Sixth Period: Yamazaki Atsuto’s First Lesson ③

We started dinner.

“Atsuto-kun, are you sorry?”

“Y-Yes, extremely! I apologize!”

I sat with my back ramrod straight across from Char, who was pouting.

Char was angry, of course, because of the scene just now. I had gotten carried away because her reactions were so funny.

“C-Come on, let’s eat before it gets cold!” I pointed at the food on the table.

I had ordered a hamburger steak, and Char had ordered an omurice (omelet rice).

“Muuu... I guess it might get cold.” Char gave me a quick, pointed look, as if to say, ‘This isn’t over yet,’ then scooped up a bite of omurice with her spoon and put it in her mouth.

“Eh, what is this! It’s so delicious!”

But immediately, Char’s expression brightened, as if her previous anger was a lie.

“I’m glad! It is delicious, right? I like it too.”

“This is amazing! The egg is so fluffy, and the demi-glace sauce is the best!”

“I heard the chef here used to work at a hotel restaurant.”

“So, what I’m eating now is hotel restaurant quality?! That’s incredible!”

Char happily ate her omurice, savoring every bite.

It looked like she had gotten over her anger.

Relieved, I took a bite of my hamburger steak.

The juice burst into my mouth the moment I chewed. The savory umami of the Japanese-style onion sauce lingered, making me want another bite immediately.

—As I was enjoying the hamburger steak,

(Stare...)

I felt a heated gaze and looked up to see Char staring at me with a very hungry look.

“Umm, do you want a bite?”

“Eh, y-you mean it?!” When I casually offered, Char leaned forward, her eyes sparkling like jewels.

She was so easy to read...

“Sure. Go ahead.” I pushed the plate of hamburger steak toward her, but Char grinned mischievously and looked at my face.

“I don’t feel like feeding myself right now.”

“Huh?”

“My knife and fork feel kinda heavy.”

“Ehh?”

“I’m saying I’d like someone to feed me.” Char looked at me with playful, darting glances.

She wanted me to feed her the hamburger steak?

“If you don’t feed me, I might get grumpy again.”

“Ehh?!”

I couldn’t let her go back to being grumpy.

...I guess I have no choice. I have to do it. Even though it’s incredibly embarrassing...!

I took a deep breath, cut a bite-sized piece of hamburger steak, and slowly brought it toward Char’s mouth. My hand was trembling from the tension!

“H-Here you go...!”

“Thank you! ...Ahn.” Char’s mouth came closer to meet the floating hamburger steak—

—Pak!

At that moment, Char’s expression changed into a radiant smile.

“This is so delicious!”

“W-Well, that’s good!” I was so nervous I thought I was going to lose it!

“The meat is so juicy, and the sauce is super tasty! Please, one more bite!”

“Eh! Again?!”

Before I could even ask, Char had already opened her mouth and was waiting.

I brought another cut piece of hamburger steak closer, and Char took it into her mouth.

“Mmm. It’s delicious, after all!”

She didn’t even notice the sauce on the corner of her mouth, she was enjoying it so much.

If she was this happy, it was worth bringing her here.

Just as I thought that, I felt Char’s smile disappear for an instant.

“What’s wrong?”

“Eh?”

“I might be imagining it, but you looked a little sad just now...”

Char let out a small “Ah...” and forced a slightly awkward smile.

“You pay close attention, Atsuto-kun.” She muttered, then looked out the window with a faraway look in her eyes.

“Mom’s specialty dish is hamburger steak. She used to make it for me all the time.”

“Mom? Oh, your mother?”

“Yeah. I just got a little nostalgic...” A touch of sadness was in Char’s voice.

Of course. She was working in a distant country, away from her family. I’m sure she missed home sometimes.

“...Sensei, why did you decide to become an ALT in Japan?” I hesitated, but asked the question that was on my mind.

“My older sister works in Japan!”

“Oh, in Japan?”

“Yeah. She’s four years older! I looked up to my sister and wanted to work in Japan too!” Char spoke happily, holding up her index finger.

“So, is your sister a school teacher too?”

“No. My sister is a fashion model! She’s even on TV!”

“On TV?!”

“Yeah! My sister is amazing. She’s cool, mature, and works in the city. That’s why I have to work hard too!” Char clenched her fist, her expression serious.

I felt a little—intimidated—by Char’s earnestness.

She looked like a child and was still nervous in class, but...

Honestly, I thought she was far more of an adult than me.

I just went to school, worked part-time, and occasionally hung out, without any goals.

Char was really putting in the effort.

“There are still so many things I don’t know, but I want to become a respectable teacher that everyone can rely on! ...Wait, huh?” Char, who had been talking happily, peered at my face with a worried expression.

“S-Sorry! I talked too much...!”

“Oh, n-no, that’s not it!”

A brief silence fell.

“—I just think you’re really an adult, Sensei.” I muttered.

Char let out a clumsy “Heh?” and her eyes widened.

“I’m not an adult at all! Everyone tells me I’m ‘like a child’ wherever I go...”

“No, not your appearance... I mean your heart is mature.”

Char looked puzzled. “My heart?”

“I don’t think I’ll be any different even when I’m your age, Sensei. I don’t have anything I want to do or any dreams like you do...”

As I was getting a little sentimental,

“Hup!”

“Gah!”

Char poked my cheek with her finger.

And then,

“Atsuto-kun, you’ll be fine! You don’t have to rush, okay?”

She patted my head and gave me a dazzling smile.

“It might be hard now, but you’ll definitely find something you want to work hard for, so don’t worry!”

I couldn’t help but smile at Char, who gave me a thumbs-up.

I don’t know why. Seeing Char’s smile made me feel strangely reassured, and my worries seemed insignificant.

“...I feel a little better now.”

“Hehe, see? Anyway, I’m done eating!”

“Huh? That fast?!” Char finished the rest of her omurice and clapped her hands.

“Alright, let’s play darts again soon! Bring it on!”

“Fine, but I won’t go easy on you!”

“Hehehe. I’m strong when my stomach is full!” Char patted her omurice-filled belly and gave me a cocky grin.

She looked more cute than strong, though.

＊＊＊＊＊

After that, Char and I enjoyed darts for about three hours and then left the bar.

The area, which was packed with bars and izakaya, was still bustling with people even past 10:00 PM.

“Darts was so much fun! And the food was delicious!” Char, walking beside me, smiled happily.

She had been saying, “Darts bars are scary!” at first, but it looked like she had thoroughly enjoyed herself.

As we walked toward the station,

“U-Umm, Atsuto-kun.”

“Yes?”

“Did you... have fun today?” She asked, her expression suddenly anxious after just smiling a moment ago.

“I did have fun.”

“R-Really?!”

“Of course!”

Honestly, I was worried about hanging out with my teacher at first.

But it was as fun as hanging out with Daikatsu or Benika.

...The indirect kiss, the hug, and the upper-arm incident were more heart-pounding than fun, though.

“I’m so glad! This was the most fun I’ve had since coming to Japan!” Char stepped ahead, turned around, and beamed at me.

I thought she was exaggerating a little, but—

—Still.

I was caught off guard by her dazzling smile, which sparkled like stars.

“...I’m glad you had fun.”

“Ah! You’re blushing a little!”

“No, Sensei, you’re the one who’s blushing!”

“M-Mine is because of the alcohol!” Char puffed out her cheeks and turned away.

She was still so nervous at school, but when she was with me, she was so expressive—smiling, pouting...

It was unfair. Even knowing she was my teacher, my heart was pounding!

After walking for a while.

“...We’re here.”

We were back at the fountain in front of the station, where we had first met.

They say time flies when you’re having fun, and it really did pass in an instant.

“Ugh... I want to play more...” Char said sadly, but it was too late now.

“But we have school tomorrow, too...”

“Ugh... Y-You’re right...” Char’s expression stiffened.

She crossed her arms, looking troubled, and muttered, “Mmmph,” for a while.

“Alright! I’m going home to get ready for tomorrow! I’m taking the next train!” Char said in a serious tone, as if she had made a huge decision.

I was sad to see her go, but I should head straight home too.

I actually hadn’t done my homework for tomorrow yet...

“Okay, please be careful on your way home.”

“I will! You be careful too, Atsuto-kun! See you tomorrow!” Char waved and started to walk away.

—Just at that moment.

“Sensei, look out!”

“...Eh?”

A group of salarymen, engrossed in their conversation, were approaching from the front, and Char was about to bump into them.

—I instinctively grabbed Char’s hand.

Her thinly-manicured nails, her slender, white fingers.

It was smaller than my hand, soft, and her warmth was pleasantly transmitted to me.

“Ah, sorry! I just grabbed your hand...!”

“Wait!” When I tried to let go, Char squeezed my hand tightly—

“Even though I’m your teacher...! Will you hang out with me again?”

She looked at me with clear, blue eyes, like a puppy begging for a treat.

Of course I would, after having so much fun.

And seriously, she was incredibly cute.

If she wasn’t my teacher, I think I might have hugged her right there.

“...Atsuto-kun?” Char looked a little anxious at my stunned silence.

“O-Of course! Let’s hang out again!” I managed to reply, keeping my composure.

“You absolutely promise!” she insisted.

But making plans to hang out at school would be bad if someone saw us... Oh, I know!

“Sensei, do you have Line?”

“Eh, Line? I do.”

“Then let’s exchange Line IDs! That way we can make plans easily!”

Char gasped, rubbed her eyes, and quickly pulled out her phone.

“I-I’ll exchange with you!”

She kept hitting the wrong buttons, perhaps because she wasn’t used to operating it, but—

“L-Look! ‘Atsuto’ is here!” We managed to exchange Line IDs.

“I have ‘Char’ on my phone too! Wait, you registered it in hiragana?”

“Eh, is that weird? I think hiragana is cute! The roundness of it!”

“No, it’s not weird, but... Pffft.”

“Ah, you’re making fun of me!”

“No, I’m not!” I almost burst out laughing at Char, who was arguing a strange theory with sparkling blue eyes—

“Ah! S-Sensei! Your train!”

I saw the train Char was supposed to take pulling into the platform.

“Oh, r-right! I’ll text you! Bye-bye!” Char hurried through the ticket gate.

...But.

(Glance)

“Bye-bye!”

(Glance)

“Atsuto-kun, see you tomorrow!”

(Glance)

“Atsuto-kun!”

“You’re going to miss it!”

I warned her in a panic because she kept turning back. Char finally got on the train, saying, “W-Wait for me!”

Right after the train left, my phone made a cheerful pop sound.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and saw a Line message from Char already.

“Thank you so much for today!”

I couldn’t help but smile at the message from Char. The slightly awkward phrasing made it sound a little childish.

I was typing a reply when another message arrived from Char even faster.

“Atsuto-kun’s first lesson was so much fun and I learned a lot. Please teach me all sorts of fun things again!”

“‘Learned a lot,’ huh...”

For me, it was just a typical afternoon spent with Char.

But if my ‘typical’ day became a good experience for Char, it made me feel a little proud.

I replied to Char with, “Let’s hang out again!” and another message popped up.

【I wanna learn more about you through playing.】

Eh, English again?!

“Wait, hold on...” I hurriedly closed the Line app and opened a translation website.

I went back to Line to type the English sentence into the form, but the message was already canceled, and a new text arrived: “I’m too shy, so let’s pretend that one didn’t happen!”

Too shy, huh? What did she send?

I’ve never had trouble with English before, but right now, I regretted my lack of language skills.