Chapter 137: What? Someone’s trying to steal my spot?

Kanda Shuichi didn't expect Kushida Kikyo's action, and he didn't know how to react. Even if he did, he probably wouldn't be able to get away.

The soft touch on his face, combined with a faint, gentle fragrance—was it the scent of body wash?—made Kanda Shuichi feel something unusual. 

After a while...

"I can't breathe," 

Kanda Shuichi said suddenly, breaking the warm, almost intimate atmosphere.

"Tch~ I thought you'd hug me back," Kushida said with a look of impatience, then released Kanda Shuichi's head.

"Are you kidding me? If you want my hug so badly, wait until we're back at school. I'll be waiting in my room for you," Kanda Shuichi replied. Although it was summer, the sea breeze made the evening slightly chilly.

He hadn't noticed it much before, but once he stepped away from Kushida's warm embrace, he suddenly felt the cold.

"I'm heading back. The sea breeze at night is cold. You should head back too, or you might catch a cold." Kanda Shuichi reminded Kushida as he started walking.

"Thanks for your concern, Kanda-kun. I'll head back too." Kushida's expression returned to normal and became sweet again.

"The cold drink shop is closed, so I'm going to the vending machines on the lower deck," Kanda Shuichi said, looking at the cold drink shop, which had already closed for the night.

The earlier interaction with Kushida made him a little thirsty, so he decided to grab something to drink.

"Let's go together. I just earned 100,000 points, so I'll treat you," Kushida said with a bright smile.

Can we not bring that up? I know you earned 100,000 points—using MY 100,000 points!

Tch, never playing Mahjong again!

Winning or losing doesn't matter, but being mocked all the time is so annoying!

Since the cruise ship's structure was terraced, the higher up you went, the smaller the area, and the first floor had the most complete facilities.

As Kanda Shuichi and Kushida Kikyo walked towards the vending machines, Kanda Shuichi noticed a combination of people that he didn't usually see.

The homeroom teachers from Class A, Mashima Tomonari, Class B's homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya Chie, and Class D's homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, were currently at a nearby bar having drinks.

The three of them were sitting at the bar counter, facing away from Kanda Shuichi and Kushida Kikyo, so they didn't notice them.

There were also some other teachers sitting in different areas of the bar, such as on sofas or at tables, passing the time.

"Kanda, do you want something to drink?"

Kushida Kikyo turned around when she noticed Kanda Shuichi wasn't responding and saw that he was looking elsewhere.

Curious, Kushida Kikyo also turned her head.

"Hey? Are those... the teachers?"

"Let's go check it out. I think the conversation they're having might be interesting."

With that, Kanda Shuichi grabbed Kushida Kikyo's hand and pulled her closer to the bar.

"Shh~"

After making a quieting gesture to Kushida, Kanda Shuichi moved forward as quietly as possible.

Kushida followed Kanda Shuichi's lead, moving slowly.

Since this was a bar and Japanese law prohibits anyone under 20 from drinking, while students could technically enter, it was rare for students to just wander around here. 

The adults didn't seem to be paying attention to the outside, so the two managed to sneak in without issue.

"I feel like it's been a long time since the three of us have been able to sit down like this, so relaxed."

Hoshinomiya's voice faintly came from their direction. She had a different vibe from the others, so it was easy to recognize her.

"This was meant to be. Though we took a roundabout way, in the end, we all chose the teaching path."

Hmm? Sae-chan actually said something like that? Kanda Shuichi thought it was odd and instinctively looked at Kushida, only to see the same surprise in her eyes.

"Stop talking. There's no point in saying things like that."

Next, Mashima-sensei from Class A interrupted them.

"Ah—speaking of which, I saw you the other day! You were on a date, right? Is she your new girlfriend? Mashima, you're surprisingly quite the flirt. You always seem like such a quiet, cold person."

"Tsk, what about you? How's your ex?" 

"Haha, we broke up after two weeks. I'm the type of person who cools down as soon as a relationship deepens. Once I've done what I need to do, I just move on."

"Didn't expect Hoshinomiya-sensei to actually be a bit of a... womanizer."

Upon hearing their conversation, Kushida muttered under her breath.

You're not much better, right? You even made me touch your chest before. 

After hearing that, Kanda Shuichi glanced at her chest.

"What are you looking at?"

"We've already touched, so what's wrong with looking?"

After glaring at Kanda Shuichi, Kushida Kikyo didn't say anything more but kept her attention on the three teachers.

If they could gather any key information here, it might come in handy later.

"By the way, Sae-chan, what's going on with that Kanda kid from your class?" Hoshinomiya, a little tipsy, started complaining, while the person in question, Kanda Shuichi, was quietly eavesdropping nearby.

"To come up with such a chaotic plan and actually make it work." 

In response to Hoshinomiya's complaints, Mashima simply nodded silently. "A student who managed to earn tens of millions of points before the second semester of the first year even started, that's unprecedented since the founding of this school."

"Right? Right? Why did the school put someone like that in Class D? It's unfair! Unfair! He should be in Class B instead!" 

Seeing Hoshinomiya starting to act up, Chabashira-sensei, who had been quietly drinking nearby, glanced at her. "Chie, I suggest you not do anything unnecessary. You met with Kanda privately a few mornings ago, right? What are you planning to do?"

Hearing Chabashira's words, Kanda Shuichi was shocked. Damn, Chabashira-sensei noticed what happened that day? Was that a good thing or a bad thing?

Meanwhile, Mashima placed his drink down on the table, seemingly waiting for Hoshinomiya's response.

"What do you mean by unnecessary things? I didn't do anything." 

Luckily, Hoshinomiya-sensei is reliable, or else Chabashira-sensei's plan to change her outfit would have been ruined.

"It's best if that's true." Mashima-sensei nodded and immediately warned Hoshinomiya in a stern tone. "Though the rules don't ban teachers from poaching, I hope you follow ethical conduct. I'd prefer not to report a colleague's missteps."

"Seriously—I'm so untrusted, and you all just keep scolding me. Wasn't Sakagami-sensei the one who broke the rules during the exam? By proper standards, Ryuen shouldn't even be in the Dragon Group, right?" 

Hoshinomiya complained, slumping on the bar counter.

"But even if Ryuen is in the Dragon Group, he still couldn't stop that Kanda guy," Chabashira responded.

"Tch, Sae-chan, are you gloating?" 

"No, I'm just speaking the truth." With that, Chabashira finished the last bit of her drink, stood up, and said, "I'm heading back."

"Huh? It's still early, why are you going back already~~~"

Chabashira-sensei simply grabbed her suit jacket from the back of her chair and left the bar.

Seeing this, Kanda Shuichi and Kushida Kikyo sneakily left as well, heading back to the vending machine.

"We didn't get any useful information," Kanda Shuichi shrugged.

"I think we learned something," Kushida said, picking out her drink, then giving Kanda Shuichi a suspicious look. "What did you and Hoshinomiya-sensei talk about? You don't actually want to switch classes, do you?"

"What are you talking about? I'd never want to leave Chabashira-sensei." 

He then took her phone from her, bought a bottle of Tachibana soda, and stuffed the phone into her jacket pocket.

By the way, this person is pretty clever—she knew it would be cold tonight, so she wore her uniform before the meeting.

Kushida didn't find Kanda Shuichi's actions odd either. After spending who knows how many days in his room to vent her stress, the two were fairly close, so she didn't mind things like this.

"So you just can't leave Chabashira-sensei, huh?" Kushida Kikyo gave Kanda Shuichi a suspicious look.

"Of course there's more to it, why would you even ask? I can't leave Horikita either!" 

Kanda Shuichi smiled, looking at Kushida Kikyo, who was blushing slightly.

"You bastard, you're doing this on purpose to tease me, aren't you?"

"Did you ask because you already knew the answer?" Kanda Shuichi said with annoyance. "Let's go back."

"Hmph!"

Damn Horikita! It's all your fault!

After returning to the room, Hirata was chatting with Miyake.

"Hey, you two seem to be having a good conversation."

"Yeah, I heard you got punished for playing Mahjong today, Shuichi," Miyake said, grinning as soon as he saw Kanda Shuichi.

Kanda Shuichi's expression immediately faded, and the spark in his eyes slowly disappeared.

"Hey, Akito, do you have any last words?"

...

Damn Akito, don't think just because I couldn't beat you in Mahjong, I won't be able to get back at you!

And you, Hirata, spreading the mistake of the great Kanda Shuichi... how dare you!

After some playful banter, the three of them took turns showering and going to bed. It was only when Kanda Shuichi lay down on his bed that he noticed a message from Hirata.

[Hey, I'm going to meet Karuizawa later. Can you come along?]

Hmm? Wait, I don't mind you secretly meeting your girlfriend at night, but why are you calling me along? Do you think it'll be more exciting if someone's spying?

No way... I didn't expect this from you, Hirata Yosuke!

Kanda Shuichi picked up his phone.

[No problem.]

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