Chapter 4: Hiratsuka Shizuka Finally Clenched Her Fist!
"Mossy old temple, even you hide darkness. The evil born of resentment, curses, and laments corrupts the sacred statues, staining the sky grey."
"And right beside it, a children's park filled with laughter and joy."
"The border between darkness and light, like a sharp sword splitting this world in two."
"Therefore, the slow fading of my social life is actually a righteous act to save the world."
Hiratsuka Shizuka finished reading his essay, her head aching.
She sat in her chair, massaging her temples, muttering under her breath, "Why is every student nowadays more problematic than the last?"
Luke stared out the window. The sunlight was just right. Hearing Shizuka read his work reminded him of that damn temple...
Shizuka clenched her fist, took two deep breaths to calm herself.
"Luke, do you have to turn the essay assignment I gave you into a horror novel?"
"Huh? What do you mean, Sensei?!" Luke asked, genuinely surprised.
"Don't you think my writing is pretty good? Calling it brilliant wouldn't be an exaggeration."
The fist she'd just relaxed clenched tight again.
Shizuka narrowed her eyes, her foot stomping hard on the floor.
"What was our essay topic, remember?"
"Reflecting on high school life... what about it?"
"What does this have to do with high school life? Does the school offer exorcism classes? Does it? No, right?!"
Speechless, Shizuka pushed her hair back, her impressive chest practically bursting the buttons of her shirt out of sheer frustration.
"Didn't you say, Sensei, that we should draw more from things that happen in our daily lives?"
What high school life did Luke even have?
Wasn't it just catching up on sleep or heading somewhere to catch up on sleep?
It wasn't like he couldn't just make up a passable essay, but Shizuka, having seen his previous attempts, had repeatedly warned him to write this assignment 'properly'.
Helpless, he could only recount the events of his job, one by one, on paper.
Apparently, though, his factual recounting of events was less effective than just making something up. That really hurt.
"Your high school life is certainly rich, seeing ghosts every day."
Ms. Hiratsuka's tone was partly teasing, partly exasperated.
The school really had more than its fair share of problem children.
Her throat felt a bit dry from talking.
She pulled a cigarette pack from her nearly-bursting pocket, skillfully tapped one out, and took out a lighter, ready to relax.
"No smoking. It's not right for a teacher to smoke in front of a student. Besides, smoking is bad for your health." Luke righteously confiscated her cigarette.
He had a point. Shizuka lowered her head. "Sorry, I'll be more careful next time."
"Okay, I forgive you. Be careful next time." Having successfully turned the tables, Luke immediately prepared to make his escape.
But, the teacher's calm voice came from behind him.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Well, so much for the flawless escape plan.
This problem child is so much trouble.
Shizuka rubbed her head and pushed herself up from the desk.
"So, regardless, according to your essay, you basically have no school life... which means you don't have any friends either, right?"
Luke nodded calmly. "Work takes up too much time, after all. Balancing work and life isn't easy. Just like you, Sensei. You haven't balanced it well either, right? Being this old and still without a boyfriend..."
And so.
Shizuka walked up to him, straightened his collar and the hem of his shirt, glanced at the Book of Strength he carried with him, and instructed the boy.
"Hold the book in front of your stomach. And hold it steady."
"What do you mean?"
Just then, a gust of wind blew past.
A perfect straight punch.
Luke was hit square in the stomach by Shizuka, right through the Book of Strength.
"Oof." Luke relaxed his tensed abdomen.
He twisted his body slightly.
Okay, no real pain.
He breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, his stats were high enough that his stomach could take the hit.
Seems like mentioning age or relationships really sets his teacher off.
Honestly, this teacher didn't act much like a teacher.
So, he cautiously asked, "Sensei, have you eaten yet?"
Even though she had just vented her pent-up anger, Ms. Hiratsuka's fist clenched again.
Her mind filled with complaints about him: This guy's personality is just awful.
Honestly, this student didn't act much like a student.
Realizing his mistake, Luke quickly added.
"That's not what I meant. I was thinking of treating you to a meal, Sensei, as an apology."
"Heh heh, you don't need to bribe me. I'm not angry."
Luke looked at the pen Ms. Hiratsuka was gripping so hard it was creaking, then at her face, which was smiling but not really smiling...
Ms. Hiratsuka? Are you serious?
Surprisingly, though, after taking another deep breath, Shizuka actually didn't get angry again.
Maybe before, she really was just offended by the age comment.
"Continuing our previous topic..." Shizuka asked. "You haven't joined any club activities, right?"
Luke sensed something was off, but he couldn't lie yet.
"No."
"And no friends either?"
"...Nope."
"I KNEW IT—!"
Seeing his teacher suddenly full of energy, Luke was speechless.
Does having no friends make you this happy?
"I KNEW IT—! I guessed as much. Otherwise, why would you be spouting nonsense day in and day out, imagining ghosts and things like that!"
You're being a bit rude now.
Luke felt a dark line appear on his forehead, giving up on the idea of getting Ms. Hiratsuka to accept this essay and boost his [Student] occupation mission progress.
"...Sensei, do you have any other questions? I'll just rewrite the essay."
However, events still took an unexpected turn.
"Fine."
Shizuka sat on the edge of the desk, lightly tapping her finger on her shoulder.
"However, your previous words deeply wounded a woman's heart. Therefore, I demand that you participate in 'Service Activities' as punishment."
That didn't sound like anything good.
Besides, you don't seem wounded at all. If anything, you look kind of... excited?
Does punishing students make you this happy? That's a bit dark, don't you think...
"I'll write the essay properly, please, just let me off the hook this once."
Shizuka ignored his words completely.
She pushed off the desk with both hands, landing lightly on her feet.
Without offering any further explanation about these so-called 'Service Activities,' she simply urged him:
"Come with me."
Luke lowered his head, thought for a moment, and decided to offer a bribe.
"Sensei, if you drop the punishment, how about I give you a protective talisman?"
Shizuka's eyebrow shot up. "Hurry up!"
"How about two?"
"Fine! Five! That's the absolute limit! That's my bottom line!"
Shizuka said in an exasperated tone, "Stop trying to bribe your teacher with these weird things."
Helpless, Luke could only follow. He had no more bargaining chips.
Strange, his talismans usually sold quite well.
Shizuka gently patted his back, puffed out her chest righteously, causing Luke to occasionally glance at her ample bosom straining against her shirt.
"How could a teacher possibly be swayed by your bribes? Teachers are very upright people! Give up on that idea."
Luke could only follow Shizuka out of the office.
After thinking it over, he felt he should still struggle a bit more.
"...How about, I give you back the cigarette? I still have to go to work after school, after all... right?"
Shizuka's steps faltered slightly. For a split second, her heart was shamefully tempted by the offer.
Then, Luke's sly voice reached her ears:
"Sensei, looks like you were tempted~"
Shizuka clenched her fists.
In that moment, she completely believed in the evil spirits Luke wrote about in his essay... This guy was a living example! No normal person could possibly be this— AWFUL!
...