Chapter 9

“Miss Mikami, this can’t continue much longer,” said Fuyoko, who was sitting at her desk in the Teacher’s lounge, while Iyori stood in front of her, her head held low and her eyes focused on the floor. 

“What do I have to do for you to understand? Should I give up completely? Watch you fail your senior year again? Do I need to be more strict? Do I need to call in your parents? What? What do I have to do?” The was a deep silence between the two, as Iyori still had her head lowered towards the floor, but after a few seconds, she slowly lifted her chin a little, but she didn’t say anything. She only shrugged her shoulders slightly, looking utterly defeated. Fuyoko felt her heart beating faster and her blood started boiling when she watched the indifferent girl standing in front of her and all of a sudden, she slammed her fist onto the table, hard and loud, so Iyori made a slight jump out of surprise. 

“No, I won’t allow you to just stand there and say nothing. This is about you and your future,” said Fuyoko in an angry tone that made the other teachers turn their heads. “It might not seem like it to you, but I actually want what’s best for you. I just have no idea what to do with you.” 

“Then... please don’t call my parents...” muttered Iyori under her breath, only lifting her chin slightly and maintaining eye contact for a few seconds. 

“I didn’t think you would want me to do that either,” said Fuyoko, her voice a bit lower now, “but if this continues, I don’t think I have a choice. I need to see a significant improvement in your grades on the final exam for the 1st semester. Otherwise, I’m calling your parents in for a talk.” 

“But-” 

“No buts, this is how things will be, whether you like it or not,” said Fuyoko, whereafter she waved her hand at Iyori. “You can leave now.” 

Iyori politely bowed her head before she slowly dragged herself out of the teacher’s lounge. After closing the door behind her, Iyori leaned her tired body against the wall and let out a huge sigh, as if she was finally able to breathe in again. Having lowered her head the entire time she stood in the teacher’s lounge, she felt relieved to be able to lean back her head, resting it on the wall behind her. While staring at the white, empty ceiling, she internally counted how many days were left before the final exam, and with every day she counted, her anxiety slowly increased. 

“Impossible,” whispered Iyori to herself. 

“What’s impossible?” Iyori nearly stumbled over her own two feet, scared out of her wits, hearing Shuya’s voice speaking to her from a short distance. 

“Calm down,” said Shuya quickly. “Wow, you’re really easy to scare.” 

“When you sneak up on me like that, of course I am,” said Iyori and stood up straight, preparing to leave as soon as possible to avoid further conversation. 

“What are you doing here anyway? Our lunch break is almost over and you haven’t left school grounds yet? Did miss Nishida need to talk to you for that long?” Iyori didn’t answer, instead she took a step forward and continued down the hall towards their classroom. 

“So, you’re not leaving today?” asked Shuya while he followed right behind her. 

“Mind your own business!” said Iyori and quickened her pace. 

“Wow, I guess even miss Nishida can get mad, seeing how bad your mood is now,” said Shuya, having a hard time imagining the sweetest teacher in the school even just raising her voice. 

“So, what did she say?” continued Shuya who was walking even faster to be able to look Iyori in the eyes. “Was it about your grades? About you skipping classes? Or maybe... no... is she gonna call your parents?” Iyori suddenly stopped in her tracks and while making a fist, she raised her head and looked directly into Shuya’s eyes. 

“Can you please, just for once, leave me alone?” Shuya widened his eyes in surprise of Iyori’s stern voice. For a few seconds no one said anything and no one moved either, but soon after, Iyori started walking again, and Shuya once again followed right behind her. 

“Sorry, I didn’t know things went that bad with miss Nishida...” said Shuya in an attempt to apologize, but it wasn’t doing anything for Iyori. “Let me make it up to you. When I’m done with school, if you aren’t on a date already, I’ll send you a request and-” 

“I’m not going to check in today,” said Iyori in a low voice. 

“Why not?” 

“I’m not feeling up to it.” 

“Oh... okay...” Seeing how they were almost at the classroom, Shuya gently put his hand on Iyori’s shoulder which, once again, made her stop walking. 

“Let’s just go out anyway. I’m bored and you’re upset. I’ll buy you some meat.” Iyori looked at Shuya, but in the same second, the bell rang and echoed in the hall, making everyone turn their heads. 

“Let’s talk after school,” said Iyori before running towards the classroom. 

*** 

Packed like sardines in a can, Iyori and Shuya were on the train to Sapporo, pressed up against each other as way too many people had been squeezed together on the train. By waiting until school finished before Iyori and Shuya decided to make their way towards Sapporo, they were now commuting right in the middle of rush hour. 

“You just had to go to Sapporo,” said Shuya while trying to move a bit so he wasn’t standing so close to Iyori. “There are many fine restaurant in Otaru too, for your information!” 

“I never work in Otaru, you know that,” said Iyori, trying to divert her eyes from Shuya. “People might see me.” 

“But you said you weren’t working today? This is just a meet-up between friends-”

“No, no it isn’t. We aren’t friends and this isn’t a meet-up!” said Iyori firmly. “This is just a date between me and a client.”

“But you didn’t check in? I didn’t request you?” 

“I was planning on checking in on the train and making you send me a request right after, but I can’t really move right now.” 

“So I’m paying for dinner and I’m also paying for your time?” 

“How is that different from usual?” Shuya felt a sting in his heart and he immediately looked away from Iyori. 

“It isn’t.” 

Only one more station was left before they reached their destination and Iyori counted down the minutes in her head, feeling relieved when she heard the robotic voice over the speakers announce that they had reached Sapporo station. 

“Finally,” said Shuya, who looked equally as happy as Iyori. 

“But how do we get out?” asked Iyori, only to have her question answered in the next second as half the passengers started moving and pushing to reach the door. 

“Ouch!” said Iyori when someone bumped into her. 

“Are you okay?” asked Shuya, who was right in front of her. 

“Yeah, I’m fine,” said Iyori and tried moving forward again, but another person made their way past her and accidentally pushed Iyori so she fell forward, only to be caught in the arms of Shuya. 

“Wow,” said Shuya as she got a hold of Iyori, her face pressed against his chest. It only lasted a millisecond before Iyori quickly pushed herself away from Shuya again, but it was enough for both of them to have their cheeks turning red. 

“Doors are closing.” The robotic voice spoke once again and before Iyori could even start to panic, Shuya grabbed her hand and pushed forward with all his force, dragging her along with him and making it out of the train, just before the doors closed. 

The train left the platform, but Iyori and Shuya was still standing right in front of the drop-off, hands linked together while they panted for breath. 

“Let’s never... take the train... during rush hour... again!” said Shuya, one hand on his leg to support his body. 

“I... I agree...” said Iyori. 

After both of them finally caught their breath, they suddenly realized that they were still holding hands and Iyori quickly pulled her hand away. 

“We don’t need to keep holding hands,” said Iyori and reached for her phone to check in. “Get your phone ready. My regulars can be really fast so you need to request me before they do it.” Shuya did as she said and a few seconds later, everything was settled. 

“Fine, now let’s go,” said Iyori and Shuya immediately followed along, but only a few seconds later, Iyori stopped and looked down at her hand, which was once again intertwined with Shuya’s. 

“You said this wasn’t a meet-up for friends, that means this is a full-fledged date I paid a lot of money for, so I want the full experience.” Iyori stayed quiet for a while, thinking about some kind of excuse, but in the end, her head was empty. 

“Fine,” said Iyori, although her red cheeks said that this was anything but ‘fine’, something that caused a smirk to appear on Shuya’s face. 

After walking hand in hand for what seemed like an eternity, they finally decided on a barbecue restaurant and showed themselves to a seat. By request from Iyori, Shuya ordered a wide variety of meat and something to drink for both of them. Not wanting to bombard Iyori with questions when she was hungry and grumpy, Shuya patiently waited until she had filled her stomach and her lips slowly curled upwards again. 

“Are you gonna tell me what happened back at school, now?” asked Shuya and the smile that had once filled Iyori’s face, quickly disappeared. 

“Nothing new, miss Nishida just scolded me for failing my tests over and over again,” said Iyori, trying to gloss over it and quickly filled her mouth with food again. 

“If it’s nothing new, why were you so upset? It usually takes more for me to get you to be that angry with me.” 

“No, you were just that annoying today!” said Iyori, food still in her mouth. 

“Don’t speak with food in your mouth, you seriously don’t have any manners,” said Shuya, but his expression quickly turned serious again. “And don’t think you can just dodge my questions like that. Don’t you want a 5 star rating for this date?” 

“Not that much.” 

“Just tell me already.” Shuya’s voice sounded almost tired and Iyori looked up while having a piece of meat right in front of her mouth, but she suddenly lowered her chopsticks again and looked down. 

“But it’s true, you really were that annoying, because you hit the nail right on the head,” said Iyori and continued, “miss Nishida said that if I can’t get my grades up before the final test for the 1st semester, she will call in my parents for a talk.” 

“I knew it,” said Shuya, sounding a bit too happy about having figured it out. “Sorry, I just knew when I saw your expression. Getting scolded is one thing, but having your parents called in is the worst.” 

“What do you know? I doubt you ever had any problems keeping your grades up,” said Iyori, loosening up a little more. 

“Let’s just say, bad grades aren’t the only reason for a teacher to call in your parents.” Iyori wanted to ask what Shuya meant by that, but seeing the expression on his face, she decided to drop it. 

“Whatever, school is stupid anyways and finals are way into the future,” said Iyori, putting a lid on the conversation for now. 

“What do you mean ‘it’s far into the future’?” asked Shuya, opening the lid to the conversation immediately after. “And what do you even plan on doing to improve your grades?” 

“Nothing.” 

“Nothing?” 

“Look, I know not to pursue the impossible, it’s a waste of time anyway,” said Iyori, “besides, it isn’t the first time my parents will be called in. I will survive.” 

“So you’re just gonna give up before even trying? I’m sure miss Nishida doesn’t want you to be a top student, but at least improve your grades and show that you’re making an effort.” 

“Seriously, you sound just like my sister.” Shuya got chills and immediately shook his head in disbelief that he would sound like Hanako. 

“Anyway, if you aren’t confident in your own studying skills, why don’t you get someone to teach you?” Iyori looked up with a raised eyebrow. 

“And who would that be? I’m never, EVER going to ask Hanako, even if it’s the last thing I do, and I have no friends in school who are good at studying.” 

“I could teach you!” said Shuya. 

“You?” said Iyori. 

“Why not? We both know I’m the best candidate. We can just make it a deal to study together whenever I request you for a date. That way you earn money and you also improve your grades.” It turned quiet at the table and only the sound of meat frying in the background, along with conversations from the people around them was audible. 

“You don’t have to look out for me all the time, we aren’t even friends,” said Iyori in a low voice, not really knowing how to react. 

“Why do you think I’m looking out for you, I’m not!” 

“But what about today? You clearly invited my out for dinner because you wanted to cheer me up,” said Iyori, stating what seemed to be the obvious. 

“I didn’t do anything of that sort! The only reason I invited you out today, was to entertain myself. Didn’t I say the same thing earlier as well? That I did it out of boredom.” 

“Clearly, nobody can be that bored,” said Iyori. 

“But I am. I have no friends either and I’m already ahead in every class so I have nothing better to do.” 

“Sounds to me more like you’re lonely, rather than bored.” 

“Think what you want, but my offer still stands, what do you say?” Iyori scratched her head slightly, thinking hard. 

“It isn’t a bad offer, except I have to see you more often.” 

“Ouch.” 

“But I’m warning you, I’m not an easy person to teach.” 

“I’m up for a challenge. Didn’t you tell me the same thing when you offered to teach me how to draw?” 

“I... did... but this and that aren’t the same.” 

“Sure they are,” said Shuya. “Come on, stop fussing over this and just take the offer.” Shuya held out his hand and Iyori looked at it for a good few seconds before she finally shook it and Shuya’s face lit up in joy. 

“Let’s work hard!” said Shuya in high spirit and squeezed Iyori’s hand harder. 

“L... Let’s!” said Iyori in return, slightly moved by his enthusiasm and slightly flustered by the warmth of his hand. 

“Alright, I’m really fired up now. Finish eating and we’ll start studying!” 

“Now?” 

“I don’t know when we’ll have time to meet again, besides, I want to know where you lack so I can go home and study on those subjects.” 

“I thought you were good at all the subjects?” 

“I am, but that doesn’t mean I’m good at teaching,” said Shuya. “But don’t worry, I promise you that we’ll give both miss Nishida and your parents the surprise of their life at the finals.” 

Hello everyone!

I changed a lot in this chapter when I edited it and I added completely new scenes to it and I like it a lot more now. It looks like Shuya and Iyori are going to be spending even more time together now, who knows what it will lead to.

What did you think of the chapter? Let me know in the comments below.

And of course, remember to take care of yourself and stay safe wherever you are!

Love, Annalise~