The night is dark, and the social creatures whose boss is kinder can finally go home from work, while the social creatures under the boss who believe in blessings are still losing their energy and growth.
As a very responsible teacher, Kirisu Mafuyu has been focusing on her work recently, and only now can she leave the teacher's office.
Rubbing her sore shoulder, she feels a bit annoyed with that stubborn school administrator.
"Seriously, Takema-kun hasn't been to school for almost a week. But choosing him as the student council president is just outrageous."
She looks at the bulletin board in the corridor.
The results of the recent election are clearly written there.
[Student Council President: Takema Shun]
[Vice President: Shinomiya Kaguya]
[Secretary: Fujiwara Chika]
[Treasurer: To be determined]
Everyone thinks the treasurer will be the eldest daughter of the Kashiwagi family, Kashiwagi Nagisa.
However, for some reason, the latter suddenly disappeared and didn't come to school for several days. Then she quietly stopped interfering with student council affairs.
This led to the treasurer position being vacant, and no one has nominated themselves for that position anytime soon.
After all, whether it's the 'famous' Shun, or 'Kaguya,' or the confusing and chaotic character Chika, they are quite hard to get along with for many people.
Ordinary people wouldn't dare to enter this world.
Mafuyu shifts her gaze, and the sound of high-heeled shoes clattering on the stairs echoes loudly in the corridor.
As she walks, she thinks about the recent rumors about Kaguya and Nagisa collaborating to support each other, as well as rumors about the nepotism of the previous president, and she can't help but feel a little uncomfortable.
Many people say it's all because of Shun's beauty trap that Kaguya gave up and even helped him take office, just to become vice president.
"It shouldn't be possible… Takema-kun clearly sent me a special text denying it."
Mafuyu unconsciously recalls Shun's information.
[Actually, I think Kirisu-sensei is sweeter!]
Suddenly confused, Mafuyu quickly exits the teaching building. However, when she tries to start her car for a long time and finds it won't turn on, her mood suddenly worsens.
Even though the mechanic keeps warning her that if she continues to drive like before, she will soon need repairs.
However, Mafuyu feels her speed can't be considered racing.
It doesn't count, right?
Feeling guilty, Mafuyu gets out of the car and walks to the station on foot, just like last time.
"Wrong decision, I have to take the tram again tonight."
Of course, there's no emergency this time, and she checks in smoothly.
Currently, the tram is empty, and there's no view except for the telegraph poles passing outside and the unchanged rich night.
Except for the occasional creaking sound, the tram is as silent as a horror movie scene.
There are a total of three or five people in this carriage. Except for the middle-aged social creature who is about to fall asleep, everyone else feels a bit scared. The sudden flickering and extinguishing of the lights in the carriage makes a woman scream.
Immediately after that, an announcement in the carriage sounds:
"Due to electrical maintenance work in Bunkyo Ward ahead, the unstable tram line issues have been resolved. Passengers, please do not worry. Upon arrival at Bunkyo Ward, please pack your gifts and belongings…"
After hearing those words, some passengers in the tram sighed in relief, but Mafuyu, who then got off the tram, is in trouble.
Currently, except for the commercial road, half of Bunkyo District is experiencing power issues, and her route home is almost completely dark, which makes her very worried because she has encountered ghosts before.
The lights at the station are dim, providing little sense of security. The road losing power in the distance always makes people feel as if there's a huge, ferocious monster inside that will devour anyone who enters.
Mafuyu hesitates, looking into the late night in the distance, thinking about her experience that night.
At that time, she was only worried about following Shun.
But she didn't expect that there really was a transcendent force in this world that ordinary people do not know about.
Mafuyu can't help but recall that purple energy arm, and...
It was a ghost with countless eyes, filled with expressions of killing and violence.
Even if just for a moment, she still remembers the terrifying image of that ghost.
Mafuyu shudders involuntarily.
The darkness caused by the supernatural power makes her unable to help but think too much.
For example, what if there are ghosts and monsters in the dark night?
Mafuyu's face turns pale, and she suddenly transforms from the iceberg female teacher seen by outsiders into the most ordinary shy girl.
"Takema-kun…"
She unconsciously whispers Shun's name.
Opening her phone, she looks at Shun's contact in her list, and after clicking on it, Mafuyu sees the message she had hesitantly edited, thinking about it, and deciding to delete the text.
As she looks at the dark alley in front of her, she continues to edit, modify, and delete the text in the message box.
Mafuyu is very shaken; on one hand, she hopes Shun will appear. That night's experience unconsciously made her feel safe with him.
But on the other hand, as a teacher, it is very embarrassing for her to send such a request text to her student, and she wants to maintain the dignity and image of a teacher in Shun's mind.
And as Mafuyu makes changes, she hesitates and doesn't think it's time...
❀❀❀
On the other side
Shun has just tested the newly created Sun Breathing and reserved his house, also opening his phone.
At first, he planned to ask Nagisa if she had fallen asleep.
If she wasn't asleep, as a caring and warm man, Shun felt the need to provide her with warm sleep service on this cold late autumn night.
However, when Shun sees the top of Mafuyu's chat interface, the commands "The other party is sending a message…" and "Mobile online" keep changing.
He immediately knows this means Mafuyu seems to be editing a message for him, but she still hesitates to modify it and hasn't sent it.
Question: What is Mafuyu's purpose in editing the text message to Shun right now?
First of all, setting aside the possibility of reminding Shun to do his homework.
Although Shun doesn't know the answer, since the other party wants to find him on a night like this, it's highly likely this is an opportunity to deepen their relationship.
After seeing the clues of change above, Shun immediately releases his warm sleeping companion for the night and makes a voice call on Line.
As the call rings, after hesitating for a moment, Mafuyu answers Shun's call.
"Hello…?"
"Kirisu-sensei, is something wrong?"
"No, no…" Mafuyu's words are clearly lacking in confidence.
Shun senses no one is in the next room.
So at this moment, according to Mafuyu's character, it is highly likely she is delayed in returning from work due to school matters.
Thinking of this, Shun quickly switches to another interface.
He activates his Mangekyo Sharingan, quickly rubs the tips of his fingers, and looks up the latest information about the academy and Bunkyo District, a smile appearing on his lips.
"I see. So Kirisu-sensei, are you at the station?"
"Takema-kun, how do you know…?!"
Hearing Mafuyu's surprised words, Shun's smile grows brighter.
"It's a secret. Anyway, don't move around. I'll buy you oranges."
"Eh… Oranges?!"
Mafuyu, who doesn't understand his meaning, is puzzled as to why he wants to buy oranges, but she hears his previous sentence.
After thinking about it, Mafuyu stands at the station, and the passing tram brings a cool breeze, ruffling her clothes.
"Takema-kun, what are you…"
Before Mafuyu can ask this question, Shun interrupts her words and speaks cheerfully and nimbly as he does at school:
"By the way, does Kirisu-sensei want to experience being talked to in a boyfriend's tone?"
"Huh? What?"
Mafuyu, who feels she can't keep up with Shun's thoughts, lets out a cute questioning sound.
She hasn't even fallen in love since she was a student, and Shun's words make her a little shy.
She recalls Shun's recent chat with her and the fit abdominal muscle photo he sent with bad intentions...
A thought suddenly crosses her mind: Could it be that her student really treats her...
"Then I will start!"
The voice on the phone from Shun sounds somewhat strange, and his breathing becomes heavier.
"Actually, after a man and woman become a couple, the words that women hear the most are not words like 'I love you,' 'honey,' or 'darling'…"
A faint voice that seems to flow with the wind sounds in Mafuyu's ears...
"Actually, the most often said are: 'He and I are just ordinary friends,' 'I can't help you if you think like that,' 'What do you think?' can't post it on Moments,' 'Drink more hot water'"
Mafuyu, who is increasingly aware of Shun's bad intentions, feels her worries are in vain. This student of hers is still quite dizzy since his speech on acceptance day.
For some reason, she feels relieved after realizing that all the teacher-student love plots she had worried about were in vain. There's a slight sense of loss still lingering in her heart, which is vague and hard to detect, but she doesn't know what it is.
"By the way, there's also: 'What's wrong with you?' 'I just finished my work, what's up?' 'I want to take a shower.' 'As long as I'm not angry, I'll go play games.' 'Why do you think that again?'"
Listening to Shun's very honest words, as a girl in her 20s who has never fallen in love after starting work, Mafuyu feels the cruel reality before her.
Although autumn has just begun, the climate in Linhai Bunkyo District is still somewhat cold at night.
Mafuyu, wearing OL attire, stands at the shimmering station, feeling the coolness blowing against her skin. She clasps her left hand in front of her body, hoping for warmth.
Listening to the youth's laughter on the other end of the phone, she feels somewhat annoyed by Shun's bad taste.
"Seriously… Can't you say sweet words on a night like this…"
The hurried footsteps in the night become clearer and closer,
But at this moment, Shun's gentle voice sounds from behind her:
"Oh, by the way, there's another thing that men often say to their girlfriends…"
"Don't be afraid, I'm here to pick you up."
❀❀❀
The starry night is somewhat cool, and there's a little light at the station.
When Mafuyu sees him smile at her, her heart races, as if something quietly emerges in her body.
She can no longer hear the autumn wind, the cold air near the sea sways, and the thick darkness caused by that gaze disappears.
The place where that person stands seems as enchanting as millions of falling stars.
"Takema-kun…"
Mafuyu murmurs softly like a little girl. She suddenly doesn't understand the meaning of Shun's words earlier.
Her arm holding the phone drops, and she stares at him.
It seems only the two of them are left in the world, looking at each other and their soft words.
Even the coldest female teacher, even the one who values the dignity of a teacher the most, cannot hold back her inner emotions at this moment.
No matter how to escape, no matter how to find a reason.
But the clear heartbeat tells her that the true emotions in her heart can no longer be buried.
Mafuyu runs to Shun's side with small steps. For the first time, she takes the initiative to hold onto his clothes and whispers her thanks:
"Takema-kun… Thank you for tonight."
Shun smiles and doesn't respond hastily. He leads Mafuyu slowly toward the somewhat dim road.
As the environment changes, the teacher who fears the dark sheds her disguise and reveals her shy side.
"Don't be too scared, I'm always here…"
Feeling Mafuyu tugging at the corner of his shirt, Shun gently reassures her.
From his current viewpoint, what he sees is Mafuyu completely different from usual, scared and timid. Her sapphire-like eyes are full of tears, like a sad little animal.
'A sad and easily intimidated appearance.'
"No, no… I'm just a little nervous."
To maintain the dignity of a teacher that is about to disappear, Mafuyu replies with a trembling voice, and the expression of lifelong endurance is very cute.
Shun talks to her patiently, walking past the dark alley and turning onto the road with a large shopping mall.
The power issues in Bunkyo District have turned the originally bustling shopping mall dark. Fortunately, people inside are busy with repairs, so the streets are not too frightening.
Although the usual warmth and music from the mall are gone, the noisy conversations of people inside can be heard from afar.
Seeing more people, most of Mafuyu's original fear naturally dissipates.
Seeing her gradually calm down, Shun takes out a can of steamed red bean soup from his pocket (similar to canned rice pudding, available hot in vending machines and convenience stores).
"Kirisu-sensei, please take this!"
He tosses her a can of warm red bean soup.
After catching the drink can, a little warmth spreads from her palm to her body. Mafuyu asks in confusion:
"Do you like this, Takema-kun?"
"I really like red beans, but I thought Kirisu-sensei must not have eaten at this time, so I bought it."
His concern causes the defenses in Mafuyu, who has just recovered, to collapse.
She has been too long alone in this city...
She thought she had gotten used to the life of enjoying a cup of noodles in her apartment at night.
However, Shun's words make Mafuyu realize for the first time that someone cares whether she has eaten after returning from work at night...
If previously she had only been kind, it would be difficult to explain her current concern and care.
Mafuyu recalls their experiences, chat records, and Shun's vague thoughts.
Perhaps the darkness without anyone around gives her courage. She takes a step forward, gazing into his eyes and asking seriously:
"Takema-kun, do you, do you treat me…"
She exaggerates her own shyness, and as she speaks, Mafuyu, whose face is flushed, stumbles.
"Huh? What?"
"I mean, Takema-kun… Takema-kun… what is your view of me, what kind of feelings do you have for me…?!" Mafuyu finally gathers the courage to ask.
"This…"
Shun ponders for a moment until Mafuyu is about to retreat anxiously.
*BANG*
Shun gently pushes her, and the strong wall presses against the street wall.
"Takema-kun...?!" Mafuyu whines shyly.
"Right, my feelings for Mafuyu… exactly as you think!"
After saying that, Shun forcibly kisses her lips.
As the two kiss, sudden cheers erupt in the shopping mall not far from there.
The warm orange light after the power restoration illuminates the dark night.