Chapter 2: He's change

"How are you guys feeling?"

"We're fine, teacher!"

"Hehe! Alright then, let's pick up last week's topic! Please open up page 120."

Right now, I'm reading a good book here.

Like I said, I won't have problems with my grades. I think it's better to think about something else. Yup. I'm thinking about earning money soon.

Overall, this world is different from my past. It's easy to read the market here.

This reminds me of when I used to go to the trading market, working my ass off at night. Later, I stopped scalping trades until trading became bullshit. Then I began to invest in companies with bright futures. A long-term investment is better.

"Hey! Stop dozing off, Yamano-kun. And where is your textbook?"

I hadn't realized the teacher had just come to my desk because I was so deep into this.

Tilting my head, I notice a woman in a formal suit. Long brown hair and an overall beautiful woman in her 20s—Tachibana Hina. Hold up. When I look at her again, I wonder, have I ever seen her somewhere in a past life? Maybe she's a character I watched once before? Anyway, the teacher is actually my cousin. She's recently become a teacher at this school to teach English.

"I'm sorry, Hina. I was distracted."

Surely she pulled my ears. "Call me sensei when we're here! And page 120, quick!"

"Yes, yes."

"Okay. How about you read the next paragraph for all of us here?"

"..."

As I lift myself from my seat, I open the page and start to read. I'm not as good as an English voice actor, but my public speaking is good enough for this simple paragraph. Once I finish, I look back at Hina.

"Do I pass, Ma'am?"

Hina looks at me with her jaw gaping a little. Glancing around, my classmates have the same expression as her.

"O-Ohhhhh! I see... hm... right, good job. You may sit down again, Yamano-kun."

I nodded and went back to my seat.

I think I'll open the trading market again later tonight... or hm, let's think about that later.

"Ahem! As you can see, Yamano-kun has given a very good example of how to speak like a native English speaker. I hope you guys can learn from him. Understood?"

"Yes, sensei!"

"Yuuta. You're amazing..."

Coincidentally, Natsuha's seat was beside mine. She looked at me as if I'd done something amazing. Well, I felt the others' gazes too.

"Oh, thanks." I said simply and returned to my non-subject-related book.

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Lunchtime. I didn't bring any lunch, so I just grabbed snacks from the vending machine and went to the school rooftop as fast as possible.

The truth is, I'm still quite bewildered after getting these memories back. So, sightseeing might be good for me.

As I eat the snack bar while leaning against the tall fence, the door to the rooftop opens and someone giggles.

"It's Yuuta-kun! I've never seen you here before, have I?"

It's just Hina. I shrug my shoulders as the sound of her heels grows closer.

"Yeah. Why?"

Hina grins and wraps her left arm around my neck like she's a good buddy of mine. When she does that, I know she's now acting like the big sister I knew. Back then, she was a high school student. And she always did this when I was a brat.

"Ehhhh~ really? I smell something fishy here. I mean, you're always spending time with that girl, right?"

I snort and push her arm away. "Get off me. Your boobs are pressing too much—it's annoying. What's your problem with me being here alone?"

Hina holds back a laugh. "Pffft! I forgot! You're now a teenage boy. I should keep my distance since you might jump at me. So, are you guys fighting?"

I sigh inwardly. It seems if I don't give her what she wants, this woman won't leave me alone.

"Hey, come on! You can tell me! How about ramen after school? Since you showed off that fabulous English accent, I'll treat you. But how did you learn that?"

I hum. "Movies? I watch Harry Potter."

Hina pouts. "That's bullshit. Since you don't wanna tell me, how about asking this big sis for love advice?"

I turn, side-eyeing her, and see her puppy-sparkling eyes.

"Do you really want to know? I think you can't handle the truth."

"Yes! Yes! In fact, I'll give you advice! Now, hit me." She says smugly.

I sigh for real. "I caught my bitch having sex with a guy. Got any advice?"

This time, her face turns solid and pale.

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(Natsuha's POV)

Apparently, Yuuta isn't just really good at English—he's also received praise in art, science, and even spoke fluently in German class.

[I'm sorry for doubting your knowledge, Miss Beatrix. I think you understand Japanese culture better than I do.]

[Of course~ Well, you can call me the expert. Since you're my student, I don't mind giving you extra classes about Japanese culture another day. We can start by visiting a temple and then finish our day in a hot spring together! Blahblahblahblah~ How does that sound?]

[Cough! By that, do you mean... together?]

[Don't mixed-gender hot springs exist?]

[You're right. Forgive my insolence master.]

[Don't say that, Yuuta-san!]

Wait... did she just call my boyfriend by his first name?

It's been 30 minutes. Yuuta and Beatrix Amerhauser-sensei are still talking in German, and our teacher seems to have forgotten the rest of us. I don't understand a word, but that's not the problem. I could tell he seemed to be flirting with our German teacher.

Surely of course. After that, Yuuta's popularity started increasing as classmates wanted to form a study group with him. Hehehe. I'm sorry, but I'll monopolize Yuuta. I'm his girlfriend, after all.

However, I could feel something big changing in him.

I knew Yuuta was smart, so I'm not surprised by the teachers' praise.

But the Yuuta I know is shy, yet today he's so confident. He somehow has this charm I've never seen before. I think Yuuta has finally grown up and matured!

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School has ended, and we walk back home.

I want to start a conversation, but I'm hesitant.

Yuuta is absorbed in his own world, reading a book while walking. Can someone even read and walk at the same time? He doesn't seem to have any problems with it.

As we walk, I stop.

"Yuuta..."

He stops and looks at me. "What's wrong?"

I glance away, my face burning.

"Um..." I point at the convenience store beside us. "Should we buy co-condoms first...?"

Why am I even shy about this?!

"That won't be needed."

I gulp. Are we doing it without protection? Why does he sound so manly today? My heart skips a beat. Come to think of it, I've never had sex with him—or anyone. When I turn around, "W-Wait, Yuuta!" He's already walked ahead, leaving me with these dirty thoughts.

Later, we arrive at my house's front door without another word. I unlock the door, and we step inside. I take off my shoes and head in first.

"Right! Um... Yuuta, should I make tea? I also think I should take a shower first— um... Yuuta?"

He's still standing at the front door, staring at me with an unfamiliar intensity.

I've never seen Yuuta like this before.

"Natsuha, let's break up."

"Huh?"

What did he just say?