Before I knew it, the sun began to set in the west, and I gazed out of the window blankly. Occasionally, hearing the sounds of students leaving the conference room one after another, I responded with "Good work done" while tidying up the documents at hand.
The school anniversary is approaching, and things are gradually diminishing. Now only the students of the first and second grades gather here after school, but most of the time it won't take too long before they disperse. I only hope that the day can end safely.
"All right, there's no one left, right?"
I looked back with a hint of a sigh. The conference room was empty and there was no one there. The members of the student council should have returned to the student council room and won't come here anymore. I laboriously stood up and walked out of the conference room.
"Teacher."
"Hmm?"
Just as I locked the door, I heard the familiar call and lifted my head.
"What's the matter? Did you forget something?"
I asked Paul who was looking at me. He slowly lifted one side of his cheek.
"Is there anything to submit?"
I didn't understand the meaning in Paul's smile. Looking at him putting his schoolbag on his shoulder and getting ready to go home, I tilted my head.
"Teacher, is it over?"
"Hmm? More or less."
After the committee meeting ended, I had nothing much to do myself. I planned to go to the staff room on my way to return the key and then go home.
"Then, shall we go to see Blake?"
"Ah?"
Paul's sudden words made my eyes widen involuntarily. But it seemed that he had already anticipated my reaction and narrowed his eyes happily.
"I'm going to the place where that guy is working part-time now. Let's go together."
"Why?"
"To deliver this document. And don't you also want to see? How Blake looks like when working."
For the two questions in my words, Paul answered without hesitation.
"What is this?"
I looked at the brown envelope with the school name printed on it that he was waving around in confusion. For some reason, Paul made a strange expression and tilted his head.
"Didn't I explain to the teacher? The dishes used on the day of the school anniversary are prepared in the place where that guy is working part-time. This is the contract."
"Ah? Is that so?"
"Yeah, there are several candidate places. And that place was finally chosen."
Facing the surprised me, Paul shrugged with a wry smile. Then he casually took the document from my hand that was still in a daze.
"Ah, sorry."
Paul, who usually behaves as if no one else exists around him, is indeed a man who can show concern for others. Looking at his back as he walked silently without saying a word, I couldn't help but admire him.
"I'm leaving first."
I sorted out the documents of the committee, put the key of the conference room back to the designated place. Then I motioned towards the staff room, greeted the remaining teachers, and walked through the staff entrance towards the main entrance used by the students.
"Ah, there he is."
I turned my sight towards the door side and saw Paul's back leaning against the pillar.
"..."
But the foot that I had lifted to greet that back stopped. A group of girls who appeared from nowhere surrounded Paul. He stopped fiddling with his mobile phone and slowly lifted his head.
"It's still the same harem as always."
Most of the time, when he is with others, the girls will look at him from a distance. But for some reason, once Paul is alone, like ants gathering, people will immediately surround him.
"Teacher."
I silently watched their interaction for a while. Suddenly Paul noticed my sight and looked back. I raised one hand in coordination with him. The girls surrounding him all waved their hands towards Paul together and then left.
The way they scattered all of a sudden is really magical no matter how many times I see it.
"What's the matter, teacher. What are you in a daze for?"
I walked towards the school gate. Paul followed leisurely behind me and tilted his head and asked.
"Nothing. Just find it a bit interesting."
I casually looked back in the direction where they left and blinked. Paul seemed to understand what I wanted to say and suddenly relaxed the corners of his mouth and smiled.
"Ah, it's because Blake got angry last time, right?"
"Ah?"
"Although it was like this before too, but it was even worse. In the morning, at noon, after school. There would be a line of people following behind when walking on the road. In the classroom it was like being on display. That guy finally got angry. He said that he could deal with them when he is alone, but it's very annoying at other times and told them not to approach. Basically, that guy has an aura that makes people not want to approach him."
Paul suddenly burst into loud laughter. I looked at him in surprise. I don't know how much anger he had shown at that time.
Although not having the flamboyant atmosphere like Paul, Blake indeed attracts attention just by walking on the road too. I only found out recently that the two of them are extremely popular in this school.
"By the way, you two were often together before last year."
I suddenly remembered what Abel had said before. But although I heard that they were often together at the beginning of their school enrollment, judging from the current state of the two of them, it doesn't seem like they have been together all the time - no matter how you look at it, it's like water and oil.
"Hmm? Ah, it's tiring to be with a useless person, right?"
"Er... Is that so?"
I didn't know how to answer Paul who was smiling easily and could only force a stiff smile.
"It was me who said that."
"Said what?"
Paul poked his head to look at the confused me and grinned. I didn't understand what he meant and tilted my head. Paul suddenly put his arm around my shoulder and brought his face close to my ear.
"Instead of brooding gloomily, it's better to confess your love."
"Ah? Why?"
The words he whispered in my ear made my voice involuntarily rise. Seeing the expression of my wide-open eyes, Paul smiled a bit helplessly.
"Why."
"Generally speaking, would one say such words to someone one likes?"
"... This kind of words, teacher, don't say them like this. If that guy doesn't confess his love, then there will be nothing right now."
Hearing Paul's heartfelt sigh and helpless eyes, I couldn't help but lower my head. I felt disgusted with my own words spoken without proper measure.
"Teacher is like this. But don't worry. I gave up when teacher agreed."
"Gave up?"
Really? I don't think this is a feeling that can be given up easily.
He always cares about me. Probably he wants to attract Blake's attention. And I notice that he always follows Blake with his eyes. Because I like the same person, I always notice these things.
"Don't make such a scary expression. I said it before. I like teacher too."
To me who looked up at him in confusion, Paul rarely showed an unguarded gentle smile. Seeing his expression, my eyes widened in surprise. Suddenly Paul bent down and kissed my forehead while I was in a daze.
"For me, both teacher and that guy are very important. I don't want to make you two separated and make you cry."
"Why, then."
From Paul's perspective, I am a rival in love who snatched away the person he likes - but even so, why can he say that he likes me.
"Hmm? Ah, because teacher is very cute... is an extremely good person. Not many people can still believe in him after being treated like that."
Paul's smile with a hint of sarcasm made my cheeks burn. Indeed, I have no sense of crisis and also feel that I am stupid.
"But, you, aren't serious, right?"
"There is also a bit of seriousness. I thought you would dislike it and then give up. But you are very stubborn."
"You're lying. It's just a joke, you... So Paul, makes people worry."
Although he has scared me before, but to be honest, thanks to him, I realized that Blake is special to me. Moreover, although Paul is troublesome, he isn't someone people can dislike.
"If there were a younger brother, it would probably feel like this."
"... Oh, a younger brother."
Paul murmured to the incoherent me, and the usual happy smile appeared on his face again.
"What, what is it."
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
"You, aren't planning something bad, right?"
"Who knows?"
Paul shrugged, smiled and turned his back to me, striding forward. Because of his height, I had to trot to catch up with him.
"You, must be thinking of something bad right now."
"Teacher, if you don't hurry up, I'll leave you behind."
"Hey, wait."
I chased after Paul's back who was smiling and gave up - when he said this, I felt extremely relieved and also felt helpless about my own immature mood. But I still thanked Paul for his inadvertent gentleness.