Retive silence made the atmosphere a bit awkward, at least from the perspective of Sumire Nagase.

  She felt it was the most unsuccessful day of her career, as she was schooled by her own student.

  Sumire Nagase awkwardly broke the silehe achievements of your parents were hard-earned. You should i their spirit of hard work and not sck off..."

  "Uh..." Shuichi Chiba raised his hand aly interrupted her, "Sorry, Teacher, but this street wasn't earned by my parents. It was actually mentioned in the previous survey form."

  Sumire Nagase suddenly remembered Shuichi Chiba’s first choice— iing the fortune of a wealthy distaive—and immediately uood.

  I ’t believe there’s actually a sario like this, straight out of a TV drama.

  Naturally, Sumire Nagase felt even more envious.

  Why didn’t she have a wealthy distaive to leave her an iance? If that were the case, she could go wild buying outfits—get as many as she wanted.

  Seeing that the teacher seemed a bit disheartened, Shuichi Chiba gently asked, “Are you ied in opening a shop here? Maybe a small private tut ter or something? The rent es with a dist.”

  He assessed the situation, and acc to the system’s standards, Ms. Nagase seemed like she could be an excellent shopkeeper. Since she was already here, it would be a waste not to try and recruit her—especially with the opportunity to get a raise.

  “I think I’ll pass. The work at school is already giving me a headache.”

  Sumire Nagase deed decisively. Besides the reason she gave, she also felt it was awkward to take advantage of her student—even though Shuichi Chiba wouldn’t mind at all.

  “However, I have a friend who might be ied. Would the dist still apply for her?” Sumire Nagase suddenly ged her mind, thinking of a particurly regretful cssmate and couldn’t help but ask.

  “If your friend is as beautiful as you are, then that would be no problem.” Shuichi Chiba said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

  Sumire Nagase gave him a sidelong gnce. “Even if you ftter me like that, I won’t give you extra points on yrades. And as for looks, I ’t pete with her.”

  “I didn’t mean anything like that. Even if I fail, it’s no big deal to me.” Shuichi Chiba shrugged, though his curiosity iqued.

  Peeling away Sumire Nagase’s somewhat unfttering facade, her looks were actually quite striking. If it weren’t for the parison in body type, she could easily rival the two Mrs. Ogawas. Yet, she cimed she couldn’t pare to her friend.

  What kind of beauty must her friend possess?

  “Don’t make it sound so easy. If you fail, my teacher evaluations will be affected too. Please, take it seriously.” Sumire Nagase excimed in frustration.

  “I’ll do my best.” Shuichi Chiba said, casting a sympathetice at the poor teacher. Being a corporate worker must be tough; fortunately, he’d never have to go down that path again.

  Sumire Nagase felt hurt by his look, feeling pitied and rather upset. Was she really that pathetic?

  “It’s getting te. I should head back,” She said, rising with a sense of defeat. “I’ll ask my friend a you know.”

  “If she decides to e here, remember to look after her for me. In exge, I offer you free tut after hours.”

  “There’s no need for that. I help others without expeg anything iurn.”

  Shuichi Chiba deed the tut offer with polite indifference. Although life at this school was quite iing, tut was simply not his cup of tea.

  In Japan, cram schools were far more advanced and petitive than in other pces, with a well-established industry c everything from elementary school to uy.

  His ck of i was obvious, and Sumire Nagase finally regained a bit of her teacherly fide turned out there were things even he was wary of.

  “It’s settled then. She’s a pitiful person, so don’t you dare bully her.”

  With that, she didn’t wait for Shuichi Chiba’s response and hurried off.

  Shuichi Chiba sighed to himself. To be dealing with cram schools in a sed life? That’s something.

  It ity that Sumire Nagase didn’t teaglish; otherwise, he might have looked forward to it.

  At that moment, Sayuki Ogawa walked in with her sister and greeted him, “Chiba-san, do you usually finish school this early? Don’t you participate in any club activities?”

  “I’m in the camping club. Our activities are infrequent and mostly during vacations,” Shuichi Chiba expined. “Has the renovation team arrived? I noticed they seemed to have started when I passed by just now. Are you satisfied with their progress?”

  Sayuki Ogawa gave a thumbs-up. “I’m extremely satisfied. The price is fair, the designer is highly skilled, and unication has been very smooth.”

  “Gd to hear that,” Shuichi Chiba hen turned his attention to Fumika Ogawa, who had been keeping a low profile siering. Her face was obscured, but her red ears and fidgety hands revealed her embarrassment and unease.

  He decided to take another look to gauge her feelings more accurately.

  Fumika Ogawa soo unfortable under Shuichi Chiba’s scrutiny. The memory of him accepting her gift—her stogs—made her want to flee on the spot out of sheer embarrassment.

  Sayuki Ogawa, the se with a smile, asked, “Did you like the gift from this m, Chiba-san?”

  Shuichi Chiba withdrew his gaze and looked at her, responding casually, “The taste was quite good.”

  “Oh?” Sayuki Ogawa raised an eyebrow, surprised by his bold ent. Fumika Ogawa’s heart began to race wildly.

  Did Chiba-san really like that kind of thing? When he said the taste was good… what did that mean?

  “The cookies taste quite good.” Shuichi Chiba said with a smile.

  Fumika Ogawa let out a quiet sigh of relief, though she still felt a twinge of disappoi.

  “Does that mean you didn’t like the gift I gave you?” Sayuki Ogawa squinted slightly.

  “If I said I didn’t like it, would you send something else?” Shuichi Chiba’s g Fumika Ogawa was subtle but telling, his eyes tinuing to survey her.

  His words were cleverly phrased, her firming nor denying his preference, but subtly suggesting—more would be appreciated.

  However, it could also be interpreted as a polite way to express that he found the gift unusual and would prefer something more ventional, like snacks or towels, without causing offense.

  Sayuki Ogawa's attempt to press Shuichi Chiba failed, and she couldn't help but pout, “ing.”

  Shuichi Chiba feigned ignorance, looking at her with a bewildered expression, which made her roll her eyes.

  However, Shuichi Chiba then added, “Since using honorifics makes it hard to distinguish betweewo of you, could I call you Fumika-san and Sayuki-san instead?”

  “There’s also the option of using names with honorifics, you know.” Sayuki Ogawa huffed.

  “Using honorifics seems a bit distant, don’t you think, Fumika-san?” Shuichi Chiba’s gaze was intense as he looked at Fumika Ogawa.

  The tter, her face flushed, looked at Shuichi Chiba’s charming smile a a bit dizzy. Her hazy eyes lost focus, and she instinctively nodded more vigorously.