Stealing Spree

Chapter 1402 Where To Eat?

Eguchi-senseiʼs car drove off the school grounds right before the end of the 4th period. The inspection was done and thereʼs really nothing else to do left there. Before we left, I got interrogated by Kanno-sensei; asking me where I ran off to and why I was with Hanabi.

Luckily, she had yet to visit Kazehito, or else, sheʼd find me out on my lie.

By stating facts that Hanabi guided me around the school before eventually returning to the parking lot, Kanno-sensei could only accept it.

Besides, sheʼs not even mad. Sheʼs just curious why I disappeared earlier. And to completely get her off my case, I told her I visited Kazehito in the infirmary.

With that, as though she remembered something important, she quickly excused herself from Eguchi-sensei and walked back the way they came from, partly walking and partly running.

Itʼs really good for her that sheʼs not wearing heels or sheʼd already trip many times over for rushing like that.

However, from how fast she switched gears like that, itʼs close to the confirmation that even though nothing is going on between them, theyʼre both important to each other.

I did leave behind advice to that guy. If he doesnʼt take the opportunity while he still has the strength to go to school, heʼll never get any more chances in the future.

Obviously, I wasnʼt rooting for them. And even if that sickly dude stepped up, I doubt Kanno-sensei would accept. I mean, Eguchi-sensei and I visited this school to make sure that no one was in a taboo relationship or no second Nobuo would pop up.

She probably understood the consequences in the slim chance that she was romantically fond of him.

One possible scenario is… they can confirm their mutual feelings and wait until Kazehito graduates next year. That way there will be no complications.

Anyway, before she left, Kanno-sensei secretly asked for my contact information. If I had to guess, that woman would try and keep on updating me about the sickly dude or just share whenever something pleasant happened to him. Thatʼs how passionate she was towards her sickly student.

Eguchi-sensei didnʼt notice that since she had already returned to her car when we were talking. Due to that, I simply got in the car so that we could finally go to our next destination.

We still have two schools to visit so thereʼs no time to waste.

”So, Onoda-kun, how is it? Was your exploration fruitful?”

Several minutes later, Eguchi-sensei brought that up when we got stopped at another red light.𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Sheʼs unaware of the task given to me by Hayashi-sensei but since itʼs also her idea to let me roam and observe outside the surveillance of the teachers or faculty members of the Third High, sheʼs also looking forward to my discoveries, if thereʼs any.

Unfortunately, I spent most of my time with Nao and Saionji and then with Hanabi next.

”Yes. Itʼs a little fruitful. None of the teachers is behaving suspiciously. And in the places I checked, nothing seems out of order. I talked to some of the students as well as that girl you saw with me earlier. Some mentioned the teacher that suddenly stopped coming to school and how his students found that weird when they still hadnʼt found a replacement with him.”

Although that was never brought up in the conversation I had with Saionji, Kazehito, and Hanabi, thatʼs something I heard from Nao way before this day.

Almost everything about the ʼstalkingʼ incident which Nao used as a case against him never leaked out to the students, after all. Thatʼs why itʼs safe to say that it was really the sentiment of those in that bastardʼs class or just students fond of his front image.

”Hmm. I see. Great job, Onoda-kun.” Without any notion of confirming or hearing more details about it, Eguchi-sensei nodded as she praised me. At the same time as the traffic light turned green and the car started moving again, Eguchi-sensei continued, also sharing what was on her mind or the result of her inspection.

”Iʼm aware that inspecting the school wonʼt really give us results or root out the problem that the Director told me. However, I think my… No, our presence alone is enough. By going under the guise of inspection, weʼre already serving some kind of warning to those who are hiding something.”

Yeah. Thatʼs really the case here. Weʼll be lucky if we caught someone just by roaming the halls but itʼs already satisfactory enough to make them wary. Unless theyʼre already in too deep into whatever shenanigans theyʼre doing, they might change their mind and stop altogether.

But thatʼs wishful thinking. If Hayashi-sensei really wanted to root all of the bad eggs out, she should hire a professional. Otherwise, this trip would just be nothing but an official visit by the representative of the Director and owner of the school.

Oh. I guess I can also call this a little date for us, right?

And speaking of that, the time quickly passed and before we knew it, it was already half an hour before noon.

Seeing the sun high up over our heads, Eguchi-sensei eventually brought up what we planned earlier, ”Uh, what do you think about going to the park, Onoda-kun? Before we continue to the other schools, letʼs eat our lunch.”

The woman slowed down her driving speed and soon came to a halt in front of the public park where the cityʼs cherry blossom trees were planted. Itʼs located near a lake and was fenced properly to serve as the number one picnic place for families or couples wanting to get some quality time.

Even though summer is already approaching us, the trees still have most of their leaves and provide great shade from the scorching midday sun.

At the moment, perhaps because itʼs a weekday and most people were either at work or school, the people staying at the park were sparse.

”Uhm. Sensei, I donʼt mind eating there but… Wonʼt it be bad if people saw us? Weʼre both in our uniforms.”

I never thought about this earlier when she brought them up but now that my head cleared up, itʼs really a little risky to go out with her in our current attire, right?

Upon hearing that, Eguchi-sensei intently stared at me. But as seconds passed, realization gradually dawned on her. Her eyes shook a little as an embarrassed expression eventually covered her face. Then, when she couldnʼt hold it in anymore, the woman slumped her forehead down on the steering wheel. She issued a low shriek that sounded a little frustrated. Most likely, sheʼs chastising herself for not realizing it sooner.

I didnʼt say anything and just waited for her to recover. A minute later, she raised her head and turned to me, ”Uh… Letʼs go somewhere else instead… My house is on the way if we change our route. I just donʼt know if—”

Before she could finish that, I already put on a smile and answered along with a nod, ”Yes, itʼs fine with me, sensei. Rather than show ourselves to the public, I think itʼs better to go somewhere private. I trust sensei so…”

”Really?” Despite flashing a rather complicated look at first, Eguchi-senseiʼs eyes slowly brightened as the idea of having lunch together in her house set in her mind.

”Mhm. Besides, Iʼm also looking forward to eating the lunch you prepared, sensei. Thatʼs my reward from yesterday, right?”

To prevent her from being embarrassed again when she realized how obvious she was becoming, I brought up the excuse that she could use.

And sure enough, Eguchi-sensei bit at it as she answered, ”Y-yeah. Itʼs part of your reward for winning the activity and setting the record.”

”Part? Then does that mean I have more to look forward to?”

”Y-you can say that… But Onoda-kun, if you feel uncomfortable, donʼt hesitate to tell me.”

This woman... She probably thought that I might find her actions disturbing when she was supposed to have shelved her infatuation with me.

”Uncomfortable? That wonʼt happen. Iʼll be honest, sensei. Iʼm enjoying spending time with you.”

Like being shot by an invisible arrow straight to her heart, Eguchi-sensei failed to respond to that as she quickly turned her head in the opposite direction. But with her gradually reddening ear and exposed neck fully captured in my eyes, itʼs easy to imagine what could be the state of her face.

A little satisfied at teasing her, I didnʼt push her further and simply waited in my seat.

A while later, Eguchi-sensei silently drove her car in the direction of her house.

I donʼt know what else should I expect coming there but I really have to decide whether to continue teasing her or just become her obedient student.

Unfortunately, Iʼm already leaning toward the former. Weʼll see…