The Quintuplets Are My Neighbors

Hiratsuka Shizuka's smirk deepened as she cracked her knuckles, her tone sharp. "Caught you this time, Kenji. Don't think you're getting away so easily."

Kenji sighed, a mix of resignation and irritation in his voice. "Teacher Shizuka, this is clearly you seeking revenge for personal reasons."

Her response was a sneer. "Be prepared!"

Kenji muttered, "...Definitely revenge for personal reasons."

---

The whole mess had started months ago. Hiratsuka Shizuka, with her strong sense of justice and her legendary "Iron Fist of Love," was Sobu High's protector against delinquency. But last semester, when Kenji and Kirisu Mafuyu had just arrived in Chiba City, they had crossed paths with her in an unfortunate misunderstanding.

Shizuka had tried to "correct" Kenji's attitude with her usual methods. What happened instead? She lost—badly. Adding to her humiliation, Kenji had, in a fit of frustration, delivered a rather unconventional "lesson" of his own.

To her credit, Shizuka didn't hold a grudge. She had eventually come to see it as a misunderstanding. But Kenji's constant antics at school ensured he remained a thorn in her side. As Kirisu Mafuyu's close friend, Shizuka couldn't stand by and let Kenji's disruptive behavior slide—not when she feared it might reflect badly on Mafuyu, or worse, pull her further into Kenji's mess.

---

"Come with me," Shizuka ordered, standing tall.

Kenji hesitated, wary. "Do I have to?"

"What do you think?"

"Uh... How about we talk this over? Violence isn't the answer, you know."

Shizuka's eyes narrowed. "Move it."

Moments later, Kenji found himself being dragged to an empty classroom. He glanced at the sign on the door: Service Club.

A bemused smile crept onto his face. "A club for tea and massages? Truly, Sobu High is ahead of its time. Teacher Shizuka, you're amazing."

Her cheeks flushed slightly, but her fist raised in warning. "Cut the nonsense and get in already!"

Kenji stepped closer but paused at the door. "This won't get me expelled, right?"

Her glare sharpened. "If anything, it might save you. Yukinoshita will help straighten you out."

Kenji blinked. "Yukinoshita? As in the 'Ice Queen' Yukinoshita Yukino?"

Shizuka nodded. "She's the best candidate to handle you. You two might actually be a good match—intellectually, that is."

Kenji groaned inwardly. Yukinoshita's reputation preceded her: brilliant, sharp-tongued, and untouchable.

"Teacher Shizuka," he muttered, "you're really throwing me to the wolves, aren't you?"

"Go," she said firmly, crossing her arms.

Kenji knocked on the door.

A cold, crystal-clear voice responded, "Come in."

---

Kenji opened the door and stepped inside. His gaze immediately fell on Yukinoshita Yukino.

Sitting by the window, she exuded an air of elegance and distance. Her long black hair cascaded down her back like a flowing ink painting, her sharp, clear eyes scanning him with a calm indifference. Dressed immaculately in the Sobu High uniform, her red bow tie and ribbon accents complemented her poised appearance.

A book rested on her lap, its pages fluttering slightly in the breeze coming through the window. The sunlight framed her, highlighting her pale skin and creating a stark contrast against her black over-the-knee socks.

For a moment, Kenji froze. She looked like a character straight out of a manga.

Yukino's cold gaze pierced through him, her lips pressed into a thin line. The room's atmosphere chilled.

Kenji broke the silence, his usual smirk returning. "Teacher Shizuka, I take it back. Even if Yukinoshita is sharp-tongued, she's... breathtaking."

Both women froze.

Hiratsuka Shizuka turned red, caught between embarrassment and frustration. Yukino's eyes narrowed slightly, her lips pursing as if holding back a biting remark.

Kenji raised a hand in mock surrender. "Yukinoshita is super cute," he added earnestly.

The tension in the room shifted. Shizuka sighed, shaking her head. Yukino, on the other hand, clenched the book in her lap slightly tighter, her cold demeanor faltering for just a moment.

"That's enough!" Shizuka barked, pushing Kenji further into the room. "You're here to learn something, not to compliment her."

Kenji chuckled and took a seat, his gaze lingering on Yukino's expression. Despite her icy facade, he couldn't help but notice the faint pink hue creeping onto her cheeks.

This might be more fun than he thought.

✥✥✥

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