Chapter 68 Rin: Teacher Chabashira, I have a headache all over my body!
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Chabashira Sae either didn't hear the whispers growing in the classroom or simply chose to ignore them. The conversations gradually became louder.
The faint murmurs made Horikita Suzune furrow her slender eyebrows in displeasure, but she remained focused, listening carefully to Chabashira's lecture while taking notes diligently.
Rin Matsuoka, on the other hand, was already struggling to stay awake.
Feeling drowsy from lack of sleep, he was further distracted by Ike Kanji, who sat to his left, babbling endlessly to Yamauchi Haruki. With Chabashira seemingly more interested in lecturing than monitoring the class, Rin propped up his open textbook like a makeshift barrier, then laid his head on the desk and drifted off to sleep.
In the back row, Sakura Airi noticed Rin nodding off. She hesitated, her hand slowly extending toward his back, wanting to wake him up and keep him focused.
But her hand stopped midway.
The reason was simple: Sakura Airi was extremely shy. She didn't even have the courage to poke Rin's back with her finger!
[Host, isn't sleeping in class a violation of discipline? Won't that result in class points being deducted?] The voice of the narrator echoed in Rin's mind.
"But didn't you tell me this morning that with my intelligence, I could ace the midterms just by glancing through the textbooks? You even told me I could afford to sleep in class," Rin responded mentally, eyes half-closed.
[Yes, I did suggest you sleep, but that doesn't change the fact that sleeping in class violates the rules.]
"…"
Rin sighed internally, forced to push himself up. He glanced at the surveillance camera installed above the blackboard. A mischievous idea surfaced—what if he hacked into the camera and replaced the footage of him napping with a video of himself sitting upright, attentively following the lesson?
That way, he wouldn't get caught breaking the rules.
Of course, he quickly dismissed the thought. If the footage showed all the students in perfect posture, it would be far too suspicious. The staff monitoring the cameras weren't fools; they'd immediately notice something was wrong if all 40 students were acting like robots.
The cameras, after all, were there to observe living students—not lifeless bodies in a morgue.
Rin's face suddenly brightened with an idea that wouldn't break the rules and would still let him get the rest he needed.
Without hesitation, Rin raised his hand.
"Chabashira-sensei!" he called out.
"Hmm?"
Chabashira Sae's gaze landed on Rin, her surprise evident, as she wasn't expecting him to speak up. The other students also turned to look at Rin, curious as to why he suddenly interrupted.
"Matsuoka-kun, do you have a question?" Chabashira asked in her usual cold tone.
"I have a headache... all over my body. I think I should head to the health room for a check-up," Rin replied, his face showing a hint of discomfort.
"…"
Chabashira remained silent for a moment. A headache all over your body? she thought to herself. Don't you mean you feel uncomfortable all over and have a headache?
Besides, are you even having a headache? You look sleepy! The signs are obvious!
Taking a deep breath to maintain her composure, Chabashira finally said, "Go ahead."
"Hmm~" Rin hummed cheerfully, standing up and leaving the classroom. His spirits lifted as he walked toward the health room, leaving his classmates in Class D staring after him with subtle glances.
[Host, you really are something else…]
"Of course, I am." Rin smirked to himself, feeling proud of his cleverness.
"Sleeping in the classroom is against the rules, and I'd only be able to rest uncomfortably at my desk. But it's different in the health room. There, I can sleep without breaking any rules, and there's bound to be a bed for resting! I'll be able to sleep properly!"
Rin Matsuoka stepped into the room with a sign that read "Health Room." As soon as he entered, a strange yet familiar scent hit his nose.
It was the faint smell of alcohol.
Though subtle, Rin's sharp senses quickly detected it. He began to glance around the health room. Wooden cabinets lined the walls, stocked with various items used for treating injuries, like iodine and cotton swabs. There were also medicines for common ailments, such as diarrhea and cold remedies.
In one corner of the room, a curtain was drawn across what was likely the bed where students could rest if they were feeling unwell.
Not seeing the health teacher anywhere in sight, Rin called out, "Teacher, are you here? I'm not feeling well."
"Ugh… who is it? Someone already not feeling well? Really…"
A familiar, gentle yet lazy voice answered from behind the curtain. Rin paused, slightly stunned. That was Hoshinomiya Chie's voice!
"Wasn't she out drinking with Chabashira-sensei last night? Did she bring the smell of alcohol into the health room?"
Just as Rin was contemplating the situation, Hoshinomiya Chie pulled back the curtain and revealed herself sitting on the bed, her eyes bleary with sleep.
When she noticed Rin, her dazed expression brightened instantly.
"Oh, isn't this Rin Matsuoka? Come, come, sit down! You're not feeling well? Let the teacher help you." Hoshinomiya Chie's enthusiasm came alive as she patted the space beside her on the bed, beckoning Rin to sit down.
Seeing her so overly eager, Rin couldn't help but recall what had happened the previous night…
[Chie, is she trying to use his ignorance to trick him into bed?]
[Host, don't worry—I'm here to help you remember.]
The narration system was relentless, nearly causing Rin to roll his eyes.
Last night, Chabashira hadn't succeeded in getting him into bed, but now… Rin had an uneasy feeling that this overly enthusiastic teacher, Hoshinomiya, might just manage it.
No, correction—she was actively inviting him to bed!
"Rin Matsuoka why are you still standing there? If you're feeling unwell, you should lie down and rest. Come here," Hoshinomiya Chie coaxed with a warm smile, her delicate hand waving him over once again. Her demeanor was sweet and charming—definitely not the type to devour anyone, at least on the surface.
Rin sighed and took a step forward, sitting down beside Hoshinomiya Chie on the bed.
As he sat next to her, a pleasant fragrance wafted from her, though unfortunately, it was also laced with the unmistakable scent of alcohol. Rin was now absolutely certain that she was the source of the alcohol odor in the room.
Hoshinomiya Chie tilted her head, studying Rin's face. The longer she gazed at his youthful, somewhat innocent features, the more she seemed to adore him.
[Host, this teacher is eyeing you like a predator sizing up its prey. She's probably thinking about where to sink her teeth in. Stay alert.]
"…"
Rin's lips twitched. Why did the narrator have to make it sound like Hoshinomiya was some sort of beast?
Though… the way she was staring at him now did feel rather unsettling.