Straight Ball!

Chapter 32: Straight Ball!

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Monday, the second most hated day for students...

The most hated was Wednesday.

That was a trash day stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Already tired from two days, yet still having to attend three more days of school – truly depressing.

Forget it, enough said...

Sobu High, Teacher's Office.

Luke subtly scanned the desk, searching for his target.

This little rascal.

Hiratsuka Shizuka stared intently into his eyes, cursing inwardly, pulling her well-developed chest back slightly.

But you're still too naive.

Hiratsuka Shizuka sneered inwardly, crossing her arms over her chest, firmly hiding the cigarettes in her outer jacket pocket.

Let's see what you do now!

This adult is too despicable.

Luke also noticed the bulge on Hiratsuka Shizuka's chest, speechlessly averted his gaze, thinking with utter disgust—

Do you really think I'd definitely steal those cigarettes?

Not even a shred of trust between teacher and student.

How disheartening.

Feeling distrusted, Luke said irritably:

"Is there something you need, Hiratsuka-sensei...?"

"About the matter..."

Speaking of official business, Hiratsuka Shizuka rubbed her head troubledly.

"Calling you here at this time is definitely about your homework! Can't you be a little more serious? Write me a normal assignment?"

Luke frowned.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, you can't just say things like that. How am I not serious? Although, like ordinary people, I've inevitably done some small bad deeds, the merits I've gained from doing good are enough for me to go to heaven after death. If you slander a good person like this, be careful you won't get marr—"

"Be careful you'll go to hell."

"Sigh." Hiratsuka Shizuka remained deeply troubled, helplessly poking his forehead with her finger.

"You... can you stop changing the subject? I'm talking about your homework—don't write it like a novel for me, okay? A perfectly good Japanese Literature assignment turned into a serialized novel slot by you."

"Didn't you say you could appropriately... loosen up for me?" Luke pointed at Hiratsuka Shizuka, looking at her questioningly.

"You wouldn't go back on your word, would you? Sensei."

This was the promise Hiratsuka Shizuka made when she asked him to join the Service Club.

"I can give you some leeway, that doesn't mean you can be so unscrupulous!" Hiratsuka Shizuka raised her voice slightly, speaking angrily.

"Insincere, cold, and heartless woman; how many times..." Luke muttered.

Hiratsuka Shizuka stopped him with a dark line on her forehead.

"Don't learn that stuff from Yukinoshita. Stop using sentences from who-knows-what book to mock people."

"Doesn't Sensei also frequently use outdated manga plots from over ten years ago to entertain herself..."

Under Hiratsuka Shizuka's increasingly dangerous gaze, his voice grew smaller and smaller...

"Sigh... What sins have I committed?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka looked up at the ceiling, lamenting silently in her heart, seemingly regretting her choice to become a teacher back then.

Pulling herself together, Hiratsuka Shizuka asked, "Right, how are things going between you and Yukinoshita in the Service Club?"

"What about my homework?" Luke quickly asked.

"Rejected!" Hiratsuka Shizuka made a big 'X' with her arms across her chest!

"Heh," Luke sneered.

"Just rewrite it properly..." Hiratsuka Shizuka picked up her pen, preparing to write comments.

"Things with Yukinoshita definitely aren't good, but I think I understand her somewhat now."

Hearing his words, Hiratsuka Shizuka stopped her movements, looking up at him puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

Luke leaned nonchalantly against the desk, lightly explaining the analysis he'd gathered from joining the Service Club these past few days.

"Her heart rejects loneliness, longs for friends, yet walls off her inner self due to various experiences."

"Has no experience making friends, and even uses the walls she built to obstruct those who approach..."

"Though I feel bad saying it, honestly, it's expected that she has no friends."

Hiratsuka Shizuka calmed down and asked, "Any ideas?"

"A straight ball would be better."

"Hmm?" Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't understand.

"A straight ball, a bare-naked straight ball." Luke said confidently.

Although he hadn't experienced much on his own life path, he had seen many benign spirits transformed from humans.

His experiences interacting with these benign spirits gave him a lot of life experience.

"Don't worry about any obstacles, just charge straight through. Whether catering to her interests or simply being interested, just treat her as a friend unilaterally and use time to break down her defenses. After all, you said Yukinoshita is a gentle person. Gentle people can't refuse a straight ball."

"I didn't expect you'd already have a plan," Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at the boy, surprised.

She had previously thought he would be the first one between the two to be seen through and reformed...

Although he had the ability to live peacefully within a group, having lost that inclination due to long-term detachment from communal life, he basically had no friends and no motivation to make friends;

But compared to Yukinoshita Yukino, who was soft inside yet had built strong walls around herself, he was still more likely to return to a normal life. After all, Yukinoshita Yukino's almost rebellious attitude of adhering to truth and self not only hindered herself but also hindered those who wanted to get close to her.

However, Hiratsuka Shizuka hadn't expected him to be the first to launch an attack.

A straight ball, maybe it really is effective.

At least it's worth a try...

"So, my homework..."

Luke tapped his finger on the desk, the meaning obvious.

"Your homework?" Hiratsuka Shizuka blinked, picked up her pen, and promptly wrote comments on it.

"Of course, it's perfect! I've never seen such writing. The path of a literary master lies beneath your pen."

[Notification]: [Occupation Mission (Student)]: Study hard, improve daily – the duty of every student. Complete homework assignment (50/50) Completed. You have received a reward: Five Thunder Command Token.

[Five Thunder Command Token]: Striking the token can summon wind and rain, command thunder and lightning.

[Notification]: You have received a new mission [Occupation Mission (Student)]: The body is the capital for learning. Increase Constitution by 5 points. Constitution Target: 9/14.

"That's good." Luke nodded with satisfaction, very happy about completing the homework and the mission.

Five Thunder Command Token, quite fitting for an exorcist.

And Hiratsuka Shizuka, having insincerely passed an unqualified assignment, leaned back in her chair, feeling dead inside.

She forced herself to ask, "Then do you know Yukinoshita's hobbies? If you want to win the competition this way, do you need some intel from me?"

"Sensei should just stay out of this, okay? I still want to win the competition fairly..." Luke leaned closer to Hiratsuka Shizuka, took off his glasses, and locked eyes with her.

"Besides, Sensei should also consider herself."

"Sensei is pretty, kind to others, has a great figure..."

Under his words, Hiratsuka Shizuka blushed inexplicably, but her dignity as a teacher didn't let her back down.

She bravely met his gaze.

"Do you want to lecture me like an elder too?"

"Yes, it's precisely because Sensei smokes and is violent..." Luke's tone suddenly shifted as he looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka.

"What?" Hiratsuka Shizuka paused.

"That Sensei can't get married!"

"You bastard?!" Hiratsuka Shizuka instantly exploded, her arm locking around his neck in a flash.

Guillotine!

Being choked, Luke frantically tapped his teacher's arm.

Showing good fighting spirit, Hiratsuka Shizuka released her hold on him according to the 'rules', smoothing the stray hair beside her flushed face.

"That's a lesson for having a loose tongue."

"Ah~" Luke twisted his neck.

The cracking sound made him quickly say, "Sensei, I might have contracted a disease that prevents me from attending class..."

"Are you the long-nosed sniper of the Straw Hat Pirates? Get back to class obediently," Hiratsuka Shizuka slapped the desk repeatedly.

"Yes."

Watching Luke quickly leave, Hiratsuka Shizuka reached into her outer jacket pocket.

A helpless sigh escaped her.

"Those cigarettes were expensive!"

...

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