Can I Still Be Your Heroine Even Though I'm Your Teacher?-Volume 2 Epilogue - The Place I Most Want to Return To

Epilogue

The Place I Most Want to Return To

I hesitated for a moment before unlocking the door to my childhood home.

Even as I held the key in front of the lock, I found myself unnaturally tense.

The familiar building was my house, yet I had almost no attachment or memories associated with it——I had left before I could form any.

Having been dropped off here, there was no way I could just run away.

That said, ever since I was told about the dissolution of the Neighbor Agreement at the beach, my mood had hit rock bottom.

If possible, I would like to redo this entire day from the morning, and when Tenjō-san invited me to the beach, I would firmly refuse.

——I wanted to somehow make this bad ending never have happened.

“It’s an impossible wish, huh?”

Looking back, Tenjō-san’s car was already gone.

My spirits showed no sign of lifting. And even if I went back to my apartment, Tenjō-san herself would be right next door.

Moping about in such a situation would only make me feel more miserable.

While I was hesitating, the door opened from the inside.

“Yuu-kun, you’ve arrived.”

Kaguya greeted me with a nervous expression.

“Hey. It’s been since yesterday.”

By now, even the fight with Kaguya now seemed trivial.

“You look terrible.”

“It seems like you knew I was coming back today.”

“I heard from Rei-chan.”

“So everything was already set up?”

I can’t compete with that person.

“I’m sorry for leaving on my own yesterday.”

“I was at fault too. Oh, right, I have something to give you.”

I presented her with clothes that had been left in my backpack.

“My friend wanted to apologize. And there’s another from me.”

After Kaguya had left, I also purchased an outfit Kaguya hadn’t chosen as an apology in addition to what Akira and Mayuzumi-san had bought.

“Ah, there are two!?”

Looking inside the bag, Kaguya couldn’t suppress her smile.

“They both wanted to apologize. Can you forgive us?”

“I’ll forg——this time it’s a serious matter involving siblings. I don’t want to be swayed by gifts and let it slide so easily,” she pushed back.

She spoke so seriously that it surprised me.

“What’s wrong? Did that person give you a harsh lecture yesterday?”

“She did give me advice. That’s why I don’t want to rely on Yuu-kun’s kindness anymore.”

“I’m touched by that, but the clothes aren’t to blame. I’d be grateful if you’d accept them.”

Kaguya reluctantly accepted them again.

“Yuu-kun, thank you for coming back.”

Kaguya told me with a serious look.

“Sorry it took so long.”

“It’s okay. It was my fault.”

“I like Kaguya, you know.”

“I like you too, Yuu-kun.”

“Mutual affection?”

“But it’s as family that you like me, right?”

“Yeah.”

Kaguya slowly nodded her head up and down, humming in thought.

“Mmhm, I think it’s probably the same for me. It’s fun being with Yuu-kun, but I realized during our date yesterday that it’s fun even if we’re not dating like lovers! So, you can relax now.”

“It seems so.”

Humans are strange creatures; even when there are grievances, if other emotions outweigh them, the priority of anger diminishes.

It’s different from merely suppressing anger.

The past itself can’t be changed, but I’ve managed to sort things out in my present self.

The joy of witnessing the emotional growth of my stepsister has somewhat alleviated my frustration.

There’s no need for grand gestures of forgiveness. Feeling that this is enough is fine.

“Yuu-kun, you’re really too soft on me.”

“It seems I’m somewhat of a sisco after all.”

“It suddenly feels creepy when you put it that way.”

My stepsister grimaced with an ‘eww’ expression.

“You really have a way with words.”

“Isn’t it better to be honest?”

I began to understand why Tenjō-san sometimes has trouble with my straightforward attitude.

“Keep it in moderation.”

“This is Nishiki Kaguya. We’re going to be siblings for a long time, so you might as well resign yourself to it gracefully.”

“Maybe I should just go back.”

I turned around at the entrance.

“No! I made dinner and have been waiting! Hey!” she said while grabbing my clothes in a panic.

“Is it okay for me to eat here?”

“It’s your own house, of course it is!”

“Then, I gratefully eat it,” I said, taking off my shoes.

“Hey Yuu-kun, do you regret meeting me?”

“Not at all.”

That much was certain.

“Kaguya, you know you can dislike me if you want.”

“How many times do I have to say it? I want Yuu-kun to come back as a real Onii-chan.”

The Nishiki Kaguya I had been worried about no longer existed.

“…I guess it’s time to stop being stubborn and shy. Even I need to grow up at some point.”

“Onii-chan has never been very adult-like.”

I probably would have denied it in the past.

I misunderstood that suppressing emotions and behaving rationally was what it meant to be an adult.

Without even realizing I was stretching myself thin, I was so full of myself that I thought that the image I was trying to present was the real thing.

But since I started spending time with Tenjō-san, I’ve changed.

Just thinking about her brings a smile to my face.

“I’m still a child too.”

It’s because I met a woman named Tenjō Reiyu that I can now honestly admit that.

“Hey, Yuu-kun, the person you like wouldn’t happen to be Rei-chan, right?”

“Yeah.”

I answered without hesitation.

“I see. Then, I definitely can’t compete with that.”

“You think you could win if it’s someone else?”

“Of course.”

My stepsister was brimming with confidence.

“Ah, so in the end, I’ve become the cupid for Yuu-kun and Rei-chan’s love?”

“How can you even say you played the cupid with a straight face?”

“I’ll be there to comfort you if Rei-chan ever rejects you.”

“Then I’ll take you up on that now. Be kind to me.”

“What!?”

Kaguya’s face turned red, perhaps surprised by my response.

“Um, that’s just as siblings, right?”

Why are you getting so flustered?

“Of course. Come on, I’m hungry, let’s go to the living room.”

“Hey, Yuu-kun.”

“What is it?”

“Welcome back.”

“…”

I had truly, finally come home.

“——I’m home.”

***

My parents were overjoyed to see me at home, and for the first time in a while, we had a meal together as a family of four.

The table was filled with all my favorite foods.

As if I had been eating here every day, I fit into this setting without any sense of awkwardness.

We exchanged trivial conversations, and the meal progressed in a cheerful atmosphere.

Thanks to that, I was able to distract myself a little from thinking about Tenjō-san.

After the meal, I left the cleanup to my stepfather and Kaguya, and Mom took me out to the garden.

“How is it living on your own? Have you run into any troubles? Do you have enough money?”

“If my allowance increases, I might end up wasting it, so I’m fine. I’m enjoying myself in my own way.”

“That’s good. Remember, you can always come back home whenever you want.”

“I just said I’m having fun, don’t try to drag me back now.”

I burst out laughing when I’m told the complete opposite in a matter of seconds.

“You know, part of the reason you left was because of Kaguya…”

She starts to speak, seeming hesitant.

“Even though you were the one who first said you wanted to live alone, there’s no denying that it resulted in putting some distance between you and home.”

Mom seemed to feel guilty as if she had driven me away.

Feeling her regret deeply, I found it increasingly difficult to continue the conversation.

Was it the fault of the son who rushed ahead or the mother who couldn’t hold him back?

Even as a family, we couldn’t fully share our true feelings, and it became awkward to face each other at home, leading to a strained relationship.

Communication is indeed a complicated thing.

“While the real son is important, I guess the new, still young daughter had to be the top priority.”

“And so I took advantage of your kindness again.”

“Helping each other is what family is for.”

“You’ve grown up to be such a good boy. I’m proud of you.”

She praised me with her words, but her expression did not match.

That’s probably the best she can do.

She hasn’t fully come to terms with my living on my own, yet she understands it.

Humans aren’t omnipotent, and in reality, difficult problems are intricately intertwined, making it hard to solve everything at once.

“If you feel sorry, then instead, I have two favors to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve made up with Kaguya.”

“Yes, I could tell from how you two were today.”

“It’s a relief for me too, but…”

“Yuunagi?”

“Mom, I’m going to continue living alone. I want to keep doing it.”

“If that’s what you want, then do as you like.”

“Is that okay?”

“Once you’ve made up your mind, you’re the type to not stop until you’re satisfied, right?”

“And another thing. About the future, someday I might make a decision that will surprise you, and I want you to celebrate it.”

“Do you have such plans?”

“That depends on how hard I work.”

“Alright. I’ll accept whatever you do, Yuunagi.”

“You agreed pretty easily…”

“Yuunagi, the one who has been helped the most by you is none other than your mother. It’s only natural for me to trust it unconditionally when it comes to you.”

“Thank you.”

“Parents are actually happy to be inconvenienced a little. It means they can stay involved as their children grow up.”

“You’re a model mother.”

“It’s just love… You’ve always been so smart and reliable that I’m sorry for making you share my worries.”

“Fortunately, I felt my parents’ love, so I grew up without going astray.”

“Yes, you are my treasure.”

I am taken aback.

“Do mothers say such things to their high school son?”

“I’ll say the same thing even when you have gray hair.”

Yeah well, no matter what, it seems I’ll always be this person’s son.

“…So, what kind of decision?”

“It wouldn’t be fun if I told you right now?”

“I’m curious though.”

It seems that’s not enough to satisfy her.

This is a good opportunity. A little preamble wouldn’t hurt.

“Mom. I have someone I like right now, and I’m serious about it. I think of her as an irreplaceable and precious person to me.”

“Head over heels, huh? I didn’t know you had such a passionate side.”

“It’s because that person encouraged me that I could come home like this.”

“…To think I’m having a love talk with Yuunagi.”

Mom looks at me with deep emotion.

“It’s embarrassing to talk about such things with your own mother, isn’t it?”

“It’s kind of nice. It feels fresh.”

“This is the only time.”

“I’m always welcome to your love consultations.”

“No, this is the only time.”

If there’s a next time, it would only be if my current love falls apart.

“Is your partner the neighbor from the apartment?”

She hit the nail on the head.

“…how did you know?”

“Because I’m your mother. Someday, I’d like to greet this neighbor of yours if there’s a chance.”

Mom didn’t pry further, but she seemed very interested.

“…Well, maybe it’ll be okay once I graduate from high school.”

I answered with a faint hope.

***

It was late, so I decided to stay the night at my parents’ house.

After taking a bath, I put on the pajamas left at home and noticed they were a bit short.

My room seemed to have been cleaned in anticipation of my stay, and the bed was neatly made.

We also had a lavish dinner, as if my return home was some grand event.

“Everything’s taken care of.”

At my apartment, I have to do everything myself.

I can really appreciate the comfort of having someone take care of things around me. Home is wonderful.

I lie down on the bed, reflecting on the long day full of events.

“… It’s definitely different from my own room.”

Even though I used to wake up here every day until I graduated from junior high school, it doesn’t feel like my own space anymore.

The place where I truly live now revolves around the apartment where Tenjō-san lives next door.

When I’m alone, the misery of my situation comes crashing down on me.

“Did she dump me?”

What was a fun beach date turned into being cast into hell.

In the perfect setting of a sunset at the sea, the worst was revealed to me.

It felt like the despair of being dumped by a lover.

The sudden situation was almost like a nightmare, and the ride home left me feeling like I was dying.

I could hardly bear to look at Tenjō-san’s face.

Eventually, the fatigue and the car’s vibrations lulled me to sleep.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to endure the heavy silence inside the car if I had stayed awake.

Even after such an awkward conversation, riding back in the same car felt like torture.

“—Huh?”

Something doesn’t sit right with me.

“Wait a second, Tenjō-san and I weren’t even dating. Is ‘dumped’ really the right word?”

Emotionally, it’s a complete heartbreak though.

Part of the reason I spoke so boldly to my mother like that was to encourage myself as well.

“…The ‘Neighbor Agreement’ is a rule to help each other out in life and to refrain from becoming lovers until graduation, right? What does it mean to end that restraint? Is it like saying we’re free to do as we please?”

Even now, my inability to give up turns to positive thinking.

Have we gone back to square one in our relationship?

No, that’s not it.

“She just proposed to end the ‘Neighbor Agreement.'”

That’s the fact.

We’ve returned to being just neighbors, indifferent and non-interfering, like before the food sharing started.

“But then, why do I feel like I’ve been dumped?”

Looking back calmly, it doesn’t make sense.

It was probably just the situation I was told about and the atmosphere emanating from Tenjō-san that made me feel that way.

“Tenjō-san never said she started to dislike me.”

Then what was all that heavy atmosphere from Tenjō Reiyu about?

A beautiful person has a strong influence; when someone who is usually bright emits an unusually gloomy aura, it inevitably affects you.

Even I, who was used to interacting with her daily at the apartment and school, had never encountered such a seriously downcast Tenjō Reiyu.

I quickly sat up and slapped my own face with both hands.

“Get a grip, Nishiki Yuunagi! From the car to the sea, Tenjō-san had the upper hand in everything today! You just let yourself be swept along too easily!”

The pain in my cheeks served as a wake-up call.

I was completely fooled by Tenjō Reiyu’s clumsy acting.

I thought it was strange to suddenly be invited to the sea the day after.

Yet, the prospect of having a date with Tenjō-san on a day off made me so happy that I overlooked the small sense of discomfort.

“A romantic who wants to believe in eternal love wouldn’t just give up on me for their own convenience. The guilt was so obvious, and yet I——ah!”

I was angry at my own lack of perception.

The Tenjō Reiyu I know would never do such a cheap trick.

The only reason she would forcefully terminate our Neighbor Agreement, knowing it would hurt me, is clear in my mind.

“It has to be 100% about Kaguya. She listened to the story, took sides too much, and even politely dropped me off at my parents’ house. If my family relations were restored, there would be no need for me to live alone. If we’re no longer neighbors, our relationship will end too—jumping to conclusions again!”

That must have been the ending Tenjō Reiyu saw coming.

If we were no longer neighbors, this love couldn’t be maintaned.

So she ended it first.

Despite being sad herself, she prioritizes the convenience of others without a second thought.

“——That’s why I can’t leave her alone.”

Tenjō-san is too dedicated to her students.

By doing so, she’s wearing herself down unnecessarily.

If I don’t support her, she’ll revert back to a life with a lowered QOL. She will cry over a plain curry rice meal. (TN: Quality of life)

I can almost picture her crying alone in her small one-room apartment.

“There’s no way I can let her be alone.”

All of this is my imagination.

It might be a convenient interpretation.

But somehow, I felt like I understood what Tenjō Reiyu was thinking.

***

The next day, I returned to my apartment early in the morning.

When leaving the house, my family saw me off, and my parents indirectly urged me, ‘When will you come back next? Let’s talk about the next family trip.’

“Please say hello to Rei-chan. Tell her I’m grateful.”

“Got it.”

“And also tell her, ‘I’ll entrust Yuu-kun to you, Rei-oneechan’.”

Kaguya also entrusted me with a message.

I returned to my local station before the rush hour of commuting to work and school.

While dashing through the closed shopping street, I made my usual morning call to Akira.

『Are you outside right now?』

Akira guessed my situation as soon as she answered the phone.

“Yeah.”

『Why? Are you going to school already?』

“I went back to my parents’ house. Now, I’m just returning to change clothes.”

『 It’s a walk of shame, huh』

“The way you say it…”

『Did you manage to give it to your stepsister?』

“Yeah, thanks to you. She was happy. And she apologized.”

『 We’re even then.』

“I think Kaguya will be calmer the next time you meet her, so please don’t dislike her too much.”

『 It’s not that I hate your stepsister, Nishiki.』

“That’s good to hear. Just go easy on her.”

『Nishiki, do you always think I’m angry?』

“You don’t?”

『I choose my battles and the situations』

“You could be a bit nicer to me too, you know.”

『How can you think I’m not being nice?』

“… Isn’t that the case?”

『 Don’t turn it into a question!』

Her voice suddenly became sharp.

“See? You sound angry.”

『 You’re just too dense, Nishiki.』

“About what?”

『 That’s exactly what I’m talking about!』

The call was abruptly ended.

I hurried through the residential area and finally arrived back at my own apartment.

Just as I did, Tenjō Reiyu came out of her room.

Even from a distance, I could tell she looked downcast.

She didn’t seem to notice me approaching.

“Good morning, Sensei.”

Tenjō-san froze in surprise.

“This isn’t a dream, is it?”

Since we had just seen each other yesterday, Tenjō-san looked visibly uncomfortable.

She acted awkwardly and tried not to look at me much.

“Are you fully awake? Have you had breakfast?”

“Uh, I overslept and just barely made it.”

“You’re hopeless without me, aren’t you?”

“How rude! That’s not true.”

It was obvious that she was just pretending.

It would be problematic if things reverted to how they were before the Neighbor Agreement.

“You went to a lot of trouble for me yesterday.”

“Have you made up with Kaguya-chan?”

“Yes.”

“…And did you talk to your family?”

“Thanks to you, we were able to spend time together as a family.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Sensei. Thank you very much.”

“I only did what a teacher should do.”

She said it proudly, but it seemed a bit awkward.

“Sorry, I have to catch a train, so I’ll be going ahead.”

Tenjō-san abruptly ends the conversation and starts heading towards the station as if trying to shake everything off.

I won’t just silently watch her as she walks away.

“I have one more thing to say. I will continue living alone, so please continue to look after me from now on.”

I casually convey the conclusion of the family meeting that took place last night.

I don’t want to needlessly take up the time of a busy working adult, so I keep it brief.

Now, I too must return to my room and change into my uniform.

“Wait a second!? What did you just say?”

She hurries back.

“Aren’t you going to be late?”

“Never mind that, just answer me!”

“I said I’m going to continue living alone.”

I answer, feeling overwhelmed by Tenjō-san’s stern look.

“You’re not going back to live with your family!?”

Did I do something wrong to make her this angry?

“Yes, that’s the plan. At least until I graduate.”

“And your family is okay with that?”

“I’ll visit home more often than before, but other than that, it’ll stay the same as it has been.”

Upon hearing my answer, Tenjō-san seems to lose her spirit and staggers backward.

“Tenjō-san, are you okay? Are you feeling dizzy?”

“Do you have any idea how resolved I was when I went to the sea yesterday…”

“The one who went to the beach was Tōmi Rei, not Tenjō Reiyu.”

“That was just a pretext to take you out.”

She admitted it clearly.

Perhaps she no longer has the energy to pretend, Tenjō-san’s true feelings are spilling out.

Her disheartened look is kind of cute.

“Is it a bother for me to return here?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“Is there a problem?”

“There’s no longer a reason for you to live alone. Yet, if I just accepted that easily, it wouldn’t be fair to Kaguya-chan.”

“I have a message from Kaguya. 『 I’ll entrust Yuu-kun to you, Rei-oneechan』.”

“Really?”

“If you can’t believe it, please confirm with her yourself.”

Those words seemed to have resolved Tenjō-san’s inner conflict.

“I came back to my family just as you told me to.”

I grabbed her shoulders and told her directly while looking her straight in the eye.

“Ah?”

“Being with you is when I can be at ease the most. I can be the real Nishiki Yuunagi without lying to myself. There’s no one else like that for me.”

Even if there are moments when we need to be considerate, it never becomes exhausting.

There are still differences in our positions and ages that would make us conscious, but those are trivial in the grand scheme of a long life.

By the time I graduate from high school, it won’t bother me anymore.

“Uhh? So, what you mean is…”

“To me, Tenjō Reiyu is more family than family itself.”

“Isn’t that jumping to conclusions?”

“Isn’t that what believing in eternal love is about?”

“What do you mean by that?”

She’s particularly slow on the uptake today.

“That means, ultimately, it’s about getting married, right? You know, like at weddings, they often ask if you vow eternal love… Wait, is that not it!?”

I had thought that vowing eternal love, if taken literally, meant getting married.

It’s incredibly embarrassing to say something that sounds like a proposal first thing in the morning.

But I have to make my point clear now to prevent any unilateral decisions that would disregard my feelings in the future.

“No… it’s not wrong… but it’s too sudden when you put it that way.”

Her face turned bright red, and she was extremely flustered.

“Family isn’t just about the relationships we’re born into. It can also be created by strangers meeting and forming something new, right? I want to become a real family with you and live together.”

Now that it’s come to this, I double down without any hesitation.

I will leave no room for misinterpretation.

My feelings won’t cool just because our Neighbor Agreement was once dissolved.

“Um, so, uhh…”

Tenjō Reiyu was in total panic.

Her face turned as red as if it was boiling, and her eyes were spinning around.

“In short, the place I want to return to the most is by your side. From now on, Nishiki Yuunagi will live closest to Tenjō Reiyu.”

She was completely frozen, not moving at all.

Not knowing what else to do, I let go of her shoulders.

“…Yuunagi-kun, are you okay with that?”

“Is that a promise? I won’t give up until you believe in eternal love.”

“…Just now, I think I might be able to believe, even if it’s just a little.”

“I’ll be in trouble if you didn’t.”

I want to share this joy, but there’s also work to be done.

The person I love finally showed a dazzling smile like the sun.

Seeing that face, I finally felt like I had come back home.

My place is right beside her.

I’m sure of it.

“Welcome back, Yuunagi-kun.”

“I’m home, Tenjō-san.”

Slowly, something glistened at the corner of her eyes.

“Hey, are you crying aga—”

Before I could finish, she hugged me.

This time it wasn’t a coincidental accident.

Without a doubt, it was her own will that brought her into my arms.

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

While flustered, I gently wrapped my arms around her back.

“What if someone sees us? We might become the talk of the neighborhood.”

“It’s safe because you’re in plain clothes. To anyone who doesn’t know the situation, it would just look like lovers reluctant to part.”

“That’s bold.”

“Who do you think made me do something like this?”

Whispering to each other while embracing felt strangely fresh.

“Can I tell you something just between us?”

“What is it?”

“The excitement is too much. I don’t think I can concentrate properly in class after this.”

“Focus. I always try hard to keep my composure too.”

“You don’t seem to be struggling with that.”

“Adults don’t let their private issues affect their work.”

“Then why do your eyes look so puffy? Did you cry again last night?”

“Don’t say ‘again’! And no, I didn’t cry!”

She’s clearly being stubborn.

“Then why?”

“This is, well… It’s the tears of emotion shed while watching a movie.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. To think you have the energy to drive back and forth and also watch a movie.”

“It’s because I keep fit by swimming.”

That’s taking the swimming cure-all theory a bit too far.

“Did you miss me when I wasn’t next to you?”

I asked out of curiosity.

“Well, yeah.”

She admitted it straightforwardly.

“Can I make another suggestion?”

“What is it?”

“Should we restart the Neighbor Agreement?”

“Hmm, I wonder…”

She pretended to ponder, but her face was smiling.

“If we don’t tie the knot now, won’t it turn into a big problem?”

“Like what?”

“A neighbor with the self-control of a wild beast might start cooking meals for you, taking care of your daily needs, and possibly aiming for a naughty relationship.”

“That’s basically a crime, and in a way, it’s the same as usual.”

“What if a woman more attractive than Tenjō Reiyu appeared, and she started coming and going? Are you okay with that?”

“That would be annoying. Infidelity is punishable by the severest penalty.”

She seemed upset.

“I’m joking. So, what will you do?”

We looked at each other.

The answer was obvious without asking.

The secret relationship between Nishiki Yuunagi and Tenjō Reiyu will continue from now on.