Chapter Sixty-Three: Nobue Ito's Renewed Request

“Um…”

A sudden voice at his side shattered the silent exchange between Anhe and Rena Serizawa.

Turning his head, he saw Keiko Kitajima, who had approached without his noticing, gazing at them with confusion. She hesitated, then asked, “Do you know each other, Yusei-kun and Serizawa-san?”

At her words, the two exchanged a glance. Rena Serizawa was about to shake her head, but Anhe was the first to speak up: “Yes, we do! Rena-chan and I are good friends.”

Hearing this, Keiko Kitajima remembered how she’d just been gossiping about Rena Serizawa with him. Embarrassment colored her face, and she could only force a laugh before hurrying away.

Once Keiko Kitajima had gone, Rena Serizawa immediately tugged on Anhe’s sleeve.

“What is it?” Anhe asked in confusion, turning to see that Rena Serizawa had produced a notepad at some point, covered in scribbled, cutesy handwriting.

“If you say that, you’ll get yourself in trouble,” she wrote.

“It’s fine,” Anhe replied with a casual wave, seeming completely unconcerned. Rena Serizawa grew anxious, stamping her foot in place, and quickly tore off the note to write another.

“What if the rest of the class starts to shun you too?” the new note asked.

“Then let them,” Anhe said nonchalantly, glancing at the content. Suddenly, he reached out and ruffled Rena Serizawa’s hair, chuckling softly. “As long as I have you as my adorable friend, why should I care about anyone else?”

At his words, Rena Serizawa’s cheeks flushed a vivid red. Especially with so many people around, Anhe’s affectionate gesture left her completely at a loss, and she could only stand there, head down, unable to protest.

Fortunately, the bell for class soon rang.

Reluctantly, Anhe withdrew his hand and returned to his seat. Petting Rena Serizawa’s head always gave him the pleasant feeling of stroking a cat.

As for Rena Serizawa, the moment Anhe’s large hand left her head, she felt a wave of relief—strangely mixed with a sense of emptiness, as if…

As if she didn’t want that warm hand to leave.

“Mmm…” The thought flashed through her mind, and her face burned even redder. Yet despite herself, her gaze drifted once more to Anhe’s back.

Before long, the teacher for the first class entered—a bald man who taught English. Anhe vaguely remembered that his wife was a member at some yoga studio…

Shaking his head to clear away thoughts that were less than wholesome, Anhe focused on the lesson. Although he could easily use skill points to improve his English, he didn’t see the need. As far as he was concerned, being able to handle daily conversation was more than enough.

***

Behind him, Rena Serizawa sat up straight, her face full of earnest concentration as she watched the teacher at the front.

But she had clearly overestimated her resistance to hypnotic suggestion.

Not ten minutes had passed when, with a soft thud, her head dropped onto her desk.

The teacher glanced over at the disturbance. Noticing that the girl who’d fallen asleep was the one who couldn’t hear or speak, he raised an eyebrow but said nothing, continuing his lesson.

To everyone else, Rena Serizawa was still just the troublesome girl who couldn’t talk or hear—a problem better left alone.

Anhe also turned to look.

Rena Serizawa’s cheek rested against the desk, her fair, delicate skin faintly luminous in the sunlight, tiny downy hairs visible. Her rosy lips parted with gentle, even breaths—she was clearly fast asleep.

[Yes, she’s asleep. Maybe you could use the pretense of picking up a pencil to sneak a look beneath her skirt. Or, if you’re feeling bold… Even if Keiko Kitajima saw, she wouldn’t say a word. In fact, she’d be eager to catch you in the act, so she could use it against you. Although before you try that, maybe you should take some supplements…]

Supplements, my foot!

Anhe twitched at the voice in his head, though he couldn’t deny the narrator had a point—after all, the dark circles under his eyes hadn’t faded in the least.

Remembering last night’s pleasures, Anhe felt a thrill of excitement, though it was accompanied by a dull ache—a sign of overexertion.

“I really need to take it easy,” he sighed, pulling his gaze away and returning to the lesson.

Forty minutes later, the bell rang.

The bald English teacher gathered his materials and left the classroom. The atmosphere immediately became lively.

Anhe intended to use the break to organize his notes, but before long, another student approached him.

“You’re saying Ms. Ito wants me to go to her office?” Anhe raised his eyebrows, and after confirming with the student, glanced back at Rena Serizawa. She was still sound asleep.

Seeing this, Anhe stood and made his way out of the classroom.

Walking down the corridor, Anhe once again found himself outside Nobue Ito’s office—and the narrator’s voice sounded again in his mind.

[Your exhausted body protests. If memory serves, there’s a canister of red dates on Nobue Ito’s desk—maybe you can ask for some. After all, she needs a favor from you…]

Nobue Ito needs something from me again?

Anhe arched an eyebrow.

Could it be she’s short on money and wants to borrow some from me?

***

Surely she doesn’t want me to pretend to be her boyfriend again?

Lost in thought, he knocked on the door.

“Come in,” came Nobue Ito’s voice, and Anhe entered.

This time, the office was free of the usual thick haze—there wasn’t even a hint of smoke.

Scanning the room, Anhe was somewhat surprised to see the woman seated behind her desk.

She wore her usual white coat over a blouse, a cigarette clamped between her lips, though it was unlit.

Noticing her visitor’s prolonged silence, Nobue Ito looked up in puzzlement. Recognizing him, she raised an eyebrow and put her papers aside.

“You really do love to smoke, don’t you?” Anhe remarked offhandedly, pulling up a chair and sitting down across from her as if he belonged there.

Nobue Ito pursed her lips around the cigarette, then removed it to toy with in her fingers. “Not really. I just feel odd if I don’t have something between my lips.”

[She likes keeping something in her mouth? Your eyes light up, and you consider offering her a sausage. But remembering your current condition, you wisely hold back. Still, if she’s asking you for a favor, maybe you could use this as leverage, and take your time with it…]

What sort of favor does Nobue Ito have in mind?

Anhe was bemused. Judging from the narrator’s tone, if he really did propose that, Nobue Ito wouldn’t refuse.

Unable to guess, he simply stopped thinking about it, and casually fished a candy from his pocket, handing it to Nobue Ito. Seeing her puzzled look, he explained, “If you like having something to chew on, try this instead. Cigarettes really aren’t suitable for a teacher, you know—it gives a bad impression.”

“That’s true,” Nobue Ito nodded, accepting the lollipop. She didn’t unwrap it, but looked at Anhe with a hesitant expression. After a moment’s pause, she said, “Could you do me another favor?”

“What is it?” Anhe asked casually.

With the narrator’s prompting, he wasn’t surprised she was seeking his help. But her next words made his face change drastically.

“Help me be the father of my child.”