Inlove with my Gangster Teacher

Chapter 30: Rejection

"It was really nice meeting you, Yankumi. I hope we can meet again soon." Ayase stood up and smiled at Yankumi.

"I'd like that too, Ayase-chan." feeling more at ease, Yankumi returned the smile.

As Ayase turned to leave, she looked at Shin and playfully said, "You know, Shin-kun, you should start expressing your feelings more."

Shin responded with his usual poker face and a dismissive, "Baka."

Ayase just laughed, clearly amused. Her eyes brightened as she noticed a car approaching. "Oh, there's my ride!" she exclaimed. The car pulled up, and a familiar face leaned out of the window. It was Haruhiko Uchiyama, Shin's friend and one of Yankumi's former students.

"Uchiyama-kun!" Yankumi exclaimed, surprised. "Are you... two... ehh?"

Uchiyama grinned and waved. "Hey, Yankumi! It's been a while."

Ayase walked over to the car and opened the door, looking back at Yankumi and Shin. "See you later!" she said cheerfully as she got into the car.

They watched as the car drove away, Ayase still waving back at them. Yankumi shook her head with a smile. "That was unexpected. Life is full of surprises, isn't it?"

Shin glanced at her, his expression softening for a moment. "Yeah, it is."

They stood there for a moment, absorbing the day's unexpected twists and turns, both realizing that perhaps there were more surprises yet to come.

Odagiri Ryu suddenly cleared his throat, reminding Yankumi that he was still there. She turned to him, feeling a bit flustered. "Oh, Odagiri-kun, I almost forgot..."

Ryu smiled, though there was a hint of awkwardness in his eyes. "No worries. So, do you want to go somewhere else, Kumiko-san?"

Yankumi hesitated, glancing at Shin, who was still standing nearby. Her mind raced, unsure of what to say. She didn't want to seem rude to Ryu, but she also felt the weight of Shin's presence.

"Um, well..." Yankumi began, trying to find the right words.

Shin, sensing her hesitation, spoke up. "I'm going. See you later," he said, turning to walk away.

Yankumi watched him go, feeling a mix of emotions she couldn't quite explain. There was a sense of longing, confusion, and something else she couldn't put her finger on. Despite that, she turned her attention back to Ryu.

"How about we walk around the nearby park?" she suggested, trying to focus on the present moment.

Odagiri Ryu smiled warmly. "Sounds perfect."

As they walked toward the park, Yankumi glanced back at Shin one last time, watching his figure disappear into the distance. She felt a strange sense of loss but also a renewed determination to enjoy the rest of the afternoon with Odagiri Ryu.

They strolled together through the park, the fresh air and beautiful scenery helping to lift Yankumi's spirits. They talked about their students, shared stories, and gradually, the earlier awkwardness began to fade. Though thoughts of Shin still lingered at the back of her mind, Yankumi found herself genuinely enjoying Ryu's company, appreciating the simple pleasure of a peaceful walk with a former student.

Odagiri Ryu couldn't help but think about how Yankumi had reacted when Sawada Shin was still around. He felt a little bit of jealousy and maybe upset, knowing that even though he was with her, her mind was elsewhere. Trying to shake off his own feelings, Ryu decided to address the feelings and thought he has been keeping.