Kissing My Student, It's Over if We're Caught-Chapter 4Volume 1 .6 - Trauma: Separation

I silently accept the situation.

Kirihara never ceased to smile.

“Is that so? Then, that’s fine. But even if so, I have no intention of saying anything beyond what we’ve just discussed.”

Those words might have been directed at me as well.

“Even if I was being used by Hajima-sensei, I’m satisfied with that. That’s how much I like him.”

Without hesitation, Kirihara stated this clearly.

After a moment of stiffness, Kurei-san took a deep breath and sighed deeply.

“I understand. There’s nothing beyond what we’ve just talked about, and that’s fine with you, Hajima-sensei?”

She pressed for confirmation.

This was the last chance to deny it.

…But I couldn’t find any merit in denying it.

No matter how I answered, the time when Kirihara and I—we made dinner together and ate together—that time could probably never be regained.

Kirihara’s choice was the right answer.

The moment Kurei-san saw us together, we had no choice but to prioritize minimizing the damage.

“…It’s as Kirihara says. …I’m sorry.”

Immediately, Kirihara interjected.

“Hajima-sensei isn’t to blame. That’s the truth.”

Kurei-san fell silent.

“What do you want to do about us? Will you bring it up at the staff meeting?”

In response to Kirihara’s sharp question, Kurei-san shook her head and said “No.”

“I’ve told you before, Hajima-sensei. Students are children, but they are also humans. I don’t deny that they can be attracted to the opposite sex and to each other. I don’t want to destroy your lives. I’ll keep this matter to myself.”

My heart ached. I was filled with remorse.

“But make a promise to me. As someone who has lived a little longer, let me advise you. If your relationship or the feelings Kirihara-san has for Hajima-sensei come to light, it will never end happily. It could ruin your lives. …It might be hard, but keep your distance. Kirihara-san, you understand, right?”

“Yes,” Kirihara agreed immediately.

“That’s the plan. I don’t want to cause any confusion for the one I like.”

Kirihara looked at me and then bowed her head.

“I’m sorry for insisting too much. I’ll be more aware from now on.”

…Shamefully, I wasn’t able to say anything.

After leaving the student council room, Kurei-san and I returned to the staff room. Once we were sure we were alone, Kurei-san looked at me sympathetically and said:

“You also need to keep the promise. It’s for the best for both of you.”

“…You’re not angry at me?”

“Getting angry won’t help. I can somewhat guess why Kirihara-san acted the way she did.”

Kurei-san bit her lip as if in regret.

“I heard about the time she had a fever and her parents didn’t come to pick her up. Wanting to be spoiled by someone isn’t something I can’t understand.”

“…”

“Tell Kirihara-san that if she has any troubles, she can consult with me. And if she comes to you for advice, let me be present.”

“…Understood.”

In the end, neither Kirihara nor Kurei-san blamed me.

After returning home, I sent a message to Kirihara.

“Was this the right thing to do?”

Her reply came immediately.

“There was no other way. If we told the truth, it would be bad for both of us, right?”

I didn’t know how to respond.

Thank you? Sorry?

…Either response felt like it would disappoint Kirihara.

While I was hesitating, Kirihara sent a video.

It showed her laptop screen.

She was on the network drive management screen, operating the mouse icon to delete some data.

She was deleting a file named “rokuon data” (recording data).

…Probably the data from that day.

The data Kirihara used to keep me tied to her.

“You’re free now. Let’s go back to normal from now on.”

Her messages kept coming.

“Oh, but is it still okay to play online games? haha… That’s still a secret relationship.”

…After a little thought, I typed a reply.

“If that’s what Kirihara wants.”

“Okay then. See you in the game. Thanks for your hard work!”

And so, the complicit relationship between Kirihara and me was over.

It ended with me being protected unilaterally.

Only a sense of shame and emptiness filled my heart.

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