Inlove with my Gangster Teacher

Chapter 68: A Nightmare

"Itai!"

Shin winced as Yankumi carefully examined his injured hand, her brow furrowed in concern. They were sitting in the tatami room of the Kuroda house, the faint scent of incense lingering in the air.

"That looks bad," Yankumi muttered, gently prodding the swollen area.

"That hurts!" Shin protested, pulling his hand back slightly, but she caught it before he could fully retreat.

"Stop being such a baby," Yankumi shot back, her tone firm yet laced with worry. "We're going to the hospital tomorrow to get this checked."

"It's not that bad," Shin mumbled, looking away.

"It is that bad," she insisted, her voice leaving no room for argument. "What if it got worse? You can't just ignore it, Shin."

He sighed, clearly not in the mood to argue. "Fine," he relented.

Satisfied, Yankumi finally let go of his hand and leaned back. "Good. And don't even think about skipping out on it, or I'll drag you there myself."

"Got it," he replied with a hint of a smirk, though it faded quickly. He glanced at the clock. "Can I go home now?"

Yankumi blinked, as if the idea hadn't occurred to her. "No way," she said flatly.

"What? Why not?" Shin raised an eyebrow.

"You shouldn't be alone with an injured hand," Yankumi explained matter-of-factly. "What if you make it worse or need help during the night? Besides," she added, glancing around the room, "it's already late. You might as well stay here."

Shin opened his mouth to protest but stopped when he saw the determined look on her face. There was no point in arguing when she got like this.

"Fine," he muttered again, leaning back against the wall.

Tetsu appeared at the doorway, giving a small bow before speaking. "Ojou, the room for Shin is ready," he informed them with a polite tone.

Yankumi nodded. "Thanks, Tetsu-kun." She turned to Shin and gave him a firm look. "You should get some rest. It's been stressful and tiring, especially with that hand of yours."

"Okay," Shin replied simply, his voice softer now.

Standing up, Yankumi gestured for him to follow. "Come on, I'll walk you to your room."

The two walked side by side down the quiet hallway. Neither spoke, but the silence wasn't uncomfortable. It felt natural, as though words weren't needed.

When they reached the room, Yankumi slid the door open and glanced at him. "Try not to move your hand too much, okay? And let me know if you need anything."

Shin smirked faintly, stepping inside. "You're starting to sound like a mother, Kumiko."

"Don't push your luck," she shot back, though there was a trace of a smile on her face.

Yankumi was about to slide the door shut and leave when Shin's voice stopped her.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" he asked, his tone calm but deliberate.

She paused and turned back, tilting her head in confusion. "Nani?"

"My goodnight kiss," Shin replied with a straight face, his gaze unwavering.

Yankumi's cheeks flushed instantly, her face turning as red as the cushion on the tatami floor. "B-baka!" she stammered, taking a step back.

"I'm waiting," Shin said, leaning casually against the doorframe, his expression unreadable but his persistence clear.