Chapter 6

"Hey, isn’t that the class representative of 3A? Why are you at school so early? I heard your sister say, 'Sis has a hard time in the morning' and such."

Saying it’s asking for trouble isn’t entirely correct. Levi was well aware that in this place—the student council office, especially with the student council president present—Kaoru wouldn’t dare do anything terrible to him. As for the aftermath, it was rare to have a chance to tease a girl to relax, so why give it up over some minor issues?

"What do you mean by 'hard time'! I just slept a little longer. Anyway, I’m not late!"

The morning daze was dispelled by Levi’s voice. Seeing the culprit who had caused her trouble, Kaoru had intended to immediately carry out the punishment she hadn’t completed yesterday. Suddenly, she noticed the student council president standing to the side, arms crossed, with a stern expression.

Although her reputation for being 'ferocious' was already widely known in places she didn’t know, Kaoru was still a beautiful teenage girl. She didn’t want to ruin her image in front of unfamiliar people, especially the strict student council president.

Reluctantly suppressing the urge to pull out a dictionary from her bag and throw it at the annoying teacher’s face, Kaoru could only refute the lazy rumor. She thought to herself that she must have a serious talk with her sister; how could she casually tell unrelated people her secrets?

"Is that so? I’ve also heard..."

Seeing that Kaoru indeed didn’t dare act openly, Levi was about to press his advantage and vent his frustrations from yesterday. But a subtle glance from the student council president made him close his mouth. Even without mind-reading, given their familiarity, Levi clearly understood what the look meant. 'If you waste any more time, I’ll deal with you properly.' The poor teacher could never escape the fate of being coerced by students.

"Is it Fujimi-san? Is there something you need?"

"Ah, yes, yes."

As Rin spoke, Kaoru also broke free from the standoff with Levi. She put aside the idea of dealing with the teacher and pulled out the prepared list of class representatives from her bag.

"Here is the list of class representatives for 3A this year and the minutes from yesterday’s class meeting."

"Thank you very much, Fujimi-san, for your cooperation with the student council. Unlike some people who only know how to be lazy and cause trouble, with no sense of responsibility at all."

Rin’s last sentence was very soft, almost an unconscious mutter. But being so close, Kaoru, who 'happened' to hear it, suddenly felt a glimmer of hope.

Kaoru secretly observed the two people present. The student council president’s face was full of resentment, and Levi, though clearly unwilling, was still diligently grading papers. Kaoru didn’t pay much attention to why such a situation had arisen or the subtle relationship between the student council president and the teacher. At that moment, she only thought that she might have found a powerful 'ally' to fight against a common enemy!

"Then, I’ll hand this list over to the president. I’ll head back to the classroom now, see you later."

It was clearly inconvenient to recruit an ally in front of the other party. Kaoru, believing she had found Levi’s weakness, hurriedly left the student council office to plan a detailed strategy. But she hadn’t seriously considered whether her intended collaborator would really be willing to help her.

---

"Could it really be Okazaki? Is today some special day? Strange things keep happening, and I actually see you here at this time!"

Seeing the notorious delinquent from 3C miraculously return to school on time, Levi couldn’t help but marvel at the miracles he had encountered one after another since this morning.

"Uh, although I don’t wish for you to become serious, I still have to say that as a teacher, taking such a negative attitude towards students, don’t you feel ashamed?"

Okazaki Tomoya, already used to the teacher’s eccentricities, habitually criticized him without much spirit.

"It’s fine, the other students shouldn’t hear it, so it won’t ruin my perfect image."

"That’s not the issue! You finally admit to pretending to be a gentleman in front of girls!"

Although he didn’t have any particular admiration for girls, every time Okazaki saw the girls fawning over this teacher, he felt a bit uncomfortable. This guy was clearly more deserving of the 'delinquent' label than he was.

"No, no, it’s not 'pretending.' It’s just a kind act of an adult."

"Pretending is still pretending! Changing the words doesn’t change the essence!"

"Forget it, it’s too early to make a young punk like you understand the adult world."

Levi waved his hand dismissively, infuriating Okazaki. But he knew that getting entangled with this delinquent teacher would be endless and wouldn’t benefit him. The best strategy was to ignore him and close his mouth.

But the opponent often doesn’t cooperate with your actions, and Okazaki soon realized this.

"Where’s your class representative? Why haven’t I seen you together today? Speaking of which, are you two having some kind of inappropriate relationship? Boy, just because you’ve done that kind of thing doesn’t make you an adult, you know?"

"Hey! Don’t say things that can easily be misunderstood. If Kaoru hears..."

Before he could finish, the unfortunate Okazaki Tomoya was knocked to the ground by a flying dictionary. What made him pitiful wasn’t just being knocked down. The dictionary, intended as a weapon to hit Levi’s head, missed its target as Levi, as if with eyes in the back of his head, slightly dodged. It hit Okazaki’s rather handsome face instead.

"See... this... will... happen..."

The resilient boy struggled on the ground, finishing his words as if making a final statement, then closed his eyes and fainted.

Levi gave a pitying look at the 'corpse' on the ground, mourning the indomitable youth for a mere 0.1 seconds.

And as the attacker, Kaoru, slowly clapped her hands and walked over from the other end of the corridor, it was as if the missile-like attack was nothing.

"Sorry, I heard that. How dare you lay a hand on Muku! Do you want me to pull out your intestines, tie them in a bow, and stuff them back through your navel!"

"Kaoru, I don’t think he can hear you now."

"I’m talking to you!"

Fujimi Kaoru, standing in front of the two, glared at Levi with resentment. How did this guy always manage to dodge? Thinking about how she had never hit Levi before, her eyes involuntarily looked at Okazaki Tomoya, who was still lying on the ground. And this small action was noticed by the person she least wanted to notice.

As the saying goes, 'bystanders see clearly.' Having been their homeroom teacher for so long, and with both students in his class last semester, how could Levi not notice the subtle relationship between them?

From Levi’s perspective, a homeroom teacher had the responsibility to guide students in the right direction. And this 'right direction' wasn’t about prohibiting early romance or other clichés. Okazaki Tomoya, though seen as a delinquent, was actually a good person. If Fujimi Kaoru really liked him, Levi wouldn’t mind giving some help. Of course, whether there was any ulterior motive in watching the show was another matter.

"Kaoru, are you worried about him?"

Levi decided to test her. Regardless of his motives, the goal was a good one.

"I... wait! Do you think I, I, I, I... Hey! What’s that look on your face!"

The girl, whose mind wasn’t on Levi, almost let her subconscious secret slip. Kaoru’s stammering denial only confirmed Levi’s suspicions.

But Kaoru probably hadn’t even realized the budding feelings in her heart. Otherwise, based on Levi’s impression of her, if she had confirmed something, she wouldn’t have shown such a timid and ordinary girl’s reaction.

Isn’t this more interesting? Helping them a bit would pass the time during his free periods. Levi, while planning how to bring the two together, leisurely walked towards the office.

And the girl, whose secret had been revealed without her noticing, stood there blushing and at a loss for words, completely unaware of his departure.