile and offered an invitation. "I'm on my own too. Want to have dinner together?"
"No." Kazami refused without a moment's thought. There was no such thing as a free lunch, especially when a teacher who loved teasing people as much as Hoshinomiya offered to treat him. Nothing good could come of it.
"My treat. Your class has zero points this month, right? I could treat you to some fine dining."
Hoshinomiya-sensei's words stopped Kazami from voicing the refusal that had been on his lips.
"I don't really care that much about fine dining. I just want to spend more time with you, Hoshinomiya-sensei. After all, no one respects their teachers more than I do."
"Haha, I'm liking you more and more. You're so entertaining."
Hoshinomiya touched the tip of her index finger to her lips in a seductive gesture, though she wasn't actually saying anything suggestive.
She noticed Kazami looking at her. Heh, this brat. I really am charming.
"Don't keep staring at your teacher. Teacher-student romances are off-limits."
As she spoke, Hoshinomiya crossed her arms in an X to signal that it wasn't allowed.
Though she was treating him to dinner, Kazami was actually still quite wary. He had only accidentally gotten carried away staring at her just now. After all, he had to eat the sugar coating and throw away the shell...
"Look, Sensei, rather than staring at you, I'd feel much more at ease looking at myself in the mirror."
After all, no matter who else Kazami might screw over, he would never screw himself over.
Feeling the gaze of the demonic Hoshinomiya-sensei on him, Kazami coughed twice. That expression of hers really was comical.
"I didn't mean it! I wasn't saying you aren't pretty... uh, no, I wasn't saying you're not as pretty as me!"
The more he explained, the more tangled it became, and the worse he made himself look.
Hoshinomiya was starting to understand this brat. "No, you definitely meant it... You've got quite a nasty mouth."
Kazami followed Hoshinomiya and sat down to eat. At the table, Hoshinomiya ate at a leisurely pace and casually broached her real objective.
"Kazami, would you consider becoming one of mine?"
Kazami instantly looked up, his face full of confusion.
"I'm planning to plant a mole in Class D to gather information for me and keep track of what's happening in each class." Hoshinomiya winked, her voice full of temptation. "As long as you agree to work for me, I can take you out for delicious food. And I can let you taste my sweetest flavor, too."
That remark was loaded with innuendo, making it all too easy to think of things one shouldn't.
Kazami shook his head without a second thought, refusing with absolute resolve. "You're pretty open-minded, Sensei. But I refuse!"
A few good meals were possible, but the latter part was definitely a trap. She was definitely messing with him.
Why would he give up being a perfectly ordinary student in his class to become a teacher's mole? He would never agree to a request like that.
Hoshinomiya wasn't angry at his blunt rejection. Instead, she smiled. "Could you stop treating me like I've starred in some group porno?"
Kazami froze on the spot. What kind of outrageous thing was that to say? Was she really allowed to say that to a student?
Before he could comment, Hoshinomiya's competitive streak suddenly flared up. "Even if I did star in one, I'd have to be the sole lead! And I'd definitely take the number-one spot on the industry's front page!"
Kazami could only retort speechlessly, "What kind of ridiculous competitive streak is that?!"
Had he known, he would have stayed in his dorm eating instant noodles tonight. Nothing could have dragged him out for dinner, and then he wouldn't have run into this troublesome woman!
Throughout the meal, Hoshinomiya kept sipping her drinks. Who knew how much alcohol she had consumed? Her cheeks flushed red, her eyes gradually lost focus, and she became thoroughly drunk. Her once-alert, lively eyes grew misty, her steps became unsteady, and drunkenness showed in every part of her.
Looking at Hoshinomiya-sensei, who was completely drunk and could barely walk straight, Kazami sighed helplessly and prepared to make his escape. "Sensei, it's getting late. I'm heading back to my dorm."
The drunken Hoshinomiya instantly caught his sleeve, her voice soft and sweet. "Don't rush off. If you walk me home, I can secretly tell you what Honami likes."
Information about Ichinose. Kazami stopped in his tracks. For precious information, fine, I'll take her home!
And so, on the road late at night, Kazami served as a human support the entire way, propping up the drunken Hoshinomiya as they slowly shuffled forward one step at a time. It took him ages to support her all the way to the entrance of the faculty dormitory. His back and waist ached the whole time, and he was half-dead with exhaustion. Drunk people really were far too heavy. He also had to endure the strong smell of alcohol. Although Hoshinomiya-sensei herself smelled lovely, mixed with alcohol, it really wasn't something he could enjoy.
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