episode_0155

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The gray jogger pants I bought in bulk back when I frequented sword practice because I couldn’t be bothered to do laundry.

A knit zip-up that ranks in my top five favorite clothes for its comfort and ease of movement.

An oversized T-shirt I sleep in, worn as-is without a second thought.

If I had to rate this outfit, it’d be a solid 15 out of 100.

Stepping into the elevator in an ensemble utterly divorced from the concept of “dressing up.”

Ding—

…But you know what?

Now that I think about it, maybe I should’ve put in some effort?

Even between close friends, there’s a baseline of decorum to maintain.

If I was going to look this sloppy, I might as well have thrown on a baseball cap or something…

Sniffing my clothes belatedly to check for any odors as the elevator descends.

Well, I did bite the T-shirt while masturbating earlier, so there’s a faint trace of saliva and light sweat, but…

…It’s fine!

It’s not like Teacher’s going to sniff the hem of my shirt.

Besides, it’s not like the smell is that strong—

Only someone with a nose as sensitive as mine would even notice.

Either way, the smell is a non-issue.

But.

What’s really bothering me is this frumpy outfit.

Ding—

Catching my reflection in the elevator mirror—I look like a girl who just rolled out of bed to make a quick convenience store run.

The thought of going back to change crosses my mind, but I just sigh and lean my head against the elevator wall.

…It’s not like I don’t own cute clothes.

But if I changed now, the landlady would definitely find it weird.

Think about it.

If she asked why I suddenly dolled myself up…

How would I even answer?

Retort with, “Isn’t it normal to dress up a little to meet a friend?”

What if she shoots back with, “Miss, normal people don’t do that.”

…Change back into this outfit?

I can’t exactly say I’m meeting a sex partner, either.

…Even if I compromised and said I was meeting a boyfriend,

I’d still have to deal with my dad showing up tomorrow.

Ding—

Earlier, I was fine with this outfit, so why am I so restless now?

It’s not like the message I’m delivering today changes either way: “I’m ending our sex partner arrangement.”

…Sex partner.

Sex partner.

The strange weight of those words leaves me swallowing hard, and before I know it, we’re on the first floor.

Only when a stranger steps in do I snap out of it, covering my face with the back of my hand as I slip out of the elevator.

Exiting the lobby, I immediately spot a familiar figure.

Of course—it’s Teacher.

“…Hey.”

Last time, he turned around before I even spoke, but now he’s just silently scrolling through his phone.

A tiny pang of disappointment lingers for a moment.

I quietly call out and poke his back, prompting him to turn off his phone and look at me.

…But.

“…Oh, Sua.”

He looks… tired.

Kinda like he’s in a bad mood, too.

He’s not frowning or biting his lip—

Just wearing his usual faint smile—

But call it a woman’s intuition.

Something definitely pissed him off in the last hour.

I don’t know what, though…

Given his mood, it’s probably best to get this over with quickly.

That interrupted masturbation session earlier—

I kinda want to get back to it, too.

“Um, Teacher. About ending our sex partner arrangement—”

“Hold on, lower your voice. We’re outside.”

“…Ah. Right.”

“Like earlier, you can’t just blurt that stuff out loud.”

“S-Sorry…”

“Luckily, no one seems to have heard…”

Unlike me, who’s ready to dive straight into the topic, Teacher just sighs and glances at the passersby with an awkward smile.

As he exhales, I steel myself to finally say what I need to—

But then he lightly scratches the back of his neck and murmurs:

“Let’s walk for a bit. Together.”

155

Whoosh, whoosh—the sound of cars driving by grows faint.

Tap, tap—the scattered footsteps of people gradually fade.

Even the adorable yips of dogs begging for pets as they bounce around their owners on walks disappear.

In their place, our sounds fill the void.

One: the neat, quiet footsteps of Teacher walking beside me.

The other: the undignified clatter of my sneakers.

“…”

“…”

Five minutes of this.

Trying not to show my nerves, I match Teacher’s pace as we enter some random backstreet.

Earlier, there were still a few tall buildings around, but now it’s just rows of low-rises no more than five stories high.

At this point, I start wondering if we really needed to come all the way here for a conversation that’ll take less than 30 seconds…

But I get it.

He’s just trying to spare me any embarrassment.

“Mm, mm…”

…Still.

We’re in a secluded enough spot now—can’t I just bring it up?

It’s not like it matters if a stranger or two overhears.

Worst case, they get turned on—no real harm done.

As long as it’s not someone I know, it’s fine.

Otherwise,

I might just bite my tongue and die on the spot from sheer shame.

“Hey, Teacher.”

Right in the middle of the empty backstreet.

Clearing my throat softly, I call out to him, and he slows to a stop.

Matching his pace, I halt too and begin reciting the lines I’ve rehearsed:

“About why I want to end our sex partner arrangement… You know.”

“…Yeah.”

“I… I don’t think we should keep having sex.”

“Why.”

His voice is harder than I’ve ever heard it.

Honestly, if this weren’t Seojin, I’d have frozen up in fear.

But he’s my only male friend,

And I did get the sense something upset him earlier.

Fidgeting with my hands, I continue:

“There are a few reasons… Um…”

“Is it because of Yozora?”

“…Huh? How did you— Oh, right, she’s your girlfriend, so of course you’d know.”

“…”

“She seemed… uncomfortable with me being involved while you two are dating.”

“…Ignore her.”

“Eh?”

“It’s fine to ignore Yozora.”

…Ignore her?

You did misspeak, right?

Teacher, you’re her boyfriend.

Even someone who learned romance from shoujo manga knows telling your girlfriend to ignore you is messed up.

…

…Did you two fight or something?

But last time at Yozora’s place, you were in such a good mood pounding into her…

Wait, was your earlier bad mood because of a fight with Yozora…?

A mountain of things I want to say.

But only one sentence can come out at a time.

While I agonize over which one to pick, Teacher’s expression hardens, and he cuts in first:

“So you’re ending things over that?”

“N-No, no! That’s one reason, but there’s more…”

“Then let’s address that first. What exactly did she say made her uncomfortable?”

“W-Well… She said… because of me, she can’t… have sex…”

The smile Teacher always wears around me darkens further.

Did I say something wrong? I replay my words carefully, but the only explanation that comes to mind is—

Mentioning Yozora itself put him in a bad mood.

That’s the only possibility.

“…Yozora told you that? ‘Because of you, I can’t have sex, so get lost’?”

“She didn’t say ‘get lost’…”

“Didn’t.”

“…She just… asked me to hurry up and have sex with you so her turn could come faster…”

“…What?”

“Huh?”

“She told you to have sex?”

“Y-Yeah…”

“She did? To you? …Seriously?”

But the frown on Teacher’s face lasts only a second.

The next moment, he’s staring at me, then turns away with a small laugh.

I know I didn’t say anything funny.

Is Yozora telling me to hurry up and have sex funny?

…Why?

“W-Why are you laughing…?”

“…Sorry. It’s just so unlike her, I couldn’t help it.”

“…”

“If anything, her telling you to have sex with me is… ……”

…What a psycho. Seriously?

I barely catch his muttered words, tilting my head.

His earlier reaction suggested a fight,

But now he seems completely unfazed.

This whiplash leaves me utterly confused—

Until Teacher, now smiling like nothing happened, speaks up:

“So, Sua.”

“…Yeah.”

Just half a step.

Shuffle—closing the distance.

“Yozora’s uncomfortable with our sex partner arrangement. What’s the other reason?”

“…Ah. Um…”

He’s close.

So close my vision starts wobbling.

So close my cheeks burn red.

So close I can faintly smell the lingering scent on his clothes.

“…D-Don’t laugh when I tell you.”

“I won’t.”

“Promise? If you even smile, I’m suing.”

“I said I won’t.”

No need to guess—it’s Yozora’s scent.

Specifically, post-sex Yozora.

Why it’s this strong on his clothes now is a mystery I ponder for exactly one second before—

“If we keep having sex… I think you’ll end up unsatisfied with Yozora.”

“…What?”

—I take half a step closer as I say it.

“Right…? You haven’t touched her at all because of me.”

“…”

“And the moment I said I’d stop being your sex partner, you went and fucked her…”

To hide the trembling in my eyes—inevitable when lying—

Another half-step.

Embracing him lightly, close enough to smell him.

Another half-step.

Memorizing that scent to use for masturbation material all night.

Another half-step.

Until my breasts press firmly against him—

Until the thud-thud of my heart is unmistakable—

I cling to him, not letting go even as a passerby walks behind us.

It’s not like I don’t want to have sex with you, Teacher.

I’m just holding back because I might get addicted.

Even if I have to act composed like this to say it.

“You’ve got such a pretty girlfriend… I’m just in the way. …Hehe.”

The perfect excuse—even I think so.

Far less embarrassing than the truth:

That I can’t go 24 hours without thinking about you…

Satisfied with my performance, I nuzzle against him before slowly looking up—

Meeting his gaze as he stares down at me.

“…”

“…”

…Oh no.

The second I see the desire flooding Teacher’s eyes, one thought dominates:

I’m in trouble.