Chapter 6: Hiratsuka Shizuka Like a Child, Yukinoshita Yukino Like an Adult!
Luke looked at the girl bathed in sunlight.
There wasn't a shred of pretense in her eyes.
"So, basically, it's like being a detective, accepting requests from others and helping them solve their problems, right?"
Yukinoshita Yukino gave a slight nod.
"You can understand it that way. Hiratsuka-sensei said that exceptional people have a duty to help those less fortunate. Since Sensei entrusted you to me, I will see it through to the end. I will help you fix your flaws. I hope you can be grateful."
Luke looked her up and down.
How could this girl be so confident, and with such undeniable sincerity?
Sensing his unrestrained gaze, Yukinoshita Yukino took a small step back, quickly smoothed her clothes, and subconsciously crossed her arms defensively in front of her chest.
"From your beast-like gaze, I can already sense the harsh reality of your school life."
Luke helplessly took off his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose and rubbing it gently.
Aren't there any normal people like me in this school?
"Yukinoshita-san, I don't have those kinds of beastly thoughts about you... so please don't strike that 'being bullied' pose. Besides, why would you assume I'd definitely be interested in you?"
"Isn't that the case?"
Yukinoshita Yukino tilted her head, adopting a puzzled expression.
"Besides, your face makes me... hmm."
Yukinoshita Yukino cleared her throat lightly.
Looking at the boy without his glasses, her inherent honesty prevented her from attacking his appearance unfairly.
Luke looked back at her.
Her cute face was still incredibly cute even with a cold expression.
This girl's confidence was truly astounding, although she certainly had reasons to be proud.
"Yukinoshita-san, I admit you're very cute and beautiful, but... attraction and feelings are different things. After all, appearance and figure..."
His gaze lingered on Yukinoshita Yukino's delicate features before inevitably drifting downwards, landing on the flat chest she was protectively guarding.
He embarrassedly turned his head aside, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards. Trying to hold back his amusement, he couldn't stop a soft sound from escaping:
"Heh."
That chuckle, sounding almost like mockery, made Yukinoshita Yukino suspicious.
Seeing Luke's turned back, she replayed his previous actions in her mind.
Her quick thinking soon simulated the path of his gaze.
Her perfectly curved jawline tightened slightly.
She lowered the arms covering her chest, glanced down at herself, confirming the target of his gaze.
Reacting swiftly, she quickly understood the reason behind his offensive scoff.
Yukinoshita Yukino glared unhappily, her cheeks puffing out involuntarily as she shot back rapid-fire sarcasm.
"No wonder Hiratsuka-sensei said you have a terrible personality. It seems the main reason is that your way of thinking differs from normal people. You have a human face, yet you still adhere to the behavioral patterns of a single-celled organism, just like a paramecium, acting solely on instinct..."
This kid has a really nasty personality, Luke thought.
Yukinoshita Yukino finished venting her displeasure, slightly out of breath.
Seeing Luke remain silent, she still glanced down at her chest, a faint sigh escaping her inwardly.
And so, the clubroom fell back into the dead silence that had existed before his arrival.
The classroom door burst open violently, and a whirlwind Hiratsuka Shizuka rushed in.
"Hey! I'm back! Yukinoshita!"
Yukinoshita Yukino's gaze shifted from Luke to the utterly self-absorbed Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"...Please remember to knock, Hiratsuka-sensei."
This teacher-student pair is such a headache, he thought.
"Oh oh oh~ I just came to see how you two are getting along. Don't mind me."
Yukinoshita Yukino felt the hardships of life keenly as Hiratsuka Shizuka's interested gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, sizing them up.
"You two are getting along well, huh? Eek, you should wear glasses less often. You look quite handsome without them! Those glasses really are too ugly; one look and you don't want to look again."
Luke stared blankly at Hiratsuka-sensei.
Where did you get that conclusion from?
Does not fighting count as getting along well?
He was about to devolve from a higher life form into a paramecium.
So he spoke up decisively, "Calling Yukinoshita-san 'sharp-tongued' is practically a compliment. What she says is just plain verbal abuse."
Yukinoshita Yukino jumped in, "Strange animals are protected, strange people are isolated. Mr. Human-Shaped Paramecium, I'm merely helping you face yourself."
Hiratsuka Shizuka clapped him on the back.
"Hahahaha, don't mind it, that's all just superficial! Yukinoshita is a very gentle classmate! She'll definitely help you out."
"Gentle?"
Luke rubbed his forehead.
"If Sensei is worried about me lacking social interaction in high school, I can easily join another club... As for the stuff in the essay, just consider it my naive fantasy. So, Sensei, please, just let me off the hook."
Hiratsuka Shizuka turned a deaf ear to his plea, her eyes lighting up instead.
"Looks like Yukinoshita's help is really having an effect."
Yukinoshita Yukino shook her head. "I haven't done anything."
Luke shook his head. "Sensei, I really don't need any help..."
Yukinoshita Yukino, however, seemed particularly serious. "...What nonsense are you talking about? With your terrible personality, if you aren't saved, you'll be completely unable to function in society. After all, if you can't even adapt to school, how can you adapt to society?"
"Excuse me, I'm quite satisfied with my current profession. Dealing with ghosts is much better than dealing with people."
"Starting with the delusions again, hmph... Ghosts are a bit too far-fetched, don't you think?"
Smack—!
"Alright."
Hiratsuka Shizuka slammed her hand on the desk in front of him. She announced loudly, "Since neither of you believes the other's words, whether they're true or not, just try to prove yourselves through your interactions from now on. So. How about a passionate competition?"
Both Luke and Yukinoshita Yukino stared at the now fired-up Hiratsuka Shizuka and immediately fell silent.
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at them strangely.
"Why do you both look so lethargic?"
Whose fault do you think this lethargic state is?!
Luke looked uncomfortably at Yukinoshita Yukino.
She looked just as helpless.
In that moment, Yukinoshita Yukino actually seemed somewhat agreeable.
"I refuse the competition."
Without waiting for Hiratsuka-sensei to elaborate, Yukinoshita Yukino decisively moved to nip any further discussion in the bud.
"Objection overruled! Words are powerless! Only the results of actions can reveal the truth! Starting now, you will both guide those lost on life's path, save them, and thereby prove your own way of life. Let's see who truly understands life's principles better!"
"Sensei, please refrain from acting in a way that doesn't suit your age. It's very unbecoming."
Yukinoshita Yukino's cold rejection, though spoken calmly, pierced through Hiratsuka Shizuka's enthusiasm like a sharp buzz.
Hiratsuka Shizuka said awkwardly, "Ahem, ahem—I'm the teacher! If I say you compete, you compete!"
This woman has the body of a perfect older sister type, but acts like a child.
She's the complete opposite of Yukinoshita Yukino.
Sigh! Luke now only hoped the final school bell would ring soon.
...
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