The Stand User Of The Daily World

Chapter 87: Teachers and Students Are Forbidden

"Pfft."

Feeling repeatedly underestimated by the younger underclassman, Mai couldn't help but laugh. "Shunsuke-kun, your godmother is really something else."

Shunsuke's lips twitched uncontrollably. "I don't know exactly what you're implying, Mrs. Izumi, but I can guarantee it's not what you're thinking."

"I understand, I understand," Mrs. Izumi nodded knowingly, wearing the expression of someone who's "been there."

Understand? Understand what, exactly?!

Even if it says 'ultra-thin,' no matter how thin it gets, can it really be more comfortable than the real thing?

I'm not broke; why would I even need this?

And why on earth do you have something like this?

It doesn't look like it's been sitting around for years.

It's this year's product! Why did you even buy it?

The more he thought about it, the creepier it became.

Shunsuke forcibly stopped his train of thought.

After finally bidding farewell to the exhausting Mrs. Izumi, Shunsuke and Mai strolled leisurely down the street, eventually stopping in front of her apartment building.

"Thanks for today," Mai said, clearly hinting that it was time for him to leave.

Shunsuke widened his eyes in mock disbelief. "Wait, hold on a second! The first time was one thing, but this time you're not even inviting me up for a drink?"

"A drink? What, Mai tea or something?" she teased.

"Well, if that's what Mai-san wants, I wouldn't say no."

"And that's exactly why I can't let you come up. Maybe take a moment to reflect on your behavior."

"I think Mai-san could afford to trust me a little more."

"It's precisely because I trust you that I'm not letting you in."

"Mai-san, I'm going to cry now."

"..."

After relentless pestering, Mai eventually gave in and let this shameless pervert into her apartment.

"Sit down, I'm going to change into something more comfortable."

Mai gestured toward the living room before heading into her room to change into some casual loungewear.

—This… this means she's okay with it, right?

As Shunsuke eyed Mai's outfit, his mind started racing.

—Even if I can't make it to home base, first base or even second base should be fine, right?

Watching her make tea, her graceful figure catching his eye, he felt a surge of temptation. But he quickly suppressed it.

She wasn't Hiiragi Suzuna or Tachibana Rui; rushing things wouldn't work here.

With that thought, Shunsuke obediently sat down on the couch in the living room.

When Mai returned with a tray of tea and saw him sitting there so well-behaved, she froze for a moment.

"Shunsuke-kun, I feel like you were just thinking something incredibly rude."

"That's your imagination."

"And at the same time, I feel like you're probably very disappointed."

"I told you, it's just your imagination."

Mai set the tray down on the table with a loud thud.

"Is this 'Mai tea'?" Shunsuke asked with a grin.

"If you're not drinking it, then get out," she snapped.

Shunsuke quickly picked up a cup and took a sip, behaving himself.

"Alright, now you can leave," Mai said as soon as he finished his tea.

Shunsuke looked at her, dumbfounded. "Why so soon?"

"What else were you planning to do?"

"...Nothing."

He hesitated, wanting to say more, but in the end, he left reluctantly.

—The road ahead is long and arduous.

...

"Yesterday, why did you suddenly take the day off?"

In the Service Club room, Yukino, holding a book in one hand and keeping her gaze fixed on it, abruptly spoke.

"The seventh one."

"The seventh what?"

"You're the seventh girl to ask me this question."

Shunsuke took his lunchbox out of the microwave, once again reminded of his irresistible charm.

Looking at the steaming lunchbox, he nodded with satisfaction.

This was the beauty of a sparsely populated literary club — the room could be arranged however he liked.

A microwave, cushions, even a bed; as long as there was space, it could be added. Extremely convenient.

The cafeteria food wasn't bad, but after a year, he had grown tired of it. So now, Shunsuke usually brought his homemade lunch to the Service Club for his midday meals.

Yukino's expression stiffened slightly. "Don't get any ideas. I'm only asking as part of my duty as the club president."

"Mm, I get it."

Get what?!

Yukino's face showed a mix of frustration and indignation, but starting an argument over it would only make her seem like she cared too much.

After a moment of silence, she asked, "Did Tachibana-sensei ask you about it?"

"What does this have to do with Tachibana-sensei? She's not even my homeroom teacher."

"As a student, getting too close to a teacher isn't appropriate."

Shunsuke tilted his head.

Was Yukino hinting at something?

Noticing that he remained silent and focused on his food, Yukino hesitated but decided to press on.

She couldn't just stand by and let Shunsuke and Hina go down the wrong path.

It wasn't right.

"When Tachibana-sensei asked me for the clubroom key earlier, I already thought it was strange. Then I saw you walking with her after school… very… close."

"Oh, that? Tachibana-sensei asked me to tutor her younger sister at her house."

"Not just once."

"Huh?"

"I saw it happen more than once," Yukinoshita Yukino added, hastily clarifying, "I wasn't intentionally following you, but our routes home overlap a bit—it was just a coincidence."

"…Yukinoshita-san, have you ever heard the old saying, 'The guilty man protests too much'?"

"It really was a coincidence."

Yukino's tone became more forceful.

She didn't want Shunsuke to think she was some kind of stalker.

The idea disgusted her—being seen as worse than a creep who licked her recorder was unbearable.

She absolutely didn't want Shunsuke to view her that way.

"I was joking. After all, it's hard to imagine Yukinoshita-san having any motivation to stalk me."

Yukino looked surprised. "So, you're admitting it?"

"No, I've never intended to deny it. I've been honest from the start. If there's any misunderstanding, it's because of your unclear phrasing."

Yukino was momentarily stunned by Shunsuke's confident admission.

Did he really find it so reasonable to have an inappropriate relationship with a teacher?

"I think you've misunderstood something, Yukinoshita-san. Let me make it clear—we don't have that kind of relationship. It's all perfectly normal interaction."

"Including Tachibana-sensei throwing herself at you, wrapping her arms around your neck, and pressing… those against your back?"

"Given the nature of our relationship, yes, that's still perfectly normal interaction," Shunsuke replied earnestly. "Or… is Yukinoshita-san perhaps jealous?"

"Absolutely not! I just think you should be more mindful of appearances. If something like this gets exposed, it'll be a scandal—not just for you, but for Tachibana-sensei, and even the school. The consequences could be huge!"

Watching Yukino's exasperated expression, Shunsuke decided not to tease her further. Clearly, Yukino was someone who took things too seriously.

Relaxing his tone, he said casually, "But we're family."

Yukino's gaze turned icy. "Fujii-kun, didn't you say you wouldn't lie to me? If you're going to lie, at least make it convincing."

"I'm serious, I'm not lying."

"…Really?"

"Really."

"…"

"…"

The two locked eyes in silence.

"I'll be leaving now," Yukino said, closing her paperback with a calm expression. She stood up and opened the door. "I hope you'll be more careful in the future. Situations like this can be hard to explain and might lead to misunderstandings. If rumors spread, it could cause trouble."

"Got it, I'll be careful."

"Please remember what you said, Fujii-kun."

With that, Yukino closed the door and quickened her pace down the hall.

Dring!!.

A notification suddenly popped up on Shunsuke's phone. He glanced at the screen.

[Tachibana Hina: Moving into my new place today. After school, come help me shop for household stuff. You'll be carrying everything, Shunsuke-kun.]

[Shunsuke: Sure.]

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