The Student Council's future plans were settled, and we were dismissed.
"Hey, Ryouta-kun. Hold on a second."
"Eh? Hiyori-sensei?"
I had just stepped into the hallway outside the Student Council Room when Hiyori-sensei called out to me.
Of course, the conversation had shifted entirely to the upcoming Sports Festival, but the fact that we were second cousins—and that we used to take baths together—had finally come to light.
Since this was our first proper reunion in years, there were plenty of things to talk about.
"It's been a while, Ryouta-kun. It's nice to see you again."
"Uh, yeah… It really has been a while, hasn't it?"
"Geez. You really don't remember me at all, do you?"
Hiyori-sensei asked with a slightly pouty frown.
Well, of course she'd be annoyed. I had completely forgotten her.
"I'm really sorry, Hiyori-sensei! I don't remember anything! Please forgive me! I'll even lick your shoes if that's what it takes!"
"Whoa, if you apologize that desperately, it actually makes me want to back away. I'm not that upset about it, okay?"
I had somehow managed to make even Hiyori-sensei recoil from me.
Compared to the Beautiful Girl Trio, who always gave me exasperated looks before rewarding me with suggestive favors, this reaction felt strangely unsatisfying.
"Still, I never imagined that same Ryouta-kun would end up enrolling at Natsuhama Chuo High School."
"Yeah, I get that. Even I have no idea how someone like me managed to get into such a prestigious prefectural school."
People might assume the school has loose standards because of a huge pervert like me, but Natsuhama Chuo High School is a top-tier institution that produces the highest number of University of Tokyo and Nagoya University acceptances in the prefecture.
I might be like this now, but back in my Junior High School days, I studied like my life depended on it. I commuted to cram school every single day, somehow convinced the teachers to let me apply, and even then my parents and older sister treated it like nothing more than a symbolic attempt.
It's impressive enough that geniuses like Rui and Tanaka got in, but for the gyaru Yuria and Airi to have passed the entrance exam despite their own circumstances is honestly amazing.
"You used to be such a spoiled and wild little boy, but you've really worked hard, haven't you, Ryouta-kun?"
As she spoke, Hiyori-sensei stood on her tiptoes and gently stroked my head.
What the hell is this overwhelming big-sister energy!?
M…man…
"Also, when we're alone, you can call me Anju-onee-chan. After all, we're that close, right?"
"Ah, y-yes! I'll gladly do that! Anju-onee-sama!"
"Ahaha. Oh, Ryouta-kun. You're still such a show-off, aren't you?"
This is bad, Tanaka. I might actually end up falling for this beautiful peach-bottomed teacher!?
N-no… wait a minute.
Hiyori-sensei is twenty-five years old now, right?
She went to university in Tokyo, worked there for a while, and then came to this school.
…Which means she definitely has a boyfriend, doesn't she…?
"Well, the real reason I came back was entirely for your sake, Ryouta-kun~"
"Eh? D-did something happen?"
"It's nothing~? Anyway, I have a staff meeting to attend now, so I'll be going. I'll stop by the Izumiya Family home again this weekend to say hello properly!"
Hiyori-sensei… on the weekend…? E-ehh??