Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna
Source: Syosetu

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14, Younger Man　


"Tomoki-kun, do you know why you were summoned here?"

　Makiri-sensei's sharp gaze and firm tone of voice are directed at me.
　For the first time in a long time, I answered honestly, remembering the fact that she was feared by the entire school because of her strictness.

"... I don't have the slightest idea"

　She let out a sigh of amazement at my words.
　I really don't know why I was summoned, so I decided to sort out the situation.

　―It's lunch break now. I'm in the student guidance office, facing Makiri-sensei.

　This is because during a break between classes, I asked Makiri-sensei if a younger man would be a romantic interest for her, and she, with a red face and flustered look on her face, surely turned her sharp eyes on me and said, without answering my question, "Come to the student guidance office during lunch break."

　Incidentally, I told Touka that we were unlikely to have lunch together for the second day in a row, and she seemed very dissatisfied.
　By the looks of it, I'll have to make another stop after school today.

　And so on and so forth, but I still don't know why I was summoned.

“...Do you really not understand?”

　With a cute, frown expression, which is rare in the school, Makiri-sensei muttered weakly.

"I really don't understand..."

　When I answer, Makiri-sensei stares at me, not even hiding her frustration.
　...I see, apparently, I had done something wrong without even realizing it.
　However, I don't remember doing anything particularly bad, nor do I remember doing anything to start a rumor.

　The only thing that's changed, if anything, is that I asked Makiri-sensei if she thinks a younger person can be a romantic interest...

　After remembering that, I finally realized.
　I come back to reality from my thoughts and look at Makiri-sensei in front of me.
　She saw the look on my face and kept a sharp gaze on me, but after a few seconds of eye contact, she shyly looked away and kept her face down.

　...That seems to be a mistake.
　With that in mind, I bow my head to Makiri-sensei and then tell her.

"I'm sorry, this kind of thing is sexual harassment, isn't it? I'll be careful."

　Asking a woman what type of man she likes is usually considered sexual harassment.
　Fed up with my insensitivity, I apologized to Makiri-sensei.

　Then...

"That's not it!!"

　From her previous expression, Makiri-sensei squeezed her eyes shut and said so cutely, as if she were a little girl who had been teased.
　Perhaps it was because she said it with such vigor, Makiri-sensei immediately paused and held her mouth with both hands, an awkward expression on her face.

　But if I believe what she just said, it seems that my words were not sexual harassment.
　I was a little relieved, but then I still couldn't figure out why I was called to the student guidance office.

　Still, although I often see a bit clunky Makiri-sensei like this outside the school, it is rare to see this happen inside the school.
　Her face has been red for a while now, and maybe she drinks alcohol...?
　No, that's impossible for a working member of society. I find it hard to believe that Makiri-sensei would do such a thing.

　If so, the likely answer is that she is not in good physical condition.
　If I think about it that way, that would explain her strange behavior and her bright red face.

"Are you getting a summer cold, sensei? Are you okay?"

　When I asked while looking into her expression,

"I wonder what happened that led you so worried about me like that...?"

　With a look of despair on his face, Makiri-sensei was at a loss for words.
　I couldn't think of anything else.

　I was even more worried about Makiri-sensei and asked her about her expression,

"... You really don't understand."

　Haa, she blatantly let out a sigh.　
　Then she turns her eyelids down and opens her mouth, embarrassed.

"It's fine. So... You were talking about whether or not a younger person would be a potential love interest."

“Ah, yes. Right. ... Eh? You're going to tell me?"

"Yes, you've helped me a lot, and this one time ... is special, okay?"

　She said this while covering her own mouth with one hand in amazement.
　Then, somewhat nervously, she opened her mouth.

“If they are working and two or three years younger than me, I don't have any problem seeing them as a potential love interest. Just ... if the younger person is a high school student who is a student of mine. I don't think I should look at that person as a romantic interest."

　Although Makiri-sensei is clumsy and has a cute side, but before that, she is a respectable member of society.
　It would be no surprise that she thinks so.
　
"But"

　After a pause, Makiri-sensei continues.

"Once you fall in love with that person, age doesn't matter... No! Age will no longer matter... I feel like that."

　Her expression seemed somewhat satisfied, and she was very calm and kind.
　
　Age doesn't matter.
　―I thought, that is also a word that is typical of Makiri-sensei, who sees the true nature of others without regard to their outward appearance.
　Somehow I became happy.

"... That sounds like Makiri-sensei would say."

　I was involuntarily muttering that.

“B-But. Even if I consider them as romantic interests, I can't have a formal relationship with a student who's still in school. I don't know what you meant by your question, but ... I think so."

　I thought about Makiri-sensei's words, "That's just like her."


☆
　

　After that, I apologized and thanked Makiri-sensei again.
　After being let go by Makiri-sensei, I left the student guidance office and was about to return to my classroom, but decided to stop by the student council office to see if Tatsumiya might be there.

　When I reached the front of the student council room, I heard a noise from inside the room.
　Apparently, there is someone in the room. Ike had lunch with Asakura and the others in the classroom today, and it is likely to be Tatsumiya.

　With that in mind, I knocked on the door of the student council room,

"Oh"

　A girl's voice responded.

　... Tatsumiya, huh?
　Confused by her uncharacteristic response, I opened the door.

　There she was, a petite female student.
　Tatsumiya Otome―wrong.

"Ooh, what is it, Kouhai-kun? Do you need something in the student council room?"

　There was Taketori-senpai, who was spreading out her lunch box all by herself.