The Girl Nextdoor

Chapter 5: Shizuku

The time for the second period for the first day of the week just started but my mind wasn't just into the topic at all. It could be because I've been through this lesson years ago but my guts are telling me that I am wrong; it wasn't the reason why.

But rather, my mind kept worrying of the aftermath of Ai's sudden hiatus. Surely, it will raise questions among the fans. Perhaps, that man can deduce and make nigh-accurate or slight accurate guesses for the reason as to why Ai suddenly announced her hiatus, especially in the midst when people are shipping us.

But I am confident that he couldn't accurately deduce the exact reason as to why. In spite of that, I couldn't afford to lay an obvious opening.

I sighed in exasperation. I leaned my head on my arm and stared at the horizon, admiring the azure sky. Birds flying freely. I might be free from that man's grasp, that's a fact but as of now I find myself being shackled in the chains of responsibility of being a teenage parent in the near future.

What an irony.

It's because of what happened that night. Had only Ai not been selfish, I wouldn't be agonizing over things like this. Of course, that goes without saying I am responsible as well but...

In the first place, she wouldn't be a subject of interest to that man, or to Tsukishiro had only her feelings towards me stayed the same—she didn't realize that she had fallen for me.

I'm not the type of person to recall what happened in the past and wish to change it, but as of the moment I couldn't feel anything other than regret and the desire to change what had happened.

—Have I gotten soft?

—Is this really the best route to take——to protect Ai and raise the baby as a teenage parent?

I couldn't make a proper answer. It felt as if I am being tugged by two people to their side, both are equally on foot. And here I am getting suffocated, feeling confused who am I gonna side on.

A part of me said it's normal for some people to slide into a woman's undergarment, according to my experience. Especially because the first friend I made, Yukihira, was the same. But despite my experience and knowledge about how the real world works, my brain says otherwise —my brain says no. It refuses to acknowledge the past...mistake I made.

The sound of the chalk rubbing against the board. The sandal of the teacher tapping against the floor all the while talking about the topic at hand.

"Mr. Ayanokouji?"

None of those could distract me of my thoughts and worry. Not a single word of the teacher was understood but only the noise she was making.

What's happening to me?

"Mr. Ayanokouji!?"

Bam!

A loud sound brought me back to reality. I immediately looked at where the sound came from and what caused for such a loud sound to be created.

In front of me was the angry face of our history teacher. Her face was dyed red in what seemed like anger.

Looks like someone didn't drink their coffee yet. Since it's her, probably a tobacco. I thought to myself.

If she happened to hear what I was saying, she'll definitely swing a bat at me full force, huh?

Well, probably. I'm sure she's got that tiny strand of patience to hold on to if she really did happen to hear me. After all, she's a professional.