Chapter 2: Learning Something About Him
Houzuki, having finished solving the problems on the handout, focused on the male teacher gazing absentmindedly out the window.
With his naturally curly hair so dark it resembled a bird’s nest, his long bangs parted to reveal obsidian eyes. Nearby female students commented, “He has a certain charm,” “He might be cool…” But to Houzuki, he only gave off an eerie impression.
He sloppily draped a slightly dirty white coat over his disheveled shirt and slacks and even wore toilet sandals. Houzuki didn’t think it was an appropriate outfit for a teacher, but perhaps the senses of modern female students were dulled.
Then, the male teacher glanced at Houzuki. Startled, she quickly averted her gaze, and at that moment, the bell signaling the end of class rang.
(Thank goodness, it’s finally over…)
Quietly exhaling a sigh of relief, Houzuki listened to the male teacher’s instruction to collect the handouts from behind.
Passing her completed handout to the front seat, Houzuki wished for a swift departure.
She didn’t want to be with that eerie teacher any longer. She had no idea what might happen.
However,
“Then please bring this printout to the science prep room today on duty.”
“Yes?”
The name written in the corner of the blackboard for the class duty was Houzuki’s.
Did that teacher foresee that Houzuki would be on duty and say such a thing?
The truth was unclear, but the fact remained that she had been entrusted with a troublesome task. Her time spent with the eerie male teacher increased.
Locked into the obsidian gaze peering through the gaps in her long bangs, Houzuki had no choice but to say, “…Yes.”
☆
Houzuki collected the handouts used in class and, following the instructions of that gloomy and eerie male teacher, carried them to the science preparation room.
That teacher should have collected the prints from the beginning, but why does Houzuki, who is on duty, have to carry the collected prints?
She has so many complaints that if she can complain to that teacher, she will. She was a plain and unassuming female student who couldn’t voice her opinions to others. It was a consequence of being shunned by others due to her ability to see ghosts.
“Oh, this must be it.”
Houzuki stopped in front of the dimly lit science preparation room and knocked on the closed door.
“Kuroomi-sensei, I brought the print you requested.”
“Come in.”
Called from beyond the door, Houzuki reluctantly opened the door to the science preparation room, still holding the handouts.
Inside the dimly lit room, the eerie male teacher, Kuroomi Otoya, was at the desk, not bothering to turn around as he said, “Just leave them somewhere suitable.”
Despite instructing Houzuki to bring the handouts to the science preparation room, he hadn’t specified where to put them. Houzuki sighed inwardly, feeling exasperated by his casualness. Since the desk was occupied by Otoya, she decided to slide the handouts onto a nearby shelf.
As she pushed the handouts into a shelf filled with science textbooks and materials, she heard Otoya call out, “Hey.”
“What is it?” (TN: She speaks respectfully when talking to him.)
“You1, what did you see there?”
“‘There?'”
Otoya’s question is so abstract that she doesn’t understand its meaning.
“By ‘there’, I meant that place. The old school building.”
“Nothing in particular.”
Houzuki decided it was better not to answer.
At that time, Yuiru deliberately vanished upon seeing Otoya visiting the old school building.
There must be some reason for it. Whether it’s related to finding peace or not is unclear, but there must be a reason why Yuiru is wary of him.
Otoya said, “I see,” and…
“Have you seen a male student at the old school building?”
“What is this all of a sudden?”
“You can see ghosts, can’t you?”
At the mention of that topic, Houzuki found herself at a loss for words.
Houzuki could see ghosts and had a predisposition to attract them. Troubled by this, she had consulted Yuiru Enen about the malevolent spirits that troubled her, ultimately ending up contributing to his meals. Well, that part didn’t need to be mentioned.
“So, what’s the matter?”
“Have you seen the ghost of a male student at the old school building?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
“The fact that you’re reacting like this means you have, right?”
Oops, I ended up giving away the right answer instead.
Houzuki inwardly cursed as Kuroomi Otoya turned to her, his face subtly furrowed.
His bangs, like a curtain, covered his eyes, and his thin lips were tightly drawn. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but realizing that Houzuki was wary, he averted his gaze.
“…………I thought I’d finally be able to meet him after coming back here. I’ll meet with you but not me, I see.”
“……What are you talking about?”
“I was also one of the students here at XX High School. Well, I’m what you’d call an alumni.”
Standing up from his small chair, Kuroomi Otoya retrieved a thin book from the shelf.
With its oddly thick cover, it turned out to be a graduation album.
Emblazoned with the golden characters of “Showa XX Year,” Otoya nostalgically flipped through the cover of the graduation album. Tracing his finger over the page with the class photo, he…
“Do you know about the rumors surrounding the old school building?”
“I’ve heard rumors about ghosts appearing in the old school building.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not it.”
Otoya shook his head.
“That old school building, you see, it-devours-people2.”
TN:
1- he uses “omae”, a very informal form of “you”, different from his polite way of speaking in front of her class.
2- The “-” here means that he’s emphasizing the phrase (I think).
