What am I doing tormenting those kids like that?
Picking his glass of beer up, the red-haired male brought it to his mouth to take another sip at it.
Ayane… If you could see me… Working as a teacher… With kids… I, who hate kids so much… I'm sure you would laugh at me!
'Hello, handsome!' a female voice said, out of the blue, and the man felt a hand travel across his back in an alluring way at the same moment.
Immediately, he looked over his shoulder at the woman who has accosted him, where he was sitting at the counter of the bar. This, was quite small, and not very popular, but it had a few regular visitors. Saien Natsume had become one of these recently. Until only a few months ago, he would never go around in bars, unless it was to have a few drinks with his colleagues after a long stressful day of work.
It was not the first time that he was seeing this woman here. She was a young woman in her early thirties, with waist-length, curly, black hair, and who was dressed in a long, sleeveless, purple dress that flattered her curves. She was very pretty. She was a regular visitor, and every time he had seen her, she had been accosting a different man to suggest that they head right away for a hotel.
Coming around him, the woman took a seat next to him at the counter and picking his glass of beer up, she brought it to her mouth to have a sip at it, before she turned it the other way to bring the exact location where she had placed her lips- now marked with red lipsticks- to over his mouth for him to have a sip at it too.
His cheeks reddened, but he didn't drink.
'Are you feeling shy?' she asked him, with a smile, placing the glass back onto the counter. Picking his hand up with both of hers then, she gave him a surprised look, telling him, 'You have beautiful fingers!'
His face heated up as she, unexpectedly, brought his middle-finger to her mouth to lick at it a little.
'Your face is all red!' she chuckled. 'Is this the first time that you're being accosted by someone who belongs to the same business as me?!'
Leaning towards him, she pressed his palm over her heart, while telling him in one of his ears, in a seductive whisper, 'Usually, I take a lot of money for a night. But with you, I could make an exception. It'll be for free. You're so...'
She trailed off. And reaching down for his thigh with one of her hands, while still holding his palm against her heart with the other, she pressed his thigh firmly, in a suggestive manner.
The red-haired male's heart was palpitating now. And he could hardly control his breathing.
Pressing his eyes shut, however, he managed to bring himself under control.
'You should not do this!' he said to the woman, grabbing her by her shoulders to hold her away from him.
Her eyes widened at him in surprise.
'You should not be in this kind of business,' he told her, staring at her earnestly. 'You are very pretty. And you seem quite intelligent to me. I think you should find yourself a boyfriend. Be in a serious relationship. And perhaps get married one day and have children. Found a family. Have far have you studied?'
Shaking her head in confusion, she answered him without really thinking, 'I dropped out of university during my second year.'
'I think you should resume university. You could study commerce. Or marketing. Anything that suits you. As to working, I have a lot of contacts. I'm going to give you the number of one of my friends. He owns a small journal. He's actually looking for people to work with him. I'm sure he'd be able to offer you a part-time job, so you can study and work at the same time.'
She gawked at him, utterly voiceless.
Is he serious?!
It was the first time that she has come across of someone like him. And what was even more surprising to her was the fact that she was feeling tempted by the future he was describing to her.
Releasing her shoulders, he took out his cellphone to note down his friend's number on a piece of paper and hand it out to her. She took it from him, before she got up from her seat awkwardly to head for the door, still incapable of believing it.
***
'What?!' Shunsui Shigeizumi exclaimed, almost chocking.
He had just dropped the dark-haired girl, Gōjun, and Suzaku to their respective homes, and was heading in direction of his own.
'Wakatono! Is everything alright?' Takara-san asked him, adjusting the rear mirror to look at him with alarm.
'Yes-Yes,' he replied, giving the man an awkward smile, before he got back to talking on the phone.
'I want you to explain to me exactly what happened.'
His caller did as he said. When she was done recounting to him everything in more details, he still couldn't believe it.
'It's okay. You don't have to return me the money. Have a good night!' he told her, before he hung up the call to stare out of the window, frowning a little.
Dammit! What is that guy?!
At school, he behaves like a real jerk- a tyrant- with us, but in his everyday life, he plays it hero!
The new sports teacher captured in photographs entering a hotel with a fancy woman- it would have been such a marvelous scandal!
But that's alright! I've got many other devices up my sleeves!
***
The following day went by in nearly the same fashion. I spent the entire morning with my mother at the hospital, after which, I headed to Shunsui's place. Suzaku Kaneshige came over to spend the day with the boys and they played poker for hours, until Shunsui declared that there was a new nightclub that had opened its doors in the city only recently and we should all go to visit it together without failure.
'Eh?!' I cringed. 'A- A nightclub?! It's not a decent place for a young girl! Not to forget that we're underage! They will never allow us to enter.'
'Ah, you really think so?!' he declared, with a cocky smile, as he got up from the sofa to send his arm around my neck, bringing his face very close to mine. 'You don't have to worry about that. I have visited the nightclub already. I've made myself a contact there. They will allow us in. And don't worry! We'll be there with you. If anything happens, we'll be there to protect you!'
'But- But-'
But that's not the question! It's still not decent for-
'Stop discussing!' he stated, pulling at my cheek, mercilessly. 'You're coming with us and that's all!'
'Alright! Alright!' I cried, giving in, just so he would let go of my cheek.
It hurt so much!
'Good!' he declared, with a large smile, petting my head like I was an obedient dog.
Okā-san! Kami-sama! Help me!
If Ojii-san and Obā-san ever learns that I've put my feet in a nightclub, it'll be the end of me!
***
Sometimes later…
When we arrived in front of the club, night had already fallen. There was crowd in front of the entrance. Shunsui had already talked to his contact, and we made directly for the entrance door of the building, instead of standing in the queue.
In front of the door, were two security guards closed in smokings, and Shunsui approached one of them to speak to him in the ears, and I saw him slip something in the front pocket of the man's suit, after which the latter immediately removed the security rope and held the door open with one of his arms to allow us inside of the building.
'After you!' the reddish-brown-haired young man told me, with a large smile, gesturing towards the doorway.
I was feeling all jittery, and it was very hesitantly that I dared to step forward to enter the dimly-lit corridor.
'See?! It was not difficult at all!' he told me, and sending his arm around my neck, he ushered me along the corridor.
Gōjun and Suzaku Kaneshige were walking closely behind us.
We arrived in front of another double-door at the end of the long corridor, and behind it, we could hear music playing. There were two other guards standing there and they pushed the doors opened with their hands to reveal a large, crowded hall.
The room was quite dim, with colorful lights flashing from everywhere. There was a stage on the left and there were five males performing on it. They were quite young, perhaps only a year or two older than us, and they were clothed classically. They were singing and dancing, and many people had grouped around the stage to watch them perform. The crowd was in effervescence.
Never before in my life had never seen such a performance and I had to admit that it was very captivating.
There were several sets of sofas and tables all around of the room, where people sat, chatting with one another and enjoying themselves, and near the back of the room, just across of the door, was the bar. That's where Shunsui, Gōjun and Suzaku Kaneshige went to sit, dragging me along with them.
'Can I invite you for a drink?' the blond-haired male asked me, sitting himself next to me at the counter.
'Oh, I- I don't drink!' I informed him, very quickly.
'Ah, Hime-chan! You're really a very cute person!' he told me, cheerily, causing me to blush in embarrassment.
After the three boys had ordered their drinks, we watched the different performances for a while until, Shunsui came across of a few friends of his and he moved a small distance away to talk to them, while Gōjun and Suzaku Kaneshige turned to the bartender to order yet another drink.
'The Miss will not take anything?' the bartender asked me, and turning to face him too, I refused politely.
'Ne, ne, Hime-chan?' Suzaku Kaneshige asked me, suddenly, after the man had poured them their drinks. 'Do you have a boyfriend?'
'A- A boyfriend?'
I reddened at the thought.
'Yes. A boyfriend,' he said, and putting his elbows over the counter, he rested his chin over his intertwined fingers in front of himself to watch me intently.
'Well, no.'
A smile came to his lips. 'That's interesting.'
'Interesting?' I asked when, out of the blue, Gōjun slammed his hands loudly onto the counter, causing both of us to jump.
Instantaneously, we looked at him to see that he had jerked to his feet, his expression more than furious.
'Come with me!' he roared, and seizing me by my hand, he pulled me to my feet and started to drag me towards the door.
I stared at his back, breathlessly and utterly voiceless.
Gōjun… What's wrong?
I had never seen him this furious before.
Soon, he had dragged me to onto the street and then to onto the small alley on the side of building. Once we were there, he hurled me against the side wall by my hand and I winced a little as my back hit it, but only for me to flinch the very next second as he slammed his hands on the surface of the wall on either side of my head to bend fiercely into my face.
I stared into his eyes frantically.
He was hovering at me, and given his impressionable size compared to my ridiculous one, I felt completely crushed by his presence. Our faces were only a few centimeters away from each other.
'Don't ever do that again!' he snarled at me.
'Do- Do what?' I stammered.
'Allowing another guy to flirt with you!'
Eh?!
Is he- Is he talking about Suzaku Kaneshige?
Suzaku Kaneshige was… flirting with me?!
Against all expectations, he lifted his right hand off the wall to cup the side of my face and bending in completely, he pressed his lips against mine, sealing our mouths into a kiss.
My eyes went wide; my heart fluttering in my chest.
Gōjun!
What is he doing?!
When he broke the kiss, I stared at his face without blinking, completely baffled by his action.
Why- Why did he kiss me?
I don't understand.
What's happening to him?
Gōjun...
***
'Eh…?! Somebody's jealous!' Shunsui declared, exchanging a mischievous grin with Suzaku Kaneshige.
Unbeknownst to Gōjun Shoran and Hime Kirigakure, the two young men had followed them outside to observe the action.
'You're going back to your house immediately!' Gōjun exclaimed at the dark-haired girl, still very much angry, and grabbing hold of her hand, they saw him turn around to start tugging her into this direction.
Shunsui and Suzaku backed away by a few steps to wait for them there in front of the building.
'We're leaving!' Gōjun stated, without looking at them, as he came across of them, having taken out his cellphone to call his driver.
'No, wait! Takara-san will drop you to your house. He'll come to fetch me later,' Shunsui told him, and on these words, the reddish-brown-haired young man signaled the old man with his hand where the latter had parked himself a good distance away.
A minute later, Shunsui and Suzaku Kaneshige were grinning widely in amusement as they watched the vehicle driving away with the dark-haired girl and angry Gōjun.
'Should I continue?' the blond male inquired.
'No. I think that'll be enough. I'll take it up personally from here once again,' Shunsui told him, and turning to face him, he held his hand out to him to give him a handshake, together with a large smile. 'Thank you for having accepted to come.'
'How could I not come?' the young man declared, shaking his hand, returning the smile. 'My friends needed me. He's totally crazy about her, eh?!'
'He only needs to admit it- first to himself, and then to her- now.'
'It was really nice to meet you again, Shunsui. My goodbyes to Gōjun and Hime-chan! You know what excuse to give them about my departure, right?! Hope to see all of you soon!'
And on these words, the blond male gave him a small farewell sign with the hand to walk away, while Shunsui lifted his head up to gaze at the starry sky in self-satisfaction.
***
Meanwhile...
Saien Natsume was coming out of the supermarket close to his house after having done a few purchases when, abruptly, a young girl appeared out of nowhere to bump into him.
As she lifted her head up to look at his face and apologize, suddenly, he saw the girl's eyes widened at him in surprise.
'Natsume-sensei!' she exclaimed.
He blinked once, intrigued.
'Do you know me?'
'Yes,' the girl answered. 'I'm one of your students. My name is Tayuya Inukai. I'm a final year student. Don't you remember me?'
That's why she called me sensei! he said to himself. However, he couldn't remember ever having seen her before at school. The girl was slender and measured average height, and she had shoulder-length, curly, blonde hair; her eyes, green.
'I have many students,' he declared, scratching the back of his head a little in embarrassment.
'It's alright,' she told him, but then, suddenly, something seemed to happen to her. He saw her hand shoot up to hold her forehead while she swayed a little on her feet, as if, she was about to faint. The girl managed to grip herself at his shirt though, her eyes having closed on themselves.
'Hey, are you alright?' he demanded, feeling a bit alarmed.
'I'm sorry. I don't know what's happening to me. I'm feeling very giddy all suddenly.'
As he saw her knees start to give up under her, immediately, he shifted all his bags in only one of his hands to grab hold of her shoulders and support her.
'Oi, what is it?'
The girl had rested her cheek against his chest now.
'I think- I think I should return home. I'll do my shopping at the supermarket tomorrow after school.'
Opening her eyes to look at him in the face then, she asked him, 'Natsume-sensei, do you think you could accompany me to my house? I'm not feeling well at all.'
'Okay,' he nodded, giving her an anxious look.
And on this, they both got moving.
She lived in a tall apartment building not too far away from the supermarket. The front door opened onto a kitchen. On the right-hand side was a door which probably led into the living room, while on the back wall was a door which opened onto the bathroom.
Once they were inside of the apartment, the girl seemed to be feeling a whole lot better.
'Where are your parents?' he asked her. 'Are you going to stay all alone?'
'They're gone out of the city. But I have an older sister. She should be home soon.'
'I see,' he replied, and had been about to tell her that in this case, he could leave without any worry, but she didn't allow him the time to do it. Catching hold of his forearm, she pulled him to the table in the middle of the kitchen to make him sit there on a chair, telling him, 'But please, make yourself comfortable! Are you feeling thirsty?'
And already, she had started to make towards the refrigerator, and opening it, she took out a can of beer to bring it to him.
The red-haired male got back to his feet to refuse the drink politely, and had been about to tell her that he should be leaving, but the girl was not paying any attention to him.
She was making towards the bathroom now, complaining, 'My! My! I'm feeling so hot! It's only the beginning of summer and it is so hot! I can't imagine what is going to happen when we'll be right in the middle of the season! I should feel better after a good bath!'
The red-haired male's face heated up as he saw the girl start pulling her T-shirt up, to start taking off her clothes, seeming to have completely forgotten about his presence.
'What are you doing?!' he exclaimed, flinging around and covering his face with his hand, almost having a nose-bleed.
'Oops! Sorry!' she apologized to him, her tone embarrassed, and informing him that she would not take too long in the bathroom, she disappeared into it, leaving him there standing in the kitchen.
'I should leave!' he called out to her when he had turned around again.
'No, please! Don't go anywhere! You're my guest! Please make yourself comfortable!' she called back at him from behind the door of the bathroom. 'I promise I'll be out in five minutes!'
I really should leave! he said to himself, but only to realize- as he turned back to the front door to grab the knob- that they were locked in. He had not seen the girl lock the door. And the key was not in the door-knob. They were nowhere to be seen in the room either.
'Oi, where are the keys?' he called out to the girl, but this time, the latter didn't seem to hear him.
Raking his hand through his hair, irritatedly, he went to plump himself down in a chair at the table, guessing that he had no other choice but to wait for the girl to come out of the bathroom now.
He sat there for a few minutes, sulking a little, before he began to grow thirsty.
Instantly, he took a glance towards the beer the girl had offered to him.
No, it would be so inappropriate!
Getting to his feet, he made for the sink, and picking a glass up from the counter, he opened the tap and allowed water to pour into it. Once the glass was filled to the top, he closed the tap and brought the glass to his mouth, swallowing the liquid slowly.
He had almost finished his glass of water when, he heard the door of the bathroom open.
'Ah, you're done with your bath?' he asked without turning around, swallowing down the rest of the water at one go. 'I hope you're feeling better now. I have to go. I've got many things to do.'
He had put the glass down into the sink now, and wiping his mouth with his hand, he turned around to face the girl, only to have a nose-bleed as he took in her appearance.
The girl was holding herself there, half-nude, in front of him in the kitchen, with only a towel wrapped around her. She had tied her hair up in a chignon; her skin was all wet, her cheeks red, and she was watching him with an innocent look.
'What-' he began, but he had no time to finish. The girl had crossed the room in a run, to throw herself at him, cuddling herself against his chest.
He tried to step backward, but there was nowhere he could go; he was standing against the kitchen-counter.
'Natsume-sensei!' the girl said, looking up at his face, with seductive eyes, 'Let's go- Let's go to my bedroom!'
At this, the red-haired male flushed up madly.
Closing his eyes and shaking his head rapidly though, he took hold of her shoulders to push her slowly and gently backward and make her sit on the chair behind her.
Her eyes widened at him in confusion. 'You want us to do it... here?'
'No,' he replied, and getting down onto his knees in front of her, he took hold of her hands in both of his, to tell her, earnestly, 'Tayuya-kun, listen to me, you should not do these kinds of things. It can only hurt you. You should go and get dressed!'
She was astounded.
Giving her a meek smile, he took the key she had tied in a bracelet around her hand and getting to his feet, he made for the door, and unlocked it, asking her to take care of her health, before he left.
Thank you for reading!