Chapter 3 Part III

Midnight after the second day had ended. The pool that was crowded during daytime was now silent. I was there to wait for a call to confirm a certain thing. Since the phones we were assigned after enrollment already had the contact numbers of the teachers added to them, it was an extremely simple task for me to contact Chabashira-sensei. Even though we were in the middle of summer, we're sailing right above the ocean's surface so the night wind was rather cold. "...sorry to keep you waiting, Ayanokouji". "I don't really care. More importantly, sorry for calling you out this late". "It's a consultation from a student, as a teacher I have an obligation to respond. It's nothing strange. For better or for worse, this is your first time calling me out here alone".

Chabashira-sensei who does not handle Class D with love, is not very well-liked by the students even in flattery. Even if the students have a problem, they are unlikely to ask her for a consultation. "There's something I'd like to ask sensei...your face is looking quite pale". I didn't notice at first in the dark. But Chabashira-sensei had a deathly pale face.

"...don't worry about it. It's just adult things. So what's the matter?". I could more or less understand the situation since I could smell the alcohol coming from her breath. "In this school, you told me there's nothing that cannot be 'bought' with points. But there are exceptions correct?". "I suppose so, exceptions naturally exist. For example, if you try to buy the lives of teachers and students with points we cannot allow that to happen".

"Then the most expensive thing ever bought with points in the past---". But before I finish my question, I quickly sensed the presence of an eavesdropper. "Ya-ha! Sae-chan. You feeling good?". It was Hoshinomiya-sensei that appeared. Was it just a coincidence? No, the probability of that is infinitely low. It would have been impossible for her to stumble onto this place without having tailed Chabashira-sensei.

"...aren't you drunk?". "Hmm? No of course not, there's no way I could be drunk. Are you perhaps playing dumb with me?". "Really...you can hold your liquor really well as usual. Both yesterday and today as well". Hoshinomiya-sensei kept her pace up and continued speaking. "Hello Ayanokouji-kun. Are you feeling well?". Acting overly familiar with me, she approached me, and acting overly familiar again, she puts her hands around my shoulders so close I could feel the alcohol coming from her breath. Of course someone underage like me wouldn't know, but is alcohol that good of a drink? Just by smelling it, I already feel like not drinking it.

"I'm fine. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't" I tell her. "A really impressive cute answer. So does Ayanokouji-kun like tsundere onee-sans like Sae-chan?" Hoshinomiya-sensei asked me. "Don't do that with students. It will interfere with our professional conduct". Thankfully, Chabashira-sensei grabbed Hoshinomiya-sensei by the nape and dragged her off me. I recall the conversation between teachers I heard yesterday. Even the teachers are wary of each other, competing with each other and deceiving each other to get to the top class.

I don't know whether that competition is meant to raise one's salary as a teacher, or if it's something carried over between Chabashira-sensei and Hoshinomiya-sensei from their student days. I'm sure the school and the teachers do attempt to make the system a fair one. If information were to unfairly be leaked, that in itself would be a severe problem. The teachers cannot avoid taking the responsibility for that. Considering that, it is very probable that Ichinose was assigned to (Rabbit) group without being told anything in particular. She possesses sharp insight and observation abilities after all. Sooner or later she will begin to suspect something is up. About 'why' should was assigned to (Rabbit) group in particular. It would be fine if she writes it off as a coincidence. But Hoshinomiya-sensei is bad at hiding her emotions so she would inevitably find out that she was sent to scout out Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

If that happens, I need to consider a counterattack. And just by thinking on it, I have already begun solidfying my defenses. "So what are the two of you talking about this late at night? Isn't this by itself a big problem?". "Big problem? As a teacher, isn't it obvious for me to respond to my student's anxieties and consult them on it" Chabashira-sensei replies to Hoshinomiya-sensei. "But if that's true, couldn't you do it in a more open place? There's no need to be sneaky with him".

As Hoshinomiya-sensei tries to figure her out, Chabashira-sensei maintains her sense of rationality and calm. "It's what Ayanokouji himself requested. He wanted to consult me in private without anyone knowing" she finally replies.

"Hmmm...well it's not like I have any complaints towards this". "I see, if you understand then go back to the bar. I'll join you shortly". "Ok, ok! Take your time, but remember not to do anything sexual" Hoshinomiya-sensei tells Chabashira-sensei. And leaving behind such an unnecessary warning, Hoshinomiya-sensei went back into the ship. It seems she's capable of concealing her presence very easily. "Sorry. For being troublesome teachers". "No such thing". Chabashira-sensei did not say anything about me being scouted out. I don't know what's going on between the two of them, but honestly this has nothing to do with me.

"Anyways, continuing where we left off. The biggest thing bought with points in the past". When I nodded slightly, Chabashira-sensei looked thoughtfully at me. "If I have to say, it would be 'to change the rules of the school'. Of course you can only change it realistically. For instance, you could change the regulations to allow you to arrive at school a minute later than usual and such". Chabashira-sensei chose to use an example to explain rather than a fact. "So only an example?". "Dissatisfied?". "No, it's ok. With this I can more or less understand the school system and the uses of points better". That means depending on how you use your points, even if it's for a trivial reason, one can challenge the school system itself. It seems private points are an extremely vital asset. "You could've asked that through mail. You didn't need to call me out for that" Chabashira-sensei says.

"Because sending a mail to you leaves a record. I'd like to avoid that" I tell her. And I decided to leave it at that and headed for an exit other than the one Hoshinomiya-sensei just used. While there are quite a lot of things I would like to confirm with her, I suppose this is enough for now. "I will be asking you for a favor soon" I tell her. And when I turned to leave, Chabashira-sensei for a moment, looked at me uncertainly.