Chapter 2: Sensei Got a fiance

Haruki sighed as he entered his apartment, spotting Yuki curled up on the couch. He walked over and gently shook him awake. "Yuki, wake up early tomorrow. I don't want to be late again."

"Um... I'll try my best, Sensei-san~~," Yuki mumbled sleepily.

Haruki chuckled. "Oh, come on. Call me Haruki or Uncle Haruki like you used to."

Yuki hesitated, then nodded. "I-I'll do my best."

"Just be yourself at home. You can consider this place your own, but I'll get seriously mad if you disturb me," Haruki added with a playful grin.

"Uh... Okay, U-Uncle Haruki-san~~," Yuki replied, his shyness evident.

The next morning, the sunlight streamed through the curtains, accompanied by the familiar, loud noise from Sakura's apartment next door. Haruki jolted awake, glancing at the clock. "NOOO, it's 9:45! Yuki, wake the hell up already, or I'll leave you here!"

They both scrambled to get ready and rushed out the door. As they stepped into the hallway, they saw Sakura waiting. Haruki quickly turned his head away, muttering, "Sorry, gotta go. We're already late."

But Sakura wasn't letting him off that easily. She grabbed his leg, pleading, "Please, Sensei! Let me come with you, I'm late too!"

"You're not even that late. You can just take the bus or something."

"Please, I want to come with you. Pleeease~," she insisted, her eyes wide and hopeful.

Yuki, seeing the situation, chimed in, "U-Ummm, Uncle Haruki, I think we're already more than late, and she won't leave you until you say yes. Sooo, I think it's better to just let her come!"

Haruki sighed, defeated. "Okay, fine... You can come."

As they arrived at school, the atmosphere changed. Everyone's eyes were on them as they stepped out of the car, and Haruki could feel the piercing glares from the students. Sakura was oblivious, but Haruki muttered under his breath, "Oh~~ I can't—These death stares are killing me."

"Sensei's a man, right? Keep it up, man up a little," Sakura teased with a smirk.

They entered the classroom just as the bell rang. Haruki raised an eyebrow at Sakura and Yuki, asking, "Why are you already here? You have 10 more minutes."

"I'm waiting for my friend," Sakura replied nonchalantly.

"I have nothing else to do, sooo~," Yuki added, shrugging.

Suddenly, Izumi, one of the students, spoke up, "Sensei~ Why were you and Sakura coming in at the same time? And I saw her getting out of your car."

Haruki's heart raced, and he forced a nervous laugh. "Um... Er... So, the reason she was in my car, he?.... Well, she is... a..."

Before he could finish, Sakura jumped in, "I'm engaged to Haruki-sensei."

"W-Whaaa...?" Haruki stammered, trying to play along. "Ahem, I-I mean, yes, I am her fiancé. Oh, sorry, I meant she is my fiancée."

The room fell into a stunned silence as everyone stared at them in shock. The glares intensified, and Haruki could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He had no idea how to handle this, so he simply continued with the class, hoping the day would end quickly.

After class, Haruki retreated to the staff room, needing a moment to clear his head. Meanwhile, Sakura's best friend, Ruka, cornered her. "What? Are you really engaged to sensei? I mean, look at the age difference—two whole years! Are you sure about this? Or is this something your family made you do?"

"No, dear, I'm truly engaged. And our age gap is just three years. I like 'em older—there's something cute about how they hide their desires but still reveal them a little while holding back because they care," Sakura explained with a playful wink.

"Okay, but first, let's escape from the laser beams that are the death stares from everyone else," Ruka suggested.

They managed to slip away and grabbed some drinks. As they relaxed, Sakura asked, "Aren't you jealous?"

"What do you mean? I have my Ren-kun," Ruka replied with a smile.

"Ohh~~ Nice going there!" Sakura teased, her mood lightening.

Just then, Haruki appeared, and Sakura quickly hatched a plan. She whispered to Ruka, "Watch this."

As Haruki walked by, she deliberately stumbled, causing him to catch her. He whispered, "Don't blush or panic, just act natural."

Holding her tight, he looked into her eyes and asked, "You're not hurt, right?" His forehead gently rested against hers, making her face turn a deep shade of red.

"You're fine~~," he continued softly. "Go to class; don't rush. You can finish your drink and then head back."

As he walked away, Sakura's heart raced, but she kept her cool. She heard the murmurings of the students as she returned to class.

"... Let's call her to karaoke, and if she comes with him, she's engaged. If she doesn't, she's not!"

Pretending she hadn't overheard, Sakura casually asked, "What y'all up to?"

Yuki tried to say something, but a glare from another student silenced him. Izumi, with a smile, replied, "Oh, we're going to karaoke, and we want to invite you too."

"Oh, can I invite sensei as well?" Sakura asked, testing the waters.

"O-Oh yes, you can!" Izumi stammered, trying to hide the group's true intentions.

After class, Sakura hopped into Haruki's car, leaning over to whisper, "Sensei, everyone's already suspicious of us. You've got to come to karaoke with us—room 135."

Yuki tried to interject, "E-er... Well... actu—... Nevermind."

They both ignored him, and Sakura added with a grin, "Make sure you wear something nice."