Inlove with my Gangster Teacher

Chapter 35: Kuma's secret

The group arrived at Kumai's shop, the familiar scent of food welcoming them as they stepped inside. They were still casually talking about Yankumi, their voices a mix of concern and curiosity. The shop was quiet, with only a few customers scattered about, so their conversation echoed slightly as they entered.

Kumai, standing behind the counter, immediately perked up when he saw them. "Hey! It's been a while!" he greeted, smiling warmly. " What's this I hear about Yankumi–?"He paused, noticing the tone of their conversation. "— You're all talking about her like something's up?"

The group exchanged looks before Honjo spoke up. "Yeah, Yankumi's been acting weirder than usual today. Spaced out, didn't even start the lesson. We think she's just tired or something, but it was kinda... off, you know?"

Kumai's eyebrows furrowed, a mix of curiosity and concern on his face. "Huh? But she's always been weird. What do you mean by weirder? Is something wrong with her?"

"She said she's fine, but it was hard to believe. She wasn't herself at all today." Kuraki leaned on one of the tables, shaking his head.

Rikiya chuckled lightly, though there was a trace of concern in his voice. "Maybe she's got some personal problem she's not telling us about."

As they talked, they didn't notice Sawada Shin sitting quietly near the counter wearing a jacket and a baseball cap, his back partially turned to them. He had come in earlier and had been nursing a drink, keeping to himself. But the moment they started talking about Yankumi, his attention sharpened. He didn't say anything, but his gaze subtly shifted, listening intently to every word.

Yamato, who had been quieter than usual since they left school, suddenly spoke up. "It's not just that she's tired. I don't think that's the whole story," he said, folding his arms. "There's something else going on, but I can't figure out what."

"You think it's something serious? Like, maybe something happened outside of school?" Kuma raised an eyebrow, glancing between them.

"Could be. I mean, she's usually good at hiding stuff, but today, it was like she couldn't focus at all." Yamato shrugged but couldn't shake the feeling.

Shin, sitting quietly nearby, kept his expression neutral, though his grip on his glass tightened slightly.

So, she's been acting strange, huh?

His thoughts swirled, recalling the moment they held hands yesterday. Could that have something to do with it?

The conversation carried on, the others discussing possible reasons for Yankumi's behavior, but Shin remained silent, deep in thought.

Is she thinking about what happened between us?

He wondered. Unnoticed by the group, he continued listening, his mind now racing with possibilities.

As the group continued talking, Shunsuke glanced toward the counter and did a double take. His eyes widened in surprise. "Oi, isn't that... Sawada-senpai?!"

The others turned to look, and sure enough, there was Shin sitting at the counter, casually sipping his drink. Kuraki and Rikiya blinked in disbelief. "Sawada-senpai!" Rikiya exclaimed, half in surprise and half in excitement.

Kuma chuckled from behind the counter. "Yeah, Shin-chan's been visiting the shop. He just came back from university for a bit."

Yamato, who had already noticed Shin but said nothing, just gave him a small nod, while the others continued to stare. It wasn't every day they saw a famous senpai around these parts.