Fourth Period: Yamazaki Atsuto’s First Lesson ①
The day after we made the contract.
I ran into Char in the hallway, and she immediately locked down our next playtime session with a cheerful, “See you after school today!”
And so, after school arrived.
“...Haaah.”
I sat on the edge of the fountain in front of In’ōji Station, the closest station to Suishō High, and let out an involuntary sigh.
Seriously, teaching my school teacher how to have fun is just weird, right?
What am I supposed to talk about with my teacher in my private time?
...I was grumbling internally when,
“Atsuto!”
I heard a voice and looked up to see Char, smiling brightly and staring right at me.
“Whoa?!”
“Ahahaha! Good work, Atsuto!”
Her cheerful smile was fine, but—
“Sensei! Your voice is a little too loud!”
I made a “shush” gesture, and Char gasped, putting her hand over her mouth.
“S-Sorry! Did I surprise you?”
“No, but it’d be bad if any of our students were around...!”
When I said that, Char looked around nervously and let out a sigh of relief.
“Phew, looks like no one’s here!”
I looked around too. ...Yep, looks clear. Good.
“You’re really energetic, Sensei.”
I’m exhausted after school, but Char didn’t look tired at all.
“Yes! Because I’m so excited to have Atsuto-kun teach me how to have fun!”
Char leaned in close, her eyes sparkling.
Her smile was innocent and genuine. She really was looking forward to this. I felt both happy and embarrassed...
“L-Let’s just go already!”
“Alright, let’s go!”
Char took my hand and pulled me up. But—
“Wait, Sensei...”
I sat back down abruptly, and Char tilted her head. “Huh?”
While she had the height of a child, the one thing that made Char look like an adult was her large chest.
When I stood up, the height difference meant her cleavage was right in my line of sight...!
“Hmm? ...Ah.”
Noticing my gaze, Char quickly covered her chest with her right hand.
“M-My chest is, well, big, so I have to keep the buttons undone or it gets uncomfortable...!”
“R-Right, I see...”
“Ah! No perverted thoughts, okay! That’s bad!” Char put her hands on her hips and leaned forward.
I told you that posture is dangerous!
“A-Anyway, let’s really go this time!”
—After all that fuss, we finally headed toward the downtown area.
Walking next to her, I realized she really stood out.
Of course, everyone was going to look when someone as cute as Char was walking next to someone as utterly plain as me...
“You know, Atsuto-kun, you really do seem mature!” Char suddenly turned her sparkling blue eyes toward me, just as I was feeling a mild inferiority complex.
“Huh? M-Mature?”
“Yeah! I’m not used to going out, so I’m pretty nervous, but Atsuto-kun is calm as usual... You have that ‘adult composure’ thing, and it’s so cool!”
Being complimented so directly by an older person made me feel a little itchy...
“Aren’t you nervous, Atsuto-kun?”
“Well, I come to this area all the time.”
“Ohh, amazing! Definitely an adult!” Char clapped her hands for some reason.
—Speaking of which.
“...Sensei, you’re completely different from how you are in class.”
“Eh, r-really?”
“Yeah. You seem so nervous during class, but outside of it, you’re full of energy...”
Char let out a small “Ugh,” and poked her index fingers together.
“Y-You can tell, right? I’ve always had stage fright... But, wait.”
Char’s wilted expression instantly changed into a smile.
“I don’t feel nervous when I’m with Atsuto-kun, and I’m so excited right now!”
Her pure, innocent smile made my heart skip a beat.
That sounded like I was special or something... No, that’s overthinking it.
We weren’t that close yet.
“W-We haven’t even decided where we’re going yet!” I quickly changed the subject, and Char hit her fist against her palm. “Oh, that’s right!”
She pondered for a moment.
“I know! I want to play darts again!”
The first place that came to mind was the darts booth at Wagūsu, where I usually went, but doing the same thing wouldn’t be fun. In that case—
“How about a darts bar today?”
“A d-d-darts bar?!” Char’s round face stiffened at my suggestion, and she shook her head vehemently.
“D-Do you dislike the idea?”
“Darts bars are scary!” Char’s eyes widened, and she pleaded with me desperately.
I see. That was Char’s image of a darts bar.
“It’s not a scary place... Oh, but maybe if you try hard here, it could help cure your stage fright?”
“Eh? It could cure my stage fright...?”
“Yeah. Maybe, though...”
I just said it off the cuff, but Char seemed to take it seriously and was pondering it intensely.
She gripped my sleeve, her beautiful blue eyes darting back and forth.
“...I-I’ll try.” After thinking for a while, Char looked at me with a look of firm resolve and whispered.
“Alright! Then let’s go!”
And so, we started walking toward the nearest darts bar, but Char’s expression remained tense the entire time.
I really don’t think it’s a place to be that nervous about...
＊＊＊＊＊
We walked for about five minutes.
“Alright! We’re here.”
“Oh, th-this is it...”
Char swallowed hard, facing the wooden door that led into the darts bar.
She was still holding onto my sleeve, clearly still scared.
We’re not going into a haunted house...
“Okay, I’m going in.”
Char nodded with a clumsy, bobblehead motion.
But when I opened the door, her expression instantly bloomed like a flower.
“Wow! It’s so stylish!”
Ten darts machines lined the wall. Champagne and whiskey bottles were packed tightly on the liquor shelf. A faint fragrance filled the dimly lit interior.
We took a seat at an empty corner table, and Char, excited, leaned in close to me.
“Hey, Atsuto-kun! Do you always hang out in places like this?”
“No, not always. It’s a treat once in a while.”
“W-Wow! That’s so cool!” Char clapped her hands, looking at me with sparkling eyes.
...Looks like her nervousness is gone.
“Let’s order some drinks first!”
“Good idea! I’ve been waiting for this!”
I handed her the tablet menu on the table, and Char immediately ordered a Budweiser from the ‘Beer’ section.
“I’ll have this.”
I ordered a non-alcoholic Piña Colada, a drink made with coconut milk and pineapple juice.
After a few minutes, the server brought our drinks.
“Ooh! Yours looks fancy, Atsuto-kun!” Char exclaimed, pointing at my drink.
The slice of pineapple on the rim of the glass and the hibiscus garnish certainly made it look extravagant.
...But.
“Huh? There are two straws in it?” Char tilted her head, sounding confused.
Did they think we were a couple and put two straws in for sharing?
That consideration was actually more awkward...
“H-Haha... Maybe the server put in two by mistake?” I laughed it off, trying to gloss over it.
Char held up her beer glass. “Can I drink it?”
“Ah, yes! You must be thirsty, right? Go ahead.”
“Then, cheers!” Char smiled, set down her beer glass, and... wait? Set it down?
“(Chu—)”
“Gah!”
She calmly put her mouth on the straw in my drink.
Char took a sip, pulled her lips from the straw with a peh, and her expression melted into bliss.
“Mmmmmm! This is so delicious!”
I guess the two straws were for sharing, but she didn’t care?!
“Hmm? What’s wrong, Atsuto-kun?”
“W-Well, this is kinda like an indirect kiss...”
But thinking about it, maybe this was just a cultural difference. She did kiss me out of the blue, even if she was drunk.
“Heh? Oh... Ah! I see... But this is totally normal in America!”
“R-Right, I knew it! Sorry, I was just surprised...”
When I replied, Char pouted and looked away from me, as if she was sulking.
【Umm. I wanted to make you look shy..】
Hmm? English?
“S-Sorry! I didn’t quite catch that...”
“Y-You don’t need to hear it! Cheers!”
“Ah, c-cheers!”
We clinked glasses, and Char chugged her beer.
I wonder what she just said...
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