Chapter 11: Resignation and Determination – A Strange Distance

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Translator: Soapf

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On a late January afternoon at four o’clock, with gray clouds spreading across the sky, the cold winter air pricking my skin, I stood frozen outside the school building, torn between escaping through the back gate or going through the front gate.

The reason for my hesitation was that in front of the school gate, actress Marin Kousaka and singer Kagura Shinomiya were waiting for me, of all people.

To be honest, I wasn't unhappy about them delivering my lost item.

However, being someone who dislikes attention, I wanted to avoid the curious stares from my classmates and other students as much as possible.

After some hesitation, I crept closer to the gate and peeked out. As I expected, they were there.

Students were gathering around them, and it had turned into something like a celebrity event.

“Sensei, I found you!”

A familiar voice echoed through the crowd.

The first to spot me was Kagura Shinomiya, with her brown fluffy bob hairstyle, looking vibrant.

She wore a simple white blouse, black skirt, and coat, yet the combination made her stand out. When she waved energetically, the students around her whispered, “Sensei?” “Who's that?”

Meanwhile, Marin Kousaka, wearing a half coat over a white knit sweater and a checkered skirt, was scanning the area, seemingly looking for me.

Her long hair swayed gently under the winter sky, adding to her graceful charm.

She politely declined the students asking for autographs and photos, looking a little uneasy.

At this point, there was no escaping.

I knew that drawing attention from everyone was inevitable. But I couldn't ignore the fact that they had come all the way here just to see me.

“Sorry, um, it looks like things have gotten a bit noisy.”

I cautiously approached and spoke to them, and Kagura immediately tugged at my tie with a playful smile.

A murmur spread among the students around us. “Who’s that? They're so close!”

“Sensei, you finally showed up. Me and Marin have been waiting for you,” Kagura said with a teasing smile, still holding my tie.

“Ka-Kagura-san, if you pull me like that…”

At that moment, Marin shyly smiled and gently tugged at my sleeve.

Her black short boots and black tights, combined with her knee-length skirt, gave her a refined look. Her beauty was so different from the pure image of the actress I was used to seeing on TV—there was a raw, vivid cuteness about her that made my heart race.

“Sensei, are you okay? Being here too long might, um… cause you trouble?”

Though students were still crowding around, both of them gently declined further requests, casting concerned glances my way.

Honestly, this was a stressful situation for someone like me who didn't want to be in the spotlight. But the more I looked at Marin and Kagura, the more I realized how beautiful they were, and it made me feel an inexplicable joy that they had come just to see me.

Of course, I couldn't express that joy openly, and instead, my cheeks just grew hotter.

Kagura continued to hold my tie and smiled up at me playfully while Marin responded by gripping my sleeve more tightly.

“This place is too crowded and uncomfortable… Since you've come all this way, how about we move to a nearby café I usually go to?”

“Yay! Let's go, Sensei! Hurry up and show us!”

Kagura said with excitement, crossing her arms.

Marin, a little more reserved, leaned in next to me.

Around us, students whispered, “Wait, are they leaving? Who is that guy?” Their confused and envious looks mixed, but at this point, I couldn't care less about them.

Still, I could tell that the more Marin and Kagura called me “Sensei,” the more the students around us were getting confused.

It was certainly an odd combination.

Anyone who saw this mismatched pair of me with two beautiful women would probably think it was some kind of setup.

“Sensei, you can relax, you know? We like you more than you think.”

“Ka-Kagura-san, Marin-san, don't say such things so openly…”

“Because it's the truth. Right, Marin?”

Kagura said with a teasing smile.

“…Yeah. I'm really happy to see you again, Sensei.”

Marin replied, her smile sincere.

Why would they like me so much?

It was still hard to believe, but their smiles showed that it wasn't a lie.

I felt a tight sensation in my chest.

Though embarrassed and not wanting to stand out, the fact that they felt this way about me made me want to muster a little more courage and open up to them.

Under the cloudy sky, with the murmurs of the students behind me, I began walking toward a quiet street, accompanied by the two of them.

There was a feeling of unease, but something in my heart warmed, and I couldn't help but smile.